September 8, 2025 • 26 mins
Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including national attention directed toward the 2026 Republican primary campaign for U.S. Senate. Panelists: Ryland Barton, NPR; Liam Niemeyer, Kentucky Lantern; and Alex Acquisto, Lexington Herald-Leader.
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Episode Transcript
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(00:01):
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
A SCHOOL SHOOTING GETS
ATTENTION IN KENTUCKY AND THE
GOVERNOR TALKS SCHOOL SAFETY.
A UNION VOTE AT THE BLUEOVAL SK
BATTERY PLANT IN HARDIN COUNTY.
KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE RACE AND
THE HOUSE RACE DRAW INTEREST
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
KENTUCKY CONSIDERS STUDYING
TREATING DRUG ADDICTION WITH A
(00:28):
PSYCHEDELIC DRUG.
HEADING INTO A COMFORTABLE LABOR
DAY WEEKEND, COMMENT IS NEXT ON
KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT.
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
(00:49):
ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND
SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS
IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE
GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING
KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE
ALEX ACQUISTO POLITICS AND
HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.
LIAM NIEMEYER, REPORTER FOR THE
KENTUCKY LANTERN.
AND WE WELCOMING BACK RYLAND
(01:09):
BARTON KENTUCKY BASED EDITOR FOR
NPR.
WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION WITH
ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING.
IT HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA.
BUT THERE ARE KENTUCKY
CONNECTIONS.
AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR ORDERED
FLAGS LOWERED IN THE STATE OUT
OF RESPECT FOR THE VICTIMS.
THIS WEEK BESHEAR NOTED SOME OF
THE CHALLENGES IN SCHOOL
SECURITY.
>> YOU THINK OUR SCHOOLS ARE
(01:30):
REALLY OLD.
TO CREATE THAT ONE ENTRANCE AND
EXIT IN THE SCHOOL TO HAVE THE
ELECTRONIC LOCKING DOORS SOME
SCHOOLS THAT MAYBE 100 YEARS OLD
IS CHALLENGING.
I THINK ALL SCHOOLS ARE WORKING
THROUGH THEIR BUDGETS WORKING TO
GET THERE.
I SEE EFFORTS BEING MADE ALL
ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND I
(01:51):
BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HIT 100%.
RYLAND, THIS STORY WAS
UNFOLDING HERE AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND IT'S
OBVIOUSLY VERY JARRING TO
PARENTS AND THERE YOU HAD
GOVERNOR BESHEAR ACKNOWLEDGING
IT IS A CHALLENGE TO HAVE SAFETY
IN OUR SCHOOLS.
>> IT IS.
AND EVEN WHEN YOU PASS BILLS TO
(02:11):
FUND IT AND TRY TO MAKE SURE IT
HAPPENED.
THESE SAFETY MEASURES HAPPEN IS
BACK IN 2018 THERE WAS THE
TERRIBLE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN
MARSHALL COUNTY AND LAWMAKERS
PASSED A BILL THAT REQUIRED THE
THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS
MENTIONING THE HARDENING
SCHOOLS, BOOSTING SECURITY.
ANOTHER THINGS REQUIRING EVERY
SCHOOL TO HAVE A RESOURCE
(02:32):
OFFICER WHICH MANY SCHOOLS HAVE
MADE STRIDES TO DO BUT NOT ALL
HAVE THEM.
BESHEAR IS SAYING THE
LEGISLATURE NEEDING TO FURTHER
AND CALLED FOR THEM TO PASS A
RED FLAG LAW.
THAT WOULD REQUIRE CREATE A
PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE DEEMED TO
BE IN DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR
OTHERS COULD HAVE THEIR FIREARMS
(02:54):
CONFISCATED.
IT'S BEEN CONTROVERSIAL.
ALL OF THOSE HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT THE
LEGISLATURE COULD TAKE UP DURING
THIS BUDGET SESSION HE IS
HINTING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULD COME UP WHEN IT'S ON THE
MIND OF PARENTS WHAT A
TERRIFYING THING TO HAPPEN.
>> AND THERE'S BEEN SOME
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE PAST
FOR SOMETHING LIKE A RED FLAG
(03:14):
LAW FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS,
MOST RECENTLY.
WESTERFIELD AND SENATOR PAUL
HORNBECK BUT REMAINS REPUBLICAN
OPPOSITION, ESPECIALLY FROM WHAT
IS DESCRIBED AS THE LIBERTY WING
OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN SUCH A MEASURE.
(03:35):
HE DID BRING IT UP.
ALEX, WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE
SHOOTER HAS KENTUCKY
CONNECTIONS.
>> RIGHT.
THE SHOOTER'S MOTHER IS THE
SISTER OF FORMER LONG TIME STATE
REPRESENTATIVE BOB HEALTH RINGER
WHO SERVED IN THE HOUSE FROM
1980 TO 2003.
(03:56):
BOB WAS INTERVIEWED AND SAID HE
LEARNED OF IT WHEN THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY DID AND HOW
HORRIFYING IT WAS HE DIDN'T
REALLY KNOW ROBIN, THE SHOOTER
VERY WELL.
THEY GREW UP IN MINNESOTA.
HE SAID HE WISHED THAT HE HAD
BEEN SHOT INSTEAD OF THOSE
CHILDREN.
BUT WHAT A HORRIFYING THING.
(04:19):
NATIONAL STORY THAT WAS
BROUGHT TO ALL OF US AND HERE IN
KENTUCKY THIS WEEK AS WE SAID
THE GOVERNOR IS MARKING THIS
WITH THE FLAGS BEING DOWN.
>> HE IS.
IT'S OUR STATE'S MINOR
CONTRIBUTION TO HONOR THE
VICTIMS.
MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE WERE
INJURED INCLUDING MANY CHILDREN
IT IS A WAY TO SHOW SOLIDARITY.
(04:41):
AS THE SCHOOL YEAR IS
STARTING AROUND THE COUNTRY
THERE ARE SWATTING CALLS FAKE
CALLS ABOUT INCIDENTS.
THIS WEEK THE UNIVERSITY OF
KENTUCKY HAD A DISRUPTION AND
ALEX THE PENALTIES ARE STIFF AND
INCREASINGLY SO.
THERE ARE FEDERAL AND KENTUCKY
MADE IT A FELONY.
HOWEVER, IT IS DIFFICULT TO
(05:02):
INVESTIGATE THESE CALLS AND
BECAUSE THEY COULD COME FROM
ANYWHERE.
>> THEY ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO
TRACE.
WE MADE IT A FELONY WHICH MEANS
IT'S PUNISHABLE 1-5 YEARS IN
PRISON AND FINE UP TO $10,000.
THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY GOT A
CALL AN ACTIVE SHOOTER WAS
OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY.
(05:22):
POLICE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
BUT THE CALLS ARE DISRUPTIVE
BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE AN IMMENSE
SORT OF CONCENTRATION OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND EMS SERVICES
THEY ARE COSTLY AND THE POINT IS
THEY TAKE THOSE RESOURCES AWAY
FROM EMERGENCIES THAT ARE
HAPPENING.
IS THIS A NATIONAL TREND NOT
JUST IN KENTUCKY.
(05:43):
AND THE ACTUAL GOAL OF
EDUCATION THIS IS WHAT IS SO
TOUGH THESE THINGS ARE GOING ON.
>> CERTAINLY.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
AS WE HEAD INTO LABOR DAY
WEEKEND, WORKERS AT THE BLUEOVAL
SK BATTERY PLANT IN HARDIN
COUNTY HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION
ABOUT WHETHER TO JOIN THE UNITED
AUTO WORKERS.
AT THIS POINT, I KNOW YOU'VE
(06:04):
BEEN FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY.
THE UNION VOTE IS CLOSELY
WATCHED ACROSS KENTUCKY AND
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> YEAH.
IT WAS TWO DAYS THIS WEEK WHEN
THE HUNDREDS OF WORKERS VOTED
AND IT WAS CLOSE.
THE RESULTS CAME BACK WEDNESDAY
EVENING 11-VOTE MARGIN IN FAVOR
OF THE UNION.
(06:25):
BUT THERE'S ALSO CHALLENGE
BALLOTED THAT NATIONAL LABOR
RELATIONS BOARD HAS TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO COUNT THESE BALLOTS
ELIGIBILITY OF THESE VOTERS.
THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS SAID
THAT THEY PUT OUT A STATEMENT
CALLING THE MAJORITY THAT VOTED
(06:45):
FOR THE UNION A HARD, FOUGHT
VICTORY AND SAID THAT THE
CHALLENGE BALLOTS, THEY WEREN'T
WORKERS WHO WERE THERE WHO BUILT
UP THE UNION FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING.
BLUEOVAL SK BLUEOVAL SK WHICH IS
A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN FORD
MOTOR COMPANY AND SK ON THEY
(07:06):
WANT EVERY VOTE TO BE COUNTED.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS FEDERAL
AGENCY HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER
THESE VOTES ARE GOING TO GO AND
IT COULD, COULD, POTENTIALLY
CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE
ELECTION NOT CERTAIN.
IT'S PRELIMINARY RIGHT
NOW.
>> YES.
>> AND CERTIFIED AND
POTENTIALLY, THE UAW COULD MOVE
IN?
(07:26):
>> CORRECT, YES.
WHAT COULD THIS MEAN
FOR THE FUTURE OF UNIONIZATION
EFFORTS IN KENTUCKY AND REALLY
AROUND THE SOUTH?
>> WELL, UNION ORGANIZERS HOPE
IF THIS IS SUCCESSFUL THIS WILL
BE A SIGN OF MOMENTUM FOR SOME
OF THE EFFORTS.
THERE'S BEEN MIXED RESULTS FOR
(07:47):
SIMILAR EFFORTS ACROSS THE
SOUTH.
WHICH WE'VE SEEN THERE IS A
PUBLICIZED ONE IN CHATTANOOGA.
A VOLKSWAGEN PLANT AND ONE THAT
FAILED IN A MERCEDES PLANT IN
ALABAMA.
UNION IS HOPING THAT SHOWING
THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
WORKERS NO MATTER THEIR
POLITICAL STRIPES WANT TO TRY
(08:09):
AND PROTECT THEIR --
TRY AND GET GUARANTEES FOR UNION
BENEFITS.
EVEN IF THEY ARE IN A RIGHT TO
WORK STATE, LIKE KENTUCKY IS.
AND, AGAIN, IT WOULD SHOW THIS
CAN STILL HAPPEN DESPITE THOSE
SORTS OF LAWS.
AND THAT WOULD FLY IN THE FACE A
LOT OF THE WHAT THE TREND HAS
BEEN IN DECADES OF THE DECLINE
IN UNION MEMBERSHIP.
(08:29):
>> AND THE UAW THEY HAVE HAD
CHALLENGES WITH TRYING TO
ORGANIZE PLANTS IN THE SOUTH,
SPECIFICALLY, PLANTS THAT ARE
OWNED BY FOREIGN AUTO COMPANIES.
THEY HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF
SUCCESS RECENTLY SPECIFICALLY
ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PLANTS
IN INDIANA.
AND SO, YOU KNOW THIS CLOSE
(08:50):
VOTE, IT SERVES AS ANOTHER TEST
FOR THE UNION AND WE'LL SEE WHAT
HAPPENS WITH THE CHALLENGED
BALLOTS.
IT'S OFTEN A TOUGH
BATTLE AND THIS ONE WAS.
>> YES.
THERE WAS ALLEGATIONS OF
WORKPLACE SAFETY ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, WORKERS CONCERNED
ABOUT HANDLING CHEMICALS
ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLE
(09:10):
BATTERIES.
AND THE UAW BEFORE THE ELECTION
THEY CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION
INTO WHAT THEY WERE SAYING IT
WAS A SCORCHED EARTH ANTIUNION
CAMPAIGN DONE BY BLUEOVAL SK.
YOU KNOW, BLUEOVAL SK HAS
DISMISSED CONCERNS REGARDING
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND YOU KNOW,
CALLED THE CALL FOR AN
(09:32):
INVESTIGATION A LEGAL TACTIC TO
TRY TO DELAY THE ELECTION
POTENTIALLY.
BUT, AGAIN, THE ELECTION RESULTS
ARE WHAT THEY ARE AND WE'LL SEE
HOW IT URN TURNS OUT.
THE REDISTRICTING
BATTLES TOUCHED OFF BY TEXAS AND
CALIFORNIA LOOKING TO COUNTER
THAT ARE GETTING ATTENTION
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
(09:53):
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S SUPPORT
FOR GAVIN NEWSOM'S APPROACH
CAUSED KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS TO
SAY MAYBE THE LINES SHOULD BE
REDRAWN IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE.
KENTUCKY HAS ONE DEMOCRAT IN
WASHINGTON AND THAT IS MORGAN
MCGARVEY HE IS FROM LOUISVILLE.
IS THIS REAPPORTION MEANT BATTLE
(10:14):
COME TO KENTUCKY?
>> THERE ARE OTHER STATES,
MISSOURI TODAY SAID THEY WILL
JOIN THIS BATTLE.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT
REPUBLICANS UP UNTIL BESHEAR
MADE THE STATEMENT TAMPED DOWN
ANY NOTION THAT THIS WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN HERE.
McGARVEY SERVED IN
THE SENATE AND KNOWS EVERYBODY.
>> AND IT SEEMS THE SENATE SAID
(10:34):
THIS WASN'T GOING TO BE A
STARTER HERE.
AND BESHEAR SAID THAT GAVIN
NEWSOM HIS MOVE IN CALIFORNIA HE
SUPPORTS IT IF THIS IS THE NEW
RULE BOOK WE BETTER ALL PLAY BY
THE RULES.
THIS OPENS THE DOOR FOR OTHER
REPUBLICANS TO TWITTER AND SAY
GREEN LIGHT, SCOTT JENNINGS SAID
THIS IS A GREEN LIGHT FOR
(10:55):
REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY.
IF BESHEAR IS CONDONING THIS
PRACTICE IN ANOTHER STATE WHAT
IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD
FOR GANDER HERE.
AND OTHER REPUBLICANS ARE
INTERESTED IN THIS.
THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHETHER THIS COULD HAPPEN.
BESHEAR IS CRITICIZING IT SAYING
IF REPUBLICANS DID IT THIS MIGHT
(11:16):
BACK FAIR FOR THEM.
BUT IF THEY WERE TO BREAK APART
THAT ONE DEMOCRATIC, THIRD
CONGRESS AT DISTRICT IN THE
LOUISVILLE AREA THEN THAT COULD
CREATE TWO COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS
BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS.
BUT THE OTHER THING PROBABLY
MORE PRESSING FOR LAWMAKERS
CONSIDERING THIS IS THE TIMELINE
OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
(11:37):
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN THEY COME IN
JANUARY THIRD AND THE DEADLINE
THE FILING DEADLINE IS JANUARY
6.
WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE
SUSPENDED.
>> YOU WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THE
DEADLINE OR SUSPEND A LOT OF
RULES TO DOING THAT ALL FOR WHAT
PURPOSE?
FOR KIND OF THIS NEW TREND THAT
(11:59):
IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WHICH IS REALLY BOLD FACE
REDRAWING MAPS FOR POLITICAL
PURPOSES WHICH USED TO A VEIL
THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS WAY
BUT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID
WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET INTO IN
THE WAY OF STATES THAT DO THIS.
AND STATE SUPREME COURTS
INCLUDING KENTUCKY SAID WE'RE
NOT GOING TO GET IN THE WAY OF
THIS PRACTICE WE DON'T HAVE
(12:20):
RULES AGAINST THAT POLITICAL
DRAWING.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE DOWN THE LINE IN
KENTUCKY BUT THAT IS THE BATTLE
WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY
RIGHT NOW.
AS YOU NOTED IF IT DOES
GO TO THAT THAT THIRD DISTRICT
IS LOUISVILLE CENTRIC AND, I
GUESS, IT WOULD BE MOVING IN
SOME OF THE SURROUNDING MORE
REPUBLICAN LEANING COUNTIES?
>> YOU CAN IMAGINE DIFFERENT
(12:40):
WAYS TO DRAW IT THAT PICK UP
PARTS OF THE AREA THAT IS HELD
BY THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY THE
FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OR
THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT PICKS IT UP.
A LOT OF THESE ARE HEAVILY
REPUBLICAN.
JAMES COMER WON HIS
CONGRESSIONAL RACE BY 30, 40%,
(13:01):
40 POINTS.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE WINNING IN
LANDSLIDES THEY ARE NOT
COMPETITIVE RACES.
SO MAYBE THEY HAVE LEEWAY TO
GIVE.
BUT IT IS HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC SO
THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF
DEMOCRATIC VOTERS FLORIDA
FLOODING INTO A REPUBLICAN
CONTROLLED DISTRICT.
KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE
PRIMARY IS ONE OF THE CLOSEST
(13:23):
WATCHED CONTESTS DANIEL CAMERON,
ANDY BARR AND NATE MORRIS ARE
EACH LOOKING FOR A LANE TO WIN
THE G.O.P. NOMINATION.
WE SEE THE ADS WE KNOW THAT
FANCY FARM, THE STATE FAIR, PUT
THEIR RETAIL CAMPAIGN EFFORTS ON
DISPLAY.
AND THEN THERE ARE MAILINGS AND
MESSAGES GOING OUT ON PHONES AND
SOMETIMES SOME OF THOSE HAVE
(13:45):
TROUBLE.
>> SURE.
I MEAN, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW,
THEY'VE TRIED TO OUT ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRIAL TRIED TO MAKE
THEMSELVES PREVALENT, BUT, YEAH,
MOST RECENTLY THERE WAS A SCREEN
SHOT THAT WAS CIRCULATING ON
SOCIAL MEDIA APPEARING TO SHOW
U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE NATE
(14:06):
MORRIS' FUNDRAISING E-MAIL THAT
IN THE TEXT OF THE E-MAIL,
ASSERTED THAT NATE MORRIS WAS
TRUMP ENDORSED.
AND TRUMP HAS NOT ENDORSED ANY
U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE.
NATE MORRIS' CAMPAIGN SAID IT
WAS AN ERROR BY THE VENDOR OF
THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
PLATFORM WHEN RED IT WAS PUT IN
(14:28):
THERE ERRONEOUSLY.
CANDIDATES DANIEL CAMERON AND
ANDY BARR STILL FOUND
OPPORTUNITIES TO CRITICIZE NATE
MORRIS OVER IT.
AND IT WAS ALSO THE SCREEN SHOT
THIS WHOLE SITUATION WAS ALSO
PROMOTED BY RIGHT-WING
INFLUENCER LAURA AS WELL.
YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE KENTUCKY AND HAVE A NATIONAL
(14:50):
PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS HOW MUCH
OF THIS THREE WAY REPUBLICAN
CONTEST BEING WATCHED?
>> A LOT BECAUSE IT'S MITCH
McCONNELL.
BUT BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES DOWN
TO IT A REPUBLICAN IS GOING TO
WIN THAT RACE.
I HATE TO PROGRESS NEWSCAST
INDICATE A RACE THAT IS OVER A
YEAR AWAY BUT THAT IS THE TREND
(15:12):
KENTUCKY HAS BEEN GOING IN.
NO MATTER WHO WINS THAT
THREE-WAY RACE WHICH CAN BE
EXPENSIVE THAT IS THE THING
WE'RE WATCHING AND SEEING IS
UNFOLDING RIGHT NOW, BUT,
McCONNELL HELD THAT SEAT AND
PEOPLE ARE WONDERING ONE, THAT
HAS BECOME THE ISSUE IS WHO IS
THE LEAST McCONNELL CANDIDATE
WHO CAN RUN AWAY FROM HIM THE
(15:32):
QUICKEST.
EACH ONE OF THESE DO HAVE SOME
TIE TO THE FORMER SENATOR AS --
THE CURRENT SENATOR.
AS DOES EVERY REPUBLICAN ELECTED
REPUBLICAN IN KENTUCKY ONE WAY
OR ANOTHER OWES A LOT TO HIM FOR
BUILDING THIS PARTY OVER THE
COURSE OF HOWEVER MANY DECADES.
I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF
ATTENTION WHO IS GOING TO BE HIS
(15:54):
SUCCESSOR IN KENTUCKY BUT IN THE
END IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO
AFFECT THE MAP OF MAKING
KENTUCKY A COMPETITIVE RACE IN
THE GENERAL ELECTION.
ALL RIGHT.
PAMELA STEVENSON STILL HAS THE
FIELD TO HERSELF ON THAT SIDE.
HOW DOES SHE GET ATTENTION WITH
THE REPUBLICANS HAVING THIS
BATTLE AND SHE IS OVER THERE
WITHOUT --
>> IT'S GOING TO BE HARD
(16:16):
ESPECIALLY IF THIS BECOMES SO
EXPENSIVE.
THERE'S THIS IDEA OF THERE BEING
A FINITE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN IN THE
POLITICAL ROOM AND THESE
REPUBLICANS WILL BE BURNING UP A
LOT OF IT.
ONE PART IS IF ANDY BESHEAR
COMES OUT AND IS STUMPING FOR
HER HE IS A POPULAR FIGURE IN
(16:36):
KENTUCKY WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS A
HE IS A DEMOCRAT.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT CAN BOOST HER
STANDING AND PROFILE.
AND I THINK IT WILL BE
INTERESTING TOO, IF ANOTHER
DEMOCRAT GETS INTO THE RACE SO
THERE ARE DEBATES AHEAD OF A
PRIMARY ELECTION.
OTHERWISE WE ARE WAITING FOR THE
GENERAL.
AND THERE'S GOING TO BE
(16:57):
SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN IN KENTUCKY
A DEMOCRAT BEING I'M READY TO
DEBATE.
AND THE REPUBLICAN JUST I THINK
I'M OKAY.
AND MAYBE THERE MIGHT BE ONE ON
KET.
SHORTLY BEFORE THE ELECTION.
IT'S USUALLY ONLY IN THE
COMPETITIVE ONES WHERE WE SEE
THOSE DEBATES MULTIPLE DEBATES
HAPPEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE
(17:19):
CAMPAIGN.
SENATOR RAND PAUL
TRAVELED THE STATE ONE STOP WAS
AN EVENT WITH LOUISVILLE
BUSINESS LEADERS HE EXPRESSED
CONCERNS ABOUT TARIFFS.
>> SO TARIFFS, 300 BILLION
DOLLARS SO FAR, HAVE BEEN PASSED
WITHOUT ANYBODY'S APPROVAL
WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF YOUR
REPRESENTATIVES.
SO, I THINK THAT IS WRONG AND
MANY REPUBLICANS LIKE WE LOVE
(17:39):
THE PRESIDENT BE QUIET AND I
LOOK AT MY TWITTER FEED AND IT'S
OVERWHELMINGLY SAYING OBEY THE
PRESIDENT DO WHAT THE PRESIDENT
WANTS.
OKAY.
SO PAUL HAS CRITICIZED THE
PRESIDENT'S TARIFF STRATEGY AND
WORRIES ABOUT THEIR IMPACT ON
KENTUCKY.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN PARTICULARLY WE SPOKE
(18:00):
ABOUT BOURBON SAYING HE THOUGHT
TOUGH TIMES WERE GOING TO
CONTINUE.
YOU KNOW IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT RECIPROCAL TARIFFS
REGARDING BOURBON HAVE BEEN
DROPPED BUT THERE'S UNCERTAINTY
WITH TARIFFS COMING FROM THE EU.
AND THE BOURBON INDUSTRY THEY
HAVE THINGS TO DEAL WITH BEYOND
(18:23):
JUST TARIFFS.
YOUNGER PEOPLE IN GENERAL ARE
DRINKING LESS ALCOHOL.
WHICH SOMETHING THAT PAUL SPOKE
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT.
AND SO, YEAH, TARIFFS ARE THE
WAY PAUL DESCRIBED IT THEY ARE
THE NEW NORMAL RIGHT NOW.
>> I WILL MENTION TODAY THERE
WAS A U.S. APPEALS COURT THAT
RULED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT'S
(18:45):
TARIFF SCHEME UNDER THE SAME
GROUNDS SAYING THIS IS CONGRESS'
POWER TO DO THIS.
TRUMP HAS BEEN PUSHING THIS
EMERGENCY AUTHORITY TO ITS LIMIT
AND RULED AGAINST HIM BUT THEY
HAVE LEFT THE TARIFFS IN PLACE
UNTIL OCTOBER WHICH LEAVES THE
DOOR OPEN TO BE APPEALED TO THE
SUPREME COURT WHERE IT WILL
LIKELY BE DECIDED.
(19:05):
HERE IN KENTUCKY THE
2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOT
FAR AWAY AND ISSUES CONTINUE 0
EMERGE.
KENTUCKY HAS BEEN DEALING WITH
THE OPIOID CRISIS FOR YEARS AND
SOME ARE COMING UP WITH A
PROPOSED NEW APPROACH.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR DONALD
DOUGLAS WHO IS A DOCTOR TALKED
ABOUT IBOGAINE AS A NEW WAY TO
(19:27):
TREAT DRUG ABUSE.
>> I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE A
DIFFERENT CLINICAL MODEL.
WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE
SAME CLINICAL MODEL OVER AND
OVER FOR DECADES.
AND IT AIN'T WORKING FOLKS.
IT'S NOT WORKING.
ALEX GIVE US CONTEXT
(19:47):
HERE ABOUT THIS PSYCHEDELIC
DRUG?
>> SURE PART OF WHAT SENATOR
DOUGLAS IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE
SAYS THIS CLINICAL MODEL IS NOT
WORKING ARE F.D.A. APPROVED
DRUGS ON THE MARKET RIGHT NOW TO
TREAT A VARIETY OF ADDICTION.
NALTREXONE, SUBOXONE.
HE IS SAYING BECAUSE THOSE DO
NOT WORK FOR EVERYBODY, AND THAT
(20:07):
IS TRUE, KENTUCKY SHOULD LOOK
INTO CONSIDERING RESEARCHING AND
INVESTING IN THAT RESEARCH
STUDYING THE PSYCHEDELIC
PROLIFERATED CALLED IBOGAINE.
VIEWERS MAY REMEMBER TWO YEARS
AGO WHEN A COMMISSION THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR DOLLING OUT
OPIOID LAWSUITS SETTLEMENT MONEY
CONSIDERED INVESTING THE SAME
(20:29):
THING, BRIAN HUBBARD WAS THE
CHAIR OF THAT THEY HELD PUBLIC
HEARINGS AND HEARD FROM PEOPLE
THAT TOOK IBOGAINE AND TRIED SO
MANY OTHER THINGS TO MAINTAIN
THEIR SO BRIGHT AND NOTHING
WORKED UNTIL THEY TOOK IBOGAINE
AND SOON AFTER RUSSELL COLEMAN
TOOK OFFICE AND THAT PROPOSAL
WAS LEFT ON THE CUTTING ROOM
(20:50):
FLOOR.
FAST FORWARD TWO YEARS BRING AN
HUBBARD TOOK THAT PROPOSAL TO
TEXAS AND THEY AGREED TO INVEST
$50 MILLION INTO RESEARCHING
IBOGAINE AND NOW SENATOR DOUGLAS
IS SAYING ON THE HEELS OF THIS
AND OTHER STATES THAT ARE
REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SHOWING
INTEREST IN THIS, HE MENTIONED A
15-STATE CONSORTIUM POOLING
(21:11):
MONEY FOR THE RESEARCH SHOULD
KENTUCKY CONSIDER IT HE PLANS TO
FILE A BILL AND THE GOAL IS TO
CONDUCT CLINICAL TRIALS TO THE
POINT WHERE THE F.D.A. CAN
APPROVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IT IS A VERY INTERESTING IDEA
AND IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, HOW
MUCH THE FIELD HAS CHANGED OVER
THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE HAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP COMING
IN FOR A SECOND TERM.
(21:34):
R.F.K. JR. BEING HHS SECRETARY
REPUBLICANS BEING MORE
HOSPITABLE TO THE IDEA OF
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND
IBOGAINE FITS WITHIN THAT.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING ONCE THE
BILL IS FILED TO HEAR THE
DISCUSSION ON IT.
IT IS A SCHEDULE ONE DRUG WHICH
MEANS IT'S ILLEGAL.
WILL THE REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY
CHOOSE TO DECLASSIFY IT OR LOWER
(21:55):
THE SCHEDULE LIKE WITH MEDICAL
MARIJUANA OR PUSHING BACK
THINKING IT'S TOO EXPERIMENTAL
WHICH IS WHAT ATTORNEY GENERAL
SAID.
HE REMAINS OPPOSED.
>> HE WAS OPPOSED TO DEVOTING
SETTLEMENT MONEY TO IT.
AND THAT IS WHAT BESHEAR SAID,
TOO.
BUT HIS TONE MIGHT CHANGE WITH
THE NEWEST PROPOSAL.
(22:15):
INTERESTING DISCUSSION
AHEAD ON THAT.
A PROPOSED KENTUCKY
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD
RESTORE THE VOTING RIGHTS OF
CONVICTED FELONS WHO HAVE DONE
THEIR TIME A PUSH FOR AN
AMENDMENT WHICH IS BIPARTISAN.
>> THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE SERVED
THEIR TIME, THEY NEED THAT TO
GET THAT PRIVILEGE OF VOTING
BACK AS LONG AS IT WASN'T A
(22:37):
CRIME AGAINST A CHILD, ROBBERY
OR THOSE LISTED IN THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
>> KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THREE
STATES THAT DOES NOT DO
AUTOMATIC RESTORATION OF VOTING
RIGHTS.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS
HAPPENING ACROSS THE NATION AND
WHERE WE ARE, AGAIN WE ARE ONE
OF THREE STATES THAT IS LEFT.
SO I AM IN DEEP BELIEF THAT WE
SHOULD DO THIS.
(22:59):
RYLAND THIS HAD
MOMENTUM IN 2020 WHEN COVID SENT
THE LEGISLATURE HOME EARLY AND
THEN IT WENT AWAY UNTIL NOW.
>> SENATOR HIGDON'S VERSION
PASSED OUT AT THE STATE SENATE
AND THERE'S BEEN BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT FOR THIS OVER THE YEARS.
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
CONSIDERED OFF AND ON AND
KENTUCKY'S IN UNDER THE SCHEME
(23:21):
IN WHICH AS ONE OF THE FIRST
ACTS IN OFFICE, GOVERNOR ANDY
BESHEAR ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER THAT DOES A LOT OF WHAT
THIS PUSH WOULD DO.
WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN
FELONIES CONVICTED OF CERTAIN
FELONIES WHO FINISHED THEIR TIME
ALL THAT, AND THEY ARE
NONVIOLENT CRIMES TO GET THEIR
RIGHT TO VOTE BACK.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT THAT
(23:42):
IT TAKES A GOVERNOR'S PARDON TO
DO ANY OF THAT.
IT WOULD BE A HIGH HURDLE TO
MAKE THIS HAPPEN SINCE IT IS A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
IT WOULD HAVE TO PASS A HIGHER
THRESHOLD OF THE LEGISLATURE AND
THEN KENTUCKIANS WOULD HAVE TO
APPROVE IT IN A GENERAL ELECTION
A REFERENDUM.
BUT, YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING
THERE IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT AND
(24:05):
THAT SENATOR HERRON AND HIGDON
ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON IT.
THEY FILED THE BILLS SEPARATELY.
WE'LL SEE IF OTHERS GET BEHIND
IT.
THAT PROVISION KENTUCKY IS ONE
OF THREE STATES THAT REQUIRES A
GOVERNOR TO BE THE FINAL PERSON
TO SIGN OFF.
IS KENTUCKY ON THE
VERGE OF A DATA CENTER BOOM THAT
COULD BOOM THE ECONOMY.
LIAM YOU ARE FOLLOWING A
(24:25):
PROPOSAL IN MASON COUNTY KEPT
QUIET.
>> YEAH.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF HUB-BUB
JUST ABOUT BASICALLY, THIS
DEVELOPER WHO'S LOOKING TO
POTENTIALLY NOT GUARANTEED,
BUILD A ONE AROUND $1 BILLION
(24:45):
INVESTMENT IN A DATA CENTER
CAMPUS.
AND THIS DEVELOPER HAS SIGNED A
NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS WITH
LOCAL OFFICIALS NONDISCLOSURE
AGREEMENTS BEING LEGAL
AGREEMENTS TO WHERE SPECIFIC
INFORMATION IS NOT PUBLICLY
DISCLOSED.
ONE OF THE KEY POINTS OF
(25:06):
CONTENTION BEING IS THAT NO ONE
KNOWS WHAT COMPANY IS GOING TO
BE BRINGING IN THIS DATA CENTER.
THE LAND THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT
IS A LOT OF RURAL AGRICULTURAL
LAND AND PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT LAND USE.
WHETHER WHY CAN'T SUCH A DATA
CENTER BE MOVED INTO AN
INDUSTRIAL PARK, DATA CENTERS
(25:27):
USE A LOT OF ELECTRICITY AND A
LOT OF WATER.
AND YOU KNOW, KENTUCKY'S
ELECTRIC UTILITY THEY ARE
POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT DATA
CENTER DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE
STATE.
ALL RIGHT.
THE SOAR SUMMIT WAS THIS WEEK IN
CORBIN AND THEY ARE WRAPPING UP
AND TALKED ABOUT RESILIENCE IN
(25:47):
THE APPALACHIAN REGION.
KENTUCKY HAS THE MASSIVE ROAD
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
THEY ARE PAUSING THE ONE ON I-75
SOUTH OF LEXINGTON OVER THE
LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND THAT WAS
GOOD NEWS BUT MORE WORK TO BE
DONE.
RYLAND YOU SAID I-65.
>> NEXT SUMMER I-65 WILL BE
CLOSED FOR A COUPLE MONTHS IN
LOUISVILLE BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND
(26:08):
264 WHICH IS GOING TO CREATE BIG
CHANGES.
>> MAST TON CHILDERS WAS LAID TO
REST HE WAS HARD CHARGES AND
SOMETIMES CONTROVERSIAL.
CHILDERS PUSHED FOR REFORMS AS
THE SECRETARY OF THE CABINET FOR
HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES UNDER
GOVERNOR JONES.
CHILDERS WORKED FOR GOVERNOR
(26:28):
CARROLL AND SERVED AS CHIEF OF
STAFF TO COLLINS.
HE WAS 75.
THAT'S COMMENT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
A SCHOOL SHOOTING GETS
ATTENTION IN KENTUCKY AND THE
GOVERNOR TALKS SCHOOL SAFETY.
A UNION VOTE AT THE BLUEOVAL SK
BATTERY PLANT IN HARDIN COUNTY.
KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE RACE AND
THE HOUSE RACE DRAW INTEREST
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
KENTUCKY CONSIDERS STUDYING
TREATING DRUG ADDICTION WITH A
(00:28):
PSYCHEDELIC DRUG.
HEADING INTO A COMFORTABLE LABOR
DAY WEEKEND, COMMENT IS NEXT ON
KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT.
AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT
(00:49):
ON KENTUCKY" A LOOK BACK AT AND
SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS
IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE
GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING
KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE
ALEX ACQUISTO POLITICS AND
HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE
LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.
LIAM NIEMEYER, REPORTER FOR THE
KENTUCKY LANTERN.
AND WE WELCOMING BACK RYLAND
(01:09):
BARTON KENTUCKY BASED EDITOR FOR
NPR.
WE BEGIN OUR DISCUSSION WITH
ANOTHER SCHOOL SHOOTING.
IT HAPPENED IN MINNESOTA.
BUT THERE ARE KENTUCKY
CONNECTIONS.
AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR ORDERED
FLAGS LOWERED IN THE STATE OUT
OF RESPECT FOR THE VICTIMS.
THIS WEEK BESHEAR NOTED SOME OF
THE CHALLENGES IN SCHOOL
SECURITY.
>> YOU THINK OUR SCHOOLS ARE
(01:30):
REALLY OLD.
TO CREATE THAT ONE ENTRANCE AND
EXIT IN THE SCHOOL TO HAVE THE
ELECTRONIC LOCKING DOORS SOME
SCHOOLS THAT MAYBE 100 YEARS OLD
IS CHALLENGING.
I THINK ALL SCHOOLS ARE WORKING
THROUGH THEIR BUDGETS WORKING TO
GET THERE.
I SEE EFFORTS BEING MADE ALL
ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND I
(01:51):
BELIEVE THAT WE WILL HIT 100%.
RYLAND, THIS STORY WAS
UNFOLDING HERE AT THE BEGINNING
OF THE SCHOOL YEAR AND IT'S
OBVIOUSLY VERY JARRING TO
PARENTS AND THERE YOU HAD
GOVERNOR BESHEAR ACKNOWLEDGING
IT IS A CHALLENGE TO HAVE SAFETY
IN OUR SCHOOLS.
>> IT IS.
AND EVEN WHEN YOU PASS BILLS TO
(02:11):
FUND IT AND TRY TO MAKE SURE IT
HAPPENED.
THESE SAFETY MEASURES HAPPEN IS
BACK IN 2018 THERE WAS THE
TERRIBLE SCHOOL SHOOTING IN
MARSHALL COUNTY AND LAWMAKERS
PASSED A BILL THAT REQUIRED THE
THINGS THAT THE GOVERNOR WAS
MENTIONING THE HARDENING
SCHOOLS, BOOSTING SECURITY.
ANOTHER THINGS REQUIRING EVERY
SCHOOL TO HAVE A RESOURCE
(02:32):
OFFICER WHICH MANY SCHOOLS HAVE
MADE STRIDES TO DO BUT NOT ALL
HAVE THEM.
BESHEAR IS SAYING THE
LEGISLATURE NEEDING TO FURTHER
AND CALLED FOR THEM TO PASS A
RED FLAG LAW.
THAT WOULD REQUIRE CREATE A
PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE DEEMED TO
BE IN DANGER TO THEMSELVES OR
OTHERS COULD HAVE THEIR FIREARMS
(02:54):
CONFISCATED.
IT'S BEEN CONTROVERSIAL.
ALL OF THOSE HE WAS TALKING
ABOUT ARE THINGS THAT THE
LEGISLATURE COULD TAKE UP DURING
THIS BUDGET SESSION HE IS
HINTING THAT IS SOMETHING THAT
SHOULD COME UP WHEN IT'S ON THE
MIND OF PARENTS WHAT A
TERRIFYING THING TO HAPPEN.
>> AND THERE'S BEEN SOME
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT IN THE PAST
FOR SOMETHING LIKE A RED FLAG
(03:14):
LAW FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS,
MOST RECENTLY.
WESTERFIELD AND SENATOR PAUL
HORNBECK BUT REMAINS REPUBLICAN
OPPOSITION, ESPECIALLY FROM WHAT
IS DESCRIBED AS THE LIBERTY WING
OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE
LEGISLATURE.
YOU KNOW, AGAIN SUCH A MEASURE.
(03:35):
HE DID BRING IT UP.
ALEX, WE ALSO LEARNED THAT THE
SHOOTER HAS KENTUCKY
CONNECTIONS.
>> RIGHT.
THE SHOOTER'S MOTHER IS THE
SISTER OF FORMER LONG TIME STATE
REPRESENTATIVE BOB HEALTH RINGER
WHO SERVED IN THE HOUSE FROM
1980 TO 2003.
(03:56):
BOB WAS INTERVIEWED AND SAID HE
LEARNED OF IT WHEN THE REST OF
THE COUNTRY DID AND HOW
HORRIFYING IT WAS HE DIDN'T
REALLY KNOW ROBIN, THE SHOOTER
VERY WELL.
THEY GREW UP IN MINNESOTA.
HE SAID HE WISHED THAT HE HAD
BEEN SHOT INSTEAD OF THOSE
CHILDREN.
BUT WHAT A HORRIFYING THING.
(04:19):
NATIONAL STORY THAT WAS
BROUGHT TO ALL OF US AND HERE IN
KENTUCKY THIS WEEK AS WE SAID
THE GOVERNOR IS MARKING THIS
WITH THE FLAGS BEING DOWN.
>> HE IS.
IT'S OUR STATE'S MINOR
CONTRIBUTION TO HONOR THE
VICTIMS.
MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE WERE
INJURED INCLUDING MANY CHILDREN
IT IS A WAY TO SHOW SOLIDARITY.
(04:41):
AS THE SCHOOL YEAR IS
STARTING AROUND THE COUNTRY
THERE ARE SWATTING CALLS FAKE
CALLS ABOUT INCIDENTS.
THIS WEEK THE UNIVERSITY OF
KENTUCKY HAD A DISRUPTION AND
ALEX THE PENALTIES ARE STIFF AND
INCREASINGLY SO.
THERE ARE FEDERAL AND KENTUCKY
MADE IT A FELONY.
HOWEVER, IT IS DIFFICULT TO
(05:02):
INVESTIGATE THESE CALLS AND
BECAUSE THEY COULD COME FROM
ANYWHERE.
>> THEY ARE EXTREMELY HARD TO
TRACE.
WE MADE IT A FELONY WHICH MEANS
IT'S PUNISHABLE 1-5 YEARS IN
PRISON AND FINE UP TO $10,000.
THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY GOT A
CALL AN ACTIVE SHOOTER WAS
OUTSIDE THE LIBRARY.
(05:22):
POLICE WERE ABLE TO DETERMINE
THAT WAS NOT THE CASE.
BUT THE CALLS ARE DISRUPTIVE
BECAUSE THEY REQUIRE AN IMMENSE
SORT OF CONCENTRATION OF LAW
ENFORCEMENT AND EMS SERVICES
THEY ARE COSTLY AND THE POINT IS
THEY TAKE THOSE RESOURCES AWAY
FROM EMERGENCIES THAT ARE
HAPPENING.
IS THIS A NATIONAL TREND NOT
JUST IN KENTUCKY.
(05:43):
AND THE ACTUAL GOAL OF
EDUCATION THIS IS WHAT IS SO
TOUGH THESE THINGS ARE GOING ON.
>> CERTAINLY.
IT'S VERY DIFFICULT.
AS WE HEAD INTO LABOR DAY
WEEKEND, WORKERS AT THE BLUEOVAL
SK BATTERY PLANT IN HARDIN
COUNTY HAVE MADE THEIR DECISION
ABOUT WHETHER TO JOIN THE UNITED
AUTO WORKERS.
AT THIS POINT, I KNOW YOU'VE
(06:04):
BEEN FOLLOWING THIS CLOSELY.
THE UNION VOTE IS CLOSELY
WATCHED ACROSS KENTUCKY AND
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> YEAH.
IT WAS TWO DAYS THIS WEEK WHEN
THE HUNDREDS OF WORKERS VOTED
AND IT WAS CLOSE.
THE RESULTS CAME BACK WEDNESDAY
EVENING 11-VOTE MARGIN IN FAVOR
OF THE UNION.
(06:25):
BUT THERE'S ALSO CHALLENGE
BALLOTED THAT NATIONAL LABOR
RELATIONS BOARD HAS TO DECIDE
WHETHER TO COUNT THESE BALLOTS
ELIGIBILITY OF THESE VOTERS.
THE UNITED AUTO WORKERS SAID
THAT THEY PUT OUT A STATEMENT
CALLING THE MAJORITY THAT VOTED
(06:45):
FOR THE UNION A HARD, FOUGHT
VICTORY AND SAID THAT THE
CHALLENGE BALLOTS, THEY WEREN'T
WORKERS WHO WERE THERE WHO BUILT
UP THE UNION FROM THE VERY
BEGINNING.
BLUEOVAL SK BLUEOVAL SK WHICH IS
A JOINT VENTURE BETWEEN FORD
MOTOR COMPANY AND SK ON THEY
(07:06):
WANT EVERY VOTE TO BE COUNTED.
SO, YOU KNOW, THIS FEDERAL
AGENCY HAS TO DECIDE WHETHER
THESE VOTES ARE GOING TO GO AND
IT COULD, COULD, POTENTIALLY
CHANGE THE OUTCOME OF THE
ELECTION NOT CERTAIN.
IT'S PRELIMINARY RIGHT
NOW.
>> YES.
>> AND CERTIFIED AND
POTENTIALLY, THE UAW COULD MOVE
IN?
(07:26):
>> CORRECT, YES.
WHAT COULD THIS MEAN
FOR THE FUTURE OF UNIONIZATION
EFFORTS IN KENTUCKY AND REALLY
AROUND THE SOUTH?
>> WELL, UNION ORGANIZERS HOPE
IF THIS IS SUCCESSFUL THIS WILL
BE A SIGN OF MOMENTUM FOR SOME
OF THE EFFORTS.
THERE'S BEEN MIXED RESULTS FOR
(07:47):
SIMILAR EFFORTS ACROSS THE
SOUTH.
WHICH WE'VE SEEN THERE IS A
PUBLICIZED ONE IN CHATTANOOGA.
A VOLKSWAGEN PLANT AND ONE THAT
FAILED IN A MERCEDES PLANT IN
ALABAMA.
UNION IS HOPING THAT SHOWING
THAT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT
WORKERS NO MATTER THEIR
POLITICAL STRIPES WANT TO TRY
(08:09):
AND PROTECT THEIR --
TRY AND GET GUARANTEES FOR UNION
BENEFITS.
EVEN IF THEY ARE IN A RIGHT TO
WORK STATE, LIKE KENTUCKY IS.
AND, AGAIN, IT WOULD SHOW THIS
CAN STILL HAPPEN DESPITE THOSE
SORTS OF LAWS.
AND THAT WOULD FLY IN THE FACE A
LOT OF THE WHAT THE TREND HAS
BEEN IN DECADES OF THE DECLINE
IN UNION MEMBERSHIP.
(08:29):
>> AND THE UAW THEY HAVE HAD
CHALLENGES WITH TRYING TO
ORGANIZE PLANTS IN THE SOUTH,
SPECIFICALLY, PLANTS THAT ARE
OWNED BY FOREIGN AUTO COMPANIES.
THEY HAVE HAD A LITTLE BIT OF
SUCCESS RECENTLY SPECIFICALLY
ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERY PLANTS
IN INDIANA.
AND SO, YOU KNOW THIS CLOSE
(08:50):
VOTE, IT SERVES AS ANOTHER TEST
FOR THE UNION AND WE'LL SEE WHAT
HAPPENS WITH THE CHALLENGED
BALLOTS.
IT'S OFTEN A TOUGH
BATTLE AND THIS ONE WAS.
>> YES.
THERE WAS ALLEGATIONS OF
WORKPLACE SAFETY ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, WORKERS CONCERNED
ABOUT HANDLING CHEMICALS
ASSOCIATED WITH ELECTRIC VEHICLE
(09:10):
BATTERIES.
AND THE UAW BEFORE THE ELECTION
THEY CALLED FOR AN INVESTIGATION
INTO WHAT THEY WERE SAYING IT
WAS A SCORCHED EARTH ANTIUNION
CAMPAIGN DONE BY BLUEOVAL SK.
YOU KNOW, BLUEOVAL SK HAS
DISMISSED CONCERNS REGARDING
WORKPLACE SAFETY AND YOU KNOW,
CALLED THE CALL FOR AN
(09:32):
INVESTIGATION A LEGAL TACTIC TO
TRY TO DELAY THE ELECTION
POTENTIALLY.
BUT, AGAIN, THE ELECTION RESULTS
ARE WHAT THEY ARE AND WE'LL SEE
HOW IT URN TURNS OUT.
THE REDISTRICTING
BATTLES TOUCHED OFF BY TEXAS AND
CALIFORNIA LOOKING TO COUNTER
THAT ARE GETTING ATTENTION
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
(09:53):
GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR'S SUPPORT
FOR GAVIN NEWSOM'S APPROACH
CAUSED KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS TO
SAY MAYBE THE LINES SHOULD BE
REDRAWN IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE.
KENTUCKY HAS ONE DEMOCRAT IN
WASHINGTON AND THAT IS MORGAN
MCGARVEY HE IS FROM LOUISVILLE.
IS THIS REAPPORTION MEANT BATTLE
(10:14):
COME TO KENTUCKY?
>> THERE ARE OTHER STATES,
MISSOURI TODAY SAID THEY WILL
JOIN THIS BATTLE.
IT'S INTERESTING THAT
REPUBLICANS UP UNTIL BESHEAR
MADE THE STATEMENT TAMPED DOWN
ANY NOTION THAT THIS WAS GOING
TO HAPPEN HERE.
McGARVEY SERVED IN
THE SENATE AND KNOWS EVERYBODY.
>> AND IT SEEMS THE SENATE SAID
(10:34):
THIS WASN'T GOING TO BE A
STARTER HERE.
AND BESHEAR SAID THAT GAVIN
NEWSOM HIS MOVE IN CALIFORNIA HE
SUPPORTS IT IF THIS IS THE NEW
RULE BOOK WE BETTER ALL PLAY BY
THE RULES.
THIS OPENS THE DOOR FOR OTHER
REPUBLICANS TO TWITTER AND SAY
GREEN LIGHT, SCOTT JENNINGS SAID
THIS IS A GREEN LIGHT FOR
(10:55):
REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY.
IF BESHEAR IS CONDONING THIS
PRACTICE IN ANOTHER STATE WHAT
IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD
FOR GANDER HERE.
AND OTHER REPUBLICANS ARE
INTERESTED IN THIS.
THERE IS A LOT OF QUESTIONS
ABOUT WHETHER THIS COULD HAPPEN.
BESHEAR IS CRITICIZING IT SAYING
IF REPUBLICANS DID IT THIS MIGHT
(11:16):
BACK FAIR FOR THEM.
BUT IF THEY WERE TO BREAK APART
THAT ONE DEMOCRATIC, THIRD
CONGRESS AT DISTRICT IN THE
LOUISVILLE AREA THEN THAT COULD
CREATE TWO COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS
BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND
REPUBLICANS.
BUT THE OTHER THING PROBABLY
MORE PRESSING FOR LAWMAKERS
CONSIDERING THIS IS THE TIMELINE
OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
(11:37):
IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN THEY COME IN
JANUARY THIRD AND THE DEADLINE
THE FILING DEADLINE IS JANUARY
6.
WHICH WOULD HAVE TO BE
SUSPENDED.
>> YOU WOULD HAVE TO MOVE THE
DEADLINE OR SUSPEND A LOT OF
RULES TO DOING THAT ALL FOR WHAT
PURPOSE?
FOR KIND OF THIS NEW TREND THAT
(11:59):
IS HAPPENING ACROSS THE COUNTRY
WHICH IS REALLY BOLD FACE
REDRAWING MAPS FOR POLITICAL
PURPOSES WHICH USED TO A VEIL
THAT THIS DIDN'T HAPPEN THIS WAY
BUT THE U.S. SUPREME COURT SAID
WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET INTO IN
THE WAY OF STATES THAT DO THIS.
AND STATE SUPREME COURTS
INCLUDING KENTUCKY SAID WE'RE
NOT GOING TO GET IN THE WAY OF
THIS PRACTICE WE DON'T HAVE
(12:20):
RULES AGAINST THAT POLITICAL
DRAWING.
YOU KNOW, MAYBE DOWN THE LINE IN
KENTUCKY BUT THAT IS THE BATTLE
WE'RE SEEING ACROSS THE COUNTRY
RIGHT NOW.
AS YOU NOTED IF IT DOES
GO TO THAT THAT THIRD DISTRICT
IS LOUISVILLE CENTRIC AND, I
GUESS, IT WOULD BE MOVING IN
SOME OF THE SURROUNDING MORE
REPUBLICAN LEANING COUNTIES?
>> YOU CAN IMAGINE DIFFERENT
(12:40):
WAYS TO DRAW IT THAT PICK UP
PARTS OF THE AREA THAT IS HELD
BY THE NORTHERN KENTUCKY THE
FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT OR
THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL
DISTRICT PICKS IT UP.
A LOT OF THESE ARE HEAVILY
REPUBLICAN.
JAMES COMER WON HIS
CONGRESSIONAL RACE BY 30, 40%,
(13:01):
40 POINTS.
THE REPUBLICANS ARE WINNING IN
LANDSLIDES THEY ARE NOT
COMPETITIVE RACES.
SO MAYBE THEY HAVE LEEWAY TO
GIVE.
BUT IT IS HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC SO
THAT WOULD BE A LOT OF
DEMOCRATIC VOTERS FLORIDA
FLOODING INTO A REPUBLICAN
CONTROLLED DISTRICT.
KENTUCKY'S U.S. SENATE
PRIMARY IS ONE OF THE CLOSEST
(13:23):
WATCHED CONTESTS DANIEL CAMERON,
ANDY BARR AND NATE MORRIS ARE
EACH LOOKING FOR A LANE TO WIN
THE G.O.P. NOMINATION.
WE SEE THE ADS WE KNOW THAT
FANCY FARM, THE STATE FAIR, PUT
THEIR RETAIL CAMPAIGN EFFORTS ON
DISPLAY.
AND THEN THERE ARE MAILINGS AND
MESSAGES GOING OUT ON PHONES AND
SOMETIMES SOME OF THOSE HAVE
(13:45):
TROUBLE.
>> SURE.
I MEAN, OF COURSE, YOU KNOW,
THEY'VE TRIED TO OUT ON THE
CAMPAIGN TRIAL TRIED TO MAKE
THEMSELVES PREVALENT, BUT, YEAH,
MOST RECENTLY THERE WAS A SCREEN
SHOT THAT WAS CIRCULATING ON
SOCIAL MEDIA APPEARING TO SHOW
U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE NATE
(14:06):
MORRIS' FUNDRAISING E-MAIL THAT
IN THE TEXT OF THE E-MAIL,
ASSERTED THAT NATE MORRIS WAS
TRUMP ENDORSED.
AND TRUMP HAS NOT ENDORSED ANY
U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE.
NATE MORRIS' CAMPAIGN SAID IT
WAS AN ERROR BY THE VENDOR OF
THE FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN
PLATFORM WHEN RED IT WAS PUT IN
(14:28):
THERE ERRONEOUSLY.
CANDIDATES DANIEL CAMERON AND
ANDY BARR STILL FOUND
OPPORTUNITIES TO CRITICIZE NATE
MORRIS OVER IT.
AND IT WAS ALSO THE SCREEN SHOT
THIS WHOLE SITUATION WAS ALSO
PROMOTED BY RIGHT-WING
INFLUENCER LAURA AS WELL.
YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO
SEE KENTUCKY AND HAVE A NATIONAL
(14:50):
PERSPECTIVE ON THINGS HOW MUCH
OF THIS THREE WAY REPUBLICAN
CONTEST BEING WATCHED?
>> A LOT BECAUSE IT'S MITCH
McCONNELL.
BUT BECAUSE WHEN IT COMES DOWN
TO IT A REPUBLICAN IS GOING TO
WIN THAT RACE.
I HATE TO PROGRESS NEWSCAST
INDICATE A RACE THAT IS OVER A
YEAR AWAY BUT THAT IS THE TREND
(15:12):
KENTUCKY HAS BEEN GOING IN.
NO MATTER WHO WINS THAT
THREE-WAY RACE WHICH CAN BE
EXPENSIVE THAT IS THE THING
WE'RE WATCHING AND SEEING IS
UNFOLDING RIGHT NOW, BUT,
McCONNELL HELD THAT SEAT AND
PEOPLE ARE WONDERING ONE, THAT
HAS BECOME THE ISSUE IS WHO IS
THE LEAST McCONNELL CANDIDATE
WHO CAN RUN AWAY FROM HIM THE
(15:32):
QUICKEST.
EACH ONE OF THESE DO HAVE SOME
TIE TO THE FORMER SENATOR AS --
THE CURRENT SENATOR.
AS DOES EVERY REPUBLICAN ELECTED
REPUBLICAN IN KENTUCKY ONE WAY
OR ANOTHER OWES A LOT TO HIM FOR
BUILDING THIS PARTY OVER THE
COURSE OF HOWEVER MANY DECADES.
I THINK THERE WILL BE A LOT OF
ATTENTION WHO IS GOING TO BE HIS
(15:54):
SUCCESSOR IN KENTUCKY BUT IN THE
END IT'S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO
AFFECT THE MAP OF MAKING
KENTUCKY A COMPETITIVE RACE IN
THE GENERAL ELECTION.
ALL RIGHT.
PAMELA STEVENSON STILL HAS THE
FIELD TO HERSELF ON THAT SIDE.
HOW DOES SHE GET ATTENTION WITH
THE REPUBLICANS HAVING THIS
BATTLE AND SHE IS OVER THERE
WITHOUT --
>> IT'S GOING TO BE HARD
(16:16):
ESPECIALLY IF THIS BECOMES SO
EXPENSIVE.
THERE'S THIS IDEA OF THERE BEING
A FINITE AMOUNT OF OXYGEN IN THE
POLITICAL ROOM AND THESE
REPUBLICANS WILL BE BURNING UP A
LOT OF IT.
ONE PART IS IF ANDY BESHEAR
COMES OUT AND IS STUMPING FOR
HER HE IS A POPULAR FIGURE IN
(16:36):
KENTUCKY WHETHER OR NOT HE HAS A
HE IS A DEMOCRAT.
AND I THINK THAT THAT IS
SOMETHING THAT CAN BOOST HER
STANDING AND PROFILE.
AND I THINK IT WILL BE
INTERESTING TOO, IF ANOTHER
DEMOCRAT GETS INTO THE RACE SO
THERE ARE DEBATES AHEAD OF A
PRIMARY ELECTION.
OTHERWISE WE ARE WAITING FOR THE
GENERAL.
AND THERE'S GOING TO BE
(16:57):
SOMETHING WE'VE SEEN IN KENTUCKY
A DEMOCRAT BEING I'M READY TO
DEBATE.
AND THE REPUBLICAN JUST I THINK
I'M OKAY.
AND MAYBE THERE MIGHT BE ONE ON
KET.
SHORTLY BEFORE THE ELECTION.
IT'S USUALLY ONLY IN THE
COMPETITIVE ONES WHERE WE SEE
THOSE DEBATES MULTIPLE DEBATES
HAPPEN OVER THE COURSE OF THE
(17:19):
CAMPAIGN.
SENATOR RAND PAUL
TRAVELED THE STATE ONE STOP WAS
AN EVENT WITH LOUISVILLE
BUSINESS LEADERS HE EXPRESSED
CONCERNS ABOUT TARIFFS.
>> SO TARIFFS, 300 BILLION
DOLLARS SO FAR, HAVE BEEN PASSED
WITHOUT ANYBODY'S APPROVAL
WITHOUT THE APPROVAL OF YOUR
REPRESENTATIVES.
SO, I THINK THAT IS WRONG AND
MANY REPUBLICANS LIKE WE LOVE
(17:39):
THE PRESIDENT BE QUIET AND I
LOOK AT MY TWITTER FEED AND IT'S
OVERWHELMINGLY SAYING OBEY THE
PRESIDENT DO WHAT THE PRESIDENT
WANTS.
OKAY.
SO PAUL HAS CRITICIZED THE
PRESIDENT'S TARIFF STRATEGY AND
WORRIES ABOUT THEIR IMPACT ON
KENTUCKY.
>> YEAH.
I MEAN PARTICULARLY WE SPOKE
(18:00):
ABOUT BOURBON SAYING HE THOUGHT
TOUGH TIMES WERE GOING TO
CONTINUE.
YOU KNOW IT'S MY UNDERSTANDING
THAT RECIPROCAL TARIFFS
REGARDING BOURBON HAVE BEEN
DROPPED BUT THERE'S UNCERTAINTY
WITH TARIFFS COMING FROM THE EU.
AND THE BOURBON INDUSTRY THEY
HAVE THINGS TO DEAL WITH BEYOND
(18:23):
JUST TARIFFS.
YOUNGER PEOPLE IN GENERAL ARE
DRINKING LESS ALCOHOL.
WHICH SOMETHING THAT PAUL SPOKE
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT.
AND SO, YEAH, TARIFFS ARE THE
WAY PAUL DESCRIBED IT THEY ARE
THE NEW NORMAL RIGHT NOW.
>> I WILL MENTION TODAY THERE
WAS A U.S. APPEALS COURT THAT
RULED AGAINST THE PRESIDENT'S
(18:45):
TARIFF SCHEME UNDER THE SAME
GROUNDS SAYING THIS IS CONGRESS'
POWER TO DO THIS.
TRUMP HAS BEEN PUSHING THIS
EMERGENCY AUTHORITY TO ITS LIMIT
AND RULED AGAINST HIM BUT THEY
HAVE LEFT THE TARIFFS IN PLACE
UNTIL OCTOBER WHICH LEAVES THE
DOOR OPEN TO BE APPEALED TO THE
SUPREME COURT WHERE IT WILL
LIKELY BE DECIDED.
(19:05):
HERE IN KENTUCKY THE
2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION IS NOT
FAR AWAY AND ISSUES CONTINUE 0
EMERGE.
KENTUCKY HAS BEEN DEALING WITH
THE OPIOID CRISIS FOR YEARS AND
SOME ARE COMING UP WITH A
PROPOSED NEW APPROACH.
REPUBLICAN SENATOR DONALD
DOUGLAS WHO IS A DOCTOR TALKED
ABOUT IBOGAINE AS A NEW WAY TO
(19:27):
TREAT DRUG ABUSE.
>> I'M HERE TO INTRODUCE A
DIFFERENT CLINICAL MODEL.
WE HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THE
SAME CLINICAL MODEL OVER AND
OVER FOR DECADES.
AND IT AIN'T WORKING FOLKS.
IT'S NOT WORKING.
ALEX GIVE US CONTEXT
(19:47):
HERE ABOUT THIS PSYCHEDELIC
DRUG?
>> SURE PART OF WHAT SENATOR
DOUGLAS IS TALKING ABOUT WHEN HE
SAYS THIS CLINICAL MODEL IS NOT
WORKING ARE F.D.A. APPROVED
DRUGS ON THE MARKET RIGHT NOW TO
TREAT A VARIETY OF ADDICTION.
NALTREXONE, SUBOXONE.
HE IS SAYING BECAUSE THOSE DO
NOT WORK FOR EVERYBODY, AND THAT
(20:07):
IS TRUE, KENTUCKY SHOULD LOOK
INTO CONSIDERING RESEARCHING AND
INVESTING IN THAT RESEARCH
STUDYING THE PSYCHEDELIC
PROLIFERATED CALLED IBOGAINE.
VIEWERS MAY REMEMBER TWO YEARS
AGO WHEN A COMMISSION THAT IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR DOLLING OUT
OPIOID LAWSUITS SETTLEMENT MONEY
CONSIDERED INVESTING THE SAME
(20:29):
THING, BRIAN HUBBARD WAS THE
CHAIR OF THAT THEY HELD PUBLIC
HEARINGS AND HEARD FROM PEOPLE
THAT TOOK IBOGAINE AND TRIED SO
MANY OTHER THINGS TO MAINTAIN
THEIR SO BRIGHT AND NOTHING
WORKED UNTIL THEY TOOK IBOGAINE
AND SOON AFTER RUSSELL COLEMAN
TOOK OFFICE AND THAT PROPOSAL
WAS LEFT ON THE CUTTING ROOM
(20:50):
FLOOR.
FAST FORWARD TWO YEARS BRING AN
HUBBARD TOOK THAT PROPOSAL TO
TEXAS AND THEY AGREED TO INVEST
$50 MILLION INTO RESEARCHING
IBOGAINE AND NOW SENATOR DOUGLAS
IS SAYING ON THE HEELS OF THIS
AND OTHER STATES THAT ARE
REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED SHOWING
INTEREST IN THIS, HE MENTIONED A
15-STATE CONSORTIUM POOLING
(21:11):
MONEY FOR THE RESEARCH SHOULD
KENTUCKY CONSIDER IT HE PLANS TO
FILE A BILL AND THE GOAL IS TO
CONDUCT CLINICAL TRIALS TO THE
POINT WHERE THE F.D.A. CAN
APPROVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
IT IS A VERY INTERESTING IDEA
AND IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, HOW
MUCH THE FIELD HAS CHANGED OVER
THE LAST TWO YEARS.
WE HAVE PRESIDENT TRUMP COMING
IN FOR A SECOND TERM.
(21:34):
R.F.K. JR. BEING HHS SECRETARY
REPUBLICANS BEING MORE
HOSPITABLE TO THE IDEA OF
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE AND
IBOGAINE FITS WITHIN THAT.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING ONCE THE
BILL IS FILED TO HEAR THE
DISCUSSION ON IT.
IT IS A SCHEDULE ONE DRUG WHICH
MEANS IT'S ILLEGAL.
WILL THE REPUBLICANS IN KENTUCKY
CHOOSE TO DECLASSIFY IT OR LOWER
(21:55):
THE SCHEDULE LIKE WITH MEDICAL
MARIJUANA OR PUSHING BACK
THINKING IT'S TOO EXPERIMENTAL
WHICH IS WHAT ATTORNEY GENERAL
SAID.
HE REMAINS OPPOSED.
>> HE WAS OPPOSED TO DEVOTING
SETTLEMENT MONEY TO IT.
AND THAT IS WHAT BESHEAR SAID,
TOO.
BUT HIS TONE MIGHT CHANGE WITH
THE NEWEST PROPOSAL.
(22:15):
INTERESTING DISCUSSION
AHEAD ON THAT.
A PROPOSED KENTUCKY
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT WOULD
RESTORE THE VOTING RIGHTS OF
CONVICTED FELONS WHO HAVE DONE
THEIR TIME A PUSH FOR AN
AMENDMENT WHICH IS BIPARTISAN.
>> THOSE FOLKS THAT HAVE SERVED
THEIR TIME, THEY NEED THAT TO
GET THAT PRIVILEGE OF VOTING
BACK AS LONG AS IT WASN'T A
(22:37):
CRIME AGAINST A CHILD, ROBBERY
OR THOSE LISTED IN THE
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
>> KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THREE
STATES THAT DOES NOT DO
AUTOMATIC RESTORATION OF VOTING
RIGHTS.
SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT IS
HAPPENING ACROSS THE NATION AND
WHERE WE ARE, AGAIN WE ARE ONE
OF THREE STATES THAT IS LEFT.
SO I AM IN DEEP BELIEF THAT WE
SHOULD DO THIS.
(22:59):
RYLAND THIS HAD
MOMENTUM IN 2020 WHEN COVID SENT
THE LEGISLATURE HOME EARLY AND
THEN IT WENT AWAY UNTIL NOW.
>> SENATOR HIGDON'S VERSION
PASSED OUT AT THE STATE SENATE
AND THERE'S BEEN BIPARTISAN
SUPPORT FOR THIS OVER THE YEARS.
SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
CONSIDERED OFF AND ON AND
KENTUCKY'S IN UNDER THE SCHEME
(23:21):
IN WHICH AS ONE OF THE FIRST
ACTS IN OFFICE, GOVERNOR ANDY
BESHEAR ISSUED AN EXECUTIVE
ORDER THAT DOES A LOT OF WHAT
THIS PUSH WOULD DO.
WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE WITH CERTAIN
FELONIES CONVICTED OF CERTAIN
FELONIES WHO FINISHED THEIR TIME
ALL THAT, AND THEY ARE
NONVIOLENT CRIMES TO GET THEIR
RIGHT TO VOTE BACK.
BECAUSE RIGHT NOW, WITHOUT THAT
(23:42):
IT TAKES A GOVERNOR'S PARDON TO
DO ANY OF THAT.
IT WOULD BE A HIGH HURDLE TO
MAKE THIS HAPPEN SINCE IT IS A
CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
IT WOULD HAVE TO PASS A HIGHER
THRESHOLD OF THE LEGISLATURE AND
THEN KENTUCKIANS WOULD HAVE TO
APPROVE IT IN A GENERAL ELECTION
A REFERENDUM.
BUT, YEAH, IT'S INTERESTING
THERE IS A BIPARTISAN EFFORT AND
(24:05):
THAT SENATOR HERRON AND HIGDON
ARE WORKING TOGETHER ON IT.
THEY FILED THE BILLS SEPARATELY.
WE'LL SEE IF OTHERS GET BEHIND
IT.
THAT PROVISION KENTUCKY IS ONE
OF THREE STATES THAT REQUIRES A
GOVERNOR TO BE THE FINAL PERSON
TO SIGN OFF.
IS KENTUCKY ON THE
VERGE OF A DATA CENTER BOOM THAT
COULD BOOM THE ECONOMY.
LIAM YOU ARE FOLLOWING A
(24:25):
PROPOSAL IN MASON COUNTY KEPT
QUIET.
>> YEAH.
THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF HUB-BUB
JUST ABOUT BASICALLY, THIS
DEVELOPER WHO'S LOOKING TO
POTENTIALLY NOT GUARANTEED,
BUILD A ONE AROUND $1 BILLION
(24:45):
INVESTMENT IN A DATA CENTER
CAMPUS.
AND THIS DEVELOPER HAS SIGNED A
NONDISCLOSURE AGREEMENTS WITH
LOCAL OFFICIALS NONDISCLOSURE
AGREEMENTS BEING LEGAL
AGREEMENTS TO WHERE SPECIFIC
INFORMATION IS NOT PUBLICLY
DISCLOSED.
ONE OF THE KEY POINTS OF
(25:06):
CONTENTION BEING IS THAT NO ONE
KNOWS WHAT COMPANY IS GOING TO
BE BRINGING IN THIS DATA CENTER.
THE LAND THAT IS BEING LOOKED AT
IS A LOT OF RURAL AGRICULTURAL
LAND AND PEOPLE HAVE CONCERNS
ABOUT LAND USE.
WHETHER WHY CAN'T SUCH A DATA
CENTER BE MOVED INTO AN
INDUSTRIAL PARK, DATA CENTERS
(25:27):
USE A LOT OF ELECTRICITY AND A
LOT OF WATER.
AND YOU KNOW, KENTUCKY'S
ELECTRIC UTILITY THEY ARE
POTENTIALLY LOOKING AT DATA
CENTER DEVELOPMENTS ACROSS THE
STATE.
ALL RIGHT.
THE SOAR SUMMIT WAS THIS WEEK IN
CORBIN AND THEY ARE WRAPPING UP
AND TALKED ABOUT RESILIENCE IN
(25:47):
THE APPALACHIAN REGION.
KENTUCKY HAS THE MASSIVE ROAD
CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS.
THEY ARE PAUSING THE ONE ON I-75
SOUTH OF LEXINGTON OVER THE
LABOR DAY WEEKEND AND THAT WAS
GOOD NEWS BUT MORE WORK TO BE
DONE.
RYLAND YOU SAID I-65.
>> NEXT SUMMER I-65 WILL BE
CLOSED FOR A COUPLE MONTHS IN
LOUISVILLE BETWEEN DOWNTOWN AND
(26:08):
264 WHICH IS GOING TO CREATE BIG
CHANGES.
>> MAST TON CHILDERS WAS LAID TO
REST HE WAS HARD CHARGES AND
SOMETIMES CONTROVERSIAL.
CHILDERS PUSHED FOR REFORMS AS
THE SECRETARY OF THE CABINET FOR
HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES UNDER
GOVERNOR JONES.
CHILDERS WORKED FOR GOVERNOR
(26:28):
CARROLL AND SERVED AS CHIEF OF
STAFF TO COLLINS.
HE WAS 75.
THAT'S COMMENT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
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