We’re joined by Bailey Culp of the Ohio Federation of Teachers and Hannah Haubert of Policy Matters Ohio. We discuss why rural districts struggle and what it would take to fix the state’s funding system, which was declared unconstitutional in the DeRolf decision.

Bailey and Hannah explain that traditional public schools rely heavily on local property taxes plus state funds and that the state’s share of funding education has fallen from about 47% to roughly 32.2%. The decrease in state funding has resulted in school districts pushing for more local levies and competing for funds with other entities like libraries.

Under the Fair School Funding Plan, passed in 2021, the legislature calculates the cost of education for the school districts and each district’s funding capacity, but the Plan has not been fully phased in. State lawmakers have calculated the cost of education based on costs that existed in 2022 and have calculated local funding capacity to rise with property valuations, which hasn’t always happened. In addition, lawmakers have also failed to account for the costs of certain programs, such as children with special needs and English learners. The result is that many districts, mostly rural, find themselves with large funding gaps.

The education voucher program has expanded and now exceeds $1 billion annually. Education vouchers mean less money for public education. What about the lottery/sports gaming revenue? That money supplants rather than supplements state funding.

The next big issue for public education is what happens if the Ohio Supreme Court decides, in a case now before it, that school vouchers are constitutional.

Listen to the conversation.

Jack and Gonzo discuss how President Trump has breached so many political and societal norms.

They cite Trump’s vulgar, disparaging rhetoric and argue he has normalized denigrating language and fractured society. Trump has disregarded the traditional separation between the President and the Department of Justice and uses the DOJ as his personal law firm to attack his political enemies. They also criticize Congress for its performative and vitriolic hearings.

Trump has also permitted law enforcement to act in ways we have never seen before. ICE agents are masked, do not wear name tags and drive unmarked cars—a frightening departure from law-enforcement norms. ICE acts like a modern day Gestapo. Worse yet, the federal government has suppressed information concerning the killings of citizens by ICE.

Unlike any past president, Trump has used the presidency to enrich himself via Bitcoin licensing and refused to release tax returns. And in the middle of a war, Trump is fixated on constructing a ballroom, redesigning a golf course in D.C., changing the name of Lake Ontario, and building an arch.

Jack and Gonzo are joined by retired Columbus trial lawyer Rick Topper, who now spends a significant amount of time testifying about and working to protect voting rights.

Topper talks about in-person ID checks, the use of provisional ballots and the four-day deadline to cure them, and how absentee voting is verified through identifying information and bipartisan signature review. He makes clear that voting fraud is virtually nonexistent in Ohio.

The conversation covers legislative efforts to require photo ID copies with mail ballots (vetoed by Governor Mike DeWine), reductions in absentee ballot grace periods and the new requirement that ballots be received by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day, and the end of “Golden Week” same-day registration/early voting.

The three also voice their concerns about voter intimidation, such as the potential for federal officers, including ICE agents, being at voting sites. Credentialed poll observers will be at voting sites to report any problems or intimidation.