>>> MANDATED OR NOT, MASKS ARE COMING BACK.

JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK, DARREL ROWLAND, SENIOR EDITOR FOR THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH, SHANNON JONES, FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR AND PRESIDENT OF GROUND WORK OHIO, AND DESIREE TIMZ, -- TIMS, PRESIDENT OF INNOVATION OHIO.

>>> OHIO IS NOT YET A HOT SPOT FOR THE SPREAD OF COVID AND THE DELTA VARIANT.

BUT IT'S GETTING WARMER.

THE RED COUNTIES SIGNIFY A HIGH RATE OF SPREAD.

THE ORANGE SUBSTANTIAL RATE OF SPREAD, AND THE YELLOW MODERATE RATE OF SPREAD.

FRANKLIN COUNTY IS IN THE SUBSTANTIAL CATEGORY AND THAT'S WHY CITY AND COUNTY HEALTH OFFICIALS STRONGLY RECOMMEND EVERYONE, EVEN THOSE VACCINATED, WEAR A MASK AT INDOOR PUBLIC PLACES.

>> WE DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THIS PANDEMIC IS GOING TO LAST, AND WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NEXT VARIANT WILL BE, AND HOW SERIOUS IT WILL BE, BUT WE DO KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO TO SLOW THE SPREAD OF THIS VIRUS AND THAT'S TO GET VACCINATED AND PUT A MASK ON.

>> ROBERTS SAYS THE CITY WOULD HAVE IMPOSED A MASK MANDATE BUT A NEW STATE LAW PREVENTS THEM FROM DOING SO.

WHILE GOVERNOR DEWINE PLEADS WITH PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED AND WEAR A MASK, STATE GOVERNMENT WON'T ISSUE ANY ORDERS.

>> WE ARE AT THE POINT TODAY WITH REGARD TO THIS PANDEMIC, WELL OVER A YEAR INTO IT WHERE INDIVIDUAL CHOICE IT THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

IT'S WHERE WE ARE.

WE HAVE THE VACCINE, AND SO PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE TO GET THAT VACCINE.

WE ALSO HAVE, THEY KNOW THE POWER OF MASKS, THEY CAN MAKE THOSE DECISIONS, INSTITUTIONS CAN MAKE THOSE DECISIONS.

WHAT CAN WE EXPECT FROM STATE GOVERNMENT AT THIS POINT?

>> THIS IS THE KEY HERE.

THERE ARE NO MANDATES ON VACCINES OR MANDATES ON MASKS.

THAT AS FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT ENTITIES.

OHIO EDUCATION, OHIO STATE, MASK MANDATES, VACCINATED INDOORS, CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN CENTRAL OHIO IN COLUMBUS, WESTERVILLE, HAVE DONE THE SAME.

THEY'VE DONE NOTHING AS FAR AS A UNIVERSAL MANDATE OR ANYTHING AT THIS POINT.

>> SHANNON JONES, THE VACCINATION DEMAND HAS GONE UP A LITTLE BIT.

IT WAS WORSE IN EARLY MAY OR JUNE.

DO YOU THINK PEOPLE HAVE STARTED TO GET THE MESSAGE?

ARE RECOMMENDATIONS GOING TO BE ENOUGH TO GET THAT VACCINATION UP?

>> FOR EVERY SUBSEQUENT PERSON TO GO GET THE VACCINE, THESE ARE PEOPLE BY DEFINITION THAT WILL HAVE VACCINE HESITANCE.

SO THEY ARE HARDER TO GET.

BUT CLEARLY, AS WE'VE SEEN THE INCREASE IN VACCINATION RATES, YOU KNOW, WE KNOW WHAT TO DO NOW.

IT'S PEOPLE FEELING THAT PRESSURE, THAT MOTIVATION TO GO GET IT DONE.

>> DESIREE TIMS, EVEN JOE BIDEN IS RECOMMENDING MASKS.

THEY'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT NATIONAL MASK MANDATES OR VACCINE MANDATES OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT FOR MOST PEOPLE, FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE THING IS, MANDATES WILL JUST MAKE PEOPLE MAD AND THEY'LL TUNE YOU OUT AND THEY WON'T BE CONVINCED.

IS THERE TRUTH TO THAT STATEMENT?

HAVE WE LEARNED THAT DURING THIS PANDEMIC?

>> AT LEAST PRESIDENT BIDEN IS ALLOWING STATES INDIVIDUALLY TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE ON THE RECEIVING END ARE MAKING THE DECISION TO NOT GET VACCINATED AND TO NOT WEAR A MASK BECAUSE OF DISINFORMATION CAMPAIGN.

IT IS SO IMPORTANT THAT WE BE CLEAR AND WE PROVIDE CLEAR GUIDANCE AND TELL EVERYONE TO GET VACCINATED.

REALLY, I LOOK FORWARD AND HOPE THAT MORE INSTITUTIONS WILL REQUIRE MASK MANDATES TO KEEP US ALL SAFE.

WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL PEOPLE DIE AROUND US TO GIVE ENCOURAGEMENT.

>> OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY HAS MADE A MANDATE.

DARREL, WHEN IT COMES TO THE VACCINE MANDATES NOW, THAT'S A LITTLE TRICKIER BECAUSE WE'RE STILL IN THE EMERGENCY MANDATE FOR THESE VACCINES, BUT HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS ARE STARTING TO MANDATE THEIR EMPLOYEES GET THEM.

EVEN NATIONWIDE HOSPITAL IS GOING TO GIVE THEIR EMPLOYEES A $1,000 BONUS, THEIR MEDICAL STAFF, IF THEY GET THE VACCINE BETWEEN NOW AND OCTOBER.

>> IT'S AN INDIVIDUAL CHOICE.

IN THIS CASE IT'S INDIVIDUAL INSTITUTIONS.

IN CENTRAL OHIO, IT'S A BIG HOSPITAL GROUP, AND THEY'RE FULL OF THEIR VACCINE MANDATES, THEY FAVOR THE SAME THING, OHIO STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AND OBVIOUSLY DOCTORS ARE IN ACCORDANCE AS WELL.

THAT SEEMS TO BE WHERE THE ACTION IS RIGHT NOW.

>> SHANNON, SHOULD GOVERNMENT GET INVOLVED IN THESE MANDATES?

NOT NECESSARILY FOR EMPLOYEES, A COMPANY SAYING EMPLOYEES SHOULD GET A VACCINE, BUT IF A COMPANY SAYS YOU CAN'T COME IN UNLESS YOU'RE VACCINATED, IS THAT WHERE THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT STEP IN?

>> I THINK WE'RE SEEING IS A TREND THAT PRIVATE BUSINESS IS STARTING TO STEP IN.

WHETHER OR NOT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD DO IT OR NOT IS REALLY BESIDE THE POINT AT THIS JUNCTURE.

ARGUABLY, GOVERNMENT STEPPED IN VERY EARLY ON AND TOOK SOME AGGRESSIVE ACTION, AND, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE HAVE BEEN PUSHING BACK ON THAT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

AND NOW WE'RE SEEING THAT THE PRIVATE SECTOR IS SETTLING IN WHERE PERHAPS THE PUBLIC SECTOR LEFT OFF.

AS YOU POINTED OUT, IT'S REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ALIKE THAT HAVE BEEN RELUCTANT TO IMPOSE MANDATES.

IT'S NOT BECAUSE THEY NECESSARILY THINK THAT GETTING VACCINATION IS BAD OR WEARING MASKS ARE BAD, IT'S THAT THEY JUST DON'T THINK, YOU KNOW, THAT EVERYBODY WILL FOLLOW IT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, THIS IS A DIFFERENT TACTIC THAT I THINK IS PERFECTLY APPROPRIATE FOR A PRIVATE INDUSTRY TO STEP IN AND PERHAPS FILL THE VOID.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE THE LEAST VACCINATED, AT LEAST PERCENTAGEWISE, ARE FOLKS BETWEEN 20 AND 45, THE YOUNGER FOLKS LESS SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES OF COVID.

THESE FOLKS MAY NOT HAVE TIME TO GET VACCINATED.

THEIR JOBS, MAYBE THEY WORK TWO JOBS.

OR JUST A LITTLE BIT LAZIER, PRO PROCRASTIF -- PROCRASTINATING.

>> WE NEED TO MAKE SURE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO INFORMATION.

WE HAVE SEEN DISINFORMATION IN THESE CAMPAIGNS, AND UNFORTUNATELY BLACK OR HISPANIC PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES OF COLOR ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THESE CAMPAIGNS, AND THEY'RE CONFUSED.

SO WE HAVE TO BE VERY CLEAR IN OUR MESSAGING AND OUR COMMUNICATIONS AND I THINK GRASSROOTS OUTREACH IS THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT ENSURING WE INCREASE THOSE VACCINATION RATES AMONGST THOSE GROUPS.

>> I'VE TALKED TO SEVERAL PARENTS OF YOUNG KIDS AND THEY'RE GOING TO ASK THAT THEY MAKE THEIR KIDS WEAR MASKS TO SCHOOL.

THERE ARE DISTRICTS THAT ARE OPTIONAL, AND THEY'RE WORRIED THEY'LL GET PICKED ON THAT THEY'RE WEARING A MASK, OR DISTRICTS WILL GET PICKED ON BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT WEARING A MASK.

THAT'S GOING TO BE TOUGH FOR KIDS WHEN SCHOOL STARTS IN THE NEXT COUPLE WEEKS.

>> I HAVE A GRANDCHILD IN THAT AGE, 12 AND UNDER, WHERE THERE ISN'T A CHOICE TO GET A VACCINE.

NOTHING HAS BEEN APPROVED EVEN PROVISIONALLY, OF COURSE.

YEAH, WE'RE AT THE CUSP OF ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR, AND THAT WOULD BE AN INNOVATOR.

LAST YEAR THEY REQUIRED THIS, DID NOT REQUIRE THAT.

IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN IN 2021.

THIS IS FRUSTRATING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, MIKE.

MASKS CAME OFF, SOME WORE THEM, SOME DIDN'T, BUT NOW WE'RE BACK IN THE SAME SPOT TO SOME EXTENT.

IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATING.

WHEN YOU HAVE KIDS INVOLVED, IT'S LIKE, OH, CAN WE GET THROUGH THIS?

>> I HAVE ONE SESSION.

SPLIT THE CLASSROOM UP.

YOU HAVE A CLASSROOM OF MASKED KIDS AND A CLASSROOM OF UNMASKED KIDS.

I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S A SOLUTION, EITHER.

LIKE THEY DID IN THE STADIUMS OF VACCINATED AND UNVACCINATED.

>>> PRIMARY VOTERS THIS WEEK CHOSE FINALISTS FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE 15th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE, STATE REP ALLISON RUSSO OF UPPER ARLG SON EASILY BEAT RETIRED ARMY OFFICER GREG BETTS.

CERTAINLY NO SURPRISE THERE.

THE REAL RACE WAS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE WHERE A TOTAL OF TEN CANDIDATES WANTED TO SUCCEED STEVE STIVERS WHO LEFT THIS SPRING.

THE TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE MIKE CAREY WON FAIRLY EASILY, WELL AHEAD OF HIS CLOSEST COMPETITORS.

STATE REP JEFF LARAY, FORMER STATE REP RON HOOD, STATE SENATOR BOB PETERSON AND FORMER COLUMBUS NAACP PRESIDENT RUTH EDMONDS.

THE OTHER CANDIDATE, INCLUDING STATE SENATOR STEPHANIE KUNZE WERE IN SINGLE DIGIT PERCENTAGES.

SHANNON, WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON THIS?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S THAT SURPRISING THAT MIKE CAREY WON GIVEN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S PARTICIPATION IN THE RACE WITH A LOT OF OUTSIDE RESOURCES AND HIS ENDORSEMENTS.

BUT I THINK THERE IS SOME INTERESTING THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THAT RACE.

YOU KNOW, EVEN THE CANDIDATE THAT WON BIG, HE WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL, AND YET HE GARNERED AS MUCH SUPPORT STATISTICALLY SPEAKING AS THE BACKED CANDIDATE OF THE INCUMBENT, STEVE STIVERS.

THESE ARE REALLY FUNNY RACES AND IT'S HARD TO GLEAN ANYTHING FROM THE SPECIAL ELECTIONS.

TO TRUMP IS MEANS SOMETHING FOR THE UPCOMING ELECTION CYCLE.

>> LET'S ANALYZE THIS ELECTION THAT ONLY 14% TURNED OUT IN THE FIRST WEEK OF AUGUST, BUT LET'S DO IT, ANYWAY.

THE NEXT FOUR COMPETITORS, THAT NUMBER BEATS THEM BY A THOUSAND VOTES.

THE FACT THAT THEY WERE NON-TRUMP, EMBRACED BY TRUMP, JUST SPLIT THE VOTE AND THAT WILL CLEAR THE WAY FOR MIKE CAREY?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN CALL ANYONE A NON-TRUMP CANDIDATE, AT LEAST AMONG THAT TOP TIER.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, IT WAS THE TRUMP-ENDORSED CANDIDATE AND THEN MAYBE IT WAS TRUMPLIKE THAT OCCURRED IN THOSE ADS.

MY QUESTION IS WILL WE HAVE CAREY IN THE FALL IN THE GENERAL ELECTION?

ALLISON RUSSO HAD A CHANCE IN THIS ELECTION.

THE TRUMP CANDIDATE WON BY DOUBLE DIGITS A COUPLE TIMES.

IT WILL TRANSLATE TO MONEY.

>> THE COOK PARTISAN REPORT ANALYSIS RATES THIS IT 15th DISTRICT AS A PLUS 9 REPUBLICAN MEANING THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A 9-POINT LEAD TO GENERIC CANDIDATES.

BUT DO REPUBLICANS ENDORSE THE TRUMP-ENDORSED CANDIDATES?

THE SELECTION WAS ONLY 10%, SO NOT MANY FOLKS IN WESTERN FRANKLIN COUNTY TURNED OUT FOR THIS, FOR THE PRIMARY, ANYWAY.

>> WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT PEOPLE WHO DO SHOW UP FOR PRIMARY ELECTIONS ARE POLITICALLY PARTISAN, SO I THINK DEMOCRATS ARE NOT GOING TO SHY AWAY FROM AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE THE SEAT FROM RED TO BLUE, AND I THINK THE 9th DISTRICT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE AN UPHILL BATTLE, BUT WE SEE THINGS THAT ARE FAR MORE.

I THINK WE NEED TO BE OPEN TO THE POSSIBILITY OF THE MIDDLE.

I DON'T THINK THE TRUMP EFFECT WILL REALLY TRULY SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE OF THE 15th DISTRICT.

>> THE GENERAL ELECTION WILL BE IN AN ODD YEAR, SO WE'RE NOT ELECTING CONGRESSPEOPLE OR STATEWIDE OFFICES IN AN ODD YEAR.

DOES THAT HELP OR HURT THE DEMOCRATS' EFFORT TO UPSET THE REPUBLICAN IN THIS RACE?

>> I THINK IT MAY HELP BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL TURN OUT IN NOVEMBER.

PEOPLE PAY MORE ATTENTION.

THEY KNOW THAT NOVEMBER MEANS VOTING TIME.

IT'S REALLY DIFFICULT TO GET VOTERS TO TURN OUT FOR PRIMARIES AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS WHEN IT'S OUTSIDE OF NOVEMBER.

IT'S WARM OUTSIDE, PEOPLE ARE VACATIONING.

NOVEMBER PEOPLE ARE A LITTLE MORE GLUED TO THE TV.

SO HOPEFULLY WITH THE RIGHT SPENDING AND INVESTMENT AND COMMERCIALS, SHE WILL GET HER MESSAGE OUT TO PUT THE STATE FROM RED TO BLUE.

>> NINA TURNER IS WAY BACK.

SHE WAS A FRANKLIN CANDIDATE IN A SEAT THAT IS NOW HELD BY FRANKLIN COUNTY BUT SHE IS NOT COMPETITIVE, REALLY.

>> LOOK, I THINK IN A REALLY NARROW WEEK ELECTORATE THAT IS DIVIDED BY SO MANY CANDIDATES, IT'S NOT REALLY SURPRISING THAT, YOU KNOW, SHE DIDN'T DO AS WELL AS SHE WOULD HAVE HOPED.

FRANKLIN COUNTY JUST DOESN'T, YOU KNOW, OUTWEIGH ALL OF THOSE OTHER MORE RURAL COUNTIES THAT MAKE UP THE DISTRICT, AND IN A BASE ELECTION, THE BASE WAS LOOKING FOR MORE TRADITIONAL, CONSERVATIVE CREDENTIALS THAN STEPHANIE REALLY HAD.

>> IT WASN'T IN OHIO, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER PRIMARY THIS WEEK IN CLEVELAND WHEN MARCIA FUDGE MOVED INTO THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

THE DEMOCRAT DOMINATED THE DISTRICT AND PROMPTED A SPIRITED PRIMARY BETWEEN THE ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATE AND THE FIRST PROGRESS SI CANDIDATE.

IN THE END THE ESTABLISHMENT DEMOCRAT WON IN CUYAHOGA COUNTY COUNCILMEMBER SHONTEL BROWN BEAT FORMER STATE SENATOR NINA TURNER BY A RELATIVELY COMFORTABLE MARGIN.

AND IN THE END SHE WON WITH SOME BACKING.

>> TWO BLACK WOMEN WITH TRACK RECORDS OF PUBLIC SERVICE TO THAT COMMUNITY, AND THE VOTERS HAD A REALLY TOUGH CHOICE BECAUSE THEY HAD TWO GREAT OPTIONS.

AND THEY CHOSE SHONTEL.

SO I WAS REALLY EXCITED EITHER WAY TO SEE THAT DISTRICT HAVE REPRESENTATION, SO THEY HAD A TOUGH CHOICE.

THE VOTERS MADE THAT CHOICE.

I DON'T CARE HOW MANY NATIONAL PUNDITS TRIED TO MAKE PREDICTIONS AND OUTCOMES AFTER SPENDING TWO DAYS IN CLEVELAND.

THEY THINK THEY KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT OHIO.

THIS IS ABOUT LOCAL POLITICS AND WHAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE WANTED AND THEY VOTED IN SUPPORT OF SHONTEL.

>> YOU DON'T THINK THIS IS A SIGNAL THAT THE PROGRESSIVE WING IN THE PARTY HAVE LOST ELECTIONS NOW IN NEW YORK, LOUISIANA, VIRGINIA, SOME PRETTY HIGH-PROFILE RACES NOW IN OHIO.

IS THIS THE END OF THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE PARTY FOR THE NEXT YEAR OR SO?

DESIREE?

>> I DON'T THINK THIS IS ABOUT PROGRESSIVES VERSUS MODERATES.

WE DIG INTO WHICH SIDE OF THE PARTY ARE YOU ON.

VOTERS DON'T KNOW WHO IS A PROGRESSIVE, WHO IS A MODERATE, WHO IS AN ESTABLISHMENT, WHO IS NOT.

THEY HEAR THE MESSAGE ON THE GROUND.

I'VE BEEN A CANDIDATE ON THE GROUND AND I'VE NEVER NOT ONCE RECEIVED THAT KIND OF QUESTION.

THEY WANT TO KNOW WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO FOR ME WHEN YOU GET TO WASHINGTON.

ARE YOU GOING TO FIGHT FOR ME?

ARE YOU GOING TO HELP ME GET OUT OF POVERTY?

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO CHANGE MY COMMUNITY?

I THINK THAT'S A DICHOTOMY TO HAVE CREATED AND IT'S ABOUT COMMUNICATING TO VOTERS ABOUT HOW THEY DELIVER FOR THEM ONCE THEY ARE ELECTED IN OFFICE.

>> THERE IS OUTSIDE INFLUENCE FROM THE CONGRESSWOMAN IN CENTRAL OHIO.

SHE WAS ALSO IN SUPPORT OF SHONTEL BROWN.

WHAT DO YOU THINK HAPPENED UP THERE?

>> THE CAUCUS MADE AN UNUSUAL ENDORSEMENT.

THERE WERE TWO REALLY TALENTED BLACK CANDIDATES HERE AND THEY CHOSE SHONTEL BROWN.

OF COURSE, BEING A MEMBER OF THE CABINET, SHE CAN'T MAKE AN ENDORSEMENT WITHOUT SAYING, THIS IS OUR CANDIDATE FOR SHONTEL BROWN.

I THINK THE LOCAL CONNECTIONS REALLY DO PLAY A ROLE.

WE TALKED ABOUT THIS, THE NATIONAL FOLKS, IT'S TOUGH, THE PARACHUTE JOURNALISM.

THE BIT ABOUT THE NATIONALIZED RACE, THERE MAY BE SOME TRUTH TO THAT, BUT I THINK THEY MISSED A COUPLE THINGS.

ONE, THERE SEEMS TO BE THIS ASSUMPTION, AND THIS IS COLUMBUS' ONLY MINORITY CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

JUST LOOK BACK AT THE 2016 PRIMARY WHEN HILLARY CLINTON BEAT BERNIE SANDERS BY A MORE THAN 2-1 MARGIN.

OF COURSE, BERNIE SANDERS WENT ON TO BE THE LEADING SPOKESPERSON AND HILLARY CLINTON WENT BACK TO ENDORSING SHONTEL BROWN.

>> GETTING BACK TO THIS WHOLE DEBATE, THE FAR LEFT, THE FAR RIGHT OF THE PARTY, ISN'T IT GOOD TO HAVE -- I HATE THE PHRASE, BUT A STRONG VERY CONSERVATIVE PART OF THE PARTY TO TRY TO KEEP THE MODERATES FROM GOING TOO FAR TO THE CENTER?

ISN'T IT GOOD TO HAVE A STRONG RIGHT, STRONG LEFT?

>> I THINK ARGUABLY IN BOTH OF THESE DISTRICTS, YOU HAD THE ESTABLISHMENT PICK THE CANDIDATE.

DONALD TRUMP IS THE ESTABLISHMENT AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND HE PICKED THE CANDIDATE, AND THE ESTABLISHMENT IN THE BLACK CAUCUS AND SOME OF THESE OTHER LOCAL COMMUNITY FOLKS PICKED OUR CANDIDATE, AND SO THE TIME TO MAKE THIS LIBERAL PROGRESSIVE ESTABLISHMENT, I THINK IT'S THE WRONG DICHOTOMY.

BUT IT IS TRUE THAT THE DEMOCRAT PARTY HAS DEFINITELY SHIFTED -- ITS ESTABLISHMENT HAS SHIFTED FARTHER TO THE LEFT.

FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN ON DOWN, I MEAN, IN THIS LAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, THERE HAS BEEN A DRAMATIC SHIFT.

AND SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK PROGRESSIVES CAN TAKE SOME CREDIT FOR BEING A STRONG VOICE IN THE CONGREGATION AND PUSHING THE PARTY TO BE WAY MORE PROGRESSIVE THAN IT WAS EVEN JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

WHEN THESE CONGRESSPEOPLE RUN IN 2022, THEY WILL HAVE NEW DISTRICTS, MAYBE NO DISTRICT.

SO WILL EVERY STATE REP AND STATE SENATOR.

THE REDISTRICTING PROCESS OFFICIALLY GOT UNDERWAY THIS WEEK WITH THE STATE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION.

THIS IS THE PANEL THAT WILL DRAW THE STATE DISTRICTS WITH A BIPARTISAN PANEL WORKING UNDER NEW RULES APPROVED BY VOTERS.

I'M HOPING THIS COMMISSION AND NEW RULES WILL PUT VOTERS AND NOT THE CANDIDATES AT AN ADVANTAGE FIRST.

SHANNON, YOU'RE IN ONE OF THESE REDISTRICTING PROCESSES.

IS THIS COMMISSION REALLY GOING TO REDRAW THE MAP?

>> LOOK, THIS IS PROBABLY -- WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT REDISTRICTING, IT IS LITERALLY THE MOST BASIC PARTISAN PROCESS THERE IS.

I DON'T CARE WHAT KIND OF CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS YOU PUT ON THERE TO TRY AND IMPROVE THE PROCESS, THIS IS DESIGNED TO BE ABOUT POLITICS.

THE PEOPLE WHO ARE ON THE COMMISSION ITSELF HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN THE OUTCOME OF IT.

THEY'RE TERM-LIMITED POLITICIANS WHO ARE LOOKING PERHAPS FOR A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT, OR YOU MAYBE HAVE STATEWIDE OFFICE HOLDERS WHO ARE LOOKING FOR A CONGRESSIONAL RUN WHO ARE ALSO TERM LIMITED.

THIS IS GOING TO BE DONE IN THE BACK ROOMS WHERE THERE'S WHEELING AND DEALING GOING ON BECAUSE REDISTRICTING AT ITS CORE IS THE MOST PARTISAN ACTIVITY THAT THE LEGISLATURE TAKES ON.

>> IT'S WHERE THE POLITICIANS PICK THEIR RULES, BUT I HOPE THERE WOULD BE A LITTLE LESS GERRYMANDERING.

THEY NEED TO COME BACK IN FOUR YEARS.

WOULDN'T THAT BE FUN?

PARTING SHOTS, AND DESIREE TIMS, WE WILL START WITH YOU.

>> THE COVID DELTA VARIANT IS NO JOKE.

I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE WATCHING TO ENCOURAGE YOUR NEIGHBOR OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW THAT HAS NOT BEEN VACCINATED TO GET THE SHOT.

I SAY IT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

GET THE SHOT.

>> AND SHANNON, YOUR THOUGHTS?

>> I THINK THE REDISTRICTING COMMISSION, NOTWITHSTANDING THE CHALLENGES OF TIMELINE AND DATA, THEY ARE GOING TO COME UP WITH THE MAPS AND IT'S GOING TO BE A TEN-YEAR MAP.

TOO MUCH PRESSURE AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A FOUR-YEAR MAP, THEY'RE GOING TO SEE A TEN-YEAR MAP.

>> YOUR FINAL THOUGHTS?

>> JUST THE REPUBLICAN FIELD AND THE ONE TO SUCCEED SENATOR RON PORTMAN.

THEY TALK ABOUT HOW YOUNG PEOPLE ARE NOT AT RISK.

THERE ARE A WHOLE LOT OF PARENTS OUT THERE WHO WISH THAT WERE TRUE ACROSS THIS COUNTRY.

AND ALL THOSE CANDIDATES WHO WANT TO SUCCEED RON PORTMAN HAS COME OUT AGAINST THIS BIPARTISAN COMPROMISE INFRASTRUCTURE DEAL.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIG CHANGE.

>> THAT GETS GOING CERTAINLY WHEN THE FALL ELECTION IS OVER.

MY FINAL THOUGHTS, THE CLASS OF 2020 LAST YEAR AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY AND MANY COLLEGES DIDN'T HAVE REAL GRADUATIONS LAST YEAR BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC.

THIS WEEKEND, SATURDAY NIGHT, OSU BRINGS BACK THE CLASS OF 2020 TO CELEBRATE THEIR GRADUATION THEY DIDN'T GET LAST YEAR.

I'LL BE THERE WITH OUR DAUGHTER MADELINE AND HER FRIENDS CELEBRATING -- WELL, WE COULDN'T CELEBRATE LAST YEAR, SO CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE FOLKS OF 2020 AND THE 2021 GRADS WHO GRADUATED ON SUNDAY, IF YOU'RE SO INCLINED TO WATCH THE GRADUATION ON SUNDAY THAT WILL BE AT WOSU.ORG.

CHECK US OUT ONLINE AT WOSU.ORG AND TWITTER AND FACEBOOK.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING TO MY THOUGHTS AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK.