>>> MIKE DEWINE TAKES ON TEACHERS.

AND THE BATTLE TO LOVE DONALD TRUMP THE MOST.

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!musiC@!!!musiC@!

>>>   JOINING US ON "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" THIS WEEK -- JO INGLES, STATE HOUSE REPORTER FOR OHIO PUBLIC RADIO.

AND JOSEPH MASS OF THE OHIO HISPANIC COALITION.

TERRY CASEY, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST.

>>> ALL BUT 12% OF OHIO SCHOOLS ARE TEACHING SOME OF THEIR STUDENTS IN PERSON, BUT FOR GOVERNOR DEWINE, THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH BECAUSE HE HAS ALLOWED TEACHERS AND SCHOOL WORKERS TO GET THEIR COVID VACCINES AHEAD OF OTHER GROUPS.

COLUMBUS IS AMONG THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS THE GOVERNOR HAS CALLED OUT BECAUSE ITS MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE STILL LEARNING REMOTELY.

>> THEY NEED TO GET BACK IN SCHOOL ACADEMICALLY.

THEY NEEDED TO GET BACK IN SCHOOL EMOTIONALLY, SOCIALLY.

AND WE FELT THAT IT WAS WORTH IT.

TOUGH CALL, BUT WORTH IT, TO GET THESE KIDS BACK IN SCHOOL TO GO AHEAD AND SAY YES, WE ARE GOING VACCINATE YOUR EMPLOYEES, YOUR TEACHERS, ANYONE ELSE IN THE SCHOOL WHO WANTS THE VACCINE.

BUT THE DEAL IS, YOU NEED TO BE BACK IN FULL FORCE MARCH 1.

>> MARCH 1ST.

THAT'S THE DATE THE GOVERNOR SAYS SCHOOL LEADERS AGREED TO RETURN TO SOME FORM OF IN-PERSON LEARNING.

IN EXCHANGE FOR THE EARLY VACCINES.

SCHOOL AND UNION LEADERS SAY THE GOVERNOR IS UNFAIRLY PICKING A FIGHT WITH TEACHERS, WHO WANT TO BE BACK IN THE CLASSROOM SO LONG AS OTHER SAFETY CONDITIONS ARE MET AS WELL.

>> OVER 86% OF TEACHERS ACROSS THE STATE ARE ALREADY PROVIDING IN-PERSON INSTRUCTION IN OUR SCHOOLS.

WE KNOW THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR THE KIND OF CONNECTION AND SUPPORT THAT EXISTS BETWEEN EDUCATORS AND CLASSROOM IN OUR SCHOOL BUILDINGS.

BUT THE CONDITIONS HAVE TO BE SAFE.

WE'VE BEEN CONSISTENT ABOUT THAT.

THE BAR HAS NOT CHANGED ON THAT.

BUT SOMETIMES THE GOVERNOR CHOOSES TO CHANGE WHAT HIS STANDARD IS WHEN IT COMES TO THAT.

>> GENTLEMEN, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE WANTS TEACHERS BACK IN THE CLASSROOMS WITH STUDENTS.

THE SCHOOL U.P.S.

SAY THEY WANT TO BE BACK IN THE CLASSROOMS WITH STUDENTS AS WELL.

WHERE IS THE DIVIDE?

WHERE ARE THEY NOT MEETING UP?

>> THE AGREEMENT SIGNED BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE WAS THAT THEY WOULD BE BACK IN BY MARCH 1ST AND THAT THEY WOULD EITHER BE HYBRID, OR NOT BE THERE EVERY DAY BUT BE THERE SOME OF THE TIME OR THEY WOULD BE THERE ALL THE TIME.

THERE WERE NOT DETAILS IN THE AGREEMENT AS TO WHAT THE STATE WOULD DO OTHERWISE OTHER THAN PROVIDE A VACCINE.

THERE IS NO MONEY TO GO OUT AND DO ANY KIND OF REFABRICATION OF SCHOOLS, BUILDINGS, AND THAT SORT OF THING, WHICH -- THAT -- YOU KNOW, THE SCHOOLS ARE SAYING THAT THE SCHOOLS THAT ARE KIND OF HOLDING OUT ARE SAYING WE HAVE GOT A PROBLEM IN THAT WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH SPACE, IT IS NOT SAFE HERE, WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE CAN DO THIS SAFELY.

THE OTHER SIDE, THE GOVERNOR AND PEOPLE WILL SAY, LOOK, WE HAVE GOT STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT THE TRANSMISSION IN THE CLASSROOM, IF PEOPLE ARE WEARING MASKS, IF EVERYONE IS WEARING A MASK, THE TRANSMISSION IN CLASSROOMS, THAT'S NOT HIGH.

THAT WHEN THERE IS TRANSMISSION IN SCHOOL, THAT IT IS FROM OTHER THINGS OTHER THAN CLASSROOMS.

THERE ALSO IS A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER SHORTAGE IN SOME OF THESE SCHOOLS.

THAT'S PROBLEM.

THERE IS THE BUSES.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THESE KIDS ON THE BUSS?

AND IN SOME PLACES THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH BUS DRIVERS.

SO THERE'S A LOT THAT GOES INTO THIS.

BUT GOVERNOR IS SAYING, A DEAL IS A DEAL.

WE GAVE YOU THE COVID SHOT.

YOU SIGNED THE PAPER.

NOW YOU COME BACK IN SOME FORM OR FASHION BY MARCH 1ST.

>> JOE MAS, ARE THE TEACHERS ASKING TOO MUCH HERE?

IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO HAVE STUDENTS SIX FEET APART.

THEY ARE GOING TO BE THREE OR FOUR FEET APART, BUT ALONG AS THEY ARE WEARING MASK, THE RANS MISSION RATE, ESPECIALLY FROM STUDENT TO TEACHER IS VERY, VERY LOW.

>> MIKE, DEPENDING WHO YOU ASK, AND AS IT IS OFTEN, THE DEVIL IS IN THE DETAILS.

SO THAT YOU HAVE SOME REASONABLE UNDERSTANDING OF THIS AS IN THE CASE OF THE SUPERINTENDENT FROM AKRON SAYING THIS IS A NO BRAINER, WE INOCULATE EVERYBODY, AFTER THE SECOND SHOT, WE HAVE THE TWO-WEEK PERIOD IN ORDER FOR ANTIBODIES TO DEVELOP, AND THEN WE'LL GO BACK.

BUT THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT THE GOVERNOR IS THINKING ABOUT.

AND THAT'S NOT NECESSARILY WHAT SOME OF THE SCIENTISTS ARE SAYING, WHICH JO ACTUALLY ALLUDED TO A MOMENT AGO.

THAT EVEN WITHOUT THE SHOTS, IF YOU MAINTAIN SOME SORT OF DISTANCING.

AND IT IS NOT NECESSARILY SIX FEET.

IT COULD BE FIVE IT.

COULD BE AS SHORT AS THREE.

AND WITH THE MASKS -- IF PEOPLE ARE DISCIPLINED WITH THAT, THEN YOU HAVE ABOUT THE SAME RESULTS.

SO I THINK THAT THE PROBLEM HERE IS THAT THE GOVERNOR IDENTIFIED A TARGET DATE, BUT NOT NECESSARILY HOW TO GET THERE.

AND I THINK EVERYBODY HAD A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT IDEA.

NOW, THERE ARE SOME OTHER INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES.

AND AGAIN, JO MENTIONED ABOUT THE BUSSING.

>> YEAH.

>> AND ALL OF THAT.

THAT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A PROBLEM.

>> TERRY CASEY, LESS THAN -- 12% -- THAT'S ALL, 12% OF OHIO'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS RIGHT NOW ARE COMPLETELY REMOTE.

AT THE BEGINNING OF JANUARY, SIX WEEKS AGO, ABOUT HALF OF OHIO'S SCHOOL DISTRICTS WERE COMPLETELY REMOTE.

WE ARE MAKING GREAT PROGRESS.

THE GOVERNOR SAYS WE ARE.

IS HE PREMATURELY PICKING A FIGHT WITH TEACHERS HERE?

WE STILL HAVE A WAY BEFORE MARCH 1ST, TEACHERS ARE GETTING VACCINATED.

IS HE JUMPING THE GUN?

>> HE'S JUST LETTING THE DISTRICTS KNOW WHEN THEY COME UP WITH PHONY OR WEAK EXCUSES IT ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH.

IF YOU ARE A PROPERTY OWNER LIKE I AM IN THE COLUMBUS SCHOOL DISTRICT THEY DIDN'T SAY PAY YOUR TAXES BY THE ENDS OF JANUARY.

DOESN'T MATTER, PAY THEM WHENEVER YOU CAN.

THEY HAD A DEADLINE, WE HAD TO MEET THE DEADLINE.

MOST OF THE DISTRICTS IN YESIO ARE ABLE TO MEET THIS KNEW IT WAS COMING FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS, IT RAISES QUESTIONS, WHAT'S WRONG WITH COLUMBUS.

BY THE WAY, THE COLUMBUS SCHOOLS HAVE RECEIVED MILLIONS IN THE C.A.R.E.S.

ACT MONEY.

IT IS NOT THE MONEY, IT IS JUST THE QUESTION OF THEIR MANAGEMENT AND THEIR LEADERSHIP.

WHEN MOST DISTRICTS CAN DO IT, WHY CAN'T THEY DO IT IN COLUMBUS.

THAT'S THE BIG QUESTION THAT COLUMBUS TAX PAYERS AND PARENTS OUGHT TO BE ASKING, NOT JUST THE GOVERNOR.

>> TERRY, THE GOVERNOR IS NOT DEFLECTING THE BAD NEWS ABOUT THE FRAUD IN THE UNEMPLOYMENT SYSTEM, THE UNACCOUNTED FOR 4,000 DEATHS?

THE SLOW ROLLOUT OF THE VACCINE?

HE'S NOT TRYING TO GET TO US LOOK OVER HERE?

>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES.

AGAIN, THE BIG QUESTION IS, IN OHIO W 600 AND SOME DISTRICTS, WHY HAVE VIRTUALLY ALL OF THEM BEEN ABLE TO DO IT, BUT A HANDFUL OF DISTRICTS, INCLUDING COLUMBUS.

AND COLUMBUS -- I MEAN, IF YOU ARE A STUDENT AND YOU TELL THE TEACHER, THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK, THE TEACHER IS NOT VERY SYMPATHETIC.

THE QUESTION IS, HOW SIMPLE THREATIC AND FLEXIBLE SHOULD THE GOVERNOR BE IN WE ARE GOING TO SEE.

THEY ARE KIND OF HINTING THAT MAYBE BY MID MARCH THEY WILL MEET THE DEADLINE.

BUT THEY HAVE KNOWN THIS WAS COMING FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS AND MONTHS.

AND THEY GOT PRIORITY ON THE VACCINE.

SO IT'S TIME FOR THE COLUMBUS SCHOOLS THE ACTUALLY DO WHAT THEY PROMISED AND NOT COME UP WITH MORE EXCUSES AND BASICALLY RECYCLE OLD ONES BECAUSE EVERYBODY -- ALL THESE OTHER DISTRICTS HAVE BUSSING CHALLENGES AND SUBSTITUTE TEACHER CHALLENGES.

SO IT IS NOTHING NEW OR UNIQUE IN COLUMBUS COMPARED TO MOST OF THE STATE.

>> JO MAS, I THINK A LOT OF PARENTS CAME TO APPRECIATE THE HARD WORK THAT TEACHERS DO DAY IN AND DAY OUT STARTING LAST SPRING WHEN THEY WERE FORCED TO TEACH THEIR KIDS AT HOME.

DO TEACHERS RUN THE RISK OF LOSING SOME OF THIS GOOD WILL BY SEEMING TO DRAG THEIR FEET THIS GETTING BACK INTO THE CLASSROOM?

I AM TALKING UNION HEADS NOW.

>> I THINK IF THE DISTRICT IS DRAGGING THEIR FEET THEN THAT WOULD BE.

MY GOOD FRIEND TERRY SUGGESTS THAT PERHAPS THAT'S WHAT'S HAPPENING.

I HAVE A DIFFERENT VIEW ON.

THAT I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF MOVING PARTS.

THERE WAS AN ELEMENT TO THIS THAT WE HAVEN'T ADDRESSED.

THAT IS THAT THE LARGER AND MORE YOU ARE BAN DISTRICTS SUCH AS COLUMBUS, CINCINNATI, AND MAYBE SOME OF THE NOT SO LARGE CITIES I THINK HAVE ADDITIONAL BURDENS I THINK HAVE ADDITIONAL BURDENS THAT PERHAPS LESS POPULATED COUNTIES MIGHT NOT HAVE.

I ALSO THINK IT IS NOT NECESSARILY CLEAR THAT ALL OF THE PERSONNEL HAVE GOTTEN THE INOCULATIONS.

JUST RECENTLY, I VISITED ONE OF THE SITES, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE THERE, EDUCATORS, THAT WERE GETTING THE FIRST SHOT.

SO THEY ARE RUNNING BEHIND AS FAR AS THAT'S CONCERNED.

AND THAT CRITICAL PIECE IS NOT NECESSARILY IN PLACE.

THAT'S WHY I MENTIONED ABOUT THE SCIENCE, PERHAPS, ADDRESSING IT ANOTHER WAY, THROUGH MASK WEARING RATHER THAN JUST THE VACCINE.

>> EVERYBODY SAYS WEARING A MAV IN SCHOOL IS THE BEST WAY TO PREVENT THE SPREAD.

STUDIES HAVE SHOWN THAT IS THE CASE IN SCHOOLS N. OTHER COVID-19 NEWS, CASES AND HOSPITALIZATIONS CONTINUE TO DECLINE.

BUT VACCINE DISTRIBUTION CONTINUES ITS SLOW TREK.

THE STATE'S PROMISED WEBSITE TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO REGISTER FOR A VACCINE IS NOT READY.

THE ORIGINAL TARGET DATE WAS VALENTINE'S DAY, BUT THE SITE IS STILL WEEKS AWAY.

THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE SAYS THE STATE STILL NEEDS TO RECRUIT HOSPITALS, DRUGSTORES, AND HEALTH DEPARTMENTS TO PARTICIPATE.

JOE MAS, YOU RECENTLY GOT YOUR VACCINE.

HOW HARD WAS IT TO GET THE APPOINTMENT TO GET YOUR SHOT?

>> IT WAS -- THE HARDEST PART WAS WAITING HOPING THAT I WOULD BE OF COURSE THE NEXT IN LINE.

IN MY PARTICULAR CASE IT HAPPENED VERY EASILY.

I WAS IN FLORIDA HOPING TO BE ABLE TO JUMP THE LINE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THEIR SYSTEM, WHICH PROMISED TO INOCULATE VISITORS.

BUT THAT DID NOT COME TO PASS.

MATTER OF FACT THAT WAS CLUNKY AND THEY SHUT IT OFF ABOUT TWO WEEKS INTO MY STAY THERE.

SO A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER, I GET A CALL FROM THE OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SYSTEM, WHERE I'M A PATIENT, ASKING ME TO CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE AND ENTER MY DATA.

I DID, AND WITHIN A DAY OR TWO I HAD MY APPOINTMENT.

>> WOW.

>> I GOT MY INOCULATION ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO.

>> AND YOU WENT FOR THE SHOT, I THINK I SAW -- >> THE MODERNA SHOT.

THAT'S CORRECT.

>> YOU GOT YOUR SHOT AT THE SHOT.

>> AT THE SHOT.

>> AT THE SHOT.

THAT'S GOOD.

>> THEY HAVE A WONDERFUL SYSTEM.

VERY WELL DESIGNED.

VERY PAINLESS.

I WAS NOUD W WAITING PERIODS AND EVERYTHING, EXACTLY ONE HOUR AFTER ARRIVING AT THE DOOR.

>> JO INGLES, WHAT IS THE LATEST FROM THE DEWINE ADMINISTRATION FROM THE STATE AS TO HOW VACCINE DISTRICTS IS GOING?

IT SEEMS TO HAVE PICKED UP AS MORE VACCINE BECOMES AVAILABLE.

BUT THIS WEBSITE, IS STILL BEHIND A BIT.

>> YEAH.

AND THE PROBLEM IS WHEN THE STATE SET UP -- THEY DIDN'T HAVE A WEBSITE THAT COULD SCHEDULE.

THEY COULDN'T TAKE THE FEDERAL ONE THAT ALLOWED PEOPLE TO GO ON LINE AND SCHEDULE ON THE WEBSITE.

THEY NEEDED TO HAVE ONE BUILT FOR THEM.

SO THE ONE THAT THEY HAVE BUILT NOW, THEY ARE WAITING FOR ALL THE PROVIDERS TO GET ON BOARD AND GET THEM TO PUT IN THEIR SCHEDULING SYSTEM SO THEY CAN CONNECT.

AND SOME OF THE PROVIDERS ARE SAYING, HEY, YOU KNOW WHAT, SURE, WE CAN DO THAT.

THE NEW PROVIDERS THAT ARE COMING ON BOARD AS WE GET MORE VACCINE ARE GOING TO BE REQUIRED TO DO THAT.

AND WE KNOW THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THERE WILL BE SOME MASS VACCINATION SITES, SOME MORE OF THOSE THINGS COMING ON BOARD AS WE GET MORE VACCINE AND THAT THEY WILL BE CONNECTED AS WELL.

ONE OF THE THINGS, THOUGH, THAT I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT HAVE HAPPENED THAT PROBABLY NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IS WHAT -- WHAT HAPPENS TO THESE LEFTOVER SHOTS?

IN ALL OF THESE LOCATIONS, THEY HAVE TO USE THE VACCINE BY THE ENDS OF THE DAY WHEN THEY HAVE SHE IS SHOT CLINICS.

AND SOMETIMES WE SEE PEOPLE WHO ARE GETTING VACCINATED WHO ARE NOT IN THE 1A OR 1B GROUP, THEY ARE MUCH YOUNGER, MUCH HEALTHIER.

AND MEANWHILE, WE HAVE 80-YEAR-OLDS, 70-YEAR-OLDS WHO CANNOT GET IN TO GET VACCINATED.

AND SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THE STATE IS GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL WITH AS THEY GET THIS PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING.

>> TERRY CASEY, ARE YOU HANGING OUT AT THE CLINICS HOPING TO GET LEFTOVER SHOTS?

HAVE YOU ALREADY GOTTEN YOURS THROUGH THE REGULAR CHANNELS?

>> I GOT THE FIRST ONE AND AT THE END OF THIS MONTH WILL GET THE SECOND ONE.

THE GOOD NEWS, AND THIS IS NOT AN APRIL FOOLS' JOKE BUT BY THE TIME WE GET TO ANSWER WHEN JOHNSON & JOHNSON IS APPROVED AND PRODUCTION CONTINUES TO RAMP UP, I THINK WE ARE GOING TO BE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE IN THAT MONTH.

BUT IT TAKE TIME.

AND IT'S ALL ABOUT THE SUPPLY.

THIS IDEA OF WE'LL HAVE THESE BIG NFL SPORTS STADIUMS AND THAT WILL SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEM -- THE PROBLEM IS ALL ABOUT SUPPLY.

IT'S NOT ABOUT GETTING SITES.

AND I REALLY THINK THAT BY THE TIME WE GET TO APRIL WE ARE GOING TO BE IN MUCH BETTER SHAPE.

NOW, THE BAD NEWS, AN EARLY PREDICTION IS BY THIS FALL WE ARE GOING TO DISCOVER THAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A BOOSTER SHOT PRODUCED TO DEAL WITH SOME OF THE VARIATIONS.

SO SOME OF THE ANXIETY WE ARE HAVING NOW IS GOING TO COME BACK THIS FALL.

BUT, AGAIN, WE ARE MAKING PROGRESS WITH THE VACCINE.

AND THERE WAS A MAJOR ARTICLE THIS WEEK.

THERE IS DEBATE ABOUT IT, BUT WHETHER WE ARE CREATED BECAUSE SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD COVID, REPORTED OR NOT REPORTED, PLUS THE VACCINES, THAT WE ARE CREATING A BIT OF A HERD IMMUNITY.

IT IS NOT HERE TOTALLY BUT AT LEAST WE ARE GETTING CLOSER TO IT.

>> ALL GOOD NEWS.

JO MAS, ARE YOU CONFIDENTED THAT THE POPULATIONS, PEOPLE OF COLOR, LOW-INCOME FOLKS ARE GETTING AN EQUAL SHOT AT THIS, NO PUN INTENDED?

>> NO, THEY ARE LAGGING BEHIND.

AND THE MAIN REASON IS THAT USUALLY VULNERABLE POPULATIONS, BY VIRTUE OF THEIR DEFINITION, DO NOT HAVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN THEIR LIVES TO BE ABLE TO BE SET UP.

THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY FROM -- AS IN MY CASE, FROM OSU MEDICAL GIVING YOU A CALL SAYING THAT YOU CAN APPLY.

THEY MAY NOT EVEN HAVE A FAMILY DOCTOR.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE EVEN SOUGHT ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT FOR MANY MONTHS OR MANY YEARS.

SO THAT'S WHERE THE HOLE IS.

AND QUITE FRANK LESION RIGHT NOW I AM NOT SEEING THE SYSTEM RAMPED UP TO GET THAT DONE.

>> JO INGLES, WHAT IS THE GOVERNOR SAYING ABOUT THAT?

THERE WAS TALK ABOUT HAVING MORE OUTREACH TO LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS, MINORITY POPULATIONS.

HAVE THEY TALKED ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE TRYING TO DO TO GET MORE PEOPLE VACCINATED IN THOSE GROUPS?

>> YES.

THEY ARE GOING THE USE THE CHURCHES IN A LOT OF THESE NEIGHBORHOODS, THE CHURCH IS KIND THE SOCIAL CENTER.

THEY ARE GOING THE USE THE CHURCHES TO HELP OUTREACH REACH OUT TO SOME PEOPLE.

THEY ARE ALSO DOING SOME THINGS THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF AGEING WITH SOME OF THE OLDER FOLKS, ANSWERING QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE ABOUT THE VACCINE IN HOPES THAT THEY WILL TAKE IT.

WE ARE SEEING A HIGH COMPLIANCE RATE WITH OLDER PEOPLE.

BUT THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE AT GREAT RISK WHO HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE VACCINE.

AND SO THEY ARE DOING OUTREACH.

THERE IS MONEY SET ASIDE TO DO THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

>>> THE REPUBLICAN RACE TO HUG DONALD TRUMP THE TIGHTEST, AND STIFF ARM JOHN KASICH THE HARDEST IS UP NOW TO TWO CANDIDATES.

THIS WEEK RECENTLY RESIGNED STATE REPUBLICAN CHAIRWOMAN JANE TIMKEN ANNOUNCED SHE WANTS ROB PORTMAN'S SEAT.

SHE SAYS SHE'S THE BEST CANDIDATE TO CARRY TRUMP'S BANNER.

>> I WILL ADVANCE THE TRUMP AGENDA WITHOUT FEAR OR HESITATION, FIGHTING FOR AMERICAN MANUFACTURING AND OHIO WORKERS, DEFENDING THE UNBORN, AND OUR SECOND AMENDMENT, STANDING UP FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND STRONGER BORDERS.

>> SHE JOINS FORMER STATE TREASURER JOSH MANDEL, WHO ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK.

IN ADDITION TO SHOWING PICTURES OF THEMSELVES WITH TRUMP, THEY ALSO TOOK TURNS SHOWING PICTURES OF EACH OTHER WITH JOHN KASICH.

TERRY CASEY, MANDEL HAS RUN STATEWIDE FOUR TIMES.

HE WON TWICE.

TIMKEN LED THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TO GREAT VICTORIES OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

WHO IS THE STRONGER CANDIDATE HERE?

>> YOU ARE ASSUMING THOSE ARE THE ONLY TWO.

>> YEAH.

>> FORMER OHIO HOUSE SPEAKER JOANNE DAVIDSON.

AND HER FRONT DOOR AND HER OFFICE IS LITERALLY LIKE A REVOLVING DOOR WITH ALL THE POTENTIAL CANDIDATES DROPPING BY, WANTING TO CHAT WITH HER, GETTING HER TIPS.

MY PREDICTION IS WE ARE EASILY GOING TO HAVE TEN OR MORE CANDIDATES.

THERE IS TWO OR THREE OR FOUR MILLIONAIRES.

SOME FROM CINCINNATI AND CLEVELAND, LOOKING AT IT.

PLUS A NUMBER OF CURRENT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS.

AGAIN MY PREDICTION IS THERE IS EASILY GOING TO BE TEN OR MORE CANDIDATES IT COULD BE THAT 32% OF THE VOTE COULD WIN IT IN THAT CROWD IN THE PRIMARY.

SO THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT FOR REPORTERS, THIS IS LIKE A FULL EMPLOYMENT ACT.

YOU HAVE GOT A JUSTIFICATION TO YOUR BOSSES WHY YOU NEED TO WORK A LOT OF OVERTIME.

BECAUSE WITH ALL THOSE CANDIDATES, ALL THAT CAMPAIGN SPENDING, IT IS GOING TO BE A BUSY NEXT 14 MONTHS.

>> TERRY, THESE ARE THE TWO -- TIMKEN RIGHT NOW, AND MANDEL ARE THE TWO EXPECTED ULTRAPRO TRUMP -- NO ONE IS GOING TO BE ANTI-TRUMP ON THE GOP SIDE BUT WHO IS THE MOST ESTABLISHMENT REPUBLICAN YOU THINK IS GOING TO JUMP IN?

>> THERE IS A DAYTON CONGRESSMAN LOOKING AT IT.

SOUTHEASTERN OHIO CONGRESSMAN JOHNSON HAS 4R TO 5 MILLION DOLLARS.

HE HAS RADIO ADS ON THE AIR NOW.

THERE IS A WHOLE BUNCH OF PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHY I THINK THERE WILL BE TEN OR MORE CANDIDATES.

MAYBE ONLY FIVE TO EIGHT OF THEM WILL BE SERIOUS WITH MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN MONEY RAISED.

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A BUSY, BUSY SEASON.

AND YOU ARE DEFINITELY GOING TO NEED TO BUY A PROGRAM IN ORDER TO KEEP TRACK OF ALL THE CANDIDATES AND WRITE UP THE SCORE SHEET OF WHO IS DOING EXACTLY WHAT.

>> JO INGLES, IT IS TIMKEN'S FIRST TIME RUNNING EVEN THOUGH SHE LED THE PARTY TO VICTORIES TWO YEARS AGO AND THIS YEAR.

SHE IS GOING TO BE A STRONG CANDIDATE BUT DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY MANDEL HAS.

>> SHE HAS CONNECTIONS.

THE JOB OF THE PARTY AND THE JOB OF THE PARTY CHAIR IS TO HELP FUND RAISE, GET THINGS IN ORDER.

SHE HAS ALL OF THE CONNECTIONS.

SHE WAS DOING THEM PRIMARILY TO HELP THE PARTY AND SOMEONE ELSE.

NOW SHE'S GOT CONNECTIONS AND SHE CAN CAN GO BACK AND GET HELP THERE.

BUT YOU KNOW IF WE GET INTO A SITUATION WHERE WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE RUNNING OH, BOY THAT'S GOING TO BE REALLY INTERESTING BECAUSE I THINK WHAT WE ARE GOING SEE IS A LOT OF PEOPLE TRYING TO FIND THEIR NICHE SO THAT THEY CAN CARVE OUT ENOUGH TO WIN THE PRIMARY.

AND THEY CAN'T ALL HAVE THE SAME LINES, YOU KNOW?

SO IT'S GOING TO BE FUN FROM A REPORTER'S STANDPOINT IT IS GOING TO BE FUN TO WATCH THOSE CAMPAIGNS PLAY OUT IF WE HAVE SEVERAL.

>> YEAH, THEY HAVE GOT TO FIND THEIR NICHE, AND FIND THEIR WAY DOWN TO MAR-A-LAGO TO GET DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT.

JOE MAS, NO DEMOCRATS OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCED BUT IT IS STILL EARLY.

AMY ACTIN, TIM RYAN, HEALTH DIRECTOR AND FORMER CONGRESSMAN FROM NORTHEAST OHIO.

>> AND GRAY.

I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVEN'T HEARD.

I CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE INSIDE INFORMATION.

I WAS IMPRESSED BY TERRY'S ANALYSIS OF WHAT THE REPUBLICAN SIDE MIGHT LOOK LIKE WITH TEN OR MORE CANDIDATES.

THAT 32% COULD WIN IT BECAUSE HE ACCURATELY DESCRIBED THE 2016 REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR PRESIDENT.

IF THAT IS THEN THE DIRECTION, AND IF REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO DO WHAT THEY HAVE SO FAR ALWAYS DONE, WHICH IS CLOSE RANKS AROUND THE CANDIDATE, EVEN THOUGH THEY HAVE TO OVER COLLECTIVE NOSES TO DO IT, THEN TERRY IS GOING TO BE ABSOLUTELY CORRECT.

BUT WE MIGHT SEE SOME CHANGES.

AND I WILL TELL YOU THAT I THINK THAT THE ENERGY OR THE EMPHASIS BEHIND DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES IS -- APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN ON THE WING.

WE WILL HAVE TO DO IT BETTER THIS TIME.

>> JOYCE BENNETT SAYS SHE IS GOING TO RUN FOR RE-ELECTION OF HER HOUSE SEAT NO.

SURPRISE THERE.

>>> OF EACH OTHER WITH JOHN SASIC.

>>> USUALLY BY THIS TIME IN THE SECOND YEAR OF A NEW DECADE, STATE LAWMAKERS ARE STARTING TO DRAW LEGISLATIVE DISTRICTS.

THE NEW DECADE'S CENSUS NUMBERS GUIDE THE PROCESS AND TELL US IF WE'VE LOST A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT.

BECAUSE OF THE PANDEMIC, THE SEND US NUMBERS MAY NOT BE READY UNTIL THE END OF SEPTEMBER.

AND THAT'S WHEN OHIO'S NEW MAP DRAWING SYSTEM IS SUPPOSED TO BE FINISHED.

SOME LAWMAKERS AND ADVOCATES WANT THE PROCESS TO BEGIN NOW, EVEN WITHOUT THE CENSUS NUMBERS.

TERRY CASEY, CONSTITUTION ALLOWS FOR IT.

DO YOU SEE THAT HAPPENING?

>> WELL, THERE'S A LOT OF UNKNOWNS, AND I'M ALSO GOING TO PREDICT THAT THERE IS BOUND TO BE LAWSUITS ONCE THE CENSUS COMES OUT WITH THEIR NUMBERS BECAUSE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT QUESTIONS OF HOW MUCH OF THIS DATA IS BASED ON ACTUAL NUMBER VERSUS STATISTICAL ESTIMATES, WHICH IS CLOSE COUSIN TO GUEST ITEMS.

-- GUEST ESTIMATES.

BECAUSE STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA THAT ARE GOING TO LOSE DISTRICTS AND SHRINK.

AND TEXAS DISTRICTS ARE GOING TO GROW.

SOME PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO HOLD OUT HAVING THAT CENSUS DATA IN EFFECT FOR 2022.

FIRST YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE LAWSUITS.

THEN YOU WOULD HAVE THE MAD SCRAMBLES.

HERE'S THE TELLER FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, IF YOU EXPECT 15 OHIO HOUSE DISTRICTS FOR 99 DISTRICTS TO BE COMPACT AND COMPETITIVE KEEPING EVERYTHING WHOLE AND EVEN AND PERFECT, THAT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN BECAUSE OHIO IS SUCH A COMPLICATED STATE.

YOU COULD DRAW 99 HOUSE DISTRICTS THE FIRST TEN OR 15 LOOK DECENT BY SOME PEOPLE'S DEFINITION BUT YOU HAVE BITS AND PIECES LEFT OVER AND YOU HAVE GOT STICK THEM SOMEPLACE AND MAKE THEM WORK IN TERMS OF THE NUMBERS.

IT IS A COMPLICATED TASK WHEN YOU KPRUNCH THE TIME FRAME WITH NUMBERS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DIDN'TED YOU ARE IN FOR A BIG CHALLENGE.

>> JOE MAS HOW DO YOU SEE THIS PLAYING OUT?

IT IS A NEW SYSTEM, SUPPOSED TO MAKE IT MORE COMPACT.

WE SHOULDN'T SEE THE JIM JORDAN DISTRICT OR THE JOYCE BEATTY DISTRICT THAT ARE CRAZY DRAWINGS.

DO YOU SEE THIS HAPPENING WITH THE SENSE SUCCESS SNAG PROCESS?

>> I SEE IT HAPPENING.

WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE.

AND I SEE IT AS AN IMPROVEMENT.

AND I DO AGREE 100%.

TERRY AND I HAD AN ON LINE DISCUSSION EARLIER IN THE WEEK AND HE SAID, WE ARE GOING TO SEE LAWSUITS.

I SAID, WELL, THAT'S WHAT ATTORNEYS ARE FOR.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO KIND OF LOOK OVER THE SHOULDER, WHAT PEOPLE ARE DOING, WHETHER THEY ARE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE LAW.

I DO ANTICIPATE THAT HAPPENING.

I THINK AT THE ENDS OF THE DAY WE WILL HAVE AN IMPROVEMENT OVER WHAT WE HAVE.

AND BY THE WAY, DEMOCRATS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVISE THIS BACK IN 2010, AND WE KICKED THE CAN DOWN THE ROAD AND THEN FORTUNATELY, THE VOTERS HELPED US, IN 2015 AND 2018, IN GIVING US A SYSTEM THAT CAN BE WORKED.

AND YOU KNOW, WITH PEOPLE OF GOOD FAITH, I THINK, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE A GOOD SYSTEM.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TIME NOW FOR OUR OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

SOME PREDICTION FORCE THE WEEKS TO COME.

TERRY ALREADY HAD A BUNCH.

BUT JOE MAS, GO AHEAD.

>> ANOTHER PREDICTION AND LOOKING BACK, THIS WEEK, THE IMMIGRANT MOTHER WHO WAS ASSAULTED POST SANCTUARY AT A MENNONITE CHUMP SINCE 2017 WAS ALLOWED TO GO HOME TO HER FAMILY BY IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES PENDING REVIEW OF HER TRUMP ERA DEPORTATION ORDER.

ONE OF THE CLERGY ASKED IF THERE HAD BEEN A CHANGE IN IMMIGRATION POLICY SINCE THE ELECTION.

AND HE SAID, LIKE NIGHT AND DAY.

>> ALL RIGHT.

TERRY CASEY.

>> THERE WILL BE NO PRIMARY THIS MAY FOR COLUMBUS OR FRANKLIN COUNTY.

THERE WILL BE A HANDFUL OF ISOLATED SMALL SUBURBAN ISSUES, BUT BASICALLY IN COLUMBUS, NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE FILE AND QUALIFY TO MAKE THE BALLOT.

SO NO PRIMARY EITHER COUNTY WIDE OR CITY OF COLUMBUS.

SO IT WILL BE SAFE TO WATCH TV THIS SPRING.

YOU WON'T BE FLOODED WITH ALL THOSE NASTY ATTACK ADS.

>> ALL RIGHT, JO INGLES.

>> THIS WEEK WE SAW THE CLM BUS INNOVATION DISTRICT.

AND WE ARE SEEING STATEWIDE A MOVEMENT TO TRY TO GET A LOT OF THESE BUSINESSES AND PEOPLE WHO MOVED OUT OF STATE TO MOVE BACK IN STATE.

OR CONVINCE PEOPLE WHO NEVER LIVED HERE TO COME HERE AND BRING THEIR BUSINESS WITH THEM.

ONE OF THE THINGS I AM SEEING ON SOCIAL MEDIA, THOUGH, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THEY DON'T THINK OHIO IS LIVABLE ANYMORE.

AND WHEN YOU ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT ABOUT THAT, YOU GET SOME ANSWERS ABOUT BUSINESS.

BUT YOU DON'T REALLY GET ANSWERS ADDRESSING SOME OF THE THING PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT AS FAR AS LIVABILITY.

I THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING TO WATCH.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THAT'S GOING TO DO IT THIS WEEK.

HE THANK OUR PANEL.

WE THANK OUR CREW.

CHECK US OUT ON LINE AT WOSU.ORG.

WATCH EVERY EPISODE WHENEVER YOU WANT TO.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.