Politics
The races, the candidates, and the decisions shaping who runs Columbus and Ohio.
40 episodes
Candidate Representative Allison Russo
This is the second of two conversations I recorded with the Democratic candidates for Ohio Secretary of State. If you caught the first one with Dr. Bryan Hambley, welcome back. If not, it’s worth…
Candidate Dr. Bryan Hambley
The 2026 statewide races are officially underway in Ohio, and I sat down with both Democratic candidates for Secretary of State. Today you’re hearing the first of those two conversations.
The Ohio Democratic Primary for Secretary of State
With petitions filed and the 2026 statewide races now officially underway, a lot of the attention is on the governor’s race — and understandably so — but there’s a primary happening further down the…
Who’s Running for Ohio Governor?
With petitions filed and the 2026 statewide races officially underway, Ohio’s political landscape is beginning to take shape. The governor’s race is already drawing national attention, with former…
City Council Candidate Tiara Ross
What does it take to ensure that Columbus grows in a way that benefits everyone? That question is at the heart of this week’s episode of The Confluence Cast , featuring Tiara Ross, candidate for…
City Council Candidate Jesse Vogel
As Columbus continues to grow, so do the questions about who the city truly works for and how well its leaders are listening.
The Politics and Promise of a Growing Region
Regional planning isn’t just about roads and rails. It’s about building the future of a place, one decision, one partnership, and one policy at a time. In this week’s episode, we sat down with Joe…
City Data Breach
In July, the City of Columbus experienced a massive data breach, which officials at the time referred to as “some type of incident.” Months later, the scope, damage, and cost of the incident are…
Columbus’ Youngest Elected Official, Brandon Simmons
Big cities have big city problems. Columbus’s newest school board member argues that the inequity of our schools shows that we certainly are a big city. Brandon Simmons, also the youngest school…
Candidate Andrew Ginther
Mayor Andrew Ginther is ready for round three. After serving the city of Columbus from the top political position for the past eight years, he’s ready for four more. In today’s interview, Ginther…
Candidate Joe Motil
Joe Motil wants your support to become the 54th mayor of the 14th largest city in America. And he’s going door-to-door and person-to-person in a grassroots effort to ask for that support. In today’s…
Candidate Lourdes Barroso de Padilla
When Lourdes Barroso de Padilla first won her seat on Columbus City Council in 2021, she was the first Latina to serve in the role — a role that she plans to continue as she runs unopposed for…
Candidate Shayla Favor
Under the new City Council district system, District Seven encompasses Downtown, The Short North, German Village, Olde Towne East, Franklinton, Fifth by Northwest, and everything in between.…
Candidate Melissa Green
Despite the challenges that the city faces, Melissa Green, council candidate for District Six, remains optimistic about the future of Columbus. In today’s interview, Green talks about her background…
Candidate Nick Bankston
Nick Bankston, incumbent candidate for Columbus City Council District Five, discusses what brought him to public service, how he thinks about policy changes, and the importance of tax incentives for…
Candidate Farxaan Jeyte
Today, Farxaan Jeyte, candidate for Columbus City Council District Five, discusses his background, how he believes council can help better the city’s distressed neighborhoods, and the value of having…
Candidate Emmanuel Remy
Today, Emmanuel Remy, incumbent and candidate for Columbus City Council District Four, discusses his work as a neighborhood advocate, the importance of a diverse council, and the appointment process…
Candidate Adrienne Hood
Perhaps no candidate running for City Council this November is better suited to talk about safety, crime and police reform in Columbus than Adrienne Hood. Her son Henry Green was shot and killed by…
Candidate Rob Dorans
In today’s interview, Rob Dorans, unopposed city council candidate for District Three, discusses zoning, workforce training, and how to help the city continue to grow.
Candidate Luis Gil
Luis Gil, candidate for District Two, is the only candidate running this November for a seat on Columbus City Council that identifies as a Republican. And while the race is nonpartisan, that…
Candidate Nancy Day-Achauer
Nancy Day-Achauer, candidate for District Two, discusses her background, why zoning updates are key to Columbus’s future, and how neighborhoods can fill gaps in social safety nets.
Candidate Christopher Wyche
In today’s interview, Christopher Wyche, an unopposed candidate for District One, discusses his background, the issues that he believes face Columbus going forward, and why he is running for office.
Candidate Shannon Hardin
In the first interview among Columbus candidates for fall 2024, Council President Shannon Hardin sat down to discuss the state of council today, what successes and regrets he is reflecting on, and…
2023 Columbus Candidates
In anticipation of this fall’s election, the Confluence Cast is endeavoring to introduce Columbus voters to the twelve council and two mayoral candidates, in their own words. As an introduction, I…
Columbus City Council Residential Districts
Five years after approving a restructuring of Columbus City Council, voters this fall will see an expanded council where members reside in geographic districts but one that remains largely the same…
Eastland Mall
Eastland Mall, once a thriving hub of retail activity in Columbus, has closed its doors for good. Historian Doug Motz takes a look back at the history of the mall and examines its impact on the local…
The Ohio Midterm Election
At the risk of sounding like a broken record that you’ve heard before: Voting is important. On the occasion of next week’s midterm election, David DeWitt, the editor-in-chief of the Ohio Capital…
Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley
The role of our elected officials is largely known to us. That is less true for our county commissioners. Franklin County Commissioner Erica Crawley joins the Confluence Cast this week to discuss…
Council President Shannon Hardin
As a growing city, we have growing city problems. No one knows that better than Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin. With the influx of new residents and new jobs, President Hardin…
Upper Arlington
Communities around Central Ohio are facing rapid change. That’s apparent in Upper Arlington where Steve Schoeny serves as City Manager. In this week’s episode, we discussed the role of a city…
Matter News
What makes news in Columbus? From gentrification to policing to protests, Matter News is approaching issues with an approach meant to build trust while avoiding bias. In this week’s episode, Matter…
Ohio Capital Journal
How should news outlets negotiate the changing digital landscape? David Dewitt, the editor of the newly-launch Ohio Capital Journal, sat down to discuss their nonprofit news model, the importance of…
Governor Ted Strickland
Is Ohio woke enough? Why aren’t we a swing state anymore? What’s it going to take to turn things around before the 2020 election? These questions and more were addressed by former Governor Ted…
Development in Reynoldsburg
The City of Reynoldsburg is in for some big changes in the coming years. How they go about that change and get buy-in from their residents is key to their success. Reporter Brent Warren sat down with…
Streetlight Guild & Scott Woods
Who should be taking ownership over the uniqueness that is Columbus culture? Scott Woods has some ideas about that and how we should be defining it. Among his many hats (poet, organizer, journalist,…
Ohio v. the World
Ohio’s place in history is often relegated to a few events or trivial facts. Local attorney Alex Hastie and his podcast, Ohio v. the World, are seeking to change that. With in-depth interviews on…
The Matriots
Elected officials should reflect their constituencies. That’s the essential thesis of the Matriots, an Ohio nonpartisan political action committee founded by a group of women who participated in the…
Save the Crew
In the fall of 2017, the owner of the Columbus Crew SC announced their intention to move to Austin, Texas. Almost immediately, a grassroots movement was born; aptly named, Save the Crew. Since then,…
Irvine for Ohio
Sometimes comedians make the best politicians. I sat down with Travis Irvine, Ohio’s libertarian gubernatorial candidate, for a live interview at the Columbus Podcast Festival, to talk about his rich…
Fall 2016 Local Election Preview
Get a breakdown of the local election issues and candidates before going to the polls.
