082325 The Jonathon and Kelly Show

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Welcome to the Jonathan and Kelly Show.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Jonathan Rush, you know there is concern from the Europeans
that President Zelensky is going to be bullied. That's why
you have these European leaders coming as back up tomorrow.

Speaker 3 (00:13):
No, it isn't.

Speaker 1 (00:13):
That's very sure of them. That's not true, Kelly Nash.
This is such a.

Speaker 4 (00:17):
Stupid media narrative. They're coming here tomorrow because they chose
to come here tomorrow. We invited them to come.

Speaker 1 (00:21):
To the Jonathan and Kelly Show.

Speaker 4 (00:23):
I love the fact the Sunday shows they've all learned now,
don't book Rubio. He will give you some serious pushback
and straighten you out like a piece of wire.

Speaker 3 (00:32):
You know, I don't know why.

Speaker 5 (00:33):
They allow the Margaret Brennan Show to go on.

Speaker 4 (00:36):
I know, isn't it amazing how she still got a
job every week? It makes you looks cute.

Speaker 5 (00:41):
I think that it might be this might be just
for us. I think that they now that if you
were to look at the audience breakout on the Margaret
Brennan Show, it's mostly conservatives who sit there and laugh.

Speaker 3 (00:53):
As she just gets beat up week after week.

Speaker 4 (00:56):
That's the appeal.

Speaker 5 (00:57):
I saw Doctor Oz just put them over.

Speaker 4 (01:00):
I love it. Wow, this show can stay off wherever
they hate us. Good for you. Hey, this is Jonathan
Russ's Kelly Nash.

Speaker 3 (01:09):
Hey there.

Speaker 4 (01:10):
Now, this could be a little different for the Jonathan
nic Kelly Show because we have four inter's. Right, We're
going to talk with Ellen Weaver big month this past month,
kids heading back to school. We'll talk about sort of
things going on for the South Carolina Department of Education.
Then we're going to speak with Dontor Lieutenant Governor Pamela.

Speaker 3 (01:24):
Evatt and I think she's running for something.

Speaker 4 (01:28):
And then in a very interesting and a special edition
of Swamp Talk, we'll be speaking exclusively with Senator Lindsey Graham.

Speaker 3 (01:35):
Some would say one of the swamp creatures.

Speaker 4 (01:37):
We're going to ask him a lot of it, the
behind the scenes kind of things, some of the questions
that we had. Because this week this show will be rebroadcast,
so we're on vacation.

Speaker 5 (01:46):
It's always a pre recorded show. This time it'll be
pre recorded for two weeks.

Speaker 4 (01:50):
Yes, and one of the biggest stories going on in
the Palmetto State football season kickoff.

Speaker 5 (01:56):
I cannot wait until Labor Day Sunday, the thirty first,
Virginia Tech and the game cock sold out at the
Mercedes Benz Dome. What a great start to the college
football season from.

Speaker 4 (02:07):
All my Tiger friends are already wearing me out.

Speaker 5 (02:10):
They very excited, They running their mouths, They're very excited
about it.

Speaker 4 (02:15):
So and chant to clear, We've got a lot of
teams to cheer. Four in the state of South Carolina.
It is getting excited for a big football season. But
we will begin with this conversation we had with Superintendent
of Education Ellen Weaver.

Speaker 6 (02:26):
Hey, good morning, y'all. How's it going.

Speaker 1 (02:28):
We're doing great.

Speaker 4 (02:29):
We should ask you that as we all get back
into the school routine thus far, as we introduce our
new students to new challenges this year, what most excites you?

Speaker 6 (02:39):
Well, I tell you what. It is a great start
to a brand new school year. All of our kids
are back in school. I've been traveling all over the
state the last couple of weeks in schools welcoming back
teachers and students, and it's just always so exciting to
see the happy look on the faces of the kids.

(02:59):
You know, smell of new pencils and notebooks in the air,
and you know, I even saw the lone little kindergartener
who had tears running down her face because she was
scared and afraid for her first day of school. But
I saw her teacher give her a big hug, and
it wasn't too long that she was smiling. So everybody's
in the back to school spirit.

Speaker 3 (03:18):
This is I.

Speaker 5 (03:19):
Believe, the first school year, full school year that the
kids are going to go without their phone.

Speaker 6 (03:24):
That's exactly right. Yeah, So our free to Focus policy
officially took effect in January of this year, so this
will be the first full school year that it's implemented.
And I have to tell y'all, I am so encouraged
by the feedback that we are getting from our students
and from our teachers. One great story that I just

(03:44):
saw was the high school kids in one school are
now buying disposable cameras. You remember what those real cameras were, Right,
They're buying disposable cameras so that they can take pictures
during the school day while their phones are off and away.
So I actually thought that was brilliant, loved it.

Speaker 5 (04:02):
One problem area for South Carolina has been Jasper County,
and recently their board decided they voted to basically put
themselves in extinction because they are no longer going to
fight your move to take over that school district. What
should the people of Jasper County expect now that the
state is going to take over their school district.

Speaker 6 (04:22):
First of all, I want to commend the school board
for making that decision. I believe that in deciding not
to spend more time and taxpayer money fighting this situation,
that they actually did put the best interests of the
children of Jasper County first. In terms of what comes next,
we have a phenomenal interim superintendent, doctor Laura Hickson, who

(04:45):
most recently was a superintendent in Florence County. Recently retired,
or at least she thought she was retiring. We have
now put her back into service, and I know she
is already has been to all of the schools there,
is reaching out to the community, talking to business leaders,
faith leaders in that community. And so what Jasper can
expect from the Department of Education is a strong collaborative

(05:08):
partner who is going to be working with the team
in that district office to get the finances of the
district back in order and to put a laser priority
focus on student instruction and academic achievement, which is the
only reason our education system exists.

Speaker 4 (05:26):
I know this is not the first time the Department
of Education has had to take such a move with
Jasper County. Who've had other districts or other counties who
have been in the similar situation and the aftermath of
those decisions. What have you seen as being most impactful.
Was it the voters awakening of who they're putting in
positions of power? Was it the fact that just coming
in with the disciplinary measure puts the future school board

(05:49):
member's own notice.

Speaker 6 (05:50):
I think that the General Assembly really working to strengthen
the state superintendent's hand. Some of the laws that have
passed over the last few years has been really vital
because we now have a pathway for both fiscal challenges
as well as academic challenges for the state superintendent to
step into districts in a meaningful way, and those pathways

(06:12):
just weren't open before. And so I think that as
tough as it is to have to make the decision
to go into a local community like this and for
the state to take control of a school district, I mean,
I want your listeners to know this is certainly not
something we take lightly here and this is something that
we try to avoid at all possible costs, but sometimes

(06:33):
the circumstances simply force us to act. And I think
the fact that districts across the state can now see
that we will act, and we will act seriously, is
going to send the right signal to adults in those
communities that they need to take their fiduciary responsibility to
their students and to their taxpayers and their community seriously.

Speaker 4 (06:56):
Now we did have to edit that slightly. If you'd
like to hear the entire interview, can listen on our podcast.

Speaker 5 (07:01):
Yes, the Rast Thought podcast is on the iHeart Radio app.

Speaker 4 (07:04):
Now, we do have several confirmed persons running for governor.
One of them is Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evatt Mush.

Speaker 3 (07:11):
You're going to check in with us next and we'll.

Speaker 4 (07:12):
Talk about it. Several other things going on to the
Palmetter State coming up.

Speaker 1 (07:16):
The Jonathan and Kelly Show.

Speaker 7 (07:19):
Jonathan Rush, thank you, mister President for organizing this this
meeting and for your commitment.

Speaker 1 (07:24):
Kelly Nash, I.

Speaker 3 (07:25):
Really want to thank you, President of the United States.

Speaker 4 (07:28):
Have set I'm willing to participate in the security guarantees
is a big step. Jan and Kelly Show, and we're
going to get into a little more of that conversation,
but only in vague terms. Depending on when you're hearing this.
Because we're on vacation the last week in August. You
could be hearing it as we go into September and
game time football. Maybe you're listening to it now as
we get ready to lead into the big week for

(07:48):
a Labor Day weekend travel. We'll be talking more with
Senator Lindsey Graham about that situation.

Speaker 5 (07:54):
But the stuff that we talk to Lindsay Graham about
is exciting stuff and some of it's hysterical.

Speaker 4 (07:59):
I think it's one of our favorite interviews we've ever
done with him because it was a little more lighthearted
than it was any hard pressing issues to take on
at the time. Let's move on to this. We had
an opportunity to speak this week with our Lieutenant Governor,
Kelly Mash'll come on the phone, our Lieutenant governor and
your current guide on the Keep South Carolina Great Tour.
You're a tour guide, Lieutenant Governor. Pamela Evatt, Hey, good.

Speaker 8 (08:21):
Morning, good morning. I do like being the tour guide.
I feel like for the last six and a half years.
I have made it a point to get myself around
the state to talk to everybody, because if you look geographically,
we're not this huge state, right We're not like Florida
or California. Thank god, we're not like California. But you

(08:41):
have to really get around the state and shake people's
hands because every region has such different issues and things
that are important to them. Kicked off my tour. I
started in rural South Carolina because we've got to look
at the resiliency of our farmers and we have to
realize the tough challenges that they have. And when I
sat down at my farmers round table, they were like, listen,

(09:04):
commodity prices are low. We know the president is working
hard to get that up. We talked about corn. Four
dollars a bushel is what corn is commodity price going
for the farmers break even price is five dollars. They're
losing money. And they're like, I don't think people realize
this and I and I said to them, I want
to do a better job of conveying to people. You

(09:27):
are so resilient that you don't complain anybody else, any
other business owner, maybe in a crying, curled up mess
on the floor with that news. But you, guys, you
just keep planning and harvesting and moving on and figuring
it out. And because you don't make this wild scene

(09:49):
about the plight you're going through, nobody is focused on it.

Speaker 5 (09:53):
So you talk about these farmers and how their you know,
commodity prices have dropped significantly, so now they're actually losing
money on corn, for example in South Carolina. What is
a proposal that you would put forth to maybe help
the farmers get those prices up, and understanding that that's
going to cost you know, other South Carolinians more at
the grocery store.

Speaker 8 (10:12):
I would assume, well, absolutely, guys. I think you know,
when you're talking about commodities, that's more of a federal
kind of issue. But having a great relationship with President
Trump and his administration, that's what the farmers were really
asking is not like Lieutenant Governor solved our problem. It
was please get our problem up to the president, because
we know he cares, and in his tariff talks he's

(10:35):
trying to make it so that farmers aren't so hard hits.
But what we have to do is we have to
make sure that there's not legislation in our states that
hinders them. Like I was out in Iowa last year
and was hearing about a bill, and it's so funny,
Like I'm hearing about a bill that California is trying
to pass that would only allow pork to come into

(10:57):
their state that was basically raise in a certain.

Speaker 3 (11:02):
Way, like in a five star hotel.

Speaker 8 (11:04):
Yeah, exactly. That's just an example of how a state
can make a state law that could impact farmers all over. Right,
Always being vigilant is what we should do in our
state to help farmers.

Speaker 4 (11:16):
Talk to me about the Halo Act.

Speaker 8 (11:18):
If a protest is happening, protesters getting right up on
our law enforcement, well, a law enforcement off starts to
protect their gun, protect themselves, protect the people around them,
while somebody has a camera is screaming in their face.
But the Halo Act does is it says when law
enforcement officers are in the process of doing their duty,
they can tell you to get twenty five feet back

(11:40):
and you have to or you coul be arrested. And
that to me made such common sense.

Speaker 5 (11:46):
You're running to be the governor and I'm wondering. Thankfully
a hurricane Aaron did not do really much here, But
there was great concern by the Democrats when the current governor,
Henry McMaster sent two hundreds North Carolina National Guardsmen to
d C, leaving US with only nine thousand National guardsmen.

(12:08):
Would you have made the same decision and were you
worried that it might backfire?

Speaker 8 (12:12):
I was not worried for a second, and I absolutely
would have made that same decision. You know, the governor
and I have always been, you know, on our decisions
pretty much lockstep. So when President Trump needed assistant, South
Carolina has always been there to help. We sent guardsmen
to the border, and now we've sent guardsmen to DC.
And I hope guys, as a Democrat, keep acting as

(12:35):
ridiculous from now until the midterms in twenty six as
they are today. I mean, I turned on the TV
this morning, Vice President Vance Secretary of Hexas going down
to union station and protesters yelling and screaming at them.
It's like, people, have you lost your mind? Like you're
literally advocating for drug dealers and rate this.

Speaker 5 (12:59):
And if people wanted to actually just kind of follow along,
is there like a website or something?

Speaker 3 (13:05):
How do people stay in touch?

Speaker 8 (13:06):
Go on to Pamela avit dot com. You can see
we're putting schedules out there where I'm going to be.
I'm working hard to earn your vote every single day.
If you're not already on the team, you can go
out there and sign up be a volunteer. But look
at what I'm doing. I mean, for I think maybe
two years now, I put out a quarterly newsletter in

(13:29):
my official capacity to to talk about big businesses and
small businesses that I have been to, issues that are
going on around the States. It's very positive. I hope
it makes you feel good about all the things we're doing.
So go on there, sign up for that newsletter, look
at where we're going to be on the campaign side,
and again, I'd love to have you on our team.

(13:51):
This is not just my campaign fronts. This is a
movement to get a business person in office, right, somebody
who's not a career politician, that hasn't spent their long life,
that can see things with a fresh set of eyes
and a new perspective.

Speaker 4 (14:03):
Is that what you meant? The other day when I
saw the headline and I didn't get I show actually
an opportunity to read the entire article. He said, you're
different from the rest.

Speaker 8 (14:10):
I am different from the rest. You know, when I
made my announcement, guys, I said, you can. I think
the choice is clear. You can pick from a conservative businesswoman,
a mom of three, and a woman of faith, or
you can pick from a list of career politicians. You
can pick somebody who stood with President Trump from day
one when it wasn't I wasn't even in politics, so
it had nothing to do with furthering my political career.

(14:33):
And and in January of twenty three, like everybody today,
my friends, is a Trump supporter, right like because he's
in office, because he's doing a phenomenal job. But in
January of twenty three, when President Trump came to the
state House to announce his candidacy, look at the pictures.
I was the only one running for governor that was
standing by his side when there was no polling, when

(14:54):
everybody thought he was going to get indicted, when everybody
thought he was going to jail, when political consultants, through
our national organizations, we're calling me on my way down
to Columbia, going you're going to destroy your own career.
You know you shouldn't go. And I was like, listen
for me, I'm a business person and I'm loyal, take
it or leave it. That's who I am at my core.

(15:15):
And I'm going to be with the president. I was
with him from the beginning. I'm going to be with
them now. And I'm the only person that has been
in the executive branch in the public and private sector.
So on day one, I'm ready to go to work
for the people of South Carolina. That's what sets me apart.

Speaker 4 (15:28):
Now. That interview, again was edited only because of the
time restraints of this program.

Speaker 3 (15:32):
Well, she had a lot to say.

Speaker 5 (15:33):
You can hear all of it in its entirety on
the Rash Thought podcast on the iHeartRadio app.

Speaker 4 (15:38):
Now, very interesting, slightly different. It's an interview form for
swap Talk coming up with Senator Lindsay.

Speaker 1 (15:43):
Grit Jonathan and Kelly show Ja rush to.

Speaker 4 (15:47):
The pundits and the critics about what direction the National
Democratic Party needs to go.

Speaker 7 (15:54):
I say, take a look at Illinois Democrats.

Speaker 4 (15:57):
Yes, winning elections used for value exactly where they ought to.

Speaker 1 (16:01):
Be Kelly Nash.

Speaker 2 (16:03):
But sadly, those same values and policies are what allowed
on a legal migrant with a history of drunk driving
to crash into and kill Darcy Connolly Brunner, the mother
of former WNBA star Sophie Brunner.

Speaker 4 (16:16):
The Jonathan and Kelly show how a lot of these
Democrats statements that we have on video are not aging. Well,
how about to take a look at the Democrats in California.
Those are the kind of values where they hand out
commercial drivers' licenses to persons who not only cannot speak English,
they don't even know which ones a damn stops on.

Speaker 5 (16:34):
Yeah, they can't identify road signs, they don't know anything,
and yet we're going to get them on the highways
and byways driving eighteen wheelers.

Speaker 4 (16:43):
Right as we lead into this conversation, we had Senator
Lindsey Graham, like a lot of houses cent the members
out meeting of constituents. H came by to taught little
chit chat with Jonathan and Kelly. And because this program
is going to be rebroadcastings we're on vacation, we thought
we'd keep it lighthearted, a little behind the scenes kind
of conversation. There is some stuff with current events, but
mostly it's just fun stuff. Com and n Ash welcome

(17:06):
back in the studio. It's been a long time, sir,
and it's good to see you, Senator Lindsey Graham.

Speaker 9 (17:09):
It's good to be seen. I just went to Bucki's.
So life is good.

Speaker 5 (17:13):
Chrisscrossing the state. What are you like running for elections?

Speaker 9 (17:16):
Yeah, that's what they're telling me.

Speaker 4 (17:17):
You made me laugh out loud the other night after
I have a way of that. Yes, it was an
interview I believe with Sean Hannity, and you were saying
that on the way back and the flight back from Anchorage,
isn't it. Trump called you and ask if you wanted
to play golf the night.

Speaker 9 (17:31):
I said, like one, what the hell are you? I said,
I'm coming back from I said, when you get back
about three, we'll played eleven. I said, I'm in South Carolina.
I'm tired just watching you do what you do. Let's
take a pass. This guy is amazing. I talked to
him this morning. I don't need alarm.

Speaker 1 (17:47):
Clock is in.

Speaker 9 (17:48):
Really good spirits. And you know he sizes pootin up
pretty well. I don't know if this will happen or not,
but you can't have peace unless you talk. And at
least we're talking.

Speaker 5 (17:57):
Senator Lindsey Graham in the studio. I saw the other
night at the Silver Elephant dinner. Here you held up
the phone. Donald Trump's calling in, and uh, you know
gets can't make.

Speaker 9 (18:07):
This stuff up, can you? So you know I can
get a hold him for I can get a hold
of y'all. I mean, he is the easiest guy in
town to I couldn't get a hold of Pompeo one
time when his secretary of state. So I call Trump,
were doing, miss President? What are you doing?

Speaker 8 (18:19):
Well?

Speaker 9 (18:19):
I'm trying to get a hold of Pompey, y'all. I
can't get a hold of him, so I thought i'd
talk you. Well, hang on, I'll call him for you.
After that, I had no problem getting a hold of Pompeia,
So so would you ask?

Speaker 5 (18:29):
You have the full backing and have always, except for
back when you were running against.

Speaker 4 (18:33):
That when I called him a creek.

Speaker 3 (18:34):
Yeah, and then he.

Speaker 5 (18:35):
Gave her cell phone and all that sort of stuff.

Speaker 3 (18:38):
Crazy back then.

Speaker 5 (18:39):
But but you guys have been great friends ever since.

Speaker 1 (18:41):
Yeah.

Speaker 5 (18:42):
And I'm just wondering, like, why do you think that
there's like a certain maybe disconnect between certain members of
MAGA and you?

Speaker 3 (18:49):
Because Trump loves you.

Speaker 9 (18:51):
I think he likes me because I'm helpful to his agenda.
And if you're a maga person, this stuff doesn't happen
by talking about it. You actually got to get it
through the Congress.

Speaker 5 (19:01):
Yes, so you can.

Speaker 9 (19:02):
Talk about it, yell about it, wear a hat, but
you got to actually get it through. And what happened
with the president, we found common ground. You know, I
ran for president. You don't remember that, probably because it
didn't last long.

Speaker 3 (19:14):
I remember, I'm.

Speaker 9 (19:15):
The only guy in my family to get a T
shirt out of the whole deal. So when it was
when it was over for president t shirt, Yeah, and
I had to buy it myself. So so the bottom
line is, after you know, I lost, he one, and
we had a rough start. Let's just prett it that way.
I didn't like him, and I don't think it particularly
like me. But when he won, he called and said,
you know, i'd like you to help me. I said okay,

(19:36):
and he says that's it. I said, well, you one
I lost, and another way it's supposed to work. He said, yeah,
that's what it's supposed to work. I said, what do
you want to do? So let's have lunch. So I
went over and we had lunch. And they're right outside
the Oval office and He couldn't have been more gracious.
And he says, you play golf. I said, yeah, some He said,
well you want to play absolutely So we played golf,
just two of us, kind of a cold day and rainie.

(19:57):
He shot even par on the front rules of golf deal.
I shot thirty nine, which was good for me, and lost.
And on the back nine we kind of loosened up.
He gave me, you know, tips on my swing, and
then we started talking about policy and how to you know,
get things to the Congress.

Speaker 1 (20:13):
He was new.

Speaker 9 (20:14):
Bottom line, we found common ground. From that whole experience,
I've come to like him and he likes him.

Speaker 4 (20:19):
Well, I'm glad you brought that up because we've heard
a lot of people say, or a lot of people suppose,
loyalty is very big for Donald Trump.

Speaker 9 (20:27):
Two things are big for Donald Trump. Loyalty, But can
you deliver. There are a lot of people, you know,
always kissing his ass, and that's the way it is
in this business. But at the end of the day,
can you deliver. I think what he sees me is
a guy he in turned to when times get tough.
I was there with him for two impeachments, right, which
I thought was bs. We have our differences. Sometimes I

(20:47):
don't agree with him, but when he gets in a
bad spot, which happens being president of the United States,
he says, I'm always there and I try to be.
I think he was a good president. You could talk
about this, playing golf, liking him. He's a lot of fun.
I just admire the fact he was a good president,
and without that it wouldn't be what it is today.
And I think he believes I've been a good senator,

(21:08):
and that's the way this thing works.

Speaker 4 (21:10):
Well. I wanted to follow up on that for a
second because the loyalty thing, we know, but sometimes I
can backfire. Thus Jeff's sessions. From my perspective, it.

Speaker 9 (21:18):
Is yeah, loyalty in telling him what the truth or
not inconsistent.

Speaker 3 (21:22):
Right.

Speaker 9 (21:22):
If you really like somebody and you have their best
interest at heart, you need to tell them no, that's
not a good idea.

Speaker 4 (21:28):
But on the other side of the coin, are there
people on a do not speak of list?

Speaker 9 (21:33):
Okay, now here's what I'll tell you about President Trump.
He will take disagreement, he will take pushback. If he
believes you have his best interest at heart and you're
a competent so I think I've proved to him. When
the rubber meets the road, I'll be there in his
camp fighting effectively. Kavanaugh, you know, that was a moment
where he called me up and said, I think you

(21:54):
just saved this guy, and he's turned out to be
a great justice. So I fought for his guy was
chairman and the one big beautiful bill, and we talked
every night about how to get it through. You know,
we lost one vote, we're picking up another. And he's
so much better at his job this time because he
understands the system. When I first met him, you know,
he never ran for dog catcher.

Speaker 4 (22:13):
The guy got to be president.

Speaker 9 (22:14):
Of the United States, and I think he saw in
me somebody could at least say, this is sort of
who the key players are.

Speaker 5 (22:20):
Lindsay Graham in the studio with Jonathan and Kelly, you
mentioned Kavanaugh that moment that you had where you said
something to the extent of, I hope to God you
guys never get.

Speaker 4 (22:29):
Because this is ridiculous.

Speaker 5 (22:31):
Was that a shift for you mentally in the sense
that you thought that you had friends on the other
side of the aisle, but now.

Speaker 9 (22:37):
Yeah, it was a definite shift. Strong Thuman voted for
Ginsburg and Hollings voted for Scalia. That's the way it
used to be.

Speaker 4 (22:46):
Whether you like.

Speaker 9 (22:47):
Scalia Ginsburg can't say they're not qualified. Once liberal, one's
conservative used to be you won the Auleshian got to
pick qualified people. And it started with Bork, Lawrence Thomas,
and at crescendo's here with Kavanaugh. So I'm sitting there
and we're talking about some party in high school that
nobody can remember, and they're going to ruin this guy's life,
who is literally, I think, one of the most decent

(23:09):
people I ever met. I'm known Bred for twenty years,
and it was just a bunch of bs. I just
got to the point where enough, I told Sirer Grassley,
I'm next. He said, no, you're not. I said, no,
I'm next.

Speaker 4 (23:19):
Now.

Speaker 9 (23:20):
I looked at them all. I voted for your judges,
not because I would have picked them.

Speaker 4 (23:24):
I thought they were qualified.

Speaker 9 (23:25):
I thought there were decent people. I wouldn't agree with
anything they've done legally, but you know that's the way
it works. You're looking for a fair deal, Judge Kevin, Oh,
you come to the wrong town. I just went right
down the line, looked them all in the eye and
saying this is ridiculous. You're ruined in this man's life,
putting his family through hell because you won't power, and God,
I hope you never get it.

Speaker 4 (23:45):
I'm glad you brought that up because I think one
of the more they're a lot, but one of the
more infamous friendships on the each side of the coin,
Ronald Reagan a Tippleneil. They had a great relationship politically.

Speaker 9 (23:54):
They all started with alcohol, probably the basis of a
lot of good relationships.

Speaker 4 (24:00):
From the outside looking on the liquor stores, from the
outside looking at it, it seems that that is the
piece of the puzzle that's missing. Now there's no commonality
because the left has shifted so far.

Speaker 1 (24:12):
Yeah, a little bit.

Speaker 9 (24:13):
So I think this was pre cable. So I think
there are all kinds of groups telling you what you
can't do and what you shouldn't do. And his twenty
four to seven coverage, you know, everybody's entitled opinion, but
the intensity of the money, the intensity of the scrutiny
has made it harder to do what those two guys did.
And here's why I like most about Trump. He's the

(24:33):
most accessible president in the history of the presidency. You
literally didn't call him up. Just stay tuned. I think
he'll do some things that need to be done in
a bypartisan fashion down the road. But I've never seen
it quite like this. The hatred of this man is
driving the Democratic Party into a ditch. And what Donald
Trump has been able to do is survive one assault

(24:53):
after another. They've tried to destroy him and his family,
and it pissed me off. And I'm firmly in his camp,
and I think he's a damn good par senator.

Speaker 5 (25:01):
Owinsey Graham here with us on the Jonathan and Kelly Show.

Speaker 9 (25:04):
I guess you can't cuss on this show.

Speaker 5 (25:05):
Oh yeah, I can call somebody the FC. I'm ready
to cut it out with Israel, I am. I am
shocked to see where we're at now, where there's so
many people who are like pro Hamas.

Speaker 9 (25:18):
Like actively like freaking believe it.

Speaker 5 (25:21):
They're even in Israel. They're protesting themselves.

Speaker 9 (25:24):
So if you don't like the government and Israel, stick around.
It changes about every ninety days. All I can tell
you about Israel is that we have a couple of
things in common, common enemies and common values. It's a
very robust democracy, they change governments a lot, but everybody
around Israel would kill you two if they could. So
every time an Israeli soldier goes and takes one of

(25:45):
these nut jobs down, that's one less to come here
and hurt us. So here's where I'm at. I'm a believer,
but I don't go around, you know, wearing it on
my sleeve.

Speaker 4 (25:54):
But I do believe.

Speaker 9 (25:55):
God blesses those who bless Israel. We pull plug on Israel,
he'll pull the plug on us. And their fight is
our fight. They're not asking them for soldiers, they need weapons,
they need our support, and I'm here to give it
because if they lose, we lose.

Speaker 3 (26:07):
You're running for re election again. Yeah, you're seventy years old.

Speaker 9 (26:11):
I believe, Yeah, and is I know I'm a little young,
but I'm a little young for the game.

Speaker 1 (26:16):
In her state, I would be.

Speaker 9 (26:18):
When I got in office, the average age of the
senator was like eighty eight or ninety, I can't remember.

Speaker 5 (26:23):
There was a There still is a kind of a
somewhat famous video of you back around ninety five as
a house member that's kind of remaking the rounds again,
where you're saying I ran on the idea of putting
term limits.

Speaker 9 (26:36):
Yeah, Stromp taught me out of it.

Speaker 3 (26:38):
Is that what happened, Well, you know what changed?

Speaker 9 (26:41):
Yeah, No, really what changed is like somebody's going to
run the government. It's either elected people or unelected people.
And if you rotate through too much, then the people
run the government of the permanent staff. And you need
the staff. But I don't think they should be the
repository of all knowledge. And Senator Thurman said, let's you know,
come over here, let's talk. He said, the people can

(27:03):
determine if you stay or not. But if we all
left after twelve years, then the power center of America
would be in the staff, not an intellected officials. In
terms of me, this is my fifth term. I just
dook like one to six years at a time. It's
like you know, a contract. I'm not entitled this job
after earn it every six years. And I think I
bring some things to the table. I think I know

(27:24):
how the world works in terms of where the dangers are.
I think I know where our friends are like Israel.

Speaker 4 (27:29):
I know what our.

Speaker 9 (27:30):
Enemies would do to us if they could get here.
I think I have a pretty good understanding what the
military needs and when it comes to home, I try
to take care of my backyard. The Port of Charleston's
the crown jewel of our entire economy, is the deepest
port on the East Coast. I think I got something
to offer. I think I'm in a good spot to.

Speaker 1 (27:47):
Help the state.

Speaker 9 (27:48):
If I win and we keep the Senate, I'll be
Judiciary chairman again, and I can promise you conservative judges.

Speaker 4 (27:53):
A lot of South Carolina's appreciated your positions, and as
you say, it seems like it depends on the news
cycle of the day whether they love.

Speaker 9 (28:00):
I am definitely that kind of guy in the sense
I'm doing something like one day and maybe not the next.
But I just want you to know from my point
of view, it makes sense to me both times.

Speaker 4 (28:10):
Okay, thank you for coming to see us today. Yeah,
we have a lot of big challenges coming up with
the make terms.

Speaker 9 (28:15):
One. We shall come in a couple weeks about Russia.
We'll know about two weeks if this is going to
happen or not.

Speaker 4 (28:20):
Now you can hear that entire interview we had edited
only for the time restraints of this program, and listen
to that on our podcast.

Speaker 5 (28:26):
YEP, The Rash Thought podcast is on the iHeartRadio app.

Speaker 4 (28:30):
I believe it has been a year since we featured
the headball coach for the game Cock, Shane Beemer, on
The Jonathan and Kelly Show.

Speaker 5 (28:38):
But I do think we got some breaking news out
of them. I think that there's one story that I
think all the media is going to be jealous that
we're breaking.

Speaker 1 (28:45):
That's coming up Jonathan and Kelly Show, Jonathan Rush. Carjackings
are down eighty three percent. Robberies are down forty six percent.
Kelly Nash. Why Jonathan and Kelly Show.

Speaker 4 (29:02):
I don't know what the most of allatile people on
DC streets right now at the Democrat protest.

Speaker 3 (29:06):
Yeah, they are intimidating.

Speaker 4 (29:07):
This is Jonathan russ Is, Kelly Nash. I'm excited to
have this person on this program. I know we did
a year ago. Unfortunately, after the football season kicks off,
he's not as readily available.

Speaker 1 (29:18):
Kelly Nash, Welcome back on the phone.

Speaker 4 (29:20):
Hey, coach Shane Biemer, Good morning.

Speaker 7 (29:21):
Sir, Good morning, good morning. How are you guys?

Speaker 4 (29:24):
Anxious? Excited, anticipating like a kid at Christmas? Kind of
like you, I guess and your coaches.

Speaker 7 (29:29):
Yep, totally like the coaches, and that's how we feel
right now. But eager to get going and I can't
wait to kick things off.

Speaker 5 (29:35):
Coach Biemer, you're gonna have your kickoff game. I don't
recall maybe there was one game, maybe because of a
hurricane or something, that we played on a Sunday, but
it's very unusual to see Gamecock football on a Sunday afternoon.
You're going to be in the Mercedes Benz Stadium and
it appears sold out.

Speaker 7 (29:52):
Yeah, credit to our fans, and I hope that ends
up being the case. That would be awesome. Yeah, you're
right there. That Sunday game. I was actually a part
that was when Georgia played South Carolina and it got
moved to a Sunday because of the hurricane back in
twenty sixteen. I was a member of the Georgia coaching staff.
So yeah, non Saturday games outside of I guess we
used to play some Thursday games back when I was here,

(30:14):
but Sunday games are certainly rare. But excited. Only game
one that Sunday during that time slot, so all eyes
will be on us. Great opportunity to showcase Gamecock football
and showcase are amazing. Sam base as well.

Speaker 4 (30:28):
This will be historic Sunday kickoff and what everyone's anticipating
and hoping will be a historic football season for the
University of South Carolina. You got a brand new Nike
deal that the university announced. I know you have previous
association with different teams with Nike. I thought it was
funny that one of the first questions I got from
someone who is also a Gamecock fan was is this

(30:48):
going to help us with recruiting?

Speaker 8 (30:50):
My thoughts exactly, Okay.

Speaker 7 (30:52):
I think so. And first of all, obviously, we had
a great partnership with under Armour going back. I mean
we were wearing under Armour when I was an assistant
coach here back in two thousand and seven. So got
a great partnership with them, and thankful for all you
know they've done for game cauc athletics, but exciting to
be partnered up with Nike. Certainly, the initial responses from

(31:12):
recruits specifically has been over the top. I mean they
were contacting us about it before we were contacting them.
So there's a lot of excitement and great respect for
how they do things and looking forward to that partnership
going forward.

Speaker 5 (31:26):
Now, Coach Beemer's on the phone with us as you
get ready for this big game to kick it off.
You know a lot of teams like to start with cupcakes.
You know, you don't have a cupcake here and Virginia
Tech any mixed emotions? I mean, you are your family
is so closely tied to Virginia Tech to look across
the sidelines and see, oh my gosh, I'm going against

(31:46):
those guys.

Speaker 3 (31:47):
Any any or is it just like no, it's football.

Speaker 7 (31:50):
It's football, and it'll really be football once the game
kicks off. I mean that'll be My priority is the
players and coaches on our staff and me doing the
best job I can for them. But certainly as you're
getting ready for it, especially because it's been so much
build up all year because it's the first game, but
there's gold up going to it, and there's some nostalgia
in you're watching tape for Virginia Tech on the computer

(32:11):
getting ready to play them, and you see different stadiums
they're in, or you see people on the sidelines that
you recognize, and its memories. But I'm getting cock through
and through and just really excited about the opportunity to
go against the good Virginia Tech team. But my priority
is getting our football team ready to play their very best.

Speaker 4 (32:28):
You're ready for that game. In particular, both sides of
the field will be laying claim to a little beamber ball.
Talk to me about special teams. Are you really excited
about it this year? Do you have anything in particular
you're excited to see play out?

Speaker 7 (32:38):
From our standpoint, just decided to see all our new
faces out there. I mean, we lost everyone, punter, kicker, snapper, holder,
kickoff returner, pump returner. They're all going to be new starters,
which is exciting and why you coaches to be able
to develop the next group of guys. So they're talented
guys and we definitely want to be impactful in the

(32:59):
kicking game as we have been, and even more so
this year than what we were last year.

Speaker 5 (33:03):
I was watching I think every game Cock fan was
watching the any given Saturday, the SEC Show basically on Netflix,
and I don't did they have like a special filter
just for you? Because you come across as the most
likable person by a mile. And that's not no slight
to like, you know, Coach Kelly or any of the

(33:23):
other coaches they're in there, but gosh, you just seem
I mean, this has got to be the best recruiting
cool tool we've ever had.

Speaker 7 (33:30):
I appreciate you saying that the feedback from recruits has
been really powerful what we've heard from them. Just being
on Netflix to begin with was a win in so
many recruits as always have recruits Texas saying, I can't
believe you guys are on Netflix. We even had an
episode that they saw, But then after seeing it, I

(33:51):
think parents and high school recruits have really been impressed
by this program. And that's all. We were so willing
to do that, And I appreciate you saying that on me.
But all we did, all I did, all our people
in our program did when we were Spotlight, it was
just be us and we're not one way when the
cameras are on, and then you're trying to be somebody
different when the cameras are off. We are who we are.

(34:12):
And our players would tell you that that anything they
saw on camera during that Netflix series, that's.

Speaker 1 (34:19):
Who we are.

Speaker 7 (34:20):
No one would say, well, that's an act. You know
he's doing that because the cameras are on. That's just
who we are. Players and coaches that genuine this I
think rubs off on people and attracts people.

Speaker 4 (34:29):
You know, you are part of an elite class of
persons just given the overall population of the earth. You
were a coach in the sec Now a lot of
people may have been coaches, and maybe they understand this
a little more. I don't have any perspective of what
I'm saying is even in context a correct question to ask.
But as we mentioned a minute ago with a Nike deal,
of the first question is how does this effect recruiting

(34:50):
it There's a lot of things that are always out
in the future. Do you ever find it hard to
just live in the moment? You've already put into hard work,
ready for the first kickoff, You're ready for this. We
get recruits coming in all the time. There's always something
to distract you and looking into the future and planning
for something else. Do you find it hard just to
live in the great football moment, even while maybe you're

(35:11):
standing on the sidelines of a game.

Speaker 7 (35:13):
It's a challenge, But I think for me to be
able to do my job at the level it needs
to be done, I have to stay in the moment.
You know, certainly you're planning and you're trying to stay
one step ahead. Don't get me wrong, but every coach
talks about it, but just be in process oriented And
there's the old expression and saying that be where your
feet are.

Speaker 4 (35:32):
And you know, I.

Speaker 7 (35:33):
Believe that that moment, whatever I'm doing, that's the most
important thing. And it's a challenge when you have so
many things to come across your desk, people that want
to meet with you. Be in the middle of one
of those conversations, but you're not really there mentally because
you're thinking about what else you have to do. You know,
if I'm doing that, I'm not doing the best to
serve the people around me. So I've really got to
do a great job of staying in the moment.

Speaker 5 (35:53):
I'd loved on that show. You've joked with us in
the past about how your family puts extra pressure on you.
As if the Gamecock fan base doesn't put enough pressure
on you, your family ramps it up. But in this
show you showed where now they're actually threatening you when
they leave messages on the window.

Speaker 7 (36:11):
Yeah, now they do. That hasn't changed. They can be supportive,
but they're also very threatening about what they expect to
get done as well. They've been on me about this.
Virginia Tech game since like March. I'll come home from
work in March in April and the first question to
be did you work on Virginia Tech today? I'm like, no,
We're in the middle of the spring practice. I'll get it.

(36:32):
Going back to your question about staying in the moment
right great practice is at courting right now. But now
they do. They keep me on my toes and are
very demanding for what they expect from the head of
black coach South Carolina.

Speaker 4 (36:44):
You know, in the state of South Carolina, we pride
ourselves on our pride. And maybe that's not unusual given
that you've worked with different football programs before, but the
game cognation seems to be always clamoring for any little
more so they can get between kickoffs on Saturday to Saturday.
Like today you do the uniform video announcement for instance,
I mean, especially now with the brand new swish on

(37:05):
the side, and I though you've got a whole department
of those your video stuff. But are we were excited
about the new uniforms for this year?

Speaker 3 (37:13):
We are?

Speaker 7 (37:14):
You know, so much of that stuff has done a
year or two in advance. So I'll be honest with you,
if you'll have a hard time keeping up with what's
new what's not new. But this year we'll still be
an under armour, and they've certainly done a great job
designing things and having new new products for twenty twenty
five and then starting in twenty six, it'll be a
different brand obviously with Nike, and they'll do an amazing

(37:34):
job also, so we'll be well outfitted this season and beyond,
for sure.

Speaker 5 (37:38):
Coach, I know we got to let you go. I'll
be trolling X trying to find out where the good
Luck breakfast spot is for this year.

Speaker 7 (37:46):
Maybe we'll she'll be I'll be honest with you, it'll
be waffle House.

Speaker 3 (37:50):
Okay, we're back to waffle House.

Speaker 7 (37:52):
All right, we're back to waffle House. For people who
didn't watch the show. I take my kids to breakfast
on Friday mornings because that's like the only morning I
see them where I'm at home when they wake up,
usually I'm gone. So Friday mornings will go to breakfast.
As long as we're winning, we go to that restaurant.
If we lose, we go somewhere else. Well, we went
to waffle House the morning before the Oklahoma game, and

(38:14):
then obviously we won the Oklahoma game and we didn't
lose again the rest of the season. So we're back
at waffle House, and just to any game Coax fan listening,
I'm sorry we lost the Bowl game because we did
not go to waffle House down in Orlando for the
game as well, so that's why we detail short in
that Bowl game. But we are back on waffle House

(38:36):
next week before the Virginia Tech game, the morning before
the game, and then hopefully we'll be at waffle House
through January.

Speaker 4 (38:42):
That's right, We're gonna make sure waffle House gets a
food trot that can follow the game Cocks nationwide. We'll
make sure that you get your meal, sir, clearly.

Speaker 5 (38:50):
All right, well, Coach Beemer, we certainly appreciate your time.

Speaker 3 (38:53):
Looking forward to a huge season.

Speaker 7 (38:55):
Let's go Cox, Yees, go game Cox. Appreciate you guys.
Y'all are awesome and look forward to being on.

Speaker 4 (39:00):
What you said now that interview was slightly edited only
because of the time restraints of this program. You can
hear the entire thing on our podcast as always, everysel
for a great weekend.

Speaker 8 (39:08):
It's over.

Speaker 6 (39:09):
I wish that all of you will come back again
next week.

Speaker 1 (39:12):
I'll be back the same time next week,