>> HIS MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT, ABOUT A MONTH INTO THE JOB.

>> I THINK IT IS DISRESPECTFUL FOR YOU TO COME INTO THE OVAL OFFICE AND TRY TO LITIGATE THIS IN FRONT OF THE AMERICAN MEDIA.

RIGHT NOW YOU GUYS ARE GOING AROUND AND FORCING CONSCRIPTS TO THE FRONT LINES BECAUSE YOU HAVE MANPOWER PROBLEMS YOU SHOULD BE THANKING THE PRESIDENT FOR TRYING TO BRING AN END TO THIS CONFLICT.

>> OF COURSE THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE CONTINUES.

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AND VANCE CONTINUES TO AGGRESSIVELY DEFEND THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES MOST RECENTLY HE HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT'S POINT MAN IN MINNESOTA, SUPPORTING IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT AND DENOUNCING PROTESTERS.

>> FIRST I WILL ASK YOU, HOW DO THE REPUBLICANS VIEW, TYPICALLY THE SUPPORTERS OF THE PRESIDENT >> THEY EXPECT JD VANCE TO BE VERY CLOSELY ALIGNED WITH THE PRESIDENT, AND MEMBER OBAMA MOCKED HIM AT A SERVICE DINNER, JD VANCE GREW UP ON THE FARM A FEW MILES AWAY, HIS MOTHER WROTE THE SCHOOL BUS, I KNOW HOW THEY THINK AND WHEN THEY WERE FIRST ARRIVING, THEY WERE MOCKED AND MADE FUN OF AND HE FEELS A STRONG SENSE OF GRIEVANCE AND THIS IS NOW THEIR TURN, AND REMEMBER, GO BACK TO WHEN HE GOT THE VICTORY IN THE UPPER MIDWEST, ANYWHERE THE APPALACHIAN OCCURRED, YOU WILL GET MORE VOTES.

>> HOW WOULD YOU ASSESS JD VANCE IN HIS FIRST TERM?

THE VP HAS TO SUPPORT THE PRESIDENT, IT WOULD BE VERY RARE IF IT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

>> I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THIS TYPE OF LEADERSHIP BUT EXACTLY THAT, FOLLOWING THE PRESIDENT AND REINFORCING HIS POLICIES, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE A CLEAR SENSE OF HOW THOSE POLICIES ARE RECEIVED IN TERMS OF HIM AS A CANDIDATE OR EVEN HIM AS A LEADER ON HIS OWN, THAT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING FOR HIM MOVING FORWARD, I THINK HE IS TAKING A GAMBLE HERE, NOT ALIGNING WITH THIS ADMINISTRATION, TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO HAVE A LOT LESS, HOW THAT WILL PLAY FOR HIM POLITICAL WHEN HE TRIES TO RUN FOR PRESIDENT ON HIS OWN.

>> HE HAS TO BE AGGRESSIVE IN DEFENDING THE PRESIDENT BUT HE CAN'T STEAL THE SPOTLIGHT, WE SAW THAT WITH THE UKRAINE PRESIDENT MEETING AT THE OVAL OFFICE.

>> I THINK THE VICE PRESIDENT IS SORT OF LIKE A SPEAR CATCHER, AND JD VANCE IS MORE LIKE THE SPEAR, HE IS OUT THERE IF THERE IS A CONTROVERSIAL ISSUE, IF YOU'RE OUT THERE TALKING ABOUT I. C. E. S INTERACTION IN MINNESOTA, JD VANCE IS GOING TO GIVE SOME ECHO OF THAT ACCUSATION BACK AT SOME DISFAVORED POLITICAL PARTY.

>> ALSO, NOW AS THE END OF DONALD TRUMP TERM CREEPS CLOSER, THAT IS REALLY GOING TO SPEED UP, HE HAS TO START SEPARATING HIMSELF TO SOME DEGREE FROM THE PRESIDENT ESPECIALLY AS THE PRESIDENT REMAINS AS UNPOPULAR AS HE IS.

>> THIS IS REALLY HIS TRYOUT FOR BEING THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE IN A FEW MORE YEARS AND WHETHER HE IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO FIND THOSE ISSUES, THAT HE CAN LEAN TO THE LEFT OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AT THIS POINT BUT TO EVERYONE'S POINT, HE IS LARGELY STICKING TO THE TALKING POINTS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION WHICH I MEAN, YOU SAW HOW IT HAS TO DO TO A CERTAIN EXTENT TO THE FIRST ADMINISTRATION BUT VANCE IS MORE UP-FRONT ABOUT IT.

>> TO REALLY UNDERSTAND JD VANCE, YOU WANT TO GO TO HIS REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION SPEECH, AND THE HATRED TOWARDS THE LARGE CORPORATIONS, WHICH IS VERY TYPICAL, VERY MUCH AN APPELLATION TRAIT , AND I HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH ON THIS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT WHEN HE'S IN THE SENATE, THE SENATOR HE COSPONSORED WAS ELIZABETH WARREN BECAUSE IT'S THE HORSESHOE THING, HE'S ACTUALLY VERY MUCH AN INTERVENTIONIST POPULIST, BIG GOVERNMENT, HE OWNS PART OF INTEL, ALL THAT TYPE OF STUFF, THAT'S WHERE HE'S COMING FROM, TO UNDERSTAND JD VANCE, HE IS THE APPALACHIAN DISPERSAL THAT OCCURRED.

>> AND HE BRINGS UP A GOOD POINT, IN SOME WAYS CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC IN THINKING, IF HE DOES FOLLOW THROUGH IN THE POLICY PRIORITIES HE HAD AS A SENATOR AND THINGS LIKE CAPPING THE CREDIT CARD INTEREST RATES, WE MIGHT SEE GOOD POLICY PUSHING THROUGH, AND HE PUSHED FOR RUTH GINSBURG, BUT THE THING IS, HE HAS ABSOLUTELY NO POWER IN WHAT IS HAPPENING OVER THE ANTITRUST, THAT IS PAY AS YOU PLAY, AND WHOEVER CAN COME UP WITH THE HIGHEST DOLLAR AMOUNT WILL WIN THE DAY.

>> HE IS THE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE COUNTRY BUT HE IS FROM OHIO, OHIO BENEFITED FROM HIM BEING VICE PRESIDENT, ANY PROJECT THAT WOULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED BECAUSE HE'S HERE?

>> I GUESS THE CLOSEST THING I COULD SAY IS IT HAS BROUGHT A POLITICAL RELEVANCE AND ATTENTION TO OHIO, AND IN MY OPINION IT IS NOT SO MUCH A POLITICAL STATE AND HE GETS MORE ATTENTION AS ONE THAT IS, BUT THERE'S INTEREST IN GETTING THAT, THERE HASN'T BEEN A BIG SURGE OF FEDERAL FUNDS THAT I'M AWARE OF.

THE BIGGEST INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT THAT COMES TO MIND, OHIO IS THE NEXT BEST BRIDGE, IT HASN'T BEEN BUILT BUT IT IS FUNDED UNDER PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> HE WAS THIS FIRST SORT OF OUTSIDER, TO WIN A RACE.

>> ALSO, VIVEK RAMASWAMY , CANDIDATES FOR OHIO GOVERNOR, AND YOU ARE SEEING THAT INTEREST IN CANDIDATES WHO DON'T HAVE A RECORD THAT CAN BE HELD AGAINST THEM AND B, ARE NOT PART OF THIS ESTABLISHMENT THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE OPPOSED TO BOTH THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY RIGHT NOW.

>> JD VANCE HAS BEEN IN WASHINGTON WHAT, THREE YEARS, HE IS A PART OF THE ESTABLISHMENT NOW.

>> AS OF THE END OF LAST YEAR-JUST THREE WEEKS AGO, SOME HALF MILLION OHIOANS WERE GETTING THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE THROUGH THE AFFFORDABLE CARE ACT.

BUT AS OF JANUARY FIRST TEMPORARY COVID ERA OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES EXPIRED -AND PREMIUMS ROSE.

SINCE THEN, A FIFTH OF THOSE OHIOANS ON OBAMCARE - 120 THOUSAND HAVE LEFT THE PROGRAMÖ OHIO SAW THE SECOND LARGEST DECLINE BY PERCENTAGE IN THE COUNTRY.

ADVOCATES SAY MORE OHIOANS COULD LEAVE OBAMACARE AS THE YEAR CONTIUES.

IN WASHINGTON, LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING TO TRY TO RESTORE SOME OF THE SUBSIDIES.

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BUT THERE IS NO IMMIENT DEAL.

PUT THE NUMBERS IN CONTEXT, YOU ARE BACK TO 23 AND 24, THE NUMBER OF OHIOANS ON OBAMACARE DOUBLED, UP TO 500,000, NOW WITH THE SUBSIDIES GONE, THEY ARE DOWN 100,000, SO IN CONTEXT IT IS NOT THAT BIG OF A DROP, RIGHT?

>> YEAH BUT I THINK THE LARGER ISSUE HERE IS WE ARE ONLY GOING TO CONTINUE TO SEE MORE DROP- OFFS WITH THE POLICYMAKING OR LACK THEREOF WITH POLICYMAKING IN WASHINGTON AND YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT THE QUALITY OF CARE THAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING, IF YOU WANT TO STAY ON ACA AND HAVE ONE OF THE MARKET PLANS, YOU ARE PAYING A LOT OF MONEY TO DO THAT AND TO HEAR FROM PEOPLE EVERY DAY, IN MY PERSONAL NETWORK, I HEAR STORIES FROM SOCIAL MEDIA THAT PEOPLE CAN'T KEEP UP WITH THESE COSTS.

BUT IT HAS NOT ADDRESSED THE FUNDAMENTAL COST PROBLEM IN U. S. HEALTHCARE, TO DO THAT WE NEED MEDICARE FOR ALL, MORE PEOPLE UNDER THE LARGER RISK POOL.

>> THE PRESIDENT'S PLAN, TO TAKE THE MONEY THAT WOULD HAVE GONE TO HEALTH SUBSIDIES AND PUT IT INTO A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT, IS THAT GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE?

>> KNOW, AND I THINK THE RHETORIC OF THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN, KIND OF LIKE TALKING ABOUT GOING AFTER INSURERS OR HEALTHCARE COMPANIES, WE ARE STARTING TO SEE THAT, BUT THE ACTUAL POLICIES THEY ARE PROPOSING WOULD NOT DO THAT, YOU HAVE TO SEPARATE THESE COMPANIES THAT WOULD BECOME VERTICALLY INTEGRATED AND WE HAVE TO EXPAND THE POOL OF PEOPLE TO BRING THE COST DOWN AND LEVERAGE THE PURCHASING POWER OF GOVERNMENT.

>> OBAMACARE IN THE RURAL AREAS, MEDICARE EXPANSION IS POPULAR IN THAT AREA, WHAT KIND OF AN EFFECT IS IT HAVING AN RURAL OHIO?

>> SO, MIKE KERRY AND MAX MILLER POST FUNDED AND THE REASON IS, BOTH CASES THEY HAVE A PLUS FOR OR +5 INDEX, AND THEY ALSO HAVE LIBERTARIANS IN POSITIONS, THAT MAKES THOSE SEATS NOW TRULY IN PLAY AND THEY KNOW THIS IS AN ELECTION ISSUE, NOT A PRIMARY ISSUE AND THEY ARE THINKING AHEAD TO NOVEMBER, SO THAT IS HOW YOU ARE SEEING IT ALREADY PLAY OUT.

>> THE LONG-TERM, THE PLAN THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WANTS TO IMPLEMENT, THAT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN ANYTIME SOON BUT THESE PREMIUMS ARE HITTING HOME RIGHT NOW, JAKE.

>> DONALD TRUMP HAS HAD FIVE YEARS AS PRESIDENT NOW, THERE'S ALWAYS A HEALTHCARE PLAN AROUND THE CORNER AND NEVER A LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE THAT REALLY LAYS IT OUT, SO WHEN ONE COMES THERE IS SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT BUT UNTIL THEN IT'S ONLY JUST RHETORIC.

IN THE MEANTIME, YOU MENTIONED 200,000 OHIOANS DO NOT HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE, THOSE PEOPLE STILL NEED HEALTH INSURANCE, THEY WILL GO TO HOSPITALS AND THOSE COSTS WILL ROLL OUT TO ALL OF US.

AND POLITICALLY, EVEN THE PEOPLE WHO CONTINUE TO BE INSURED WILL SEE , I MEAN HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS PER MONTH, SO THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS PER YEAR ARE COMING AND THAT THEY QUESTION IN MY MIND, THE GREAT STRUGGLE OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION BY THEIR TELLING WAS WE DID THESE GREAT THINGS FOR PEOPLE AND WE NEVER REALLY GOT CREDIT FOR IT FROM THE VOTERS, WE PASSED THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE BILL AND PEOPLE DIDN'T LOVE US FOR IT AND I'M WONDERING IF WHEN PEOPLE SEE THEIR HEALTHCARE PREMIUMS GO UP OR GO UP SO HIGH THAT THEY CAN'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE ANYMORE, WHO WILL THEY BLAME?

>> DEMOCRATS ARE BLAMING JOHN HOUSTON WHO IS NOW A SECRETARY, THEY ARE BLAMING MIKE KERRY, PEOPLE AROUND THE STATE, VIVEK RAMASWAMY AND HIS POLICIES, THEY ARE GOING TO USE THIS DURING THEIR CAMPAIGN.

>> I'M SHOCKED, THAT THEY BROUGHT THIS UP, BUT CERTAINLY AFFORDABILITY AND THE ECONOMY BUT ON A PERSONAL LEVEL, HOW DOES THE ECONOMY AFFECT ME, MY INSURANCE AND MY ABILITY TO BUY GROCERIES AND SO FORTH, THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE THE ISSUES THAT DRIVES PEOPLE TO THE POLLS.

SO WHO COULD HAVE THE ANSWER TO THAT COULD BE A REALLY COMPELLING MESSAGE IN 2026.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN AND THE ADMINISTRATION DID NOT DO A VERY GOOD JOB ON SELLING WHAT THEY ACCOMPLISHED, BUT THAT DID BRING DOWN COSTS, PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS ADOPTED A POLICY AND EXPANDED IT AS PLANNED THROUGH THAT NEGOTIATION BUT I COMPLETELY AGREE THAT THE PARTY AND THE PEOPLE THAT ARE WILLING TO BE HONEST ABOUT WHAT IS DRIVING THE PROBLEMS WITH HEALTHCARE AND THE HEALTHCARE DEPARTMENTS THAT ARE LISTED ON WALL STREET, THEY WILL WIN THE DAY.

>>AS COMPANIES LIKE GOOGLE, AMAZON AND META RACE TO BUILD COMPUTING POWER FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, RELATIVELY CHEAP LAND AND GENEROUS TAX INCENTIVES HAVE MADE OHIO A PRIME CHOICE FOR DATA CENTERS.

THE WAREHOUSE LOOKING BUILDINGS ARE POPPING UP EVERYWHERE.

THE NEED A LOT OF POWER.

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AND THAT IS STRAINING THE ELECTRIC GRID AND GENERATING FACILTIES.

THE QUESTIONS ARE WHERE WILL THE POWER COME FROM.

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ARE WE ABLE AND WILLING TO BUILD NEW NEW-CLEAR PLANTSÖ AND THE BIG QUESTION WHO IS GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

JESSIE BALMERT , OUR STATE OFFICIALS EXCITED OR DREADING THEM, WHAT IS THE FEELING?

>> CERTAINLY OHIO IS ATTRACTING THESE BUSINESSES HERE, I THINK THERE IS THE GENERAL DESIRE FOR THEM TO BE IN THE STATE BUT ON THE OTHER END WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT JUST THIS IMMENSE ENERGY LOAD THAT THESE ORGANIZATIONS NEED.

AS FAR AS NUCLEAR POWER, THAT WAS THE DEAL WITH META AND TWO OF THE PLANTS, THAT WAS ANNOUNCED RECENTLY AND ALSO POSSIBLY BUILDING LIKE SMALLER OPERATIONS IN SOUTHERN OHIO.

SO THAT SEEMS TO BE THE DIRECTION THAT THE COMPANY IS GOING IN AND THESE KIND OF DEALS ARE GOING RIGHT NOW, BUT CERTAINLY THERE'S A LOT OF POLICY QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS.

>> AND ONE HAS FORMED A SORT OF STUDY COMMISSION, A WORKING GROUP.

IS IT TOO LATE?

>> WHAT I WOULD SAY IS STUDY COMMISSIONS ARE WHERE GOOD IDEAS GO TO DIE, SO IT'S PROBABLY NOT FAVORING YOU, SO IF YOU'RE SOMEBODY WHO OWNS DATA CENTERS, IT'S PROBABLY A GREAT OUTCOME, AND PASS THAT IN MIKE DeWINE VETOED IT, THERE HAS BEEN TALK OF OVERRIDE AT THIS POINT BUT I THINK THE NUCLEAR ELEMENT THAT JESSE BROUGHT UP IS REALLY INTERESTING, THAT DIDN'T COME OUT AND THAT WAS JUST FROM FACEBOOK AND META AND I THINK THE POWER DEVELOPERS .

I WOULD ADD A LITTLE BIT OF SALT ON THAT TO SAY WE DO NOT BUILD NUCLEAR POWER IN THE U. S. , WE DO NOT HAVE A SINGLE OF THESE SMALL MODULAR REACTORS EXISTING BUT WHAT WE DO HAVE IN THE U. S. IS A HUGE POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR THE DATA CENTERS AND THIS PROBLEM COMES OUT I THINK BY 2030 IT WILL BE OPERATIONAL SO DON'T WORRY ABOUT ALL THESE POWER STRAINS, ALL THIS IN THE NEWS, WE ARE JUST GOING TO BRING TECHNOLOGY THAT WE ARE REALLY BAD AT BUILDING IN THE U. S. IN THE FIRST PLACE AND BUILD THESE SMALL MODULAR REACTORS THAT DON'T EXIST ANYWHERE SO WE HAVE IT COVERED.

>> NOW THEY ARE COMING OUT TO YOUR NECK OF THE WOODS, THE FAR WESTERN RURAL AREAS AND FOLKS ARE VERY DUBIOUS OF THESE DATA CENTERS.

>> THAT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT, I HAVE BEEN WRONG ON THIS SHOW MANY TIMES, DATA CENTERS ARE GOING TO BE THE TOXIC TOPIC FOR REPUBLICANS RUNNING STATEWIDE IN THIS STATE BECAUSE WHERE THEY ARE GOING IS A RUBY RED REPUBLICAN AREA AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN, LIKE YOU FOLKS HAVE PUBLISHED, YOU INTERVIEWED ME ABOUT A PROJECT A COUPLE TIMES, I HAVE NEVER SEEN MY CITIZENS SO UPSET AND UNIFIED IN HATRED AGAINST A DEVELOPMENT PROJECT AS I HAVE SEEN THIS.

>> WHAT IS THE ROOT OF THE ANGER?

>> FULL DISCLOSURE, I CUT MY TEETH ON FARMERS PRESERVATION IN THE LATE 90s BUT THAT IS NOT THE REAL ISSUE, THE REAL ISSUE IS, IT GOES BACK TO THE GRIEVANCE, THEY FEEL THEY HAVE BEEN EXPLOITED FOR YEARS BY THEIR BIG-CITY, TAKING THEM FOR GRANTED, TAKING VARIOUS CATEGORIES AND THEY ARE VIEWING THIS AS A MANIFESTATION OF IT.

THEY SAY THAT'S FINE, PUT THEM IN UPPER ARLINGTON, OKAY, THEY SEE THIS AS A CLASS ISSUE AND THAT'S HARD TO ARGUE AGAINST.

SO, ALLIES I WOULD ASSUME, AND KIND OF CONTROLLING THESE AND REGULATING THESE DATA CENTERS, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO WHO PAYS FOR THE ELECTRICITY, WE ARE ALL GOING TO PAY FOR IT.

>> I THINK IT IS A VERY INTERESTING ORGANIZING MOMENT ON DATA CENTERS, BECAUSE I AGREE, I JUST MET WITH SOMEBODY THIS MORNING, SOMEBODY ORGANIZING AGAINST DATA CENTERS BEING BUILT, NOT JUST DATA CENTERS BY DIESEL GENERATORS, OLD-SCHOOL AND VERY CLEARLY BAD FOR EVERYONE'S HEALTH, THEY ARE PROPOSED TO BE RIGHT NEXT TO WHERE CHILDREN ARE PLAYING IN THE PARK.

IT IS RIDICULOUS AND PEOPLE CAN'T BELIEVE THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS WOULD SIGN OFF ON THIS FOR THE BENEFIT OF LARGE CORPORATIONS.

IF THEY WANT A DATA CENTER, PUT THEM IN THE BACKYARD OF WHERE THEY ARE MAKING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF A. I. TECHNOLOGY.

ANOTHER POINT IS THE JOBS CREATED THAT IS OFTEN TOUTED, THAT IS THE REASON WHY WE SHOULD ACCEPT THIS, AND I DON'T WANT TO DIMINISH THAT.

THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE MAKING MONEY, THERE'S THE BUILDING TRADES AND DIFFERENT UNION JOBS, THAT IS IMPORTANT BUT WE SHOULD MAKE SURE THERE'S OTHER OPPORTUNITIES TO BUILD THINGS THAT TRULY WILL PROVIDE A BENEFIT TO US AS A COUNTRY, AS A CITY AND AS A STATE.

>> DO YOU SEE A MORATORIUM ON THESE?

FOR INSTANCE, LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CANNOT VETO, DO WE EVER SEE LEGISLATURES SAYING THEY WILL VETO A DATA CENTER?

>> YOU KNOW, I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT PIECE OF LEGISLATION INTRODUCED YET BUT IF THIS BECOMES AN ISSUE FOR VOTERS OR ORGANIZERS, THAT COULD BE SOMETHING THAT MOVES THE NEEDLE.

>> SO THERE'S NO CONTROLLING LEGAL AUTHORITY ON THESE SITES RIGHT NOW BUT THERE IS A THING CALLED ZONING IN MY HOME COUNTY IS ALSO SINGLE COUNTY ZONED WITH A VERY STRICT ZONING RULES AND REGULATIONS, WE ONLY ALLOW MAYBE A DOZEN HOUSES TO BE BUILT ON A TERRITORY EACH YEAR.

40% OF OHIO, MOST OF APPALACHIA HAS NO ZONING SO THESE BIG FIRMS , THAT IS GOING TO BE A HAPPY HUNTING GROUND FOR THEM, SO MIKE QUESTION, IF YOU ARE WORRIED ABOUT THIS, YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO GO TO THE COUNTY LEVEL AND GET ZONED, DEVELOPED ZONING FOR YOUR TOWNSHIP, THAT IS INTELLIGENT PLANNING FOR THIS.

>> WE HAVE TO GET TO THE OTHER SIDE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, REMEMBER THE PLAN TO BUILD NEW PLANTS IN OHIO, THAT IS ABOUT TO REAPPEAR, THE BROAD RECIPIENTS ARE BEING PUNISHED.

FIRST ENERGY EXECUTIVES GO ON TRIAL THIS WEEK IN NORTHEAST OHIO, CHUCK JONES AND FORMERCHIEF LOBBIEST MIKE DOWLING FACE CHARGES THEY PAID A 4 AND A HALF MILLION DOLLAR BRIBE TO FORMER CHIEF UTILTY REGULATOR SAM RANDAZZO.

THEY ARGUE IT WAS NOT A BRIBE BUT A CONSULTANT FEE.

GOVERNOR DEWINE AND NOW SENATOR THEN LT.

GOVERNOR JON HUSTED ARE ON THE POTENTIAL WITNESS LIST.

JAKE ZUKERMAN , IT HAS BEEN 5 1/2 YEARS AND THE PERSONS WHO ARE ACCUSED OF MAKING THE BRIBES ARE NOW JUST GOING ON TRIAL, WHY IS IT TAKING SO LONG?

>> THE ACTUAL CHANGING OF HANDS OF THE MONEY WHICH IS NOT A DISPUTE, ALL PARTIES AGREE, THAT WAS SEVEN YEARS AGO, JUST ABOUT TO THE DAY, THAT IS A REMARKABLE THING.

I TELL YOU, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE MOST OBVIOUS COMMENT ON PLANET EARTH BUT I'M EXCITED TO HEAR THESE TWO MEN FIND THE ANSWER TO THIS, THIS WAS A DIRECT ACCUSATION IN 2024, IT IMPLICATES THE ENTIRE STATE OF OHIO AND WHETHER OR NOT ANY OF US CAN EXPECT SERVICES FROM OUR GOVERNMENT AND FINALLY THESE TWO MEN ARE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER FOR THEMSELVES AND I WILL TESTIFY IN THEIR DEFENSE, I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR IN THEIR OWN WORDS WAS THIS OR WAS THIS NOT A BRIBE.

>> THESE WERE STATE CHARGES, THE FEDERAL CHARGES, AND THE FEDERAL COURT AS WELL.

>> THIS BRINGS UP THE 2025 SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND FOUR OTHER INDIVIDUALS IN CONNECTION WITH LEGISLATION PASSED TO BAIL OUT TWO NUCLEAR PLANTS AND TO DEFEND THAT AGAINST THE BALLOT INITIATIVE TO BLOCK IT AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS WENT THROUGH THE COURT SYSTEM, TWO OF THEM WERE CONVICTED INCLUDING 20 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE.

IN THE MEANTIME, NO ONE WAS ACCUSED OF ACTUALLY PROVIDING THESE BRIBES SO DAVE YOST GOT INVOLVED, LATER THERE WERE FEDERAL CHARGES THAT WERE FILED, SO THAT CASE IS KIND OF WAITING UNTIL THE STATE CASES WERE RESOLVED.

>> AND FOR THE OTHER FOLKS THAT MIGHT BE INTERESTED IN THIS, THOSE INDICTMENTS.

>> I ALWAYS SEE THIS PSA ON YOUR SHOW, IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THESE, HOUSE BILL SIX, THE CORRUPTION THAT WAS INVOLVED, OTHERWISE THEY WON'T LET YOU.

I'M EXPECTING PEOPLE TO START MAKING DEALS AS THEY GO UP, AS THEY GET CALLED.

AND BY THE WAY, LARRY HOUSEHOLDER, HE IS GOING ON TRIAL IN JUNE, AND I'M EXPECTING HIM TO DO ANYTHING HE CAN TO THROW PEOPLE UNDER THE BUS.

AND BY THE WAY, DURING THE SCANDAL, IT WAS A STATE CHARGE, WHICH WAS SIX TIMES LONGER THAN THE FED SENTENCES.

>> THIS HUGE SCANDAL, $60 BILLION, FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, IT'S WHATEVER.

>> I THINK IT IS AN INTERESTING QUESTION AND THIS SCANDAL TOUCHES ON THE GENERAL UTILITY INDUSTRY, WHICH IS PRETTY THOROUGH WITH THE STATE OFFICIALS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO REGULATE THEM AND THE NATIONAL TRENDS, SO WHY ARE PEOPLE NOT IN THE STREETS ABOUT THIS, AND THIS IS WHY WE ARE TALKING ABOUT WHY PEOPLE ARE TURNING ON THE ESTABLISHMENT.

I THINK THERE IS A GROWING UNDERSTANDING NOW OF HOW WE THOUGHT PEOPLE WERE LOOKING OUT FOR US, WHETHER THEY ARE ELECTIVES AND EXPERTS, BUT THE ORGANIZING CONTINUES BECAUSE I AGREE, THERE PROBABLY SHOULD BE MORE OUTRAGE ABOUT THIS.

>> FOUR MONTHS AGO, I SUBMITTED A COMPROMISE ON THE PROPERTY TAX REPEAL ISSUE AND MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, WE'VE BEEN HAVING SOME BIPARTISAN MEETING WITH FOLKS AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN THROWN OUT OF ANYBODY'S OFFICE JUST YET SO I'M QUITE SURPRISED ABOUT THAT.

I'M OPTIMISTIC.

>> PEOPLE DO WANT TO START HITTING THE STREETS ABOUT UTILITY ISSUES, WE WILL BE OUT OF THE HEADQUARTERS IN DOWNTOWN COLUMBUS ON TUESDAY TO PROTEST THE MOST RECENT CASE.

>> WELL, THIS MIGHT BE IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR APPROXIMATELY A DOZEN OF YOUR VIEWERS BUT BY POPULAR DEMAND, CYCLING SEASON IS BACK, THANK YOU TO ANYBODY THAT IS OUT THERE WATCHING.

>> THIS WEEKEND IS PERFECT OUTSIDE.

>> CONGRATULATIONS TO THE LONG- SUFFERING FANS OF THE INDIANA HOOSIERS WHO WON THE PLAYOFFS THIS PAST WEEK.

>> INCREDIBLE, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS.

WELL, WE TALKED ABOUT JD VANCE'S MEMORABLE MOMENT, HE DROPPED THE BUCKEYE AT THE WHITE HOUSE CEREMONY AND WE WERE VERY GLAD IT DID NOT LAND ON TREVON HENDERSON'S FOOT.

>> THAT'S COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK DON'T FORGET YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME ON YOUR TIME.

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I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.