Meet Brandon A.

Brandon will serve as a contributing author and co-founder for Rust Belt Palladium.

Contributing Author and Co-Founder

If you’ve read Divided & Derailed: The United States of Dysfunction, then we’ve already spent some time together. If not, welcome. I’m Brandon Allen, one of the founders of Rust Belt Palladium, where I’ll be writing, editing, researching, and occasionally wondering why I willingly chose to spend so much time reading legislative language.

I’ve been involved in politics for more than two decades, working on campaigns at the local, state, and federal levels, serving in local government, and holding leadership roles within the Indiana Democratic Party. Along the way, I’ve learned that politics is rarely as simple as campaign commercials make it seem. The most important conversations usually happen long after the microphones are turned off, when people stop talking in slogans and start talking about how public policy affects their everyday lives.

I grew up across Indiana, which turned out to be one of the best political educations I could have asked for. Every community has its own story, its own priorities, and its own way of looking at the world. That perspective has shaped nearly everything I write. From small towns and county government to the Indiana Statehouse and Washington, I’ve seen firsthand how decisions made in government ripple through communities that rarely make the national headlines. That’s one of the reasons Rust Belt Palladium exists: to connect those local stories to the larger conversations shaping our state, our region, and our country.

I studied Journalism with a concentration in Visual Communication and a minor in Political Science at Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). Somewhere along the way, I discovered that asking questions came naturally—and that elected officials don’t always appreciate having to answer them. Funny how that works.

Professionally, I’ve worn more hats than most people probably should. My career has included journalism, communications, public policy, local government, political organizing, restaurant operations, and business consulting. The common thread has always been understanding people, solving problems, and trying to leave organizations and communities a little better than I found them.

At Rust Belt Palladium, my writing blends policy analysis, history, opinion, and just enough sarcasm to make reading about government slightly less painful. I believe public policy should be understandable, government should be accountable, and facts should matter—even when they’re inconvenient. I don’t expect readers to agree with every conclusion I reach, but I do hope they’ll leave each article with a deeper understanding of the issues and the people behind them.

Our mission extends beyond publishing articles. Rust Belt Palladium is being built around the idea of People. Politics. Progress. We are committed to advancing Democratic values through thoughtful analysis, civic education, leadership development, and practical resources for candidates, volunteers, voters, and public servants. In the months ahead, we’ll be launching new projects designed to strengthen civic engagement, support Democratic leadership, and help prepare the next generation of people who want to serve their communities.

When I’m not writing, you’ll probably find me exploring Indiana’s restaurant scene, working with restaurant clients, or convincing myself that this legislative session surely can’t get any stranger. (Indiana has an uncanny ability to treat that statement as a challenge.)

At home, I’m also the emotional support human for Xander, my 180-pound Great Dane. As I’m writing this, he’s snoring loudly in the back of my office, blissfully unaware of whatever political controversy is dominating today’s news cycle. Frankly, it’s a life philosophy I’m a little jealous of.

I’m excited to help build Rust Belt Palladium into more than a publication. I hope that it becomes a trusted resource for thoughtful discussion, informed civic engagement, and meaningful collaboration—bringing together people who believe progress is built through knowledge, participation, and a shared commitment to serving our communities.