"As Ohio goes, so goes the nation," thus the old saying: Ohio is reputed to be a microcosm of the US. Since 1896, the majority of Ohioans voted for the presidential winner on all but three occasions. The last time the nation decided differently was in 2020 when Trump won Ohio by 8 points but lost overall. Political observers were quick to declare that Ohio was no longer a representative state, ignoring the reasons why the state currently appears solidly red. Generally, Ohio deserves our attention: America’s 7th largest economy, comparable in fact to Switzerland, holds many clues as to what is ailing the nation, as explains guest Chris Redfern.
Chris Redfern served as Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party from 2005 to 2014 and was a Member of the Ohio House of Representatives for twelve years. Nowadays, he runs an inn and winery on Lake Erie and dives into both national and state politics on his podcast "Pinot and Politics."