>> THE REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE.

>>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

IT LOOKS LIKE ANYONE OF THE THREE REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE HAS A CHANCE TO WIN TUESDAY'S PRIMARY.

THE LATEST POLL FROM EMERSON COLLEGE SHOWS STATE SENATOR MATT DOLAN SEARCHING A BIT.

HE HAS JUMPED 10 POINTS FROM JANUARY.

HE NOW LEADS WITH 26% AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS.

FRANK LAROSE IS THIRD WITH 16%.

32% OF THOSE REPUBLICANS SURVEYED SAY THEY REMAIN UNDECIDED.

THAT POLL WAS TAKEN WILL >>> THE REPUBLICAN SENATE PRIMARY GOES DOWN TO THE WIRE.

>>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD.

IT LOOKS LIKE ANYONE OF THE THREE REPUBLICANS RUNNING FOR U.S. SENATE HAS A CHANCE TO WIN TUESDAY'S PRIMARY.

THE LATEST POLL FROM EMERSON COLLEGE SHOWS STATE SENATOR MATT DOLAN SEARCHING A BIT.

HE HAS JUMPED 10 POINTS FROM JANUARY.

HE NOW LEADS WITH 26% AMONG REGISTERED VOTERS.

BERNIE MORENO IS SECOND WITH 23% AND FRANK LAROSE IS THIRD WITH 15%.

32% OF THOSE REPUBLICANS SURVEYED SAY THEY REMAIN UNDECIDED.

THAT WAS TAKEN BEFORE GOVERNOR MIKE DeWINE DECIDED TO ENDORSE MATT DOLAN.

THE KEY ENDORSEMENT, WE THINK.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS EXPECTED TO COME TO OHIO TO CAMPAIGN FOR BERNIE MORENO.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS GOING ON IN THIS RACE?

>> I THINK THAT THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT THIS IS ANYBODY'S RACE WITH A THIRD UNDECIDED IT COULD BREAK IN ANY DIRECTION.

AND THE FACT THAT THE GOVERNOR DECIDED TO GET IN AND ENDORSE MATT DOLAN AFTER SAYING HE WAS GOING TO JUST LET THE VOTERS DECIDE TELLS ME HE THINKS HE HAS A GOOD CHANCE.

DOLAN HAS KIND OF THE MAINSTREAM OHIO REPUBLICANS BEHIND HIM AND MARINO HAS DONALD TRUMP, VIVEK RAMASWAMY, KATIE VANCE, AND JIM JORDAN.

IT'S A MUCH MORE RIGHT-WING COALITION AROUND HIM.

>> THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF MONEY SPENT ALREADY.

$30 MILLION JUST IN THE PRIMARY.

IT IS ONLY MID-MARCH.

IS AT THE MONEY THAT DOLAN IS PUTTING ON TV THAT IS BEING EFFECTIVE?

>> PROBABLY MANY THINGS.

ONE, THE MONEY UNDOUBTEDLY.

TO -- TWO, YOU'VE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE ON THE SHOW THAT MATT DOLAN CAN WIN WITH 34% OF THE VOTE.

WHAT IT IS THAT FRANK AND BERNIE HAVE POSITIONED THEMSELVES SAYING, I'M THE TRUE INHERITOR OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT.

MATT HAS BEEN CHARTING HIS OWN PATH AND THEY ARE SPLITTING THAT VOTE.

WHAT IS INTERESTING IS ONE THIRD OF PEOPLE ARE UNDECIDED SIX DAYS OUT.

>> THESE ARE REGISTERED VOTERS IN THE SURVEY, NOT LIKELY VOTERS.

THERE'S A DIFFERENCE THERE.

THE THINKING IS, IF YOU ARE UNDECIDED THIS LATE YOU MAY AS WELL JUST STAY HOME.

IF YOU ARE JUST A REGISTERED VOTER MAYBE NOT A LIKELY VOTER.

>> YOU WRITE ABOUT THAT BUT THERE'S ONE THING ABOUT DOLAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POLLS, HE IS +3.

ALL THE OTHER CANDIDATES IS +8 OR BETTER.

IN THESE LATEST NUMBERS HE IS THE MOST COMPETITIVE VESSEL BUT NOW HE HAS THIS COMPUTER WEBSITE ISSUES HE'S DEALING WITH.

>> BERNIE MORENO HAS THAT.

HIS WEBSITE IS FROM 25 YEARS AGO.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE MEDDLING.

CHUCK SCHUMER'S RUNNING ADS SAYING BERNIE MORENO IS TOO CONSERVATIVE WHICH MEANS CONSERVATIVES WILL SAY HE'S MY GUY.

SO IT REALLY NEVER WORKS WHEN DEMOCRATS TRY TO GET INTO THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

>> IT WORKS IN CALIFORNIA.

JUST RECENTLY, WHAT'S HIS NAME?

>> STEVE GARVEY.

>> YEAH.

HE DID NOT WANT TO RUN AGAINST THE OTHER TWO COMPETITORS THAT WERE DEMOCRATS AND HE PUMPED GARVEY UP AND HE WON.

THAT IS THE MODERN TECHNIQUE.

THAT IS NEW.

>> I THINK WHEN THE RACE IS THIS CLOSE, THAT KIND OF MEDDLING ON THE EDGES CAN BE EFFECTIVE.

IT SEEMS, THERE'S A STORY THAT SAID THIS DUTY AND COUNTRY PACK PUTTING TWO AND A HALF-MILLION DOLLARS IN ADVERTISING SAYING BERNIE MORENO IS TOO CONSERVATIVE.

THAT IS SORT OF A WHISTLE TO VOTERS TO SAY THAT'S WHO I WANT.

>> REPUBLICANS WILL SEE THAT AND SAY, THAT'S MY GUY.

>> THEY WOULD RATHER GO UP AGAINST BERNIE MORENO, HE HAS A BETTER CHANCE AGAINST HIM IN THE GENERAL THAN THE MORE MAINSTREAM.

>> HE SAID THAT WAS MUSIC TO HIS EARS OF ALL THREE CANDIDATES.

NOW, HE IS ALL FOR MIKE DEWINE'S ENDORSEMENT.

>> HE ALSO SAID BEFORE ON THE SHOW THAT DOLAN IS BY FAR AND AWAY THE ONE TO GIVE BROWN -- BROWN WILL BE FORMIDABLE.

I'M NOT DOWNPLAYING WHAT HE IS LIKE, BUT MATT CAN GIVE HIM A LEGITIMATE CAMPAIGN.

BERNIE AND FRANK WILL PROBABLY LOSE AND THAT'S WHAT REPUBLICANS UNDERSTAND.

>> THAT WAS JD VANCE'S KEY IN 2022.

>> MITCH McCONNELL POURED AN EXTRA 10 OR $20 MILLION IN THAT RACE AFTER THAT.

BECAUSE OF THAT THEY ENDED UP LOSING PENNSYLVANIA AND OTHER RACES.

THERE WAS A CONSEQUENCE FOR THAT.

>> THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT BROWN'S CHARACTER THAT SAYS OHIO.

HE'S A FRUMPY GUY.

HE'S NOT POLISHED AND SPIT SHINED.

HE HAS A DEEP, GRAVELLY VOICE.

HE JUST LOOKS OHIO.

IT IS GOING TO BE HARD TO BEAT THAT GUY.

>> HE CAN THOUGH.

I REMEMBER MIKE DeWINE BEAT HIM.

>> AND THAT WAS ONLY BY SEVEN POINTS.

I THINK THERE ARE A COUPLE OF THINGS RIDING ON THE SELECTION.

THAT THE CANDIDATES WILL GAIN THIS GO-ROUND.

>> SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?

FRANK LAROSE IS A PRETTY POPULAR REPUBLICAN.

WHY ISN'T HE DOING BETTER?

>> I THINK BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP PICKED THE OTHER MAGA GUY IN THE RACE.

I THINK THAT IS, THAT WAS REALLY A BIG PROBLEM FOR HIM .

>> SO HIS FULL SUPPORT OPPOSITION TO THE ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT GOING INTO THE AUGUST ELECTION, MAKES IT HARDER HE JUST DOES NOT HAVE ANY LAKES WITH REPUBLICANS.

>> ALTHOUGH HE WON STATEWIDE TWICE, IT'S SECRETARY OF STATE SO IT'S A LOWER VISIBILITY POSITION.

HIS NAME IS VERY VISIBLE DURING ELECTIONS THOUGH OBVIOUSLY.

>> HE THREW US A COUPLE OF BONES DURING THE STATEWIDE INITIATIVES.

BUT RECENTLY HE HURT US AGAIN.

WE HAD AN INITIATIVE WE WANTED TO PUT ON THE BALLOT FOR VOTERS RIGHTS.

HE HURT US IN THE LANGUAGE CATEGORY BECAUSE WE DID NOT GET THAT THROUGH BUT WE WILL BE BACK.

THERE ARE SEVERAL REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES IN THE HOUSE AND SENATE THAT WILL SHAKE POLITICS OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THEY COULD ALSO DETERMINE WHO THE NEXT HOUSE SPEAKER IS.

CURRENT HOUSE SPEAKER JASON STEVENS IS SUPPORTING THE SLATE OF HIS REPUBLICAN SUPPORTERS.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SUPPORTING MANY OF THEIR OPPONENTS.

MATT HUFFMAN IS EXPECTED TO WIN THE SEAT AND CHALLENGED JASON STEVENS FOR THE SPEAKER GAVEL.

THIS IS A REALLY INTERESTING FIGHT THAT IS GOING ON AMONG REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE IN PARTICULAR.

HOW WILL THIS AFFECT HOW IT OPERATES IN A COUPLE YEARS?

>> FIRST OF ALL, TO BACKTRACK I FORGOT IT WAS ACTUALLY BOB NOT MIKE.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IN OHIO BECAUSE OF TERM LIMITS WE EVOLVE QUICKER THAN THE OTHER STATES.

EVERY TWO YEARS WE TAKE ABOUT A QUARTER OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND SHOW THEM THE DOOR AND SAY'S SEE THE PASTOR?

THAT'S WHERE YOU ARE GOING TO GO NOW.

IT IS KIND OF HARD TO DEAL.

BECAUSE OF THAT, POLITICAL EVOLUTION OCCURS HERE MORE QUICKLY THAN OTHER STATES.

SO WILL BE BECOME MORE WILL WE BECOME MORE CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST.

THE CHAMBER IS NOT GOING TO BE CONSERVATIVE.

IT WILL BE MORE CHRISTIAN NATIONALIST BECAUSE THAT IS RIGHT NOW WHAT IS THE MAIN THING CONTROLLING THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.

>> CAN DEMOCRATS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS?

>> THERE ARE SEVERAL INDICATIONS THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE A CHANCE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF.

IT WILL BE RIGHT AWAY.

MY ANALYSIS, NORTHEAST, NORTHWEST, SOUTHEAST ARE THE AREAS WHERE THE REPUBLICANS DO VERY WELL.

AND THEY HAVE A TENDENCY TO OVER PERFORM.

THEY GET 60, 70, 80% OF THE PEOPLE OUT.

DEMOCRATS IN CLEVELAND, CINCINNATI, AND COME BLISS -- COLUMBUS.

THEY DO NOT DO AS WELL AS GETTING OUT THE OVER PERFORMERS.

THERE IS A LITTLE TWIST.

THAT WILL OCCUR AROUND 2035 TO 2050 WHEN THE POPULATION OF ELDERLY WILL DROP SIGNIFICANTLY.

THAT WILL BE 15 TO 20% AND A LARGE PART OF THAT CONTINGENCY IN THE NORTHEAST, SOUTHEAST THAT CARRIES THAT ARE ELDERLY THAT POPULATION DROPS AND THE DENSITY IN THE STATE CONTINUES TO GROW.

THERE IS A HIGH POSSIBILITY THAT THAT WILL OCCUR >> ALL OF US WILL STILL BE HERE IN 2050.

>> WHY IS SAM LOOKING AT ME?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WILL WE KNOW WHO THE NEXT SPEAKER IS OR BASELINE THIS PRIMARY?

>> I GUESS YOU COULD LOOK TO SEE WHICH OF THE HUFFMAN CANDIDATES AND WHICH OF THE STEVENS CANDIDATES WIN, OBVIOUSLY.

IT DOES SEEM LIKE THE FIGHT OVER THE SPEAKERSHIP HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN A DECADE.

STEVENS BUT YOU HAVE CLIFF STEPPING DOWN AND THEN THE EPIC BATTLE BETWEEN RYAN SMITH.

THAN THE STEVENS FIGHT AND NOW THE LATEST ITERATION IS STEVENS VERSUS HUFFMAN.

>> THAT IS THE NEW NORMAL.

THAT'S WHAT YOU WILL SEE NOW IN THE OHIO HOUSE.

IT IS GOING TO INFECT THE STATE SENATE.

YOU WILL SEE THESE BUT CONTINUOUS BATTLES GOING ON.

IT IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR DISRUPTIVE PROBLEM FOR MOVING OHIO AHEAD ECONOMICALLY UNTIL THEY GET THEIR ACT TOGETHER.

>> OR UNTIL WE CHANGE HOW WE DRAW THE MAPS.

>> THAT SEEMS TO BE GENETIC.

THE REPUBLICANS IN THE CAPITOL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE NEWT GINGRICH THEY HAVE KILLED ALL OF THEIR LEADERS WHO'VE COME OUT OF THERE.

>> WHAT YOU HAVE HEARD ME SAY BEFORE ON THE SHOW IS THAT REPUBLICANS WOULD FORM A AUTOMATIC WEAPONS.

>> THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BETTER AIM.

>>> A PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT TO RAISE OHIO'S MINIMUM WAGE APPEARS TO BE MOVING CLOSER TO THE BALLOT.

THEY HAVE ROUGHLY HALF THE SIGNATURES THEY LIKELY WILL NEED TO QUALIFY.

IF PASSED THE MINIMUM WAGE WOULD RISE TO $15 AN HOUR BY 2026.

IT NOW STANDS AT $10.45 PER HOUR.

>> SO SIGNATURE COLLECTION SEEMS TO BE GOING WELL.

THIS COULD BE A BIG FIGHT IN THE FALL.

>> THEY HAVE 350,000 SIGNATURES BANKED ALREADY.

THEY NEED 413,000.

THEY WILL BE SHOOTING 600,000 BECAUSE A LOT GET THROWN OUT.

IT IS A SERIOUS EFFORT.

I THINK THERE'S A NATIONAL CAMPAIGN THAT IS WORKING IN ABOUT A DOZEN STATES TO RAISE THE WAGE.

THE UNION GROUPS ARE BEHIND AS WELL.

THEY HAVE SOME PRETTY GOOD SUPPORT.

I THINK THEY RAISED ALMOST $2 MILLION JUST FOR THE SIGNATURE GATHERING CAMPAIGN.

THEY WILL FACE SOME REALLY STIFF OPPOSITION FROM THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION, THE BARS, AND BUSINESS GROUPS.

ONE OF THE BIG STICKING POINTS IS TIPPED WORKERS.

TIPPED WORKERS WOULD NOT HAVE A LOWER WAGE ANYMORE.

THEY WOULD BE AT THE SAME AS EVERYBODY ELSE AND PEOPLE WOULD TIP ON TOP OF THAT IF THEY CHOOSE.

THERE WILL BE A BIG PUSH BACK FROM THE BARS AND RESTAURANTS ON THAT.

>> THERE WILL BE NO MORE SERVER SHORTAGE IF THAT WERE TO HAPPEN.

>> SO THERE ARE STUDIES ON THIS ALL OVER THE PLACE.

THERE ARE NO CLEAR STUDIES THAT IT INCREASES UNEMPLOYMENT OR DECREASES UNEMPLOYMENT.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS?

>> I WANT THE WAGES TO BE AT MAXIMUM LEVEL SO PEOPLE CAN HAVE A VIABLE LIFE AND LIVABLE WAGE.

THE PEOPLE WHO GET TIPS.

IT'S A TOUGH SITUATION.

I DO THE MAXIMUM I CAN DO I WANT YOU TO STOP FOR A MOMENT.

THIS RUBY RED OHIO THAT WE USED TO HAVE APPEARS TO BE FADING A LITTLE BIT.

A LOT OF THE CRITICAL SOCIAL ISSUES HAVE BEEN TAKEN INTO THE HAND OF THE COMMUNITY THROUGH INITIATIVES.

THAT IS A 60% THRESHOLD THAT THEY TRY TO DO WOKE A LOT OF PEOPLE UP.

A LOT OF PEOPLE REALLY DID NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.

NOW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS.

WE WILL BE RUNNING THROUGH.

OUR DISTRICT COMMISSION IS ON THIS YEAR'S INITIATIVE.

>> WHAT DOES THIS DO TO THE SENATE RACE IN PARTICULAR AND OTHER RACES ON THE BALLOT?

WILL THIS DRIVE YOUNGER PEOPLE, DEMOCRATS TO THE POLLS?

>> YES IT WELL.

IT'S ALSO INTERESTING FOR REPUBLICANS BECAUSE IT IS SOMEWHAT OF A POPULIST ISSUE.

ONCE AGAIN YOU HAVE TO LOOK AT JD VANCE TO UNDERSTAND WHERE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS RIGHT NOW.

JD VANCE IS THE SPEAR POINT ON WHERE THE REPUBLICAN ELECTORATE MOSTLY AS ON ISSUES LIKE THIS.

WHEN IT COMES TO A LOT OF POPULIST ISSUES LIKE THAT, THIS IS NOT REAGAN'S PARTY ANYMORE.

>> ARE THEY CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL GET THE SIGNATURES?

>> OH YEAH.

THEY SAID THEY ARE QUITE CONFIDENT THEY WILL GET THE SIGNATURES AND A LOT OF FUNDING TO CAMPAIGN.

IT IS INTERESTING.

I THINK SAM IS RIGHT.

A LOT OF ISSUES COP POLICY ISSUES HAVE BEEN ANSWERED BY THE VOTERS AT THE BALLOT.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT CASINO GAMBLING, MARIJUANA, ABORTION RIGHTS, EVEN GOING WAY BACK TO THE INDOOR SMOKING BAN IN OHIO.

THAT WAS VOTER APPROVED.

>> THE INTERESTING DYNAMIC FROM AN ECONOMIC STANDPOINT IS THE NEXT TIME YOU GUYS TRAVEL DOWN 75 TO BUCKYS YOU WILL SEE THAT THEY ARE ADVERTISING STARTING RURAL KENTUCKY.

WHAT THIS POINTS TO IS THE FACT THAT WAGES HAVE COME UP WAY ABOVE ANY MINIMUM WAGE NOW.

>> SO THEY PROBABLY WOULD NOT MIND $15 AN HOUR?

>> IT'S ALREADY BEEN ECLIPSED BY $23 AN HOUR FOR WORKING AT A GAS STATION.

>> AFTER 2026 THE MINIMUM WAGE WOULD RAISE WITH INFLATION ABOVE $15 AN HOUR ACCORDING TO THIS INITIATIVE.

>> THE FREE MARKET HAS ALREADY GONE WELL PAST THAT.

>> NEXT, WE ARE VERY DEPENDENT ON MOBILE PHONES.

THEY INTERRUPT MEETINGS, DINNERTIME, SLEEP, OTHER THINGS.

AND SCHOOLS THEY INTERRUPT LEARNING AND CAN KEEP KIDS FROM INTERACTING WITH EACH OTHER FACE-TO-FACE.

FOR THOSE REASONS, THE GOVERNOR URGES SCHOOL DISTRICTS AROUND THE STATE TO BAN FUNNIEST DURING SCHOOL HOURS.

A FEW DISTRICTS HAVE BANNED OR SEVERELY RESTRICTED PHONES.

HE A BAN BUT HE SAYS THE STATE SHOULD NOT IMPOSE A BAN ON LOCAL DISTRICTS.

WHY NOT TAKE A STAND AND SAY THIS SHOULD BE A STATEWIDE BAN ON PHONES DURING CLASS TIME.

>> I THINK THE CULTURE HAS SIGNIFICANTLY CHANGED.

WE HAVE THESE FUNDS IN OUR POCKETS WE CARRY AROUND NOT NECESSARILY FOR COMMUNICATIONS AND SAFETY.

FOR KIDS IT IS A PLAY TOY.

THEY PLAY WITH IT 24 HOURS A DAY WHEN MY GRANDKIDS COME TO MY HOUSE, I TRY TO WORK WITH THEM TO GET THESE THINGS DOWN BUT THEY DON'T PUT THEM DOWN.

SO THE OTHER ASPECT IS IN THE BACK OF MOMMIES AND DADDIES MINE I CAN CONTACT MY CHILD.

WHEN YOU HAVE ISSUES AT SCHOOL YOU CAN CALL YOUR CHILD AND CHECK ON THEM.

>> I THINK WHAT MIKE DeWINE HAS DONE IS THAT HE HAS GIVEN THIS A CULTURAL PERMISSION SLIP THAT HE SAYS FOR SCHOOLS IF YOU WANT TO DO THIS WE'VE BROUGHT IT UP NOW AS CULTURALLY PERMISSIBLE.

HE HAS IN EFFECT GIVEN ASSIGNED TO THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SAYING, GO AHEAD AND BAN THIS.

>> THIS CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE.

IT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE.

THEY HAD A FORUM WHERE THEY TALKED ABOUT THIS.

DUBLIN HAS ENACTED BANDS WITH SOME OF THEIR SCHOOLS.

THAT IS PROBABLY WHY IT'S A PRIORITY FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>> I THINK THERE HAS BEEN AN INTEREST IN LIMITING KIDS ACCESS TO SOCIAL MEDIA AND OTHER THINGS.

I THINK THAT THIS TELLING THEM TO LIMIT OR CURB USE OF CELL PHONES IN CLASS IS JUST AN EXTENSION OF THAT.

I DO THINK THAT THE HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN.

PARENTS DON'T WANT KIDS TO HAVE THEIR PHONE ON THEM SO THAT WILL BE A BIG HURDLE FOR GETTING THAT KIND OF POLICY PAST.

>> THEY MAYBE TEACH YOU TO USE PHONES.

THEY HAVE SOFTWARE.

YOU CAN VOTE ON THINGS.

IT THE ANSWER ON YOUR PHONE.

MOST KIDS ARE ON INSTAGRAM OR TEXTING EACH OTHER.

>> I HAVE GONE TO CONFERENCES.

THEY TELL YOU TO GO TO A PARTICULAR WEBSITE AND YOU CAN GIVE YOUR OPINION ON THE DISCUSSION THAT IS GOING ON.

I THOUGHT IT IS UNIQUE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> THE ONLY PLACE I DO NOT SEE CELL PHONES BEING USED AT ALL EVER IS A CHURCH FOR ONE HOUR ON SUNDAY.

THAT IS IT.

>> YOU DO NOT SEE THEM OUT.

>> YOU CAN GET THE READINGS ON YOUR PHONE.

>> I WOULD BE READING ALONG WITH THE READINGS.

AND THE KIDS WILL SAY ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE ON YOUR PHONE.

>>> MID-MARCH FOUR YEARS AGO OHIO WAS A MUCH DIFFERENT PLACE.

OFFICES WERE EMPTY.

WE STAYED HOME AS THE COVID WINGS OF HOSPITALS STARTED TO FILL UP.

OHIO FOUND ITSELF UNDER A STATE OF EMERGENCY.

THE PRIMARY ELECTION WAS BASICALLY CANCELED.

SCHOOL KIDS HAD TO LEARN FROM HOME.

WE THOUGHT THE SHUTDOWN WOULD LAST JUST A FEW WEEKS.

IT LASTED MORE THAN A YEAR AND NOW IT SEEMS LIKE A DISTANT MEMORY.

HAVE WE FORGOTTEN ALREADY COVID AND MOVED ON?

>> ABSOLUTELY YES.

AND THE TRAGEDY THAT IT CREATED IN OUR COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LOOK BACK AND TRY TO REMIND PEOPLE OF THE PEOPLE WHO DIED IN OHIO THE DISPROPORTIONATE DEATH RATE AND THEN FURTHER THAN THAT THE SYSTEM OF HEALTHCARE HAS NOT CHANGED.

SO WHEN WE GET ANOTHER PANDEMIC POOR PEOPLE WILL SUFFER AGAIN.

WE HAVE NOT LEARNED ANYTHING FROM THAT.

>> BIG NUMBERS.

1.2 MILLION AMERICANS ROUGHLY HAVE DIED FROM COVID-19.

51,500 OHIOANS HAVE DIED.

TODAY SOME 100 ARE IN THE HOSPITAL BECAUSE OF COVID.

IT IS STILL HERE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE POLITICAL IMPACT.

PRIOR TO THE ADVENT OF THE VACCINE THE COMMUNITY TOOK THIS ON THE CHIN.

THE DEATH RATE WAS WAY ABOVE AVERAGE.

AFTER THE VACCINE CAME OUT, THE DEATH RATE IN THE URBAN CORE PLUMMETED, BUT IT WAS IN THE RURAL AREAS WHERE IT SKYROCKETED BECAUSE SO MANY REPUBLICANS CITED NO, IT'S A I WILL GET AIDS FROM IT OR ALIENS WILL GET IN MY BRAIN.

BECAUSE OF THAT, IF YOU LOOK AT SOME STATES LIKE WITH --LIKE WISCONSIN, ENOUGH REPUBLICANS DIED PREMATURELY DUE TO COVID THAT THEY ACTUALLY CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE THERE.

>> WHAT WE KNOW NOW WE DID NOT KNOW IN THE START.

IT'S COME OUT THAT SOCIAL DISTANCING MEN OUT OF AND IS EFFECTIVE AS WE THOUGHT IT WAS.

WE CERTAINLY DON'T HAVE TO DISINFECT OUR GROCERIES.

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL HAVE AN IMPACT NEXT TIME?

>> THERE WILL BE AS MUCH FORGIVENESS OF WE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WE DID NOT KNOW.

I THINK SOME PEOPLE WILL LOOK BACK AND SAY, I AM NOT GOING TO BELIEVE EVERYTHING THEY ARE TELLING US BECAUSE LAST TIME THEY HAD US IN A FRENZY.

WE WERE DOING STUFF THAT WAS NOT EFFECTIVE.

IT IS INTERESTING TO ME THAT THE MEDICAL FREEDOM FOLKS USED THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC TO REALLY GAIN A LOT OF POLITICAL STRENGTH.

ONLY IN AMERICA CAN YOU TURN A VIRUS INTO A POLITICAL ISSUE.

>> I THINK LAURA IS RIGHT.

I THINK PUTTING OUT CREDIBLE INFORMATION IN THE FUTURE WILL BE VERY DIFFICULT BECAUSE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS WE'VE RUN INTO AT THIS POINT.

THE PEOPLE WILL NOT BELIEVE THEM THEY WILL THINK THAT THERE TREATMENTS THAT THEY ARE SUGGESTING ARE VALID.

WE WILL HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

>> IS THE MOST LASTING IMPACT OF COVID EMPTY OFFICE BUILDING AND PEOPLE WORKING FROM HOME?

>> AS I SAID PROBABLY THE BIGGEST ASPECT IS TO QUOTE FROM JONAH GOLDBERG WHO SAYS, THE DEATH OF EXPERTISE.

NOBODY IF YOU SAY TO SOMEBODY, I AM AN EXPERT IN WHATEVER IT IS THEY IMMEDIATELY SAY YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.

BECAUSE I READ THREE ARTICLES ON THE INTERNET AND THAT MAKES ME THE EXPERT AND NOT YOU.

>> I DON'T THINK WE WILL SEE SCHOOLS SHUT DOWN UNLESS IT IS REALLY BADLY CONTAGIOUS AGAIN.

>> OR THE CANCELLATION OF A PRIMARY.

WE THINK ABOUT SOME OF THE STUFF THAT HAPPENED AND IT IS REALLY EXTRAORDINARY.

>> WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW IS PEOPLE NOT VACCINATING THEIR KIDS IN FLORIDA.

>> LET'S GET TO THE FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTY AND SHOPS -- PARTY AND SHOT.

>> I SAID A PARTY CAN'T BE BOTH THE POPULIST PARTY AND THE PARTY A BUSINESS.

AS I TALK TO BUSINESS LEADERS RIGHT NOW THEY SEE THE BIGGEST ISSUE IS ATTRACTION AND RETENTION OF THE CREATIVE CLASS THEY SAY THEY YOUNG AND EDUCATED FOLKS BECAUSE THEY DON'T WANT TO COME TO A COLD VERSION OF ALABAMA.

WHAT WE WILL HAVE TO DO IS THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IS VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS.

>> THANK YOU TO THE PUBLIC.

WE FOUND A WAY TO GET THE LEGISLATION WE NEED TO SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS IN THE STATE OF OHIO.

WE HAVE MORE INITIATIVES COMING.

NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THE COMMISSION ON REDISTRICTING, HAVE THE WHOLE VOTERS RIGHTS PACKAGE COMING SOON.

IT IS NOT OVER YET.

WE WILL GET WHAT WE WANT, NOT FROM THE STATE LEGISLATION BUT CITIZENS.

>> I WOULD LIKE TO WELCOME AARON QUINN TO THE TEAM AT THE USA TODAY NETWORK OHIO BUREAU.

SHE COMES TO US FROM THE INQUIRER WHERE SHE WAS A REPORT FOR MAC AND FELLOW.

SHE IS FILLING A SLOT THAT WAS LEFT OPEN WHEN MIKE SWIPED ANNA FROM US.

>> WE ARE GLAD TO HAVE ANNA BUT POINT TAKEN.

>> SHE IS REALLY DIGGING INTO THE HOUSING CRISIS WHICH IS REALLY INTERESTING.

>>> IT IS ST. PATRICK'S WEEKEND.

BASICALLY FOUR YEARS AGO ST. PATRICK'S DAY GOT CANCELED AND THE STATE OF OHIO SO I HOPE YOU CELEBRATE BUT CELEBRATE RESPONSIBLY.

THAT IS WHAT IS ON THE RECORD THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK.

DON'T FORGET YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME ON OUR WEBSITE WOSU.ORG YOU CAN ALSO WATCH US ON YOUTUBE AND PBS VIDEO APP.

I AM MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK.