[♪♪] >> Bill: KEN GOVERNOR BESHEAR'S NAME REMAINS IN THE MIX OF POSSIBLE CONTENDERS TO JOIN THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC TICKET.

BESHEAR AND REPUBLICAN VP NOMINEE J.D.

VANCE EXCHANGED BARBS.

CHALLENGES CONTINUE FOR THOSE TRYING TO REGISTER VEHICLES.

KENTUCKY SEES AN UPTICK IN PER PERTUSSIS CASES AND LOW VACCINATION RATES.

AND ROLLING INTO THE LAST WEEKEND OF JULY.

COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING, I'M BILL BRYANT.

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

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE PHILLIP BAILEY LOUISVILLE BASED CHIEF POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT FOR "USA TODAY".

ALEX ACQUISTO, POLITICS AND HEALTH REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD LEADER AND MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR WLKY IN LOUISVILLE.

ALSO TONIGHT GOOD FORMER ROWAND CLERK KIM DAVIS' NEWEST APPEAL BRINGS SAME-SEX MARRIAGE BEFORE THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

WE HAVE A LOT TO DISCUSS.

LET'S START BY ACKNOWLEDGING WHAT AN UNUSUAL TIME THIS IS WITH MIND BENDING POLITICAL NEWS HAPPENING AROUND US THE LAST COUPLE OF WEEKS.

AND NOW KENTUCKY'S GOVERNOR IS REACTING TO THE SPECULATION THAT HE COULD POTENTIALLY BE A VP PICK.

>> I AM HONORED TO BE CONSIDERED.

AND REGARDLESS OF WHAT COMES NEXT, I WILL DO EVERYTHING I CAN BETWEEN NOW AND ELECTION DAY TO ELECT KAMALA HARRIS AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

YOU ALL KNOW WHAT QUESTION THAT IS IN RESPONSE TO.

AND THAT IS MY FULL STATEMENT ON THAT TOPIC.

>> Bill: PHILLIP WHAT A TIME, RIGHT?

AND HOW SERIOUSLY IN CONTENTION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC VP SLOT IS ANDY BESHEAR?

>> HE IS ON THE LIST AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WEEK IT WAS CLEAR THAT VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS WAS GOING TO BE THE NOMINEE HE WAS IN THE TOP FIVE.

NOW YOU ARE HEARING FROM FOLKS THAT HE IS PROBABLY NOW IN THE TOP TWO.

AND THIS LIST WILL CHANGE EVERYDAY.

THE VEEP STAKES IS MORE SPECULATION THAN HARD FACTS AND INFORMATION HERE.

I THINK ANDY BESHEAR HAS DONE A GOOD JOB OF MAKING THE CASE FOR HIMSELF.

I STRUCK THE IRON WHILE IT WAS HOT TAKING J.D.

VANCE OFF OF HIS MESSAGE AND GOT THE KUDOS FOR THE HARRIS FOLKS THEY WERE RETWEETING EVERY MESSAGE H AND IT WENT VIRAL.

WE LOOK AT THE LIST, WE SEE SENATOR MARK KELLY OF ARIZONA.

HE IS AT THE TOP NOW.

HE IS AN ASTRONAUT A MILITARY MAN HIS WIFE IS GABBY GIVE FORWARDS AND JOSH SHAPIRO IS STILL ON THE LIST HE HAS TAKEN A HIT ON THE ISRAEL POSITION AND SCHOOL CHOICE.

ANDY BESHEAR IS SPEAKING IN IOWA THIS WEEKEND AND FOR A LOT OF FOLKS WHO THOUGHT HE WAS BORING AND DIDN'T KNOW WHO HE WAS AFTER THIS WEEKS HARRIS FOLKS WILL KNOW WHO HE IS.

>> Bill: YOU HAVE BEEN COVERING LOTS OF EVENTS.

GIVE US BEHIND THE SCENES LOOK HERE.

IF YOU ARE RISING AS A CONTENDER OR SEEN AS HIGH ON THAT LIST, DOES THAT MAKE YOU THE LIKELY TARGET OF ATTACKS FROM THE OTHER CONTENDERS?

>> ABSOLUTELY, YOU WILL SEE DIFFERENT WINGS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TAKE A CHIP WHO THEY WANT TO KNOCK-OFF THE MOST.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE -- YOU SAW GOVERNOR WALTZ OF MINNESOTA PEOPLE JUDGED THE TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY GO AFTER VANCE.

YOU COULD SEE IN THE NEXT WEEK IF YOU PAY ATTENTION THAT ANDY BESHEAR MAY SEE ATTACKS FROM THE LEFT AND ELEMENTS OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT WILL █BE IT COULD BE ON CIVIL RIGHTS, DAVID MACK ATY BUT AS HE RISES IN THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN'S ORBIT YOU WILL SEE MORE NEGATIVE ATTENTION ON ANDY BESHEAR.

>> Bill: YOU COVERED THE TEAM KENTUCKY'S BRIEFING AND HE GAVE UPDATES ON THINGS HAPPENING IN THE STATE BUT HE KNEW THIS WAS GOING TO BE THE QUESTION OF THE DAY AND HE SEEMED TO READ A PREPARED STATEMENT OR A MEMORIZED STATEMENT?

>> IT WAS A PREPARED STATEMENT.

I THINK YOU COULD, I THINK REASONABLY GUESS AT THIS POINT IN THE SUMMER WERE IT NOT BIG NEWS, IT WAS A FULL ROOM AS MARK CAN SAY.

BESHEAR HAS BEEN HE'S GIVEN INTERVIEWS TO MSNBC AND "CNN" AND HIS RESPONSE IS THE SAME BUT HE SAID THE ONLY WAY HE WILL TAKE A POSITION THE ONLY THING IF HE CAN BETTER SERVE KENTUCKIANS.

TODAY, YESTERDAY, BEFORE THE PRESS WERE ALLOWED TO ASK QUESTIONS HE READ A PREPARED STATEMENT THAT SAID HE IS HONORED TO BE CONSIDERED AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS HE IS GOING TO DO WHAT HE CAN TO GET VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.

WHEN REPORTERS ASKED HIM WHEN HE IS GOING TO MEET WITH THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN SAID AGAIN I'M HONORED TO BE CONSIDERED, YADA, YADA.

>> Bill: AND YOU ARE NOT USED TO THAT ANSWER?

>> HE IS KNOWN FOR BEING A DISCIPLINED PERSON WHEN IT COMES TO HIS MESSAGE.

HE IS GREAT AT STICKING TO HIS MESSAGE.

IT WAS CLASSIC BESHEAR TO STICK TO THE MESSAGE.

I THINK THERE WAS A TELL.

I THINK IT WAS MORE THAN ALEX AND I THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE ASKED HIM AND HE SAID LOOK THIS IS ALL I'M AUTHORIZED TO SAY AND THAT WAS A TELL.

AUTHORIZED?

WHO AUTHORIZED HIM.

IT'S CLEAR HE IS OPERATING WITH SOMEBODY OUTSIDE HIS NORMAL ORBIT.

>> Bill: A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL GO GO AND THE DEMOCRATIC QUESTION.

>> ON FOREIGN POLICY, JOE SONKA ASKED HOW HE FEELS ABOUT THE ISRAEL-GAZA CONFLICT DOES HE SUPPORT CEASE-FIRE.

BESHEAR RESPONDED WITH A QUICK ANSWER AND HE SAID THAT WHEN YOU HAVE AN IMPORTANT ALLY YOU HAVE THE CONVERSATIONS IN PRIVATE.

YOU DO NOT LITIGATE IT IN THE PRESS.

AND HE MOVED ON TO ANOTHER QUESTION.

HE STAYED SILENT.

>> AND REMEMBER ANDY BESHEAR HAS AN AUDIENCE OF ONE.

HE IS TRYING OUT FOR ONE PERSON.

WE CAN SPECULATE THERE'S ONE PERSON HE HAS TO SWRINS HAVE IS THE VICE-PRESIDENT.

THAT IS THE AUDIENCE HE IS GOING FOR.

>> Bill: WHAT ABOUT THE BACK AND FORTHWITH THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE J.D.

VANCE FOR VP AND BESHEAR THIS WEEK?

IT GOT INTERESTING.

IT STARTS BRINGING IN DIET DRINKS AND OTHER TOPICS THIS WEEK.

>> THAT WAS ANOTHER AUDITION.

IT'S HIM SHOWING THAT HE'S GOT THE CHOPS TO FIGHT.

RIGHT?

WHILE HARRIS IS BUSY FACING WHAT IS IN FRONT OF HER, HE IS ON HER PLANK FIGHTING OFF VANCE.

AND I THINK THAT TO PHILLIP'S POINT, HE WAS SHOWING HARRIS WHAT HE IS CAPABLE OF.

AND SOMEBODY I SPOKE TO SAID WOW I HAVE NOT SEEN THAT SIDE OF BESHEAR IN A LONGTIME.

NORMALLY WE HAVE THE DISCIPLINED NICE GUY AND THIS IS THE GUY WHO CAME OUT SWINGING.

>> IT WAS CIRCA 2019 ANDY BESHEAR THAT IS WHAT HE DID TO MATT BEVIN GET UNDER HIS SKIN AND BEVIN WOULD OVERREACT.

THIS DID TAKE J.D.

VANCE OFF OF HIS MESSAGE.

ALL WEEK YOU SAW GOVERNOR WALTZ OF MINNESOTA AND PETE BUTTIGIEG WHO DID THE SAME.

IT WAS ON TIKTOK THAT IS A BIG PAST OF THE CAMPAIGNS NOT JUST TV AND THE NEWSPAPERS BUT GETTING THEM ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND YOUNGER AUDIENCES.

FOLKS WERE CALLING HIM A DOT.

RAPPER LAMAR'S SONG AGAINST DRAKE THOSE THINGS GETTING TO THE CULTURAL SIDE WHICH MATTERS TO SOMEONE LIKE HARRIS SHE IS ALWAYS ON THE CULTURAL SIDE IN HER CAMPAIGN.

IT GOT THEIR ATTENTION.

>> FOR VIEWERS WHO MISSED WHAT HAPPENED AT THE END OF HIS PRESS CONFERENCE BESHEAR TOOK A BOTTLE OF DIET MOUNTAIN DEW AND HE APOLOGIZED TO IT IN RESPONSE TO A BACK AND FORTH THAT HIM AND JD HAD.

AND YOU KNOW, AGAIN, POPULARITY IS KEY AT THIS POINT.

WE POSTED THAT ON OUR TIKTOK IT HAS MORE THAN A MILLION VIEWS AND IT WAS 30 SECONDS LONG.

HE KNOWS WHAT HE IS DOING.

HE IS BEING SPICEY AND DOING WHAT HE DID TO MATT BEVIN.

HE IS BEING MORE AN TO GO TAG THIS PARTICULAR THAN HE TYPICALLY IS.

>> Bill: DO YOU HAVE TO COME FROM A BIG STATE OR STEVEN BOSS IS QUOTED ALL THE TIME AND HE SAYS BESHEAR NOT BEING FROM A SWING STATE OR A COMPETITIVE STATE MIGHT NOT BE THE HURDLE TO HIS CHANCES THAT SOME MIGHT THINK IT WOULD BE.

>> THE RUNNING MATE DOES NOT REALLY GIVE MUCH OF A BUMP IN THEIR HOME STATE AND HARRIS IS NOT PICKING THAT VICE-PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE BASED UPON HOW IMPORTANT THE HOME STATE IS.

IT'S HOW THE VP PICK AMPLIFIES THE PRESIDENTIAL TICKET'S MESSAGE HOW IT GETS VOTERS TO RECONRECEIVE OF A KAMALA HARRIS PRESIDENCY.

AND ANDY BESHEAR COULD HELP IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES THAT AREN'T IN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: SO, MIGHT CAP PATTABILITY BE MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE MATH OF THE ELECTORAL MAP?

>> IT'S INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THIS BEFORE WE WENT LIVE THE WAY THEY WOULD COMPLIMENT EACH OTHER.

HOW WOULD HE REACH COMMUNITIES THAT SHE CAN'T REACH.

LOOK AT KENTUCKY WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WITH A REPUBLICAN SUPER MAJORITY LOOK HOW BESHEAR CAMPAIGNED ON ABORTION AND SUCCESSFULLY CAMPAIGNED ON ABORTION.

WE HAVE AN ABORTION BAN THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS.

BESHEAR HAS VERY STRATEGICALLY NOT PUBLICLY BEEN A FULL THROATED ADVOCATE FOR THE FULL RESTORATION OF ABORTION RIGHTS HE KEYED IN ON EXCEPTIONS.

REPUBLICANS SUPPORTED HIM BECAUSE OF THAT.

WE REELECTED HIM AS GOVERNOR.

VICE-PRESIDENT HARRIS IS A FULL THROATED ADVOCATE FOR THE RESTORATION WITH ABORTION RIGHTS, SHE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REACH REPUBLICANS WITH THAT AS BESHEAR MIGHT WOULD.

>> SHE IS AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN, SHE IS A BLACK CANDIDATE AND ASIAN CANDIDATE THERE IS A DEMOGRAPHIC IDEA HE BALANCES THAT AS WELL.

ALL THESE CONTENDERS AND FER ARE ALTHOUGH WHITE GUYS.

NUMBER TWO WHEN YOU LOOK AT VICE-PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE THEY HAVE TO COMPLIMENT THE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE NOT GET IN THE WAY NOT OVERSHADOW THEM BUT HELP THEM IN MESSAGING AND BESHEAR MADE IT CLEAR HE CAN HE DO THAT.

THE THIRD ELEMENT THIS PERSON HAS TO BE THE FUTURE OF THE PARTY NOT JUST THE NOW WHO WILL BE THE FACE OF THE PARTY SHOULD THE PRESIDENT FOR WHATEVER REASON NOT BE THE FACE OF THE PARTY WE SAW IT HAPPEN THIS PAST MONTH.

ANDY BESHEAR WHAT DOES HE HAVE THAT OTHERS DON'T HAVE?

HE IS IN HIS 40s.

AND THE PARTY IS NOT KEEN ON HAVING AN OLDER CANDIDATE.

IN THOSE THREE WAYS I THINK ANDY BESHEAR SHOULD BE IN THE TOP FIVE OR THREE COULD BE TENDERS FOR HARRIS.

>> FOLKS I INTERVIEWED BEING A MID-WESTERNER IS A HUGE ASSET.

HE IS A GEOGRAPHICAL BALANCE.

HE IS ALSO SOMEBODY WHO IS VERY OPEN ABOUT HIS FAITH AND YOU KNOW HE'S GOT YOUNGER CHILDREN.

HE SPEAKS A LOT ABOUT HIS CHILDREN.

AND HE'S REALLY GOOD AT WALKING THAT TIGHT ROPE WHEN IT COMES TO THORNY ISSUES AND COMING ACROSS AS A MODERATE.

>> Bill: ALL OF THIS IS HYPOTHETICAL AND WE HAVE A LOT TO WATCH.

AND REALIZE IT COULD BREAK TNTD.

TNTD.

WE WILL BE WATCHING IF BESHEAR WERE TO JOIN THE TICKET AND THEY WERE TO WIN, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR JACQUELINE COLEMAN WILL TAKEOVER AND SHE INDICATED SHE IS PREPARED FOR THAT.

BUT THERE WAS A LITTLE KNOWN CHANGE EVEN THOUGH VOTERS MADE THE CHANGE IN THE 1990s TO THE STATE CONSTITUTION ON SUCCESSION AND THE SECRETARY OF STATE ADAMS SAYS COLEMAN WOULD BE ACTING GOVERNOR AND COULD NOT APPOINT A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

AND IT WOULD PUT SENATE PRESIDENT STIVERS NEXT IN THE LINE OF SUCCESSION.

>> SECRETARY ADAMS TALKED ABOUT THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LACK OF CLARITY AT TIMES BECAUSE IT'S BEEN CHANGED SO MANY TIMES OVER THE YEARS.

BUT I THINK ONE THING HE SAID THAT WAS TELLING HE PREDICTED THE POTENTIAL OF A LAWSUIT THAT MIGHT OR MAYBE SOME LEGISLATION FROM THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY THAT MIGHT FORCE A SPECIAL ELECTION SOONER THAN MIGHT OTHERWISE HAVE HAPPENED AND THE FACT THAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT THAT PROBABLY MEANS THAT REPUBLICAN LEADERS HAVE ALSO HAD THAT CONVERSATION BECAUSE THE LAST THING THEY NEED IS A DEMOCRAT IN OFFICE FOR A LONGTIME, BECOMING FAMILIAR WITH VOTERS, DEMONSTRATING A RECORD, THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO PUSH FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION QUICKLY.

>> Bill: LOTS OF MOVING PIECES TO WATCH.

THERE WERE OTHER KENTUCKY CONNECTIONS TO THE NATIONAL POLITICAL SCENE THIS WEEK.

HOUSE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN JAMES COMER OVERSAW A HEARING REGARDING THE SECRET SERVICE AND THE ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT ON FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

>> I SINCERELY HOPED THAT THE HEARING TODAY WOULD GIVE NOT JUST CONGRESS CONFIDENCE IN THE SECRET SERVICE, BUT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WOULD HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE SECRET SERVICE.

WE DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE.

NOT JUST IN CONGRESS I DON'T BELIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TONIGHT WHEN THEY GO TO BED ARE GOING TO HAVE CONFIDENCE THAT THE SECRET SERVICE IS THE BEST IT CAN BE AT PROTECTING PRESIDENT BIDEN, AT PROTECTING THE FIRST LADY, AT PROTECTING PRESIDENT TRUMP, AT PROTECTING THEIR FAMILIES.

>> Bill: IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER THAT HEARING THAT SECRET SERVICE DIRECTOR KIMBERLY CHEATLE RESIGNED.

BIPARTISANSHIP IN THAT HEARING.

>> WE HAVE A LOT OF SERIOUS QUESTIONS AFTER THIS ATTEMPT ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S LIFE.

THERE ARE BASIC QUESTIONS WE DON'T HAVE ANSWERED.

THE F.B.I.

DIRECTOR CHRISTOPHER WRAY SAID IT'S NOT CLEAR WAS PRESIDENT TRUMP HIT BY A BULLET OR SHRAPNEL.

THE FACT THE 20-YEAR-OLD CAN GET THIS CLOSE TO THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND FLY DRONES OVER THE SITE THE PRESIDENT WAS GOING TO BE SPEAKING AT.

THIS IS STARTLING STUFF AND FOR A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE HIGH OCTANE POLITICAL TIMES WE'VE HAD JAW DROPPING MOMENTS WITH THE PRESIDENT LEAVING AND NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION THE PRESIDENT ALMOST BEING KILLED WE HAVE QUESTIONS FOR THE SECRET SERVICE.

>> IT'S TELLING THAT BOTH REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THINGS SIMILAR TO WHAT CONGRESSMAN COMER IS SAYING.

IT'S NOT LIKE IT'S ONE PARTY ATTACKING THE SECRET SERVICE HERE.

>> Bill: ER IN MITCH McCONNELL WAS -- SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WAS VISIBLE THIS WEEK AS WELL.

HE SPOKE OUT OF THE CHALLENGES THE SECRET SERVICE IS FACING AND MET WITH ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU.

PHILLIP, DO YOU GET A SENSE THAT SENATOR McCONNELL IS GETTING A SECOND WIND AS HE LOOKS AT 2026?

OR DOES HE DECIDE TO MOVE ON AS HIS LONG TIME COLLEAGUE PRESIDENT BIDEN HAS DECIDED TO DO?

>> WELL, SPEAKING TO FOLKS CLOSE TO SENATOR McCONNELL THEY TELL ME HE IS FOCUSED ON DEFENSE, FOREIGN AFFAIRS HE HAS NOT MADE A FINAL DECISION I KNOW THERE'S REPORTING THAT HE MIGHT WANT TO TAKE THE APPROPRIATIONS CHAIR SEAT AFTER HE IS NO LONGER IN THE LEADERSHIP POSITION.

BUT THEIR POINT IS HE DOESN'T HAVE TO DECIDE.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN HERE.

I WOULD LOOK TO ROBERT BIRD'S EXAMPLE SOMEONE IN LEADERSHIP WHO WENT TO THE COMMITTEE LEVEL.

HE CAN PICK WHATEVER POSITION HE WANTS.

AND HIS PEOPLE TELL ME THOSE CLOSE TO HIM SAY HE WANTS TO BRING HOME THE BACON FOR KENTUCKY THAT IS ALWAYS GOING TO BE A PRIORITY FOR HIM.

ONE INTERESTING THING WHEN TALKING TO THE McCONNELL WORLD HE IS LOOKING FORWARD ON TAKING ON THE ISOLATIONISTS.

THE VICTORY FOR GETTING MONEY MORE UKRAINE AND ISRAEL TRYING TO KEEP THE PARTY FROM THE ISOLATIONIST VIEWPOINT.

WE WILL SEE TRYING TO PUT ISOLATIONIST FOLKS IN LINE AND THAT CAN BE A COLLISION COURSE WITH RAND PAUL.

>> Bill: 2026 WATCH CONTINUES AS FAR AS THE FUTURE THERE.

ATTORNEYS FOR FORMER CLERK KIM DAVIS APPEALED A RULING IN HER CASE THAT COULD BRING THE SAME-SEX MARRIAGE ISSUE BACK TO THE U.S. SUPREME COURT.

ALEX, MANY MAYBE SURPRISED DAVIS IS STILL IN THE NEWS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS?

>> HARD TO BELIEVE IT HAPPENED ALMOST A DECADE AGO IN 2015.

AND YES, LIBERTY COUNCIL AND HER BEHALF A NATIONAL CHRISTIAN ORGANIZATION THAT INCLUDES A LONG ARM APPEALED HER CASE AND WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE WEEDS TOO MUCH I TALKED TO LEGAL SCHOLARS THEY HAVE LONG SAID SENSE SHE WAS SUED BY GAY COUPLES TRYING TO GET MARRIAGE LICENSES IN 2015, WHEN IT WAS PASSED BY THE SUPREME COURT UPHELD IT LEGALIZED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE, DAVIS REFUSED TO ISSUE MARRIAGE LICENSES TO SAME-SEX COUPLES AND WAS JAILED AND HELD IN CONTEMPT BECAUSE SHE WAS VE R VIOLATING THE CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OF SAME-SEX COUPLES.

THE LAWSUIT HAS CONTINUED.

THE APPEAL THIS WEEK IS AN APPEAL TO DAMAGES THAT WERE AWARDED TO ONE OF THE GAY COUPLES SHE WAS REQUIRED TO PAY $260,000.

AND SO HER ATTORNEYS HAVE APPEALED THE CASE TO THE SIXTH CIRCUIT APPELLATE COURT IN HOPES THAT CLAIMING THAT HER RELIGION WAS VIOLATED SHE DIDN'T RECEIVE NECESSARY ACCOMMODATIONS.

IT WILL BE APPEALED TO THE SUPREME COURT WITH THE GOAL OF OVERTURNING.

THEY THINK IT'S FLAWED THE WAY SHE IS GOING ABOUT IT YOU CANNOT APPEAL A DAMAGES CASE.

SHE IS TRYING TO GET TO THE MERITS CASE BUT IT IS PART OF A WIDER STRATEGY WITH THE OVERTURNING OF DOBBS CHIPS AWAY AT EQUAL PROTECTIONS WHICH THE COURT FOUND PROTECTIONS FOR WHEN THEY LEGALIZED SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.

EVEN IF YOU GET AN OPINION THAT IS NOT IN DAVIS' FAVOR MAYBE YOU HAVE A COURT SAY YOU KNOW WHAT THIS ARGUMENT IS NOT LEGITIMATE BUT A PORTION IS.

YOUR LEGAL RASH AL FOR RATIONALE FOR WHY SAME-SEX MARRIAGE IS NOT A PROTECTED RIGHT UNDER THE 14TH AMENDMENT CITING THE PRECEDENT IN DAUBACHS IS PLAUSIBLE.

WHILE THEY DON'T THINK HER CASE WILL DO THAT IT COULD PAVE THE WAY FOR ANOTHER CASE TO.

>> Bill: THIS IS SOMETHING A LOT OF FOLKS ARE WATCHING CAREFULLY.

CERTAINLY.

KENTUCKIANS HAVE STOOD IN LONG LINES AND FACED A LOT OF CHALLENGES REGISTERING THEIR VEHICLES THIS YEAR.

MANY HAVE HAD TO GET EXTENSIONS FOR THE TEMPORARY TAGS AND MOST HAS TO DO WITH THE ROLLOUT OF THE SYSTEM.

BUT MARK IN JEFFERSON COUNTY, THE CLERK HAD TO CLOSE BECAUSE OF A CYBERATTACK, RIGHT?

>> YES.

THEY ARE DEALING WITH CAVIS.

COMING RIGHT ON THE HEELS OF THE CROWD STRIKE PROBLEM THE WEEK BEFORE.

AND THEN THEY GET HIT EARLY MONDAY MORNING WITH A CYBERATTACK.

THEY HAD TO CLOSE THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE.

ALL WEEK LONG WHILE THEY WORKED ON THIS.

YOU COULDN'T GO IN PERSON TO RENEW YOUR TAGS TO GET YOUR MARRIAGE LICENSE, TO RECORD A REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION.

FINALLY TODAY THEY WERE ABLE TO GET EVERYTHING RESOLVED.

THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE HOURS TOMORROW AND BE OPEN NEXT WEEK.

>> Bill: HAS ANYTHING BEEN SAID HOW THIS HAPPENED WHO MAY HAVE DONE IT?

>> VERY LITTLE.

ALTHOUGH, JEFFERSON COUNTY CLERK BOBBY CAME OUT AND I DON'T KNOW IF SHE WAS JOKING OR NOT BUT SHE SAID WE THINK IT'S THE RUSSIANS.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

SO FAR THIS SUMMER KENTUCKY HEALTH OFFICIALS HAVE IDENTIFIED 130 CASES OF PERTUSSIS OR WHOPPING COUGH IT IS CONSIDERED AN OUTBREAK IN LEXINGTON AND THE WORST SEASON FOR THAT SINCE THE 2016, 2017 CYCLE AND HEALTH LEADERS SAY THE VACCINATION RATES ARE LOW AND THAT IS PART OF THE PROBLEM.

>> THEY INITIALLY REPORTED AN OUTBREAK BACK IN MAY.

SOMETIMES THIS HAPPENS AND AGAIN WITH FALL SCHOOL RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER SOMETIMES IT TAKES AN OUTBREAK TO REMIND PEOPLE THAT THEY SHOULD GET VACCINATED.

IT IS NOT A NEW THING BUT IT'S PREDICTABLE.

PERTUSSIS IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS THEY ARE TRYING TO GET THE WORD OUT TO GET VACCINATED BEFORE KIDS RETURN TO SCHOOL WHICH IS SOON.

>> Bill: AND DO IT SOONER RATHER THAN LATER.

LOUISVILLE HAS $100 MILLION FROM THE LEGISLATURE TO IMPROVE DOWNTOWN.

MARK, WHAT ARE THE IDEAS FLOATED AROUND?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, LOUISVILLE'S DOWNTOWN LIKE MANY IS STRUGGLING.

SO ONE OF THE IDEAS IS TO COMPLETELY REDO THIS PARK DOWNTOWN CALLED THE BELVIDERE.

THERE'S GOING TO BE MONEY TO RENOVATE AN OLD PLACE CALLED LOUISVILLE GARDENS WHERE WE USED TO SEE CONCERTS THEY ARE TURNING THAT INTO A FILM AND SOUND STAGE TO GET MORE BUSINESS DOWN THERE.

AND ATTRACT MORE OF THE FILM INDUSTRY.

THERE'S ALSO GOING TO BE MONEY FOR THE BUTCHER TOWN SPORTS DISTRICT A SOCCER STADIUM OUTSIDE OF TOWN AND EFFORTS TO REDEVELOP VACANT LOTS AROUND THAT STADIUM HAVE STALLED SO THERE WILL BE MONEY FOR THAT.

THERE'S GOING TO BE MONEY TO REVITALIZE VACANT LOTS AND BUILDINGS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE GOING DOWNTOWN BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THE AMOUNT OF HOMELESS PEOPLE SO THERE'S MONEY FOR A COMMUNITY CARE CAMPUS TO HELP THE HOMELESS AND HELP THEM GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

>> Bill: WILL BUILDINGS BRING PEOPLE BACK IS THE QUESTION?

>> THAT IS THE MILLION DOLLAR QUESTION SOMETHING THAT EVERY MAJOR CITY IN THE COUNTRY ARE STRUGGLING WITH.

>> Bill: WE CONSIDER OURSELVES FORTUNATE WE HAVE YOUR PERSPECTIVE.

YOU LIVE HERE IN KENTUCKY YOU GET TO KEEP AN EYE WHAT IS GOING ON AND TRAVEL AROUND THE COUNTRY COVERING NATIONAL POLITICS.

WATCHING THE TRENDSES AND GETTING TO KNOW THE OPERATIVES OUT THERE, WHERE ARE WE IN 2024 POLITICALLY?

>> WOW.

LOOK, I THINK ONE THING I WILL REMIND PEOPLE IN KENTUCKIANS AND FOLKS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, A LOT OF US HAVE PURPLE VIEWS.

A LOT OF PEOPLE AREN'T LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE THEY HAVE MIXED VIEWS ON DIFFERENT THINGS.

MAYBE THEY ARE PASSIONATE WITH ABORTION.

MAYBE THEY ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT GUNS WHAT IS FASCINATING TO ME ABOUT THE CURRENT CYCLE IS HOW MUCH WE'RE FRACTURED IN THE MEDIA.

THERE IS NOT A ONE PLACE WHERE WE ALL GO TO GET OUR INFORMATION.

NO WALTER CRONKITE TO GET OUR NEWS INFORMATION.

SOME OF US ARE GETTING IT FROM NEWS OUTLETS LIKE "FOX NEWS" OR "CNN" OR THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL".

AND SOME ARE GETTING IT FROM ON-LINE SOURCES AND SOME ON THEIR PHONES.

WE HAVE TO IMPRESS UPON FOLKS THERE ARE SO MANY AMERICANS PARTICULARLY OUR GEN Z VOTERS, ALL THEIR INFORMATION COMES FROM 30-SECOND TIKTOKS AND THAT IS HOW THEY CONSUME NEWS AND INFORMATION.

OUR FRACTURED MEDIA MAKES IT HARDER TO GET THE MESSAGES OUT TO EVERYONE.

ONE OPERATIVE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE GAVE A PRESENTATION TO "USA TODAY" AND TALKED ABOUT IT'S NOT THE MESSAGE IT'S THE MESSENGER.

THE SAME MESSAGE CAN COME FROM A CONGRESSMAN LIKE ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-CORTEZ AND IF IT COMES FROM JOE MANCHIN THEY WILL HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE.

OUR FRACTURED MEDIA IS ONE THING BUT IN GENERAL AMERICANS HAVE MIXED VIEWS.

>> AND GETTING BACK TO THE APPEAL WRAP TO GO BACK TO VEEP STAKES.

BESHEAR WHETHER OR NOT HE LIVES THIS OUT BECAUSE HE GOT ACCUSED THIS WEEK OF ROLLING IN THE MUD AND DOING THE THING HE IS CALLING PEOPLE NOT TO DO WHICH IS BE DIVISIVE ONE OF THE THINGS HE MENTIONS IT DOESN'T MATTER WHAT PARTY YOU ARE AFFILIATED WITH WE NEED TO REMEMBER WE ARE AMERICANS FIRST.

HE SAID THAT YESTERDAY.

AND GETTING BACK TO PURPLE HE IS A GOOD CANDIDATE THAT IS FAIRLY PURPLE ON A VARIETY OF ESPECIALLY ON DIVISIVE ISSUES AND THAT IS PART OF HIS APPEAL WIDER OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: ONE OF THE QUESTIONS WILL BE WE KNOW THERE ARE THOSE SIX OR SEVEN SWING STATES AND THAT IS WHERE THE ELECTION IS.

AT ANYISN'T THAT WHERE THE CANDS HAVE TO INVEST THEIR TIME?

YOU REALLY DON'T SPEND A LOT OF TIME IN THE FLYOVER STATES BECAUSE IT'S WELL SET WHERE THEY ARE GOING.

>> MAYBE THAT IS WHY BESHEAR HAS A GOOD CHANCE BECAUSE HE IS ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT NOT BEING A REPUBLICAN, NOT A DEMOCRAT, JUST AMERICAN.

>> WE ARE GOING TO SEE A TEST OF ANDY BESHEAR.

HE NEVER HAD TO DEAL WITH PROGRESSIVE VOTERS THE VOTERS HERE HAVE GIVEN HIM A PASS FOR YEARS BECAUSE THEY KNOW WHAT HE IS UP AGAINST IN THE STATE.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IF HE'S GETTING THE NATIONAL PROMOTION HOW HE IS GOING TO DEAL WITH HARDCORE LEFT WING POSITIONS ON ISRAEL, ON SCHOOLS, ON CIVIL RIGHTS.

HE HAS NEVER BEEN TESTED BY THE LEFTTH KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: THIS WEEK IS THE SECOND ADVISORY OF THE FLOODING THAT DEVASTATED EASTERN KENTUCKY LEFT 45 PEOPLE DEAD.

BESHEAR WAS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY TODAY THAT REGION HAS A LOT TO COME BACK FROM.

>> IT DOES.

HE MENTIONED THE SEVERAL THOUSAND PEOPLE WHO SUCCESSFULLY GOTTEN FEMA ASSISTANCE.

I BELIEVE THERE'S ONE BODY OF A FLOOD VICTIM THAT HAS NOT BEEN RECOVERED.

IT'S VERY FRESH IN THESE COMMUNITIES AND HE HAS BEEN POINTED ABOUT TOPPING THAT RECENTLY.

>> Bill: DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE CERTAINLY TO REMEMBER THAT OCCASION TWO YEARS AGO AND OUR THOUGHTS ARE WITH THEM ON THIS WEEKEND.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE HOPE YOU MAKE IT A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.

[♪♪]