>> THE IMPACT OF TRUMPS TARIFFS ON OHIO.

> >> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, I AM MIKE THOMPSON GREETED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MASSIVE NEW UNIVERSAL TARIFFS HAVE REACHED --WREAKED HAVOC ON STOCKMARKETS AS THE WORLD ADJUSTS TO WHAT LOOKS TO BE A NEW ORDER WHEN IT COMES TO GLOBAL TRADE.

WHILE 401(K)s ARE SEEING PANDEMIC LIKE PLUNGES IN VALUE, THE TRUE AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF THE TARIFFS REMAIN TO BE SEEN AROUND THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN OHIO.

PRICES ARE LIKELY TO RISE.

SOME OHIO MANUFACTURERS MAY BENEFIT BY HIGHER PRICES ON GOODS PRODUCED BY FOREIGN COMPETITORS, OTHER COMPANIES WILL PAY MORE FOR FOREIGN-MADE RAW MATERIALS AND COMPONENTS.

OHIO'S FARMERS WHO EXPORT SOYBEANS TO CHINA WILL FRIDAY MORNING TO LEARN THAT COUNTRY RETALIATED WITH A 34% TARIFF ON U. S. GOODS.

IT WAS AMONG THE FIRST OF LIKE THE MANY STRIKES IN A TRADE WAR THAT IS JUST BEGINNING.

TERRY CASEY, IT IS VERY EARLY, A LOT OF QUESTIONS, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK, IN THE LONG RUN, WILL THIS HELP OR HURT OHIO?

>> I DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER, AND PART OF IT IS BECAUSE TO GET WHERE WE ARE AT, THE HOLLOWING OUT OF THE MANUFACTURING OF THE UNITED STATES, THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER THE LAST THREE DECADES, SO YOU'RE NOT GOING TO COVER IT OR FIX IT IN TWO OR THREE MONTHS OR EVEN A YEAR, BUT THE ULTIMATE JUDGMENT DAY IS GOING TO BE NOVEMBER '26, BECAUSE CONGRESS AND SENATORS ARE GOING TO WIN THE BALLOT, AND BY THEN PEOPLE WILL KNOW, IT WAS WORTH IT, IT WASN'T WORTH IT, SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS BY THEN, NOVEMBER '26.

>> IT IS SO SWEEPING, BRIAN, AND HE WORKED FOR THE UAW UP IN MICHIGAN AND HEAVILY INVOLVED IN AUTO MANUFACTURING AND UNIONS THERE.

WE NEED CORRECTION, BUT WHAT YOU MAKE OF THE SWEEPING NATURE?

XI THINK THERE IS A BETTER WAY, THE BETTER WAY WOULD BE TO TRIGGER YOUR TARIFFS BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT YOU ARE PAYING THE WORKERS, SO IF IT COSTS SIX DOLLARS AND THREE DOLLARS, THEN THE TARIFF SHOULD BE $57.

EITHER YOU PAY THE WORKER OR YOU PAY THE TARIFF.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> YEAH, THAT IT TAKES AWAY THAT INCENTIVE, THE SAME WITH OTHER THINGS.

THE PROBLEM IS THIS APPROACH -- YOU KNOW, CANADA DOESN'T HAVE THAT ISSUE.

IT DOESN'T EQUATE WITH TARIFFS DIRECTLY WITH SOME COUNTRIES.

FOR INSTANCE, ELIMINATE THE TARIFF ON CARS WITH JAPAN, MAKE IT EVEN, GREAT.

IT IS AN ISLAND THAT IS ALREADY FULL OF CARS.

YOU CAN'T SELL ANY CARDS TO -- COMPARED TO WHAT THEY WOULD BE ABLE TO EXPORT, SO THAT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

IT'S VERY COMPLEX, BUT RIGHT NOW, YOU ARE GOING TO FEEL IT, YOU'RE GOING TO FEEL IT IN THE GROCERY STORE, WHEN YOU GO TO BUY GOODS, CLOTHES, SHOES.

AND THE STATE GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO HIT PRETTY SOON, BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO AFFECT OUR TAXES.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, WE EXPORT AND IMPORT SO MUCH STUFF HERE IN OHIO.

I MEAN, PHARMACEUTICALS ARE LIKE NUMBER FOUR ON THE LIST OF IMPORTS HERE IN OHIO.

SO, IT IS GOING TO AFFECT WHAT PEOPLE ARE PAYING.

>> RIGHT, I MEAN, I THINK IT IS GOING TO HAVE THIS SORT OF BLANKET EFFECT ON JUST CONSUMERISM AND YOU KNOW, SALES.

AND I THINK THAT WHAT TERRY IS SAYING IS CORRECT, WE CAN'T QUITE KNOW AT THIS POINT, BUT IT IS A GLOBAL ECONOMY NOW.

I HAVE BEEN SPENDING A LITTLE BIT OF TIME THIS WEEK ON WILLIAM McKINLEY, OUR FAVORITE OHIO PRESIDENT OF LATE, AND YOU KNOW, TRUMP GLOVES THE HEATED TARIFFS.

WELL, THE WORLD WAS DIFFERENT THEN, AND THE U. S. WAS TRYING TO ESTABLISH ITSELF.

NOW, YOU KNOW, MANY OF THESE GOODS ARE GOING ACROSS BORDERS ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES TO BE MADE , AND WE ARE STARTING TO SEE, HOWEVER, LARGE COMPANIES IN THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING APPLE AND OTHERS THAT ARE SAYING, OKAY, ALL THE STUFF WE WERE DOING IN OTHER COUNTRIES, WE WILL BRING BACK HERE.

BUT FROM EVERYTHING I'M HEARING, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THESE FACILITIES JUST DON'T EXIST IN THIS COUNTRY TO MAKE THE STUFF THAT PEOPLE WANT FOR CHEAP.

>> CERTAINLY NOTHING THAT WILL GET BUILT OVERNIGHT.

JESSE, FARMING, SOYBEANS, HUGE EXPORT ITEM FOR OHIO FARMERS, CHINA IS THE LARGEST CUSTOMER THAT OHIO FARMERS HAVE FOR THEIR SOYBEANS, AND THEY'RE LOOKING AT A 34% TARIFF AS OF FRIDAY MORNING.

>> YEAH, THAT IS SIGNIFICANT, IT IS GOING TO TAKE US A LITTLE BIT TO FIND OUT THE FULL IMPACT OF THAT, BUT CERTAINLY THAT IS AN IMPORTANT INDUSTRY TO OHIO.

THE WILL JUST BEHIND TARIFFS IS YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE THIS SHORT-TERM PAIN FOR IN THEORY A LONG-TERM BENEFIT, BUT HOW PAINFUL IS THAT SHORT-TERM AND ARE YOU GETTING ENOUGH BENEFIT IN THE LONG TERM?

>> AND IN 2017, TERRY, THE FARMERS TARIFFS --THE TARIFFS THAT AFFECTED OHIO FARMERS, THAT PUTS THEM TO BE GROWN IN BRAZIL AND ARGENTINA, THAT'S WHERE CHINA WENT TO GET THEIR SOYBEANS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> IT IS AND THE TAXPAYERS HAD TO PAY OUT SOME ADDED SUBSIDIES TO HELP OUT THOSE SOYBEAN FARMERS WHO WERE IMPACTED, BUT OHIO IS SITTING IN A UNIQUE POSITION BECAUSE WE ARE A BORDER STATE WITH SOME EXPORTS, AND THE NATURE OF OUR ECONOMY WITH MANUFACTURING, WITH AGRICULTURE, THERE ARE SOME STATES THAT ARE MORE AGRICULTURAL , THEN MORE MANUFACTURING, WE ARE BIG IN BOTH THE SO, THAT'S WHAT IMPACT IN OHIO IS MUCH MORE.

AND I AGREE WITH BRIAN, WE WILL BE WATCHING THE SALES TAX FIGURES IN OHIO IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

>> CAR PRICES, BRIAN, THERE IS A 25% TARIFF ON FOREIGN CARS, CARDS MADE OUTSIDE OF THE UNITED STATES.

BUT YOU KNOW, A LOT OF CARDS ARE STILL MADE HERE, EVEN FOREIGN OWNED CAR COMPANIES, MY CONDUCT, MAKE THEIR CARS HERE IN OHIO.

IT WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO DOMESTIC CARS, TOO, RIGHT?

BECAUSE IF YOU WERE A CHEVY DEALER AND YOUR CAR IS MADE HERE AND YOU SEE THE VOLKSWAGEN PLANT UP THE STREET HAS BEEN CHARGED AN EXTRA COUPLE GRAND, YOU'RE GOING TO BE WILLING TO NEGOTIATE, RIGHT?

>> THERE IS NOT A CAR THAT IS MADE THAT DOESN'T HAVE A FOREIGN PART AND PARTS SUPPLIERS ARE ONE OF THE BIGGEST EMPLOYERS IN OHIO AND OTHER MANUFACTURING STATES, AND SOMETIMES THEY ARE UNIONIZED, OFTEN THEY ARE NOT.

THESE WORKERS DON'T HAVE THE SAME PROTECTIONS AS SAY AN AUTOWORKER WHICH GETS SOME PAY WHEN THEY GET LAID OFF.

IT IS GOING TO HAVE A DETRIMENTAL EFFECT.

RE-SHORING ALL THOSE WILL TAKE TIME.

AND COST.

AND YOU KNOW, THERE IS CAPACITY HERE TO START BUILDING AN ASSEMBLY OF CARS, BUT WILL THAT BE ABLE TO BE DONE FAST ENOUGH TO PROTECT THE ECONOMY?

I'M NOT SO SURE THAT THAT WOULD HAPPEN.

>> HOW ABOUT SHORT-TERM, LONG- TERM, DO WE KNOW HOW SHORT SHORT-TERM IS AND HOW LONG LONG- TERM IS?

THAT'S THE THING.

>> A LOT OF SENATORS, A LOT OF MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THEY KNOW WHAT NOVEMBER OF '26 IS, SO AGAIN, THE ELECTION IS NOT THIS MAY, IT IS NOT THIS NOVEMBER, BUT THEY ARE VERY WELL AWARE, AS WANTING POLITICIANS ON BOTH SIDES DO IS THEY'RE LOOKING ABOUT THAT NEXT ELECTION AND THAT IS SOMETHING THEY WORRY ABOUT.

>> AND I WILL SAY THIS, FORTUNE 100 COMPANIES, WHEN YOU'RE TALKING MANUFACTURING, LIKE WE ARE USED TO THE STATE OF OHIO ANNOUNCING $300 MILLION HERE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHEN I WAS DEALING WITH THOSE FORTUNE 100 COMPANIES IN THAT INDUSTRY, OR TALKING 1 BILLION OR $2 BILLION ON A PLANT, IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN IN A YEAR.

IT TAKES A YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF TO BUILD IT.

>> SOME PLANTS LIKE FORD HAVE ANNOUNCED THEY MAY HAVE ONLY ONE SHIFT ON THIS PLANE IN AMERICA, THEN THEY CAN ADD A SECOND SHIFT OR THIRD SHIFT.

SOME THINGS TAKE LONGER BUT INTERESTINGLY, FORD SAYS THEY ARE GOING TO GIVE EVERYBODY THE EMPLOYEE PRICE AS A DISCOUNT TO BE MORE COMPETITIVE.

>> LET ME TELL YOU, I GET THAT DISCOUNT.

>> BROUGHT UP A REALLY INTERESTING POINT, THOUGH, WHICH IS WE DIDN'T GET A CLARITY, A VISION HERE IN TERMS OF WHAT THE END GOAL IS.

IS THE END GOAL JOBS?

IS THE END GOAL THE ENVIRONMENT?

IS THE END GOAL, YOU KNOW, SOME SORT OF RECIPROCITY?

FENTANYL OR WHATEVER?

AND SO, IT LOOKS AS IF IT IS JUST HERE TO STAY, REGARDLESS OF WHAT ANYBODY DOES.

AND THAT IS THE PIECE THAT, YOU KNOW, I DON'T THINK HAS BEEN TYPICAL IN THE PAST.

>> WELL, THERE IS THE WHOLE BILLIONS AND BILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO PAY FOR THE TAX CUTS, WHICH WOULD BECOME PERMANENT, THAT'S WHAT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN SAYING.

X RIGHT, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD ANSWER YET, LIKE TO TERRY'S POINT ON WILL THE GOVERNMENT SWEEP IN AND HELP SOME OF THESE INDUSTRIES LIKE FARMERS?

WHAT IS THEIR POSITION ON THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH THEY ARE TRYING TO SHRINK, IF IT SHOULD BE INVOLVED IN FREE MARKETS?

>> AND WHICH INDUSTRY DO YOU DECIDE TO HELP BECAUSE THEY ARE HURT BY TARIFFS WITH SO MANY INDUSTRIES HURT BY TARIFFS?

ANYWAY, MANY HUNDREDS OF PAGES LONG.

AND FOR SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES, THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE ARE NOT ON THE SAME PAGE.

HOUSE LAWMAKERS PRESENTED THEIR BUDGET PLAN THIS WEEK, GONE IN THE HOUSE PLAN, GOVERNOR DEWINE'S TAX HIKES, ON MARIJUANA, CIGARETTES, AND SPORTS BETTING.

THE HOUSE WOULD CHANGE HOW PUBLIC SCHOOLS RECEIVE STATE MONEY.

THE HOUSE PLAN WOULD ALSO HAVE THE STATE SPEND UP TO $1 BILLION TO BORROW MONEY TO HELP THE BROWNS BUILD A NEW STADIUM, A NEW DOME STADIUM OUTSIDE OF CLEVELAND, AND IT WOULD MAKE THE OFFICIAL POSITION OF THE STATE OF OHIO GOVERNMENT THAT THERE ARE TWO GENDERS, MALE AND FEMALE.

IN JUST A MOMENT, WE WILL GET TO THE BUDGET IMPLICATIONS OF GENDERS IN A MOMENT, BUT FIRST, THERE ARE ALWAYS DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR AND LAWMAKERS ON BUDGET.

HOW WIDE ARE THE DIFFERENCES THIS TIME?

>> I THINK THERE ARE SOME PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ONES.

YOU TALKED ABOUT THE TAXES THE GOVERNOR WAS GOING TO PROPOSE, TAXES ON MARIJUANA, TOBACCO, AND SPORTS BETTING IN ORDER TO PAY FOR THINGS LIKE CHILD TAX CREDIT, WHICH IS SOMETHING HE IS VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT.

AND THE SPORTS BETTING TAXES WERE GOING TO PAY FOR THE BROWNS NEW STADIUM, WE ARE GOING TO GO ABOUT THAT IN A DIFFERENT WAY IN THE HOUSE VERSION.

SCHOOL FUNDING, THE HOUSE IS SPENDING MORE THAN WHAT THE GOVERNOR WOULD SPEND, BUT STILL SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN THE SCHOOL FUNDING PLAN THAT WAS ROLLED OUT OVER SEVERAL YEARS.

SO, THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENCES HERE, WE HAVE SOME TIME TO HASH THEM OUT, BUT IT IS NOT CLOSE RIGHT NOW.

>> JULIE, WHAT IS DRIVING THESE DIFFERENCES?

IS A FISCAL CONSERVATIVE AND SOME BECAUSE THE COVEN MONEY IS DRYING OUT, THEY HAVE TO TIGHTEN THEIR BELT, PERHAPS AN ECONOMIC SLOWDOWN ON THE HORIZON, OR IS IT MORE THAN THAT, IS IT PERSONALITY, IS IT LOST CITY?

>> YEAH, I THINK THERE IS SOME PHYSICAL PIECE TO THIS, BUT YOU KNOW, A BIG PART OF THAT IS SCHOOL FUNDING.

IF YOU REMEMBER IN OUR BUDGET, YOU KNOW, PRISONS, SCHOOL, MEDICAID ARE THE BIG CHUNKS THERE.

THEY MAY HAVE A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION ON HOW MUCH TO SPEND ON EDUCATION.

THEN YOU HAVE TO ADJUST HERE AND THERE.

THEY SEEM TO WANT TO GET SOME DIFFERENT TAX BREAKS, AND NOT APPROVE OF WHAT THE GOVERNOR WANTS TO DO, WHICH ARE THESE SYNTAXES.

BUT YOU KNOW, WE ALSO HAVE PERSONALITIES HERE.

WE CAN'T PUT LAWMAKERS INTO ONE BIG BUNDLE, EVEN THOUGH BOTH CHAMBERS ARE SUPER MAJORITY REPUBLICAN, THEY HAVE DIFFERENT CHARACTERISTICS, AND PERSONALITIES OF THE TWO CHAMBERS.

AND DEFINITELY, DIFFERENT LEADERS THAT ARE GOING TO PUT THEIR MARK ON IT EACH TIME.

>> FORMER SENATE PRESIDENT MATT HOFFMAN IS NOW THE HOUSE SPEAKER, SO THERE IS NO SURPRISE ON WHERE HE STANDS ON THESE THINGS.

IS HE TRYING TO PLANT HIS FLAG A LITTLE BIT FIRMER WITH THE HOUSE BUDGET THIS TIME AROUND, TERRY?

>> THAT IS THE MAIN EVENT, MATT HOFFMAN VERSUS MIKE DeWINE, THEY'RE BOTH CATHOLIC, THEY'RE BOTH CONSERVATIVE.

ONE IS FROM A SMALL TOWN, ONE IS FROM A TOWN THAT IS A LITTLE BIGGER, BUT THEY HAVE GOT DIFFERENT VISIONS, DIFFERENT BASES, DIFFERENT PHILOSOPHIES, AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN AND ALWAYS WILL BE THE INHERENT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH, BUT IT IS MORE PRONOUNCED, AND DON'T BE SURPRISED IF THE SENATE TRIES TO MOVE THEIR BELT WHEN THEY GET IT FROM THE HOUSE THROUGH QUICKER AND MAYBE SOMETHING WITHOUT A CONFERENCE COMMITTEE, SO THEY CAN BE DONE WITH THE BUDGET ON JUNE 12th TO ALLOW TIME BEFORE JULY 4th WHEN LEGISLATORS ARE HARDER TO FIND, FOR THE GOVERNOR TO DECIDE WHAT HE VETOES OR NOT, AND THE BROWNS GAME IS ONE OF THOSE THINGS, BASED ON WHAT THE GOVERNOR SAID LAST WEEK.

HE IS WARMING UP THE PEN AND READY TO VETO IT, BECAUSE HE IS NOT HAPPY WITH THIS $600 MILLION PLAN THAT WILL COST OVER $1 BILLION.

>> STILL A DECENT AMOUNT OF MONEY, BRIAN, REVENUE COMING IN.

NOT AS MUCH AS DURING THE COVID TIME WHEN A LOT OF IT WAS COMING IN.

OF COURSE WE HAD A LOT OF EXPENSES THEN, TOO.

ARE THERE WARNING SIGNS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO TIGHTEN THE BUDGET AND THEY CAN SPEND AS MUCH ON THINGS AS THEY HAVE BEEN?

X BASED ON TARIFFS, OBVIOUSLY.

BUT BUDGETS ARE IN WORLD DOCUMENT, AND THIS BUDGET HAS BEEN PUT OUT BY THE HOUSE SEEMS LIKE A BORDELLO BUILT ON IN THEIR WASTE DUMP.

I MEAN, KIDS, WE ARE GOING TO STOP PAYING FOR THEIR LUNCHES BECAUSE WE DON'T THINK THEY DESERVE THEIR LUNCHES.

WE ARE GOING TO --YOU KNOW, WE MADE A COMMITMENT TO PUBLIC SCHOOLS, WE ARE GOING TO CUT A BUNCH OF THAT.

HERE IN COLUMBUS, $45 MILLION WOULD BE CUT FROM THE COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS BUDGET.

THE BIG TAX INCREASE THEY PASSED LAST YEAR WITH $38 MILLION.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST UNCONSCIONABLE, THE DECISIONS THEY ARE MAKING.

AND THEN THIS LEGISLATURE WANTS TO GO IN AND MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THINGS LIKE GENDER THAT DON'T BELONG IN THE BUDGET DOCUMENT.

SO, IT SEEMS TO ME WHEN TERM LIMITS FIRST CAME IN, WE TALKED ABOUT HOW LOBBYISTS WERE GOING TO HAVE A WHOLE ON OUR LEGISLATURE, AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT LOBBYISTS REALLY HAVE TAKEN HOLD.

THE GOVERNOR'S PROPOSAL ON THE BROWNS STADIA MADE SENSE.

IT WASN'T REALLY GOING TO COST PEOPLE.

IT MIGHT HAVE COST PEOPLE SOME BETTING A LITTLE BIT ON THEIR WINNINGS, BUT THAT IS ABOUT IT.

INSTEAD WE ARE GOING TO RISK OUR BOND RATING?

>> TO THOSE SOCIAL ISSUES, JESSIE, THAT WERE INCLUDED IN THE STATE BUDGET, NOT A SURPRISE.

OFTENTIMES, THINGS THAT HAVE A VERY, VERY LONG ARMS REACH FROM FINANCIAL DEALINGS GET IN THE BUDGET, BUT MATT HOFFMAN SAID ONE OF THE REASONS IS THEY DON'T HAVE A BIG FIGHT OVER THAT ISSUE.

THAT WAS PRETTY CANDID.

IT WAS ALSO SURPRISING.

WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE HEARINGS, WE DON'T WANT TO HAVE ALL THAT STUFF.

>> YEAH, THAT'S WHAT'S HARD, THE STATE BUDGET IS SUCH A MASSIVE DOCUMENT, IT'S OVER TWO YEARS, THERE ARE HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF PAGES IN HERE, AND EVEN NOW, WE ARE SORTING THROUGH THE 600 PAGES OF DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET AND THE HOUSE BUDGET, AND SO, THESE COMMITTEE HEARINGS ARE NOT GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON SOME OF THESE NICHE ISSUES THAT ARE REALLY NOT LIKE THE FUTURE OF SCHOOLS, PRISONS, AND MEDICAID, WHICH ARE THE BIG THINGS THE STATE'S FUNDING.

>> ALL RIGHT, WE HAVE 13 MONTHS UNTIL THE FIRST VOTES ARE CAST IN NEXT YEAR'S GOVERNOR'S RACE, BUT THE CAMPAIGN ADS ARE ALREADY SHOWING UP ON TV.

THE THICK RAMASWAMY IS PAC HAS COMMITTED MORE THAN $2 MILLION FOR TV ADS.

THE ADS TAUGHT REPUBLICAN AND CONSERVATIVE CREDENTIALS.

THEY ALSO HAPPEN TO MENTION THAT HE HAS THE ENDORSEMENT OF DONALD TRUMP.

HE IS THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN 2026, HE MIGHT BE THE ONLY CANDIDATE PERIOD.

HOW UNUSUAL IS THIS FOR A CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR TO START RUNNING THIS EARLY?

>> IT IS EXTREMELY RARE.

THE CAMPAIGN USED TO START, YOU KNOW, LIKE MEMORIAL DAY, LABOR DAY OF THE YEAR BEFORE, BUT NOW IT IS STARTING A FULL WELL OVER A YEAR BEFORE EVEN THE PRIMARY.

AND I DO THINK YOU ARE RIGHT, THAT HE IS TRYING TO GET A FOOTHOLD IN THERE, TO GET IT SOLIDIFIED IN OHIOANS' MIND THAT HE IS THE TRUMP GUY.

IN MY MIND, IT IS A BIT OF A RISK, BECAUSE WE DON'T REALLY KNOW HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO BE PLAYING , QUITE A DISTANCE AWAY FROM NOW, WHICH IS THE NOVEMBER '26 ELECTION, WHICH IS AN ETERNITY IN POLITICS, AS THEY LIKE TO SAY.

SO, I THINK THAT IS JUST HE WANTS TO GET HIS NAME OUT THERE AND GET THAT BRAND I. D. >> TERRY, MIGHT BE RUNNING ON CNBC, THE FINANCIAL NETWORK, AS WE ARE WATCHING THE DOW DROPPED 1600 POINTS FOR THE LAST TWO DAYS OF THIS WEEK BECAUSE OF THE TRUMP TARIFFS.

DOES THIS WORK?

>> I DON'T KNOW, I HAD HEARD ORIGINALLY THOSE ADS WERE GOING TO STOP AROUND APRIL 1st, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY HAVE OR HAVE NOT, THINGS ARE EARLY, BUT THE FEEDBACK I'M GETTING, A COUPLE DIFFERENT ANGLES, ONE, THE THICK RAMASWAMY IS OUT TO DIFFERENT COUNTIES, AND ONE COUNTY WHERE THEY NORMALLY HAVE 150 PEOPLE THERE, THERE WERE 400 AND SOME, SO RAMASWAMY IS DRAWING BIG CROWDS BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, DAVE LAID OUT AN OP- ED COLUMN, SAYING HERE IS ALL OF THE REASONS WHY THE BOND MONEY FOR THE BROWNS ARE WRONG, ILLEGAL, AND HAVE ALL KINDS OF COMPLICATIONS.

SO, IT IS HEATING UP, THERE IS A LOT OF TIME AND A LOT OF THINGS TO GO.

AND IN SOME WAYS, RAMASWAMY MIGHT BE HAPPY HE EXITED FROM MUSK EARLY, BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVING A LOT OF QUESTIONS.

>> SO, JESSIE, IS PART OF THIS BUILD A LEAD, FUNDRAISING LEAD OBVIOUSLY OVER DAVE, THEN DAVE STARTS TO RUN FOR SOMETHING ELSE OR DO SOMETHING ELSE?

>> YEAH, I THINK A LOT OF THE MOVES YOU ARE SEEING FROM THE VIVEK RAMASWAMY TEAM, OBVIOUSLY THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT BEING AMONG THEM, BUT ROLLING OUT ENDORSEMENTS FROM SHERIFF'S OR FROM CHRISTIAN LEADERS WERE REALLY DESIGNED TO SHOW HOW MUCH SUPPORT HE HAS AND EMPHASIZE THE LACK OF SUPPORT FOR OHIO ATTORNEY GENERAL DAVE , HIS BIGGEST COMPETITOR AT THIS POINT.

THERE HAS BEEN SOME REALLY, REALLY EARLY POLLING AND RAMASWAMY HAS BEEN AHEAD ON ALL OF THOSE, SO, IT IS REALLY AN EFFORT TO TRY TO WIN THIS RACE.

>> MEANWHILE, THE DEMOCRATS -- IT'S EARLY.

AGAIN, IT'S REALLY EARLY, BRIAN.

BUT SHARAD BROWN STARTED RUNNING ADS PRETTY EARLY, A YEAR BEFORE GENERAL ELECTION DAY WHEN HE STARTED RUNNING, NO PRIMARY OPPONENT SO, ARE DEMOCRATS JUST --ARE THEY NERVOUS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE A CANDIDATE YET?

>> I THINK DEMOCRATS, YOU KNOW, ARE NERVOUS BECAUSE THEY JUST WANT TO GET GOING.

THEY'RE SO UPSET ABOUT THE WAY THINGS ARE GOING.

AND NOT JUST DEMOCRATS, BUT INDEPENDENCE.

BUT YOU CAN SEE THAT IN DR. ACTON WHO IS GOING TO BE ANNOUNCING HER QUARTERLY --SHE HAS RAISED LIKE OVER $600,000, WHICH IS MORE THAN ANY OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE HAS EVER DONE THIS EARLY.

SHERROD STILL HASN'T MADE UP HIS MIND.

I WAS AT A DINNER HERE WHERE HE GOT AN AWARD.

HE IS MOVING TO COLUMBUS.

BUT YOU KNOW, HE HASN'T MADE UP HIS MIND WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO, BUT HE IS RUNNING THIS NONPROFIT.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF DOWN TICKET CANDIDATES THAT HAVE A CHANCE.

AND LISTEN, I WAS THERE WHEN GRETCHEN WHITMER RAN AND EVERYBODY SAID, SHE CAN'T WIN, SHE CAN'T WIN, WE NEED TO FIND SOMEBODY WITH A BIGGER NAME.

AND BOY, SHE STUCK TO IT, SHE WON, AND IT WAS A GOOD YEAR.

AND IT HAS BEEN GOOD IN MICHIGAN FOR DEMOCRATS EVER SINCE.

>> TERRY, WHEN DOES MIKE DeWINE BECOME A REAL LAME DUCK?

IS IT AFTER THIS BUDGET WHERE PEOPLE START TO FOCUS ON RAMASWAMY?

>> WELL, TRADITIONALLY, ONCE A BUDGET IS SIGNED FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, THAT IS TRADITIONALLY ONE OF THOSE BIG POINTS, BUT MIKE DeWINE IS A GUY THAT LOVES BEING GOVERNOR AND DOESN'T WANT TO EXIT, SO THE LAST DAY, THE LAST HOUR, LAST MINUTE, HE IS GOING TO TRY TO BE RELEVANT, TRY TO BE IMPORTANT.

HE HAS CLEARLY GOT OPINIONS ON THINGS HE LIKES, HE DOESN'T LIKE, BUT THIS WHOLE BUDGET BATTLE WILL GIVE YOU AN IDEA OF HOW SERIOUS HE IS AND HOW HE PLAYS THE GAME.

>> JULIE, JIM TRESSEL, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, IS MAKING MORE APPEARANCES RATE --LATELY.

WORKFORCE IS HIS FIELD OF PLAY, TO USE A SPORTS METAPHOR.

>> YES, IT IS VERY INTERESTING BUT THEY ALSO SENT HIM UP TO YOUNGSTOWN TO OPEN UP AN AEROSPACE AND DEFENSE INNOVATION HUB, I THINK LAST WEEKEND.

YOUNGSTOWN IS IN PLAY, YOU KNOW?

IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN PIVOTAL.

THESE LAST NUMBER OF CYCLES.

DEMOCRATS HAVE HELD OUT HOPE THEY CAN WIN IT BACK.

AND SO, IT'S INTERESTING THAT OF COURSE HE HAS SOME LOCAL SUPPORT ALREADY THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK HE IS WAITING IN THE WINGS JUST TO SEE WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT, THIS WEEKEND WILL FEATURE ANOTHER STEAKHOUSE PROTEST BY OPPONENTS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS POLICIES.

THEY ARE PART OF THE 50-50 ONE MOVEMENT .

50 PROTESTS IN PROTEST --50 STATES.

THE MOVEMENT IS TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND END EXECUTIVE OVERREACH.

BUT THE PROTESTS OFFER COMPETING MESSAGES.

SOME PARTICIPANTS SHOW SUPPORT FOR UKRAINE, OTHERS FOR PALESTINIANS, OTHERS SUPPORT LGBTQ RIGHTS, SUPPORT FOR IMMIGRANTS.

SIMILAR PROTESTS ARE OCCURRING EACH WEEK AT TESLA DEALERSHIPS WHERE DEMONSTRATORS DENOUNCE ELON MUSK'S EFFORT TO CUT FEDERAL SPENDING.

HAVE THESE PROTESTS STARTED TO HAVE AN IMPACT OR ARE THEY TO DIFFUSE?

>> I DO THINK THEY ARE HAVING AN IMPACT.

YOU KNOW, ABOUT A WEEK AGO, ALMOST 1000 PEOPLE SHOWED UP AT A TESLA DEALERSHIP.

YOU CAN SAY THAT WAS ORGANIZED BY SOME GROUP IT WAS NOT.

IT WAS JUST GRASSROOTS PEOPLE.

I THINK THE MIXED MESSAGES ARE REFLECTIVE OF THAT, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE ONE GROUP DOING IT.

AND AS SOME OF YOU KNOW, I USED TO RUN PROGRESS OHIO, WE DID MANY PROTESTS, AND I CAN TELL YOU, I HAVE SEEN MORE EXCITEMENT OVER THIS ON ANYTHING SINCE ESCALATION OF THE WAR IN IRAQ WHEN A LOT OF THE REBELS AND THE RON PAUL FOLKS CAME TOGETHER.

>> BUT IF THE MEDIA COVERAGE IS SOMEONE SUPPORTING PALESTINE AND LGBT RIGHTS AND IMMIGRANTS, THE KEY ISSUE FOR VOTERS IS ECONOMICS, IS THAT A GOOD THING?

>> WELL, I DO THINK THAT THAT MIGHT BE ON SOME RALLIES, BUT I DO THINK THAT THE MUSK ONE WAS DIRECTLY ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND ELON MUSK AND DOGE.

SO, LOOK, IT'S POLITICS , IT'S MESSY, PEOPLE COME TO THE TABLE ABOUT A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT YOU CAN ALREADY SEE THESE POLL NUMBERS STARTING TO DROP.

>> TERRY?

>> I WOULD SAY TO BRIAN, NOT SO FAST, MY FRIEND.

IF YOU LISTEN TO CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR NEWSOM, HE MADE REAL CLEAR IN THE PAST WEEK, THE DEMOCRATS RATINGS ARE DOWN IN THE 20s, THE MID-20s, NOT GOOD NUMBERS.

AND ANYTIME YOU HAVE A MESSAGE, AS YOU WERE SAYING, THAT IS EITHER NOT ON TRACK TO THE ECONOMY IS SO DIFFUSED ALL OVER THE PLACE, THERE IS NO CLEAR LEADER, IT IS HARD FOR YOUR MESSAGE TO GET THROUGH AND BE THAT EFFECTIVE.

>> JESSIE , THE THEME OF THE SHOW AS IT IS EARLY.

IT IS EARLY ON THE TARIFFS, ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, IT HAS ONLY BEEN THREE MONTHS.

IS THIS JUST ENERGIZING DEMOCRATS AND THEY WILL COALESCE AROUND THE MESSAGE AT SOME POINT?

>> YEAH, IT IS REALLY HARD TO TAKE ALL OF THE DEFERRED OPINIONS OF POLITICS AND SHOVE THEM INTO TWO POLITICAL PARTIES, AND EXPECT THEM NOT TO FIGHT AND BE ON MESSAGE BUT SO, CAN DEMOCRATS PULL IT TOGETHER, WILL THEY HAVE THE CANDIDATES TO INSPIRE PEOPLE?

THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT WE REALLY NEED TO FIND ANSWERS TO.

>> YEAH, AND I HAVE COVERED A COUPLE OF THESE PROTESTS, AND YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

I THINK THE MOST PERTINENT SIGNED WAS SOMEONE WHO SAID SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT OF SO MUCH TO PROTEST IT WON'T FIT ON THIS SIGN.

BUT YOU KNOW, IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE EFFECTIVE LONG TERM, I THINK THERE HAS TO BE SOME KIND OF SLOGAN OR RALLYING CRY AROUND THAT, BECAUSE MY PHOTOS EVEN THAT ASCENDANT , UKRAINE FLAG OVER HERE, LGBT THING OVER HERE, EVERY SPEECH MESSAGE OVER THERE, AND YOU KNOW, AS MUCH AS PEOPLE ARE ANGERED, THERE NEEDS TO BE SOME --SOME SORT OF NUGGET AROUND WHICH TO BUILD THAT.

>> MAYBE THE ECONOMY WILL BE THAT ISSUE.

ANYWAY, TIME NOW FOR OUR FINAL ON THE RECORD PARTING SHOT.

>> APRIL IS THE MONTH OF WORKERS MEMORIAL DAY, AND I WANT EVERYBODY OUT THERE TO REALIZE THAT WHEN YOU HEAR PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT CUTTING REGULATION, THERE ARE FAMILIES THAT SEND PEOPLE TO WORK THAT COME HOME AND THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY TO SIT WITH AT DINNER.

IT HAPPENS EVERY YEAR.

AND CUTTING REGULATIONS LEADS TO WORKPLACE INJURY.

>> TERRY?

>> PROPERTY TAXES IN OHIO YIELD $20 BILLION FOR SCHOOLS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT, AND CLEARLY, PROPERTY TAXES ARE A HOT, KEY ISSUE.

IT IS GOING TO GROW MORE.

I TALKED TO COUNTY AUDITOR MIKE THIS WEEK, THERE ARE SOME IDEAS COUNTY AUDITOR SCOTT, BUT IN GENERAL, MOST OF THESE IDEAS END IN THE LEGISLATURE, JUST A NIBBLE AT IT, IT DOESN'T REALLY ADDRESS THE BIGGER PICTURE, THE BIGGER QUESTION, WHICH IS GOING TO CONTINUE.

>> JULIE?

>> ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY, GOVERNOR TIM WALZ, WHO WAS THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, IS COMING TO OHIO , TO THE NORTHEAST PART OF THE STATE, AND I'M GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTED, BECAUSE HE IS LIKE ONE OF THE BIGGER NAMES WE HAVE EVEN SEEN IN THE STATE SINCE 2020 REALLY.

I MEAN, WE WERE IGNORED THE LAST COUPLE CYCLES.

AND JUST TO SEE WHERE IT LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE ARE ENERGY WISE , WITH RESPECT TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

>> JESSIE?

>> A NEW LAW THAT IS TAKING EFFECT ON WEDNESDAY WOULD BASICALLY --IF YOUR LICENSE WAS SUSPENDED BECAUSE OF UNPAID FEES, YOU ARE NO LONGER SUSPENDED BUT YOU MIGHT GET A LETTER IN THE MAIL, BUT MOVING FORWARD, YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE YOUR LICENSE SUSPENDED BECAUSE HE COULDN'T PAY.

>> DOLLY PARTON IN THE IMAGINATION LIBRARY.

THEY CUT IT A LITTLE BIT.

MIKE DEWINE'S FIGHTING WORDS BUT LOOK FOR A BIG FIGHT OVER THAT.

ANYWAY, THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK, AND ALSO, WATCH US ANYTIME ON YOUR TIME ON OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.

ORG/COTR, YOUTUBE .

FOR OUR PANEL, I AM MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.