[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY'S DEMOCRATIC DISAGS RETURN HOME AFTER A WHIRLWIND WEEK IN CHICAGO.

REPUBLICAN VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE J.D.

VANCE WILL VISIT KENTUCKY MONDAY.

IN FRANKFORT, THE STAGE APPEARS SET FOR ANOTHER CUT IN KENTUCKY'S STATE INCOME TAX.

THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY DISBANS ITS OFFICE FOR CONSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY AFTER THE PRESIDENT SAID HE LISTENED TO POLICYMAKERS.

AFTER A PREVIEW OF FALL THIS WEEK, SUMMER HEAT IS RETURNING AND COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT.

AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AT SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE, ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN LOUISVILLE.

ALEX ACQUISTO, POLITICS AND HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

AND PHILLIP BAILEY, LOUISVILLE BASED CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR "USA TODAY".

ALSO TONIGHT, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL TRAVELS THE STATE AND REMINISCES THAT INSISTS HE HAS MORE WORK TO DO IN WASHINGTON.

BUT FIRST, THERE WERE KENTUCKY INFLUENCES AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION THIS WEEK, INCLUDING SPEECHES BY GOVERNOR BESHEAR AND BY HADLEY DUVAL WHO SHARED HER EMOTIONAL STORY.

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE NOT HAVING A CHOICE.

BUT TODAY, THAT'S THE REALITY FOR MANY WOMEN AND GIRLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY BECAUSE OF DONALD TRUMP'S ABORTION BANS.

>> THAT'S HOW JOE BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS LEAD.

THEY BOTH CALLED TO ASK HOW THEY COULD HELP KENTUCKY IN RECOVERING FROM NATURAL DISASTERS.

THEY HELPED US IMPROVE OUR ROADS OUR BRIDGES AND INVESTED IN OUR PEOPLE.

THEY DIDN'T ASK ME WHO KENTUCKIANS VOTED FOR.

THEY ASKED ME WHAT KENTUCKIANS NEEDED AND FOLKS, THEY DELIVERED.

>> Bill: YOU SEE SOME OF THE KENTUCKY DELEGATION THERE SO BESHEAR WAS NOT THE VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE AS HAD APPEARED TO BE A POSSIBILITY FOR WEEKS.

BUT HE WAS STILL PROMINENT IN CHICAGO.

AND HADLEY DUVAL GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

>> HADDADI DUVAL STOLE THE SHOW.

AS FAR AS DEMOCRATS ON THE STAGE IN CHICAGO, SHE WAS THE ONE A LOT OF PEOPLE WERE TALKING ABOUT.

YOU'VE SEEN HER IN PRESIDENTIAL AD WHEN BIDEN WAS THE PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEE.

I THINK YOU WILL SEE HER MORE AND MORE IN THE STATES WHERE DEMOCRATS FEEL THAT REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS IS THE WEDGE ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS.

ANDY BESHEAR DIDN'T DO A POOR JOB BUT HE MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF AT THE BREAKFAST EVENTS SEEN SHAKING HANDS WITH PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

I THINK HIS ROLE HONESTLY, BILL, IS GOING TO BE GOING TO THE RED STATE DEMOCRATS BACKING UP TIM WALZ PARTICULARLY IN STATES LIKE OHIO AND MONTANA WITH CRITICAL TOSS UP SENATE RACES.

>> HADLEY DUVAL I SPOKE WITH HER IN CHICAGO THE DAY AFTER SHE WAS ON THE STAGE INTRODUCING THE GOVERNOR.

IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE HER ONE-ON-ONE.

SHE IS 22 YEARS OLD.

HAS A BUBBLY PERSONALITY BUT YOU SEE HER ON STAGE SHE IS COMPOSED SHE LOOKED LIKE SHE HAS DONE THIS FOREVER.

AND SHE IS IN A T-SHIRT STARBUCKS THE MOMENT THE LIGHT COMES ON SHE SWITCHES AND IS IN FULL ADVOCACY MODE.

SHE USED WORDS YOU CAN TELL WHY THE VICE-PRESIDENT AND THEIR CAMPAIGN HAVE ROLLED HER OUT LITTLE BY LITTLE MORE AND MORE.

SHE TALKED ABOUT REINSTATING ROE.

IF WE CAN'T GET EXCEPTIONS FOR ABORTION OR GET RID OF SOME OF THE BANS SHE TALKS ABOUT HOW YOU CAN'T DO IT ON A STATE LEVEL DO IT ON A FEDERAL LEVEL.

SHE IS SPEAKING IN THAT AND IS GOING TO BE CONTINUING TO ADVOCATE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN THROUGH NOVEMBER.

>> WHEN I THINK THEY ARE BOTH RIGHT AND THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE HER FACE SURFACE AS I'VE MENTIONED ON HERE BEFORE, BEFORE THE DNC SHE HAS APPEARED ALONGSIDE VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS, FIRST LADY BIDEN.

HER FACE AND HER NAME AND STORY ARE GETTING OUT THERE.

I BELIEVE SHE WAS THE THIRD PERSON TO TALK ABOUT HOW STATE'S ABORTION BANS IMPACTED THEM.

THE STORIES RUN THE GAMUT HER STORY AGAIN IS MEMORABLE BECAUSE SHE WAS A CHILD.

BESHEAR CAMPAIGNED ON THIS AND HIS REELECTION CAMPAIGN AND EVEN ON STAGE AT THE DNC HE CAME AFTER HADLEY.

HE FOCUSES ON THE LACK OF EXCEPTIONS, THE BER RICH OF THAT HE HAS COME OUT OF KENTUCKY TOURING AROUND DIFFERENT STATES TO TALK ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NOT RESTORING THE WHOLE ABORTION BAN I THINK THAT IS HOW HE FEELS BUT RESTORING AT LEAST EXCEPTIONS AND THIS WAS THE BIGGEST STAGE SO FAR THAT THEY WERE BOTH GIVEN TO PREACH THAT MESSAGE.

>> AND REMEMBER LET'S THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH THE POLITICAL ECO-SYSTEM HAS CHANGED.

HADLEY IS 22 YEARS OLD IN THE GEN Z GENERATION.

YOU WILL SEE HER ON YOUR PHONES.

THERE WAS SO MANY INFLUENCERS AND FOLKS AT THAT CONVENTION THAT'S WHERE YOU WILL HAVE MAKE HER MOST EFFECTIVE MARK IN THIS CYCLE NOT A TELEVISION AD IT WILL BE IN THE DIFFERENT GEN Z MODES WHETHER IT'S TIKTOKS OR YOUR PHONE.

>> SHE TOLD ME HER FOLLOWING ON INSTAGRAM MORE THAN DOUBLED.

WE KNEW WHO SHE WAS BECAUSE OF THAT AD THAT PRETTY MUCH CATAPULTED THE GOVERNOR FOR HIS REELECTION BUT A LOT OF THE COUNTRY DIDN'T KNOW WHO SHE WAS.

THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THAT.

AND I THINK IT'S INTERESTING, TOO, WHEN IT COMES TO BESHEAR'S FOCUS ON REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS WAS THAT SOMETHING DEMOCRATS CHOSE FOR HIM.

THIS IS YOUR TICKET HERE IN NOVEMBER.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT BE YOUR IDENTITY OR YOUR TOPIC HERE THAT YOU ARE GOING TO FOCUS ON.

>> IN CHICAGO.

AND POSSIBLY GOING FORWARD.

>> Bill: WASN'T THE POLLING THAT CHOSE THAT ISSUE FOR HIM LAST FALL THEY WERE DOING CAMPAIGN RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THAT WAS A POTENT ISSUE?

>> IT WASN'T JUST THE AD IN 2023 THE MOST EFFECTIVE AD BUT THE BESHEAR FOLKS KNOW THIS, THEIR ADVERTISEMENTS WITH THE POLLING SHOWED WHEN IT COMES TO EXCEPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST REPUBLICAN MEN DON'T FIND THOSE TO BE BEYOND THE PEAL.

AFTER THE -- PALE.

IN AND FLORIDA AND OHIO AND PENNSYLVANIA WHO SAID THE GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY IS TALKING ABOUT ABORTION THAT IS NOT SOMETHING YOU SEE A GOVERNOR OF KENTUCKY BEING ASSOCIATED WITH.

THE DAUBACHS POLICY CHANGED REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS LIKE OHIO AND KANSAS AND KENTUCKY WHERE THE BALLOT INITIATIVES WHEN TO THE PRO-CHOICE SIDE CHANGED THE DYNAMIC.

ANDY BESHEAR WILL BE THE FACE OF REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS WITH HADLEY.

>> IT'S WORTH NOTING TOO, WE HAVE HAD THAT POLLING HERE IN KENTUCKY WHERE VOTERS REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS SAID THAT THEY THE ABORTION BANS GOES TOO FAR.

BESHEAR CITED THAT WE REJECTED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT 2 AND WORTH NOTING ALSO EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE DATA TO SHOW MANY REPUBLICAN VOTERS THINK THAT THE LEGISLATURE NOW FOR TWO SESSIONS IN A ROJAS REFUSED TO GIVE A COMMITTEE HEARING A BILL TO RESTORE THE EXCEPTIONS.

>> THE.

>> Bill: THE DEBATE ABOUT ABORTION ARE AHEAD AND COMMENTS DREW THE IRE OF J.D.

VANCE HERE IS WHAT BESHEAR SAID TO MSNBC.

>> J.D.

VANCE CALLS PREGNANCY RESULTING FROM RAPE INCONVENIENT.

INCONVENIENCE IS TRAFFIC.

IT IS MAKE HIM GO THROUGH THIS.

I MEAN, IT IS -- SOMEONE BEING VIOLATED SOMEONE BEING HARMED AND THEN TELLING THEM THAT THEY DON'T HAVE OPTIONS AFTER THAT?

THAT FAILS ANY TEST OF DECENCY.

>> Bill: VANCE RESPONDED WITH A TWEET SAYING THAT BESHEAR WISHED A MEMBER OF HIS FAMILY WOULD BE RAPED AND ALSO CALLED BESHEAR DISGUSTING.

THE TONE GOT TOUGH IN ALL OF THAT.

THEN BESHEAR RESPONDED TO SOME OF WHAT VANCE SAID.

SO IT WAS BACK AND FORTH THIS WEEK.

>> WELL, THE REPUBLICANS, BILL, HOPPED ON THIS AND YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY.

I THINK EVEN BESHEAR'S FOLKS WOULD SAY THIS IS A GAFFE.

HE WAS ON SHORT SLEEP DOING MULTIPLE I BELIEVE HIS ADDRESS IN CHICAGO WAS SOMETHING AROUND MAYBE 11:00 CENTRAL TIME.

I BELIEVE THAT INTERVIEW WITH ABOUT JUST BEFORE 7:00.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THE FATIGUE MIGHT HAVE SET IN THERE.

BUT THAT IF YOU TALK TO ANYBODY THAT IS WHAT NATIONAL CANDIDATES DO.

THEY DO NETWORK HIT AFTER NET WORK HIT.

HE WAS ON MSNBC NOT TOO LONG AFTER TO SORT OF CORRECT IT.

HE HAD SORT OF SAID THAT J.D.

VANCE WAS DEFLECTING HERE.

BUT I'VE TALKED WITH FOLKS THAT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS WAS A GAFFE AND THE FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE SAYING HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN PUT IN TIME OUT HERE BY THE DEMOCRATS AT LEAST FROM A NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE FOR APPEARANCES IN THE COMING DAYS.

>> AGAIN, HE WENT ASKED POINTEDLY IS THIS WHAT YOU INTENDED HE SAID OF COURSE NOT.

IT DID NOT STOP THE TRICKLE OF REPUBLICANS FROM KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN ANDY BAR MENTIONED SOMETHING.

REPUBLICANS IN THE LEGISLATURE ISSUED A STATEMENT LATER IN THE AFTERNOON.

I MEAN THEY PILED ON TO SAY THIS IS DESPICABLE.

HOW CAN YOU CONDONE THIS BESHEAR THAT SORT OF THING THEY RIGHT HAND WITH IT.

AND IT WAS A S.N.A.F.U.

FOR SURE.

>> THE GOVERNOR PUT TOO MUCH DIP ON THE CHIP.

IT WAS TOO FAR.

HE KNOWS THAT DEEP DOWN.

REMEMBER, THE BESHEAR FOLKS THEY WERE UPSET WHEN SUPER PANGS WERE RUNNING IN SUPPORT OF RAND PAUL HAD THE DAUGHTER IN AN AD FOR A MILLISECOND AND BESHEAR'S SCHICK IS HOW NICE HE IS THIS Mr. ROGERS, QUAINT GOVERNOR THAT WAS TOO FAR FOR HIM.

LOOK, LET'S TAKE A STEP BACK FOR A MOMENT.

PART OF THE REASON SO MUCH PRESSURE IS GOING AFTER VANCE IS BACK IN 2021 VANCE WAS DOING A PODCAST AND ASKED ABOUT DO YOU BELIEVE IN EXEMPTIONS FOR RAPE AND INCEST?

AND HE SAID VERY MUCH LIKE RICHARD MEASURE TALK HE SAYS LOOK I DON'T THINK TWO WRONGS MAKE A RIGHT.

IT WAS A WORD SALAD BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT WAS A SOFTER VERSION WHERE VANCE DID NOT WANT TO SAY SHOULD A WOMAN CARRY A PREGNANCY TO TERM IF ASSAULTED.

REPUBLICANS CAN GET ON HIM ALL THEY WANT TO.

THEY HAVE A POLITICAL PROBLEM IN STATES LIKE KENTUCKY, ARIZONA AND OHIO AND THEY HAVE TO SOLVE THAT EVENTUALLY.

>> Bill: THE KENTUCKY DELEGATION THAT DID NOT REPORT THREE DELEGATES WHO DID NOT VOTE HARRIS, RIGHT?

>> IT WAS 56, I BELIEVE, WHO VOTED AND I THINK THE GOVERNOR SAID WE ALL DID OR ALL 59 BUT TURNS OUT IT WAS 56 OUT OF 59 THERE WERE THREE AND THAT WAS ANOTHER ALMOST AN UNFORCED ERROR.

>> LOOK YOU GOT TO PLAY AT THIS LEVEL IN THE NFL ON THE NATIONAL STAGE THE MISHAPS ARE GOING TO ADD UP.

THE UNCOMMITTED MOVEMENT THERE AT THE DNC THEY MADE LARGE AMOUNT OF NOISE IN THE STREETS AND THE CONVENTION HALL AND THEY WENT OUTSIDE AND HAD A SIT OUT PROTEST THAT LASTED ALL NIGHT THOSE UNCOMMITTED TO HARRIS OVER THE WAR IN GAZA AND THE PALESTINIANS KILLED AS A RESULT OF THE WAR AGAINST HAMAS, THAT ATTACKED ISRAEL LAST OCTOBER THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT BECAME A PROBLEM FOR HARRIS PARTICULARLY BECAUSE OF THE PALESTINIANS ALLOWED ON THE STAGE SPEAKING AS WELL.

BESHEAR NOT GIVING THAT ADMISSION OF HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE THE DELEGATES A LOT OF THOSE ROLL CALL FOLKS DIDN'T SAY ALL THE DELEGATES WERE COUNTED AND WHO WERE NOT.

S.N.A.F.U.S AND MISTAKES WILL ADD UP.

>> Bill: THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE J.D.

VANCE IS COMING TO KENTUCKY ON MONDAY AND HOLD A $2500 PER PERSON FUNDRAISER, THERE IS A QUICK IN AND OUT.

THIS IS NOT RETAIL CAMPAIGNING IN KENTUCKY.

>> I DON'T THINK MEDIA CAN ATTEND.

I DON'T THINK IT IS A PRESS EVENT.

THERE WOULD BE PLENTY OF QUESTIONS.

LOOK, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT J.D.

VANCE THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIM TO CONNECT HIMSELF WITH KENTUCKY.

WE KNOW HOW HARD THE GOVERNOR HIT HIM WHEN IT COMES TO THE COMMENTS OR EXPLOITED US IN THE BEST BEST-SELLER THIS IS HIS OPPORTUNITY WITH KELLY CRAFT WITH BIG NAMES IN THE CITY AND LEXINGTON IS THE LOCATION TO CONNECT THAT BRIDGE BACK TO HIS ROOTS.

>> Bill: VICE-PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE TIM WALZ MAKING A PECULIAR FOR SMALL TOWN VOTES OPENING TO LURE IN SUPPORT IN PLACES LIKE KENTUCKY.

DO KENTUCKY DELEGATES SEEM TO FEEL THEY CAN MAKE KENTUCKY A MORE COMPETITIVE?

RECENT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS IT HAS BEEN A SEA OF RED WITH TWO BLUE DOTS AROUND LEXINGTON AND LOUISVILLE IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE?

>> I ASKED A CONGRESSWOMAN STRAIGHT UP DO YOU BELIEVE THIS MOVEMENT BY THE GOVERNOR WILL LEAD TO THAT COATTAIL EFFECT DEMOCRATS WINNING IN HOUSE AND SENATE SEATS AND HE WAS ONE WHO KEPT POINTING BACK TO THE GOVERNOR AND HIS SUCCESS.

LIKE WE ELECTED A GOVERNOR TWO TIMES IN A RED STATE.

BUT IT HAS TO GO BEYOND THAT HIS TERM ENDS IN 2027 THEY HAVE TO HAVE A PLAN BEYOND GOVERNOR BESHEAR.

>> THE PAST TWO ELECTIONS.

DONALD TRUMP THE FIRST TWO STATES ANNOUNCED FOR HIM WAS KENTUCKY.

THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN AGAIN IN 2024.

ANDY BESHEAR IS NOT GOING TO FLIP KENTUCKY BLUE LET'S NOT BEGIN TO TALK ABOUT THAT.

IT'S HIS ROLE WITH THE RED STATE DEMOCRATS AND THE SENATE RACES.

>> Bill: THIS WEEK GIVES YOU ACCESS TO THE DELEGATES, THE DEMOCRATIC ACTIVISTS AND YOU SAID YOU CALLED UP QUICKLY WITH THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN WHO MADE AN INTERESTING COMMENT.

>> I BUMPED INTO THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR AND I SAID ARE YOU RUNNING IN 2027 AND SHE SAID JOGGING AND I SAID GOOD ANSWER.

LET'S STAY TUNED ON THAT ONE.

>> Bill: ISAIAH NEW DEVELOPMENTS IN THE BRIANNA TAYLOR CASE.

>> THE JUDGE REDUCED SOME OF THE MORE SEVERE CHARGES IN THIS CASE FEDERALLY AGAINST TWO OF THE FOUR OFFICERS THAT WERE FEDERALLY CHARGED, INCLUDING THE OFFICER WHO ALLEGEDLY THE DETECTIVE WHO WROTE UP THAT WARRANT HE DID WRITE UP THE WARRANT BUT FALSIFIED THE WARRANT WITH BAD INFORMATION THAT ENDED UP LEADING TO THAT BOTCHED RAID.

THE REASON WHY THIS IS SO IMPORTANT, IS SO FAR THE TRACK RECORD OUTSIDE OF A SETTLEMENT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT MONEY GIVEN TO THE FAMILY, WE HAVE SEEN AN OFFICER IN STATE COURT A FORMER DETECTIVE, ACQUITTED ON STATE CHARGES.

THEN WE'VE SEEN A MISTRIAL.

NOW YOU SEE CHARGES REDUCED.

ANOTHER FORMER OFFICER TOOK A PLEA DOLE.

WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT THE COMMUNITY ASKED FOR JUSTICE FOR BREONNA TAYLOR AS FAR AS CHARGES ARE CONCERNED AND LEADING TO CONVICTIONS IT HAS NOT BEEN GOING IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> Bill: THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY DISBANDED ITS OFFICE OF INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

THE CAMPUS IS ONE COMMUNITY AND HE SAID HE HAS LISTENED TO POLICYMAKERS.

>> HOW DO WE CREATE SPACE FOR DIVERGENT POINTS OF VIEW OR DO WE TOO OFTEN PLACE OURSELVES IN AN IDEOLOGICAL BUBBLE THAT SHUTS OUT OTHER PERSPECTIVES?

IN CREATING THE PERCEPTION THAT WE HAVE CENTRALIZED SO MUCH OF OUR WORK AROUND INCLUSION IN ONE OFFICE, DO WE UNDERMINE THE IDEA THAT CREATING A SENSE OF BELONGING IS A RESPONSIBILITY WE ALL SHARE.

EVERYWHERE ON THIS CAMPUS.

>> Bill: ALEX, CAPILOUTOAGE KNOWLEDGED THE NATIONAL LANDSCAPE HAS CHANGED LAWMAKERS FAILED TO PASS AN ANTI-DEI BILL IN FRANKFORT BUT THERE WAS CLEARLY CONTINUING TALK IN THE INTERIM.

AND IT LOOKED LIKE IT'S HEADED COULD BE HEADED TOWARD A BILL IN THE 2025 SESSION.

>> A QUICK RECAP FOR VIEWERS.

ANTI-DEI BILLS WERE A NOTABLE FOCUS FOR REPUBLICANS THIS PAST SESSION AND TWO ROSE TO THE TOP.

ONE SOUGHT TO RESTRICT DEI INITIATIVES AND ONE SOUGHT TO DO TO DISMANTLE FOR THE OFFICE FOR INSTITUTIONAL DIVERSITY REPRESENTED BY JENIFER DECKER WHO PRAISED THE DECISION.

IT'S INTERESTING YOU HAVE TO DECODE PRESIDENT CAPILOUTO'S MESSAGE IT IS CONCILIATORY MOVE THERE IS NO LAW LEGALLY FORCING THEM TO DO T THEY ARE DOING IT ON THEIR OWN.

HE BELIEVES IT WILL CONTINUE TO BE A POLICY FOCUS OF REPUBLICANS IN THE FUTURE.

THEY ARE GETTING OUT IN FRONT OF IT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS MENTIONED FROM AND REPRESENTATIVE DECKER WHEN SHE FILED THE BILL AND SHE FILED OPEN RECORDS REQUESTS AND HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH PRESIDENT CAPILOUTO LIKE OTHER REPUBLICANS HAVE, ONE OF HER GOALS WAS TO REDUCE COSTLY DUPLICATIVE BUREAUCRATIC SERVICES AND THAT WAS AN ARGUMENT YOU CAN HAVE THE PERCEPTION THAT CAPILOUTO USED OF DIVERSITY IS NOT COST-EFFECTIVE DO WE NEED TO TRIM THE EXCESS.

IN ADDITION TO DISMANTLING THE OFFICE IT WOULD TAKE AWAY THE REQUIREMENT THAT STAFF SIGN A DIVERSITY STATEMENT AND TAKE AWAY DIVERSITY TRAINING.

IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE PRESIDENT CAPILOUTO SAID DIVERSITY IS INTEGRAL AND IMPORTANT AND MAKING IT ABOUT FACE WHICH IS INTRIGUING.

>> Bill: A LOT OF LANGUAGE TO BE PULLED OUT OF DOCUMENTS.

>> DEFINITELY.

THERE ARE DEI INITIATIVES THAT WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE PLACE ON CAMPUS BUT NOTABLY BEFORE THE SHOW, PRESIDENT CAPILOUTO UNCHARACTERISTICALLY CAME OUT IN OPPOSITION OF THE POLICIES AS THEY WERE MOVING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE EARLIER THIS YEAR.

HE CALLED ONE OF THE BILLS DEEPLY CONCERNING.

HE SPOKE OUT AGAINST THEM TALKED ABOUT THE PONCE OF DIVERSITY AND NOW WE'RE SEEING AN ABOUTFACE TO A DEGREE.

>> YOU SAW SCHOOLS LIKE U OF L NOT TAKE MUCH OF A STANCE THEIR ANSWER WAS PRETTY RUN OF THE MILL COMPARED TO U.K.'S PRESIDENT.

I SPOKE WITH THE HOUSE SPEAKER HERE IN KENTUCKY DAVID OSBORNE YESTERDAY AT THE STATE FAIR AND I ASKED HIM DO YOU SEE A DEI BILL PASSING NEXT SESSION?

AND HE TOLD ME WE'LL SEE HOW MUCH ORGANIC CHANGE THERE IS PRIOR TO.

HE SAID HE MET WITH THE U.K. PRESIDENT NOT TOO LONG AGO.

REPUBLICANS HAVE TALKED ABOUT HOW THEIR PLEASED WITH THE FACT THAT THAT COLLEGE IS LISTENING AND SAID THAT THE COLLEGE ITSELF REALIZED SOME OF THE NEGATIVE IMPACTS DEI WAS HAVING ON THE PROGRAMS.

YOU GET A SENSE OF THAT DYNAMIC BETWEEN COLLEGES AND REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP.

>> THIS IS AN EXAMPLE AGAIN OF A COUNTRY GOING ONE WAY AND KENTUCKY GOING IN THE OTHER.

AMERICAN IS BECOMING MORE DIVERSE.

THE BROWNING OF AMERICA IS HERE TODAY.

I'VE HAD A CHANCE ON THIS TRAIL TO TALK TO GOVERNOR ROY COOPER OF NORTH CAROLINA AND HE BRAGS ABOUT THIS IS NORTH CAROLINA, THE HOME OF JESSYE HELMS.

HE BRAGS ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA BEING THE FOURTH FASTEST GROWING STATE AND WHAT IS THE FUEL?

DIVERSITY.

BRACK VOTERS.

BLACK RESIDENTS, HISPANICS, FOREIGN BORN FOLKS.

LOOK AT GEORGIA.

THE BOOM IT'S HAVING THAT IS DIVERSITY FUELED AND THESE ARE SOUTHERN STATES.

WHEN THESE THINGS HAPPEN IN KENTUCKY, THE COUNTRY WATCHES THIS AND YOU ARE PAINTING A WHITE'S ONLY SIGN IN FRONT OF THE STATE.

>> IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE ROOT OF ALL THIS ANTI-DEI POLICY WHICH KENTUCKY IS NOT UNIQUE A COUPLE DOZEN STATES TRIED OR SUCCESSFULLY PASS TO DO IS THIS BELIEF THAT TO PROMOTE DEI, IS SOMEHOW TO GLOB ON TO THE IDEA OF WOKISM, IN INSTITUTIONS AND THEY PUSHBACK AGAINST THAT.

OF COURSE IT'S MUCH MORE NUANCED BUT THAT IS THE ROOST OF THIS -- ROOT OF THIS POLICY DIRECTIVE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> Bill: WE'LL WATCH AS THIS ROLLS OUT IN THE NEXT MONTHS AHEAD OF THE SESSION.

AND KENTUCKY IS WELL POSITIONED TO CUT STATE INCOME TAXES AGAIN.

THE BUDGET DIRECTOR SAYS THE TRIGGERS IN THE LAW HAVE BEEN HIT THAT WILL ALLOW THE 2025 LEGISLATURE TO MAKE A HALF PERCENTAGE CUT TO 3.5%.

AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, CHRIS McDANIEL SAYS IT WILL RESTRAIN SPENDING THAT SET THE STAGE FOR THAT CUT.

IT WAS INTERESTING THERE WAS A LOT OF PUSH TO SPEND MORE IN THE SESSION INCLUDING BY THE GOVERNOR.

THE REPUBLICANS CLEARLY WANTED THIS TAX RELIEF?

>> AND WE ALL WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS PRESHOW IS THE FACT THAT HE TWEETED DURING DNC WEEK, THE GOVERNOR, TALKING TOUTING THAT DECREASE IN THE TAX RATE AND THAT IS TO A LOT OF REPUBLICANS ALMOST IRONIC CONSIDERING HE VETOED A VERSION OF THE BILL IN 2022 AND SIGNED IT LATER ON IN THE FOLLOWING SESSION.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING THEY GO BACK TO THE GOVERNOR TAKES CREDIT IN THEIR WORDS FOR THE STUFF THAT WE DO WHEN WE PASS IT.

>> AND BY THE WAY NOT ONLY THAT BUT THE GOVERNOR SPECIFICALLY IN 2022 IN THE VETO MESSAGE HE CALLS OUT THE PORTION OF THE BILL COMPARE TO GO TO KANSAS WHICH SLASHED ITS INCOME TAX AND THREW THAT STATE.

>> A CALAMITY.

HE CALLED OUT THAT THING.

THIS IS WHAT REPUBLICANS HATE THE MOST ABOUT HIM.

>> .

>> Bill: DANIEL GROSSBURG DENIES WRONGDOING AFTER ALLEGATIONS FROM THREE YOUNG WOMEN.

HE SAYS HE IS FULLY COOPERATING WITH THE INVESTIGATION.

THE UPDATE?

>> ME AND MY COLLEAGUE AUSTIN HORN EARLIER THIS MONTH WROTE A STORY DEPICTING THE EXPERIENCES OF THREE WOMEN.

THIS WEEK WE WROTE A STORY WITH DETAILED MESSAGES.

AND MESSAGES SOCIAL MEDIA APP AND IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE FROM THREE ADDITIONAL WOMEN.

SINCE THAT STORY CAME OUT THERE HAVE BEEN BITS OF CALLS FOR RESIGNATION.

THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS NOT CALLED FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

THE KDP GOVERNOR BESHEAR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SAID THESE ALLEGATIONS WE REPORTED ARE DEEPLY CONCERNING.

BUT THEY'VE STOPPED SHORT OF CALLING FOR HIS RESIGNATION.

REPRESENTATIVE GROSSBURG AS YOU SAID DENIES WRONGDOING.

HE SORT OF MADE A POINT SAYING THAT WOMEN'S VOICES ARE IMPORTANT TO HIM HE IS SORRY IF HE MADE ANYBODY UNCOMFORTABLE BUT SO FAR HE IS STAYING.

>> Bill: MITCH McCONNELL IS TRAVELING KENTUCKY HE MIXES MEMORY OF HIS 40 YEARS IN WASHINGTON WITH THE GOALS HE HAS.

IN LEXINGTON HE SAID HIS MOTHER DIDN'T THINK HE WOULD WIN IN 1984 AND RECALLED THE ESTABLISHED LEADERS WHO WERE THERE AND HOW FAR IT APPEARED TO BE TO THE HEAD OF THE LINE.

>> I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, NONE OF THESE PEOPLE ARE EVER GOING TO DIE.

[LAUGHTER] RETIRE OR BE DEFEATED.

BUT I NOTICED THAT BOB DOL HAD THE DOLE HAD THE BEST SEAT AND I THOUGHT MAYBE, MAYBE SOME DAY I MIGHT BE ABLE TO GET THE BEST SEAT.

AND I WAS NOT EXACTLY AN OVERNIGHT SENSATION IT TOOK A WHILE.

>> Bill: McCONNELL WILL LEAVE HIS LEADERSHIP POST AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

AS YOU TRY TO READ WHERE MITCH McCONNELL IS, YOU CAN SEE THAT HE SEEMS NOSTALGIC OBVIOUSLY AT THIS POINT BUT HE KEEPS TALKING ABOUT HIS PRIORITIES GOING FORWARD?

>> I THINK WE ARE IN A GENERATIONAL SEA CHANGE IT'S NOT AGAINST McCONNELL, JOE BIDEN WAS A SEND OFF.

BILL CLINTON WHO SPOKE HE TALKED ABOUT THE FIRST TIME HE WAS AT THIS CONVENTION IN 1976.

NANCY PELOSI TALKED ABOUT THIS WE ARE SEEING A PASSING OF THE TORCH.

I THINK McCONNELL IS INTENDING TO RUN THROUGH THE TAPE WHETHER THIS IS HIS LAST GO AROUND OR NOT.

>> Bill: DO YOU GET A SENSE?

>> USUALLY BEFORE REELECTION SENATOR McCONNELL RAISES MONEY THREE YEARS OUT.

I'M NOT SEEING THAT.

HIS FOLK ALSO SAY I'M NOT IN CYCLE WE WILL LEARN IN DECEMBER TO NEXT FEBRUARY WHAT HIS INTENTIONS ARE.

THE NOSTALGIA REPRESENTS HE KNOWS HE WANTS TO LEAVE A LEGACY.

HE IS AWARE THAT HIS GENERATION'S TIME IN LEADERSHIP IS COMING TO AN END.

>> Bill: SOME KENTUCKY WORKERS ARE ON STRIKE 17,000 AROUND THE NATION.

TRYING TO HAMMER OUT A NEW CONTRACT.

GOVERNOR BESHEAR SAYS THERE WILL BE NO UNION REPRESENTATION INITIALLY AT THAT FORD SK OVAL PLANT THE BATTERY PLANT BUT THAT COULD CHANGE?

>> THAT WAS NEWS FOR US OVER THE WEEKEND.

I WAS HEADING TO CHICAGO AND HE SPECIFICALLY TALKED ABOUT HOW SOME OF THE CONTRACTS AND SOME OF THE RAISES GIVEN TO SOME OF THE LOUISVILLE FORD UAW WORKERS WERE ALMOST LIKE PART OF THE DEAL AND THE UNION THING HAD TO BE PUT ON THE BACK BURNER AS FAR AS THE GLENDALE PLANT AND IT'S INTERESTING, UAW LOUISVILLE LEADERS SAY THEY PLAN ON ORGANIZING IF AND WHEN THAT TIME COMES.

>> VERSAILLES MAYOR WILL BE RETIRING.

HE WORKED FOR 14 YEARS FOR THE KENTUCKY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

HE WILL CONTINUE TO LIVE IN VERSAILLES AND WORK WITH LEADERS AROUND THE STATE.

AND KENTUCKY ATTORNEY GENERAL BETTY JEAN HULL DIED SHE WORKED TO MAKE COAL JOBS AVAILABLE TO WOMEN AND SERVED AS AN ADMINISTRATIVE JOB AND REVIEWING BENEFITS FOR INJURED WORKERS.

SHE FOUNDED THE KENTUCKY COAL PROJECT AND A GROUP THAT SUPPORTED FOR WOMEN MINORS.

THAT'S COMMENT.

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.