On this week's episode of The Narrative—recorded live at Center for Christian Virtue's (CCV) 2025 Columbus Gala—US Senators Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted join CCV President Aaron Baer on stage for a candid conversation about the future of Ohio, the importance of faith and family, and what it means to lead with conviction in challenging times.

Before the Senators take the stage, Aaron is joined by CCV Policy Director David Mahan and Communications Director Mike Andrews to dive into this week's latest news:

⚖️ The Ohio Senate passed the state budget with the notable exclusion of iGaming. The budget includes legislation that strengthens families, protects children, and restores common sense to public policy in Ohio.

🚺 Riley Gaines and Simone Biles had a cultural clash on X last week over fairness in women's sports, in response to a male playing on a high school softball team.

🚨 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) riots in Los Angeles and what they reveal about our culture's state of law, order, and truth. 

 

 

More about US Senator Bernie Moreno

Senator Bernie Moreno was born in Bogota, Colombia. He moved to the United States with his family at age five and became an American citizen at age 18. Bernie purchased his first car dealership in 2005 and grew that one dealership into one of the largest dealership groups in America, eventually employing over 1,000 Ohioans.

In 2016, Senator Moreno recognized the value and transformational potential of blockchain technology before it received mainstream attention and invested much of his volunteer time and investment dollars in the space.

Senator Moreno lives in Westlake, Ohio, with his wife, Bridget, and their four adult children.

 

More about US Senator Jon Husted

Senator Jon Husted started his life in a foster home before his loving parents, Jim and Judy, adopted him. He is the oldest of three children and was raised in northwest Ohio’s Williams County. He graduated from Montpelier High School and earned both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Dayton.

In 2000, Husted won election to the Ohio House of Representatives. He was later elected to lead the chamber as Speaker of the House from 2005 to 2009. Senator Husted served in the Ohio State Senate until becoming the secretary of state in 2011. Senator Husted's two successful terms in that role led Ohioans to elect him lieutenant governor in 2019, before being appointed to US Senator, next to Senator Moreno, in 2025.

Of all his responsibilities, Senator Husted considers being a loving husband, father, and grandfather the most important. He and his wife, Tina, raised their three children, Alex, Kylie, and Katie, in Ohio and make their home in Columbus.

 

🔊 Talk to Us

We want to hear from you! As a valued listener, your feedback is critical for us to keep The Narrative insightful, relevant, and helpful. If you have a particular guest, topic, or question you'd like us to cover, let us know! We’ll answer your questions on an “Ask Us Anything” episode later, so send in your questions now.

👉  Leave us a voicemail or text at 614-769-7077.

👉  Email us at [email protected].

To learn more about Center for Christian Virtue and to get involved, visit CCV.org.

⭐️ How are we doing?

If you've found any episode of The Narrative insightful, let us know by leaving a review or rating! It helps us to know what you're enjoying and brings the podcast to other listeners, meaning you're helping equip your neighbors to understand today's hottest cultural and political topics. So, thank you!

🔎 About The Narrative

The Narrative breaks away from the script to cut through the typical media narratives and helps you understand the root causes of today’s culture and political controversies.

Join Center for Christian Virtue (CCV) President Aaron Baer, Policy Director David Mahan, Communications Director Mike Andrews, and world-renowned experts as they dissect current issues and events from multiple angles and viewpoints, equipping you to be a critical thinker on some of the hottest topics today.

Support the show: https://www.ccv.org/donate

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.