BREAKING: for months, Ohio's SOS Larose has claimed that he wanted to expand drop boxes in Ohio counties, but that Ohio law prevented him from doing so.
Just now, all three judges in our drop box appeal agreed with us that nothing in Ohio law prevents him from adding more.
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"We agree with the trial court that the Secretary's interpretation of R.C. 3509.05 is not reasonable and that the statute neither prescribes nor prohibits ballot drop boxes at locations other than the boards of elections....
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"...If, as appellees argue, the Secretary wants to permit additional drop boxes, he has the authority to do so and nothing in this decision prohibits him from rescinding Directive 2020-16 and issuing a new directive accordingly."
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Now that the law is clarified....for the third time....as allowing more drop boxes, we call on Frank Larose to make good on his public and private commitment to add drop boxes.
There is still time to add them for the final weeks of this election.
END
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So, I ventured up to the Ohio Statehouse yesterday to testify against the terrible SAVE Act equivalent — SB153 — that is now before the Ohio Senate. Thank you to so many other democracy champions—of both parties—for speaking out
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But…most of the people gathered in the hearing room were not there to oppose SB153.
They were there to talk about another bill.
To set the scene, here’s a photo of the hearing room. Not an empty seat.
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Which is why many of us were sent to an overflow room, which amid the testimony, would burst into applause after each speaker.
One of my favorite speeches of American political history is John F. Kennedy’s Rice University speech committing to put a man on the moon.
In it, he speaks of a “decade of hope and fear” and an era of “knowledge and ignorance,” intertwined.
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Now, more than half a century later, consider the following incredible breakthroughs, all happening right now. Even more than Kennedy described in that speech.
Here is just a sampling:
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CRISPR-based technology is transforming medicine by enabling precise edits to DNA, offering cures and treatment for previously untreated genetic diseases, cancer, and viral infections.
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Yesterday, our unhinged president—who promised to end the war in Ukraine on Day 1—went on a rant blaming everyone but himself that his buddy Putin is now engaged in the most deadly drone strikes in years.
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Apparently, Zelensky defending his invaded nation (“talking the way he does”) is the equivalent as Putin’s invasion.
But far worse is that Trump wants us all to forget all the ways that he’s empowered and enabled Putin in recent months.
If Putin had a wishlist, Trump has…
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been checking off each wish one at a time:
1) Trump suspended American military aid to Ukraine, making Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian aggression and strengthening Moscow’s negotiating position.
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As DOGE, Musk and the GOP attack Medicaid, the FAA, FEMA and education, it’s a good time to remind ourselves what government actually is and can be when run by honorable people, and not the billionaire class:
“Government is more than some remote institution…
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that we read about or that is defined for us by angry partisans. And it is not to be simply dismissed as an assortment of bureaucrats.
Government is the policeman who protects your home and your family.
It is the firefighter who faces danger
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as he or she scales a ladder to enter a burning building to save lives.
Government is the public health official who seeks to warn you about contagious diseases.
Government is the meat inspector and the person who ensures that the milk your baby drinks
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It looks like Vivek has taken over the Ohio GOP in his run for Governor.
On the one hand, his candidacy is a risk to Ohio’s future, as he makes one reckless proposal after the next—doubling down on policies already
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sending our state in the wrong direction.
On the other hand, his candidacy presents Ohio with a huge opportunity…to toss off that failed direction and finally start lifting Ohio and its citizens again.
To do this, Ohio Dems will have to get it just right.
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