Michael McGovern

Dayton enthusiast. President of @innovationohio, Ohio’s progressive communications and research hub

[Vivek Ramaswamy @VivekGRamaswamy]

This is obviously 100% fake, originally fabricated by a leftist blogger with mental health issues. On one hand, I really didn’t want to respond because it’s so dumb. On the other hand, it’s Exhibit A of how toxic politics works & it happens often enough that I feel some obligation to lift the curtain on how the game is played. So here goes:

I’m a Cavs fan. Love going to their games, always have, I’ve been going for decades. My wife and I bought courtside tickets for Game 4 against the Knicks, and our team got smoked. It was brutal. The two of us watched the game, face in hands, in disbelief and dejection during the second half, then peaced out right after the buzzer straight to our car (accompanied by state-provided security the entire time).

No, we did not stick around to watch the Knicks celebrate their romping. There is literally no amount of money on Earth you could have paid me to sit around and watch them collect their Eastern Conference trophy, let alone watch them parade off the court to their locker room. A sharp poke in the eye would’ve been more pleasant.

But then, a left-wing Ohio blogger with mental health issues publishes that not only did I wait until after the ceremony, but that I lingered around & tried to enter the Knicks’ locker room after the game, and told them I wanted “welcome” them to Ohio. This is nuts! He also published other vivid details. Those were also 100% nuts.

But here’s how the game is played. Ohio Democrats then repeatedly boosted the so-called “story” on social media, and the Daily Beast & others write “news” stories about it. Then hundreds of others cite the Daily Beast’s reporting and literally turn their fantasy into “truth."

It’s worth observing the incentive that political opponents would have to fabricate an anonymous “tip” to a random blogger with mental issues who has absolutely no standards for publication, then to amplify the “stories” after they’re written.

The whole thing is dumb, to be clear. But it’s dirty, it happens repeatedly, and the public is better off knowing about it. It’s why sane people rarely go into politics. Anyone who does should probably have their own head checked out (including me). My team sensibly told me to not to dignify it by commenting on it. Politically, they’re probably right. But if every leader were to follow that advice, it rewards the incentives for bad actors to lie not just about me, but about others in the future too. Call me idealistic, but I don’t think that’s how things are supposed to work.

[Innovation Ohio @innovationohio]

🚨ALERT!🚨

As Ohioans go to the polls today, they may see disingenuous new signage from #FrankLaRose that may confuse them or dissuade them from voting...unless they read the fine print. 😒

People can safely cast their #ballot with their drivers license, state ID, or passport!

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

Seems like a notable admission given that he’s running against two nobodies, including a full on white supremacist

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

Finally got my dream of swearing on the record in a niche Ohio news outlet https://t.co/rw55j9CVF8

[Columbus Dispatch @DispatchAlerts]

Ohio data centers could increase bills by $70 monthly, report finds https://t.co/guZiQsidvX

[Innovation Ohio @innovationohio]

📣 NEW TOOLKIT: AI Data Centers are Taking Over #Ohio
Find out how to inform your community about the strain of #datacenters here!
🔗https://t.co/sAgOSKzha6

[clevelanddotcom @clevelanddotcom]

In a new report, Innovation Ohio says the boom in facilities that power artificial intelligence and cloud computing could raise the average Ohio household’s electric bill by about $70 a month by 2028 if policymakers don’t step in.
https://t.co/thGxJUTaw2

[David DeWitt @DC_DeWitt]

Commentary: Vivek Ramswamy promises to eliminate Ohio income taxes without hurting core services despite the $9.8 billion budget hole. You can’t do that without hiking other taxes and fees along with cuts to schools, health care, public safety & services https://t.co/zqsJHtY0Dt

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

Oped from @goodnight4ohio and I: “Vivek Ramswamy’s plan is simple and Ohioans deserve to understand it: he’ll cut taxes for wealthy people like him, while gutting schools, cutting health care, and raising taxes on the rest of us.” https://t.co/dBlzEpD8Wn

[TiffinOhio.net @TiffinOhioNews]

Report: Ramaswamy tax plan would gut Ohio schools, Medicaid | https://t.co/PEDoZFjBYH

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

New from @innovationohio:

@VivekGRamaswamy’s tax plan would:

- Cut funding for public schools
- Slash Medicaid
- Risk defunding local police and fire departments
- Cut taxes for the wealthy while raising taxes for most Ohioans. 

Full report here:
https://t.co/IloQzxIs4g

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

Coming off a long Twitter hiatus with some professional news. I’m thrilled to be retuning to @innovationohio in January! 2026 is a huge opportunity for progressives in Ohio and I’m excited to jump into the work!

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

Who says local news is dying?

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

👀

[Plunderbund @plunderbund]

Charlotte McGuire, the insane GOP nominee running in the 6th senate district (Dayton) says project 2025 "should be considered"

[Anna Scholl @Acscholl]

Young voters and voters of color are critical to putting Kamala Harris in the White House--and our program investments have to reflect that reality. Let's close these gaps and go win this thing!

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

New memo from our team at @ProgressNow and @prioritiesUSA:

“Without an immediate investment in communication to these groups that is commensurate with their power in the electorate, electing Harris in November will become harder.” https://t.co/B0ySHPDmRN

[ProgressNow @ProgressNow]

With 41 days to go, we're sounding the 🚨! We can win this election, but not without investment in culturally competent, digital-first communication with young voters and voters of color. Read more in the NYT: https://t.co/0A6tmmqpDN

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

Evergreen

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

Very excited for this: on Sunday night folks from Springfield will be holding a national call to push back against the threats their community is facing and call for unity in the face of hate and division.

Hope you’ll join us: https://t.co/8xIEhRDuIV

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

Thankfully, folks are seeing them for who they are and aren't buying the BS. We're coming together to say #OHNoYouDont to their lies to make sure we defeat them this November and make Ohio a a place where every family has the freedom to thrive.

[Michael McGovern @mdmcgovern]

Anyone who knows me knows how much I love Ohio, especially this corner of the state. Whether we're lifelong residents or newcomers, most Ohioans want a state that is growing and thriving. But politicians like @JDVance and @berniemoreno are stoking hate and violence in Springfield