Midwest
Vivek Ramaswamy turns to conservative youth to shape the movement’s next phase, analyzes 2026 races
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PHOENIX – Ohio gubernatorial candidate and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy warned conservatives not to take any political races for granted, including his own, and commented on what AmericaFest means for the future of the right as it draws in thousands of voters and activists, including youth.
Ramaswamy spoke to Fox News Digital shortly after arriving at the Phoenix Convention Center Friday and said he had already met several people there who told him they were energized to join him at the conference.
“Funny enough — and I often like to do this when I travel west — I went for a hike earlier today to what’s called Camelback Mountain, and we saw tons of young people who are going to be here tonight that were getting their outdoor time, so I got to talk to a lot of them,” he said.
“I would say the mood is a combination of enthusiastic and determined, but with a sober sentimentality as well. It’s clear that a lot of these young people were, I mean, just like me and the rest of us, affected by Charlie’s death. And they’re hungry for direction.”
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Vivek Ramaswamy speaks at a campaign rally. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
Many of the young conservatives he met appeared to want to find the direction the conservative movement and TPUSA would go after Kirk’s death.
In Ohio, where he is seeking to succeed term-limited moderate Republican Mike DeWine, Ramaswamy stressed that even though Ohio has been reliably red, he isn’t taking the race for granted.
Republicans are reeling from a string of losses from Florida to Pennsylvania just weeks ago.
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“I think we’ve got to worry less about just defeating the left because we did that last year. That’s not good enough. We have to offer our own vision of what do we actually stand for,” Ramaswamy said.
“And, in Ohio, what I know I’m going to be able to deliver is two things that Ohio needs and I believe this country needs: No. 1 is to put more money back in people’s pockets,” he said. He noted that government cannot immediately rein in rising commodity costs as voters demanded in selecting President Donald Trump over Kamala Harris’ continuation of the Biden agenda.
“We can do certain things, like bring down electric bills by producing more energy. We’ll do those things. But the direct way we can help people is put more money in people’s pockets by bringing down the property tax burden, by taking the income tax rate down to zero so people are actually able to have more money to afford things, not just waiting for costs to come down,” he said.
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“And, No. 2, is preparing our young people to be useful, contributing members of the workforce with a better education system.”
Ramaswamy said the education system has failed American youth for years, through “woke indoctrination” and “victimhood psychology” is something that states should be able to fix.
“As someone who did run for president, I can tell you that a governor can make an even bigger difference than a president when it comes to education,” he said.
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“I hope we in Ohio set an example of what the other 49 states can actually aspire to.”
Looking past Trump’s term limit in 2028, Ramaswamy said the conservative movement will continue so long as it maintains its “aspirational” focus.
“That’s my message to those young people tonight, and it is a challenging message. It’s not sugar-coated. The No. 1 factor that determines whether you achieve your goals in life is actually you. That’s a tough message, but it’s the truth. JFK, who famously said, right, ‘Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.’ Now’s the moment to remember that message,” he said.
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Turning to another Kennedy, Ramaswamy, who founded biotech pharma company Roivant Sciences, was asked his view of the MAHA agenda being pursued by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Ramaswamy said MAHA has established youth health as paramount to healthy future generations.
Kennedy’s pursuit of healthier foods in schools and returning to stronger physical education standards underlies the “core thesis behind MAHA.”
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“That is, that the best way to bring down health care costs — who would have ever thought? — is actually to have a healthier population in the first place,” Ramaswamy said.
“That’s something that most Americans are behind. The ‘how’ is, of course, easier said than done, but there are commonsense state-level changes that I’m confident we can implement in Ohio that aren’t about right versus left. It’s about right versus wrong. It’s common sense, and I’m sure we’re going to be able to get those delivered quickly after I win this election.”
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Illinois
Fleeing driver hits officer, leads Bolingbrook police on chase before crashing into another car
BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (WLS) — A fleeing driver struck an officer before leading police on a south suburban chase that ended in a crash on Friday night, police said.
Bolingbrook police said it all started around 8:15 p.m. when officers approached a vehicle to arrest two people inside of it in the 1000-block of South Weber Road.
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Police said that’s when the vehicle’s driver turned toward an officer, accelerated, and struck the officer before fleeing the scene.
Officers chased the vehicle into Plainfield, where the vehicle struck another car near the intersection of West Main and Illinois streets, police said.
The two suspects were arrested and transported to a local hospital. Charges were not immediately announced.
The officer who they hit suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at a local hospital.
Paramedics treated the woman who was driving the other car on the scene.
Authorities did not immediately provide further information.
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INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Michelle Wainwright, owner of Cute as a Cupcake in Merrillville, was featured Saturday on Daybreak’s weekly Indiana Grown segment.
Michelle’s bakery recently overcame a three-day power outage caused by storms. Despite this setback, she traveled to Indianapolis to showcase her signature product.
The standout cupcakes in a jar are handcrafted and made from scratch.
They were initially created for vendor fairs and farmers markets as a portable, mess-free treat that is easy to share.
“I just needed you to taste it,” Wainwright said. “And once I get you to taste it, then I got you.”
Key features of the cupcakes in a jar include:
- Portable, mess-free design perfect for on-the-go enjoyment
- Can be refrigerated for up to 30 days
- Can be frozen for up to six months
- Once opened, should be consumed within 10 days for freshness
During the pandemic, when the physical bakery was closed, the cupcake in a jar helped keep the business afloat.
“We didn’t even realize the possibilities with having this one product,” Wainwright said.
Wainwright explained the business name reflects her mission.
“We wanted to create an environment where everyone felt welcome,” she said. “That’s why we chose the name Cute as a Cupcake. It’s simple, approachable, and for everybody.”
For Hoosiers seeking a sweet treat with local flavor, this bakery is a must-visit. Indiana State Fair in the Indiana Grown Pavilion or online at cutestacupcake3.com
By JANE NGUYEN
Guest Columnist
(Jane Nguyen is the publisher of The Asian Iowan column.)
Over the years, I have learned something about the Iowa State Fair. Either you love it or you hate it. I love it, and since moving to the Des Moines area in 1997, I’ve never missed a fair. I usually go multiple times within the 11-day span.
I wouldn’t say I’m a fair expert; more like a seasoned fairgoer.
Here are some of my tips for the fair:
I suggest going in the morning to get parking and avoid crowds. The fair opens at 8:00 am. The lines are shorter in the morning for exhibits and food.
I try to park on someone’s lawn west of the main entrance/Grand Concourse. Expect to pay about $20 in cash to park on a lawn near the entrance, and less to park farther away. The cars are secure, and you can stay as long as you want. Or there are side streets for free and pay lots for $10. There are several entrances to the fair. I have never ridden a shuttle bus, but that’s a good option, too.
Buy your gate tickets online before the fair begins to save $ 5 per ticket. Tickets can be scanned from your phone.
Order tickets in advance for attractions like the Ye Old Mill (an old-fashioned, slow-moving boat ride through a tunnel that shows the history of the fair), the giant slide, etc., to save time because you can scan your phone instead of waiting in line to buy physical tickets.
Download the Iowa State Fair app for maps, directions, daily schedules, etc.
If you get hot, check if there’s a horse show at the Jacobsen Center. Other cool buildings include the Cultural Center, Varied Industries Building, Livestock Pavilion, and the Elwell Food Center.
Most likely during the fair, it will be hot and humid from the corn sweat. It’s what we Iowans call “Iowa State Fair weather.”
My List of Must-Sees:
The Agriculture Building to see The Butter Cow, gorgeous flowers, the biggest pumpkin, etc. The Iowa Egg Council passes out free hard-boiled eggs on a stick, and you can take a free souvenir photo there too.
The Cultural Center is nice and cool, with a wonderful photography contest exhibit and other exhibits such as dollhouses, Lego, and artist demos.
There are plenty of animals to see at the south end of Rock Island Avenue, including The Biggest Boar and The Biggest Bull. You are allowed to walk through the horse stables. You can even pay $3 to milk a cow.
The Knapp Animal Learning has farm animals that will give birth during the fair, as well as a close-up view of newborn pigs and baby chicks.
If you have kids ages 2 to 10, Little Hands on the Farm is an interactive way to teach kids about farming. This was one of my two sons’ favorite things to do when they were little.
The two sky gliders are a great way to see everything if you don’t mind heights.
From 3 to 6 pm, there’s music trivia and Bingo up at the Bubbly Bar and Bistro. It’s up the hill near Grandfather’s Farm. It can be a little tricky to find. They have fun cocktails and mocktails and a stellar view of the city. The Iowa Experience Wine is also up there.
Be prepared to eat a lot. Share food with another person if you can so you don’t get too full if you want to try a lot of things. One of the most Iowa things to eat is the Pork Chop on a Stick along the east side of the Pork tent.
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The ISF app is the best way to find a particular food or drink.
There are many things to try along the way. Day drinking is allowed. The bars have live music. All 11 stages at the fair offer free entertainment during the day and evening.
Each night after the Grandstand concert is over, there are fireworks and a drone show.
What to bring:
I bring a backpack, a couple of water bottles, wet wipes, and a portable fan, because I get hot easily. Sun hats are a good idea too. Wear comfortable shoes, ones that can get muddy or dirty walking through barns.
There’s so much to see and do, and you can still enjoy the fair on a limited budget. Have fun!
(Jane Nguyen of West Des Moines is the publisher of The Asian Iowan column and a member of the Iowa Writers Collaborative. She was born in Saigon, Vietnam and is a nearly lifelong Iowan writing about people, places, and things. Jane is the sister of Iowa Mercury publisher Douglas Burns. Both grew up in the Carroll Daily Times Herald newspaper family.)
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