12/16/2025 The Dave Allen Show on 580 Live - JB McCuskey, Wes Holden

Attorney General JB McCuskey and State Senate Candidate in District 17 Wesley Holden.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Unlock your dream property with meex Realty Group, where Rich
the realtor makes real estate dreams a reality, whether it's
residential or commercial. We've got Charleston to Huntington covered. Your
key to exceptional real estate experience is start here Meek's
Realty Group. Contact us at meeks dot us.

Speaker 2 (00:15):
The views and opinions expressed on this program do not
necessarily reflect the views and opinions of five adwchs it's employees,
or WVRC Media. From the studios of WVRC Media. The country,
the United States of America, the state West Virginia, the
city Charleston. This is the Dave Allen Show on five

(00:40):
eighty Live, and your host.

Speaker 3 (00:43):
What we've got here is fail Milk.

Speaker 2 (00:48):
He's kind of a big deal.

Speaker 4 (00:49):
I have come here to chew bubble gov and kick
out at a fall out of Bulan.

Speaker 3 (00:56):
Dave Allen, Tuesday Morning, to you, and welcome to the show.
Big Lely Picky Wiggly Hotline three zero four three four
five fifty eight fifty eight, Tony the Taylor Text three
zero four nine three five five zero Zeroid. We're in
the Jerrett Construction Studios, right on time, right on budget,
visit Jared Dash Construction dot Com. Phone calls the show

(01:17):
a service of big Lely Pickley Wiggly on Spring Street
and Charleston. Texting services provided by West Virginia's Finances Men Store,
Tony the Taylor on Virginia Street. Find great gifts for
under one hundred and fifty bucks at Tony's, including great
stocking stuffers too, Jack Black Gifts sets, funsocks, Johnny Opolos,
jan N wallats and belts, fun tees, Johnny O Cologne, sunglasses,
and a whole lot more. Checkout Bestmaster Taylor dot comfer

(01:39):
Tony's Facebook page if you'd like more information. Tuesday edition
of the show. It's a little little chilly out there,
but it is definitely going to warm up. Looking forward
to that. And candidates are beginning to line up to
run for election next year, particularly the legislature. Wes Holden
is going to join us a little bit later on.
He's a Democrat running for State Senate out of District seventeen.
He's on the show show today plus some things of

(02:01):
a news to get to in your calls and text
are welcome to big Ley Piggli Wiggly Hotline three zero
four three four five fifty eight fifty eight. Tony Taylor
text three zero four nine three five five zero zero.
Let's welcome to the show now, Attorney General J. B. McCuskey,
Good morning, sir, Welcome to the show.

Speaker 5 (02:16):
Good morning, Dave. How's it going.

Speaker 3 (02:18):
I am doing fine. It's just not the same man,
when you're not in studio with me.

Speaker 5 (02:22):
You know, I know it is so much more fun
to make fun of you live.

Speaker 3 (02:26):
That's what I'm thinking. And I enjoy the banter that
we have. You always have complimentary words for me, but
it's just not the same when you're out on the road, man,
Not the same. All right.

Speaker 5 (02:37):
Love to say you're doing well, buddy. I'm doing Thanksgiving?

Speaker 3 (02:39):
I did, I did. I had a great Thanksgiving. That's
back when the Cowboys were still winning games, you know,
when we beat the Chiefs and but then lost to Minnesota.

Speaker 5 (02:47):
And that was back when the Steelers still stunk.

Speaker 6 (02:49):
Yeah.

Speaker 3 (02:50):
Then the Steelers turned it up and they continue their
dominance on Monday Night football. So congratulations to your team, Jamie.
We spent a lot of time on the show talking
about opioids and about story, but I thought I might
let you comment a little bit more this morning, your
office has filed a lawsuit against a PBM, that's pharmacy
benefit manager, this time Optum, which is the PBM of
United Healthcare and its associated companies, which you say have

(03:13):
contributed to the supply of opioids in West Virginia.

Speaker 5 (03:16):
Talk about that, Yeah, I think so from a high
level standpoint, what happened was from the pharmacy benefit manager's
standpoint is that when healthcare, particularly after Obamacare, became so
unbelievably complicated that you know, not even lawyers can really
understand what your medical bills mean or look like, the

(03:38):
pharmacy benefit managers managed to place themselves into the market
in a way where they became the ultimate middleman because
they were the only ones that could understand the paperwork
that went in. And so then what happened was is
they created a series of ways in which they could
make a ton more money. And one of those ways
was when they entered the market. The the opioid crisis

(03:59):
was really just arding to fuel and everyone kind of
knew what was happening when they entered the marketplace, and
the and the analogy that I like to use is
that they were handed a blanket and a and a
and a can of gasoline. And in one hand, they
could have taken the blanket and thrown it on this
fire and put it out, But instead they chose to
use the can of gasoline to explode this problem so

(04:20):
that they could make way more money. And so in
some ways, I think the behavior of the PBMs, and
particularly in this instance of Optum, was amongst the most insidious,
because they were they entered the marketplace after the crisis
had begun and and really exacerbated it. And we are
going to hold them accountable for their actions here in

(04:43):
West Virginia in making opioids easier and easier to get,
less expensive to buy, and for rewarding their subservient companies
for prescribing more opioids.

Speaker 3 (04:54):
Talking again with Attorney General JB. Mccusky, it was announced
earlier this month that a seven hundred million dollars settlement
had been reached against Google. There a total of fifty
two other attorneys general were a part of this. What's
this all about?

Speaker 5 (05:10):
That's almost all the attorney generals now, it is?

Speaker 3 (05:13):
It is?

Speaker 5 (05:14):
Yeah, So so you know, there's there's a myriad of
these sort of multi state cases and it is very,
very infrequent that every single state is on it, and
in this instance there's there's fifty two of them. This
is a case that involves Google's usage of people's data,
et cetera. And there's a pool of money that will
be available to consumers. And if you go onto our

(05:36):
website WVAGO dot gov, you can find all of the
information you need if you think you are one of
those folks that is affected by by this settlement. It's
easy to find and the forms are easy to fill out.

Speaker 3 (05:51):
So what's the what was the major issue with Google here?
I mean everybody uses it, So what was the major
issue here?

Speaker 5 (05:58):
Oh, there's a lot lot of issues when you're dealing
in this big tech world, right, they are wheeling and
dealing and changing their technology, et cetera all the time,
and frequently they get a little bit out ahead of
their skis and they start using people's information and data,
et cetera in ways that were not specifically allowed by

(06:20):
the consumer. Meaning you didn't check a box it says
you have authority to take my data in my and
my stuff and sell it to another company to use
for a different purpose.

Speaker 3 (06:30):
Yeah, and I think that's you know, there are these
websites that you see in advertising on television a lot
talking about totally totally secure search engines and so on
and so forth. I mean, if you believe that Go,
I think is one of them. Okay, well, if you
believe that anything that you search for online, if you
believe you're being protected by any of these companies. I

(06:52):
got some beachfront property in eleanor West Virginia I want
to sell you.

Speaker 5 (06:55):
Yeah. Correct, And we live in this world a big
tech And I'm sorry if I don't use all of
the exact right words. I'm kind of a technophyte. I
just missed it right. I'm an elder millennial. Of the
technologies that we're talking about here came to me when
I was in college instead of high school. But you know,
the long and the short of it is is that
data privacy is an immensely important topic. Right now. We

(07:19):
have a couple of more really big cases coming against companies,
some of them with very significant ties to the Chinese government,
are weaseling their way into the lives of Americans and
enabling and that the word spy comes to mind. But
you know the way that these technologies work is they
get into your computer and they enable people in very

(07:42):
remote places, including the Chinese Communist Party, to see and
know what you're doing online. And this is a huge problem,
and it's something that myself and a very large majority
of our of my attorney general colleagues across the country,
in a bipartisan way, are fighting very hard against.

Speaker 3 (08:00):
What do switch gears romon. You're calling for increased security
for funding for federal judges.

Speaker 5 (08:06):
Why, yeah, Yes, a really really dangerous world out there,
especially if you're somebody who is making very important decisions
that matter to a lot of people. And we saw,
I believe it was two years ago, an absolutely horrific
murder happened at a federal judge's house, And you know,

(08:27):
the world is just increasingly more dangerous, and judges are
increasingly more frequently put into the public sphere, their opinions
are increasingly used online as fodder to sort of incite
these kind of violent behaviors. And there's really nothing more

(08:48):
important to our democracy than ensuring that judges feel safe
to make unbiased rulings, because if they if they feel
as though going one way or the other will cause
them or their family harm, it erodes to the public
confidence in why and how they're making their decisions. So

(09:08):
this is a really important topic. And you know, I
have a lot of friends who are judges too, and
they feel it.

Speaker 7 (09:15):
They know, talking to.

Speaker 3 (09:16):
Again with Attorney General JV. Mccusky, the buzz letters and
or you know, for the entire year of twenty twenty
five or AI JB. That's what everybody's talking about. And
your office has got concerns about the ever growing dependency
that we have in many circles about AI. There was
another coalition of about forty Attorneys generals and getting together

(09:39):
on something related to AI. Talk about that.

Speaker 5 (09:42):
Yeah, So I like to tell people, Dave that you
are naturally intelligent, but I am artificially int I'm on peds.
But what we're talking about in terms of artificial intelligence
in large part right now is the protection of children
and what these chatbots have been doing. And you know,
it's just a part of this technology that nobody had

(10:03):
a handle on but really really should have because the
danger is very real is that if somebody gets on
an AI chatbot and starts explaining that they're suicidal or
that they you know, they have these grand plans to
you know, murder their family and then kill themselves or whatever.
These chatbots are not telling them not to and they're
not alerting anybody these chatbots, and I can point you

(10:28):
and your listeners to a myriad of screenshots of these
chatbots in the wake of suicides and murders. The chatbots
are saying that is a good plan. You need to
honor your feelings, you need to make sure that you're
taking care of yourself and your needs, et cetera, instead
of responding with you need to go to a mental
health professional, or you need to go find your parents
right now and tell them you know you're sick and

(10:50):
you need help. And it is part of the way
that these chatbots are designed to like self actualize the
person with which they're speaking, and there's been countless examples
across the country where extreme tragedies have been it caused
is maybe the right word, but definitely exacerbated by kids

(11:13):
who are having huge mental health crisses turning to these
AI chatbots for help and for them to actually push
them into the violent cause of action course of action
that ends in tragedy.

Speaker 3 (11:28):
Before we let you go, I want to just ask,
is there anything particular on your mind? I don't know
that you will be on the show. You're always welcome,
but I don't know what you'll be on the show
until after the new year. Of course, Christmas is coming
up next week. Any anything on your mind related to
that or anything any It's short time, buddy, I'm giving
it to you so well.

Speaker 5 (11:46):
This is like at the right before the election when
you give people five minutes to their elevators.

Speaker 3 (11:51):
But yeah, you're always welcome, you come on any time.
But I'm just saying that. You know, I know that
you're very much will be involved in the whole family
thing as well. You should be, so I don't know
how much time you'd have it. You're always welcome, you
and the girls are always welcome here on the show.
But I'm thought giving a little opportunity.

Speaker 5 (12:06):
Yeah, no, I think you know, for me this holiday
season in particular, you know, we got kids that are
ten and eight years old. You don't know how many
more of these kinds of Christmases you're going to have,
and so just taking a minute to slow down. Life's
really really hard. You know for a lot of people.
There's everybody works too much. Everybody's just running around like

(12:27):
crazy people, and you know, just take a minute and
take a deep breath and realize how grateful you should
be for the things that are going great in your life.
And you know, everybody's got stuff that isn't doesn't make
them happy, but everybody's got stuff in their lives where
they could find the people that love them and the
people that care about them. And take a deep breath

(12:47):
and really think about all the things in your life
that are awesome. Because I think that's you know, that's
that's that's the reason why these holidays are so special
is because you can you can think back to fifty
years down the road and say, man, you know, I
really had a blessed life and I was surrounded by
people that love me.

Speaker 3 (13:06):
Good way to leave it. That's that's pretty good stuff
right there from you, mister Attorney General.

Speaker 5 (13:10):
You asked just.

Speaker 3 (13:12):
Rowing off the top of your head, and it wasn't
even AI.

Speaker 5 (13:14):
Right, No, that was natural intelligence. And I will say
that if anybody wants to comment on that, I always
love to say you can call into the Bigley Pickley Wikly.

Speaker 3 (13:24):
Highline, yeah, or or the text line from Tony to Taylor,
either one.

Speaker 5 (13:27):
But Tony the Taylor text line, yes, right. I mean,
it's just the alliterations are just jumping off the page.

Speaker 3 (13:31):
All right, Attorney General J. B. McCuskey, we'll talk soon, buddy.

Speaker 5 (13:35):
Thanks a lot, Dave, Mary, Chris Is, Buddy and everybody
out there. I hope you have a wonderful holiday season
and a very very Christmas.

Speaker 3 (13:41):
All right, sounds good, Attorney General J. B. McCuskey, appreciate
you being here. It's nine to twenty one The Dave
Alan Show and five A E Lives brought to you
part by I Rich the Realtor and Meekes Realty Group.
Check this one out one. It's one twenty eight McGovern
Road in South Hills. It's a split level home packed
with character in convenien It's just moments from downtown Charleston
at South Ridge, top rated schools, dining in the area too.
It's got a new roof, newer HVAC system, great living

(14:04):
space and architectural charm. Easy access to everything too. Contact
Rich the Realtor three zero four nine three two seventy
four eighty eight. Again, that's Rich the Realtor three zero
four nine three two seventy four eighty eight or email
Rich Client sixty six at gmail dot com. Ridge Client
sixty six at gmail dot com. Client is spelled with
a K, Bigley Pigley Wiggly hotline three zero four three

(14:26):
four five fifty eight fifty eight Tony the Taylor text
three zero four nine three five five zero zero. We're
gonna take a break when we come back. He wants
to be your next state senator out of a district
seventeen Democrat Wes Holden Hill. Join us when we come back.
On the Voice to Charleston w cchis.

Speaker 7 (14:42):
Are you looking for a technical job in the medical field.
Generations is growing and looking to add on job trained
physical therapy. Text to our rehaf team to apply, visit
one of our seven convenient locations, or simply click on
us at generations pt dot com.

Speaker 1 (14:56):
All law firms are not the same Morgan and Morgan,
Ka's largest Andrew Law.

Speaker 4 (15:01):
Firm, Office two twenty two Capitol Street, Charleston. Cases will
be handled by West Virginia licensed attorneys. The attorney in
this sat is not licensed in West Virginia. For the
People dot com, as.

Speaker 8 (15:11):
You shop for others, Fourth Avenue Financial invites you to
give yourself the gift of professional financial planning. What better
way to start the New Year, the consolidating old four
o n ks. Examining your current investments and preparing for retirement.
Call me John Burdett at three zero four seven four
six seven nine seven seven or contact us at Fourth

(15:32):
Avenue Financial dot Com.

Speaker 2 (15:33):
Securities offer thjne Co Financial Incorporated Member Fatacific Advisory Services
offer through JABU Co Advisors in Corporated JWCO Financial, JAWA
Advisors and Fourth Avenue Financial are unaffiliated.

Speaker 9 (15:41):
Into the Amazon has everything for everyone on your list,
like your cartoon obsessed Nie who knows the deep lore
of all twenty seasons of a show you've never heard of.
With Amazon Last Minute Deals, you can save big on
gifts everyone wants, like that board game, action figures, and
stuffed animals. And while you're at it, Graber World Map

(16:01):
to remind her there's a whole universe outside the animated
one shop Last Minute Deals with Amazon.

Speaker 6 (16:11):
The latest of news talking sports when five eight w
cochs has brought to you by Jarrett Construction.

Speaker 3 (16:17):
Visit Jarrett Dashconstruction dot com for more information.

Speaker 1 (16:20):
Time right on budget, Come on Jered's construnk shoot.

Speaker 3 (16:33):
Alcor Back to the show. It's nine twenty three. Senior
producer Ryan Nicholson in charge of things this morning, big
Ley Piggley Wiggly Hotline three zero four three four five
fifty eight fifty eight. Tony the Taylor Text three zero
four nine three five five zero zero Ave Dave Island
Show on five eighty Live is brought to you part
by Pinnacle Consultants. BENEFA offers a four phase assessment for
your properties, inspections, sampling, an analysis, comprehensive reporting and manage planning.

(16:56):
Checkout Pinnacle Corp dot net because what you don't know
can hurt you. I've had a few text in this morning,
people asking me about the President's response to the tragic
murder of actor director Rob Reiner and his wife, apparently
looking like it was the son. He's been taken into custody,
but not officially charged with murder yet. So I will
get to your comments on it, because it's It was

(17:17):
a social media buzz saw yesterday with people talking about
the President's comments that he put on truth social once
they realized they were real, because initially people were saying, Oh,
there's no way that's not real. Yeah, it turns out
it was real, and so you want to weigh in
on that you can. I've already got a few texts
about it, but you're always welcome to text, and we'll

(17:38):
get to that coming up a little bit later on.
You can call it a text me anytime. Big Lely Pigley
Wiggly Hotline three zero four three four five fifty eight
fifty eight. Tony the Taylor Text three zero four nine
three five five zero zero. Waight's welcome to the show now,
Democratic candidate for Senate District seventeen, Wesley Holding, Good morning
and welcome to the show, sir.

Speaker 10 (17:56):
Good morning to you, and thank you for having me
on your show so that I can announce that I'm
running for the seventeenth Senate district, which covers most of
Kanawha County.

Speaker 3 (18:08):
Why you're somebody that's run for office before, You've been
around politics for a long time. I'm going to get
to your bio in just a minute. But why is
it that you want to be state center out of
District seventeen.

Speaker 10 (18:18):
Well, if we look around the state in the county,
and for many residents at kanaw County, West Virginia is
not almost heaven. People are struggling to make ends meet,
and most of their elected representatives just don't seem to care.
Then you take a look at their legislative record and
it shows that they're working on behalf of wealthy donors

(18:41):
special interest rather than ordinary folks. That's why I'm running
for the seventeenth district. Our legislature is out of touch
with the people at West Virginia, and I feel that
any political party that can't stand on the merits to
improve the lives of workers don't deserve to be re elected.

(19:02):
And I believe the residents of Kanawa County deserve a
senator who generally cares about them and helps to make
their lives better. And West Virginians are being crushed under
the weight of inflation. And with my background and as
a result of working for Senator Jay Rockefeller for thirty
eight years, I'm confident that I understand like few others

(19:26):
the problems facing our people, especially those struggling to get
ahead and those who are left behind. And West Virginians,
our people are not dumb. They're looking for a senator
that shows up at city council meetings, who isn't afraid
to talk to members of the community at the grocery store,
farmers' markets in rural communities, and at various public events,

(19:50):
and especially a senator who will not be a public
to political interests that want to take our rights away.
A senator who stands up in fights for him. And
I'm running because I believe Canaw County and West Virginians
are worth fighting for. And I have a strong track
record of getting things done to improve people's lives, you know,

(20:12):
like helping people get FEMA assistants when their homes were flooding.
I work with many miners and widows to obtain their
Black Along benefits. And I also help hundreds of veterans
with their claims by cutting through red tape. And mostly
I'm tired of West Virginia being ranked as forty eight

(20:32):
forty ninth in the country. We can do better and
every West Virginian deserves the opportunity to succeed. And for that,
we need to improve education, increase job training opportunities, and
provide affordable healthcare. Our people deserve better than what they're
getting from the so called representatives at the state House.

(20:55):
These politicians are not representing their constituents, not doing their job,
and West Virginians want their elected leaders to focus on
what really matters, such as bringing down, the cost of living,
the cost of doing business, the cost of healthcare, electricity,
natural gas. We want a more fairer tax system, better education,

(21:19):
workforce development, and job creation. And I feel these are
the issues that are on the minds of the citizens
of Kamala County.

Speaker 3 (21:28):
Talking to Wes Holden again, who is a Democrat running
for States in the District seventeen, some of those things
that you mentioned there West, like, for example, affordability that
seems to be the buzzword as you know these days,
and inflation and things of that nature. As a state senator,
as a legislator in Charleston, what can you do about that?

Speaker 7 (21:47):
Well, the.

Speaker 10 (21:49):
Legislators and what our government needs to do is represent
the people. And you know, being a state senator is
not having a title or belonging to a social club.
We have to pass legislation and work on ideas that
you know, you have to think out.

Speaker 5 (22:06):
Of the box.

Speaker 10 (22:08):
You know, I travel to other states and been around
you know, the country, and I look at things and
you see what people are doing or read about this
or that. It doesn't take a master, brilliant strategician to
understand what's going on. I think we can be doing
that in West Virginia, unfortunately, our legislature seems to be

(22:32):
focusing on issues that don't really matter and don't improve
the lives of fellow West Virginians.

Speaker 3 (22:39):
Give me an example of some of those issues, Wes
that you think that the legislature, perhaps in the past,
is focused on that you don't think, in your words,
would improve the live Can you give us an example, Well,
just take.

Speaker 10 (22:51):
One example that comes to mind. You know, they got
focused on keeping boys out of girls' bathrooms or transgender sports.
From what I understand, there is only one transgender person
up in the northern part of the state, and that
really didn't you know, I might agree with those issues,

(23:12):
but to keep your time and focus on in your
political campaign on a single issue that doesn't matter to
most West Virginians. Those are things that bother me the most,
and I feel as a legislator, I want to be accountable.
I want to listen to what are on the lines

(23:34):
of the people instead of following along with someone's political agenda.
And when the governor or the Senate president is not
doing those things, I want to call them out and say, look,
we need to be focusing on what matters to people.
Not these little sideline gotcha issues.

Speaker 3 (23:53):
You mentioned your time in working for Senator Rockefeller. Give
us a little bit more of your bio for people
that may know who you are. You're quite well known
in West Virginia political circles, but to talk about your
work there with Rockefeller and just talk about your bio
in general, who are you?

Speaker 10 (24:07):
Well, I'm a tenth generation West Virginia and my family's
been here for a super long time, back in the
days when the Indians are running around. I'm a decorated
Army veteran. I received the Department of the Army's highest
the word for heroism. I'm a veteran Vietnam War error.

(24:29):
Excuse me, got a little tongue tied right, A veteran
of the Vietnam Not a Vietnam veteran, but a Vietnam
War era veteran. And I joined when Vietnam was going on,
and fortunately or unfortunately, it all depends how you look
at And instead of being sent to Vietnam, I got

(24:50):
sent to Germany.

Speaker 3 (24:51):
And I was.

Speaker 10 (24:53):
A deputy State Director and I was in charge of
constituent services. And one of the things that I did,
I could tell you a story after a story of
how I helped people, not necessarily for federal claims, but people.
There's a guy, the first guy that I remember helping,

(25:13):
came to me as riverbank was falling in and coming
up close to his home, and he said, I got
to save my home. He said, I've been to the
other congressional offices, governor's offices, and they turned them down.
And so I was sitting there thinking, what if it
was me, who is going to help me? And that's

(25:37):
what made me so successful as Senator Rockefeller and people,
you know, even other congressional offices, I mean even people
from other states. We can't help you, but call West
and you know, I didn't have no guidebook, but I
had to think out of the seat, out of the
box and try to help people. That's what I did,

(25:59):
and that's what I want to do for the people
in the seventeenth district, you know, instead of politics as
usual forget. You know, I'm not running to make you know,
the Democratic Party what it used to be. I'm running
for the people of the seventeenth district. And that's what
people want to be. A true legislator, someone who cares

(26:22):
listen just to their concerns, and more than that act
on them.

Speaker 3 (26:27):
You were talking with Wes Holden, who's a Democrat for
State Center run down District seventeen. Now the currently seat
is held by a Republican. You are a Democrat, as
you've mentioned, and I've mentioned, it's not always easy these days, Wes,
for a Democrat to gain any traction in West Virginia.

Speaker 10 (26:43):
Talk about that, Well, that is a fact. But I
think if we you know, just much as I mentioned,
if we take a look at their track record, they're
not representing the people they're going after can legislation, and

(27:03):
I think today if people would look, you know, be
seriously informed, what has this governor, what has this legislature
been doing for the people of West Virginia, let's say,
in the past ten years, not really doing anything. We
see unemployment increasing, we see jobs closing, we see schools closing.

(27:30):
Someone needs to put the brakes on and try to
figure out not necessarily we know what's wrong, but what
are we going to do about it? And you know,
when we are worked for Senator Rockefeller, Jay was very
good about bringing people from outside the state, working with
the Office of Economic Development, working with the Tourism Bureau,

(27:52):
and we would bring people in. We call it the
J train, and we'd go visit different sites and and
try to fit their business with what West Virginia can do.
But unfortunately, one of the things that we have to
do is improve our education so that we have an

(28:13):
educated workforce. And that is one of the primary things
I want to work on is education.

Speaker 3 (28:22):
Let's talk about getting people to stay in West Virginia, Wes.
You know that is an issue and the Republican your
Republican counterparts would would agree the same, the same issue.
We just aren't getting our young people to want to
stay in West Virginia. There have been various programs designed
to bring people into the Mountain States. We've seen those

(28:43):
in Charleston, Elkins, some of these other areas to take
Morgans out to take a part in those. But what
do we need to do to make West Virginia a
states Because we're losing population. And we're not just losing
population because people are dying off. There are people that
are choosing not to live in West Virginia for one reason.
Another are either residents that are moving out of state
or people maybe that aren't looking to West Virginia as

(29:05):
a choice. What do we need to do to market
West Virginia, perhaps two West Virginians to make them want
to stay here.

Speaker 10 (29:12):
Well, first off, if you look at it, most of
our base are older people. Young people cannot find jobs.
So and let's say you're wanting to move to West Virginia,
what are you going to look at. You're going to
look at our schools, You're going to look for a
clean environment. You know, Kanawah County is blessed because we

(29:36):
have a lot of those good things. But last year
I ran as an independent for Congress and as a
legislator for Kanah County, but also you're being a Senator
for the state of West Virginia. It's a much bigger problem,
and I just felt so bad. You know, those areas

(29:59):
of economic divis elements that can be brought in, and
we have to, you know, work with small mom and
pop businesses. Those are the root, the basic foundation of
building people. So if we could help more small businesses
get started. And you know, with what Secretary PAC's doing,

(30:23):
you know, he has a lot of good ideas, and
you know, just because it's a Republican idea, I'm not
afraid of working with that. I'm just want to work
with them to try to make things better. And we
need people who think ahead instead of being caught up
in local politics.

Speaker 3 (30:44):
But Dave Alan's showing five Any Lives has brought you
a part. But I Live Healthy West Virginia presented by
WVU Medicine, a podcast promoting healthier lifestyles and to beyond
the state check have a leave. This episode's wv Metronews
dot com and of the podcast mean you uh We's
where can people learn more about your campaign?

Speaker 10 (30:59):
Well? I have the campaign's website, West for West Virginia Senate.
You can go there and the website should be opening
up and they can just look at my Facebook post
West for West or West or West Virginia Senat or
even look at what I stand for. But many people

(31:20):
when I campaigned last year, many people remember me and
out of the clear blue when I'd be talking to
them wherever, and they say, don't you remember me? You
helped me with this, you helped me with that. And
I think that's what people are looking for in a legislator.
They're not looking for some figurehead or party head. They're

(31:41):
looking for someone who cares about the people. And that's
what and that's why I want to get involved. I
could be doing other things, but I care about the people.
As I also said, I'm a tenth generation West Virginian
and my roots are here. You know, my heart is here,

(32:02):
and that's why I'm here and I want to do something.

Speaker 3 (32:07):
Wesley Holding, a Democrat running for State Senati District seventeen,
pleasure to have you on the show. We wish you
luck in the upcoming year and have a very happy
holiday season.

Speaker 10 (32:15):
Thanks a lot, well, thank you, and let's work together
to address the challenges facing us in West Virginia and
build a future that's worthy of our highest aspirations. We
can do better, we must do better, and the future
of West Virginia is in our hands.

Speaker 3 (32:32):
All right, sounds good, We'll talk soon.

Speaker 5 (32:34):
Thanks a lot, thank you.

Speaker 3 (32:36):
The Dave Vlan Show on five a d E. Live
is brought to you a part by your hometown baseball team,
the Charleston Dirty Bird Selango All Life the Night, continuing
over Gomart Ballpark every night through January first, except for
Christmas nights and now last night they postponed because the
cold temperatures and whatnot. So we did want to remind
you that if you had already purchased tickets for last night.
Your tickets will be honored any other night during life

(32:59):
than night, or you can use them for a twenty
twenty six Charleston Dirty Birds home game. They should be
okay to go tonight because things are starting to look
a lot better weatherwise, But they did. That's twice that
they've had to postpone over to ballpark and completely understood.
But if you are planning on going, get your tickets
in advance. That is the way to do it. Dblththnight
dot com. Dblightthnight dot com twenty minutes away from ten o'clock.

(33:22):
Rest of the show is yours, big Ley Pickli Wiggly
Hotline three zero four three four five fifty eight fifty
eight Tony the Taylor Text three zero four nine three
five five zero zero. I got a couple of things
in the news I want to get to. Plus, I
do want to get to the topic that was getting
everybody talking yesterday, of course, the tragic murder of actor
and director Rob Ryder and his wife, apparently done by

(33:42):
his son, their son. I should say he's been taken
into custody, expected to be charged. At least there's a
high probability he'll be charged with murdered later in the
Date's not happen as of now, so we're going to
get into that and more importantly, the president's response to it.
It's created quite a firestorm on social media. Of course,
when you're Donald Trump and you put things out there
like that, you know that's what's going to happen, and

(34:04):
that's why he does it. So we'll let you wan
on that. Let's get some other things I want to
get to as well. Nineteen away from ten, we'll take
a break, come back after this. I'm the Voice to
Charleston WCCHS, brought to you by the Eric Jtar Family Businesses.
Eric Jtar Family Businesses care for your family.

Speaker 11 (34:22):
Let's be honest. That holiday list isn't gonna get any
shorter this year. Luckily, a Christmas loan from Members Choice
West Virginia Federal Credit Union can help you mark off
all of those holiday must haves. Borrow up to fifteen
hundred dollars with rates as low as seven point nine
to nine percent APR and up to ten months to
pay it back. So go ahead, wrap the gifts and
deck the halls, because making the season bright should have

(34:44):
breakked the bank. Apply now at Members Choice WV dot com.
Lund your subject to credit approval. Additional restrictions may apply.

Speaker 12 (34:52):
Gentlemen, are you still searching for that perfect holiday gift?
Head over to spaw Bliss on Smith Street. Our holiday
gift card event is here, offering sue spa treatments that
promise relaxation and rejuvenation. Choose from massages, facials and body
wraps perfect for her. Buy a gift card and give
the gift of tranquility. Don't wait until the last minute.

(35:12):
Visit spa Blist today at twelve ten Smith Street, Charleston.
We're online at spablist dot com. Make this holiday unforgettable
with spa Bliss.

Speaker 13 (35:22):
I'm Brett Harper, you're Charleston Edward Jones Financial Advisor. We're
all about financial investments, but we also value the investments
of time, patience, and encouragement our young athletes received from teachers,
coaches and mentors. That's why Edward Jones is a proud
sponsor of Canall Valley High School Football. Call Brett Harper
at three zero four nine to three to two zero

(35:43):
one zero eight or visit Edward Jones dot com for
all your Investment Needs Edward Jones Member.

Speaker 2 (35:49):
SIPC, Premiering December eighteenth, that's seven thirty pm on Metro
News Television. Your Friends at Hope Gas present episode five
of State of Minds. Churchiful visits with Morgan O'Brien, CEO
of Hope Gas.

Speaker 7 (36:04):
When you're in it for the long run, right, you
need to make investments that aren't always going to have
I'll call it tangible return.

Speaker 2 (36:10):
State of Minds Episode five coming to Metro News TV
on December eighteenth at seven thirty pm, presented by Hope
Gas with support from Career Industries only on a Metro
News Television app.

Speaker 3 (36:41):
Welcome back to the show. It's sixteen minutes away from
ten o'clock. The Day Island Show on five eighty Live
is brought to youmpired by the all new Generations Ford
of Hurricane, your Family and locally owned for dealership Generations
providing their customers with X planned discount pricing on the
purchase of select new Forward vehicles. You pay what Ford
suppliers pay pretty simple. Also are offering zero present financy
for new Fords. Check them out that ag just off

(37:02):
the Hurricane Exeter online at generations Ford dot com. One
destination for every generation generations forward. See Dealer for details.
Rest of the show, As I said, is yours big
Lely Pickli Wiggly Hotline three zero four three four five
fifty eight fifty eight. Tony the Taylor text three zero
four nine three five five zero zero eight text says,
this guy is another reason why I don't vote Democrat.
We're not asking you to do something for us. The

(37:24):
opportunity is there. We just want you to get out
of the way. The Democrats have created a welfare state
and nation, it says a Texter. Coming up later today,
Metro News Midday with thirteen News and Tonight Live anchor
Amanda Bearon and Me powered by Selango Law. We got
a lot of stuff I want to get to in
the news today. There's a big announcement actually came yesterday
out to Marshall University, so we're going to get into

(37:46):
that story. Coming up a little bit later on, plus
Jeff Jenkins with the news and more. Metro News Midday
again powered by Selango Law. Coming up with Amanda Baron
from thirteen News and May noon to three today on
this show. Tomorrow, good friend Millie Snyder is going to
be here also another ant it for twenty twenty six.
We'll join us Mike called Masteller. He's a Democrat running
for House in District twenty one. He'll join us on

(38:07):
the show coming up tomorrow. Quick editor's note, programming note.
I actually have a couple of those today. It's always
a good time when I get to go on the
air with Northern Dave as in Dave Wilson talk Line
co host and unless his words, unless I can find
someone better or more interesting between now to eleven thirty,
He's asked me to join him on talk line today
at eleven thirty. I don't exactly know what we're going

(38:28):
to talk about, but we will find something. Of course,
it's always interesting. As I said, when Wilson and I
get together, maybe we'll get into that idea that a
text to Metro News Midday had last week that we
do a calendar featuring all the Daves in this company
and we call it Holla Dave's with me and Wilson

(38:49):
and Weekly and Dave Jacqueline. Interesting idea anyway, I probably
as the way it's looking right now, if you can't
get someone better. TJ's on vacation this week. I'll be
in with Wilson around eleven thirty today on talk line.
Of course, I'll come back later for Metro News at midday,
and speaking to calendars, there was a night them in
the news. I'll tell you this real quick, and there

(39:11):
are particular communities here in the Kanawl Valley in the
governmental branches that may may be struggling a little bit
for cash. But I want to check into this. I
read an article over the weekend from the Wall Street
Journal about a small town not in West Virginia that
was struggling for funds and the people around the town
created a nude or semi nude calendar of the people

(39:34):
in town to raise money, and apparently it was a
big hit. So apparently if you need quick funds for
your town, that's the way to do it. Now, I
want to try not to keep that mental image burned
in my head. The whole town in this case turned
to OnlyFans, So just saying you might want to leg

(39:56):
into it, because apparently worked for them. All right, So
I said, I had a programming note for you. Tomorrow
will be one week away from Christmas Eve, and we're
going to be doing our traditional Jewish Christmas spectacular that
we call it the thing that I've been doing on
the local show for a few years now. I'll be
joined by state Democratic Party chair in Delegate Mike Pushkin,
but not in a political way, So one day of

(40:17):
the year that we go politics free, just Mike and
his guitar, but he's not alone. Bringing one of my
favorite bands here from the Valley, Amos Steel. They are
going to be in studio with Mike. You may have
heard these guys a couple of weeks ago on the
show that they did just prior to their album drop
party over at Marty Gras, and these guys rock and
they're going to be with us. Tony the Taylor, who

(40:39):
sort of serves as the manager of those guys, who
is going to join us in the studio, and who
knows what other people from the musical world we may
be bringing in A big shout out to Richard Lindsay
in family as that will be sponsoring the show as
they did last year, and I'm going to do something
on the show a little bit different this year. Of course,
we're going to give you a full fifty two minutes
or whatever it breaks down to after commercials of Christmas music.

(41:00):
I'll let Mike and the guys that am to Steel
handle that I'm going to extend an invitation to some
of my frequent guests on the program, some from the
world of politics, some not a Republican Democrats to stop
by the studio for the show. So all the mayors Goodwin, James,
the Saint Albans, Case Bolden, Nitro, Frank Mullins from South Charleston,
Randy Barrett, Winfield, Scott Edwards from Hurricane, Kay Summers from Clintena,

(41:23):
all all invited to a tent. I know I left
one or two out, but I'm just saying, all, consider
this your official invite. Our local delegates jb Acres, Kaylee Young,
Kathy Heskraus, Sarah Drennan, Jared Cannon, Roger Hanshaw, Dean Jefferys,
David Ferrell, Andy Shamlin, Wald Hall, Hollis Lewis, Tristan Levatreesa.
How you're all invited to attend? To our senators from

(41:43):
tar Grady, Zach Maynard, Glenn Jeffries, Tom Tacubo, Sharonock, You're
all invited. Who else can we throw in there? Commissioners
Natalie Tennant, Ben Selango and lancewe are all invited. The
Commissioners of Putnam County invited, Sheriff Crawford, Greg Thomas, our
journalistic friends, Steven Allen, Adams, Amelia Nicely, Jim Workman. You

(42:03):
get the idea. They're all invited. Maybe the first radio
show in history ever to be shut down by the
fire Marshall, some of our friends in the building from
V one hundred and KWS and the Mountain the Beat.
I'm going to stop by too. It's gonna be a
big old party, and I hope you'll tune in to
the annual Jewish Christmas Spectacular brought to you by Richard
Lindsay and Family, coming up on the show one week

(42:23):
from tomorrow. But Dave Allen Show in five e D
Live is brought to you part my Husband's Pizza, Get
the Hustin's Holiday pack at large at and inch Pepperoni pizza,
ten bread, six twelve hot wings, and a two little
bottle of Pepsi only thirty three ninety nine. All right,
So it gets to President's President Trump's comments and the
death of actor and director Rob Ryer Reiner, of course
stamped and dead along with his wife and their home.

(42:44):
Their son has been taken into custody. Looks like he
will probably more than likely be charged with murder. So
the comment posted on Truth's Social by the President yesterday
was as follows, A very sad thing happened last night
in Hollywood. Rob Reiner, a tortured and struggling but once
very talented movie director and comedy star, has passed away

(43:05):
together with his wife Michelle, reportedly due to his anger
he calls others through his massive, unyielding and incurable affliction
with a mind crippling disease known as Trump Derangement syndrome,
sometimes referred to as TDS. He was known to have
driven people crazy by his raging obsession. President Donald J.

(43:26):
Trump editors note this is Donald Trump talking about Donald
Trump with this obvious paranoia reaching new heights as the
Trump administrations surpassed all goals and expectations of greatness and
with the golden age of AMERICAUP honors perhaps like never before.
May Rob and Michelle rest in peace. Comments posted on
Truth's Social from President Donald Trump yesterday, and I read

(43:48):
some of the comments yesterday on social media. Comment this
morning says that where do the texts go? That's the
comments of the President show that he is truly graceful
and unhinged. That's according to a texture, not necessarily from me.
So if you want to weigh in on those comments
in the remaining nine minutes or so we have in
the show, you're more than welcome to Bigley Piggy Wiggly

(44:10):
hotline three zero four three four five fifty eight fifty
eight Toty the Tailor text three zero four nine three
five five zero zero. We'll take a break and come
back after this. I'm the Voice of Charleston WCCHS.

Speaker 2 (44:21):
Brought to you by the Eric J. Tar Family Businesses.
Eric J. Tar Family Businesses have been creating jobs in
West Virginia since nineteen ninety seven.

Speaker 14 (44:30):
My name's Chris Miller. I'm president of Dutch Miller Automotive.
Jerrett Construction completely renovated and helped redesign Dutch Miller, Kia
and South Charleston. The fit and the finish in the
quality of the project is exceptional. He has an attention
to detail and an I for that kind of stuff.
You always want to give your best to your customer.
It's just as important to him as as this to you.
If you're ever looking to build anything, I'd call Jered

(44:51):
Construction because you know exactly you're going to get something
excellent every single time.

Speaker 3 (44:57):
Come on Jered's Construction.

Speaker 15 (45:00):
Bigleypigglywiggly on Spring Street has served three generations of shoppers
since nineteen fifty five as the largest locally owned independent
grocery store in the area. The Joseph family owners grew
up here, so you know they're invested in the community.
They provide the biggest variety of choice meats, the freshness
produce in house, Dali Bakery, great wine selection, and more
of your favorite brands. Every purchase gives you gasoline points,

(45:22):
so you can save it our pumps, order online or
pickup at Bigleypigglywiggly dot com not just any Pigleywigglely Bigleypigglywiggily.

Speaker 16 (45:30):
The high school basketball season is underway and you can
watch some of the state's top boys and girls matchup
live and free on Metro News TV, plus our exclusive
new interview series State of Minds, and your favorite daily
programs right on your smart TV or streaming device. Get
more information at WV Metro newstv dot com. Metro News

(45:50):
Television is powered by dan Caavig gmc gomart, Lou Wendel,
Marine Stike, Wealth Enhancement, hand Handle Cleaning and Restoration, and
Boca Valley.

Speaker 6 (46:01):
The Road to the National Championship runs through the WCHS
Sports Network. Friday, December nineteenth, at seven point thirty, Alabama
travels to Oklahoma. Then Saturday, it's a tripleheader beginning at
noon Miami at Texas A and M two Lane at Ole,
miss And the nightcap features James Madison at Oregon. These

(46:22):
teams are fighting for a berth in the quarterfinals. On
New Year's Eve, the WCHS Sports Network your home for
the college football playoffs.

Speaker 3 (46:40):
Seven minutes away from Tama. Dave alland Show on five
D Line broad to you bar By Morgan Morgan. If
you're injured high Morgan to Morgan, America's largest injury law firm.
Let me get to the text line text says on
Shelley Moore Cappado announcing her plans to run for reelection.
She released a video yesterday that she'll be running for reelection,
and then she appeared a METRONWS talk line yesterday with

(47:00):
Wilson to talk about it. Texas great to hear, goes
Shelley Moore Capito. Proud you're working for the people of
our states. As a Texter, Texter says, time to have
Mike push get on. So much going on need his perspective.
When I actually talked to Pushkin yesterday, we were texting
back and forth about something totally unrelated. Of course, he'll
be part of the Jewish Christmas Spectacular next week on

(47:21):
Christmas Eve morning. But when I talked to Mike yesterday,
he had I don't know what he's doing, but he
was in Chicago when I talked to him yesterday. He
was had just touched down in Chicago when I talked
to mister Pushkin. But you know, Mike's always welcome on
the show. But he will definitely be here next week
for the non political Jewish Christmas Spectacular. Tex says, what

(47:43):
do we expect for our senior senator to not criticize
Trump for his disgraceful and deranged comments. Her silence equals
support and consensus. This is not another person who deserves
to represent West Virginia if she backs someone who has
no common decency, says the text. What many and I
can't speak for Senator Shilly more Capital, but what many

(48:04):
people in the Republican party will say to you is
that they are in line with the president's economic policies,
they're in line with what things he's done at the border,
but many of them wish that he'd put the phone down.
I am not a fan of any president, Republican, Democrat, whatever,

(48:26):
being on social media. I mean, I'm just I'm just
not and it's not a good look for any president.
And I was talking to somebody earlier this morning, and
this is a very very good analogy, who said, it's
what the President Trump needs is a phone that's actually
not connected to anything. And this person said, I give

(48:46):
it to my niece. He said, I give it to
my niece, and she thinks she's posting on social media.
She thinks that she's texting people, but she's not. And
perhaps maybe that's what we should do with the And
this was not my idea of this was one of
my buddies ideas I was talking to earlier this morning.
So maybe that's what we do, is we give we

(49:06):
give Trump, we give President Trump a phone, and we
tell him that he's put posting on social media.

Speaker 6 (49:12):
But I don't know that.

Speaker 3 (49:13):
I don't know he would know the difference. Four minutes
away from ten and of an a violence show. On
five of d Live is brought to a part by
Bridge Valley Community and Technical College. Insurance agents are in
demand of the state all across the nation. Bridge Valley
can help you take that first step. Their insurance pre
Sales Licenser course will prepare you to set for the
state required Property and Casualty Insurance Licenser Exam and start
your career in this ever growing field. Checkout Bridge Valley

(49:35):
dot edu for the tails Bridge Valley Community Technical College.
Your career starts here.

Speaker 12 (49:40):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (49:41):
Snarking about some text here, text says, you know everyone
always gives Trump the worst for kissing Russias, But well
that's not true. He takes time to kiss Saudi Arabia
and North Korea's buts too, So it's a tex Tex,
said old dozing Donald. Distracting from the Epstein files, what's
new definitely not healthcare solutions from the pedophile Production Protection Party,

(50:01):
says a thankster. Text says wish smish maga, GOP has
no spine and they support a pathetic leader. According to
a texture Bigley Pigglily Wiggly hotline three zero four three
four five fifty fifty eight Tony the Taylor texts three
zero four nine three five five zero zero eight. Tragic

(50:21):
story and we have it posted on the website this morning.
The death of a basketball star at West Virginia State University,
Ishmael Smith. He was a junior guard and he was
found dead in his dorm room by his teammates on Sunday.

Speaker 12 (50:36):
Now.

Speaker 3 (50:36):
He was a native of Riverdale, Maryland. And again we
have the story posted at wv metronews dot com. We'll
have more on the story coming up later today as
part of Metro News Midday. Urged to go over to
the website and read the story. Yesterday on Hotline, Mister
Weekly had an interview on the show yesterday with Brian
por the head coach of West Virginia State University, and

(50:58):
this was a from I did know this athlete at all.

Speaker 5 (51:01):
I know.

Speaker 3 (51:01):
We cover West Virginia State on our sister station one
of seven three the Beat, and haven't had a chance
to talk things. He's been off for a couple days.
Haven't had a chance to doctor Daniel Woods about that,
but I can I can tell you that this young
man seemed to be from what we understand the picture
of health you never know what happened. A matter of fact,
have you heard the interview I listened to it this

(51:21):
morning that Brian Poorr did on Hotline yesterday. He talked
about that the two had just played pac Man not
long ago, and I think if I heard the interview correctly,
that coach Poorr said that Smith was trying that Ishmael
Smith was trying to top his his all time record
on the pac Man. But regardless, it as a tragic story.

(51:44):
And again we have the story posted at wv metro
news dot com. You know, getting back to the President's
situation on social media, here's just fro a moment. I've
said it, and I've said it time and time again.
It is not a good look. I don't like our
I don't think our people ought to be interacting any
life that official with people on social media. That's just me,
but the MAGA crowd loves it. I had text to

(52:07):
the Midday Show yesterday that praised it what the President
said about Rob Rner because of the things Rob Briner
had said about him. So that's that's where we are,
all right. Coming up on the show tomorrow again, Democratic
candidate for House Michael Mosteller's gonna stop my also, a
good friend Millie Snyder, will be here. I will be
back later today Metro News Midday with thirteen News and
Tonight Live Anchor Amanda Baron and Me powered by Selango Lop,

(52:29):
My producer, the senior producer, Ryan Nicholson, Thank you so much.
Gonna warm up a little bit. Maybe we're gonna get
rid of some of the snow and ice on the
back roads out there. I'll see you later today and
back on this show tomorrow. Till then, have fun. Love Somebody.

Speaker 2 (52:59):
Ninety six point five FM, Charleston at one oh four
point five Cross Lanes, a WVRC Media station.

Speaker 3 (53:05):
We're proud to live here too.