Podcasts about ohio politics

We discuss Gov. Mike DeWine's call to end capital punishment in Ohio, plus legislation that would provide property tax relief to seniors and allow students to play sports at another school.

We discuss legislation to change Medicaid and mail-in voting, the photo ID amendment heading to the November ballot and why an effort to regulate data centers went off the rails.

Ohio's Medicaid program covers more than three million people, but major policy and funding changes now underway could reshape how care is delivered across the state. This week, healthcare leaders, policy experts, and lawmakers examine what proposed Medicaid changes could mean for hospitals, providers, and the families who rely on the program every day. From healthcare access and rising costs to the long-term sustainability of Ohio's healthcare system, we unpack one of the most consequential public policy debates facing Ohio today. Featuring: State Senator Louis W. Blessing, III (R-Colerain Township) John McCarthy, Founding Partner, Speire HealthCare Strategies, and former Director of the Ohio Department of Medicaid Amy Rohling McGee, President, Health Policy Institute of Ohio Dr. Buhari Mohammed, Chief Executive Officer, Heart of Ohio Family Health The host is Laura A. Bischoff, Ohio Politics and State Government Reporter, The Columbus Dispatch. The presenting sponsors of CMC's long-running Optimal Health Series are Nationwide Children's Hospital, OhioHealth, and The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. This forum was also sponsored by Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. The presenting sponsor of the CMC livestream was The Center for Human Kindness at the Columbus Foundation. CMC's livestream and promotional partner was The Columbus Dispatch. This forum was also supported by Downtown Columbus, Inc. and The National Veterans Memorial and Museum. If you'd like to keep exploring this week's forum topic, our fantastic partners at The Columbus Metropolitan Library recommend reading Your Money or Your Life: Debt Collection in American Medicine, by Luke Messac (2024).  This forum was recorded before a live audience at The National Veterans Memorial and Museum in Columbus, Ohio on June 3, 2026.

We sat down with Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost to discuss his early resignation and some of the big issues he's leaving behind.

Of course there is corruption in US politics that some call campaign contributions but President Trump and family have said "hold our beer" with the just the latest being a slush fund to pay off people who attacked the capitol in 2021.There have been corrupt presidents in the past - Harding and Nixon come to mind but nothing like the scale of the Trump family - there doesn't seem to be any policy or action they can't profit from.Other stories in the episode include Ohio Republicans' effort to place a photo ID requirement into the state constitution. The proposal copies existing Ohio law but we note the added language that could make early voting harder or impossible by limiting voting to in-person voting on Election Day.Ohio Senate President Rob McColley who is running on a ticket with Vivek Ramaswamy for Ohio Governor, personally removed a child marriage ban from the Senate Judiciary committee so it couldn't be voted to the Senate floor. It was a bi-partisan bill with no public opposition before McColley stuck his nose in for no apparent reason. For a party that runs on "protecting children" it is a bad look for the Ohio GOP and Ramaswamy.Full Show Notes & Links UsedSend us Fan MailSupport the showSubscribe to our free newsletterCheck out our MerchFollow us on BlueskyFind us on Twitter(for now) Find us on InstagramFind us on Counter SocialFind us on Mastadon

We discuss the surge in data centers and why some Ohioans are pushing back.

We discuss a lawsuit over school vouchers, a proposal to slash the gas tax and why Ohio is getting a new attorney general.

We discuss the key races on Ohio's May 5 primary ballot and what you need to know to vote.

We discuss the ongoing fight over abortion access, potential changes to Medicaid, a recent visit from former Vice President Mike Pence and the latest effort to rein in JobsOhio.

We discuss Sen. Jon Husted's push for voter photo ID, Vivek Ramaswamy's plan to cut property taxes, the outcome of the FirstEnergy bribery trial, and an effort to reverse Ohio's ban on THC drinks.

How Ohio is failing to stop drug smuggling and overdose deaths in state prisons Drug-related prison rule violations doubled in Ohio, from 2020 to 2024. It's a problem that leaders say is representative of the greater communities we all live in, but the outside world isn't subject to the same controls that incarcerated people are supposed to be subject to. A year-long investigation by journalists with the Marshall Project Cleveland and the Columbus Dispatch has revealed the alarming extent to which Ohio prison officials are failing at stopping drugs from being smuggled inside, and how those drugs are leading to inmate deaths. On the "Sound of Ideas" on Monday, we talk with those journalists and hear from some of their interviewees, including people who are currently serving sentences for their roles in Ohio's prison drug trade. Guests:- Doug Livingston, Staff Writer, Marshall Project Cleveland- Laura Bischoff, Ohio Politics and State Government Reporter, Columbus Dispatch- Alex Krotulski, Ph.D., Director of Toxicology & Chemistry, Center for Forensic Science Research and Education How prison gerrymandering impacts voting districts and what rights incarcerated people have when it comes to voting Voting rights experts say people who are incarcerated have been incorrectly represented by their governments for decades due to a practice called "prison gerrymandering," by which the Census counts individuals as residents of correctional facilities, rather than their homes prior to incarceration. Research shows this tends to boost the political power of districts that contain prisons, often in rural areas, and decrease the political power of urban communities and communities of color. On the "Sound of Ideas" on Monday, we dive into the issue of prison gerrymandering and voting rights for incarcerated people, in the latest installment of our "Law of The Land" series. Guests:- Emilia Sykes, Democrat, U.S. Representative for Ohio's 13th District- Kareem Crayton, the Brennan Center for Justice's Vice President for Washington, D.C.

We discuss the prevalence of drug smuggling in Ohio's prisons and what the state can do to stem the tide.

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 talk about Ohio’s upcoming May primary election, JobsOhio, and how a new dangerous dog law takes effect on March 20. Finally, we discuss how Ohio is restricting THC drinks and hemp products.

We discuss Gov. Mike DeWine's final State of the State, President Donald Trump's visit to southwest Ohio and why Sen. Jon Husted testified in a case tied to the House Bill 6 scandal.

We discuss Ohio's cannabis referendum, sports teams that want to spend unclaimed funds, a request for voter information from the Department of Justice and why Sen. Jon Husted will likely testify in a corruption trial.

We discuss Ohio billionaire Les Wexner's ties to Jeffrey Epstein and his Feb. 18 testimony before a congressional panel.

Ohio lawmakers passed a major overhaul of the property tax system. Is it enough to help homeowners?

We discuss an effort to repeal the new marijuana and hemp law, what happened in Springfield this week and who's winning the money race for Ohio governor.

On today's episode of Pillow Talk, Alii tackles the controversy over redistricting and supermajorities nationwide but especially in Ohio. 

We discuss why Ohio is preparing for immigration enforcement in Springfield and a new trial starting in the House Bill 6 scandal.

We discuss Vice President JD Vance's visit to Toledo, a sharp drop in health care enrollment and legislation to ban 17-year-olds from getting married.

We discuss rumors about Columbus day cares, the U.S. attack on Venezuela and who Ohio's governor candidates chose as their running mates.

Ohio Bureau Chief Anthony Shoemaker speaks with politics reporters Laura Bischoff and Jessie Balmert to look back on big moments that happened in Ohio politics in 2025. During this episode, we also talk about what we’re looking ahead to in 2026.

We discuss why childcare is so expensive in Ohio and what state officials are trying to do about it.

We discuss bills before Gov. Mike DeWine that could slash property taxes and change Ohio's recreational marijuana law.

We discuss the end of the federal government shutdown, the latest in the Ohio governor's race and a bill dealing with religious alternatives to health care.

We discuss the Nov. 4 election in Ohio and what the results say about 2026.

We discuss what the federal government shutdown means for SNAP, problems at Central State University and how Ohio's congressional map could change for 2026.

We discuss lawmakers' latest efforts to regulate marijuana and hemp and how the Ohio House wants to cut $2 billion in property taxes.

We discuss the Legislature's plan to tackle high property taxes, Ohio's first redistricting meeting and how Republicans are touting unity for the 2026 election.

We discuss the fallout from Charlie Kirk's assassination, union endorsements in the 2026 election and the latest lawsuit involving Ohio's teacher pension system.

Travis Irvine is...well many things! Some of which are a Journalist, Stand-Up Comedian, Filmmaker, avid Traveler and with involvement in Politics, he once ran for Mayor of Bexley Ohio. This week we get to hear all the stories of Travis, and I thought I was really good at collecting side quests in life, but this man has me beat by a mile! It's a story pillared by those 5 subjects I listed at the top; Comedy, Travel, Journalism, Politics & Filmmaking. If you see the runtime, you'll know this one's a long one, and it's genuinely a blast the whole way through. As Travis shares the value of simply doing whatever we find interesting in life and learning to "embrace the randomness" we cover SO much. Including but not limited to; Making 2 movies about killer raccoons, documentary filmmaking, legitimately running for Mayor of his hometown, having many many freelance gigs over the years, some near-trouble some comedy sketches brought him from the Nigerian Gov, traveling all over the country, and doing stand-up comedy the entire time... Folks, that list doesn't even scratch the surface! If you're looking for not just fun stories from a fun guy, but stories that serve as solid reminders to simply fill your life with whatever experiences you want, this one's for you!  ----THIS EPISODE IS SPONSORED BY: PromoWest Productions - @promowestlive For all upcoming shows & event info of who's coming through Columbus, OH, visit promowestlive.com  or to purchase tickets directly, visit AXS.com Makers Social - @makers.social Maker's Social is a DIY Project Bar located in the Franklinton Arts District of Columbus, OH! To book a reservation, go to makerscolumbus.com enter “WYDH” in the notes of your checkout for $10 off! The Scatter Joy Project - @thescatterjoyproject The Scatter Joy Project is a local Columbus nonprofit focused on fighting for mental health. They aim to make mental health care accessible and affordable for everyone. They sell apparel with 100% of the profits funding their crisis text line, their network to help people find the mental health help they need, and their very own therapy fund. So whether you're looking to get help or want to donate to help support the cause, Scatter Joy is right for you. Find more info at www.thescatterjoyproject.com Newark Station - @newarkstation Newark Station, located in Newark, Ohio is a former warehouse turned into a coffee roastery, event space, restaurant, and live music venue. If you wanna know the details of events, coffee, dine-in hours and more, visit Newarkstation.com or follow them at @newarkstation  

Lawmakers have begun the arduous process of drawing congressional districts for Ohio. Ohio Democrats did not support the two congressional maps passed four years ago. Because of that, the state's constitution requires lawmakers to draw new ones this year. Ohio House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn joins the show.

Lawmakers have begun the arduous process of drawing congressional districts for Ohio. Ohio Democrats did not support the two congressional maps passed four years ago. Because of that, the state's constitution requires lawmakers to draw new ones this year. Ohio House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn joins the show.

We discuss Sen. Bernie Moreno's first months in office, a new Trump directive on sexual education and what's on the agenda when Ohio lawmakers return to Columbus.

In this episode, we revisit last week's Politics and a Pint event held at Seventh Son Brewing in Columbus.

With a campaign video and email early Monday morning, the former U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown announced he will take on Senator Jon Husted next year.

We discuss Gov. Mike DeWine's decision to send Ohio National Guard members to Washington, D.C., and how Sherrod Brown's Senate campaign announcement is shaping the 2026 election.

Yet another massive Ohio unemployment scam from the days of the pandemic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We discuss the first year of adult-use marijuana sales in Ohio and what's in store for the program going forward.

Brown is going to run for the U.S. Senate, the place he walked out of just eight months ago after losing a re-election bid to Republican Bernie Moreno.

The drama over legislative district mapmaking isn't limited to Texas, where Republicans and Democrats are in a standoff over efforts to redraw lines. Once again, Ohio lawmakers are drawing legislative districts.

We discuss a viral street fight in Cincinnati and how it became a talking point for Ohio politicians.

We discuss former Sen. Sherrod Brown's political future, fundraising in the Ohio governor's race and why Vice President JD Vance returned to Ohio.

We discuss why Ohio will draw a new congressional map, the latest with a lawsuit over school vouchers and how the Ohio House voted on Gov. Mike DeWine's budget vetoes.

There have been major developments in the ongoing lawsuit against Ohio State University by sexual assault victims of former OSU team doctor Richard Strauss.

Ohio is in the early stages of a major fight over property taxes. Thanks largely to rapidly rising home values, property taxes have jumped on average about 25–30% in recent years. Homeowners are mad, especially those on fixed incomes who have no plans to move and cash in on their home's equity.

Once labeled a cow-town, known mainly for its college football team, Columbus is asserting itself as a major regional and national city and the growth projections are kind of startling. But is Columbus ready?

Gov. DeWine signed the biennial budget into law and made 67 line-item vetoes. He nixed a plan to allow counties to reduce property taxes if school districts had a lot of money in their savings accounts. But the richest Ohioans get a 20% income tax cut.

The Ohio Democratic Party has a new chair. Amy Acton is building a campaign to run for Ohio governor. And everyone is waiting for Sherrod Brown to announce his plans.