>> JON HUSTED GETS THE US SENATE NOD.

[ MUSIC ] >> WELCOME TO COLOMBUS ON THE RECORD.

A COUPLE MONTHS AGO, JON HUSTED WAS NOT AMONG THE TOP NAMES THOUGHT TO BE IN THE RUNNING TO REPLACE JD VANCE IN THE US SENATE.

HUSTED WAS GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, TAKING OVER FOR TERM LIMITED MIKE DEWINE.. THEN VIVEK RAMASWAMY'S PROFILE ROSE AND HE BECAME THE LIKELY TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR IN 2026 , PUTTING HUSTED'S BID IN JEOPARDY..

SO TO AVOID A RISKY PRIMARY FIGHT.

HUSTED LOOKED TO THE AND TODAY, GOVERNOR DEWINE GAVE HIM HE NOD.

MIKE DEWINE; " I HAVE WORKED WITH HIM… OUT …RIGH T PERSON FOR THE JOB.

JON HUSTED "I HAVE LOVED THIS WORK… BUT REPRESENTING OHIO IN THE U.S. SENATE IS AN AMAZING OPPORTUNITY.

>> WHAT IS AMAZING IS THE PROCESS THE STOCK IN A TORTURED PROCESS IT TOOK TO GET HERE.

IN THE END, >> HE TALKED ABOUT HOW WELL HE KNOWS JON HUSTED, THEY WORKED TOGETHER FOR THE PAST SIX YEARS.

I REMEMBER WHEN HE JOINED MIKE DEWINE'S GUBERNATORIAL BID, HE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR AT THAT POINT , TOO, SO I THINK THE REALLY ONLY THING WE THOUGHT JON HUSTED WANTING TO BE GOVERNOR, AND I THOUGHT HE WAS WEIGHING THESE TWO VERY VALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES, AND TATTLED ON SENATE IS SOMETHING HE WANTED TO GO FORWARD WITH >> YOU LEAVE A JOB THAT YOU LIKE FOR ANOTHER JOB, FOR WHATEVER REASON, IT IS ALWAYS BITTERSWEET.

WATCHING THIS NEWS CONFERENCE TODAY, IT SEEMED A LITTLE BIT MORE BITTER THAN SWEET FOR JON HUSTED.

>> PERSONALLY, I KNOW JON AND TINA HUSTED FOR MANY YEARS AND THEY'RE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE.

HE IS LIVING THE AMERICAN DREAM, ADOPTED AS A BABY, AMAZING PARENTS, GREW UP IN SMALL-TOWN OHIO, DECADES OF PUBLIC SERVICE.

DID HE DO A GREAT JOB AS GOVERNOR?

ABSOLUTELY, THAT'S WHY THE GOVERNOR PICKED HIM AND ONLY HIM YOU HEARD THE PRESS CONFERENCE, IT WAS JON HUSTED ALL THE WAY, HIS DECISION TO MAKE --OBVIOUSLY, AT THE END OF THE DAY, JON IS GOING TO DO VERY WELL AS UNITED STATES SENATOR.

>> THIS WAS A VERY DIFFICULT DECISION, SO IT SOUNDS LIKE IT STRUGGLED WITH IT PERHAPS BECAUSE HE WANTED TO BE GOVERNOR.

>> SURE, OF COURSE, THAT HAS BEEN HIS DESIRE AND DREAM FOR YEARS AND YEARS, OVER A DECADE AND A PIVOT IN THE PAST 30 DAYS OR SO OR MAYBE A LITTLE BIT LONGER, IT HARD.

HE IS HUMAN AND IT IS A HARD DECISION TO MAKE, BUT HE MADE A GREAT DECISION.

LAST WEEK ON THE SHOW, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A GOOD DONE DEAL, HUSTED WAS GOING TO GET DENIED.

AND THEN VIVEK RAMASWAMY JUMPS INTO THE HEADLINES, THERE WAS A REPORT OUT OF WASHINGTON, THE WASHINGTON POST, THAT DONALD TRUMP WAS URGING HIM TO SEEK THE SENATE SEAT.

WHAT WENT ON?

DO WE KNOW FOR SURE?

>> SURE, SO THIS IS ALWAYS KIND OF A ONE-PERSON VOTE.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, GOVERNOR DeWINE IS THE ONE TO DECIDE WHO WAS GOING TO GET THIS NOT, BUT OF COURSE, THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE RINGING IN HIS LINE, AND HE SAID THAT, SO DONALD TRUMP LIKES VIVEK RAMASWAMY, HE HAS ALREADY APPOINTED HIM TO A POSITION, AND I THINK YOU SEE PEOPLE LINKING THINGS TO THE MEDIA, DIFFERENT THINGS COMING UP, THE WINE REALLY ONLY SAID YES, I MET WITH RAMASWAMY LAST WEEK, I MET WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT THIS POSITION, BECAUSE THE WINE AND HUSTED AND OTHER OFFICIALS HAVE KEPT THEIR CARDS CLOSE TO THEIR CHEST ON THIS POINT >> BRIAN, WHO MADE THIS PICK, MIKE DeWINE OR PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> MIKE DeWINE MADE THIS CAKE, HOWEVER JON HUSTED ESTIMATED.

HERE IS WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON WHEN YOU HAVE TO DECIDE ON A BIG --FIRST OF ALL, IT IS THE MOST EXCLUSIVE CLUB IN AMERICA, AND KUDOS TO LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, NOW JUNIOR SENATOR FOR DOING IT HIM ABOUT THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS TO THINK ABOUT.

ONE, YOU HAVE GOT TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY.

NOT ONCE, BUT YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WIN THIS SEAT AGAIN IN TWO YEARS, THEN YOU'VE GOT TO RUN AGAIN IN ANOTHER TWO YEARS FOR THE FULL TERM.

THAT IS VERY RARE IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE, SO ARE LINING UP AND FIGURING OUT WHERE IS YOUR MONEY GOING TO COME FROM?

YOU'VE GOT TO DO THAT.

SECONDLY, WITH DONALD TRUMP, EVERYTHING IS ABOUT WHAT IS HE GOING TO DO?

HIS ENDORSEMENT MATTERS, SO GOT TO MAKE SURE HE IS GOING TO ENDORSE HIM.

DID RAMASWAMY GET A DEAL, TOO, WERE TRUMP IS GOING TO ENDORSE HIM?

TWO YEARS IS A LONG WAY OFF.

BIG LOSER, DAVE.

NOW THE SEVEN DAVE HAS RAMASWAMY AND POTENTIALLY A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT AGAINST HIM.

>> WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND GRADE WE WILL SEE IF YOU HAVE A DIFFERENT TAKE ON THAT.

JESSE, WAS A RAMASWAMY ENTERING BECAUSE JON HUSTED HAS TO MOVE HIS FAMILY TO WASHINGTON, D.C., WHERE HE HAS A GOOD REPUTATION AT THE STATEHOUSE, HE WAS POISED TO BE THE NEXT GOVERNOR, BUT NOW THOSE PLANS HAVE DERAILED, MAYBE HE GOT COLD FEET, WE DON'T KNOW FOR SURE, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED TO VIVEK RAMASWAMY FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE CUSTOMER >> I THINK THERE HAS BEEN REPORTING OUT FOR A WHILE THAT JON HUSTED WAS THE FRONT RUNNER, AND SO, WE HAVE HAD A FEW WEEKS WHERE HE HAS BEEN THE FRONT RUNNER, AND YET, HAD NOT BEEN CHOSEN YET, SO CONSIDERING ALL OF HIS OPTIONS DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME, I THINK THAT IS LIKELY, I THINK THAT IS WHAT WERE HEARING FROM PEOPLE, THIS WAS A TOUGH CHOICE FOR HIM TO MAKE.

AND YOU DO HAVE THE OHIO GOVERNOR, REPUBLICAN PRIMARY KIND OF LOOMING.

WHAT IS THAT GOING TO LOOK LIKE, WHO IS GOING TO GET INVOLVED, RAMASWAMY, WE KNOW DAVE, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS ALSO PLANNING A BID FOR GOVERNOR, AND SO, THAT PRIMARY IS ALSO GOING TO BE PRETTY CONTENTIOUS, SO, WHICH ONE DO YOU WANT TO HOP INTO?

ASK ABOUT DAVE, COULD BE ONE-ON- ONE, BECAUSE RAMASWAMY SAYS HE IS GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, MAYBE ANOTHER CANDIDATE MIGHT JUMP IN, BUT IF IT IS ONE-ON- ONE WITH THOSE TWO, DAVE IS A WINNER HERE, AND TWO YEARS IS A LONG TIME IN THE TRUMP WORLD.

>> DAVE AND DARLENE ARE DEAR PERSONAL FRIENDS OF MINE, THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE, HE WOULD MAKE A GREAT GOVERNOR AND SHE WOULD MAKE A GREAT FIRST LADY.

WHAT DAVE HAS TO CALCULATE MOVING FORWARD IS DOES THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT GO ONE WAY OR ANOTHER?

COULD YOU GET IT OR WOULD VIVEK HAS TO PERFORM AT THE END OF THE DAY.

IF HE BOMBS THIS WITH ELON MUSK, HE IS NOT GOING TO HAVE GREAT CREDIBILITY IN OHIO.

VIVEK IS AN INTERNET STAR, HE LOOKS GREAT ON TV AND GIVES GREAT SOUND BITES.

THERE IS A LOT OF OHIO THAT KNOWS DAVE YOST BEFORE VIVEK RAMASWAMY BUT THIS IS NOT A SHOE IN FOR VIVEK, GOD BLESS THEM, I LIKE HIM BUT I THINK DAVE IS IN A GOOD POSITION ONE- ON-ONE.

>> I THINK THERE ARE DIFFERENCES WITH BOTH, I THINK YOST HAS SOME REAL PROBLEMATIC THINGS IN HIS BACKGROUND, INCLUDING THE ISSUE WITH THE YOUNG GIRL THAT WENT TO INDIANA OVER THE ABORTION ISSUE.

I DO THINK THAT --I HATE TO SAY IT, BUT WE HAVE A MISOGYNIST AND SORT OF RACIST WAY IN WHICH IN A GENERAL ELECTION, IT IS AN UPHILL BATTLE FOR ANYBODY WHO IS A LITTLE DIFFERENT IN THIS STATE TO PULL TOGETHER AND WIN.

IT CAN BE DONE.

BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE PRIMARIES.

WHEN HE DID HAVE A PRIMARY AND HE BEAT PETRO, HE SUBSEQUENTLY LOST THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR.

>> AND 2026, THERE WOULD BE A RACE FOR SENATE ON THE BALLOT.

SHERRY BROWN IS THE PERSON WHO HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT.

A SHERRY BROWN AND JON HUSTED RACE WOULD BE VERY INTERESTING.

>> INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST.

I MEAN, OHIO IS A RED STATE, I DON'T THINK ANYONE IS QUESTIONING THAT, BUT OF COURSE NATIONALLY, OFTENTIMES THE TREND IS TWO YEARS AFTER A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THERE IS SOME SORT OF BACKLASH AT THE ADMINISTRATION, NO MATTER HOW WELL THAT ADMINISTRATION IS PERFORMING.

THAT IS NOT PERFECT, BUT OF COURSE, YOU MAY SEE DEMOCRATS HAVING A LITTLE BIT OF THAT BUMP, AND SHERRY BROWN IS REALLY A POPULAR SENIOR IN THE STATE.

MARINE OBM, BUT BERNIE MORENO BE TRUMPED BY ABOUT EIGHT POINTS.

>> AND DONALD TRUMP WILL NOT BE ON THE BALLOT IN TWO YEARS OR IN FOUR YEARS BUT ANYWAY, A BIG ONE FOR REPUBLICANS AFTER OFFICE, THE GOP WILL HOLD THE WHITE HOUSE AND BOTH CHAMBERS OF CONGRESS.

AND CONSERVATIVES CONTROL THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, SO, [ INAUDIBLE ] JD VANCE WILL BE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE QUESTION FOR OHIOANS IS HOW WILL THIS AFFECT THE STATE, ITS PEOPLE, AND ITS ECONOMY?

GOOD NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS , YOU ARE IN CONTROL.

THE BAD NEWS IS ALL THESE PROBLEMS ARE YOURS, SO WHAT DO YOU EXPECT DONALD TRUMP'S FIRST PRIORITY WILL BE AS HE TAKES THE OATH THIS WEEK?

>> I SUSPECT HE IS GOING TO SECURE THE BORDER, HE IS GOING TO MAKE US SAFE, HE IS GOING TO PUT PLANS IN PLACE TO MAKE SURE THE BAD GUYS ARE OUT OF THIS COUNTRY AND THERE ARE A LOT OF BAD GUYS IN THIS COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

I'M GOING TO BE WITH JD VANCE NEXT WEEK OR THE MARCH FOR LIFE, IT IS OUR ANNUAL EVENT, AND I KNOW HE IS EXCITED TO PROMOTE THAT, BUT THE BAD NEWS IS PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS A MANDATE, LOOK AT ALL THE STATES HE WON, ONE AT THE BLUE WALL, I THINK THAT'S WHAT YOU GUYS CALL IT.

HE WON ALL THE SWING STATES, AND HAS A MANDATE TO GO IN AND FIX WHAT THE VOTERS DON'T LIKE.

JOE BIDEN HAS A 30% APPROVAL RATING RIGHT NOW, PEOPLE WANT CHANGE, AND DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO GIVE US CHANGE ON DAY ONE.

>> BRIAN, HOW DO DEMOCRATS COUNTER WHAT DONALD TRUMP WANTS TO DO?

ASK FIRST OF ALL, I AM NOT SURE IT IS A MANDATE THAT YOU SAY IT IS, BECAUSE THE NUMBERS ACTUALLY WERE VERY TIGHT ON THE NATIONAL VOTING, AND YOUR PRESIDENT OF ALL THE PEOPLE, SO, I DO THINK IS GOING TO TRY TO FOLLOW UP ON SOME OF HIS PROMISES.

I DON'T THINK HE IS GOING TO HAVE AN EASY TIME ON THE STUFF THAT HE HAS TO GET THROUGH CONGRESS, HE HAS GOT A VERY NARROW MAJORITY IN BOTH, A LITTLE MORE ROOM IN THE SENATE THEN HE HAS IN THE HOUSE.

HE HAS ALREADY MADE SOME DECISIONS THAT ARE GOING TO CAUSE HIM TROUBLE.

MIKE TURNER SAYING THAT BASICALLY HE WAS TAKEN OUT OF HIS CHAIRMANSHIP BECAUSE OF MAR- A-LAGO.

THE CONGRESSMAN FROM DAYTON.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT REALLY ARE GOING TO THINK INDEPENDENTLY, YOU ARE THE HEARING MITCH McCONNELL AND A COUPLE OF THE APPOINTMENTS NOW STARTING TO HEDGE, SO, IT IS NOT GOING TO BE AS SMOOTH AS PEOPLE THINK IT IS, BUT HE DID GET ELECTED ON A PLANE AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO FOLLOW IT.

>> AS FAR AS JD VANCE, TOUGH TO BE VICE PRESIDENT, ART ENOUGH IN NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

YOU HAVE GOT DONALD TRUMP AND ALL OF HIM SUCKING MOST OF THE ATTENTION OUT OF THINGS, THEN YOU HAVE GOT ELON MUSK, VIVEK RAMASWAMY, IT IS GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR HIM.

>> JESSE, WHAT DOES JD VANCE MEAN FOR OHIO?

DOES OHIO SEE ANY DIRECT BENEFIT OF THE FACT THAT HE IS THERE?

MIKE PENCE, I AM NOT SURE HOW MUCH INDIANA BENEFITED FROM HIM OR CALIFORNIA FROM KAMALA HARRIS.

>> YEAH, I THINK IT HELPS TO HAVE SOMEONE IN THE ROOM WHERE THE CONVERSATIONS ARE BEING HAD, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE HAVE BERNIE MORENO AS A NEW U.S.

SENATOR, NOW JON HUSTED IS GOING TO BE A NEW U.S.

SENATOR, WE LOST A LOT OF EXPERIENCE AND TENURE IN WASHINGTON RECENTLY IN THOSE ROLES WITH ROB AND SHARON BROWN LEAVING THOSE POSITIONS, AND SO, JUST HAVING SOMEONE WHO IS IN THE ROOM WHEN BUSINESS DEAL OR CAN THIS BUSINESS COME TO OHIO, IT IS PROBABLY BENEFICIAL.

>> KIND OF GETTING BACK TO JON HUSTED NOW, WE TALK ABOUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN WASHINGTON, WHAT KIND OF REPUBLICAN DO THINK JON HUSTED WILL BE IN THE SENATE, WILL HE BE A FULL-FLEDGED MATTER REPUBLICAN LIKE SENATOR KENNEDY FROM LOUISIANA OR WILL HE BE MORE MODERATE, YOU KNOW, NOT BE A FULL THROATED IN SUPPORT?

>> I THINK TO BE DETERMINED.

HE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ARDENT SUPPORTER OF DONALD TRUMP THAT I THINK HE HAS SAID THAT.

HE ALREADY SAID THAT HE PLANS TO VOTE FOR ALL OF TRUMP'S NOMINEES, SO I THINK THE EXPECTATION IS THAT HE IS GOING TO RUBBER-STAMP A LOT OF WHAT TRUMP IS FORWARD, BUT OF COURSE, HE DOES HAVE , I BELIEVE, THE WINE AND HIM HAVE A CLOSE RELATIONSHIP, AND THE WIND IS SEEN AS A KIND OF OUTGOING ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICAN, AND I DON'T MEAN OUTGOING IN THE --IN AN OLDER SENSE OF REPUBLICAN, THAT IS FEWER AND FEWER IN THIS STATE, AND OF COURSE, THEY HAVE THIS CLOSE RELATIONSHIP, SO IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW HE CARVES THAT PATH.

>> BOTH OF OUR SENATORS ARE ROOKIES, REAL ROOKIES, MIKE.

HOW DO YOU SEE THEM NAVIGATING THIS TRUMP SITUATION?

THEY MIGHT DISAGREE WITH HIM ON THINGS LIKE AID TO UKRAINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

NEXT YOU KNOW, LOOK, BOTH NEW SENATORS FROM OHIO ALSO UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR CONSTITUENTS WANT AND THE BASE IN OHIO.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WON OHIO TWICE BY 11 OR 12 POINTS, IT IS A VERY RUBY RED STATE.

NURSING SENATOR MORENO AND JON HUSTED, SENATOR ELECT, THEY'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THE WILL OF THEIR CONSTITUENTS.

ESPECIALLY JOHN, WHO HAS AN ELECTION IN TWO YEARS.

TO AVOID A PRIMARY AS WELL.

I KNOW JON PERSONALLY, AND HE IS GOING TO FURTHER WANT TO ADVANCE THE TRUMP AGENDA.

WE HAD A BIG COMPANY COME TO OHIO THE OTHER DAY, I SUSPECT VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THAT >> WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

BUT FIRST, ONE THING THAT HAPPENS IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AFTER AN ELECTION IS DOWN, THEY TEND TO SPEAK MORE FREELY WITH THE NEXT ELECTION FAR OFF.

THIS WEEK, THE LEADER OF OHIO'S REPUBLICAN PARTY SAID PUBLICLY WHAT MOST STRONGLY SUSPECTED.

TOLD THE PARTY MEETING IN NORTHERN OHIO THAT THEY DID THEIR JOB CAMPAIGNING TO DEFEAT THE RESISTING AMENDMENT, BECAUSE THEY CONFUSED VOTERS.

HE SAID, "CONFUSING VOTERS WAS NOT SUCH A BAD THING."

WELL, WE ARE CONFUSED AND VOTERS WERE SWAYED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CALLS TO VOTE NO ON ISSUE 1, REDISTRICTING AMENDMENT, AND IT WENT DOWN TO DEFEAT.

THIS IS NO SURPRISE.

WE KNEW WHAT THE STRATEGY WAS.

WHAT DO DEMOCRATS, WHAT DO SUPPORTERS OF THE REDISTRICTING REFORM DO WITH THIS NEWS?

>> WELL, FIRST OF ALL, IT IS NO BIG SURPRISE, BUT SECONDLY, IT DOESN'T TAKE AWAY FROM THE FACT THAT THEY HAD TO BE VERY SPECIFIC IN HOW THEY WERE MESSAGING, AND OBVIOUSLY, THE MESSAGING WAS OFF, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T ENCOUNTER IT EFFECTIVELY.

YOU KNOW, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT WHAT POLITICAL OPERATIVES ARE THINKING ABOUT THE ACTUAL PEOPLE THAT THEY REPRESENT?

THAT THEY CAN PULL THE WORLD, THEY CAN CHANGE THINGS?

IS THIS MORE OF A CONTINUATION OF WHAT WE HAD OVER THE LAST EIGHT YEARS , OF, YOU KNOW, STOLEN ELECTIONS THAT WERE STOLEN, AND YOU KNOW, TRYING TO --ALL THESE THINGS THAT DON'T REALLY EXIST , BUT CONFUSED VOTERS?

I THINK THAT IS NEW POLITICS, AND I THINK IT IS SAD.

>> CONFUSING VOTERS IS NOT ILLEGAL.

IT IS A WELL-KNOWN POLITICAL STRATEGY.

IS IT WRONG?

THAT'S A NO, BECAUSE THE VOTERS WEREN'T CONFUSED.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SAID VOTERS WERE CONFUSED AND IT WORKED.

>> I WASN'T CONFUSED, NO ONE AROUND THIS TABLE WAS CONFUSED, I DON'T THINK THE AVERAGE VOTER WAS, THEY VOTED NO BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE WHAT WAS ON THE TABLES.

I RESPECT VOTERS EVEN WHEN THEY DISAGREE WITH ME.

THE VOTERS GET IT RIGHT EVERY THE DAY, THE $5 MILLION THAT ALEX HAD, HE IS A FRIEND OF MINE, PALES IN COMPARISON.

THEY SHOULD HAVE EASILY BEEN ABLE TO WHITEWASH ANY ISSUES THAT THE REPUBLICANS WERE TRYING TO DO, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, MICHAEL, THE MISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN WAS GERRYMANDERING.

WE HAD A UNANIMOUS BIPARTISAN MAP PASSED BY THE LEGISLATURE, THERE IS NO GERRYMANDERING.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> THE FACE OF THE PROGRAM THAT YOU GUYS USE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] SEVEN TIMES.

>> ANYWAY, JESSIE, SO THIS IS NOT OVER, BECAUSE THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP ONLY GOT REPUBLICAN SUPPORT, IT LOST FOR FOUR YEARS.

THE CONGRESSIONAL MAP, NOT STATE LEGISLATIVE, BUT CONGRESSIONAL, SO WE HAVE TO DRAW MAPS AGAIN.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THIS PROCESS?

>> YEAH, MORE MAP DRAWING.

I THINK THIS WILL GO QUICKER THAN THE PREVIOUS VERSION, IN PART BECAUSE I THINK REPUBLICANS CONTROL THE OHIO HOUSE AND SENATE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO DRAW A MAP, THE OHIO SUPREME COURT IS NOW 6-1 IN FAVOR OF REPUBLICANS, THEY'RE LIKELY TO SUPPORT WHATEVER MAP IS APPROVED THERE, AND SO, I THINK WE WILL SEE SOME CHANGES.

I THINK YOU WANT TO KEEP AN EYE ON MARCY'S DISTRICT UP IN THE TOLEDO AREA.

WE WILL SEE AMELIA IN THE AKRON AREA.

AFTER THEY TAKE A LOOK AT THAT AS WELL, BUT YEAH, THIS WILL BE MUCH QUICKER.

X SO, THOSE TWO DISTRICTS IN PARTICULAR, IF THEY REALLY FAVOR REPUBLICANS OVERWHELMINGLY, THAT GIVES FUEL TO A POSSIBLE FUTURE RUN ON THE BALLOT FOR ANOTHER REDISTRICTING REFORM AMENDMENT.

REPUBLICANS WANT TO AVOID THAT FIGHT AND PLAY IT CLOSE TO A FAIR DISTRICT MODEL HERE.

THAT'S I MEAN, IT'S TOUGH TO SAY THAT I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK THAT IT WAS A PRETTY RESOUNDING LOSS FOR THE SUPPORTERS OF ISSUE 1.

I DON'T KNOW HOW ARDENTLY THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO TRY AND GET BACK ON THE BALLOT.

OF COURSE, YOU KNOW, YOU HAD TRUMP AT THE TOP OF THE BALLOT AND TRUMP SAYING VOTE AGAINST ISSUE 1.

I THINK WE REALLY SHOULD NOT UNDERESTIMATE HOW VOTERS AS WELL, BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW QUICK SUPPORTERS ARE GOING TO BE.

IT IS REALLY, REALLY EXPENSIVE FOR A BALLOT CAMPAIGN.

>> I'M NOT SURE WHERE THE DONORS ARE GOING TO BE, BUT AT SOME POINT, I DO THINK THERE WILL BE AN EFFORT.

I WOULD HOPE THAT GOVERNOR DeWINE IS AT HIS WORD THAT HE WANTS TO PASS SORT OF AN EYE WHAT STYLE AND DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENTLY.

THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THERE ARE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

AN EXTREMELY LARGE AMOUNT.

IT IS NOT AS RUBY RED AS YOU SAY IT IS.

IT IS STILL A PURPLE STATE IN SOME WAYS.

IT MAY LEAN A LITTLE MORE RED.

BUT PEOPLE NEED A VOICE, AND WHEN PEOPLE GET FRUSTRATED, THAT'S WHEN THINGS START TO CHANGE.

>> BUT A LOT OF REPUBLICANS, DO WINE, EVEN IN OUR HOUSE SPEAKER HOFFMAN SAID THE CURRENT SYSTEM NEEDS IMPROVEMENT.

WILL THEY IMPROVE IT ANYTIME SOON?

>> I DON'T THINK SO, THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES ON THE TABLE, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE RENAISSANCE.

AND VOTERS --AT THE END OF THE DAY, GEORGE LOVES THE CURRENT SYSTEM, SHE IS GOING TO GET HER FRANKLIN COUNTY AND SHE IS GOING TO LOVE IT.

AMELIA SIKES IS GOING TO LOVE IT, THE DEMOCRAT IS PEOPLE THAT WE HAVE TODAY LIKE THE CURRENT SYSTEM.

>> LET'S GET BACK TO OUR LAST TOPIC.

OHIO IS THE BIRTHPLACE OF AVIATION AND THIS WEEK IT LANDED A COMPANY HELPING USHERING IN THE NEXT ERA OF FLIGHT.

MILITARY EQUIPMENT COMPANY ANDURIL ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK IT WILL BUILD A ONE BILLION DOLLAR FACTORY NEXT TO RICKENBACKER AIRPORT.

THE FACTOR-CALLED ARSENAL ONE – WILL BE FIVE MILLION SQUARE FEET AND EMPLOY UP TO 4- THOUSAND WORKERS.

IT WILL MAKE AI-GUIDED DRONE HUNTING AUTONOMOUS JETS AND OTHER WEAPONS.

>> AND WE CHOOSE OHIO BECAUSE OHIO IS BUILT FOR THIS WITH ITS UNMATCHED INFRASTRUCTURE AND CENTRAL LOCATION AND WORLD- CLASS WORKFORCE, OHIO OFFERS THE IDEAL FOUNDATION FOR ARSENAL 1.

FROM AEROSPACE INNOVATION TO MILITARY SEARCH, THE STATE IS PROUD.

>> THE COMPANY WILL GET HELP FROM OHIO TAXPAYERS.

IT WILL REQUEST $70 MILLION FROM THE STATE, AS ALLEGED TAX CREDITS AND OTHER GRANTS.

OFFICIALS DECLINED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC ON THE EXACT AMOUNT OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT.

HOW HARD WAS IT FOR OHIO TO GET THIS PLAN, WAS THERE COMPETITION?

>> NO, I HAVE TO IMAGINE THERE WAS COMPETITION, BUT THESE DEALS ARE REALLY KIND OF MADE IN PRIVATE UNTIL THEY BECOME PUBLIC.

I THINK THE STATE LEARNED ITS LESSON WITH INTEL BECAUSE THE DETAILS LEAKED OUT A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE, AND THIS WAS UNDER WRAPS UNTIL BASICALLY THE MORNING THAT IT CAME OUT.

OHIO WAS RECORDING THIS PROJECT HEAVILY.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JON HUSTED SAID HE PLAYED A BIG ROLE IN THAT.

AND THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH WAS REPORTING THAT OTHER STATES WERE ACTUALLY NOT INTERESTED IN THE PROJECT.

SOME OF THIS HAS TO DO WITH POLITICS, THE DISPATCH WAS REPORTING.

YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE FOUNDERS TO MOVE THEIR COMPANY TO OHIO TO BUILD THIS FACTORY BECAUSE OF OHIO'S CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE.

>> JESSIE, EXECUTIVES SAID THAT THE PROXIMITY TO WRIGHT- PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE WAS A REASON WHY THEY CHOSE THIS SPOT.

RICKENBACKER AIRPORT ACCORDING TO GOOGLE MAPS IS 76.5 MILES AWAY FROM RICKENBACKER.

I MEAN, FROM WRIGHT-PATTERSON.

[ INAUDIBLE ] THIS ISN'T IN THE DAYTON AREA?

>> NO, CENTRAL OHIO LAYINS HAVE A LOT OF BIG ONES RECENTLY, I THINK THERE'S SOME FRUSTRATION OUT OF THAT REGION THAT THERE AREN'T AS LARGE OF PROJECTS, BUT GENERALLY, THERE ARE OTHER THINGS THAT OHIO HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN, BUT YOU'RE KIND OF SEEING THIS INDUSTRY FOCUSED IN THIS AREA FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS, BUT ALSO, THINGS AS SIMPLE AS HAVING AN AIRPORT NEARBY IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO THESE COMPANIES.

>> MARK, A LOT OF NUMBERS , $900 MILLION FACTORY, $1.6 BILLION IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

ODD THAT WE DON'T HAVE THE NUMBERS OF STATE GOVERNMENT FUNDS BEING USED TO ATTRACT THIS COMPANY.

WHY DO THEY ALWAYS HIDE THOSE?

>> THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH THE LEGISLATURE, TOO, AT SOME POINT.

IT'S ALL GOING TO BECOME PUBLIC AS IT SHOULD BE, THE PUBLIC HAS A RIGHT TO KNOW.

THIS IS A HUGE WIN FOR PICKLE WAKE COUNTY.

THIS IS NOT IN COLUMBUS.

SO, WE CAN PUT SOME IN ALL 88 COUNTIES, BUT YOU'RE SEEING MORE AND MORE BIG OPPORTUNITIES GO OUTSIDE OF FRANKLIN COUNTY.

WASHINGTON COURTHOUSE IS GETTING THE BATTERY FROM HONDA, SO WE ARE GROWING OUTSIDE OF COLUMBUS, WHICH IS A GOOD THING.

>> IS IT BAD, BRIAN, THAT WE DON'T HAVE THAT WARM, FUZZY FEELING THAT WE DO WITH THE BATTERY PLANT THAT IS GOING TO MAKE POLLUTION FREE CARS?

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> I THINK THIS IS BETTER.

YOU KNOW, SIMILAR TO THE TANK PLANT, I WOULD SAY THIS, YES, IT IS IN PICKLE WOOD COUNTY, BUT WE DID HAVE A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT, IT DID HAPPEN UNDER THINK THE FACT THAT THIS REGION ISN'T AS DIVISIVE POLITICALLY, THAT REPUBLICANS CAN WORK WITH THE DEMOCRATIC COUNTY COMMISSIONERS IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, INCLUDING KEVIN BOYCE AND JOHN O'GRADY AND ERIKA CROWLEY, AND MAYOR GINTHER AS HEAD OF THE LEAGUE OF CITIES.

THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU'RE TRYING TO LOCATE A COMPANY, AND YOU KNOW, YES, IT DOES AFFECT FRANKLIN COUNTY ON THIS REGION BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF JOBS THAT WILL BE COMING DIRECTLY FROM FRANKLIN COUNTY.

SO, I THINK THERE WAS REAL GOOD SYNERGY.

JUST AS THERE WAS WITH INTEL.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT HELPS.

>> 4000 JOBS , A TEN-YEAR PERIOD.

THAT IS A LONG WAY, TECHNOLOGY WILL CHANGE.

HOW CONFIDENT ARE THEY THAT ALL THOSE JOBS WILL BE THERE?

>> I THINK THEY ARE CONFIDENT, BUT I WILL EXPRESS, LIKE EXPRESS WITH ANY OF THESE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS, OF COURSE, YOU HAVE SEEN INTEL ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET AND THERE IS ALL THIS EXCITEMENT WHEN THEY FIRST COME, BUT THEN FUNDING AND CONSTRUCTION, SO YOU KNOW, IT --THESE PROJECTS ARE VERY EXCITING WHEN THEY ARE ANNOUNCED, BUT THERE ARE A LOT OF HURDLES TO CLEAR, AND YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT A VERY YOUNG COMPANY, A STARTUP COMPANY THAT HAS FLASHY FUNDING AND FLASHY IDEAS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

>> TODAY ON THE WAY OUT OF OFFICE, PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THAT HE BELIEVED THAT THE E.R.A.

WAS IN FACT LAW.

IT HAS TO BE ACTUALLY --THEY HAVE TO PUT IT IN PLACE.

THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF ARGUING BACK AND FORTH OVER THE TIMELINE OF IT, BUT TWO THIRDS OF THE STATE HAVE RATIFIED THE E.R.A., AND IT IS HIGH TIME WE RECOGNIZE WOMEN IN THAT WAY.

>> WE HAVE JUST BEEN APPROACHED TO TALK ABOUT SCHIMPF FIVE -- THE MAYOR OF OUR SUBURBS, THEY BETTER GET OFF THEIR CANNONS, START ALLOWING MORE HOUSING, PUT THESE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE HOUSING PROBLEM AND THE MAYORS OF THESE SUBURBAN, RICH, WHITE CITIES ARE REFUSING TO ALLOW MORE HOUSING TO COME IN.

>> WATCHING THE DEVELOPMENTS, LAWMAKERS ARE IN VERY EARLY NEGOTIATIONS ON AN ENERGY PROPOSAL, THEY HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT A LITTLE IN THE LAST WEEK OR TWO, WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT DATA CENTERS AND MANUFACTURING PLANTS, WE HAVE ALL TO SO HAVE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HOW WE POWER ALL OF THIS.

>> JESSIE?

HOPEFULLY, DEMOCRATS AND REPLICANTS CAN COME TOGETHER TO SUPPORT THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES IN THEIR NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP BID.

YEAH.

>> WHO BENEFITS NOTRE DAME?

THE INDIANA GOVERNOR?

>> I THINK HE DID MAKE A BET WITH INDIANA GOVERNOR.

>> HASN'T HAD GOOD LUCK WITH THOSE BETS LATELY.

TIKTOK IS COMING UP, THIS DECISION NEXT WEEK.

I AM NOT ON TIKTOK.

WE WILL SEE HOW THAT WORKS OUT.

BECAUSE WE ARE NOT ON TIKTOK HERE ON THIS SHOW.

WE ARE ON DIGITAL MEDIA.

YOU CAN CONTINUE THE FACEBOOK PAGE AND ALSO WATCHES ANY TIME ON YOUR TIME AT WOSU.ORG.

WE ARE ALSO ON YOUTUBE AND THE PBS VIDEO APP, JUST NOT ON TIKTOK.

[HAVE A GOOD WEEK.