Podcasts about ohio politics

Attorney General Dave Yost has dropped out of the campaign for governor. Yost said his steep climb to the nomination had become a vertical cliff. For now, Vivek Ramaswamy's path to the Republican nomination for governor looks clear.

A panel of experts breaks down President Trump's falling approval numbers in polls and the uncertainty over tariffs.

A new poll shows Trump has a 47% approval rating while 48% disapprove—a statistical tie—but that number is down 7 points from February. The poll's co-director, Bowling Green State University political science professor Robert Alexander, joins the show.

Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel joined Ohio Politics Explained to discuss his new job, higher education and whether he's thinking about a run for governor in 2026.

The Browns are looking to move to a new domed stadium in suburban Cleveland. And state lawmakers seem eager to help. The governor wants to tax sports betting companies and use the money to help the Browns and other teams. The Ohio House wants the state to borrow $600 million to just help the Browns. Kennesaw State University economics professor J.C. Bradbury joins the show.

We dissect Ohio's school voucher program and whether it's working as Republican lawmakers intended.

We discuss the two-year budget that passed the House, a key endorsement for Sen. Jon Husted and a proposal to ban China and Russia from buying property in Ohio.

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.

We discuss a budget plan from House lawmakers, how Ohio Democrats are navigating Trump's second term and a new proposal to limit teens' social media use.

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.

We discuss legislation to regulate hemp in Ohio, Sherrod Brown's next steps, the latest with Ohio's teacher pension system and how a Trump executive order could shape elections.

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.

We discuss the latest on the higher ed bill, Sherrod Brown's next steps, whether Ohio could eliminate the state income tax and a lawsuit over Ohio's ban on gender-affirming care for minors.

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.

We discuss Gov. Mike DeWine's State of the State address, an Ohio Supreme Court case involving a former Columbus pastor and the latest directive to universities from the Trump administration.

USA Today Network Ohio Bureau Chief Anthony Shoemaker speaks with politics reporter Laura Bischoff on the latest episode of the Ohio Politics Explained podcast. During this edition, we recap how President Donald Trump called on Congress to eliminate the CHIPS Act, talk about how Ohio’s marijuana program is likely to see some changes, and mention what’s happening with DEI and Senate Bill 1. Finally, we discuss Ohio’s governor race and the endorsements that Vivek Ramaswamy recently received.

We discuss DEI programs at Ohio colleges, a new transgender bathroom law, Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign launch and a bill to change Ohio's marijuana program.

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.

We discuss Jim Tressel's appointment as lieutenant governor, a controversial higher ed bill passed by the Senate, the state of JobsOhio, and more.

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.

We discuss Gov. Mike DeWine's budget proposal, Larry Householder's appeal, a new bill to regulate underage drinking and the musical chairs of the 2026 election.

We discuss how President Donald Trump's immigration policies are affecting Ohio, proposed changes to the recreational marijuana law, a new plan to end the death penalty and why parents want the state to take action on child care.

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.

After months of speculation, Gov Mike DeWine announced that Jon Husted was his pick to be the next U.S. Senator from Ohio. Of course, Husted is replacing short-timer J.D. Vance, who job-hopped into the Vice Presidency.

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.

We discuss the latest on Inauguration Day, potential changes to Ohio's Medicaid program and how the Ohio Republican Party chair made waves this week.

We discuss the latest with Ohio's Senate appointment, a new legislative session, which bills just became law and the first Democrat to join the 2026 race for governor.

Former Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton ended speculation and announced this week that she will indeed run for governor next year as a Democrat. Meanwhile, Gov. DeWine still has a big decision to make on who will fill JD Vance's seat in the U.S. Senate.

In the 248 years of America's existence, there have been tumultuous years and 2024 is going to be right up there. Joining the show to relive the memories is long-time Statehouse reporter Darrel Rowland.

We discuss the end of this year's lame duck session and what's ahead for Ohio politics in 2025.

We talk with one of Ohio's longest-serving lawmakers as he prepares to retire this month.

We discuss the latest on fracking, a bill that would ban the teaching of "gender ideology" in schools, whether lawmakers will pass a hemp ban and which Ohioans got pardoned by President Joe Biden.

The legislative session between Election Day and the end of the legislative term is always a busy one. Maybe lawmakers are just like the rest of us and they procrastinate. Former State Representative Gene Krebs joins the show.

Voters last month soundly rejected a measure that would have appointed an independent, non-political commission to draw legislative and congressional lines. An Ohio lawmaker says there is an alternate solution: expand the size of the legislature. Joining us to discuss this proposal is State Sen. Bill Blessing.

We discuss depressed Democratic turnout in the Nov. 5 election, a controversial pension bill, another fight over Ohio's abortion laws and why an Amish order is suing the state. 

The House Republican caucus voted unanimously to nominate current Senate President Matt Huffman to be the next House Speaker. Joining us to discuss this shrewd move is Sarah Donaldson, Statehouse reporter for Ohio Public Radio.

We discuss the battle for Ohio House speaker, the outcome of the 9th Congressional District race, how Sen.-elect Bernie Moreno views Donald Trump's cabinet picks and what might be next for Sen. Sherrod Brown.

President-elect Donald Trump continues to build his cabinet. Gov. Mike DeWine continues to take calls from almost every Republican officeholder in the state, saying he or she wants Vice President-elect JD Vance's soon-to-be vacant Senate seat. Republican Strategist Terry Casey, Democratic Strategist Dale Butland, WOSU's talk show and podcast host Anna Staver and USA Today Ohio Network Reporter Laura Bischoff break it down.

We discuss the campaign for Vice President-elect JD Vance's Senate seat and how Ohio lawmakers will spend the final weeks of their two-year legislative session.

Donald Trump rolled to a swing state sweep. Bernie Moreno rode President Trump's coattails to Washington. Republicans swept all three contested seats on the Ohio Supreme Court. How did Democrats get it so wrong? David Stebenne, professor of Political History at Ohio State University joins the show.

USA Today Network Ohio Bureau Chief Anthony Shoemaker speaks with politics reporter Laura Bischoff on the latest episode of the Ohio Politics Explained podcast. During this edition we recap Tuesday's general election and breakdown all the important race outcomes.

If the polls are to be believed, the candidates for President are tied nationally, and in the seven swing states. Joining the show this week is Anna Staver, host of WOSU's "All Sides with Anna Staver."

We break down the key races and issues on Ohio's Nov. 5 ballot.

We discuss mass voter challenges, an Ohio Supreme Court ruling on animal abuse, why infant deaths are increasing and how Ohio officials accidentally charged a dead person with illegal voting.

Just a dozen days remain, and the candidates for president are done with microtargeting by trying to appeal to narrow groups of voters. They are making their final pitches. Retired Ohio State University political science professor Paul Beck joins the show.

A New York Times/Siena College poll last week showed Harris's support among Black voters was less than Joe Biden received in 2020. Joining the show to discuss this and other issues is Sam Gresham, a long-time political observer and activist who works with Common Cause Ohio.

National polling firms and out-of-state universities don't survey Ohio voters as much as they did in the first 15 years of this century. But there are polls out there.

There were some sharp critiques, but a whole lot of passive aggressiveness and a fair amount of substance. Overall, the vice-presidential candidates spent most of their time targeting their opponents' running mates. WOSU's Anna Staver, host of the talk show and podcast All Sides with Anna Staver, joins the show.