This week, we discuss chaos in Ohio's teacher pension system, a new challenge to Ohio abortion restrictions, why J.D. Vance ended up on Donald Trump's VP shortlist and how an obscure law could penalize student protesters.

We discuss President Joe Biden's status on the November ballot, a bill to limit cell phone use in schools, how one lawmaker wants to combat antisemitism and why Ohio doesn't require dark money disclosures.

We discuss the politics of campus protests, a new proposal to raise the minimum wage, what marijuana rescheduling means for Ohio and how lawmakers changed a controversial parents' rights bill.

We discuss the latest in the Biden ballot debacle, a key ruling in the lawsuit over Ohio's ban on gender-affirming care for minors, how Gov. Mike DeWine wants to solve the child care crisis and why marijuana sales could start sooner than expected.

This week we discuss how former PUCO chairman Sam Randazzo has died by suspected suicide, how FirstEnergy gave $1 M in donations through dark money groups to back Jon Husted, and how Ohio House GOP votes to take control of House campaign funds. Finally, we talk about how President Joe Biden won’t make it on the November Ohio ballot unless state law is changed and recap the key takeaways from Gov. Mike DeWine’s State of the State address.

We discuss the latest lawsuit over abortion access, a new bill to deal with parking payments, why marijuana users can't smoke in public and how Sam Randazzo's Christmas costume ended up in court filings.

We discuss new charges against former House Speaker Larry Householder, shoot houses for armed school employees, double-dipping in the Medicaid program and a lawsuit over Ohio's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors.

We dissect the results from Ohio's 2024 primary and what lies ahead for the November general election.

This week, we discuss the last days of Ohio's Senate primary, a proposed ballot issue to raise the minimum wage, why Gov. Mike DeWine wants to limit cell phones in schools and what state officials are saying about the solar eclipse.

This week, we discuss the latest Republican U.S. Senate debate, what the governor’s adviser knew about a payment to Sam Randazzo, why a Republican dropped out of an Ohio congressional race and how a state Supreme Court decision could affect college students.

Ohio is no longer the presidential battleground it once was. What does that mean for 2024?

We break down the key races on the March 19 primary ballot, from the Republican U.S. Senate race to contentious Ohio House primaries.

This week, we discuss Larry Householder's appeal, which companies get to frack under Ohio parks, why Donald Trump Jr. visited Butler County and how Republicans want to change campaign finance laws.

This week, we discuss the big issues in Ohio's U.S. Senate race, who's running in the Ohio Supreme Court primary and why closed-door deals are a problem in the House Bill 6 case.

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 discuss new charges in Ohio’s largest public corruption case HB 6, how Ohioans who worked from home during COVID are not eligible for a tax refund,  discuss how a social media law was put on hold, and what state parks have planned for the upcoming April eclipse.

This week, we discuss $350 million in state spending, why fracking bids are kept secret, how lawmakers are dealing with property tax woes and the latest in a fight over the teachers' pension board.

We discuss a new death penalty proposal, how Ohio wants to make school buses safer, why liberal groups are funding redistricting reform and what's holding up rail safety a year after the East Palestine derailment.

This week, we break down Ohio's first Republican Senate debate, a proposed plan to get rid of state income taxes and two veto overrides that set new laws on tobacco and transgender health care.

This week, we discuss the latest with Sam Randazzo, which Ohio Senate candidate got sued for overtime, how lawmakers want to improve school attendance and why Gov. Mike DeWine is going after delta-8 THC.

This week, we discuss the latest with House Bill 68, what's happening with Ohio's new social media law and more.

We discuss who has momentum in Ohio's U.S. Senate race, whether lawmakers will override Gov. Mike DeWine's veto of House Bill 68, why the attorney general is touting a study on permit-less carry, and how some school districts are pushing back against sex ed requirements.

We dissect everything that happened in Ohio politics this year and what's in store for 2024.

This week, we break down new developments in Ohio's abortion lawsuit and what lawmakers did -- and didn't do -- to close out 2023.

During this Ohio Politics Explained episode we talk about how Ohio’s recreational marijuana law goes into effect on today, next we discuss how former PUCO chairman Sam Randazzo was indicted on bribery and fraud charges in federal court, and how Ohio lawmakers are one step closer to making daylight saving time permanent. Finally, we talk about how an attorney was suspended for pooping into a Pringles can.

This week, we discuss a new development in the House Bill 6 scandal, what happened with Ohio’s new statehouse maps, how one Republican wants to change the marijuana law, and why a controversial higher education bill may not pass. 

We explain the latest with fracking in state parks, how young voters could shape 2024, when the new marijuana law might change, and why some Republicans want to take power from the judicial branch.

A USA TODAY Network Ohio investigation found Ohio’s youth prison system is plagued by violence, staffing shortages and a failure to rehabilitate kids. We break down the project’s findings and what needs to change.

We break down the Nov. 7 election results and what comes next for abortion access and the state's new recreational marijuana program. 

We explain everything Ohioans need to know about Issue 1 and Issue 2 ahead of Election Day on Nov. 7.

We explain which former state lawmaker is in trouble, why Michigan may not like Issue 2, what you need to know about voter ID rules, and how the Supreme Court ruled on a property theft sentence.

We explain a lawsuit over reading, who will benefit if Issue 2 passes, efforts to get rid of Ohio’s same-sex marriage ban, and how much money the U.S. Senate candidates raised.

We explain what's up with the Ohio House, how LGBTQ advocates got a win this week, where the 2024 U.S. Senate candidates stand on abortion, and what comes next for redistricting reform.

We're explaining the fight over who controls education in Ohio, whether Jim Jordan will be the new speaker, who had an abortion in 2022, and why staffers keep leaving Frank LaRose. 

We're explaining why Democrats voted for maps they didn't like, what Ohio might do to lower property taxes, and the future of Ohio's abortion ban.

We’re explaining what new statehouse maps might look like, whether voters might be swayed by ballot language, and when Ohio might lease state parks for drilling.

We’re explaining why  the next round of redistricting got off to a rocky start, how universal vouchers might cost more than expected, and when you will start seeing abortion ads on television.

We explain what started a 2023 prison riot and why it took nearly a year for the answer, how the fight over our Congressional map ended, and whether a Senate candidate is living up to his promise.

This week we're explaining your property taxes, whether Bob Young will lose his chairmanship, how JD Vance navigates his first year and why parental consent is a hot topic.

We're explaining how Ramaswamy fared in his first presidential debate, which schools are arming staff, why the Cleveland Browns are getting into politics, and the reasons a redistricting amendment got rejected. 

We're explaining how Householder's guilty verdict might be a window in the charges Trump faces in Georgia, what Marijuana making the November ballot means for abortion and what legal changes will impact your kids this school year. 

This week we're explaining the special election results, what the reaction has been, and how Issue 1 might impact the abortion vote in November.

We're explaining Ohio's reaction to Trump's indictment, why libertarians are upset with Frank LaRose and whether schools might start hiring chaplains.

Political reporters Laura Bischoff and Jessie Balmert speak with Jeff Williams, former FBI agent on the latest special edition of the Ohio Politics Explained podcast. During this episode we discuss public corruption, dark money, how Larry Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison and why young FBI agent Blane Wetzel was so important in Ohio’s largest public corruption case.

Political reporters Laura Bischoff and Jessie Balmert speak with Jeff Williams, former FBI agent on the latest special edition of the Ohio Politics Explained podcast. During this episode we discuss Tyler Fehrman, the secret recordings with Matt Borges, and how Juan Cespedes and political consultant Jeff Longstreth were critical to helping the federal case.

Political reporters Laura Bischoff and Jessie Balmert speak with Jeff Williams, former FBI agent on the latest special edition of the Ohio Politics Explained podcast. During this episode we discuss the news splash that the Householder arrest made and the role that super lobbyist Neil Clark played in the largest public correct case in Ohio history.

Political reporters Laura Bischoff and Jessie Balmert speak with Jeff Williams, former FBI agent on the latest special edition of the Ohio Politics Explained podcast. During this episode we discuss his career with BCI and the FBI, talk about what it is like investigating public corruption cases, and provide details from the day Larry Householder was arrested at his Perry County farmhouse.

This week we're explaining when Ohioans will vote on abortion and marijuana. What the governor said about the K-9 incident in Circleville, and where people come down on gun control laws.

This week we're explaining what a new poll means for supporters of Issue 1, why Ohio's attorney general is interested in medical records, what restrictions Republicans want on drag shows, and the new name in the U.S. Senate race.

This week we're explaining how early voting is going, what comes after universal vouchers, why Democrats want to protect Black hairstyles, and Larry Householder's appeal.

During this episode of the Ohio Politics Explained podcast we spoke with Jenn Miller from the League of Women voters about why she thinks the effort to change how constitutional amendments work is anti-democratic.