>> THE STATE OF FREE SPEECH AFTER THE CHARLIE KIRK MURDER.

>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD. "

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

IN THESE TIMES, IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE THAT A HORRIFIC POLITICAL ASSASSINATION HAS NOT PAUSED INFLAMMATORY RHETORIC, BUT INTENSIFIED IT.

IN THE DAYS AFTER CHARLIE KIRK'S MURDER, SOME ON SOCIAL MEDIA EXPRESSED EXTREME VIEWS.

SOME SEEMED TO CELEBRATE HIS DEATH.

LATE NIGHT TV SHOW HOST, JIMMY KIMMEL, INACCURATELY LINKED THE SHOOTER TO PRESIDENT TRUMP'S SUPPORTERS.

THAT BROUGHT THREATS FROM THE FCC, AND PROMPTED STATIONS AND THE NETWORK TO SUSPEND THE SHOW.

PRESIDENT TRUMP THEN SAID MAYBE OTHER LATE NIGHT COMEDIANS WHO MOCK HIM, SHOULD BE CANCELED.

AND, HIS ALLIES HAVE THREATENED TO GO AFTER LIBERAL GROUPS, EVEN THOUGH EVIDENCE SHARED BY PROSECUTORS SO FAR SEEMS TO SHOW THE GUNMAN ACTED ALONE.

MIKE GONIDAKIS, THE TENSION HAS NOT EASED AS WE THOUGHT IT WOULD, IT HAS INTENSIFIED.

PEOPLE CALL IT A POLITICAL CRISIS, WHICH IS PROBABLY HYPERBOLIC , BUT -- >> LET'S NOT FORGET A BELOVED HUSBAND AND FATHER WAS SHOT IN THE NECK AND MURDERED BECAUSE HE WAS PRACTICING HIS FREE SPEECH IN AMERICA, WE CANNOT FORGET THAT IN REGARDS TO WHERE WE FALL ON THIS ISSUE.

IT IS NOT ONLY ON THE UNITED STATES, TO CELEBRATE SOMEBODY ELSE'S MURDER, IN THIS CASE, CHARLIE KIRK, BUT IT IS ALSO NOT ILLEGAL FOR AN EMPLOYER TO FIRE YOU FOR DOING THAT.

YOU CAN'T GO TO THE WATER COOLER AND GET ON TWITTER AND CELEBRATE CHARLIE KIRK'S MURDER OR SOMEONE BEING ASSASSINATED OR RAPED AND THINK YOU ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE CONSEQUENCES.

YOU HAVE FREEDOM OF SPEECH, YES, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE FREEDOM OF NOT HAVING CONSEQUENCES FROM THOSE ACTIONS.

LOOK, IF YOU ARE A DOCTOR OR A SCHOOLTEACHER AND YOU ARE ON TWITTER SAYING HORRIFIC THINGS ABOUT CHARLIE KIRK, YOU DON'T DESERVE TO BE A DOCTOR OR TEACHER, I DON'T WANT YOU AROUND MY CHILDREN.

AND IF YOU ARE GOING TO ACT LIKE THAT, IN A HEINOUS MANNER, YOU DON'T DESERVE THE RIGHT TO HAVE THE JOB YOU HAVE.

>> JOE, MIKE IS AT LEAST 99% CORRECT.

[ LAUGHTER ] AND WE ARE IN AGREEMENT, IN MOST OF THAT.

WHAT HAPPENS IS, MOST PEOPLE THINK FREEDOM OF SPEECH HAS TO DO WITH YOU BEING ABLE TO SAY WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO SAY, BUT IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THAT.

IN FACT, ALL IT HAS TO DO WITH IS THE GOVERNMENT, IN FACT, CONTROLLING YOUR SPEECH.

AND THAT IS WHERE THE DIALOGUE IS MOVING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THE QUESTION IS, DID THE FCC TWIST ABCs, DISNEY'S ARM, IN ORDER TO PUT A PERMANENT, OR WHATEVER IT IS -- >> INDEFINITE HIATUS.

>> INDEFINITE HIATUS TO THE SHOW.

BUT, AS FAR AS ACCEPTING CONSEQUENCES FROM A NONGOVERNMENTAL ENTITY, IT HAS ALWAYS BEEN OKAY.

>> SURE, SOCIAL MEDIA IS JUST -- IT'S A WONDERFUL TOOL, BUT IT ALSO AMPLIFIES SUCH A TINY MINORITY OF PEOPLE.

I MEAN, EVEN IF THERE ARE THREE DOZEN PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID THESE AWFUL THINGS ABOUT THE KIRK MURDER, THEY GET SO AMPLIFIED, SO FAST.

YOU KNOW?

IT'S LIKE THEY ARE MAKING FUN OF EVERYBODY AND CELEBRATING HIS MURDER.

>> WELL, IF YOU GO BACK TO 2023, FOR EXAMPLE, DURING THE COVERED PANDEMIC, DURING THE BLACK LIVES MATTER MOVEMENT, THERE WERE FOLKS ON THE RIGHT TO OR MAYBE ANTI-VACCINE AND NOT WEARING A MASK AND THEY WERE, YOU KNOW, FIRED FROM THEIR JOBS.

NOW, THE SCRIPT HAS KIND OF BEEN FLIPPED.

I DO THINK IT IS AMPLIFIED.

I THINK IT IS INTERESTING BECAUSE US, AS JOURNALISTS, WE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN TOLD NOT TO CARRY OUR OPINIONS ONLINE, BUT NOT EVERYONE HAS FOLLOWED THAT, AND I THINK IT HAS CERTAINLY -- IT GETS AMPLIFIED, WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING VERY INCENDIARY.

>> IS THE CANCEL CULTURE GOOD FOR US, MIKE?

YOU SAID IF SOMEBODY SAYS SOMETHING WRONG, THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED, THERE EMPLOYER SHOULD TAKE ACTION, BUT THAT IS PART OF THAT CANCEL CULTURE AND IT GOES BACK AND FORTH.

IS THAT GOOD FOR US?

>> I RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE, I OPPOSE CANCEL CULTURE, BUT CANCEL CULTURE IS WHEN YOU MAYBE SAID SOMETHING WHEN YOU WERE A TEENAGER, NOW YOU ARE 30, 35, WHATEVER THAT AGE IS, AS OPPOSED TO DOING SOMETHING IMMEDIATE AND FACING CONSEQUENT AS FOR THAT.

>> AS I SAID, IN MEDIA, IT WASN'T FROM WEIGHT IN THE PAST, AND PEOPLE LOST THEIR JOBS OVER IT.

>> YEAH, EITHER WAY, WHAT JOE AND I ARE IN AGREEMENT ON, IS THAT THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE WORDS THAT COME OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.

WE TEACH OUR CHILDREN, YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SAY, AND HOW YOU SAY IT.

YOU CAN SAY IT, BUT IT IS AMERICA, THAT DOESN'T MEAN YOU WILL NOT FACE CONSEQUENCES FOR THAT.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, I OPPOSE CANCEL CULTURE, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH HERE, IN THE SITUATION OF MR.

KIRK'S MURDER.

>> I DO THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM HERE IS NOT NECESSARILY PEOPLE GIVING THEIR OPINION -- EVEN TO THE EXTENT OF CELEBRATING THIS YOUNG MAN'S DEATH, BUT IT IS MISINFORMATION THAT, I THINK, LEADS TO THE PROBLEMS, WITH RESPECT TO WHAT YOU WERE CITING WITH THE PEOPLE THAT WERE ANTI-FACTORS, OR SOMEHOW SPOKE AGAINST WHATEVER IT WAS, BLACK LIVES MATTER.

MISINFORMATION IS THE REAL CULPRIT, HERE.

NOT NECESSARILY OPINION.

>> JUST ONE THING I WANT TO ADD, MIKE, GOING BACK A LITTLE BIT TO THE FCC, I DO THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT SOME OF THE REASON ABC POTENTIALLY MADE THIS MOVE IS BECAUSE NEXT R AND SINCLAIR BROADCAST GROUP WERE PUTTING PRESSURE ON ABC.

OF COURSE, NEXSTAR IS LOOKING TO UNDERGO A MAJOR MERGER THAT WOULD BE OVERSEEN BY THE FCC.

SO, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ADD THAT CONTEXT, AS WELL.

>> THAT IS THE REASON WHY THE SPECULATION CBS SETTLED THE "60 MINUTES" CLAIM THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP MADE AGAINST THEM, BECAUSE THEY WANTED THEIR MERGER TO GO THROUGH.

IS THAT THE WAY TO RUN A RAILROAD?

IS THAT WHERE THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD OPERATE?

YOU KNOW, USING THE REGULATORY POWERS OF THE GOVERNMENT TO FORCE PRIVATE COMPANIES TO DO THINGS THAT MATCH YOUR AGENDA?

>> WELL, I HAVE NOT READ ANY REPUTABLE ARTICLE SAYING THAT IS THE CASE.

THERE IS A LOT OF TWITTER SPECULATION THAT IS THE CASE, AND I WILL GIVE CREDENCE TO THAT A LITTLE BIT.

BUT, UNTIL --I DON'T LIKE TO DEAL IN HYPOTHETICALS, OR "GOTCHA" OR "WHAT IF'S," BECAUSE I'M NOT SURE THAT IS THE TRUTH AT THE END OF THE DAY.

>> BUT, THE PRESIDENT DIDN'T LOWER THE TEMPERATURE, HIMSELF.

BIDEN, AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT CAME OUT AND SAID, THIS IS ABHORRENT, WE NEED TO THINK OF THE PRESIDENT, PRAY FOR HIM, PRAY FOR THE OTHER VICTIMS OF THAT SHOOTING.

HE DID NOT BLAME ANYONE FOR THAT SHOOTING, OR DIDN'T SAY THAT TRUMP WAS TO BLAME OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

BUT, TRUMP DIDN'T GO THAT ROUTE.

HE WAS IN ATTACK MODE RIGHT AWAY.

LIBERAL GROUPS, LEFTISTS, RADICALS, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> HE DID AND I THINK THAT IS WHAT HIS EMOTIONAL STATE WAS AT THE TIME AND WHETHER THAT IS RIGHT OR WRONG REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

KEEP IN MIND, JOE BIDEN SAID BECAUSE WE ARE CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS --BARACK OBAMA SAID THE SAME THING --BEEN I CANNOT IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SHOOTING.

>> NOT AFTER THE SHOOTING FOR HILLARY AND OBAMA, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, TRUMP DID I THINK WHAT TRUMP DOES AND THAT IS TO POINT BLAME WHERE BLAME IS OCCURRED.

>> AND THEN, HE WENT ON TO TALK ABOUT THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BALLROOM.

SO, APPARENTLY, HE GOT OVER IT OKAY.

> >> LET'S GET TO OUR NEXT TOPIC.

FORMER OSU COACH JIM TRESSEL ONCE SAID THE PUNT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT PLAY IN FOOTBALL.

SO, WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TRESSEL HAS DECIDED TO PUNT, AND NOT GO FOR IT.

TRESSEL SAYS HE WILL NOT RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

HE SAYS HE WANTS TO GIVE HIS FULL ATTENTION TO BEING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR THE REST OF GOVERNOR DEWINE'S TERM.

THAT CLEARS THE FIELD FOR VIVEK RAMASWAMY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

DEMOCRAT AMY ACTON AWAITS FORMER CONGRESSMAN TIM RYAN'S DECISION ON WHETHER HE WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

MIKE GONIDAKIS, THIS IS THE LAST WEEK WE CAN DO THIS, WE CAN USE THE FOOTBALL CLICH…S.

WASN'T IT A HAIL MARY FOR JIM TRESSEL TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR, ANYWAY?

>> ABSOLUTELY, TEXT THE DEFINITION OF HAIL MARY.

BY ALL ACCOUNTS, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR TRESSEL HAS DONE A GREAT JOB, HEARD NO NEGATIVE COMMENTS ABOUT HIM, THE FOLKS AT HIGHER ED THIS WEEK GIVE AN AMAZING SPEECH ABOUT HIGHER ED OFFICIALS.

I THINK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, HE LOOKED AT THE TEA LEAVES TO THE EXTENT HE WAS INTERESTED IN RUNNING AND REALIZED THAT VIVEK RAMASWAMY WON THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, IT'S A DONE DEAL.

HE IS SOAKING UP ALL THE ENDORSEMENTS, ALL THE SUPPORT, AND WE ARE UNIFIED AS A PARTY.

I AM 52 YEARS OLD.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE PARTY THIS UNIFIED BEHIND ONE CANDIDATE AT ANY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT AS WE ARE FOR VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

SO, HE DID THE RIGHT THING.

WHETHER HE WANTS TO STAY IN GOVERNMENT AFTER DEWINE'S TERM, WILL REMAIN TO BE SEEN.

MAYBE HE DOES, MAYBE HE WANTS TO WORK WITH VIVEK, MAYBE HE WANTS TO GO TO FLORIDA AND RETIRE.

>> MIKE DeWINE, THE SPECULATION WAS, AND IT SEEMS RATHER OBVIOUS THAT MIKE DeWINE WANTED HIM TO AT LEAST CONSIDER RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

>> YES, I THINK THERE WAS SPECULATION.

OF COURSE, IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO AFTER DeWINE APPOINTED FORMER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, IT JOHN HUGHES DID TO THE SENATE --PLAYED A LOT OF MUSICAL CHAIRS EARLIER THIS YEAR --I THINK IMMEDIATELY, WHEN HE ANNOUNCED TRESSEL, THE QUESTION WAS, OH, IS HE GOING TO BE A POTENTIAL CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR?

BECAUSE OF COURSE, VIVEK RAMASWAMY WAS ALSO SOMEONE WHO IS CONSIDERED FOR THAT SENATE SEAT.

DeWINE PASSED OVER ON RAMASWAMY AND SAID THE LIKELY CASE WAS HE WOULD RUN FOR GOVERNOR.

BUT, HE WAS LONG THOUGHT OF AS THIS CANDIDATE FOR GOVERNOR BEFORE HE WAS ELEVATED TO THE SENATE.

SO, YOU KNOW, DeWINE IS THINKING ABOUT HIS LEGACY, AND DeWINE HASN'T COME OUT AND ENDORSED HUSTED, YET.

HE IS ONE OF THE FEW REPUBLICANS, AS MIKE NOTES, WHO HASN'T.

BUT, DeWINE IS CERTAINLY THINKING ABOUT HIS LEGACY AND WHO COULD CARRY THAT ON.

>> JOE, I NEVER SAW JIM TRESSEL AS --WE USED TO CALL HIM "THE SENATOR" AS A FOOTBALL COACH, BECAUSE HE WOULDN'T ANSWER QUESTIONS.

YOU KNOW?

BUT, I NEVER SAW HIM AS A POLITICIAN.

I MEAN, EVEN AS LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, HE WAS --YOU KNOW, WORKFORCE, EDUCATION, TO REALLY CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS, AND THEN THERE IS EXERCISE, COULD HE HAVE HAD MORE OF AN ATTACK DRAWN TO MAKE A MARK?

>> ONCE UPON A TIME, I THINK WE HAD POLITICIANS LIKE THAT, BUT THAT TIME HAS CERTAINLY PASSED.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IT RETURN, TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH.

I THINK SOMEBODY ON THE SHOW LAST TIME, REFERRED TO HIM AS --EXCUSE ME --"A COUNTRY CLUB REPUBLICAN. "

IF I CAN'T HAVE AMY ACTON, I WOULD RATHER HAVE TRESSEL THEN HAVE RAMASWAMY.

BUT, AT THE SAME TIME, THERE IS ONLY ONE REASON IN THE WORLD YOU SHOULD RUN FOR OFFICE, A PARTICULAR OFFICE, AND THAT'S BECAUSE YOU HAVE THE FIRE IN YOUR BELLY TO DO SO.

YOU HAVE TO REALLY WANT TO DO IT.

AND I AGREE WITH YOU.

I DON'T GET THE SENSE THAT THAT WAS THE CASE.

AND MIKE'S ANALYSIS, AS TO THE REALITY OF THE FUNDRAISING AND ALL OF THAT, AT THE END OF THE DAY, REALLY.

>> MIKE, YOU SAID THE PARTY IS UNIFIED, BUT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE IN LINE TO BE GOVERNOR, HUSTED WAS FIRST, THEN DAVE BOAST, ATTORNEY GENERAL, THEN JIM TRESSEL, FORMER HEROIC COACH OF THE BUCKEYES, THEY ARE ALL GONE, RAMASWAMY IS IN DEMAND.

THERE HAVE TO BE SOME ELEMENTS OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT SAID, "YOU KNOW WHAT?

WE GOT PASSED OVER, WE ARE A LITTLE BIT BETTER. "

>> YEAH, TRUE, I'M SURE THERE IS, BUT THE GOVERNOR MADE A DECISION, HE COULD HAVE PUT RAMASWAMY OR PRESIDENT TRUMP SEVEN IN THE U. S. SENATE, HE CHOSE PRESIDENT TRUMP SEVEN.

>> DO YOU THINK THAT WAS PRESSURE ON WHAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTED HIM TO DO?

>> THAT WAS TRULY MIKE'S CALL, HE PUT JOHN IN THERE, TOOK CARE OF THAT, AND MY GOOD FRIEND, DAVE YOST, AFTER RUNNING A SPIRITED CAMPAIGN, DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO GET BEHIND THE EVENTUAL FRONT RUNNER, NOW OUR FRONT-RUNNER, VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

SO, I THINK THE ESTABLISHMENT THAT ARE POSING THIS, ARE THE HANGERS ON, BECAUSE WHEN VIVEK GETS ELECTED, IT'S ALL OVER.

>> WE SHOULD NOTE NEXT WEEK, ACCORDING TO THE END OF THE MONTH, IF TIM RYAN IS GOING TO RUN FOR GOVERNOR AGAINST AMY ACTON.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I GUESS WE ARE WAITING TO SEE, AT THIS POINT.

ACTON HAS DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS AND DEMOCRATIC LEADERS SLOWLY TRICKLING IN TO ENDORSE HER, BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME HOLDOUTS, OF COURSE.

SO, WE WILL SEE.

> >> ALL RIGHT.

BACK IN THE DAY, OHIO DEMOCRATS COULD USUALLY COUNT ON UNIONS TO SUPPORT THEM.

BUT, UNIONS HAVE SHRUNK, AND MANY UNION WORKERS INCREASINGLY HAVE BACKED REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

THIS WEEK, THREE LABOR GROUPS SPLIT THEIR SUPPORT BETWEEN THE PARTIES' LEADING CANDIDATES IN NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION.

THE CENTRAL MIDWEST REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS, AND THE OHIO CHAPTER OF PLUMBERS AND PIPEFITTERS, ANNOUNCED THEY BACK DEMOCRAT SHERROD BROWN FOR SENATE, AND REPUBLICAN VIVEK RAMASWAMY FOR GOVERNOR.

SARAH DONALDSON, WHAT'S GOING ON, HERE?

THESE TWO CANDIDATES AGREE ON VERY LITTLE, BEGET, THESE UNIONS ARE BACKING BOTH OF THEM.

>> YEAH, SO, I ACTUALLY WROTE ABOUT THIS A LITTLE BIT LAST YEAR IN THE RACE OF THEN SENATOR SHERROD BROWN AND NOW SENATOR BERNIE MARINO BECAUSE YOU DID SEE DEMOCRATS LOSING SOME SUPPORT FROM UNIONS, AND THE OHIO SOP, THEY HAD ENDORSED REPUBLICANS FOR 24 YEARS STRAIGHT, THEY BROKE WITH THAT, ENDORSED SHERROD BROWN, AND THEN IN 2024, IT WAS THE FIRST TIME THE RANK AND FILE PUSHED THEM TO A NO ENDORSEMENT.

THE RANK-AND-FILE WANT TO BERNIE MORENO, THE COMMITTEE HAD SUGGESTED AN ENDORSEMENT OF BROWN, SO THEY ENDED WITH A NO ENDORSEMENT.

SO, BROWN HAS A LOT OF UNIONS STILL BACKING HIM.

I THINK A LOT OF OTHER UNIONS SEE THE MOMENTUM THAT MIKE IS TALKING ABOUT, BEHIND RAMASWAMY.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THIS STATE SEE AMY ACTON AS HAVING A VERY HARD PATH TO THE GOVERNOR'S CHAIR.

SO, IT'S NOT REALLY A SURPRISE TO ME AND, YOU KNOW, ANYONE IS GOING TO TELL YOU, "HOW MUCH DOES THE UNION ENDORSEMENT MATTER IN 2025? "

>> WE WILL GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT.

BUT, JOE, IS IT SIMPLY THE UNIONS GOING WITH WHO IS THE FAVORITE IN THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, VIVEK RAMASWAMY?

>> WELL, I THINK WHAT THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT --AND BY THE WAY, I HAVE BEEN WONDERING, IF BROWN WERE RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR IS, PERHAPS, HE WOULDN'T HAVE INHERITED THAT ENDORSEMENT, BECAUSE HE IS WHAT WE DON'T HAVE A LOT OF ANYMORE, AND THAT IS DEMOCRATS THAT ARE POPULIST AND HAVE THE DRAW IN THE BLUE- COLLAR VOTES.

AND THAT IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

AND AS DEMOCRATS HAVE LOST BLUE- COLLAR VOTERS -- OBVIOUSLY, THEIR MEMBERSHIP IS GOING TO BE PUSHING FOR THAT, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT IT IS NOT OF DISINTEREST.

>> RAMASWAMY AND BROWN ARE FAR APART ON TRADE, AND TARIFFS, AND PROTECTING AMERICAN JOBS HERE, SO THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WOULD APPEAL TO UNIONS FOR BOTH THOSE CANDIDATES.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

YOU HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD, MIKE.

IS IS ATTRACTING HEARTS AND MINDS, NOT JUST FROM THE GOP AND THE BASE, BUT AS JOE AND SARAH TALKED ABOUT, UNION HOUSEHOLDS, TRUMPETERS THAT USED TO BE DEMOCRATS -- A BLUE DOG DEMOCRAT --BUT, VIVEK IS LEANING ON THAT.

BUT, THE TEAMSTERS, THE TEAMSTERS HAVE RETORTS A REPUBLICAN IN OHIO FOR GOVERNOR, NOT FOR CITY COUNCIL, BUT FOR GOVERNOR.

THAT SHOWS THE LEADERSHIP OF VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

KEEP IN MIND, THREE OF THE UNIONS THAT ENDORSED TIM RYAN JUST IN 2022 HAVE NOW ENDORSED VIVEK RAMASWAMY.

I THINK THAT IS A CLEAR SIGNAL TO TIM RYAN THAT HIS SUPPORT HE MIGHT HAVE HAD WHEN HE LOST TO J. D. VANCE ISN'T THERE TODAY.

VIVEK RAMASWAMY IS IN THE DRIVER SEAT FOR GOVERNOR OF OHIO.

>> TO THE POINT OF, HOW MUCH DO UNIONS MATTER, JOE, YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING WHAT?

YOU HAVE BEEN HEARING THAT FROM UNIONS FOR A LONG TIME?

>> I THINK UNIONS DO MATTER AND DON'T FORGET, THEY DO CONTRIBUTE TO THE CAMPAIGNS.

SO, IT'S NOT A NONISSUE, AT ALL.

HOW MUCH IS THE DRIVE OF THE VOTE OF THE GENERAL POPULATION?

IN OTHER WORDS, MY NEIGHBOR IS VOTING, HE IS A UNION GUY, HE WILL BE VOTING FOR RAMASWAMY, I DON'T THINK THAT IS NECESSARILY --I AGREE WITH SARAH ON THAT.

>> I THOUGHT REPUBLICANS DIDN'T LIKE UNIONS, MIKE?

>> THE WORLD HAS CHANGED, MIKE.

REPUBLICANS USED TO BE THE PARTY OF THE BOARD CEOs, AND DEMOCRATS WERE THE WORKING CLASS, THAT CHANGED WHEN TRUMP CAME IN, SO FOR THE PAST 10, 15 YEARS, REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN THE PARTY OF THE WORKING MAN AND DEMOCRATS, AT LEAST IN THE D. C. DEMOCRAT CROWD, ARE THE PARTY OF THE CORPORATE CEO BOARDS.

>> COULD THEY CONVINCE THEIR MEMBERS TO VOTE A CERTAIN WAY?

LIKE, REPUBLICANS ALWAYS CRITICIZE UNIONS WITHOUT DEMOCRAT SUPPORT?

>> OUTSIDE OF THE TEACHERS UNIONS, I THINK MOST RANK-AND- FILE HOUSEHOLDS OR HOUSEHOLDS IN GENERAL DO WHAT THEY WANT TO DO, NOT WHAT THE PARTY TELLS THEM.

>> I AGREE, 50%.

I THINK UNION MEMBERS MAY LIKE REPUBLICANS, BUT I DON'T THINK REPUBLICANS LIKE UNIONS THAT MUCH.

>> ALL RIGHT, -- > >> HOW TO FIGHT URBAN CRIME HAS BEEN A BIG TOPIC AND EFFORT THIS SUMMER.

CRIME RATES ARE DOWN, BUT HIGH PROFILE INCIDENTS PROMPTED UNPRECEDENTED ACTION.

PRESIDENT TRUMP DEPLOYED NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS AND OTHER FEDERAL AGENTS TO PATROL THE STREETS OF WASHINGTON D. C. OHIO IS AMONG THE STATES THAT SENT GUARD TROOPS TO D. C. HERE, IN OHIO, GOVENROR DeWINE HAS NOT DEPLOYED NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO CINCINNATI AND CLEVELAND, BUT HE HAS SENT STATE TROOPERS AND OTHER STATE LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO THOSE CITIES TO HELP FIGHT CRIME.

JOE MAS, WHAT YOU MAKE OF HOW GOVERNOR DeWINE IS HANDLING THIS?

>> QUITE FRANKLY, I THINK IT'S A WINNING ISSUE FOR HIM.

BY THE WAY, THERE IS A BIG DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SENDING THE PRESIDENT SENDING THE NATIONAL GUARD TO DIFFERENT CITIES, AND A GOVERNOR DOING IT.

IN BOTH OF THESE CASES, YOU HAVE THE MAYORS OF THE CITY ASKING FOR INTERVENTION ON THE PART OF THE STATE.

WHY?

BECAUSE IT LOOKS GREAT.

DOES IT WORK?

HERE'S THE PROBLEM -- LAW ENFORCEMENT IS, JUST AS ITS NAME IMPLIES, LAW ENFORCEMENT.

IT IS NOT CRIME PREVENTION.

PREVENTING CRIME IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT, PARTICULARLY DUE TO THE FACT THAT WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF CRIME, THEY THINK OF VIOLENT CRIMES.

60% OF ALL VIOLENT CRIME IS PERPETRATED BY SOMEONE WHO KNEW THE VICTIM.

IF YOU ARE A WOMAN, 75% CHANCE THAT IT IS SOMEBODY CLOSE TO YOU.

PROBABLY, A HUSBAND OR A BOYFRIEND.

AND IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO REALLY ADDRESS THAT, WITHOUT ADDRESSING THE ROOT CAUSES, AND SOCIAL INTERACTIONS, AND ALL OF THAT.

SO, I HOPE THAT THE MAYORS APPRECIATE IT.

I THINK IT WAS A WINNING MOVE ON THE PART OF THE GOVERNOR AND GOOD LUCK TO EVERYBODY.

>> SO, THIS DOES GET A LOT OF HEADLINES, IN THE NEWS CONFERENCE, ALL OF THE FOLKS IN UNIFORM STANDING BEHIND THE MAYOR OR THE GOVERNOR, BUT TO JOE'S POINT, IS THERE IN NEXT STEP?

IS THERE PREVENTION PROGRAMS?

IS THERE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO HELP PREVENT CRIME IN THE LONG RUN?

>> MAYBE, BUT I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO PREVENT CRIME IS TO KEEP THE BAD GUYS OFF OF THE STREET.

AND SARAH'S EMPLOYER PUT OUT AN ARTICLE THAT SAID IT IS GOING TO BE MORE AIR SURVEILLANCE, AND FORCING LIQUOR LAWS AND SHARING INFORMATION, WHEREAS PRESIDENT TRUMP CLEANED UP D. C. BY PUTTING BOOTS ON THE GROUND.

I THINK WE NEED TO PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, AND COLUMBUS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST, THANK YOU, GOVERNOR DeWINE, FOR DOING THIS INITIATIVE.

IT IS IMPORTANT HE SENT TROOPS, NATIONAL GUARD, TO D. C. THAT WAS IMPORTANT, TOO.

NUMBER ONE JOB OF POLITICIANS IS TO CORRECT YOUR CONSTITUENTS.

>> WITH NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS?

>> YES, BECAUSE IT IS NOT FAIR FOR THESE YOUNG FAMILIES TO HAVE TO WALK TO SCHOOL WITHOUT A SAFE ENVIRONMENT.

ABSOLUTELY, WE SHOULD PUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN ALL THOSE CITIES.

>> AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THAT MIGHT WORK, EXCEPT THAT THEY HAVE TO BE IN THE RIGHT NEIGHBORHOODS IN ORDER TO DO THAT.

IN D. C. , THAT HASN'T HAPPENED.

YOU HAVE HAD HIGH VISIBILITY, MEMBERS OF THE VARIOUS STATES, NATIONAL GUARDS, WHERE THE MONUMENTS ARE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN THE NEIGHBORHOODS.

I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO HELP.

IF YOU CARRY OUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT, THEN POSSIBLY, IT WOULD WORK.

WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.

>> NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS RESPONDING TO CIVILIAN DISTURBANCES IN OHIO, HAS BAD HISTORY.

THAT HAS TO BE ON THE GOVERNOR'S MIND WHEN HE IS THINKING ABOUT DEPLOYING NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO CIVILIAN AREAS, BECAUSE OF KANSAS STATE.

>> WELL, THE GOVERNOR SAID HE IS NOT GOING TO DEPLOY THE NATIONAL GUARD IN ANY OHIO CITY.

HE SAYS, IT IS ONE THING FOR TRUMP TO ASK TO MAYBE SEND THEM TO D. C. , JUST LIKE A GOVERNOR IN ANOTHER STATE MIGHT SAY, "WE'VE HAD A NATIONAL EMERGENCY AND WE NEED THE NATIONAL GUARD. "

BUT, HE SAID HE IS NOT GOING TO DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS IN OHIO CITIES, REGARDLESS OF THE VIOLENT CRIME RATES, BECAUSE HE FEELS OHIO IS GOING TO DO IT DIFFERENTLY AND HE FEELS LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ON THE GROUND SHOULD BE PRIORITIZED.

NOW, TO MIKE'S POINT ABOUT BOOTS ON THE GROUND, OF COURSE, WE HAVE HEARD FOR YEARS, AND YEARS, AND YEARS, THAT THESE MAJOR CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT ARE HAVING RECRUITING TROUBLE.

THEY ARE UNDERSTAFFED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE FOR DeWINE, BECAUSE THUS FAR, HE SAID HE'S NOT GOING TO DO IT.

> >> AFTER MONTHS OF BAD NEWS, INTEL AND THOSE WATCHING IT BUILD FACTORIES IN NEW ALBANY GOT POTENTIALLY GOOD NEWS THIS WEEK.

THE COMPUTER GIANT, NVIDIA, ANNOUNCED IT WILL INVEST $5 BILLION IN INTEL.

INTEL HAS STRUGGLED TO REGAIN ITS PAST GLORY, AND ANNOUNCED EARLIER THIS YEAR IT WAS SLOWING CONSTRUCTION AT ITS ALREADY-DELAYED FACTORY PROJECT IN LICKING COUNTY.

THIS NEW DEAL DOES NOT DIRECTLY AFFECT THE NEW ALBANY PROJECT, BUT MANY ON WALL STREET VIEWED THE MOVE AS BENEFICIAL TO INTEL AND ITS FUTURE PLANS.

SARAH DONALDSON, THIS HAS TO BE, FINALLY, A BIT OF GOOD NEWS, ESPECIALLY FOR THE STATE OFFICIALS WHO HAVE INVESTED A LOT IN THIS PROJECT?

>> I THINK IT'S A SECOND ROUND OF GOOD NEWS.

I THINK THE FIRST ROUND OF GOOD NEWS WAS PROBABLY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S KIND OF INFUSION BY TAKING STOCK IN INTEL.

AND WITH THIS, YOU KNOW, NVIDIA HAS KIND OF BEEN KICKING INTEL'S BUTT IN THE ARMS RACE.

I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND.

I MEAN, IT'S JUST HAVE TO UNDERSTAND, IT'S REALLY HIGH TECH STUFF.

BUT, NVIDIA HAS BEEN BUILDING THEM FASTER, DEVELOPING THEM FASTER, COMING OUT WITH NEWER DEVELOPMENT.

YOU KNOW, I HAD A FRIEND WHO WAS BETWEEN JOBS AT BOTH COMPANIES AND SHE WAS SO GUNG ABOUT NVIDIA A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

YOU KNOW, NVIDIA HAS BEEN FACING THIS DOWN AND NOW THEY ARE KIND OF MAKING NICE.

SO, I THINK IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT THE MONEY THAT NVIDIA IS INVESTING IN INTEL, BUT WHAT I HAVE READ AND WHAT I HAVE HEARD IS THAT JUST THIS SHARING INFORMATION OF DEVELOP MENTAL KNOWLEDGE.

>> NVIDIA IS WORTH $4.

25 TRILLION.

$5 BILLION IS BASICALLY BETWEEN THE COUCH CUSHIONS, MIKE.

I MEAN, YOU SEE A LOT OF HEADLINES, "INTEL STOCK WENT UP," IT IS GOOD NEWS, BUT REALLY ISN'T THAT BIG A DEAL?

>> I CAN'T ARGUE WITH ANYTHING YOU SAID, BUT STILL, IT'S $5 BILLION THAT DIDN'T BELONG TO INTEL BEFORE, NOW IT DOES.

THIS IS AWESOME, MIKE, IT IS GREAT FOR OHIOANS, OUR JOB PROSPECTS.

AND LISTEN, A LOT OF AMERICANS SPENT A LOT OF MONEY OFF THEIR STOCK OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS IN UNITED STATES AND BRINGING IN A CHAMPION LIKE NVIDIA INTO INTEL CAN ONLY BENEFIT US.

"HEY, AMERICAN TAXPAYERS OWN 10% OF INTEL NOW, AND OUR INVESTMENT, I WILL RETURN INVESTMENT THANKS TO PRESIDENT TRUMP IS GETTING EVEN BETTER.

THIS IS A GOOD THING. "

>> THAT 10% IS WHAT WE WOULD HAVE SAVED THROUGH THE CHIPS ACT, SO IT IS THE SAME MONEY, JUST IN DIFFERENT FORM.

AND ALSO, APPARENTLY, THE CLUB ACT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD GO AWAY --SO, THERE IS NO PENALTY FOR INTEL NOT TO BUILD OTHER THAN TO LOSE MORE MONEY.

>> TRUE.

I WAS A LITTLE CONCERNED ABOUT SOMETHING THAT THE NVIDIA CEO SAID AND THAT IS, "WE ARE NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH MORE MANUFACTURING CAPACITY," IN WHAT THEY CALL FOUNDRIES, WHICH IS WHAT THESE TWO PLANTS, HERE, IN OHIO ARE, UNTIL THERE IS A DEMAND.

AND IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEN IT DEPENDS ON LOTS OF THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, GLOBALLY, BEFORE WE SEE THE THING FINISHED, HERE.

>> YEAH, THE HOPE IS THAT NVIDIA WILL PROVIDE THE DEMAND, RIGHT?

BY, AS SARAH SAID, HELPING THEM WITH THE TECHNOLOGY, BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER -- >> TO MATCH DEMAND, YEAH.

>> SO, THIS WHOLE ORDEAL DOES NOT MAKE THE STATE ANY MORE CAUTIOUS IN HANDING OUT THESE DEALS IN THE FUTURE, DO YOU THINK?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, THE STATE --I SHOULD SAY, IT IS PARTIALLY THE STATE, BUT A HUGE ROLE IN THIS IS JOBS OHIO, THE PRIVATE NONPROFIT THAT WORKS ON THE STATE'S BEHALF TO KIND OF LURE COMPANIES HERE WITH THESE MASSIVE INCENTIVES PACKAGES, A LOT OF WHICH ARE MADE PUBLIC, BY CHOICE, BY JOBS OHIO, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE TO BE PUBLIC, BECAUSE AGAIN, THEY ARE A PRIVATE NONPROFIT.

JOBS OHIO JUST GAVE A HUGE INCENTIVE PACKAGE TO ANDERALL, A DEFENSE MANUFACTURER.

NOW, I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THE DRONES WORK, BUT A LOT OF THESE THINGS NEED CHIPS TO OPERATE.

THEY ARE NOT JUST COMPUTER CHIPS.

I MEAN, BASICALLY EVERYTHING THAT IS HIGH TECH NEEDS A CHECK.

I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S --IT'S ABOVE MY PAY GRADE, FOR SURE.

>> IT'S ALL MAGIC THAT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY.

>> YOU CAN'T MAKE MONEY WITHOUT A CUSTOMER BASE.

I MEAN, JOE HAS A POINT.

> >> OKAY, LET'S GET TO OUR "OFF THE RECORD" PARTING SHOTS.

MY THANKS TO SARAH, AND WE WILL START WITH JOE MAS.

>> ALL RIGHT WE WANT TO GO BACK TO HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH.

ALL THREE ARE ACTORS AND YOU PROBABLY KNOW ALL OF THEM, MARK, HIS REAL NAME IS EMILIO ESTEV, HE NEVER HAS CHANGED HIS NAME, THE YOUNG ISABELLA BORN IN CLEVELAND, SHE IS "DORA THE EXPLORER" IN THE MOVIE, AND LASTLY, CATHERINE BACH, FROM OHIO, SHE IS DAISY DUKE FROM "THE DUKES OF HAZARD. "

>> MIKE?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS BROKEN WITH CAP SQUARE IS THE FALSE NARRATIVES AND TALKING POINTS ADVOCACY GROUPS POINT OUT, THEN THE MEDIA RUNS WITH IT OVER AND OVER.

CASE IN POINT, SENATE BILL ONE, WE HEARD KIDS WEREN'T GOING TO GO TO UNIVERSITIES, IF SENATE PASSED THE ANTI-DEI BILL, AND TO OAKVILLE, AND A LOCAL TV STATION JUST THIS WEEK PUT OUT AN ARTICLE THAT, IN FACT, ENROLLMENT IS NOT DOWN AT OUR UNIVERSITIES, BOWLING GREEN UNIVERSITY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI HAVE HAD INCREASES IN ENROLLMENT.

>> SARAH?

>> I CAN'T BELIEVE WE DIDN'T TALK ABOUT REDISTRICTING TODAY, BUT IT OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF ON MONDAY, FIRST JOINT COMMITTEE MEETING, SO IT SHOULD BE A FUN FEW MONTHS OF -- >> BRING THE POPCORN.

>> THESE ARE TOUGH TIMES, TOUGH TIMES TO DISCUSS POLITICS, MY THANKS TO THE PANEL TODAY, JOE, MIKE, AND SARAH, FOR A CIVIL DISCUSSION.

WE NEED MORE OF THAT TO BRING US TOGETHER.

YOU KNOW WHAT ELSE WE NEED TO BRING US TOGETHER?

BEER.

AND THAT'S WHY WOSU WILL HOST ANOTHER "POLITICS AND A PINT EVENT", THURSDAY, OCTOBER 2nd, AT SEVENTH SON BREWING IN ITALIAN VILLAGE.

ME, WOSU'S AMY JURAVICH, AND A COUPLE OF STATEHOUSE JOURNOS WILL TALK ALL THINGS POLITICS.

JOIN US!

PLEASE REGISTER AT THAT IS IT FOR THIS WEEK'S SHOW, CHECK US OUT ONLINE, AT WOSU.

ORG/COTR, YOUTUBE, AND ALSO ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.