The "Smither-vent" - Episode 136 - The Price of Theetge
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This episode of 'The Smither-vent' – Episode 136 of Brian Thomas's podcast – centers on a deep dive into the controversial firing of Cincinnati Police Chief DG Fiji, analyzed through a conversation with former city vice mayor Christopher Smithman. The discussion reveals a pattern of behind-the-scenes decision-making involving the mayor, city manager, and council members, particularly Councilmember Scotty Johnson and Irish Rowley, who allegedly blocked the use of Governor DeWine’s offered resources for public safety. Smithman argues that the lack of transparency and public accountability in the firing process undermines democratic governance, calling for a charter amendment to require council approval for police and fire chief appointments. The episode also features multiple podcast promos, including 'The Clifford Show,' 'Learn the Hard Way,' 'Look Back At It,' 'Love Trapped,' and 'The Girlfriends,' each highlighting themes of truth, mental health, and social accountability. A recurring motif is the tension between public safety, political maneuvering, and the need for institutional transparency.
The firing of Cincinnati Police Chief DG Fiji was marked by a lack of transparency, with key decisions made in private meetings without public oversight.
Councilmember Scotty Johnson and Irish Rowley allegedly blocked the use of state-provided police resources, raising concerns about unqualified individuals influencing public safety decisions.
A petition is being circulated to amend the city charter, requiring council approval for police and fire chief appointments to increase accountability.
The city’s $100K expenditure on two law firms to justify the firing yielded no actionable findings, highlighting wasted taxpayer funds and poor governance.
The upcoming lawsuit will likely lead to discovery of emails, texts, and depositions, potentially exposing improper communications and power abuses.
…and 2 more takeaways available in PodZeus
Introduction and Podcast Promos
The episode opens with promotional segments for multiple podcasts including 'The Clifford Show,' 'Learn the Hard Way,' 'Look Back At It,' 'Love Trapped,' and 'The Girlfriends,' each emphasizing authenticity, truth, and social awareness.
The Fiji Firing: A Crisis of Accountability
“If I were the city manager, I would have picked the phone up. I would have called her and I would have said, this is the decision that I'm making.”
The Hidden Power Players
“The mayor was in that meeting. The mayor was in this meeting. The mayor is directing all of these things when it's the city manager's job, but he's telling you he doesn't know anything is going on.”
The Governor’s Resources and the Safety Dilemma
“We had a shooter on Fountain Square opening fire off the square and on the square last summer. Why do we have someone who has no police background in a meeting like that?”
The Petition and the Path Forward
“The petition will be ready sometime this week. Citizens who would live in the city of Cincinnati and only those who are in the city can circulate. We've got to get 7,000 good signatures.”
“The mayor was in that meeting. The mayor was in this meeting. The mayor is directing all of these things when it's the city manager's job, but he's telling you he doesn't know anything is going on.”
“We had a shooter on Fountain Square opening fire off the square and on the square last summer. Why do we have someone who has no police background in a meeting like that?”
“If I were the city manager, I would have picked the phone up. I would have called her and I would have said, this is the decision that I'm making.”
Host
Guest
Christopher Smithman
person
City of Cincinnati
organization
DG Fiji
person
Brian Thomas
person
Scotty Johnson
person
Clifford Taylor IV
person
Irish Rowley
person
Keir Gaines
person
55KRC
organization
Aftab Perval
person
FOP Pres Ken Kober - CPD facing $6.6M in cuts?
Brian Thomas • 11m • 3/31/2026
Steve Goodin - City's $29M Budget Deficit
Brian Thomas • 17m • 3/31/2026
Tom Zawistowski - WeThePeopleConvention.org
Brian Thomas • 13m • 3/31/2026
Daniel Davis Deep Dive
Brian Thomas • 12m • 3/31/2026
55KRC Tuesday Show - Ken Kober, Steve Goodin, Tom Z, Deep Dive
Brian Thomas • 2h 1m • 3/31/2026
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