WHAT'S NEXT FOR OHIO?

WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

FOR THE WINNERS OF LAST WEEK'S ELECTION, THE CREDIT TAKING CONTINUES… FOR THE LOSERS….

THE FINGER POINTING CONTINUES.

HERE IN OHIO … DEMOCRATS ARE BASICALLY AT A LOSS… COME JANUARY THEY WILL HAVE JUST ONE STATEWIDE ELECTED OFFICIAL… SUPREME COURT JUSTICE JENNIFER BRUNNER..

BUT THEY HAVE A SLIVER OF HOPE.

IF HISTORY SERVES, THE 2026 MID TERM ELECTIONS WILL FAVOR DEMOCRATS – THE PARTY OUT OF POWER IN THE WHITE HOUSE.. EVERY STATE WIDE EXECUTIVE POST WILL BE ON THE BALLOT .. AND 2026 WILL FEATURE A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL THE REMAINDER OF JD VANCE'S US SENATE SEAT.

AND THAT'S JUST THE POLITICS.. OHIOANS WAIT TO SEE WHAT CHANGES WILL MEAN FOR THE STATE.

DEMOCRATS ARE A SLIGHT MINORITY IN WASHINGTON, A MAJOR MINORITY HERE IN COLUMBUS.

WHICH OF THEIR PLENTY OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS?

>> I'M GLAD YOU SAID TWO YEARS.

BECAUSE THEY HAVE A SERIES OF QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS IT WILL TAKE A LONGER-TERM PERSPECTIVE, BUT THEY REALLY NEED TO BE FOCUSING ON 2026.

AND HERE IN OHIO, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE MUCH OF A TEAM.

THE REPUBLICANS WILL HAVE INCUMBENT RUNNING FOR MOST OFFICES.

SO WHO WILL THE DEMOCRATS HAVE LEAD THEIR TICKET?

OF COURSE THERE IS A LOT OF DISCUSSION RIGHT NOW ABOUT SHARAD BROWN RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE WANTS TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, BUT IF HE DID, THAT WOULD BE AN EASY THING.

AND THEN YOU HAVE TO ASSEMBLE THE REST OF THE TICKET.

AND AGAIN, THERE ARE NOT MANY PROMINENT NAMES OUT THERE, BUT IF YOU START NOW AND THEN YOU HOPE FOR A COUPLE OF THINGS.

AS YOU SAID, MIKE, OFTEN TIMES THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, THE PROBLEMS WITH THE INCOMING PARTY IS BECAUSE THINGS ARE GOING THAT WELL.

SO THAT COULD BE HELPFUL.

PUBLICANS COULD HAVE A REALLY BITTER PRIMARY.

>> SO THERE'S TOO MANY REPUBLICANS AND NOT ENOUGH DEMOCRATS RIGHT NOW.

THEY BOTH WANT TO BE GOVERNOR.

>> AND BOB SPRINGS.

AND CLAIRE LATER.

>> VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

>> THE LIST GOES ON.

PETER CHURCHILL WROTE AN EXCELLENT BOOK CALLED SECULAR CYCLES, AND BASICALLY WHAT YOU WILL SEE IS A CIRCULAR FIRING SQUAD.

I SET IT ON THE SHOW MANY TIME PRESENTED.

BEING REPUBLICANS, WE ALL USE HIGH-CALIBER AUTOMATIC WEAPONS AND IT COULD BE A BLOODBATH.

IT WON'T BE PRETTY BUSY.

THE THING IS, THOUGH, I WANT TO, YOU MENTIONED MIDTERMS.

I AM A POLITICAL CYCLIST.

IF THIS REALLY IS THE 80 YEAR CYCLE, AND I'M NOT SURE IT IS.

IN 1932 FDR WAS THAT TRANSFORMATIONAL PRESIDENT.

HIS MIDTERMS, THE DEMOCRATS PICKED UP NINE U.S. SENATE SEATS.

SO DO NOT NECESSARILY THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A BAD YEAR , THIS CYCLE IS GOING TO BE A BAD CYCLE FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> I MEAN, TIM RYAN, HE HAS SAID HE IS NOT GOING TO RUN AGAIN, LOOKING AT AGAIN, YOU LOOK AT AMY ATKINS, SHE IS SUPPOSED TO BE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

COULD THE DEMOCRATS COME UP WITH A TEAM TO RUN STATEWIDE OFFICES IN TWO YEARS?

>> I MEAN, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO.

WE HAVE A TWO PARTY SYSTEM IN OHIO.

AND AS WE SAID, SHARAD BROWN REMAINS THE MOST PROMINENT WELL- KNOWN DEMOCRAT IN THE STATE OF OHIO, EVEN DESPITE HIS LOSS BY THREE OR FOUR PERCENTAGE POINTS LAST WEEK.

SO IT IS REALLY FOR HIM TO DECIDE WHETHER HE WANTS TO STAY IN, WHETHER HE WOULD WANT TO RUN IN THAT OPEN SENATE RACE, WHETHER HE WOULD WANT TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, AND THEN I THINK YOU'LL SEE THE NAMES THAT YOU MENTIONED FALL IN LINE, ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES BEING MESSY, WE HAVE WATCHED SOME PRETTY MESSY SENATE PRIMARIES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

ONLY FOR THE CANDIDATES TO COME OUT AND THEN WIN IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

SO I DON'T KNOW IF MESSY PRIMARY IS NECESSARILY GOING TO BE A PROBLEM FOR THE GOP.

>> SHARAD BROWN IS 72 YEARS OLD.

THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED TED STRICKLAND LOST THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR, CAME BACK A COUPLE YEARS LATER AND RAN AGAINST ROB FOREMAN AND DID NOT FARE WELL.

HE SET A LOSS, CAREER 40+ YEARS IN PUBLIC SERVICE, I WANT TO DO SOMETHING ELSE.

>> 72?

YOU THINK THAT IS OLD?

>> NO, HE IS FIVE YEARS YOUNGER THAN MIKE DeWINE , I BELIEVE.

>> YEAH, AND I DON'T THINK THE AMERICAN PEOPLE THINK THAT'S OLD.

ELECTED FOR PRESIDENT.

HE IS OLDER.

AND I THINK THAT SHARAD BROWN HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE TYPE OF PERSON THAT RUNS 1 MILLION MILES A MINUTE.

HE HAS GOT A LOT OF ENERGY.

HE CAN SPEAK COHERENTLY AND HE HAS HIS ACT TOGETHER AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.

SO I THINK THE AGE IS NOT GOING TO BE THE BIG DEAL FOR SHARAD BROWN.

I THINK THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE DEMOCRATS IN OHIO HAVE A REAL STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH HAVING COMMUNITY , BEING ON THE GROUND IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE VARIOUS DEMOCRATIC ARTESE THROUGHOUT OHIO, SOME OF THEM DON'T EVEN HAVE AN APPARATUS IN THEIR COUNTY.

>> URBAN AREAS.

WHAT ABOUT THE MAYORS?

JUSTIN DID IN CLEVELAND, IN CINCINNATI .

>> AND IN AKRON OR WHATEVER.

YEAH, SOMEHOW , I DON'T SEE ANY OF THEM BEING A MICHAEL COLEMAN , WHO YOU IMMEDIATELY WOULD SAY THIS COULD BE A STATEWIDE CANDIDATE.

BUT GENERALLY YOU HAVE TO LOOK THERE.

I THINK THE POINT YOU ARE MAKING, YOU LOOK AT WESTERN OHIO AND IT IS HEAVILY REPUBLICAN.

BUT IT HAS GOTTEN EVEN MORE REPUBLICAN, AND ON THE GROUND THE DEMOCRATS DON'T EXIST.

SO HOW DO YOU BUILD A PARTY IN 88 COUNTIES, OR EVEN IN 12 COUNTIES , YOU KNOW, THE PARTY LIMITED TO REALLY 6-8 COUNTIES.

I THINK THAT THE CHALLENGE FOR THEM.

THEY ARE PARTLY AT THE MERCY OF THINGS THEY CAN'T CONTROL.

THE ECONOMY, THE STATE OF THE COUNTRY, THE STATE OF THE GOP.

AND I WAS THINKING, IF BOB BENNETT WERE STILL ALIVE, YOU REMEMBER HOW GOOD HE WAS AT AVOIDING REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.

>> I DO HAVE TO COMMENT ON WHAT JOE MENTIONED, 72 IS NOT OLD, I AM 75.

A LOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO, APPARENTLY.

BUT IT CAN BE DONE, IT WAS DONE UNDER TED STRICKLAND IN HIS FIRST CAMPAIGN IN 2006.

HE KEPT THE BLEEDING DOWN AND A LOT OF THE RURAL COUNTIES.

THIS GOES TO YOUR POINT.

BUT HERB IS EXACTLY RIGHT.

AS THE OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY, I AM A BELIEVER IN, AS THE BIBLE SAYS, IRON SHARPENS IRON.

AND I THINK THE REPUBLICANS DO BEST WHEN THERE IS A FULLY FUNCTIONAL DEMOCRAT PARTY.

AND THE INDEX OF THE STATE IS NOT 11 OR EIGHT REPUBLICANS.

I HAVE ALWAYS SAID ON THIS SHOW IS 3.7%, BASED UPON MIKE DeWINE.

AND WHAT HE WAS BY?

YEAH, THAT IS THE REAL MARGIN.

AND BY THE WAY, THE DEMOCRATS AROUND THE STATEHOUSE WERE ALL HOPING THAT HE WAS GOING TO LOSE, BECAUSE THEY ALL WANT JOBS IN THE ADMINISTRATION.

>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO THE NEXT TOPIC.

SOMETIME IN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS OR SO, JD VANCE WILL RESIGN HIS US SENATE SEAT TO BECOME THE 50TH VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

THE PERSON WHO WILL SUCCEED HIM REMAINS UNCERTAIN, PERHAPS EVEN TO THE MAN WHO WILL APPOINT HIM OR HER.

THAT MAN IS GOVERNOR DEWINE..

THE ONLY THING WE KNOW FOR SURE IS DEWINE WILL PICK A REPUBLICAN.

THE NAMES UNDER CONSIDERATION INCLUDE PROBABLY EVERY STATEWIDE REPUBLICAN OFFICE HOLDER.. STATE SENATOR MATT DOLAN AND FORMER OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR JANE TIMKEN.. ONE POSSIBLE APPOINTEE – OHIO BUSINESSMAN AND FORMER PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDDATE VIVEK RAMASWAMY LIKELY IS OUT OF THE RUNNING BECAUSE PRESIDENT TRUMP NAMED HIM AS CO-DIRECTOR OF AN EFFORT TO CUT GOVERNMENT WASTE.

GENE KREBS , WHO ARE YOU BETTING ON?

>> MATT DOLAN, BUT AS MY WIFE ALWAYS REMINDS ME, I HAVE A HORRIBLE RECORD OF BEING RIGHT ON THIS STUFF.

ONE, I THINK THAT HE CAN, FIRSTLY, YOU WANT SOMEBODY WHO CAN WIN.

I WAS ALWAYS BACKING MATT IN THE LAST PRIMARY, BECAUSE I KNEW THAT IF MATT WAS THE CANDIDATE FOR US, WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND HUNDREDS OF THAT MATT WOULD HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TAKE OUT SHARED IN A MUCH CHEAPER RACE.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE TO SPEND SO MUCH MONEY.

AND I THINK THAT IS THE THING TO LOOK FORWARD TO IN TWO YEARS.

I THINK WE PROBABLY LOST SEVERAL SENATE SEATS AROUND THE COUNTRY BECAUSE WE BLEW ALL THE MONEY HERE IN OHIO.

AND I THINK YOU DO AN INCREDIBLE JOB.

I ALSO THINK TRUMP PROBABLY KNOWS THE FAMILY, BECAUSE THE DOLAN'S , IN ADDITION TO OWNING MADISON SQUARE GARDEN, THE DOLAN HAVE A LARGE HOLDING IN THE NEW YORK REAL ESTATE MARKET.

>> WHO ARE DEMOCRATS HOPING GETS THE NOD?

>> JIM JORDAN.

HIS NAME IS NOT THERE, THAT IS SPECULATION.

>> LOOK , DEMOCRATS, AGAIN, WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE REPUBLICANS GO TO THE ARE, ARE RIGHT.

THAT GIVES THEM A GREATER OPPORTUNITY.

I WONDER , I THINK DOLAN WOULD BE AN EXCELLENT LEGISLATOR .

BUT THAT IS NOT THE CRITERIA THAT REALLY IS GOING TO DOMINATE.

I THINK THE TWO CRITERIA, ONE WILL BE CAN HE HOLD ON AND WIN THE SEAT?

AND THEN WE WILL HAVE TO SEE HOW MUCH DONALD TRUMP GETS INVOLVED IN THIS.

>> THAT'S MY QUESTION FOR JESSE.

I MEAN, WILL THE WIND DO WHAT TRUMP ONCE?

WILL HE GO ROGUE?

WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF INFLUENCE?

WHAT IS THE THINKING IN THE STATEHOUSE ABOUT HOW MUCH TRUMP IS GOING TO INFLUENCE THIS ELECTION?

>> WELL, MIKE DeWINE IS LOOKING FOR A BIT OF A UNICORN HERE.

HE'S LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO APPEAL TO BE THAT WORKHORSE, BUT NOT A SHOW HORSE.

TO BE A REAL SERIOUS LEGISLATOR.

MIKE DeWINE, HAVING SERVED IN CONGRESS, HE KNOWS ABOUT THE JOB AND TAKES IT VERY SERIOUSLY.

THAT TYPE CANDIDATE.

BUT HE ALSO NEEDS SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO WIN A PRIMARY, WHO CAN RAISE A LOT OF MONEY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME, BECAUSE THAT PERSON WILL HAVE TO RUN IN 2026.

SO PEOPLE WHO MIGHT WIN A PRIMARY AND OHIO'S REPUBLICAN GOP ARE NOT AS INHERENTLY PEOPLE WHO MIGHT BE THE SERIOUS LEGISLATOR.

SO YOU'RE TRYING TO HIT THE IS GOING TO APPEASE BOTH TRUMP LOYALISTS AND THE MIDDLE-OF-THE- ROAD REPUBLICANS.

>> JOE, THE LIST, WE HEARD LAST WEEK HE WAS GETTING CALLS FROM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WHO REALLY HAD NO SHOT, BUT THEY WERE PUTTING THEIR NAME IN.

GIVE THEM CREDIT, I GUESS.

WHEN DO WE EXPECT THIS DECISION?

I MEAN, VANCE DOES NOT TAKE OFFICE UNTIL JANUARY 20th.

>> PERSONALLY, I EXPECTED ON A FRIDAY AFTERNOON AT 4:45.

BUT BY THE WAY, THAT IS FOR JOURNALISTS.

THAT IS THE TIME YOU DON'T WANT TO COME IN.

SO , I THINK, THE GOVERNOR IS NOT RASH .

HE USUALLY TAKES SOME THOUGHT WHEN HE DOES SOMETHING.

AND I THINK WE WILL KNOW FAIRLY SOON , BUT I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO KNOW MAYBE WITHIN THE NEXT WEEK.

BUT I THINK YOU WILL GIVE IT SOME THOUGHT AND HE WILL APPOINT SOMEONE.

BUT I THINK HE WILL TAKE SOME CONSIDERATION INTO WHAT PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP ONCE.

I THINK HE ALSO WILL LOOK AT WHO VOTED IN THIS ELECTION, HOW DID THEY VOTE , AND WHAT THE OHIO PEOPLE WANT TO ACCEPT?

>> JUST TO CLARIFY, HE HAS NOT CALLED ME.

>> DID YOU CALL THEM?

>> NO.

>> THE OTHER THING TO KEEP IN MIND IS THERE IS ANOTHER WILDCARD ON THIS THAT MIKE HAS TO KEEP ON MIND ON ALL OF THIS.

WHICH IS THE TRIAL IS GOING ON OVER HEALTH BILL SIX.

AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF MUD THROWN AROUND ABOUT THIS IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO.

SO WHOEVER HE PICKS HAS TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE THERE IS NO CHANCE OF MUD BEING TOSSED ON THEM.

AGAIN, THAT IS MATT DOLAN .

WHO VOTED FOR HOUSE BILL SIX, BUT HAD NO REAL INVOLVEMENT IN IT.

>> YOU KNOW, ONE THING I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, WE HAVE HAD HEALTH KNOW, FOUR YEARS NOW?

AND I HAVE SEEN NO REPERCUSSION OF HEALTH BILL SIX, REALLY, IN ANY OF THE ELECTIONS.

EVEN THOUGH PEOPLE HAVE TRIED TO THROW IT OUT, IT JUST IS NOT RESONATED.

>> I HAVE TO TELL YOU, I THINK THAT POINTS TO THE ABSOLUTE MIND-BOGGLING INCOMPETENCE OF THE OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I CAN DESIGN A CAMPAIGN IN ABOUT 15 SECONDS THAT WOULD CUT EVERYBODY OFF AT THE KNEES, BUT YOU THINK HOUSE BUILT SIX DID SHOW UP IN REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.

AND I THINK DAVID YOST IS ACTUALLY HINTING AT THAT, AND WE KNOW THAT HE IS GOING TO GO AFTER HOUSTON.

>> I HAVE A WAY TO SHOW UP IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

OUR NEXT TOPIC.

THERE IS A NEW MOVEMENT IN OHIO … IT'S THE FREE LARRY MOVEMENT..

IT RIGHT NOW IT'S A MOVEMENT OF TWO.. FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER LARRY HOUSEHOLDER AND HIS CAMPAIGN LAWYER SCOTT PULLINS.

HOUSEHOLDER IS SERVING A 20 YEAR SENTENCE IN FEDERAL PRISON FOR LEADING A 60 MILLION DOLLAR BRIBERY SCHEME TO BAIL OUT TWO NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS.

PULLINS SAYS THEY WILL ASK SOON- TO-BE PRESIDENT TRUMP TO SHOW MERCY – EITHER THROUGH A PARDON, A COMMUTATION OF HIS TRUMP HAS GRANTED CLEMENCY TO CORRUPT POLTICIANNS BEFORE - FORMER ARIZONA SHERRIF JO ARPAIO AND FORMER ILLINOIS GOVERNOR ROD BLAGOJEVICH, FOR EXAMPLE.

HOUSEHOLDER WAS A LOYAL TRUMP SUPPORTER-SERVING AS THE ONLY OHIO POLITICIAN WHO SPOKE AT THE 2016 GOP CONVENTION WHICH NOMINATED TRUMP.

HOW ARE STATEHOUSE FOLKS VIEWING THIS?

IT IS A LONG SHOT, I WOULD SAY, BUT WITH TRUMP THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A LONGSHOT, PROP LEE.

>> YEAH, I WOULD SAY HE HAS A BETTER SHOT WITH PRESIDENT- ELECT TRUMP THAN HE DID WITH CURRENT PRESIDENT BIDEN.

YOU'VE GOT TO GO FOR IT, AND WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS FROM THERE.

I THINK A NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT THE STATEHOUSE HAVE BEEN MOVING ON FROM LARRY HOUSEHOLDER, AND IT DOES NOT NECESSARILY BENEFIT THEM TO BE IN CLOSE CONNECTION WITH HIM NOWADAYS.

SO WE SHALL SEE.

>> I AM GUESSING, WANT TO SEE A PART IN.

>> NO, THERE IS NO SECRET THAT WITH HOUSE BILL SIX, WHAT IS GOING ON THERE WAS A FAIR AMOUNT ENTANGLEMENT WITH THE TRUMP DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY ON THAT.

WHICH IS SOMETHING NOBODY TALKS ABOUT VERY MUCH.

AND SO, IF I WERE DONALD TRUMP, I WOULD WANT TO KEEP LARRY HOUSEHOLDER QUIET.

AND NOT SUDDENLY GO TO THE FED AND SAY CAN YOU GET ME OUT OF THIS MOTEL IF YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT MY INVOLVEMENT WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY.

>> THE ONLY REASON I CAN THINK OF WHY TRUMP MIGHT EVEN CONSIDER THIS IS IS HIS WAY OF SAYING TO THE PUBLIC AND TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SCREW YOU.

AND TO SAY LARRY WAS IN FACT UNFAIRLY TREATED, JUST LIKE I HAVE BEEN UNFAIRLY TREATED.

BUT I THINK IT WOULD BE FOOLISH FOR DONALD TRUMP TO GET ENTANGLED IN THAT.

THERE IS NO REASON TO.

>> IT WAS HIS PROSECUTOR.

DONALD TRUMP'S APPOINTED PROSECUTOR.

HE STARTED THE PROSECUTION IN >> YEAH, I AGREE WITH WHAT EVERYONE SAID.

>> BUT IF HE WERE TO GET OUT OF FEDERAL PRISON, HE FACES THE STATE CHARGES.

AND THAT IS WHY THEY INDICTED HIM ON THE STATE CHARGES.

AND IT WOULD BE DAVID YOST WHO WOULD BE IN CHARGE OF THE PROSECUTION.

POLITICALLY, THAT'S A TOUGH SPOT FOR HIM, PROSECUTING A PERSON FOR DONALD TRUMP TO PARDON OR COMMUTE.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, THE STATE CHARGES WERE REALLY RELATED TO MONEY THAT WAS SPENT ON HIS CRIMINAL DEFENSE IN THE FEDERAL CASE, SO IT IS A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES.

BUT THERE IS ALSO A CHARGE THAT ATTORNEY GENERAL YOST INCLUDED IN THERE THAT WOULD PREVENT LARRY HOUSEHOLDER FROM RUNNING FOR ELECTION EVER AGAIN.

CURRENTLY A 20 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE SHOULD PROBABLY INTO CAREER, BUT THIS WOULD OFFICIALLY PROHIBIT IT.

>> HE SAID IT, WHY THEY WERE FILING THE STATE CHARGES.

IN CASE , HE WAS SAYING MAYBE HE GETS OUT ON APPEAL OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

>> IF YOU GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS SCANDAL, OHIO COIN GAIT, WHAT TOM KNOWS HE GOT CONVICTED ON WAS ONE OR TWO YEARS IN THE FEDERAL PEN, BUT GOT 15 TO 17 YEARS IN STATE.

SO THE BIGGER PENALTIES FOR THESE TYPES OF CORRUPTION CHARGES.

THEY ARE EXERCISED ON THE STATE LEVEL.

>> YOU KIND OF MENTIONED IT BRIEFLY, BUT IS THIS SCANDAL OVER?

BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN.

IT REALLY HAS NOT HAD ANY ELECTORAL CONSEQUENCES.

>> I WOULD SAY THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM AND THE CIVIL JUSTICE SYSTEM CAN BE QUITE SLOW .

SO THERE IS A CIVIL LAWSUIT THAT WE ARE HAVING DEPOSITIONS ON, EVEN THIS WEEK AND NEXT WEEK, THERE IS THE CRIMINAL CASE THAT WAS BROUGHT NOT JUST AGAINST HOUSEHOLDER , BUT AGAINST ENERGY EXECUTIVES.

THIS IS STILL KIND OF TRICKLING OUT.

RIGHT NOW THERE IS NO ACTIVE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FROM THE FEDERAL SIDE.

BUT WE WILL SEE IF THAT CHANGES GOING FORWARD.

>> WE ARE STILL WAITING FOR THE SENTENCING OF THE TWO FOLKS PLEADED GUILTY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THEY GET .

IT SEEMS TO BE OVERDUE.

FORMER LOBBYIST GOT.

THEY WERE THE FOUR PEOPLE CHARGED ALONG WITH NEIL CLARK, WHO DIED.

WE SHALL SEE.

>> IF SOMEBODY TRIES TO EXPLOIT IT, WHETHER IN THE CONTEXT OF REPUBLICAN POLITICS, OR IF SOMEHOW THE REPUBLICANS IN TWO YEARS HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE BALLOT WHO IS LINKED TO IT, IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE HALFWAY SMART WHICH YOU SEEM TO QUESTION THAT, APPROPRIATELY AT TIMES, BUT IT TOOK ME AGAIN.

>> HERE'S AN IMPORTANT THING.

IN THE PAST X NUMBER OF YEARS MY PARTY HAS SHIFTED FROM BEING THE PARTY OF BUSINESS TO THE PARTY OF POPULISM.

IF YOU MONITOR SOME OF THE VERY REPUBLICAN SITES RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE TAKING AN ANTI-UTILITY STANCE.

AN ANTI-CORPORATION STANCE.

SO THIS ACTUALLY GOES BACK TO WHAT YOU SAID ABOUT THE PRIMARY.

THIS COULD ACTUALLY BE DEVASTATING TO SOMEBODY IN A PRIMARY.

BECAUSE THEY GOT BACK BY THE REALLY ELITE WHO TAKE YOUR MONEY .

AND BY THE WAY, RATES WILL GO UP THIS SUMMER BECAUSE OF THE AUCTION.

POWER PLANTS IN INDIANA.

>> AT THE STATEHOUSE, CULTURE WARS CONTINUE TO CLASH WITH SELECTIVE INTERPRETATION OF OHIO'S HOME RULE PROVISION.

OHIO'S CONSTITUTION GRANTS POWERS TO CITIES AND VILLAGES TO EXERCISE SELF GOVERNMENT..

BUT AT THE STATEHOUSE SELF GOVERNMENT IS A RELATIVE TERM.

THIS WEEK LAWMAKERS PASSED A BILL THAT REQUIRES TRANSGENDER SCHOOL STUDENTS USE BATHROOMS THAT MATCH THEIR BIRTH GENDERS.

AND LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALLOW STUDENTS TO LEAVE SCHOOL TO ATTEND RELIGIOUS CLASSES DURING THE SCHOOL DAY .

IT IS CONSTANT, WE CAN'T MISS WITH HOME RULE, BUT THEN WE PASS THESE LAWS THAT ARE SPECIFIC TO LOCAL JURISDICTIONS.

WHAT IS THE THINKING, WHY THEY DO AND IN SOME CASES AND NOT OTHERS?

>> BECAUSE THEY LIKE ONE IDEA AND THEY DON'T LIKE THE OTHER.

YOU CAN MAKE THAT WORK ANYWAY YOU WANT TO.

I THINK THE KEY WITH THIS IS THESE LAWMAKERS THAT ARE THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE BACKING IT, THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF SCHOOL CHOICE.

THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF LETTING CHRISTIAN GROUPS GO INTO SCHOOLS AND HAVE THE TIME OUT OF THE DAY LIKE THEY DO WITH SOME OF THESE PROGRAMS, WHERE THEY CAN TAKE THE STUDENTS OUT OF THE BUILDING AND DO ACTIVITIES WITH THE STUDENTS AND PUT THEM BACK IN.

THOSE ARE POPULAR IDEAS.

AND I THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF DEBATE ON THIS, BUT I AM NOT SO SURE THAT THEY REALLY CARE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT WHAT LOCALS, THEY ARE THROWING IT BACK SAYING WE WILL LET THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES HAVE THEIR SAY, BUT THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES ARE SAYING WE DON'T WANT TO PUT A POLICY IN PLACE TO BEGIN WITH.

AND THEY DON'T HEAR THAT.

WOULD SAY LOCAL SCHOOLS HAVE TO ALLOW IT.

THEY JUST HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO DO IT.

BUT IN MISSING RECESS OR A STUDY HALL TO GO TO A RELIGIOUS SERVICE.

THIS BILL DOES NOT SAY JUST CHRISTIAN RELIGIOUS SERVICE.

TO BE ANY RELIGION.

WHAT'S THE HARM?

>> BUT THE PRACTICE SO FAR SEEMS TO BE CHRISTIAN SERVICE, AND A PARTICULAR BRANCH OF CHRISTIANITY.

THAT IS THE HARM.

BUT WHAT YOU ARE REALLY SAYING HERE IS HOW FAR DO YOU WANT TO GO?

IF THEY DO THIS THEY ARE A NEXT STEP THAT THEY WANT TO HAVE THE LEGISLATURE.

AS YOU WERE SAYING, THE HISTORY OF HOME RULE, IT HAS BEEN VERY INTERESTING.

IF THE CITY COUNTIES THAT ARE DEMOCRATIC AND MORE PROGRESSIVE DO SOMETHING, THEY WILL SIMPLY OVERRULE IT.

AND LET'S THE GROUND, THEY WILL SAY WELL, WE CAN HAVE DIFFERENT STATUTES IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE RED LIGHTS, TALKING ABOUT GUNS, IT'S TOO DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TRAVELING FROM ONE COUNTY TO ANOTHER, NO, THAT'S NONSENSE.

BATHROOM ISSUE?

JEAN, DOES IT MAKE SENSE FOR THAT TO BE LEGISLATED ON A LOCAL LEVEL?

OR SHOULD IT BE STATEWIDE?

I'M THINKING TO PREVENT THIS TERMINATION AGAINST TRANSGENDER STUDENTS, RATHER THAN, THE DIFFERENCE IS, YOU COME FROM RURAL OHIO.

YOUR COMMUNITY IS MUCH DIFFERENT THAN CLEVELAND OR COLUMBUS.

>> ON THAT ISSUE I'VE ALWAYS TAKEN THE ATTITUDE THAT YOU NEED TO GO SLOW ON THAT.

THERE WAS A REPORT DONE THIS SUMMER BY DR. CASH OUT OF GREAT BRITAIN THAT SAID YOU NEED TO BE VERY, VERY CAUTIOUS ABOUT UNDERAGE HORMONE THERAPY.

THINGS LIKE THAT.

WHAT THEY SHOULD'VE DONE IS SAID LET'S DO A FIVE-YEAR MORATORIUM ON UNDERAGE STUFF, AND JUST STUDYING IT FOR A WHILE LONGER.

INSTEAD YOU'VE GOT THIS RUSH TO JUDGMENT ON BOTH SIDES.

BUT HERE IS MY CHALLENGE, TO THE THREE PEOPLE OF THE MEDIA SITTING HERE.

DOUBLE CHECK MY NUMBERS ON THIS.

I THINK THAT IN THE NEXT OHIO HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THE LARGEST PROFESSION OUTSIDE OF BEING A MEMBER WILL BE A LAWYER, OF COURSE, BUT THE SECOND-LARGEST MAY BE A PENTECOSTAL PREACHER.

AND DOUBLE CHECK MY MATH ON THAT.

>> I WOULD SAY ALSO THAT PARTICULAR LEGISLATION THAT PASSED THIS WEEK THAT WE EXPECTED GOVERNOR MIKE DeWINE IS GOING TO SIGN, IT ALSO AFFECTS UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES, INCLUDING PRIVATE UNIVERSITIES.

THE BATHROOM BILL.

AND I THINK IT WILL BE REALLY INTERESTING, I AM SURE WE WILL SEE LITIGATION OVER THAT, AND HOW ARE CAN THE STATE GOVERNMENT INFLUENCE, PARTICULARLY PRIVATE, PARTICULARLY UNIVERSITIES WHERE ADULTS ARE GOING TO SCHOOL.

>> THE ONE QUESTION I HAVE ABOUT THE BATHROOM BILL IS WHO IS GOING TO POLICE IT?

WHO IS GOING TO STAND THERE AND SAY OH, THAT PERSON CAN'T GO IN THAT BATHROOM.

YOU KNOW, IT'S A REALLY HARD THING, AND THE LAW, OR THE BILL IS VERY SILENT ABOUT THAT.

SO I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE IF THE GOVERNOR DOES SIGN IT INTO LAW, AND IT DOES GET PUT IN PLACE.

THERE ARE STILL GOING TO BE QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO IS USING THE BATHROOM AND WHEN.

>> SHOULD WE DO AWAY WITH THE HOME RULE PROVISION?

>> OR STRENGTHEN IT.

>> WE WILL SEE.

THEY SAY THAT LOCAL LAW IS SUPERSEDED BY STATE LAW, THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS EVERY TIME.

BUT GET TO OUR OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

JEAN, LET'S START WITH YOU.

>> THE WEEK BEFORE THE ELECTION WE BURIED FORMER SPEAKER JO ANN DAVIDSON, AND ON ELECTION NIGHT WE BURIED WHAT WAS LEFT OF THE REPUBLICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPUBLICANS.

AND SHE PERSONIFIED THAT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE REPUBLICAN, IT IS ALL VERY IRONIC AND VERY APPROPRIATE.

THE ODT, THE DEMOCRAT PARTY OF CHAOS, THE CHAMBER REPUBLICANS KNOW WHERE TO GO.

I AM FULLY EXPECTING IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS TO HEAR MORE CHATTER ABOUT A THIRD-PARTY RISING FROM THE ASHES ABOVE.

>> I THINK NEXT YEAR, LOOK VERY CAREFULLY AT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE IN OHIO DOES.

AS WELL AS CONGRESS, ACTUALLY, BUT WHAT THE LEGISLATURE DOES WITH RESPECT TO THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS AMENDMENT THAT WE APPROVED IN OHIO BY A SUBSTANTIAL MARGIN, AND LOOK TO SEE IF THEY PLAY GAMES ABOUT THE WORD VIABILITY.

>> I THINK WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE PARTIES DOING A POSTMORTEM, BUT I THINK THE MEDIA NEEDS TO DO A POSTMORTEM.

BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO VOTED ARE SAYING WELL, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT, I DIDN'T KNOW THAT.

SOMEWHERE WE MISSED THE BOAT, BECAUSE IF PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW IT, THEY ARE NOT READING, LISTENING, SEEING WHAT WE ARE SAYING .

WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT, AS MEDIA, HOW WE CAN REALLY GET IN FRONT OF FOLKS, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY ARE VOTERS AND THEY GO VOTE.

THEY NEED TO KNOW.

>> AND A LIKELY CONTENDER IN THE U.S. SENATE RACE THROUGH HER HAT IN.

DOLLY THE WINE.

THIS MIGHT SMACK OF NEPOTISM, ACTUALLY OLD ENOUGH.

BUT EVERYONE IS INTERESTED.

>> LIKE THOSE LAWN SIGNS WE SAW, PETS RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

DOLLY THE WINE.

MY OFF THE RECORD COMMENT, WE ARE LOOKING FOR THINGS TO GIVE US HOPE, WE GOT ONE THIS WEEK WHEN THE ONION BOUGHT INFO WORSE.

IRONY KNOWS NO BOUNDS.

THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

WE URGE YOU TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK, AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANY TIME ON YOUR TIME AT OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.ORG , THE YOUTUBE APP, AND ALSO ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.