[♪♪] GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO KENTUCKY TONIGHT.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

THE MAY 21ST KENTUCKY PRIMARY IS TWO WEEKS FROM TOMORROW.

VOTERS WILL PICK REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC NOMINEES FOR THE STATE HOUSE AND STATE SENATE.

THERE ARE SEVERAL CONTESTED PRIMARIES FOR THE U.S. HOUSE.

WE’RE JOINED BY DANA EDWARDS, A REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IN THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS DECLINED OUR INVITATION TO APPEAR.

THE OTHER 5TH DISTRICT CANDIDATES DID NOT MEET OUR CRITERIA.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

YOU CAN SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY X — FORMERLY TWITTER -- AT K-Y TONIGHT K-E-T.

SEND AN EMAIL TO K-Y TONIGHT AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G. OR USE THE WEB FORM AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G SLASH K-Y TONIGHT.

OR YOU CAN CALL 1-800-494-7605.

WELCOME, MR. EDWARDS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, RENEE, FOR HAVING ME.

IT IS A GREAT HONOR TO BE HERE.

>> Renee: THANK YOU.

LET'S TELL THE VOTERS A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHY YOU ARE SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION IN THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

1998 MY WIFE AND I MOVED TO CLAY COUNTY TO START A PRIVATE SURGICAL PRACTICE.

NOW WE'RE HERE 26 YEARS LATER AND THERE IS NO ECONOMIC GROWTH IN CLAY COUNTY.

THERE ARE NO NEW JOBS.

NO NEW AMERICAN COMPANIES.

WE HAVE A NICE FLAT, DEVELOPED INDUSTRIAL SITE THAT IS EMPTY.

AND WE LOOKED AT 28 OF OUR 33 COUNTIES GOING EAST FROM LAUREL COUNTY TO PIKE SOUTH TO McQUEARYRY, THEY ARE IN THE SAME SITUATION.

I VISITED THE COUNTIES AND TALKED TO THE EXECUTIVES AND THE SHERIFFS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT IS A WORSENING CONDITION 26 YEARS AGO OR 42 YEARS AGO.

THERE'S DECREASE IN CENSUS.

PEOPLE CANNOT FIND JOBS.

DECREASE IN TAX BASE.

SHERIFFS ARE TRYING TO HIRE DEPUTIES AT $13 AN HOUR.

FOR ME, TO SEE THAT YOU HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION WHY?

I'M NOT A POLITICIAN.

I AM AN AMERICAN CITIZEN BUT I HAD TO ASK WHY?

WHY IS OUR DISTRICT THE KENTUCKY FIFTH STILL THE SECOND MOST IMPOVERISHED DISTRICT IN AMERICA?

WHY IS MY DISTRICT STILL HAVING THE GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL?

WHY IS MY DISTRICT HAVING THE GREATEST NUMBER OF PEOPLE ON FEDERAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS?

AND PEOPLE ON MEDICAID AND MEDICARE.

WHY IS MY DISTRICT HAVING THE GREATEST PERCENTAGE OF TOBACCO ABUSE, HEART DISEASE, LUNG DISEASE, CANCER, EARLY DEATH.

ALL OF THESE NEGATIVES WE COULD GO ON AND ON.

NOTHING HAS CHANGED IN 42 YEARS.

AND CERTAINLY THE LAST 26 YEARS.

I SAID OKAY, WHY?

BECAUSE WE DON'T HAVE REPRESENTATION, CONSTITUTIONAL REPRESENTATION.

>> Renee: THIS IS YOUR FIRST TIME RUNNING FOR ELECTED OFFICE.

>> IT IS.

>> Renee: TALK TO US YOU ASK A LOT OF QUESTIONS THAT MAYBE A LOT OF VIEWERS AND VOTERS WOULD ASK ABOUT THE FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHAT ARE YOUR ANSWERS TO THEM AND HOW DO THEY DIFFERENTIATE YOU FROM THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT WHO HAS BEEN IN OFFICE SINCE 1981?

>> I THINK THE FIRST THING THEY ASK ME IS WHY AM I RUNNING WHICH I ANSWERED BECAUSE THERE ARE PROBLEMS THAT HAVEN'T BEEN SOLVED THAT CAN BE SOLVED.

AND THE ISSUES COME DOWN TO ECONOMIC, ECONOMIC AND ECONOMIC.

WHAT PEOPLE ARE WANTING FROM ME IS WHAT IS MY PLAN?

HOW AM I GOING TO CHANGE THE SITUATION WE JUST TALKED ABOUT.

>> Renee: HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT, SIR?

>> FIRST AND FOREMOST WE HAVE TO HAVE A PUBLISHED FIVE-YEAR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN WHICH NEVER HAPPENED.

NOBODY HAS GOTTEN TO THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, RAND PAUL, HAL ROGERS HAS NEVER DONE THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE AN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN HOW WE'RE GOING TO RECRUIT NEW COMPANIES TO COME NON-EXPAND OUR TOURISM DOLLARS TO CAPTURE THE BILLIONS OF DOLLARS WE ARE NOT ENJOYING.

HOW ARE WE GOING TO EXPAND THE 700,000 NATIONAL FOREST UTILIZE TO GO TO ITS CAPACITY TO CAPTURE THOSE TOURISM DOLLARS.

THE ISSUE IT IN MY DISTRICT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IS THERE IS A MOST FATALLISTIC IDEA BELIEF THAT SINCE COLA LEFT NOTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE WE WILL NEVER HAVE WHAT AMERICA HAS AND THAT IS A BOLD FACED LIE.

>> Renee: YOU SAID YOU WOULD BRING BACK THE COAL INDUSTRY.

>> BRINGING BACK THE COAL INDUSTRY TO THE LEVEL IT WAS IS IMPOSSIBLE.

BUT WE CAN BRING BACK COAL TO FUNCTION HAVING MORE CLEAN COAL AND DO THINGS DIFFERENT THE WAY IT WAS DONE.

IT WILL BE A SMALL PART OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

THERE IS JUST NO WAY AROUND IT.

I'VE LOOKED AT THE COAL BURNING FACILITIES THAT PRODUCE ELECTRICITY OBSOLETE.

THE MACHINERY CANNOT BE REPLACED.

TRYING TO BUILD NEW COAL BURNING PLANTS IS IMPOSSIBLE ECONOMICALLY IMPOSSIBLE BUT WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME COAL INDUSTRY HERE.

BECAUSE YOU KNOW WE ARE IMPORTING COAL FROM FOREIGN COUNTRIES.

>> Renee: ON YOUR WEBSITE YOU SAY YOU ARE PRO-LIFE, PRO SECOND AMENDMENT AND PRO MEDICAL FREEDOM.

WHAT DOES PRO MEDICAL FREEDOM MEAN?

IS THAT ABOUT VACCINES OR MASKS OR ABOUT THE RIGHT TO REFUSE HEALTHCARE BASED ON HELD RELIGIOUS BELIEFS?

>> ALL OF THAT.

I THINK IT'S ALSO ABOUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO TELL US INDIVIDUAL CITIZENS WHAT WE CAN DO WITH OUR BODY AND THAT INCLUDES VACCINATIONS THEY CAN USE THAT THE GOVERNMENT, TO SCREEN YOU FOR CERTAIN JOBS IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SRN WAYS OF PREVENTING YOU FROM HAVING JOBS.

THAT IS JUST UNAMERICAN.

YOU DON'T NEED TO BE DOING THAT.

IT GOES DOWN TO THE HIPA LAW THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT OUR PRIVACY IN MEDICAL INFORMATION IS REALLY NOT PROTECTING US.

BECAUSE INDUSTRIES NONMEDICAL PEOPLE, GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES ARE USING THAT INFORMATION IN WAYS THEY CAN SCREEN US AND SEE WHAT WE'RE DOING WHERE WE ARE SPENDING OUR MONEY.

INSURANCE COMPANIES HAVE THAT DATA.

THAT IS NOT SHARED DATA AND TO MAKE IT PRIVATE.

THAT HAS BEEN SHARED WITH LOTS OF COMPANIES THAT ARE NOT IN THE BEST INTEREST FOR OUR HEALTHCARE.

>> Renee: YOU SAY YOU ARE PRO-LIFE IN YOUR DESCRIPTION OF PRO MEDICAL FREEDOM WOULD YOUR PRO MEDICAL FREEDOM PHILOSOPHY APPLY TO ABORTION ACCESS UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES?

>> ABORTION ACCESS FIRST OF ALL I BELIEVE IT IS A STATE ISSUE.

THIS IS NOT A FEDERAL ISSUE.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS NO BUSINESS RELEGATING WHEN A OR IF A WOMAN CAN HAVE AN ABORTION.

THAT MEDICAL FREEDOM, I THINK, I BELIEVE A WOMAN HAS THE RIGHT IF SHE WANTS TO HAVE AN ABORTION SHE HAS THE LEGAL RIGHT TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

THE QUESTION COMES IN DO I BELIEVE SHE SHOULD?

NO, I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD.

BUT SHE HAS THE STATE TO PROVIDE LEGAL PROTECTIONS FOR HER TO HAVE AN ABORTION.

>> Renee: THAT DOESN'T MAKE YOU PRO-LIFE?

>> I AM PRO-LIFE IN THE SENTENCE SENSE THAT I BELIEVE THAT LIFE BEGINS AT INCEPTION AND TO HONOR GOD WE SHOULD NOT HAVE AN ABORTION.

BUT THE REALITY OF LIFE WOMEN FIND THEMSELVES IN SITUATIONS THAT MAKE THEM THINK ABOUT ABORTION BEING THE BEST SOLUTION.

IT'S NOT.

BUT IT COMES DOWN TO MY FEELINGS IT'S NOT ABOUT BEING AGAINST ABORTION BUT FOR THE WOMAN AND EXPLAIN TO HER IN YOUR SITUATION YOU HAVE OPTIONS BESIDES ABORTION.

BUT IF SHE WANTS ABORTION THAT IS HER LEGAL RIGHT AS A CITIZEN OF AMERICA THAT IS A FREEDOM SHE SHOULD HAVE.

I DON'T THINK SHE SHOULD DO IT AND THERE ARE BETTER ALTERNATIVES TO THAT WAKES.

>> CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS WAS THE ONLY ONE OF KENTUCKY'S CONGRESSMAN OF THE 147 TOTAL IN WASHINGTON TO VOTE TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION IS THAT A ROTE THAT YOU APPROVE?

WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED THE SAME?

>> I THINK THAT ELECTION INTEGRITY IS AN ISSUE IN THIS COUNTRY AND THAT CAME ABOUT VERY CLEARLY.

BUT TO REVERSE THE CHOICE OF THE PEOPLE, I WOULD NOT HAVE VOTED FOR THAT.

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW AND EVIDENCE SHOWS THERE WAS SOME ELECTION INTEGRITY ISSUES.

THAT STILL THE PEOPLE VOTED THAT'S WHAT YOU GO WITH.

WHETHER YOU LIKE IT, WHETHER YOU DON'T.

IT DOESN'T MATTER THEY HAVE SPOKEN.

>> Renee: SO YOU BELIEVE THAT PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WAS DULY AND FAIRLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?

>> I BELIEVE THAT JOE BIDEN WAS DULY ELECTED THE PRESIDENT.

BUT I DO THINK THAT AGAIN, THERE WERE ISSUES IN HOW THAT ELECTION VOTES HAPPENED AND WERE COUNTED, HOWEVER, YES.

I DO BELIEVE HE IS THE DULY ELECTED PRESIDENT.

>> Renee: DO YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A TRUMP REPUBLICAN?

>> I CONSIDER MYSELF A TRUMP REPUBLICAN IN THE SENSE THAT I BELIEVE THAT Mr. TRUMP IS OUR BEST OPTION TO LEAD US INTO THE SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS WE FIND.

THE PROBLEMS THAT WE'RE FACING AS A NATION.

THOSE ARE ISSUES WE CAN TALK ALL NIGHT.

BUT THE THING IS I THINK TRUMP IS THE BEST SOLUTION FOR US IN THIS TIME OF NEED IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE ARE IN SO MUCH NEED.

SO MANY THINGS ARE GOING ON THAT IS NOT CONSTITUTIONAL WE HAVE TO SOLVE.

>> Renee: CONGRESSMAN ROGERS HAS VOTED WITH TRUMP WHEN HE WAS PRESIDENT 96% OF THE TIME.

HE VOTED AGAINST TRUMP'S IMPEACHMENT.

IF VOTERS ARE LOOKING FOR A PRO TRUMP REPRESENTATIVE IN WASHINGTON DON'T THEY HAVE IT IN HAL ROGERS?

>> WELL, THEY DO HAVE IT IN HAL ROGERS.

BUT ALSO YOU HAVE TO BRING OUT THE FACT THAT HAL ROGERS VOTED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET OF JOE BIDEN.

HE APPROVED AN INCREASE THE NATIONAL DEBT AGREED TO APPROVE THE BUDGET THAT RAISES OUR NATIONAL DEBT TO $36 TRILLION.

I LOOK AT YES, IF HAL ROGERS AND I SHARE ONE THING WE BOTH SUPPORT TRUMP AND THE DIFFERENTS TOTALLY GO AT THAT POINT.

AND DIVERGE AND THAT IS WHAT MY CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN ABOUT.

IT'S NOT ABOUT ATTACKING HAL BUT SAYING THIS IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ME AND HAL.

THIS IS HOW I SEE WE CAN SOLVE OUR ECONOMIC PROBLEMS.

THIS IS HOW I THINK WE'RE BEING UNCONSTITUTIONAL IN THE REPRESENTATION IN CONGRESS.

BUT WE SHARE SUPPORT OF TRUMP.

THAT IS CORRECT.

>> Renee: DO YOU SHARE SUPPORT OF THE CURRENT HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON?

THERE IS A MOVE BY CONGRESSWOMAN MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE OF GEORGIA AND THOMAS MASSEY OF THE FOURTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT TO OUST HIM ALTHOUGH THERE ARE TALKS THAT WOULD THWART THAT PLAN.

WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THAT ISSUE?

>> I THINK THE HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON HAS ISSUES THAT DO RAISE CONCERN.

HE DID VOTE WITH THE DEMOCRATS ON THIS HUGE BUDGET.

HE VOTED 95 BILLION DOLLARS TO BE SENT AGAIN IN AN AID PACKAGE TO BOTH ISRAEL AND UKRAINE.

THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT RAISE THE NATIONAL DEBT THAT CONTINUE TO DO THINGS THAT JUST MAKE OUR NATIONAL DEBT GO UP.

IT'S $36 TRILLION AND PREDICTED $50 TRILLION BY 2030 IF WE DON'T HAVE A CHANGE.

>> Renee: WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED AGAINST THE FOREIGN AID PACKAGE THAT WENT TO ISRAEL, UKRAINE AND THAILAND?

>> I WOULD NOT HAVE VOTED FOR THAT AS PRESENTED.

NO.

ONE OF THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE IN AMERICA IS THE FACT WE ARE NOT FUNDING THE PROTECTION ON OUR BORDER WE ARE SENDING MONEY TO PROTECT A FOREIGN BORDER AND THAT HAS TO BE VIEWED AS SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS.

BECAUSE THAT IS A DEVIATION FROM THE CONSTITUTION IN THE PREAMBLE IT SAYS WE PROVIDE THE COMMON DEFENSE NOT THE FOREIGN DEFENSE OF OTHER NATIONS.

I'M NOT SAYING THAT I WOULD HAVE VOTED TO CUTOFF AID TO ISRAEL WHO IS A HUGE ALI OF OURS OR TO UKRAINE.

WE'VE SPENT 116 BILLION?

AND WE'RE 36 TRILLION IN DEBT?

WE HAVE TO STOP THIS.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH AGAIN FOR HAVING ME.

AFTER THIS BREAK WE WILL BE BACK WITH SHAUNA RUDD SEAN A DEMOCRAT RUNNING IN THE SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

STAY WITH US.

AT THE END OF THE DAY WE WANT VIEWERS TO FEEL INFORMED AND CONNECTED TO THEIR NEIGHBORS ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH.

>> KENTUCKY EDITION WEEKNIGHTS ON KET.

THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT".

WE’RE NOW JOINED BY SHAUNA RUDD, A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN THE 6TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE DID NOT MEET OUR CRITERIA TO APPEAR.

YOU CAN SEND YOUR QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS BY X — FORMERLY TWITTER -- AT K-Y TONIGHT K-E-T.

SEND AN EMAIL TO K-Y TONIGHT AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G. USE THE WEB FORM AT K-E-T DOT O-R-G SLASH K-Y TONIGHT.

OR CALL 1-800-494-7605.

WELCOME, MS. RUDD.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> YEAH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> Renee: BY WAY OF INTRODUCTION TELL THE VIEWERS ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHY YOU WANT TO SERVE IN WASHINGTON.

>> A LITTLE ABOUT MY BACKGROUND.

WELL, IT ALL STARTED WHEN I WAS BORN IN 19 -- INTEREST'S KIDDING.

I'M KIDDING.

I HAVE BEEN A RESIDENT IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT FOR 12 YEARS I WAS RAISED IN JACKSON KENTUCKY.

AND I LEFT AND WENT TO SCHOOL AND GOT MY MASTERS IN SOCIAL WORK.

THEN I WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY GOT MY BACHELOR'S AT EKU AND WENT ON TO THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY TO GET MY MASTERS AND I'VE DONE SOCIAL WORK IN THE DISTRICT FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

I THINK OF THE 16 COUNTIES HIV DONE SOCIAL WORK IN 10 OF THEM.

THAT IS A LITTLE BIT OF MY BACKGROUND ON THIS.

>> Renee: WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR OFFICE AND THIS ONE IN PARTICULAR?

>> THERE IS A LOT OF REASONS.

IT REALLY STARTED ABOUT SEVEN MONTHS AGO WHENEVER THE GENOCIDE IN PALESTINE BEGAN.

EVERYDAY I CALLED MY REPRESENTATIVES AND CALLED ANDY BARR AND MITCH McCONNELL AND HAL ROGERS HE IS NOT MY CONGRESSMAN.

I CALLED THOMAS MASSEY.

AND WHAT I FOUND WAS SPECIFICALLY WITH ANDY BARR A LOT OF STAFFERS WERE VERY NICE BUT THERE WERE TIMES THAT PEOPLE REFUSED TO REPEAT MY MESSAGE BACK TO ME OR TIMES I GOT HUNG UP ON AND I HAD STARTED A SERIES ON TIKTOK A HOW-TO CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVE SERIES.

IT STARTED AS AN EDUCATIONAL SORT OF TUTORIAL.

BUT WHAT I FOUND AND WHAT PEOPLE WHO WATCHED THE VIDEOS FOUND WAS LIKE WOW THIS DOESN'T MATTER IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE THESE THINGS ARE GETTING ESCALATED AND TAKING THE CALLER SERIOUSLY.

IN DECEMBER I HAD THIS MINDSET THAT IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO LISTEN TO ME OR REPRESENT ME IF YOU ARE NOT RECEIVING YOUR MESSAGES FROM YOUR CONSTITUENTS, WHAT I'M GOING TO DO IS RUN AGAINST YOU FOR CONGRESS AND WIN.

I FILED TO RUN IN DECEMBER.

I HAD NO CAMPAIGN MANAGER NO TREASURER.

AND SINCE THEN THESE PAST FIVE MONTHS IT'S CAME TOGETHER.

AND THESE PEOPLE HAVE FOUND ME.

>> Renee: LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR PRO PALESTINIAN VIEWS.

YOU CONSIDER YOURSELF A PRO PALESTINIAN SYMPATHIZER.

THERE IS A SOCIAL MEDIA THREAD THAT INVOLVED YOU TODAY, ALLEGING THAT YOU SUPPORT ANTI-SEMITIC TROPES.

IF YOU WERE ASKED IF YOU SUPPORT HAMAS AND VIOLENCE AGAINST JEWS WHAT WOULD YOUR ANSWER BE?

>> IT WOULD BE ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I DO NOT SUPPORT ANY FORM OF VIOLENCE AND ANYONE THAT KNOWS ME KNOWS THAT I AM IN NO WAY ANTISEMITIC.

I LOVE MY JEWISH BROTHERS AND SISTERS.

IF THE ROLES WERE REVERSED IF WE HAD 40,000 ISRAELIS DEAD I WOULD BE JUST AS ANGRY.

IT'S NOT ABOUT WHO THE PEOPLE ARE IS WHO THE GENOCIDE IS BEING COMMITTED AGAINST.

>> Renee: DO YOU SUPPORT THE FEDERAL AID PACKAGE THAT WAS APPROVED BY CONGRESS $95 BILLION WORTH OF AID?

>> NO.

>> Renee: WHY NOT?

>> I THINK 8 OR 9 BILLION WAS TO GO FOR HUMANITARIAN AID TO PALESTINE BUT A GRAYER NUMBER WAS SUPPOSED TO GO TO FUND ISRAEL AND I FIND THAT IRONIC WE ARE INCLUDING AID IN A NEARLY $100 BILLION PACKAGE WHILE AT THE SAME TIME SUPPLYING THREE TIMES THAT AMOUNT IN MUNITIONS TO THE COUNTRY WHO IS CARRYING IT OUT.

SO IT JUST IS AN EXPENSIVE BILL AND SEEMS LIKE IT WOULD DO MORE DAMAGE PERPETUATE THE GENOCIDE FURTHER.

>> Renee: THE CAMPUS PROTESTS HAPPENING NOW WE UNDERSTAND THAT ONE UNIVERSITY IS SCALING BACK THE COMMENCEMENT EXERCISES BECAUSE OF THE UNREST ON THOSE CAMPUSES.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?

HAVE THEY GONE TOO FAR OR DO YOU THINK THERE'S MORE TO BE SAID FROM THE PRO PALESTINIAN PERSPECTIVE?

>> I THINK STUDENTS BEFORE THIS, I THINK STUDENTS WERE FEELING FRUSTRATED.

I THINK COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE WATCHED THE GENERATION AHEAD OF THEM DO THE THINGS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO DO.

GO TO COLLEGE.

GET A JOB AND SEEING THAT HOMEOWNERSHIP IS DIFFICULT.

COLLEGE IS MORE INACCESSIBLE THAN IT'S EVER BEEN.

IT WAS A NIGHTMARE APPLYING FOR FAFSA.

COLLEGE STUDENTS ARE FRUSTRATED THEY ARE FEELING THERE IS NOT A LOT LEFT FOR THEM.

AND WE ARE NEARLY AT A TRILLION DOLLARS IN MILITARY SPENDING AND THESE KIDS A LOT DON'T HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE AND CAN'T AFFORD COLLEGE.

I WORK AS A SOCIAL WORKER AND I HAD TWO CLIENTS WHO WERE IN COLLEGE AND HOMELESS.

WAS WAS STAYING WITH FRIENDS AND THE OTHER WAY SLEEPING IN THEIR CAR.

AND SO THEY ARE ALREADY SO UPSET AND TO SEE ALL THIS CONCERN GO FOR MILITARY SPENDING WITHOUT THESE THINGS THAT THEY NEED I CAN UNDERSTAND THEY ARE FRUSTRATED.

AND OF COURSE, AGAIN, I WOULD NEVER CONDONE ANY FORM OF VIOLENCE.

I CAN SEE WHY THEY FEEL THIS WAY.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT THE WEALTH INEQUALITY THAT DEFINED AS BEING PART OF YOUR PLATFORM.

WHAT WOULD YOU COULD TO TACKLE IT SO THE COLLEGE KIDS WOULD HAVE A BETTER ECONOMIC STANDING WHEN THEY GRADUATE OR FOR NOW?

>> THE THING I WOULD BE MOST EXCITED TO SEE WOULD BE A CAP TO C.E.O.

AND SHAREHOLDER DISPARITY.

LIKE WHAT THEY CAN MAKE AND WHAT THEY CAN EARN IN PROFITS COMPARED TO THE LOWEST PAID WORKER OF A COMPANY.

I'VE SEEN FOR THE MEGA CORPORATIONS C.E.O.S MAKE 100 TIMES, 200 TIMES THE LOWEST PAID WORKER IF NOT MORE.

AND BECAUSE OF THE GAP IN THAT, IT MAKES IT HARD FOR PEOPLE TO FIND MEANINGFUL EMPLOYMENT.

EVEN IF YOU CAN GET A JOB IT IS NOT A JOB THAT IS ENOUGH TO EARN YOUR WAGE.

THAT IS THE FIRST THING.

C.E.O.

DISPARITY CAPS.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF MORE PROGRESSIVE TAX FORMS LET'S TAX THE RICH AND LOOK AT LOOPHOLES.

I CALL THEM INFINITE MONEY HACKS YOU LEVERAGE YOUR ASSETS.

SO C.E.O.

DISPARITY CAPS.

MORE PROGRESSIVE TAX RATES AND TIME WE RAISED THE MINIMUM WAGE.

>> Renee: DO YOU THINK YOUR ECONOMIC VIEWS ARE OUT OF STEP WITH THE CONSTITUENTS IN THE SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT?

>> NO.

I THINK THAT SOMETIMES PEOPLE KNOW THAT THINGS AREN'T WORKING AND THEY NEED A CHANGE BUT IT'S REALLY HARD.

EVERYTHING THAT I LISTED EXCEPT MAYBE THE C.E.O.

DISPARITY CAPS ARE GOING TO COME WITH NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES.

EVERYTHING YOU DO ESPECIALLY IN ECONOMICS IT IS A COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS.

BUT WHAT WE KNOW IS THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT I'VE WORKED WITH PEOPLE IN CHRONIC POVERTY, EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, SUBSTANCE USE ISSUES AND THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING AND TRYING THEIR BEST NOT MAKING ENOUGH MONEY TO LIVE.

AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE STARTING TO SEE IT HAPPEN TO THEIR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN IF NOT THEMSELVES.

MAYBE RETIREMENT IS NOT AS EASY AS THEY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

AND PEOPLE ARE REALIZING THAT SOMETHING NEEDS TO CHANGE TO REDISTRIBUTE THE WEALTH.

>> Renee: CAN YOU IDENTIFY A SITTING OR A FORMER MEMBER EITHER IN CONGRESS OR IN THE SENATE THAT YOUR VIEWS MOST ALIGN?

>> YOU KNOW, A FEW MONTHS AGO, I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE SAID SOMETHING LIKE MAYBE SUMMER LEE OR IN SOME WAYS AOC AS WELL BUT THEY REALLY ESPECIALLY LATE LAST YEAR THEY HAVE DISAPPOINTED ME WITH THEIR VOTING RECORDS.

AND IT STARTS TO COME OUT WHO ARE THE PAC PEOPLE.

>> Renee: ARE THEY TOO LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE?

>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S TOO LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE ONE OF MY CONCERNS IS SOME OF THE BILLS THAT WENT THROUGH THE HOUSE THAT I FEEL LIKE ARE ANTI-FREE SPEECH.

REALLY LIKE RIGHTS AND MAINTAIN THE ONES WE HAVE.

AND SO I'VE SEEN A LOT OF THINGS COME THROUGH THAT ARE THREATENING TO PEOPLE BEING ABLE TO SAY WHAT THEY WANT TO SAY.

AND AOC SIGNED OFF ON THOSE AND THAT WAS SURPRISING FOR ME.

AT ONE POINT I MIGHT HAVE SAID SHE IS TOO PROGRESSIVE AND NOW IT'S INCONSISTENT WITH HER RECORD.

>> Renee: HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR IDEOLOGICAL STANCE POLITICALLY?

>> PEOPLE SAY I'M PROGRESSIVE.

BUT THERE ARE OTHER WAYS THAT I REALLY IDENTIFY WITH I WORK WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE IN RURAL KENTUCKY I HAVE A LOT OF REPUBLICANS THAT I HANGOUT WITH A LOT.

AND WHAT WE FIND IS SOMETIMES WE REALLY AGREE FUNDAMENTALLY.

WE WANT THE SAME THING.

WE WANT A GOOD LIFE FOR OURSELVES AND OUR FAMILY AND DISAGREE ON THE FORMULA TO GET THERE.

ONCE YOU CAN REALIZE WE WANT THE SAME THINGS THERE'S ROOM FOR COMPROMISE.

>> Renee: LET'S TALK ABOUT GUN RIGHTS AND SAFETY ON YOUR WEBSITE IT SAYS YOU ADVOCATE FOR UNDERSTANDING THE ROOT CAUSES OF GUN VIOLENCE BEYOND MENTAL ILLNESS EMPHASIZING ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS AND SYSTEMIC ISSUES WHILE PROTECTING SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS.

ARE YOU IN FAVOR OF GUN CONTROL LAWS LIKE RED FLAG LAWS OR RESTRICTIONS ON THE PURCHASE OF MILITARY STYLE WEAPONRY?

>> YES, I AM IN FAVOR OF CERTAIN FORMS OF GUN CONTROL.

BUT THIS IS SOMETHING I'VE TALKED ABOUT FOR A LONGTIME WAY BEFORE I STARTED RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

IS I DO TAKE ISSUE WITH SOME OF THE WAYS THAT WE FRAME MENTAL HEALTH AS THE PREDICTIVE FACTOR AND THE REASON FOR PEOPLE TO COMMIT GUN CRIMES.

I WISH I HAD MORE TIME BUT THERE IS A LOT OF RESEARCH WHERE THE HYPOTHESIS IS THE PEOPLE WHO COMMIT VIOLENT GUN CRIMES ARE MENTALLY ILL BECAUSE PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE SCHIZOPHRENIC, BIPOLAR OR A DIAGNOSIS LIKE THAT AND RESEARCH DOESN'T SUPPORT IT.

ONE REVIEW I SITE A-- CITE A LOT SAYS LESS THAN 6% OF THE PEOPLE MET CRITERIA FOR THAT DIAGNOSIS.

WHILE THERE MAYBE SOME OVERLAP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE MENTALLY ILL AND COMMITTING GUN CRIMES IT IS NOT A PREDICTIVE FACTOR.

SO IT'S NOT A GOOD WAY TO SAY THIS PERSON SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO BUY THIS GUN N MY OPINION, THE BIGGEST ISSUE WITH GUN CONTROL WHO ARE WE ALLOWING TO HAVE GUNS AND WHO AREN'T WE.

>> Renee: MORE IN FAVOR OF STRICTDER LAWS.

>> AND WE SHOULD FOLLOW THE RESEARCH.

I'VE SEEN A LOT OF RESEARCH THAT SAYS 30-DAY WAITING PERIODS PREVENT A LOT SUICIDE PREVENTION IN PLACES THAT SELL GUNS THOSE ARE THINGS THAT THE RESEARCH SAYS WORK.

>> Renee: QUICKLY IN OUR LAST 50 SECONDS TERM LIMITS IF ELECTED YOU WOULD VOW TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION AIMED AT IMPOSING A MAXIMUM OF THREE TERMS FOR REPRESENTATIVES AND TWO TERMS FOR SENATORS.

WHY?

>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE A LOT OF CAREER POLITICIANS WHO REALLY THEY KNOW WHO THEIR FRIENDS ARE.

AND WE SEE A LOT OF THE SAME BIG DONORS EVERY TIME THEY CAMPAIGN.

CAMPAIGNS ARE GREAT SOURCE OF MONEY.

AND WITH A CAREER POLITICIAN WHO HAS BEEN IN THIS FOR 10, 15, 20 YEARS, THEY HAVE -- THERE IS A LOT OF TIME FOR THEIR INTERESTS TO BE BOUGHT AND THEY START TO UNDERSTAND HOW THINGS WORK AND THEY START TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO THINGS SECRETLY.

>> Renee: WE HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING TONIGHT WE APPRECIATE IT.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT".

TONIGHT WE'LL SEE YOU TOMORROW NIGHT ON KENTUCKY EDITION AT 6:30 EVEN 5:30 CENTRAL.

UNTIL THEN, TAKE GOOD CARE.