A Weekly Podcast Covering the Stories That Matter Across All of Ohio
Crooked River Cast is hosted by Robert and Tom
Two lifelong Northeast Ohioans bringing sharp commentary and dry humor to the region’s news, politics, and everyday absurdities. From the bizarre to the bureaucratic, they say what others won’t.
Our goal is to help give our listeners a better view and understanding of what is happening in the great state of Ohio. We focus on northeast Ohio news and politics. CrookedRivercast@gmail.com You can also find us on X: https://x.com/CRCOhioNews
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Crookedrivercast@gmail.com
- COVID’s Long Shadow: Amy Acton, Ohio’s Pandemic Response & the 2026 Governor’s Race — Crooked River Cast Show #69 ☯️ 🎙
Robert kicks off the show with something a little more personal than politics—he’s in the middle of dealing with a Zelle scam. If you’re unfamiliar with Zelle, it’s a digital payment service similar to Venmo or PayPal that scammers have increasingly targeted. The guys encourage listeners to learn how these scams work so they can avoid becoming the next victim.
Sources:
🔗: This Zelle Scam Is Emptying Bank Accounts in Minutes 😳
▶️ YouTube: THIS Zelle Scam Is DEVASTATING — Your Bank Won’t Save You!
From there, the conversation shifts to Ohio’s 2026 governor’s race and one of its most controversial candidates: former Ohio Health Director Dr. Amy Acton. Looking back on the COVID-19 pandemic, Robert and Tom argue that many of the assurances and policies promoted during that period have not held up under later scrutiny. They discuss their belief that Ohio’s pandemic response relied heavily on fear-based messaging and criticize Acton’s continued defense of her actions, despite her remaining a respected figure among many Democrats and public health supporters.
The hosts also touch on the broader national debate surrounding pandemic-era decision-making, including criticism of former federal officials such as Dr. Anthony Fauci, before asking whether Ohio voters are ready to revisit that chapter as they choose their next governor. While neither host is especially enthusiastic about the current field of candidates, they conclude that voters will have to decide which option they believe is the better of an imperfect set of choices.
🦠 Amy Acton, COVID-19 & Ohio’s Political Future
The discussion begins with the growing reality that COVID-19 is no longer just history—it’s campaign material. Robert and Tom examine how Amy Acton’s tenure as Ohio’s health director has become a defining issue in the race for governor. Well, let’s roll down memory lane and revisit some of the clips of Acton’s past to refresh everyone’s memory of her statements.
Acton is now revisiting those early months through interviews and keynote speeches, presenting herself as a steady leader who faced impossible choices. At the same time, the hosts compare those retrospective interviews with what she actually said during the daily COVID briefings in 2020, discussing whether her messaging and predictions held up over time.
Robert also references a comprehensive Google search compiling Acton’s public record throughout the pandemic, using it as a timeline to revisit executive orders, interviews, public statements, and media coverage. The discussion includes reactions from physicians such as Dr. Simone Gold, whose criticism of pandemic policies became nationally known, and how differing viewpoints continue to shape the public debate.
The guys also discuss more recent developments, including Amy Acton campaign cut-outs appearing at county fairs that tie her directly to Ohio’s COVID response. Whether viewed as accountability or political theater, Robert and Tom note that the pandemic remains impossible to separate from her campaign for governor.
Sources:
🔗: The long shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic creeps into the race for Ohio governor
🔗: OHIO exclusive: Dr. Amy Acton shares insights from early pandemic with medical students
▶️ YouTube: Dr. Amy Acton answers when and how will the coronavirus quarantine end?
▶️ YouTube: Full interview: Dr. Amy Acton on early days of pandemic and how to move forward two years later
🔗: Robert’s Google Search: amy acton covid record
▶️ YouTube: A cut-out tying Dr. Amy Acton to COVID-19 response appears at Ohio fairs
▶️ YouTube: Dr. Amy Acton to Ohioans: Don the mask, don the cape
🔗: Dr. Simone Gold (@drsimonegold)
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