The D.C. Takeover: Legal or Not?

Hey Common Sense Ohio listeners! Steve and Norm here, ready to break down another wild week from right here in the Buckeye State. We dove into some serious territory on this latest episode—everything from D.C. “takeovers” to what makes Ohio (and, okay, maybe Texas) great football country. Let’s hit the highlights.

First up: the “D.C. Takeover." If you’ve been following the news, you know President Trump recently invoked his rare authority to take direct control of D.C.’s police for up to 30 days. It sounds dramatic, but it's backed up by laws dating to the post-Vietnam protest era—and yes, the Constitution. We hashed out why D.C. was designed to sit outside state power, and how federal power and local rule have always had this tricky balancing act.

But here’s why it matters: This isn’t just about the drama in D.C. It’s about federalism, the intended slowness of our government, and why states’ rights—Ohio’s rights—still count. We talked about how the beauty of America is that Texas doesn’t need to look like Massachusetts, and how that diversity is actually the point.

We also detoured into the rapid decline of public safety in cities like Cincinnati and Columbus. Only two officers covering downtown during a big festival? Come on. We shared our personal stories about police non-response, how crime (and lack of basic enforcement) hurts livelihoods, and why people really are heading for the suburbs.

Of course, we couldn’t ignore sports! Big excitement: Texas vs. Ohio State, Arch Manning at the Shoe, new quarterback battles, and our evolving thoughts about traditions and what makes college football weekends in Columbus so special—no towel gimmicks needed.

Finally, a big shout-out to Ohio’s young people stepping up to serve. We noticed that military-bound grads don’t get the same spotlight as their college-bound peers—that needs to change. It’s our freedoms, after all, that make all these debates possible.

As always, Common Sense Ohio is about sorting through the noise, keeping it real, and finding a little balance in crazy times. Thanks for listening—reach out and keep the conversation going!