Snollygoster

Last week, former Sen. Sherrod Brown announced the formation of the Dignity of Work Institute. The goal, he says, is to help Democrats and Republicans better understand the lives of American workers. It also keeps him in the spotlight as he considers whether to run for office again.

If you're a politician who wants to get elected, promising tax cuts is a popular strategy. Republican candidates for governor are doing just that, floating the idea to eliminate Ohio's income tax.

The Department of Government Efficiency, also known as DOGE, could be coming to Ohio. We discuss what that might look like with a panel of political observers.

Gov. DeWine gave his State of the State address this week and said things are going pretty well. He called for mandatory basic skills lessons in school—things like basic finance and first aid—and wants to make students leave their phones at home. Ohio Public Radio Statehouse Bureau Chief Karen Kasler joins the show.

Vivek Ramaswamy officially launched his run for governor this week with several rallies. The wealthy entrepreneur, who burst on the scene in 2023 with his run for president, now wants to succeed Mike DeWine. Political strategist Terry Casey joins the show.

It's week two of the Jim Tressel era at the Ohio Statehouse and he has not set up a campaign website... yet. Meanwhile, Vivek Ramaswamy has filed preliminary paperwork to run for governor. He'll face Attorney General Dave Yost, who announced his candidacy last month.

Mike DeWine did keep his Lt. Governor pick a secret until he and Jim Tressel walked before cameras on Monday morning. To the surprise of everyone, he announced the former OSU football coach and former Youngstown State University president was his nominee to be his right-hand office holder. Reporter David Skolnick of the Youngstown Vindicator joins the show.

Our roundtable discussion covers President Trump’s immigration round-up, the move to end capital punishment in Ohio, and a proposal to change Ohio’s fairly new voter-approved law legalizing recreational marijuana.

Advocacy groups believe Trump's rescinded federal funding freeze would have disrupted the Ohio budget process and jeopardized critical programs. Hannah Halbert, director of Policy Matters Ohio, joins the show.

This DeWine appointment to the U.S. Senate has become a bit of a soap opera. Joining us to try to help us understand this is long-time Republican strategist Terry Casey.