>> THE IRAN WAR --WHERE DOOHIOANS STAND?

> >> THE IRAN WAR --WHERE DOOHIOANS STAND?

> >> WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THERECORD.

"I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

OHIO, LIKE THE REST OF THENATION, WOKE SATURDAY MORNINGTO NEWS OF A NEW MIDDLE EASTWAR.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DECISION TOJOIN ISRAEL AND LAUNCH AMASSIVE BOMBING CAMPAIGN ONIRAN HAS BROUGHT MIXEDREACTIONS FROM OHIO LAWMAKERS.

OHIO REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS,WITH VARYING DEGREES OFENTHUSIASM, SUPPORTED THEATTACKS.

ONE VOTED AGAINST IT.

OHIO DEMOCRATS, WITH ONEEXCEPTION, DENOUNCED IT.

THE ATTACKS PUT VICE PRESIDENTJD VANCE IN A TOUGH SPOT.

HE HAS LONG ARGUED AGAINSTUNNECESSARY FOREIGN WARS, LIKEHE DID ON THE FLOOR OF THESENATE JUST TWO YEARS AGO.

>> THOSE SAME EXPERTS, OFCOURSE, COUNSELED US THAT WEMUST INVADE IRAQ BECAUSE IRAQHAS WEAPONS OF MASSDESTRUCTION.

AND YET, IRAQ HAD NO WEAPONS OFMASS DESTRUCTION,AND THE WARLED NOT ONLY TO THE DESTRUCTIONOF 5,000 AMERICAN LIVES, ANDMANY, MANY HUNDREDS OFTHOUSANDS OF INNOCENT PEOPLEBEYOND THAT, BUT ALSO LED TOTHE REGIONAL EMPOWERMENT OFIRAN WHICH NOW --WE ARE TOLDBY THOSE SAME EXPERTS --IS THEBIGGEST PROBLEM WE FACE IN THEMIDDLE EAST.

>> NOW, TWO YEARS LATER, ASVICE PRESIDENT --AND AFTER APREVIOUS ATTACK THAT PRESIDENTTRUMP SAID OBLITERATED IRAN'SNUCLEAR PROGRAM --VANCEMAINTAINS IRAN WAS A THREAT,AND HE'S NOT WORRIED ABOUT ALONG WAR.

>> WHAT'S SO DIFFERENT ABOUTTHIS, JESSE, IS THAT THEPRESIDENT HAS CLEARLY DEFINEDWHAT HE WANTS TO ACCOMPLISH,AND THERE IS JUST NO WAY --ISAID THIS BEFORE THE CONFLICTSTARTED, I'LL REPEAT IT AGAIN--THERE IS JUST NO WAY THATDONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO ALLOWTHIS COUNTRY TO GET INTO AMULTI-YEAR CONFLICT WITH NOCLEAR END IN SITE, AND NO CLEAROBJECTIVE.

BOB CLEGG,IT'S QUITE ATURNAROUND FOR THE VICEPRESIDENT AND THE PRESIDENT.

PRESIDENT TRUMP, ONELECTIONNIGHT, SAID, "I WANT STARTWARS, I WILL END WARS.

"HERE WE ARE.

WHAT HAS CHANGED?

>> WELL, THEY OBVIOUSLY KNOWSOMETHING WE DON'T KNOW ABOUTWHAT IRAN WAS TRYING TO DO.

I MEAN, JUST REMEMBER, THIS ISA REGIME THAT WHAT, THREE,FOUR, WEEKS AGOSLAUGHTERED30,000 OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE.

AND IT'S NOT JUST THE UNITEDSTATES, IT'S ISRAEL, IT'S THEOTHER ARAB COUNTRIES.

I MEAN, YOU SAW WHERE IRAN ISATTACKING, YOU KNOW,QATAR,AND UAE, OR WHATEVER,AND ALLOF THOSE COUNTRIES.

SO, IT WASN'T JUST THE UNITEDSTATES.

IT IS --YOU KNOW, IT ISINTERESTING, ON THE PEOPLE THATWENT AGAINST PARTY LINES ONTHIS, WILLIAM DAVIDSON WAS AREPUBLICAN THATOPPOSED THEBILL --THE BILL ON THE WARPOWERS ACT?

>> IT WAS BASICALLY VOTING TORESTRAIN PRESIDENT TRUMP, ANDHE VOTED FOR THAT.

>> ANDTHIS IS THE RAND PAUL,THOMAS MASSEY, ISOLATIONISTWING OF THE PARTY.

AND THEN, LANDSMAN DOWN INCINCINNATI -- >> THAT IS WHAT J. D. VANCE WAS, HE WAS IN THEISOLATIONIST WING OF THE PARTY.

>> AND HE IS NOT ANYMORE.

>> BECAUSE HE IS VICEPRESIDENT?

>> THEY HAVE MORE INFORMATIONTHAN WE DO ABOUT THIS.

>> ALL RIGHT, THIS IS A WAR OFCHOICE, WHETHER IT WASA MENIALCHOICE OR A LONG CHOICE, BUT ITIS A WAR OF CHOICE.

>> COMPLETELY A WAR OF CHOICE,POLITICAL GYMNASTICSLIKE IHAVE NEVER SEEN IT.

DONALD TRUMP SAID, "I WILL NOTSTART A WAR IN IRAN, NO MOREENDLESS WARS, NO MORE REGIMECHANGE.

"WE HEARD IT FROM J. D. VANCE JUST NOW AND WE ALSOHEARD IT FROM THE ENTIREADMINISTRATION, PRIOR TOGETTING ELECTED.

SO, TO ME, LET'S SET ASIDE THEFACT THAT JUST IN THE LAST WEEKOR SO, WE HAVE HEARD A NUMBEROF DIFFERENT RATIONALES FOR WHYTHEY WENT TO WAR, WE HEARD ITWAS THE NUCLEAR WEAPONRY, WHICHTHEYSUPPOSEDLY OBLITERATED, WEHEARD IT WAS A REGIME CHANGE,WE HEARD IT WAS A PREEMPTIVESTRIKE, THEY WERE GOING TOATTACK.

BUT, ALL THAT ASIDE, TO ME, THEPRESIDENT HAS TAKEN ASLEDGEHAMMER TO HIS FOUNDATIONOF HISMAGA BASE.

HE HAS TOLD THEM, NOT JUST ONTHIS ISSUE, BUT ON OTHERISSUES,THAT HE WASNOT GOINGTO TAKE US INTO ENDLESS WARS,HE WAS NOT GOING TO DO REGIMECHANGE, HE DID THAT, HE DIDTHAT IN VENEZUELA, HE IS NOWTALKING ABOUT DOING IT IN CUBA.

HE SAID HE WOULD BRING DOWN THECOST OF LIVING AND GROCERIESAND HE HASN'T DONE THAT,EITHER.

>> SO, JAKE, HOW IS THIS PLAYINGAMONGOHIO VOTERS?

THERE HAS BEEN A LITTLENATIONAL POLLING, ROUGHLY 58%,60% OF AMERICANS OPPOSE THISWAR AT THIS POINT, WE DON'TKNOW HOW OHIOANS BREAKDOWN.

>> I AM LOATH TO SPEAK FOR THEPEOPLE OF OHIO, HERE.

BUT WHEN YOU SAY SOMETHING LIKEVENEZUELA, THERE WAS A CERTAINAMOUNT OF TRUTH TO THAT SORT OFIN AND OUT EFFECT.

SO, A PISTON --OPINIONSCOULDN'T REALLY CRYSTALLIZE.

I DON'T WANT TOPREDICT THEFUTURE, NOBODY CAN PREDICT AVOLATILE SITUATION, BUT THISDOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT WILL BE AQUICK IN AND OUT.

I DON'T THINK IT WILL HOLD.

THE PEOPLE --LIKE, J. D. VANCE WASN'T IN THISINDEPENDENCE OR NON-INTERVENTIONIST MOVEMENT, HEWAS THE FACE OF IT.

HE WAS THE YOUNG --YOU KNOW,HE SERVED IN IRAQ, HE SAW IT UPCLOSE,AND, "I AM NOT GOING TOLET THIS HAPPEN TO AMERICA.

"HOW IS ANYONE SUPPOSED TO SWEARTHOSE TWO DIFFERENT HUMANS,THOSE TWO DIFFERENT SENTIMENTS?

>> I THINK THE CAUTIOUSAPPROACH COMES IN WHEN YOU LOOKAT HOW OHIO'S TWO U. S. SENATORSREACTED TO THE NEWS.

BOTH BERNIE MORENO AND JONHUSTED DENOUNCED IRAN, BUTTHERE IS A SUBTLE DIFFERENCE INTHE INITIAL STATEMENTS.

MORENO SAID, "I FULLY SUPPORTHIS DECISION TO ELIMINATE THETHREAT, ONCE AND FOR ALL, ONCEIT BECAME CLEAR THERE WAS NOOTHER OPTION.

"HUSTED'S STATEMENT READS,"TODAY, THE PRESIDENT TOOKACTION TO ADDRESS THE THREATIRAN POSES TO AMERICA ANDGLOBAL STABILITY.

I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING BRIEFEDAND LEARNING MORE FROM THEADMINISTRATION IN THE COMINGDAYS.

"BOB CLEGG, THAT'S NOT A RINGINGENDORSEMENT.

IRAN IS BAD, WE BOMBED THEM, IWANT TO KNOW MORE.

>> WELL, AS FAR AS THE EFFECTON THE ELECTION,WHEN THIS ISOVER, BY MAY OR JUNE, NO EFFECT.

IF IT IS STILL GOING ON INEARLY NOVEMBER, YEAH, IT COULDHAVE AN EFFECT.

BUT, I MEAN, YOU SAW WITH LIBYABACK IN 2011, REALLY DIDN'TAFFECT THAT.

YOU KNOW, OBAMA WENT IN FORREGIME CHANGE,THEY WERE PRETTYOPEN ABOUT IT, CREATED A MESS,BUT IT DIDN'T AFFECT HIS RE-ELECTION IN 2012 AT ALL.

>> YEAH, THAT LASTED ABOUTSEVEN MONTHS, MARCH THROUGHOCTOBER, NO GROUND TROOPS.

>> JUST BOMBING, REGIME CHANGE,AND THE END RESULT WAS THE WORSTSITUATION THAN WHEN WE STARTEDIT.

>> BUT, IT DIDN'T AFFECT HIS2012 RE-ELECT AT ALL,BECAUSEIT'S ALWAYS ABOUT THE ECONOMY,NOT FOREIGN AFFAIRS.

>> YOU LOOK AT THE HISTORY OFTHIS, GOING WAY BACK TO THEFIRST PERSIAN GULF WAR, THEDEMOCRATS WHO SUPPORTED ITAFTER THE SUCCESS, PAID THEPRICE IN IRAQ.

DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS WHOSUPPORTED IT PAID THE PRICE INTHE OPPOSITE DIRECTION.

IS THAT WAITING ON THIS?

GREG LANDSMAN FROM CINCINNATISUPPORTS THIS IN A WAY.

>> THIS IS DIFFERENT BECAUSETHE STARTS OUT ALREADYREALLYPOPULAR WITH THE AMERICANPEOPLE, THE PREVIOUSENGAGEMENTS IN IRAQ, INPARTICULAR,WHERE GEORGE W. BUSH TRIED TO LAY OUT A CASE,ALBEIT IT WAS BASED ON A LIE,BUT HE WENT TO THE AMERICANPEOPLE, HE GOT CONGRESSINVOLVED, HE WENT TO OURALLIES.

IN THIS INSTANCE, NONE OF THOSETHINGS THAT HAPPENED, SO THISALREADY STARTS OUT VERYUNPOPULAR WITH THE AMERICANPEOPLE, AND I THINK THEPRESIDENT COULD REALLY BEMISLEADING THIS.

THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE A ONEOR TWO WEEK WAR, THIS IS AMAJOR ENTANGLEMENT.

HE HAS NOT RULED OUT BOOTS ONTHE GROUND, WHICH IS A VERYSERIOUS MATTER.

AND THEY CAN'T GET THEIR STORYSTRAIGHT, EITHER.

>> WELL, LOU, I SAID THAT ABOUTVENEZUELA, TOO, WHEN ITSTARTED.

WHAT IS HE DOING?

VENEZUELA HAS 1 MILLION TROOPS.

>> IT'S NOT THEORETICAL, WE HADSIX U. S. SERVICEMEN THAT HAVEDIED AND THERE HAVE BEEN ACOUPLE HUNDRED CIVILIAN DEATHS,THERE HAS BEEN A SCHOOL --ANDTHERE ARE VERY REAL HUMANCONSEQUENCES EVEN IF THIS IS AQUICK, IN AND OUT OF THERE.

>> THEY WERE TRAPPED IN THEMIDDLE EAST, THERE WAS NO PLANTO GET THEM OUT OF THEM MIDDLEEAST, WHICH WAS ANOTHER ISSUE.

> >> THE LATE HOUSE SPEAKER, TIPO'NEILL, SAID ALL POLITICS ISLOCAL.

WE'RE NOT SO SURE THAT'S THECASE IN THIS TRUMP ERA.

THIS WEEK, A COUPLE NATIONALSTORIES COULD AFFECT OHIOPOLITICS.

PRESIDENT TRUMP, THIS WEEK,FORCED THE RESIGNATION OFHOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARYKRISTI NOEM.

THE OUSTER CAME AFTER CONGRESSREVEALED DHS HIRED A CENTRALOHIO CONSULTANT TO PRODUCE ADSFOR THE DEPARTMENT.

THE HEAD OF THE FIRM IS MARRIEDTO NOEM'S FORMER SPOKESWOMAN.

ALSO THIS WEEK,VOTERS IN TEXASAND NORTH CAROLINA WENT TO THEPOLLS AND PRODUCED SOMEINTERESTING RESULTS.

LOU GENTILE, FIRST,TO THEPRIMARIES, IT'S ALWAYSDANGEROUS TO COMPARE OHIO TOANY STATE, CERTAINLY TEXAS,MUCH DIFFERENT STATE.

CAN WEREAD ANYTHING INTO WHATHAPPENED IN NORTH CAROLINA ANDTEXAS AND HOW IT MIGHT AFFECTTHE POLITICS, HERE?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU CAN, TOSOME EXTENT, BECAUSE IF YOULOOK AT THE NUMBERS,PARTICULARLY IN THIS ELECTION,TO .

3 MILLION DEMOCRATICPRIMARY VOTERS, MORE THANREPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS INTHE STATE OF TEXAS, A RUBY REDSTATE.

JUST TWO YEARS AGO, FOUR YEARSAGO,THERE WAS LESS THAN HALFTHAT.

SO, IT IS A MAJOR JUMP, PLUSTHE EARLY VOTING.

YOU KNOW, I LEARNED FROMEXPERIENCE, SOMEONE WHO RAN ANDWON, AND RAN AND LOST, WHEN YOUSEE THAT SHIFT HAPPEN,AND THATSHIFT HAS OCCURRED IN THATPRIMARY, TO ME, IT IS SORT OFAN EARLY WARNING SIGN, SORT OFA MIDTERMS TSUNAMI.

CAN YOU APPLY THAT TO OHIO?

POSSIBLY.

I THINK THE BOTTOM LINE IS, THEPRESIDENT FINDS HIMSELFUNDERWATER ON THE ECONOMY,UNPOPULAR WAR, AND PRICE OFLIVING, COST-OF-LIVING,UTILITIES, HEALTHCARE,THATCONTINUES TO BE UP.

THIS FALL, I THINK WE ARE GOINGTO SEE A GOOD TURNOUT FORDEMOCRATS.

>> JAKE, THIS HAPPENS,FIRSTELECTION AFTER THE PRESIDENTWINS THE WHITE HOUSE, THE OTHERSIDE HAS ALL THE ENTHUSIASM.

IS THAT WHAT IS HAPPENING INTHESE TWO STATES, DO YOU THINK?

>> YEAH, I THINK THE QUESTIONIS HOW BIG OF A BLUE --ALTHOUGH, IN 2022, IT WAS AMUCH MORE MUTED EFFECT THANITHAS BEEN HISTORICALLY, BECAUSEJOE BIDEN ACTUALLY HELD AGAINSTTHE REPUBLICAN INSURGENCY, BUTIN 2018, IT HAD A LATENT DETAILEFFECT BECAUSE CALIFORNIA'SRETURN CAME BACK SO LATE, BUT,YOU KNOW, A PRETTYSTAGGERINGCONGRESSIONAL WALL AGAINSTTRUMP AND I THINK FOR MYOBSERVATIONS OVER THE LAST TWOYEARS, THIS IS A MUCH MOREAMBITIOUS TRUMP, A MUCH MORECAPABLE TRUMPET THAT CANACTUALLY EXECUTE THE AGENDATHEY ARE TRYING TO, SO YOUWOULD THINK IT FOLLOWS, IF YOUARE MORE EFFECTIVE AT WHAT YOUARE TRYING TO DO, THE EFFECTWILL BE STRONGER, THERE ARE NOGUARANTEES IN POLITICS, BUT IWOULD EXPECT A VERY SERIOUSBOUNCE BACK.

>> INCUMBENTS HAVE TROUBLE.

SEVERAL OF THEM LOST,REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS INNORTH CAROLINA, TEXAS, THEREWERE CLOSER RACES THAN PEOPLEEXPECTED.

IS THIS AN ANTI-INCUMBENCY WAVECOMING?

>> YEAH, IT COULD BE.

I MEAN, WE HAVE SEEN IT BEFORE,IN MIDTERMS.

BUT, JAKE MADE A GOOD POINT,WHEN HE TALKED ABOUT 2022.

I THINK OUR POLITICAL SYSTEMHAS POLARIZED SO MUCH, THATYOUARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE KINDOF SWINGS THAT WE EVEN SAW IN2018, WHICH WAS REPUBLICANSLOST 40 SEATS.

BUT, AT THAT TIME, THEY HAD, ITHINK,AROUND 20 OR 22 SEATSTHAT HILLARY CLINTON HADCARRIED IN 2016.

WE NOW HAVE THREE SEATS.

THAT WERE CARRIED BY KAMALAHARRIS.

THE PLAYING FIELD HAS GOTTEN SOSMALL.

AND THAT'S WHY, I REMEMBER2022, THEY WERE SAYING, "OH,REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO GAIN25, 30 SEATS.

"THEY AREN'T THERE ANYMORE.

DEMOCRATS MAY GAIN SEATS, BUTI'M TELLING YOU, IT'S GOING TOBE 10 OR LESS.

>> GERRYMANDERING.

>> AND THERE AREN'T THAT MANYTHAT ARE LIVABLE ANYMORE.

A COUPLE IN OHIO ARE, BUT THEYARE DEMOCRATS, NOT REPUBLICANS.

>> THE KRISTI NOEMSTORY KINDOF HAD A CENTRAL OHIO, OHIOANGLE TO IT.

HER FORMER SPOKESWOMAN, TRICIAMcGLOCKLIN FROM CINCINNATI, ISMARRIED TO BEN YOHO FROMCENTRAL OHIO,A CONSULTINGFIRM, AND APPARENTLY, DHS HIREDTHIS FOR THEM TO SHOOT SOMEADS.

NOT GOING TO COMMENT, BUT THEFACT THAT HER SPOKESPERSON WASMARRIED TO THE GUY WHO RUNS THECOMPANY, WHAT WE MAKE OF THIS?

>> ISN'T THAT A COINCIDENCE?

YOU KNOW HOW THEY DID THIS,RIGHT?

THERE WAS ACORPORATION THATWAS CREATED IN THE STATE OFDELAWARE, OKAY, CALLED, I THINK,SAVE AMERICA INC.

, OR SOMETHINGLIKE THAT.

OKAY, THEY GOT THE CONTRACTFROM DHS.

SO THAT THE FIRM, HERE IN OHIO,THE STRATEGY GROUP, THENCONTRACTED WITH THAT ENTITY,SAVE AMERICA INC.

, TO DO THEWORK FOR DHS.

>> SO, THANKS TRENT 24 WASN'TINVOLVED?

>> THEY PUTOUT A STATEMENTSAYING, WE HAVE NEVER HAD ACONTRACT WITH DEPARTMENT OFHOMELAND SECURITY," WHICH ISTRUE, BUT THEY DO HAVE ACONTRACT WITH THE ENTITY THATHAD THE CONTRACT, WITH HOMELANDSECURITY.

>> IF I COULD ADD SOMETHING,HERE?

I ACTUALLY WENT THROUGH SOMEFILES IN ANTICIPATION OF THIS,I WENT THROUGH LARRYHOUSEHOLDERS CRIMINAL TRIALFROM 2023, ANDHE WAS ACCUSEDOF WRONGDOING, BUT THEPROSECUTORS TRIED TO FOLLOW THEMONEY.

WHERE DID THIS $60 MILLION GO?

$20 MILLION WENT FROMGENERATION NOW, TO THE STRATEGYGROUP, SO THAT MEANS THERE ARETWO POLITICAL SCANDALS WERE THESTRATEGY GROUP AND ITSOFFICIALS HAVE NOT BEEN ACCUSEDOF WRONGDOING, BUT THEY AREHOLDING THE BIGGEST BAG OF CASHOF ANYONE INVOLVED.

>> WE WILL SEE WHERE THIS ONEENDS, BUT, KRISTI NOEM,IMMIGRATION HAS SORT OF --THETEMPERATURE HAS BEEN LOWEREDQUITE A BIT HERE, LOU.

NO MORE BIG, HUGE, BOLD I. C. E. ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS,TRENT 24,A LIGHTNING ROD, IS NOWSTEPPING ASIDE.

DOES THIS ISSUE CALM DOWN, NOW?

>> I FIND IT INTERESTING, THESEWERE REPUBLICAN SENATORS THATTOOK HER DOWN AND THIS IS LIKEINDUSTRIAL SCALE CORRUPTION, WEARE TALKING ABOUT A QUARTERBILLION DOLLARS INADVERTISEMENTS.

>> AND SHE LIED TO CONGRESS.

>> AND SHE LIED, BUT ALSO,YOUWOULD THINK THEY WOULD HAVEBROUGHT HER IN OVER THE DEATHOF AMERICAN CITIZENS, OR THEDEPORTATION OF AMERICANCITIZENS, OR THE DETAINING OFCHILDREN.

BUT, AT THE END OF THE DAY,WHAT I SEE IS, SHE BECAME SORTOF LARGER THAN LIFE, EVENBIGGER THAN THE PRESIDENT, ANDI THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY,WHEN YOU START TO OUTSHINEDONALD TRUMP AND YOU AREGETTING A QUARTER BILLIONDOLLARS IN ADVISE ACROSS THEUNITED STATES, SELF-PROMOTING,PROMOTING YOURSELF,I THINKTHAT ALSO HELPED CONTRIBUTE TOHER DEMISE.

THIS WAS LONG OVERDUE, THIS ISA GOOD THING.

WE NEED TO FOLLOW UP ON THECORRUPTION THAT WAS MENTIONEDHERE, AND RAIN THAT IN, AS WELL.

> >> IT SEEMS WE CAN'T GETTHROUGH AN ELECTION WITHOUT AVOTING CONTROVERSY.

THE LATEST IS PRESIDENT TRUMP'SCALL FOR THE END OF MOST MAIL-IN VOTING.

HE HAS CALLED FOR AN END TO NO-EXCUSE ABSENTEE VOTING.

OHIO ALLOWED FOR MAIL-IN ANDEARLY VOTING WITH NO EXCUSEAFTER THE 2004 ELECTION.

THE CONTROVERSY THAT YEAR WASTHE VERY LONG LINES AT VOTINGPLACES.

SINCE THEN,THE LINES HAVESHRUNK ON ELECTION DAY ANDEARLY VOTING HAS BECOME VERYPOPULAR.

GOVERNOR DeWINE AND CURRENTSECRETARY OF STATE FRANK LaROSESUPPORT THE CURRENT SYSTEM.

JAKE ZUCKERMAN, I MEAN,ISTHIS JUST NOISE?

OR, IS MAIL-IN VOTINGREALLY,POSSIBLY, GOING TO BE GOINGAWAY FOR THIS ELECTION?

>> I CAN'T THINK OF WHO IT WASIN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BUTTHERE WAS SOMETHING THAT CAMEOUT TO THE EFFECT OF, IF TRUMPTELLS YOU TO DO SOMETHING ONCE,YOU CAN PROBABLY JUST IGNORE ITAND YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT IT,BUT IF HE SAYS IT TWICE, HE ISNOT PLAYING AROUND.

TRUMP HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUTTHIS, HE DOES NOT SEEM TO BEPLAYING GAMES.

"THE WASHINGTON POST"WROTE ANARTICLE, ABOUT A LEGAL GROUP,THEY ARE DRAFTING AN EXECUTIVEORDER, PRESIDENT TRUMP ISPRESSURING CONGRESS, HE WANTSFEDERAL LEGISLATION, SO I DON'TTHINK HE IS PLAYING GAMES.

I DON'T KNOW.

YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN HEISBLUSTERING AND WHEN HE ISREALLY BITING, BUT I DON'TTHINK ANYBODY SHOULD SLEEP ONTHIS, I THINK HE IS SERIOUSLYTARGETING THIS.

>> WELL, THIS IS ACONGRESSIONAL MIDYEAR ELECTION.

NO PRESIDENT IS ON THE BALLOTAND THE CONSTITUTION IS VERYCLEAR, STATES RUN ELECTIONS.

>> THAT IS CORRECT.

>> SO, IF HE PUSHES THE SEWER,THERE WILL BE CHALLENGES.

WILL THE SUPREME COURT UPHOLDIT?

>> YEAH, I THINK THEY WILL.

>> UPHOLD MAIL-IN VOTING?

>> OH, YEAH.

WELL, NO, THEY ARE GOING TOUPHOLD THAT -- >> STATES RUN.

>> YEAH, STATES RUN THEIR OWNELECTIONS.

THEY HAVE DONE THAT IN THE PAST.

THE ONLYTIME THEY JUMPED IN,WAS THE THING WE JUST HAD IN2024, WITH COLORADO, AND MAINE,AND A COUPLE STATES THAT TRIEDTO BAR PRESIDENT TRUMP FROMBEING ON THEIR STATE IS VALID.

ANDTHE ARGUMENT WAS, IT ISAFEDERAL ELECTION, WHICH MEANTEVERY SINGLE STATE.

BUT, THEY DIDN'T SAY ANYTHINGABOUT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENTCOMING IN AND TAKING OVER THEWAY ELECTIONS ARE DONE, ANDTHEY WON'T.

IT IS A STATE FUNCTION.

>> A LOT OF CAMPAIGNS, THEYHAVE ORGANIZED NOW, AROUNDEARLY VOTING.

I MEAN, THEY WATCH WHO HASVOTED AND WHEN YOU VOTE, YOUDON'T GET ANYMORE MAILERS INYOUR MAILBOX.

SO, FOR BOTH REPUBLICANS ANDDEMOCRATS, WHAT WILLTHEY DO IFMAIL-IN VOTING WENT AWAY?

>> WELL, CAMPAIGN.

AND I THINKWE DEFINITELYREALLY NEED TO BE ON GUARD, ANDDEFINITELY THINK THAT THEPRESIDENT AND HIS ALLIES AREGOING TO TRY TO SOW DISCORD ANDREALLY DISTRACT PEOPLE ON THISISSUE.

I THINK, WHEN IT COMES TO THEMIDTERMS, REGRETTABLY.

BUT, ALSO, I THINK --I SAWTHIS IN 2020, AS A BOARD OFELECTIONS MEMBER SITTING ON ABOARD --I THINK IT ALSO HURTSHIS BASE.

SOME OF HIS BASE, WHEN HESTARTS TO UNDERMINE THEINTEGRITY OF THE EARLY VOTING.

A LOT OF HIS VOTERSWILL ALSOSTART TO VOTE EARLY.

SO, I NEVER QUITE UNDERSTOODIT.

ALSO, REPUBLICANS HAVE REALLYCARRIED THE MANTRA OF, "WE ARETHE STATES RIGHTS PARTY.

"SO, IT WAS DISAPPOINTING TO SEEAN EROSION OF, "LET'SFEDERALIZE THESE ELECTIONS. "

>> WELL, LET'S SEE IF THE BILLACTUALLY PASSES CONGRESS.

>> WELL, THEY DID RAISE IT, THEATLANTA BOARD OF ELECTIONS, IMEAN, THEY ARE --YOU KNOW,DOJIS DEMANDING VOTER FILES THATINCLUDE SENSITIVE, PERSONALINFORMATION FROM PEOPLE.

SO, IT'S SOMETHING TO KEEP ANEYE ON, BUTWE ARE ALLORGANIZED HEAVILY AROUND THEEARLY VOTING AND IT PLAYED AMAJOR ROLE IN THE TEXASELECTION, FOR EXAMPLE.

>> THIS PUTS THE GOVERNOR ANDTRENT 26 IN A TOUGH SPOTBECAUSE FRANK LAROSE, THESECRETARY OF STATEWHO RUNSELECTIONS OR OVERSEAS THEMSAYS, WE ARE VERY SECURE, NOPROBLEMS, HERE, BUTHE ALSOSUPPORTS THE S. A. V. E. ACT, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE PROOFOF CITIZENSHIP BEFOREREGISTERING AND PHOTO I. D. ACROSS THE COUNTRY --OHIOALREADY HAS THAT, OF COURSE.

SO, THEY ARE TRYING TO BALANCESPORTING TRUMP IN PRINCIPLE BUTSAYING, "WE ARE OKAY, HERE.

CLOSE QUOTE" >> THERE'S THIS LINEOF OURELECTIONS ARE SAFE BUT WE NEEDTO IMPOSENEW MEASURES TO MAKETHEM MORE SAFE AND VOTER FRAUDIS RARE BUT THAT IS PROOF THATOUR SYSTEMS ARE WORKING BECAUSEIT IS CAPTURING IT,SO THEREHAS ALWAYS BEEN THIS KIND OFTALKING OUT OF BOTH SIDES OFTHE MOUTH AND I THINK IT ISONLY JUST GETTING MAGNIFIED ANDIT IS GETTING MORE AND MORESTRENUOUS, ELECTIONS CANNOT BEBOTH SAFE AND UNSAFE ORVULNERABLE AND INVULNERABLE ATTHE SAME TIME.

>> YOU CAMPAIGNED, FORREPUBLICANS, EARLY ON,DEMOCRATS TOOK ADVANTAGE OFEARLY VOTING, MAIL-IN VOTING,BUTREPUBLICANS ARE CATCHINGUP, RIGHT?

>> IT USED TO BE, REPUBLICANSDID ROOT REALLY WELL IN EARLYVOTING BECAUSE IT WASMOSTLYOLDER PEOPLE THAT DID IT, ANDWE DID REALLY WELL.

AND THEN, DEMOCRATS CAUGHT ON,THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY DID GREATPROGRAMS AND EVERYTHING.

REPUBLICANS WEREA LITTLE SORE,SOME OF THAT WAS PRESIDENTTRUMP, BACK IN 2020, TALKINGABOUT HOW BAD EARLY VOTING IS.

BUT, WE GOT OVER THAT.

AND, IN FACT, THE LAST STATERUN ELECTION IN --OR, NO, IN2024, ACTUALLY, USUALLY, THEDEMOCRATS HAVE SUCH A WIDEMARGININ THAT FIRSTDUMP FROMTHE SECRETARY OF STATE.

IN THIS LAST ELECTION, THEREWAS HARDLY ANY DIFFERENCEBETWEEN REPUBLICANS ANDDEMOCRATS, WHICH SHOWED WE AREFINALLY CATCHING UP.

>>IT IS EASIER TO VOTE, YOUCAN SPACE IT OUT OVER A MONTH.

IT'S ODD, EARLY VOTING WAS PUTIN PLACE BECAUSE OF THE LONGLINES ON ELECTION DAY,AND NOW,THE LONGEST LINES ARE AT THEEARLY VOTING SITES.

PEOPLE WILL WAIT HOURS.

>> THE SUNDAY BEFORE THEELECTION IS WORSE.

>> THAT IS WHY I USUALLY VOTEEARLY.

>> WE ONLY HAVE ONE POLLINGPLACE!

>> THE WHOLE POINT WAS LINES,BUT NOW YOU HAVE TO WAIT INLINES ANYWAY.

>> WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP SAYSABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE RIGGED, ITHINK HIS VOTERS GET CONCERNEDABOUT MAILING THOSE IN.

I SAW THIS LIVE ON THE GROUNDIN MY HOME COUNTY, JEFFERSONCOUNTY.

WHAT IS IRONIC TO ME IS THATTHE THOUGHT CLAIM CONTINUESWHEN HE WINS THE ELECTION.

HE WINS THE ELECTION AND CLAIMSTHERE IS ALL THIS FRAUD, MASSFRAUD.

>> YOU FORGOT 2020.

>> PERHAPS, WE SHOULD LOOK INTOTHAT, PERHAPS HE CHEATED.

>> IT'S ALL REPUBLICANGOVERNORS, THOUGH, IN SOMESTATES THAT ARE REFUSING THEDEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE' DEMANDSFOR INFORMATION.

>> AND OHIO TO TURN THOSE OVERTHIS WEEK.

> >> ANYWAY, OUR LAST TOPIC --OHIO'S RAPIDLY GROWING DATACENTER INDUSTRY CONTINUES TOMAKE NEWS AND DRAW CONTROVERSY.

THE VILLAGE OF WEST JEFFERSONIS THE LATEST COMMUNITY TOOFFICIALLY OPPOSE DATA CENTERCONSTRUCTION.

STATE LAWMAKERS ARE CONSIDERINGENDING A SALES TAX EXEMPTIONFOR DATA CENTER EQUIPMENTPURCHASES.

BOB CLEGG, THE REPUBLICANLEGISLATURE,AND OHIO, ISGOING TO RAISE TAXES ON DATACENTERS, WHAT IS GOING ON?

>> BETTER THAN REGULARTAXPAYERS!

>> YOU KNOW, MIKE, I HAVE BEENCRITICAL OF THE CITY OFCOLUMBUS AND THE TAX BREAKSTHEY GIVE TO EVERYBODY ANDTHEIR BROTHER, SO I WILL BECRITICAL WITH THE STATE, TOO.

I AGREE WITH THE SPEAKER OF THEHOUSE ON THIS.

10 YEARS AGO, MAYBE WE NEED TODO THESE KIND OF INCENTIVES TOGET THESE COMPANIES TO COME TOOHIO, BUT WE DON'T HAVE THATPROBLEM ANYMORE.

YOU KNOW, THESE DATA CENTERSARE POPPING UP ALL OVER THEPLACE AROUND THE STATE, AND IAGREE WITH THE SPEAKER THAT, IDON'T THINK WE NEED THAT KINDOF INCENTIVE ANYMORE.

>> JAKE, DO WE, AS THE STATE,AND THE OFFICIALS,UNDERESTIMATE DATA CENTERS WHENTHEY FIRST STARTED POPPING UP?

THEY FIRST STARTED POPPING UPIN HILLIARD, JUST LIKE NICE,LITTLE, FANCY WAREHOUSES.

BUT, WEGAVE ALL SORTS OF TAXINCENTIVES TO THESE COMPANIES,YOU CAN BUY EQUIPMENT, PAY NOSALES TAXES, BUT IF YOU AREBUILDING A FACTORY, YOU WEREGOING TO HAVE TO PAY SALESTAXES ON YOURMACHINERY AND YOUWILL HAVE TO EMPLOY 100 PEOPLE.

THESE DATA CENTERS AREEMPLOYING IT DOESN'T PEOPLE.

>> IN ALL FAIRNESS, THIS TAXCREDIT CAME TO BE AROUND WE DID NOT HAVE A I AND WE DIDNOT HAVE CRYPTOCURRENCY, BY ANDLARGE, SO I WILL GIVE SOMEDEFERENCE TO THE FACT THAT --YOU KNOW, NO OFFENSE TOLAWMAKERS --NOT THE MOST TECHSAVVY PEOPLE, TODAY.

SO, WHO KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECTFROM THEM, 10 YEARS AGO?

BUT, LIKE I SAID, IT ISFESTERING AND IT IS FESTERINGAND IF YOU LOOK AT THE ACTUALVOLUME OF THIS EXPENDITURE,THIS USED TO BE SOMETHING OHIOLOST 10, $20 MILLION PER YEAR.

THIS YEAR, OHIO IS LOSING $127MILLION IN REVENUE THEYOTHERWISE WOULD HAVE GOTTENFROM THESE PROJECTS AND THATMONEY IS GOING TO GOOGLE,AMAZON, MICROSOFT.

YOU KNOW, THESE BIG COMPANIESTHAT, AT LEAST UNSOPHISTICATEDVOTERS AND MAYBE THEY ARECOMPLETELY CORRECT, HERE --IDON'T KNOW, THE BIGGEST MARKETCAP COMPANY ON THE PLANET, DOTHEY REALLY NEEDMY TAXESSUPPORT?

>> WELL, DATA CENTERS HAVEBECOME KIND OF THE NEW SOLARFARMS, YOU KNOW, IN RURAL OHIO.

THEY DON'T WANT IT, IT IS ABOGEYMAN, IN A WAY.

>> WELL, THERE ARE A NUMBER OFPOINTS THAT HAVE TO BE MADE,HERE.

ONE IS,WE HAVE TO BE CAREFULBECAUSE THIS SALES TAXEXEMPTION IS ALSO ABOUT GROWTH,AND SOMETIMES, IN MANY CASES,AROUND THE STATE, YOU LOOK ATCENTRAL OHIO AND NOW STARTINGTO BRANCH OUT INTO AREAS LIKESOUTHERN AND EASTERN OHIO, BUTDATA CENTERS ARE OFTENCATALYSTS FOR OTHERINVESTMENTAND OTHER DEVELOPMENT.

AND THERE ARE STUDIES ANDECONOMIC REPORTS THAT DO SHOWTHAT THE AMOUNT OF TAX BREAKSTHAT ARE GIVEN HAVE GENERATEDMORE TAX REVENUE.

SO, WHICH WILLBE A NETPOSITIVE, IN TERMS OF THEINCOMING STATE AND LOCAL TAXREVENUE.

SO, WE GET, FOR EXAMPLE, $2BILLION-$3 BILLION IN TAXHIKES, TAX INCENTIVES, STATEAND LOCAL REVENUE WOULDGENERATE AROUND $2 MILLION.

>> I JUST WANT TO POINT OUT,THAT THE DEMOCRAT IS ARGUINGFOR THE TAX BREAKS, AND THEREPUBLICAN -- >> [ LAUGHTER ] >> I JUST WANTED TO POINTTHATOUT NO -- > >> OKAY, TIME FOR OUR FINAL,"OFF THE RECORD" PARTING SHOTS.

LOU GENTILEYOUARE UP FIRST.

>> YOU CAN DO THIS IN A WAYTHAT IS GOOD FOR THE LOCALCITIZENRY AND ECONOMIC GROWTH.

I SAID IN OUR LAST SHOW, WEWILL SEE SOME HIGH-LEVELDEPARTURES COMING FROM THISADMINISTRATION.

WE SAW THAT THIS WEEK WITHKRISTI NOEM.

I PREDICT THAT WILL CONTINUE, IWILL NOT SAY WHO WILL BE NEXTAND I WILL PREDICT MORE MEMBERSOF CONGRESS WILL DEFECT FROMTHE PRESIDENT.

>> BOB?

>> HERE, IN COLUMBUS, ANOTHERGROUP HAS POPPED UP THAT WANTSTO CHANGE THEIR WAY THEY AREVOTING FOR CITY COUNCILMEMBERS.

SO, THE FOCUSDISTRICT SYSTEMTHEY HAVE NOW WHERE EVERYBODYIN THE CITY VOTES FOR EVERYDISTRICT, THEY ARE ACTUALLYGOING TO MAKE IT SO THAT THEPEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT ARE THEONLY ONES THAT VOTE FOR THAT.

>> IF IT GETS ON THE BALLOT?

>> IF IT GETS ON THE BALLOT.

>> AND IF IT PASSES.

>> AND IF IT PASSES.

>> FREE-SPEECH ISSUES POPPINGUP IN STRANGE PLACES, AFRO MANIS ON TRIAL THIS MONTH, THESHERIFF'S OFFICE IS SUING HIMFOR HISMUSIC VIDEO THATDEPICTS REAL FOOTAGE FROM HIMHOME OF THEM RAIDING THE HOUSEAND DAMAGING HIS HOME ANDSTEALING HIS MONEY, THEY ARESUING HIM FOR USING THEIR NAME,IMAGE, AND LIKENESS IN HISVERY, VERY FUNNY MUSIC VIDEOYOU SHOULD WATCH ON YOUTUBE.

>> 60% OPPOSE THE MILITARYSTRIKES INIRANAT THIS POINT,29% OF AMERICANS SAY THEY ARENOT PAYING ATTENTION.

NOT PAYING ATTENTION, 29%.

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING?

ANYWAY, MAYBE THE CAT VIDEOS ONYOUTUBE.

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

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE NEW WOSUNEWS YOUTUBE CHANNEL.

SPEAKING OF YOUTUBE, GO TOYOUTUBE AND SEARCH FOR "WOSUNEWS," AND SUBSCRIBE.

THERE, YOU CAN SEE EVERYEPISODE OF THIS SHOW, AND LOTSMORE.

AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME ONOUR WEBSITE, WOSU.

ORG, AND ALSOON THE PBS VIDEO APP.

FOR OUR CREW AND OUR PANEL, I'MMIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.