Columbus on the Record
The Politics of Having an American Pope
Season 20 Episode 31 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
A look at the first American Pope and his criticism of Vice President JD Vance.
WOSU’s Mike Thompson and the Columbus on the Record panel look at the first American Pope and his criticism of Vice President JD Vance. We’ll also discuss the Ohio Republican Party’s endorsement of Vivek Ramaswamy of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and possible challenger Lt. Gov. and former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel in an inter-party battle. We also discuss the changing leadership at
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Columbus on the Record is a local public television program presented by WOSU
Columbus on the Record
The Politics of Having an American Pope
Season 20 Episode 31 | 26m 46sVideo has Closed Captions
WOSU’s Mike Thompson and the Columbus on the Record panel look at the first American Pope and his criticism of Vice President JD Vance. We’ll also discuss the Ohio Republican Party’s endorsement of Vivek Ramaswamy of Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost and possible challenger Lt. Gov. and former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel in an inter-party battle. We also discuss the changing leadership at
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> OHIO REACTS TO AN AMERICAN POPE.
WELCOME TO "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD," I'M MIKE THOMPSON.
ONCE AGAIN, ALL THE PRE- CONVLAVE SPECULATION ON THE IDENTITY OF THE NEXT POPE WAS WRONG.
CARDINALS IN ROME SHOCKED EVERYONE BY NAMING THE FIRST AMERICAN TO LEAD THE WORLD'S CATHOLIC CHURCH.
CHICAGO NATIVE ROBERT PREVOST BECOMES POPE LEO XIV.
EARLY WORD IS HE HAS TRADITIONAL CONSERVATIVE CATHOLIC VALUES.
HE IS PRO WORKER RIGHTS AND PRO IMMIGRANT RIGHTS.
HIS SUPPORT OF IMMIGRANTS RECENTLY CAUSED HIS ACCOUNT TO CALL OUT VICE PRESIDENT VANCE FOR TRYING TO USE RELIGIOUS DOCTRINE TO JUSTIFY PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMMMIGRATION POLICY.
BUT APPARENTLY VANCE HAS NO HARD FEELINGS.
HE QUICKLY USED X TO CONGRATULATE THE NEW POPE AND WISH HIM WELL.
WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THIS, MANY THOUGHT THE CHANCES OF AN AMERICAN POPE ARE VERY SMALL.
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
>> THE FIRST THOUGHT THAT ENTERED MY MIND, NO DISRESPECT AND WITH ALL OF THE LOVE AND RESPECT THAT I HAVE FOR HIS HOLINESS, IT MADE ME THINK OF A SWISS ARMY KNIFE.
IN THAT, POPE LEO XIV IS A LITTLE BIT OF EVERYTHING TO EVERYBODY.
HE IS A PROTEAN CITIZEN, NATURALIZATION, HE IS MULTICULTURAL HAVING FRENCH, ITALIAN, SPANISH AND AFRICAN HERITAGE IN HIS BLOOD.
AND HE IS SOMEBODY THAT EVERYBODY KNEW.
SO IT MADE IT, I THINK, AN EASIER CHOICE FOR AN AMERICAN PRIEST AND CARDINAL TO BE SELECTED IN THIS GO AROUND.
>> IS A GLOBAL FIGURE, TERRY, ONE OF FRANCE'S CHOSEN CARDINALS, CLOSE TO FRANCIS.
AND HE IS ALSO VERY EXPERIENCED WITH WORKING WITH BISHOPS AROUND THE WORLD BUT I THINK THE PARALLEL, POLITICS AND CATHOLIC CHURCH, THERE WAS A LOT OF DECISION IN BOTH AND I THINK THEY VIEW HIM AS A HEALER BECAUSE HE IS NOT SOMEONE WHO IS OFF ON A TANGENT OR TRYING TO SELF PROMOTE.
I THINK HE IS A PERSON WHO CAN RUN THE TRAINS ON TIME BECAUSE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS SO BIG AND SO DIVERSE.
AND ALSO, THE UNITED STATES HAS A BIG NUMBER OF CATHOLIC CHURCHES HERE AND IT IS ANOTHER WAY OF SAYING TO THE REST OF THE WORLD THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IS NOT JUST ITALY AND NOT JUST EUROPE, IT IS WORLDWIDE.
>> JD VANCE IS A CONVERTED CATHOLIC, JD VANCE IS ENDORSEMENT OF TRUMP POLICIES CAUGHT THE EYE OF THE CARDINAL PRE-POST AND CAUSED A BIT OF A SPOUT SO THERE IS A DIS- ALIGNMENT POLITICALLY AND DOCTRINALLY, I GUESS?
>> I THINK WITHOUT KNOWING HIM INDIVIDUALLY, WE ARE TRYING TO GET HIM IN A NUMBER OF WAYS WHETHER THAT WHERE HE IS POSTING THINGS PARTICULARLY UNWELCOMING IMMIGRANTS AND THE LESS FORTUNATE AND SO FORTH.
AND, THEN, WE ARE LOOKING AT HIS HISTORY IN CHICAGO AND WONDERING WHAT KIND OF A SPORTS FAN HE IS SO I THINK EVERYONE IS TRYING TO FIND A WAY TO CONNECT TO A POPE WHO IS AMERICAN FOR THE FIRST TIME AND WHETHER THAT BE DIGGING INTO HIS POLITICS OR HIS VOTER REGISTRATION, EVERYONE IS TRYING TO LEARN A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THIS GUY.
>> HIS UNDERGRAD DEGREE IS FROM VILLANOVA WHERE HE WAS A MATH MAJOR AND I THINK THAT TELLS YOU THAT HE IS BUTTONED DOWN, I THINK YOU WILL BE FOCUSED.
THE UNITY IS SOMETHING THAT IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IF YOU CAN FOCUS ON WHERE YOU CAN AGREE WHETHER IT IS AMERICAN POLITICS OR OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, YOU GET A LITTLE FARTHER THAN JUST DRIVING THE DIFFERENCES.
>> NOTHING HAPPENS IN A VACUUM AND THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF NATIONALIST MOVEMENT AROUND THE WORLD.
HERE IN THE UNITED STATES, BREXIT, EUROPEAN COUNTRIES.
HE SEEMS TO HAVE A WORLDVIEW AND NOT AS FAIRLY AND GNASHING OF YOU.
DO YOU THINK THAT WILL PLAY A ROLE HERE?
>> I THINK WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DEFINE HERE IS SOMETHING THAT THE CATHOLIC CHURCH HAS ALWAYS BEEN COMFORTABLE WITH AND, ONLY NOW, WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE NATIONALIST MOVEMENTS AND AMERICA FIRST OR ENGLAND FIRST OR WHATEVER IT HAPPENS TO BE, WE SEE IT AS POLITICAL.
AS FAR BACK AS PIUS XII WHO WAS THE POPE AT THE TIME OF WORLD WAR II TO NOW, A SINGLE POPE HAS HAD TWO MAJOR CONCERNS.
AND ONE OF THEM HAS BEEN INCREMENTAL EQUALITY OR DOGGY DOG CAPITALISM AS JOHN PAUL II CALLED IT AND THE OTHER ONE WAS MIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION.
THOSE TWO TOPICS HAVE BECOME POLITICIZED, NOT I THE CHURCH BUT THE GOVERNMENT.
WHICH, BY THE WAY, ILLUSTRATES WHY CHURCH AND STATE SHOULD REMAIN SEPARATE.
>> SO WHAT ROW, TERRY, DOES THE CATHOLIC CHURCH PLAY IN AMERICAN POLITICS?
OHIO POLITICS?
>> I THINK PRESIDENT VILLANOVA INVITED HIM BACK TO BE THE COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER.
MIGHT BE A LITTLE BIT BUSY BUT I THINK IT IS WISE TO FOCUS WHERE YOU CAN BE BENEFICIAL AND ALSO ONE OTHER LITTLE TIDBIT, OUR U. S. SUPREME COURT IS KIND OF IMPORTANT, THESE DAYS, TWO THIRDS OF THE MEMBERS AND SIX OF THE NINE ARE CATHOLIC SO THERE'S A LOT OF PRESENTS WE JUST HAD A PRESIDENT ANNOUNCE CATHOLIC AND VICE PRESIDENT ANNOUNCE CATHOLIC SO I THINK YOU WILL PICK THESE PLACES WHERE HE CAN FEEL THE MOST BENEFIT AND NOT TRY TO JUMP IN ON EVERY ISSUE.
>> THE PLAYERS ARE CHANGING BUT THE FIGHT WITHIN THE OHIO PARTY CONTINUES.
TODAY, PARTY LEADERS MEANT MET TO CONSIDER -- THE GOVERNOR, ONE OF THE PARTY TO STAY OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE FOR NOW.
GOVERNOR DEWINE WANTED THE PARTY TO STAY OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE FOR NOW.
DEWINE REPORTEDLY DOES NOT SUPPORT RAMASWAMY, AND IS PUSHING LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JIM TRESSEL TO RUN.
LATE THURSDAY, TRESSEL RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING HE WAS CONSIDERING RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.
IT WAS SEEN AS A MOVE TO DELAY THE GOP'S ENDORSEMENT OF RAMASWAMY.
THE MOVE FAILED BADLY.
STATE REPUBILCAN LEADERS OVERWHELMNGLY VOTED TO ENDORSE RAMASWAMY FOR GOVERNOR.
RAMASWAMY SAYS THE VOTE WAS 60- 3.
HIS GOP OPPONENT, DAVE YOST, CALLS IT A PREMATURE CORNONATION OF UNTESTED CANDIDATE.
JESSE PALMER, YOU WERE NOT AT THE MEETING OR INSIDE THE MEETING, YOU WERE OUTSIDE BUT 60-3, THAT IS A PRETTY STRONG MESSAGE TO PARTY LEADERS SAID ABOUT THIS RACE.
>> I THINK THE THING TO INFLUENCE PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP ON THE OHIO REPUBLICAN PARTY UNJUSTLY INFLUENCED AT IS ENDORSEMENT HAD IN THIS RACE, RAMASWAMY WAS ABLE TO EARN THAT ENDORSEMENT THE DAY HE ANNOUNCED HIS BID AND THAT HAS GONE PRETTY FAR IN GETTING OTHER REPUBLICAN LEADERS TO COALESCE AROUND RAMASWAMY I THINK HE HAS BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL GETTING AROUND TO THE DINNERS AND HAD SOME GOOD CROWDS, THERE.
BUT IT IS INTERESTING, THIS IS VERY EARLY AND JUST WANT FOR THE OHIO REPUBLICAN WHO HAS PREVIOUSLY HAD SOME INFIGHTING ABOUT ENDORSEMENT A COUPLE OF MONTHS EARLIER SO THIS IS A NOVEL IDEA FOR MR. RAMASWAMY.
>> WHAT DOES IT SAY ABOUT MIKE DEWINE'S INFLUENCE?
JUST DON'T ENDORSE IS WHAT HE WAS SAYING?
>> IT IS HARD WHEN YOUR GOVERNOR AS SOON AS YOUR REELECTION FOR THAT SECOND TERM, QR A LAME-DUCK.
SO HE IS IN THE FINAL TWO YEARS OF HIS TERM AS GOVERNOR.
HE WILL CERTAINLY RUN TO THE TAPE ON THE BUDGET, ON WHAT HE HAD INFLUENCED BUT I THINK YOU ARE SEEING A SHIFT IN WHO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS GOING TO LINE UP BEHIND.
>> WHY NOT LET THE PRIMARY VOTERS DECIDE WHO THE NOMINATION SHOULD BE?
WHY SHOULD THE PARTY LEADERS PUT THEIR THUMB ON THE SCALE THIS EARLY?
>> THERE ARE TIMES WHEN PEOPLE SAY PARTY LEADERSHIP WILL PICK THE BEST CANDIDATE AND AT OTHER TIMES, SPEND MONEY AND FIGHT AMONG YOURSELVES BUT THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT FEEL THEY SHOULD BE PREPARED PARTICULARLY WITH THE DEMOCRATS TO BE UNIFIED AND I THINK ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS, NOW, AND THEY WON'T DECIDE FOR A WHILE, WHO DOES RAMASWAMY PICK FOR A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?
THERE ARE SEVERAL PEOPLE INTERESTED IN IT AND WE HAD A HISTORY IN 1990 WITH THE WIND WHEN HE WAS RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR, OBVIOUSLY, HE GOT HOUSTON TO RUN WITH HIM SO THE PICK AND HOW YOU PUT TOGETHER THE PARTY AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FEEL THE SOONER YOU CAN GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, THE LESS TIME YOU SPEND CUTTING EACH OTHER UP AND SPENDING MONEY, THE BETTER OFF YOU ARE TO WINNING IN THE FALL.
>> CALLING RAMASWAMY UNTESTED, IS THAT GOOD NEWS FOR REPUBLICANS OR DEMOCRATS, RATHER?
>> YOU KNOW, I AM GLAD YOU ASKED IT THAT WAY.
I HAVE TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH A SILVER LINING FOR THIS PARTICULAR BIT OF NEWS AND I DON'T LIKE RAMASWAMY.
I THINK YOU WOULD BE A DISASTER FOR THE STATE.
I DON'T THINK THAT THE MAGA MOVEMENT IS IN FACT SOMETHING THAT WE OUGHT TO SEE CONTINUE IN THE STATE OF OHIO.
BUT, LOOKING AGAIN FOR THAT SILVER LINING, THEN, WHEREVER TRUMP GOES, IF TRUMP HAPPENS TO BE OF MOST FAILURE, A CONSEQUENCE OF THINGS TOO NUMEROUS TO MENTION HERE, THEN, RAMASWAMY MAY GO FOR DOWN.
>> IS THIS NOT JUST A MIGRANT THING BUT A GENERATIONAL THING.
VANCE IS A NEW GENERATION AND RAMASWAMY IS A NEW GENERATION.
>> PREVIOUSLY, YOU HAVE SEEN PEOPLE WHO WERE FORMER CONGRESSMAN, FORMER ATTORNEY GENERAL IS RUNNING FOR OHIO GOVERNOR AND YOU LOOK AT THE LAST FEW KEY RACES IN OHIO, YOU HAVE JD VANCE WHO HAD NO LITTLE EXPERIENCE, BERNIE MARINO WHO HAD NEVER BEEN ELECTED TO ANYTHING PRIOR TO THAT AND SO RAMASWAMY, HIS POLITICAL EXPERIENCE IS RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT AND DROPPING OUT AFTER THE IOWA CAUCUS BUT I THINK YOU ARE ALMOST SEEING A REJECTION OF THE ESTABLISHED EXPERIENCED POLITICIANS ACROSS THE NATION BUT IN OHIO, AS WELL.
>> I THINK THE GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCE, I HAVE HEARD FROM A LOT OF REPUBLICANS AND THEY WANT SOMETHING FRESH AND NEW AND SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT BECAUSE OHIO IS DOING WELL AND CENTRAL OHIO BUT THERE ARE OTHER PARTS THAT NEED MORE AND NEED SOME FRESH IDEAS.
IS HE NEW OR -- HE IS NEW AS A POLITICIAN BUT HE IS AGED 72 AND THERE IS SOMETHING ABOUT SOMEBODY 39 WITH A LOT OF NEW AND DIFFERENT IDEAS AND PART OF THE TEST THAT HE HAS GONE THROUGH AS JESSE HAS MENTIONED IS GOING AROUND TO THE DIFFERENT MEETINGS, TALKING TO PEOPLE AND THAT GIVES THEM A CHANCE TO SEE DO THEY LIKE HIM OR DO THEY NOT LIKE HIM?
>> JIM TRESSEL, CONSIDERING THAT, SAYING, I HAVEN'T RULED IT OUT AND IT IS NOT EXACTLY AS IF I AM VERY TO GO AS GOVERNOR HERE.
>> IS ENDORSEMENT MEETING WHICH WAS ULTIMATELY UNSUCCESSFUL.
REPUBLICANS WERE CONCERNED ABOUT THE STATE OF THE RACE FOR SOMEONE ELSE SHOULD GET IN, NOT ENOUGH OF THEM VOICED THAT AT THE FRIDAY MEETING.
>> DAVE YOST, WHAT DO YOU THINK DAVE YOST DOES NOW?
HE IS GOING TO TALK TO HIS FAMILY BUT HIS NEXT STEPS?
>> HE WILL BE DOING THE SAME THING YOU AND I WOULD BE DOING UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES, HE IS GOING TO HANG IN THERE FOR A WHILE AND SEE WHAT THE POLLING LOOKS LIKE AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, TERRY IS LOOKING AT ME SIDE I DINED HE IS GOING TO FIND OUT WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS MONEY TO BE RAISED AND THAT WILL, IN EFFECT, CALL THE SHOTS.
AND IT IS KIND OF TOO BAD BECAUSE I THINK IT IS A GOOD THING WHEN YOU HAVE ENERGETIC CANDIDATES WHICH I THINK HE IS ONE AND SOMEONE WITH A VIEW TO THE FUTURE.
I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYTHING HE HAS SAID BUT I DO KNOW HIM.
>> THIS IS GREAT TROLLING OR MARKETING.
THE TOP OF THE BOOK SAYS DAVE YOST FOUGHT AND WON BACK AND IT IS SIGNED RAMASWAMY.
>> IS A CUTE TWIST BUT DAVE YOST KNEW IF HE WAS RUNNING AGAINST HOUSTON THAT HE WOULD HAVE A CHALLENGE IN MATCHING THE DOLLARS AND YOU KNOW IS THAT WAY, TOO AND NOW, THE WHOLE IS EVEN DEEPER.
HE'S GOT TO THINK ABOUT IT AND HE'S GOT TO FIGURE OUT HIS EXIT RAMP.
AT AGE 78, HE IS AT A DIFFERENT PLACE IN TERMS OF HE CAN DO A NUMBER OF OPTIONS BUT THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST HURRAH.
>> MEANWHILE, OHIO DEMOCRATS ARE BASICALLY LEADERLESS.
TOP CANDIDATES WAIT TO SEE IF BROWN WILL RUN FOR GOVERNOR, U. S. SENATE OR ANYTHING AT ALL.
ALL OTHER POTENTIAL CANDIDATES ARE BASICALLY FROZEN INTO PLACE UNTIL THAT DECISION, AND THIS WEEK, LIZ WALTERS ANNOUNCED HER RESIGNATION AFTER SERVING AS PARTY CHAIR FOR FOUR YEARS AND SHE IS LEAVING TO TAKE A JOB WITH THE WASHINGTON POLITICAL FIRM.
JOHN VAUSE, LEADERLESS?
IS THAT A FAIR ASSESSMENT RIGHT NOW?
>> YOU HAVE TO DIG DEEP IN ORDER TO COME UP WITH THAT AND THE PERIOD OF TRANSITION -- THE PROBLEM AND I STARTED LOOKING AT THE LIST OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD RUN FOR OFFICE AND RECENTLY, WHO DO WE HAVE IN OUR BULLPEN AND SO ON.
IT IS NOT THAT THE BULLPEN IS DEPLETED BUT I DO THINK THAT WE LACK A MESSAGE THAT IS RESONATING WITH THE PEOPLE IN OHIO AND I DON'T CARE WHO YOU BLAME.
I DON'T CARE IF YOU BUY A. I DON'T CARE IF YOU BLAME DEMOGRAPHICS WHICH IS WHAT EVERYBODY GOES TO, HAVE CHANGED AS A CONSEQUENCE, DEMOCRATS HAVE BEEN LEFT BEHIND BUT WE CERTAINLY NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN GRAB A MESSAGE THAT RESONATES WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE JESSE AND TERRY HAVE MENTIONED.
I THINK IT IS CRITICAL AT THIS POINT.
>> JESSE WAS ON THE JOB FOR FOUR YEARS AND HAD SOME SUCCESS, YOU COULD SAY, BECAUSE DEMOCRATS WERE VERY SUCCESSFUL IN BOTH STOPPING A CHANGE IN THE CONSTITUTION THAT WOULD'VE MADE IT HARDER TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION AND THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS OF THE PAST FAIRLY EASILY.
MARIJUANA PASSED FAIRLY EASILY BUT CANDIDATES DID NOT DO WELL DURING HER TIME AS A CHAIR.
DO YOU THINK SHE WAS FORCED OUT?
WHAT IS THE REPORT?
WAS SHE FORCED OUT OR IS SHE SAYING I AM GOING TO GET OUT BEFORE THIS NEXT CYCLE.
>> I THINK SHE HAD AN OPPORTUNITY.
THIS IS A ROUGH JOB.
THE DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT WON THE GOVERNORSHIP SINCE 2006, THEY HAVE LOST POSSESSION.
SHERROD BROWN WAS UNDERSTANDABLE GIVEN HOW MUCH DONALD TRUMP WON THE STATE BY BUT A BIG HIT, HE WAS KIND OF THEIR EXCEPTION TO THE RULE, THEY ARE LEFT WITH ONLY ONE OHIO SUPREME COURT JUSTICE WHO IS A DEMOCRAT SO IT IS JUST HARD FOR DEMOCRATS TO RUN IN OHIO RIGHT NOW.
YOU HAVE TO RAISE A LOT OF MONEY AND YOU HAVE TO NEGOTIATE WITH PEOPLE OF DC.
EVEN THOUGH THOSE PEOPLE ARE NOT PAINTING IN OHIO ANYMORE, IT IS JUST A TOUGH JOB AND THE NEXT PERSON WILL HAVE TO BE UP FOR IT.
>> ARE THERE ANY DEMOCRATS REPUBLICANS HAVE THEIR EYE ON AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE THEY SHOULD FEAR?
>> THE PERSON TO WATCH IS SHERROD BROWN.
SHERROD BROWN PUSHED MS. WALTERS WHO NOBODY EVER KNEW AND NOBODY SAW THE EFFECTS OF.
HE IS NOW DEFEATED ONCE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE AND ALSO FOR PORTAGE COUNTY COMMISSIONER.
SHE COULD NOT EVEN GET ELECTED, THERE.
KATHLEEN CLYDE SO THE REAL QUESTION IS, WHAT IS SHERROD BROWN GOING TO DO BECAUSE DEMOCRATS TOLD ME THE MORE HE DITHERS AND DOESN'T MAKE A DECISION, THE MORE IT LEAVES THE PARTY IN A VACUUM SO WHO IS GOING TO BE THE LEADER?
>> YOU FORGET, WE ARE JUST LESS THAN A YEAR FROM THE PRIMARY.
WE HAVE A LITTLE WAYS TO GO.
BECAUSE YOU HAVE TO RAISE SO MUCH MONEY AND BECAUSE DEMOCRATS DON'T HAVE THE IDEA ENSURED AROUND, TIME'S A WASTING >> IT REALLY IS AND I THINK WE NEED TO MOVE QUICKLY.
I WOULD LIKE TO SEE SOMEBODY THAT HAS A VISION.
I GUESS, MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE AND IS A GOOD ADMINISTRATOR OR A GOOD COMMUNICATOR FOR THE VOICES FROM WITHIN THE PARTY.
WHO THAT PERSON IS AND I THOUGHT ABOUT IT, I CAN'T THINK OF ANYONE RIGHT AT THE MOMENT.
>> TIM RYAN, 22, SOME SOURCES, ONE OF HIS ADVISERS SAID HE IS NOW RECONSIDERING HIS DECISION NOT TO SEEK GOVERNOR'S RACE SO HE COULD POSSIBLY GET IN.
>> I THINK AS WE HAVE ALL SAID, SHERROD BROWN TAKES UP A LOT OF THE OXYGEN IN THIS CONVERSATION SO ONCE HE MAKES A DECISION ABOUT ONE OF THESE RACES, WE WILL SEE WHO ELSE MIGHT BE INTERESTED.
I THINK CAMERON IS CERTAINLY SOMEONE WHO IS CONSIDERING IT ACTIVELY IN THE RACE BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT ABOUT THE U. S. SENATE OPTION.
>> FOR TIM RYAN, HE'S GOT A PROBLEM.
HIS BASE IN THE VALLEY IS GONE HE EVEN LOST THAT WHEN HE RAN FOR SENATE AND HE IS NOW LOBBYIST FOR THE NATURAL GAS PEOPLE AND ALSO FOR GROUP AuCOIN AND THAT DOESN'T EXACTLY EXCITE THE MORE LIBERAL PART OF THE BASE.
TIM RYAN TALKS ABOUT RUNNING STATEWIDE BUT DOESN'T OFTEN DO IT.
>> WOULDN'T THAT PORTRAY HIM AS MORE OF A CENTRIST IF HE GETS TO THE PRIMARY?
>> HE TRIED THAT AGAINST JD VANCE AND OUTSPENT JD VANCE TO DO ONE AND WASN'T VERY SUCCESSFUL.
>> ARE YOU SURPRISED WE HAVEN'T HEARD MORE FROM AMY, JOE?
>> I HAVE HEARD A LITTLE BIT FROM HER BUT BY HEARING WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT IN THE POLITICAL SPHERE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SPENDING MONEY AND BEING OUT THERE AND DOING THINGS.
AT THIS POINT, IT MIGHT BE PREMATURE TO DO THAT.
WE'VE HAD LOTS OF CANDIDATES IN THE PAST ARE TO SPEND TOO MUCH TOO EARLY AND THEN KIND OF -- YOU KNOW.
>> AND WEIGHING IN ON THE STATE BUDGET AS FAR AS WHAT TAXES SHE WANTS TO HIKE OR IF SHE WANTS TO SPEND MONEY BECAUSE AGAIN, NOW IS THE TIME, IF YOU HAVE FRESH IDEAS, LET US KNOW.
WHY WAIT UNTIL THE GOVERNOR'S RACE?
SHE COULD BE DOING IT NOW.
>> SHE IS RAISING MONEY AND GOING TO THE DINNERS.
>> THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU HAVE TO STUDY.
BEING A POLITICIAN IS A CAREER.
AND YOU HAVE TO STUDY FOR IT AND YOU HAVE TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR A. I THINK THAT IS WHAT SHE IS DOING.
>> THIS WEEK, TWO MEN LOST THEIR APPEALS.
THE HOUSEHOLDER ARGUED THE TRIAL JUDGE WAS BIASED AGAINST THEM AND THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT AND HIS 20 YEAR SENTENCE WAS TOO LONG.
BORGES ARGUED HIS ROLE IN THE SCHEME WAS MINOR.
THE THREE JUDGE PANEL UNANIMOUSLY REJECTED THE ARGUMENTS.
HOUSEHOLDER AND BORGES CAN APPEAL -- PERHAPS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE SUPREME COURT.
TERRY CASEY, THE SUPREME COURT IN RECENT YEARS HAS MADE IT TOUGHER FOR CONVICTIONS OF PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
IS THIS CASE INTO THAT CATEGORY, MAYBE?
>> THE SUPREME COURT IS A LITTLE BUSY AND A LITTLE DISTRACTED ON A FEW OTHER CASES COMING FROM THE WHITE HOUSE AND CONGRESS, THESE DAYS.
NORMALLY, THEY ONLY HEAR ABOUT 80 CASES FOR THE WHOLE YEAR FOR THE WHOLE COUNTRY.
SO COULD THEY GET THERE?
MAYBE.
I THINK IT IS VERY MUCH A LONG SHOT.
I WAS PERSONALLY SURPRISED THAT IT WAS A THREE-ZERO DECISION AND THE JUDGES RAISED GOOD QUESTIONS BUT IN THEIR OPINION, 63 PAGES, THEY PRETTY MUCH SLAMMED THE JAIL DOORS >> JUDGES MADE THIS RULING UNANIMOUS, YOU ARE AN ATTORNEY, HOW DID YOU READ IT?
>> THESE GUYS DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS OUT THERE AND IN THE SYSTEM RIGHT NOW.
I CANNOT -- TERRY SAID THAT THE SUPREME COURT WILL TAKE UP THIS CASE.
NOW, EVEN IF THEY DON'T, THEY WILL STILL HAVE SOME REMEDIES BUT HOUSEHOLDERS FOUND A YOUNG GUY.
YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT HABEAS CORPUS AND YOU HAVE TO COME UP WITH THE REASON THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE COURT TO CONSIDER AT THE TIME, AT THE TIME THE TRIAL TOOK PLACE.
IT IS NOT GOOD NEWS.
>> THE OTHER CASES, JESSE, THERE WAS A QUESTION OF WHETHER OR NOT THE BENEFIT OF THE POLITICIAN WAS REALLY BRIBED, WAS IT A FAVOR FROM A CONSTITUENT?
WAS IT NORMAL BUSINESS OR NORMAL POLITICS?
THAT IS KIND OF WHAT THE HOUSEHOLDER WAS ARGUING?
THIS WAS NOT A BROAD AT A GOOD OLD-FASHIONED HARDBALL POLITICS.
THE WAY THINGS ARE DONE.
>> WE WILL SAY THE JUDGE IS PROBABLY THE LEAST ON BOARD WITH THE ULTIMATE DECISION OR AT LEAST EXPRESS A LITTLE WIGGLE ROOM.
IT MAKES SENSE WHEN I SAY I DON'T WANT TO BUILD A DAM AND THEN I GET A BUNCH OF MONEY AND SUDDENLY, I WANT TO BUILD A DAM BUT YOU ARE IN A BIT OF A STICKIER SPOT IF YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO BUILD THAT DAM AND I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT MAYBE THE U. S. SUPREME COURT WILL TAKE A LOOK AT RIVALRY, CASE LAW, AND RICO, GENERALLY, BUT THIS IS PROBABLY NOT THE CASE TO GET IT THERE.
>> IS AT THE SIZE OF THE CASE AND THE BOLDNESS OF THE PLAN THAT LED TO THE NUCLEAR A LOT BEING APPROVED?
>> THE REAL SECRET IS DONE BY THE HBO SPECIAL.
WHAT LOOKED AT THIS WAS NEIL CLARK.
THEY OPENED WITH A NEIL CLARK VIDEO.
BUT NEIL CLARK WAS LITERALLY THE GLUE THAT HELD THIS CASE TOGETHER BECAUSE THE FBI NEVER REALLY WOULD'VE DISCOVERED THE HOUSEHOLDER CONNECTION OR BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW IT ALL WORKED WITHOUT NEIL CLARK TALKING TOO MUCH WHEN THE FBI WAS LISTENING IN ON THE WIRETAPS OF HIS PHONE CONVERSATIONS AFTER DRINKING AND EATING LATE AT NIGHT IN HIS BRAVADO BEING IN FULL TILT.
>> AND THOSE TEXT MESSAGES DON'T HELP, EITHER.
DOES THIS APPEAL REJECTS HAVE INFLUENCE ON ANY CURRENT CASES OUT THERE?
THE FIRSTENERGY EXECUTIVES THAT ARE FACING TRIAL, DOES IT LEAD TO A NEGOTIATION OR THAT KIND OF THING?
>> THIS IS A DEFENSE ATTORNEY QUESTION, DOES IT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE TO THE DEFENSE OF THE CASE THE WAY THE ATTORNEYS MIGHT BE HANDLING IT?
ABSOLUTELY BECAUSE YOU KNOW PROBABLY WHAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK AND I KNOW, I DON'T KNOW ENOUGH OF THE DETAILS ABOUT THE CASE TO SAY I WOULD ADVISE MY CLIENT AT THIS POINT TO START NEGOTIATING.
THAT WOULD BE UNFAIR ON MY PART BUT, ABSOLUTELY.
>> TAKING A LOOK AT THIS, THIS AIN'T GOING TO WORK.
AND THERE IS A TICKING TIME CLUB IN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS RUNS OUT BECAUSE THERE HAS BEEN THE QUESTION, ARE THERE OTHER PEOPLE THAT THE FEDS MIGHT WANT TO GO AFTER OR THE STATEMENT WANT TO GO AFTER?
SO THAT IS UNKNOWN BUT THE TICKING TIMECLOCK STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IS GOING TO BE UP SOON.
>> DO YOU THINK THIS CASE WILL BE OVER SOMETIME?
>> SINCE JANUARY 20th, WE HAVE SEEN A DRAMATIC UPTICK IN DETENTIONS IN COURTHOUSES FOR PEOPLE THAT MIGHT BE SUSPECTED OF BEING IN THIS COUNTRY WITHOUT PERMISSION.
THIS CAN HAPPEN BECAUSE THE DOCKETS OF THE COURTS ARE PUBLIC RECORD AND IT IS VERY EASY FOR IMMIGRATIONS AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT TO LOOK AT THE DOCKET AND SAY, HERE IS A HISPANIC NAME, LET'S GO PICK HIM UP.
>> THE STATE SENATORS STARTED WORK ON THE BUDGET BUT JUNE IS GOING TO BE THE MONTH FOR TWO REASONS.
ONE IS THE SENATE WANTS TO PROVE ITS INDEPENDENT FROM THE HOUSE.
THEY GOT PEOPLE WITH IDEAS AND DIFFERENT VIEWS AND NUMBER TWO, MAYBE BY JUNE, WE WILL KNOW WHAT THE FEDS ARE GOING TO DO OR NOT DO UNMEDICATED BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT OF SERIOUS ISSUES.
WATCH FOR JUNE.
WE WILL HAVE A LOT TO TALK ABOUT ON THE SHOW.
>> I WANTED TO CONGRATULATE THE PANELISTS, SHE WON THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR HER SHOOTING OF DONALD TRUMP AT THE PENNSYLVANIA RALLY.
>> SHE WAS THERE RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE STAGE COVERING THAT HORRIFIC EVENT.
MY COMMENT, NOW THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP HAS PROPOSED ALCATRAZ BE RESTORED AS A MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON.
I THINK GOVERNOR DEWINE SHOULD FOLLOW HIS LEAD.
HE SHOULD RESTORE THE OHIO REFORMATORY IN MANSFIELD AND MAKE IT A PRISON AGAIN.
LIKE ALCATRAZ, IT'S A TOURST ATTRACTION BECAUSE IT WAS THE MOVIE SET OF THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.
THAT'S "COLUMBUS ON THE RECORD" FOR THIS WEEK.
CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION ON FACEBOOK.
AND YOU CAN WATCH US ANYTIME ON OUR WEBSITE, WOSU.
ORG/COTR, YOUTUBE AND ALSO ON THE PBS VIDEO APP.
I'M MIKE THOMPSON.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK.
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