>>> ANOTHER BIG INDICTMENT IN THE HOUSE BILL SIX SCANDAL.

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

IT HAS BEEN NEARLY SIX MONTHS SINCE FORMER HOUSE SPEAKER LARRY HOUSE HOLDER STARTED HIS 20 YEAR PRISON SENTENCE FOR HIS HOUSE ROLE IN THE SCANDAL.

HIS COHORT, MATT BORGES IS DOING FIVE YEARS.

NOW A FORMER OFFICIAL IS FACING YEARS IN PRISON.

THIS WEEK, THEY WERE SENTENCED FOR ACCEPTING BRIBES.

HE PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO A TOTAL OF 11 COUNTS OF BRIBERY, FRAUD AND MAKING ILLEGAL MONETARY TRANSACTIONS.

>> IT HAS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE THE FBI RAIDED HIS CONDO, A LONG TIME SINCE FIRST ENERGY, SINCE THEY DID THAT.

WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR HIM TO BE INDICTED?

>> I THINK THE PLAN WAS TO TAKE THE PEOPLE IN HOUSEHOLDER IN THE FIRST SET, FIVE ARRESTED, HOUSEHOLDER, BORGES AND TWO OTHER GUYS, TAKE THEM TO COURT AND GO THROUGH THE TRIAL THERE.

THEY COULD HAVE LIKE DONE A SUPERSEDING INDICTMENT AND ADDED MORE PEOPLE TO THAT CASE.

THEN, IT BECOMES MUCH MORE COMPLICATED FOR THE JURY TO FOLLOW WHAT ALL IS GOING ON.

NOW, WE SEE THEY'RE GOING TO DO RANDAZZO.

THE REAL QUESTION IS WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE OTHER FOLKS WHOSE NAMES HAVE COME UP ON THIS, THE FIRST ENERGY EXECUTIVES WHO SUPPOSEDLY CARRIED OUT THE BRIBERY SCHEME.

>> THERE WAS SOME TALK MAYBE RANDAZZO WAS COOPERATING AND THAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE DELAY?

THE INDICTMENT DOESN'T MENTION ANYTHING LIKE THAT?

>> IT DOESN'T SEEM SO.

HE'S PLEADING NOT GUILTY AND BROUGHT UP IN INDICTMENT.

THERE'S NO GUILTY PLEA OR ARRANGEMENT UNSEALED.

>> GENE KREBS, YOU WERE UP FOR THE POSITION HE GOT BACK IN IN DAY.

>> YES.

>> YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> NOT A SURPRISE.

IN FACT HOW MUCH NOT OF A SURPRISE IS THAT SAM AND I INTERVIEWED ON A THURSDAY, IT WAS GOING TO BE ANNOUNCED ON TUESDAY.

I KNEW SAM WAS GOING TO GET IT.

WE ALL KNEW SAM WAS GOING TO GET IT.

WE ALL KNEW SAM WAS ENTANGLED WITH FIRST ENERGY, SO MUCH TO THE POINT I KNEW HE WAS COMING, I ASKED MY CHURCH TO PRAY FOR HIM ON THAT SUNDAY BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A SURPRISE.

THIS IS NOT.

THE QUESTION IS THEN WHERE ELSE DOES THESE WAVES LAP UP TO?

IT'S GOING TO LAP UP PRETTY HIGH.

I'VE BEEN SAYING ON YOUR SHOW SINCE THE VERY GET-DO ON THIS, 120 TO 130 PEOPLE WILL HAVE THEIR LIVES RUINED AS A RESULT OF HOUSE BILL SIX.

WE'RE UP TO MAYBE WHAT NOW, 15, 20?

WE HAVE ANOTHER 100 MORE TO GO.

>> SAM GRESHAM, UTILITY, IT'S BEEN TALKED ABOUT SINCE THE INVESTIGATION BROKE, SOON AFTER IT BROKE, THE FBI RAIDED SAM RANDAZZO'S HOUSE.

NOW IT CONNECTS NOT JUST THE LEGISLATURE BUT THE EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT IN THIS SCANDAL.

>> TO BE HONEST, I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THAT SHOE TO DROP.

I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT MUCH ABOUT THE NAMES SO I'M NOT AS FAMILIAR WITH THAT.

THE ONE THING THAT ALWAYS AMAZED ME ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY, THE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT REALLY TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF ALL THIS SCANDAL TO DO ANYTHING IN THEIR CAMPAIGN APPARATUS.

USUALLY, THAT'S WHEN THEY HAVE A BREAK.

I'M FROM CHICAGO, SO GREASING THE PALMS IS NOT UNUSUAL, IT'S A PART OF THE CULTURE AND PEOPLE DO IT ALL THE TIME.

I THINK THIS WAS A LITTLE OVER THE TOP, THOUGH.

I MEAN, THE AMOUNT OF MONEY AND WHAT THEY WERE ATTEMPTING TO DO.

>> RANDAZZO PLEADS NOT GUILTY, SAID HE DIDN'T DO ANYTHING WRONG, AND THAT THE 4.5 MILLION PAYMENT HE GOT WAS ALLEGEDLY THE LAST PAYMENT FOR HIS CONSULTING CONTRACT?

IS IT GOING TO BE HARD TO PROVE?

>> THAT'S WRONG.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE.

>> THE PAYMENT CAME A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE HIS NAME WAS FLOATED OUT THERE FOR CHAIRMAN OF THE PCO.

IT WAS A CLOSEOUT PAYMENT, HOW HE WOULD DESCRIBE IT, THE CONCLUSION OF THIS LONG TERM CONTRACT HE HAD.

WHEN HE WENT ON THE PUCO HE WORKED TO ADVANCE HOSTILE SIX, MAKE SURE THEY GOT DECOUPLING, A SWEETENER FOR FIRST ENERGY.

THEN, IN NOVEMBER OF 2019, HE PUT LANGUAGE INTO AN OPINION OR ORDER PUCO GRANTED AND GOT FIRST ENERGY OFF A RAPE CASE.

THERE'S A NUMBER OF STEPS HE TOOK THAT MADE IT LOOK LIKE THE MONEY WAS A BRIBE, IT WAS PAID IN EXCHANGE FOR OFFICIAL ACTIONS.

>> IT COMES DOWN TO TEXT MESSAGES, GENE, WHAT GETS A LOT OF PEOPLE THESE DAYS, THEY TRADE TEXT MESSAGES, PICKERS ON MT.

RUSHMORE WHAT THE FIRST ENERGY FOLKS DID.

>> AND SOME OF THE STUFF I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT, I WAS SURPRISED AT, WAS APPARENTLY ABOUT THE ALLEGATIONS HE HAD BEEN SKIMMING MONEY FROM HIS CLIENTS AND PUTTING IT INTO HIS OWN POCKET.

I'M GOING, MY GOSH, EVEN I KNOW THAT THE FEDS, DOJ, AT ANY POINT IN TIME, CAN GO GET BANK RECORDS.

I DO WANT TO DO 1 SHORT PUBLIC SIEVES ANNOUNCEMENT HERE.

IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS HOUSE SIX DEBACLE, GO SEE THE DOJ NOW BEFORE THEY COME TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

BECAUSE THESE ARE MY FRIENDS AND FRENEMIES, ENEMY FRIENDS.

THEY'RE ALL GOING TO GET TARRED BY THIS.

>> WHAT IS THE STATUS?

THIS IS THE LATEST INDICTMENT, BUT THE INVESTIGATION IS NOT OVER.

>> NOT ACCORDING TO KEN PARKER'S OFFICE.

THEY'RE CONTINUING TO WORK ON THIS.

WE KNEW ABOUT THE FIRST ENERGY PAYMENT BECAUSE THAT CAME OUT IN THE HOUSEHOLD TRIAL AND DEFERRED PROSECUTION AGREEMENT.

YOU'RE RIGHT, THERE'S THIS SECOND SCHEME HE'S ACCUSED OF EMBEZZLING ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS, 3 MILLION DOLLARS FROM HIS INDUSTRIAL USERS GROUP SEPARATE AND APART FROM THE HOUSE BILL SIX STUFF.

>> THE DEMOCRATS NOT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT, JOHN HUSTON WILL BE DEPOSED ON THE CIVIL SIDE OF THIS STORY, THIS CASE.

GOVERNOR DeWINE AND HIM WERE INVOLVED WITH THE SAME RANDAZZO APPOINTMENT.

DO YOU EXPECT IF HE RUNS FOR GOVERNOR NEXT TIME?

>> COME HELL OR HIGH WATER, HE'S RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

WHETHER THE DEMOCRATS WILL TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS AS PART OF THEIR CAMPAIGN AGAINST HIM.

I DON'T KNOW.

THEY'VE BEEN INEPT AT THIS POINT TAKING ADVANTAGE OF OPPORTUNITIES AS I SEE THEM.

HE'S BEEN PREPARING TO BE GOVERNOR FOR YEARS.

ONCE THEY HAVE THE COMPROMISE BETWEEN HE AND DeWINE IT WAS LIKE SATE COMPLETE.

HE WILL BE GOVERNOR.

I DON'T THINK THIS WILL DETER HIM AT ALL.

>>> MY NEXT TOPIC.

THIS WEEK BARS AND RESTAURANTS WELCOME POT SMOKERS TO THEIR PATIOS AS RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA BECAME LEGAL AIMED AT PASSING THE LAW PASSED BY VOTERS LAST MONTH.

IT WOULD LOWER THE POTENCY, LIMIT HOMEGROWN MARIJUANA AND WHERE SOME OF THAT TAX MONEY WOULD GO.

GOVERNOR DeWINE SAYS IT'S A GOOD COMPROMISE.

>> I DID NOT VOTE IN FAVOR OF THIS BALLOT ISSUE.

THE PEOPLE VOTED FOR IT.

AS I SAID THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION WE HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO FOLLOW THE RULE OF THE PEOPLE UNLESS THAT CHANGES AND OBLIGATION TO MAKE THIS WORK TO PROTECT PEOPLE WHO DON'T WANT TO BE EXPOSED TO MARIJUANA SMOKE BUT ALSO PEOPLE CONSUMING MARIJUANA TO MAKE SURE IT IS PURE, IN FACT IT IS SAFE.

>> THE GROUP THAT PUT ISSUE TWO ON THE BALLOT SAID IT DOES GO AGAINST THE WILL OF THE VOTERS.

DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA IF THIS WERE TO BECOME LAW, THESE CHANGES, HOW IT WOULD AFFECT THE MARIJUANA MARKET AND INDUSTRY AND SYSTEM HERE?

>> IF YOU PUT THE TAX RATE UP TOO HIGH, PEOPLE WILL STILL KEEP DRIVING TO MICHIGAN OR GET IT FROM THEIR CONNECTION.

SO THERE'S A RISK.

WHAT I WOULD CAUTION AGAINST, LATCHING ON TOO MUCH WHAT THE SENATE HAS PASSED AND DeWINE IS SAYING HE WANTS.

THE HOUSE IS HOLDING OUT ON THIS.

THEY COULD CHANGE IT 16 DIFFERENT WAYS BETWEEN NOW AND WHEN THEY ACTUALLY AGREE ON SOMETHING.

I DO THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR AND THE LAWMAKERS HAVE TO DO A DELICATE DANCE.

THEY DON'T WANT TO GO OVERBOARD AND BE ACCUSED OF UNRAVELING THE WILL OF THE VOTERS BUT THEY STILL WANT TO MASSAGE IT A LITTLE BIT TO GET WHAT THEY WANT.

>> SAM, SUPPORTERS OF THE CHANGES AND BIGGER CHANGES THAN THIS SAY VOTERS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT THEY WERE VOTING ON WHEN THEY APPROVED ISSUE TWO.

DID THEY NOT KNOW ALL THE INS AND OUTS AND DETAILS?

IS THAT A FAIR ARGUMENT, ASSESSMENT WHAT HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER?

>> NO.

I THINK THAT'S A SNIPE AND DISRESPECT OF THE VOTERS.

THEY KNEW EXACTLY WHAT THEY WERE DOING THE MAJORITY OF THEM.

SOME PEOPLE HEARD MARIJUANA AND THEY VOTED FOR IT.

SOME PEOPLE STUDIED THE INITIATIVE.

I THINK THIS IS A CHRONIC DISEASE REPUBLICANS HAVE IN DISMISSING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

THERE'S A WHOLE SERIES OF INITIATIVES THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED WITH AND WILL BE INVOLVED IN THE FUTURE, WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO COME UP WITH THESE COMPLAINTS AND PROBLEMS.

THE COMMUNITY IS TIRED OF THE DISRESPECT.

IF YOU LOOK WHAT HAPPENED IN THE DRAWING OF THE DISTRICT LINES FOR CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION AND HOUSE REPRESENTATION, THERE WAS TREMENDOUS DISRESPECT OF THE PEOPLE, THE COMMUNITY ACROSS THIS STATE.

I WILL SAY TWO THINGS I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO, IF THEY CAN SHARPEN THIS BILL ANY, I WOULD WANT TO, TO MAKE SURE BLACK FOLK HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET THE BUSINESS.

LAST TIME WITH MEDICAL MARIJUANA, VERY FEW IF ANY BLACK PEOPLE, I REMEMBER THE GINN FAMILY IN CLEVELAND WAS SEEKING MEDICAL MARIJUANA AND THEY NEVER GOT IT.

THE SECOND THING THAT I'M HAPPY ABOUT IT, IT EXPUNGES SOME RECORDS.

BUT I HAVEN'T SEEN THE DETAILS WHAT THAT EXPUNGEMENT MEANS AND HOW FAR THEY'RE GOING BACK.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THEY'RE TARGETING IS THE SOCIAL PROGRAMS, SOME OF THE TAX MONEY WOULD GO TO FUND PROGRAMS TO HELP FOLKS, AFRICAN-AMERICANS AMONG THEM, WHO WERE PERHAPS, WHO WERE UNFAIRLY PERHAPS PENALIZED WHEN THE POSSESSION WAS 20 YEARS AND JAIL.

>> I THINK THAT SAM IS SOMEWHAT AGREE WITH SAM BUT DIFFERENT FRAMING IS YOU NEED TO BE RESPECTFUL OF WHAT THE VOTERS DID.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO TOUCH IT, DO A LIGHT TOUCH.

RESPECT THAT, DO A COUPLE SMALL CHANGES.

I HAVE TO COMMEND A FELLOW I SERVED WITH, REPRESENTATIVE JAMIE CALENDAR, FOR HIS APPROACH ON IT.

HE'S BEEN VERY RESPECTFUL.

HE'S HAD SOME GOOD -- HOW THEY -- ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU KNOW I WAS CAUTIONED WHEN I WAS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, DON'T PICK FIGHTS YOU DON'T HAVE TO.

FOR A WHOLE LOT OF MY FOLKS IN RURAL OHIO, THEY VOTED FOR THIS BECAUSE THEY LIKE THE IDEA OF BEING ABLE TO HAVE ONE MARIJUANA PLANT FOR EACH MONTH OUT OF THE YEAR.

OKAY.

BECAUSE FOR THEM THEY'RE PAYING SELF-MEDICATION AND THEY'RE USING IT BECAUSE THIS IS JUST PART OF THEIR CULTURE, HOW IT SEEMS URBAN TO ME.

>> THIS NOT GOES TO THE FULL HOUSE, RIGHT?

IT NOW GOES TO THE FULL HOUSE.

THE SENATE PASSED IT.

NO ONE IS SELLING IT YET BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO GET THROUGH THE PROCESS.

>> THEY CALL IT THE REVISED CODE BECAUSE THEY CHANGE IT ALL THE TIME.

THEY CAN TWEAK IT LATER.

YEAH, IT'S LEGAL NOW BUT THERE'S NOWHERE LEGALLY TO BUY RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN OHIO.

YOU CAN START YOUR PLANTS NOW, THOUGH.

>> WHAT ABOUT SEEDS?

>> A TRICK.

>> SANTA CLAUS.

>> SANTA CLAUS.

>> SANTA CLAUS DROPPED THE SEEDS DOWN THE CHIMNEY.

WEIRD WHEN YOU SEE THESE ADS THE BARS HAVE, OPEN AT 4:20 IN THE AFTERNOON TO START WITH THE POT SMOKING.

STRANGE DAY.

>> THERE'S SOME HYPOCRISY, IT COULD FIRE ON THEM.

IF THEY MAKE THAT TAX RATE TOO HIGH BUYING THE MARIJUANA, PEOPLE WILL STAY IN THE UNDERGROUND SYSTEM AND THE WHOLE PURPOSE WOULD HAVE BEEN DEFEATED.

>> JEANNE SAID THE EXTRACT WILL BE VAPING.

VAPING WON'T BE A PROPER OR EFFECTIVE WAY TO GET MARIJUANA.

I DON'T KNOW HOW VAPING WORKS BUT THAT'S WHAT HE SAYS.

>> A BILL AIMED AT WHAT THEY SAY IS LIBERAL BIAS IN THE COLLEGES MOVES FORWARD.

THE SENATE ALREADY PASSED THIS BILL REQUIRE THEM TO STOP HAVING DIVERSITY TRAINING AND AMERICAN HISTORY OR GOVERNMENT CLASS TO REQUIRE CERTAIN READINGS.

IT WOULD REQUIRE SCHOOLS TO DISCIPLINE STUDENTS OR FACULTY WHO VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF ANOTHER PERSON.

IT COULD GO ONTO THE FULL HOUSE FOR A VOTE.

GENE KREBS, THIS HAS BEEN COPIED AND PASTED FROM OTHER LEGISLATION IN OTHER CONSERVATIVE STATES?

IS THIS A THING IN OHIO OR A WAY FOR CONSERVATIVES TO POKE AT SO-CALLED LIBERAL PROFESSORS.

>> THE PROBLEM IS REAL, ABSOLUTELY.

I USED TO HAVE MIAMI IN OUR DISTRICT.

I'LL FLAT OUT TELL YOU, A HIGH STATE WOULD HAVE ME COME IN THREE OR FOUR TIMES A YEAR TO STAND IN FRONT OF STUDENTS AND GO BLAH BLAH BLAH.

IN 23 YEARS MIAMI HAS NOT HAD ME COME BACK ONCE BECAUSE I'M THE LOCAL CONSERVATIVE FARMER AND I CAN'T HAVE ANYTHING INTELLIGENT TO SAY.

>> YOU MEAN THEY HAVEN'T INVITED YOU BACK TO SPEAK?

>> NO.

NOT AT ALL.

THERE IS A BIAS.

THIS IS THE WRONG SOLUTION.

PART OF THIS BILL DOES GOING AT THE RIGHT THING, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF OHIO STATE'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES WHO ARE ACTIVELY INVOLVED AND REALLY PARTICIPATE IN THE GOVERNANCE OF THE UNIVERSITY, TOO MANY OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES ARE PET ROCKS.

THEY'RE THERE BECAUSE THEY GAVE VAST SUMS OF MONEY TO THE GOVERNOR, WHICH EVER GOVERNOR WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THEY DON'T REALLY CONTRIBUTE AND THEY'RE NOT DOING PROPER OVERSIGHT ON THAT INSTITUTION.

THAT FIX NEEDS TO BE, STILL, I DON'T LIKE HOW THAT FIX IS STRUCTURED IN THIS.

>> WE'RE SEEING THIS NOW WITH THE PROTEST ON CAMPUS SUPPORTING PALESTINIANS AND ALLEGATIONS THAT CROSS A LINE AND BECOMING ANTI-SEMITIC PROTESTS.

HOW DO YOU BALANCE FREE SPEECH ON CAMPUS WITH PEOPLE WHO GO TOO FAR.

>> I'M AN EXPERT ON THIS.

I WAS A CHILD OF THE '60s AND WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS IN CHAMPAGNE WHERE THERE ARE NOTORIOUS PEOPLE CALLED THE SEVEN, ALL CAME FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS DURING THAT PERIOD.

THE BALANCE IS LET IT HAPPEN.

THE THING IS NO VIOLENCE.

YOU CAN PEACEFULLY PROTEST.

YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU WANT.

WE HAD A ROCK IN THE MIDDLE OF CAMPUS.

YOU COULD STAND ON THIS ROCK AND SAY WHATEVER THE HELL YOU WANTED -- EXCUSE ME -- YOU COULD HAVE PEOPLE COME AND HEAR WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY.

>> WHAT IF SOMEBODY SAYS JEWS, THERE SHOULD BE GENOCIDE AGAINST JEWS, THEY SAY THAT, DOES THAT CROSS THAT LINE?

>> WELL, I WILL GIVE YOU A MINUTE.

BLACKS SHOULD BE BACK IN SLAVERY.

I THINK THAT'S A -- YEAH, THEY SAID IT AND STOOD ON THE ROCKS AND GAVE THE REASONS WHY WE WERE A NORMAL UNNORMAL PEOPLE.

BUT THIS THING INTERESTS ME.

IT SAYS INTELLECTUAL DIVERSITY TOPICS, SPELLED OUT IN LEGISLATION, ALL BANNED.

CLIMATE POLICIES, ELECTION POLITICS, FOREIGN POLICY, DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAMS, IMMIGRATION POLICY, MAJOR OR ABORTION ALL PROHIBIT THE UNIVERSITY FROM BEING INVOLVED.

WHO ARE WE TRYING TO HURT HERE OR WHO ARE WE TRYING TO EDUCATE?

>> WHERE DOES THIS STAND?

THE HOUSE SPEAKER IS NOT A HUGE FAN OF THIS, RIGHT, JASON STEVENS?

>> IT PASSED THE COMMITTEE AND WE'LL SEE IF IT GOES TO A FLOOR VOTE OR NOT.

THERE'S A WHOLE OTHER YEAR OF SESSION LEFT.

WE'RE NOT IN LAME DUCK ALTHOUGH IT FEELS THAT WAY.

>> THEY HAVE NOT DONE A WHOLE LOT OF WORK.

>> THEY HAVE NOT DONE A WHOLE LOT OF WORK AND PASSED LESS THAN TEN BILLS INCLUDING THE BUDGET BILL, A BIG ONE.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A MAD RUB FOR IT THIS MONTH.

>> DO YOU SEE IT CALMING DOWN A BIT?

>> NO.

WHEN I TALK TO MY FRIENDS IN OXFORD, WHY IS THIS HAPPENING, HOW CAN YOU STOP THIS?

I TALK TO PEOPLE OUTSIDE OF OXFORD THE QUESTION COMES WHO OWNS HIGHER EDUCATION IN OHIO.

FOR THOSE JUST ORDINARY CITIZENS THEY FEEL NO OWNERSHIP.

IF THEY DID FEEL OWNERSHIP, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN APPROACHING ME FOR YEARS, HOW DO WE CUT TUITION COSTS.

INSTEAD, WE HAVE COMPLAINTS ABOUT WHAT THEIR CHILDREN ARE BEING TAUGHT.

THAT'S WHY I KEEP GOING BACK TO.

I TALK TO OTHER FOLKS IN HIGHER ED ONCE I GET PAST THE ANGRY WORDS.

YEAH, YOU'RE RIGHT, IT'S THIS TRUSTEES, THEY'RE JUST NOT DOING THEIR JOB.

>> DO THEY UNDERSTAND WHO THEY'RE OFFENDING DOING THIS?

IT'S LIKE THE BLACK COMMUNITY, PEOPLE OF COLOR DON'T EXIST.

>> THEY FEEL THEY DON'T EXIST.

>> THEY'RE THE WHITE PEOPLE.

>> TRUST ME.

WHEN MIAMI UNIVERSITY WENT TO -- YOU COULD ONLY, IF YOU WERE IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEM YOU HAD AUTOMATIC ACCEPTANCE TO MIAMI BUT EXCLUDE EVERYBODY OUTSIDE, I WENT AND MET WITH THEM AND THEY SAID WE'RE LOOKING FOR A MORE INTERESTING POPULATION.

I SAID I'VE BEEN CALLED MANY THINGS BUT NEVER ONCE BEEN CALLED BORING BEFORE.

>> I THINK THERE'S A DANGER.

I THINK IT'S STUPID.

I THINK IT'S FOLLOWING A PATTERN ACROSS THE COUNTRY PEOPLE HAVE COME UP WITH THESE DUMB IDEAS.

THE IDEA OF TELLING ME MY HISTORY IS NOT IMPORTANT INFURIATES ME.

THERE'S A WHOLE CLASS OF PEOPLE LIKE ME.

WE STRUGGLED ENOUGH TO GET ON THE TABLE.

>> NOW YOU KNOW WHY I WAS PROMPTING -- >> TO OUR NEXT TOPIC, HIGHER EDUCATION RELATED.

THIS WEEK FEATURES THE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, THE AWARDING TO THE HIGHEST TROPHY TO THE BEST PLAYER.

THEY SEEM TO BE GOING THEIR SEPARATE WAYS.

IN THE BIG 10 THEY WILL SOON HAVE 18 TEAMS, FOUR ON THE WEST COAST.

PLAYERS CAN SWITCH SCHOOLS WITH NO TROUBLE, TOP ATHLETES CAN MAKE SEVEN-FIGURE INCOMES FOR MARKETING DEALS.

AND NOW THE HEAD IS SAYING JUST BREAK OFF AND PAY THEIR PLAYERS.

THE GOOD NEWS IS THE PLAYERS KEEP GETTING A PIECE OF THE PIE BUT THE PIE KEEPS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER.

IS THIS GOOD FOR COLLEGE SPORTS?

>> IT'S ABOUT TIME.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING IT ANY WAY.

YOU DIDN'T KNOW I PLAYED FOOTBALL AT WESTERN ILLINOIS.

>> THAT'S WHY I GAVE YOU THE QUESTION.

>> I DIDN'T GET ANY MONEY.

>> NOBODY KNEW WHERE McCOMB WAS AND THE WHOLE TEAM.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THEY CAME AND WE PUT IT ABOVE TABLE.

THE ONLY THING I WORRY ABOUT IS WHAT DOES IT DO FOR THE SMALLER SCHOOLS FROM THE STANDPOINT OF PUBLICITY AND EVEN INTEREST.

WILL THEY EVEN BET ON THE SMALLEST SCHOOLS, I DON'T KNOW.

THEN THERE'S A PLETHORA OF TALENT IN THE GROUP OF UNIVERSITIES AND THERE'S NO TALENT DOWN HERE.

I DON'T -- I'M -- I'M HAPPY IT'S OCCURRING BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU ADD MONEY TO THE THING?

IT USUALLY GETS WORSE.

>> THESE REALLY AREN'T -- THEY ARE TECHNICALLY STILL STUDENT ATHLETES.

MOST OF THE PLAYERS ON THE FOOTBALL TEAM NEVER EVEN SNIFF THE NFL, THEY GO ON TO PROFESSIONAL CAREERS IN A WIDE VARIETY OF FIELDS.

>> YOU HIT THE KEY PHRASE, STUDENT ATHLETES.

MY BEST FRIEND PLAYED OFFENSIVE LINE FOR A SMALL CATHOLIC SCHOOL IN INDIANA, WHERE HE WON A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP AGAINST TEXAS IN THE COTTON BOWL IN 1969.

HE'S MY GUY I GO TO ON ALL THIS TYPE STUFF.

HE SAYS COLLEGE FOOTBALL RIGHT NOW IS A HOT MESS AND ALL THIS IS DOING IS MAKING IT WORSE.

HE'S LONG HAD STRONG CONCERNS ABOUT THE NIL AND -- BUT THIS TRANSFER PORTAL, HE SAYS IS TURNING THESE TEENS INTO NOTHING MORE THAN SEMI-PRO MINOR LEAGUE TEAMS FOR THE NFL.

>> THIS TRANSFER PORTAL ALLOWS PLAYERS TO SWITCH SCHOOLS BASICALLY ONCE.

AFTER THAT, THEY CRACK DOWN.

DAVE YOSTES IS FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST THAT.

>> RIGHT.

THIS HAPPENED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI, 7'CENTER, HE TRANSFERRED TWICE, WANTED TO PLAY FOR CINCINNATI, AND THE NCAA HELD IT UP.

YOST GRABBED HIS ATTENTION AND HE FILED A LAWSUIT ALONG WITH SIX OTHER STATES ATTORNEYS GENERAL TO SAY LIKE THIS RULE IS UNFAIRLY RESTRAINING THEIR ABILITY TO MARKET THEIR LABOR AND ADVANCE THEIR EDUCATION.

>> THE TRANSFER PORTAL LETS PLAYERS SWITCH SCHOOLS LIKE THEIR COACHES DO FOR BIG PAYCHECKS.

>> MY FRIEND WENT TO COACH FOR NOTRE DAME AFTER HE GRADUATED, WAS OFFERED, BUT HE WENT TO MED SCHOOL INSTEAD.

HE SAID YOU SHOULD ALLOW THE TRANSFER IF THE COACH LEAVES BECAUSE THE COACH HAS A PARTICULAR STYLE AND METHODOLOGY OF PLAY AND THAT PLAYER MAY NOT ENJOY BEING UNDERNEATH THE NEW COACH.

>> WHAT ABOUT THAT PART THAT SAYS RESTRAINT OF TRADE?

>> YOU HAVE TO TAKE THAT UP WITH THE FEDS.

>> IT'S LARGELY A TWO-TIER SYSTEM, THE BIG 25.

>> 25.

>> EVERYTHING ELSE IS A MONEY LOSER REALLY.

IF.

>> IT'S ENTERTAINMENT FOR KIDS AT THE COLLEGE.

>> IT'S ENTERTAINMENT.

IT COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO RUN THESE PROGRAMS.

YOU TALK ABOUT HIGHER EDUCATION TUITION COSTS, YOU COULD MAKE A LOT OF CLUBS FOR IT AND CUT THE COST FOR STUDENTS OVERALL.

>> I DON'T BUY IT.

MY SON PLAYED AT YOUNGSTOWN STATE AND OTHERS AND THE SMALLEST SCHOOLS CAN BE THE MOST ENJOYMENT.

>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL PARTING SHOTS.

GENE KREBS.

FIRST.

>> ON SEPTEMBER 30th, 19 -- THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO PUBLISH THIS PIECE BY ME AND FULL DISCLOSURE IT CALLS FOR RANK CHOICE VOTING FOR ELECTING YOUR PCO COMMISSIONERS AND I'M INVOLVED IN THE RANK CHOICE ADVOCACY MOVEMENT IN OHIO.

>> WE'RE ABOUT TO ENTER WHAT I CALL THE POLITICAL TWILIGHT ZONE, WITH THE ELECTION OF 2024 AND THEN 2028, THIS COUNTRY WILL BE IN A POLITICAL MALAISE, CLOSE TO WHAT I CALL THE WORST POLITICAL CONFRONTATION OF THE CONSTITUTION WE'VE EVER HAD.

>> LAURA.

>> FRIDAY WAS AN AFTERNOON NEWS DUMP.

THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS ISSUED A REPORT FROM THE TWO GUYS FROM THE LIMA PRISON WHO ESCAPED AND READS LIKE A MOVIE SCRIPT.

ONE GUY PUT STUFF UNDERNEATH HIS BLANKETS SO IT LOOKS LIKE HE WAS SLEEPING IN IT.

PUT IT IN A DUMPSTER AND CAUGHT OFF CAMERA SNEAKING INTO THE DUMPSTER.

DEFINITELY INTERESTING.

>> MY FINAL THOUGHT REMINDER, IF YOU WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT HOW THE NUCLEAR BAILOUT SCANDAL IN THE PARTICIPANTS OWN WORDS, CHECK OUT THE PODCAST, THE POWER GRAB, USES THE LIGHTHOUSE TO DESCRIBE THE PASSAGE OF THE BILLION DOLLARS NUCLEAR PLANT BAILOUT ON YOUR PODCAST.

THAT WILL DO IT FOR "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD."

AND FOR OUR PANEL.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.