crookedrivercast

Crooked River Cast Show 37

🎙️ Turkeys, Term Limits & Tighter Pants – Ohio News Gets Spicy

After a long Thanksgiving weekend of too-tight waistbands and overpriced Christmas trees, Robert and Tom jump straight into another busy week across Ohio and D.C., from a tragic National Guard attack to the DOJ’s “we’re totally not spying on you” antics, to Cleveland’s usual politics, the guys break it all down with punchlines, clips, and rants.

Let’s jump in. 👇

🔫 National Guard Attack in D.C.

A heartbreaking start: a National Guard member was killed in an attack in D.C. The guys open the show by acknowledging the tragedy and the human cost behind headlines. No politics, no spin — just a moment of real-world seriousness.

Source:
🔗: National Guard member dies after DC attack, President Trump says

🦃 Turkey Pardons… Just Not the Human Kind

Trump makes jokes at the turkey pardoning ceremony but still throws shade at enemies, real and some that believe they are imagined. The guys react accordingly to the clip!

Source:
🔗: Trump spares turkeys — but not his political opponents — at annual pardoning ceremony

📉 Georgia Drops Election Interference Case

The last of Trump’s major “political enemy” cases falls away. Robert and Tom unpack why this matters and what happens now that these prosecutions have fizzled.

Source:
🔗: The Georgia election interference case against Trump and others has been dropped

👀 DOJ Spying on Jim Jordan & Others

The guys go hard on this one — and realistically, who wouldn’t? Secretly grabbing phone data from lawmakers for 2.5 years under the Biden administration? Even Cleveland.com called it “out of control.” Tom stresses that most people have no idea why Trump targets certain officials… and this is exactly the context.

Sources:
🔗: [LISTEN] ‘If they can do that to us, think what they can do to all Americans’: Jordan Blasts DOJ Spying Expedition
🔗: Justice Dept’s secret grab of Jim Jordan phone records shows government ‘out of control’

👋 Shout-out to the Webmaster (Hey, That’s Me!)

When the guys got into voter ID clarification and proof-of-citizenship requirements, they gave me a shout-out for correcting the record. Thanks, boys, much appreciated!

Tom claims he never makes mistakes. Uh-huh. Sure, buddy. 😄

🐀 CRITTER CORNER

🕰️ Ohio Legislature Wants… Term Limits?!

Ohio is calling for federal term limits. The guys say “wait for it…” and then dig into the irony: lawmakers asking to limit themselves. We’ll believe it when we see it. The link below is not the one the boys referenced, which is actually: Ohio resolution calls for federal term limits | Ohio | theohiopressnetwork.com, however if you don’t have a subscription, you cannot read this, so let’s go to “Just the News.”

Source:
🔗: Ohio resolution calls for federal term limits

🕶️ Ohio Supreme Court: Police Can Hide Their Identities

Under Marsy’s Law, police officers involved in cases can now redact their names. Robert asks, “Why is this needed and what’s next?” Less transparency = more shenanigans, don’t you think?

Source:
🔗: Ohio Supreme Court rules police officer identities can be hidden from public under Marsy’s Law

🏈 Student Athlete NIL Shake-Up

Ohio high schools voted yes on student NIL deals. The GOP almost immediately said: “Wait just a minute…” (Clip included in the show.) The whiplash is real.

Sources:
🔗: Ohio high schools vote to allow student athletes to strike NIL deals, ending lawsuit
🔗: Ohio GOP lawmakers moves to ban Name, Image, and Likeness bendfits for high school athletes: This comes a day after OHSAA allows for NIL deals…

❤️ New Bill: Mandatory Heart Screenings for Student Athletes

A bipartisan push that actually sounds sensible: ensuring young athletes get heart checks. No jokes here — feels like a win? Not really. House Bill 437 would require student athletes to get screenings for heart conditions during physicals, for asymptomatic patients and conditions that may not be detected in screenings, which is why CPR training and having AEDs nearby would still be essential. These tests can lead to further risks or symptoms to trigger further testing with a specialist…..

Source:
🔗: New Ohio bill requires cardiac screenings for student athletes

🗳️ Recounts Coming in Cuyahoga County

Five races in recount territory — and in one of them, the socialist wins! (Cue the clip from the show.) Tanmay Shah takes Cleveland’s Ward 12.

Sources:
🔗: Five Cuyahoga County races headed to recount, including close Cleveland City Council contest
🔗: ‘A lot of excitement’: Tanmay Shah wins Cleveland City Council Ward 12 seat after Danny Kelly concedes

🏟️ Cleveland City Council Fumbles the Browns Settlement

Leave it to Cleveland to take a football issue and fumble that, too. Council is wrestling over settlement money with the Browns, because nothing is ever simple.

Source:
🔗: Cleveland City Council Wrestles With Browns Settlement Deal, With Lakefront Money at Stake

🚢 Great Lakes Cruise Line Says “No Thanks” to Cleveland

American Cruise Lines is dropping Cleveland from its 2026 itineraries due to docking issues. Ouch. Another L for the lakefront.

Source:
🔗: American Cruise Lines removes Cleveland from stops on its 2026 Great Lakes voyages

✨ GOOD THINGS!

Because we all need a break.

🏃‍♂️ Tim Ryan Not Running for Governor

Is this good? Bad? Depends on who you ask. But with Amy Acton as the only prominent Dem in the lane, the guys say: “Yeesh.”

Source:
🔗: Tim Ryan opts to stay out of Ohio’s 2026 race for governor

🛍️ Hyper-Local Markets Bringing Small Biz Together

Small businesses teaming up in Mentor Mall to reinvent local retail. Very cool story and very Ohio. Let’s bring indoor malls back, please, it’s snowing here, ya know?

Source:
🔗: ‘Re-defining retail’: Small businesses team up for hyper-local market, share the wealth inside Mentor mall

🎄 New Christmas Song from Cleveland’s Anita Keys

A little new Christmas music never hurts — except maybe your wallet after buying that overpriced tree (right, Robert?).

Source:
🔗: anitakeys Releases New Christmas Song

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Crooked River Cast Show 36

🔥 Epstein Fallout, Ohio Drama, & Holiday Laughs: Your Weekly Buckeye Breakdown

Robert and Tom kick off Show #36 with a full breakdown of their night at the Mammoth concert — the sound, the energy, the crowd, and everything they loved (and didn’t). From there, the show takes a wholesome turn with a significant proud dad moment: Robert shares how his 15-year-old daughter wanted to give a school speech on the SNAP program and not only that — she’s now joined the debate club and dove straight into the topic of the electoral college, questioning how it works and why, after 250 years, there STILL might be a better way. Proud dad energy was off the charts, and the guys ride that warm moment straight into this week’s political madness.

Show #36, and this week’s episode is loaded: the Epstein list fallout continues, healthcare subsidies are vanishing, Ohio lawmakers are doing Ohio-lawmakers’ things, and we even learn what happens when the BMV says your license plate is “too gay.” Plus — laughs, lighter stories, and a few Thanksgiving warm fuzzies. Let’s get into it.

🧨 Epstein List Fallout— “Something Isn’t Adding Up…”

Robert launches into the Epstein segment with his suspicion meter fully pegged. This sudden “list release” and all the connected headlines? It smells off. The timing feels way too convenient and, as he puts it, “like a trap.” Tom agrees — when something this big resurfaces out of nowhere, right before major political moments, it’s almost never by accident.

Robert also brings up a detail strangely absent from most mainstream reporting: Rep. Stacey Plaskett (D–USVI) has a documented history of receiving donations from Jeffrey Epstein. Somehow, nobody wants to talk about that part of the story.

To illustrate how bizarre this whole moment feels, Robert plays a clip from Liberal Hivemind, where the creator breaks down how even some on the left are raising eyebrows. He points to Cenk Uygur (TYT) reacting in real time to revelations during the hearings, and the quote is jaw-dropping:

“I’m on the left. I’m a Democrat. But what the hell was that? That was crazy.
So he’s apparently got these Congress people on speed dial…
He’s watching the entire hearings and texting people different directions.
Did anybody know that Epstein was running our government?”

That’s not coming from a “right-wing source.” That’s coming from TYT territory, which only adds fuel to Robert’s suspicion: why is all this coming out now, and who benefits from this sudden transparency?

The conversation then shifts to the newest person distancing himself from the Epstein fallout: Larry Summers, former Harvard president and longtime political fixture. Summers has announced he is stepping back from multiple public commitments in what he calls a “broader effort” amid renewed scrutiny.

“While continuing to fulfill my teaching obligations, I will be stepping back from public commitments as one part of my broader effort.”

The guys point out: this isn’t a random bureaucrat. Summers is a major player. And stepping away from high-profile roles right at this moment? Combined with everything else surfacing, it raises more questions than answers. Meanwhile, this story still keeps detonating as more information is released.

Sources:
▶️ YouTube: The TYT just realized how BAD the Epstein drop is for them… LOL

🔗: Larry Summers Steps Back From Another Major Role Amid Epstein Backlash

🥫 SNAP Check-In With Diane

We circle back with Diane as Ohio families continue feeling the aftershocks of the 43-day shutdown. The guys revisit who Diane Howard is. Robert looked into Diane Howard after hearing her comments about Ohioans losing $63 in food assistance. According to the Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), Commissioner Diane Howard serves on the Ohio City Incorporated Board of Trustees. So basically, she is an activist?

Sources:

🔗: CMHA – Diane Howard Profile
🔗: You asked, so we’re checking in with Diane

💸 Healthcare Subsidies Set to Expire

Tom and Robert break down what the expiration of federal healthcare subsidies could mean for everyday Ohioans. Premiums across Northeast Ohio are already creeping up, and without congressional action, families could see even bigger jumps.

The guys highlight how this ties into Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s recent vote against ending the government shutdown—she says the bill wasn’t good enough for working families, even though it included $3 million for her district. Robert and Tom question whether political strategy is overtaking practical help at a time when people are already stretched thin.

Robert questions whether political maneuvering is taking priority over Ohioans’ well-being. Tom adds that if subsidies expire, many families could see hundreds of dollars more per month in healthcare costs, at a time when inflation remains high. Why is it that whenever the government gets involved, the price rises?

Sources:

🔗: Northeast Ohioans face sharp health insurance hikes as federal subsidies expire

🔗: U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur votes against ending government shutdown, $3 million for her district

🐀 CRITTER CORNER

(Robert brought it back — and we’re thrilled.)

📜 Catch-All Budget Bill Passes

Ohio lawmakers approve a “do-everything-at-once” bill meant to patch budget issues… and also jam in a bunch of extras, because of course they did. Can you say Omni Bus?

Source:
🔗:Ohio lawmakers ok catch-all budget correction bill, though not without complaints

🛸 New Rules for Police Drones

Lawmakers are working on regulating drones used by police with House Bill 251, sponsored by Rep. Bernard Willis (R-Springfield)- the bill was passed by the House of Representatives and sent to the Senate for consideration. Privacy watchers are keeping receipts.

Source:
🔗:Ohio lawmakers look to regulate use of drones by law enforcement

🐝 Laugh Break: How to Talk to Your Racist MAGA Uncle

Thanksgiving is coming… and so is Uncle Red Hat. Robert and Tom share a comedic survival guide via the The Babylon Bee

Source:
▶️ YouTube: How to Talk to Your Racist MAGA Uncle This Thanksgiving

🏠 Property Tax Chaos Continues

Lawmakers are pushing new tax‑control measures while local auditors brace for major shifts. Youngstown is one of the first to signal big changes, and the ripple effects could reach homeowners across the state.

Sources:

🔗:OH Political News — Property tax chaos continues

🔗: DeWine expected to sign bill giving auditors tax control

🔗: Auditor says new legislation will change property taxes in Youngstown

🌿 The GOP Is Still Messing With Marijuana

Ohio lawmakers continue tinkering with marijuana and hemp policy. Some compromises are floating, but nothing changes immediately.

Sources:
🔗: Ohio Lawmakers burn Hemp, but protect marijuana policy

🔗:Ohio lawmakers my compromise on Marijuana, hemp policy bu no changes to take efffect soon

💉 Hep B Vax Removal for Pre-K?

A new Ohio bill proposes removing Hepatitis B from required preschool vaccines and promoting broader exemptions.

Source:
🔗:Ohio Bill Would Remove Hep B From Required Preschool Vaccines

💰 Did NEO Really Reject New Taxes?

School levies failed across Northeast Ohio — but the bigger question is why. Tom and Robert dig into what voters may actually be signaling.

Source:
🔗:Ohioans refuse to pay more taxes, as school levies fail

🏗️ Lorain vs. the Mega Site

Residents are pushing back against a major industrial “mega site” project — from zoning disputes to concerns about land near the county airport.

Sources:
🔗: Residents push back against proposed ‘mega site’ in Lorain County

🔗: Controversy continues over land near Lorain County Airport

🏳️‍🌈 Your License Plate Is GAY!

A Lakewood man finally celebrates after the state reversed a decade-old denial for his “GAY” vanity plate — and he couldn’t be happier.

Source:
🔗:Lakewood man revels in receiving previously rejected ‘GAY’ license plate

🌟 GOOD THINGS (Because we all need some.)

🧡 Bernie Update

Bernie Kosar continues to recover, and his donor’s mother gives an emotional update.

Source:
🔗:I-TEAM: Mother of liver donor speaks out, Bernie Kosar continues to recover

For more Information on the event 🔗: Lebanon Area Chamber Ohio

🐴 Ohio’s Biggest Horse-Drawn Carriage Parade

Coming next month — an old-fashioned holiday classic.

Source:
🔗:Ohio’s largest horse-drawn carriage parade happening next month

🍪 Gingerbread Competition Time!

The Cleveland Botanical Garden reveals plans for its 2025 gingerbread showdown.

Source:
🔗:Cleveland Botanical Garden plans for 2025 Gingerbread Competition

🦃 Happy Thanksgiving!

Robert and Tom share what they’re thankful for — and want to know what YOU’RE thankful for.

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Crooked River Cast Show 35

🔥 Shutdown Fallout, Ballot Battles, Cleveland Shake-Ups & The Horses of North Ridgeville🐎

Robert and Tom kick off this week’s show with a little life update before the headlines hit. Robert’s just back from a work trip to Kentucky — complete with some very respectable bourbon tasting. Check out Justin’s House of Bourbon — while Tom is nursing the aftermath of an unplanned meeting with the ground (and gravity definitely won).

Before diving into the news, Robert throws a question to the listeners:

“What kind of music would you introduce to an 11–15 year old? Suggestions welcome!”

With that, the guys roll straight into another stacked lineup of Ohio stories, political curveballs, and a couple of moments that will make you shake your head and laugh out loud. Let’s get on with it.

🧾 Shutdown Ends — But What About SNAP Money?

The 43-day federal shutdown is finally over, and SNAP benefits are flowing again — but Ohio families are asking what happens next.

Here’s the quick Google breakdown the guys walk through:

  • Restored Benefits: Ohio has federal guidance to restore full November SNAP payments. Households who only received partial benefits will get the rest, and those who received nothing will be made whole.
  • Federal Reimbursement: The new funding bill includes $107.5B for SNAP nationwide, restores reserve funds, and guarantees support through September 2026. Stability returns for Ohio’s 1.4 million recipients.
  • Congressional Pay Politics: The bill also guarantees back pay for federal workers and secures congressional salaries — which, yes, stay untouched during shutdowns under federal law.

And with that crisis wrapped (for now), Robert and Tom pivot into the rest of Ohio’s political circus.

💸 “Free Money for All”… Well, Almost

The buzz around Trump’s $2K “tariff check” proposal continues. Tom and Robert unpack what it really means, who qualifies, and whether Ohioans should expect a surprise deposit — or just political fireworks.

Source:
🔗:What to know about Trump’s $2K tariff check proposal

🏳️‍🌈 SCOTUS Declines Gay Marriage Case

The Supreme Court is sitting this one out. By refusing to revisit same-sex marriage, they’ve stirred up the alphabet-mafia petition crowd — and Ohio grassroots groups are already reacting.

Sources:
🔗:Supreme Court declines to revisit gay marriage decision
🔗:Ohio grassroots group leader ‘breathing a little bit easier’ after SCOTUS same-sex marriage decision

🗳️ Absentee Ballot Bill — A Tightening of the Rules

Ohio’s Senate approved a bill requiring absentee ballots to arrive by Election Day rather than just be postmarked. That shift could’ve tossed out over 3,000 Cuyahoga County ballots last cycle — a stat that made the guys sit up straight.

Sources:
🔗:Republican senators approve bill requiring Ohio absentee ballots arrive by election day
🔗:3,000 Cuyahoga County ballots would have been thrown out if this Ohio bill was law

⚖️ Voter Fraud Cases → DOJ?

Ohio’s Secretary of State is shipping voter-fraud allegations to the Trump DOJ. The guys ask: Is this due diligence or political theater, there is evidence, right? Either way, the investigations are officially federal.

Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose sent 1,000+ alleged voter fraud cases to the U.S. Justice Department, though past reviews found most claims baseless. Only 167 cases of noncitizens voting occurred over eight years—just 0.0006% of ballots. Critics call the move political “forum shopping,” noting state prosecutors largely declined to act. Experts warn LaRose’s push for federal involvement contradicts his past stance against federal oversight and raises concerns about using stale evidence for partisan goals.

To recap regarding presenting documents at the BMV:
Yes, you are required to provide proof of U.S. citizenship or present your Green Card. Once your license is issued, this status is documented. Ohio has implemented a system where, if the license holder is a non-citizen, a small notation appears on the back of the license. This allows poll workers to verify eligibility when checking ID at the polls. And yes, poll workers need to be checking all valid identifications. Link

Source:
🔗:Ohio Secretary of State Sends Voter Fraud Allegations to Trump Justice Department

💼 Income Tax Reciprocity Gets a Shakeup

A new Ohio bill would give workers more control over tax reciprocity credits — especially cross-border commuters. Tom and Robert break down how it affects anyone who lives in one state and works in another.

Source:
🔗:New Ohio House Bill 503 would give earners more power over income tax reciprocity credits

🏘️ Taxing Land Value — A Big Constitutional Swing

Ohio Republicans want to amend the constitution to allow land-value taxation. It’s bold, it’s unusual, and the hosts unpack whether this is a tax revolution or a headache in the making.

Source:
🔗:Taxing land values? Ohio Republican introduces constitutional amendment

👮 Moreno Wants Federal Oversight Update

Senator Moreno is pressing for answers on whether Cleveland’s police department is nearing the end of federal oversight. The guys weigh the politics against the policing realities.

Source:
🔗:I-Team: Senator wants update on possible end to federal oversight of Cleveland police

🚫 Canton Bans Public Comment

Canton City Council shut off the mic — literally. Public comment is banned, and residents are not taking it quietly. Tom and Robert dig into the community’s loud response to being silenced.

Source:
🔗:‘Disappointed, but not surprised’: Canton community reacts to city council’s public comment ban

🏫 Cleveland Schools Closing 29 Buildings

Cleveland is bracing for its biggest school shakeup in decades: 29 buildings closing, 18 emptied out. Parents, staff, and neighborhoods are scrambling — and the guys break down the what and why.

Sources:
🔗:‘Gobsmacked’: Cleveland braces for school district’s biggest school shakeup in decades
🔗:Cleveland’s school district plans to empty out 18 of its buildings. Remaking them could be tricky

⚰️ Living Among the Dead — Cemetery Encampment

Cleveland officials are searching for answers after discovering a homeless encampment inside a cemetery. The guys talk about how this reflects broader struggles in the city.

Source:
🔗:City of Cleveland looking for answers to cemetery homeless encampment

🏳️‍🌈🧥 CLAW… Oh Boy.

Cleveland’s annual leather weekend, CLAW, returns — and not everyone is thrilled. Feelings range from betrayal to hope as the event navigates new cultural tension. Tom and Robert… had thoughts.

Source:
🔗:Amidst Feelings of Betrayal and Hope, Cleveland’s Leather Annual Weekend (CLAW) Leaves Its Namesake City

🌟 GOOD THINGS

🐎 Runaway Horses in North Ridgeville

Four horses sprinting full speed down Center Ridge Road — and the North Ridgeville police handled it like a live episode of Yellowstone: Ohio Edition. A chaotic but surprisingly wholesome moment.

Source:
🔗:Video | North Ridgeville police wrangle 4 horses running down Center Ridge Road

🏈 Bernie Kosar Updates — Hanging Tough

After undergoing a fifth aggressive procedure related to his liver condition, Bernie Kosar is reportedly stable and OK. Browns fans across the state exhaled at once.

Source:
🔗:Cleveland Browns legend Bernie Kosar undergoes 5th ‘aggressive procedure’ while awaiting liver transplant

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