>> PRESSURE BUILDS ON INTEL AND ITS CEO.

> >> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

OHIO POLITICIANS HAVE BEEN PRETTY MUCH UNITED IN SAYING THEY STILL HAVE FAITH IN INTEL, IT'S CEO, AND THE FACTORY PROJECT UNDERWAY IN NEW ALBANY.

THE ONE STATEWIDE OHIO POLITICIAN WHO IS GOING ROGUE IS ONE WHO WAS NOT THERE FOR THE GROUND BREAKING AT INTEL'S SITE THREE YEARS AGO.

SENATOR BERNIE MORENO THIS WEEK JOINED PRESIDENT TRUMP IN CALLING FOR INTEL CEO LIP-BUTAN TO RESIGN BECAUSE OF HIS BUSINESS TIES TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT AND MORENO SAYS INTEL SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED FOR FRAUD.

INTEL RESPONDED BY SAYING IT REMAINS DEEPLY COMMITTED TO ADVANCING U. S. NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMIC SECURITY INTERESTS.

MIKE GONIDAKIS?

>> I'M NOT SURE THINGS ARE.

WE SHOULD BE QUESTIONING THE LIVE OF INTEL BECAUSE IT IS A NATIONAL SECURITY INTEREST.

90% OF CHIPS ARE MADE IN TAIWAN.

IF CHINA INVADES TAIWAN, OUR FIGHTER JETS ARE SHUT DOWN.

WE HAVE TO GET THIS PLANT BUILT.

NOT JUST FOR JOBS, TAX ISSUES, CREDITS, BUT FOR NATIONAL SECURITY.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT MORENO CALLED OUT THE LEADERSHIP OF INTEL BECAUSE THIS HAS TO BE DONE.

>> SO FIRING THE CEO RIGHT AFTER HE STARTING AND HAVING A NEW LEADER, WILL THAT HELP THE FACTORY GET BUILT?

>> MAYBE.

REUTERS DID THE REPORTING SAYING THERE'S ALL THESE FINANCIAL TIES BETWEEN INTEL AND THE CHINESE COMMUNIST GOVERNMENT.

THAT SHOULD RAISE RED FLAGS SO WE NEED TO PEEL BACK A FEW LAYERS BECAUSE OF THAT SITUATION.

WILL IT FIX IT AT THE END OF THE DAY?

I DON'T KNOW.

BUT IT HAS TO GET BUILT.

WE HAVE TO BUILD CHIPS IN OHIO.

>> YOU HAVE TO DO BUSINESS WITH CHINA.

SO MANY COMPANIES ARE OWNED BY THEM OR CLOSELY AFFILIATED WITH THAT.

IS THERE ANYTHING OTHER THAN HIM DOING BUSINESS WITH CHINA?

>> YOU'RE RIGHT AT THIS POINT, LOOK AT ALL THE MAJOR BIG TECH COMPANIES IN THE U. S. APPLE BEING THE MOST PROMINENT.

IT HAS NOW REPORTED A WHOLE BOOK AT HOW DEEPLY INVESTED THEY WERE IN CHINA OVER THE U. S. SOMETHING TO LOOK INTO.

AND, I AGREE.

LET'S INTO INTEL AS WELL.

NOT JUST BECAUSE OF THE ALLEGATIONS OF CONNECTIONS TO THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT, BUT BECAUSE WE HAVE USED OUR TAX DOLLARS.

BUT THE BEST THING FOR BERNIE MORENO IS NOT JUST TO RANT ON X.

CALL A HEARING.

HE IS A SENATOR IN THE U. S. CONGRESS.

CALL WITNESSES AND HAVE OUR EXERCISING OF GOVERNMENT.

AND BERNIE MORENO COULD CHOOSE TO DO THAT.

>> JESSE, BECAUSE REPUBLICAN LEADERS, MIKE DEWINE BEING THE LEADER SAID BASICALLY, IT IS CONCERNING WE ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE DELAYS BUT WE HAVE FAITH THIS PROJECT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

ARE WE COMFORTABLE WITH HIM GOING ROGUE?

>> THE PERSON I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO HEAR FROM IS JOHN HUSTEAD BECAUSE HE WAS INTEGRAL TO BRINGING THIS TO OHIO AND HE IS NOW A U. S. SENATOR WHO NEEDS TO STAY IN FAVOR WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AND HIS COLLEAGUE MR. MORENO.

HE WAS SAYING THINGS LIKE YOU KNOW, THIS IS VERY, VERY TROUBLING.

WE NEED ANSWERS.

SO, A LITTLE BIT SOFTER THAN WHAT YOU SAW FROM THE OTHER SENATOR.

AND SO I IMAGINE THAT WILL BE A TACT THAT OTHER PEOPLE TAKE AS WELL.

>> HERE IS THIS QUOTE.

"WE MUST BE CONFIDENT INTEL IS SERVING OUR NATIONAL INTERESTS AT EVERY LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP. "

NOT EXACTLY HE SHOULD BE FIRED.

>> TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE.

BERNIE MORENO WOULD NEVER BE MISTAKEN FOR JOHN HUSTON.

I DON'T THINK BERNIE IS THROWING THE DEAL UNDER THE BUS BUT THE LEADERSHIP OF INTEL.

IT IS OKAY TO QUESTION THE LEADERSHIP.

EVERYONE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING HERE.

GET THIS THING BUILT.

>> IT IS LIKELY BERNIE MORENO AND PROBABLY DONALD TRUMP ARE TRYING TO FIND ANOTHER NARRATIVE SHOULD THIS DEAL NOT HAPPEN.

AND EXACTLY RIGHT.

JOHN HUGHES AND A LOT OF OTHER REPUBLICANS SUPPORTED THE CHIPS ACT, SUPPORTED INTEL SPECIFICALLY IN OHIO AND JOBS OHIO.

ANOTHER ENTITY WE SHOULD BE LOOKING CLOSELY AT THEIR INVESTMENT DECISIONS SO IT IS NOT BLACK AND WHITE POLITICALLY FOR REPUBLICANS HERE AT ALL.

>> JOE BIDEN WAS INVOLVED AS WELL.

>> IT WAS TRULY BIPARTISAN.

>> YEAH.

THE PEOPLE AT THAT GROUND BREAKING, MANY OF THEM ARE NOT IN THEIR CURRENT JOBS.

CHRISTINA JOHNSON, PRESIDENT OF OSU, MIKE DEWINE IS.

BUT, AS FAR AS CLAW BACKS, THERE IS NO TALK OF THAT AT THIS LEVEL.

THE PROJECT IS STILL GOING.

IT IS JUST BEING SLOW.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

AND I THINK THE WAY THAT THE DEAL WAS MADE THAT CLAWBACKS ARE A LITTLE BIT HARD AT THIS POINT.

AND THAT YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CRITICIZE THAT DEAL OR CRITIQUE IT GOING FORWARD FOR FUTURE DEALS.

BUT I THINK BECAUSE THERE IS STILL SOME PROGRESS BEING MADE, IT IS HARD FOR OHIO TO GET SOME OF THAT MONEY BACK.

>> ALL RIGHT.

AS TEXAS DEMOCRATS SEEK SHELTER OUT OF STATE TO STOP A REPUBLICAN-LED GERRYMANDERING EFFORT, OTHER STATES AWAIT SIMILAR BATTLES.

OHIO IS ONE OF THEM.

BY LAW, THIS STATE MUST REDRAW ITS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS BEFORE NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION.

REPUBLICANS ARE EYEING ONE OR TWO OF THE SEATS NOW HELD BY DEMOCRATS ACROSS THE STATE.

NOW THEY COULD FACE MORE PRESSURE FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP AND VICE PRESIDENT JD VANCE TO DRAW MAPS THAT FAVOR REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES EVEN MORE.

AS PART OF AN EFFORT TO HELP REPUBLICANS MAINTAIN THEIR NARROW MAJORITY IN CONGRESS.

VANCE WAS IN INDIANA THIS WEEK LOBBYING FOR THAT STATE TO REDRAW ITS MAPS.

DEMOCRATS MEANWHILE IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK THREATEN REDRAW THEIR MAPS IN THEIR FAVOR.

JESSE, IT IS GERRYMANDERING ON STEROIDS.

WHAT IS THE EFFORT IN OHIO THAT IS UNDERWAY QUIETLY NOW?

ARE THEY FEELING THE PRESSURE?

>> THERE IS KIND OF A NATIONAL ARM'S RACE HAPPENING HERE.

YOU ARE SEEING THAT WITH THE FBI BEING PERHAPS TOLD TO BRING TEXAS DEMOCRATS BACK TO TAKE A VOTE ON A REDISTRICTING DEAL THERE WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, WILD.

SOMETHING.

SO, OHIO IS REALLY A LITTLE BIT IN A HOLDING PATTERN.

CERTAINLY, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING A LOOK AT WHAT DISTRICTS REPUBLICANS COULD PICK UP IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

YOU ARE LOOKING AT DISTRICTS LIKE REPRESENTATIVE MARCY CAPTOR IN THE TOLEDO AREA.

NEXT ON THE LIST, AMELIA SYKES.

YOU COULD LOOK AT CINCINNATI AND GREG LANCEMAN.

THAT'S A WAY FOR REPUBLICAN TO PICK UP TWO OR THREE SEATS IN A YEAR WHERE YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> DO REPUBLICANS NEED ANY ADDED INCENTIVE FROM TRUMP OR VANCE TO DRAW THE MAPS THEIR WAY?

>> WHEN HE IS IN YOUR PARTY, IT IS ALWAYS GOOD TO WEIGH IN.

THE DEMOCRATS DID THE SAME THING WITH OBAMA AND BIDEN.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, YOU SAY A PHRASE I WANT TO HOLD ONTO.

NARROW MAJORITY.

WHY DO WE HAVE A NARROW MAJORITY IN CONGRESS?

WE HAVE EIGHT STATES WITHOUT ONE REPUBLICAN IN EIGHT STATE INS THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS HAVE GERRYMANDERED THEIR STATES.

11 STATES IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE THREE TOTAL REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS.

I THINK THE DEMOCRATS ARE REALLY.

>> THERE ARE STATES WITH NO DEMOCRATS.

>> BUT IF YOU LOOK AT BLUE VERSUS RED, THE BLUE IS REALLY BLUE.

IF WE WILL BE FAIR AND FAIR MAPS IT WOULDN'T BE A NARROW MAJORITY.

I THINK REPUBLICANS WOULD HAVE A GREATER MAJORITY.

MARCY CAPTOR SURVIVED TWICE.

THE REPUBLICANS TOOK IT TWICE IN OHIO AND TRIED TO DRAW IT DIFFERENT.

YOU CAN DRAW THEM HOW YOU WANT.

IF YOU HAVE A GOOD CANDIDATE, YOU CAN OVERCOME.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE ARE QUORUM SITUATIONS IN OHIO.

BUT WHAT DO DEMOCRATS DO HERE, MORGAN, TO COUNTER THIS WHEN IT COMES?

>> YEAH.

>> I WILL PICK OFF OF SOMETHING MIKE SAID THAT SEEMS ACCURATE.

WHICH IS THAT CANDIDATES HAVE TO RUN THEIR RACE.

I DO THINK WE RUN THE RISK HERE AS DEMOCRATS OF GETTING CAUGHT UP IN THIS GERRYMANDERING DISCUSSION AND DISTRICTS AND THIS IS A WASH WITH VOTERS.

I DON'T THINK VOTERS WANT TO HEAR ABOUT THIS.

IF YOU ARE A CANDIDATE RUNNING IN 2026, I WOULD STAY FOCUSED ON THE DAMAGE THAT HAS COME FROM THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THE STORIES EMERGING AT THE COMMUNITY LEVEL OF HOW THE HARM WILL IMPACT OHIO FAMILIES.

>> IF YOU ARE DISTRICT, YOU LOSE YOUR CORE SUPPORTERS BECAUSE THEY PEELED A COUPLE OF NEIGHBORHOODS OUT OF YOUR DISTRICT AND PUT IT IN A DIFFERENT DISTRICT.

YOU COULD YELL TO THE HILLS AND IT STILL MAY NOT WORK.

>> VERY TRUE.

BUT TO HAVE A CHANCE AT IT AND LOOKING AT THE NATIONAL MAP, WE HAVE TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE REAL IMPACTS AND THE ECONOMIC IMPACTS.

>> CINCINNATI DISTRICT, JESSIE, THE LAW SAYS YOU HAVE TO KEEP COMMUNITIES WHOLE.

DOES THAT LESSEN THE CHANCE THAT THEY WOULD SEE THEIR DISTRICT BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE?

>> YEAH.

SO, THERE WAS AMENDMENT THAT WE PASSED IN 2018 THAT VOTERS VOTED ON THAT WAS INITIALLY CRAFTED BY LAWMAKERS THAT REQUIRES CERTAIN SIZE OF CITIES TO STAY WHOLE.

CINCINNATI IS ONE OF THOSE CITIES.

SO THE CITY OF CINCINNATI HAS TO STAY IN ONE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

REPUBLICANS HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF WIGGLE ROOM.

RIGHT NOW, THEY HAVE PAIRED IT WITH WARREN COUNTY.

AS FAR AS COLUMBUS GOES, COLUMBUS IS LARGER THAN A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THERE IS NO WAY TO ELIMINATE A DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT IN COLUMBUS.

>> DO WE EXPECT REPUBLICANS TO COMPROMISE?

THEY CAN'T COMPROMISE WITH DEMOCRATS THROUGH THIS PROCESS OR THEY JUST RAM HOME A MAP.

>> TALKING OHIO OR NATIONALLY?

>> OHIO.

>> THE REPUBLICANS HAVE WON ENOUGH SEATS.

KEEP IN MIND, NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES THEY REDRAW THAT MARCY CAPTOR DISTRICT, SHE KEEPS WINNING.

GOOD CANDIDATES WILL WIN REGARDLESS OF THE MAPS.

>> THAT'S THE ARGUMENT IN TEXAS TOO, MORGAN.

SOME OF THESE DISTRICTS, IT IS NOT A GUARANTEE.

THEY ARE COUNTING ON HISPANIC VOTERS WHO VOTED FOR TRUMP TO VOTE FOR THE CONGRESSPERSON IN THOSE DISTRICTS AND THAT MAY NOT HAPPEN.

>> WE ARE IN VERY UNPREDICTABLE TIMES AND VOTERS ARE SHOWING THEY ARE NOT LOYAL TO POLITICAL PARTY.

THAT THEY WILL BE LISTENING TO THE CANDIDATE AND THE MESSAGE.

SO HOW THAT PLAYS OUT WILL DEPEND MUCH ON WHAT TURNOUT LOOKS LIKE IN THESE DISTRICTS.

>> TIME LINE, WHEN DO WE EXPECT TO SEE A VERSION OF THE MAP?

>> THERE ARE A FEW DIFFERENT VERSIONS.

WE WILL SEE SOME VERSION OF THE MAP IN SEPTEMBER.

BUT THE ULTIMATE DEADLINE IS THE END OF NOVEMBER.

ONE CARD THE DEMOCRATS COULD PLAY IS IF YOU PASS THIS MAP AS A BILL, IT IS SUBJECT TO REFERENDUM.

THAT COULD GET PRETTY MESSY PRETTY QUICK BUT IT COULD PUT THIS MAP ON HOLD.

>> ANOTHER VOTE ON REDISTRICTING.

OR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WE HAVEN'T HAD ONE OF THOSE IN A WHILE.

ANYWAY.

THIS WEEK, PROVIDED NEWS THAT MAY INDICATE SHERROD BROWN WANTS TO RETURN TO THE U. S. SENATE.

AXIOS REPORTS BROWN HAS BEEN INTERVIEWING POTENTIAL CAMPAIGN MANAGERS FOR A BID TO CHALLENGE SENATOR JON HUSTED.

A BROWN WIN COULD HELP DEMOCRATS TAKE BACK THE CHAMBER.

HE COULD RUN FOR GOVERNOR OR CHOOSE TO LEAVE POLITICS BEHIND AND HANG OUT WITH HIS GRAND KIDS.

MORGAN HARPER WE ARE READING THESE TEA LEAVES ONE AT A TIME SO WHAT IS YOUR FEELING?

>> VERY TURTLE LIKE PACE.

IT IS STILL HARD TO SAY.

THE NEWS IS WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

SO WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.

I THINK HUSTEAD HUSTED IS VULNERABLE.

WE HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT MESSAGE AND ACTIVATING THE TURNOUT AMONG KEY CONSTITUENCIES.

THE MORE TIME WE HAVE FOR THAT, THE BETTER.

IT WOULD BE GREAT IF E WITH WE COULD SEE A CALL.

ANOTHER THING IS I CAME FROM A POLITICAL CONFERENCE IN NEW ORLEANS FOR PROGRESSIVES AND ONE OF THE MAIN TAKE AWAYS FROM A LOT OF DATA, A LOT OF POLLING IS THE ELECTORATE IS LOOKING FOR OUTSIDERS AND THE ELECTORATE IS NOT TAKING SERIOUSLY A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATIC MESSAGING LIKE RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE AND NEGOTIATING MEDICARE PRICES.

THINGS WE ALL BELIEVE IN BUT THEY ARE NOT BUYING IT.

IT IS NOT PERSUADING VOTERS.

>> WHAT ISSUES ARE PERSUADING VOTERS?

>> THINGS OUTSIDE OF WHAT THEY NORMAL I WILL HERE WOULD BE THE GENERAL CATEGORY.

THINGS LIKE TAKING ON CORPORATIONS THAT ARE PRICE GOUGING.

THE BIG HEALTH CARE COMPANIES DRIVING UP COST.

TAKING ON A SYSTEM THAT FEELS LIKE IT IS WORKING AGAINST AVERAGE AMERICANS.

SO REGARDLESS OF WHO ENDS UP IN BOTH THE GNAT RACE AND WHO COMES OUT OF THE DEMOCRATIC GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY, THAT IS THE TYPE OF MESSAGING WE HAVE TO EMBRACE THAT IS ANTIESTABLISHMENT.

>> JOHN HUSTED AND SHERROD BROWN ARE NOT OUTSIDERS.

>> THE DEMOCRATIC PARTIES IS INVOLVED WITH MALPRACTICE WITH A FEW VOTERS THEY HAVE LEFT.

THE FILING DEADLINE IS IN FIVE MONTHS.

THE PRIMARY IS IN NINE MONTHS.

THEY JUST ANNOUNCED HOW MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS HE HAS IN HIS WAR CHEST AND IS WILLING TO PUT ANOTHER 30 MILLION IN?

THE DEMOCRAT PARTY IS PARALYZED BECAUSE BROWN CAN'T MAKE A DECISION.

THAT IS NO WAY TO RUN A PARTY.

YOU HAVE NO BENCH, YOU HAVE NO CANDIDATES.

HOW IN THE WORLD ARE THEY GOING TO WIN ANYTHING?

>> THEY DO HAVE A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR, AMY ACTON.

JESSIE, SHE RAISED NUMBERS THAT SEEMED OKAY FOR A DEMOCRAT THIS EARLY IN THE STAGE.

SHE HAS GOTTEN GOOD REVIEWS.

SHE IS THE OUTSIDER MORGAN WAS TALKING ABOUT.

>> YEAH.

I THINK PART OF THE CHALLENGE WITH THE SHERROD BROWN DECISION IS NOT KNOWING WHAT THE SLATE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE SO AMY ACTON HAS BEEN HURT BY THAT.

AND SOME OF THE DONORS ARE NOT OPENING UP THEIR CHECKBOOKS IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT SURE WHAT THIS RACE IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

BUT I THINK ONCE THAT DECISION IS MADE, YOU KNOW, AMY HAS THE BETTER SHOT.

SHE HAS CERTAINLY SHOWED SHE IS ABLE TO FUND RAISE, THE CHALLENGES SHE IS UP AGAINST SOMEONE WHO HAS ALMOST UNLIMITED ACCESS TO FUND RAISING MONEY.

>> AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO BEAT JON HUSTED, ISN'T THIS THE BEST CHANCE?

IF HE WINS IN 26, A PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION YEAR, HIGHER TURNOUT.

REPUBLICANS DO BETTER IN THIS STATE.

SO IF THEY REALLY WANT TO TAKE THAT SEAT BACK, THIS IS THE CHANCE RIGHT?

>> I AGREE.

I DO THINK HE IS VULNERABLE.

HE IS NOT A STRONG CANDIDATE.

IF YOU HAVE SEEN SOME OF THESE NATIONAL MEDIA APPEARANCES SINCE HE HAS BEEN IN THE SENATE SEAT.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CHECK THOSE OUT, BUT THEY ARE NOT GOOD.

HE IS NOT A GREAT MESSENGER.

HE IS NOT VERY CHARISMATIC AND I DON'T GET THE SENSE HE IS TOTALLY READY FOR PRIME TIME IF HE FOUND HIMSELF IN A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE.

THAT'S THE QUESTION THOUGH.

ARE WE GOING TO BUILD A CAMPAIGN THAT WOULD BE COMPETITIVE AND TO THE DISCUSSION ALREADY?

WE ARE RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

SO LET'S GO.

>> POPULUS MESSAGE?

THAT'S WHAT BROWN WILL BRING.

>> IT WILL BE DROWNED OUT WHEN JON, BY THE WAY, HE IS UNDEFEATED IN EVERY ELECTION HE HAS RUN.

GOOD RECORD.

BUT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, ALL JON HAS TO DO IS REMIND THE VOTER WHATS THE FOUR YEARS OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS LIKE AND THE OPEN BORDERS AND THINGS THAT SHERROD BROWN, WHAT THEY DIDN'T DELIVER FOR OHIO.

SO I THINK JON IS IN A GREAT POSITION TO WIN.

BUT YOU'RE RIGHT.

THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A CHANCE, IT IS NOW.

NOT IN 2028.

>> ANY TALK OF WHEN A DECISION MIGHT COME, JESSIE?

WE HEARD SUMMER, WE HEARD FALL.

HE SAID IN THE SUMMER WHEN SOMEBODY ASKED HIM BACK IN THE SPRING.

>> YEAH.

I'LL KEEP LOOKING AT MY TEA LEAVES AND LET YOU KNOW.

>> LAST MONTH, MOBILE PHONES CAPTURED A VIOLENT FIGHT IN DOWNTOWN CINCINNATI.

IT IS HORRIBLE TO WATCH AND IT QUICKLY WENT VIRAL.

THAT PROMPTED POLITICIANS TO CALL FOR TOUGH ON CRIME POLICIES.

JUDICIAL REFORMS.

LEADING THE WAY WAS VICE PRESIDENT VANCE WHO CALLED COLUMBUS AND OTHER CITIES LAWLESS.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY HELD A TOWN HALL MEETING IN CINCINNATI.

THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR CALLED FOR TOUGHER SENTENCES, MORE MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND POLICING BUT THE RHETORIC DOES NOT MATCH THE STATS.

VIOLENT CRIME IN CINCINNATI IS DOWN SLIGHTLY THE PAST FEW YEARS.

VIOLENT CRIME IN COLUMBUS IS DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY FROM A 2021 HIGH.

MIKE GONIDAKIS, WHAT'S THE RESULT OF THIS DEBATE?

>> TERRIBLE VIDEO THAT IS HARD TO WATCH AS YOU SAID.

NUMBER ONE, NUMBER TWO.

OUR INNER CITIES ARE NOT SAFE.

I'M NOT TAKING MY FAMILY DOWN TO DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS.

MY 13-YEAR-OLD SON.

NOT ON A FRIDAY NIGHT.

STAY IN THE COMMUNITY WE LIVE IN, IT'S SAFER.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, CAN WE REALLY TRUST THE STATS?

WASHINGTON DC JUST FIRED THEIR POLICE COMMANDER FOR COOKING THE BOOKS.

DROPPING FELONY ASSAULTS DOWN TO MINOR MISDEMEANORS.

>> LOOK AT THE MURDER RATE.

YOU CAN'T HIDE THAT.

YOU ARE EITHER DEAD OR YOU'RE NOT.

AND IN COLUMBUS, IT'S DOWN.

I THINK 28, 29% FROM LAST YEAR.

>> ROBBERIES ARE NOT IN MY OPINION.

THE STATS I HAVE SEEN AND OTHER VIOLENT CRIMES ARE NOT.

THANKFULLY MURDERS ARE DOWN.

I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE THAT'S A GOOD THING.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE WE BUILDING A FIFTH HIGH SCHOOL?

BECAUSE THAT IS WHERE EVERYONE IS MOVING TO SAFE COMMUNITIES.

NOT MOVING TO DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS OR SHORT NORTH.

SO IF WE PUT SAFETY FIRST, WE COULD MAKE COLUMBUS SAFE AGAIN.

>> MORGAN?

>> AS A DOWNTOWN RESIDENT, I WILL JUST SAY I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY SAFETY PROBLEMS SO I APPRECIATE THE COMMUNITIES THAT SURROUND COLUMBUS AND I ALSO THINK DOWNTOWN IS SUCH A COMMUNITY THAT OFFERS A REALLY GREAT LIFE AND OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO BUILD THEIR FAMILIES.

I DO THINK DATA MATTERS.

IT IS NOT CLEAR THAT ALL REPUBLICANS DO.

WE JUST HAVE TO LOOK AT THE PRESIDENT'S REACTION TO THE BAD JOBS DATA AND HE FIRES THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THOSE STATISTICS.

I DON'T SEE THAT SAME COMMITMENT TO THE DATA.

BUT YOU ARE RIGHT, MIKE, THE COLUMBUS SHOWS IN ALL MAJOR CITIES ACROSS AMERICA, CRIME STATS ARE DOWN.

THIS IS CLEARLY A REPUBLICAN TALKING POINT THAT MAKES IT EASY FOR THEM TO DISTRACT FROM A LOT F O OTHER THINGS THEY DON'T WANT TO BE DISCUSSING.

THE OTHER CRITIQUE I WILL OFFER TO MY OWN PARTY, VIVEK RAMASWAMY HOSTED A TOWN HALL.

WHY?

BECAUSE THIS IS A TALKING POINT THAT WORKS FOR THEM.

AND ALSO HE IS WILLING TO PUT IN THE WORK TO DO THAT.

NOW UNFORTUNATELY.

WE HEARD FROM THE CINCINNATI MAYOR HE WAS OUT OF TOWN.

HE LEFT TOWN RIGHT AFTER IT HAPPENED.

I DON'T THINK THAT WE ARE GOING TO WIN THIS BY JUST DEPENDING ON THE PEOPLE TO LOOK AT STATS.

AND THINK THAT IS ENOUGH.

WE HAVE TO BE VERY AGGRESSIVE ABOUT SPREADING THE MESSAGE OF REALITY ROOTED IN FACTS.

>> JESSIE, THE VIDEO IS HORRIBLE.

THAT IS WHAT IS GENERATING A LOT OF THE INTEREST.

IN CINCINNATI, THERE HAVE BEEN POLITICAL CONSEQUENCES.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK THERE IS A REAL PERCEPTION VERSUS REALITY ISSUE ON SOME OF THESE CRIME STATS.

OHIO HAS, COLUMBUS HAS THE 12 YEAR LOW AND HOMICIDES THIS YEAR, BUT IF YOU SEE ONE HOMICIDE ON THE NEWS OR FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WAS A SHOOTING WHERE TEN PEOPLE WERE INVOLVED IN THE SHORT NORTH LAST YEAR.

WHICH GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

SO THAT INSTILLED FEAR VERSUS WHAT IS THE REGULAR EXPERIENCE OF SOMEONE GOING TO GRAB LUNCH IN THE SHORT NORTH?

CINCINNATI.

VIOLENT CRIME IS UP IN DOWNTOWN.

BUT DOWN IN THE CITY OVERALL, AND SO, ALL OF THIS MATTERS.

BUT ALSO, HOW YOU FEEL TAKING YOURSELF OUT TO DINNER ALSO MATTERS AND THAT IS INFORMED BY POLITICS AND POLITICIANS.

>> YEAH.

IT IS TOUGH ON CRIME HAS ALWAYS BEEN A BIG CAMPAIGN MESSAGE AND REPUBLICANS HAVE USED IT TO THEIR ADVANTAGE IN THE PAST.

ANYWAY, WE END THIS WEEK ON A SAD NOTE.

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST AND LONG TIME PANELIST AND DEAR FRIEND SAM GRESHAM DIED THIS WEEK.

HE LED THE COLUMBUS URBAN LEAGUE, AND CHAIRED THE OHIO COMMON CAUSE.

HE SPENT HIS LIFE WORKING FOR ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FOR ALL.

I'LL REMEMBER HIM AS A FIERCE PROGRESSIVE ACTIVIST NOT BOUND BY DEMOCRATIC PARTY TALKING POINTS.

WE WILL ALL GREATLY MISS HIM, HIS PASSION FOR HIS COMMUNITY, HIS INSIGHT, AND HIS LAUGH.

PEACE TO HIS FAMILY.

THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK, WATCH US ANY TIME AT OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.

ORG/COTR.

WE ARE ALSO ON YOUTUBE AND THE PBS APP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

FOR ALL OF OUR CREW, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.