🎙️ Tariff Revolt, ICE Theater, Mega-Site Meltdowns & Burke’s Million-Dollar Question
Robert and Tom kicked off Episode 48 on Valentine’s Day — and before diving into politics, they kept it simple: tell your significant other you love them every day, not just when the calendar tells you to. Solid advice. Then, without missing a beat, it was straight into the primaries and the current political landscape. Episode 48 — this one moves fast. From six House Republicans bucking Trump on Canadian tariffs, to Ohio GOP hesitation, to Northeast Ohio cities taking symbolic swings at ICE, to zoning boards shutting down mega developments — and yes, the never-ending Burke Lakefront Airport debate — this episode hits national tension and local dysfunction in one sweep.
Let’s go!
🇨🇦 6 House Republicans Rebuke Canadian Tariffs
In a move that surprised some conservatives, six House Republicans joined Democrats to block tariffs on Canada — a notable fracture in party alignment.
Is this economic realism? Political positioning? Or a preview of deeper divides?
Source:
🔗: 6 Republicans join Democrats to rebuke tariffs on Canada in blow to Trump
Ohio Republicans are also navigating their relationship with Trump carefully.
Source:
🔗: Ohio GOP leader says no to Trump election plan
🧠 Immigration & the “White Privilege” Narrative
The immigration debate continues to evolve — and this time the focus is on how enforcement is framed, and whether “white privilege” narratives clarify the issue… or muddy it even further. Robert and Tom unpack the online crossfire, the political messaging from our representatives today versus years past, and the shift in tone over time. They also revisit a 1996 quote from Chuck Schumer: “The number one reason people come to the U.S. illegally is to defraud systems like Social Security, and I want to stop it.” Same issue. Very different messaging. Check out the links below and decide for yourself.
Sources:
🔗: How white privilege plays into immigration enforcement: Our Best Life
🔗: Gunther EaglemanTM (@GuntherEagleman) on X
🔗: Sherrod Brown (@SherrodBrown) on X
🔗: Thomas Sowell Quotes (@ThomasSowell) on X
🏛 NEO Cities Vote to Oppose ICE Legislation
Several Northeast Ohio municipalities passed or debated resolutions opposing proposed Ohio ICE legislation.
Bold? Symbolic? Pure politics? Robert and Tom ask the obvious question — what actually changes after these votes?
Sources:
🔗: Akron City Council makes decision on controversial immigration issue
🔗: Cleveland City Council passes emergency resolution opposing proposed Ohio ICE legislation | wkyc.com
🔗: East Cleveland passes ‘GT*O’ legislation related to ICE agents
🌾 New Russia Township Says No to Mega Site
Residents in New Russia Township pushed back against a proposed mega development site, arguing farmland preservation matters more than industrial expansion.Local zoning boards are becoming battlegrounds.
Source:
🔗: ‘We want our farms’: Zoning commission recommends denying mega site development
And in Central Ohio, another large project gets blocked:
💸 Cuyahoga County’s Overtime Problem & Political Feuding
Tensions among top county officials are reportedly boiling over — and overtime spending is part of the story. Governance is hard. Public feuding doesn’t help. And when you look at the numbers? The top six overtime earners in 2025 all made more than $120,000 in overtime! Now, can we vote on a sheriff to be elected in Cuyahoga County?
Source:
🔗: The most powerful officials in Cuyahoga County government are openly feuding
🚨 $10 Million Bribery Scheme — Convictions Land
Two brothers and a former East Cleveland mayoral assistant were convicted in a $10 million bribery scheme. It’s another reminder that corruption stories in Northeast Ohio don’t seem to take a year off. Can you say their names better than Tom? Zubair Mehmet Abdur Razzaq Al Zubair, Muzzammil Muhammad Al Zubair, and Michael Smedley! Tom actually said the names pretty well… and then kept saying them. It became a thing. 😄 This scam has been going on since 2020! Jeez…come on, somebody knew!
Sources:
🔗: Pair of brothers, ex-East Cleveland aide convicted in $10 million bribery scheme
🔗: East Cleveland brothers charged in multi-million-dollar scam | wkyc.com
✈️ What Should Happen to Burke Lakefront Airport?
Burke reportedly loses around $1 million a year — and much of its revenue comes from parking. So what’s the plan? Keep it? Redevelop it? Let the debate continue indefinitely?
Sources:
🔗: Burke Airport, Which Loses $1 Million a Year, Makes Most of Its Revenue From Parking
▶️ YouTube: Cleveland City Council digs into the dirt at Burke Lakefront Airport
🌤 Good Things
🌅 The Days Are Getting Longer
Sunsets are getting later — and Sunday marks a seasonal milestone. Longer days. Better moods. We’ll take it.
Source:
🔗: Cleveland’s sunsets are getting later — and Sunday brings a key milestone
🌊 Irishtown Bend Repair Complete
After years of work, the Irishtown Bend stabilization project is complete — protecting the shipping channel and opening the door for future riverfront development. A rare infrastructure win.
Source:
🔗: Port of Cleveland Completes Irishtown Bend Stabilization
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