Snollygoster | Ohio’s Politics Podcast
- Episodes
- 241
- Released
- weekly
- Latest episode
- Oct 22, 2026
About the podcast
Snollygoster takes an in-depth look at politics in Ohio. Each week we dig into the top political stories in Columbus and Ohio and explore national stories that impact the state by talking with politicians, reporters and other news-makers. (In case you're wondering, a "snollygoster" is a shrewd and unprincipled politician.)Listen to Snollygoster on the WOSU Public Media mobile app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Episodes 241
Politics and a Pint and an extraordinarily nasty campaign | Snollygoster
It has been an extraordinarily ugly week in an already extraordinarily ugly campaign for governor.
Echoes of 2006: Can Ohio Democrats recreate a political wave?
According to the RealClear Polling average, Sherrod Brown has a 3-point lead, and Amy Acton has a 4-point lead over Vivek Ramaswamy. The races are still toss-ups in a state that has been very solidly red for 10 years.
Do we believe the polls? The governor's race turns a corner | Snollygoster
Two new polls show Amy Acton has a lead in the race for governor. A Suffolk University poll conducted for USA Today shows her with a 9-point lead over Vivek Ramaswamy, 50% to 41%.
Could a 38-cent gas tax holiday shake up the governor's race?
Gasoline prices have fallen a bit over the past week. Here in Columbus, they have gone down from $4.50 a gallon to about $4.30 a gallon, so a 20-cent drop. Come next week, they will drop at least another 38.5 …
Show notes
Gasoline prices have fallen a bit over the past week. Here in Columbus, they have gone down from $4.50 a gallon to about $4.30 a gallon, so a 20-cent drop. Come next week, they will drop at least another 38.5 cents because Ohio lawmakers this week passed a suspension of the state's gasoline tax.Crypto industry targets Sherrod Brown with $30 million ad campaign
This week, the leading crypto political action committee, Fairshake, said it plans to spend at least $30 million to support Sen. Jon Husted and oppose Brown.
Independent voters favor Acton in new poll
We have a new poll to give us an idea of where Ohio voters' minds are as we approach the start of early voting. It is hard to believe, but Ohioans start casting ballots in about two and a half weeks.
Does Ohio need a constitutional amendment on voter ID?
Ohioans will vote on whether to put in the constitution a requirement that Ohio voters show a photo ID before they can cast a ballot. It is Issue 3 on the ballot.
Ads vs. Substance in the Ohio Governor’s Race
The race for Ohio governor is heating up.
Amy Acton's appeal to moderates
The Democrat running for governor is doing her best to stay away from any kind of socialist label. She has taken some moderate stances in recent weeks.
Lessons from Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan
What lessons can Ohio Democrats, or Ohio politicians in general, learn from Abdul El-Sayed's far-left progressive victory in that state's Senate primary?
Rep. Max Miller resists calls to drop reelection bid amid bitter custody battle
Emily Moreno, in court filings, accuses Miller of physically abusing her and their 2-year-old daughter. Miller denies the allegations and says his ex-wife has mental health issues.
Candidates pitch their tax relief plans
Next to rising gas prices and grocery prices, property taxes have loomed as the symbol of affordability in Ohio. Thanks to rising property values and voter-approved levies, property taxes have risen sharply in …
Show notes
Next to rising gas prices and grocery prices, property taxes have loomed as the symbol of affordability in Ohio. Thanks to rising property values and voter-approved levies, property taxes have risen sharply in Ohio over the last few years.Ohio's 2026 money race is high-stakes for Senate and Governor
With an open governor's seat and control of the U.S. Senate at stake, candidates running for major office in Ohio this year are attracting lots of donations.
Ad targets Husted on data center support
This week, we discuss the race for the U.S. Senate and Sherrod Brown’s slightly risky new ad, where he takes on Jon Husted and data centers.
Politics and a pint
WOSU hosted a Politics and a Pint event last week. These events are a lot of fun. We get together at a Columbus-area brewpub and talk politics in front of a crowd of political junkies and public media fans.
Death penalty politics
DeWine’s change in position seems little more than symbolic. Republican leaders in the Legislature support the death penalty. There is no movement ready to put it on the ballot.
Why Ohio’s governor wants to end capital punishment
Gov. Mike DeWine has come out against Ohio’s death penalty. This week, the conservative Republican governor, who co-sponsored the bill that reinstated capital punishment in 1981, said Ohio should abolish it.
What's next for the property tax repeal effort?
The effort to abolish Ohio property taxes has failed – at least for now. The group collecting signatures to put an amendment on November’s ballot says it has fallen short of the number needed to qualify.
Inside the allegations of Ohio Medicaid fraud
For weeks, DeWine has faced criticism from his fellow Republicans over allegations of widespread fraud in the state’s Medicaid system. It started with a report in the conservative outlet The Daily Wire, which …
Show notes
For weeks, DeWine has faced criticism from his fellow Republicans over allegations of widespread fraud in the state’s Medicaid system. It started with a report in the conservative outlet The Daily Wire, which accused home health agencies of fraudulently billing the system that pays for healthcare for low-income and disabled people.The next Ohio governor will be new to elected office
For the first time in eight years, Ohio will have a new governor. It will be someone from outside government: tech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, who briefly ran for president, or Amy Acton, who served in …
Show notes
For the first time in eight years, Ohio will have a new governor. It will be someone from outside government: tech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy, who briefly ran for president, or Amy Acton, who served in government for about a year.Key Takeaways from the Ohio Primary
The candidates are set for Ohio's general election in November. There were no big surprises in this week’s primary.
Poll suggests Ohio may look more like a purple state in November
An important election is just around the corner. Ohio will elect a new governor and decide who will represent the state in the U.S. Senate. A new poll provides a snapshot of what voters are thinking, and the …
Show notes
An important election is just around the corner. Ohio will elect a new governor and decide who will represent the state in the U.S. Senate. A new poll provides a snapshot of what voters are thinking, and the results are interesting.The Personal Turn in the Ohio Gubernatorial Race
Republican Vivek Ramaswamy is out with a new ad where his wife shows off their new baby. In another ad, he goes after Democrat Amy Acton for her role in the COVID-19 shutdowns.
Looking Back To When Ohio Was Blue
We look back at a time when Ohio was blue politically, or at least purple. We talk with longtime Democratic activist Dale Butland, who worked for U.S. Sen. John Glenn and has a new book out When Ohio Was Blue.
Democrats plan for Vance 2028
The 2028 presidential campaign likely will start about a year from now, but Democrats are not waiting to take on a likely candidate: Ohioan and Vice President JD Vance.
Transparency at JobsOhio
JobsOhio is in the news not because of a big new project, but because of the role, however small, it played in the sudden resignation of Ohio State University President Ted Carter.
Citizens organize to stop data centers
As electric bills rise and data centers start to encroach upon suburbs and farmland, politicians are hearing from voters and starting to ask if data centers are worth it.
Inappropriate Access: Ohio State Pres. Ted Carter's resignation and the role of university presidents
While its end was unusual, Ted Carter’s tenure may not be all that uncommon. The job has always been difficult, but it seems to be increasingly challenging. To examine the politics of being a college president …
Show notes
While its end was unusual, Ted Carter’s tenure may not be all that uncommon. The job has always been difficult, but it seems to be increasingly challenging. To examine the politics of being a college president, Josh Moody, reporter for Inside Higher Ed, joins the show.Ohio Politicians react to Iran War
Ohio’s congressional delegation largely split along partisan lines in reacting to the attacks on Iran. Vice President JD Vance once strongly said the US should not get involved in endless wars, but supports the …
Show notes
Ohio’s congressional delegation largely split along partisan lines in reacting to the attacks on Iran. Vice President JD Vance once strongly said the US should not get involved in endless wars, but supports the president in this case.Wexner's testimony
Les Wexner answered questions from members of the House Oversight Committee for about five hours about how much he knew about the sex offender and what role he may have played in Epstein’s alleged sex trafficking.
These are the latest 100 of 241 episodes. You’ll find older episodes in the podcast’s feed.
