S2 Ep 3 - This Year in Ohio Politics: Which Way Will We Go From Here?

Editor’s note: We will just say sorry now — Ainslee has some microphone tech issues throughout the episode. We did our best to adjust, apologies for any hearing difficulties!!S2 Ep 3 - This Year in Ohio Politics: Which Way Will We Go From Here?In this episode, Ainslee and Maria give you a break from national political madness to discuss… Ohio political madness.Ainslee & Maria debrief about the community response to ICE’s recent visit to Columbus. They discuss why community network-building isn’t just busy work — in an emergency situation, it can be lifesaving!They also discuss the stakes of the Governor’s race, specifically how the next Governor will be the most consequential person on our 2026 ballot in deciding the direction of Ohio’s future.Finally, Ainslee & Maria preview a couple new programs on deck for Ohioans Against Extremism: a Helper’s Cohort for newer activists, and coffee meet-ups for frustrated Ohioans. More information on both to come, but you can sign up here to be the first to know about application details and deadlines for the Helper’s Cohort.Episode Information:Recorded: Wednesday, January 7, 2026 at 1pmIn this Episode: Maria Bruno, Ainslee Johnson-BrownProduced, Edited, and Recorded by: Devin “Dev Draper” Palmer and Tareya PalmerWARNING: Next week is BACK TO THE STATEHOUSE!Before we go, we feel obligated to mention that it’s official: our break from Statehouse madness officially ends next week. We’ve already gotten word about hearings on a few anti-abortion bills and a handful of committees are convening. TBD on how much damage they’ll try to cause on their first week back , but be sure to subscribe to our updates to stay in the loop!Support Our WorkThanks for listening. Our work is sustained through the generous support of everyday Ohioans, not billionaire bankrollers. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter. Even $5 a month can make a big difference.DONATEMore from Ohioans Against ExtremismGet the weekly “This week @ the Statehouse” into your inbox every Monday!We send weekly dispatches from Hell the Statehouse. Each week, we provide a brief overview of what we’re paying attention to as we monitor the Ohio Legislature. We will flag bills that are moving, bills we’re fighting for or against, and provide timely reminders about other things advocates should be thinking about.Make sure to sign up for our email alerts to get this summary right to your inbox every week.Join our Community Partner NetworkJoin a diverse network of community partners and take advantage of private planning sessions, exclusive safety resources, a free spot at OAE’s training sessions, and more. Learn More.Support & Follow Ohioans Against ExtremismDonate | Substack | Podcast | Facebook | Instagram | X | BlueSkyThanks for reading! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Ohioans Against Extremism at ohagainstextremism.substack.com/subscribe