>>> IN THE WORDS OF LEONARD COHEN, IS THIS CRACKED, ALLOWING THE BLUE LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH IN THESE COUNTIES, ARE THEY TOTALLY GONE?

WAS IT A MURDER LARGE AS PART OF TRUMP?

>> YOU MENTIONED SENATE BILL FIVE, DEMOCRATS WERE ENERGIZED BY THIS.

WAS IT THE ABORTION BILL THAT ENERGIZED THEM?

>> ABSOLUTELY, IT WAS.

THE TIMING OF THIS, THIS WAS SOMEHOW GOING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER THE VOTERS' EYES AND CAUSE THEM TO CHANGE THEIR 111-YEAR- OLD CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION IN ORDER TO THWART SOMETHING THAT IS SUPPORTED BY MORE THAN HALF OF THE VOTERS THAT IS A TALKING POINT, WHEN THE REALITY IS THAT IT WAS NOT LOST ON THOSE WHO CAME OUT.

>>> IT TURNS OUT IT IS HARD TO CHANGE THE OHIO CONSTITUTION.

>>> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

SUPPORTERS OF ISSUE ONE DID NOT HAVE TO COLLECT SIGNATURES.

THEY ONLY NEEDED A SIMPLE MAJORITY TO WIN, BUT STILL THEY FELL FAR SHORT OF CHANGING THE STATE'S CONSTITUTION.

THE EFFORT TO REQUIRE A 60% MAJORITY TO PASS FUTURE AMENDMENTS LOST, DECISIVELY.

THE "NO" VOTE ALMOST GOT THAT 60% MAJORITY.

THE "NO" ON ISSUE ONE CAPTURED 57% OF THE VOTE.

THE "YES" ON ONE, JUST 43%.

URBAN AND SUBURBAN VOTERS OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED NO.

MOST RURAL VOTERS VOTED YES, BUT, A LOT OF THEM VOTED NO OR STAYED HOME, AND THE PROCESS OF CHANGING THE STATE CONSTITUTION REMAINS UNCHANGED.

JULIE, TO THAT POINT, IT SEEMS DEMOCRATS, THE URBAN FOLKS, THE SUBURBAN FOLKS ARE REALLY FIRED UP AND CONSERVATIVES IN RURAL AREAS, NOT SO MUCH.

IS THAT WHAT THIS CAME DOWN TO?

>> I THINK THAT IS THE CASE.

I THINK THE UNION ORGANIZATIONS, THOUGH VOTING RIGHTS GROUPS, ET CETERA, THAT WHOLE BIG COALITION, THEY WORKED REALLY HARD TO GET THE FOLKS TO COME OUT IN THE POPULOUS AREAS.

BUT, WE HAVE ALSO SEEN THAT THERE ARE SOME REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLDS WHERE THIS WENT DOWN, AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, FOR THOSE WHO WERE PAYING ATTENTION, THEY TENDED TO BE MORE AROUND THE URBAN CENTERS THEN THOSE SUBURBS.

BUT, I DO THINK THAT IT REALLY WAS ALMOST SENATE BILL FIVE FROM 2011 SORT OF TURNOUT.

>> YES, THAT WAS THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING LAW THAT VOTERS OVERTURNED.

REPUBLICANS HAD A LOT OF REASONS AS TO WHY THEY THOUGHT THIS WENT DOWN, THEY LOST BY 14 POINTS.

THEY HAVE NEVER SAID, THE VOTERS JUST DON'T LIKE OUR IDEA.

>> ACTUALLY, THE GOVERNOR, MIKE DeWINE, SEEMS TO BE THE ONLY PERSON THAT ACKNOWLEDGED THAT.

HE SAID THE OTHER DAY, WHEN YOU LOSE BY THIS BUNCH, IT IS NOT A CAMPAIGN, IT IS NOT STRATEGY, IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, BUT EVERYONE ELSE TOOK A DIFFERENT TAX.

MATT HUFFMAN, FOR EXAMPLE, BLAMED OTHER REPUBLICANS WHO CAME OUT IN OPPOSITION.

FORMER GOVERNORS, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND HE SAID THAT MUDDIED THE WATERS ON WHAT VOTERS BELIEVED, AND THEN THERE WAS FOLKS LIKE THE OHIO CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE AND OHIO BITE RIGHT TO LIFE WHO SAID THAT VOTERS WERE TRICKED OR DECEIVED INTO VOTING NO.

>> THEY SAID MATT HOFFMAN ALSO DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME WHICH STARTED WITH BECAUSE THEY SET THE STARTING LINE, CALLED THE ELECTION.

WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT WAS, MAY, IT MAY HAVE BEEN A DIFFERENT RESULT.

WITH THIS BE A DIFFERENT RESULT IF IT WAS ON THE MAY BALLOT, WHICH WAS THE ORIGINAL PLAN?

>> IT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE BECAUSE THE SAME COALITIONS WOULD HAVE COME TOGETHER.

AND THE REAL CHALLENGE ON THIS, THERE WASN'T ENOUGH MONEY EARLY AT FIRST TO FIND THE ISSUE.

THEY DEFINED IT INITIALLY WHICH MADE A DIFFERENCE, AND THEN THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT THE YES SIDE HAD WAS THE OLD AXIOM -- AND I HAVE SET IT ON THIS SHOW MONTH BEFORE --IN OHIO, WHEN IN DOUBT, YOU VOTE NO.

SO, ALL THE NO SIDE HAD TO DO WAS CREATE QUESTIONS AND DOUBT AND THE CONFUSIONS OF THE YES SIDE WITH TWO DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES HAVING ABOUT FIVE DIFFERENT MESSAGES ADDED TO THE CONFUSION, DID NOT HELP CLARIFY OR SELL IT.

>> BRIAN, THEY ALSO MENTIONED CURRENT STATE OFFICEHOLDERS.

THEY DIDN'T DO ENOUGH.

MIKE DeWINE IS LOOKING AT JASON STEVENS IN THE HAT HOUSE.

ALL THE FINGER-POINTING IS GOING OUT.

>> IT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE ANY FIRST OF ALL, MATT HOUSTON IS THE ONE WHO SET THE STATE AT A COST OF $20 MILLION, WHICH I MIGHT ADD, AND HE SAID NO AUGUST ELECTIONS BEFORE.

BUT WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THE MAP.

THE ORIGINAL EARLY ROAD MAP THAT SHOWED WHERE EARLY VOTING FOR DEMOCRATS WAS ON THE MAP OUT IT ACTUALLY HAD DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLDS ALONG SOUTHEAST OHIO ALONG THE RIVER.

IT HAD YOUNGSTOWN AND AREAS LIKE THAT, BACK IN THE DEMOCRATIC FOLD.

AND THEN, THE FINAL MAP ACTUALLY SHOWED THE SAME KIND OF STRICKLAND BROWN MAP OF URBAN AND SUBURBAN COUNTIES, INCLUDING LIKE MADONNA THAT HAVE GONE AWAY, SO THE QUESTION IS IN THE IMMORTAL WORDS OF LEONARD COHEN, IS THIS CRACKED GOING TO ALLOW THE BLUE LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH IN THESE COUNTIES?

ARE THEY NOT TOTALLY GONE, ARE THEY JUST A MIRAGE AS PART OF TRUMP?

>> JULIE, YOU MENTIONED THIS IS SENATE BILL FIVE, DEMOCRATS WERE ENERGIZED FOR THIS.

ENERGIZED THEM?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ABSOLUTELY, IT WAS.

THE TIMING OF THIS AND THE ELEMENT THAT THIS WAS SOMEHOW GOING TO PULL THE WOOL OVER VOTERS' EYES AND CAUSE THEM TO CHANGE THEIR 111-YEAR-OLD CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISION IN ORDER TO THWART SOMETHING THAT IS SUPPORTED BY MORE THAN HALF OF THE VOTERS, WAS A TALKING POINT.

THE REALITY, THAT I THINK WAS NOT LOST ON THOSE WHO CAME OUT.

>> WHY DID THEY GO FOR THIS?

THERE WAS SKEPTICISM FROM THE GET GO.

THIS WAS PURELY TO TRY TO FLIP THE AMENDMENT.

60% WAS CHOSEN FOR THAT, THE TIMING WAS CHOSEN FOR THAT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE SAYING, THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

WHY DID THEY PUSH FORWARD WITH IT?

>> WELL, THEY BELIEVED THEY COULD RAISE THE MONEY AND DEFINED THE ISSUE, NEITHER OF WHICH HAPPENED, WHICH IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

THERE WAS ALSO SOME CONFUSION EARLY ON IN THE CAMPAIGN MESSAGING BECAUSE THE INITIALLY HAD A DARK, NEGATIVE ADS AT THE END CLOSE TO A STOP SIGN.

IT IS HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO FEEL GOOD ABOUT SAYING YES WHEN YOU HAVE THESE MESSAGES.

BUT GOING BACK TO WHAT BRIAN SAID, FROM THE GET-GO, THIS WAS CHALLENGING AND UPHILL.

THEY THOUGHT THEY WOULD ROLL THE DICE BUT OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T THERE.

>> YOU COULD SAY, NOW THE REAL CAMPAIGN BEGINS.

IF ISSUE ONE WAS A PROXY FIGHT ON THE ABORTION ISSUE, THE NOVEMBER ELECTION WILL BE THE WAR.

VOTERS WILL DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO ENSHRINE ABORTION RIGHTS IN THE CONSTITUTION.

THE AMENDMENT WOULD PROHIBIT THE STATE FROM REGULATING REPRODUCTIVE CARE AND BANNING ABORTION UP TO THE POINT OF FETAL VIABILITY.

LATER TERM ABORTIONS WOULD ONLY BE ALLOWED TO PROTECT THE MOTHER'S LIFE OR HEALTH.

NOW, BECAUSE THIS WAS MET WITH SKEPTICISM, ISSUE ONE WAS MET WITH SKEPTICISM IN THE ROAR AREAS, CAN WE JUST NOT SAY IT WOULD BE 57-43 IN FAVOR OF ABORTION RIGHTS?

>> ALL THE POLLING AROUND THE LAST YEAR IS AROUND THAT 58, 57%.

I THINK THAT WILL DROP BECAUSE OF SUPPORT FOR ISSUES DROPS AS YOU GET CLOSER TO THE ELECTION DAY.

I'M SURE THE VOTE NO CAMPAIGN LIKE OHIO RIGHT TO LIFE WILL TRY TO MAKE SOME INROADS.

BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE REAL PLACE THEY ARE GOING TO TRY TO DRIVE A WEDGE, IS THAT YOU MIGHT SAY WORD CHOICE, BUT YOU DON'T SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.

THAT IS WHAT THE GOVERNOR WAS SAYING YESTERDAY.

HE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE THINKS EVENTUALLY OHIO WILL GET TO A PLACE WHERE MOST OF US ARE COMFORTABLE WITH WHATEVER ABORTION LAW WE HAVE AND HE SEEMS TO BE ACKNOWLEDGING THAT THE SIX WEEK BAN, THE HEARTBEAT BILL, ISN'T THERE.

BUT, HE DOESN'T THINK THE AMENDMENT IS, EITHER.

>> GOVERNOR MIKE DeWINE DOES CALL THIS PROPOSAL WHICH WILL BE ON THE NOVEMBER BALLOT, RADICAL.

HE SAYS HE AND OTHER ABORTION OPPONENTS WILL WORK TO DEFEAT IT.

HERE'S THE GOVERNOR.

>> WE WILL ULTIMATELY, IN THIS STATE, ACHIEVE A POLICY ON ABORTION THAT IS ACCEPTED BY THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OHIO.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THAT ULTIMATE GOAL IN MIND.

IT MAY TAKE A WHILE.

THE ISSUE THAT'S ON THE BALLOT, THE CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT, DOES NOT DO THAT.

IT DOES NOT HAVE THE SUPPORT.

IT'S NOT WHERE A MAJORITY OF A PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF OHIO ARE.

>> SO, CASEY, WHAT OF THE GOVERNOR IS WRONG?

IF THE MAJORITY DOESN'T SUPPORT THIS, EVEN A HEALTHY MAJORITY, DOES THAT SETTLE THE ISSUE?

>> IN SOME WAYS, IT WILL NEVER BE SETTLED, BECAUSE PEOPLE WILL ALWAYS FEEL STRONGLY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, BUT THERE ARE QUESTIONS WITH HOW THEY DRAFTED THIS IN THE FIRST TWO WORDS, "AN INDIVIDUAL."

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, AGE, PARENT, CHILD?

BUT, I'M NOT SAYING THAT MEANS ONE SITE IS GOING TO WIN OR THE OTHER, BUT THINGS HAVE FLIPPED.

THEY CAN'T RUN THE SIGNS, VOTE ONE, THEY NOW WANT PEOPLE TO VOTE YES AND THE OTHER SIDE, VICE VERSA.

THEN, YOU HAVE THE OTHER THING.

SO, NO ELECTION REPEAT EXACTLY THE SAME EVEN A FEW MONTHS LATER.

>> BUT, THE THINKING IS, THERE IS EVIDENCE TO SUGGEST THAT THE OPPONENTS TWO ABORTION RIGHTS ARE OUTSIDE OF WHAT THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS FEEL ABOUT THAT ISSUE RIGHT NOW.

THAT IS HAPPENING STATE-BY- STATE.

IF THAT HAPPENS HERE, DOES THAT STICK?

>> THEY MIGHT PASS IT, BUT THE CHALLENGE WILL BE, WHEN PEOPLE START ARGUING AND RUNNING TV COMMERCIALS, WHAT DO A FEW OF THE DETAIL MEAN?

THAT HAPPENS IN THESE CAMPAIGNS.

SOMETIMES, THESE PEOPLE THEY START OUT, THEN THEY LEARN SOME DETAILS, WEAK LINKS IN THE CHAIN.

>> I THINK IT IS PRETTY CLEAR IT WON'T STICK, UNLESS WE SEE SOME SORT OF RADICAL CHANGE IN LEADERSHIP AT THIS STATEHOUSE, BECAUSE NOT HUFFMAN, THE SENATE PRESIDENT, SUGGESTED IF THIS PASSES, WE WILL GO TO THE BALLOT WITH A REPEAL OF THAT AS SOON AS WE CAN.

HE HAS APPROVED THE GOVERNOR'S REQUEST FOR A LEGISLATIVE PROVISION SAYING, WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE?

IF IT LOOKS ANYTHING LIKE OUR COMPROMISE ONGOING REFORM, IT IS NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE BECAUSE PEOPLE CAN'T SEEM TO AGREE.

>> WELL, AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM HERE, THAT NOT HUFFMAN BASICALLY WALKED INTO THE PUNCH OF THIS ELECTION.

THE ISSUE HERE IS GOING TO BE, DO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION TO PROTECT IT?

WOULD YOU RATHER THE CONSTITUTION PROTECT YOU OR LEAVE IT IN THE HANDS OF MATT HUFFMAN, WHO SEEMS TO HAVE A VERY FAR RIGHT AGENDA AND WANTS TO CRAM IT DOWN EVERYONE'S THROAT?

AND EVEN SAID, IF YOU PASS THIS, I AM GOING TO PUT SOMETHING ON TO OVERTURN IT NEXT.

WHACK A MOLE.

>> IF IT PASSES BY 57%, 58%, 60%, LET'S JUST SAY THAT FOR THE SAKE OF ARGUMENT, IT MIGHT BE LOWER THAN THAT.

DO YOU THINK THE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE WILL GO BACK TO THE BALLOT AGAIN?

CAN THEY RAISE MONEY ON THAT, DO THEY LEGITIMATELY THINK THEY CAN WIN?

>> I THINK YOU MIGHT RUN INTO SOME OPPOSITION.

I TALKED TO SOME REPUBLICANS ON BACKGROUND WHO SAID BOTH WITH MARIJUANA --WHICH IS LIKELY TO PASS IN NOVEMBER --AND ABORTION THAT IF THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS TO LEGALIZE THESE THINGS, THEN THEY ARE GOING TO THE OBJECT CHANGING IT.

BUT IDEOLOGICALLY, IF 56%, 57%, 58% LEGALIZE CANNABIS, THEY WILL NOT BE SUPERCOOL WITH UNWINDING THAT IMMEDIATELY.

I THINK THAT MAY BE THE ISSUE THAT HE RUNS INTO WITH HIS OWN CAUCUS.

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE FOLKS WHO SAY, LOOK, THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, IT IS WHAT IT IS.

>> BRIAN, DID THE ABORTION- RIGHTS SUPPORTERS HAVE TO SPEND MONEY AND VOLUNTEER TIME, TO DEFEAT ISSUE ONE?

>> HAVING RUN A GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION, THIS HELPS ENERGIZE PEOPLE, TRAIN PEOPLE.

ACTUALLY, WINNING GETS PEOPLE THAT ENERGY GOING FORWARD AND THE REVERSE.

IT BUILDS AN ORGANIZATION THERE.

AND ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE ORGANIZED LATER WITH THE ABORTION ISSUE BECAUSE WHAT HAPPENED WITH ISSUE FIVE.

>> SO, THE OPPOSITE QUESTION, DOES THIS MOBILIZE THE ANTIABORTION FOLKS TO WORK HARDER IN NOVEMBER?

>> YES AND YES BECAUSE THE MONEY IS ALMOST UNLIMITED.

AS I MENTIONED IN EARLIER SHOWS, OHIO IS THE ONLY STATE IN THE NATION THAT HAS ONE THIS FALL.

THE MONEY ON BOTH SIDES FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY SHOULD BE RICH STATES LIKE CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, D.C., TEXAS, FLORIDA, IT WILL BE STREAMING IT IN OHIO AT MY WARNING IS, GET YOUR CLICKER HANDY ON THE TV SET.

THE COMMERCIAL NASTINESS IS GOING TO START EARLY AND NEVER STOP.

>> PLUS, PBS.

WE DON'T HAVE ANY OF THOSE COMMERCIALS ON.

50% TURNOUT, JULIE, MORE THAN 50% IN NOVEMBER?

>> I FEEL LIKE IT WILL BE HIGH.

THIS WAS A VERY IMPRESSIVE TURNOUT FOR THIS AUGUST SPECIAL ELECTION, COMPARATIVELY SPEAKING.

ARE SORT OF ADDING SOMETHING TO THE CALENDAR --THIS WASN'T EVEN SORT OF ON PRINTED CALENDARS THAT A LOT OF BOARDS OF ELECTIONS GAVE OUT TO PEOPLE.

THIS WASN'T KNOWN WHEN SOME PEOPLE WERE MAKING VACATION PLANS, ET CETERA.

SO, I THINK THAT WHEN IT IS NOVEMBER AND PEOPLE ARE USED TO IT, WE ARE GOING TO SEE A PRETTY HIGH TURNOUT.

>> IT WAS PRETTY INCREDIBLE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO TURNED OUT.

THERE WERE PREDICTIONS AS LOW AS 8%, WHICH I NEVER BELIEVED.

LAST YEAR'S ELECTION WAS A TOTAL ANOMALY.

I THOUGHT 25%.

>> THAT IS WHERE I LANDED.

AND WITH EARLY VOTING, WE WERE ABOUT 10% GOING INTO ELECTION DAY SO I WAS SURPRISED THE DAY OF, TO GO FROM 10% TO ALMOST 40%, YOU ARE LOOKING AT A HUGE TURNOUT ON ELECTION DAY.

AND IT IS A RANDOM TUESDAY IN AUGUST, LIKE JULIE WAS SAYING.

SO, I THINK THESE PEOPLE REALLY HAVE STRONG FEELINGS ABOUT THIS, AND IT SEEMS LIKE THAT ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE NARRATIVE, WHETHER YOU AGREE OR DISAGREE WITH THAT INTERPRETATION, IT REALLY RESONATED WITH FOLKS.

>> THE FALLOUT FROM THE ISSUE ONE CAMPAIGN WILL LAST PAST NOVEMBER'S ELECTION.

THE LEADING SUPPORTER OF THE 60% THRESHOLD AMENDMENT, SECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LAROSE, IS RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE.

AT LEAST ONE OF HIS GOP OPPONENTS HAS CRITICIZED LAROSE'S STRATEGY.

DEMOCRATS HAVE LABELED IT "LAROSE'S AMENDMENT," AND SENATE PRESIDENT MATT HUFFMAN SUGGESTS THAT LAWMAKERS WILL AGAIN TRY TO MAKE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION.

BRIAN ROTHENBERG, YOU KNOW THE DONALD TRUMP THEORY, THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS BAD PUBLICITY.

HE HAS LIVED UP TO THAT THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE AND CAREER.

FRANKLIN LAROSE IS MUCH MORE WELL KNOWN.

IS THAT A GOOD THING FOR HIM?

>> NOT IN THIS CASE, NO.

I MEAN, HE REALLY HAS A THORN IN HIS BACK RIGHT NOW.

YOU HAVE A GUY WHO WENT OUT THERE, FISCAL CONSERVATIVE, SHOULD BE UPSET, THEY SPENT $20 MILLION ON THIS FOLLY.

HE PUSHED THIS ISSUE IN A WAY THAT HAS ACTUALLY ENERGIZED THE DEMOCRATIC BASE.

AS I POINTED OUT, ACTUALLY WOKE UP DEMOCRATIC BASES AROUND THE STATE.

NO, THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING FOR FRANK LAROSE.

THIS IS NOT A GOOD THING FOR HUFFMAN.

I THINK THE FACT THAT HUFFMAN IS DISRESPECTING VOTERS AND CONSTANTLY --I CALLED IT WHACK A MOLE POLITICS.

YOU RUN THIS DOWN, I WILL BRING IT BACK UP BECAUSE I AM GOING TO THRUST THIS AT YOU, NO MATTER WHAT.

I THINK EVEN REPUBLICANS, LIBERTARIANS, FISCAL CONSERVATIVES, THEY HAVE TO BE THINKING, WAIT A MINUTE.

>> CASEY, DID FRANKLIN LAROSE BUILD ANY GOODWILL AMONG ABORTION RIGHTS?

HE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, HE DID ALL HE COULD TO GET THIS PASSED?

>> THIS LAST ELECTION MARCH 19th, 2024, REPUBLICAN PRIMARY AGAINST TWO PEOPLE, NOT VERY WELL KNOWN STATEWIDE BUT WITH LOTS OF MONEY.

SO CLEARLY, FOR ELEMENTS OF THE BASE, THE RIGHT TO LIFE COMMUNITY, THIS IS DEFINITELY HELP FOR THEM.

WHETHER IT HELPS THEM DOESN'T COUNT UNLESS YOU WIN THE PRIMARY IN NOVEMBER OF '24, THAT IS A LONG TIME OFF.

WHO KNOWS HOW MANY RECESSIONS, WARS, WHATEVER, HAPPENED BETWEEN NOW AND THEN.

CONTRARY TO BRIAN -- >> YOU KNOW, THE GREATEST THING -- >> I'M SORRY.

HE IS THREATENING THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, NOT THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY.

>> WE HAVEN'T SEEN MUCH FROM FRANK LAROSE SINCE THE ELECTION.

SOME VOTERS, THAT IS WHY THEY LOST, BUT HE WILL BE BACK OUT THERE SOON, I AM ASSUMING, JULIE?

>> YES, AND I THINK HE IS GOING TO STICK TO THAT NARRATIVE.

HE HAS CALL THAT THE FIRST BATTLE IN A LONGER WAR.

I THINK TO THE POINT AS FAR AS THE 2024 ELECTION, DONALD TRUMP'S SUPPORT IN THAT ELECTION IS GOING TO BE SORT OF STRANGE, BECAUSE HE ALREADY ONCE ENDORSED LAROSE LAST YEAR AND SORT OF INDICATED HE LIKES BRANDON MURRAY BUT HASN'T ENDORSED HIM THIS YEAR.

WE WILL BE WATCHING TO SEE IF IS VERY POWERFUL IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY, CAN GET BACK FRANK LAROSE.

>> CAN MAKE IT ANYONE ELSE OTHER THAN FRANK LAROSE AFTER WHAT HE DID FOR THEM?

I MEAN, SERIOUSLY.

>> THAT WOULD BE A GOOD GET OUT THE VOTE OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM.

>> HIS DAUGHTER IS ACTUALLY ON THE RIGHT TO LIFE BOARD.

HE HAS SOME CONNECTIONS THAT WAY.

BUT REMEMBER, JOHN KASICH LOST BIG AND GOT DEAD AND BURIED IN THE GROUND AFTER THE NOVEMBER 11th SENATE BILL FIVE THING.

HE DIDN'T JUST WIN IN 14, HE WON BY A HUGE MAJORITY.

>> FRANK LAROSE'S CHRISTMAS LIST WOULD GET A LOT SHORTER.

MOVING TO THIS CHANGING CONSTITUTION, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO THINK 60% IS TOO MUCH, MAYBE 55 WOULD WORK, MAYBE TOUGHER INITIATED STATUTE PROTECTIONS, THIS ISSUE COULD COME BACK.

>> IT COULD.

I THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT HUFFMAN MEANT.

HE DIDN'T ELABORATE ON ELECTION DAY.

IF FOLKS WILL REMEMBER ABOUT A DECADE AGO, WE HAD A CONSTITUTIONAL MODERNIZATION COMMISSION.

>> WHICH NOBODY PAID ATTENTION TO.

>> THEY WORKED FOR A FEW YEARS AND CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF 55, BUT CAME UP WITH THE INITIATE STATUTE, WHICH IS CHANGING A LOCK ON THE CONSTITUTION.

ARGUABLY, WHERE SOME OF THIS STUFF WOULD GO.

BUT YOU HAVE TO COLLECT SIGNATURES TWICE.

IT IS VERY DIFFICULT.

TECHNICALLY, THE LEGISLATURE CAN JUST GO AND OVERTURN IT RIGHT AFTER.

SO I THINK IF YOU GAVE A LOWER PERCENTAGE, MAYBE DIDN'T MESS WITH THE 88 COUNTIES, THAT SEEMED TO BE ONE OF THE SINK STICKING POINTS IN TERMS OF SIGNATURE GATHERING.

AND YOU HAVE 5 TO 10 YEAR PROTECTION ON AN INITIATED STATUTE, MAYBE YOU COULD DO SOMETHING BIPARTISAN ON THIS.

>> LET'S LOOK AT THE GRAPH AS HALF-FULL FOR DEMOCRATS, BRIAN.

LET'S SAVE THE ABORTION AMENDMENT WAS ON THE NOVEMBER 2024 BALLOT.

>> WELL, WE DON'T KNOW THAT IT WON'T BE, BASED ON WHAT MATT HUFFMAN SAID.

BUT, I THINK THIS ENERGIZES VOTERS, YES.

I THINK IT WILL ENERGIZE VOTERS EVEN MORE THE NEXT YEAR, TOO.

THIS IS ONE OF THOSE ISSUES THAT HAS WOKEN A SLEEPING BEAR.

AS YOU LOOK BACK, YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THAT SOME OF THESE BLUE AREAS THAT HAVE BECOME TRUMP COUNTIES ARE GOING TO START TO MOVE BACK BASED ON ISSUE, NOT BASED ON WASHINGTON.

BE MIKE MY NEXT QUESTION IS, WHY CAN'T THE OHIO DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND OHIO DEMOCRATIC COALITION GET CANDIDATES ELECTED WITH THE SAME ENERGY THAT THEY DEFEATED THIS ISSUE?

>> WELL, IT WAS A WIN FOR A WHILE, BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK YOU HAVE TO REALLY , IN THIS STATE, FOCUS TOWARD THE CENTER FOCUS ON ISSUES.

FOCUS ON THOSE MAPS.

YOU CAN WIN EARLY VOTES IN THE TRADITIONAL, LIKE I SAID, CLINTON MAP.

YOU CAN WIN THE ELECTION DAY IN THIS STATE.

AND BROWN HAS DONE IT, THE LATEST WAS 2012 IN THE SUBURBAN COUNTIES.

>> I WOULD SAY, THOUGH, THAT THERE WERE PLENTY OF REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED NO ON THIS FOR REPUBLICAN TYPE REASONS, SUCH AS MAYBE THEY SUPPORT A VACCINE MANDATE IN -- YOU KNOW, REFUSING TO ALLOW THE GOVERNMENT TO MANDATE VACCINES IN OUR CONSTITUTION, OR MAYBE THEY WANT GUN RIGHTS IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND THEY THINK 60% IS TOO HIGH.

SO, I THINK THE QUESTION IS SORT OF WEATHER, HOW MUCH OF THAT WAS MORE INDEPENDENCE AND REPUBLICANS?

>> ONE MORE QUESTION ON THIS.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS BEEN IN CONTROL, THE LEGISLATURE RUNS BOTH HOUSES AND THE SUPREME COURT.

BUT THEY ARE STILL FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER.

COULD THIS UNIFY THEM, PERHAPS, IN THE NEXT FEW MONTHS?

>> IT WILL TAKE TIME, BUT WE WILL SEE WHAT CAMPAIGNS RUN AND SEE IF THERE IS A SINGLE MESSAGE AND SINGLE APPROACH.

PART OF THE PROBLEM THIS ELECTION, THERE WERE TWO COMMITTEES AND FIVE DIFFERENT MESSAGES AND THEY WERE KIND OF LATE ON MONEY AND DEFINING THE ISSUE.

BUT, THIS FALL, IT MIGHT BRING SOME PEOPLE TOGETHER.

AND OF COURSE, 2024 IS A WHOLE DIFFERENT THING.

MORE AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN THE SENATE RACE.

>> NOW, FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.

IT HAS BEEN A TUMULTUOUS COUPLE WEEKS FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL, AND TO SOME DEGREE, OHIO STATE.

THE BIG TEN IS NOW THE BIG 18, WITH WASHINGTON AND OREGON JOINING THE CONFERENCE AFTER THE PAC-12, WHICH BECAME THE PAC-10, THEN THE PACK EIGHT, NOW IT IS THE PACK FOUR, BASICALLY DISINTEGRATED.

THE TRANSFER PORTAL, AND NAME, IMAGE AND LIKENESS DEALS CONTINUE TO DISRUPT BIG COLLEGE PROGRAMS.

AMID ALL THIS,BUT HE SAYS NOT BECAUSE OF ALL THIS, OHIO ATHLETIC DIRECTOR GENE SMITH SAYS HE WILL RETIRE NEXT YEAR AFTER GUIDING THE DEPARTMENT TO 149 TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

OKAY, CASEY, GENE SMYTH IS 67 YEARS OLD, I AM SURE HE HAS DONE HIS TIME, HE HAS DONE HIS TIME WELL, HE IS SAYING IT IS TIME TO RETIRE.

YOU THINK HE LOOKS AT THIS AND SAYS, NO, I AM GOOD, I AM GOING TO LEAVE NOW?

>> I THINK YOU MIGHT REMEMBER HIM, WHICH WAS "SHOW ME THE MONEY."

BETWEEN THE SO-CALLED STUDENT ATHLETES, NOT EXACTLY THAT, THE NATIONAL COVERAGE, TEAMS ALL OVER THE PLACE, IT IS A GOOD RACE TO SHIFT GEARS.

THERE ALSO MIGHT BE A PRACTICAL REASON.

MAYBE OHIO STATE WILL DECIDE THEY NEED TO HIRE A NEW PRESIDENT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO ANNOUNCE YOU RESIGNED RIGHT AFTER THE PERSON'S NAME LOOK LIKE YOU PUSHED OUT.

SO, THIS SETS UP HIS TIMETABLE, IT IS HIS REASONING.

GENE SMITH IS A SMART GUY THAT HAS DONE A GOOD JOB UNDER DIFFICULT, CHANGING CIRCUMSTANCES THAT WILL GET EVEN MORE CHOPPY WATERS IN THE FUTURE.

>> IS THIS GOOD FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL, THIS MEGA CONFERENCE MOVE?

>> I MEAN, THE BIG TEN WITH OREGON, I MEAN, JUST THE UNIFORMS ALONE, THEY DON'T FIT.

I MEAN, LOOK, IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT IN TERMS OF IF OHIO STATE AND MICHIGAN HAVE LEFT THE BIG TEN, THEY COULDN'T GET A TV CONTRACT, THIS WOULD HAVE GONE THE SAME WAY AS WHEN USC AND UCLA LEFT.

>> OF COURSE.

>> BUT, IT IS ABOUT MONEY.

IT IS ABOUT BIG MONEY.

IT IS CHANGING THE WAY THAT DYNAMIC WORKS, IN TERMS OF THE STUDENT ATHLETES.

LOOK, THESE STUDENT ATHLETES PUT IT ALL ON THE LINE AND SOME OF THEM DON'T GET A PRO CAREER BECAUSE THEY GET INJURED.

IN TERMS OF THAT, I THINK IT IS GOOD, THE WAY SOME OF THIS IS MOVING TOWARDS HELPING THOSE ATHLETES.

BUT, IS IT CHANGING TRADITION?

IS IT CHANGING WHAT COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS ABOUT?

TIME IS GOING TO TELL.

WHO KNOWS?

>> WELL, WE JUST SEPARATE COLLEGE FOOTBALL OUT BECAUSE THESE MINOR SPORTS ARE STILL STUDENT ATHLETES.

>> THEY ARE COMPETING WITHOUT SCHOLARSHIPS, RELIVING THAT EXPERIENCE, COMPETING, GOING TO CLASS, GETTING THE REAL JOB OUTSIDE ATHLETICS AFTER THEY ARE DONE.

FOOTBALL, THIS IS A MINOR LEAGUE FOR THE NFL, LET'S FACE IT, IT TRULY IS.

>> RIGHT, AND I THINK THAT OHIO STATE HAS ALWAYS KIND OF USED ITS FOOTBALL PROGRAM TO SUPPORT ALL OF THOSE OTHER SPORTS, BECAUSE IT BRINGS IN ALL OF THE MONEY.

WE WERE ALL JUST TALKING ABOUT, IT IS ALL ABOUT MONEY.

THERE WAS THESE MOVEMENTS, THAT ATHLETES DESERVE THE MONEY THAT GOES WITH IT THAT UNIVERSITIES ARE GETTING.

>> DO YOU THINK THE FANS CARE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IN MORE WAYS, THEY HAVE MORE ACCESS TO THESE PLAYERS.

THEY CAN COME DO SIGNINGS, THEY CAN BUY MURCH PRODUCED OR CREATED BY THESE ATHLETES.

YOU SEE A LOT OF THEM COMING OUT WITH THEIR OWN DESIGNS THAT THEY SELL.

IN SOME WAYS, I THINK THEY ARE GETTING MORE INTERACTIVE WITH THEIR FANS, BECAUSE THEY CAN MAKE MONEY OFF OF THEIR FANS.

YOU KNOW?

I CAN'T REMEMBER WHO IT WAS, BUT I SAW A RECENT POST FROM ONE OF THE BUCKEYES, HE IS ON THE FACE OF A BAG OF CHIPS NOW THAT YOU CAN BUY LOCALLY.

IT IS KIND OF NEAT, IN THAT SENSE.

I DO AGREE THAT FOR A LOT OF THESE GUYS, THIS MAY BE ALL THEY DO, AND IF YOU HAVE A LIFE ENDING --I MEAN, CAREER ENDED, I APOLOGIZE, NOT A LIFE ENDING ENTRY --IF YOU HAVE A CAREER ENDING INJURY IN COLLEGE AND HE MADE SOME MONEY THROUGH THIS NIL, I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS A BAD THING.

>> WAS A TWO HOUR OFF THE RECORD PARTING CHARTS.

>> 1 IN 4 OHIOANS WERE BORN IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY, I SAW THAT STATISTIC THIS WEEK.

THIS IS NO LONGER ONE SMALL TOWN, THIS IS A GLOBAL CITY AND THINGS ARE GOING TO START TO CHANGE.

>> CHANGE COMING THIS FALL, BUT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO DISCOVER NOT ONLY THAT THE NAACP SAY NO TO THIS, THEY GOT OVER $200 MILLION CASH ON HAND.

MILLIONS OF UNSPENT COVID MONEY.

THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU REALLY NEED THE MONEY FOR?

PROP WHEN PROPERTY EVALUATIONS ARE GOING UP.

>> I WAS GOING TO PIGGYBACK OFF OF THAT AND SAY, WE ARE SEEING MASS INCREASES RIGHT NOW.

FRANKLIN COUNTY, 40%, PROPERTY VALUES GOING UP.

TAXES NOT GOING UP BY THAT AMOUNT, IT IS A COMP LOCATED PROCESS FOR FIGURING OUT HOW MUCH IT INCREASES.

BUT, FOLKS ARE IN FOR A >> JULIE?

>> LOOKING AHEAD TO THE NEW WEEK, WE MAY SEE ANOTHER DONALD TRUMP INDICTMENT OUT OF GEORGIA, AND SEE THE MYSTERY OF 2024, IT CONTINUES.

>> THE ISSUE ONE CAMPAIGN IS KIND OF LIKE THE TORTOISE AND THE HARE.

THE HAIR CHALLENGES THE TORTOISE TO A RACE ON THE STARTING LINE, AND THEN THE TORTOISE BEATS THE HARE.

KIND OF LIKE WHAT HAPPENED, THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE TIME, AND THE OTHER TWO GOT A HEAD START.

ANYWAY, THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK, AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME AT OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.ORG/COTR OR ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

FOR OUR CREW AND FOR OUR PANEL, I AM MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.