Ohio Has Issues
On Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr., we talk through the things Ohioans need to know leading up to the November 2024 election, with the people who have the answers to your questions.
You'll hear directly from the organizers behind the initiatives you'll see on the ballot in November, your elected officials on both sides of the aisle, and the candidates who hope to represent you in public office.
To help you decide how to cast your ballot this fall, we also check in with the reporters on the ground covering politics in our state.
Watch Ohio Has Issues streamed live every Wednesday at 7:30 PM on the WKYC YouTube page and the WKYC+ streaming app, and listen back on your favorite podcast platform later that night.
Episodes
35 episodes
Ohio Supreme Court will hear gun rights case, Ohioans fight for unpaid federal unemployment money
The Ohio Supreme Court is on the ballot this November, just as the court has agreed to hear a case involving gun rights.On the October 9 edition of Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr., Cleveland.com's Jake Zuckerman r...
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Season 1
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Episode 35
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52:18
What the Vice Presidential debate means to Ohio voters, new abortion data released, and more
With the Vice Presidential debate behind us, the performances by the candidates are being analyzed intensely as both major political parties look to strengthen their chances to win the White House in November,On the October 2 edition of...
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Season 1
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Episode 34
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1:08:52
Donald Trump, JD Vance may face criminal charges over false claims about Haitians eating pets
Former President Donald Trump is no stranger to criminal charges as a 34-time convicted felon, and his running mate Sen. JD Vance may be joining him in an Ohio courtroom soon, if an advocacy group for Haitians have their way.On the Sept...
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Season 1
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Episode 33
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47:11
What led to Haitian immigrants coming to Springfield; Redistricting amendment ballot language final
Ohio has been in the national spotlight for more than a week due to claims about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, and the controversy over what's happening with a proposed redistricting amendment.On Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Hane...
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Season 1
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Episode 32
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1:11:23
What the presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris means to Ohio voters
Following the presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, we look at what the contest means to Ohio voters.On the September 11, 2024 edition of Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Haney and Mik...
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Season 1
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Episode 31
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1:16:51
Political spending, FCC rules for political ads, the problem of false equivalency
In the September 4 edition of Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr., we look at political spending in Ohio, FCC rules for political ads, the problem of false equivalency and more.Cleveland.com editor Chris Quinn joins t...
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Season 1
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Episode 30
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1:03:18
Redistricting amendment supporters sue over "biased, inaccurate, deceptive" ballot summary language
In the August 21 edition of Ohio Has Issues, Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr. share what we know about the controversy surrounding ballot language for Ohio's proposed constitutional amendment that would reform redistricting.Chris Davey...
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Season 1
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Episode 29
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46:00
Bernie Moreno's texts, JD Vance's startup trouble, FirstEnergy's deal with Ohio Attorney General
On the August 14, 2024 episode of Ohio Has Issues, we're following the latest update on the FirstEnergy bribery scandal, looking into the Ohio Supreme Court races, and bringing you the latest from the Ohio Senate race and the presidential campa...
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Season 1
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Episode 28
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51:55
Redistricting amendment supporters respond to Gov. DeWine's criticism, the Iowa Plan, and more
On the August 7, 2024 episode of Ohio Has Issues, the proposed redistricting constitutional amendment takes center stage.Following Governor Mike DeWine's criticism of the amendment, supporter Chris Davey from the sponsoring group, Citiz...
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Season 1
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Episode 27
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56:55
JD Vance child vote comments, Kamala Harris effect on Ohio voter turnout, scams to avoid, a new election trust group, and more
On the July 31, 2024 edition of Ohio Has Issues, the word of the day is "VOTE."Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr. take us through lots of important voter information, from key dates you need to know, scams to avoid, and what ID is requir...
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Season 1
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Episode 26
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45:54
How Joe Biden stepping aside will impact Ohio's Senate race between Sherrod Brown and Bernie Moreno
On the July 24, 2024 edition of Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr., we dive deep into the implications of President Joe Biden stepping aside as the Democratic presidential nominee.First, we show you the President’s f...
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Season 1
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Episode 25
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1:13:34
From “Never Trump” to VP pick: What to know about JD Vance
As the Republican National Convention wraps up, we share what to know about the GOP Vice Presidential candidate US Senator for Ohio JD Vance on the July 17, 2024 edition of Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr.Vance, wh...
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Season 1
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Episode 24
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56:28
Mom of transgender girl speaks out against Ohio's attempted bathroom ban for trans youth in schools
On the July 10, 2024 episode of Ohio Has Issues, Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr. look at what’s happening in public and private school across the state, and how that’s impacting transgender people.We hear from mother Anne Anderson, wh...
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Season 1
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Episode 23
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40:10
Lt Gov Jon Husted denies knowing about FirstEnergy bribery scandal despite texts with indicted CEOs, and more
On the July 3, 2024 edition of Ohio Has Issues, we give you a round up of what's happening in Ohio politics ahead of the 4th of July holiday.Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr. share the latest reporting from the Ohio Capital Journal, des...
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Season 1
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Episode 22
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35:52
MORE text messages from 2018 surface between Mike DeWine, Jon Husted and indicted FirstEnergy execs
More text message from 2018 between then-gubernatorial candidates Mike DeWine and Jon Husted and now-indicted First Energy executive have come to light. On the June 26, 2024 episode of Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk ...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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52:42
Text messages from 2018 show conversations between Mike DeWine, Jon Husted and FirstEnergy executives
On the June 19, 2024 edition of Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr., we dive deeper and deeper into the details leading up to the FirstEnergy House Bill 6 bribery scandal. Text messages from 2018 show conversations between Mi...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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44:00
6th Congressional district special election results, cities ban recreational marijuana, state Supreme Court races
On the June 12 edition of Ohio Has Issues, Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr. round up the political talking points from around the state.NBC Cleveland investigative reporter Lynna Lai shares which Ohio cities are banning recreational ma...
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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42:23
Ohio politicians react to Trump conviction, special legislative session results, FirstEnergy scandal
It's an Ohio roundup edition of Ohio Has Issues with Stephanie Haney and Mike Polk Jr., on June 5.First up, Ohio politicians react to former President Donald Trump's felony convictions in New York. Then, we talk with Cleveland.c...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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38:28
Why Ohio couldn't pass a fix to get President Joe Biden on the November ballot
What do Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, Ohio's Democratic Party Chair, the Democratic National Committee and a law professor have in common? They all have their take on why Ohio Has Issues when it comes to getting President Joe Biden on the ballot.<...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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39:47
Ohio Senate candidates on legalizing marijuana; How President Joe Biden won't end up on the Ohio ballot; Gerrymandering reform
From legalizing marijuana to redistricting, to how President Joe Biden won't end up on the Ohio ballot, the issues in Ohio are smoking hot leading up to the November presidential election.On the May 22 edition of Ohio Has Issues, ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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48:46
Cleveland Browns stadium questions answered as Haslams pitch downtown and Brook Park proposals
There's always a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Cleveland Browns, and right now, that includes a question about where the team will play its home games in the near future.Cleveland.com's Jeremy Pelzer joins Stephanie Haney and Mike P...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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45:53
Dark money in Ohio politics: A primer on groups FirstEnergy sent money to, when, and what it means
As new documents have become available related to FirstEnergy's bribery scandal, we're learning about payments the company made that benefited the current holders of the highest political offices in the state.On the May 1 episode ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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1:04:29
Will President Biden be on the Ohio ballot in November, and why that's a question
Voters are wondering whether President Joe Biden will be on the Ohio ballot in November, thanks to a law passed in 2009.This week on Ohio Has Issues with Mike Polk Jr. and Stephanie Haney, we look at why it's become a question whether t...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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49:11
When you can buy recreational marijuana in Ohio, Biden on the ballot, Transgender care ban blocked
A senator, 2 growers and a dispensary owner talk with Mike Polk Jr. and Stephanie Haney about when you'll be able to buy recreational marijuana in Ohio, on Ohio Has Issues.Mike and Stephanie dig into Issue 2, the citizen-initiated statu...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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1:24:31
Randazzo death 2nd of FirstEnergy scandal, Republicans react to Cleveland.com editor letter on Trump
There’s been another shocking update in the ongoing FirstEnergy bribery scandal, and a Cleveland publication has gotten national attention for calling out its difficulties when it comes to reporting on former President Donald Trump.On t...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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47:34