October 16, 2026 • 28 mins
Today on The Breakfast Club, Charles Booker on Mitch McConnell, Kentucky’s Future & The Fight For Affordable Health Care. Listen For More!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hold up.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Every day I wake up.
Speaker 3 (00:03):
Wake your ass up.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
The Breakfast Club.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
Y'all finished or y'all done? Morning, everybody.
Speaker 4 (00:07):
It's DJ Envy, Just Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha Guy. We are
The Breakfast Club. Lawler Rose is here as well. We
got a special guest in the building.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Yes, indeed.
Speaker 4 (00:15):
He's now running for the open seat that has been
vacated by Mitch McConnell. Ladies and gentlemen, Charles Booker from Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Welcome, brother.
Speaker 4 (00:22):
Thank you, my brother. How you feeling, man?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good morning. Fired up. Feeling good? Ready to make some history.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Do you think you really have a chance in Kentucky, Mitch?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, we're going to win this race because of the
years of organizing we've done. This is my third run
for U.S.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Senate, man. This is like Rocky III for me.
Speaker 5 (00:39):
Rocky III.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
And, you know, we've been telling a story about what
it looks like for regular people to come together, not
about Democrats, Republicans, independents, but all of us as family.
And working across Kentucky, speaking to the issues, I come
from the struggle. So I'm telling a story that a
lot of Kentuckians know well. And at a time when
the bottom is falling out for so many people, they're
looking for real leadership. They see it in me. And
(01:02):
people who vote for Trump are organizing with me. People
who never voted before organize it with me. And, yeah,
we're going to win this race.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Now, you just brought it up.
Speaker 6 (01:08):
You ran for Senate before, and you lost to Rand
Paul by more than 20 points, right?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (01:12):
What did Kentucky voters tell you in that election that
you didn't understand at the time?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
You know, one of the things that was really important
for me, because, again, I don't come from money. I
come from the hood, one of the poor zip codes
in Kentucky. Right. Both my parents dropped out of high school. So,
you know, stepping into this arena, which I don't trust politicians.
I don't come from this. This is about survival for me.
So I had to learn how to put a campaign together,
how to build a team.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I had the vision. We had the message. We saw
folks fired up.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
And a lot of this was born in the wake
of Breonna Taylor's murder, where a lot of people had
a wake-up call across Kentucky. Like, wait a minute, that
was my door that was knocked down.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Even white people? Yeah, man. And the hollers.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
I was marching in the streets. with folks in Appalachia,
areas that Trump won by 30 points. And so we
told that story, but then we had to learn what
it means to build at this level. And now we
battle tested, got an all-star team, and a message that
has met the moment. You know, I've been steadfast, but
now everything around us is so different. And so, yeah,
(02:15):
my pastor said this is a moment whose time has come,
and I believe it is.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
What do you think Mitch McConnell's biggest failure.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Was to you?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Mitch McConnell has been screwing us my entire life. So
I got to start there.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
This man was elected when I was two weeks old.
So he's literally been screwing us our entire life. But
here's the problem. And to be clear, Kentuckians do not
like Mitch McConnell. So don't get it confused.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Really?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
He's underwater like 80%. People can't stand him in Kentucky.
When Donald Trump said he was going to drain the swamp,
people thought of Mitch McConnell. So the biggest thing that
he has done to hurt us is that he used
his power because he started off. lifting up organized labor,
lifting up women's rights, civil rights. If you go back
in his career, he invested in Kentucky over the years,
(02:58):
but then he saw he could get rich. He saw
he could get power, and he turned his back on us.
There wouldn't be a Donald Trump if it weren't for
Mitch McConnell. There wouldn't be a gutting of the Voting
Rights Act if it wasn't for Mitch McConnell. And people
see it. And so now, because of everything that's happening
with rising gas prices, this trade war with Canada, which
is absolutely ridiculous, and then Iran, endless war after endless war,
(03:20):
And then they see who's doing it and they see
why it's happening. It's like people are waking up. Something
different is happening in Kentucky. And that's why this campaign
is picking up momentum. And that's why we're tied and
in a position to win a Senate race that a
lot of folks may not have known about.
Speaker 6 (03:35):
One reason I give you a chance is because of
what we saw happen with Andy Beshear.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Right.
Speaker 6 (03:39):
Because, you know, Kentucky has supported Republicans in federal elections.
But then Andy Beshear wins governor. What do you think
he understands about Kentucky voters that I guess national Democrats
sometimes miss?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yeah, that's the key.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
And I've worked with him the last three years in
his executive team. And we often talk about Team Kentucky.
And at the end of the day, and I'm a
type one diabetic, and I often say my insulin doesn't
care about my party registration. You know, our issues really
aren't that partisan. And by delivering and meeting the needs
of people and continuing to show up and treat people
(04:10):
like they matter. That's what we've seen in our governor.
That's what I've done throughout my career. And so that's
why we're in this position to win when you treat
people like they matter. Because folks who voted for Trump
in Kentucky, it was from a place of desperation. He
said he was going to bring jobs back. He was
going to stop the stupid wars. People really believed him.
And now the scales are falling off of folks' eyes
and they're like, now this man was BS-ing the whole time.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So this for us is a rallying cry that we
really do want to.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Drain the swamp. We really do want to end the
endless war. And we want a government that works for
us instead of people like Elon Musk.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Mm-hmm. You sleep with the do-rag on?
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Man, you know, I'm trying to keep them together. I
know going into the Senate, you tend to thin out.
So I'm trying to hold on to it.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Sorry, you can go to Turkey.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
You said what? You can go to Turkey. Now, Kentucky
is a heavy Republican state, like we said before.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Do you really honestly feel that it will change and
that they will start voting for a Democratic person or
even a black person?
Speaker 1 (05:13):
You know, I definitely, it's not about voting for party. This,
for me, is definitely bigger than that. Because, look, where
I'm from in the hood, we vote Democrat like 80,
90 percent of the time.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
You follow your grandmother, your great-grandmother.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, and we felt screwed, too.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
You know, and so I often say, whether you're Democrat, Republican, Independent,
we all being screwed. And so it isn't about party.
It really is about speaking to the people, showing up
for them, earning trust. Man, I've stood on the tracks
with coal miners. I've sat down in rooms with farmers.
in rooms of veterans where they are lifelong Republicans, Confederate
flags waving out in the yard.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I got pictures of this stuff.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
And then seeing people put Booker signs by Trump signs,
it wasn't because a party, it was because they saw
someone that cares about them, that's not BSing them, and
that is not for sale. This campaign is for them,
and that's why we're in this position.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
How difficult was it to raise money to make sure
that you can keep up with what they're doing? Because
they're backed by multi-million dollars and billion dollar companies.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Yeah, it's not easy. You know, because a lot of
people count Kentucky out. And then, you know, you might
see me as a candidate and like, well, Charles, you
know what you look like? I'm like, what do you mean, handsome?
They're like, no, you're a black man in Kentucky. You know,
so it has been a challenge, but that's where the
power of organizing comes in. You know, we lead with
mutual aid. We lead with a distributed model of organizing
(06:32):
where we lift up the voices of the people. So
we got folks fired up who have never voted before.
So I was outspent in my primary, four to one,
and won by double digits.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
The people are ready. Something different is happening in Kentucky.
But we need a little support.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
So everybody listening, go to Charles Booker, KY dot org
to help us out.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
But this really is power by the people.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
What's the criticism of Republicans? Oh, yeah.
Speaker 6 (06:54):
What's the criticism Republicans make of Democrats that you think
is actually fair?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
The corruptions.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Yeah, I mean, honestly, when you ask people across the
board in Kentucky, it's the corruption in our politics. And
that is not partisan. Republicans feel that way toward Democrats.
Democrats feel that way toward Republicans.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
That's pot and meat cattle. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It really is.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
And so I think being able to speak to it
and to say, look, I challenge Democrats and Republicans. This
really is about fighting for family. That's what I think
people are needing in politics, finding our way back to
each other. We've been in our corners where it's us
versus them, and we all being screwed, as I said.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
And so.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
By being able to call out the fact that there's
so much money in politics, regardless of party, that drowns
out the voices of regular people, Elon Musk put over
$ 10 million into the Kentucky Senate race. Donald Trump is
coming to Kentucky this weekend.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
Yeah, Barr's speaking now, right?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
That's right. They know Kentucky's in play.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
And they're trying to do everything they can. And so
saying that, look, we're not standing here to sell out
to the folks who want to put data centers in
everyone's backyards.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That's what my opponent's doing.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
He's getting the money from the telecom companies that are
putting data centers across Kentucky, ignoring the people. Everybody's tired
of that. So to me, this race is not only
for Kentucky. It's for the country. I think the world
needs to see us win a race like this. We're
showing what democracy really does look like.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
What's one thing that you heard about yourself or a
policy that you're trying to push that you know absolutely
positively is not true?
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Oh, man, they say a lot about me. I get
called a socialist at least three, four times a day.
They've been calling me the Mamdani of Kentucky. Yeah, you know,
talking about that I don't want communities to be safe.
It's like, man, I got three girls. You know, my
three bosses. I want every person in Kentucky to be safe.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
And they believe that you said you want to defund
the police.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
And I've been on the record for years talking about
how we fully fund community safety.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I've worked with law enforcement.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
I've worked with community leaders because we need everybody at
the table to address violence, to address crimes in our communities.
And so the idea that I don't want our communities
to be safe It's ridiculous. And the good thing is
people are laughing it off because they know who I
really am. They're not buying the BS that Andy Barr
is peddling.
Speaker 7 (09:10):
Going back to Trump coming to Kentucky this weekend, obviously
there is a threat. Like, you know what I mean? Like,
obviously he feels like, oh, no, I got to, you know,
kiss babies and shake hands to come down there, you know,
because he sees that the people of Kentucky, they want
what they need, you know, to take care of them
and represent the people.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
What does that look like this weekend, him coming?
Speaker 1 (09:33):
You know, first of all, I'm like, come on. You
can have a front row seat to see this movement
that's about to drain the swamp, you know, because we're
going to replace Mitch McConnell, retire his spine in Andy Barr,
and he gets to see it up close. And, you know,
it is a testament to what we've been building. They
see the writing on the wall. And it's too late
because people are tired of seeing folks protect child predators
(09:54):
and then take food away from children. They're tired of
seeing blank checks for endless war, but then saying we
can't afford to take care of our veterans. Got folks
sleeping on the streets in the wealthiest country in the world.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
They not buying it no more. And that's what I'm
lifting up in this race. This is a testament that
people are ready for real change.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Why do you think Daniel Cameron lost?
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Man, I got a lot of reasons why. But ultimately,
you know, I think he tried to play a game
that wasn't for him. he tried to move in and
hold a position where he's cosplaying, uh, as if he
can be an arbiter of white supremacy.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
I remember them photos on viral too.
Speaker 5 (10:31):
That didn't help much.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
No. And, and you know, the thing is, I went
to undergrad law school with him. He's a year behind me.
And I've seen that progression. And ultimately people don't like
folks who sell out. And then at the same time,
cause I thought he was going to win the primary, uh,
The system does what it does. Donald Trump endorsed in
the ninth inning. They sort of bossed him out. And
(10:55):
he was in a bit of a box because he's
trying to lift up policies as if he's helping working people.
But then he's supporting an administration that is ballooning our deficit,
that is sending us to war after war. And people
are like, you're not making sense, Daniel Cameron.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:13):
I feel like the issue should be class, right? If
you're a common sense, logical person in America... The issue
should be class, but I often feel like these working
class white people still look at race as the bigger
issue because they feel like their biggest threat is another
struggling American who's usually a person of color, right, instead
of the wealthy people and institutions making decisions that are screwing.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
All of us.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, no, I think you're right. And that's real. It's
still there.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
You know, the racism is absolutely still real, but I
think the opportunity here is because the bottom is falling
out in a way that people can't unsee. So, for instance,
in Kentucky, these cuts to Medicaid, my opponent Andy Barr
voted for nearly a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicaid.
This will potentially close over 30 rural hospitals in Kentucky.
(12:02):
These are in areas where they voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump.
And so they see what's happening to them, and they
know it's not Barack Obama doing it.
Speaker 6 (12:11):
Can we build a movement around economic equality without first
addressing racial inequalities?
Speaker 1 (12:18):
So you got to do both. But for me, and
that's why I founded an organization called Hood to the Holler.
And it's the spirit of the Rainbow Coalition.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Hood to the Holler. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
So the hollers, if you've never been in them, they
in the mountains. You know, this is in Appalachian, these
rural communities. And I coined the phrase because I saw
this through line of people in the hood and people
in the holler who may seem disconnected but have so
much in common. And I think that's where we are
in our politics, where we have to find our way
back to each other.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
And we're speaking to that at a time when everybody
is calling for it. They call it affordability. You know,
we've been struggling for a long time. Call it whatever
you want. We just need things to change. And my
hope is with this campaign, we can see that democracy
is still worth fighting for, that we can't ignore places
like Kentucky. You ignore a place like Kentucky to our
(13:09):
own collective detriment. This is how you get a Donald Trump.
So I'm here today with y'all, one, to tell a
story that doesn't get told often. But to say that
we're still in this fight and we flip Kentucky, we're
going to flip the U.S.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Senate.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Yeah, I just want.
Speaker 6 (13:24):
To believe the Democratic Party genuinely wants to change the
economic system. But sometimes I feel like they just want
to manage it more compassionately than Republicans do. I want
to make sure we actually get money in our pocket.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Yeah, and I think the X factor is the people.
We got to bring the accountability.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
You know, if we have elected officials that are saying
that they want to help the communities.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
We got to make sure it happens.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
But ultimately, the change won't happen unless we do it,
which is why I decided to run. And, you know,
we've inspired a lot of people who had really given
up on politics because they're like, what's the point?
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Exhausted.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Yeah, everybody's tired. And so I've seen that hope, that
spark grow in Kentucky.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
I was going to ask, how do you change that? Because,
I mean, people are exhausted politically, right? Even in Kentucky.
I mean, Mitch McConnell, people don't know if he was
dead if he was alive if he's in a wheelchair
if he can speak if he can't speak if he
can wave like they don't know so what do the
people of kentucky feel about that because i mean it
just feels like it's like weekend with bernie like you
just hold his hand up and put his hand back.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Down you think he was dead man i'll tell you
this i knew something was up well first of all
this has been like a movie for us in kentucky
and everybody's been pissed and frustrated about how this played
out because it's like look man you disappeared For over
90 days.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
What do you want me to do? I died. What
is your problem?
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Well, tell us that. Tell us I died.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Come back, let us know. But look, they wheeled him
into the chambers and he put up the peace sign.
When has Mitch McConnell ever cared about peace?
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I'm like, nah.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Nah, something's going on here. Who's in control here? And
that's the status quo that people are tired of. Where
they feel like their politicians are bought and sold. That
they don't care about us. The fact that there wasn't
even any concern enough to say, look, I don't have
the capacity to return to office. I don't think he
knows where he is right now. I call it elder abuse.
And people are just tired of that. The government should
(15:19):
work for the people. We pay for it.
Speaker 5 (15:22):
So in an instance like that, when the governor puts
out that demand for Mitch McConnell to show proof of life,
if we all know what's going on, why not just
be like, hey, we need to figure something else out
right now for this bit of term and move away? Like,
is it that they want to just keep this institution
in Kentucky of, like, white older men?
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Or, like, what is the issue?
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah, you know, this was really uncharted territory. And I
could see it playing out. I was the first in
our state to call for transparency. Like, look, I know
it's a health emergency. That's serious. That ain't partisan for me.
But if you can't do the job, you're representing people.
I was a state representative. If you can't do the job,
you need to own that. But there was recent law
changes that essentially made it difficult for the governor to respond.
(16:07):
It's like they were bills crafted specifically for Mitch McConnell
that would limit the governor's ability to appoint someone. So
they knew this was coming. And that's another part of
the corruption that people are tired of.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
It's the protection of that party, though, right?
Speaker 1 (16:21):
You know, I think in some ways, yes, but in
some ways it's trying to protect a status quo that's
slipping away.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Mm-hmm. Because that's not partisan either.
Speaker 5 (16:30):
We got your work set out for you down there.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Oh, yeah. Our hands are full, but we ready for it. Yeah,
this is yours in the making. Fired up about it.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
I've read stories about you having a rationed insulin.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (16:41):
How did those experiences change the way you see politicians
who debate health care? Like, it's just another budget issue
as opposed to a real-life experience people are going through.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Yeah, you know, I share my testimony, you know, because
I know A lot of regular people who understand that
story feel like their voices don't matter. And we talk
about these issues like they're academic.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
How do you pay for it?
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Where I'm from, when there's a need, you figure out
a way to meet that need. If there's somebody you
care for and they in trouble, you find a way
to help them. And I ration my insulin. I'm a
type 1 diabetic. I got, as I mentioned, my three bosses,
my three girls. I give my breath for them right now.
And I had enough to either get a refill or
get groceries for the week. And I did what a
(17:26):
lot of Kentuckians do. I made sure my girls had
food to eat. And being in a hospital bed, I
had diabetic ketoacidosis.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
And I'm laying there. I can't move. I can't hug
my girls.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
And I made peace because I did what I felt
I needed to do as a man and as a father.
And so when I talk about health care as a
right for everybody, it's from a real place and people
know it. Everybody deserves the same high quality health care
that Mitch McConnell's been getting. And when I say that,
everybody's like, yeah, you know what?
Speaker 2 (17:56):
You right.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
I think that's what we need in our politics. Some
people who see it, who understand it, and have the
courage to speak to it.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
And I know, you know, you talk about fighting for
working class people.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
So does Republicans.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
What specific policy separates you from Andy Barr?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Oh, man, we ain't got enough time.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
You know, so a lot of what Andy Barr has
done is essentially sell out to Wall Street. He has
used his role on financial services to pocket money. He's
become a multimillionaire while in Congress. And at the same time,
any policy that would help us, health care, infrastructure, he's
voting against it. And so people see that clearly. So
(18:39):
for me, an agenda that puts Kentucky first, it puts
the people first, that is really taking on the corruption.
You shouldn't be buying and trading stocks. As a member
of Congress, you shouldn't be there to get rich. You
should be there to work for the people. I've taken
a pledge for term limits. You shouldn't be there so
long you're getting wheeled into the chambers. And then just
common sense legislation around health care for everyone, making sure
(19:02):
that we shore up these cuts to Medicaid, giving people
the options to get the care that they need. And
then we're in the wave of AI. And in Kentucky,
we're seeing massive hyperscale data centers And look, this ain't
even really a conversation about AI. We need to have
that conversation right now. But for us, it's about being bullied.
(19:23):
These are big developments, regardless of what they're for, that
are coming into communities, ignoring them, jacking up utilities, impacting
the environment, pushing people out of their homes, impacting their
small businesses, and nobody cares. And then they're looking at
Andy Barton. It's like, well, you don't care because they're
paying you. And so by me running a campaign that's funded.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
By the people, this is grassroots.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
This is really an average contribution under $ 30. And telling
the story that we can't have people that fight for
us without a hidden agenda, like I said.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
I think we need it in our politics now more
than ever.
Speaker 6 (19:57):
I feel like the data centers are inevitable, right? But
how do you ensure some type of community kickback from
the data centers?
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Because they're coming.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Well, you know, in calling for a moratorium, It's understanding
the point that AI is here. But at the same time,
it shouldn't be left unchecked to be a weapon to
hurt people. It should be a tool to help the people.
And with any development, I did a lot of work
with developers across Kentucky, you can develop responsibly.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
You can be a good neighbor.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
And make sure that the community has sustained benefits, that
they're at the table. Don't come into someone's backyard without
talking to them.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
That's really what we're saying.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
Y'all are going to face off in a debate.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
This week.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Yeah, I hope so.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
Oh, you don't think it's going to happen?
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Because he agreed, right?
Speaker 2 (20:43):
He been ducking me.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
I know.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
So he reached out to me first. Don't laugh.
Speaker 7 (20:50):
You be a person in the little country.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
I am country. I'm from South Carolina. I got an honest.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Look, he reached out to me first asking for a debate.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
So I'm like, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
We agreed to six. Then he started backing out one
by one. And now we have one day before my birthday.
I hope he shows up because I got some things
to say to his face. But the point of the
matter is, for us, we're used to politicians avoiding us.
He's never had a town hall. They don't want to
be held accountable. They want to get rich and then
hide their hands. And that's what Republicans are tired of.
(21:20):
That's what Democrats are tired of. Independents are tired of that.
So hopefully he does show up.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
What's the question or what's the backup if you think
he doesn't want to have with you right there?
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Because he did 60 Minutes, right? Did he do 60?
I hope he did. I love for him to keep
talking so people can hear him.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
Oh, no, I'm sorry he didn't.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
I thought he did.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
I want people to hear this, man, because he put
out an ad on TV. If y'all haven't seen it,
you should watch this. Mocking people. They put money behind
an ad saying it's not a sin to be white.
It's not a sin to be a Christian.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Yes, I've heard it.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
That's the man I'm running against. That's his whole campaign.
He called DEI dumb, evil indoctrination. And shout out to
Mayor Brandon Scott, who said, nah, it's definitely earned it.
Definitely earned it. We work hard as Kentuckians. But his
whole campaign is hate, bigotry, division. And he's mocking us
because he used to be seen as a moderate Republican.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
He's cosplaying.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
And people are like, nah, we're really hurting. We can't
afford to listen to you just throw out red meat
and just call people socialists.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
We need you to work.
Speaker 6 (22:25):
I think it's a slap in the face for Republicans
to have Donald Trump. come do campaign rallies for them
right now. Because so many people across America can blatantly
see we are in this condition because of you. I
feel like the Republican Party should be looking to speak
some type of message of change as opposed to bringing
(22:47):
this guy who's got you in the situation that you're
currently in right now.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
It's literally like a slap in the face to their constituents.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Yeah, they stuck. The issue is, like with Andy Barr,
he took Trump off his website. But they've hitched themselves soon.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
But he's speaking at the campaign rally on Saturday.
Speaker 7 (23:04):
He's going to come down there and buy all these
buckets of chicken and start throwing chicken out there.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
He probably will.
Speaker 7 (23:10):
They try to win over in a couple biscuits too.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
You know, to try to get a vote.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Sorry, what?
Speaker 2 (23:15):
It's too late.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Yeah, you know, they've tied themselves to Trump and they
can't get away from it.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
But they should.
Speaker 6 (23:22):
I feel like the only way the Republican Party is
going to have a future moving forward They got to
disconnect from Trump. And same thing with Democrats. They have
to talk about how they're going to move.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
The country forward. What is the vision for America moving forward?
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Yeah, I think it's going to require new leadership on
all ends of the political spectrum. So for me, I
hope this campaign is giving Republicans more courage to step up,
to speak up, because the swamp is hurting all of us.
The corruption in Washington is hurting all of us. And
the folks who are part of the status quo are
benefiting from it. So why would they change it? And
the thing is, if you haven't lived the struggle, if
(23:57):
you haven't been on the ground, if you haven't been
in community, there's just certain things you won't see. And
we've been in their blind spot. And I'm being nice
at that because I think they do see us and
they just don't care, too.
Speaker 6 (24:09):
You know, you've talked about the problems poor white people
in Appalachia face, poor black people in Louisville.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
You say those are the same issues.
Speaker 6 (24:17):
Why have politicians been so successful at convincing those communities
that each other's problems, you know, aren't the same.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Like they don't share the same economic struggle.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Yeah, I mean, you know, it's that whole playbook of
sewing wedges, you know, stoking fear. And, of course, racism
is still there. You know, it's a foundation to a
lot of the problems that we have. And so what
I've done over the years, because I was a director
of Fish and Wildlife, you know, I've been all across
Kentucky and showing up in communities where they didn't expect
someone like me to be there and say, no, y'all
(24:48):
my family.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
I'm here for y'all.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
And I just got this honest. This is how I
was raised. Like, I'm one of over 70 grandkids. And,
you know, I come from a big family where if
you fighting one of us, you fighting all of us.
And that just informs.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Over.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
I stopped counting. It's too many of us. That's a lot.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
My grandparents' house was like the community center.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
You know, if anybody off the street, they needed something
to eat, they come to grandma's house. And just informing
my politics with that lens that we really are all
in this together. That's the biggest difference. And I think
it's been refreshing for people who have like we don't
want to just vote against, you know, these ridiculous politicians.
We want to vote for something for a change. And
that's what we're doing here.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
I was going to say, you know, the polls say
that you guys are tied. Independent polls are saying that
you're behind. What is the plan to make sure that
those people that might not be out there that don't
want to vote because they're exhausted or still on the
fence or. I feel like, F it, I'm going to
stay on the couch because these politicians don't give an F.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
About me anyway.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
What is your plan to make sure that those people
come out and support you?
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yeah, well. Because it is so close.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
It is.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
We right there. You know, we coming around the stretch,
you know, Kentucky Derby terms. And, you know, that's why
I'm honored to be here. That's why while I'm, we
launched a statewide tour of Kentucky over politics, but I'm
still traveling nationally, too, to spread the word that we
really do have a path here. We have the message.
We have the momentum. We got thousands of volunteers that
(26:16):
are on the ground working. They're making their own yard
signs because they so fired up for us. The one
thing that we need is resources. We need support to
get that message out there. So in these last couple
of weeks, getting our ads out, telling our story and
then lifting up their voices because people really are frustrated
and they tired. So I'm telling them, look, I'm tired, too.
That's that's why I'm doing this. I'm doing this tired.
(26:39):
And if we can find the strength to do that,
and that's what we do as Kentuckians, we can win
a Senate seat.
Speaker 6 (26:44):
Is it possible for a politician to take money from
wealthy donors, to take money from corporate PACs, and not
be beholden to them?
Speaker 2 (26:53):
You know, I think if you remember where you came
from and you remember.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Your why, it's possible to build a coalition that includes,
you know, corporations at the table. Because, you know, there
are corporate partnerships that are invested in building up the community.
Speaker 7 (27:08):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Everyone is not out there to hurt us.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
And we've, so we have to find ways to bring
a broad coalition together, but you got to remember why
you're doing it. You know, so me building a kitchen cabinet, uh,
advisory committees of folks on the ground, grassroots organizers, faith leaders,
student leaders, teachers, veterans. I want to make sure that
when we go to Washington, we go together so that
(27:31):
no matter what money is around, we not being swayed
by it. And then ultimately we've got to end citizens United.
Like the, There shouldn't be all of this dark money
buying seats, buying the votes of people. To me, that
is counter to democracy.
Speaker 5 (27:46):
All right.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
I'm going to ask you a question, but I'm not
going to ask you. I'm going to ask you off air.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
What's that?
Speaker 3 (27:50):
I'm going to ask him off air.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
You just said you're.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Going to ask him off air. No, I'm going to
ask him off air.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
He on the fence right now.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
I am, but I'm going to ask him off air.
Because he got to do a Kentucky Fried Chicken, but
I'm going to ask him off air. Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 7 (28:01):
All right.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
That's why I'm going to ask him off air.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
I'm going to ask.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Him off air. All right. Tell him where to donate. CharlesBookerKY.org. CharlesBookerKY.org.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
And we appreciate you for joining us. Again, he's running
for the open seat. That's been vacated by Mitch McConnell,
who we don't know where he's at, how he's doing, anything.
But you go out there and vote, and thank you
for joining us. Charles Booker, ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
It's The Breakfast Club.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
Good morning.
Hold up.
Speaker 2 (00:01):
Every day I wake up.
Speaker 3 (00:03):
Wake your ass up.
Speaker 2 (00:03):
The Breakfast Club.
Speaker 3 (00:05):
Y'all finished or y'all done? Morning, everybody.
Speaker 4 (00:07):
It's DJ Envy, Just Hilarious, Charlamagne Tha Guy. We are
The Breakfast Club. Lawler Rose is here as well. We
got a special guest in the building.
Speaker 3 (00:14):
Yes, indeed.
Speaker 4 (00:15):
He's now running for the open seat that has been
vacated by Mitch McConnell. Ladies and gentlemen, Charles Booker from Kentucky.
Speaker 3 (00:22):
Welcome, brother.
Speaker 4 (00:22):
Thank you, my brother. How you feeling, man?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
Good morning. Fired up. Feeling good? Ready to make some history.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Do you think you really have a chance in Kentucky, Mitch?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (00:31):
Okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (00:32):
Yeah, we're going to win this race because of the
years of organizing we've done. This is my third run
for U.S.
Speaker 2 (00:37):
Senate, man. This is like Rocky III for me.
Speaker 5 (00:39):
Rocky III.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
And, you know, we've been telling a story about what
it looks like for regular people to come together, not
about Democrats, Republicans, independents, but all of us as family.
And working across Kentucky, speaking to the issues, I come
from the struggle. So I'm telling a story that a
lot of Kentuckians know well. And at a time when
the bottom is falling out for so many people, they're
looking for real leadership. They see it in me. And
(01:02):
people who vote for Trump are organizing with me. People
who never voted before organize it with me. And, yeah,
we're going to win this race.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Now, you just brought it up.
Speaker 6 (01:08):
You ran for Senate before, and you lost to Rand
Paul by more than 20 points, right?
Speaker 2 (01:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (01:12):
What did Kentucky voters tell you in that election that
you didn't understand at the time?
Speaker 1 (01:18):
You know, one of the things that was really important
for me, because, again, I don't come from money. I
come from the hood, one of the poor zip codes
in Kentucky. Right. Both my parents dropped out of high school. So,
you know, stepping into this arena, which I don't trust politicians.
I don't come from this. This is about survival for me.
So I had to learn how to put a campaign together,
how to build a team.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
I had the vision. We had the message. We saw
folks fired up.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
And a lot of this was born in the wake
of Breonna Taylor's murder, where a lot of people had
a wake-up call across Kentucky. Like, wait a minute, that
was my door that was knocked down.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Even white people? Yeah, man. And the hollers.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
I was marching in the streets. with folks in Appalachia,
areas that Trump won by 30 points. And so we
told that story, but then we had to learn what
it means to build at this level. And now we
battle tested, got an all-star team, and a message that
has met the moment. You know, I've been steadfast, but
now everything around us is so different. And so, yeah,
(02:15):
my pastor said this is a moment whose time has come,
and I believe it is.
Speaker 4 (02:18):
What do you think Mitch McConnell's biggest failure.
Speaker 3 (02:20):
Was to you?
Speaker 2 (02:21):
Mitch McConnell has been screwing us my entire life. So
I got to start there.
Speaker 1 (02:24):
This man was elected when I was two weeks old.
So he's literally been screwing us our entire life. But
here's the problem. And to be clear, Kentuckians do not
like Mitch McConnell. So don't get it confused.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Really?
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
He's underwater like 80%. People can't stand him in Kentucky.
When Donald Trump said he was going to drain the swamp,
people thought of Mitch McConnell. So the biggest thing that
he has done to hurt us is that he used
his power because he started off. lifting up organized labor,
lifting up women's rights, civil rights. If you go back
in his career, he invested in Kentucky over the years,
(02:58):
but then he saw he could get rich. He saw
he could get power, and he turned his back on us.
There wouldn't be a Donald Trump if it weren't for
Mitch McConnell. There wouldn't be a gutting of the Voting
Rights Act if it wasn't for Mitch McConnell. And people
see it. And so now, because of everything that's happening
with rising gas prices, this trade war with Canada, which
is absolutely ridiculous, and then Iran, endless war after endless war,
(03:20):
And then they see who's doing it and they see
why it's happening. It's like people are waking up. Something
different is happening in Kentucky. And that's why this campaign
is picking up momentum. And that's why we're tied and
in a position to win a Senate race that a
lot of folks may not have known about.
Speaker 6 (03:35):
One reason I give you a chance is because of
what we saw happen with Andy Beshear.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Right.
Speaker 6 (03:39):
Because, you know, Kentucky has supported Republicans in federal elections.
But then Andy Beshear wins governor. What do you think
he understands about Kentucky voters that I guess national Democrats
sometimes miss?
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Yeah, that's the key.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
And I've worked with him the last three years in
his executive team. And we often talk about Team Kentucky.
And at the end of the day, and I'm a
type one diabetic, and I often say my insulin doesn't
care about my party registration. You know, our issues really
aren't that partisan. And by delivering and meeting the needs
of people and continuing to show up and treat people
(04:10):
like they matter. That's what we've seen in our governor.
That's what I've done throughout my career. And so that's
why we're in this position to win when you treat
people like they matter. Because folks who voted for Trump
in Kentucky, it was from a place of desperation. He
said he was going to bring jobs back. He was
going to stop the stupid wars. People really believed him.
And now the scales are falling off of folks' eyes
and they're like, now this man was BS-ing the whole time.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
So this for us is a rallying cry that we
really do want to.
Speaker 1 (04:38):
Drain the swamp. We really do want to end the
endless war. And we want a government that works for
us instead of people like Elon Musk.
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Mm-hmm. You sleep with the do-rag on?
Speaker 1 (04:47):
Man, you know, I'm trying to keep them together. I
know going into the Senate, you tend to thin out.
So I'm trying to hold on to it.
Speaker 2 (04:57):
Sorry, you can go to Turkey.
Speaker 3 (04:59):
You said what? You can go to Turkey. Now, Kentucky
is a heavy Republican state, like we said before.
Speaker 4 (05:04):
Do you really honestly feel that it will change and
that they will start voting for a Democratic person or
even a black person?
Speaker 1 (05:13):
You know, I definitely, it's not about voting for party. This,
for me, is definitely bigger than that. Because, look, where
I'm from in the hood, we vote Democrat like 80,
90 percent of the time.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
You follow your grandmother, your great-grandmother.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
Yeah, and we felt screwed, too.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
You know, and so I often say, whether you're Democrat, Republican, Independent,
we all being screwed. And so it isn't about party.
It really is about speaking to the people, showing up
for them, earning trust. Man, I've stood on the tracks
with coal miners. I've sat down in rooms with farmers.
in rooms of veterans where they are lifelong Republicans, Confederate
flags waving out in the yard.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
I got pictures of this stuff.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
And then seeing people put Booker signs by Trump signs,
it wasn't because a party, it was because they saw
someone that cares about them, that's not BSing them, and
that is not for sale. This campaign is for them,
and that's why we're in this position.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
How difficult was it to raise money to make sure
that you can keep up with what they're doing? Because
they're backed by multi-million dollars and billion dollar companies.
Speaker 1 (06:10):
Yeah, it's not easy. You know, because a lot of
people count Kentucky out. And then, you know, you might
see me as a candidate and like, well, Charles, you
know what you look like? I'm like, what do you mean, handsome?
They're like, no, you're a black man in Kentucky. You know,
so it has been a challenge, but that's where the
power of organizing comes in. You know, we lead with
mutual aid. We lead with a distributed model of organizing
(06:32):
where we lift up the voices of the people. So
we got folks fired up who have never voted before.
So I was outspent in my primary, four to one,
and won by double digits.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
The people are ready. Something different is happening in Kentucky.
But we need a little support.
Speaker 1 (06:45):
So everybody listening, go to Charles Booker, KY dot org
to help us out.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
But this really is power by the people.
Speaker 3 (06:51):
What's the criticism of Republicans? Oh, yeah.
Speaker 6 (06:54):
What's the criticism Republicans make of Democrats that you think
is actually fair?
Speaker 2 (07:01):
The corruptions.
Speaker 1 (07:02):
Yeah, I mean, honestly, when you ask people across the
board in Kentucky, it's the corruption in our politics. And
that is not partisan. Republicans feel that way toward Democrats.
Democrats feel that way toward Republicans.
Speaker 3 (07:12):
You know what I'm saying?
Speaker 2 (07:13):
That's pot and meat cattle. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It really is.
Speaker 1 (07:15):
And so I think being able to speak to it
and to say, look, I challenge Democrats and Republicans. This
really is about fighting for family. That's what I think
people are needing in politics, finding our way back to
each other. We've been in our corners where it's us
versus them, and we all being screwed, as I said.
Speaker 2 (07:32):
And so.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
By being able to call out the fact that there's
so much money in politics, regardless of party, that drowns
out the voices of regular people, Elon Musk put over
$ 10 million into the Kentucky Senate race. Donald Trump is
coming to Kentucky this weekend.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
Yeah, Barr's speaking now, right?
Speaker 2 (07:48):
That's right. They know Kentucky's in play.
Speaker 6 (07:51):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
And they're trying to do everything they can. And so
saying that, look, we're not standing here to sell out
to the folks who want to put data centers in
everyone's backyards.
Speaker 2 (08:01):
That's what my opponent's doing.
Speaker 1 (08:02):
He's getting the money from the telecom companies that are
putting data centers across Kentucky, ignoring the people. Everybody's tired
of that. So to me, this race is not only
for Kentucky. It's for the country. I think the world
needs to see us win a race like this. We're
showing what democracy really does look like.
Speaker 4 (08:18):
What's one thing that you heard about yourself or a
policy that you're trying to push that you know absolutely
positively is not true?
Speaker 1 (08:24):
Oh, man, they say a lot about me. I get
called a socialist at least three, four times a day.
They've been calling me the Mamdani of Kentucky. Yeah, you know,
talking about that I don't want communities to be safe.
It's like, man, I got three girls. You know, my
three bosses. I want every person in Kentucky to be safe.
Speaker 4 (08:43):
And they believe that you said you want to defund
the police.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (08:46):
And I've been on the record for years talking about
how we fully fund community safety.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
I've worked with law enforcement.
Speaker 1 (08:52):
I've worked with community leaders because we need everybody at
the table to address violence, to address crimes in our communities.
And so the idea that I don't want our communities
to be safe It's ridiculous. And the good thing is
people are laughing it off because they know who I
really am. They're not buying the BS that Andy Barr
is peddling.
Speaker 7 (09:10):
Going back to Trump coming to Kentucky this weekend, obviously
there is a threat. Like, you know what I mean? Like,
obviously he feels like, oh, no, I got to, you know,
kiss babies and shake hands to come down there, you know,
because he sees that the people of Kentucky, they want
what they need, you know, to take care of them
and represent the people.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
What does that look like this weekend, him coming?
Speaker 1 (09:33):
You know, first of all, I'm like, come on. You
can have a front row seat to see this movement
that's about to drain the swamp, you know, because we're
going to replace Mitch McConnell, retire his spine in Andy Barr,
and he gets to see it up close. And, you know,
it is a testament to what we've been building. They
see the writing on the wall. And it's too late
because people are tired of seeing folks protect child predators
(09:54):
and then take food away from children. They're tired of
seeing blank checks for endless war, but then saying we
can't afford to take care of our veterans. Got folks
sleeping on the streets in the wealthiest country in the world.
Speaker 2 (10:04):
That's right.
Speaker 1 (10:04):
They not buying it no more. And that's what I'm
lifting up in this race. This is a testament that
people are ready for real change.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Why do you think Daniel Cameron lost?
Speaker 1 (10:14):
Man, I got a lot of reasons why. But ultimately,
you know, I think he tried to play a game
that wasn't for him. he tried to move in and
hold a position where he's cosplaying, uh, as if he
can be an arbiter of white supremacy.
Speaker 2 (10:29):
I remember them photos on viral too.
Speaker 5 (10:31):
That didn't help much.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:32):
No. And, and you know, the thing is, I went
to undergrad law school with him. He's a year behind me.
And I've seen that progression. And ultimately people don't like
folks who sell out. And then at the same time,
cause I thought he was going to win the primary, uh,
The system does what it does. Donald Trump endorsed in
the ninth inning. They sort of bossed him out. And
(10:55):
he was in a bit of a box because he's
trying to lift up policies as if he's helping working people.
But then he's supporting an administration that is ballooning our deficit,
that is sending us to war after war. And people
are like, you're not making sense, Daniel Cameron.
Speaker 2 (11:12):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (11:13):
I feel like the issue should be class, right? If
you're a common sense, logical person in America... The issue
should be class, but I often feel like these working
class white people still look at race as the bigger
issue because they feel like their biggest threat is another
struggling American who's usually a person of color, right, instead
of the wealthy people and institutions making decisions that are screwing.
Speaker 3 (11:37):
All of us.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, no, I think you're right. And that's real. It's
still there.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
You know, the racism is absolutely still real, but I
think the opportunity here is because the bottom is falling
out in a way that people can't unsee. So, for instance,
in Kentucky, these cuts to Medicaid, my opponent Andy Barr
voted for nearly a trillion dollars in cuts to Medicaid.
This will potentially close over 30 rural hospitals in Kentucky.
(12:02):
These are in areas where they voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump.
And so they see what's happening to them, and they
know it's not Barack Obama doing it.
Speaker 6 (12:11):
Can we build a movement around economic equality without first
addressing racial inequalities?
Speaker 1 (12:18):
So you got to do both. But for me, and
that's why I founded an organization called Hood to the Holler.
And it's the spirit of the Rainbow Coalition.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Hood to the Holler. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 (12:27):
So the hollers, if you've never been in them, they
in the mountains. You know, this is in Appalachian, these
rural communities. And I coined the phrase because I saw
this through line of people in the hood and people
in the holler who may seem disconnected but have so
much in common. And I think that's where we are
in our politics, where we have to find our way
back to each other.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 1 (12:48):
And we're speaking to that at a time when everybody
is calling for it. They call it affordability. You know,
we've been struggling for a long time. Call it whatever
you want. We just need things to change. And my
hope is with this campaign, we can see that democracy
is still worth fighting for, that we can't ignore places
like Kentucky. You ignore a place like Kentucky to our
(13:09):
own collective detriment. This is how you get a Donald Trump.
So I'm here today with y'all, one, to tell a
story that doesn't get told often. But to say that
we're still in this fight and we flip Kentucky, we're
going to flip the U.S.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Senate.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Yeah, I just want.
Speaker 6 (13:24):
To believe the Democratic Party genuinely wants to change the
economic system. But sometimes I feel like they just want
to manage it more compassionately than Republicans do. I want
to make sure we actually get money in our pocket.
Speaker 2 (13:39):
Yeah, and I think the X factor is the people.
We got to bring the accountability.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
You know, if we have elected officials that are saying
that they want to help the communities.
Speaker 2 (13:48):
We got to make sure it happens.
Speaker 1 (13:50):
But ultimately, the change won't happen unless we do it,
which is why I decided to run. And, you know,
we've inspired a lot of people who had really given
up on politics because they're like, what's the point?
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Exhausted.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Yeah, everybody's tired. And so I've seen that hope, that
spark grow in Kentucky.
Speaker 4 (14:07):
I was going to ask, how do you change that? Because,
I mean, people are exhausted politically, right? Even in Kentucky.
I mean, Mitch McConnell, people don't know if he was
dead if he was alive if he's in a wheelchair
if he can speak if he can't speak if he
can wave like they don't know so what do the
people of kentucky feel about that because i mean it
just feels like it's like weekend with bernie like you
just hold his hand up and put his hand back.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
Down you think he was dead man i'll tell you
this i knew something was up well first of all
this has been like a movie for us in kentucky
and everybody's been pissed and frustrated about how this played
out because it's like look man you disappeared For over
90 days.
Speaker 3 (14:39):
What do you want me to do? I died. What
is your problem?
Speaker 2 (14:43):
Well, tell us that. Tell us I died.
Speaker 1 (14:47):
Come back, let us know. But look, they wheeled him
into the chambers and he put up the peace sign.
When has Mitch McConnell ever cared about peace?
Speaker 2 (14:55):
I'm like, nah.
Speaker 1 (14:56):
Nah, something's going on here. Who's in control here? And
that's the status quo that people are tired of. Where
they feel like their politicians are bought and sold. That
they don't care about us. The fact that there wasn't
even any concern enough to say, look, I don't have
the capacity to return to office. I don't think he
knows where he is right now. I call it elder abuse.
And people are just tired of that. The government should
(15:19):
work for the people. We pay for it.
Speaker 5 (15:22):
So in an instance like that, when the governor puts
out that demand for Mitch McConnell to show proof of life,
if we all know what's going on, why not just
be like, hey, we need to figure something else out
right now for this bit of term and move away? Like,
is it that they want to just keep this institution
in Kentucky of, like, white older men?
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Or, like, what is the issue?
Speaker 1 (15:42):
Yeah, you know, this was really uncharted territory. And I
could see it playing out. I was the first in
our state to call for transparency. Like, look, I know
it's a health emergency. That's serious. That ain't partisan for me.
But if you can't do the job, you're representing people.
I was a state representative. If you can't do the job,
you need to own that. But there was recent law
changes that essentially made it difficult for the governor to respond.
(16:07):
It's like they were bills crafted specifically for Mitch McConnell
that would limit the governor's ability to appoint someone. So
they knew this was coming. And that's another part of
the corruption that people are tired of.
Speaker 5 (16:19):
It's the protection of that party, though, right?
Speaker 1 (16:21):
You know, I think in some ways, yes, but in
some ways it's trying to protect a status quo that's
slipping away.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Mm-hmm. Because that's not partisan either.
Speaker 5 (16:30):
We got your work set out for you down there.
Speaker 2 (16:32):
Oh, yeah. Our hands are full, but we ready for it. Yeah,
this is yours in the making. Fired up about it.
Speaker 3 (16:37):
I've read stories about you having a rationed insulin.
Speaker 1 (16:40):
Yeah.
Speaker 6 (16:41):
How did those experiences change the way you see politicians
who debate health care? Like, it's just another budget issue
as opposed to a real-life experience people are going through.
Speaker 1 (16:51):
Yeah, you know, I share my testimony, you know, because
I know A lot of regular people who understand that
story feel like their voices don't matter. And we talk
about these issues like they're academic.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
How do you pay for it?
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Where I'm from, when there's a need, you figure out
a way to meet that need. If there's somebody you
care for and they in trouble, you find a way
to help them. And I ration my insulin. I'm a
type 1 diabetic. I got, as I mentioned, my three bosses,
my three girls. I give my breath for them right now.
And I had enough to either get a refill or
get groceries for the week. And I did what a
(17:26):
lot of Kentuckians do. I made sure my girls had
food to eat. And being in a hospital bed, I
had diabetic ketoacidosis.
Speaker 2 (17:34):
And I'm laying there. I can't move. I can't hug
my girls.
Speaker 1 (17:37):
And I made peace because I did what I felt
I needed to do as a man and as a father.
And so when I talk about health care as a
right for everybody, it's from a real place and people
know it. Everybody deserves the same high quality health care
that Mitch McConnell's been getting. And when I say that,
everybody's like, yeah, you know what?
Speaker 2 (17:56):
You right.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
I think that's what we need in our politics. Some
people who see it, who understand it, and have the
courage to speak to it.
Speaker 3 (18:03):
And I know, you know, you talk about fighting for
working class people.
Speaker 2 (18:06):
So does Republicans.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
What specific policy separates you from Andy Barr?
Speaker 2 (18:13):
Oh, man, we ain't got enough time.
Speaker 1 (18:17):
You know, so a lot of what Andy Barr has
done is essentially sell out to Wall Street. He has
used his role on financial services to pocket money. He's
become a multimillionaire while in Congress. And at the same time,
any policy that would help us, health care, infrastructure, he's
voting against it. And so people see that clearly. So
(18:39):
for me, an agenda that puts Kentucky first, it puts
the people first, that is really taking on the corruption.
You shouldn't be buying and trading stocks. As a member
of Congress, you shouldn't be there to get rich. You
should be there to work for the people. I've taken
a pledge for term limits. You shouldn't be there so
long you're getting wheeled into the chambers. And then just
common sense legislation around health care for everyone, making sure
(19:02):
that we shore up these cuts to Medicaid, giving people
the options to get the care that they need. And
then we're in the wave of AI. And in Kentucky,
we're seeing massive hyperscale data centers And look, this ain't
even really a conversation about AI. We need to have
that conversation right now. But for us, it's about being bullied.
(19:23):
These are big developments, regardless of what they're for, that
are coming into communities, ignoring them, jacking up utilities, impacting
the environment, pushing people out of their homes, impacting their
small businesses, and nobody cares. And then they're looking at
Andy Barton. It's like, well, you don't care because they're
paying you. And so by me running a campaign that's funded.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
By the people, this is grassroots.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
This is really an average contribution under $ 30. And telling
the story that we can't have people that fight for
us without a hidden agenda, like I said.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
I think we need it in our politics now more
than ever.
Speaker 6 (19:57):
I feel like the data centers are inevitable, right? But
how do you ensure some type of community kickback from
the data centers?
Speaker 3 (20:06):
Because they're coming.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Well, you know, in calling for a moratorium, It's understanding
the point that AI is here. But at the same time,
it shouldn't be left unchecked to be a weapon to
hurt people. It should be a tool to help the people.
And with any development, I did a lot of work
with developers across Kentucky, you can develop responsibly.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
You can be a good neighbor.
Speaker 1 (20:28):
And make sure that the community has sustained benefits, that
they're at the table. Don't come into someone's backyard without
talking to them.
Speaker 3 (20:34):
That's right.
Speaker 2 (20:35):
That's really what we're saying.
Speaker 5 (20:37):
Y'all are going to face off in a debate.
Speaker 3 (20:39):
This week.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
Yeah, I hope so.
Speaker 5 (20:41):
Oh, you don't think it's going to happen?
Speaker 3 (20:42):
Because he agreed, right?
Speaker 2 (20:43):
He been ducking me.
Speaker 3 (20:44):
I know.
Speaker 2 (20:45):
So he reached out to me first. Don't laugh.
Speaker 7 (20:50):
You be a person in the little country.
Speaker 2 (20:51):
I am country. I'm from South Carolina. I got an honest.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Look, he reached out to me first asking for a debate.
Speaker 2 (20:58):
So I'm like, absolutely.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
We agreed to six. Then he started backing out one
by one. And now we have one day before my birthday.
I hope he shows up because I got some things
to say to his face. But the point of the
matter is, for us, we're used to politicians avoiding us.
He's never had a town hall. They don't want to
be held accountable. They want to get rich and then
hide their hands. And that's what Republicans are tired of.
(21:20):
That's what Democrats are tired of. Independents are tired of that.
So hopefully he does show up.
Speaker 5 (21:25):
What's the question or what's the backup if you think
he doesn't want to have with you right there?
Speaker 2 (21:29):
Because he did 60 Minutes, right? Did he do 60?
I hope he did. I love for him to keep
talking so people can hear him.
Speaker 7 (21:37):
Oh, no, I'm sorry he didn't.
Speaker 5 (21:38):
I thought he did.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
I want people to hear this, man, because he put
out an ad on TV. If y'all haven't seen it,
you should watch this. Mocking people. They put money behind
an ad saying it's not a sin to be white.
It's not a sin to be a Christian.
Speaker 3 (21:52):
Yes, I've heard it.
Speaker 1 (21:54):
That's the man I'm running against. That's his whole campaign.
He called DEI dumb, evil indoctrination. And shout out to
Mayor Brandon Scott, who said, nah, it's definitely earned it.
Definitely earned it. We work hard as Kentuckians. But his
whole campaign is hate, bigotry, division. And he's mocking us
because he used to be seen as a moderate Republican.
Speaker 3 (22:15):
He's cosplaying.
Speaker 1 (22:16):
And people are like, nah, we're really hurting. We can't
afford to listen to you just throw out red meat
and just call people socialists.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
We need you to work.
Speaker 6 (22:25):
I think it's a slap in the face for Republicans
to have Donald Trump. come do campaign rallies for them
right now. Because so many people across America can blatantly
see we are in this condition because of you. I
feel like the Republican Party should be looking to speak
some type of message of change as opposed to bringing
(22:47):
this guy who's got you in the situation that you're
currently in right now.
Speaker 3 (22:51):
It's literally like a slap in the face to their constituents.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
Yeah, they stuck. The issue is, like with Andy Barr,
he took Trump off his website. But they've hitched themselves soon.
Speaker 3 (23:01):
But he's speaking at the campaign rally on Saturday.
Speaker 7 (23:04):
He's going to come down there and buy all these
buckets of chicken and start throwing chicken out there.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
He probably will.
Speaker 7 (23:10):
They try to win over in a couple biscuits too.
Speaker 2 (23:12):
You know, to try to get a vote.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Sorry, what?
Speaker 2 (23:15):
It's too late.
Speaker 1 (23:16):
Yeah, you know, they've tied themselves to Trump and they
can't get away from it.
Speaker 3 (23:21):
But they should.
Speaker 6 (23:22):
I feel like the only way the Republican Party is
going to have a future moving forward They got to
disconnect from Trump. And same thing with Democrats. They have
to talk about how they're going to move.
Speaker 3 (23:33):
The country forward. What is the vision for America moving forward?
Speaker 1 (23:36):
Yeah, I think it's going to require new leadership on
all ends of the political spectrum. So for me, I
hope this campaign is giving Republicans more courage to step up,
to speak up, because the swamp is hurting all of us.
The corruption in Washington is hurting all of us. And
the folks who are part of the status quo are
benefiting from it. So why would they change it? And
the thing is, if you haven't lived the struggle, if
(23:57):
you haven't been on the ground, if you haven't been
in community, there's just certain things you won't see. And
we've been in their blind spot. And I'm being nice
at that because I think they do see us and
they just don't care, too.
Speaker 6 (24:09):
You know, you've talked about the problems poor white people
in Appalachia face, poor black people in Louisville.
Speaker 3 (24:15):
You say those are the same issues.
Speaker 6 (24:17):
Why have politicians been so successful at convincing those communities
that each other's problems, you know, aren't the same.
Speaker 3 (24:25):
Like they don't share the same economic struggle.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Yeah, I mean, you know, it's that whole playbook of
sewing wedges, you know, stoking fear. And, of course, racism
is still there. You know, it's a foundation to a
lot of the problems that we have. And so what
I've done over the years, because I was a director
of Fish and Wildlife, you know, I've been all across
Kentucky and showing up in communities where they didn't expect
someone like me to be there and say, no, y'all
(24:48):
my family.
Speaker 2 (24:49):
I'm here for y'all.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
And I just got this honest. This is how I
was raised. Like, I'm one of over 70 grandkids. And,
you know, I come from a big family where if
you fighting one of us, you fighting all of us.
And that just informs.
Speaker 2 (25:01):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:02):
Over.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
I stopped counting. It's too many of us. That's a lot.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (25:05):
My grandparents' house was like the community center.
Speaker 1 (25:07):
You know, if anybody off the street, they needed something
to eat, they come to grandma's house. And just informing
my politics with that lens that we really are all
in this together. That's the biggest difference. And I think
it's been refreshing for people who have like we don't
want to just vote against, you know, these ridiculous politicians.
We want to vote for something for a change. And
that's what we're doing here.
Speaker 4 (25:29):
I was going to say, you know, the polls say
that you guys are tied. Independent polls are saying that
you're behind. What is the plan to make sure that
those people that might not be out there that don't
want to vote because they're exhausted or still on the
fence or. I feel like, F it, I'm going to
stay on the couch because these politicians don't give an F.
Speaker 3 (25:47):
About me anyway.
Speaker 4 (25:47):
What is your plan to make sure that those people
come out and support you?
Speaker 2 (25:52):
Yeah, well. Because it is so close.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
It is.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
We right there. You know, we coming around the stretch,
you know, Kentucky Derby terms. And, you know, that's why
I'm honored to be here. That's why while I'm, we
launched a statewide tour of Kentucky over politics, but I'm
still traveling nationally, too, to spread the word that we
really do have a path here. We have the message.
We have the momentum. We got thousands of volunteers that
(26:16):
are on the ground working. They're making their own yard
signs because they so fired up for us. The one
thing that we need is resources. We need support to
get that message out there. So in these last couple
of weeks, getting our ads out, telling our story and
then lifting up their voices because people really are frustrated
and they tired. So I'm telling them, look, I'm tired, too.
That's that's why I'm doing this. I'm doing this tired.
(26:39):
And if we can find the strength to do that,
and that's what we do as Kentuckians, we can win
a Senate seat.
Speaker 6 (26:44):
Is it possible for a politician to take money from
wealthy donors, to take money from corporate PACs, and not
be beholden to them?
Speaker 2 (26:53):
You know, I think if you remember where you came
from and you remember.
Speaker 1 (26:56):
Your why, it's possible to build a coalition that includes,
you know, corporations at the table. Because, you know, there
are corporate partnerships that are invested in building up the community.
Speaker 7 (27:08):
Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Everyone is not out there to hurt us.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
And we've, so we have to find ways to bring
a broad coalition together, but you got to remember why
you're doing it. You know, so me building a kitchen cabinet, uh,
advisory committees of folks on the ground, grassroots organizers, faith leaders,
student leaders, teachers, veterans. I want to make sure that
when we go to Washington, we go together so that
(27:31):
no matter what money is around, we not being swayed
by it. And then ultimately we've got to end citizens United.
Like the, There shouldn't be all of this dark money
buying seats, buying the votes of people. To me, that
is counter to democracy.
Speaker 5 (27:46):
All right.
Speaker 3 (27:46):
I'm going to ask you a question, but I'm not
going to ask you. I'm going to ask you off air.
Speaker 5 (27:50):
What's that?
Speaker 3 (27:50):
I'm going to ask him off air.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
You just said you're.
Speaker 3 (27:52):
Going to ask him off air. No, I'm going to
ask him off air.
Speaker 4 (27:54):
He on the fence right now.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
I am, but I'm going to ask him off air.
Because he got to do a Kentucky Fried Chicken, but
I'm going to ask him off air. Oh, my goodness.
Speaker 7 (28:01):
All right.
Speaker 2 (28:01):
That's why I'm going to ask him off air.
Speaker 3 (28:03):
I'm going to ask.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
Him off air. All right. Tell him where to donate. CharlesBookerKY.org. CharlesBookerKY.org.
Speaker 4 (28:10):
And we appreciate you for joining us. Again, he's running
for the open seat. That's been vacated by Mitch McConnell,
who we don't know where he's at, how he's doing, anything.
But you go out there and vote, and thank you
for joining us. Charles Booker, ladies and gentlemen.
Speaker 3 (28:21):
Yes, sir.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
It's The Breakfast Club.
Speaker 3 (28:22):
Good morning.
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