DONALD TRUMP ENDORSES DANIEL CAMERON IN THE CROWDED AND GROWING REPUBLICAN RACE FOR GOV MORE LEGAL BATTLES OVER KENTUCKY'S NEW ABORTION LAW.

KENTUCKY HAS COVID HOTSPOTS, A REMINDER THAT THE VIRUS IS STIL OUT THERE.

IN WASHINGTON U.S.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL HELPS GET A LIMITED DEAL TO ADDRESS MASS SHOOTINGS IN THE COUNTRY.

WE HAVE A BRIEF BREAK FROM INTENSE HEAT THIS WEEKEND BEFORE IT RETURNS NEXT WEEK.

AND "COMMENT" IS NEXT ON KET.

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 AR AUSTIN HORN, POLITICAL REPORTER FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER MELISSA PATRICK, REPORTER FOR KENTUCKY HEALTH NEWS.

AND MARK VANDERHOFF, REPORTER FOR WLKY I ALSO TONIGHT, LOUISVILLE'S CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR DEBATE THE ISSUES IN KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CI AND GOVERNOR BESHEAR APPOINTS HIS PROMISED MEDICAL CANNABIS C LET'S START OFF WITH POLITICS.

FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP HAS ENDORSED ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON FOR GOVERNOR IN THIS CRUDDED FIELD FOR THE PRIMARY IN 2023.

AUSTIN, TRUMP'S PRAISE FOR CAMERON WAS EFFUSIVE.

CAMERON OBVIOUSLY SEES THIS AS AN ADVANTAGE IN THAT CROWDED RACE.

>> Austin: RIGHT, HE CALLED CAMERON A YOUNG RISING STAR, AND CAMERON TWEETED THIS NEWS OUT LAST NIGHT.

I THINK IT IS SAFE TO SAY THAT THIS IS AN ADVANTAGE IN KENTUCKY.

I MEAN, TRUMP WON BIG IN KENTUCKY IN 2020 AND 2016.

THERE'S NO SIGHT THAT HIS POPULARITY IS WANING.

NATIONALLY WE WILL SEE WHAT THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS, HOW THOSE THINGS UNFOLD, BUT I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT THIS IS A BIG BUMP AND ONE OF THE TRULY HUGE MAJOR NEWS HITS OF THE 2023 RACE THUS FAR.

>> Bill: YOU WONDER WHY SO EARLY AND YOU WONDER WHAT TRUMP SAW THAT MADE HIM INCLINED TO DO THIS, AND CAMERON HAD RELEASED THIS INTERNAL POLL JUST HOURS BEFORE THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

WE KNOW THE FORMER PRESIDENT LIKES WINNERS.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S FAIR TO WONDER WHY SO EARLY ON THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO PUT YOURSELF IN TRUMP'S HEAD, AS WE'VE SEEN ON A LOT OF THINGS BEFORE, BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, THE TIMING RIGHT NOW, YOU COULD ARGUE THAT IT WOULD SCARE SOME COMPETITORS INTO THINKING TWICE ABOUT JUMPING IN.

>> Bill: THAT INTERNAL POLL SHOWED, BY THE WAY, CAMERON LEADING THE PACK, AND THE OTHER CANDIDATES BACK IN SINGLE DIGITS.

AGAIN IT IS AN INTERNAL POLL.

HE PAID FOR IT.

>> Austin: YEAH, RIGHT.

WHO KNOWS WHAT THE METHODOLOGY WAS EXACTLY AND HOW THE QUESTIONS WERE FRAMED TO MEES THESE PEOPLE, BUT IT WAS 37% WOULD VOTE FOR DANIEL CAMERON AND THE CLOSEST COMPETITOR WAS RYAN QUARLES WITH 7%.

THAT'S WHAT THE CAVEAT THAT DAN CAM HAS BEEN KIND OF MORE OF A CELEBRITY THAN ANYBODY ELSE THAT'S IN THE RACE RIGHT NOW, SO HE'S GOTTEN THAT FREE EARNED MEDIA ATTENTION THAT PEOPLE HAVEN'T AND THAT THEY WILL PUNS WITNESS THEY START PAYING FOR TV ADS IN THE CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: IT COULD BE A FUNCTION NAME IDENTIFICATION EARLY.

MARK, TRUMP WAS AS AUSTIN SAID IMMENSELY POPULAR IN KENTUCKY IN 2017 AND AND 2020 WITH 62% PLUS PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN BOTH OF HIS ELECTIONS, BUT HE CAMPAIGNED ALSO FOR GOVERNOR MATT BEVIN IN 2019 ON THE EVE OF THE ELECTION, AND WE ALL KNOW THAT BEVIN LOST TO BESHEAR.

WE'VE SEEN TRUMP'S SWAY IS ON AND OFF IN SOME PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.

>> Mark: I STILL THINK MISPROBABLY GOING TO HAVE I A HUGE IMPACT ON CAMERON'S SPAIN, AND I.

SAY PROBABLY.

I'M EQUIVOCATING BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP IS UNPREDICT ANKLE.

WE HAVE SEEN HIM LAVISH PRAISE ON SOMEONE ONE WEEK AND HEAP SCORN ON THEM IN THE NEXT.

WHO KNOWS WHERE WE'LL BE IN FOUR, SUCTION OR EIGHT MONTHS.

BUT I THINK THIS IS GOING TO BE A GREAT WAY FOR CAMERON TO RISE UP ABOVE THE COMPETITION, ALTHOUGH IT'S NOT IMPOSSIBLE FOR, SAY, RYAN QUARLES OR MIKE HARMON TO STILL WIN THE PRIMARY.

EXHIBIT A, WE SAW GOVERNOR BRIAN KEM WIN HIS PRIMARY AGAINST A CHALLENGER WHO WAS SUPPORTED BY TRUMP.

AS FOR YOUR COMPARISON TO THE BEVIN RE-ELECTION BID, I'M NOT SURE IF THAT'S GOING TO BE A FAIR COMPARISON TO THIS UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTION BECAUSE I THINK IF YOU ASK DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, THEY'LL AGREE NOTHING AGAINST BESHEAR'S CAMPAIGN, BUT BEVIN DID A LOT TO DAMAGE HIMSELF IN THAT CAMPAIGN.

>> Bill: AUSTIN, THE ENDORSEMENT FOR CAMERON CAME DESPITE THE FACT THIS A POSSIBLE CONTENDER IN THIS RACE AND ONE WE CONTINUE TO HERE IS VERY INTERESTED AND LIABLE TO ONE IS KELLY CRAFT, FORMER UNITED NATIONS AMBASSADOR APPOINTED BY TRUMP.

HE SERVED IN HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S SAFE TO SAY THAT KELLY CRAFT HASSING'ELING FOR THIS ENDORSEMENT.

THERE WAS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THERE WAS SUCH A NICE PHOTO OP AT THE KENTUCKY DERBY AT THE TRUMP EVENT EARLIER, AND SHE E. RELEASED A STATEMENT LATE TONIGHT WHERE SHE SAID SHE'S ENTHUSED ABOUT THE SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE THAT SHE IS RECEIVED AROUND THE STATE AND SHE ALSO SAID STAY TUNED, WHICH HAPPENS TO BE THE EXACT PHRASE THAT DANIEL CAMERON RON ENDED HIS STATEMENTS WITH IMMEDIATELY BEFORE HE ANNOUNCED HIS RUN, SO I WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED AT ALL TO SEE KELLY CRAFT ALSO ENTER THE RACE.

>> Bill: WE KEEP HENRY IT'S LIKELY THAT THESE CANDIDATES AND WOULD-BE CANDIDATES WILL PROBABLY BE AT FANCY FARM.

I THINK THE ORGANIZERS THERE ARE TRYING AT THIS POINT.

IT'S A WORK IN PROGRESS TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO.

DO THEY ALLOW THIS MANY CANDIDATES TO SPEAK OR DO THEY SAY, WELL, THAT'S NEXT YEAR'S ELECTION AND WE'LL GET TO THAT THEN WHEN IT'S, YOU KNOW, NARROWED DOWN?

>> Austin: RIGHT.

I'VE HEARD THE RULES HAVEN'T BEEN SET QUITE YET.

CERTAINLY, THE CURRENT CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICERS, SEVERAL OF WHOM ARE RUNNING, WILL GET A SHOT TO SPEAK.

BUT I SUPPOSE WE'LL LEARN AS THE SUMMER KIND OF CONTINUES TO ROLL ON.

>> Bill: MARK, WHAT MUST DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR BE THINKING AS HE WATCHES ALL OF THIS?

YOU KNOW, ON THE ONE HAND HE GETS TO SEE THIS CROWDED PRIMARY DOGFIGHT THAT THE REPUBLICANS SEEM TO BE HEADING INTO.

ON THE OTHER, IT ALSO MEANS ALL THE ENERGY AND ATTENTION IS ON THEIR SIDE.

WHAT DOES HE DO AS THE REPUBLICANS FIGHT IT OUT?

>> Mark: I THINK HE KEEPS DOING WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING.

HE'SEN GOING TO CONTINUE TO TOUR THE STATE, HOLD EVENTS WHERE HE TOUTS HIS RECORD ON ECONOMY.

HE LIKES TO SAY THAT KENTUCKY HAS SEEN MORE JOBS ANNOUNCEMENTS THAN AT ANY OTHER TIME IN ITS HISTORY.

WE LIKES TO TALK ABOUT THE RECORD NUMBER OR THE RECORD AMOUNT OF INVESTMENT IS IN THE STATE, AND I THINK HE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT.

THE BIG THING HE'S GOING TO BE WATCHING IS INFLATION AND THE ECONOMY BECAUSE HE WANTS INFLATION TO GO DUNE.

HE WANT THE ECONOMY TO STAY STRONG SO HE CAN KEEP TALKING ABOUT THE JOB THAT HE'S DONE ON THE ECONOMY.

>> Bill: SO WE HAVE SOME INFORMATION COME OUT THIS AFTERNOON.

THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR SAYS KENTUCKY'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF 3.8% FOR MAY IS THE NINTH LOWEST IN THE COUNTRY AND IS THE LOWEST FOR KENTUCKY SINCE THEY STARTED KEEPING STATS IN 1976.

TO WHAT EXTENT IS BESHEAR'S SUCCESS TIED TO THOSE NUMBERS STAYING STRONG?

>> Annie: I THINK THAT'S UNEQUIVOCALLY GOOD NEWS AND AS MARK WAS SAYING HIS POPULARITY IS TIED, QUOTE/UNQUOTE TO THE ECONOMY BEING ON FIRE BUT YOU WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED TO HEAR REPUBLICANS.

TURN THAT AROUND AND SAY IT'S ON FIRE IN A CHAOTIC KIND OF WAY.

IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO WE HAD A HEADLINE FROM AX YOS I BELIEVE THAT SAID KENTUCKY WAS THE NATION'S JOB-QUITTING CAPITAL, AND THERE'S A QUESTION OF UNEMPLOYMENT VERSUS HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE BACK IN THE LABOR COURSE FORCE THAT QUIT DURING COVID.

SO WE'LL SEE HOW IT ALL PANZ OUT.

I THINK IT'S INDICATIVE THAT REPUBLICANS, ALL OF THESE GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES AND SEVERAL JUST REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE, MEL LEAD WITH CONNECTING BASH TO BIDEN BECAUSE INFLATION IS SUCH A VISCERAL NATIONAL ISSUE THAT PEOPLE FEEL ON A REALLY MATERIAL LEVEL.

I MEAN, YOU'RE PAYING $4.79 FOR GAS WHEN A YEAR AGO YOU WERE PAYING WAY, WAY LESS.

SO WE'LL SEE IF VOTERS CAN KIND OF PARSE OUT THAT DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATIONAL AND STATE POLICY, BUT THAT'S CERTAINLY THE TACK THAT REPUBLICANS ARE UNIFORMLY TAKING NOW.

>> Bill: A LOT TO WATCH THE IN GOVERNOR'S RACE AND WE'LL DO IT, AND THIS SORT OF TIES IN, MELISSA.

WE KEEP SEEING CAMERON AND BESHEAR SQUARE OFF IN LEGAL BATTLES.

OF COURSE, OBVIOUSLY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL CHALLENGED SOME OF THE GOVERNOR'S COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS, AND NOW HE'S SUING THE EVER GO OVER THE STATE'S NEW ABORTION LAW, SAYING THE GOVERNOR IS NOT ENFORCING IT EVEN THOUGH MOST OF IT IS BEING HELD UP BY A FEDERAL COURT.

>> Melissa: RIGHT.

AND SO CAMERON, HIS STANCE, HE'S ARGUING THAT EVEN THOUGH THE LAW IS BEING HELD UP IN FEDERAL COURT, THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES SHOULD STILL BE DOING, WHICH IS CREATING REGULATORY ADMINISTRATIVE RULES AROUND ABORTION MEDICATIONS AND CREATING THE FORMS THAT ARE REQUIRED BY THIS NEW LAW THAT PEOPLE WILL HAVE TO FILL OUT.

AND THE CABINET FOR HEALTH AND FAMILY SERVICES SAYS THAT THEY ARE COMPLYING WITH THE FEDERAL COURT RULE AS IT STANDS RIGHT NOW AND THAT ANYTHING BASICALLY CALLS IT A BASELESS AND BLATANT POLITICAL STUNT, AND BASICALLY SAYS THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE NEED TO DO AND THAT BY ASKING THEM TO DO OTHERWISE IS ASKING THEM TO GO AGAINST THE COURT RULING.

>> Bill: WELL, WHEN THE U.S. SUPREME COURT ABORTION RULING COMES, AND WE EXPECT THAT BY THE END OF THE MONTH, IF ROE V. WADE IS YES, SIR TORNADO AS THIS LEAKED DRAFT OPINION INDICATES IT WILL BE, THINGS CHANGE VERY QUICKLY IN KENTUCKY.

>> Melissa: RIGHT.

KENTUCKY IS ONE OF THE STATES THAT LAST A TRIGGER LAW, SO MEL WHEN ROE V. WADE IS OVERTURNED, ABORTION BECOMES ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF KENTUCKY WITH SOME EXEMPTIONS FOR MEDICAL REASONS.

AND SO ALL OF THIS BECOMES MOOT, ALL THE LAWSUIT BECOMES MOOT AT THAT POINT BECAUSE THEN ABORTIONS WILL NO LONGER BE LEGAL IN THE STATE.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY HAS SOME COVID HOTSPOTS RIGHT NOW.

SOME COUNTIES ARE BACK IN CDC RED ZONES.

AT THE SAME TIME, IT LOOKS LIKE YOUNGER KENTUCKIANS ARE ABOUT TO BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR VACCINATION.

>> Melissa: YEAH, AND THAT'S A REAL EXCITING THING FOR FAMILIES WHO ARE JUST WANTING EVERYONE IN THE HOUSE TO BE VACCINATED.

THIS GROUP OF 5 AND UNDERS ARE THE LAST GROUP TO GET PERMISSION TO GET VACCINATED, AND SO EXPECTED TOMORROW.

THE FDA RULED ON IT TODAY AND THE CD IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE IT TOMORROW.

AND SO VACCINES FOR 5 AND UNDERSTAND WILL BE APPROVED FOR MODERNA AND PFIZER VACCINES AND THE VENES WILL BE ARRIVING IN KENTUCKY NEXT WEEK, SO SOME WILL HAVE ACCESS TO THEM NEXT WEEK AND THEN OTHERS, IT SAYS EARLY JULY JUST BECAUSE IT WILL WILL TAKE A LITTLE WHILE TO GET ALL THE KINKS OUT OF A CERTAIN PROVIDER'S OFFICE SYSTEMS TO GET THAT DONE.

>> Bill: AND SOME PARENTS CAN'T WAIT.

OTHERS ARE RELUCTANT.

>> Melissa: IT IS.

IF THE VACCINE RATE OF OUR 12 AND UNDERs IS ANY INDICATION, THERE'S LIKELY TO BE A FAIR AMOUNT OF HESITANCY IN A LOT OF FAMILIES, COME WITH THE ARGUMENT THAT CHILDREN HAVE -- ARE EITHER ASYMPTOM OFIC WHEN THEY GET IT OR THEY HAVE JUST MILD CASES, ABOUT THE A DOCTOR OUT OF NORTON, THE NORTON HEALTH CARE SYSTEM IN LOUISVILLE BASICALLY SAID SOME KIDS GET REALLY SICK AND SOME END UP IN THE HOSPITAL, AND YOU JUST NEVER KNOW WHERE YOUR KID'S GOING TO LIE ON THAT.

>> Bill: DOES THIS RELUCTANCE, WHICH REALLY IS IN ALL AGE GROUPS IN KENTUCKY, PLAY INTO THIS REPORT OF A RANKING THAT PUT KENTUCKY 49th PLACE FOR ITS COVID RESPONSE?

>> Melissa: IT SURE DOES, BECAUSE THIS COMMONWEALTH FUND REPORT ADDED THAT COVID RESPONSE QUESTION TO ITS HOSPITAL SYSTEM REVIEW THIS YEAR AND FOUND THAT KENTUCKY'S RESPONSE TO THE VACCINE, WE STILL HAVE -- WE STILL ARE AMONG STATES THAT DON'T HAVE 70% OF OUR POPULATION 12 AND OLDER FULLY VACCINATED, WHICH MEANS TWO VACCINES, AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT SOME OTHER -- THE NURSING HOME DEATHS THAT OCCURRED EARLY ON WERE REALLY HIGH AND OUR HOSPITALIZATION RATE OVER THE COURSE OF COVID'S BEEN REALLY HIGH.

ALL THAT ADDS UP TO JUST A POOR RANKING.

AND ONE OF THE RESEARCHERS WAS SURPRISED BY THAT BECAUSE SUCH A LOW INSURANCE RATE BECAUSE WE EXPANDED MEDICAID, BUT WE HAVE A SICK POPULATION, AN UNHEALTHY POPULATION, SO IT ALL COME TOGETHER TO CREATE A LOW RANKING.

>> Bill: MARK, WEIR ALL WATCHING OUR WALLET CLOSER RIGHT NOW WITH MEYER GASOLINE PRICES, NOW INTEREST RATES ARE CLIMBING IN AN EFFORT TO COMBAT INFLATION.

WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM PEOPLE AS THEY THINK ABOUT THEIR SUMMER TRIPS AND MAYBE PURSE THEY PURCHASED THEY MIGHT BE CONTEMPLATING?

>> Mark: WE REPORT ON POCK BOOK ISSUES A LOT, AND THE PEOPLE WE ARE TALKING TO SAY THEY ARE HAVING TO CUT BACK BECAUSE ANY KIND OF REFLECT THEY HAD IN THEIR BUDGET IS GETTING EATEN UP BY INFLATION, AND THAT DOES MEANS THAT THEY'RE HAVING TO DELAY BIG PURCHASES.

AND THAT'S THE POINT OF INFLATION.

WE SAW THAT BIG RATE INCREASE THIS WEEK.

THE WHOLE STRATEGY IS GOING TO BE TO GET PEOPLE TO SPEND EVEN LESS SO THAT PRODUCERS AND RETAILERS ARE FORCED TO LOWER THEIR PRICES, THEREBY CURTAILING INFLATION, AND WE JUST SAW THIS SURVEY THAT CAME OUT FROM MORNING CONSULT.

THEIR RESPONDENTS SAID THEY'RE GOING TO BE TAKING SHORTER TRIPS OR STAYING CLOSER TO HOME AND THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR LESS EXPENSIVE AND MAYBE EVEN FREE ACTIVITIES.

>> Bill: SO AMERICANS AND KENTUCKIANS ARE KEENLY AWARE OF WHAT'S GOING ON.

THEY'RE FEELING IT.

AND, AUSTIN, IS THAT THE MAIN ISSUE, DRIVER IN THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS?

>> Austin: I THINK ABSOLUTELY.

WE'VE SEEN THIS, WE'VE SEEN WARNING SIGNS ALREADY IN THE PRIMARIES THAT, YOU KNOW, THINGS DON'T LOOK GREAT FOR DEMOCRATS NATIONALLY, AND A LOT OF THAT IS APPROVAL RATINGS WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN.

AS WE SAID EARLIER, THOSE ARE JUST REALLY, REALLY TANKING.

AND MUCH OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE WAY PEOPLE FEEL ABOUT INFLATION AND THE COST OF LIVING.

>> Bill: IF THE REPUBLICANS TAKE THE U.S. HOUSE IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTIONS, WOULD KENTUCKY'S MOSTLY GOP DELEGATION THEN BE IN A POSITION TO MOVE UP IN PROMINENCE AND POWER?

>> Austin: I THINK ABSOLUTELY.

AND THAT'S NOT A BIG IF.

THAT SEEMS PRETTY LIKELY BASED ON MOST OF WHAT WE'RE HEARING.

I WOULD KEEP AN EYE ON JAMES COMER.

HE SEEMS POSITIONED TO BECOME CHAIR OF THE OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATIONS COMMITTEE, AND IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK WITH ONE AMERICA NEWS NETWORK, HE SAID THAT HE WAS POISED TO LAUNCH A FULL INVESTIGATION INTO HUNTER BIDEN, JOE BIDEN'S SON, ALMOST AS SORT OF VENGEANCE FOR THE JANUARY 6th HEARINGS THAT WE'RE HEARING RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: WELL, KENTUCKY'S ONE STATEWIDE RACE THIS YEAR FOR THE SENATE ABOUT WITH DEMOCRATIC CHARLES BOOKS CHALLENGING REPUBLICAN RAND PAUL.

HE SAID HIS INTERNAL SHOWS THAT PAUL IS THE MOST POPULAR REPUBLICAN IN STATE.

HOW DOES BOOKER GET SOME TRACTION IN THIS ELECTION?

DOES HE HAVE TO LOOK BEYOND KENTUCKY'S BORDERS FOR AT LEAST THE FINANCING TO TRY TO GET THIS DONE?

>> Austin: RIGHT.

AM CA RON'S BRAG WAS HE IS THE SECOND MOST POPULAR KENTUCKIAN TO RAND PAUL.

I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT THAT HE DOES HAVE TO LOOK BEYOND KENTUCKY.

AND WE SAW THIS WITH McGRATH, AND I THINK ONE OF THE KIND OF SIGNS HERE IS, YOU KNOW, HIS CONTROVERSIAL TO SOME AND SOMETHING THAT OTHERS CHEERED ON, HIS LYNCHING AD THAT FEATURED HIM WEARING A NOOSE.

THAT GOT A LOT OF ATTENTION.

AND I WOULD BE SURPRISED IF THAT DIDN'T CORRELATE WITH A BUMP IN HIS FUNDRAISING.

SO, YOU KNOW, OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY THAT WORKED FOR McGRATH.

IT DIDN'T NECESSARILY TRANSLATE INTO MANY VOTES, BUT IT WAS A GOOD FUNDING SOURCE AND, YOU KNOW, RAND PAUL IS A BIG NATIONAL KIND OF ENEMY FOR A LOT OF PROGRESSIVES.

SO WE'LL SEE IF HE CAN CHARGE THAT OUTSIDE OF KENTUCKY LIBERAL BASE.

>> Bill: THE BIG MAYOR AS RACE OVER IN LOUISVILLE, AND MARK, YOU WERE THE MODERATOR AS THE DONATES FOR LOUISVILLE MARRIED JA OFF.

REPUBLICAN BILL AND THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE CRAIG GREENBURGH WHO EASILY WON THEIR PRIMARIES.

I STOOD BETWEEN AIM McGRATH AND MITCH McCONNELL IN THE U.S. SENATE CABOT.

THAT WAS PRETTY INTENSE.

DID YOU HAVE THAT FEELING WITH THIS MAYOR'S RACE?

>> MARCUS: >> Mark: IT WASN'T QUITE THE SAME.

I GOT THE FEELING THAT BILL DIFFER AND CORRECT GREENBERG HAVE A FAIR AM BABBLE RELATIONSHIP.

AT LEAST FOR NOW.

THINGS COULD GET CLOSER AS WE GET CLOSER TO ELECTION DAY.

THE THING THAT REALLY I NEVER HAD JUMPED OUT AT ME WAS HOW REMARKABLY SIMILAR THEIR RESPONSES WERE ON MANY QUESTIONS AND I THINK THAT SHOWS HOW SAFE THEY'RE BOTH PLAYING IT RIGHT NOW AND MAYBE HOW THEY'RE TRYING TO GO AFTER THAT SWING VOTE.

I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.

PUBLIC SAFETY IS A HUGE ISSUE IN LOUISVILLE RIGHT NOW, AS IT IS IN MANY CITIES, AND SO WE ASKED THE CANDIDATES WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO TO MAKE LOUISVILLE SAFER?

AND BOTH OF THEM REALLY HAD THE SAME ANSWER.

THEY SAID THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A STRONG IS POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY'RE ALSO GOING TO GO INVEST IN NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT PROGRAMS, THINGS LIKE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT BE WITH SOCIAL WORKERS, ANTI-VIOLENCE PROGRAMS.

THERE WERE SOME SUBTLE DIFFERENCES.

GREENBERG NOTED THAT LMPD HAS HAD SOME PROBLEMS.

THEY'RE FACING A DOJ INVESTIGATION, AND HE SAYS HE WANTS TO TURN THAT DEPARTMENT AROUND AND MAKE IT A MODEL FOR THE NATION SO THAT ANY OTHER CITY THAT'S HAVING PROBLEMS WITH ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT, THEY'LL LOOK TO LOUISVILLE.

THE DUR IF DIDN'T REALLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEMS THAT LMPD IS HAVING SO MUCH BUT HE DID TALK A LOT ABOUT HOW HE'S THE CURRENTLY THE SITTING MAYOR OF SUBURBAN JEFFERS TO.

AND THAT INTERNS IS GOING TO ALLOW HUM TO HIT THE GROUND RUNNING.

SO THEY PLAYED UP SOME SMALL DIFFERENCES BUT OVERALL THESE ARE BOTH MODERATE PRAGMATIC CENTRISTS.

>> Bill: BUT YET PARTISAN IN LOUISVILLE, WHICH IS UNUSUAL IN MOST OF THE STATE THE MAYOR'S RACERS NON-PARTISAN, BUT THAT'S THE TRA DOES OVER THERE.

THE PARTIES PICK THEIR NOMINEES.

>> Mark: IT IS.

BUT I THINK AS YOU'RE SEEING WITH THESE TWO CANDIDATES, YOU'VE GOT TO BE A LITTLE CARE OF.

YOU'RE NOT SEEING A FIREBRAND OR SOMEBODY WHO IS TRYING TO PLAY TO THEIR BASE.

YOU'RE SEEING TWO CANDIDATES WHO ARE REALLY TRYING TO PLAY TO THE MIDDLE.

>> Bill: AT THE MOMENT THE KENTUCKY SUPREME COURT RULED THIS WEEK THAT POLICE HAVE TO OBTAIN A WARRANT IN ORDER TO TRACK PEOPLE'S PHONES.

MAJORITY OF YEAH, THAT WAS A 4-3 DECISION SO A LOT OF DISAGREEMENT THERE, AND IT WAS AN INTERESTING CASE WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL WHO HAD COMMITTED A ROBBERY WAS CAUGHT WHEN THE POLICE WERE ABLE TO GO TO THE CELL PHONE COMPANY AND ASK THEM TO PING HIS PHONE.

HE HAD CALLED SOMEBODY, SO THEY HAD HIS CELL PHONE NUMBER.

SO WHEN THEY CHALLENGED THAT SEARCH AND SEIZURE, THE CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN MINTON, HE SAID IN HIS OPINION THAT THAT VIOLATED THE 4th AMENDMENT, RIGHT?

WE ALL HAVE AN EXPECTATION THAT WE WON'T FACE UNREASONABLE SEARCH AND SEIZURE.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THIS AFFECTS THEIR SEARCHES FOR MISSING PEOPLE BECAUSE THERE ARE, AS CHIEF JUSTICE MINTON NOTED, THERE ARE SUCH THINGS AS EXCEPTIONS TO THIS RULE, AND SO MAYBE THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SAY, WELL, THAT'S AN EXCEPTION WITH MISSING PERSONS.

>> Bill: WE'LL SEE.

AUSTIN, IN ARE THE WA SENATOR McCONNELL GETTING SOME CREDIT FOR THE AT LEAST SETTING THE STAGE FOR RESPONSE TO THE SCHOOL SHOOTINGS AND THE MASS SHOOTINGS IN GENERAL IN THE COUNTRY WITH A BILL THAT IS STILL BEING WRITTEN, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS ON THE WAY TO THE SENATE.

>> Austin: RIGHT.

THEY HAVEN'T QUITE AGREED ON A TEXT JUST YET.

I THINK THAT NEWS CAME OUT YESTERDAY.

BUT IT IS SOMETHING, AND THAT'S REALLY BIG NEWS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN ADVOCATING FOR GUN REFORM.

I, WE HAVEN'T SEEN ANYTHING CHANGE IN TERMS OF GUN CONTROL SINCE REALLY THE '90S, RIGHT?

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THE KIND OF BULLET POINTS THAT THEY HAVE, AND ONE IS THERE'S ENHANCED BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR PEOPLE UNDER 21 SEEKING A RIFLE OR EVEN AN ASSAULT RIFLE, YOU THE ABOUT THEY'RE STILL ALLOWED TO BUY IT UNDER 21.

SO A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY THAT DOESN'T PUSH THE NEEDLE ENOUGH, BUT ALSO SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT IT'S SOMETHING, WHICH IS A LOT MORE THAN WHAT WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST 20-SOME YEARS.

>> Bill: MELS WAUGH AB OPIOID CONTINUE TIE HUGE CHALLENGE.

FOR KENTUCKY.

WOODFORD COUNTY HAS A LOCAL EFFORT TO ENCOURAGE DOCTOR TO DECREASE PAINKILLERS BEING PRESCRIBED INCLUDING TO YOUNG ATHLETES WHO ABOUT A PLAY BALL AND GET HURT IN PRACTICE OR ON THE FIELD.

IS KENTUCKY APPROACHING THIS FROM EVERY ANGLE?

>> Melissa: OH, ABSOLUTELY.

YOU KNOW, THE OPIOID DEATHS, EVEN THOUGH THEY -- YOU HATE TO SAY WERE ONLY AROUND 14.6% INCREASE FROM THE YEAR BEFORE, THAT'S SO MUCH BETTER THAN THE OVER 50% THAT HAD HAPPENED THE YEAR PRIOR TO THAT IN THE HEIGHT OF COVID, AND SO WHILE THE OVERDOSE DEATHS, YOU KNOW, IT'S STILL A PROBLEM, BUT KENTUCKY EARLY ON SHUT DOWN PILL MILLS AND CHANGED LAWS TO MAKE IT HARDER TO GETTIS OPIOIDS, AND THEN JUMPED RIGHT IN AND PASSED SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AND WE HAVE -- YOU KNOW, WE HAVE PROGRAMS THAT WORK ON GETTING PEOPLE BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE WHO HAD SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS, WE HAVE WORK-READY COMMUNITY PROGRAMS THAT HELP COMMUNITIES MAKE SURE THEY'RE PROVIDING ALL THE SERVICES TO HELP THEIR CITIZENS IN THIS AREA.

TONS OF RESEARCH IS FUNDED AS FAR AS WE HAVE COMMUNICATION PROGRAMS TO DECREASE STIGMA.

IT JUST GOES ON AND ON.

>> Bill: WE'RE TRYING BUT THE OVERDOSE RATES ARE STILL HIGH.

>> Melissa: AND LEAD 10 NATION IN MANY WAYS WITH THESE EFFORTS.

>> Bill: KENTUCKIANS HAVE ALL KIND OF HEALTH CHALLENGES.

WE KNOW THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY IS STUDYING THE SLEEPING PROBLEMS, THE SLEEPING HABITS OF APPALACHIAN KENTUCKIANS.

>>> >> Melissa: SO THAT NEWS RELEASE WAS INTERESTING TO ME.

IT SAID UPWARDS OF 58% OF APPALACHIAN KENTUCKIANS ARE SLEEP DEPRIVED WHICH EQUATES TO LESS THAN SIX HOURS A NIGHT, AND SO WE KNOW THAT SLEEP IS CONNECTED TO HEALTH.

AND PHYSICAL HEALTH AND OBESITY AND HEART DISEASE AND, YOU KNOW, SLEEP MATTERS, AND SO THIS STUDY IS TAKING A FIVE-YEAR LOOK AT THAT ISSUE AMONGST 400 APPALACHIAN KENTUCKIANS WHO STRUGGLE WITH THAT.

JUST TO SEE WHAT THE CONNECTIONS ARE WITH THE HEALTH ISSUES AND THE LACK OF SLEEP WINTER OF.

>> Bill: WE SAW ONCE WE GOT TO LOOK AT THE LOBBYING NUMBERS THAT THE PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE LEGISLATURE.

>> Melissa: WE DID.

YOU KNOW, THEY RANKED NUMBER SEVEN FOR SPENDING, AND SO -- AND THAT WAS LARGELY THE RESULT OF TELEVISION ADS THAT STARTED BEING PUSHED THE DAY AFTER THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED A LAW TO REASON IN THE PBMs, AND SO AS THAT LAW -- AS THAT BILL CAME OUT OF THE HOUSE, THOSE ADS JUST KICKED RIGHT UP, AND IT JUST GOT SHUT DOWN IN THE SENATE.

YOU KNOW, THE BPM LOBBYISTS SAY THAT THAT BILL WOULD HAVE INCREASED COSTS FOR CONSUMERS, WHEREAS THE PROPONENTS OF THE BILL SAY THAT THERE STILL NEEDS TO BE MORE TRANSPARENCY AND WORK DONE WITH OUR PBM DOLLARS.

>> Bill: MARK, GOVERNOR BESHEAR APPOINT HIS MEDICAL CANNABIS ADVISORY BOARD.

>> Mark: YEAH, IT'S HARD TO BELIEVE THAT'S NOT GOING TO DO SOMETHING AFTER.

IT'S A PRETTY LARGE BOARD.

HE'S TASKED THEM WITH BOWING GOING AROUND THE STATE TO HOLD THESE TOWN HALL MEETINGS.

THE QUESTION WILL BE WHAT'S HE GOING TO DO.

CAN HE REALLY CREATE SOCOM BROAD, MEANINGFUL ACCESS TO MEDICINAL MARIJUANA THROUGH AN EXECUTIVE ORDER?

>> Bill: AUSTIN, KSU HAS NAMED FOUR FINALIST FOR INTERIM PRESIDENT ARGENTINA RIGHT.

FOUR FEEL ALL OF THEM FORMER PROPOSES AT I BELIEVE HBCU DOLLARS THEMSELF.

NOTELY EXCLUDED FROM THE LIST IS ACTING PRESIDENT CLARA ROSS STANCE WHO WAS A STAFFER FORMER CONTROVERSIAL PRESIDENT AND CHRISTOPHER BROWN II.

>> Bill: SUNDAY IS JUNETEENTH.

THE FEDERAL HOLIDAY.

IT IS STILL NOT A STATE HOLIDAY HERE IN KENTUCKY.

THE HEAT WAVE CONTINUES.

HENS ARE REMEMBERING MIKE PRATT, THE KENTUCKY ATHLETICS HALL-OF-FAMER LED THE KENTUCKY WILDCATS TO SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND THE TWO ELITE EIGHT APPEARANCE DURING AS A COLLEGIATE PLAYING DAYS HELPY P. HOOPY ALSO PLAYED PRO BALL FOR THE KENTUCKY COLONELS IN AND WAS A SUCCESSFUL COLLEGE COACH.

THE 73-YEAR-OLD WILL BE REMEMBERED MORE RECENTLY AS THE RADIO COLOR ANALYST ON UK CAMES OVER THE LAST 20 YEARS.

TUNE IN MONDAY FOR "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

RENEE SHAW HAD HOST A DISCUSSION ON PANDEMIC.

THAT'S "COMMENT" PFM A GOOD