>>> TRUMPS FIRST 100 DAYS, OHIOANS TRY TO KEEP UP.

>> WELCOME TO COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD, I AM MIKE THOMPSON.

IT HAS ONLY BEEN 100 DAYS, WELL MAYBE LESS.

JUST THREE MONTHS SINCE DONALD TRUMP BEGAN HIS SECOND STINT IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

PRESIDENTS ALWAYS TRY TO MAKE THEIR MARK IN THE FIRST 100 DAYS WHILE THEIR POPULARITY REMAINS HIGH.

TRUMP'S SECOND TERM HAS PUT HIS PREDECESSORS TO SHAME, DOGE CUTS, DEPORTATIONS, AND FLUCTUATING TRADE POLICIES HAVE LEFT OHIOANS AND OTHER AMERICANS STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP.

TARIFFS LIKELY WILL HAVE THE LARGEST IMPACT ON THE LARGEST GROUP OF PEOPLE.

ONE GROUP FACES UNCERTAINTY AS IT MAKES ITS YEARLY BIG INVESTMENTS.

FARMERS PLANTING CORN AND SOYBEANS.

GENE KREBS, YOU LIVE IN FARM COUNTRY, WHAT IS THE FEELING AMONGST FARMERS?

>> TERRIFIED.

AND FURTHER, I WAS A FULL-TIME PROFESSIONAL FARMER.

I HAVE TALKED TO MY NEIGHBORS AND RELATIVES, WHICH IS THE SAME THING, AND WHAT THEY HAVE CONSISTENTLY --SO, HOW THIS IS PLAYING OUT ITS IF THEY VOTED FOR DONALD TRUMP, THEY ARE 100% STILL IN, IT DOESN'T MATTER.

IF THEY VOTED AGAINST , TARIFFS, THEY'RE STARTING TO GET NERVOUS ABOUT THINGS.

THE PRICES HAVE MOSTLY HELD UP FOR COMMODITIES .

THAT HAS BEEN SOMEWHAT OF AN OFFSET, BUT THE THING I DO WANT TO POINT OUT IS WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT FARMERS, YOU NEED TO BIFURCATE THEM INTO THOSE WHO ARE IN NICHE FARMING, SO WHEN YOU SEE THE INTERVIEWS , THEY RAISE LETTUCE AND TOMATOES FROM A FARMERS MARKET, THOSE ARE USUALLY FARMERS UNION FOLKS.

AND THEIR DEMOCRATS, THEIR LIBERALS.

IF YOU TALK TO SOMEBODY WHOSE PRODUCT GOES ON CHICAGO BOARD OF TRADE, OKAY, MY NEIGHBORS, MY RELATIVES MOSTLY, THEY ARE COMMODITY FARMERS, THEY'RE ALWAYS GOING TO BE OHIO FARM BUREAU AND THEY ARE GOING TO BE MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE.

>> YOU THINK THEY REGRET THEIR VOTE?

>> YES, THEY CERTAINLY DO, AND I THINK PART OF THE PROBLEM IS IF THEY HAVE A MEMORY OF WHAT HAPPENED DURING THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WE ACTUALLY HAD TO BAIL OUT FARMERS, I THINK IT WAS THEY SUFFERED FROM THE POLICIES.

WELL, THIS IS EVEN WORSE.

BECAUSE I THINK NOW, AS YOU START LOOKING AT OTHER NATIONS AND THEIR VIEWS OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES AND HOW UNSTABLE ARE THINGS REALLY, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE OTHER NATIONS TRYING TO REPLACE AMERICAN FARMERS AND INTERNATIONAL MARKET.

AND WHEN THAT HAPPENS, YOU KNOW, THAT MAY BE A PERMANENT LOSS FOR OUR FARMERS.

>> IN 2018, THE COST SOYBEAN EXPERTS NATIONALLY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] LIKE 75%.

>> RIGHT, AND MY COLLEAGUE WROTE A STORY ABOUT THIS TOPIC, AND SHE REPORTED THAT COUNTRIES LIKE BRAZIL ARE ALREADY STARTING TO TRY TO GROW MORE CORN AND SOYBEANS TO TRY TO REPLACE THE AMERICAN MARKET.

SO, IT'S VERY INTERNATIONAL, EVEN THOUGH IT IS GROWN IN THE FIELD OUT IN WHATEVER COUNTY.

IN THE '70s, WE WERE MAKING MONEY HAND OVER FIST, THEN JIMMY CARTER DID THE GREEN EMBARGO AGAINST RUSSIA, AND [ INAUDIBLE ] D4 STATION THAT WENT ON IN BRAZIL, IT IS CAUSED BY JIMMY CARTER PRINT AND FARM AID, IRONICALLY PROPOSED BY JIMMY CARTER, THE NEED FOR IT AROSE OUT OF HIS FIRST GREEN EMBARGO, SO EVERY TIME YOU DO A GREEN EMBARGO, YOU LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO MARKET OVERSEAS, YOU END UP, THOSE OTHER COUNTRIES RATIONALLY SEEKING OTHER WAYS TO GET THEIR GRAIN.

>> TRUMP SAID HE WAS GOING TO DO THIS, AND THE GOAL IS [ INAUDIBLE ] >> THEY ARE STILL HOPING AGAINST HOPE THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO HAPPEN.

I MEAN, LET'S FACE IT, IF YOU ARE A FARMER, MY WIFE CALLS IT A RATIONAL OPTIMIST, AND THEY ARE, THEY ARE BEING AN OPTIMIST AND IT IS SOMEWHAT IRRATIONAL.

THERE IS AN INTERESTING PHRASE I CAME ACROSS, YOU HEARD OF BLACK SWAN EVENTS, THERE ARE ALSO GRAY SWAN EVENTS, THE ONES WHERE WE ALL KNEW IT WAS GOING TO OCCUR, [ INAUDIBLE ] AND THIS IS A GRAY SWAN EVENTS.

>> IT IS UNDERWATER, 44%.

UNDER EVERY CATEGORY, EXCEPT FOR [ INAUDIBLE ], HE IS BELOW 50% ON APPROVAL, INCLUDING THE ECONOMY, 38% APPROVAL ON THE ECONOMY.

33 PERCENT APPROVAL ON [ INAUDIBLE ].

THE PRESIDENT'S FIRST 100 DAYS.

>> IT IS [ INAUDIBLE ] BUT I THINK REALLY, THE DANGER THERE IS IT IS ALREADY SO LOW, AND THE REAL IMPACT OF THINGS HASN'T BEEN FELT YET.

SO, IMAGINE IF THERE REALLY IS MAJOR INFLATION, IMAGINE IF WE GO INTO A RECESSION, HOW MUCH LOWER CAN THAT GO?

I WOULD BE WORRIED ABOUT THAT, BUT I ALSO THINK THAT THESE NUMBERS CAN CHANGE DRAMATICALLY IN EITHER DIRECTION.

[ INAUDIBLE ] ABSURD.

GOES UP , HE SAYS SOMETHING CRAZY, HE GOES DOWN.

THE ATTITUDE OF AMERICANS, ONCE THEY GET SET IN RACE, AND IF THEY GET REINFORCED BY HIGHER INFLATION, HIGHER UNEMPLOYMENT, THEN I THINK THE ADMINISTRATION HAS A REAL, REAL PROBLEM.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] IT IS 145% TARIFFS ON CHINA, THEN HE SAYS IT IS TOO HIGH.

>> BUSINESS OWNERS AND ARMORERS, THEY LIKE TO HAVE CERTAINTY, THEY DON'T LIKE THIS WHOLE YO-YO EFFECT AND BOUNCING ALL OVER THE PLACE, AND I THINK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION HAS MADE SO MANY MOVES SO QUICKLY, IT IS REALLY KIND OF MADE IT REAL TOPSY-TURVY, AND I WOULD SAY THAT AMERICAN CONSUMERS, THEY WANT TO HAVE THE GOODS AVAILABLE, THEY DON'T WANT TO HAVE EMPTY SHELVES AND SKYHIGH PRICES.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE COULD SEE LATER, DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS GO.

AND THEN THIRDLY, I WOULD SAY THE CATEGORY OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE MONEY IN THEIR 401(K)s, YOU KNOW, THE MARKET IS DOWN MORE THAN 10%.

>> TRUMP PROMISED TO SOLVE INFLATION, THAT HASN'T HAPPENED YET BUT IT HAS ONLY BEEN 100 DAYS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> HIS PEOPLE, HIS SUPPORTERS ARE HOPING THIS IS LIKE ARGENTINA WHERE THEY DO SHOCK TREATMENT, AND THEY'RE HOPING THAT IT COMES OUT OF IT.

IF IT DOESN'T, AND I DO WANT TO ADDRESS ONE KEY THING, A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY HE IS DOING THE TERRACE TO PROMOTE AMERICA'S MANUFACTURING.

IN 1980, IT TOOK --LET'S SEE, 1.67 MAN HOURS TO PRODUCE ONE TON OF STEEL.

NOW IT TAKES .08 MAN-HOURS TO PRODUCE [ INAUDIBLE ].

TIMES THE PRODUCTIVITY TO PRODUCE A TON OF STEEL.

LOOK AT FARMING, HE EPITOMIZED WHAT HAPPENED TO AUTOMATION , 1940s THROUGH 1965.

THE INVENTION OF THE COMBINE REDUCED [ INAUDIBLE ] BY 90%.

OKAY?

THE TARIFFS WON'T FIX THIS.

>> GET TO OUR NEXT TOPIC, DOZENS OF FOREIGN STUDENTS AT OHIO COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES HAVE SEEN THEIR VISAS REVOKED, BUT THEY MAY BE IN FOR A FREEZE.

FEDERAL JUDGES HAVE REINSTATED FOR NOW [ INAUDIBLE ] OHIO STATE STUDENTS FROM INDIA AND PAKISTAN.

THE TEMPORARY ORDERS ALLOW THEM TO CONTINUE THEIR STUDIES.

OTHER PLACES AROUND THE COUNTRY HAVE MADE SIMILAR RULINGS MAC IN RECENT DAYS, AND LATE THIS WEEK, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCED IT WOULD CHANGE THE WAY REVIEWS AND CANCELS STUDENT VISAS.

THIS SEEMS TO BE GOOD NEWS.

WE STILL DON'T KNOW WHY THE VISAS [ INAUDIBLE ] >> IF YOU ARE AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, AND LET ME TELL YOU, THE UNITED STATES BENEFITS FROM A BRAIN DRAIN IN OUR FAVOR WITH INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS COMING AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT, YOU REALLY WERE TALENTED AND YOU HAD OPPORTUNITIES TO GO TO BRITAIN, FRANCE, GERMANY, OTHER PLACES, YOU WOULD NOW SAY DO I REALLY WANT TO GO TO THE UNITED STATES?

EVEN IF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION NOW SAYS WE ARE CHANGING OUR POLICY, WHAT IS TO SAY THEY AREN'T GOING TO CHANGE THEIR MIND NEXT WEEK OR WHATEVER?

THE WHOLE CHARACTERISTIC, ITS INSTABILITY, ITS UNPREDICTABILITY.

SO, I THINK ACTUALLY THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE A LONG-TERM IMPACT, AND WHERE DO WE REALLY DEPEND MORE UPON INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS?

IN THE SCIENCE AND MEDICAL AREAS, SO THAT COULD REALLY HURT US.

IT IS NICE THAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE THEIR POLICY.

I WAS HOPING THAT MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE SO OFFENDED THAT HIS STUDENTS COULD LOSE THEIR VISAS WITHOUT KNOWING WHY.

AND ALL IT WAS WAS THAT THEY HAD PROTESTED HER THEY HAD A TRAFFIC CITATION.

I MEAN, THERE ARE STORIES LIKE THAT.

THAT IS JUST NOT THE WAY WE DO THINGS IN THE UNITED STATES.

>> WHAT LED TO THIS CHANGE , DO YOU THINK?

THE FACT THAT HE KEPT LOSING -- THE ADMINISTRATION KEPT LOSING PRELIMINARY [ INAUDIBLE ], AND ALSO I THINK PUBLIC OPINION, PEOPLE ARE JUST GOING -- ADMINISTRATIONS ARE JUDGED, I THINK, ON TWO MAIN THINGS, COMPETENCY AND EMPATHY.

AND THIS PROGRAM -- THIS POLICY DECISION WAS CREATING DIFFICULTIES FOR THEM UNDER BOTH CATEGORIES, AND THAT IS DANGEROUS FOR THE ADMINISTRATION TO SURVIVE POLITICALLY.

>> THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM CROSSING THE BORDER ILLEGALLY THAN A STUDENT WHO COMES HERE FROM INDIA, PAKISTAN, YOU KNOW, SOUTH AMERICA LEGALLY WITH A VISA TO STUDY, AND THEN THEY GET DEPORTED.

>> RIGHT, SO INITIALLY, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS TALKING ABOUT DEPORTING CRIMINALS AND PEOPLE WITH VIOLENT HISTORIES, AND BUT THEN SHIFTED TO ALSO BEING PHD STUDENTS AND ENGINEERING, WHO HAPPENED TO SPEAK OUT AGAINST SOMETHING OR HAVE SOME SORT OF MINOR TRAFFIC OR CAR TRANSGRESSION.

AND AGAIN, I THINK HERB'S RIGHT, THIS IS A LOT MORE UNCERTAINTY, DO YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR GRADUATES SAFE OR DO YOU WANT TO GET THAT PHD WHICH TAKES THREE TO FIVE YEARS TO DO?

AND IF YOU DON'T HAVE THAT CERTAINTY THAT, OKAY, THIS PROGRAM IS GOING TO BE THERE, I CAN GET MY VISA, I CAN COMPLETE MY STUDY, YOU'RE GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] IS IT TOO LATE FOR THESE STUDENTS TO CHANGE COURSE?

[ INAUDIBLE ] LOOKING PRETTY GOOD RIGHT NOW.

>> IT'S LOOKING VERY GOOD.

BUT I THINK IT IS REALLY THE FUTURE GENERATION.

[ INAUDIBLE ] MAKING THEIR PLANS NOW, AND I DO THINK -- YOU MENTIONED TORONTO, I THINK CANADA IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR BENEFICIARY.

I THINK THE EUROPEAN UNION IS GOING TO BE A MAJOR BENEFICIARY.

BECAUSE AGAIN, DO YOU REALLY WANT TO COME TO THE UNITED STATES WHEN YOU'RE NOT SURE HOW THE NATIONAL ADMINISTRATION IS GOING TO TREAT YOU?

>> THERE WAS ACTUALLY POLLING THAT CAME OUT JUST TODAY, I THINK, THAT SHOWS TRUMP IS BELOW 50% ON THIS IMMIGRATION AND SO, I THINK IT IS BECAUSE IT IS KIND OF STEEPED INTO PEOPLE, WHERE'S THE PROCESS, WE ARE NOT JUST GOING TO KICK PEOPLE OUT OF THE COUNTRY.

>> BUT STILL NOT THE CORE ISSUE.

IN 1909, SPRINGFIELD, OHIO HAD THE HIGHEST PER CAPITA NUMBER OF [ INAUDIBLE ] ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE GET BACK TO THAT TYPE OF JOB AND INNOVATION CREATION IN OHIO?

NOBODY IS TALKING ABOUT THAT.

INSTEAD, THEY JUST WANT TO BLAME THE CHINESE FOR TAKING THEIR JOBS [ INAUDIBLE ].

SO, HOW DO WE GET BACK TO INNOVATION IN THE HOMEGROWN , GET THOSE STUDENTS FROM SPRINGFIELD TO BE ENTREPRENEURS?

WHAT IS GOING ON?

WHY ARE WE LACKING THIS?

>> THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR ASKED WHY THESE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WERE TAKING THE SPOT OF OHIOANS IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, BUT WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE ENROLLMENT, [ INAUDIBLE ] KENT STATE, CINCINNATI, OHIO UNIVERSITY, A LOT OF TIMES [ INAUDIBLE ] IT IS NOT HAPPENING THERE.

>> WE WENT THROUGH THIS ISSUE, AND PEOPLE WERE QUESTIONING WHETHER OR NOT THE INVESTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS WAS REALLY A GOOD ONE FOR THE STATE, SO WE DID A LITTLE STUDY, IT WAS VERY INFORMAL.

BUT LOOKING AT ENGINEERING STUDENTS IN OHIO STATE, MECHANICAL ENGINEERING, WE GOT SOME PHD'S.

NOT A GRADUATE LEVEL, AND I THINK WE FOUND THAT THE TIME THAT ABOUT A THIRD OF THE GRADUATES STAYED IN OHIO, A THIRD --ANOTHER THIRD STATE IN THE UNITED STATES, AND ABOUT ANOTHER THIRD WENT BACK TO THEIR HOME COUNTRY.

AND NOBODY COULD SAY IS THAT A GOOD INVESTMENT OR IS THAT A BAD INVESTMENT?

WITH ONLY A THIRD STATE IN OHIO, TWO THIRDS STATE IN THE UNITED STATES BUT I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE NUMBERS ARE TODAY, BUT I WOULD ARGUE THAT IS A PRETTY GOOD INVESTMENT.

THOSE ARE VERY VALUABLE PEOPLE TO ENTER OUR LAND, OUR INDUSTRIES, WHATEVER.

>> PAYING TOP DOLLAR TUITION.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND VIVEK RAMASWAMY MADE A REALLY AWFUL COMMENT ABOUT A MONTH AGO ABOUT WHY DON'T OUR OWN PEOPLE, OUR OWN UNDERGRADUATES DO --THERE'S TOO MUCH FOCUS ON THINGS .

FOR PROM QUEENS.

YOU KNOW, WE GRADUATE AN AWFUL LOT OF REALLY GOOD ENGINEERS AT THE UNDERGRADUATE LEVEL AT OHIO STATE, UC, CLEVELAND STATE OR WHATEVER, AND A LOT OF THEM DON'T GO ON TO GRAD SCHOOL, BECAUSE THEY CAN GET FANTASTIC JOBS AND BUSINESSES RIGHT NOW AND MAKE SOME REAL MONEY.

I DON'T BLAME THEM FOR NOT GOING TO GRAD.

PHD, THREE TO FIVE YEARS, AND AT THE END OF THAT, YOU'RE NOT EXACTLY SURE WHAT YOUR FUTURE IS, SO DON'T BLAME US.

I WISH SPRINGFIELD WERE PRODUCING MORE, BUT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF OTHER OPTIONS TODAY FOR STUDENTS.

AND SO, I DO THINK INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ARE AN IMPORTANT RESOURCE FOR US, BUT I THINK WE ARE DOING OUR BEST TO REALLY SAY GO AWAY.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] THE RAMASWAMY STATEMENT WAS WE NEED TO BRING IN MORE FOREIGN STUDENTS, AND WE DO NOT NEED TO FIND OUT WHY WE ARE NOT REDUCING THAT SAME LEVEL HERE, AND IT HAS BEEN THREE MONTHS, AND I SAID ON THE SHOW, [ INAUDIBLE ] I AM STILL PERSONALLY OFFENDED , AS ARE MANY OF MY NEIGHBORS.

>> IT HAS BEEN NEARLY FIVE YEARS SINCE FEDERAL AGENTS ARRESTED THEN HOUSE SPEAKER LARRY HOUSEHOLDER AND FOUR OTHERS IN THEIR ROLE IN THE BRIBERY SCANDAL .

HOUSEHOLDER SERVED A LENGTHY PRISON SENTENCE.

THE CASE CONTINUES.

FIRSTENERGY EXECUTIVES FACED TRIAL FOR BRIBING STATE OFFICIALS.

AND NEW FILINGS IN THE CASE SEEM TO INDICATE OTHER PUBLIC OFFICIALS WERE INVOLVED.

FORMER FIRSTENERGY CEO CHUCK JONES.

THEY PROSECUTED, ALLEGED JONES MAY HAVE BRIBED OTHER OFFICIALS.

[ INAUDIBLE ] JONES' ATTORNEYS TO DISCLOSE PUBLICLY WHO THE SOUTHERN OFFICIALS ARE.

WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?

BECAUSE THE NAMES ARE REDACTED FROM THE FILING ATTORNEYS PUT FORTH.

>> RIGHT, SO CHUCK JONES, THE FORMER CEO SAID [ INAUDIBLE ] SAYING NO, THAT IS GETTING INTO [ INAUDIBLE ] DOWN THE ROAD, AND JONES COUNTERS, YEAH, BUT WE HAVE THIS PROSECUTOR INDICATING THAT THEY MIGHT TRY TO SAY THAT WE BRIBED OTHER PEOPLE, INCLUDING BLANK, BLANK, BLANK.

IT HAS BEEN REDACTED, THE JUDGE HAS AN UNREDACTED COPY, SO WHAT ELSE ARE THEY TRYING TO GET TO HERE?

IT'S A BIG MYSTERY STILL.

>> IT'S A BIG MYSTERY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] MIKE DeWINE [ INAUDIBLE ] JOHN HOUSTON , DID MESSAGES [ INAUDIBLE ] ANY INDICATION [ INAUDIBLE ] MIGHT BE THERE?

>> HONESTLY, WE DON'T KNOW.

>> I KNOW.

THERE COULD BE OTHER PEOPLE.

THEIR LEGISLATURE, COULD BE DEMOCRATS INVOLVED.

KNOW.

>> WE DO NOT.

AND BUT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE, THIS IS A SURPRISE.

SAM AND I BOTH WENT TO THAT SPOT, I WAS SO CERTAIN THE DEAL WAS ALREADY DONE, ACTUALLY ASKED MY CHURCH TO PRAY FOR SAM, BECAUSE I KNEW THAT HE WOULD END UP GETTING CAUGHT.

BECAUSE WE KNEW HE WAS ENTANGLED.

FIRSTENERGY, JUST EVERYBODY KNEW THIS AND IF YOU KNEW SAM, YOU KNEW HE WAS ENTANGLED WITH IT, AND I KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO HAPPEN.

I'VE GOT TO TELL YOU SOMETHING, A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE GLORIFYING THE SUICIDES OF [ INAUDIBLE ], AND I'VE JUST GOT TO SAY ON THE RECORD, THESE WERE MY FRENEMIES, THESE WERE MY ENEMIES, BUT WE WERE CORDIAL TO EACH OTHER.

AND I STILL FEEL VERY BAD FOR SAM, AND I WISH EVERYBODY ON SOCIAL MEDIA WOULD SHUT UP ABOUT BANGING ON HIM.

>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY, IT'S BEEN FIVE YEARS AND WE STILL HAVE FEDERAL CASES, STATE CASES, AND REGULATORY INVESTIGATIONS.

JUST THIS MONTH, A FRIEND OF COUNTY JUDGE GAVE IMMUNITY TO THREE FORMER LOBBYISTS FOR FIRSTENERGY TO ALLOW THEM TO GO TESTIFY FOR SOME OF THEIR INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAD BEEN PUT ON HOLD WHILE FEDERAL PROSECUTORS TOOK THE CASE TO TRIAL.

>> WOULD IT HAVE BEEN IRONIC [ INAUDIBLE ]?

>> YES, IT WOULD BE VERY IRONIC.

[ LAUGHTER ] >> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> WE ARE OFTEN THE BUTT OF HIS JOKES.

>> ISN'T THIS OVER YET?

IT HAS GONE ON SO LONG.

>> MANY OF US THOUGHT AT THE TIME [ INAUDIBLE ] LAURA IS AN EXPERT.

MANY OF US THOUGHT, ONE PERSON JUST DOESN'T DO THIS ON HIS OWN, IT JUST CAN'T BE HOUSEHOLDER, IT JUST CAN'T BE THE PEOPLE AT FIRSTENERGY COME OTHER PEOPLE HAD TO IN FACT AT LEAST BE COMPLICIT, EVEN IF THEY DIDN'T DO SOMETHING EXPLICITLY ILLEGAL, THEY CERTAINLY HAD SOME RESPONSIBILITY.

AND THE NAMES YOU'VE MENTIONED ARE THE VERY NAMES WE HAVE HEARD MENTIONED VERY OFTEN.

JOHN HOUSTON, OTHER PEOPLE IN THE LEGISLATURE, SO, THE FACT THAT WE ARE DOING INVESTIGATIONS, SAYS THERE ARE PROBABLY SOME OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE FAIRLY PROMINENT THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT, BECAUSE IF IT IS REALLY SOME THIRD LEVEL FUNCTIONARY, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE FOCUSING THEIR EFFORTS ON THAT.

NEXT THE FACT THAT BOTH HAVE NOT HAD THEIR CASES CLOSED -- >> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> THE FACT THAT HAS NOT YET CLOSED MEANS THIS IS STILL VERY MUCH --AND I WILL DO THE SAME THING I DO ON EVERY ONE OF YOUR SHOWS, I WILL GET THE HAMMER AND SAY IF YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT THIS, GET A HOLD OF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE NOW BEFORE THEY COME KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR, BECAUSE IF THEY COME KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR, THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE IN A FUNNY, GENEROUS MOOD TO YOU.

>> IS YOUR LEGAL STRATEGY HERE THAT CHUCK JONES AND HIS ATTORNEYS ARE SAYING, YOU KNOW, LET'S GET THESE NAMES OUT IN THE PUBLIC, AND MAYBE WE CAN STRIKE A PLEA DEAL.

>> WHAT THEY'RE SAYING IS THAT THEY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE PROSECUTOR INDICATING THEY MIGHT TRY TO ALLEGE THAT THERE IS THIS OTHER BRIBED.

RIGHT?

I'M NOT A LAWYER, I DON'T KNOW, I CAN'T QUITE READ ALL THE TVs THERE, I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING.

>> OH, ABSOLUTELY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] IT IS ALL PART OF THE CONSPIRACY, RACKETEERING CHARGE, BRIBERY [ INAUDIBLE ] >> I DON'T KNOW WHY.

I THINK PROBABLY THAT WAS THE JUDGES DECISION.

>> HERB?

>> WENT DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCES [ INAUDIBLE ] A MASS PARDON FOR EVERYBODY WHO WAS INVOLVED IN THIS.

>> THE LOBBYISTS STILL HAD THEIR APPEALS PENDING.

OUR FINAL TOPIC, THERE IS YET ANOTHER PLAN TO HAVE OHIO TAXPAYERS HELP WITH THE BILL FOR THE CLEVELAND BROWN'S STADIUM.

GOVERNOR DeWINE PLACED A TAX ON BETTING COMPANIES [ INAUDIBLE ].

OKAYED A PLAN TO HAVE THE STATE BORROW.

NOW THE STATE SENATE [ INAUDIBLE ] COMBINES A PORTION OF BOTH PLANS.

MORE THAN PAY FOR THE TAXPAYER .

[ INAUDIBLE ] AS A FORMER LOBBYIST, THIS IS AN UNPOPULAR THING, PEOPLE DO NOT LIKE PAYING FOR [ INAUDIBLE ].

WHY?

>> PRESTIGE IN THE COMMUNITY.

JOB ATTRACTION .

IT MAKES COLUMBUS, FOR EXAMPLE, FIRST- CLASS CITY THAT YOU HAVE SPORTS TEENS HERE.

SOCCER AND ICE HOCKEY.

YOU KNOW, CLEVELAND, SAME THING.

CINCINNATI, SAME THING.

TWO THINGS GOING ON HERE.

ONE, IT IS AN ABSOLUTE CERTIFIED DEATH WHICH FOR ANY POLITICIAN TO VOTE FOR THE FUNDING OF THE STADIUM, OKAY?

IT PUTS THE GLASS CEILING ABOVE THEM REAL QUICKLY.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] >> IT'S A FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION HERE.

SHOULD WE BE DOING THIS?

I MEAN, IT'S REALLY FUNNY, WE ARE ASSUMING HERE, YES, WE NEED THE HELP.

AND YET, WE MAY HAVE TO HOPE CINCINNATI, AND THE QUESTION BECOMES DO WE?

AND OF COURSE, THE ANSWER WILL BE YES AND IT WILL BE YES FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS, INCLUDING PRESTIGE OR THE THREAT THAT THEY WILL MOVE THE TEAM, THERE WAS ALWAYS ONE OF THE OLD THREATS, WHATEVER.

[ INAUDIBLE ] >> YOU KNOW, A LOT OF TIMES, THESE BOND PACKAGES, THEY GO ON THE BALLOT AND VOTERS VOTE.

[ INAUDIBLE ] BECAUSE VOTERS WOULD SAY NO.

IT IS $600 MILLION FOR THE BROWNS STADIUM, AND BY THE TIME YOU PAY INTEREST OVER 30 YEARS, IT'S A BILLION-DOLLAR PACKAGE.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] GENERATE 1.4, BUT EVERY ECONOMIST YOU TALK TO [ INAUDIBLE ] FROM THE ROMAN EMPIRE ON, [ INAUDIBLE ] >> YOU CAN LOOK AT DEWINE'S ORIGINAL SUGGESTION .

I THOUGHT IT WAS A REALLY DECENT COMPROMISE AND I HAVE TO GIVE A SHOUT OUT TO SENATOR BILL BLESSING, WHO IS WORKING ON THAT AS A CORE OF IT.

I BELIEVE, TO GET THIS ACCOMPLISHED.

BUT THE THING IS THAT HAVING THIS UP TO THE BOND LIMIT FOR OHIO, $600 BILLION ADDITIONAL IN THE BOND LIMIT, AND IF YOU TALK TO ANYBODY WHO KNOWS HOW THINGS WORK IN OHIO, YOU MENTION THE BOND LIMIT AND THEY ALL KIND OF [ INAUDIBLE ], BECAUSE THAT IS VERY LITTLE MONEY AND IT IS GUARDED AND WE SHOULD NOT BE SPENDING [ INAUDIBLE ] IN OHIO ON THIS PROJECT.

MAY GET US PAST THAT.

>> TAX FUNDING FOR THE STADIUM.

>> IF I HAD MY WAY, WE WOULD ONLY GET THOSE TWO COMMUNITIES , SPORTS TEENS LIKE THE GREEN BAY PACKERS ARE A COMMUNITY, BUT I AM NOT IN CHARGE.

>> HE WANTS TO TIE IT TO WINS.

HAVE A WINNING RECORD TO QUALIFY [ INAUDIBLE ] .

WHATEVER.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET TO OUR FINAL ON THE RECORD SHOTS.

>> YESTERDAY, THEY HAD 200 PEOPLE ATTEND [ INAUDIBLE ] FOR POVERTY .

[ INAUDIBLE ] THEY WERE AT CAPACITY AT OHIO STATE BRANCH.

WHY?

THEY ARE INCREASING INTEREST IN INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS TO POVERTY, AND PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND, THERE ARE GOING TO BE SOME CHANGES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, BETTER GET IN THE PROGRAM.

>> [ INAUDIBLE ] DEFENSE SECRETARY REALLY NEEDS TO GO.

HE IS INCOMPETENT, HE IS NASTY, HE IS ARROGANT, HE IS ALL THESE THINGS.

AND THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT IS IN CHAOS INTERNALLY.

SO, I HAVE A SUGGESTION AS TO A REPLACEMENT, AND I APOLOGIZE TO THIS PERSON THAT I'M GOING TO NAME, BECAUSE IF HE EVER GOT APPOINTED, IT WOULD BE A TREMENDOUS LOSS FOR OHIO STATE AND A TREMENDOUS LOSS FOR THE STATE OF OHIO, BUT THAT IN FACT IS TED [ INAUDIBLE ], WHO HAS A WONDERFUL RESUME AND COULD BE JUST A SPECTACULAR DEFENSE SECRETARY.

WHY DID YOU NEVER WANT TO DO IT?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

LAURA?

>> MIKE RAN THE BOSTON MARATHON THIS WEEK IN THREE HOURS AND 22 MINUTES, WHICH IS PRETTY FAST, SO CONGRATULATIONS.

>> THANKS, IT WAS A GOOD DAY, FUN DAY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] NO RAIN, NO COLD.

ANYWAY, SPEAKING OF RUNNING, THE HALF MARATHON IS THIS WEEKEND, SATURDAY.

[ INAUDIBLE ] I THINK SARAH DONALDSON ON THIS PANEL AND JAKE ZUCKERMAN , ALSO ON THIS PANEL.

GOOD FOR THEM.

THAT IS COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD FOR THIS WEEK.

CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME AT OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.ORG/COTR.

ALSO ON YOUTUBE AND THE PBS APP.

FOR MY CREW AND OUR PANEL, I AM MIKE THOMPSON.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK.