The morning newsletter of the Ohio Capital Journal
Reporting for the People
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By Susan Tebben | Ohio Capital Journal
Good morning Ohio!
U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno is drafting legislation to fund President Donald Trump's new promise: $5,000 to every adult citizen if the Republicans maintain their majority in the midterms.
Ohio Republican U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno speaks with reporters in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (Photo by Jennifer Shutt/States Newsroom)
By Morgan Trau, WEWS
President Donald Trump acknowledged in his speech at the GOP's midterm convention in Dallas last week that this year's elections are competitive. He offered an unprecedented incentive to vote.
By Marty Schladen
Ohio U.S. Sen Jon Husted served as a member of the board of directors for a bank that donated $500,000 to Husted's political committee, Jon Husted for Ohio, after he joined, according to campaign disclosures.
By Siddarth Sivaraman
Voters in 18 Ohio municipalities and townships will decide the future of data centers in their communities this Election Day.
COMMENTARY
Medicare card and money. (Photo by Getty Images)
By Dan Skinner
Especially with Ohio's rapidly aging population, Ohio’s congressional delegation owes its constituents an open debate on healthcare and Medicare eligibility. Voters should be asking candidates to state their positions.
STATELINE
The big challenges and policy issues that cross state lines.
By Anna Claire Vollers
In recent years, more conservatives have turned to divorce as a “family values” talking point, with some pushing to make it harder for couples to divorce. By doing so, they’ve relaunched a national conversation that would have been nearly unthinkable just a few years ago.
THE RUNDOWN
News from other states
By Kyle Davidson
A three-judge panel at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia said it was unpersuaded by U.S. Department of Energy justifications to keep a Michigan coal plant online, determining that the department had exceeded the emergency authority granted by the Federal Power Act.
NATIONAL NEWS
By Jennifer Shutt
With concern mounting among GOP lawmakers they may lose control of that chamber following November’s midterm elections, it is not a stretch to imagine state officials could, once again, receive calls from the White House or powerful Republicans in Congress.
By Shauneen Miranda
Vice President JD Vance took to the GOP convention stage in Dallas on Thursday in what served as a re-introduction ahead of a widely anticipated run for the party’s presidential nomination in 2028.
By Ashley Murray, Shalina Chatlani, Shauneen Miranda, and Ariana Figueroa
Powerful U.S. officials past and present faced families, survivors and first responders Friday at ceremonies to honor the 25th anniversary of the day 2,977 Americans died in terrorist attacks in Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania.
By Jacob Fischler
President Donald Trump has, at times, justified his campaign against mail-in voting in explicitly partisan terms, claiming Republicans’ electoral chances hinge on whether the practice is allowed.
By Jennifer Shutt
President Donald Trump and Republicans wrapped up their two-day midterm convention in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday night, urging voters to ensure the party has another two years with unified control of government.
CATCHING OUR EYE
Flooding. The Ohio Newsroom’s Erin Gottsacker is reporting, “As flooding gets more frequent in central Appalachia, streamgages could offer advance warning.”
A small stream in eastern Ohio’s Harrison County looks shallow and slow, as it winds past banks of yellow flowers and humming summer bugs.
But Natalie Kruse Daniels, a professor and director of the environmental studies program at Ohio University, says the peaceful scene can be deceiving.
“Little streams can flash flood really, really quickly,” she said. She recently visited another one in Athens. “It's maybe ankle deep right now, but it flooded the road and multiple businesses on August 11th.”
Similar scenes played out across the state last month: Floodwaters submerged basements and highways, as severe storms caused major damage to hundreds of properties across 23 central and southern Ohio counties.Immigration. Politico’s Myah Ward, Eric Bazail-Eimil, and Jessica Piper are reporting, “Mullin seeks to win over immigration hardliners with messaging blitz.”
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has launched a PR blitz to save his floundering reputation among immigration hardliners who think he’s soft on deportations. So far, it’s not working.The Department of Homeland Security chief, who has faced an onslaught of attacks from MAGA activists and immigration hardliners in recent months, has grown alarmed by the blowback and is looking to shore up support with a key part of the Trump coalition, according to an administration official and another person familiar with the messaging effort, both granted anonymity to discuss internal thinking.
“Mullin is very concerned about the criticism, so the effort to hammer stats and ‘tough talk’ is intentional,” said the official.
THE POD
THAT'S ALL FOR NOW, FOLKS.
Mahalo!
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