>>> COLUMBUS BRACES FOR MORE I.C.E.

ACTIVITY AND PROTESTS.

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

I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

THE FUROR OVER I.C.E.

ACTIVITY IN MINNESOTA SHOWS NO SIGNS OF DYING DOWN.

IN FACT, IT INTENSIFIED THIS WEEK.

PROTESTS CONTINUED, FOLLOWING LAST WEEK'S FATAL SHOOTING OF RENEE GOOD BY AN I.C.E.

OFFICER.

ANOTHER I.C.E.

OFFICER SHOT AND WOUNDED A MAN THIS WEEK.

AUTHORITIES SAY THE MAN RESISTED ARREST.

PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS NOW THREATENED TO IMPOSE THE INSURRECTION ACT, WHICH WOULD ALLOW HIM TO SEND IN THE MILITARY TO STOP PROTESTS AND INTERFERENCE WITH I.C.E.

ACTIVITY.

HERE, IN CENTRAL OHIO, THERE ARE NO SIGNS OF INCREASED IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT, BUT I.C.E.

AGENTS CONTINUE TO DETAIN THE COLUMBUS AND HILLIARD TEACHERS UNION THIS WEEK DENOUNCED I.C.E.

ACTIVITY NEAR SCHOOLS.

CONGRESSWOMAN JOYCE BEATTY DEMANDED MORE TRANSPARENCY FROM HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY KRISTI NOEM, AND SENATOR JON HUSTED URGED OHIOANS TO STAY AWAY FROM AGENTS.

HE SAID, PEOPLE ARE FREE TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST I.C.E.

ACTIVITY, BUT THEY SHOULD NOT INTERVENE.

JOE MAS, WHERE IS THE LINE?

BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T ENTER -- DEFINE WHAT "INTERVENING" IS, BUT WHAT IS THE LINE BETWEEN PROTESTING I.C.E.

ACTIVITY AND INTERVENING WITH ACTION?

>> LET'S TAKE A MOMENT TO ALSO CONSIDER THE FACT THAT "INTERVENTION" MAY BE SOME FORM OF RESISTANCE, SO PEOPLE MAY, IN FACT, OPT TO DO THAT.

ALTHOUGH, WE HAVE SEEN SOME LETHAL OUTCOMES AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THAT.

BUT, FROM AN ATTORNEY'S PERSPECTIVE, I THINK THAT, AS LONG AS --YOU CAN YELL THINGS, YOU CAN CERTAINLY RECORD THINGS ON YOUR PHONE, EVEN IF THEY MAY NOT LIKE IT.

YOU CAN YELL, CALL NAMES, WHATEVER IT IS YOU WANT TO DO, BUT YOU CAN'T, IN FACT, GET IN THE WAY OF AN ACTUAL ARREST BEING MADE, OR AN ACTUAL INQUIRY, BY THE WAY, BECAUSE THE LAW, EMPOWERING I.C.E.

AGENTS, DOES ALLOW THEM TO STOP AND --AND THE WORD "STOP," HERE, I DON'T MEAN NECESSARILY, BUT TO INQUIRE AS TO WHETHER AN INDIVIDUAL IS A CITIZEN OR IS SOMEBODY THAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR.

>> WOULDN'T THIS JUST BE ESCALATING?

THE I.C.E.

AGENTS ARE AGGRESSIVE, PROTESTERS ARE AGGRESSIVE TO MATCH THEM AND IT JUST KEEPS GOING UP, AND UP, AND UP.

HOW DO WE DEFUSE THIS?

>> WELL, WE HAVE TO HAVE LEADERS, LIKE GOVERNORS AND MAYORS, TO NOT TRY PEOPLE TO RESIST WHAT IS GOING ON.

I MEAN, THIS IS THE LAW, OKAY?

AND YOU EITHER --I LOVE THE FACT THAT YOU MENTIONED THE LAW AND WHAT THE LAW SAYS.

IF WE DON'T LIKE THE LAW, THEN CHANGE THE LAW.

I MEAN, HERE, IN AMERICA, WE DON'T --WE CAN'T PICK AND CHOOSE WHICH LAWS WE LIKE OR DON'T LIKE.

AND IF WE DON'T LIKE A LAW, WE CAN JUST SAY, "OH, WELL, I'M GOING TO PRETEND THAT DOESN'T EXIST."

WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS AND WE HAVE TO ABIDE BY THOSE LAWS.

>> SO, WE HEARD EARLIER IN THE WEEK THAT THERE MIGHT BE INCREASED I.C.E.

ACTIVITY, RUMORS, AGAIN, SOCIAL MEDIA CHATTER.

IT TURNS OUT, IT PROBABLY WASN'T TRUE, WE HEARD I.C.E.

AGENTS WERE STAYING IN A CERTAIN HOTEL, IT'S JUST NOT TRUE.

IT'S JUST SO HARD TO TRACK DOWN WHAT IS GOING ON, HERE, LOCALLY.

MINNESOTA, WE SEE WHAT IS GOING ON, CHICAGO, WE SAW WHAT IS GOING ON, HERE, NOT SO MUCH.

>> YEAH, OUTSIDE OF THAT WELL DOCUMENTED OPERATION BUCKEYE, WHICH HAPPENED AROUND CHRISTMAS, THERE WERE SOME DEPORTATIONS THERE, BUT WE DON'T HAVE A GOOD PICTURE OF WHAT IS GOING ON.

I THINK ONE THING TO WATCH IS GOING TO BE, COME FEBRUARY, TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS FOR SEVERAL AFRICAN COUNTRIES, INCLUDING SOMALIA, AND ALSO THE ISLAND OF HAITI OUT IN THE CARIBBEAN, THOSE COUNTRIES ARE GOING TO BE LOSING THEIR TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

YOU KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF COVERAGE ABOUT THE FACT THAT THERE ARE POCKETS OF HAITIAN FOLKS OUT IN SPRINGFIELD.

OF COURSE, CENTRAL OHIO HAS A HUGE SOMALI POPULATION, ALTHOUGH LEADERS TELL ME MOST OF THE FOLKS HERE ARE CITIZENS.

>> AND HAVE BEEN, FOR A LONG TIME.

>> BUT, CERTAINLY SOMETHING TO WATCH, COME FEBRUARY, WHEN WE ARE TALKING I.C.E.

AND DEPORTATION.

>> I HAVE A QUESTION REGARDING THAT HOLE, KNOWING WHAT IS GOING ON, BECAUSE IN THE EIGHT YEARS BARACK OBAMA WAS PRESIDENT, HE FORCIBLY DEPORTED 3 MILLION PEOPLE.

AND THAT WAS TOTALLY UNDER THE RADAR.

NOBODY KNEW THAT.

THE ONLY REASON WE KNOW THAT, HOMELAND SECURITY PUTS OUT REPORTS EVERY YEAR, THAT SHOWED THE NUMBER THEY DEPORTED.

NOW, THERE WAS ANOTHER 2 MILLION THAT SELF DEPORTED BECAUSE THEY SAW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

WHAT I DON'T UNDERSTAND IS, WHY WAS THERE NEVER ANY ATTENTION ABOUT THAT, THEN?

>> IT IS BECAUSE THAT WAS -- >> WAIT A MINUTE.

>> NO, I DON'T THINK THAT IS THE CASE.

I THINK IT IS ABOUT NOT WHAT IS BEING DONE, BUT WHO IS DOING IT.

I THINK THAT'S -- >> HOW.

HOW IT IS BEING DONE.

OBAMA --AND BY THE WAY, MIKE, THIS IS A SUBJECT WE COULD ACTUALLY PROBABLY SPEND TWO OR THREE HOURS DISCUSSING.

BUT, MIKE IS ACTUALLY CORRECT.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF THOSE DEPORTATIONS WERE DOWN IN THE BORDER, AND WERE INCREASED BY FUNNY, LITTLE THINGS THAT WERE BEING DONE.

I WOULD HAVE, FOR EXAMPLE, A FEDERAL CASE, THEY WILL TELL YOU IT IS A DRUG CASE, AND THE PROSECUTOR WOULD TAP YOU ON THE SHOULDER AND SAY, "JOE, WOULD YOU MIND IF I ADD AN ILLEGAL AND, ESSENTIALLY, WE ARE NOT DOING ANYTHING TO THEM, BUT WOULD YOU MIND DOING THAT?

AND THEN, WE ARE ENHANCING THE NUMBERS AS A CONSEQUENCE.

>> WELL, THEY WERE CATCHING THEM AT THE BORDER.

WHAT WE HAD FOR FOUR YEARS UNDER JOE BIDEN, WAS LEADING THEM THROUGH THE BORDER, SO WHAT HAPPENS IN FOUR YEARS?

THEY ARE NO LONGER NEAR THE BORDER, THEY ARE WELL INTO THE INTERIOR.

>> WELL, ALSO, TRUMP IS TARGETING --HE IS NOT TARGETING DALLAS, HE IS NOT TARGETING MEMPHIS.

HE IS TARGETING MINNESOTA, CHICAGO, L.A.

>> YES, LARGE CITIES THAT HAVE LARGE CONCENTRATIONS.

>> WELL, TOP DEMOCRATS, TOO.

DEMOCRATIC RUN CITIES.

>> SO, YOU DON'T THINK NOBODY GOT DEPORTED, YET, BY I.C.E., IN TEXAS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT IS HAPPENING, YES.

>> IT'S ABOUT COOPERATION.

YOU HAVE A TARGET, WHEN THERE IS NO COOPERATION WITH LOCAL AUTHORITIES.

YOU DON'T NEED AS MANY I.C.E.

AGENTS IN FLORIDA OR TEXAS BECAUSE, GUESS WHAT?

THEIR LOCAL OFFICIALS ARE COOPERATING.

>> HE IS 100% CORRECT, AS WELL, IN FACT, I THINK WE ARE ALL CORRECT, HERE.

>> WHAT IS HAPPENING?

[ LAUGHTER ] >> WELL, BOB, THERE IS, IN FACT, AN AGREEMENT, THAT SOME STATES --FLORIDA, FOR EXAMPLE --I THINK IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS, THEY HAVE --THE STATE AUTHORITIES --HAVE CAUGHT 5000 PEOPLE.

AND BASICALLY, THEY HAVE DEPUTIZED.

SO, WHAT THE ADMINISTRATION WANTS IS NOT COOPERATION, WE ARE COOPERATING IN COLUMBUS, WE ARE COOPERATING IN OHIO.

BUT, THEY WANT TO BE DEPUTIZING THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES, FOR THEM TO GO OUT AND FIND PEOPLE.

IT IS HAPPENING IN TEXAS AND IT IS HAPPENING IN FLORIDA.

>> AND YOU DON'T NOTICE IT AS MUCH WHEN IT IS LOCAL OFFICIALS INSTEAD OF I.C.E.

>> AND IF A MISTAKE, IT MAKES SENSE.

>>> WE WILL GET OUR NEXT TOPIC.

DESPITE A LACK OF EVIDENCE THAT A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM EXISTS, TWO GROUPS OF LAWMAKERS SAY THE STATE IS NOT DOING ENOUGH TO FIGHT AGAINST DAY CARE FRAUD.

TWO REPUBLICAN BILLS EMERGED THIS WEEK.

BOTH WOULD GIVE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL MORE AUTHORITY TO INVESTIGATE REPORTS OF FRAUD.

THEY BOTH WOULD ALLOW FOR THE SUSPENSION, THE QUICK SUSPENSION, OF DAY CARE OPERATING LICENSES, IF THEY FACE FRAUD ALLEGATIONS.

BUT, ONE BILL GOES QUITE A BIT FURTHER --IT WOULD PUT VIDEO CAMERAS IN DAY CARE CENTERS TO CONSTANTLY MONITOR ENROLLMENT, LIVE, TO MAKE SURE DAY CARE CENTERS ARE NOT PADDING THEIR NUMBERS.

STATE REP JOSH WILLIAMS SAID THE REFORMS WOULD PROTECT AGAINST A DEPARTMENT, OR GOVERNOR'S ADMINISTRATION, FROM, "SWEEPING FRAUD UNDER THE RUG."

GOVERNOR DeWINE, LAST WEEK, SAID, ANY CASES OF FRAUD ARE RARE, AND HE SAYS SYSTEMS ARE IN PLACE TO SPOT IT WHEN IT HAPPENS.

BOB CLEGG, IS THIS A PASSIVE- AGGRESSIVE INDICATION THAT GOVERNOR DeWINE IS SWEEPING THIS UNDER THE RUG?

>> NO.

LET ME JUST SAY, FIRST OFF, RIGHT OFF THE BAT, WE ARE NOT MINNESOTA, AT ALL.

I MEAN, MINNESOTA HAD RENTED ABUSE.

THEY HAD STATE EMPLOYEES THAT TOOK IT TO THE ATTENTION OF STATE OFFICIALS.

THE GOVERNOR AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MINNESOTA, IGNORED IT, DIDN'T WANT TO LOOK AT IT.

SO, YOU HAVE A CASE NOW WHERE OVER 60 PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY BEEN CONVICTED IN MINNESOTA, AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OVER $1 BILLION IN FRAUD.

OHIO IS NOTHING --NOTHING -- LIKE THAT.

BUT, OHIO, WE SAW, DURING COVID, HOW FRAUD OCCURRED IN RAMPANT, HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

SO FAR, CAN OCCUR.

I AM ON THE SIDE OF THE GOVERNOR WITH THIS.

>> STATE REP JOSH WILLIAMS WAS SAYING, KIND OF IMPLIED THAT, YOU KNOW, IT MIGHT BE CLOSER TO MINNESOTA THAN WHAT WE HAVE BEEN TOLD.

>> I THINK THE GOVERNOR WOULD FIGHT BACK ON THAT.

THE GOVERNOR HAS SAID THIS -- WELL, NOT EVEN THE GOVERNOR -- THE GOVERNOR'S SPOKESPERSON TOLD NEWS EARLIER THIS YEAR THAT WILLIAMS MAY BE MISTAKEN.

BUT, I WILL SAY, TO BOB'S POINT, WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPETUS BEHIND THESE CLAIMS AND WHY THESE BILLS ARE COMING FORWARD.

THERE IS A LARGE SOMALI POPULATION IN MINNESOTA.

THERE IS ALSO A LARGE SOMALI POPULATION IN OHIO.

RIGHT-WING INFLUENCERS HAVE TAKEN THAT CASE OF PROVEN, CONVICTED FRAUD, AND THEY HAVE STARTED SHOWING UP AT EVERY DAY CARE IN THE AREA THAT MIGHT BE OWNED BY A SOMALI PERSON, RECORDING, KNOCKING ON A DOOR.

THAT'S ALSO WHAT IS GOING ON, HERE.

>> BLATANTLY RACIST, IN MY OPINION.

AND BY THE WAY, I REPRESENTED SOMEONE WHO WAS ACCUSED, AND PLED GUILTY, TO ONE OF THESE ABUSES.

WHAT IT HAS TO DO --AND YOU MENTIONED ABOUT THE CAMERAS AND SO ON --THERE IS AN EASIER WAY OF DOING IT, BY THE WAY, WITHOUT CAMERAS.

AND THAT IS TO MAYBE JUST HAVE A CARD, LIKE, A CREDIT CARD THAT YOU SWIPED COMING IN AND THAT WOULD DO IT.

BECAUSE THE ABUSE WAS THAT THE OPERATOR WAS SHOWING --BECAUSE THEY ARE PAID BY THE HEAD.

SHE WAS SHOWING MORE CHILDREN THERE THAN THERE ACTUALLY WERE, AND THAT WAS ALL THERE, SHE SPENT A LITTLE BIT OF TIME IN WHOLE BUSINESS --NOT SOMALI, BY THE WAY, LET ME RUSH TO CLEAR THAT.

>> BOB CLEGG, 5000 PUBLICLY FUNDED, ROUGHLY 5000 PUBLICLY FUNDED DAY CARE CENTERS IN OHIO.

WHO IS GOING TO MONITOR ALL THOSE CAMERAS?

YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE A LOT MORE PEOPLE ON GOVERNMENT PAYROLL TO DO THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> FRAUD --PEOPLE THAT DEFRAUD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, STATE GOVERNMENT, THEY COME IN ALL SHAPES, SIZES, AND COLORS.

THERE IS NO COOKIE-CUTTER GROUP THAT DEFRAUD'S MORE THAN OTHERS.

I THINK, AS A STATE, YOU KNOW, I LIKE GOING AFTER THE IDEA OF ABUSE, PERIOD.

STATE GOVERNMENT, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, I THINK THERE IS TONS OF ABUSE.

AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAID, LIKE WE SAW WITH COVID.

THEY WANT TO DO SOME OF THESE OTHER MEASURES --YOU KNOW, LET'S LOOK AT EVERYTHING, AND LET'S LOOK AT EVERYBODY.

>> NOT A CARE, BUT A CASE.

>> EVERYTHING!

>> THERE ARE CHEAPER WAYS OF DOING IT, AS WELL.

>> BUT, GETTING TO YOUR POINT, RESPONSE WAS A LITTLE BIT TIMID.

IS HE TRYING TO -- THIS IS TWICE IN THE PAST MONTH, THIS COULD BE A THIRD TIME.

>> I AM GOING TO AVOID ANALYZING GOVERNOR DeWINE TOO MUCH, BUT I DO THINK, YOU KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE WILLIAMS HAS REALLY BEEN PUSHING THIS, SINCE THESE VIDEOS HAVE GONE VIRAL.

GOVERNOR DeWINE HAS BEEN TRYING TO STRIKE THIS BALANCE.

I THINK, BETWEEN DEFENDING HIS OWN ADMINISTRATION AND SAYING, YOU KNOW, FRAUD HAPPENS, THERE IS NOT FRAUD, WIDESPREAD FRAUD, OCCURRING UNDER ME.

AND ALSO, MAYBE THERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU CAN LOOK AT, WHICH IS WHY HIS ADMINISTRATION IS BACKING THAT OTHER BILL THAT YOU TALKED ABOUT.

>> IT MIGHT JUST BE A COINCIDENCE.

>> [ LAUGHTER ] COINCIDENCES IN POLITICS?

COME ON!

>> WE WILL GET TO THIS IN A MOMENT ON ANOTHER TOPIC, BUT JOSH WILLIAMS IS RUNNING FOR SOMETHING ELSE, RIGHT?

>> I HEAR HE IS RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

AND HE LIVES IN A REPUBLICAN >> OH, OKAY!

TRYING TO GET SOME HEADLINES.

OKAY.

>>> ANYWAY --THE EFFORT TO REPEAL A NEW STATE ANTI- CANNABIS LAW HAS HIT A SNAG.

LAST YEAR, THE STATE PASSED A LAW THAT BANS MOST HEMP PRODUCTS AND BANS MOST THC AND CBD DRINKS.

IT ALSO MAKES MODEST CHANGES TO THE LEGAL MARIJUANA LAW PASSED BY VOTERS A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

A GROUP CALLED "OHIOANS FOR CANNABIS" WANTS TO START COLLECTING SIGNATURES TO REPEAL THE NEW LAW.

TO DO THAT, THEY HAVE TO GET THE ATTORNEY GENERAL TO SIGN OFF ON THE WORDING OF THE PETITION.

THIS WEEK, AG DAVE YOST REJECTED THE FIRST ATTEMPT, SAYING IT WAS "MISLEADING."

THE GROUP PROMISES TO TRY AGAIN, BUT THE REJECTION OF THE LANGUAGE MAKES IT HARDER TO TRY TO STOP THE LAW FROM TAKING EFFECT IN MARCH.

SARAH, NO SURPRISE -- IT WOULD HAVE BEEN NO SURPRISE THAT DAVE YOST SIGNED OFF ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT OF THIS PETITION, RIGHT?

>> YES, THESE PETITIONS OFTEN FACE HURDLES TRYING TO GET ON THE BALLOT WITH LANGUAGE -- THIS CERTAINLY PUTS THEM BACK EFFECT IN MARCH, LIKE YOU SAID.

IF THEY HAD BEEN ABLE TO START GATHERING SIGNATURES, THEY POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE PUT IT ON HOLD.

I WILL SAY, IT'S AN INTERESTING SCENARIO BECAUSE YOU HAVE EVEN GOT AN INDUSTRY GROUP, THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY GROUP, CALLING THIS REFERENDUM EFFORT "MISLEADING."

YOU SEE A BIT OF A FIGHT BETWEEN SOME OF THE MORE ESTABLISHED INDUSTRY CANNABIS DISPENSARIES, VERSUS SOME OF THESE OTHER RETAILERS, WHO HAVE BEEN SELLING INTOXICATING HEMP AT GAS STATIONS, HOLISTIC WELLNESS STORES.

SO, INTERESTING FIGHT BREWING THERE, I'M NOT TOTALLY SURPRISED YOST MOVED IN THIS WAY, BUT THIS GROUP JUST CALLED IT A SPEEDBUMP.

>> SO, WHO IS PUSHING THIS?

IT'S NOT THE ORIGINAL GROUP THAT LEGALIZED MARIJUANA IN 2023?

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

>> IT'S THE RETAILERS AND MANUFACTURERS OF HEMP PRODUCTS.

>> YES, IT IS A HEMP THING.

LIKE, HOW MANY TIMES CAN WE TALK ABOUT MARIJUANA ON THIS SHOW?

LIKE, IT'S NEVER ENDING.

AND I HAVE ALWAYS SAID THIS, THE STATE OF OHIO DOES NOT WANT TO DO THIS!

I MEAN, THEY NEVER HAVE.

THEY WERE PUSHED, SHOVED INTO DOING THIS.

ISN'T GOING ALL THAT SMOOTHLY FOR THEM.

IT'S JUST, THE STATE IS NOT ON BOARD.

>> SO, WHAT I AM HEARING, THEN, IS THAT IT'S A TURF BATTLE.

THAT IT HAS TO DO WITH THE RETAILERS, TWO DIFFERENT GROUPS OF RETAILERS, PERHAPS, BACKED BY OUT-OF-STATE FOLKS, BUT OF COURSE, EVERYBODY IS TAKING MONEY OUT OF THIS, AND -- >> THEY ARE SELLING THE CANDIES OR THE DRINKS, THE RETAILERS?

OR, BOTH?

>> IT DEPENDS ON WHICH RETAILER IT IS.

AND, YOU KNOW, I KIND OF PRIDED MYSELF ON BEING KNOWLEDGEABLE ON THIS WHOLE MARIJUANA THING, NOT BECAUSE I CONSUME -- >> [ LAUGHTER ] >> I SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN MICHIGAN, AND I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO KIND OF, YOU KNOW, EXPOSE MYSELF TO THAT WHOLE THING.

AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AT ALL!

[ LAUGHTER ] >> NOW, I DO.

YOU HELPED ME.

IT IS A TURF BATTLE.

>> I THOUGHT I COULD HELP.

>> IS A TURF BATTLE!

>> I DO WANT TO SAY, I GOT A INDUSTRY HAS CAMERAS IN EVERY LICENSED FACILITY?

CANNABIS DISPENSARIES.

A CALL BACK TO THE CHILD CARE FACILITIES.

I HAVE BEEN THINKING ABOUT THAT ALL WEEK.

>> SO, WHAT YOU ARE SAYING IS, THERE IS NO FRAUD IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY?

>> [ LAUGHTER ] >> I WILL SAY, THE DISPENSARIES --THE DISPENSARIES THAT ARE LICENSED BY THE STATE ARE UNDER VERY STRINGENT REGULATIONS, AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF FRUSTRATIONS THAT THE INDUSTRY HAS VOICED ABOUT THESE HEMP SELLERS WHO DON'T HAVE TO ABIDE BY THE SAME REGULATIONS.

NOW, HEMP IS BEING BANNED IN 90 DAYS, AND I THINK THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE FRUSTRATED, BUT THERE ARE OTHER FRUSTRATIONS WITH THE LAW AMONG THE CANNABIS COMMUNITY.

>> SO, GETTING BACK TO THE ORIGINAL POINT, BOB, COULD THIS HAVE BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY?

I KNOW THE STATE DOESN'T WANT IT, LAWMAKERS WEREN'T GOING TO PASS IT THEMSELVES, THE VOTERS DID.

>> YES.

>> I GUESS, THE ONLY WAY TO SOLVE THIS WOULD BE IF STATE LAWMAKERS HAD PASSED IT THEMSELVES, WITH REGULATIONS FOR ALL?

>> MANY TIMES, IN GOVERNMENT, MIKE, IF YOU DON'T TAKE ON A PROBLEM, THE PROBLEM WILL SOLVE IT IN A DIFFERENT WAY.

AND IT IS ALWAYS THE WAY YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE SOLVED.

BUT, IT'S THE LEGISLATURE AND STATE GOVERNMENTS OWN FAULT, BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT TO DO THIS.

WHEN I WORKED ON THAT REFERENDUM, OR THAT CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 10 YEARS AGO, THEY FOUGHT THAT, TOOTH AND NAIL, AND THAT FINALLY GOT US MEDICAL MARIJUANA BECAUSE THEY SAW, EVEN THOUGH THROUGH OUR CAMPAIGN, OUR BEST MESSAGING WAS THE MEDICAL SIDE OF IT.

SO, THEY FINALLY DID THAT.

BUT, ONCE AGAIN, IT WAS ALL PUSHING, AND --THEY DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE FOREFRONT, HERE.

>> SO, JOE, YOU HAVE SPENT TIME IN MICHIGAN, WHERE IT HAS BEEN LEGAL, NOT THAT MUCH LONGER THAN OHIO, BUT A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN OHIO, HOW DO THEY TREAT HEMP UP THERE?

>> I DIDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO SEE IF OHIO HAD INSPIRED ANYBODY IN MICHIGAN FOR DOING THE SAME THING.

BUT, NO.

FROM MY MOST RECENT STAY THERE, I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING ABOUT THIS WHOLE HEMP THING.

>> AND ALSO, MARIJUANA IN MICHIGAN IS MUCH CHEAPER THAN MARIJUANA, HERE IN OHIO.

>> WELL, AND THAT'S THE OTHER PART OF THIS WHOLE THING, THAT IT IS NOW ILLEGAL FOR US TO HAVE MICHIGAN-PURCHASED MARIJUANA.

>> OUT-OF-STATE.

NOT JUST MICHIGAN.

>> OUT-OF-STATE, YES.

COLORADO, TOO.

>> YES.

>> AND THAT'S ILLEGAL POSSESSION, HERE IN OHIO.

>> THERE WERE FRUSTRATION AMONG DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED AGAINST THE BILL AND THE FOLKS THAT WANT TO REPEAL IT, THAT IT RE- CRIMINALIZES MARIJUANA POSSESSION IN MANY WAYS, YOU ALSO CAN'T TAKE MARIJUANA OUT OF ITS ORIGINAL PACKAGING, IT HAS TO BE IN THE TRUNK WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING THE CAR.

THERE IS A LOT OF --"I SHOULD CHECK THE TRUNK" THING.

BUT, THERE ARE SPECIFIC LAWS ABOUT HOW YOU CAN TRANSPORT MARIJUANA EVEN THOUGH IT IS A LEGAL PRODUCT.

>> AND YET, IT HAS BEEN LEGAL FOR TWO YEARS AND THE EARTH CONTINUES TO SPIN, CORRECT?

>> WELL, ONCE UPON A TIME, IT WAS ILLEGAL TO TAKE THE LABEL OFF OF A PILLOW.

>> IT'S NOT?

I THOUGHT THAT WAS STILL ILLEGAL.

>> SEE?

WE DON'T KNOW!

>> MY TAGS ARE STILL ON THE PILLOWS, FOR EMPHASIS.

>>> ANYWAY, CANDIDATES LOOKING TO RUN THIS YEAR HAVE JUST MORE THAN TWO WEEKS TO FILE THEIR PAPERS.

SOME LAST-MINUTE CANDIDATES ARE JOINING RACES.

THE DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF I.C.E., QUIT HER JOB THIS WEEK TO RUN FOR CONGRESS IN NORTHWEST OHIO.

MADISON SHEAHAN ANNOUNCED SHE WILL RUN IN THE NOW CROWDED REPUBLICAN PRIMARY IN THE TOLEDO AREA.

THE WINNER WOULD FACE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSWOMAN MARCY KAPTUR.

OHIO CONGRESSIONAL MAPS, THE NEW MAPS APPROVED LAST YEAR, IN THEORY, GIVE REPUBLICANS A CHANCE TO PICK UP MORE SEATS.

BUT, DEMOCRATS HOLD OUT HOPE.

THAT PLAN MAY WORK TO THEIR FAVOR, IF THERE IS A BLUE WAVE ELECTION.

BOB CLEGG, YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE TOLEDO AREA, WHAT YOU MAKE OF THE DEPUTY I.C.E.

DIRECTOR RUNNING INTO THE RACE?

>> I GUESS SHE HAS EVERY RIGHT TO GET IN A RACE.

I DON'T THINK SHE HAS LIVED IN NORTHWEST OHIO VERY RECENTLY.

THEY SAID THAT SHE IS, YOU KNOW, "FROM THERE."

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS.

>> SHE WENT TO OSU, WORKED IN SOUTH DAKOTA FOR KRISTI NOEM, AND THEN WORKED IN INDIANA, I BELIEVE.

>> SO, I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WAS BORN IN NORTHWEST OHIO, I'M NOT FAMILIAR ENOUGH WITH HER BACKGROUND.

BUT, YOU HAVE TWO OTHER CANDIDATES, JOSH WILLIAMS, WHO WE MENTIONED, THE STATE REP, AND DEREK MAREN, THE FORMER STATE REP, WHO RAN AGAINST MARCY KAPTUR IN 2024.

>> YEAH.

>> SO, YOU KNOW, IT IS A TRENDY, POLITICAL ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN REPUBLICAN AREAS WHEN YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT I.C.E.

AND WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.

SO, MAYBE SHE WANTS TO TRY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT HER CONNECTIONS ARE IN THAT DISTRICT.

I AM SURE THEY ARE NOT AS GOOD AS, YOU KNOW, FOR JOSH OR DEREK.

SO, SHE MAY NOT WIN THAT ALL THAT EASILY.

NOW, IF SHE GETS A PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT --WHICH, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE IS GOING TO DO.

HE DOESN'T SEND SIGNALS OF WHAT HE IS PLANNING ON DOING.

BUT, IF SHE GETS HIS ENDORSEMENT IN THAT PRIMARY, FOR HER.

>> SO, THAT IS A TRADITIONAL HISPANIC AREA, BY THE WAY.

THE TOLEDO AREA WAS THE ORIGINAL HISPANIC COMMUNITY, DATING BACK TO THE FIRST WORLD WAR, EVEN BEFORE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE, WITH ANYTHING ELSE, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE WHOLE I.C.E.

THING, IT'S A TRUMP THING, YOU KNOW?

IS TRUMP GOING TO BE POPULAR AT THAT TIME, TO THE POINT THAT PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE COMING OUT TO VOTE?

FOR THE PRIMARY, OR FOR THE GENERAL.

I THINK THAT'S --KAPTUR PROBABLY WOULD PREFER TO BE RUNNING AGAINST HER RATHER THAN ANYBODY ELSE.

>> SORRY, SHE COULD SPLIT THE VOTE, A THREE-WAY RACE, THAT CAN FENCER OFF IN SOME WAY, THE TWO ESTABLISHMENT CANDIDATES SPLIT THE ESTABLISHMENT VOTE AND THE OUTSIDER WINS?

>> YEAH, THIS RACE HAS BEEN SO INTERESTING BECAUSE THERE WAS TALK OF MAYBE SENATE PRESIDENT, NOW LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR CANDIDATE ROB McCULLEY MIGHT GET INVOLVED IN THAT RACE.

IT WAS GOING TO BE A THREE-WAY PRIMARY.

NOW, IT LIKELY IS AND THERE MAY BE MORE CANDIDATES DECLARED IN THE RACE, BUT THE TOUGH THING IS, THIS IS ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS THAT REPUBLICANS REALLY WANT TO FLIP.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO BE MARCY KAPTUR BEFORE, THEY HAVE NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL, THUS FAR.

IT IS TOUGH TO SAY, HOW A POTENTIALLY BRUTAL PRIMARY HELPS OR HURTS, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE OF THESE REPUBLICANS.

>> BIGGER PICTURE, BOB, HOW CONCERNED ARE REPUBLICANS IN OHIO ABOUT A WAVE ELECTION AND MAINTAINING THEIR 10 SEATS IN CONGRESS THAT THEY HAVE NOW?

CAN THEY GAIN THREE MORE?

>> WELL, THE LAST TIME WE HAD A DEMOCRAT WAVE WAS 2018, AND WE CARRIED ALL OF THE STATEWIDE, YOU KNOW, OFFICES.

SO, I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK IT MAY NOT AFFECT IT, BUT, I MEAN, THEY REDREW 10 REPUBLICAN DISTRICTS, AND THOSE ARE 10 DISTRICTS THAT WILL STAY REPUBLICAN, NO MATTER WHAT.

THEY DREW TWO DEMOCRAT DISTRICTS THAT ARE GOING TO BE DEMOCRAT, NO MATTER WHAT.

ARE, DEPENDING ON THE POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT, COULD GO DEMOCRAT, COULD GO REPUBLICAN.

>> AND I HAVE NOT CHANGED MY MIND.

THE PROBLEM IS NOT NECESSARILY THAT THE STATE IS BECOMING READ, OR --IT IS THAT THE BLUE PART OF THE STATE IS NOT REALLY COMING OUT AND SUPPORTING THEIR CANDIDATES, LIKE THEY SHOULD.

SO, THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN MY OPINION.

I THINK THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

>> AND YOU ARE RIGHT, TURNOUT, EVEN IN 2024 --PRESIDENTIAL YEAR --IF YOU LOOK AT TURNOUT, COUNTY BY COUNTY, HOGAN, FRANKLIN, THEY HAD TURNOUTS NOWHERE NEAR THE LEVELS OF OXLEY, MERCER -- >> EVEN WHEN WE MEET OUR TARGETS, WHICH WE HAVE, IN THE PAST, THE TARGETS HAVE BEEN TOO LOW.

>> YEAH, I MEAN, THE TARGETS ARE TARGETS FROM WHEN WE WERE A PURPLE STATE, NOT NECESSARILY THE TARGETS THEY NEED TO GET TO, NOW.

>> SERRA, IN CENTRAL OHIO, MIKE CAREY IS NOT QUITE THE SAME AS IT USED TO BE WITH THESE MAPS, VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP FOR 10 POINTS BUT ONLY VOTED FOR BERNIE MORENO BY ABOUT THREE.

SO, YOU CAN SEE A BIG WAVE, AND -- >> IT IS TOUGH TO SAY.

I MEAN, CERTAINLY, MORENO UNDERPERFORMED TRUMP IN MOST AREAS OF THIS STATE, AND THAT WAS JUST KIND OF THE CASE.

BUT, THESE DISTRICTS ARE, YOU KNOW, ACROSS OHIO, THE THREE DISTRICTS THAT ARE KIND OF IN BETWEEN.

THEY ARE ALL HELD BY DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENTS, THEN YOU HAVE A DISTRICT LIKE KERRY'S DISTRICT, OR MAYBE MAX MILLER'S DISTRICT.

THERE IS ONLY SO MANY OHIOANS AND THEY MAY FALL INTO THE RED OR BLUE CATEGORY AND IF YOU ARE MOVING SOME FROM ONE DISTRICTS, YOU'RE MOVING THEM INTO ANOTHER.

-- >> ONE WAY TO GO, BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH, WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>>> LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL OFF THE RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

BOB, YOU ARE FIRST.

>> WE TALKED ABOUT CANDIDATES THAT ARE ON THE BALLOT THIS YEAR, THERE ALSO COULD BE ISSUES ON THE BALLOT, ONE OF THEM BEING THE PROPERTY TAX, DOING AWAY WITH PROPERTY TAX.

THE OTHER IS AN EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

WHAT IS INTERESTING IS, ONE COULD JACK UP TURNOUT ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, THE OTHER DEMOCRATIC SIDE, SO THESE ISSUES COULD AFFECT RACES.

>> WE WILL HAVE TO PAY ATTENTION TO THOSE.

JOE?

>> I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE FULL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

NOW, AS OHIOANS CONSIDER IT, THERE WILL BE ACTION TO THIS ANNOUNCED INCREASE IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITY, AS A STATE.

I WOULD LIKE FOR OUR LISTENERS AND VIEWERS TO CONSIDER A COUPLE OF THINGS --THE ENTIRE OPERATION IS BASED ON THE PREMISE THAT OUR NATION'S IMMIGRATION COMMUNITY ARE REPLETE WITH CRIMINAL ELEMENTS, AND THAT, NUMBER TWO, THE ENFORCEMENT EFFORTS ARE A PERFORMANCE PIECE TO MAKE IT LOOK LIKE THEY ARE TARGETS.

OR, DANGEROUS PEOPLE.

BOTH ELEMENTS ARE A LIE AND AN AFFRONT TO EVERYTHING OUR NATION HAS EVER STOOD FOR.

>> SARAH?

>> ON A MUCH LIGHTER NOTE, REALLY WEIRD WEEK TO BE A STEELERS FAN, SAW MY FIRST STEELERS GAME LIVES, AND IT DID NOT WORK OUT WELL.

NOW, THE COACH, WHO I HAVE KNOWN SINCE I WAS A LITTLE KID --NOT KNOWN, BUT SEEN ON TV -- WEIRD WEEK.

SPEAKING OF ARROW, INDIANA WILL BECOME A FOOTBALL POWERHOUSE IF THEY WIN THE NATIONAL.

INDIANA, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS, IF THEY WIN ON MONDAY.

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

REMINDER --YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME ON YOUR TIME.

WE HAVE A NEW HOME ON YOUTUBE.

SEARCH FOR THE WOSU NEWS CHANNEL AND CLICK "SUBSCRIBE."

YOU CAN ALSO WATCH US WOSU.ORG, AND THE PBS APP.

FOR OUR CREW AND PANEL, I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.