Welcome back to Crooked River Cast! Robert and Tom are back for Show #78. Before getting into the Ohio political circus, they have a few thoughts on AI bots, subscription companies that make canceling harder than getting a mortgage, and how technology might actually make life easier. How are you using your🪄Muse? And are you? Let us know; email us at crookedrivercast@gmail.com. Then it’s on to JD Vance’s Ohio visit, the Trump administration’s push against alleged visa fraud, Ohio’s election numbers, a questionable campaign ad targeting Sherrod Brown, and some questionable decisions involving employee bonuses and a certain explicit Shrek meme. Fortunately, we finish with a couple of genuinely good Ohio stories.

---

🇺🇸 The White House, H-1B Visas & Corporate America

Vice President JD Vance had plenty to say about alleged H-1B and J-1 visa abuse during a White House press conference, with the administration targeting companies accused of exploiting the programs to bring in foreign workers while laying off Americans. Microsoft and Adobe were among the familiar names discussed, along with several outsourcing firms and universities facing scrutiny.

Robert and Tom focused on the argument that some employers use these programs to reduce labor costs, potentially undercutting American workers. Vance described certain visa holders as “indentured servants,” pointing to their dependence on employers to maintain their immigration status. The administration also announced action affecting Microsoft’s ability to use the PERM process, which allows employers to sponsor certain workers for permanent residency.

The guys agreed that programs created for legitimate purposes can become distorted when nobody is watching closely enough. Robert also connected the broader affordability debate to government spending and inflation, while the two discussed other administration actions they believe deserve more attention. As Tom put it, the message to Microsoft could be simple: you’re a great American company—now act like one.

Source:

▶️ YouTube: The White House

---

🗳️ Ohio Mail-In Ballot Requests Plummet

Ohio’s 2026 election is approaching, and the latest numbers show a significant decline in mail-in ballot requests compared with previous midterm elections. Robert and Tom discussed the reported drop, early in-person voting numbers, and what the figures might—or might not—tell us about turnout and the political mood across Ohio.

They kicked around the possibility that fewer mail-in requests could signal a shift in voting behavior, but neither treated the early numbers as a definitive prediction. Robert was especially skeptical about whether some voters are paying attention to who’s actually running for office. The conversation eventually turned into their usual tongue-in-cheek suggestion that voters ought to pass a basic civics test before heading to the polls. Subtle? Not exactly.

Their bottom line: get out and vote. Turnout matters, and the numbers won’t tell the whole story until Election Day.

Source:

🔗: Election 2026: Ohio Ohio mail-in ballot requests plummet plummet

---

🏛️ Sherrod Brown, Campaign Ads & the Transgender Surgery Controversy

A Republican-aligned political group aired an ad accusing Sherrod Brown of supporting transgender surgeries for minors, featuring a woman who describes her experiences with gender-related medical treatment. But a News 5 Cleveland investigation raised serious questions about the ad’s presentation: the woman wasn’t from Ohio, and the surgery she describes occurred when she was 19, not while she was a minor.

Robert and Tom dug into the distinction between the ad’s claims and the reporting, questioning whether voters were being given an accurate picture of the woman’s experience and Brown’s position. They also discussed the political significance of the issue in a U.S. Senate race and wondered what Brown’s actual position is on the specifics of gender-affirming care.

The hosts weren’t ready to let either the campaign ad or the broader political talking points do all the work. Their challenge was straightforward: ask the candidate directly and get a clear answer instead of relying on campaign messaging. In an election season, apparently even the facts need their own campaign manager.

Source:

🔗: Woman accusing Sherrod Brown of forcing transgender surgeries isn’t from Ohio, didn’t have procedure as minor

---

💰 Howmet Aerospace Workers Told to Repay Thousands

Imagine receiving a profit-sharing payment, making plans around it, and then being told months later that the company made a calculation error—and now you owe thousands of dollars back. That’s the situation facing hourly employees at Howmet Aerospace’s Niles plant, where workers reportedly received letters demanding repayment of overpayments dating from early 2025 through the second quarter of 2026.

Robert and Tom reacted to reports that some employees were being asked to repay more than $5,000, with at least one reportedly owing over $10,000. The company said the payments resulted from a calculation error and gave employees 30 days to repay, with payment plans available.

The guys questioned how workers could reasonably be expected to hand back money they had received in good faith and potentially already spent. They also wondered about the legal details, including payroll deductions and what role the union could play. Robert’s view was that the company might be better off taking the loss rather than putting its employees through this mess. Tom’s verdict? Take the L, Howmet.

Source:

🔗: Howmet Aerospace employees forced to pay back company after overpayments

▶️ YouTube: WKBN27 – Local company over pays employees and asks for money back

---

🐓 The Rooster, Jerry Cirino & an Explicit Shrek Meme 🧌

Ohio political blogger DJ Burns, known online as The Rooster, has been found guilty of telecommunications harassment after sending state Sen. Jerry Cirino an explicit meme featuring Shrek. The messages came after Cirino’s bid to become Ohio Senate president fell apart. Burns received a $200 fine and court costs and plans to appeal.

Robert and Tom weren’t exactly lining up to defend either man. They discussed the distinction between posting provocative political content publicly and sending an explicit image directly to a public official’s phone. Tom thought the whole thing was silly, while Robert questioned whether the situation had become a case of two people trying to get under each other’s skin.

The hosts also noted that Burns does more than post on social media—he shows up at the Statehouse and asks questions in person. Still, the Shrek incident left them wondering how a political dispute ended up here. Ohio politics: where a serious fight over power can apparently take a detour through a cartoon ogre.

Source:

🔗: Rooster’s wings clipped: Ohio political blogger found guilty in explicit Shrek meme trial

---

🏖️ Geneva-on-the-Lake Gets Its Beach Back

After seven years without the public beach that erosion wiped away, Geneva-on-the-Lake has reopened a restored beach. The project involved bringing in sand and installing protective structures, with the work reportedly costing about $1.3 million.

Robert’s first question was essentially: where did all that sand come from, and how long is it going to stay there? The guys joked about the environmental impact of transporting sand from Australia and wondered whether the investment would survive the next round of erosion. They also acknowledged the argument for restoring a popular public amenity that residents wanted back.

It’s good news for beachgoers and local businesses, but Robert couldn’t resist looking at the price tag and wondering whether the project will need another expensive rescue down the road. Around here, even a beach reopening can turn into a debate about spending and sustainability.

Source:

🔗: Geneva-on-the-Lake public beach reopens 7 years after erosion wiped it away

---

🌟 Good Things

🚌 A School Superintendent Takes the Bus Driver’s Seat

When budget pressures forced Berkshire Local Schools in Burton, Geauga County, to do more with less, Superintendent John Stoddard stepped up to help. Already a volunteer coach for the girls’ wrestling team, he obtained his commercial driver’s license and took on school bus driving duties, too.

Robert gave him credit for doing something about the problem instead of simply complaining about it. Tom was impressed by the growing list of responsibilities, and Robert couldn’t resist pointing out that the superintendent now has a potential backup career if school administration doesn’t work out.

It’s a practical example of a school leader pitching in where help is needed. Sometimes leadership means getting behind the wheel—literally.

Source:

🔗: Local superintendent adds bus driver to his duties

---

🇺🇸 An Ohio World War II Soldier Finally Comes Home

After more than eight decades, the remains of World War II Army Air Forces Sergeant Myron Lee Yawn are finally coming home to Ohio for burial. Yawn died after his aircraft was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in Poland. Investigators later returned to the crash site, and DNA evidence helped identify his remains.

His sister had provided a DNA sample before her death in 2019, helping make the identification possible. Now his family, including his nephew, can finally give him the proper burial he never received.

Robert and Tom agreed this was a genuinely moving story. After 82 years, a family finally gets some closure, and a serviceman who gave his life during the war can return home. It’s a powerful reminder that the effort to bring missing service members home doesn’t simply stop when the headlines fade.

Source:

🔗: Athens World War II soldier laid to rest 82 years after death

---

📣 Subscribe & Share

That’s Show #78 in the books! From Washington’s visa crackdown to Ohio’s election drama, questionable corporate decisions, and a Shrek meme that somehow ended up in court, there’s never a shortage of material around here.

Subscribe to Crooked River Cast, share this episode with someone who follows Ohio news, and visit www.crookedrivercast.com for the show and more coverage. Follow CRC Ohio News on X, join the conversation, and let us know what you think. We appreciate every listener who takes the time to tune in—and every person who passes the show along.

Because apparently, somebody has to say the quiet part out loud.