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.
Ohio Has Issues
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 Mike DeWine, Jon Husted and First Energy executives Chuck Jones and Mike Dowling, showing what appears to be a close relationship that Husted refers to as a friendship.
Stephanie and Mike are joined by Ohio Capital Journal reporter Marty Schladen to break down how Tony George, who is embroiled in the relationships involved in the scandal, is now connected to Ohio’s Senate race. Plus, Common Cause Ohio Executive Director Catherine Turcer chats with them about why it’s taken so long for text messages between DeWine, Husted and then-FirstEnergy executives to come out.
Ohio Capital Journal Megan Henry also joins the show to give us a rundown of what’s been happening with the Ohio General Assembly.
Watch Ohio Has Issues here:
https://youtube.com/live/38A-FMaY2sk
Read Marty Schladen's reporting here:
https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/06/13/moreno-blasted-rivals-over-scandal-now-hes-welcoming-a-big-players-support/
Read Jake Zuckerman's reporting here:
https://www.cleveland.com/open/2024/06/call-mike-dewine-on-the-500k-governors-text-sparked-dark-money-payment-texts-show.html
Ready Megan Henry's reporting on a House Bill related to natural hair here:
https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/06/13/bill-banning-discrimination-of-natural-hair-in-k-12-schools-passes-in-ohio-house/
Ready Megan Henry's reporting on a House Bill related to pregnancy support and another related to feral pigs here:
https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2024/06/14/ohio-house-passed-bills-oking-feral-pig-open-season-and-another-to-help-pregnant-women-babies/
"Ohio Has Issues" is recorded in Cleveland, out of WKYC Studios. New episodes typically stream live every Wednesday night at 7:30 PM on the WKYC YouTube page and the WKYC+ streaming app. "Ohio Has Issues" is also available wherever you listen to podcasts, with episodes dropping after the livestreamed recording sessions end.
Stephanie is the digital anchor and legal analyst at WKYC. She produces and hosts VERIFY fact check segments and is licensed to practice law in both Ohio and California.
Mike is an anchor, commentator and editorialist at WKYC. Mike hosts "Front Row Friday" which airs every Friday at 7 PM on 3News and on WKYC+.