>>> NOW ONE OF LAURA'S ARTICLES SAID SOME OF IT -- IT SAID #DeWINE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

THE BULK OF IT WAS RJA.

THE RJA GETS REPUBLICANS ACROSS ALL 50 STATES ELECTED.

>> I'M JUST GOING TO SAY THE RGA HOLDS FUND-RAISERS IN MULTIPLE STATES IN KEY RACES IN THE STATES WHERE THEY OPERATE.

SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DON'T KNOW IS WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE PUTTING 2.5 MILLION IN THE PENNSYLVANIA RACE OR THE NORTH CAROLINA RACE OR NEW JERSEY OR MARYLAND OR WHATEVER.

>> THERE HASN'T BEEN A COCKTAIL PARTY SOMEWHERE, WE HELPED OUT THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR ASSOCIATION.

>> WHEN YOU DO GIVE THAT MUCH MONEY, YOU EXPECT THAT -- NOT THAT YOU'D BE REWARDED BUT THAT PEOPLE CAN NOD IN APPRECIATION.

THERE'S OTHER ASPECTS OF THE STORY THAT'S GONE SILENT.

THAT REALLY IS WHAT IS THE ROLE THAT TOP PEOPLE IN THE DeWINE ADMINISTRATION PLAY VIS-A-VIS IS CAREER OF RANDAZZO.

FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF AND NOW A TOP AIDE -- >> AND NOW A SPOUSE.

>> AND I GUESS RECEIVED A LITTLE BIT OF BENEFIT.

AND ALSO FIRST ENERGY.

FOR THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME, WE KNOW THAT FIRST ENERGY HAS ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT IT CAN OPERATE ANY WAY IT WANTS.

NOW IT'S SORT OF THE MEANS OF INFLUENCE IS MONEY.

IN THE PAST, THERE WERE OTHER THINGS THAT THEY WOULD DO TO ENTICE -- ENTICE IS THE RIGHT WORD -- LEGISLATORS TO SUPPORT THEM.

FIRST GAVE MONEY TO RICHARD CORD RI.

KOURD RI ALSO SUPPORTED THE BAILOUT.

AS DID A NUMBER OF DEMOCRATS.

WE WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS IF IT WERE NOT FOR THIS SCANDAL BLOWING UP, RIGHT?

THESE INVESTIGATIONS WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THE DARK MONEY WOULD HAVE REMAINED DARK.

THE PUBLIC WOULD HAVE BEEN UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

READING THROUGH THESE DOCUMENTS, IT'S PRETTY FLABBER GASING THAT FIRST ENERGY PLAYED THE LONG COMPREHENSIVE GAME.

THEY SUPPORTED -- TO GET HIM INTO POWER.

THEY'RE POURING MONEY INTO THE RGA.

THEY POURED MONEY INTO SAM RANDAZZO.

YOU KNOW, THEY PLAYED THE LONG GAME.

AND THESE DOCUMENTS SHOW, ASIDE FROM THE POLITICAL GIVING, THEY WERE REALLY ORGANIZED ABOUT, LIKE, YOU KNOW MAKING CONTEXT WITH KEY PEOPLE, WHIPPING THE VOTES, WINING AND DINING -- >> ORGANIZING FUND-RAISERS.

>> ORGANIZING FUND-RAISERS.

HOSTING PEOPLE IN STADIUM SUITES, ET CETERA.

>> SO, THIS CAN'T BE GOOD FOR GOVERNMENT, RIGHT?

EVEN IF IT'S ALL LEGAL AND BILATERAL LAW AND THEIR EMAIL SAYING THIS ISN'T A QUIP PRO QUO, WINK WINK, NOD NOD.

>> I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR PUBLIC, PEOPLE WHO CARE ABOUT THIS STUFF, WANTS TO SEE TRANSPARENCY.

LET'S CHANGE THE LAW, MAKE IT TRANSPARENT, 100%, GET RID OF THE C-4s, GET RID OF DARK MONEY, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT, BECAUSE THE UNIONS DO IT TOO ON THE DEMOCRAT SIDE.

THE TEACHERS UNIONS DO IT, LABOR UNIONS.

IT HAPPENS ON BOTH SIDES.

LET'S NOT BE NAIVE.

LET'S MAKE EVERYTHING TRANSPARENT, EVERY SINGLE DOLLAR DISCLOSED TO THE PUBLIC.

>> CAN WE DO THAT?

CITIZENS UNITED SORT OF OPENED THE BARN DOORS, OPENED THE FLASH FLOOD GATES.

LAWMAKERS COULD SAY IF YOU'RE GOING TO GIVE TO ONE OF THESE NON-PROFITS YOU HAVE TO SAY WHO YOU ARE AND HOW MUCH YOU GIVE.

CAN THEY DO THAT?

>> THEY CAN TRY BUT I THINK IT'LL BE CHALLENGED IN COURT.

YOU THINK ABOUT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT, BESIDES CITIZENS UNITED, THEY'VE DONE A NUMBER OF THINGS THAT MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO CONVICT PEOPLE.

THEY HAVE DECRIMINALIZED A NUMBER OF BEHAVIORS THAT WE WOULD THINK PERHAPS ARE SLEAZY OR WRONG.

BUT IF THEY'RE NOT LEGAL -- I MEAN IF THEY'RE CONSIDERED LEGAL, THEN IN FACT THERE'S NO ISSUE TO BE MADE OUT OF IT.

AND IT'S REALLY FRUSTRATED.

I DO THINK THE POLITICAL SYSTEM DOES ACTUALLY GET HURT BY THIS LARGE AMOUNT OF HIDDEN MONEY.

BUT ALSO THE GREATER DIFFICULTY IN SAYING, OH, THAT REALLY WASN'T TEAM BRIBE.

THAT WAS JUST, SORT OF, PEOPLE SUPPORTING WHO THEY WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED ANYWAY.

AND THE MONEY WAS NEVER IN EXCHANGE FOR -- IT'S NONSENSE.

>> THERE HAVE BEEN PROPOSALS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO PASS ETHICS REFORMS.

BUT THEY'VE GONE NOWHERE.

COULD THEY PREVENTED SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

COULD IT HAVE PREVENTED THE NEXT THING FROM HAPPENING?

WHO KNOWS?

IT COULD BE HAPPENING NOW.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW IT.

>> I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S HAPPENING AT A QUID PRO QUO LEVEL, BUT THERE'S CERTAINLY LOTS OF DARK MONEY BEING SPENT.

>> LEGISLATION HAS MOVED IN THE STATE HOUSE.

THE HOUSE SPEAKER IS IN FEDERAL PRISON AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED.

>> RIGHT?

>> YEAH.

ALL RIGHT.

DARK MONEY IS PLAYING A LARGE ROLE IN RACES FOR STATE REP.

THE GROUP, MAKE LIBERTY WIN, TAKES CREDIT FOR DEFEATING FOUR INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN STATE REPS.

THE REPS VOTED WITH DEMOCRATS TO MAKE JASON STEVENS SPEAKER.

THE CAMPAIGN REPORTEDLY SPENT $2 MILLION TRYING TO DEFEAT 15 REPUBLICAN REPS.

THEY SUCCEEDED OUSTING FOUR.

THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, CONTROLLED BY STEVENS, SPENT NEARLY $3 MILLION, HELPING REPS THAT SUPPORT THE SPEAKER.

THE GROUP TOLD CLEVELAND.COM IT WAS AN INCUMBENT BLOOD BATH, BUT THEY WON FOUR OF 11 RACES.

IF YOU FINISH FOUR IN 11 AND YOU'RE THE BROWNS, YOU GET A HIGH DRAFT PICK.

IS THAT REALLY A BLOOD BATH?

>> YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

NO, IT'S NOT.

NOT EVEN CLOSE.

FOUR SEATS WERE LOST.

I GUESS IF YOU WANT TO SAY THEY'RE STEVENS' OR THE OTHER GUY'S SEATS, THAT'S FINE.

BUT IT WASN'T A BLOOD BATH.

THIS GROUP COMING OUT OF TEXAS, WHAT DID THEY CARE ABOUT OHIO AND OUR KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES?

I DON'T LIKE IT.

I DON'T LIKE THE LAST TOPIC WE TALKED ABOUT, BUT HERE WE ARE.

WE HAVE CITIZENS UNITED AND THIS IS A WORLD WE LIVE IN NOW.

IT HAPPENS ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE.

THERE'S BEEN INNUENDO AND SUGGESTIONS THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING ILLEGAL IN ALL THAT.

THERE WASN'T ANYTHING ILLEGAL.

WE MAY NOT LIKE IT, BUT EVEN IN THE CLEVELAND.COM ARTICLE, IT SAYS, THE DOCUMENTS DON'T PROVIDE ANY EVIDENCE OF -- COORDINATING WITH LIBERTY OHIO.

THESE ISSUES OF COORDINATION, THAT'S WHAT MAKES IT ILLEGAL.

SPENDING MONEY ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT IS NOT ILLEGAL.

>> THEY CLEARLY ARE VERY CAREFUL IN TERMS OF DIRECTLY COORDINATING.

THERE ARE SIGNALS YOU CAN SEND.

RUN AN AD OR TELL THE C 4 WHO TO ATTACK OR HOW TO POSITION YOURSELF.

YOU CAN DO THAT KIND OF THING.

>> ALSO A TACTIC IS TO PUT UP B ROLL OF YOUR CANDIDATE, PUT IT ON YOUR YOUTUBE CHANNEL, AND MYSTERIOUSLY SOME C-4 DOWNLOADS IT.

IF THEY'RE COORDINATING IT -- >> IT'S VERY MUCH AT ARM'S LENGTH.

>> IT'S ARM'S LENGTH.

THAT'S A GOOD WAY OF PUTTING IT.

>> ANY GOOD C-4 WILL HAVE GOOD POLITICAL OPERATIVE HELPING TO DETERMINE WHERE THEIR MONEY SHOULD GO.

AND YOU DON'T HAVE TO COORDINATE WITH THE CANDIDATE'S CAMPAIGN TO KNOW THAT THERE'S A WEAKNESS HERE OR AN OPPORTUNITY THERE.

YOU CAN JUST CHANNEL THE MONEY.

AND THERE WILL BE NO FORMAL COORDINATION WHATSOEVER.

>> A LOT OF TIMES PEOPLE WHO WORK FOR A CANDIDATE OR A CAMPAIGN WILL LEAVE AND GO WORK FOR THE PAC.

SO, THEY BASICALLY -- IT'S A BIT OF A REVOLVING DOOR, LIKE A LOBBYIST GOING TO WORK IN CONGRESS AND COMING BACK.

ANY TALK ABOUT CONTROLLING THAT AT ALL?

>> PROBABLY NOT.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS ARE ILLEGAL.

SO, EVERYONE'S A FREE AGENT.

>> THE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN FUND, WHICH JASON STEVENS CONTROLS, IS DEBATE OVER WHO CONTROLS THAT.

HE WAS PUTTING MONEY INTO THE FOLKS WHO SUPPORTED HIM IN THE PRIMARY.

>> YEAH.

NO SURPRISE THERE.

BUT IT KIND OF HACKED OFF THE ONES WHO WERE IN THE OTHER CAMP.

THERE'S STILL A -- THERE'S A BIG FACTION -- OR FRACTION IN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

AND I THINK WE'RE SEEING A LOT OF THIS PLAYING OUT IN THE CAMPAIGNS.

>> NOW, THESE REPUBLICANS WHO WON THE PRIMARY, THEY FACE DEMOCRATS NOW.

SO, YOU WOULD ASSUME ALL THE MONEY IN THE REPUBLICAN CAMPAIGN FUND IS GOING TO HELP THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

WHAT IF THAT CANDIDATE OPPOSES JASON STEVENS?

>> STEVENS WILL MAKE SOME DECISIONS.

HE REALLY DOESN'T NEED A SUPERMAJORITY.

IN FACT, SUPERMAJORITIES ARE VERY COSTLY TO GOVERN.

I'M NOT SURE HE'LL HAVE TO TREAT ALL OF THEM VERY GENEROUSLY.

BUT I THINK FOR THE SAKE OF TRYING TO BUILD PARTY UNITY, HE'LL CERTAINLY SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'RE SUPPORTING EVERY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE.

>> AND I THINK HE SAID PUBLICLY IN ONE OF THE ARTICLES AS SPEAKER, THAT IS, IF ANY REPUBLICAN STATE RIVAL WANTS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE FUND, HELP RAISE MONEY IN THE FUND, THEY'LL BE THERE AND HELP RAISE MONEY.

BUT IF YOU DON'T WORK WITH THEM, HELP RAISE MONEY, IT'S GOING TO BE HARD TO SUPPORT YOU.

>> LAURA, ARE YOU SURPRISED THERE HASN'T BEEN SOME KIND OF COMPROMISE.

BACK IN THE DAY, BOB WAS THE HEAD CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

HE WOULD GET THINGS DONE.

HE WOULD BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.

WAIT YOUR TURN.

THE INFIGHTING WAS MUCH, MUCH LESS, AT LEAST PUBLIC INFIGHTING WAS MUCH LESS.

>> BENNET WAS A MASTER AT SETTLING THOSE FIGHTS BEFORE THEY EVER ERUPTED REALLY.

AND I THINK YOU'VE GOTTEN -- YOU'VE HAD A MUCH HIGHER CHURN IN CHAIRMANSHIPS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN RECENT -- PROBABLY IN THE LAST DECADE OR SO.

AND I THINK THAT'S IN PART BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY IS ANGLING AND PUSHING.

YOU GET IN AS A FRESHMAN AND YOU THINK, I'M GOING TO BE SPEAKER NEXT YEAR.

>> YOU ONLY HAVE EIGHT YEARS.

>> RIGHT.

>> FOUR TERMS.

>> AND WHAT MAKES THIS EVEN MORE DIFFICULT IS THAT, IN FACT, THE IDENTITY OF THE NEXT SPEAKER IS DIRECTLY BEING DETERMINED RIGHT NOW.

MATT HUFFEN WANTS TO BE THE SENATE PRESIDENT, WOULD LIKE TO BE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

SO -- AND WHETHER HE DIRECTLY WORKED WITH THAT C-4 GROUP OR WHATEVER, HIS FINGERPRINTS WERE ON A NUMBER OF THE CAMPAIGNS AGAINST INCUMBENTS WHO HAD SUPPORTED JASON STEVENS.

THE QUESTION BECOMES NOW WILL HE HAVE A REPEAT.

WILL DEMOCRATS JOIN WITH THE STEVENS SUPPORTERS TO ELECT HIM AS SPEAKER AGAIN.

>> THE FRUSTRATION AMONG THE STATE HOUSE AMONG RANK AND FILE REPUBLICANS, THE COUNTY LEVEL, AND THE -- LEVEL THAT THIS IS NOT RESOLVING?

THERE WERE SOME BILLS PASSED THIS WEEK.

THERE WAS A FLURRY OF BILLS PASSED.

BUT THERE HASN'T BEEN IN RECENT HISTORY.

>> I THINK WE LOOK ON THE ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO REPUBLICANS.

BLUE 22 PROBABLY ISN'T IN THE TOP TEN.

THAT'S A BASEBALL CAP SQUARE ISSUE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO SOME.

I DON'T WANT TO BE DISRESPECTFUL.

KITCHEN TABLE ISSUES AND OUR ECONOMY IS WHAT MATTERS TO REPUBLICANS.

>> BLUE 22, REPUBLICANS VOTED WITH THE DEMOCRATS, RIGHT?

GET THE INSIDE BASEBALL OUTSIDE THE PARK.

PROTESTS OVER ISRAEL'S TACTICS IN ITS WAR WITH HAMAS INTENSIFIED ON OSU'S CAMPUS THIS WEEK.

INSPIRED BY PROTESTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THE NUMBER OF PROTESTERS AND THE INTENSITY OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS GREW.

>> ATTENTION, YOU'RE UNDER ARREST FOR CRIMINAL TRESPASS.

>> THURSDAY NIGHT, POLICE ARRESTED THREE DOZEN PROTESTERS WHO REFUSED TO LEAVE THE SOUTH OVAL ACROSS THE STREET FROM THE STUDENT UNION.

NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED.

THE PROTESTERS WERE CHARGED WITH MISDEMEANOR CRIMINAL TRESPASSING.

FOR BARBER, YOUR MANY ROLES AT OSU, HOW DO YOU THINK OSU HANDLED THIS WEEK'S PROTESTS.

>> REASONABLY WELL.

EVERY UNIVERSITY NEEDS TO HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE, NEED TO HAVE SPOKESPEOPLE WHO CAN ACTUALLY EXPLAIN THOSE POLICIES TO THE NEWS MEDIA, BE CONSISTENT IN THE APPLICATION OF THOSE POLICIES.

AND THEN IF YOU NEED TO, PEOPLE ARE VIOLENT, ENFORCE THEM CONSISTENTLY BUT WITH A REASONABLE TOUCH, IF YOU WILL.

YOU DON'T WANT TO TRY TO ESCALATE THINGS TOO MUCH.

BUT I THINK OSU HAS DONE A GOOD JOB -- KEEP IN MIND HERE THIS PROTEST OF ANTIBESTING FROM ISRAEL, THAT'S BEEN GOING ON ON THE CAMPUS FOR YEARS AND YEAR, WAY BEFORE GAZA, WAY BEFORE THE WAR IN GAZA.

THE BDS MOVEMENT, IT'S REALLY A MOVEMENT TO REALLY SANCTION ISRAEL, DIVEST FROM ISRAEL, BOYCOTT ISRAEL.

WE'VE HAD THE STUDENTS FOR JUSTICE IN PALESTINE PUSHING REFERENDUM TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT SO STUDENTS CAN VOTE ON THAT.

THAT'S ALL FINE BUT THAT'S NOT WHERE THE DECISION IS GOING TO BE MADE.

>> THIS IS STATE LAW.

THE UNIVERSITY SAYS IT WOULD BE AGAINST STATE LAW BECAUSE A LAW PASSED IN 2016 OR SO THAT SAID STATE CAN'T DO THAT.

>> YEAH.

I HAVE NOT -- I'VE NOT WRITTEN ABOUT IT.

I KNOW THAT SOMEBODY -- ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES IS WORKING ON A STORY ABOUT THAT.

>> IF THEY'RE TRYING -- THE RATIONALE HERE IS IF YOU COULD REALLY PUT SOME PRESSURE ON THE UNIVERSITY, THAT WILL, IN FACT, PUT PRESSURE ON THE BROADER PUBLIC.

IT WOULD BE A VICTORY AND ALL OF THAT.

LOOK, IF THEY REALLY WANT TO CHANGE AMERICAN POLICY, YOU KNOW, GO TO THE DISTRICT OFFICES OF VANCE, BEATTY, MIKE HARRY AND PROTEST DOWN THERE.

>> BUT THERE WOULD BE A NON-WAR PROTEST ON CAMPUSES.

WHAT KIND OF IMPACT DO YOU THINK CAMPUS PROTESTS HAVE ON THIS DEBATE?

>> WELL, THERE'S NO BETTER PLACE TO EXERCISE YOUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH THAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.

MARKETPLACE OF IDEAS.

BUT IT'S FINALS WEEKS.

DO IT RATIONALLY, REASON BLICHLT THERE ARE RULES.

YOU CAN'T HAVE TENTS.

IT'S NOT A BRAND-NEW POLICY.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF I WAS OUT THERE PROTESTING, GET THE MEDIA ATTENTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT THING.

YOU'RE ON ALL THE CHANNELS.

YOU'RE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH THE ACT.

IT'S WHAT THE MEDIA WILL PORTRAY.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT NEGATIVELY, BUT JUST GETTING YOUR MESSAGE OUT FOR FREE.

I THINK IT DOES HAVE VALUE IF THAT IS YOUR GOAL TO GET THAT.

I THINK THEY'RE WRONG IN THEIR APPROACH -- NOT THEIR APPROACH, IN THEIR STATEMENTS.

>> LAURA, WHAT DO YOU THINK -- OF ALL PROTESTS THRKS ONE ACTUALLY -- THEY GOT THEIR WORD OUT.

THEY WERE THERE FOR 12 HOURS OR SO, MAYBE 13 HOURS.

NOBODY GOT HURT.

THERE WASN'T ANY TEAR GAS, NO PEPPER SPRAY.

THE POLICE HAD SOME PROTECTIVE GEAR ON, BUT THEY WEREN'T IN FULL RIOT GEAR.

>> I NOTICED THAT.

THEY WEREN'T CARRYING HELMETS AND SPRAY AND THE REST OF IT.

THEY WERE WEARING HELMETS BUT THEY DIDN'T HAVE SHIELDS.

IT'S INTERESTING.

WHEN I WAS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, THERE WAS PROTESTS ON CAMPUS TO FORCE THE UNIVERSITY TO DIVEST FROM COMING TO BUSINESS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

AND THAT WAS EFFECTIVE.

IT WAS AN EFFECTIVE TOOL.

I THINK THE STUDENTS MIGHT BE RIGHT.

THIS IS THE TIME TO EXERCISE YOUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

I THINK THE UNIVERSITY IS IN A TOUGH POSITION BECAUSE THEY WANT TO BALANCE FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS AGAINST, YOU KNOW, HATE SPEECH AND ALSO DISRUPTING CAMPUS.

>> THE PRESIDENT OF OHIO STATE, TED CARTER, TOOK EXCEPTION.

HE SAID ONE CHANCE PROTEST LAST WEEK, CALLED IT HATE SPEECH, AND SENT A LETTER TO CAMPUS AND SAID, THAT WON'T BE TOLERATED.

WE'LL ARREST PEOPLE AND SHUT THINGS DOWN.

IT WAS A PHRASE THAT IN PAST YEARS WASN'T CONSIDERED HATE SPEECH.

NOW IT IS CONSIDERED TO BE ANTI-SEMITIC.

WHO DETERMINES WHAT IS HATE SPEECH?

>> THAT'S VERY SUBJECTIVE.

I THINK THE MEANING OF WORDS CHANGE OVER TIME DEPENDING HOW PEOPLE USE THEM.

THAT IS THE KEY ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

HATE SPEECH, ANTI-SEMITISM, JUSTICE FOR PALESTINE.

ALL THOSE THINGS GET COMINGLED TOGETHER.

WHAT I FIND INTERESTING ABOUT PROTESTS IS TYPICALLY SAVVY PROTESTS ARE USUALLY VERY HAPPY TO HAVE THE POLICE INTRUDE AND ARREST SOME OF THE PROTESTERS.

IT GUARANTEES YOU MORE MEDIA COVERAGE.

YOU CREATE MORE VICTIMS OR MORE SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ON CAMPUS, OH, IT'S AWFUL, THESE POOR STUDENTS WERE ARRESTED.

SO, YOU'LL BUILD SOME MORE SUPPORT.

BUT THERE'S SOMETHING HERE THAT YOU START THINKING, WHAT REALLY IS THE ISSUE?

SO, THE ISSUE ISN'T REALLY, YOU KNOW -- I MEAN, YOU COULD TRY TO LINK THIS TO HAMAS.

THAT'S BEEN GOING ON FOREVER.

>> HOW DOES SOCIAL MEDIA CHANGE THE GAME NOW?

I MEAN, BECAUSE IF THERE WASN'T A TV CAMERA, NOBODY KNEW YOU WERE THERE.

NOW WITH SOCIAL MEDIA, INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, WHATEVER, TIKTOK, THE WHOLE WORLD KNOWS YOU'RE PROTESTING.

>> SURE.

IT IMMEDIATELY AMPLIFIES YOUR MESSAGE AND GETS IT OUT AND CAN ATTRACT MORE PEOPLE TO COME DOWN AND JOIN THE PROTEST.

PROTESTERS ARE ABLE TO ORGANIZE VERY QUICKLY AND NIMBLY.

SO, YOU KNOW, WE'VE SEEN THAT FOR THE LAST DECADE OR SO, WHERE PEOPLE ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA TO HELP MOVE THEIR MESSAGE.

>> AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE THE WAY THAT THE MEDIA IS PORTRAYING YOUR PROTEST, YOU HAVE YOUR OWN VIDEO TO GET OUT THERE AND AMPLIFY.

>> MORE EYES ON IT, CAN TELL YOU VIDEO CAN BE UNDERSTOOD AND DOESN'T ALWAYS CAPTURE THE WHOLE STORY.

>> GETTING A GOOD SENSE OF HOW MUCH THIS ISSUE HAS ENERGIZED THE BROADER OHIO STATE CAMPUS, MEANING THAT WHENEVER YOU SEE VIDEO OF PROTESTS, YOU THINK, OH, MY GOODNESS, THE CAMPUS IS UP IN ARMS AND EVERYBODY IS REALLY -- THAT'S NOT WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

>> THERE WAS 600 OR SO PEOPLE WE COUNTED THIS WEEK AT THE BIG MAIN PROTEST.

BUT I WENT ON TWITTER AND I KEPT GOOGLING OSU ON TWITTER TO SEE WHAT WAS TRENDING.

AND IT WAS THE DRAFT THAT WAS DOMINATING THE FEED AND NOT THE OSU PROTEST.

THERE WILL BE A -- IN THE 2024 CAMPAIGN.

IT LOOKS LIKE OHIO VOTERS WILL GET THE CHANCE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN DONALD TRUMP AND JOE BIDEN.

AS IT STANDS NOW, JOE BIDEN'S NAME WOULD NOT APPEAR ON THE BALLOT BECAUSE DEMOCRATS OFFICIALLY NOMINATED HIM AFTER OHIO'S BALLOT DEADLINE.

THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN 2012 AND IN 2020 AND LAWMAKER AS PROVED TEMPORARY FIXES THAT HELPED CANDIDATES FROM BOTH PARTIES.

NOW LAWMAKERS ASSURE US THEY WILL FIND THE SOLUTION, AND IT WILL BE A PERMANENT SOLUTION.

LAUREN, THIS SEEMS LIKE AN EASY FIX.

BUT THEY AIN'T DONE IT YET.

>> IT'S NOT EASY BECAUSE IT'S POLITICS, AND THERE'S THE PARTISAN DIVIDE IS PRETTY STARK.

AND YOU KNOW YOU LOOK AT SOME OTHER STATES THAT HAVE MOVED TO KEEP DONALD TRUMP OFF THE BALLOT, THAT CERTAINLY I THINK IS AN OVERARCHING NARRATIVE IN THIS THAT THE REPUBLICANS CERTAINLY ARE THINKING OF WHEN THEY'RE MAKING THE DEMOCRATS SWEAT A LITTLE BIT TO TRY TO WORK THIS OUT.

>> BUT THAT DIDN'T -- THAT BLEW BACK ON THE DEMOCRATS WHO ARE TRIED TO KEEP TRUMP OFF THE BALLOT IN COLORADO, IN PARTICULAR.

THIS COULD BLOW BACK ON DEMOCRATS, RIGHT?

>> BLOW BACK ON REPUBLICANS.

>> YEAH.

>> YEAH.

I THINK THE SENATE PRESIDENT IS SO SAVVY, AND IT'LL GET DONE.

BUT IF SOMEHOW IT DOESN'T GET DONE, I ALREADY AM TALKING WITH SOME PEOPLE WHO SAY, LOOK -- IS GOING TO HAVE $100 BILLION.

IF BIDEN'S NOT ON THE BALLOT, THAT'S GOING TO HURT DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT.

IT'S GOING TO HURT SUPPORT FOR THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT AGAINST GERRYMANDERING.

SO, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THAT.

AND THERE ARE ACTUALLY SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE TALKING ABOUT -- MAYBE IT'S DARK MONEY.

I DON'T KNOW THE WORD.

LET'S HAVE A CAMPAIGN THAT BASICALLY SAYS THE REPUBLICANS ARE TRYING TO DENY YOUR RIGHT TO CHOOSE A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

LAST YEAR THEY TRIED TO DENY YOUR RIGHT FOR REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM CHOICES.

THEY ALSO TRIED TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT FOR YOU TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION.

THERE'S ONLY ONE WAY TO SOLVE THIS ARROGANCE.

>> DO REPUBLICANS SAY, WE'RE DONE WITH THIS?

THIS HAPPENED TO TRUMP TWO YEARS AGO.

>> JOE BIDEN IS NOT POPULAR IN OHIO.

LOOK AT THE POLLING.

REPUBLICANS WANT JOE BIDEN ON THE BALLOT, OKAY?

THAT HELPS BERNIE MORENO.

THAT HELPS OUR TICKET TO HAVE JOE BIDEN ON THE BALLOT.

WE WANT HIM ON THE BALLOT.

BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, SOMEONE AT THE DNC AND THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN NEED TO READ OHIO LAW AND THE OTHER 49 STATE LAWS AND MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW THEM, SET YOUR CONVENTION AT THE RIGHT TIME THAT MEETS ALL LAWS.

>> THIS SHOULD BE A VERY SIMPLE ISSUE.

THEY'VE RESOLVED IT IN THE PAST.

DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH THEY POLITICIZE IT, THEY'LL START ENERGIZING DEMOCRATS.

AND THE LAST PART OF MY STATEMENT, MIKE, WAS GOING TO BE THAT THIS GROUP OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT THIS THING.

SO, THE ONLY WAY TO PUNISH THE REPUBLICANS FOR THEIR ARROGANCE IS TO VOTE DEMOCRATIC.

FOR EVERY OTHER RACE, PARTY LABELS ON THE BALLOT, JUST VOTE DEMOCRATIC AND APPEAL TO DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS AND CONSCIENTIOUS REPUBLICANS.

>> WHAT'S THE SCHEDULE LIKE, LAURA, FOR LAWMAKERS?

WE'RE GETTING CLOSE TO SUMMER NOW.

>> I THINK MAY 9th IS THEIR DEADLINE FOR HAVING A FIX.

SO, IT'S COMING UP.

>> THAT'S, WHAT, THREE WEEKS?

>> TWO.

>> TWO WEEKS?

>> TWO WEEKS.

>> OKAY.

>> STICK AN AMENDMENT ON IT.

IF NOT -- THAT'S ALL THAT DRAMA THAT WILL GO THERE.

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

MIKE, YOU'RE FIRST.

>> BREAKING NEWS LITERALLY.

THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED TODAY THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BAN FLAVORED TOBACCO.

ACCORDING TO "THE WALL STREET JOURNAL," IT'S A POLITICAL DECISION MADE BECAUSE HE'S WORRIED ABOUT HIS SUPPORT FROM THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY.

NEXT TIME WE HEAR CLEVELAND AND COLUMBUS COMPLAINING, REMEMBER JOE BIDEN COULD HAVE BANNED IT AND HE SAID NO OVER POLITICS.

>> LAST WEEK, JEAN SMITH, THE OUTGOING ATHLETIC DIRECTOR AT OHIO STATE, MADE THE COMMENT THAT HE CERTAINLY HOPES THAT IN THE FUTURE COLLEGIATE FOOTBALL IS LINKED TO EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS.

KEEP THAT IN MIND AS YOU'RE HEARING ABOUT PROPOSALS TO CHANGE HOW FOOTBALL WILL BE REORGANIZED.

LAURA?

>> SO, LAST WEEK, WE HAD A TERRIBLE -- I THINK IT WAS LAST WEEK OR TWO WEEKS AGO, WE HAD A TERRIBLE SHOOTING AT THE TRAINING FACILITY FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

SINCE THAT TIME, WE'VE REALLY BEEN PUSHING STATE AGENCIES TO PRODUCE RECORDS THAT WE BELIEVE FALL UNDER THE OPEN RECORDS LAW.

AND WE HAVE NOT -- WE'VE RUN INTO SOME BRICK WALLS.

BUT I'M HOPING THAT THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WILL HEED THE CALL FOR TRANSPARENCY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

SPEAKING OF TRANSPARENCY, PROTESTERS AT SOME OF THE PROTESTS THIS WEEK GET ANNOYED WITH NEWS MEDIA FOLKS WHO SHOW THEIR FACES ON PICTURES OR IN VIDEO.

THEY'RE A PUBLIC SPACE.

THEY'RE OUT IN PUBLIC.

THEY'RE GOING TO BE PUBLIC, JUST LIKE PROTESTING THE PALESTINIAN RIGHTS IN THE OVAL OR CHARLOTTESVILLE VIRGINIA.

CONTINUE OUR DISCUSSION ONLINE, ON FACEBOOK, YOU CAN WATCH ANY TIME AT WOSU.ORG.

ALSO ON YOUTUBE AND THE PBS VIDEO APP.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.