A. On the Ohio front:
1. The State of Ohio Republican Central Committee endorsed Vivek Ramaswamy for the Ohio 2026 Governor Race by a 60-3 vote. I have admired Ramaswamy – I read his book Woke Inc. long before he entered the national political stage – but doubts popped up for me when he expressed support for H1B visas. As an America First advocate, I support blue and white collar American workers FIRST. I am a white collar, bachelor and master degree holder, American mutt in the IT sector, so I have a vested interest in the H1B visa discussion. The H1B visa program has been chapping my ass for three decades. American businesses hire H1B visa holders because they work for less than Americans and since the company is the visa sponsor, the visa holders are compliant and not inclined to make waves if they don’t want to be sent back home. Vivek was out of DOGE lickety-split announcing his run for Ohio Governor and that made me motive suspicious. Ramaswamy was slick in his timing and did not weather the beat down Musk encountered. Vivek is smart – Harvard undergrad, Yale Law School – and he is exceptionally hard working – close to billionaire status – but I need to see and hear more from him to be convinced that he is THE guy capable of representing the common American Joe Blow here in Ohio.
Ohio GOP Formally Endorses Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor
Ohio GOP Endorses Vivek Ramaswamy for Governor
2. Signature collection has started for a referendum petition to repeal Senate Bill (SB) 1 – The Advance Higher Education Act – which was signed into law by Governor DeWine in late March. The law bans Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) courses, training, and required statements; spending on DEI initiatives or programs with the same intent; and political and ideological litmus tests in all hiring, promotions, and admissions decisions at Ohio’s state colleges and universities. This movement is being led by faculty of Youngstown State University.
Ohio Senate passes higher ed overhaul bill less than a day after eight hours of opponent testimony
What’s in SB 1, Ohio’s higher education overhaul?
Ohio voters may decide fate of controversial Senate Bill 1 in November
B. On the National Front:
1. President Trump signed an Executive Order requiring pharmaceutical companies to grant the United States most favored nation pricing. Currently, the U.S. is one of the largest consumers of pharmaceuticals yet Americans often pay three times more than individuals in other developed countries for the same drugs manufactured in the same facilities. The pharmaceutical industry has the largest lobbying budget in D.C., so we will have to stay tuned to see if any substantive changes come out of this EO anytime soon.
President Trump Signs Drug Price Executive Order
Trump: We’re Done Subsidizing Europe’s Low Drug Prices
Trump to sign executive order he says will slash drug prices by up to 80%
2. China trade deal.
‘Major Breakthrough’: Here Are the Details on the China Trade Deal
White House Announces Trade Deal With China
Art of the Deal: Trump Team Hash Out New Trade Deal With China
3. Russ Vought, current OMB Director, being named to lead DOGE when Elon Musk leaves is like the “smell of napalm in the morning.”
Trump Names Russ Vought to Replace Elon Musk as DOGE Director in Post-Elon Era
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