June 30, 2025 • 26 mins
Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including the announcemtn of another U.S. Senate candidate in the Republican primary. Panelists: Marcus Green, WDRB in Louisville; McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern; and Mario Anderson, Spectrum News 1.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:01):
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
KENTUCKY'S 2026 OPEN
RACE FOR THE U.S. SENATE GETS
ANOTHER CANDIDATE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP PROMISES
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY OPPOSITION
FOR KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN THOMAS
MASSIE.
AFTER MASSIE CRITICIZES THE U.S.
STRIKE ON IRAN.
KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
TALK ABOUT NEW LAWS NOW IN
EFFECT AND WHAT THE FUTURE MAY
HOLD.
(00:29):
ERRORS IN CONSTRUCTION LEAD TO A
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR KENTUCKY
BRIDGE PROJECT.
AFTER A WEEK OF SUMMER HEAT,
COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO
"COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
(00:50):
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, MARCUS GREEN,
REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.
MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS
REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY
LANTERN.
AND MARIO ANDERSON, ANCHOR AND
(01:10):
HOST OF IN FOCUS KENTUCKY ON
SPECTRUM NEWS 1.
ALSO TONIGHT HUNDREDS.
NEW JOBS ARE COMING TO
LOUISVILLE.
FIRST, THOUGH, TO THIS WEEK'S
POLITICAL NEWS IN KENTUCKY'S
U.S. SENATE RACE.
BUSINESSMAN NATURE CONSERVANCY
ANNOUNCED HE --
NATD MORRIS ANNOUNCED HE IS
ENTERING THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
>> AFTER CAREFUL REFLECTION AND
(01:30):
PRAYER TALKING TO MY WIFE JAB, I
DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE UNITED
STATES SENATE TO REPLACE MITCH
McCONNELL HERE IN KENTUCKY.
AND FINALLY BRING THIS SEAT BACK
TO THE PEOPLE.
MARIO, MORRIS WAS VERY
QUICK TO PLEDGE HIS SUPPORT TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND TO TIE
HIMSELF AS CLOSELY AS HE COULD
TO TRUMP.
>> THAT IS RIGHT ESPECIALLY WITH
(01:52):
THE MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH
THE PRESIDENT'S SON DONALD
TRUMP, JR. ON HIS PODCAST.
HAD HIS WEBSITE READY TO GO.
TALKING ABOUT SOME TOP PRIORITY
ITEMS AND THE HOME PAGE OF THE
NATE MORRIS' WEBSITE SAYS IT'S
TIME TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH AND
CLAIMS THAT HE IS SICK AND TIRED
OF THE FAILED POLITICIANS IN
(02:14):
BOTH PARTIES.
HE IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
HIS CAMPAIGN HE HAS BEEN
SPECULATED AND RUMORED TO ENTER
THIS RACE FOR MONTHS NOW AND HE
IS OFFICIALLY IN.
DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME FOR THE
CANDIDATES WHO IS RUNNING
AGAINST TO JUMP IN MOMENTS AFTER
HE ANNOUNCED WITH THEIR THOUGHTS
ON THE CAMPAIGN.
AS WE KNOW CAMERON AND
BARR ARE THE OTHER CANDIDATES
(02:35):
PLEDGED THEIR SUPPORT AND THEY
HOPE FOR AN ENDORSEMENT FROM
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
MORRIS IS TRYING TO TIE CAMERON
AND BARR TO McCONNELL.
AND HE IS CALL HIMSELF THE MAGA
CANDIDATE.
>> RIGHT.
DEFINITELY THROUGHOUT THAT
INTERVIEW, HE REFERENCED TAKING
OUT THE TRASH, A PUN TOWARD HIS
BACKGROUND IN WASTE RECYCLING
(02:56):
BUSINESSES.
BUT ALSO TAKING OUT MITCH
McCONNELL'S TRASH WHO IS
VACATING THE SEAT.
AND SO THIS IS KIND OF A WAY FOR
HIM TO BRING UP THAT NAME
RECOGNITION AND TIE IT TO THESE
OTHER CANDIDATES CAMERON AND
BARR.
HE PLAYED A DELINQUENT FROM
MARIO'S INTERVIEW WITH BARR
(03:17):
DURING THIS PODCAST OF BARR
SAYING McCONNELL WAS A MENTOR
THROUGHOUT THE 2023 GOVERNOR'S
RACE WE HEARD OFTEN FROM OTHER
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CANDIDATES
AND FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
ESPECIALLY TYING CAMERON TO
MITCH McCONNELL AND WHO ALSO
SAW HIM AS A MENTOR AS WELL.
AND SO WE'RE AT THIS UNIQUE
(03:40):
JUNCTURE WHERE McCONNELL WILL
BE LEAVING THE SEAT IN THE
FUTURE AND HE HAS A LOW APPROVAL
RATING WITH VOTERS HERE IN
KENTUCKY BUT HE IS ALSO
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATE OF THE
KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY.
AND BRINGING IT INTO POWER OVER
THE PAST FEW DECADES.
AND MANY WHO ARE
ELECTED TODAY FEEL THEY OWE
GRATITUDE TO McCONNELL.
>> RIGHT.
(04:01):
IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND AN
ELECTED REPUBLICAN IN THIS STATE
WHO DOESN'T HAVE SOME KIND OF
TIE TO MITCH McCONNELL IN SOME
WAY.
MARCUS, IT WILL BE
INTERESTING IF MORRIS TRIES TO
TURN THE RACE ON A REFERENDUM TO
McCONNELL AND TRIES TO TIE THE
OTHER CANDIDATES IN WITH
McCONNELL?
>> WHICH HE HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO
(04:21):
DO CALLING THEM McCONNELL
EEUTDS ON THE --
McCONNELLITES ON THE PODCAST
AND MORRIS REPORTEDLY HELD A
FUNDRAISER FOR McCONNELL.
WE WILL HEAR ABOUT MITCH
McCONNELL IN THE RACE BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, THERE ARE
MANY, MANY TIES FOR ALL OF THESE
CANDIDATES TO MITCH McCONNELL.
(04:43):
WELL, THE BAR IN THE
CAMERON CAMPAIGNS ATTACKED.
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE READY
PREPARING FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
AND NOTED THAT MORRIS GAVE MONEY
TO NIKKI HALEY'S 2024 CAMPAIGN
AND CHAMPIONED DIVERSITY IN HIS
BUSINESS CAREER.
>> AND THOSE ARE BOTH TOPICS AT
(05:03):
THE FOREFRONT OF REPUBLICAN
VOTERS NATIONALLY AS WELL.
REFERENCING THAT PRESIDENTIAL
PRIMARY AND ALSO WE'VE SEEN A
LOT OF LEGISLATION HERE AT THE
STATE ABOUT REMOVING D.E.I.
POLICIES PARTICULARLY IN
EDUCATION AND THAT'S LIKELY TO
BLEED INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE
SESSION AS WELL.
SO THESE ARE WAYS TO TIE THIS
(05:24):
AGENDA TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT
THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND PUTTING
THAT IN FRONT OF VOTERS.
THIS LIST FROM CAMERON
WAS LENGTHY.
IS HIS CRITICISM OF MORRIS.
>> RIGHT.
AND MORRIS HAS BEEN RUMORED AS A
CANDIDATE FOR A WHILE.
IT'S TYPICAL FOR A CAMPAIGNS TO
DIG OPPOSITION RESEARCH ON EACH
(05:45):
OTHER.
THAT IS WHAT THAT LIST WAS.
AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN TWO
ANTI-MORRIS PACTS WHO ARE NOT
AFFILIATED.
THE KENTUCKY FIRST ACTION PAC
AND KEEP AMERICA GREAT PAC AND
THOSE ARE PACS THAT PRIORITIZE
MORE CONSERVATIVE VALUES THE
MAGA VALUES AND THEIR MESSAGING
(06:07):
IS PAINTING MORRIS AS MORE OF
THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE IN THIS
PRIMARY.
MARIO HOW WILL MORRIS
TRY TO FILL OUT HIS CONSERVATIVE
CREDENTIALS?
>> TIME WILL TELL.
BOTH ANDY BARR AND DANIEL
CAMERON BOTH HAVE MENTIONED IN
THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS OR
RESPONDED TO NATE MORRIS'
ANNOUNCEMENT HE FAILED TO
(06:28):
SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP FOR
PRESIDENT UNTIL MAY OF 2024 AND
HE PREVIOUSLY BACKED NICKI HALEY
IN THE PRIMARY.
AND ANDY BARR TALKED WITH ONE OF
OUR REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON D.C.
ON THE DAY OF THIS TAPING SAYING
THAT NATE MORRIS IS THE ONLY
DEMOCRAT RUNNING IN THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
WE WILL BE HEARING BACK AND
FORTH AND NATE MORRIS WILL BE
(06:50):
TRYING TO GET OUTSIDE OF THAT.
IS THERE SOME ADVANTAGE
TO CAMERON, MARCUS, IN AT THAT
TIME HE IS THE CANDIDATE WHO HAS
RUN STATE-WIDE, HAS NAME
RECOGNITION OUT THERE.
AND THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES
HAVE TO BUILD THAT AND BUY IT
ESSENTIALLY.
>> I THINK THIS WILL COME DOWN
TO ENTHUSIASM AND TURNOUT IF
(07:10):
NATE MORRIS GETS MOMENTUM AND HE
CAN MOBILIZE THAT PART OF THE
BASE SURE CAMERA AND DOES HAVE
THAT EXPERIENCE AND RUN THE
RACES BEFORE.
I THINK MARIO'S WORDS TIME WILL
TELL ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
HERE.
HOW TOUGH AND TIME WILL
TELL, HOW ROUGH AND TOUGH WILL
THE PRIMARY GET?
AND ARE THERE ANY INDICATIONS
(07:33):
HOW OR WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP MAY
PUT HIS THUMB ON THE SCALE?
>> WE'VE ALL LEARNED AT THAT
TIME PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
UNPREDICTABLE DOESN'T FOLLOW THE
TRENDS AND PREVIOUS PRIMARIES HE
HAS ENDORSED ALL THE REPUBLICANS
TWO REPUBLICANS IN A PRIMARY AND
I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE
CANDIDATE OR TWO CANDIDATES IN A
PRIMARY THAT HAD THE SAME FIRST
NAME.
(07:54):
HE ENDORSED THEM ALL.
BUT WE'RE TALKING IN JUNE OF
2025 AND THE PRIMARY IS NOT
UNTIL MAY 2026.
PLENTY OF TIME AND THINGS MAY
GET HIM QUIET FOR A WHILE.
>> BY THE PAST 24, 36 HOURS OF
THIS RACE WE HAVE SEEN IT
EXPLODE.
(08:14):
SO YOU KNOW IT'S EARLY TO SAY,
BUT DEFINITELY, THE RACE IS ON
TO GET THAT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT
AND WE HAVE SEEN THE CANDIDATES
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS TRY TO
TIE THEMSELVES MORE AND MORE TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS AGENDA.
THROUGH VARIOUS WAYS, SOCIAL
MEDIA, NEWS INTERVIEWS, THINGS
LIKE THAT, GOING ON THE
(08:36):
PRESIDENT'S SON'S PODCAST.
EVEN TODAY, CONGRESSMAN BARR
INTRODUCED A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT TO END BIRTH RIGHT
CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN OF
PEOPLE WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS
SHORTLY AFTER THAT SCOTUS RULING
CAME OUT WHICH TRUMP FAVORED, OF
COURSE.
I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE
THESE CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR OWN
(08:58):
WAVES AND TRY TO STAND OUT FROM
EACH OTHER, PARTICULARLY IN THE
PRESIDENT'S EYES.
AND IN A PRIMARY IT IS
A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT
SETUP THAN IT IS IN THE GENERAL
ELECTION WHEN MAYBE MORE
MODERATE STANCES MIGHT PLAY
BETTER.
>> RIGHT.
KENTUCKY HAS CLOSED PRIMARIES.
WE'RE NOT SEEING INDEPENDENT
VOTERS IN THIS RACE.
SO WHAT THESE CANDIDATES ARE
(09:19):
TRYING TO DO ARE COURT
REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND GET THEM
TO THEIR SIDE AND OFTEN THAT
LEADS TO WHOEVER CAN BE THE MOST
IN LINE WITH THE LEADING PARTY
OF THOUGHT IN THIS CASE IT SEEMS
TO BE THE TRUMP AGENDA WE WILL
SEE THEM MOVE TOWARD THAT.
THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IS
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER PAMELA
STEVENSON.
SHE HAS BEEN HOLDING EVENTS
(09:41):
SEEMS TO BE SHORING UP URBAN
SUPPORT FIRST.
IS THAT PRIMARY COMPLETE?
>> WELL THE FILING DEADLINE IS
JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR PEOPLE CAN
START FILING IN NOVEMBER OF THIS
YEAR.
BUT GOVERNOR BESHEAR DURING HIS
UPDATE ON THURSDAY HE WAS ASKED
BY ONE OF THE REPORTERS IF HE
(10:01):
WILL ENDORSE PAMELA STEVENSON.
AND HE SAID HE WOULD NOT AT THIS
TIME.
HE BELIEVED IT WAS TOO EARLY AND
WANTED TO SEE ALL THE CANDIDATES
THAT ENTER BUT HE WILL VOTE FOR
THE NOMINEE, BUT TIME WILL TELL
AGAIN ON THAT AS WELL.
WE KEEP HEARING THE
NAME OF ROCKY ADKINS BE
MENTIONED.
AND ALSO WE HEAR ALLISON GRIMES
(10:25):
IS LACKING OVER HER OPTIONS.
>> THOSE TWO ARE DEFINITELY
WELL-KNOWN WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY HERE IN KENTUCKY.
WE'VE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE,
BUT ONE ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS IN
KENTUCKY IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
A LARGE BENCH OF CANDIDATES
BEHIND TOP OF THE LINE BESHEAR.
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THERE'S SOME RECRUITING ON THE
(10:46):
DEMOCRATIC SIDE TO GET PEOPLE
INTO THESE RACES.
FANCY FARM COULD BE
INTERESTING AUGUST 2.
EVERYBODY WHO IS IN WILL BE
ALLOWED TO SPEAK.
>> THE FANCY FARM CREW THEY HAVE
CHANGED THE RULES HOW THEY ALLOW
POLITICAL SPEAKING THIS YEAR
SINCE THERE IS NO ELECTIONS
HAPPENING IN 2025 IN KENTUCKY
AND THE GENERAL ELECTION THEY
(11:08):
HAVE INVITED PRIMARY CANDIDATES
AND THE GOVERNOR, AND ALSO
SENATOR McCONNELL, RAND PAUL
HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK.
WE'LL START HEARING WHO IS
CONFIRMED AND SOME MAY NOT BE
CONFIRMED TO CLOSER TO THE FIRST
SATURDAY IN AUGUST.
IN WASHINGTON THE
BUDGET BATTLE IS DOWN DOWN TO
THE WIRE IN THE SENATE.
(11:29):
THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN KENTUCKY'S
DELEGATION TO WASHINGTON D.C. IS
MORGAN MCGARVEY WHO REACHED OUT
INTO THE STATE TO CLAIM RURAL
HOSPITALS MAY CLOSE IF SOME OF
THE CUTS HAPPEN.
>> ALL RIGHT IN MY STATE, 41
COUNTIES OUT OF 120 DON'T HAVE A
HOSPITAL.
72 COUNTIES DON'T HAVE AN OBGYN.
(11:51):
YOU ARE GETTING RID OF 20,000
HEALTHCARE JOBS AND 35
HOSPITALS.
WILL THIS PROPOSAL THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY CAUSE
DISPROPORTIONATE HARM ON OUR
RURAL COMMUNITIES?
>> IT WILL SEVERELY INJURY OUR
HOSPITALS.
THIS SEEMS TO BE FLUID
AT THIS POINT WHAT THE SENATE
WILL DO.
(12:11):
THE KENTUCKY HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN BEHIND THE
HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSAL BUT IT WAS
TWEAKED IN THE SENATE AND
CHANGED SOME OF THE PROVIDER
TAX.
AND NOW THEY ARE EXPRESSING
CONCERNS?
>> RIGHT.
SO OVER IN THE HOUSE SIDE,
CONGRESSMAN BRETT GUTHRIE A
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN HE WAS ABLE
TO USE HIS POSITION TO PROTECT
(12:33):
LANGUAGE THAT PROTECTED A
MEDICAID FUNDING STREAM.
AND REMOVE THAT PROVIDER TAX.
ON THE SENATE SIDE AT THAT TIME
HAS BEEN LOWERED.
THAT IS IS WHAT IS OF CONCERN TO
THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION AND
THEY WARN THAT HOSPITALS,
SERVICES AND JOBS HERE IN
KENTUCKY MAYBE LOST IF THAT
(12:54):
LANGUAGE STAYS THE WAY IT IS IN
THE SENATE.
THE REPUBLICANS CALLING
THAT SCARE TACTICS, RIGHT?
>> YES.
I MEAN THAT LANGUAGE IS ALREADY
BEING USED BY DEMOCRATS AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL.
WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR ASSOCIATIONS WITH
GOVERNOR BESHEAR IN THEM, OUT
AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
PARTICULARLY ON THE MEDICAID
(13:14):
SIDE OF IT.
FOR WEEKS NOW, IT FEELS LIKE.
SO IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT IS
BEING SAID ALREADY.
A LOT TO WATCH ON THAT.
MORE DRAMA, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
TEAM PROMISES PRIMARY OPPOSITION
FOR REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN
THOMAS MASSIE.
THEY ARE LAUNCHING A HUGE
(13:36):
ANTI-MASSIE AD BUY AFTER THE
STRIKES ON IRAN, MASSIE TOOK TO
SHE HAD AND APPEARED ON NATIONAL
INTERVIEWS.
>> CONGRESS WAS ON VACATION WHEN
THIS WAS HAPPENING.
>> YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BRIEFED?
>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN BRIEFED THEY
SHOULD HAVE CALLED US BACK AND
WE SHOULD HAVE DEBATED THIS WAR
POWERS RESOLUTION THAT WE
(13:58):
OFFERED INSTEAD OF DOING
FUNDRAISERS AND SAYING WELL THE
PRESIDENT HAS THIS UNDER CONTROL
WE WILL CEDE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
AUTHORITY.
THIS IS THE LATEST
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
CONGRESSMAN MASSIE.
>> IT SURE IS.
A SPIRITED DEBATE.
THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, THOMAS
MASSIE USING X, BUT THE
PRESIDENT USING TRUTH SOCIAL AND
(14:23):
CALLING THOMAS MASSIE THE
CONGRESSMAN FROM NORTHERN
KENTUCKY SEVERAL NAMES INCLUDING
RAND PAUL JUNIOR.
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN
BACK AND FORTHWITH RAND PAUL AS
WELL.
AND THOMAS MASSIE SHARED DURING
THE BACK AND FORTH THAT TRUMP
DECLARED SO MUCH WAR ON ME TODAY
IT'S REQUIRE AN ACT OF CONGRESS.
SO THAT'S BEEN THE RESPONSES
(14:43):
BACK.
HE LEANED INTO THIS AND HAS BEEN
ABLE TO CAMPAIGN OFF IT AS WELL.
HAVE THE TRUMP
OPERATIVES IDENTIFIED A
CANDIDATE?
>> I THINK THEY ARE IN THE
RECRUITING MODE.
NAMES FLOATEDDED INCLUDE STATE
SENATOR ERIN REED OF THE SEVENTH
DISTRICT.
(15:04):
HE IS A FRESHMAN SENATOR BUT HE
DID WIN A PRIMARY LAST YEAR.
HE DEFEATED AN INCUMBENT
REPUBLICAN AND ANOTHER
CHALLENGER AS WELL.
AND WE'VE SEEN THE PARTY WELCOME
HIM WITH OPEN ARMS AS WELL.
ACTUALLY THERE WAS A TWEET
YESTERDAY FROM FORMER FLOOR
LEADER IN THE SENATE DAMON
(15:24):
THAYER WITH REED SAYING THAT
HE'S VERY IMPRESSIVE AND HE
KNOWS THAT THAYER DID SUPPORT A
DIFFERENT CANDIDATE IN THAT
PRIMARY BUT HE THINKS REED HAS A
BRIGHT FUTURE HERE IN THE
KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> .
>> ANOTHER NAME OUT OF NORTHERN
KENTUCKY IS KIM MOSHER.
SHE HAS BEEN IN THE SEAT IN
(15:44):
TAYLOR MILL FOR MANY YEARS AND
FLOATED AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE.
SHE HAS A STRONG SUPPORT IN
FRANKFORT AND IN HER DISTRICT.
WE'LL WATCH ALL OF THAT
UNFOLD.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
APPARENTLY IS SEEKING TO RESCIND
$500 MILLION FOR EASTERN
KENTUCKY PRISON.
MARCUS WE ARE AWAITING MORE
DETAILS WHERE THAT IS GOING BUT
HAL ROGERS SAYS LONG PRESSED FOR
(16:07):
PRISONS IN HIS DISTRICT AS A JOB
CREATOR.
>> RIGHT.
THIS LETCHER COUNTY PRISON
PROPOSAL HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS
FOR A A LONGTIME AND THE
RESCISSION WAS 600 MILLION FOR
THREE, AND THE ONE IN KENTUCKY
WE'LL TAKE THE BRUNT OF THIS AND
THE QUESTION IS WHERE DOES IT GO
FROM HERE?
(16:27):
IT IS A PROJECT THAT FACED A LOT
OF LOCAL AND STATE OPPOSITION IN
TERMS OF PUTTING IN A PRISON AND
ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THE STATE.
IT'S NOT AS IF IT HASN'T HAD
CONTROVERSY IT IS A LAYER WHAT
WILL HAPPEN TO THE JOB.
LEGACY LOUISVILLE
EMPLOYER GE MADE A MAJOR
(16:47):
ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK.
800 JOBS AND AN EYE TOWARD THE
FUTURE AND KENTUCKY BEAT OUT
OTHER PLACES FOR THIS.
>> I THINK WE CAN'T UNDERSCORE
HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS.
GE BASED IN LOUISVILLE, OWNED BY
HIGHER A CHINESE COMPANY
ANNOUNCED AN INVESTMENT IN
(17:09):
WASHER AND DRYER LINES THAT WILL
EMPLOY 800 PEOPLE.
AND THIS IS A COUPLE YEARS AFTER
ANOTHER BIG INVESTMENT OF 450
MILLION.
THE GOVERNOR HAS TOUTED THIS AND
THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE TOUTED
THIS.
AND NOT ONLY FOR THE JOBS, BUT
BECAUSE THEY DID BEAT OUT OTHER
LOCATIONS HIGHER GE APPLIANCE
(17:30):
OPERATES IN TENNESSEE, GEORGIA,
ALABAMA A LOT OF STATES THAT
KENTUCKY IS FAMILIAR WITH AND
BEATING THEM FOR BIG BUSINESS
PROJECTS A WIN FOR LOUISVILLE.
YOU THINK THAT LONG
TIME CONNECTION WAS HELPFUL?
>> I THINK IT HAD TO BE.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS THERE BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, OTHER STATES
MAKE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE INCENTIVE
(17:50):
PROPOSALS TOO.
YOU HAVE DONE A DEEP
DIVE ON PROMISES MADE ABOUT THE
KENNEDY BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS
LOUISVILLE WITH INDIANA.
AND NOW THE STATE IS ABOUT TO
SPEND $8 MILLION BECAUSE OF
ERRORS IN CONSTRUCTION.
IS THAT THE TERMINOLOGY?
>> THAT'S THE STATE'S OWN
TERMINOLOGY AND INSPECTOR
LABELED THAT A FEW YEARS AGO.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THIS BRIDGE
WAS REDONE IN 2016 PART OF THE
(18:13):
OHIO RIVER BRIDGE'S PROJECT THE
LARGEST TRANSPORTATION PROJECT
IN KENTUCKY'S HISTORY.
THEY REDID THE DECK AND
SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND BEAMS
WERE REDONE.
AND DURING THAT PROCESS, THINGS
WEREN'T DONE PROPERLY.
THE INSPECTORS NOTED AND AS A
RESULT OVER THAT TIME SINCE THAT
BRIDGE REOPENED THERE HAVE BEEN
PROBLEMS WITH DRIVERS HAVE FLAT
(18:34):
TIRES REPORTEDLY.
THE STATE HAS HAD TO REPLACE A
LOT OF THESE JOINTS MULTIPLE
TIMES AND THEY ARE GETTING READY
TO START A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT
PROJECT.
BECAUSE OF THE ERRORS IN THE
ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY REPAIRS IN
ALL THE STATE THE STATE WILL
PONY UP $8 MILLION.
TOLL REVENUE THAT COULD HAVE
GONE TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT IS
(18:55):
GOING TO BE USED TO MAKE REPAIRS
THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
>> WE ALL DRIVE, I WONDER HOW
MANY OF THOSE ORANGE BARRELS
THEY HAVE.
>> THEY ARE ADDING NEW ONES
EVERY FEW DAYS.
DOZENS OF NEW LAWS WERE
PASSED THIS YEAR AND ENFORCED AS
(19:16):
OF TODAY.
SENATE LEADERS DISCUSSED SOME OF
THAT THIS WEEK.
>> THURSDAY MORE THAN 100 NEW
LAWS WILL TAKE EFFECT IN THE
COMMONWEALTH.
EACH A PRODUCT OF THOUGHTFUL
POLICY MAKING AND A LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS I'M PROUD TO HELP LEAD
IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.
TOGETHER THEY REFLECT THE CORE
CONSERVATIVE PRIORITIES EMBRACED
BY THE KENTUCKY GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
(19:36):
THE SUPER IMAGES AND --
MAJORITIES, LOWERING TAXES,
BETTER SCHOOLS, SAFER
COMMUNITIES, AND A GOVERNMENT
THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE.
MECHANIC KENNA THIS WAS
TO UNDERSCORE WHAT THEY CONSIDER
TO BE PROGRESS BY THE SENATE,
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS.
THAT INCLUDES LOWERING THE STATE
INCOME TAX AGAIN.
(19:57):
LESS RED TAPE FOR TEACHERS IN
THE CLASSROOM.
NO MORE D.E.I. PROGRAMS?
>> RIGHT.
AND THOSE ARE ALL PRIORITIES OF
THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY IN
BOTH CHAMBERS.
SO WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN THEM
BE ABLE TO ENACT THE POLICY OVER
SEVERAL SESSIONS.
(20:17):
IT'S MAKES SENSE THEY WOULD WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT IT BEFORE THE LAWS
GO INTO EFFECT.
CELLPHONE USE WILL BE
LIMITED IN SCHOOLS.
>> YES, THAT IS ONE THING WE
MIGHT NOT SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT
UNTIL THE KIDS ARE BACK IN THE
CLASSROOM IN AUGUST.
ONE THING WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW
I'M SEE TO GO ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA
TEACHERS CANNOT HAVE CONTACT
(20:39):
WITH STUDENTS THROUGH MEANS LIKE
SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF TEACHERS
POST REMOVE ME IF I'VE MISSED
YOU ON FACEBOOK.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE LAWS THAT
IS TAKING EFFECT.
CURSIVE WRITING WILL
RETURN.
>> YES.
I BELIEVE THAT IS IN A BILL THAT
A LAW I SHOULD SAY NOW THAT HAS
(20:59):
TO DO WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY
COURSE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE
GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT MONEY AND BANKING.
SOME INDICATIONS ABOUT
WHAT MAYBE ADDRESSED IN THE 2026
SESSION, AND THERE WAS SOME TALK
ABOUT WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN
(21:20):
DO WITH UNCLAIMED BODIES.
THAT WAS INTERESTING.
>> THAT IS A PROPOSAL FROM
REPUBLICAN SENATOR GREG ELKINS
OF WINCHESTER HE PROPOSED THIS
AS WELL.
HE SAID IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT
THIS UP COMING SESSION WILL MARK
THE THIRD TIME HE IS MAKING THIS
PROPOSAL.
BUT IT WOULD ALLOW LOCAL
(21:41):
GOVERNMENTS THE OPTION OF
CREMATING OR BURYING A DEAD BODY
WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER CANNOT BE
FOUND.
SO THIS IS AN ISSUE PARTICULARLY
FOR COUNTY CORONERS, LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WHO MIGHT BE TAKING
ON THE COST ET CETERA.
IT DID MAKE IT TO THE HOUSE IT
MADE IT OUT OF THE SENATE LAST
SESSION.
BUT IT STALLED IN THE HOUSE.
(22:03):
SO IT MIGHT GO FURTHER THIS TIME
WITH MORE DEBATE.
THIS WAS IN THE
TEMPORARY MEETINGS SPACE?
>> YES, THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS
IN THAT NEW SENATE CHAMBER THE
TEMPORARY STRUCTURE THAT IS OFF
OF THE ANNEX.
I WILL SAY THE TEMPERATURE IS
WELL REGULATED I APPRECIATE
(22:23):
THAT.
HOWEVER, THERE IS NO GALLERY
LIKE WE'RE USED TO IN THE
CHAMBERS.
SO WHAT WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT IT
THEY SAID THERE WILL BE A LIVE
STREAM OPTION WITH A ROOM IN THE
ANNEX SO PEOPLE CAN COME
IN-PERSON AND WATCH IN REALTIME
WHAT IS HAPPENING VIA A VIDEO
FEED BUT THE MEDIA DESKS ARE IN
(22:43):
THE FLOOR IN BOTH CHAMBER.
IT'S LONG-TERM PROJECT.
>> AND ALSO THERE'S THE ROTUNDA
WHERE THE RALLIES HAPPEN AND THE
ROBERT STIVERS WAS ASKED WHAT
WILL HAPPEN WITH THAT?
AND HIS ANSWER WAS IT'S UP TO
THOSE GROUPS IT IS NOT THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFER THE
SPACE.
SOMETHING WE'LL SEE PLAY OUT.
(23:05):
ONE OF THE NEW LAWS
TODAY, MORE HARSHLY CRIMINALIZES
DISRUPTING THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS.
>> RIGHT AND THAT PASSED THIS
SESSION.
YOU KNOW, THIS RENOVATION OF THE
CAPITOL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE
THREE YEARS.
IT'S LIKELY IT WILL TAKE LONGER.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SETUP
(23:25):
FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
IN FACT A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT JUST
IN THE SPACE, BUT ALSO
KENTUCKIANS AT HOME WHO DON'T
COME TO FRANKFORT AND DON'T HAVE
THE MEANS TO COME EVERYDAY.
MARCUS THE LOUISVILLE
METRO COUNCIL BUDGET IS
APPROACHING THE FINISH LINE.
>> IT CROSSED LAST NIGHT.
(23:46):
WHAT DID THEY DECIDE
ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TRUST FUND WHICH WITH WAS
CONTROVERSIAL.
>> THIS IS AN INTERESTING ISSUE
BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE
PRIORITIES OF MAYOR CRAIG
GREENBERG A DEMOCRAT.
ALTHOUGH AS WE'VE NOTED
LOUISVILLE'S MAYORAL ELECTIONS
ARE ABOUT TO BECOME NONPARTISAN.
GREENBERG IS TRYING TO EXPAND
(24:07):
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK AND
THIS FUND THAT HELPS NONPROFITS
AND DEVELOPERS BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS 2EU7 DAHL TIED TO
INCOMES PEOPLE MAKING LESS THAN
THE AREA AVERAGE, GREENBERG
PROPOSED $15 MILLION FOR THAT
FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, THE
METRO COUNCIL DROP TO DO TO
(24:27):
12.5.
NOT HUGE BUT IT WAS MET WITH
CONDITIONS OR PROPOSED WITH
CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDE BETTER
REPORTING TO MAKE SURE THAT
MONEY IS SPENT PROPERLY.
IT'S THE MAYOR SHRUGGED THAT OFF
AND SAID WE HAVE OTHER MEASURES
IN THE BUDGET THAT WILL HELP
HOUSING.
BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE
THAT MONEY IS NEVER REDUCED.
IT HAPPENED ONE TIME THAT I
(24:49):
LOOKED AT.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF
THAT IS THE BASELINE GOING
FORWARD OR IF THEY PUT MORE
MONEY INTO THE FUND IN THE YEAR
AHEAD.
IS IT CLEAR THAT
GREENBERG IS RUNNING AGAIN?
>> HE HAS NOT SAID IT BUT IS
POSITIONING HIMSELF FOR THE RUN
AND THE WAY HE IS ATTEMPTING TO
MAKE THIS CASE THAT HE CAN WORK
WITH FRANKFORT AND HE APPEARED
AT EVENTS WITH SENATE PRESIDENT
(25:11):
ROBERT STIVERS HE IS ALWAYS
NOTING HOW HE WORKS WELL WITH
REPUBLICANS.
I THINK HE'S POSITIONING HIMSELF
TO BE SEEN AS AN INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATE WHO CAN BRIDGE THIS
DIVIDE AND OF COURSE, THE RACE
BECOMES NONPARTISAN HE IS TRYING
TO SAY HE IS A CANDIDATE FOR ALL
OF LOUISVILLE.
THAT CHANGES THE
LANDSCAPE.
AND MARIO, WE BOTH INTERVALUED
(25:33):
LINDA GORTON AND SHE WOULDN'T
ANSWER EITHER ONE OF US IF SHE
WILL SEEK A THIRD TERM?
>> SHE SAYS ONCE BEING A
POLITICIAN IT TAKES TIME AWAY
FROM FAMILY BUT HAS MORE WORK TO
BE DONE SHE WANTS TO SEE A FEW
THINGS THROUGH BEFORE THEY ARE
COMPLETED.
SHE SAYS A COUPLE WEEKS AWAY
FROM MAKING A DECISION.
(25:54):
I COULDN'T READ WHERE
SHE IS HEADED WITH IT IN TALKING
WITH HER.
>> TIME WILL TELL.
WHAT DID WE MISS?
ANYTHING?
WE GOOD.
>> IT WAS A HOT AND HUMID WEEK
IN KENTUCKY WITH CALLS FOR
ASSISTANCE FROM MANY WHO HAD
HEAT RELATED ISSUES MANY TAKEN
TO THE HOSPITAL.
THE ADVICE, OF COURSE, IS DON'T
(26:14):
OVERDO IT AND STAY HYDRATED OUT
THERE.
IT'S RARE FOR US TO TAKE A WEEK
OFF HERE FOR COMMENT BUT WITH
THE FOURTH OF JULY COMING UP
COMMENT WILL NOT AIR NEXT WEEK
SO KET CAN BRING YOU THE
INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIAL A
CAPITOL FOURTH.
WE'LL CATCH UP WHAT'S HAPPENED
WHEN WE RETURN FRIDAY JULY 11TH.
THAT IS COMMENT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
KENTUCKY'S 2026 OPEN
RACE FOR THE U.S. SENATE GETS
ANOTHER CANDIDATE.
PRESIDENT TRUMP PROMISES
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY OPPOSITION
FOR KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN THOMAS
MASSIE.
AFTER MASSIE CRITICIZES THE U.S.
STRIKE ON IRAN.
KENTUCKY LEGISLATIVE LEADERS
TALK ABOUT NEW LAWS NOW IN
EFFECT AND WHAT THE FUTURE MAY
HOLD.
(00:29):
ERRORS IN CONSTRUCTION LEAD TO A
MULTIMILLION DOLLAR KENTUCKY
BRIDGE PROJECT.
AFTER A WEEK OF SUMMER HEAT,
COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO
"COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
(00:50):
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, MARCUS GREEN,
REPORTER FOR WDRB IN LOUISVILLE.
MCKENNA HORSLEY, POLITICS
REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY
LANTERN.
AND MARIO ANDERSON, ANCHOR AND
(01:10):
HOST OF IN FOCUS KENTUCKY ON
SPECTRUM NEWS 1.
ALSO TONIGHT HUNDREDS.
NEW JOBS ARE COMING TO
LOUISVILLE.
FIRST, THOUGH, TO THIS WEEK'S
POLITICAL NEWS IN KENTUCKY'S
U.S. SENATE RACE.
BUSINESSMAN NATURE CONSERVANCY
ANNOUNCED HE --
NATD MORRIS ANNOUNCED HE IS
ENTERING THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
>> AFTER CAREFUL REFLECTION AND
(01:30):
PRAYER TALKING TO MY WIFE JAB, I
DECIDED TO RUN FOR THE UNITED
STATES SENATE TO REPLACE MITCH
McCONNELL HERE IN KENTUCKY.
AND FINALLY BRING THIS SEAT BACK
TO THE PEOPLE.
MARIO, MORRIS WAS VERY
QUICK TO PLEDGE HIS SUPPORT TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND TO TIE
HIMSELF AS CLOSELY AS HE COULD
TO TRUMP.
>> THAT IS RIGHT ESPECIALLY WITH
(01:52):
THE MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH
THE PRESIDENT'S SON DONALD
TRUMP, JR. ON HIS PODCAST.
HAD HIS WEBSITE READY TO GO.
TALKING ABOUT SOME TOP PRIORITY
ITEMS AND THE HOME PAGE OF THE
NATE MORRIS' WEBSITE SAYS IT'S
TIME TO TAKE OUT THE TRASH AND
CLAIMS THAT HE IS SICK AND TIRED
OF THE FAILED POLITICIANS IN
(02:14):
BOTH PARTIES.
HE IS READY TO MOVE FORWARD WITH
HIS CAMPAIGN HE HAS BEEN
SPECULATED AND RUMORED TO ENTER
THIS RACE FOR MONTHS NOW AND HE
IS OFFICIALLY IN.
DIDN'T TAKE THE TIME FOR THE
CANDIDATES WHO IS RUNNING
AGAINST TO JUMP IN MOMENTS AFTER
HE ANNOUNCED WITH THEIR THOUGHTS
ON THE CAMPAIGN.
AS WE KNOW CAMERON AND
BARR ARE THE OTHER CANDIDATES
(02:35):
PLEDGED THEIR SUPPORT AND THEY
HOPE FOR AN ENDORSEMENT FROM
PRESIDENT TRUMP.
MORRIS IS TRYING TO TIE CAMERON
AND BARR TO McCONNELL.
AND HE IS CALL HIMSELF THE MAGA
CANDIDATE.
>> RIGHT.
DEFINITELY THROUGHOUT THAT
INTERVIEW, HE REFERENCED TAKING
OUT THE TRASH, A PUN TOWARD HIS
BACKGROUND IN WASTE RECYCLING
(02:56):
BUSINESSES.
BUT ALSO TAKING OUT MITCH
McCONNELL'S TRASH WHO IS
VACATING THE SEAT.
AND SO THIS IS KIND OF A WAY FOR
HIM TO BRING UP THAT NAME
RECOGNITION AND TIE IT TO THESE
OTHER CANDIDATES CAMERON AND
BARR.
HE PLAYED A DELINQUENT FROM
MARIO'S INTERVIEW WITH BARR
(03:17):
DURING THIS PODCAST OF BARR
SAYING McCONNELL WAS A MENTOR
THROUGHOUT THE 2023 GOVERNOR'S
RACE WE HEARD OFTEN FROM OTHER
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY CANDIDATES
AND FROM THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.
ESPECIALLY TYING CAMERON TO
MITCH McCONNELL AND WHO ALSO
SAW HIM AS A MENTOR AS WELL.
AND SO WE'RE AT THIS UNIQUE
(03:40):
JUNCTURE WHERE McCONNELL WILL
BE LEAVING THE SEAT IN THE
FUTURE AND HE HAS A LOW APPROVAL
RATING WITH VOTERS HERE IN
KENTUCKY BUT HE IS ALSO
RESPONSIBLE FOR THE STATE OF THE
KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY.
AND BRINGING IT INTO POWER OVER
THE PAST FEW DECADES.
AND MANY WHO ARE
ELECTED TODAY FEEL THEY OWE
GRATITUDE TO McCONNELL.
>> RIGHT.
(04:01):
IT WOULD BE HARD TO FIND AN
ELECTED REPUBLICAN IN THIS STATE
WHO DOESN'T HAVE SOME KIND OF
TIE TO MITCH McCONNELL IN SOME
WAY.
MARCUS, IT WILL BE
INTERESTING IF MORRIS TRIES TO
TURN THE RACE ON A REFERENDUM TO
McCONNELL AND TRIES TO TIE THE
OTHER CANDIDATES IN WITH
McCONNELL?
>> WHICH HE HAS ALREADY BEGUN TO
(04:21):
DO CALLING THEM McCONNELL
EEUTDS ON THE --
McCONNELLITES ON THE PODCAST
AND MORRIS REPORTEDLY HELD A
FUNDRAISER FOR McCONNELL.
WE WILL HEAR ABOUT MITCH
McCONNELL IN THE RACE BUT IT'S
IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, THERE ARE
MANY, MANY TIES FOR ALL OF THESE
CANDIDATES TO MITCH McCONNELL.
(04:43):
WELL, THE BAR IN THE
CAMERON CAMPAIGNS ATTACKED.
IT WAS OBVIOUSLY THEY WERE READY
PREPARING FOR THIS ANNOUNCEMENT
AND NOTED THAT MORRIS GAVE MONEY
TO NIKKI HALEY'S 2024 CAMPAIGN
AND CHAMPIONED DIVERSITY IN HIS
BUSINESS CAREER.
>> AND THOSE ARE BOTH TOPICS AT
(05:03):
THE FOREFRONT OF REPUBLICAN
VOTERS NATIONALLY AS WELL.
REFERENCING THAT PRESIDENTIAL
PRIMARY AND ALSO WE'VE SEEN A
LOT OF LEGISLATION HERE AT THE
STATE ABOUT REMOVING D.E.I.
POLICIES PARTICULARLY IN
EDUCATION AND THAT'S LIKELY TO
BLEED INTO THE NEXT LEGISLATIVE
SESSION AS WELL.
SO THESE ARE WAYS TO TIE THIS
(05:24):
AGENDA TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING AT
THE NATIONAL LEVEL AND PUTTING
THAT IN FRONT OF VOTERS.
THIS LIST FROM CAMERON
WAS LENGTHY.
IS HIS CRITICISM OF MORRIS.
>> RIGHT.
AND MORRIS HAS BEEN RUMORED AS A
CANDIDATE FOR A WHILE.
IT'S TYPICAL FOR A CAMPAIGNS TO
DIG OPPOSITION RESEARCH ON EACH
(05:45):
OTHER.
THAT IS WHAT THAT LIST WAS.
AND WE'VE ALREADY SEEN TWO
ANTI-MORRIS PACTS WHO ARE NOT
AFFILIATED.
THE KENTUCKY FIRST ACTION PAC
AND KEEP AMERICA GREAT PAC AND
THOSE ARE PACS THAT PRIORITIZE
MORE CONSERVATIVE VALUES THE
MAGA VALUES AND THEIR MESSAGING
(06:07):
IS PAINTING MORRIS AS MORE OF
THE LIBERAL CANDIDATE IN THIS
PRIMARY.
MARIO HOW WILL MORRIS
TRY TO FILL OUT HIS CONSERVATIVE
CREDENTIALS?
>> TIME WILL TELL.
BOTH ANDY BARR AND DANIEL
CAMERON BOTH HAVE MENTIONED IN
THE RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS OR
RESPONDED TO NATE MORRIS'
ANNOUNCEMENT HE FAILED TO
(06:28):
SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP FOR
PRESIDENT UNTIL MAY OF 2024 AND
HE PREVIOUSLY BACKED NICKI HALEY
IN THE PRIMARY.
AND ANDY BARR TALKED WITH ONE OF
OUR REPORTERS IN WASHINGTON D.C.
ON THE DAY OF THIS TAPING SAYING
THAT NATE MORRIS IS THE ONLY
DEMOCRAT RUNNING IN THE
REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.
WE WILL BE HEARING BACK AND
FORTH AND NATE MORRIS WILL BE
(06:50):
TRYING TO GET OUTSIDE OF THAT.
IS THERE SOME ADVANTAGE
TO CAMERON, MARCUS, IN AT THAT
TIME HE IS THE CANDIDATE WHO HAS
RUN STATE-WIDE, HAS NAME
RECOGNITION OUT THERE.
AND THE OTHER TWO CANDIDATES
HAVE TO BUILD THAT AND BUY IT
ESSENTIALLY.
>> I THINK THIS WILL COME DOWN
TO ENTHUSIASM AND TURNOUT IF
(07:10):
NATE MORRIS GETS MOMENTUM AND HE
CAN MOBILIZE THAT PART OF THE
BASE SURE CAMERA AND DOES HAVE
THAT EXPERIENCE AND RUN THE
RACES BEFORE.
I THINK MARIO'S WORDS TIME WILL
TELL ARE VERY, VERY IMPORTANT
HERE.
HOW TOUGH AND TIME WILL
TELL, HOW ROUGH AND TOUGH WILL
THE PRIMARY GET?
AND ARE THERE ANY INDICATIONS
(07:33):
HOW OR WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP MAY
PUT HIS THUMB ON THE SCALE?
>> WE'VE ALL LEARNED AT THAT
TIME PRESIDENT TRUMP IS
UNPREDICTABLE DOESN'T FOLLOW THE
TRENDS AND PREVIOUS PRIMARIES HE
HAS ENDORSED ALL THE REPUBLICANS
TWO REPUBLICANS IN A PRIMARY AND
I BELIEVE THERE WAS ONE
CANDIDATE OR TWO CANDIDATES IN A
PRIMARY THAT HAD THE SAME FIRST
NAME.
(07:54):
HE ENDORSED THEM ALL.
BUT WE'RE TALKING IN JUNE OF
2025 AND THE PRIMARY IS NOT
UNTIL MAY 2026.
PLENTY OF TIME AND THINGS MAY
GET HIM QUIET FOR A WHILE.
>> BY THE PAST 24, 36 HOURS OF
THIS RACE WE HAVE SEEN IT
EXPLODE.
(08:14):
SO YOU KNOW IT'S EARLY TO SAY,
BUT DEFINITELY, THE RACE IS ON
TO GET THAT TRUMP ENDORSEMENT
AND WE HAVE SEEN THE CANDIDATES
OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS TRY TO
TIE THEMSELVES MORE AND MORE TO
PRESIDENT TRUMP AND HIS AGENDA.
THROUGH VARIOUS WAYS, SOCIAL
MEDIA, NEWS INTERVIEWS, THINGS
LIKE THAT, GOING ON THE
(08:36):
PRESIDENT'S SON'S PODCAST.
EVEN TODAY, CONGRESSMAN BARR
INTRODUCED A CONSTITUTIONAL
AMENDMENT TO END BIRTH RIGHT
CITIZENSHIP FOR CHILDREN OF
PEOPLE WITHOUT LEGAL STATUS
SHORTLY AFTER THAT SCOTUS RULING
CAME OUT WHICH TRUMP FAVORED, OF
COURSE.
I THINK WE ARE GOING TO SEE
THESE CANDIDATES MAKE THEIR OWN
(08:58):
WAVES AND TRY TO STAND OUT FROM
EACH OTHER, PARTICULARLY IN THE
PRESIDENT'S EYES.
AND IN A PRIMARY IT IS
A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENT
SETUP THAN IT IS IN THE GENERAL
ELECTION WHEN MAYBE MORE
MODERATE STANCES MIGHT PLAY
BETTER.
>> RIGHT.
KENTUCKY HAS CLOSED PRIMARIES.
WE'RE NOT SEEING INDEPENDENT
VOTERS IN THIS RACE.
SO WHAT THESE CANDIDATES ARE
(09:19):
TRYING TO DO ARE COURT
REPUBLICAN VOTERS AND GET THEM
TO THEIR SIDE AND OFTEN THAT
LEADS TO WHOEVER CAN BE THE MOST
IN LINE WITH THE LEADING PARTY
OF THOUGHT IN THIS CASE IT SEEMS
TO BE THE TRUMP AGENDA WE WILL
SEE THEM MOVE TOWARD THAT.
THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IS
HOUSE MINORITY LEADER PAMELA
STEVENSON.
SHE HAS BEEN HOLDING EVENTS
(09:41):
SEEMS TO BE SHORING UP URBAN
SUPPORT FIRST.
IS THAT PRIMARY COMPLETE?
>> WELL THE FILING DEADLINE IS
JANUARY OF NEXT YEAR PEOPLE CAN
START FILING IN NOVEMBER OF THIS
YEAR.
BUT GOVERNOR BESHEAR DURING HIS
UPDATE ON THURSDAY HE WAS ASKED
BY ONE OF THE REPORTERS IF HE
(10:01):
WILL ENDORSE PAMELA STEVENSON.
AND HE SAID HE WOULD NOT AT THIS
TIME.
HE BELIEVED IT WAS TOO EARLY AND
WANTED TO SEE ALL THE CANDIDATES
THAT ENTER BUT HE WILL VOTE FOR
THE NOMINEE, BUT TIME WILL TELL
AGAIN ON THAT AS WELL.
WE KEEP HEARING THE
NAME OF ROCKY ADKINS BE
MENTIONED.
AND ALSO WE HEAR ALLISON GRIMES
(10:25):
IS LACKING OVER HER OPTIONS.
>> THOSE TWO ARE DEFINITELY
WELL-KNOWN WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC
PARTY HERE IN KENTUCKY.
WE'VE BROUGHT THIS UP BEFORE,
BUT ONE ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS IN
KENTUCKY IS THAT THEY DON'T HAVE
A LARGE BENCH OF CANDIDATES
BEHIND TOP OF THE LINE BESHEAR.
AND THINGS LIKE THAT.
THERE'S SOME RECRUITING ON THE
(10:46):
DEMOCRATIC SIDE TO GET PEOPLE
INTO THESE RACES.
FANCY FARM COULD BE
INTERESTING AUGUST 2.
EVERYBODY WHO IS IN WILL BE
ALLOWED TO SPEAK.
>> THE FANCY FARM CREW THEY HAVE
CHANGED THE RULES HOW THEY ALLOW
POLITICAL SPEAKING THIS YEAR
SINCE THERE IS NO ELECTIONS
HAPPENING IN 2025 IN KENTUCKY
AND THE GENERAL ELECTION THEY
(11:08):
HAVE INVITED PRIMARY CANDIDATES
AND THE GOVERNOR, AND ALSO
SENATOR McCONNELL, RAND PAUL
HAVE BEEN INVITED TO SPEAK.
WE'LL START HEARING WHO IS
CONFIRMED AND SOME MAY NOT BE
CONFIRMED TO CLOSER TO THE FIRST
SATURDAY IN AUGUST.
IN WASHINGTON THE
BUDGET BATTLE IS DOWN DOWN TO
THE WIRE IN THE SENATE.
(11:29):
THE ONLY DEMOCRAT IN KENTUCKY'S
DELEGATION TO WASHINGTON D.C. IS
MORGAN MCGARVEY WHO REACHED OUT
INTO THE STATE TO CLAIM RURAL
HOSPITALS MAY CLOSE IF SOME OF
THE CUTS HAPPEN.
>> ALL RIGHT IN MY STATE, 41
COUNTIES OUT OF 120 DON'T HAVE A
HOSPITAL.
72 COUNTIES DON'T HAVE AN OBGYN.
(11:51):
YOU ARE GETTING RID OF 20,000
HEALTHCARE JOBS AND 35
HOSPITALS.
WILL THIS PROPOSAL THAT WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT TODAY CAUSE
DISPROPORTIONATE HARM ON OUR
RURAL COMMUNITIES?
>> IT WILL SEVERELY INJURY OUR
HOSPITALS.
THIS SEEMS TO BE FLUID
AT THIS POINT WHAT THE SENATE
WILL DO.
(12:11):
THE KENTUCKY HOSPITAL
ASSOCIATION HAD BEEN BEHIND THE
HOUSE BUDGET PROPOSAL BUT IT WAS
TWEAKED IN THE SENATE AND
CHANGED SOME OF THE PROVIDER
TAX.
AND NOW THEY ARE EXPRESSING
CONCERNS?
>> RIGHT.
SO OVER IN THE HOUSE SIDE,
CONGRESSMAN BRETT GUTHRIE A
COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN HE WAS ABLE
TO USE HIS POSITION TO PROTECT
(12:33):
LANGUAGE THAT PROTECTED A
MEDICAID FUNDING STREAM.
AND REMOVE THAT PROVIDER TAX.
ON THE SENATE SIDE AT THAT TIME
HAS BEEN LOWERED.
THAT IS IS WHAT IS OF CONCERN TO
THE HOSPITAL ASSOCIATION AND
THEY WARN THAT HOSPITALS,
SERVICES AND JOBS HERE IN
KENTUCKY MAYBE LOST IF THAT
(12:54):
LANGUAGE STAYS THE WAY IT IS IN
THE SENATE.
THE REPUBLICANS CALLING
THAT SCARE TACTICS, RIGHT?
>> YES.
I MEAN THAT LANGUAGE IS ALREADY
BEING USED BY DEMOCRATS AT THE
NATIONAL LEVEL.
WE'VE SEEN SEVERAL DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNOR ASSOCIATIONS WITH
GOVERNOR BESHEAR IN THEM, OUT
AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL.
PARTICULARLY ON THE MEDICAID
(13:14):
SIDE OF IT.
FOR WEEKS NOW, IT FEELS LIKE.
SO IT'S IN LINE WITH WHAT IS
BEING SAID ALREADY.
A LOT TO WATCH ON THAT.
MORE DRAMA, PRESIDENT TRUMP'S
TEAM PROMISES PRIMARY OPPOSITION
FOR REPUBLICAN CONGRESSMAN
THOMAS MASSIE.
THEY ARE LAUNCHING A HUGE
(13:36):
ANTI-MASSIE AD BUY AFTER THE
STRIKES ON IRAN, MASSIE TOOK TO
SHE HAD AND APPEARED ON NATIONAL
INTERVIEWS.
>> CONGRESS WAS ON VACATION WHEN
THIS WAS HAPPENING.
>> YOU HAVE NOT BEEN BRIEFED?
>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN BRIEFED THEY
SHOULD HAVE CALLED US BACK AND
WE SHOULD HAVE DEBATED THIS WAR
POWERS RESOLUTION THAT WE
(13:58):
OFFERED INSTEAD OF DOING
FUNDRAISERS AND SAYING WELL THE
PRESIDENT HAS THIS UNDER CONTROL
WE WILL CEDE OUR CONSTITUTIONAL
AUTHORITY.
THIS IS THE LATEST
BETWEEN THE PRESIDENT TRUMP AND
CONGRESSMAN MASSIE.
>> IT SURE IS.
A SPIRITED DEBATE.
THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, THOMAS
MASSIE USING X, BUT THE
PRESIDENT USING TRUTH SOCIAL AND
(14:23):
CALLING THOMAS MASSIE THE
CONGRESSMAN FROM NORTHERN
KENTUCKY SEVERAL NAMES INCLUDING
RAND PAUL JUNIOR.
BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN
BACK AND FORTHWITH RAND PAUL AS
WELL.
AND THOMAS MASSIE SHARED DURING
THE BACK AND FORTH THAT TRUMP
DECLARED SO MUCH WAR ON ME TODAY
IT'S REQUIRE AN ACT OF CONGRESS.
SO THAT'S BEEN THE RESPONSES
(14:43):
BACK.
HE LEANED INTO THIS AND HAS BEEN
ABLE TO CAMPAIGN OFF IT AS WELL.
HAVE THE TRUMP
OPERATIVES IDENTIFIED A
CANDIDATE?
>> I THINK THEY ARE IN THE
RECRUITING MODE.
NAMES FLOATEDDED INCLUDE STATE
SENATOR ERIN REED OF THE SEVENTH
DISTRICT.
(15:04):
HE IS A FRESHMAN SENATOR BUT HE
DID WIN A PRIMARY LAST YEAR.
HE DEFEATED AN INCUMBENT
REPUBLICAN AND ANOTHER
CHALLENGER AS WELL.
AND WE'VE SEEN THE PARTY WELCOME
HIM WITH OPEN ARMS AS WELL.
ACTUALLY THERE WAS A TWEET
YESTERDAY FROM FORMER FLOOR
LEADER IN THE SENATE DAMON
(15:24):
THAYER WITH REED SAYING THAT
HE'S VERY IMPRESSIVE AND HE
KNOWS THAT THAYER DID SUPPORT A
DIFFERENT CANDIDATE IN THAT
PRIMARY BUT HE THINKS REED HAS A
BRIGHT FUTURE HERE IN THE
KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY.
>> .
>> ANOTHER NAME OUT OF NORTHERN
KENTUCKY IS KIM MOSHER.
SHE HAS BEEN IN THE SEAT IN
(15:44):
TAYLOR MILL FOR MANY YEARS AND
FLOATED AS A POSSIBLE CANDIDATE.
SHE HAS A STRONG SUPPORT IN
FRANKFORT AND IN HER DISTRICT.
WE'LL WATCH ALL OF THAT
UNFOLD.
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
APPARENTLY IS SEEKING TO RESCIND
$500 MILLION FOR EASTERN
KENTUCKY PRISON.
MARCUS WE ARE AWAITING MORE
DETAILS WHERE THAT IS GOING BUT
HAL ROGERS SAYS LONG PRESSED FOR
(16:07):
PRISONS IN HIS DISTRICT AS A JOB
CREATOR.
>> RIGHT.
THIS LETCHER COUNTY PRISON
PROPOSAL HAS BEEN IN THE WORKS
FOR A A LONGTIME AND THE
RESCISSION WAS 600 MILLION FOR
THREE, AND THE ONE IN KENTUCKY
WE'LL TAKE THE BRUNT OF THIS AND
THE QUESTION IS WHERE DOES IT GO
FROM HERE?
(16:27):
IT IS A PROJECT THAT FACED A LOT
OF LOCAL AND STATE OPPOSITION IN
TERMS OF PUTTING IN A PRISON AND
ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THE STATE.
IT'S NOT AS IF IT HASN'T HAD
CONTROVERSY IT IS A LAYER WHAT
WILL HAPPEN TO THE JOB.
LEGACY LOUISVILLE
EMPLOYER GE MADE A MAJOR
(16:47):
ANNOUNCEMENT THIS WEEK.
800 JOBS AND AN EYE TOWARD THE
FUTURE AND KENTUCKY BEAT OUT
OTHER PLACES FOR THIS.
>> I THINK WE CAN'T UNDERSCORE
HOW SIGNIFICANT THIS IS.
GE BASED IN LOUISVILLE, OWNED BY
HIGHER A CHINESE COMPANY
ANNOUNCED AN INVESTMENT IN
(17:09):
WASHER AND DRYER LINES THAT WILL
EMPLOY 800 PEOPLE.
AND THIS IS A COUPLE YEARS AFTER
ANOTHER BIG INVESTMENT OF 450
MILLION.
THE GOVERNOR HAS TOUTED THIS AND
THE MAYOR OF LOUISVILLE TOUTED
THIS.
AND NOT ONLY FOR THE JOBS, BUT
BECAUSE THEY DID BEAT OUT OTHER
LOCATIONS HIGHER GE APPLIANCE
(17:30):
OPERATES IN TENNESSEE, GEORGIA,
ALABAMA A LOT OF STATES THAT
KENTUCKY IS FAMILIAR WITH AND
BEATING THEM FOR BIG BUSINESS
PROJECTS A WIN FOR LOUISVILLE.
YOU THINK THAT LONG
TIME CONNECTION WAS HELPFUL?
>> I THINK IT HAD TO BE.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS THERE BUT
AT THE SAME TIME, OTHER STATES
MAKE PRETTY IMPRESSIVE INCENTIVE
(17:50):
PROPOSALS TOO.
YOU HAVE DONE A DEEP
DIVE ON PROMISES MADE ABOUT THE
KENNEDY BRIDGE THAT CONNECTS
LOUISVILLE WITH INDIANA.
AND NOW THE STATE IS ABOUT TO
SPEND $8 MILLION BECAUSE OF
ERRORS IN CONSTRUCTION.
IS THAT THE TERMINOLOGY?
>> THAT'S THE STATE'S OWN
TERMINOLOGY AND INSPECTOR
LABELED THAT A FEW YEARS AGO.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THIS BRIDGE
WAS REDONE IN 2016 PART OF THE
(18:13):
OHIO RIVER BRIDGE'S PROJECT THE
LARGEST TRANSPORTATION PROJECT
IN KENTUCKY'S HISTORY.
THEY REDID THE DECK AND
SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND BEAMS
WERE REDONE.
AND DURING THAT PROCESS, THINGS
WEREN'T DONE PROPERLY.
THE INSPECTORS NOTED AND AS A
RESULT OVER THAT TIME SINCE THAT
BRIDGE REOPENED THERE HAVE BEEN
PROBLEMS WITH DRIVERS HAVE FLAT
(18:34):
TIRES REPORTEDLY.
THE STATE HAS HAD TO REPLACE A
LOT OF THESE JOINTS MULTIPLE
TIMES AND THEY ARE GETTING READY
TO START A PERMANENT REPLACEMENT
PROJECT.
BECAUSE OF THE ERRORS IN THE
ADDITIONAL TEMPORARY REPAIRS IN
ALL THE STATE THE STATE WILL
PONY UP $8 MILLION.
TOLL REVENUE THAT COULD HAVE
GONE TO PAY DOWN THE DEBT IS
(18:55):
GOING TO BE USED TO MAKE REPAIRS
THAT THE CONTRACTOR IS
RESPONSIBLE FOR IN THE FIRST
PLACE.
>> WE ALL DRIVE, I WONDER HOW
MANY OF THOSE ORANGE BARRELS
THEY HAVE.
>> THEY ARE ADDING NEW ONES
EVERY FEW DAYS.
DOZENS OF NEW LAWS WERE
PASSED THIS YEAR AND ENFORCED AS
(19:16):
OF TODAY.
SENATE LEADERS DISCUSSED SOME OF
THAT THIS WEEK.
>> THURSDAY MORE THAN 100 NEW
LAWS WILL TAKE EFFECT IN THE
COMMONWEALTH.
EACH A PRODUCT OF THOUGHTFUL
POLICY MAKING AND A LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS I'M PROUD TO HELP LEAD
IN THE SENATE CHAMBER.
TOGETHER THEY REFLECT THE CORE
CONSERVATIVE PRIORITIES EMBRACED
BY THE KENTUCKY GENERAL
ASSEMBLY.
(19:36):
THE SUPER IMAGES AND --
MAJORITIES, LOWERING TAXES,
BETTER SCHOOLS, SAFER
COMMUNITIES, AND A GOVERNMENT
THAT SERVES THE PEOPLE.
MECHANIC KENNA THIS WAS
TO UNDERSCORE WHAT THEY CONSIDER
TO BE PROGRESS BY THE SENATE,
THE REPUBLICAN LEADERS.
THAT INCLUDES LOWERING THE STATE
INCOME TAX AGAIN.
(19:57):
LESS RED TAPE FOR TEACHERS IN
THE CLASSROOM.
NO MORE D.E.I. PROGRAMS?
>> RIGHT.
AND THOSE ARE ALL PRIORITIES OF
THE REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY IN
BOTH CHAMBERS.
SO WE HAVE DEFINITELY SEEN THEM
BE ABLE TO ENACT THE POLICY OVER
SEVERAL SESSIONS.
(20:17):
IT'S MAKES SENSE THEY WOULD WANT
TO HIGHLIGHT IT BEFORE THE LAWS
GO INTO EFFECT.
CELLPHONE USE WILL BE
LIMITED IN SCHOOLS.
>> YES, THAT IS ONE THING WE
MIGHT NOT SEE HOW IT PLAYS OUT
UNTIL THE KIDS ARE BACK IN THE
CLASSROOM IN AUGUST.
ONE THING WE'RE SEEING RIGHT NOW
I'M SEE TO GO ON MY SOCIAL MEDIA
TEACHERS CANNOT HAVE CONTACT
(20:39):
WITH STUDENTS THROUGH MEANS LIKE
SOCIAL MEDIA.
SO WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF TEACHERS
POST REMOVE ME IF I'VE MISSED
YOU ON FACEBOOK.
AND THAT'S ONE OF THE LAWS THAT
IS TAKING EFFECT.
CURSIVE WRITING WILL
RETURN.
>> YES.
I BELIEVE THAT IS IN A BILL THAT
A LAW I SHOULD SAY NOW THAT HAS
(20:59):
TO DO WITH FINANCIAL LITERACY
COURSE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE
GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL.
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LEARN MORE
ABOUT MONEY AND BANKING.
SOME INDICATIONS ABOUT
WHAT MAYBE ADDRESSED IN THE 2026
SESSION, AND THERE WAS SOME TALK
ABOUT WHAT LOCAL GOVERNMENTS CAN
(21:20):
DO WITH UNCLAIMED BODIES.
THAT WAS INTERESTING.
>> THAT IS A PROPOSAL FROM
REPUBLICAN SENATOR GREG ELKINS
OF WINCHESTER HE PROPOSED THIS
AS WELL.
HE SAID IN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT
COMMITTEE EARLIER THIS WEEK THAT
THIS UP COMING SESSION WILL MARK
THE THIRD TIME HE IS MAKING THIS
PROPOSAL.
BUT IT WOULD ALLOW LOCAL
(21:41):
GOVERNMENTS THE OPTION OF
CREMATING OR BURYING A DEAD BODY
WHEN A FAMILY MEMBER CANNOT BE
FOUND.
SO THIS IS AN ISSUE PARTICULARLY
FOR COUNTY CORONERS, LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS WHO MIGHT BE TAKING
ON THE COST ET CETERA.
IT DID MAKE IT TO THE HOUSE IT
MADE IT OUT OF THE SENATE LAST
SESSION.
BUT IT STALLED IN THE HOUSE.
(22:03):
SO IT MIGHT GO FURTHER THIS TIME
WITH MORE DEBATE.
THIS WAS IN THE
TEMPORARY MEETINGS SPACE?
>> YES, THE PRESS CONFERENCE WAS
IN THAT NEW SENATE CHAMBER THE
TEMPORARY STRUCTURE THAT IS OFF
OF THE ANNEX.
I WILL SAY THE TEMPERATURE IS
WELL REGULATED I APPRECIATE
(22:23):
THAT.
HOWEVER, THERE IS NO GALLERY
LIKE WE'RE USED TO IN THE
CHAMBERS.
SO WHAT WHEN WE ASKED ABOUT IT
THEY SAID THERE WILL BE A LIVE
STREAM OPTION WITH A ROOM IN THE
ANNEX SO PEOPLE CAN COME
IN-PERSON AND WATCH IN REALTIME
WHAT IS HAPPENING VIA A VIDEO
FEED BUT THE MEDIA DESKS ARE IN
(22:43):
THE FLOOR IN BOTH CHAMBER.
IT'S LONG-TERM PROJECT.
>> AND ALSO THERE'S THE ROTUNDA
WHERE THE RALLIES HAPPEN AND THE
ROBERT STIVERS WAS ASKED WHAT
WILL HAPPEN WITH THAT?
AND HIS ANSWER WAS IT'S UP TO
THOSE GROUPS IT IS NOT THEIR
RESPONSIBILITY TO OFFER THE
SPACE.
SOMETHING WE'LL SEE PLAY OUT.
(23:05):
ONE OF THE NEW LAWS
TODAY, MORE HARSHLY CRIMINALIZES
DISRUPTING THE LEGISLATIVE
PROCESS.
>> RIGHT AND THAT PASSED THIS
SESSION.
YOU KNOW, THIS RENOVATION OF THE
CAPITOL IS EXPECTED TO TAKE
THREE YEARS.
IT'S LIKELY IT WILL TAKE LONGER.
THIS IS GOING TO BE THE SETUP
(23:25):
FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.
IN FACT A LOT OF PEOPLE NOT JUST
IN THE SPACE, BUT ALSO
KENTUCKIANS AT HOME WHO DON'T
COME TO FRANKFORT AND DON'T HAVE
THE MEANS TO COME EVERYDAY.
MARCUS THE LOUISVILLE
METRO COUNCIL BUDGET IS
APPROACHING THE FINISH LINE.
>> IT CROSSED LAST NIGHT.
(23:46):
WHAT DID THEY DECIDE
ABOUT THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING
TRUST FUND WHICH WITH WAS
CONTROVERSIAL.
>> THIS IS AN INTERESTING ISSUE
BECAUSE IT IS ONE OF THE
PRIORITIES OF MAYOR CRAIG
GREENBERG A DEMOCRAT.
ALTHOUGH AS WE'VE NOTED
LOUISVILLE'S MAYORAL ELECTIONS
ARE ABOUT TO BECOME NONPARTISAN.
GREENBERG IS TRYING TO EXPAND
(24:07):
THE AFFORDABLE HOUSING STOCK AND
THIS FUND THAT HELPS NONPROFITS
AND DEVELOPERS BUILD AFFORDABLE
HOUSING UNITS 2EU7 DAHL TIED TO
INCOMES PEOPLE MAKING LESS THAN
THE AREA AVERAGE, GREENBERG
PROPOSED $15 MILLION FOR THAT
FUND FOR THE FISCAL YEAR, THE
METRO COUNCIL DROP TO DO TO
(24:27):
12.5.
NOT HUGE BUT IT WAS MET WITH
CONDITIONS OR PROPOSED WITH
CONDITIONS THAT INCLUDE BETTER
REPORTING TO MAKE SURE THAT
MONEY IS SPENT PROPERLY.
IT'S THE MAYOR SHRUGGED THAT OFF
AND SAID WE HAVE OTHER MEASURES
IN THE BUDGET THAT WILL HELP
HOUSING.
BUT IT'S SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE
THAT MONEY IS NEVER REDUCED.
IT HAPPENED ONE TIME THAT I
(24:49):
LOOKED AT.
IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF
THAT IS THE BASELINE GOING
FORWARD OR IF THEY PUT MORE
MONEY INTO THE FUND IN THE YEAR
AHEAD.
IS IT CLEAR THAT
GREENBERG IS RUNNING AGAIN?
>> HE HAS NOT SAID IT BUT IS
POSITIONING HIMSELF FOR THE RUN
AND THE WAY HE IS ATTEMPTING TO
MAKE THIS CASE THAT HE CAN WORK
WITH FRANKFORT AND HE APPEARED
AT EVENTS WITH SENATE PRESIDENT
(25:11):
ROBERT STIVERS HE IS ALWAYS
NOTING HOW HE WORKS WELL WITH
REPUBLICANS.
I THINK HE'S POSITIONING HIMSELF
TO BE SEEN AS AN INDEPENDENT
CANDIDATE WHO CAN BRIDGE THIS
DIVIDE AND OF COURSE, THE RACE
BECOMES NONPARTISAN HE IS TRYING
TO SAY HE IS A CANDIDATE FOR ALL
OF LOUISVILLE.
THAT CHANGES THE
LANDSCAPE.
AND MARIO, WE BOTH INTERVALUED
(25:33):
LINDA GORTON AND SHE WOULDN'T
ANSWER EITHER ONE OF US IF SHE
WILL SEEK A THIRD TERM?
>> SHE SAYS ONCE BEING A
POLITICIAN IT TAKES TIME AWAY
FROM FAMILY BUT HAS MORE WORK TO
BE DONE SHE WANTS TO SEE A FEW
THINGS THROUGH BEFORE THEY ARE
COMPLETED.
SHE SAYS A COUPLE WEEKS AWAY
FROM MAKING A DECISION.
(25:54):
I COULDN'T READ WHERE
SHE IS HEADED WITH IT IN TALKING
WITH HER.
>> TIME WILL TELL.
WHAT DID WE MISS?
ANYTHING?
WE GOOD.
>> IT WAS A HOT AND HUMID WEEK
IN KENTUCKY WITH CALLS FOR
ASSISTANCE FROM MANY WHO HAD
HEAT RELATED ISSUES MANY TAKEN
TO THE HOSPITAL.
THE ADVICE, OF COURSE, IS DON'T
(26:14):
OVERDO IT AND STAY HYDRATED OUT
THERE.
IT'S RARE FOR US TO TAKE A WEEK
OFF HERE FOR COMMENT BUT WITH
THE FOURTH OF JULY COMING UP
COMMENT WILL NOT AIR NEXT WEEK
SO KET CAN BRING YOU THE
INDEPENDENCE DAY SPECIAL A
CAPITOL FOURTH.
WE'LL CATCH UP WHAT'S HAPPENED
WHEN WE RETURN FRIDAY JULY 11TH.
THAT IS COMMENT.
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.