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Pre-2016, Ohio was the road to the White House. No Republican candidate had ever won the election without carrying the state, and no Democrat since Kennedy had won without the state. Since then, though, Ohio has slowly faded into obscurity in the election conversation. After Obama carried the state in 2008 with 51 percent of the vote, the Democratic share of the state has quickly slipped away, including an abysmal 43 percent in 2016. 

So what’s changed? The first thing to look at is the number of counties won by each candidate, and the clear drop-off begins in 2016, with Trump’s election. Prior to that, the state had been competitive, but in 2016, Clinton won eight counties, down from the 17 that Obama had won previously. Trump appealed to white voters who felt disconnected from the Democrats' embrace of immigrants and other “special-interest groups,” as well as broadly appealing to both wealthy donors who benefited from his tax cuts and benefits for the rich as well as rural middle-class voters who were heavily socially conservative. These dynamics are apparent when you break down which counties Trump flipped from the Obama era. 

Thomas Crooks left no manifesto or suicide note. He had a limited presence on social media — unimaginable for a member of Gen Z. Although he was a registered Republican, he did not display strong political beliefs or radical ideology. Indeed, more than a week after he tried to assassinate former president Donald J. Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania last month, the 20-year-old Crooks was being described by authorities as an enigma whose motivation for the shooting remained elusive.   

Tuesday, August 13, 2024, 7:00 - 8:30 PM
Columbus Metropolitan Library, Whetstone Branch, 3909 N. High St., Columbus
Join guest presenter Doug Morris for commentary and an evening of songs by Joe Hill, Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan, Kris Kristofferson, and Bruce Springsteen. Songs and commentaries (and projected lyrics to assist in sing-along) about six towering figures of "people's music."

August 13, 2024 - Today marks a solemn victory in the pursuit of justice for Ta’Kiya Young and her unborn daughter, whose lives were tragically and unjustly taken at the hands of Blendon Township Police Officer Connor Grubb. Grubb now faces four counts of murder, four counts of felonious assault and two counts of involuntary manslaughter. On August 1st, Ta’Kiya and her family would have been celebrating her 22nd birthday. Instead, we remember and honor her, not as a footnote, but as the true victim in this tragic and unnecessary encounter, and as the actual beneficiary of the right to utilize Marsy’s Law, alongside her unborn daughter.

This indictment speaks to the resilience and persistence of those who demand accountability when gross misuses of power occur. Contrastingly, Connor Grubb and his partner are not victims. To use Marcy's Law to cloak officers from facing the consequences of their actions is an insult to every victim of police violence, an inversion of justice and moral accountability.

Tamie Wilson of Delaware County is looking to finally end the tortuous reign of Jim Jordan and his smirk in Ohio’s 4th congressional district. This will be the second try for this self-described “common sense candidate.” The odds are against her, as some polls have Jordan at a double-digit lead.

But the Democrat doesn’t see it that way. She’s steadfastly optimistic. She’s been at county fairs talking to District 4 voters, something Jordan rarely does. A third candidate, a libertarian, has entered the race, and she believes they will siphon votes away from Jordan. But there’s also a wild card about to be thrown down in her favor by George Clooney. His documentary on Jordan’s role – or lack thereof – in the Ohio State University sexual abuse scandal of its male athletes by Dr. Richard Strauss is scheduled to hit HBO in September or October.

Posted on August 11, 2024 by beyondnuclearinternational

FirstEnergy was the company behind the largest political bailout and bribery scandal in Ohio history, which funneled $61 million in dark money bribes to Ohio lawmakers in order to pass a $1.3 billion nuclear and coal bailout at the expense of every Ohio family that pays utility bills.

Join the GREEP* Zoom 5pm ET/2pm PT today to discuss the presidential election and more.

Today’s Planned Agenda:

Every Sunday May 19 - Sept. 29 from 10am-2pm
*Supermarket Sunday takes place the 1st Sunday of the month.
INSIDE The Kee
225 Neilston St. Columbus, OH 43215

Admission FREE
STREET PARKING is free on Sundays
Adjacent parking lot - all day $5

Video tour of The Kee: https://youtu.be/3oobo0-Xthw?si=RECej-7cbFmPz4-o

Tonight, Saturday, August 10 from 6-9pm, you can try a "mocktail."

What is a mocktail?

Blossom Bar is coming to the salon to provide drinks -- water, non-alcoholic, alcoholic and "infused" mocktails. You can ask for a bit of CBD or THC or both added to your drink (each one costs a little bit). You decide what to add and tell the bartender. They provide hemp-derived, non-alcoholic cocktails infused with adaptogens and nootropics, catering to a health-conscious audience seeking an elevated social experience.

Dr. Bridget Williams of Green Harvest Health, who has spoken at a Free Press salon in the past, runs Blossom Bar and will be speaking about mocktails to tell us more about them.

The August Free Press Second Saturday Salon is tonight from 6-9pm at the Columbus Botanical Depot's event spacee at Pacemont and High Street in Clintonville. The actual address, 14 W. Pacemont is a dispensary which will be open tonight until 8pm.

Saturday, August 10, 6-9pm
Columbus Botanical Depot, corner of Pacemont and High, 14 W. Pacemont
on street parking - please carpool!)

Facebook event

Free Press August Second Saturday Salon
Saturday, August 10, 6-9pm
Columbus Botanical Depot, 14 W. Pacemont