[♪♪] >> Bill: KENTUCKY'S POLITICAL CROWD IS ARRIVING AT FANCY FARM THE UNOFFICIAL KICKOFF TO THE FALL CAMPAIGN'S HERE IN THE BLUEGRASS STATE.

BESHEAR AND CAMERON AND STATE-WIDE CANDIDATES PREPARE TO SQUARE OFF IN FRONT OF A BIG CROWD AND CAMERAS.

KENTUCKY'S EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS SAYS POLITICS IS THE PRIMARY REASON HE IS LEAVING HIS HOME STATE FOR ANOTHER JOB.

WESTERN KENTUCKY ENJOYS THE SPOTLIGHT THIS WEEKEND AS IT SHOWS ITS HOSPITALITY.

LIVE FROM FANCY FARM, COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

AND WE SAY GOOD EVENING TO YOU FROM FANCY FARM IN GRAVES COUNTY I'M BILL BRYANT HERE ON THE EVE OF WHAT IS CONSIDERED TO BE THE WORLD'S LARGEST PICNIC AND TRADITIONAL POLITICAL SPEECHES.

YOU SEE THE CROWDS IS GATHERING SOME OF THEM GETTING READY TO PLAY BINGO AND ENJOY MUSIC TONIGHT.

WELCOME TO COMMENT A LOOK BACK AT THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH AND A LOOK AHEAD TO THE POLITICS OF THIS WEEKEND.

THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS ARE AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER.

McKENNA HORSLEY POLITICS REPORTER FOR THE KENTUCKY LANTERN.

AND JOE SONKA, FRANKFORT BUREAU CHIEF FOR THE COURIER JOURNAL.

WHAT A PRIVILEGE IT IS TO COME HERE AND BE WITH THE FOLKS AND WE ENJOY THE WARM WELCOME WE RECEIVE.

THIS IS THE 143rd FANCY FARM PICNIC.

IT'S HERE ON THE GROUNDS OF ST. JEROME CATHOLIC CHURCH A FUNDRAISER FOR THEM AND THE 19,000 POUNDS OF PORK AND MUTTON ARE BEING COOKED UP FOR THE BIG DAY TOMORROW.

WE ALWAYS KNOW THAT FANCY FARM MEANS HOT WEATHER AND SPICY BARBECUE AND HOT POLITICS KENTUCKY ELECTS A GOVERNOR AND ALL OF OUR CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES THIS NOVEMBER AND THOSE CANDIDATES WILL BE TAKING THE STAGE BEHIND US ON SATURDAY.

SO, JOE, WE SMELL THE BARBECUE IT'S THE POLITICAL SCENE THAT BRINGS SO MANY HERE.

AND WE HAVE ARRIVED AT THIS POINT IN THE CAMPAIGN NOW.

KENTUCKY HAS A POPULAR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WHO HAS BECOME KNOWN NATIONWIDE AND A RELIABLY REPUBLICAN STATE AND THE G.O.P.

HAS A HISTORIC NOMINEE GOING INTO THE RACE.

>> REPUBLICANS DOMINATED ELECTIONS AND THE EXCEPTION IS ANDY BESHEAR HAS BEEN ABLE TO DEFY THE POLITICAL GRAVITY HERE.

HE IS ONE OF THE MOST POPULAR GOVERNORS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, THE MOST POPULAR DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR HIS APPROVAL RATINGS IS OVER 60% AND HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO DO THAT BY YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SEE HIM AS A LEADER DURING CRISES HE HAS HAD TO DEAL WITH FROM COVID TO TORNADOES TO THE FLOODING IN WESTERN KENTUCKY.

SO THAT'S WHY EVEN A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO NORMALLY VOTE REPUBLICAN SAY THEY APPROVE OF HIM AND THEY LIKE HIM.

AND OBVIOUSLY HE HAS BEEN ABLE TO LAND BIG ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS AND SAY THAT THE JOBS ARE COMING HERE.

BUT THIS IS STILL KENTUCKY AND A CONSERVATIVE STATE AND MOST PEOPLE VOTE REPUBLICAN AND REPUBLICANS AND DANIEL CAMERON ARE HOPING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT MAY SAY THEY LIKE ANDY BESHEAR AND APPRECIATE THE JOB HE IS DOING ARE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR HIM THEY WILL VOTE REPUBLICAN LIKE THEY DO.

SO DANIEL CAMERON AND HIS CAMPAIGN AND REPUBLICANS WILL TRY TO BIG OUT THOSE ISSUES THAT BRING REPUBLICANS TO THE POLLS, THE SOCIAL ISSUES, THE CRIME, SO THEY ARE GOING TO BE THERE AND TRY TO MAKE IT AS NORMAL OF AN ELECTION AS POSSIBLE IN KENTUCKY AND ANDY BESHEAR IS LIKE JUST LIKE THE DEMOCRATS IN WASHINGTON D.C. >> AND IT'S REALLY HARD TO OVERSTATE HOW MUCH OF A PRIORITY THIS IS FOR BOTH PARTIES IN KENTUCKY AND IN DC.

AND ON THE DC SIDE YOU'VE SEEN ALL OF THIS MONEY COME IN FOR BOTH CANDIDATES ALREADY.

I HEARD SOMEBODY ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT" SAY THIS IS GOING TO BE A $60 MILLION RACE.

THAT'S JUST HARD TO WRAP YOUR HEAD AROUND FOR A GOVERNOR'S RACE.

>> Bill: WE'RE AT $13 MILLION ALREADY.

>> THAT IS THREE TIME WHAT IS THE LAST GOVERNOR'S RACE IS.

>> WHICH IS CRAZY BUT IT'S INDICATIVE HOW MUCH THE DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION AND REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S ASSOCIATION BIG PEOPLE IN DC PUT ON BOTH OF THESE GUYS.

I MEAN ANDY BESHEAR IS SOMEBODY WHOSE SEEN AS A DEMOCRATIC STAR WHO LIKE JOE IS SAYING DEFIES POLITICAL GRAVITY AND DANIEL CAMERON IS THE EXACT SAME WAY HE WOULD BE THE FIRST ELECTED BLACK REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR IN HISTORY.

WHICH IS A REALLY BIG DEAL FOR A NATIONAL PARTY THAT IS TRYING TO CHIP AWAY AT THAT RELIABLE BLACK DEMOCRAT VOTING BLOCK.

SO THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE DEAL.

ON THE STATE LEVEL, THE DEMOCRATS WOULD BE UP A CREEK WITHOUT A PADDLE IF BESHEAR LOSES THIS ONE.

AND CAMERON REPRESENTS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR REPUBLICANS TO CLINCH THAT FINAL INFINITY STONE OR POWER WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY OVER THE STATE.

THEY WOULD HAVE COMPLETE CONTROL.

>> Bill: THE STAKES ARE HIGH?

>> AND WITH THAT MONEY COMING IN IT SHOWS HOW HOW MUCH NATIONAL ATTENTION BESHEAR AND CAMERON ARE GETTING AS POLITICIANS.

THEY HAVE BOTH BEEN GETTING THIS NATIONAL ATTENTION BESHEAR WITH HIS WORK ON THE COVID PANDEMIC AND BEING ON THE FRONTLINES OF THE NATURAL DISASTERS WE'RE SEEING IN KENTUCKY.

AND CAMERON HIMSELF HAS GOTTEN ATTENTION FROM FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP AS WELL AS MITCH McCONNELL AND HERALDED AS A RISING GROUP STAR THIS RACE COULD INDICATE WHAT KIND OF NATIONAL FUTURE THE POLITICIANS HAVE.

>> IT WILL BE INTERESTING BECAUSE THEY WILL BE ON STAGE TOMORROW LANDING INSULTS AND JOKES AND JABS AT EACH OTHER AND FOR THE PAST FOUR YEARS THEY HAVE HAD A COMBATIVE RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN BATTLING IN COURT OVER AND OVER THEIR OFFICES.

CAMERON WAS BASHING BESHEAR DURING THE PRIMARY CAMPAIGN.

BESHEAR JABS AT CAMERON THIS WILL BE THE FIRST TIME THE TWO WILL STAND ON THE SAME STAGE AND SAY IT TO EACH OTHER'S FACE IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE.

>> Bill: AND THEY ARE GENERALLY CAREFUL INDIVIDUALS SO THAT WILL BE INTERESTING TO WATCH, WE TALK ABOUT THE OLD TIME POLITICS OF FANCY FARM WHICH IS IN-YOUR-FACE SPEECHES AND YELLING FROM THE CROWD AND SO ON.

BUT WHAT TONE WOULD YOU EXPECT FROM THAT STAGE?

>> I THINK YOU WILL HEAR A FIERY TONE WITH THE JABS FROM POLITICIANS AND ALSO THE ATMOSPHERE HERE THIS IS DIFFERENT FROM A TRADITIONAL CAMPAIGN STOP BECAUSE THERE'S GOING TO BE SUPPORTERS AND PEOPLE WHO AREN'T GOING TO VOTE FOR YOU.

SO THEY ARE ALSO GOING TO BE HERE AND THE MESSAGES THEY WILL SAY AND CAN CRIME IN AS WELL.

>> Bill: AND BESHEAR AND CAMERON ARE RUNNING DIFFERENT CAMPAIGNS.

BESHEAR PUSHES THE ECONOMY AND HIS RESPONSES TO COVID AND DISASTERS AND CAMERON AND THE G.O.P.

ATTACK BESHEAR ON SOCIAL ISSUES AND CRIME AS JOE HAD MENTIONED EARLIER.

SO YOU KNOW, DO YOU HAVE ONE SPEECH THAT IS TRYING TO BE UPBEAT ABOUT THE ECONOMY AND ANOTHER THAT SAYS ALL OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT KENTUCKY FACES?

>> I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE CANDIDATES TALK PAST EACH OTHER AND ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS LIKE YOU INDICATED.

ONE THING THAT I THINK IS MORE INTERESTING TO ME IS HOW CAMERON'S SPEECH IS GOING TO GO.

HE HAS TOWED HIS LINE BETWEEN BEING POSITIVE AND ALSO HITTING BESHEAR ON THINGS THAT HE THINKS ARE GENUINE SHORT CUMMINGS.

BESHEAR'S SPEECH ON THE OTHER HAND I FEEL LIKE MOST PEOPLE KIND OF HAVE A SENSE WHAT HE IS GOING TO SAY.

HE HAS BEEN ON EVERYBODY'S TV'S FOR SO, SO LONG PART OF HIS POLITICAL STRENGTH.

SO CAMERON IS THE REAL VARIABLE HERE.

DOES HE FOCUS MOST OF HIS TIME ON THE CULTURAL ISSUES AND TRYING TO BRING DOWN BESHEAR ON THAT STUFF OR DOES HE TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAYBE PRESENT HERE IS A POSITIVE VISION FOR WHAT A CAMERON ADMINISTRATION WOULD LOOK LIKE.

WHO KNOWS.

>> AND BESHEAR'S PEOPLE LIKE TO PROMOTE THE Mr. ROGERS IMAGE HE IS ABOVE ALL THE POLITICAL NONSENSE.

BUT IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE IF HE REALLY GOES AFTER CAMERON ON STAGE OR IF HE JUST STAYS POSITIVE.

>> I WOULD SUSPECT IT WOULD BE MORE LIKE WHAT HE DID DAD RUNNING IN 2011 WHEN HE GOT UP AND IT WAS ALL RAINBOWS AND THERE WAS NO INSULTS AND HE WAS LIKE AREN'T THE TROOPS GREAT.

I DON'T KNOW ANDY IS GOING TO NECESSARILY DO THAT BUT FOR THE MOST PART I EXPECT IT TO BE POSITIVE HERE ARE ALL THE POSITIVE THINGS WE'VE DONE.

I THINK IT WILL BE MORE POSITIVE, I ASSUME THERE WILL BE JOKES.

>> I THINK A KNEW LINE FROM BESHEAR WAS VISION NOT DIVISION.

AND WHO IS IN THE CROWD IS INTERESTING BECAUSE AS YOU SAY YOU DON'T COME HERE TO CHANGE MINDS.

ANYBODY WHO IS HERE, THEY ARE HERE FOR A REASON AND A CAUSE.

>> EXACTLY.

THERE ARE NO UNDECIDED VOTERS.

>> Bill: SO THAT POINT TEACHERS, PLAYED A MAJOR ROLE IN THE 2019 CAMPAIGN.

AND MAY AGAIN THIS YEAR.

SOME OF THEM WILL LIKELY BE HERE IN THAT GROUP.

BUT THAT IS A GROUP THAT BESHEAR IS TRYING TO ENERGIZE AND CAMERON IS TRYING TO SAY I WOULD BE FINE FOR TEACHERS.

>> YES.

SO THIS WEEK WE'RE SEEING THE EDUCATION TOPIC COME TO THE FOREFRONT OF THE CAMPAIGNS.

MCKENZIE CAMERON CAMERON'S WIFE LAUNCHED MOMS COALITION FOR CAMERON AND SHE IS A FORMER SCHOOLTEACHER SHE TALKED ABOUT THAT AND WASTH NORTHERN KENTUCKY THIS WEEK AND BESHEAR'S TEACHER WAS JACQUELINE COLEMAN TWEETED SHE IS GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT EDUCATION AS A FORMER EDUCATOR HERE SELF AT FANCY FARM HERE AS WELL.

>> Bill: JOE IT'S BEEN SAY YOU CANNOT REALLY WIN AT FANCY FARM BUT YOU CAN LOSE GROUND.

YOU CAN MAKE A MISTAKE.

YOU CAN LOOK OFF YOUR GAME.

HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS THERE ON ARE ON THE CANDIDATES WHO STEP ON THE STAGE TOMORROW?

>> YOU HAVE TO AVOID HAVING I GUESS THERE WAS A MOMENT FROM 1998 WHERE HE GAVE A FIERY ANGRY SPEECH AND JIM WAS ABLE TO CLIP MOMENTS OF THAT SPEECH TO MAKE HIM LOOK LIKE A MAD MAN.

FOR THE MOST PART, EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD GAFFES THEY HAVE GONE ON TO WIN.

JACK CONWAY WHO CURSED ON THE STAGE BUT HE BEAT DANIEL THAT BESHEAR'S SPEECH EVERYONE HATED THAT HOW DARE YOU NOT DARE YOU BREAK THE TRADITION AND NOT ATTACK YOUR OPPONENT BUT HE WON.

MATT BEVIN GAVE A HIM LAR SPEECH AND HE STILL WON.

YOU HAVE TO AVOID LOOKING BAD AND SAYING SOMETHING UNSCRIPTED THAT IS GOING TO GET YOU IN TROUBLE.

>> Bill: ARE YOU PLAYING TO THE CROWD THAT IS HERE?

OR TO THE TV CAMERAS AND TO THE MEDIA AND KNOWING THAT THOSE REPORT ALSO GO OUT AND BE MAGNIFIED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE NO UNDECIDED VOTERS THEY ARE VOCALLY TELLING YOU WHO THEY ARE GOING TO VOTE FOR AND NOT VOTE FOR.

IT IS A MATTER HOW THE CONSUMERS IN THE REST OF THE STATE ARE GOING TO CONSUME THE SPEECHES ARE THEY GOING TO SEE IT ON THE NEWS OR WATCH THE SPEECHES OR READ ABOUT THEM.

YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT AUDIENCE.

>> Bill: WE'RE HEARING COSTUMES MAYBE PART OF THE SHOW AND IT LEADS TO SPECULATION AND IMAGINATION.

AUSTIN OTHER RACES IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE REPRESENT RUSSELL COLEMAN WAS THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THIS AREA UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND DEMOCRAT PAMELA STEVENSON HAS QUICKLY BECOME KNOWN FOR HER FIERY SPEECHES IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING SESSION TO WATCH?

>> I'D SAY SO FOR A COUPLE DIFFERENT REASONS.

PAM STEVENSON HAS BECOME A BONEFIED TIKTOK STAR IF YOU ARE INTO THAT SORT OF THING FOR HER FIERY SPEECHES AND THEY REALLY ARE FIRE AND BRIM STONE BECAUSE ME IS AN ORDAINED MINISTER.

SHE BRINGS THAT FLAVOR TO HER PUBLIC SPEAKING APPEARANCES AND I WOULDN'T EXPECT HER SPEECH TO NOT HAVE THAT.

RUSSELL COLEMAN, IT WILL BE INTERESTING BECAUSE HE'S SOMEBODY WHO'S COME UP IN A POLITICAL ATMOSPHERE.

HE RUNS WITH THAT CROWD OF DANIEL CAMERON AND ADAMS AND McCONNELLITES BUT WE HAVE NOT SEEN HIM ON A AT THE SAME TIME LIKE THIS BEFORE.

WE'RE REALLY GOING TO GET A TEST OF WHAT KIND OF POLITICIAN DOES RUSSELL COLEMAN PRESENT HIM AS HIMSELF AS.

I'M EXPECTING THERE'S GOING TO BE LAW AND ORDER FLAIR IN THERE BECAUSE HE WAS U.S. DISTRICT ATTORNEY.

>> SOMETIMES CANDIDATES BE HEARD OVERALL THE HECKLING AND I DON'T THINK STEVENSON WILL HAVE THAT PROBLEM.

>> YOU KNOW LIKE IN THE CLIPS YOU MENTIONED ON TIKTOK, SHE IS SPEAKING OVER A CROWD OF SUPPORTERS AT THIS KENTUCKY STATE CAPITOL FROM THE GALLERY.

SHE'S SHOWN SHE HAS BEEN ABLE TO FEED OFF THE ENERGY SHE IS GETTING FROM THE CROWD THAT MIGHT BE AN ADVANTAGE FOR HER HERE.

>> Bill: JONATHAN SHALE THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOR KENTUCKY AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER HAS SIGNS THAT SAY STOP BIDEN I THOUGHT HE FACED SIERRA IN-LAW IN THAT RACE, THE DEMOCRAT.

>> .

>> THE SIGNS NOT MANY PEOPLE KNOW WHO SHE IS AND THEY KNOW BIDEN AND THAT IS THE TACTIC THEY ARE GOING THERE.

>> Bill: WATCHING THAT RACE TOMORROW AND THE RACE FOR SECRETARY OF STATE FEATURED BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN MICHAEL ADAMS AND THE DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER CHARLES WHEATLY.

SOME OF IT IS POLICY AND SOME PERSONAL.

DOES THAT MAKE ITS WAY TO THE STAGE AT FANCY FARM?

>> PROBABLY SO.

BUDDY WHEATLY HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET MICHAEL ADAMS TO AGREE TO A DEBATE.

ADAMS RESPONDED ON TWITTER SAYING HE WOULD DO SO IF WHEATLY BROUGHT A DESIGNATED DRIVER REFERRING TO AN INCIDENT IN 2008 IN COVINGTON.

I THINK ADAMS WILL TRAUT THAT LINE OUT HERE TOMORROW.

>> Bill: THERE'S NOT MUCH OFF LIMITS.

THAT IS THE OVER THE YEARS THAT IS WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

ALL RIGHT.

ON THE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL HELPED BUILD THE MODERN-DAY REPUBLICAN PARTY AND IN PART BY MAKING WESTERN KENTUCKY VERY REPUBLICAN LEANING AREA, HE HAS SHOWN UP AT FANCY FARM OVER THE YEARS AND WE'RE HEARING DESPITE A RECENT HEALTH SCARE HE IS LIKELY TO BE HERE ON SATURDAY.

>> YEAH.

THIS IS AN EVENT HE LOVES AND HE IS REGULARLY ALWAYS IS HERE GIVING A SPEECH.

AND HE WAS GIVING SPEECHES HERE WHEN THIS WAS A DEMOCRATIC STRONGHOLD AND NOW IT IS A REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD.

SO I'M SURE HE WANTS TO GIVE A SPEECH HERE AND PROBABLY SEND A MESSAGE TO EVERYONE WHO SAW HIS HEALTH SCARE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHERE HE PAUSED FOR 20 SECONDS AT A PRESS CONFERENCE AND THEY KNOW THAT McCONNELL HAS HAD HEALTH ISSUES HE WOULD LIKE TO GET OUT THERE AND GIVE A STRONG SPEECH AND LET EVERYONE KNOW THAT HE'S OK. THAT IS A RISKY ROLL OF THE DIES BECAUSE IF ANYTHING DOES HAPPEN IT WILL AMPLIFY WHAT HAPPENED.

>> IT DOES GIVE McCONNELL A CHANCE TO SEND A STRONG MESSAGE TO THE KENTUCKY REPUBLICAN PARTY HERE AT HOME AND REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON D.C. BECAUSE OF THE ATTENTION THAT FANCY FARM GETS NOOCH THAT LEADERSHIP POSITION HE HAS THERE.

SENATOR RAND PAUL WILL NOT BE HERE.

HE SPONSORED LEGISLATION TO STREAMLINE FEDERAL RESPONSES TO DISASTERS, THE INDICATION IS HE WON'T BE HERE FOR SATURDAY.

>> NO.

ALL ACCOUNTS HE WILL NOT BE HERE.

AND LAST YEAR HE WASN'T HERE.

THEY BOTH HAD SENATE DUTIES LAST YEAR HIM AND McCONNELL.

>> Bill: JAMES COMER WILL BE HERE.

THIS IS HIS AREA BUT HE HAS BECOME A NATIONAL FIGURE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE WHERE HE HAS LED THE PROBE OF HUNTER BIDEN THE SON OF PRESIDENT BIDEN AND HAS ATTEMPTED TO LOOK INTO THE PRESIDENT.

DOES COMER GIVE A LOCAL SPEECH OR A NATIONAL SPEECH TO THIS CROWD?

>> I THINK PROBABLY A MIX OF BOTH.

AND IT'S INTERESTING WE TALKED ABOUT JOHN THAN SHALE AND HIS AGRICULTURE COMMISSIONER RUN AS VOWING TO STOP BIDEN.

SHALE IS A COMER PROTEGE.

I WOULD EXPECT THERE TO BE A SIMILAR TIE IN OR HOWEVER LOOSE THAT TIE IN MIGHT BE A TIE IN BETWEEN REALLY BEING A LOCAL WESTERN KENTUCKY GUY, WHICH COMER DEFINITELY SEES HIMSELF AS.

HE LIKES TO CALL THIS COMER COUNTRY, QUOTE-UNQUOTE.

AND WHAT COMER IS DOING IN DC WHICH IS LEADING THAT HUNTER BIDEN PROBE WILL WILL BE A HUGE DEAL LEADING INTO 2024.

>> DO THEY SPEND THEIR TIME ON THEIR ISSUES OR DO THEY TRY TO GIVE SUPPORT TO CAMERON AS WELL IN.

>> EACH OF THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WILL BE DEVOTING SOME PART OF THEIR SPEECH HITTING BESHEAR.

>> Bill: WELL, YOU'VE HEARD US SPECULATE WHAT IS LIKELY TO HAPPEN ON THE STAGE SATURDAY AND THE SHOW IS SUNDAY.

WE'LL EITHER BE APPRECIATE YANT OR YOU CAN LAUGH AT SOME OF WHAT WE SAID.

A MAJOR STORY OF THE WEEK IS THE KENTUCKY EDUCATION COMMISSIONER JASON GLASS IS LEAVING HIS JOB TAKING A POSITION AT WESTERN MICHELLE RIPLEY UNIVERSITY AND BLAMED POLITICS FOR THE RECENT FOR HIS DEPARTURE.

>> OF COURSE MY DECISION TO LEAVE WAS INFLUENCED BY THE POLITICAL SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES IN IN KENTUCKY AND OTHER PLACES ACROSS THE NATION.

HERE, THIS IS PART OF AN EFFORT TO TURN EDUCATION INTO A POLITICAL WEDGE ISSUE.

YOU DON'T TAKE A JOB LIKE THE ONE THAT I HAVE, NOT KNOWING THAT THINGS CAN GET POLITICAL.

AND THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS CAN HAPPEN.

IN FACT, IT'S BECOMING MORE COMMON EXIT STORY FOR STATE EDUCATION CHIEFS AROUND THE COUNTRY.

AND INCLUDING THE LAST FEW HERE IN KENTUCKY AND THAT KIND OF TURNOVER IS NOT GOOD FOR ANYBODY.

I DO NOT WISH TO BE PART OF IMPLEMENTING THE DANGEROUS AND UNCONSTITUTION ALANTY LGBTQ LAW THAT THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THIS LAST SESSION SO IT IS TIME FOR ME TO MOVE ON.

>> Bill: McKENNA, GLASS GREW UP IN KENTUCKY WENT TO U.K. AND STARTED HIS TEACHING CAREER AND WENT TO OTHER STATES AND HAD LEADERSHIP ROLES IN EDUCATION HIS RETURN AS EDUCATION COMMISSIONER WAS A ROCKY REENTRY IN THE SPRING THERE WERE OPEN CALLS FROM THE REPUBLICANS FOR HIM TO GO.

AND A FEW WEEKS AGO HE SAID HE WAS LOOKING FOR A JOB.

>> RIGHT.

YES, THIS IS KIND OF A MOMENT IN THE MAKING YOU COULD SAY IN KENTUCKY POLITICS.

GLASS HAS COME UNDER FIRE FROM REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS AND REPUBLICAN GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AS YOU MENTIONED THERE WERE CALLS IN FRANKFURT AND RESOLUTIONS FILED TO HAVE HIM OUSTED AS EDUCATION COMMISSIONER AND WE'VE ALSO SEEN REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES DURING THEIR PRIMARY SAY THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO REPLACE GLASS AND THAT IS SOMETHING TAKEN UP BY DANIEL CAMERON.

BUT AFTER THE NEWS OF HIS FUTURE DEPARTURE HE IS LEAVING AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER, CAMERON HAS SWITCHED TO ONE DOWN ONE TO GO REFERRING TO ANDY BESHEAR.

>> Bill: GLASS HE KNEW THE POLITICAL PERILS OF THIS JOB.

HE UNDERSTOOD THAT THIS DAY COULD COME WHEN HE CAME BACK HOME TO KENTUCKY.

>> YEAH.

IT'S A VERY REPUBLICAN STATE AND EDUCATION CAN BE A VERY DIVISIVE AND PASSIONAL ISSUE.

AND I THINK ANY ONE WANTING TO FILL HIS SHOES IS GOING TO KNOW WHAT KIND OF SITUATION THEY ARE GETTING ASSUMING THAT GOVERNOR DE DID HE GETS REELECTED ANYONE HE BRINGS IN WILL KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING UP AGAINST BY REPUBLICANS GOING AFTER GLASS YOU HAVE TO GET CONFIRMED IN THE SENATE.

WHAT KIND OF CANDIDATE IS GOING TO DROP EVERYTHING AND APPLY FOR THIS JOB AND WANT TO PURSUE IT KNOWING WHAT IS FACING THEM AHEAD.

BUT THEN AGAIN IF CAMERON WINS THEN PROBABLY NOT AN ISSUE.

IF BESHEAR WINS IT COULD BE AN ISSUE TRYING TO FILL THAT POSITION.

>> YOU HAVE TO THINK THAT IF GLASS IS LEAVING AT THE END OF SEPTEMBER THAT BESHEAR PROBABLY WON'T STEP IN IT IN A WAY AND TRY TO FAST TRACK SOMEBODY ELSE BEFORE ELECTION.

BECAUSE THAT PERSON WILL ONLY GET SCRUTINIZED IN THE SAME WAY THAT GLASS WAS.

>> Bill: IT WILL BE TALKED ABOUT IN THE CAMPAIGN?

>> IT WILL BE THAT IS FOR SURE.

HE WILL PUT AOC AS THE EDUCATION COMMISSIONER.

>> Bill: SO THE GUESSING IS THAT THERE WILL BE PROBABLY AN INTERIM NAMED AND THEN A LONG-TERM, I THINK BESHEAR URGED A NATIONAL SEARCH AND LIKELY WHAT WILL HAPPEN?

>> THIS WEEK AFTER THE NEWS BROKE THAT GLASS WAS GOING TO LEAVE, BESHEAR DID SAY THAT HE BO DIRECT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION TO PURSUE A NATIONAL SEARCH AND THEY WILL HAVE TO LOOK FOR SOMEBODY AND THEY HAVE NOT COME OUT WITH THEIR TIMELINE YET.

WE'RE EXPECTING TO HEAR MORE DETAILS ON THAT PROBABLY BY THE END OF MONTH THEY HAVE ANOTHER SPECIAL MEETING SCHEDULED.

>> Bill: JOE NOTED WHAT A CHALLENGE IT IS IF IT IS THE BESHEAR APPOINTED BOARD OF EDUCATION THAT HIRES AND THEN THEY REPUBLICAN DOMINATED SENATE DOES THE CONFIRMATION, RIGHT?

THAT IS GOING TO BE A VERY NARROW PATH TO WALK?

>> DEFINITELY.

AND IN ORDER FOR THE SENATE TO CONFIRM ANYONE THERE'S PROBABLY GOING TO HAVE TO BE SOME COOPERATION AND COMMUNICATION AHEAD OF TIME ON WHAT KIND OF CANDIDATE COULD MAKE IT THROUGH THE SENATE AND WHAT KIND OF CANDIDATE WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE GOVERNOR IF REELECTED.

THAT IS ONE TO WATCH.

>> Bill: IS THIS SUCH A DIVIDED TIME IN THE COUNTRY, AUSTIN, THAT HERE WE ARE IN THIS CASE, IN EDUCATION BOTH SIDES SAY THE OTHER IS POLITICAL, THE OTHER IS INJECTING POLITICS INTO LANDSCAPE.

IS THAT JUST WHERE WE ARE?

>> I THINK YES AND NO.

WE ARE IN LIKE PERHAPS A MORE UNIQUELY POLITICIZED ERA WHEN IT COMES TO EDUCATION.

WE THINK ABOUT THE BIG PARENTAL RIGHTS WAVE THAT HIT WITH THE ELECTION OF GOVERNOR GLENN YOUNGKIN A REPUBLICAN IN VIRGINIA HE RODE THAT WAVE TO UPSET WHAT PEOPLE SEE AS A BLUE STATE AND THE TRANSGENDER ISSUE IS SEEPED INTO EDUCATION IN A BIG WAY.

AND WE SAW THAT WITH JASON GLASS' ANSWER.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, MY COLLEAGUE LINDA BLACKFORD DID A COLUMN WITH POPULAR RADIO HOST MATT JONES ABOUT HOW TO TALK TO THE OTHER SIDE.

AND I REALLY DO THINK THAT WE CAN STILL TRY TO FOCUS ON THAT IN A WAY AS LONG AS WE REALLY MAKE A POINT TO NOT TALK DOWN TO PEOPLE AND TELL THEM WHAT THEY SHOULD THINK AND REALLY JUST PRESENT HOW YOU FEEL AND JUST TRY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION.

>> Bill: THAT IS THE WAY IT USE TO BE SOME RESPECT.

>> I THINK IF PEOPLE TUNE IN TOMORROW THEY MAY SEE A PHYSICAL REPRESENTATION OF THE OPPOSITE OF THAT.

>> Bill: REGULATIONS WENT INTO EFFECT ON DELTA REQUIRES RETAILORS TO KEEP PRODUCTS BEHIND THE COUNTER AND BUYERS HAVE AND TO 21 OR OLDER.

>> THESE ARE PRODUCTS STORES HAVE BEEN SELL BUT IT GIVES CERTAINTY TO BUSINESSES TO KNOW THEY WILL NOT GET IN TROUBLE OR SHUTDOWN THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW HIS REGULATION AND IT MAY PROVIDE MORE CERTAINTY TO ALLOW MORE BUSINESSES TO COME UP SELLING.

>> McKENNA SCHOOL BELLS ARE RINGING FOR DISTRICTS AND WE'RE HEARING THERE MAYBE BUS DRIVER SHORTAGES MOST SCHOOLS ARE WANTING TO MAKEUP LOST GROUND DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE SUPERINTENDENT IN FAYETTE COUNTY HE IS GLAD TO BE STARTING A YEAR WITHOUT HAVING TO TALK ABOUT COVID.

>> THIS WILL BE THE FIRST SCHOOL YEAR IN KENTUCKY SINCE THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC STARTED WHERE WE ARE NOT UNDER A NATIONAL EMERGENCY FOR THE COVID PANDEMIC.

SO YOU MIGHT SEE DIFFERENT REGULATIONS ON THAT END THAT WE HAVE NOT SEEN SINCE BEFORE THE PANDEMIC AND WE'RE PROBABLY SEE SCHOOLS TRY TO TACKLE LEARNING LOSS AND PROBABLY SEE MORE ENROLLMENT.

WE HAVE DATA THAT SAYS THAT FEWER THREE TO FOUR-YEAR-OLDS WERE NOT IN SCHOOL IN MORE RECENT YEARS.

>> Bill: IT IS AMAZING THE WAY THE HOSTS TREAT US IN WESTERN KENTUCKY NOT FAR FROM THE AWFUL TORNADO IN MAYFIELD A FEW MILES AWAY WHERE THEY ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER.

FARMERS ALWAYS HAVE THEIR CHALLENGES.

THERE WAS RECENT FLOODING AND YET THEY PULL OUT THE WELCOME MAT AND AS CONTINUE THIS HAS TO BE THE EVENT OF ENVY OF OTHER STATES.

>> GOSH, YEAH, IT'S SO MUCH FUN THE BARBECUE IS GREAT AND THE MUTTON IS AWESOME.

AND THIS REGION STILL IS RECOVERING.

IT REALLY IS.

ON THE WAY HERE, I DROVE THROUGH MAYFIELD AND HALF OF THAT DOWNTOWN IS STILL VACANT.

IT'S QUITE REMARKABLE.

>> Bill: KET WILL PROVIDE LIVE COVERAGE OF FANCY FARM ON AIR AND ON-LINE SATURDAY AFTERNOON.

THE PROGRAM GIVE BEGINS AT 2:30 EASTERN 130 CENTRAL TIME AND KET WILL SHOW HIGHLIGHTS ON MONDAY NIGHT AT 8:30 EASTERN.

THAT IS "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

THANKS FOR JOINING US TONIGHT FROM FANCY FARM AND HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.