September 8, 2025 • 26 mins
Journalists from around the state discuss the news of the week with host Bill Bryant, including Gov. Andy Beshear's growing national profile as chair of the Democratic Governors Association. Panelists: Russ Cassady, Appalachian Newspapers; Isaiah Kim-Martinez, WHAS11 in Louisville; and Tessa Duvall, Lexington Herald-Leader.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:05):
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
SENATOR MITCH
McCONNELL SAYS GOVERNOR
BESHEAR MAY YET ENTER THE RACE
TO REPLACE HIM AS BESHEAR'S
PODCAST GOES NATIONAL.
ANOTHER CANDIDATE ENTERS A
CROWDED FIELD IN THE SIXTH
DISTRICT RACE WHERE ANDY BARR IS
LEAVING THE SEAT OPEN.
CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE LEADS
AN EFFORT TO GET MORE JEFFREY
EPSTEIN FILES RELEASED.
THE NEW PHONE RULES IN
(00:30):
CLASSROOMS MAYBE SENDING MORE
STUDENTS TO THE LIBRARY.
KENTUCKY GETS MUCH-NEEDED RAIN
HERE AND THERE.
AND A LOTTERY JACKPOT GETS
ATTENTION.
COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO
(00:50):
"COMMENT 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 TESSA DUVALL,
POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON
HERALD-LEADER.
ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR
REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN
(01:10):
LOUISVILLE.
AND JOINING US IS RUSS CASSADY,
REGIONAL EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN
NEWSPAPERS.
JUST BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR
ON THIS FRIDAY EVENING, THE LONE
DO I CITY COUNCIL IMPEACHED
MAYOR WEDDELL IT FOLLOWS WEEKS
OF MEETINGS AND ACCUSATIONS.
TESSA A LOT OF DRAMA LEADING UP
TO THE VOTE?
(01:30):
>> IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING DAY IN
LONDON, KENTUCKY.
ALL DAY PROCEEDINGS GOING OVER
ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT
AGAINST WENDELL WEDDELL HE WILL
APPEAL THIS TO THE HIGHEST COURT
IF HE HAS TO.
BUT ULTIMATELY HE WAS REMOVED
FROM OFFICE TODAY AND AN ACTING
MAYOR HAS BEEN APPOINTED.
(01:53):
IT REQUIRES A UNANIMOUS
VOTE BY COUPLE AND IT HAPPENED
AND WE'LL IS SEE WHERE IT GOES
FROM HERE.
>> HE SAW THE WRITING ON THE
WALL HE POSTED A SOCIAL MEDIA
BEFORE THE IMPEACHMENT STARTED.
CAN YOU IMPEACH ME BUT YOU CAN'T
IMPEACH THE VOTERS OF 2026.
(02:14):
HE HAS BEEN LOOKING AHEAD.
HANDILY HAS BEEN NAMED
THE ACTING MAYOR WE WILL BE
WATCHING WHAT COMES NEXT IN
LONDON.
LET'S JUMP INTO STATE POLITICS
IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK,
SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL
SIGNALED HE IS NOT CONVINCED
THAT GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR WON'T
ENTER THE RACE TO SUCCEED HIM.
(02:36):
BESHEAR DEFIES THAT BUT HE IS
ALSO TAKING HIS PODCAST
NATIONAL.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE 4REU8
PODCAST THAT COULD.
IS GOING NATIONAL.
AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE CIRRUS
XM SAW THAT A COMMON SENSE,
COMMON GROUND GET THINGS VOICE
IS NEEDED IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT
NOW.
THIS SHOULDN'T SIGNAL TO ANYBODY
(02:59):
THAT I'M LOOKING FOR A JOB JUST
TRYING TO SPEAK REASON INTO
CHAOS.
BESHEAR SAYS DO NOT
READ ANYTHING THIS BUT HE SAID
HE IS NOT RUNNING FOR THE U.S.
SENATE.
THE PODCAST IS AIMED AT A
NATIONAL AUDIENCE McCONNELL
MAKES THE CASE AND WE KNOW WHAT
A POLITICAL STRATEGIST
McCONNELL HAS BEEN FOR DECADES
(03:23):
HE SAYS THERE'S DEMOCRATIC
PRESSURE FOR BESHEAR TO GET INTO
THE SENATE RACE AND IT MIGHT BE
MORE ATTAINABLE THAN A RUN FOR
THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> WE ARE READING INTO
EVERYTHING.
BUT, YES, SENATOR McCONNELL
TOLD MY COLLEAGUE AUSTIN HORN
THAT HE KNOWS SCHUMER WELL
ENOUGH TO KNOW HE IS BEATING
DOWN ANDY BESHEAR'S DOOR TRYING
(03:45):
TO CONVINCE HIM THAT SENATE IS
THE OFFICE TO RUN FOR.
OF COURSE, DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING
THEY HAVE A STRONG SHOWING IN
2026 IN THE MIDTERMS.
HOPING THEY CAN BUILD OFF OF THE
UNPOPULARITY OF A LOT OF THINGS
GOING ON WITHIN THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
KENTUCKY HASN'T ELECTED A
DEMOCRAT TO THE U.S. SENATE IN
YEARS AND YEARS.
(04:05):
BUT THERE'S HOPE THAT IF THEY
COULD, IF THEY COULD, MAYBE IT
WILL BE ANDY BESHEAR.
HE IS SOMEONE THAT KENTUCKY
VOTERS HAVE ELECTED TO
STATE-WIDE OFFICE THREE TIMES
NOW.
BEAT A TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE
IN 2023.
IT IS A DIFFERENT SORT OF SET OF
FACTORS TO RUN IN 2006 THAN IT
IS OUR GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS
(04:28):
WHICH ARE OFF YEAR THEY LOOK FOR
DIFFERENT THINGS IN GOVERNORS
THAN SENATORS.
IF ANYONE CAN DO IT HE WOULD BE
THE GUY.
>> I THINK THIS IS INTERESTING
BECAUSE BILL TALKED ABOUT THE
LONG GAME THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN
HIS THING AND KENTUCKY HAS NOT
ELECTED A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR FOR
FORD WAS THE LAST ONE.
>> Renee (04:49):
1992.
>> AND THAT IS NOT COUNTING WHEN
HE WAS A NEW DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE IT'S BEEN DECADES
LONGER.
McCONNELL CALLED HIM A GIFTED
POLITICIAN WHO WON IN A RED
STATE HE IS SHOWN TO BE
COMPETITIVE AND WILL BE
COMPETITIVE HERE.
IS IT POSSIBLE CAN WE SPECULATE
THAT MAYBE HE FEELS THAT THE
CANDIDATES WHOEVER COMES OUT ON
TOP OF THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IS SO
(05:11):
STRONG THAT IF YOU CAN BAIT
ENOUGH PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE
RUN FOR SENATE AND IF HE WERE TO
LOSE, IN MANY WAYS HIS POLITICAL
FUTURE TAKES A HUGE HIT.
SOME MIGHT ARGUE IT'S OVER IS
THAT PART OF WHAT McCONNELL IS
TRYING TO CONVEY BETWEEN THE
LINES.
I KNOW THAT IS BIG SPECULATION
(05:31):
BUT HE HANDED OUTCOME IMPLEMENTS
FOR THE GOVERNOR.
>> THERE'S A BIT OF MOBILIZING
THE REPUBLICANS, TOO.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES DO NOT TAKE PAMELA
STEVENSON SERIOUSLY BUT IF ANDY
BESHEAR OR ROCKY ADKINS GETS
INTO RACE IT CHANGES THE
CALCULATION.
(05:51):
REPUBLICANS ARE CONFIDENT THEY
WILL WIN THAT SEAT BUT ANDY
BESHEAR GETTING INTO THE RACE
WILL LIGHT A FIRE UNDER A
DIFFERENT WAY.
>> Bill (05:59):
AND YOU HAD FRESH
REPORTING ON IT.
>> TWO WORDS CHRISTIE BROWN SHE
IS A PART OF THE BROWN-FORMAN
FORTUNE AND A PROMINENT
DEMOCRATIC DONOR ACROSS THE
STATE.
SHE IS A LOUISVILLE
PHILANTHROPIST AND WE KNOW HER
VERY WELL.
SHE SAYS I WILL CONTINUE TO DO
EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP HIM
(06:20):
PERSUADE HIMSELF THAT THIS IS
THE TIME.
THIS GOES TO THE OP-ED SHE WROTE
URGING THE GOVERNOR TO RUN FOR
SENATE SAYING THAT SHE HEARD
FROM OTHER SENATORS.
THAT THE TIME IS NOW.
HE'D HAVE A BETTER SHOT AND
REALLY WOULD BE ABLE TO BE ABLE
TO HELP KENTUCKIANS MORE IN THIS
(06:41):
SITUATION THAN OR AS A SENATOR
THAN PRESIDENT.
AND SHE TOLD ME SHE BELIEVES HE
WOULD NEED TO IT WOULD TO BE A
SENATOR FIRST BEFORE RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT.
AND OF COURSE, THE THE TIMELINE
DOESN'T WORKOUT.
IF BESHEAR WERE TO
ENTER THE SENATE RACE AND HE
(07:02):
SAYS HE IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
DO YOU THINK HE COULD DO AS WELL
IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AS RACES FOR
GOVERNOR OR IS THE NATIONAL
NATURE OF THIS RACE JUST
DIFFERENT?
>> WELL, OF COURSE, WE'VE HAD AN
INCREDIBLE ELECTORAL
TRANSFORMATION IN EASTERN
KENTUCKY IN THE PAST
DECADE-AND-A-HALF.
(07:23):
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LOST A LOST
GROUND AND REPUBLICANS ARE
DOMINANT DESPITE THAT ANDY
BESHEAR MAINTAINED A SMALL
POCKET OF SUPPORT IN EASTERN
KENTUCKY THAT IS FAITHFUL.
HOWEVER, IF THE NATIONAL NATURE
OF THIS RACE WERE TO TAKE THAT
AWAY, OR TO CHANGE THAT, IT
WOULD KIND OF GIVE US AN
(07:44):
INDICATION THAT THE SWITCH TO
REPUBLICAN IS A LITTLE DEEPER
THAN JUST SURFACE LEVEL.
AND THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HAS LOST GROUND.
REALLY LOST GROUND IN EASTERN
KENTUCKY.
ONCE AGAIN, BESHEAR
SAID TO YOU HE IS NOT RUNNING.
>> HE SAID THE SAME THINGS.
HE WOULDN'T GIVE UP NOW HE IS
(08:04):
SAYING ONE YEAR OF BEING
GOVERNOR FOR A SIX-YEAR SENATE
TERM BUT I PHRASED THE QUESTION
IN LOUISVILLE I SAID GIVEN THE
FACT THAT CHRISTIE BROWN
EVERYONE KNOWS WHO SHE IS, IF
SHE IS WRITING THIS NOW, IS
THERE DID YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?
IS THERE SOME OF THAT GOING ON
AND HE SAID QUOTE NOT AT ALL.
(08:25):
I PROMISED TO SERVE OUT MY
ENTIRE SECOND TERM AND I KEEP MY
PROMISES.
HE IS STAYING FIRM ON THAT.
AND TIME'S RUNNING OUT FOR HIM
TO CHANGE HIS MIND I CAN'T
IMAGINE BEFORE THE HOLIDAY
SEASON WOULD BE THE LATEST.
THE PHENOMENAK THAT PAMELA
STEVENSON IS IN AND WE'RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT HER WHEN IT COMES
(08:45):
TO TALKING ABOUT ANDY BESHEAR'S
NAME.
HE HAS NOT ENDORSED
HER?
>> WOULD YOU SUPPORT HER
CAMPAIGN?
HE SORT OF SAID I WILL SUPPORT
ALL THESE DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR
THESE FEDERAL RACES INCLUDING
THE SIXTH DISTRICT.
NOT EXACTLY STRONG VERBAL PUBLIC
SUPPORT THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE JUMP
(09:06):
FROM CAN YOU DO BOTH?
RUN FOR THE SENATE AND
POTENTIALLY FOR PRESIDENT SEEMS
UNLIKELY.
TOM MASS DUEY WAS THE GOVERNOR
OF NEW YORK WHEN HE BECAME THE
G.O.P. NATIONALLY.
IT IS NOT UNHEARD OF.
WE HAVE THE HISTORY IN KENTUCKY
OF HENRY CLAY ELECTED TO THE
HOUSE AND MADE HOUSE SPEAKER
WHEN HE GOT THERE.
(09:27):
SOMETIMES THESE FAST RISES DO
HAPPEN.
>> YEAH.
IT'S POSSIBLE.
I MEAN SAY HE WERE TO WIN THE
SENATE RACE.
HE WOULD BE SWORN IN IN EARLY
27.
THE GOVERNOR WHO DOESN'T HAVE
THAT NATIONWIDE REAL NAME
RECOGNITION JUST YET, GOT TO
IMAGINE HE WOULD BE THE FIRST OR
SECOND PERSON TO ANNOUNCE AND
(09:48):
THAT MAYBE LATE 26.
YOU CANNOT ANNOUNCE FOR
PRESIDENT SWORN IN AS SENATOR
THE MATH DOESN'T ADD.
>> I MEAN, NO, I THINK YOU'RE
RIGHT ON.
I ALSO THINK THOUGH THE REASON
WE SEE A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS
PUSHING FOR HIM TO CONSIDER THE
SENATE SORT OF THIS LACK OF
FEELING OF STRENGTH IN THE
(10:08):
CURRENT CANDIDATE AMONG
DEMOCRATS AND ALSO PRESIDENT IS
A MUCH HIGHER CLIMB.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE
PEOPLE LINING UP FOR THAT AS
WELL.
SO THIS IS LIKE PICK YOUR LANE,
PICK A STRATEGY HERE.
I DON'T KNOW.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AND IT'S FUN
TO WATCH.
FUN TO SPECULATE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
(10:28):
WHO ARE IN.
REPUBLICANS ANDY BARR, DANIEL
CAMERON, NATE MORRIS CONTINUE TO
BATTLE IT OUT.
RUSS, DO YOU GET ANY SENSE THAT
ANYBODY IS GETTING TRACTION IN
THE MOUNTAINS?
>> WELL, WHETHER THEY ARE
GETTING TRACTION REMAINS TO BE
SEEN BUT THEY ARE COMING HERE.
WE'VE HAD VISITS FROM SEVERAL
(10:49):
CANDIDATES.
AND ANDY BARR WAS RECENTLY IN
HAZARD.
AND THEY ARE ALL TALKING EASTERN
KENTUCKY.
WHETHER THAT CARRIES ON INTO THE
ELECTION AND HOPEFULLY BEYOND
WITH WHOEVER WINS, REMAINS TO BE
SEEN, OF COURSE.
BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, THEY ARE
PAYING ATTENTION EAST OF
(11:09):
WINCHESTER.
>> I MEAN, WE'RE STILL A LONG
WAY OUT FROM THE PRIMARY AND THE
FACTOR WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THE SENATE RACE ON
THIS SHOW IS WHAT IS DONALD
TRUMP GOING TO DO AND THAT IS
SEEN AS THE MAKE OR BREAK
FACTOR.
BUT THEY ARE ALL CARVING OUT
THEIR LANES.
ALMOST EVERYDAY THAT I GET A
(11:29):
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE ANDY BARR
CAMPAIGN SAYING THIS LOCAL
OFFICIAL, THIS STATE
REPRESENTATIVE, THIS STATE
SENATOR REALLY TRYING TO PLAY UP
HIS TIES AND CONNECTIONS ACROSS
THE STATE.
OF COURSE, DANIEL CAMERON WHILE
NOT OFF TO A STRONG FUNDRAISING
START HAS BEEN ELECTED TO
STATE-WIDE OFFICE BY KENTUCKY
VOTERS BEFORE.
(11:50):
BEEN ON ANOTHER STATE-WIDE
BALLOT UNSUCCESSFUL BUT HE IS
FAMILIAR TO VOTERS ACROSS THE
STATE IN A WAY THAT ANDY BARR IS
NOT NECESSARILY.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, NATE MORRIS
IS DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO
GET HIS NAME OUT THERE.
WE'RE SEEING LOTS OF ADS
CONTINUING TO HIT THIS
McCONNELL ANGLE.
>> IT WAS ON A PODCAST BRINGING
(12:12):
UP NATE MORRIS HE SAID HE IS THE
FAVORITE.
>> THE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE
POLLING THAT SHOWS THAT.
HE CERTAINLY GOT A LOT OF MONEY
TO TRY TO BECOME ONE U AND HE IS
PROUD OF THE FACT HE IS GETTING
TOLD ME THIS HE IS GETTING
ATTENTION FROM DC FOLKS AND I'VE
SAID YOU KNOW KENTUCKIANS HAVE
TO VOTE FOR YOU.
BUT HE IS LEANING INTO THE FACT
(12:33):
HE IS GETTING ON NBC NEWS AND
GETTING ON "FOX NEWS".
HE IS GETTING THIS ATTENTION.
HE BELIEVES AT LEAST FAIR TO SAY
HE BELIEVES IT IS A STRENGTH
THAT HE HAS SOME OF THE MOVERS
AND SHAKENERS DC ON HIS SIDE.
THE SIXTH DISTRICT RACE
IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY GOT ANOTHER
CANDIDATE THIS WEEK.
(12:56):
ERIN PETRIE IS THE FOURTH
CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR THAT
NOMINATION.
>> CALL ME OLD-FASHIONED BUT
GOVERNMENTS THEY WERE BUILT TO
SERVE THE PEOPLE.
AND I WANT TO BRING THAT BACK.
LET ME SERVE YOU IN CONGRESS.
AND KNOWING POLITICS, I'M
GUESSING WE ARE GOING TO NEED A
FEW MORE OF THESE ALONG WAY.
CHEERS Y'ALL.
OKAY.
(13:16):
AN INTERESTING APPROACH.
>> TAKE A RUN.
>> PETRIE GREW UP IN KENTUCKY
AND ATTENDED U.K. PATTERSON
SCHOOL BUT HER CAREER IS WORKING
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OUT OF
STATE IN WASHINGTON.
>> RIGHT.
AND THAT'S THE WAY SHE IS HOPING
TO DISTINGUISH HERSELF FROM THE
DEMOCRATS RUNNING YOU HAVE A
(13:37):
FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE, A
FORMER COUNCILMEMBER, FEDERAL
PROSECUTOR AND SHE SAID TO MY
COLLEAGUE WHO INTERVIEWED HER IS
THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT CANED
OF BACKGROUND.
SHE ALSO SAYS THAT SHE IS AWARE
OF THE FACT THERE WILL BE
ATTACKS BECAUSE SHE MOVED BACK
TO KENTUCKY TO VIE FOR THIS.
(13:58):
AND LOOK, I WANT THERE TO BE A
KENTUCKY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
TO LEAVE TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES
THE WAY I DID AND I WANT TO BE
THE PERSON TO MAKE THAT A
REALITY.
>> INTERESTING HOW FEW STATE
LAWMAKERS ARE ON THE DEMOCRATIC
SIDE.
I KNOW ONE IS A LOCAL LAWMAKER
BUT TRUE FRANKFORT SORT OF IN
THE SENATE AND HOUSE CHAMBERS
(14:19):
THE ONLY ONE IS CHERLYNN
STEVENSON AND SHE LOST HER
REELECTION CAMPAIGN.
SO YOU GET THE SENSE OF WHAT DO
THEY HAVE TO LOSE TO EXPAND
THAT.
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, THEY HAVE
NOT MADE UP A LOT OF GROUND AS
FAR AS STATE SEATS ARE
CONCERNED.
BUT YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE,
REPUBLICANS THEY ARE LACKING AT
(14:39):
IT FROM A DIFFERENT STRATEGY
BECAUSE THEIR STATE LAWMAKERS
RECENTLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WIN.
EVERYONE IN THE RACE THERE IS
CURRENT OR FORMER LEGISLATOR.
RUSS, IN THE FIFTH
DISTRICT, YOU HAVE PILLERSDORF
CHALLENGING HAL ROGERS.
DO YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT?
I KNOW OUT OF STATE SUPPORT IS
(15:02):
COMING IN FOR PILLERSDORF?
>> YEAH, HE IS BRINGING IN
MARTIN O'MALLEY, THE FORMER
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATOR.
NED PILLERSDORF HAS THE DEEP
CONNECTION TO THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AND THE
ISSUE THROUGH THE PRO BONO WORK
HE DID IN REPRESENTING THE ERIC
CLIENTS AND HEADING UP THAT
EFFORT.
HE KNOWS IT IS AN ISSUE OF GREAT
(15:24):
IMPORTANCE TO A LOT OF EASTERN
KENTUCKIANS.
IT'S ON THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR
MINDS ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW AFTER
THE PASSAGE OF THE ONE BIG,
BEAUTIFUL BILL AND THERE ARE
CONCERNS THEY WILL SEE CUTS AT
SOME POINT WHETHER THAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
BUT IT IS A BIG ISSUE.
HE KNOWS HOW TO REACH THE PEOPLE
HERE AND HE IS MAKING A LOT OF
(15:47):
NOISE.
SO WHETHER HE CAN BEAT HAL
ROGERS WHO IS AN INSTITUTION IN
POLITICS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY
REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
BUT NO ONE CAN SAY HE IS NOT
TRYING.
WE WILL BE WATCHING
THAT.
WE KNOW THAT LONG TIME SENATOR
JIMMY HIGDON IS NOT RUNNING NEXT
YEAR.
HE HAS BEEN IN FRANKFORT SINCE
2003 AND THE SENATE SINCE 2009
(16:08):
AND HE SAYS IT'S TIME.
>> HE SAYS IT'S TIME.
HE'S BEEN IN A NUMBER OF
LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE
LEGISLATURE INCLUDING
TRANSPORTATION CHAIR.
AND HE SAYS HE INTENDS TO BE
ACTIVE.
HE IS NOT GOING TO SORT OF FADE
AWAY OR LET HIS FOOT OFF THE
GAS.
HE SAYS HE IS IN HIS 70s.
(16:30):
HIS WIFE OF 51 YEARS HAS PUT UP
WITH A LOT THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER
IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND IT'S TIME
TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SPEND
TIME WITH HER AND HIS FAMILY.
>> HE BROUGHT UP AGE HE SAID IF
I WERE TO RUN AGAIN AND WIN
AGAIN I WOULD SERVE UNTIL I'M 78
AND HE BROUGHT UP TO ME DO YOU
(16:50):
BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A CAP?
AND HE SAID 75.
HE SAID THAT SHOULD BE THE NORM
BOTH AT A STATE LEVEL AND
FEDERAL LEVEL, WHICH I THOUGHT
WAS INTERESTING.
WE'VE HAD PRESIDENTS WHO
EXCEEDED THAT.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO TALK TO
HIM AND HEAR HIM REFLECT AFTER A
QUARTER CENTURY.
(17:11):
SOMERSET MAYOR ALAN
KECK WHO RAN FOR GOVERNOR
DECIDED NOT TO RUN AGAIN NEXT
YEAR.
>> WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AT THE
TIME WHERE MY FAMILY IS AT THE
TIME.
I'VE GOT AN 8TH GRADER PLAYING
VARSITY BASKETBALL RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M LEADING
WELL AT HOME.
AND I WILL FIND THE RIGHT PLACE
FOR ME, MY FAMILY BUT ALSO, THE
(17:33):
RIGHT RACE OR OFFICE REALLY.
NOT JUST WINNING ELECTIONS IT'S
ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE IF YOU
DO THAT FITS AT THE TIME AND THE
NEED FOR ME TO JUMP BACK IN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE
SURPRISING WHEN SOMEONE LIKE
KECK IN HIS PRIME, SENATOR
HIGDON HE IS READY TO GO HOME
BUT KECK SEEMED AMBITIOUS HE RAN
(17:54):
FOR GOVERNOR AND HERE HE IS
PRESSING PAUSE ON POLITICS.
>> I CALLED HIM ON THE WAY HERE
AND I ASSUME YOUR POLITICAL
FUTURE IS NOT OVER?
HE SAID NO I STILL HAVE THE BUG
WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHERE THINGS
PLAY OUT WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT
THOSE COULD BE POTENTIAL FUTURE
OPPORTUNITIES HE BROUGHT UP
2027, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.
HE RAN BEFORE HE SAID HE WOULD
(18:16):
CONSIDER POTENTIALLY RUNNING
AGAIN.
AND HE BROUGHT UP SENATE.
AND I WAS THINKING WHICH SEAT
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
AND HE SAID 2028 RAND PAUL HAS
NOT SAID WHAT HE MAY DO.
OBVIOUSLY HE HAS BEEN TALKED
ABOUT AS A POTENTIAL REPUBLICAN
CONTENDER FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028.
HE SAYS THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING
(18:37):
DEPENDING WHETHER THE SENATOR
WERE TO RUN AGAIN AT THAT TIME
HE WOULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT.
>> I THINK MAYOR KECK IS GOING
TO HAVE A POLITICAL FUTURE.
IT'S CLEAR.
HE CERTAINLY MADE AN IMPRESSION
IN THAT GOVERNOR'S RACE.
REALLY TO GO FROM MAYOR OF A
FAIRLY SMALL TOWN TO PUT
YOURSELF OUT THERE IN A
STATE-WIDE RACE.
DON'T KNOW THAT HE EXPECTED TO
(18:58):
WIN BUT MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF
AND CARVED OUT HIS OWN LANE IN
THE PROCESS.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN THE
LAST OF HIM BY ANY MEANS.
ANOTHER TOPIC OF
DISCUSSION, REDISTRICTING NATION
WIDE.
BUT YOU TALKED TO SENATE
PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL TO REDRAW
KENTUCKY'S LINES.
>> WITHOUT SAYING IT IT DOESN'T
(19:22):
SOUND LIKELY IF THIS WOULD MOVE
FORWARD THE SENATE PRESIDENT
WOULD HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON THIS
AND HE SAID THERE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSIONS AND HE BROUGHT UP
RACES BACK IN THE 90s, HE
JOKED AND HE SAID YOU PROBABLY
WEREN'T BORN YET.
I WAS HE A.
BUT I FOLLOWED WHERE HE WAS
GOING.
HE BROUGHT UP THE OLD FIFTH
DISTRICT AND SOME OF THOSE
(19:43):
SIPHONED OFF FOR HAL ROGERS'
DISTRICT AND THERE WAS A SWEEP
THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT BACK
IN THE EARLY 90s.
AND ESSENTIALLY, ENDED UP LOSING
SOME OF THOSE SEATS OR LOSING
THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF
TRYING TO MAYBE GET TOO CUTE IF
YOU WILL ON TRYING TO DRAW THE
LINES.
HE SAID WE'RE SUGGESTED THEY ARE
(20:03):
GOOD WHERE THEY ARE.
AND ANYBODY WHO DOES THEIR
HISTORY WORK AND RESEARCH SHOULD
KNOW THAT, TOO.
>> AND NEXT SESSION IS A BUDGET
YEAR.
WHICH HAS TO BE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY.
WHICH, BY THE WAY, THE
INCOME TAX LOWERING TRISHER WAS
NOT HIT THAT WILL NOT BE GOING
DOWN IN 27.
IT'S LAW IT WILL GO DOWN IN 26.
(20:25):
>> RIGHT.
RIGHT.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE
LEGISLATURE CHANGED SORT OF HOW
THEY CAN LOWER IT IN THE FUTURE.
BEYOND THAT THERE ARE SMALLER
INCREMENTS THAT NOW THEY CAN
LOOK AT ADJUSTING IN THE FUTURE
CAN DIFFERENT TRIGGERS.
AND THE SOAR SUMMIT IN
CORBIN THERE WAS TALK ABOUT
(20:47):
UNITING EASTERN KENTUCKY 5EU6789
AND ENERGY AND SENATE PRESIDENT
ROBERT STIVERS WAS ONE OF THE
SPEAKERS.
>> WE CANNOT DEFINE OURSELVES BY
COUNTY LINES.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE
REGION AND HOW WE PARTICIPATE
WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE EACH OF
US HAVE OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL
ASSETS BUT WHEN THEY COME
TOGETHER, IT MAKES A HUGE
(21:07):
DIFFERENCE ABOUT HOW WE ATTRACT
PEOPLE HERE AND HOW THEY LOOK TO
COME AND LIVE.
RUSS, A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT FINDING THAT SECRET SAUCE
FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY?
>> YEAH, OF COURSE THERE IS.
MOST RECENTLY KIRK WITH ONE EAST
KENTUCKY ADDRESSED A LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE REGARDING THE WAY THAT
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES ARE SPREAD
(21:29):
OUT AMONG THE STATE.
HE FOUND THAT SINCE COVID, THAT
95% OF THE NEW JOBS IN KENTUCKY
BUT 95% OF THE JOBS ARE COMING
TO PLACES WEST OF WINCHESTER.
SO HE SUGGESTED A DIFFERENT WAY
OF DOING THOSE INCENTIVES.
(21:49):
THE LEGISLATORS THAT WERE THERE
THAT SEEMED RECEPTIVE TO THAT
IDEA.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK
WILL BE POTENTIALLY ON THE RADAR
IN THE COMING YEARS IF NOT THIS
SESSION WHERE THE BUDGET MIGHT
TAKE ALL THE AIR OUT OF THE
ROOM.
AND CONGRESSMAN HAL
ROGERS TALKED ABOUT PROGRESS ON
THE DRUG ABUSE FRONT.
>> WE ARE SAVING MORE LIVES THAN
(22:11):
EVER.
BECAUSE YOU GOT INVOLVED.
YOU RAISED AWARENESS.
YOU WENT TO DRUG COURT
GRADUATIONS AS DID I.
AND YOU FOUGHT TO GET YOUR LOVED
ONES INTO TREATMENT.
STILL A MAJOR ISSUE IN
EASTERN KENTUCKY.
BUT YOU CELEBRATE ANY PROGRESS,
RUSS?
>> YEAH, WE DO.
(22:32):
I MEAN, THE DRUG PROBLEM HERE
HAS TRANSFORMED OVER THE YEARS.
IT WAS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.
WHICH IS NOT EASILY TREATABLE
BUT MORE TREATABLE THAN
METHAMPHETAMINE WHICH AND
FENTANYL WHICH HAVE TAKEN UP THE
OPIOID LOSS.
(22:53):
SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF
CHALLENGES BUT THERE'S MORE
OPTIONS FOR RECOVERY THAN EVER.
THERE'S MORE ATTENTION PAID TO
IT AND IT DOESN'T HAVE KUWAIT
THE STIGMA IT CARRIED 20 YEARS
AGO THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE
WORSENING OF THAT OPIOID
EPIDEMIC THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT.
KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN
JAMES COMER AND THOMAS MASSIE
(23:14):
WERE VISIBLE OFFERING DIFFERENT
APPROACHES TO PUBLIC PRESSURE TO
RELEASE THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN
FILES.
>> WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO GIVE THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC THE TRANSPARENCY THEY
SEEK AS WELL AS PROVIDE ACCOUNT
ABILITY IN MEMORY OF THE
VICTIMS WHO HAVE ALREADY PASSED
(23:35):
AWAY AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE
ROOM AND MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE
NOT COME FORWARD.
>> I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF
JAMES COMER LEADING THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THEY MAY
FIND SOME INFORMATION.
BUT, THEY ARE ALLOWING THE DOJ
TO CURATE ALL OF THE INFORMATION
THAT THE DOJ IS GIVING THEM.
IF YOU'VE LOOKED AT THE PAGES
THEY HAVE RELEASED THEY ARE
(23:57):
HEAVILY REDACTED SOME PAGES ARE
ENTIRELY REDACTED AND 97% OF
THIS IS ALREADY IN THE PUBLIC
DOMAIN.
TWO DIFFERENT
APPROACHES IN THE NATIONAL NEWS
FROM TWO KENTUCKY CONGRESSMEN?
>> ABSOLUTELY AS REPRESENTATIVE
MASSIE SAID OF MORE THAN 30,000
PAGES THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, MANY OF
(24:17):
THEM ARE ALREADY PUBLIC SO THERE
HAS BEEN SCRUTINY ON CONGRESSMAN
COMER AS A RESULT OF THAT.
AND REPRESENTATIVE MASSIE TAKE A
POKE THE BEAR APPROACH AS HE HAS
BEEN WITH TRUMP ON SEVERAL
ISSUES BUT HAD THIS PUBLIC PRESS
CONFERENCE WITH EPSTEIN VICTIMS
AND IS WORKING TO GET SIGNATURES
ON THE PETITION NEEDS A COUPLE
(24:37):
MORE TO GET IT OVER THE FINISH
LINE THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS
CALLING A HOSTILE ACT.
WE'LL SEE.
>> HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE
DOESN'T BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT IS
IMPLICATED BUT HE DOES BELIEVE
AND SPECULATE THAT SOME OF THE
PRESIDENT'S FRIENDS AND THOSE
WITH POWER ARE.
AND HE PREDICTS HE WILL
REACH THAT NUMBER.
HE THINKS HE WILL GET THAT
(24:59):
DISCHARGE PETITION THROUGH?
>> I BELIEVE HE NEEDED FIVE
VOTES OUTSIDE OF HIMSELF,
HIMSELF BEING THE SIXTH
REPUBLICAN ALL THE DEMOCRATS ARE
ONBOARD AND HE BELIEVES HE HAS
THE VOTES.
>> HE'S HAD THREE REPUBLICANS
SIGN ON.
APPARENTLY KENTUCKY'S
CELLPHONE BAN IN CLASSROOMS IS
LEADING TO MORE LIBRARY USE MORE
CHECK OUTS FROM THE LIBRARIES WE
(25:20):
LEARNED THAT.
TESSA THAT MAYBE A BENEFIT FROM
TRYING TO KEEP MORE ORDER IN THE
CLASS.
>> WE SEE A LOT OF HEADLINES
ABOUT PEOPLE NOT READING FOR
LEISURE AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO.
NICE CHANGE OF PACE.
>> THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT FIGHTS
BEING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE
CELLPHONE BAN AND WE HAVE NO
(25:40):
DATA TO PROVE THAT IT'S KIND OF
YOU KNOW THE CELLPHONE BAN
HAPPENED AND THE CORRELATION OF
IT.
BUT TEACHERS ARE SAYING LISTEN
THE CLASSROOM AND THE SCHOOL
INSIDE THERE'S BETTER BEHAVIOR
RIGHT NOW.
SO INTENDED
CONSEQUENCES OF THAT
LEGISLATION.
WELL, TV VIEWERS AND OTHERS IN
EASTERN KENTUCKY SAID FAREWELL
(26:01):
THIS WEEK TO WYMT WEATHERCASTER
BRANDON REBOUND BIN SON HE DIED
AFTER A BATTLE WITH CANCER THAT
HE WAS TRANSPARENT ABOUT EVEN
STARTING A PROGRAM TO BENEFIT
OTHERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.
HE WON AWARDS FOR COVERING
WEATHER BUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE
WAS ALWAYS HIS GOAL.
HE HELD SEVERAL JOBS IN THE
(26:23):
NEWSROOM IN THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE
BECOMING A FORECASTER.
AND HE WAS 42 YEARS OLD.
THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.
[♪♪]
>> Bill (00:08):
SENATOR MITCH
McCONNELL SAYS GOVERNOR
BESHEAR MAY YET ENTER THE RACE
TO REPLACE HIM AS BESHEAR'S
PODCAST GOES NATIONAL.
ANOTHER CANDIDATE ENTERS A
CROWDED FIELD IN THE SIXTH
DISTRICT RACE WHERE ANDY BARR IS
LEAVING THE SEAT OPEN.
CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE LEADS
AN EFFORT TO GET MORE JEFFREY
EPSTEIN FILES RELEASED.
THE NEW PHONE RULES IN
(00:30):
CLASSROOMS MAYBE SENDING MORE
STUDENTS TO THE LIBRARY.
KENTUCKY GETS MUCH-NEEDED RAIN
HERE AND THERE.
AND A LOTTERY JACKPOT GETS
ATTENTION.
COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.
[♪♪]
GOOD EVENING I'M BILL
BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO
(00:50):
"COMMENT 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 TESSA DUVALL,
POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON
HERALD-LEADER.
ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR
REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN
(01:10):
LOUISVILLE.
AND JOINING US IS RUSS CASSADY,
REGIONAL EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN
NEWSPAPERS.
JUST BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR
ON THIS FRIDAY EVENING, THE LONE
DO I CITY COUNCIL IMPEACHED
MAYOR WEDDELL IT FOLLOWS WEEKS
OF MEETINGS AND ACCUSATIONS.
TESSA A LOT OF DRAMA LEADING UP
TO THE VOTE?
(01:30):
>> IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING DAY IN
LONDON, KENTUCKY.
ALL DAY PROCEEDINGS GOING OVER
ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT
AGAINST WENDELL WEDDELL HE WILL
APPEAL THIS TO THE HIGHEST COURT
IF HE HAS TO.
BUT ULTIMATELY HE WAS REMOVED
FROM OFFICE TODAY AND AN ACTING
MAYOR HAS BEEN APPOINTED.
(01:53):
IT REQUIRES A UNANIMOUS
VOTE BY COUPLE AND IT HAPPENED
AND WE'LL IS SEE WHERE IT GOES
FROM HERE.
>> HE SAW THE WRITING ON THE
WALL HE POSTED A SOCIAL MEDIA
BEFORE THE IMPEACHMENT STARTED.
CAN YOU IMPEACH ME BUT YOU CAN'T
IMPEACH THE VOTERS OF 2026.
(02:14):
HE HAS BEEN LOOKING AHEAD.
HANDILY HAS BEEN NAMED
THE ACTING MAYOR WE WILL BE
WATCHING WHAT COMES NEXT IN
LONDON.
LET'S JUMP INTO STATE POLITICS
IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK,
SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL
SIGNALED HE IS NOT CONVINCED
THAT GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR WON'T
ENTER THE RACE TO SUCCEED HIM.
(02:36):
BESHEAR DEFIES THAT BUT HE IS
ALSO TAKING HIS PODCAST
NATIONAL.
>> I THINK THAT'S THE 4REU8
PODCAST THAT COULD.
IS GOING NATIONAL.
AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE CIRRUS
XM SAW THAT A COMMON SENSE,
COMMON GROUND GET THINGS VOICE
IS NEEDED IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT
NOW.
THIS SHOULDN'T SIGNAL TO ANYBODY
(02:59):
THAT I'M LOOKING FOR A JOB JUST
TRYING TO SPEAK REASON INTO
CHAOS.
BESHEAR SAYS DO NOT
READ ANYTHING THIS BUT HE SAID
HE IS NOT RUNNING FOR THE U.S.
SENATE.
THE PODCAST IS AIMED AT A
NATIONAL AUDIENCE McCONNELL
MAKES THE CASE AND WE KNOW WHAT
A POLITICAL STRATEGIST
McCONNELL HAS BEEN FOR DECADES
(03:23):
HE SAYS THERE'S DEMOCRATIC
PRESSURE FOR BESHEAR TO GET INTO
THE SENATE RACE AND IT MIGHT BE
MORE ATTAINABLE THAN A RUN FOR
THE WHITE HOUSE.
>> WE ARE READING INTO
EVERYTHING.
BUT, YES, SENATOR McCONNELL
TOLD MY COLLEAGUE AUSTIN HORN
THAT HE KNOWS SCHUMER WELL
ENOUGH TO KNOW HE IS BEATING
DOWN ANDY BESHEAR'S DOOR TRYING
(03:45):
TO CONVINCE HIM THAT SENATE IS
THE OFFICE TO RUN FOR.
OF COURSE, DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING
THEY HAVE A STRONG SHOWING IN
2026 IN THE MIDTERMS.
HOPING THEY CAN BUILD OFF OF THE
UNPOPULARITY OF A LOT OF THINGS
GOING ON WITHIN THE TRUMP
ADMINISTRATION.
KENTUCKY HASN'T ELECTED A
DEMOCRAT TO THE U.S. SENATE IN
YEARS AND YEARS.
(04:05):
BUT THERE'S HOPE THAT IF THEY
COULD, IF THEY COULD, MAYBE IT
WILL BE ANDY BESHEAR.
HE IS SOMEONE THAT KENTUCKY
VOTERS HAVE ELECTED TO
STATE-WIDE OFFICE THREE TIMES
NOW.
BEAT A TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE
IN 2023.
IT IS A DIFFERENT SORT OF SET OF
FACTORS TO RUN IN 2006 THAN IT
IS OUR GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS
(04:28):
WHICH ARE OFF YEAR THEY LOOK FOR
DIFFERENT THINGS IN GOVERNORS
THAN SENATORS.
IF ANYONE CAN DO IT HE WOULD BE
THE GUY.
>> I THINK THIS IS INTERESTING
BECAUSE BILL TALKED ABOUT THE
LONG GAME THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN
HIS THING AND KENTUCKY HAS NOT
ELECTED A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR FOR
FORD WAS THE LAST ONE.
>> Renee (04:49):
1992.
>> AND THAT IS NOT COUNTING WHEN
HE WAS A NEW DEMOCRATIC
CANDIDATE IT'S BEEN DECADES
LONGER.
McCONNELL CALLED HIM A GIFTED
POLITICIAN WHO WON IN A RED
STATE HE IS SHOWN TO BE
COMPETITIVE AND WILL BE
COMPETITIVE HERE.
IS IT POSSIBLE CAN WE SPECULATE
THAT MAYBE HE FEELS THAT THE
CANDIDATES WHOEVER COMES OUT ON
TOP OF THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IS SO
(05:11):
STRONG THAT IF YOU CAN BAIT
ENOUGH PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE
RUN FOR SENATE AND IF HE WERE TO
LOSE, IN MANY WAYS HIS POLITICAL
FUTURE TAKES A HUGE HIT.
SOME MIGHT ARGUE IT'S OVER IS
THAT PART OF WHAT McCONNELL IS
TRYING TO CONVEY BETWEEN THE
LINES.
I KNOW THAT IS BIG SPECULATION
(05:31):
BUT HE HANDED OUTCOME IMPLEMENTS
FOR THE GOVERNOR.
>> THERE'S A BIT OF MOBILIZING
THE REPUBLICANS, TOO.
IT'S CLEAR THAT THE REPUBLICAN
CANDIDATES DO NOT TAKE PAMELA
STEVENSON SERIOUSLY BUT IF ANDY
BESHEAR OR ROCKY ADKINS GETS
INTO RACE IT CHANGES THE
CALCULATION.
(05:51):
REPUBLICANS ARE CONFIDENT THEY
WILL WIN THAT SEAT BUT ANDY
BESHEAR GETTING INTO THE RACE
WILL LIGHT A FIRE UNDER A
DIFFERENT WAY.
>> Bill (05:59):
AND YOU HAD FRESH
REPORTING ON IT.
>> TWO WORDS CHRISTIE BROWN SHE
IS A PART OF THE BROWN-FORMAN
FORTUNE AND A PROMINENT
DEMOCRATIC DONOR ACROSS THE
STATE.
SHE IS A LOUISVILLE
PHILANTHROPIST AND WE KNOW HER
VERY WELL.
SHE SAYS I WILL CONTINUE TO DO
EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP HIM
(06:20):
PERSUADE HIMSELF THAT THIS IS
THE TIME.
THIS GOES TO THE OP-ED SHE WROTE
URGING THE GOVERNOR TO RUN FOR
SENATE SAYING THAT SHE HEARD
FROM OTHER SENATORS.
THAT THE TIME IS NOW.
HE'D HAVE A BETTER SHOT AND
REALLY WOULD BE ABLE TO BE ABLE
TO HELP KENTUCKIANS MORE IN THIS
(06:41):
SITUATION THAN OR AS A SENATOR
THAN PRESIDENT.
AND SHE TOLD ME SHE BELIEVES HE
WOULD NEED TO IT WOULD TO BE A
SENATOR FIRST BEFORE RUNNING FOR
PRESIDENT.
AND OF COURSE, THE THE TIMELINE
DOESN'T WORKOUT.
IF BESHEAR WERE TO
ENTER THE SENATE RACE AND HE
(07:02):
SAYS HE IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT.
DO YOU THINK HE COULD DO AS WELL
IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AS RACES FOR
GOVERNOR OR IS THE NATIONAL
NATURE OF THIS RACE JUST
DIFFERENT?
>> WELL, OF COURSE, WE'VE HAD AN
INCREDIBLE ELECTORAL
TRANSFORMATION IN EASTERN
KENTUCKY IN THE PAST
DECADE-AND-A-HALF.
(07:23):
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LOST A LOST
GROUND AND REPUBLICANS ARE
DOMINANT DESPITE THAT ANDY
BESHEAR MAINTAINED A SMALL
POCKET OF SUPPORT IN EASTERN
KENTUCKY THAT IS FAITHFUL.
HOWEVER, IF THE NATIONAL NATURE
OF THIS RACE WERE TO TAKE THAT
AWAY, OR TO CHANGE THAT, IT
WOULD KIND OF GIVE US AN
(07:44):
INDICATION THAT THE SWITCH TO
REPUBLICAN IS A LITTLE DEEPER
THAN JUST SURFACE LEVEL.
AND THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HAS LOST GROUND.
REALLY LOST GROUND IN EASTERN
KENTUCKY.
ONCE AGAIN, BESHEAR
SAID TO YOU HE IS NOT RUNNING.
>> HE SAID THE SAME THINGS.
HE WOULDN'T GIVE UP NOW HE IS
(08:04):
SAYING ONE YEAR OF BEING
GOVERNOR FOR A SIX-YEAR SENATE
TERM BUT I PHRASED THE QUESTION
IN LOUISVILLE I SAID GIVEN THE
FACT THAT CHRISTIE BROWN
EVERYONE KNOWS WHO SHE IS, IF
SHE IS WRITING THIS NOW, IS
THERE DID YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?
IS THERE SOME OF THAT GOING ON
AND HE SAID QUOTE NOT AT ALL.
(08:25):
I PROMISED TO SERVE OUT MY
ENTIRE SECOND TERM AND I KEEP MY
PROMISES.
HE IS STAYING FIRM ON THAT.
AND TIME'S RUNNING OUT FOR HIM
TO CHANGE HIS MIND I CAN'T
IMAGINE BEFORE THE HOLIDAY
SEASON WOULD BE THE LATEST.
THE PHENOMENAK THAT PAMELA
STEVENSON IS IN AND WE'RE NOT
TALKING ABOUT HER WHEN IT COMES
(08:45):
TO TALKING ABOUT ANDY BESHEAR'S
NAME.
HE HAS NOT ENDORSED
HER?
>> WOULD YOU SUPPORT HER
CAMPAIGN?
HE SORT OF SAID I WILL SUPPORT
ALL THESE DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR
THESE FEDERAL RACES INCLUDING
THE SIXTH DISTRICT.
NOT EXACTLY STRONG VERBAL PUBLIC
SUPPORT THERE.
ALL RIGHT.
WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE JUMP
(09:06):
FROM CAN YOU DO BOTH?
RUN FOR THE SENATE AND
POTENTIALLY FOR PRESIDENT SEEMS
UNLIKELY.
TOM MASS DUEY WAS THE GOVERNOR
OF NEW YORK WHEN HE BECAME THE
G.O.P. NATIONALLY.
IT IS NOT UNHEARD OF.
WE HAVE THE HISTORY IN KENTUCKY
OF HENRY CLAY ELECTED TO THE
HOUSE AND MADE HOUSE SPEAKER
WHEN HE GOT THERE.
(09:27):
SOMETIMES THESE FAST RISES DO
HAPPEN.
>> YEAH.
IT'S POSSIBLE.
I MEAN SAY HE WERE TO WIN THE
SENATE RACE.
HE WOULD BE SWORN IN IN EARLY
27.
THE GOVERNOR WHO DOESN'T HAVE
THAT NATIONWIDE REAL NAME
RECOGNITION JUST YET, GOT TO
IMAGINE HE WOULD BE THE FIRST OR
SECOND PERSON TO ANNOUNCE AND
(09:48):
THAT MAYBE LATE 26.
YOU CANNOT ANNOUNCE FOR
PRESIDENT SWORN IN AS SENATOR
THE MATH DOESN'T ADD.
>> I MEAN, NO, I THINK YOU'RE
RIGHT ON.
I ALSO THINK THOUGH THE REASON
WE SEE A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS
PUSHING FOR HIM TO CONSIDER THE
SENATE SORT OF THIS LACK OF
FEELING OF STRENGTH IN THE
(10:08):
CURRENT CANDIDATE AMONG
DEMOCRATS AND ALSO PRESIDENT IS
A MUCH HIGHER CLIMB.
AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE
PEOPLE LINING UP FOR THAT AS
WELL.
SO THIS IS LIKE PICK YOUR LANE,
PICK A STRATEGY HERE.
I DON'T KNOW.
ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AND IT'S FUN
TO WATCH.
FUN TO SPECULATE.
LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CANDIDATES
(10:28):
WHO ARE IN.
REPUBLICANS ANDY BARR, DANIEL
CAMERON, NATE MORRIS CONTINUE TO
BATTLE IT OUT.
RUSS, DO YOU GET ANY SENSE THAT
ANYBODY IS GETTING TRACTION IN
THE MOUNTAINS?
>> WELL, WHETHER THEY ARE
GETTING TRACTION REMAINS TO BE
SEEN BUT THEY ARE COMING HERE.
WE'VE HAD VISITS FROM SEVERAL
(10:49):
CANDIDATES.
AND ANDY BARR WAS RECENTLY IN
HAZARD.
AND THEY ARE ALL TALKING EASTERN
KENTUCKY.
WHETHER THAT CARRIES ON INTO THE
ELECTION AND HOPEFULLY BEYOND
WITH WHOEVER WINS, REMAINS TO BE
SEEN, OF COURSE.
BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, THEY ARE
PAYING ATTENTION EAST OF
(11:09):
WINCHESTER.
>> I MEAN, WE'RE STILL A LONG
WAY OUT FROM THE PRIMARY AND THE
FACTOR WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE
TALK ABOUT THE SENATE RACE ON
THIS SHOW IS WHAT IS DONALD
TRUMP GOING TO DO AND THAT IS
SEEN AS THE MAKE OR BREAK
FACTOR.
BUT THEY ARE ALL CARVING OUT
THEIR LANES.
ALMOST EVERYDAY THAT I GET A
(11:29):
PRESS RELEASE FROM THE ANDY BARR
CAMPAIGN SAYING THIS LOCAL
OFFICIAL, THIS STATE
REPRESENTATIVE, THIS STATE
SENATOR REALLY TRYING TO PLAY UP
HIS TIES AND CONNECTIONS ACROSS
THE STATE.
OF COURSE, DANIEL CAMERON WHILE
NOT OFF TO A STRONG FUNDRAISING
START HAS BEEN ELECTED TO
STATE-WIDE OFFICE BY KENTUCKY
VOTERS BEFORE.
(11:50):
BEEN ON ANOTHER STATE-WIDE
BALLOT UNSUCCESSFUL BUT HE IS
FAMILIAR TO VOTERS ACROSS THE
STATE IN A WAY THAT ANDY BARR IS
NOT NECESSARILY.
AND THEN, OF COURSE, NATE MORRIS
IS DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO
GET HIS NAME OUT THERE.
WE'RE SEEING LOTS OF ADS
CONTINUING TO HIT THIS
McCONNELL ANGLE.
>> IT WAS ON A PODCAST BRINGING
(12:12):
UP NATE MORRIS HE SAID HE IS THE
FAVORITE.
>> THE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE
POLLING THAT SHOWS THAT.
HE CERTAINLY GOT A LOT OF MONEY
TO TRY TO BECOME ONE U AND HE IS
PROUD OF THE FACT HE IS GETTING
TOLD ME THIS HE IS GETTING
ATTENTION FROM DC FOLKS AND I'VE
SAID YOU KNOW KENTUCKIANS HAVE
TO VOTE FOR YOU.
BUT HE IS LEANING INTO THE FACT
(12:33):
HE IS GETTING ON NBC NEWS AND
GETTING ON "FOX NEWS".
HE IS GETTING THIS ATTENTION.
HE BELIEVES AT LEAST FAIR TO SAY
HE BELIEVES IT IS A STRENGTH
THAT HE HAS SOME OF THE MOVERS
AND SHAKENERS DC ON HIS SIDE.
THE SIXTH DISTRICT RACE
IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY GOT ANOTHER
CANDIDATE THIS WEEK.
(12:56):
ERIN PETRIE IS THE FOURTH
CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR THAT
NOMINATION.
>> CALL ME OLD-FASHIONED BUT
GOVERNMENTS THEY WERE BUILT TO
SERVE THE PEOPLE.
AND I WANT TO BRING THAT BACK.
LET ME SERVE YOU IN CONGRESS.
AND KNOWING POLITICS, I'M
GUESSING WE ARE GOING TO NEED A
FEW MORE OF THESE ALONG WAY.
CHEERS Y'ALL.
OKAY.
(13:16):
AN INTERESTING APPROACH.
>> TAKE A RUN.
>> PETRIE GREW UP IN KENTUCKY
AND ATTENDED U.K. PATTERSON
SCHOOL BUT HER CAREER IS WORKING
IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OUT OF
STATE IN WASHINGTON.
>> RIGHT.
AND THAT'S THE WAY SHE IS HOPING
TO DISTINGUISH HERSELF FROM THE
DEMOCRATS RUNNING YOU HAVE A
(13:37):
FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE, A
FORMER COUNCILMEMBER, FEDERAL
PROSECUTOR AND SHE SAID TO MY
COLLEAGUE WHO INTERVIEWED HER IS
THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT CANED
OF BACKGROUND.
SHE ALSO SAYS THAT SHE IS AWARE
OF THE FACT THERE WILL BE
ATTACKS BECAUSE SHE MOVED BACK
TO KENTUCKY TO VIE FOR THIS.
(13:58):
AND LOOK, I WANT THERE TO BE A
KENTUCKY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE
TO LEAVE TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES
THE WAY I DID AND I WANT TO BE
THE PERSON TO MAKE THAT A
REALITY.
>> INTERESTING HOW FEW STATE
LAWMAKERS ARE ON THE DEMOCRATIC
SIDE.
I KNOW ONE IS A LOCAL LAWMAKER
BUT TRUE FRANKFORT SORT OF IN
THE SENATE AND HOUSE CHAMBERS
(14:19):
THE ONLY ONE IS CHERLYNN
STEVENSON AND SHE LOST HER
REELECTION CAMPAIGN.
SO YOU GET THE SENSE OF WHAT DO
THEY HAVE TO LOSE TO EXPAND
THAT.
BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, THEY HAVE
NOT MADE UP A LOT OF GROUND AS
FAR AS STATE SEATS ARE
CONCERNED.
BUT YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE,
REPUBLICANS THEY ARE LACKING AT
(14:39):
IT FROM A DIFFERENT STRATEGY
BECAUSE THEIR STATE LAWMAKERS
RECENTLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WIN.
EVERYONE IN THE RACE THERE IS
CURRENT OR FORMER LEGISLATOR.
RUSS, IN THE FIFTH
DISTRICT, YOU HAVE PILLERSDORF
CHALLENGING HAL ROGERS.
DO YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT?
I KNOW OUT OF STATE SUPPORT IS
(15:02):
COMING IN FOR PILLERSDORF?
>> YEAH, HE IS BRINGING IN
MARTIN O'MALLEY, THE FORMER
SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATOR.
NED PILLERSDORF HAS THE DEEP
CONNECTION TO THE SOCIAL
SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AND THE
ISSUE THROUGH THE PRO BONO WORK
HE DID IN REPRESENTING THE ERIC
CLIENTS AND HEADING UP THAT
EFFORT.
HE KNOWS IT IS AN ISSUE OF GREAT
(15:24):
IMPORTANCE TO A LOT OF EASTERN
KENTUCKIANS.
IT'S ON THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR
MINDS ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW AFTER
THE PASSAGE OF THE ONE BIG,
BEAUTIFUL BILL AND THERE ARE
CONCERNS THEY WILL SEE CUTS AT
SOME POINT WHETHER THAT IS GOING
TO HAPPEN REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
BUT IT IS A BIG ISSUE.
HE KNOWS HOW TO REACH THE PEOPLE
HERE AND HE IS MAKING A LOT OF
(15:47):
NOISE.
SO WHETHER HE CAN BEAT HAL
ROGERS WHO IS AN INSTITUTION IN
POLITICS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY
REMAINS TO BE SEEN.
BUT NO ONE CAN SAY HE IS NOT
TRYING.
WE WILL BE WATCHING
THAT.
WE KNOW THAT LONG TIME SENATOR
JIMMY HIGDON IS NOT RUNNING NEXT
YEAR.
HE HAS BEEN IN FRANKFORT SINCE
2003 AND THE SENATE SINCE 2009
(16:08):
AND HE SAYS IT'S TIME.
>> HE SAYS IT'S TIME.
HE'S BEEN IN A NUMBER OF
LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE
LEGISLATURE INCLUDING
TRANSPORTATION CHAIR.
AND HE SAYS HE INTENDS TO BE
ACTIVE.
HE IS NOT GOING TO SORT OF FADE
AWAY OR LET HIS FOOT OFF THE
GAS.
HE SAYS HE IS IN HIS 70s.
(16:30):
HIS WIFE OF 51 YEARS HAS PUT UP
WITH A LOT THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER
IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND IT'S TIME
TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SPEND
TIME WITH HER AND HIS FAMILY.
>> HE BROUGHT UP AGE HE SAID IF
I WERE TO RUN AGAIN AND WIN
AGAIN I WOULD SERVE UNTIL I'M 78
AND HE BROUGHT UP TO ME DO YOU
(16:50):
BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A CAP?
AND HE SAID 75.
HE SAID THAT SHOULD BE THE NORM
BOTH AT A STATE LEVEL AND
FEDERAL LEVEL, WHICH I THOUGHT
WAS INTERESTING.
WE'VE HAD PRESIDENTS WHO
EXCEEDED THAT.
IT WAS INTERESTING TO TALK TO
HIM AND HEAR HIM REFLECT AFTER A
QUARTER CENTURY.
(17:11):
SOMERSET MAYOR ALAN
KECK WHO RAN FOR GOVERNOR
DECIDED NOT TO RUN AGAIN NEXT
YEAR.
>> WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AT THE
TIME WHERE MY FAMILY IS AT THE
TIME.
I'VE GOT AN 8TH GRADER PLAYING
VARSITY BASKETBALL RIGHT NOW.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M LEADING
WELL AT HOME.
AND I WILL FIND THE RIGHT PLACE
FOR ME, MY FAMILY BUT ALSO, THE
(17:33):
RIGHT RACE OR OFFICE REALLY.
NOT JUST WINNING ELECTIONS IT'S
ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE IF YOU
DO THAT FITS AT THE TIME AND THE
NEED FOR ME TO JUMP BACK IN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE
SURPRISING WHEN SOMEONE LIKE
KECK IN HIS PRIME, SENATOR
HIGDON HE IS READY TO GO HOME
BUT KECK SEEMED AMBITIOUS HE RAN
(17:54):
FOR GOVERNOR AND HERE HE IS
PRESSING PAUSE ON POLITICS.
>> I CALLED HIM ON THE WAY HERE
AND I ASSUME YOUR POLITICAL
FUTURE IS NOT OVER?
HE SAID NO I STILL HAVE THE BUG
WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHERE THINGS
PLAY OUT WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT
THOSE COULD BE POTENTIAL FUTURE
OPPORTUNITIES HE BROUGHT UP
2027, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.
HE RAN BEFORE HE SAID HE WOULD
(18:16):
CONSIDER POTENTIALLY RUNNING
AGAIN.
AND HE BROUGHT UP SENATE.
AND I WAS THINKING WHICH SEAT
ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?
AND HE SAID 2028 RAND PAUL HAS
NOT SAID WHAT HE MAY DO.
OBVIOUSLY HE HAS BEEN TALKED
ABOUT AS A POTENTIAL REPUBLICAN
CONTENDER FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028.
HE SAYS THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING
(18:37):
DEPENDING WHETHER THE SENATOR
WERE TO RUN AGAIN AT THAT TIME
HE WOULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT.
>> I THINK MAYOR KECK IS GOING
TO HAVE A POLITICAL FUTURE.
IT'S CLEAR.
HE CERTAINLY MADE AN IMPRESSION
IN THAT GOVERNOR'S RACE.
REALLY TO GO FROM MAYOR OF A
FAIRLY SMALL TOWN TO PUT
YOURSELF OUT THERE IN A
STATE-WIDE RACE.
DON'T KNOW THAT HE EXPECTED TO
(18:58):
WIN BUT MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF
AND CARVED OUT HIS OWN LANE IN
THE PROCESS.
I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN THE
LAST OF HIM BY ANY MEANS.
ANOTHER TOPIC OF
DISCUSSION, REDISTRICTING NATION
WIDE.
BUT YOU TALKED TO SENATE
PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS ABOUT
THE POTENTIAL TO REDRAW
KENTUCKY'S LINES.
>> WITHOUT SAYING IT IT DOESN'T
(19:22):
SOUND LIKELY IF THIS WOULD MOVE
FORWARD THE SENATE PRESIDENT
WOULD HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON THIS
AND HE SAID THERE HAVE BEEN
DISCUSSIONS AND HE BROUGHT UP
RACES BACK IN THE 90s, HE
JOKED AND HE SAID YOU PROBABLY
WEREN'T BORN YET.
I WAS HE A.
BUT I FOLLOWED WHERE HE WAS
GOING.
HE BROUGHT UP THE OLD FIFTH
DISTRICT AND SOME OF THOSE
(19:43):
SIPHONED OFF FOR HAL ROGERS'
DISTRICT AND THERE WAS A SWEEP
THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT BACK
IN THE EARLY 90s.
AND ESSENTIALLY, ENDED UP LOSING
SOME OF THOSE SEATS OR LOSING
THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF
TRYING TO MAYBE GET TOO CUTE IF
YOU WILL ON TRYING TO DRAW THE
LINES.
HE SAID WE'RE SUGGESTED THEY ARE
(20:03):
GOOD WHERE THEY ARE.
AND ANYBODY WHO DOES THEIR
HISTORY WORK AND RESEARCH SHOULD
KNOW THAT, TOO.
>> AND NEXT SESSION IS A BUDGET
YEAR.
WHICH HAS TO BE NUMBER ONE
PRIORITY.
WHICH, BY THE WAY, THE
INCOME TAX LOWERING TRISHER WAS
NOT HIT THAT WILL NOT BE GOING
DOWN IN 27.
IT'S LAW IT WILL GO DOWN IN 26.
(20:25):
>> RIGHT.
RIGHT.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE
LEGISLATURE CHANGED SORT OF HOW
THEY CAN LOWER IT IN THE FUTURE.
BEYOND THAT THERE ARE SMALLER
INCREMENTS THAT NOW THEY CAN
LOOK AT ADJUSTING IN THE FUTURE
CAN DIFFERENT TRIGGERS.
AND THE SOAR SUMMIT IN
CORBIN THERE WAS TALK ABOUT
(20:47):
UNITING EASTERN KENTUCKY 5EU6789
AND ENERGY AND SENATE PRESIDENT
ROBERT STIVERS WAS ONE OF THE
SPEAKERS.
>> WE CANNOT DEFINE OURSELVES BY
COUNTY LINES.
WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE
REGION AND HOW WE PARTICIPATE
WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE EACH OF
US HAVE OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL
ASSETS BUT WHEN THEY COME
TOGETHER, IT MAKES A HUGE
(21:07):
DIFFERENCE ABOUT HOW WE ATTRACT
PEOPLE HERE AND HOW THEY LOOK TO
COME AND LIVE.
RUSS, A LOT OF TALK
ABOUT FINDING THAT SECRET SAUCE
FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY?
>> YEAH, OF COURSE THERE IS.
MOST RECENTLY KIRK WITH ONE EAST
KENTUCKY ADDRESSED A LEGISLATIVE
COMMITTEE REGARDING THE WAY THAT
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES ARE SPREAD
(21:29):
OUT AMONG THE STATE.
HE FOUND THAT SINCE COVID, THAT
95% OF THE NEW JOBS IN KENTUCKY
BUT 95% OF THE JOBS ARE COMING
TO PLACES WEST OF WINCHESTER.
SO HE SUGGESTED A DIFFERENT WAY
OF DOING THOSE INCENTIVES.
(21:49):
THE LEGISLATORS THAT WERE THERE
THAT SEEMED RECEPTIVE TO THAT
IDEA.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK
WILL BE POTENTIALLY ON THE RADAR
IN THE COMING YEARS IF NOT THIS
SESSION WHERE THE BUDGET MIGHT
TAKE ALL THE AIR OUT OF THE
ROOM.
AND CONGRESSMAN HAL
ROGERS TALKED ABOUT PROGRESS ON
THE DRUG ABUSE FRONT.
>> WE ARE SAVING MORE LIVES THAN
(22:11):
EVER.
BECAUSE YOU GOT INVOLVED.
YOU RAISED AWARENESS.
YOU WENT TO DRUG COURT
GRADUATIONS AS DID I.
AND YOU FOUGHT TO GET YOUR LOVED
ONES INTO TREATMENT.
STILL A MAJOR ISSUE IN
EASTERN KENTUCKY.
BUT YOU CELEBRATE ANY PROGRESS,
RUSS?
>> YEAH, WE DO.
(22:32):
I MEAN, THE DRUG PROBLEM HERE
HAS TRANSFORMED OVER THE YEARS.
IT WAS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.
WHICH IS NOT EASILY TREATABLE
BUT MORE TREATABLE THAN
METHAMPHETAMINE WHICH AND
FENTANYL WHICH HAVE TAKEN UP THE
OPIOID LOSS.
(22:53):
SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF
CHALLENGES BUT THERE'S MORE
OPTIONS FOR RECOVERY THAN EVER.
THERE'S MORE ATTENTION PAID TO
IT AND IT DOESN'T HAVE KUWAIT
THE STIGMA IT CARRIED 20 YEARS
AGO THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE
WORSENING OF THAT OPIOID
EPIDEMIC THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT.
KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN
JAMES COMER AND THOMAS MASSIE
(23:14):
WERE VISIBLE OFFERING DIFFERENT
APPROACHES TO PUBLIC PRESSURE TO
RELEASE THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN
FILES.
>> WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING
WE CAN TO GIVE THE AMERICAN
PUBLIC THE TRANSPARENCY THEY
SEEK AS WELL AS PROVIDE ACCOUNT
ABILITY IN MEMORY OF THE
VICTIMS WHO HAVE ALREADY PASSED
(23:35):
AWAY AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE
ROOM AND MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE
NOT COME FORWARD.
>> I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF
JAMES COMER LEADING THE
OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THEY MAY
FIND SOME INFORMATION.
BUT, THEY ARE ALLOWING THE DOJ
TO CURATE ALL OF THE INFORMATION
THAT THE DOJ IS GIVING THEM.
IF YOU'VE LOOKED AT THE PAGES
THEY HAVE RELEASED THEY ARE
(23:57):
HEAVILY REDACTED SOME PAGES ARE
ENTIRELY REDACTED AND 97% OF
THIS IS ALREADY IN THE PUBLIC
DOMAIN.
TWO DIFFERENT
APPROACHES IN THE NATIONAL NEWS
FROM TWO KENTUCKY CONGRESSMEN?
>> ABSOLUTELY AS REPRESENTATIVE
MASSIE SAID OF MORE THAN 30,000
PAGES THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY
THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, MANY OF
(24:17):
THEM ARE ALREADY PUBLIC SO THERE
HAS BEEN SCRUTINY ON CONGRESSMAN
COMER AS A RESULT OF THAT.
AND REPRESENTATIVE MASSIE TAKE A
POKE THE BEAR APPROACH AS HE HAS
BEEN WITH TRUMP ON SEVERAL
ISSUES BUT HAD THIS PUBLIC PRESS
CONFERENCE WITH EPSTEIN VICTIMS
AND IS WORKING TO GET SIGNATURES
ON THE PETITION NEEDS A COUPLE
(24:37):
MORE TO GET IT OVER THE FINISH
LINE THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS
CALLING A HOSTILE ACT.
WE'LL SEE.
>> HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE
DOESN'T BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT IS
IMPLICATED BUT HE DOES BELIEVE
AND SPECULATE THAT SOME OF THE
PRESIDENT'S FRIENDS AND THOSE
WITH POWER ARE.
AND HE PREDICTS HE WILL
REACH THAT NUMBER.
HE THINKS HE WILL GET THAT
(24:59):
DISCHARGE PETITION THROUGH?
>> I BELIEVE HE NEEDED FIVE
VOTES OUTSIDE OF HIMSELF,
HIMSELF BEING THE SIXTH
REPUBLICAN ALL THE DEMOCRATS ARE
ONBOARD AND HE BELIEVES HE HAS
THE VOTES.
>> HE'S HAD THREE REPUBLICANS
SIGN ON.
APPARENTLY KENTUCKY'S
CELLPHONE BAN IN CLASSROOMS IS
LEADING TO MORE LIBRARY USE MORE
CHECK OUTS FROM THE LIBRARIES WE
(25:20):
LEARNED THAT.
TESSA THAT MAYBE A BENEFIT FROM
TRYING TO KEEP MORE ORDER IN THE
CLASS.
>> WE SEE A LOT OF HEADLINES
ABOUT PEOPLE NOT READING FOR
LEISURE AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO.
NICE CHANGE OF PACE.
>> THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT FIGHTS
BEING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE
CELLPHONE BAN AND WE HAVE NO
(25:40):
DATA TO PROVE THAT IT'S KIND OF
YOU KNOW THE CELLPHONE BAN
HAPPENED AND THE CORRELATION OF
IT.
BUT TEACHERS ARE SAYING LISTEN
THE CLASSROOM AND THE SCHOOL
INSIDE THERE'S BETTER BEHAVIOR
RIGHT NOW.
SO INTENDED
CONSEQUENCES OF THAT
LEGISLATION.
WELL, TV VIEWERS AND OTHERS IN
EASTERN KENTUCKY SAID FAREWELL
(26:01):
THIS WEEK TO WYMT WEATHERCASTER
BRANDON REBOUND BIN SON HE DIED
AFTER A BATTLE WITH CANCER THAT
HE WAS TRANSPARENT ABOUT EVEN
STARTING A PROGRAM TO BENEFIT
OTHERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.
HE WON AWARDS FOR COVERING
WEATHER BUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE
WAS ALWAYS HIS GOAL.
HE HELD SEVERAL JOBS IN THE
(26:23):
NEWSROOM IN THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE
BECOMING A FORECASTER.
AND HE WAS 42 YEARS OLD.
THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".
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
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!