>>> PRESIDENT TRUMP RESETS HIS AGENDA.

HOW DOES IT PLAY IN OHIO?

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WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD," I'M MIKE THOMPSON.

OHIO AND THE COUNTRY WATCHED PRESIDENT TRUMP'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS THIS WEEK AND WONDERED WHAT HE WOULD SAY AND WHAT IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON THEIR LIVES.

THE PRESIDENT SPOKE FOR A LONG TIME, LARGELY STAYED ON SCRIPT.

IN BETWEEN PRAISING AMERICAN HEROES, HE POINTED TO POSITIVE ECONOMIC NEWS, RISING STOCK MARKET AND LOWER GAS PRICES, SUGGESTED MONEY FROM TARIFFS MIGHT REPLACE THE TAXES, FALSELY CLAIMS ABOUT THE ELECTION.

AND STUDIES SHOW THAT TARIFFS ARE COSTING AMERICANS EVERY YEAR, AND COVERAGE IS FALLING IN HEALTH CARE BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES AND THE POLICIES HAVE SWEPT UP LEGAL IMMIGRANTS AND LED TO THE DEATH OF TWO AMERICAN CITIZENS IN MINNEAPOLIS.

HERB ASHER, AS FAR AS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESSES GO AND AS FAR AS PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ADDRESSES GO, IT WAS NOT BAD.

>> THE REPUBLICANS WERE AFRAID HE WOULD LOSE THE SCRIPT, RAMBLE.

YOU SAID IT, MORE DISCIPLINED, STAYED ON MESSAGE.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT CHANGED MUCH IN TERMS OF THE POLITICAL RESPONSES TO IT.

MIGHT HAVE REASSURED THE MAGA BASE BUT PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE AND DEMOCRATS, NOTHING TO BE MOVED BY.

THERE'S A RISK.

CITED A LOT OF STATISTICS, TALKED ABOUT HOW GOOD THE ECONOMY IS, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF THINGS GOING TO HAPPEN IN NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS THAT WILL COME BACK TO HAUNT HIM.

GASOLINE PRICES WILL BE AT THE MERCY IN PART OF CANADA BECAUSE OF THE OIL THEY SHIP TO THE REFINERIES IN THE GULF COAST.

>> AND POSSIBLE WAR IN THE MIDDLE, TOO.

WE'LL GET TO THAT.

MIKE, DID HE DO BETTER THAN YOU EXPECTED?

FOCUSED ON AFFORDABILITY FOR THE FIRST HALF OF HIS SPEECH AND PRETTY MUCH STAYED ON MESSAGE >> I MADE IT ABOUT 1 HOUR, 10 MINUTES, NOT TO THE END, FULL DISCLOSURE.

I THINK HE DID WHAT HE WANTED TO DO.

MIDTERMS ARE ABOUT YOUR OPINION ABOUT THE MAN IN OFFICE.

IT GOES DOWNSTREAM ALL 50 STATES.

WHAT HE TRIED TO DO, REMIND IN HIS WORDS THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE CRAZY, WE ARE NOT.

HE BROUGHT UP THE USA HOCKEY TEAM, GUT-WRENCHING STORIES OF PEOPLE WHO LOST THEIR CHILDREN, WE ARE NORMAL, REPUBLICANS.

DEMOCRATS ARE SITTING THERE, WON'T STAND.

THOSE ARE THINGS THAT RESONATED WITH AVERAGE PERSON.

WE'RE NOT POLICY WONKS HANGING ON EVERYTHING THEY SAY, HE WAS SPEAKING TO INDEPENDENTS IN MY OPINION.

THE MEDIA MAY SAY I'M THIS, THAT, THE OTHER, HERE IS WHO I AM, YOU HAVE A CHOICE IN NOVEMBER.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> IT'S A LONG WAIT TO NOVEMBER.

TWO YEARS AGO, JOE BIDEN GAVE HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS AND WE THOUGHT HE WAS ON THE WAY TO A STRONG RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN.

DIDN'T WORK OUT WELL.

WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF THE STATE OF THE UNION?

>> WHAT IS THE SMALLEST?

LESS THAN A WEEK?

IMAGINE THE NEXT STORY.

>> YOU HAVE IT, THE CLINTONS DEPOSED THIS WEEK.

>> AND POTENTIAL FOR WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST, U.S.

EMBASSY PULLING STAFFERS OUT, STUFF LIKE THAT.

HAD YOU INTRODUCE THAT AND THE NORMAL UNPREDICTABILITY OF POLITICS, WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT SOMETHING ELSE NEXT WEEK.

>> IT WAS A BRILLIANT MOVE TO FORCE DEMOCRATS TO TAKE A STAND ON IMMIGRATION.

IT'S NOT A BLACK AND WHITE ISSUE.

IF YOU'RE FOR PROTECTING AMERICANS OR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS, HE DRAGGED THAT OUT, THE STANDING THING.

DID HE BRING IT BACK UNDER HIS STRENGTHS?

HE WAS LOSING IT BECAUSE OF THE I.C.E.

TACTICS AND DEATHS IN MINNESOTA.

>> DEPENDS WHAT HAPPENS NEXT WEEK AND WHAT I.C.E.

DOES, WHAT KRISTI NOEM DOES, WHAT KASH PATEL SAYS.

SMART THING TO DO.

BUT DEMOCRATS I DON'T KNOW ARE ALL THAT SMART WHEN IT COMES TO IMMIGRATION BECAUSE THEY INTRODUCED A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT SAYS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE SECURE BORDERS AND WE'RE ALSO GOING TO DEPORT ANYBODY WHO IS CONVICTED OF A FELONY, BUT WE'RE GOING TO FIND LEGAL PATHS TO CITIZENSHIP FOR PEOPLE.

THAT'S WHERE I THINK THE VAST MAJORITY OF AMERICANS STAND.

PROTECT THE BORDER, HAVE SECURITY, SO THEY HAVE TO HAVE AN ALTERNATIVE.

NOT THAT IT WILL GET PASSED BUT THEY CAN SAY THIS IS WHAT WE'RE FOR AND NOT FOR WHAT THE PRESIDENT AND I.C.E.

ARE DOING FOR INNOCENT PEOPLE.

>> HE SAID IT WAS THE BEST ECONOMY EVER, INFLATION RATE DOWN ABOUT HALF A POINT, STILL 2.5%.

GAS PRICES DOWN BUT SOME GROCERIES ARE UP.

IT'S A MIXED BAG AND HE SAID THE BEST EVER.

>> IT'S A MIXED BAG, BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND EVERY PRESIDENT STANDS UP AND SAYS EVERYTHING IS GREAT, IT'S THE OTHER GUY'S FAULT.

IT TAKES ME TIME TO FIX IT.

THAT'S WHAT THEY TYPICALLY SAY.

EVERYTHING IS NOT GREAT, BETTER THAN UNDER JOE BIDEN?

YOU CAN POINT TO A LOT OF CATEGORIES THAT SAY YES.

DO WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK?

HECK YES.

AT THE GROCERY STORE BEFORE I CAME HERE, IT'S EXPENSIVE.

>> EGGS DOWN, BEEF AND ORANGE JUICE ARE UP.

>> JOE BIDEN TRIED TO TELL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE HOW GOOD THEY HAD IT, AND IT WASN'T CREDIBLE.

NOW DONALD TRUMP IS TELLING THEM THAT, AND AGAIN, YOU GO SHOPPING AND LOOK AT MILK, BREAD, ORANGE JUICE, BEEF AND A FEW OTHER THINGS EVERY DAY.

THE GOOD NEWS IS GASOLINE BUT THAT COULD GO UP QUICKLY.

>> ARE THERE COATTAILS OF THIS?

REPUBLICANS, RELEASED A VIDEO STANDING WITH THE PRESIDENT.

JOYCE BAILEY DIDN'T ATTEND THE ADDRESS.

DOES THIS HAVE ANY EFFECT, THE SPEECH AND POLICIES HE LAID OUT IN THE STATE OF THE UNION Z IT HAVE ANY EFFECT ON THE CAMPAIGN?

>> I SAW THE NATIONAL CONGRESSIONAL REPUBLICANS TRYING TO MAKE AN ISSUE FOR A VULNERABLE DEMOCRAT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION, AND WOULDN'T STAND WHEN TRUMP TRIED TO GET PEOPLE TO STAND FOR FIGHTING IMMIGRATION.

I SAW THAT HE CALLED FOR A NATIONAL BAN ON NO EXCUSE MAIL-IN VOTING.

THAT'S NOT IN THE LEGISLATION THAT REPUBLICANS ARE CONSIDERING.

IF HE'S USING THE STATE OF THE UNION AS A BULLY PULPIT, IT COULD PRESSURE REPUBLICANS TO GO FURTHER TO THE RIGHT EVEN IF IT'S NOT IN THEIR POLITICAL INTERESTS TO DO SO.

THAT COULD HAVE AN EFFECT.

>> AS A MESSENGER, HE HAS SOMETHING ELSE TO WORRY ABOUT, THE EPSTEIN FILES.

AS YOU ARE GETTING MORE AND MORE INFORMATION OUT THERE, YOU'LL SEE MORE INVOLVEMENT FROM THE PRESIDENT, PRIOR TO BEING PRESIDENT, WITH JEFFREY EPSTEIN AND WILL NOT BE GOOD FOR HIM.

>> NEXT TOPIC, STATE LAWMAKERS ARE THREATENING TO CUT EDUCATION MONEY IF RECIPIENTS DON'T COMPLY WITH STATE LAW OR COMPLAIN ABOUT IT.

ONE WOULD RESTRICT MONEY GOING TO DISTRICTS THAT FIGHT IN THE COURTS.

DISTRICTS CALL IT THE BULLY BILL AND SAY IT VIOLATES THE FIRST AMENDMENT.

OTHERS SAY THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULDN'T USE STATE MONEY TO SUE THE STATE.

ANOTHER BILL WITHHOLDS MONEY NOT COMPLYING WITH THE STATE'S ANTI-DEI LAW.

SENATE BILL ONE AS IT'S KNOWN, DON'T UNIVERSITIES HAVE TO COMPLY WITH IT ANYWAY?

WHY DO WE NEED THIS EXTRA THING OF LOSING FUNDING?

ARE PUNISHMENTS NOT GOOD ENOUGH NOW?

>> IF NOTHING ELSE, THREATENING THEM COULD BRING THEM ALONG.

THE BILL WAS JUST PASSED.

YOU HEAR REPUBLICANS SAY THEY HEAR ABOUT THINGS -- NOT CALLING IT DEI BUT IT IS THAT.

IT'S A COMMON WAY THE LEGISLATURE CAN BASICALLY POKE THE RECIPIENTS OF THEIR FUNDING INTO DOING WHAT THEY WANT, NOT SLOW WALK IT.

WHETHER OR NOT IT'S NECESSARY, ARE THEY COMPLYING OR NOT, HARD TO SAY BUT IF NOTHING ELSE, MOTIVATING FACTOR TO MAKE THE THREAT.

>> THE DECISION THAT WAS A DISTRICT SUING THE STATE, SAYING THE SYSTEM WAS UNFAIR AND THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULED SEVERAL TIMES IT WAS UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THAT WOULD BE NOT ALLOWED OR STRONGLY DISCOURAGED UNDER THIS BILL TO RESTRICT SCHOOL DISTRICTS' USE OF MONEY.

>> BOTH SOUND LIKE THEY'RE SOLVING A PROBLEM THAT DOESN'T EXIST AND MAKES THEM SEEM HEAVYHANDED WITH RESPECT TO EDUCATION.

THEY HAVE TO DECIDE.

IT'S EASY TO SAY I HEARD ON CAMPUS THAT SO AND SO GAVE A TALK THAT WAS UNBALANCED OR SOMEBODY WAS UPSET -- YOU DON'T BULLY SOMEBODY THAT WAY.

I HAVE A FRIEND IN CALIFORNIA, SAN JOSE AREA, SO TIRED OF CALIFORNIA, TAXES, BAD WEATHER, EARTHQUAKES THREATS AND ALL EVERYTHING IN CALIFORNIA.

HE WANTS TO MOVE.

I SAID COME TO OHIO.

AND HE UTTERED A LINE I HAD HEARD EARLIER WHICH I THOUGHT WAS ANECDOTAL, WHATEVER.

WHY WOULD I COME TO OHIO, IT'S JUST A COLD MISSISSIPPI.

WHY?

LOOK HOW YOU'RE ATTACKING EDUCATION.

WE'RE NOT A COLD MISSISSIPPI, WE'RE A COLD FLORIDA.

>> BETTER WEATHER THAN CALIFORNIA.

>> I KNOW.

>> SHOULD AGENCIES BE THREATENING FUNDING TO ENFORCE LAWS?

>> ALL THE LAWS APPLY TO ALL THE PEOPLE ALL THE TIME PERIOD.

IF NOT WE DON'T HAVE A STATE, A NATION, IT'S ANARCHY.

IMAGINE IF THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING TO ENFORCE THE ABORTION LAWS, JUST CLOSE PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

EVERY UNIVERSITY, THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

IF THEY'RE NOT, THERE'S CONSEQUENCES.

ONE OF THE LEVERS THEY HAVE IS WITHHOLD FUNDING IF YOU DON'T DO IT.

IS IT IDEAL?

NO, BUT YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW -- >> WASN'T IN THE ORIGINAL LAW THOUGH.

>> YOU CAN PASS AMENDED LAWS.

>> BUT WHY DIDN'T THEY PUT PENALTIES IN THE ORIGINAL LAW?

>> NAœVELY WE THINK AS REPUBLICANS IF YOU PASS A LAW, YOU'LL FOLLOW IT.

WHATEVER THE UNIVERSITY MAY OR MAY NOT BE VIOLATING IT, I DON'T KNOW WHICH.

BUT THE OTHER ISSUE, IF YOU SUE, I DON'T THINK THAT'S A GOOD IDEA.

VOTERS DON'T LIKE THAT A SCHOOL DISTRICT WASTED TWO TO THREE MILLION ON LEGAL FEES.

>> DONALD TRUMP IS DOING THIS WITH STATES THAT DON'T COMPLY OR COOPERATE WITH HIS IMMIGRATION POLICIES, THREATENING TO WITHHOLD HIGHWAY FUNDS AND OTHERS IN CALIFORNIA AND NEW YORK CITY.

IF YOU DIDN'T PASS A SEATBELT LAW YOU LOST FEDERAL HIGHWAY FUNDS.

IT'S NOT A NEW THING.

>> IT'S A TRICK OF THE TRADE TO MAKE SURE THE LAWS ARE IMPLEMENTED.

LARRY HOUSEHOLDER IN 2020 STARTED THREATENING LIBRARIES WHEN THERE WAS DRAG QUEEN STORY HOUR.

IT HAPPENS OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

>> BEFORE YOU PROPOSE A LAW, YOU HAVE A COMMITTEE HEARING AND HAVE PEOPLE TESTIFY, SAY HERE ARE WHERE THE UNIVERSITIES ARE NOT FOLLOWING THE LAW.

PUTTING OUT THREATS WITHOUT ANY REAL JUSTIFICATION EXCEPT HEARSAY OR ANECDOTES, THAT'S NOT HOW YOU DO POLICY.

>> GOVERNOR DeWINE HAS LITTLE TIME LEFT IN HIS CAREER.

HE'S EXPRESSED CONCERNS ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY, AND HE'S POSTPONED EVERY ONE OF THEM ON HIS DESK.

HE NOW HINTS HE MAY ASK LAWMAKERS TO PERMANENTLY END THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE STATE.

YOU'RE ASSOCIATED WITH RIGHT TO LIFE.

>> IT'S INNOCENT HUMAN LIFE, CONCEPTION TO DEATH.

TAKE OFF THAT HAT AND PUT ON THE ATTORNEY HAT, LAW IN THE STATE OF OHIO ALLOWS FOR DEATH PENALTY WITH UNANIMOUS JURY ASSENT.

WE HAVE A GOVERNOR SAYING NOT GOING TO ENFORCE IT.

IT'S LAWLESSNESS.

MIKE DeWINE IS A FRIEND, I'VE VOTED FOR HIM, BUT HE'S NOT UPHOLDING THE LAW OF OHIO WHICH HE'S CONSTITUTIONALLY HAVING TO DO.

>> WHERE DOES YOUR ORGANIZATION STAND?

>> OUR MISSION STATE IS INNOCENT HUMAN LIFE.

>> POLLS SHOW 58% OF OHIOENS SUPPORT DOING AWAY WITH THE DEATH PENALTY IF IT'S REPLACED WITH LIFE IN PRISON WITHOUT PAROLE.

>> YEAH.

>> WILL THE LEGISLATURE DO THIS.

>> >> THIS LEGISLATURE, NO.

BUT A LOT OF PEOPLE WOULD SAY, AS LONG AS YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT THE GUILTY PARTY WILL NEVER SEE FREEDOM AGAIN, I CAN ACCEPT THE NOTION OF LIFE IMPRISONMENT WITHOUT PAROLE.

BUT I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN IN OHIO WITH THE CURRENT LEGISLATURE.

>> WOULD THERE BE ENOUGH VOTES, ANDREW, IF ALL THE DEMOCRATS VOTED TO ABOLISH?

ARE THERE ENOUGH REPUBLICANS TO JOIN THEM?

>> I SUSPECT NOT, BUT WHEN WE ASKED THE HOUSE SPEAKER, HE SAID HE HADN'T POLLED THE CAUCUS BUT HE WAS STRONGLY OPPOSED.

HE DOESN'T IMPOSE HIS VIEWS, BUT TAKES THE TEMPERATURE.

BUT HE HAS YOST COME OUT AND SAY HE BACKS UP.

IT'S HARD TO SAY, BUT WITH THE SPLIT IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, I'M DOUBTFUL.

>> PAST SIX YEARS, BILLS INTRODUCED BY REPUBLICAN SENATORS, IT'S ALWAYS DIED A SLOW DEATH.

>> EVER COME TO A VOTE?

>> NEVER MADE IT OUT OF COMMITTEE.

>> IF IT DID, THAT'S WHERE THE LEADERSHIP COMES IN, COULD STOP IT COMING TO THE FLOOR BUT THEN WOULD IT PASS?

>> BECAUSE OF MY POSITION, I'M WILLING TO BET IT WOULD FAIL THE VOTE, AND SPEAKER WON'T BRING IT TO THE FLOOR IF THE VOTES AREN'T THERE.

>> AND ALIGNED WITH HIS OPINION?

>> ANDREW SAID IT BEST, OUR SPEAKER IS DOING A GREAT JOB.

LETS THE LEGISLATORS LEGISLATE AND THEN IN CAUCUS THEY TALK ABOUT IT BUT VOTES AREN'T THERE, NOT BRINGING IT.

>> WOULD NEED OVERWHELMING SUPPORT IN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS, WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

MORE THAN 50?

>> WHELMING TO OVERWHELMING, ONE VOTE DIFFERENCE.

>> WOULD LIKE THE FIRST 50 VOTES FROM REPUBLICANS.

>> IF DeWINE PUSHES .

DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER NEEDS.

HOW ABOUT CHILD CARE, HOW ABOUT CHILDHOOD DISEASE PREVENTION.

THINKING ABOUT A SERIES OF PROGRAMS.

TURNS OUT THE MONEY IN THE FUND IS NOT ONE-TIME MONEY, THERE'S ALWAYS MORE ADDED TO IT, THERE ARE MORE UNCLAIMED FUNDS AND PRESUMABLY INTEREST PAYMENTS.

ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA WHERE IT'S SITTING?

>> I HOPE IN AN INTEREST BEARING ACCOUNT.

>> THERE ARE SOME RESTRICTIONS WHAT INTEREST YOU CAN GET BUTS IT IS THERE.

>> NOT ALL $5 BILLION IS OPEN FOR THESE SPORTS.

THEY'VE DONE THEIR DUE DILIGENCE, TRIED TO FIND PEOPLE, THEY'RE DEAD OR WHATEVER, SOME OF THE MONEY IS GOING TO THE BROWNS, YOU DID A GREAT JOB OF EXPLAINING WHO ELSE IS ASKING FOR IT.

WE SHOULD DISTRIBUTE IT INSTEAD OF COMING BACK TO TAXPAYERS, IF WE HAVE TO DO THAT.

BUT THE CINCINNATI SOCCER TEAM STARTED IN 2021, ASKING FOR $136 MILLION?

GIVE IT MORE TO DILAPIDATED FIELDS IN INNER CITIES.

>> BLUE JACKETS WANT $100 MILLION, GUARDIANS AND CAVS WANT $100 MILLION FOR THE STADIUM AND ARENA.

A PARKOUR VAULTING AND CLIMBING GYM OUTSIDE OF TOLEDO WANTS TEN GRAND.

THE BASE BANDITS WANT TEN GRAND.

TO GIVE A BILLIONAIRE OWNER OF THE BROWNS MONEY, SHOULDN'T THEY GET IT?

>> I KIND OF AGREE, INSTEAD OF BIG TEAMS, SPREAD IT AROUND.

PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE FIELDS, GIVE KIDS THINGS TO DO AFTER SCHOOL.

BUILD BASKETBALL COURTS AND BASEBALL STADIUMS.

>> GOT TO GET TO THE FINAL OFF-THE-RECORD PARTING SHOTS.

MIKE GONIDAKI YOU'RE FIRST.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS RIGHT, IRAN CAN'T GET A NUCLEAR BOMB.

NOBODY WANTS TO SEE THIS BUT WE HAVE TO PROTECT THE UNITED STATES AND THE REST OF THE WORLD.

I THINK IT'S COMING.

>> I JUST CHANGED MY PREDICTION AND AGREE IN PART AND SAY AT THE SAME TIME, HOW ABOUT PROTECTING UKRAINE AND DOING MORE TO MAKE SURE THE RUSSIANS DON'T TAKE OVER UKRAINE.

IF THEY DO THAT, THERE WILL BE OTHER INCURSIONS BY THE RUSSIANS IN EUROPE.

>> ANDREW?

>> THERE'S A STORY COMING OUT AT SIGNAL HOW AP ELECTRIC POWER IS PUSHING TO HAVE THE ABILITY TO OWN NUCLEAR PLANTS AGAIN.

THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO OWN THE ASSETS NOW, BUT ARE PUSHING TO CREATE -- I FORGET THE TERMINOLOGY, BUT SMALLER THAN GIANT NUCLEAR PLANTS.

DOING IT AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE THREATENING TO LEAVE OHIO.

INTERESTING TO SEE WHAT POLICIES THEY PUSH FOR WHILE THEY'RE POTENTIALLY TRYING TO LEVERAGE THE POSSIBILITY THEY MIGHT LEAVE.

>> I PREDICT EVERY TRAVELING BASEBALL TEAM IN OHIO WILL ASK FOR UNCLAIMED FUNDS SHOULD THE SANDUSKY BASE BANDITS GET THE AWARD.

IF YOU WANTED TO SHARE THE PROGRAM, WOSU ON YOUTUBE, YOU CAN SEE, SHARE AND COMMENT ON EVERY EPISODE.

ALSO AT WOSU.ORG AND THE PBS APP.

FOR OUR CREW, I'M MIKE THOMPSON, HAVE A GOOD WEEK.

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