[♪♪] >> Bill: FOR A THIRD WEEK IN A ROW, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL AND THREE REPUBLICANS WHO WANT HIS JOB, WERE TOGETHER AT THE SAME EVENT.

AFTER WINNING KENTUCKY BY 30 POINTS, WHO WILL PRESIDENT TRUMP ENDORSE IN THE SENATE RACE IF ANYBODY?

AUDITOR ALLISON BALL'S OFFICE IS BUSY RAISING QUESTIONS ABOUT SCHOOLS AND DRIVER'S LICENSES.

AS THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION APPROACHES A STATE SENATOR PUSHES FOR A HIGHER MINIMUM WAGE.

A REPRIEVE FROM THE SUMMER HEAT AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "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 MARIO ANDERSON ANCHOR AND HOST OF IN FOCUS KENTUCKY ON SPECTRUM NEWS ONE.

HANNAH PINSKI, POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE COURIER-JOURNAL.

AND AUSTIN HORN, SENIOR POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

THE OPEN KENTUCKY U.S. SENATE VASE NOT WAITING FOR 2026 BUT THE MAN WHO HELD THE SEAT SINCE HIS ELECTION IN 1984 IS ALSO ON THE SCENE MAKING SURE HIS LEGACY IS REMEMBERED.

AT THE KENTUCKY FARM BUREAU'S HAM BREAKFAST SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WAS HONORED AND REMINDED THE CROWD OF HIS LONG SERVICE AND SUCCESS.

>> GO UP IN POLITICS AND ALWAYS A LONG TALK ABOUT WHO IS POPULAR AND WHO ISN'T.

LET ME TELL YOU HOW TO MEASURE POPULARITY.

IT'S WINNING ELECTIONS.

THANKS TO YOU ALL I WON SEVEN SENATE RACES, NINE LEADER RACES UNDEFEATED.

>> Bill: McCONNELL MAKING THE POINT HE IS UNDEFEATED WORKING TO PRESERVE HIS LEGACY AND HIGHLIGHTING HIS ACCOMPLISHMENTS.

AUSTIN, DOES IT MAKE IT CHALLENGES FOR CANDIDATES SAYING THEY WANT TO GO IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION?

I THINK POTENTIALLY.

HE KIND OF GETS AT THE HEART OF 2026 AT LEAST RIGHT NOW THE 2026 SENATE RACE.

BECAUSE HE'S MAKING THIS ARGUMENT ABOUT WHAT IS POPULARITY.

THE BIGGEST NARRATIVE SO FAR IN THE RACE IS NATE MORRIS IS A RELATIVE OUTSIDER RUNNING ON A VERY ANTI-McCONNELL PLATFORM.

HE IS SAYING WHAT IS POPULARITY?

IS IT THE ANSWER THAT VOTERS GIVE WHEN YOU ASK THEM DO YOU LIKE THIS PERSON OR NOT DIRECTLY?

IN WHICH CASE McCONNELL'S POPULARITY IS LOW.

ONE OF THE LOWEST OF ANY U.S.

SENATOR OR IS IT THAT ELECTION MARK THAT HE INSISTS THAT IS THE POPULARITY METRIC.

I THINK THIS RACE, THIS 2026 SENATE RACE, HINGES A LOT ON THAT QUESTION.

AND IF IT'S THE DIRECT POPULARITY MARK, THEN NATE MORRIS IS DOING THE RIGHT THING.

IF IT IS AS McCONNELL SAYS ELECTIONS, THEN MAYBE THIS WILL SWING TOWARDS SOMEBODY LIKE DANIEL CAMERON OR ANDY BARR.

>> Bill: HANNAH?

>> I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT DURING McCONNELL'S TIME IN CONGRESS HE EARNED RESPECT AND SUPPORT FROM GROUPS IN KENTUCKY.

THE FARMING INDUSTRY.

THEY WERE SUPPORTIVE OF THE HAM BREAKFAST BECAUSE THE WORK HE HAS DONE WITH THE FARM BILLS OVER THE YEARS.

THE QUESTION BECOMES IF YOU ARE DISTANCING YOURSELF FROM McCONNELL OR OPENLY CRITICAL OF HIM, ARE YOU GOING TO LOSE VOTERS IN THOSE ATMOSPHERES IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION THEN.

>> McCONNELL DURING THE FARM BUREAU IT IS A CROWD WITH TIES TO MITCH McCONNELL OVER HIS DECADES IN KENTUCKY POLITICS IT IS A SLIPPERY SLOPE FOR THOSE CANDIDATES AS THEY ARE ADDRESSING THE CROWD AND POTENTIAL DONORS LOOKING TO THOSE FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS.

SLIPPERY SLOPE BETWEEN THE CANDIDATES AND HOW THEY HANDLE THE MESSAGING.

AGAIN, NATE MORRIS THERE IS A LOT OF CONVERSATION THAT HE IS MESSAGING NOT REALLY TO THE CROWD IN THOSE ROOMS BUT MORE TO THE PRESIDENT AND THE WHITE HOUSE TO SEEK AN ENDORSEMENT DOWN THE LINE.

>> Bill: IT IS INTERESTING WE HAD THREE WEEKS IN A ROW WHERE THEY WERE ALTOGETHER McCONNELL AND THE THREE CANDIDATES?

>> AND IT'S INTERESTING TOO, TO WATCH AT FANCY FARM MITCH McCONNELL LEFT THE STAGE WHEN THAT HAPPENED AND DURING THE LAST TWO APPEARANCE HE HE HAS BEEN IN THE ROOM AS THOSE REMARKS ARE BEING DELIVERED.

>> Bill: THE THREE REPUBLICANS WORKING FOR THEIR PARTY'S NOMINATION, EACH MAKES A DIFFERENT CASE WHY THEY WOULD BE BEST FOR THE G.O.P.

AND THE SENATE.

>> READY FOR A FUTURE THAT LOOKS SIMILAR TO THAT THAT LIVES UP TO THE IDEALS OF OUR FOUNDING.

THOSE THAT ARE BASED, LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS.

>> AS I SAID AT FANCY FARM A LOT OF POLITICIANS TALK ABOUT SUPPORTING THIS PRESIDENT BUT I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE WHO IS ACTUALLY DOING IT DAY IN AND DAY OUT IN CONGRESS.

AND THAT WORK IS PAYING OFF.

>> THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR THE WEAK.

THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR THE CAREER POLITICIANS.

WE'VE GOT TO HAVE SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT, FIGHTERS WILLING TO STAND WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP AND STAND UP FOR YOU.

>> Bill: SO THESE CANDIDATES WANT THE SAME PRIZE, THE G.O.P.

NOMINATION AND ULTIMATELY THE SENATE SEAT DO THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW DIFFERENT PATHS TO GET THERE.

>> .

>> YOU WOULD THINK SO BUT WITH US BEING MONTHS OUT FROM VOTES BEING CAST IN THE PRIMARY THEY ARE CRAFTING THEIR MESSAGES BASED ON THE CROWDS.

AND ANDY BARR AND DANIEL CAMERON ARE RIGHT NOW, THEY ARE SPENDING A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO DEFINE NATE MORRIS' CAMPAIGN AND TRYING TO PUT OUT THEIR VERSIONS OF WHO SUPPORTS THEY SUPPORT DONALD TRUMP ORIGINALLY OR NICKI HALEY.

BUT NATE MORRIS FOUND HIS OWN LANE BEING AN ANTI-McKONG AND THAT IS THE WAY HE IS GOING TO RUN HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> THEY ARE ALL RUNNING THIS PRO TRUMP PLAYBOOK.

THE INTERESTING QUESTION IS HOW WILL THESE PEOPLE BEHAVE ONCE TRUMP EXITS STAGE LEFT ASSUMING THAT DOES HAPPEN.

IT SEEMS AS THOUGH HE WILL IN 2028.

CAMERON IS RUNNING THIS NAME ID.

YOU KNOW ME I'M THE FAMILIAR FACE CAMPAIGN.

BARR IS RUNNING A MORE TRADITIONAL HE HAS CONNECTIONS WITH THE ESTABLISHMENT DONOR BASE AND THIS NOVEL STRATEGIC ARGUMENT AND THEN AS MARIO MENTIONED NATE MORRIS IS RUNNING THIS OUTSIDER PRO TRUMP TO AN AUDIENCE OF ONE.

BUT ALSO HE'S PREACHING A LITTLE MORE TOWARDS THE 55-YEAR-OLD MAN WHO IS WATCHING TV COMMERCIALS AND HAS VOTED IN THREE OUT OF THE LAST FOUR REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES.

NOT NECESSARILY THE DIEHARD, I SHOW UP TO EVERY REPUBLICAN COUNTY PARTY MEETING IN WARREN COUNTY, LET'S SAY.

NOT THOSE ESTABLISHMENT PEOPLE.

MORE JUST THE KINDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE REPUBLICANS WHO MAYBE AREN'T AS TIED INTO LOCAL POLITICS AS MUCH AS THE PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AT THE FARM BUREAU EVENT.

>> Bill: HANNAH, YOU DID A STORY THIS WEEK HOW THE G.O.P.

CANDIDATES HOPES FOR TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT HE DID CARRY KENTUCKY BY 30 POINTS IN NOVEMBER.

DO THEY SEE HIS NOD AS DECISIVE IN THIS RACE?

>> I THINK THERE'S AGREEMENT THAT AN ENDORSEMENT COULD BE OR WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN THIS RACE.

WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL BE A DECIDING FACTOR WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

AS AUSTIN SAID ALL THREE CAMPAIGNS ARE RUNNING I AA PRO TRUMP PLATFORM I WILL SUPPORT TRUMP'S AMERICA FIRST AGENDA IN THE SENATE.

I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING IS THE LAST TIME I SPOKE WITH THE CAMPAIGNS AT FANCY FARM IS THAT NATE MORRIS AND REPRESENTATIVE ANDY BARR HAVE DIRECTLY SPOKEN TO TRUMP ABOUT THIS RACE.

BARR SPEAKS TO TRUMP LIKES TO SAY ON A FREQUENT BASIS.

MORRIS HAD GONE TO WASHINGTON D.C. TO HAVE LUNCH WITH HIM.

BUT CAMERON, ON THE OTHER HAND, HAS NOT DIRECTLY SPOKEN TO THE PRESIDENT.

HE POINTED OUT HE HAS SPOKEN TO PEOPLE WITHIN THE CIRCLE BUT HAS YET TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH HIM.

AND WHETHER OR NOT THAT IS BECAUSE OF THE 2023 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION WHEN TRUMP GAVE CAMERON AN EARLY ENDORSEMENT AND HE LOST.

WE'LL HAVE TO SEE ABOUT THAT.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, TO YOUR POINT ABOUT REPUBLICANS FISHING IN WATERS WHERE REPUBLICAN VOTERS ARE AVAILABLE, SO THEY GO TO THE RIGHT LEANING MEDIA, IS ONE PLACE.

IS THAT WHERE THEY BEST FEEL THEY CAN COMMUNICATE WITH THE G.O.P.

VOTERS?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN BROADCAST TV IS USUALLY THE NAME OF THE GAME IN AD WARS PARTICULARLY FOR GENERAL ELECTIONS, EVEN FOR STATE LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS THINGS LIKE THAT.

BUT GOING ON CABLE, GOING ON A PLACE LIKE "FOX NEWS", NEWS MAX, ONE AMERICA NEWS NETWORK IF THAT EXISTS I FORGET IF IT DOES.

PLACES LIKE THAT THAT ARE THE KINDS OF MEDIA OUTLETS YOU KNOW THE DIEHARD REPUBLICANS ARE GOING TO.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, PRIMARY TURNOUT IS RELATIVELY LOW FOR BETTER OR WORSE.

YOU ARE REALLY REACHING FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTED TO THE PARTY.

THE PEOPLE WHO REALLY ARE GOING TO SHOW UP.

AND THAT'S WHY THEY ARE GOING TO THESE, I THINK YOU CALL THEM SILOS TO BE FAIR.

>> AND AT THIS TIME ALL THREE CANDIDATES ARE TRYING TO IDENTIFY DONORS TO CONTRIBUTE TO CAMPAIGNS.

WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO GET A BROADER BASE AND NATE MORRIS HE LAUNCHED HIS CAMPAIGN ON THE CHARLIE KIRK OR DONALD TRUMP, JR. ON THE PODCAST AND WAS ON CHARLIE KIRK THEY ARE FRONT AND CENTER IN THE CONSERVATIVE WORLD AND HE IS TARGETING POTENTIAL DONORS WATCHING FROM ACROSS THE NATION TO CONTRIBUTE TO HIS CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: EVENTUALLY THEY HAVE TO FACE KENTUCKY VOTERS WHO THESE CANDIDATES EVENTUALLY DEBATE EACH OTHER?

>> WELL, I WOULD SAY WHEN BILL BRYANT AND MARIO ANDERSON IN THE ROOM OUR TEAM THEY WILL WANT TO DEBATE AND GET IN FRONT OF OUR AUDIENCES TO SHARE THEIR STORY AND MAKE THEIR CASE TO THE VOTERS?

>> I HOPE SO THEY ARE CAPABLE DEBATE HOSTS AMONG US AND ONE OF THEM IT'S THAT ME.

>> Bill: WE APPRECIATE THAT.

>> MAYBE IT'S HANNAH.

>> NOT ME.

>> Bill: NOW DOUBT ABOUT THAT.

ONCE THIS DOES MOVE ON TO NOVEMBER, REPUBLICANS ARE FAVORED MOST OUTLETS JUST PAINT KENTUCKY RED WHEN THEY PUT THE MAPS OUT RIGHT NOW.

COULD DEMOCRATS MAKE A RACE OF IT?

HANNAH DO YOU GET THE SENSE THAT DEMOCRATS ARE WATCHING TRENDS AHEAD OF NEXT YEAR TRYING TO SEE IF THERE MIGHT BE A NATIONAL WAVE OR MIGHT BE ABLE TO COMPETE FOR THAT SENATE SEAT?

>> I THINK THEY ARE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE LIKE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT ALL THREE CAMPAIGNS ARE SAYING THEY WILL SUPPORT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S AGENDA AND WATCHING TO SEE HOW TRUMP'S POLICIES PLAY OUT IN KENTUCKY.

FOR EXAMPLE, THE MEDICAID CUTS THE S.N.A.P.

CUTS ARE WE GOING TO SEE RURAL HOSPITALS CLOSE DOWN AND PEOPLE GETTING KICKED OFF OF THE S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS PROGRAM AND WILL THAT BE UNPOPULAR HERE IN KENTUCKY.

AND BOTH DEMOCRATS WHO HAVE THE MOST SIGNIFICANT NAVMENT ID, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN AND GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR, HAVE BOTH SAID THEY ARE NOT RUNNING IN THIS RACE.

WHOEVER THEY DO PICK THEY ARE GOING TO RUN INTO THE ISSUE OF ARE THEY RECOGNIZABLE ON A STATE-WIDE LEVEL?

AND HOW ARE THEY GOING TO BUILDUP THAT NAME ID MOVING FORWARD.

>> Bill: ANY THOUGHT ON THE DEMOCRATS, AUSTIN?

>> I THINK MOST DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON HAVE WRITTEN THIS ONE OFF, UNLESS GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DECIDES TO JUMP IN.

BUT THAT'S NOT TO SAY THAT A GOOD SENATE RACE IS NOT OBJECTIVELY HELPFUL FOR THE PARTY.

BECAUSE IT IS.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE DOWN BALLOT EFFECTS, SOMEBODY RUNNING IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT WHICH IS MAYBE MORE PURPLISH OR PINK, YOU COULD SAY BECAUSE IT'S RED LEANING THAT PERSON WHOEVER THAT NOMINEE IS ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE YOU COULD ARGUE WOULD BENEFIT A LOT FROM A COMPETITIVE SENATE RACE THAT DRIVES TURNOUT IN A PLACE LIKE LEXINGTON.

>> Bill: IN THE RACE AS HEAD NEXT YEAR THERE IS A TREND IN KENTUCKY AND THAT IS MORE PEOPLE ARE REGISTERS AS INDEPENDENTS.

AND MICHAEL ADAMS NOTES THE GROWING NUMBER OF INDEPENDENTS IS SOMETHING TO KEEP AN EYE ON.

>> HOW DO THE PARTIES FIGURE OUT HOW TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE INDEPENDENTS?

>> TRYING TO REACH EVERYBODY AND BE INCLUSIVE.

WE SEE INCREASINGLY BOTH PARTIES I TALKED TO THEIR OWN ECOCHAMBER FOCUSED 0 AND THEIR OWN PARTY AND IGNORE OTHER PEOPLE.

AND THAT IS A MASSIVE MISTAKE.

IF YOU LOOK AT REPUBLICAN PERFORMANCE IN 2023 WHEN I WAS ON THE BALLOT WE HAD HIGHER TURNOUT THAN THE DEMOCRATS HAD BUT WE LOST THE GOVERNORSHIP.

BECAUSE WE'RE STILL HAVING TROUBLE FINDING THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT REPUBLICANS AND TALKING TO THEM AND GETTING THEM TO COME OUR WAY.

>> Bill: IT'S ABOUT 12% IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT WHERE THERE'S EXPECTED TO BE A CONTESTED FOR THE G.O.P.

HOUSE SEAT WHERE ANDY BARR IS MOVING ON IN HIS ATTEMPT TO WIN THAT SENATE SEAT.

ARE INDEPENDENTS A DECISIVE FACTOR?

>> IN A PLACE LIKE THE SIXTH DISTRICT IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND IT'S IMPORTANT JUST TO NOTE KENTUCKY IS A CLOSED PRIMARY IT IS A SHAME THAT INDEPENDENTS AREN'T ABLE TO PUT THEIR VOICE IN FOR MOST ELECTIONS.

>> INDEPENDENTS ARE SO DETERMINED TO BE INDEPENDENT THEY GAVE UP THEIR VOTE.

>> WE'VE ONLY GOT ON THE STATE LEGISLATIVE LEVEL 10 OUT OF 100 PURPLISH HOUSE DISTRICTS TWO OUT OF 38 SENATE DISTRICTS IT IS A LOW PROPORTION AND THE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE MUCH SAY OVER THOSE SEATS BUT THEY WILL IN AN ELECTION LIKE THE SIXTH DISTRICT.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLITICAL TEAM HAS TAKEN A SWAT AT NORTHERN KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE.

A REPUBLICAN.

THIS TIME THEY RELEASED A POLL SHOWING MACY'S APPROVAL DROPPING.

AUSTIN YOUR STORY SAID THAT MASSIE SAID THAT IS WAY OFF BASE?

>> YEAH, AND I THINK MOST KENTUCKY REPUBLICANS HONESTLY EVALUATING THAT EXACT POLL NUMBER, FIND IT TO BE EXAGGERATING A LITTLE BIT AND THIS IS GUESSWORK IT IS A RESPECTABLE POLLSTER.

HAVING SAID THAT, I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T SURPRISED THE AD WAR, 2 MILLION IN ADS HAS HAD SOME EFFECT ON THOMAS MASSIE'S POPULARITY IN THE DISTRICT.

THE QUESTION IS WHO IS THE MAGICAL PERSON THAT CAN KNOCK-OFF A PERSON WHO BUILT A BRAND OFF BEING CONTRARIAN.

IT IS NEWS TO THE VOTERS THAT THOMAS MASSIE BUCKS PARTY.

>> Bill: AND NO CANDIDATE YET?

>> NOT YET.

AARON REED, KIM MOSHER MAYBE SOMEBODY WITHOUT A RECORD WHO CAN'T BE PICKED APART.

WE'LL SEE.

>> Bill: STATE AUDITOR ALLISON BALL HAS BEEN BUSY SHE CALLED FOR MAJOR CHANGES IN THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

SHE IS ALSO LOOKING INTO THE STATE'S TWO LARGEST SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN JEFFERSON AND FAYETTE COUNTIES.

>> SO THIS IS THE KIND OF WORK WE DO.

WE REVIEW FINANCES.

OUR AREA OF EXPERTISE THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR US TO REVIEW THE BOOKS AND WE'RE GOING TO DO A FINANCIAL AUDIT LOOKING AT THE EXPENDITURES AND MAKING SURE THEY ARE USING THEIR MONEY WELL AND CORRECTLY.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

SO MARIO THAT WAS YOUR INTERVIEW AND TALKING ABOUT THE FAYETTE COUNTY SITUATION.

$16 MILLION SHORTFALL THERE.

AND ALL KINDS OF TALK ABOUT WAYS TO TRY TO FILL THAT HOLE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AUDITOR BALL SAYS OUT OF ALL THE AUDITS FAYETTE COUNTY IS HEARING THE MOST FEEDBACK FROM FROM PEOPLE WANTING HER TO PURSUE THIS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AND ALSO SHE HAS BEEN RECEIVING WHISTLEBLOWER STATEMENTS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE SHARING THINGS THEY'VE BEEN HEARING INSIDE FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

SHE SAYS IT IS AGAIN A SLOW-MOVING PROCESS IT REQUIRES FUNDING FROM THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE ALL THE RESOURCES TO MOVE THIS FORWARD.

THIS IS ONE OF HER TOP PRIORITIES FOR THIS YEAR TO START LOOKING AT THE BOOKS AND IT DOES MAKE IT EASIER THAT FAYETTE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS A LOT OF DATA IS PUBLIC AND AVAILABLE THEY ARE STARTING THAT PIECING IT TOGETHER TO SEE WHERE THINGS STAND.

AND RECOMMENDATIONS THEY CAN PROVIDE.

>> Bill: DID SHE SAY ANYTHING ABOUT THE DRIVER'S LICENSE ISSUE WHERE 2,000 LICENSES WERE CANCELED BECAUSE THEY MAY HAVE BEEN OBTAINED ILLEGALLY?

>> SHE SENT A LETTER TO GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR DE AND JIM GRAY DEMANDING RESPONSES ON PLANS TO FIX THIS BY SEPTEMBER FIRST I BELIEVE THAT WAS THE DATE.

SHE IS WORKING WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL RUSSELL COLEMAN WHO IS LEADING THE CRIMINAL POTENTIAL COMPLAINT SIDE OF THIS.

AND HER OFFICE IS PLANNING TO DO A FULL-SCALE AUDIT WHEN THEY ARE ABLE TO MOVE IN ON THAT.

>> Bill: HANNAH, GOVERNOR BESHEAR TRIED TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER'S LICENSING SITUATION IS THAT SOMETHING HIS DETRACT FORS ARE LIKELY TO USE AS HE CONTINUES TO EXPLORE A 2028 PRESIDENTIAL RUN?

>> I THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.

BUT I KNOW IT DOESN'T FEEL LIKE IT.

BUT 2028 IS A LONG WAYS AWAY.

WHAT BESHEAR IS DOING RIGHT NOW, IS THAT IF IT DOES GET BROUGHT UP HE CAN SAY LOOK I'VE SAID I WILL HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE WE'RE GOING TO FIND OUT WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THE REASON IT'S GETTING TALKED ABOUT SO MUCH IS IMMIGRATION IS A HOT TOPIC ISSUE NATIONALLY.

IT'S GAINING A LOT OF ATTENTION ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND GETTING CALLED OUT BY REPUBLICANS.

WHETHER OR NOT IT WILL BE A SIGNIFICANT FACTOR IN 2028 WE'LL HAVE TO SEE.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, GOVERNOR CONTINUES HIS TRAVELS AND HAS SOME SCHEDULED EVENTS AHEAD OUT OF STATE?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I THINK IT'S CLEAR TO MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE WATCHING CLOSELY, HE'S PREPARING TO THINK ABOUT A PRESIDENTIAL RUN.

IF THAT'S A WAY TO HEDGE IT.

HE IS REALLY GOING FOR IT.

AND WE JUST SAW THERE WAS A "POLITICO" STORY TODAY THAT GIVE HIM A NICE PAT ON THE BACK FOR HIS COMMENTS ABOUT HOW DEMOCRATS SORT OF SOFTENED THEIR LANGUAGE AND HE'S SPOKEN OUT AGAINST THAT.

AND THAT'S THE NEW NORM.

>> Bill: YOU WANDERED ALOUD IN YOUR COLUMN ABOUT WHETHER CONSERVATIVES "CNN" COMMENTATOR SCOTT JENNINGS WHAT HE MAYBE UP TO.

HE HAS INTERESTING TRAVELS THAT HE DOES, OF COURSE, IN HIS OFFICIAL JOB CAPACITY.

BUT THERE COULD BE OTHER BENEFITS?

>> HE DOES.

HE IS A BONA-FIDE CONSERVATIVE CELEBRITY.

HE IS ONE OF THE VOICES YOU THINK ABOUT NOW WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT AMERICAN CONSERVATIVES WHO ARE OUT THERE IN THE RHETORICAL TRENCHES EVERYDAY OF THE WEEK.

HE'S BUILT UP HIS PROFILE.

HE HAS SAID PRETTY MUCH STRAIGHTFORWARDLY IF TRUMP SAYS HE WILL SUPPORT ME IN THE SENATE RACE I WILL GO FOR IT.

WHO KNOWS HOW LIKELY THAT IS.

I WOULD PROBABLY BET AGAINST IT.

BUT YOU NEVER KNOW.

TRUMP COULD GET A WILD HAIR.

HE'S SOMEBODY WHO HAS PROVEN TO GET WILD HAIRS HERE AND THERE.

SO IT'S NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION.

BUT SCOTT JENNINGS IS EXTREMELY PROMINENT AND HE CAN USE THAT BULLY PULPIT VERY WELL AND NEVER SAY NEVER HE IS YOUNG IN POLITICAL YEARS.

>> Bill: HANNAH ANY UPDATE ON THE LOUISVILLE MAYOR'S RACE THE FIRST NONPARTISAN RACE WILL BE NEXT YEAR IS CRAIG GREENBERG FULL STEAM AHEAD AND TELEGRAPHING HE IS A CANDIDATE FOR REELECTION?

>> I THINK SO.

LAST YEAR HE HAD FILED TO RUN IN THE NEXT YEAR WITH THE KENTUCKY REGISTER OF ELECTION FINANCE AND UPDATED HIS WEBSITE AT THE TIME I BELIEVE SAYING REELECT GREENBERG.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE RACE PLAYS OUT.

IT WILL BE THE FIRST NONPARTISAN RACE IN LOUISVILLE.

>> Bill: AND YOU HAD A THOUGHT ON THAT AUSTIN?

>> YEAH, FROM THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN, WHAT'S BEEN THE BIGGEST LOCAL ELECTION IN A LONGTIME?

AND THAT IS MAMDANI, SELF IDENTIFIED DEMOCRAT SOCIALIST WINNING THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR THE NEW YORK CITY'S MAYOR RACE HIS VIDEO STYLE REMINDS ME OF A CANDIDATE WHO HAPPENS TO LIVE IN LOUISVILLE AND THAT IS CHARLES BOOKER.

HE HAD VERY PUNCHY COLORFUL VIDEOS THAT DREW YOU IN IN A SIMILAR WAY AND LEANS LEFT HE IS NOT A SOCIALIST LIKE MAMDANI.

YOU HAVE TO WONDER IF SOMEBODY LIKE CHARLOTTE CHARLES BOOKER IS LOOKING AT A MAYOR GREENBERG WHO MOVED A LITTLE BIT TO THE CENTER, STILL A DEMOCRAT IN A NONPARTISAN SETTING.

CAN HE EDGE HIM OUT IN THE RACE?

I DON'T KNOW.

>> MAYOR GREENBERG HAS THE POWER OF INCUMBENCY HE CAN TRAVEL AROUND LOUISVILLE AND JEFFERSON COUNTY AS THE MAYOR AND CANDIDATE AND OUT THERE IN FRONT OF THE CROWDS AND STILL ABLE TO RAISE MONEY AND SELF FUNDED HE HAS A LOT OF MONEY AT HIS DISPOSAL.

HE IS PLAN PENTAGON ON RUNNING FOR REELECTION IT IS NOT A FOCUSED ON DOING HIS JOB.

>> Bill: AND HE CALLS THE REPORTER NEED TO GO.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE 2026 LEGISLATIVE SESSION ISSUES BEGINNING TO TAKE SHAPE.

MEETINGS GOING ON NOW AND DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR IS BACK FOR A PUSH FOR AN INCREASE IN THE STATE'S MINIMUM WAGE.

>> LET'S DOT MATH.

7.25 AN HOUR MULTIPLY IT BY EIGHT HOURS A DAY, BY FIVE DAYS A WEEK BUT A MONTH.

ABOUT $15,000.

YES, YOU ARE IN THE POVERTY RANGE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT, MARIO, 7.25 AN HOUR THOMAS AND ADVOCATES SAY PEOPLE ARE LIVING IN POVERTY.

WILL THAT GET TRACTION IN A REPUBLICAN DOMINATED STATE LEGISLATURE?

>> WELL, SENATOR THOMAS FILED THE SAME BILL FOR MULTIPLE SESSIONS THREE OR FOUR OR FIVE IN A ROJAS' BEEN PUT INTO A MEETING.

THE SENATE HE IS ONE OF SEVEN OR SIX DEMOCRATS OUT OF THE 38 MEMBERS CHAMBER IN THE STATE SENATE AND THE REPUBLICANS HOLD THE MAJORITY.

UNSURE IF THAT WILL GAIN TRACTION A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATIC BILLS HAVE A BUY IN FROM REPUBLICANS AND THIS IS A BILL THE REPUBLICANS HAVEN'T SIGNALED THEY ARE INTO.

>> I REMEMBER LAST SESSION, ROBERT STIVERS HAD SAID HE BELIEVES THAT BUSINESSES ARE ALREADY PAYING ABOVE THE MINIMUM WAGE.

THERE WASN'T A NEED FOR THE STATE TO TELL EMPLOYERS AND BUSINESSES WHAT TO DO.

AND NEXT YEAR'S ALSO A BUDGET YEAR, 60-DAY SESSION T WILL BE IF IT IS A PARTISAN ISSUE THAT REPUBLICANS DON'T HAVE AN APPETITE FOR IT'S UNLIKE GET A COMMITTEE HEARING.

>> Bill: CHILDCARE IS AN EMERGING ISSUE AS WELL.

WE'RE HEARING THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE SAID THAT 16-28,000 KENTUCKIANS COULD GO TO WORK IF THERE WAS AFFORDABLE CHILDCARE.

THAT SEEMS TO BE LOOMING AS AN ISSUE.

CENTRAL KENTUCKY IS RID OF TONS OF NERVE AGENT STORED FOR DECADES AT THE BLUEGRASS ARMY DEPOT IN MADISON COUNTY.

>> IT IS TOOK LONGER THAN WE WANTED OR EXPECTED.

BUT EVENTUALLY, ONCE WE -- ONCE THE DECISION WAS MADE TO ABANDON INCINERATION, EVERYBODY WAS ROLLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION AND WE GOT IT DONE REMARKABLY SAFELY.

>> Bill: IT IS A RELIEF TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT THREAT IS REMOVED.

>> IT IS SINCE IT DATES BACK TO 1984 WHEN THE CONVERSATIONS WERE FIRST STARTING.

IT TOOK UP UNTIL 2019 FOR THE FIRST CHEMICAL AGENTS TO BE DESTROYED.

DECADES TO GET THIS PROCESS STARTED AND NOW THINGS ARE MOVING FORWARD.

AND THE LAST ONES ARE OUT OF THERE.

AND NOW THEY ARE DOING STUDYING AND RESEARCHING ABOUT THE IMPACT IT DID HAVE ON MADISON COUNTY AND BEYOND.

>> THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER REPORTED THE GOLDWATER INSTITUTE SAID THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IS NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE D.E.I.

IT SAYS, AUSTIN, THAT THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES NEEDS TO ADOPT A STATEMENT OF NEUTRALITY.

WHEN THE BOARD LEFT THAT UP TO THE U.K. PRESIDENT?

>> YEAH.

AND IT'S AN INTERESTING EARLY TEST FOR THE NEWLY COMPOSED U.K. BOARD OF REGENTS.

THEY JUST ADDED A COUPLE NEW BESHEAR APPOINTEES INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY JIM GRAY.

I'M NOT PLUGGED IN ENOUGH TO THAT WORLD TO REALLY SAY.

BUT IT'S AN INTERESTING TEST FOR A MAJORITY DEMOCRAT APPOINTED BOARD.

>> Bill: SECRETARIAT'S TRIPLE CROWN JOCK WI HAS DIED WE LEARNED THAT TODAY.

TURCOTTE WON THE KENTUCKY DERBY AS WELL AS THE PREAKNESS AND THE BELMONT STAKES TWICE EACH BETWEEN 1956 AND 1973.

HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM RACING HALL OF FAME.

SECRETARIAT HOLDS THE RECORD IN THE BELMONT WINNING BY 31 LINKS.

TURCOTTE WAS 84 YEARS OLD.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.