>> THE 2026 CAMPAIGN'S POST LABOR DAY PUSH AND REMEMBERING 9/11 25 YEARS LATER.

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

WITH LABOR DAY BEHIND US, CANDIDATES HAVE TWO MONTHS TO CONVINCE VOTERS THEY ARE THE BEST CHOICE.

AND IF YOU WATCH THE NEGATIVE ADS, THEIR OPPONENT IS A TERRIBLE CHOICE.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE REMAINS TIED.

THE LAST PUBLIC POLL CAME OUT A MONTH AGO.

THE BIGGEST DEVELOPMENT IN THE RACE IS AMY ACTON'S REFUSAL TO DEBATE VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

RAMASWAMY HAS ACCEPTED INVITATIONS FROM TWO INDEPENDENT TV ORGANIZATIONS.

ACTON'S CAMPAIGN DECLINES SAYING IT DOES NOT WANT TO GIVE RAMASWAMY A PLATFORM TO SPREAD LIES ABOUT HER AND HER FAMILY.

ALSO LAST WEEK, A MAN WAS ARRESTED AFTER PUSHING THROUGH A CROWD TO TRY TO GET TO ACTON AT A CAMPAIGN EVENT.

NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT BUT THE MAN WHO WAS HAD HOLSTERED GUNS WAS ARRESTED.

TO LOOK AT THE RACE AS IT STANDS, WE WELCOME THIS WEEK'S PANEL.

REPORTER SARAH DONALDSON, FROM OHIO PUBLIC RADIO.

OSU POLITICAL SCIENTIST, HERB ASHER, AND REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST, BOB CLEGG.

HERB, FIRST TO THE DEBATE.

IS IT A WISE MOVE FOR AMY ACTON NOT TO TALK TO RAMASWAMY?

>> WE HAVEN'T ALWAYS HAD DEBATES IN GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGNS.

WE HAD INCUMBENT GOVERNORS WHO DECIDED THEY DIDN'T HAVE TO DEBATE THEIR OPPONENT.

BUT HE'LL CERTAINLY MAKE IT AN ISSUE.

WHAT SHE HAS TO THEN DO IS MAKE SURE SHE IS AS AVAILABLE TO REPORTERS AND SHE ANSWERS QUESTIONS.

THAT SHE MEETS WITH PEOPLE SO SHE CAN SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M REALLY OUT THERE MEETING PEOPLE AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE HIM A PLATFORM.

>> SO THE STANDARD LINE IS, WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO DEBATE, AS YOU SAY, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE MY OPPONENT A PLATFORM TO SAY WHATEVER.

WE SAW IT WITH ANOTHER RACE THIS WEEK.

IT'S A STANDARD EXCUSE NOT TO WANT TO DEBATE.

>> YEAH, AND IT'S INTERESTING.

BOTH CANDIDATES WITH SOCIAL MEDIA.

THEY HAVE A PRETTY LARGE PLATFORM ALREADY, SO I DO WONDER WHAT THE DEBATE LOOKS LIKE AND WHAT IT MEANS IN THE 21st CENTURY.

OFTEN THESE VIRAL MOMENTS OF BAD MOMENTS IN DEBATES GO VIRAL.

I DO WONDER IF THAT'S A CALCULUS FOR HER.

IT'S INTERESTING, AS HERB MENTIONED, IN THE PAST, IT HAS BEEN INCUMBENT REPUBLICANS WHO HAVE BEEN TURNING DOWN THE DEBATES AND DEMOCRATS HITTING HARD FOR NOT DEBATING, AND THE ROLES ARE REVERSED HERE.

>> WHAT DOES IT SAY THAT VIVEK WANTS TO DEBATE?

>> WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT DEBATES POLITICALLY, IF YOU DON'T WANT TO DEBATE, THERE'S ONLY TWO REASONS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DEBATE.

ONE IS, YOU'RE SO FAR AHEAD, THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO DO ANYTHING TO SCREW UP.

THAT WAS MIKE DEWINE IN 2022, BECAUSE HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST WALEY.

SHE WANTED TO DEBATE, HE SAID SORRY, I'M NOT GOING TO.

THE OTHER REASON IS, YOU AND YOUR CAMPAIGN DON'T FEEL YOU'LL DO A GOOD JOB.

AND I OBVIOUSLY, THAT'S WHAT THE SITUATION IS HERE.

OBVIOUSLY, VIVEK THINKS HE'LL DO A GOOD JOB.

HE IS USED TO BEING IN FRONT OF CAMERAS.

HE HAS DONE DEBATES WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT BACK IN 2024.

OBVIOUSLY, THE ACTON CAMPAIGN DOESN'T FEEL THAT SHE'LL DO A GOOD JOB, SO THEY DON'T WANT HER OUT THERE.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

>> IT'S A STYLE THING, HERB, HE'S A REAL FORCE ON THE STUMP.

COMES ACROSS SMOOTH, TO HIS CRITICS, TOO SMOOTH.

SHE'S EMPATHETIC.

THAT CONTRAST ON THE STAGE COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGING TO HER, NO?

>> MAYBE.

SHE MAY ALSO BELIEVE SHE IS RUNNING A GOOD RACE.

IT'S CLOSE.

SHE DOESN'T NEED TO DEBATE HIM.

SHE HAS OTHER WAYS OF MAKING THE CONTRAST BETWEEN HIM AND HER.

SO, I THINK IN THAT SENSE, IT'S A LITTLE DIFFERENT KIND OF SCENARIO.

HERE, YOU KNOW, IF SHE FELT THAT THE ONLY WAY SHE HAD A CHANCE TO WIN WAS TO GO INTO A DEBATE AND HOPE THAT HE SCREWED UP, THEN SHE MIGHT HAVE TO ROLL THE DICE AND DO THAT.

>> HERB, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME SINCE 1928 WE HAD TWO PEOPLE RUN FOR GOVERNOR THAT HAVE NEVER RUN FOR OFFICE BEFORE OR BEEN IN OFFICE.

>> VIVEK HAS RUN.

>> YEAH, I MEANT, BUT HAS HELD OFFICE, AND SO I MEAN, THIS IS A DEBATE IS ONE WAY FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO KNOW BOTH OF THEM BETTER.

I MEAN, THAT'S THE BEST WAY.

>> SHE SPENT THE PAST YEAR, ACTUALLY, TRAVELING AROUND OHIO AND MEETING PEOPLE ON THEIR OWN TURF, WHICH IS QUITE DIFFERENT THAN WHAT VIVEK HAS BEEN DOING.

YOU KNOW, FLYING IN ON PRIVATE JETS.

>> THEY ARE BOTH VERY CONTROLLED SETTINGS.

THE DEBATE, THIS IS WHERE WE LOSE OUT AS JUST CITIZENS, VIEWERS, JOURNALISTS, THIS IS A CHANCE TO REALLY SORT OF CRACK THROUGH THE TALKING POINTS.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S A TALKING POINT FEST, A LOT OF TIMES.

IT'S A WAY TO CRACK THROUGH AND SEE THE PERSON THINK ON THEIR FEET.

>> NEITHER OF THESE CANDIDATES HAVE TO RUN ON.

I MEAN, REPORTERS LOVE DEBATES.

AS JOURNALISTS, WE LOVE COVERING DEBATES.

WE LOVE TO MODERATE AND ASK THE QUESTIONS.

I'M BIAS THERE.

HOWEVER, I THINK VOTERS LOSE OUT.

I ASKED GOVERNOR DEWINE AT THE STATE FAIR WHAT HE WAS TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

WHETHER YOU BELIEVE THEM OR NOT, HE TELLS ME PEOPLE WEREN'T ASKING HIM ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

THIS RACE IS A BIG DEAL TO OHIOANS.

IT'S THE FIRST TIME THEY ARE HEARING.

>> THE INCIDENT AT THE FAIR, UP IN MAHONAN COUNTY, HERB, IT IS DISTURBING.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS PERSON'S MOTIVATION WAS, PERHAPS AGGRESSIVE ASKING A QUESTION.

HE WAS PUSHING PEOPLE OUT OF THE WAY TO GET TOWARDS ACTON.

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

>> I THINK, AS YOU SAY, IT WAS AN INCIDENT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S ALL THAT SIGNIFICANT.

IT WON'T CHANGE A LOT.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

I HEARD, AND I DIDN'T SEE THIS ON TELEVISION, THAT SHE THEN GO AND HELP SOME OF THE PEOPLE INJURED?

>> I HEARD REPORTS OF THAT ALSO AT A PARADE THE NEXT DAY.

>> I THINK THAT WOULD BE WONDERFUL VIDEO THAT SHE WAS COOL AND CALM AND COLLECTED, IF THAT'S TRUE.

>> QUITE FRANKLY, AND AS A REPORTER THAT HAS BEEN COVERING THIS, THERE'S VERY LITTLE VIDEO OF THIS INCIDENT.

IT'S STARTING TO SLOWLY TRICKLE OUT.

THAT LED TO CONSPIRACY THEORIES ONLINE ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT VACUUM OF INFORMATION.

>> I WOULD RATHER SEE IN TERMS OF CANDIDATES, I THINK DEBATES, EVEN THOUGH AGAIN, POLITICAL SCIENCE, DEBATES ARE WONDERFUL, IT GIVES THE AMERICAN PEOPLE OR OHIOANS A CHANCE TO SEE BOTH SIDES.

THE CANDIDATES HAVE THEIR TALKING POINTS.

I WOULD RATHER SEE CANDIDATES IN PRESS CONFERENCES, WHERE THEY, IN FACT, WHERE THE PRESS HAS THE ABILITY TO SAY, BUT YOU DIDN'T ANSWER MY QUESTION.

AND THEY REALLY DO FOLLOW-UPS.

>> THE INCIDENT, THE REPUBLICANS ARE PRETTY QUICK TO SAY, THIS WAS UNACCEPTABLE, THIS SHOULDN'T HAPPEN.

>> YEAH, WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED VARIOUS TIMES, BUTLER, PENNSYLVANIA, YOU HAD DEMOCRATS TALKING ABOUT THAT WAS A STAGED EVENT.

YOU HAD DEMOCRATS SAYING THAT, YOU KNOW, IT WASN'T THAT SERIOUS, IT JUST CLIPPED HIS EAR, THAT KIND OF STUFF.

SO, I MEAN, THIS IS -- POLITICAL VIOLENCE IS A PROBLEM.

FOUR ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS ON TRUMP IN JUST THE LAST TWO YEARS.

WE JUST OBSERVED THE ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION.

I'M JUST GLAD THAT IT TOOK A GUY TRYING TO FILM AMY ACTON AT AN EVENT THAT GOT THE DEMOCRATS TO FINALLY SAY, YEAH, THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM.

>> SHE HAD PEOPLE WITH GUNS AT HER HOUSE DURING COVID, TOO.

SHE KNEW THIS WAS A PROBLEM.

> >> SEVERAL PROMINENT REPUBLICANS DEVELOPED SCHEDULING CONFICTS THIS WEEK AND DID NOT MAKE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S MID-TERM REPUBLICAN CONVENTION.

OHIOANS, JD VANCE AND JON HUSTED, WERE THERE.

VICE PRESIDENT VANCE GAVE THE SECOND NIGHT KEYNONTE ADDRESS.

AND SENATOR HUSTED GAVE A SHORT BUT ENERGETIC SPEECH THE FIRST NIGHT.

THE ONLY TIME HE MENTIONED TRUMP'S NAME WAS WHEN HE SAID HE SUPPORTED HIS TAX CUT >> YOU WANT TO KEEP MORE OF WHAT YOU EARNED?

SHOULD WE LET WORKING FAMILIES KEEP MORE OF WHAT THEY EARN?

THEY EARN THE PAYCHECK.

IT'S THEIRS, ISN'T IT?

WELL I WON'T STOP FIGHTING FOR THAT PRINCIPLE, I WILL NOT STOP FIGHTING FOR YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS OHIO AND GOD BLESS THE WORKING FAMILIES IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> THE SENATOR IN A TIGHT REELECTION IN MAINE CHOSE NOT TO ATTEND THE CONVENTION.

HUSON HUSTED ATTENDED.

>> HE CARRIED OHIO THREE TIMES BY LARGE MARGINS.

THIS LAST TIME OVER 11%.

SO, WE'RE A STATE WHERE IT DOESN'T HURT THAT MUCH TO GO TO A MIDTERM.

AND WE HAVE MORE REPUBLICANS.

WE HAD ALMOST 100,000 MORE REPUBLICANS VOTING IN THE PRIMARY THIS YEAR THAN DEMOCRATS.

AND YOU KNOW, WE'RE A RED STATE.

>> DOES JON HUSTED NEED TO SOLIDIFY?

HIS POPULARITY RATING HAS DIPPED A LITTLE.

IT'S NOT AS LOW AS IT IS IN MAINE.

IS HE TRYING TO SOLIDIFY THAT BASE?

>> THAT'S GOING TO BE THE TURN OUT FACTOR.

WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A TURN OUT FACTOR THAT OUR PEOPLE COME OUT.

THE PRIMARY, I WAS SURPRISED WE HAD THAT MANY MORE, BECAUSE I KEEP HEARING DEMOCRATS ARE MOTIVATED.

THE OTHER THING IS, I'M WATCHING ALL THESE ADS FOR AMY ACTON AND BROWN.

THEY NEVER MENTION THEY ARE DEMOCRATS.

I DON'T GET THAT.

ACTON TALKED ABOUT WORKING ON PARTISAN THINGS ALL THE TIME.

IT'S ALMOST LIKE A TIM RYAN COMMERCIAL FROM 2022.

>> HUSTED AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY AREN'T MENTIONING DONALD TRUMP'S NAME EITHER.

HUSTED'S SPEECH WAS BASIC.

HE WANTS TO CUT TAXES.

PRETTY STANDARD.

NONCONTROVERSIAL STUFF IF YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN.

WILL DEMOCRATS BE ABLE TO USE THIS AGAINST HIM?

>> IN PART.

BOB MADE THE POINT ABOUT HUSTED TRYING TO MOBILIZE THE REPUBLICAN BASE AND SO, BUT HE'S CONSTRAINED, BECAUSE HE REALLY CAN'T BE IN LOCK STEP WITH DONALD TRUMP, BECAUSE WHAT'S GOING TO MOTIVATE DEMOCRATS TO TURN OUT?

A LOT OF THINGS WILL.

AND ONE OF THEM WILL BE, IN FACT, THE CONDITION OF THE COUNTRY, THE CONDITION OF THE STATE, DONALD TRUMP, PARTICULAR ISSUES, WHATEVER.

SO, I THINK DEMOCRATS UNDERSTAND THAT TRUMP CAN BE AN ASSET FOR REPUBLICANS IN THE BASE, BUT ALSO BE AN ASSET FOR DEMOCRATS AND SAYING, OKAY, COME ON, DEMOCRATS, WHY DO PEOPLE VOTE?

THEY VOTE FOR VERY POSITIVE, ASPIRATIONAL REASONS OR THEY VOTE BECAUSE THEY ARE ANGRY.

THEY'RE MAD, AND WHO MIGHT DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS.

PEOPLE ARE FORGETTING ABOUT THE INDEPENDENTS.

EVERY POLL I'VE SEEN LATELY SUGGESTS THAT IF DEMOCRATS ARE GOING TO WIN SOME OF THESE ELECTIONS, IT'S GOING TO BE NOT BECAUSE SOMEHOW DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT IS SUPER LARGE OR REPUBLICAN TURNOUT IS SUPER LOW, IT'S THAT THE DEMOCRATS GET A MUCH HIGHER SHARE OF THE INDEPENDENT VOTE.

>> SO DO WE EXPECT DONALD TRUMP TO COME TO OHIO AND CAMPAIGN FOR JON HUSTED AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY?

>> IT'S TOUGH TO SAY AT THIS POINT.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY HASN'T BEEN MENTIONING TRUMP ALL THAT MUCH.

HUSTED, A LITTLE BIT MORE, BECAUSE HE'S PUSHING TRUMP'S AGENDA IN CONGRESS.

THAT'S PART OF HIS JOB AS A REPUBLICAN SENATOR, AS HE DEFINED IT.

I DO CERTAINLY THINK THIS RACE WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU KNOW, SENATOR BERNIE MORENO TRAILED TRUMP IN 2024.

TRAILED BROWN.

HE ALSO TRAILED THE MARGINS THAT TRUMP HAD IN OHIO.

SO I THINK, YOU KNOW, HUSTED, LIKE BOB SAYS, KNOWS HOW POPULAR TRUMP HAS BEEN IN OHIO.

HUSTED IS MAKING THAT CALCULUS AND DECIDING HE NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO ALIGN WITH THE PRESIDENT.

>> JON HUSTED DID MENTION RISING GAS PRICES OR THE INFLATION OR THE WAR IN IRAN, YOU WOULDN'T EXPECT HIM TO.

THOSE ARE THINGS HE HAS TO ADDRESS, NO?

>> SHERIFF BROWN HAD TO ADDRESS 9% INFLATION OVER JOE BIDEN WHEN HE RAN TWO YEARS AGO.

YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN OFFICE, AND YOU HAVE TO DEFEND WHAT'S GOING ON WHILE YOU'RE IN OFFICE, AND THAT'S PART OF POLITICS.

>> DO WE EXPECT -- HERB, THESE CANDIDATES TO DEBATE?

JON HUSTED AND SHERIFF BROWN.

>> THEY WILL BOTH HAVE REASONS DO IT AND NOT DO IT, AND MY GUESS IS RIGHT NOW, THEY WON'T DO IT.

I THINK HE WILL SAY, EVERYBODY KNOWS ME, I'VE BEEN AROUND F FOREVER, AND VERY EFFECTIVE SENATOR WHEN HE WAS IN THE SENATE.

AND HUSTED WILL SAY, DO I NEED TO DEBATE AND IF I DO DEBATE HIM, WHAT DO I DO?

DO I GO ON ATTACK AND THAT'S BENEFICIAL FOR ME.

THE SAD THING ABOUT THAT, IS JON HUSTED IS RUNNING FOR THE WRONG OFFICE.

HE SHOULD BE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, AND I THINK ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I WANT TO ASK GOVERNOR DEWINE, WHY DID YOU DO THIS?

MAYBE BOB HAS INSIGHT.

>> NO, I DON'T.

I THINK THE GOVERNOR FELT JON HUSTED WOULD BE A GOOD SENATOR.

HE WILL PICK THE BEST PERSON FOR THE JOB.

> >> THE CITY OF COLUMBUS POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS STOPPED USING FLOCK SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS -AT LEAST FOR NOW.

THE CAMERAS HANGING OVER CITY STREETS ARE COVERED WITH PLASTIC BAGS.

MAYOR ANDREW GINTHER ORDERED A SUSPENSION OF THE USE OF CAMERAS AFTER A POLICE OFFICER WAS ACCUSED OF USING CAMERA DATA TO TRACK A VEHICLE FOR PERSONAL REASONS.

EARLIER THIS SUMMER, AN AUDIT FOUND OFFICERS RELAYING FLOCK CAMERA DATA TO IMMIGRATION AUTHOIRTIES-VIOLATING A CITY POLICY.

REYNOLDSBURG THIS WEEK ENDED USE OF THE CAMERAS.

AND A FRANKLIN COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPUTY STANDS ACCUSED OF MISUSING FLOCK DATA.

IN THE CITY OF COLUMBUS CASE, AN INCIDENT OF ONE POLICE OFFICER TIPPED THE SCALE.

THE MAYOR WAS LOOKING FOR A REASON TO STOP USING THESE CAMERAS.

>> I THINK SO.

I DON'T COVER THE CITY.

I FOLLOW CITY NEWS.

THERE WAS MOUNTING PRESSURE BECAUSE SEVERAL OTHER CITIES IN OHIO HAD ALREADY BLOCKED THEIR USE, AND THERE'S A BIPARTISAN PUSH TO GET RID OF THESE CAMERAS.

I MEAN, YOU SEE DIFFERENT REASONS AT TIMES.

DEMOCRATS SITE CONCERNS ABOUT DATA BEING HANDED OVER TO IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES OR MAYBE TO PROSECUTE ABORTION IN SOME STATES, WHERE IT'S ILLEGAL TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

ON THE RIGHT, YOU SEE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT A GUN REGISTRY.

I MEAN, THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE, A LOT OF REASONS PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THESE ON BOTH SIDES AND YOU'VE SEEN, YOU KNOW, FAR RIGHT REPUBLICANS AND FAR LEFT DEMOCRATS COME OUT AGAINST THE USE.

>> WHY NOT ADDRESS THE USE OF THIS OFFICER, THE DEPUTY.

THEY SEEM TO BE FAIRLY ISOLATED INCIDENTS.

THEY ARE ABUSING AUTHORITY, ALLEGEDLY.

BUT WHY NOT ADDRESS THE OFFICER AND HELP SOLVE CRIMES?

>> THE BROADER ISSUE, DO THESE CAMERAS PLAY A REASONABLE ROLE IN PUBLIC SAFETY?

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING COLUMBUS POLICE CHIEF SAYS YES, THEY DO.

HOW IS IT THAT THIS HAS GOTTEN SO POLARIZED?

JUST AS YOU SAID, IT'S THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT SAYING IS THERE A WAY THAT CONVINCING PEOPLE WE CAN DO THIS WITH APPROPRIATE REGULATION?

AND APPROPRIATE PENALTIES FOR PEOPLE WHO VIOLATE?

BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF THE PENALTIES NOW AREN'T MISDEMEANORS.

IF YOU SAID, OKAY, IT'S A FELONY NOW TO DO THIS, MAYBE YOU COULD CONVINCE SOME PEOPLE THAT YES, WE COULD HAVE THESE CAMERAS.

WE HAVE CAMERAS EVERY PLACE ELSE, OUTSIDE OF EVERY COMMERCIAL ESTABLISHMENT, OUTSIDE OF OUR HOMES.

SO, I WORRY THAT THE POLITICS TODAY IS SUCH THAT, YOU KNOW -- AND LOOK AT OTHER ISSUES.

WHETHER THE DATA CENTERS.

>> THIS IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF AN ANTITECHNOLOGY?

>> WE OPPOSE A. I. WE OPPOSE DATA CENTERS.

THOUSAND NOW WE HAVE THE FLOCK CAMERAS.

>> THEY ARE BOTH SIDES, AND THE EXTREME OF BOTH SIDES THAT ARE FIGHTING AGAINST ALL OF THIS STUFF.

AND WHEN BOTH OF THOSE TWO AGREE ON THINGS, I ALWAYS GO WAIT A SECOND, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

I THINK WE SHOULD HAVE LOOKED AT THIS, GOT RID OF IT, THEY CAN FIGURE OUT A WAY TO GET AFTER THESE INDIVIDUALS THAT MISUSE IT, BECAUSE THEY GO AFTER AN EXBOYFRIEND, AN EXGIRLFRIEND, EX-WIFE, EX- HUSBAND, THAT KIND OF THING.

YOU CAN ISOLATE THOSE INCIDENTS AND STILL HAVE IT.

THESE CAMERAS HAVE WORKED.

THEY ARE CATCHING CRIMINALS, OKAY?

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY WE CAN'T JUST TAKE A BREATH AND JUST SAY, HEY, LET'S WAIT AND LOOK THIS OVER AND SEE HOW WE CAN PREVENT ABUSES.

>> AMY ACTON HAS SAID SHE SUPPORTS A STATEWIDE BAN.

SHE TOOK A STRONGER STAND OF VIVEK RAMASWAMY, HE WAS ASKED ABOUT THIS AT A CAMPAIGN EVENT.

HE IS CONCERNED IT IS CONNECTED TO A. I. HE WASN'T AS CLEAR AS SHE WAS.

>> SHE HAS TAKEN A STRONGER STANCE IN THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS IN SAYING SHE WANTS A STATEWIDE BAN.

YOU HAVE HEARD, I MEAN, THERE ARE, LIKE I SAID, REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WHO HAVE PROPOSED A BAN ON THESE.

I TO THINK THE BROADER CONCERN, BEYOND THAT POLICE POSTURING THAT I MENTIONED, OH, IT COULD BE TIED TO ABORTION OR GUN RIGHTS OR WHATEVER, IS THAT IDEA OF A SURVEILLANCE STATE.

YOU'RE BALANCING AMERICANS VALUE OF THEIR PRIVACY, WITH PUBLIC SAFETY.

AND THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I GUESS HAS TO BE ANSWERED.

>> IS IT TOO LATE, HERB?

THERE ARE CAMERAS EVERYWHERE.

TOLL COLLECTORS, YOUR PHONE TRACKS YOU MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IN THE WORLD.

>> YES.

I MEAN, WHEN ALEXA GETS INTO A CONVERSATION WITH ME, BECAUSE I ASKED A QUESTION, THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED, AND I SAID, FRIENDS WERE THERE.

I SAID I CAN'T BELIEVE ALEXA KNEW THAT.

AND ALEXA SAYS, YOU DIDN'T THINK I KNEW THAT?

AND WE WENT BACK AND FORTH.

YOU'RE RIGHT, WE'RE PAST THAT.

AGAIN, HOW DO YOU ACTUALLY GET AMERICANS, GET OHIOANS TO SAY, OKAY, TECHNOLOGY HAS ADVANTAGES, BUT IT ALSO HAS CHALLENGES.

I THOUGHT ON THE DATA CENTER THING, I THOUGHT AMY ACTON WAS RIGHT TO CALL FOR A MORATORIUM AND LET PEOPLE TAKE A DEEP BREATH, AS BOB WAS SAYING, AND START THINKING ABOUT HOW DO YOU START PROTECTING PEOPLE AGAINST WHETHER IT'S PRIVACY OR MISUSE OF THE WATER RESERVES OR WHETHER IT'S ELECTRICITY COSTS.

THERE ARE SO MANY ISSUES THAT THERE HAS TO BE SOME LEADERSHIP.

AND IN AN ELECTION CYCLE, WHAT DO YOU DO?

>> SHE STARTED THERE WITH THE, LET'S REVIEW THIS, BUT I THINK SHE SAW THE REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS JUMPING IN ON IT AND THE LEGISLATURE AND SHE THOUGHT, GREAT IDEA.

I'M GOING TO DO THIS.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

THEY ARE GOING TO OUTLAW RING CAMERAS ON PEOPLE'S HOUSES.

IF YOU WALK BY SOMEBODY'S HOUSE ON THE SIDEWALK, THAT'S GOING TO BE INVADING THEIR PRIVACY.

>> SO WE HAVE TO HAVE POLITICAL LEADERS WHO ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO SAY TO THOSE PEOPLE ON THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT, LET'S GET TO THE CORE OF THE ISSUE.

THE CORE OF THE ISSUE IS PUBLIC SAFETY AND PRIVACY.

CAN WE ACCOMPLISH BOTH?

>> THE MAYOR ISN'T THAT POLITICIAN.

>> THE REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE, AREN'T THOSE POLITICIANS EITHER.

>> THEY ARE IRRELEVANT.

> >> TWENTY FIVE YEARS AGO TODAY, SEPTEMBER 11th 2001.

WE SAT STUNNED AT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE EAST COAST OF THE COUNTRY.

WE WATCHED IN SHOCKED DISBELIEF THE ATTACKS ON NEW YORK AND WASHINGTON AND IN PENNSYLVANIA.

WHILE OHIO WAS NOT DIRECTLY ATTACKED, THE CONSEQUENCES SPREAD HERE IMMEDIATELY, AND MANY REMAIN TWO AND A HALF DECADES LATER.

MY MEMORY OF 9/11, I HAVE TWO MEMORIES.

I WAS WORKING AT NIGHT, REPORTING FOR WOSU.

I THOUGHT THEY WEREN'T PAYING ATTENTION TO THE TV AS I WATCHED IT.

MY SON GAVE ME A PICTURE TWO YEARS LATER OF A BUILDING ON FIRE.

THEN THAT NIGHT, I WAS GETTING REACTION ON THE WEST SIDE, AND I LOOKED UP AND ONE PLANE IN THE SKY AND FLANKED BY TWO FIGHTER JETS AND AIR FORCE ONE HEADING BACK TO WASHINGTON.

IT WAS SO SURREAL.

BOB, WHAT WERE YOUR MEMORIES?

>> WELL, FIRST OFF, THE PRESIDENT OF MY COMPANY WAS IN NEW YORK THAT DAY.

SHE WENT BY THE TOWERS ABOUT TEN MINUTES BEFORE THEY HIT.

AND JUST HER EXPERIENCE, AND SHE WAS CALLING.

BUT THIS IS BEFORE TECHNOLOGY WAS THAT MUCH.

I MEAN, SHE WAS IN JFK BY THE TIME THE SECOND PLANE HIT.

AND JUST HER ABILITY TO GET OUT OF THAT SITUATION IN ITSELF WAS AMAZING.

AND WHAT SHE HAD TO GO THROUGH TO GET OVER, TAKE A FERRY OVER TO CONNECTICUT AND COULDN'T GO ANYWHERE NEAR THE CITY THEN.

AND THE OTHER THING I REMEMBER IS MY OFFICE IS DOWNTOWN.

AT NOON, I WENT OUTSIDE AND I THOUGHT I WAS IN A GHOST TOWN.

IT WAS COMPLETELY EMPTY.

THE ONLY THING I SAW WERE POLICE CARS.

THAT WAS IT.

NO PEOPLE WERE ON THE STREETS AT ALL.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY.

>> HERB, WHAT WERE YOUR MEMORIES?

>> I WAS IN A MEETING, AND GOT INFORMED ABOUT THIS AND THEN I HAD ANOTHER MEETING AT 10:00 A. M. , AND I GOT THERE AND THERE WERE POLICE CARS ALL AROUND MIRANOVA.

I DIDN'T FULLY APPRECIATE THE FACT THAT ANY TALL BUILDING WAS SEEN AS POSSIBLY A TARGET.

ANY CITY IN THE COUNTRY.

SO FOR THE SAME REACTION, HOW QUIET THE CITY BECAME, AND THEN YOU KNOW, AS THE TIME WENT ON, YOU REALIZE, OH MY GOD, THE ENORMITY.

THE WAY THE WORLD REACTED, MOST COUNTRIES WERE SO SYMPATHETIC AND SUPPORTIVE.

>> IT WAS UNIFYING.

SO YOU WERE ONE-YEAR-OLD.

>> IT'S VERY STRANGE TO TALK ABOUT.

I WAS ALIVE, BUT I WAS ONE.

MY PARENTS WERE DOWN AT THE BEACH.

THEY ARE A FORMER REPORTERS AND TUNED INTO THE NEWS, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE ON VACATION.

IT'S WEIRD, I HAVE ONLY REALLY KNOWN POST 9/11 AMERICA, POST 9/11 WORLD, AND I FEEL LIKE I DIDN'T REALLY AND HAVEN'T REALLY FULLY BEEN ABLE TO GRAPPLE WITH WHAT THAT MEANS UNTIL I BECAME AN ADULT AND READ JUST THE EXCELLENT REPORTING FROM THAT DAY AND THE YEARS THAT FOLLOWED.

>> TWO THINGS THAT REMAIN.

SECURITY MEASURES.

THEY ARE LOOSENING A LITTLE BIT, BOB, AT THE AIRPORTS.

SOME PEOPLE CAN GO TO THE GATES.

TALKING ABOUT LOOSENING THE RESTRICTIONS ON LIQUIDS.

>> WHEN YOU THINK BACK TO PRE9/11, YOU CAN TAKE SOMEBODY RIGHT TO THEIR GATE, EVEN THOUGH YOU WEREN'T GOING TO BE TRAVELING THAT DAY.

AND EVERYTHING JUST CHANGED AT AIRPORTS.

WE HAD TO CHANGE THEM.

I LIKE THE IDEA THAT WE'RE GETTING A LITTLE BIT MORE LOOSE ABOUT IT, BUT THEN I ALSO WORRY, YOU KNOW, WE DON'T WANT THIS HAPPENING AGAIN.

>> UNIFYING FACTOR.

GEORGE BUSH, I HEARD IT THIS MORNING, THAT SPEECH ON THE RUBBLE AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER, THE TERRORISTS WILL HEAR US.

IT'S JUST SO MOVING.

THAT HASN'T HAPPENED SINCE THEN.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND YOU START THINKING, IF A SIMILAR INCIDENT WERE TO HAPPEN TODAY, YOU KNOW, HOW WOULD NEW FINLAND, PEOPLE OF GANDER ARE SO GENEROUS.

NATO INVOKED ARTICLE V. SO SOMEHOW, IN THE LAST 25 YEARS, YOU KNOW, YOU WOULDN'T HAVE THIS AUTOMATIC SYMPATHY AND SUPPORT.

>> RIGHT.

LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

>> THIS WEEK, SECRETARY OF STATE RELEASED A MILLION DOLLARS TO GO TO ALL 88 COUNTY BOARDS OF ELECTIONS AND THAT IS BEING USED BY THOSE BOARDS TO TRAIN AND EDUCATE THEIR POLL WORKERS, BECAUSE AS THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID, THAT'S THE BACKBONE OF OUR ELECTION SYSTEM.

AND I THINK IT'S A GREAT WAY TO SPEND THE MONEY.

>> THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS WILL NOT END ON NOVEMBER 3.

WE'LL HAVE A REPEAT OF WHAT HAPPENED IN 2020, WHERE IN 2020, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHEN TRUMP WAS CHALLENGING THE RESULTS IN A LOT OF STATES.

IF IT TURNS OUT THE DEMOCRATS WIN THE HOUSE BY 11 TO 20 SEATS, THERE WILL BE 11 TO 20 DISTRICTS IN WHICH THE REPUBLICANS ARE CHALLENGING THE RESULTS AND IT WILL GO ON.

>> AND SARAH.

>> JON HUSTED WAS CHALLENGING AN INTERESTING ENDORSEMENT AT THE RNC STEAK AND SHAKE, HAS ENDORSED JON HUSTED.

VERY RARE FOR RESTAURANTS OR BUSINESSES LIKE THAT TO ENDORSE A CANDIDATE.

SO I'M LOOKING MORE INTO THAT ENDORSEMENT.

>> THIS IS AN INTERESTING ENDORSEMENT.

DOES JON HUSTED LIKE THE SHAKES?

>> HE HAD A VIDEO WITH THE FRIES.

SO, LOOKING MORE INTO THAT ONE.

>> MY PREDICTION IS, THE CONTRACT, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS CONTRACT WITH FLOCK CAMERAS ENDS IN DECEMBER.

MY PREDICTION IS, THOSE BAGS WILL STAY ON THOSE CAMERAS UNTIL THE END OF THE YEAR AND THE CITY WILL FIND ANOTHER COMPANY TO RUN THOSE CAMERAS, IF THEY CONTINUE THE SYSTEM.

>> THAT'S COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

A REMINDER TO CHECK OUT THE WOSU NEWS YOUTUBE PAGE.

THERE YOU CAN SEE AND SHARE EVERY EPISODE OF THIS PROGRAM.

GO TO YOUTUBE AND SEARCH WOSU NEWS.

YOU CAN ALSO WATCH US ON DEMAND AT WOSU.

ORG AND THE PBS APP.

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

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.