This week on Beyond Both Sides, big ambitions collide with political reality.

Michigan’s latest literacy scores show just how far the state has to go to get more students reading at grade level — even as Governor Gretchen Whitmer proposes a $625 million investment in early reading. At the same time, GOP gubernatorial candidate John James offers a sharply different approach centered on parental rights and school choice. Same challenge. Very different philosophies.

Then we dive into the escalating controversy surrounding the nearly completed Gordie Howe International Bridge. What was meant to symbolize cross-border cooperation has become a flashpoint in national politics after President Trump threatened to block its opening. What would that mean for Michigan’s economy, trade, and leadership?

Plus, a heartfelt tribute to Mike Bernard in our “Disagree Better” segment — and a reminder that how we engage each other matters just as much as the policies we debate.