- The Scarlet Letter
- Posts
- Tariffs and Drivers Ed
Are you interested in sponsoring the best local newsletter on the planet? Reply to this email to help your organization reach hundreds of thousands of engaged Columbusites.
It’s the best time of the year, Girl Scout Cookies time. Click here or the image below to put in your order.
They’re not just selling Thin Mints, they’re running businesses, mastering STEM, and making the world a better place. The least you can do? Buy some cookies. It’s for the future.
Top of Mind
Tariffs, Tolls, and Tough Luck: How Trump’s Trade War Hits Ohio
If you’ve been wondering why your grocery bill suddenly looks like a ransom note, congratulations, you’re witnessing the magic of tariffs in real time. Starting this week, President Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, plus 10% on China, are in full effect. And if you were hoping that would only affect billionaires in boardrooms, think again. Ohioans are about to pay more for everything from gas to groceries to that bottle of tequila you need just to process the news.
What’s a Tariff, and Why Should You Care?
In the simplest terms, a tariff is a tax on imports, a tax that gets passed directly to you, the consumer. Trump’s logic is that these taxes will push companies to make more stuff in the U.S. The reality? They mostly push prices higher while every country on the receiving end of these tariffs hits us back with their own. Canada and Mexico already announced retaliatory tariffs, while China has promised “necessary countermeasures,” which sounds ominous but will probably just mean more expensive iPhones and fewer cheap Amazon gadgets.
This isn’t a good example of Tariffs I just love this episode
Higher Prices at the Pump? Say It Ain’t So!
If there’s one thing Ohioans love, it’s complaining about gas prices, and thanks to these tariffs, you’ll have 30 to 70 more cents per gallon to gripe about. Canada is America’s biggest oil supplier, and a tariff on Canadian energy could hit Midwest refineries hard.
Translation: That extra-long detour around construction on 270 is about to cost you even more.
Your Car Just Got More Expensive
If you thought $50,000 for a new car was already ridiculous, buckle up. The auto industry relies heavily on Mexican and Canadian parts, we’re talking engines, seats, electronics, all the stuff that makes a car… a car. Ohio imported over $69 billion worth of vehicles from Mexico alone last year, which means a 25% tariff is basically throwing a grenade into our supply chains.
Result?
Expect car prices to jump by at least $3,000
Used cars? Yep, those will go up too
Even Ohio-built cars (looking at you, Honda Marysville) will get more expensive since their parts crisscross the border multiple times before assembly
Maybe it’s time to start biking to work. Oh wait, those probably have imported parts too.
Forget the Fancy Cheese…Even Tacos Are Getting Hit
It’s bad enough that Ohioans already have to suffer through mediocre grocery store guacamole, but now even avocados and tequila are caught in the crossfire. Mexico supplies 90% of America’s avocados and $4.6 billion worth of tequila each year. With a 25% tariff, expect to see prices spike just in time for Super Bowl parties and Cinco de Mayo.
And if you’re thinking of drowning your sorrows with some Canadian whiskey? That’s going up too.
So, Will This Bring Back Jobs?
That’s the argument, right? That these tariffs will protect American workers and bring back manufacturing jobs. The reality? Ohio’s farmers and auto workers have seen this movie before.
Last time Trump rolled out tariffs, U.S. soybean and corn exports tanked, prompting him to cut bailout checks to farmers to offset the damage. Will history repeat itself? Probably. Will those checks have his name printed on them like autographed memorabilia again? Almost certainly.
The Bottom Line: Hope You Like Paying More
Whether it’s higher gas prices, more expensive cars, or sad, overpriced guacamole, Ohioans are about to feel the impact of this trade war in ways that can’t be ignored. Trump himself admitted “Americans could feel some pain” from the tariffs. So, is it all worth the price? That depends on whether you think protecting American jobs is worth sacrificing your budget, or your Taco Tuesday.
Either way, you might want to fill up your tank, buy your groceries, and stockpile tequila now. Because nothing pairs better with economic uncertainty than a stiff drink.
Scarlet Letter Trivia
Question: How many Sister Cities does Columbus have? Find out next week what a sister city is…
A) 10
B) 2
C) 13
D) 6
License to Drive… Poorly? Ohio’s Governor Wants Adults Back in Driver’s Ed
If you thought learning to parallel park once in high school was enough, think again, Governor Mike DeWine wants all new Ohio drivers, regardless of age, to take mandatory driver’s education. That’s right, Ohio, the state where you can legally own a tiger without a permit, might soon require adults to sit through driver’s ed classes they skipped as teenagers.
What’s the Problem?
Ohio’s roads have turned into bumper car arenas, and the stats back it up. Fatal accidents increased by 26% over the last decade, and while distracted driving laws helped bring crashes down by 11.6% last year, DeWine thinks that’s not enough. His argument?
New drivers over 18 don’t have to take any training, just pass a test.
Teen drivers, who DO have to take training, are involved in fewer fatal accidents than adults.
That makes zero sense.
His logic? “We’ve got people who are just going out and driving,” DeWine said. “They somehow managed to pass a test, they keep taking it until they pass it.”
Which, to be fair, sounds a lot like how most people approach their taxes.
What’s the Current Law?
Right now, anyone under 18 in Ohio must:
✅ Take 24 hours of classroom or online instruction
✅ Complete 8 hours of behind-the-wheel training
✅ Rack up 50 hours of supervised driving (10 at night)
Meanwhile, if you wait until you’re 18 or older?
✅ Take a written test
✅ Pass a road test
✅ Done.
Fail the road test? No worries, just keep retaking it. The DMV is like a bad casino, you’ll win eventually.
So What’s the Plan?
DeWine wants to change that. He’s pushing a new law requiring driver’s education for all first-time license holders, no matter their age. That means no more shortcuts, no more skipping the basics, and possibly, no more parking lot panic attacks over maneuverability tests.
His logic isn’t totally out there, 92% of fatal crashes in Ohio involve drivers over 18. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, only 8% of fatal crashes nationwide involve drivers aged 15 to 18.
So while teenagers take the blame for reckless driving, it’s actually adults who are out there crashing into things.
The Cost Problem
Of course, there’s a catch. Driver’s ed isn’t free.
The average cost for a full course is $600
Even the abbreviated course for adults who fail their first test runs $465
So while forcing everyone into driver’s ed might make the roads safer, it also makes getting a license more expensive. And let’s be real, if someone is already waiting until adulthood to get their license, money is probably part of the reason why.
The Real Roadblock: Columbus and Beyond
Columbus already struggles to keep up with the influx of adults trying to get their first licenses.
More people over 18 are getting their licenses than teenagers.
There’s a 2 to 3 month backlog at some driving schools.
Finding instructors is harder than parallel parking on High Street.
And let’s not forget the Springfield situation. After a Haitian immigrant crashed a school bus, tensions over driving and immigration laws exploded. Now, the state is rolling out driving simulators to help new residents learn the rules of the road. It’s a well intentioned effort, but it also highlights that the issue is bigger than just requiring a few extra Classes.
So, Will This Happen?
DeWine hasn’t introduced a formal bill yet, but given his push for distracted driving laws, he’s serious about making it happen.
Will it make the roads safer? Probably.
Will it make getting a license more annoying? Definitely.
Will Ohioans take this well? Let’s just say people aren’t exactly thrilled when the government tells them what to do.
At the end of the day, mandatory driver’s ed might be the road to fewer crashes, or just another expensive detour. Either way, if you don’t have your license yet, you might want to get it before the rules change.
Break out the sequins and platform shoes, Downtown Disco is back, and it’s bigger than ever! Since its debut in 2022, this iconic Columbus event has sold out for three consecutive years, drawing 950 groovy guests each time. The 2025 Downtown Disco at The Bluestone promises another unforgettable night of glitter, dancing, and all around good vibes.
Event founder Chuck Mulé captures the magic:
"It’s a multi-generational bash where everyone—from college students to baby boomers dresses to impress and recreates the disco era. The energy is unmatched, and the dance floor is pure joy."
Disco is more than a genre, it’s a vibe. It’s inclusivity, self-expression, and unapologetic fun. And for one night only, Downtown Disco brings it all to Columbus, uniting a diverse crowd to party like it’s 1975.
Trivia Answer:
A) 10 Genoa, Italy Dresden, Germany, Seville, Spain, Ahmedabad, India, Odense, Denmark, Tainan, Taiwan, Hefei, China, Accra, Ghana, Curitiba, Brazil, Herzliya, Israel
peace out!
