>>> KAMALA HARRIS TAKES IT TO DONALD TRUMP IN SPRINGFIELD ABOUT HIS FALSE RUMORS.

♪♪ WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

HISTORIC MAY BE TOO EARLY AN ADJECTIVE, AND WHETHER THIS WEEKEND'S TRUMP-HARRIS DEBATE WILL DECIDE THE RACE REMAINS A QUESTION, BUT IT WAS MEMORABLE.

THE DEBATE HAD SOME SUBSTANCE.

THE CANDIDATE DISCUSSED THE ECONOMY, IMMIGRATION, ABORTION RIGHTS, BUT IT WILL BE REMEMBERED MORE FOR THE STYLES THAT KAMALA HARRIS AND DONALD TRUMP BROUGHT TO THE STAGE.

AND THIS ONE IMPORTANT THOUGH TRIVIAL MOMENT -- >> I'M GOING TO INVITE YOU TO ATTEND ONE OF DONALD TRUMP'S RALLIES BECAUSE IT'S A REALLY INTERESTING THING TO WATCH.

YOU WILL SEE DURING THE COURSE OF HIS RALLIES HE TALKS ABOUT FICTIONAL CHARACTERS LIKE HANNIBAL LECTER.

HE WILL TALK ABOUT WINDMILLS CAUSE CANCER.

WHAT YOU WILL NOTICE IS PEOPLE START LEAVING HIS RALLIES EARLY OUT OF EXHAUSTION AND BOREDOM.

>> PEOPLE DON'T LEAVE MY RALLIES.

WE HAVE THE BIGGEST RALLIES, THE MOST INCREDIBLE RALLIES IN THE HISTORY OF POLITICS.

THAT'S BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT TO TAKE THEIR COUNTRY BACK.

>> IT WAS ONE OF THE FEW TRIVIAL EXCHANGES THAT ANGERED TRUMP AND PROMPTED HIM TO SPEND MORE TIME DEFENDING HIS RALLIES, HIS INHERITANCE, AND ROLE IN THE JANUARY 6th INSURRECTION THAN CRITIQUING THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION.

MIKE GONIDAKIS, THE FORMER PRESIDENT SAID IT WAS HIS BEST DEBATE PERFORMANCE IN HISTORY.

DO YOU AGREE?

>> NO, IT WASN'T HIS BEST DEBATE PERFORMANCE.

BUT SHE WON THE STYLE, HE WON THE SUBSTANCE BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY "THE NEW YORK TIMES" POLL CAME OUT RIGHT BEFORE THE DEBATE, AND THEY SAID TRUMP'S WINNING, WINNING KEY SWING STATES, WHY?

BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T KNOW HER POLICIES, AND SHE FLIP-FLOPPED ON SO MANY ISSUES.

EVEN CARL KLONDIKE SAID HARRIS NEEDS TO GET HER IDEAS OUT BUT FAILED DURING THE DEBATE.

THE FLASH POLL AT CNN, NOT FOX NEWS, RIGHT AFTER THE DEBATE HAS 55% OF PEOPLE TRUSTING TRUMP ON THE ECONOMY.

IT'S ALWAYS A POCKETBOOK ELECTION.

THAT'S WHAT SHE FAILED TO DO TO GET HER MESSAGE OUT.

YES, SHE DID VERY WELL ON STYLE AND HIT HIM ON THINGS THAT GOT UNDER HIS SKIN AND TOOK HIM OFF MESSAGE.

BUT THE SINGLE MOM WHO CAN'T AFFORD GROCERIES THIS WEEKEND IS GOING TO REMEMBER THAT, NOT JANUARY 6th, NOT TRUMP'S RALLIES OR HER RALLIES.

>> FINE.

THE RALLIES, JANUARY 6th MAY BE AN ISSUE.

MORGAN, THE EXPECTATIONS WERE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM KAMALA HARRIS.

THE LAST TIME SHE DEBATED WAS MIKE PENCE IN 2020.

SHE HADN'T DONE MUCH INTERVIEWS, CHALLENGE INTERVIEWS.

BUT SHE DID BETTER THAN PROBABLY PEOPLE EXPECTED.

WOULD YOU SAY?

>> YO, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT -- YEAH, I THINK THAT'S RIGHT.

KAMALA HARRIS IS RUNNING AN EXTREMELY TRUNCATED CAMPAIGN FOR PRESIDENT.

IT'S ONLY GOING TO BE A TOTAL BEFORE THREE MONTHS OR SO THAT SHE WILL BE THE NOMINEE, THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR PRESIDENT.

AND SO SHE HAS A LOT OF TASKS BEFORE HER TO COMPLETE.

ONE OF THE PRIMARY ONES IS TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT SHE IS PRESIDENTIAL, THAT SHE'S ABLE TO BE TOUGH, THAT SHE CAN TAKE ON THESE BIG MOMENTS AND SUCCEED.

AND I THINK SHE MORE THAN CLEARED THAT BARRIER IN THIS DEBATE.

BUT I AGREE TO AN EXTENT, AGAIN, ALWAYS SHOCKS ME WHEN I AGREE TO ANY EXTENT WITH MIKE, BUT SHE DOES NEED FROM HERE I THINK TO GET BACK TO THE POLICIES.

SO I DON'T AT ALL GIVE IN TO THIS CRITIQUE THAT WE HAVEN'T HEARD SPECIFICITY FROM HER.

SHE'S BEEN VICE PRESIDENT FOR THREE YEARS, SHE'S DONE AN EXTREMELY STRONG ECONOMIC SPEECH IN NORTH CAROLINA A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO.

AND NOW IS THE TIME BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY TO REALLY CONTINUE TO HAMMER HOME THOSE POINTS ABOUT HOW SHE AND THE BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS HAVE BEEN STANDING UP FOR AMERICAN WORKERS AND BUSINESSES ACROSS THIS COUNTRY TO TAKE ON CORPORATE POWER.

>> WHEN YOU LOOK AT THIS DEBATE, WHEN YOU WATCHED IT, IT WAS -- DONALD TRUMP BECAME THE INCUMBENT BECAUSE HE WAS THE FORMER PRESIDENT.

HE WAS MORE DEFENDING HIS RECORD THAN SHE WAS DEFENDING THE BIDEN-HARRIS RECORD BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE DEBATE UNFOLDED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I THINK YOU SAW A SITUATION WHERE I IMAGINE TRUMP'S ADVISERS WANTED HIM TO TIE HARRIS AND BIDEN TOGETHER, AND I DON'T NECESSARILY KNOW THAT THAT PLAYED OUT ON THE DEBATE STAGE.

TRUMP REFERENCED BIDEN A LOT, BUT I DON'T KNOW THAT THE LANGUAGE REALLY SUCCEEDED IN TYING BIDEN AND HARRIS TOGETHER BECAUSE SHE IS -- ALTHOUGH SHE'S NOT AN INCUMBENT, SHE HAS BEEN PART OF THIS ADMINISTRATION FOR THE LAST 3 1/2 YEARS.

>> THE ISSUES THAT YOU MENTION, THE ECONOMY, IMMIGRATION, TRUMP SUPPORTERS ARE WITH HIM NO MATTER WHAT.

IT'S HIS -- STYLE IS IMPORTANT, THOUGH, FOR THOSE RELUCTANT REPUBLICANS WHO PERHAPS WILL -- THEY LIKE HIS POLICIES BUT DON'T LIKE HIS STYLE AND FOR THE SMALL NUMBER OF UNDECIDED FOLKS.

THEY SEE WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DEBATE AND SAY, YOU KNOW, WE HAD FOUR YEARS OF THAT, NOT SURE WE WANT MORE OF THAT.

THAT A CONCERN?

>> IT'S NOT BECAUSE WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET WITH DONALD TRUMP.

HE'S NO -- HE WAS PRESIDENT, CAMPAIGNED FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS BECAUSE WE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO DO IT AGAIN IF IN 2024.

HE IS WHO HE IS.

WHETHER PEOPLE ARE UNDECIDED OR REPUBLICANS SQUISHED IN THE MIDDLE IS THAT THIS ECONOMY AND INFLATION AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUY A HOUSE IN 2024 IS CRUSHING THEM, MIKE.

THEY MIGHT SAY ONE THING AT THEIR WINE PARTIES ON THURSDAY NIGHT, BUT WHEN THEY GO INTO THE BALLOT BOX AND PULL -- WE DON'T PULL LEVERS, BUT PUSH THE BUTTON, THEY WILL VOTE FOR WHAT THEY USED TO HAVE WHEN IT WAS BETTER.

THEY ASKED KAMALA ARE WE BETTER OFF NOW THAN FOUR YEARS AGO AND SHE DIDN'T ANSWER THE QUESTION.

>> MORGAN, DOES KAMALA HARRIS HAVE TO SEPARATE HERSELF MORE FROM JOE BIDEN?

SEPARATE COMPLETELY.

DOES SHE HAVE TO CARVE HER OWN PATH?

SHE DIDN'T DO IT IN THIS DEBATE.

>> I THINK SHE'S BEGINNING TO DO THAT.

SHE WAS ABLE IN THIS DEBATE TO PRESENT HERSELF AS A VERY CAPABLE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AND SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING, ABLE, AND MATURE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

DONALD TRUMP WAS NOT ABLE TO DO THAT.

I THINK THAT WAS A CLEAR TAKEAWAY FROM PEOPLE FROM THIS DEBATE.

FROM HERE SHE IS IN WHAT I THINK IS AN ENVIABLE POSITION ACTUALLY TO TAKE ON THE STRENGTHS FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION WHICH INCLUDE THINGS LIKE LOWERING INSULIN PRICES, TAKING MEASURES TO LOWER THE PRICES OF INHALERS.

THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THAT, TRYING TO BAN NONCOMPETE AGREEMENTS THAT ARE GOING TO SPUR INNOVATION AND ALSO ADDRESS SOME ISSUES THAT I AGREE DO MATTER A LOT TO NOT ONLY SWING VOTERS BUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF VOTERS.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO LOWER THE COST OF HOUSING?

THEY'RE DOING THAT.

REDUCING THE ABILITY OF CORPORATE LANDLORDS TO PRICE FIX WITH RENTS.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LOWER PRICES?

THEY HAVE PLANS FOR THAT.

AND SO AGAIN, I THINK SHE FROM HERE ON OUT HAS CLEARED THIS THRESHOLD OF ESTABLISHING HERSELF AS THE NOMINEE AND A CLEAR PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, BUT SHE HAS GOT TO CONTINUE TO HIT HOME ON POLICY SUBSTANCE FROM HERE ON OUT ON THE ISSUES THAT REALLY DO MATTER, AND THOSE TEND TO BE ECONOMIC.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, GOT A SHOUT OUT IN THIS PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE.

NOT WHAT IT REALLY WANTED.

THE CITY HAS SEEN A SUDDEN INFLUX OF HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS, LEGAL IMMIGRANTS, FLEEING GANG WARS IN THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

THEY HAVE FILLED JOBS BUT HAVE -- THE POPULATION HAS STRESSED SCHOOLS AND THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM AND HAS LED TO HIGHER HOUSING COSTS.

LAST YEAR A HAITIAN IMMIGRANT'S MINIVAN COLLIDED WITH A SCHOOL BUS.

THE CRASH KILLED AN 11-YEAR-OLD BOY AND INJURED MANY OTHER KIDS.

WHILE THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THE DRIVER'S IMMIGRATION STATUS PLAYED A ROLE IN THE CRASH, BERNIE MORENO SUPPORTERS USED IT TO CRITICIZE JOE BIDEN'S AND SHERROD BROWN'S IMMIGRATION STANCES.

THEN CAME AN INTERNET RUMOR THAT HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS WERE STEALING PETS AND EATING THEM.

J.D.

VANCE TWEETED ABOUT IT SAYING REPORTS SHOW PEOPLE WHO SHOULDN'T BE IN THIS COUNTRY, THEN HIS RUNNING MATE AMPLIFIED THE RUMOR.

>> IN SPRINGFIELD, THEY'RE EATING THE DOGS, THE PEOPLE THAT CAME IN, THEY'RE EATING THE CATS, THEY'RE EATING -- THEY'RE EATING THE PETS OF THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE THERE.

AND THIS IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR COUNTRY.

>> IT'S NOT HAPPENING.

SPRINGFIELD POLICE AND CITY OFFICIALS SAY THERE ARE NO REPORTS, NO CREDIBLE EVIDENCE OF PETS BEING STOLEN AND EATEN.

AS THE NATION'S ATTENTION TURNED TO SPRINGFIELD AND ITS NEW IMMIGRANT RESIDENTS, THE DEATH OF AIDEN CLARK, THE 11-YEAR-OLD BOY KILLED IN THE BUS CRASH, CALLED ON POLITICIANS TO TURN THEIR ATTENTION ELSEWHERE.

>> SPEAKING OF MORALLY BANKRUPT, POLITICIANS, BERNIE MORENO, CHIP ROY, J.D.

VANCE, AND DONALD TRUMP, THEY HAVE SPOKEN MY SON'S NAME AND USED HIS DEATH FOR POLITICAL GAIN.

THIS NEEDS TO STOP NOW.

THEY CAN VOMIT ALL THE HATE THEY WANT ABOUT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, THE BORDER CRISIS, AND EVEN UNTRUE CLAIMS ABOUT FLUFFY PETS BEING RAVAGED AND EATEN BY COMMUNITY MEMBERS.

HOWEVER, THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED, NOR HAVE THEY EVER BEEN ALLOWED TO MENTION AIDEN CLARK FROM SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

I WILL LISTEN TO THEM ONE MORE TIME TO HEAR THEIR APOLOGIES.

>> SO SARAH DONALDSON THIS SITUATION HAS EXISTED IN SPRINGFIELD FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS.

THE HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS STARTED COMING HERE THREE OR FOUR YEARS AGO.

THE PRESSURE'S BEEN BUILDING.

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THIS SUDDEN ATTENTION?

>> I THINK WE'VE GOT AN ELECTION IN TWO MONTHS.

I THINK IT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THESE HAITIANS HAVE NOT IMMIGRATED TO SPRINGFIELD OVERNIGHT.

SOME OF THEM STARTED MOVING THERE SEVERAL YEARS AGO.

HAITIANS HAVE HAD TEMPORARY PROTECTED STATUS FOR A WHILE IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE OF THE POLITICAL INSTABILITY AND GANG VIOLENCE THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT REALLY ROSE TO A HEAT IN HAITI.

BUT I THINK THERE'S AN ELECTION IN TWO MONTHS AND IMMIGRATION IS A HUGE ISSUE, THE CANDIDATES SEE IT VERY DIFFERENTLY.

A HUGE ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS.

AND I THINK THAT IT WAS BROUGHT INTO THE FRAY OVER THE WEEKEND BECAUSE OF THESE UNFOUNDED RUMORS.

I THINK THAT RIGHT NOW IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION FOR SPRINGFIELD BECAUSE YOU'RE SEEING PEOPLE ON ALL SIDE OF THIS DEBATE IN SPRINGFIELD, PEOPLE WHO HAVE MAYBE LIVED IN SPRINGFIELD FOR HOW LONG AND ARE NOT HAPPY THAT THESE FOLKS ARE HERE.

THERE ARE HAITIANS IN THE COMMUNITY SAYING THEY'VE SINCE BEEN THREATENED.

SO IT'S REALLY RAISED TENSIONS IN A CITY BECAUSE OF THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT.

>> MIKE, WHY HAVEN'T THE POLITICIANS, DONALD TRUMP, J.D.

VANCE, SAID, OKAY, WE WERE WRONG?

THESE RUMORS WERE FALSE, THEY AREN'T EATING CATS AND DOGS IN HAITI THE -- THEY DOUBLED DOWN ON IT.

DONALD TRUMP REPEATED IT, BUT A RALLY IN ARIZONA AFTER THE DEBATE.

AND IT'S LED TO, YOU KNOW, JUST MORE STRIFE ON LINE.

>> YEAH.

A LOT OF FUNNY MEMES, TOO, ON LINE.

>> YEAH.

THREATS ON CITY HALL AND SCHOOLS, AS WELL.

>> THE RESPONSIBILITY IS THE PERSON WHO MADE THE THREAT.

TRUMP IS ALMOST ASSASSINATED BECAUSE OF RHETORIC FROM -- >> WE DON'T KNOW THE MOTIVE OF THE SHOOTER.

>> WE HAVE DISCLAIMERS -- >> WE DON'T KNOW THE MOTIVE OF THE SHOOTER IN THAT CASE.

MOVE ON, PLEASE.

>> OKAY.

YOUR QUESTION AS IT RELATES TO WHAT TRUMP SAYS -- LOOK, ALL THE MAYOR SAID IS WE HAVE NO CONFIRMED REPORTS, RIGHT?

WE HAVE NO CORROBORATING EVIDENCE -- >> DO YOU THINK IF SOMEONE'S CAT OR DOG WAS STOLEN AND EATEN THEY WOULD HAVE CALLED THE POLICE?

>> I HOPE THEY WOULD.

>> BUT DO YOU THINK THEY WOULD HAVE?

>> I WOULD HAVE.

>> OKAY.

SO THE FACT THAT THAT HAS NOT HAPPENED, DOES THAT LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS HAPPENING?

>> NO, BECAUSE I HAVE NO EVIDENCE THAT IT HAS.

>> OKAY.

>> OKAY.

SO -- >> BUT WHY -- IS THIS JUST -- REPUBLICANS' ADVANTAGE TO KEEP THIS FALSEHOOD ALIVE BECAUSE IT IS ANTI-IMMIGRATION AND ANTI-HAITIAN IMMIGRATION?

LET'S BE HONEST.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE, THE MEN AND WOMEN THAT LIVE IN SPRINGFIELD THAT HAVE NO VOICE?

THEY BRAVELY STAND AT CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS, YOU CAN WATCH THEM, THEY'RE ALL ON LINE, RECORDED, TELL THEM HOW HORRIBLE THEIR LIVES ARE.

THEY PLAY BY THE RULES.

SOME PEOPLE WANT TO SELL THEIR HOMES AND RETIRE, THEIR HOMES ARE WORTHLESS NOW IN SPRINGFIELD BECAUSE OF THE INFLUX OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

THE SCHOOLS ARE OVERPOPULATED -- KIDS CAN GET A GOOD EDUCATION BECAUSE THEY'RE SITTING NEXT TO KIDS WHO DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH.

WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO, THAT SHOULD HAVE A SAY IN HOW THEIR LIVES -- THEY HAVE NO SAY.

ALL THESE PEOPLE CAME IN, AND THEY HAD NO SAY IN IT.

TIS THINK DONALD TRUMP AND J.D.

VANCE ARE TRYING TO STAND UP FOR OHIOANS.

WHERE IS SHERROD BROWN?

WHAT'S HIS TAKE?

>> MORGAN?

>> I THINK THIS IS SAD.

AS A CHILD OF AN IMMIGRANT, I KNOW MY MOM WHO CAME TO THE U.S.

IN 1960s WAS WATCHING THIS COVERAGE AND JUST FLABBERGASTED THAT THIS IS WHERE WE ARE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND IN OHIO, TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING FOR SUCH IMPORTANT OFFICES THAT ARE GOING TO DENIGRATE THE CONTRIBUTION OF IMMIGRANTS TO OUR STATE AND TO OUR COUNTRY.

IT REALLY DOES NEED TO STOP.

AND HOW MUCH COURAGE DOES MR. CLARK HAVE TO ACTUALLY STAND UP TO THIS?

AND NOTICE ALL OF THE POLITICIANS THAT HE NAMED ARE REPUBLICANS.

I THINK YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT, MIKE.

THERE'S A CALCULATION THAT THERE'S A POLITICAL ADVANTAGE TO TRY TO CONTINUE TO SPUR THIS SORT OF FEAR OF IMMIGRANTS AND TIE IT TO A LOT OF ECONOMIC ISSUES WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, BUT THAT IS WHY, AGAIN, WE AS DEMOCRATS I WOULD SAY NEED TO STAY FULLY FOCUSED ON WHAT IS THE REAL ISSUE.

THERE IS CERTAINLY A LOT OF ECONOMIC PROBLEMS WE NEED TO SOLVE TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERY REGION OF OHIO IS ABLE TO SUCCEED.

KAMALA HARRIS, JOE BIDEN, THEY HAVE BEEN PRESENTING POLICIES TO DO THAT.

WE HAVE OVER 150,000 MANUFACTURING JOBS THAT HAVE BEEN CREATED DURING THIS ADMINISTRATION.

BUT CONTINUING TO INSULT IMMIGRANTS WHO EVERYTHING THAT I HEAR -- I WAS IN A MEETING THE OTHER DAY TALKING ABOUT HOW MANY HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS ARE IN SPRINGFIELD AND INSTALLING SOLAR PANELS THAT ARE RELIABLE WORKERS, CONTINUING TO SPREAD THESE FALSEHOODS ARE NO WAY GETTING US CLOSER TO A BETTER FUTURE.

>> SARAH, GOVERNOR DeWINE THIS WEEK SAID HE'S GOING TO SEND $2.5 MILLION WORTH OF STATE AID TO SPRINGFIELD.

THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A FEW YEARS.

WHY JUST NOW?

>> I THINK PART OF WHY DeWINE CHOSE TO HAVE A PRESS CONFERENCE EARLIER THIS WEEK WAS BECAUSE OF THE NARRATIVE THAT DIFFERENT FOLKS WERE TRYING TO SPIN WHATEVER WAY THEY FOUND THAT WAS BEST TO SPIN.

GOVERNOR DeWINE SAID THAT THE STATE HAS BEEN CONSULTING WITH SPRINGFIELD CITY AND COUNTY OFFICIALS FOR MONTHS, BUT THE STATE HAS ALREADY SENT SPRINGFIELD AID.

THE NEWEST ANNOUNCEMENTS ARE $2.5 MILLION FOR PRIMARY CARE EXPANSION, AND ALSO SURGING OHIO STATE HIGHWAY PATROL RESOURCES BECAUSE ONE OF THE CONCERNS THAT YOU BROUGHT UP AND THAT LOTS OF FOLKS HAVE BROUGHT UP IS FOLKS ARE COMING FROM HAITI, AND THEY MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE SAME DRIVING EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE IN THE UNITED STATES.

YOU ARE SEEING AN UPTICK IN CRASHES.

I THINK THERE ARE VERIFIABLE FACTS ON THE GROUND THAT AN INFLUX OF POPULATION FROM ANOTHER COUNTRY IS CAUSING STRAIN IN SPRINGFIELD.

THAT BEING SAID, DIFFERENT PARTIES ARE GOING TO HAVE OPINIONS ON HOW TO DO IT.

AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE CLAIMS OF IMMIGRANTS EATING PETS, SOME OF THAT ALSO STEMS NOT ONLY FROM MISINFORMATION ON FACEBOOK BUT FROM NEO-NAZI GROUPS.

I THINK THAT IS REALLY IMPORTANT TO NOTE.

>> MIKE, ONE FINAL QUESTION, THEN WE'LL MOVE ON.

IF THIS WAS 20,000 IMMIGRANTS FROM UKRAINE AND THAT WAR-TORN COUNTRY MOVING TO SPRINGFIELD, WOULD IT BE THE SAME?

>> YES, IT WOULD BECAUSE YOU'RE TURNING OVER LIVES OF OHIOANS IN THIS CASE.

THE REASON DONALD TRUMP RESONATES IS BECAUSE HE'S A VOICE FOR PEOPLE SAYING WAIT A MINUTE THREE YEARS AGO I LIVED A NORMAL LIFE, HAD A 9 TO 5 JOB, BLUE-CLEAN AIR WORKER, HAD MY KIDS IN SCHOOL, NOW I HAVE 20,000 -- I DON'T CARE IF THEY'RE UKRAINIANS, GERMANS, HAITIANS IN THIS CASE, WHAT IS GOING ON IN MY COMMUNITY?

I GOT SOMETHING, LET'S MOVE THESE TO BEXLEY, MOVE 5,000 HAITIANS TO BEXLEY.

MOVE 5,000 TO ARLINGTON.

THEY WOULD BUILD MOATS AROUND THE CITY AND BRING TORCHES.

IT'S OKAY IF IT'S IN SPRINGFIELD.

BRING THEM TO THE RICH WHITE SUBURBS.

COLUMBUS AND GO CRAZY.

>> I'LL LET MORGAN RESPOND AND MOVE ON.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF IMMIGRANTS COMING TO CENTRAL OHIO, AND IT IS -- AND THROUGHOUT OHIO.

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE ROOM FOR THEM.

AND THIS CONTINUED IDEA THAT IT'S ZERO-SUM GAME THAT EITHER IMMIGRANTS SUCCEED OR PEOPLE WHO WERE BORN IN OHIO ORIGINALLY SUCCEED IS COMPLETE HOGWASH.

WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO CRAFT POLICIES THAT TAKE ON CONCENTRATED CORPORATE POWER, THAT IS THE REAL REASON WHY SO MANY PEOPLE IN OHIO HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND.

AND THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON, NOT RACIST RHETORIC THAT IS CONTINUING TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION AND BE SUSPICIOUS OF THEIR NEIGHBORS.

IT'S GOT TO STOP.

>> OKAY.

>>> THE U.S. SENATE RACE HAS TIGHTENED FOR MOST OF THE SUMMER.

POLLS SHOWED SHERROD BROWN LEADING HIS REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER BY FIVE POINTS.

THE LATEST POLLS SHOW BERNIE MORENO CLOSING THE GAP TO A COUPLE POINTS.

THIS WEEK MORENO CAMPAIGNED WITH DONALD TRUMP JR. BROWN HAS BEEN SPENDING TIME IN RURAL OHIO COUNTIES TRYING TO CUT INTO REPUBLICAN MARGINS IN THOSE AREAS.

MORGAN HARPER, SHOULD SHERROD BROWN BE UP BY MORE THAN TWO OR THREE POINTS WHICH IS HIS LEAD IN THE LAST TWO POLLS?

>> I THINK IT'S PRETTY NORMAL FOR POLLS TO BE FLUCTUATING.

THIS WAS DISCUSSED THE LAST FEW MINUTES, THERE'S A LOT GOING ON POLITICALLY NOW FROM ALL OF THE PARTIES AND ESPECIALLY HAVING A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

THE FACT THAT HE'S UP AND REMAINS TO BE AHEAD IS IMPORTANT.

AND I THINK HE'S DOING ALL THE RIGHT THINGS.

THEY'RE RUNNING A STRONG CAMPAIGN.

THEY'RE TRYING TO TURN OUT THE BASE IN ALL DIFFERENT CORNERS.

THEY'VE HAD A BIT OF A HELP IN HAVING A CANDIDATE LIKE KAMALA HARRIS.

I'VE SEEN MORE PEOPLE REACH OUT EXCITED ABOUT WHAT'S HAPPENING POLITICALLY AROUND THE STATE REGARDLESS OF WHETHER WE'RE IN PLAY FOR THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE OR NOT.

I THINK THAT HELPS INCREASE TURNOUT.

BUT IMPORTANTLY IN THESE REMAINING FEW WEEKS, HE'S GOING TO CONTINUE TO DO WHAT HE HAS DONE WHICH IS SPEAK TO HIS RECORD OF STANDING UP FOR OHIO'S WORKERS, BEING WILLING TO TAKE ON SOME OF THE BAD ECONOMIC POLICIES THAT HAVE GIVEN THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND THEIR BUSINESSES AN UNFAIR ADVANTAGE OVER AMERICAN COMPANIES AND AMERICAN WORKERS, AND I THINK THAT IS GOING TO ALLOW HIM TO APPEAL TO INDEPENDENT VOTERS THAT ARE NECESSARY TO WIN AND BEAT SUCH A WEAK CANDIDATE SUCH AS BERNIE MORENO WHO HASN'T KNOWN HOW TO PROTECT A WORKER FOR HIS ENTIRE CAREER.

>> THIS IS A GUY THAT WANTED TO RUN AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS, BUT HE'S DOWN BY TWO OR THREE POINTS.

>> IT'S STILL -- OHIO IN 2024.

IT'S A TOUGH POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT FOR DEMOCRATS STATEWIDE.

WE KNOW THAT.

BUT SHERROD BROWN DOES HAVE THIS INCREDIBLE ADVANTAGE OF BOTH THE RECORD OF STANDING UP FOR A LOT OF THE ISSUES THAT EVEN MIKE HIMSELF SAID MOST PEOPLE -- MOST OF THE SWING VOTERS IN OHIO CARE ABOUT IN TERMS OF THE STRONG ECONOMIC POLICY.

AND HE HAS THAT NAME I.D.

HE'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY LIKE HIM.

>> THAT GOES TO MY POINT TO YOU, MIKE.

THE ADS ARE TRYING TO TIE HIM TO JOE BIDEN, SHERROD BROWN'S A DEMOCRAT, PEOPLE KNOW WHERE HE STANDS.

IT'S NO MYSTERY THAT HE'S A DEMOCRAT.

TRYING TO PAINT HIM AS A LIBERAL EXTREMIST, IS THAT GOING TO WORK?

>> I THINK IT'S WORKING IN THE FACT THAT SHERROD BROWN DOES STAND FOR ALL THOSE THINGS THAT BERNIE'S RUNNING IN HIS COMMERCIALS.

AND THE VOTERS HAVE A CHANCE.

YOU WANT TO STAND WITH DONALD TRUMP?

HE'S WON OHIO TWICE BY EIGHT POINTS.

OR GO WITH THE CRAP WE HAVE WITH SHERROD BROWN -- EXCUSE MY LANGUAGE.

I'M SORRY FOR THAT.

>> IT'S TV, IT'S OKAY.

>> YOU KNOW, AT THE END OF THE DAY SHERROD BROWN'S BEEN HIDING, NO PRESS CONFERENCES TO SPEAK OF.

NO ONE'S INTERVIEWING HIM ABOUT SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

NO ONE'S INTERVIEWING HIM ABOUT THE ECONOMY.

THIS A MISSED OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM.

SOME SAY THE MEDIA IS COVERING FOR HIM.

I'M SAYING THE MEDIA IS DOING HIM A DISSERVICE.

IF HE HAS A MORE MODERATE POSITION HE'S NOT GETTING IT OUT.

THERE HE SHOULD TALK TO OHIO'S PRESS BECAUSE BERNIE IS TALKING THE AIR OUT OF THE ROOM.

IF TRUMP WINS BY EIGHT OR MORE, I SAID THIS LAST TIME I WAS ON THE SHOW, IT'S IMPOP -- IMPROBLEM FOR BROWN TO GET THE CROSSOVER VOTES.

>> EVEN IF HE'S RUNNING AGAINST THE CANDIDATE HE RAN BEFORE, THIS IS HIS FIRST STATEWIDE CAMPAIGN.

SARAH?

>> YEAH, BUT I THINK THAT SHERROD BROWN IS ALSO WALKING ON A TIGHTROPE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE SEEN -- I MEAN, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE.

HOW MUCH DOES SHERROD BROWN BENEFIT FROM ALLYING HIMSELF WITH KAMALA HARRIS?

HE HAS TO DISTANCE HIMSELF TO A POINT FROM KAMALA HARRIS BECAUSE HE'S RUNNING IN A TRUMP STATE.

I THINK THERE'S ONLY BEEN ONE UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM THE OPPOSITE PARTY TO WIN THE SAME YEAR THAT THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE FROM THE OPPOSITE PARTY WON ON THAT BALLOT AND DID NOT HAPPEN IN OHIO.

SO HE DOES HAVE -- BROWN HAS SAID HIMSELF HE HAS ONE OF THE TOUGHEST RACES OF HIS LIFE IN FRONT OF HIM.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE ALL THE REALITIES HE'S FACING.

IT'S SHOWING IN THE POLLS CERTAINLY.

AND YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT IT IS A NUMBERS GAME, LIKE MIKE SAID.

>> WHEN TIM RYAN ARENA AGAINST J.D.

VANCE, NATIONAL DEMOCRATS SAT IT OUT.

NOW THEY'RE POURING A TON OF MONEY INTO THIS RACE AND JOHN TESTA'S RACE IN MONTANA.

THAT'S GOING TO MAKE DIFFERENCE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGHER FOR BERNIE MORENO.

>> IT SURE WILL.

YEAH, MONEY TALKS.

YOU HAVE 30-SECOND COMMERCIALS TALK.

WE'LL BE SO FLOODED BETWEEN ISSUE ONE AND ALL THE OTHER SPOTS THAT HAVE BEEN PURCHASED.

I WONDER IF IT'S GOING TO MOVE THE NEEDLE ULTIMATELY.

MONEY DOES MOVE THE NEEDLE SOMETIMES.

WILL IT BE ENOUGH?

EIGHT POINTS TRUMP WON TWICE.

>> WE'LL SEE.

>>> THE STATE'S NEW UNIVERSAL SCHOOL VOUCHER PROGRAM HAS SHARPLY INCREASED THE NUMBER OF STUDENTS CHOOSING PRIVATE SCHOOLS.

STATE LAW REQUIRES PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEMS TO BUS DISTRICT STUDENTS TO THOSE SCHOOLS UNLESS IT TAKES LONGER THAN 30 MINUTES TO GET THE STUDENTS THERE.

THIS YEAR FOR THE FIRST TIME, COLUMBUS, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS IS ADHERING TO THAT PROVISION OF THE LAW.

IT NOTIFIED THE FAMILIES OF ABOUT 1,400 STUDENTS IN THE DISTRICT THEY NO LONGER QUALIFIED FOR TRANSPORTATION TO THEIR PRIVATE OR CHARTER SCHOOL OF CHOICE.

THAT HAS ANGERED PARENTS AND PROMPTED ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE YOST TO SUE THE COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS SAYING THE DISTRICT HAS BLATANTLY FAILED TO COMPLY WITH STATE LAW.

SARAH DONALDSON, THIS IS PERHAPS AN UNFORESOON CONSEQUENCE OR MAYBE SEEN OF THE EXPANSION OF THE VOUCHER PROGRAM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THAT'S ONE POINT AT PLAY.

OTHER BIG POINT AT PLAY IS DISTRICTS ARE STRUGGLING WITH BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES, AS WELL.

THEY ARE STRUGGLING TO GET THE STUDENTS WHO ARE GOING TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO SCHOOLS IN SOME REGARDS, NOT NECESSARILY AT COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS.

I BELIEVE THEY HAVE BEEN STRUGGLING WITH A BUS SHORTAGE.

YOU'RE SEEING DISTRICTS ALL AROUND THE STATE STRUGGLE WITH BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES.

I THINK THOSE TWO ISSUES AT PLAY HAVE REALLY LED TO THIS, AND OF COURSE COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS LOCALLY HAS, YOU KNOW, BEEN LOOKING AT SCHOOL CLOSURES, THEY'VE BEEN LOOKING AT SERIOUS COST CUTTING.

SO IT'S DEFINITELY AN EXPANSION OF SCHOOL VOUCHERS AND OTHER STRIFE THAT PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE FACING.

>> IS IT FAIR TO LET SOME OF THESE STUDENTS, EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE HALF-HOUR BOUNDARY, HAVE BEEN GETTING BUSSING FROM THE CITY OF COLUMBUS SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR YEARS.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THIS SUMMER THEY'RE NOTIFIED NO MORE.

IS THAT FAIR?

>> IT SEEMED LIKE THERE COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER COMMUNICATION, I THINK EVEN THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT ADMITTED TO THAT AND APOLOGIZED.

THE REALITY IS WE ARE ALL -- ALL SCHOOL DISTRICTS, OHIO, WE ARE OPERATING WITH LIMITED RESOURCES FOR PUBLIC EDUCATION BECAUSE WE HAVE CHOSEN TO SELL OUR SCHOOLS DOWN THE RIVER FOR THESE VOUCHERS THAT ALLOW PEOPLE TO DO WHATEVER THEY WANT AND PURSUE OTHER OPTIONS BESIDES THEIR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

SO THIS IS A TIME NOW WHERE I THINK REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE BEEN LEADING THE STATE FOR SOME TIME AND GREEN LIGHTING POLICIES NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACTIONS THAT THEY HAVE FACILITATED.

AND IF THAT REQUIRES MORE MONEY COMING OUT OF THE STATE TO GET THYSELF KIDS TO THE SCHOOLS THAT VOUCHERS LET THEM GO TO, THAT SEEMS LIKE WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN.

CONTINUE TO EXPECT THAT A DISTRICT LIKE COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS THAT IS ALREADY QUITE STRAPPED TO TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE KIDS LIVING SO FAR AWAY IS NOT FEASIBLE.

>> MIKE, IF YOU'RE A PARENT, YOU DECIDED TO SEND YOUR KID TO A CHARTER SCHOOL OR A PRIVATE SCHOOL, SHOULDN'T YOU BE RESPONSIBLE ESPECIALLY IF IT'S OUTSIDE A HALF HOUR, IF IT'S A LONG WAY, TO GET THE STUDENT THERE?

SHOULDN'T YOU BE RESPONSIBLE FOR GETTING YOUR STUDENT THERE?

>> NO, BECAUSE THE OHIO REVISED CODE, THE LAW, REQUIRES THEM, NOT JUST COLUMBUS PUBLIC, TO BUS THESE CHILDREN.

DOESN'T MATTER WHAT SCHOOL DISTRICT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT RESOURCES.

THE COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS HAVE A BILLION DOLLAR BUDGET WITH A B, THE MOST WEALTHIEST DOLLAR-WISE BUDGET.

HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS IN CASH RESERVE, AND THEY'RE ASKING FOR ANOTHER LEVEE COMING UP SOON.

THEY HAVE THE MONEY, THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES.

THEY'RE CHOOSING TO STICK IT TO THESE KIDS AND SINGLE MOMS WHO HAVE NO OTHER WAY TO GET THIS TO SCHOOL -- >> THE LAW SAYS OUTSIDE 30 MINUTES YOU'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE.

THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE DOING.

>> CERTAINLY NOT TRUE.

ON EVERY INSTANCE, IN EVERY CASE.

WE CAN TALK TO THE CHARTER SCHOOLS IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS THAT AREN'T HAVING THEIR KIDS BUSSED, I CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH MANY NAMES OF MANY CHARTER SCHOOLS.

OUR KIDS AREN'T GETTING BUSSED.

THE ADULTS IN THE ROOM, THE COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOL,S DO A DISSERVICE TO MOMS AND DADS AND THESE KIDS TO PROVE A POLITICAL POINT.

>> SARAH, COULD THERE BE URBAN AREAS THAT SAY -- IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE THAT HALF-HOUR LIMIT WE'RE NOT GOING TO BUS YOUR STUDENTS?

>> I HAVE TO IMAGINE.

I MEAN, IT'S -- IF THEIR ARGUMENT IS AND COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS' ARGUMENT IS WE'RE STRAPPED FOR RESOURCES AND STRAPPED FOR BUS DRIVERS, I'M SURE IT WILL START A TREND IN OTHER SCHOOLS.

>> QUICKLY, IF YOU'RE A TAXPAYER PAYING SCHOOL TAXES, SHOULDN'T YOU BE QUALIFY FOR SOME OF THOSE BENEFITS EVEN IF YOU DECIDE YOU SEND YOUR KID TO A PRIVATE SCHOOL?

>> YEAH, BUT GETTING BACK TO THE LAW, THE KIDS GETTING LEFT OUT FROM BUS TRANSPORTATION ARE LIVING MORE THAN 30 MILES OUTSIDE OF -- 30 MINUTES, SORRY, 30 MINUTES OUTSIDE.

SO IT'S NOT QUITE CLEAR TO ME THAT THEY ARE ACTUALLY SOMEHOW LOSING OUT ON THEIR TAXPAYER BENEFITS.

AND EVEN STILL WE HAVE TO GET TO THE MAIN POINT OF WHAT CREATED THIS.

IT'S NOT FUNDING PROPERLY OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND ALLOWING THIS TO RUN RAMPANT.

>>> TO THE FINAL PARTING SHOTS, MORGAN, YOU'RE FIRST.

>> WELL, PEOPLE ALWAYS COMMENTING ON YOUNG PEOPLE IN POLITICS.

WE HAVE THE SWIFTIES THAT HAVE COME OUT FOR KAMALA, BIG MOVE.

MORE CLOSE TO HOME, WE ARE GOING TO BE HOSTING A FORUM FOR PEOPLE UNDER 25 THIS SUNDAY AT THE HIGH SCHOOL CALLED RESET TO GET THEM IN FRONT OF FRANKLIN COUNTY PROSECUTOR CANDIDATES AND SUPREME COURT.

>> INTERESTING.

MIKE?

>>> I INVITE THE MAYORS OF BEXLEY, UPPER ARLINGTON, NEW ALBANY, WORTHINGTON AND DUBLIN TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE AND INVITE HAITIANS TO COME LIVE IN THESE CITIES.

THEY'VE GOT PLENTY OF RESOURCES, PLENTY OF HOUSING AND OPPORTUNITIES TO COME AND DO IT.

I'M SICK AND TIRED OF LIBERALS SAYING NOT IN MY BACKYARD, BUT IT'S OKAY IN SPRINGFIELD.

LET'S HAVE THE MAYORS IN CENTRAL OHIO DO IT.

WE KNOW THEY WON'T.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SARAH?

>>> CERTAINLY WATCHING FOR THE POTENTIAL OF THE LEGALIZATION OF I-GAMING IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF YEARS IN OHIO.

I KNOW THAT'S TOTALLY OFF THE BEATEN PATH OF THE ELECTION COMING UP.

BUT IT'S CERTAINLY BEEN BUBBLING AT THE STATE HOUSE FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

>> OKAY.

WE CAN BET ON POLITICS AND I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WILL BE LEGAL IN OHIO.

OUR STATUS AS A SWING STATE OR LACK THEREOF AFFECT HOW BETTING IN OHIO WOULD BE?

WE'LL SEE IF THAT BECOMES LAW.

THAT IS "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK, AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANY TIME ON YOUR TIME AT OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.ORG/COTR.

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FOR OUR CREW AND OUR PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

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