>> It will lift all boats.

>> President Trump has lifted a tariff on whiskey and scotch from Great Britain.

How will this benefit Kentucky's bourbon industry?

>> He's had 15 years to make his case to these people.

Get this quote right.

15 years.

What's he got to say now?

What's he not said?

He's not said already.

>> A candidate for Kentucky's fourth congressional District stomps to Northern Kentucky voters.

[MUSIC] >> That's what we're going to see here.

A major step backwards.

And it's unfortunate.

>> And what will the U.S.

Supreme Court decision mean about those who serve in Congress and elsewhere?

>> Production of Kentucky edition is made possible in part by the KET Millennium Fund.

>> Good evening and welcome to Kentucky Edition for this Friday, May 1st.

Happy Oaks Day for those who are celebrating, I'm Renee Shaw, and we thank you for starting off your weekend with us.

Kenton County Republicans heard from L. Gallrein last night.

He's going up against Congressman Thomas Massie in the fourth Congressional District primary.

A couple of the top contenders for U.S.

Senate also made their way to northern Kentucky to make their case to the voters.

Our Emily Sisk was there in Covington and has the latest.

As we count down to Kentucky's 2026 primary election.

>> 15 weeks ago.

>> Ed Gallrein, a former Navy Seal and farmer, took the stage at the Kenton County Lincoln Day dinner last night to explain why he wants to serve Kentuckians in the fourth Congressional District.

Gallrein is going up against incumbent Republican Congressman Thomas Massie in the upcoming primary.

Gallrein and Massie have yet to formally debate one another, and they have rarely been spotted together at campaign events.

I asked Gallrein if he plans to debate the incumbent congressman before May 19th.

>> I'm debating him every day.

I'm glad you asked that question.

He's had 15 years to make his case to these people, get this quote right.

15 years.

What's he got to say now?

What's he not said?

He's not said already.

>> Massie, who is in his seventh term in Congress, was unable to attend Thursday night's dinner as he was on the House floor in Washington, Gallrein Scotland Massie for voting against some of President Donald Trump's policies, like the one big, beautiful bill.

>> He's gone to Washington, D.C.

he's burned every bridge, burned a bridge factory run everybody off the bridge.

That's a conservative Republican.

And that's why the mainstream media loves him, because he advances their cause for the liberals and the Democrats.

>> President Trump endorsed Gallrein, and they even took the stage together.

When the president visited Northern Kentucky in March, Gallrein recalled a phone conversation he had with Trump last October, when he said the president asked him to join the race.

>> And you need to serve our nation again.

It matters.

Then it hit me hard because I'd already lived a life of sacred obligation.

As a career Seal officer.

>> Gallrein identified himself as a fifth generation Kentucky farmer, a former Army Ranger and Navy Seal officer.

He also attended Murray State University, where he played college football.

The congressional candidate explained what his top priorities would be if elected.

>> Secure the border, grow the economy, restore law and order back the blue.

Strengthen our military and, like President Trump, protect the sanctity of life.

>> Two candidates for United States Senate also attended last night's Lincoln Day dinner.

Sixth District Congressman Andy Barr said he's already working with the president and his current role, and he'd be ready to act on day one as a United States senator.

>> I am battle tested.

I flipped a Democratic seat in the one swing district in the state.

I blocked the Democrats path.

I defeat Democrats.

That's what I do.

>> The Wall Street Journal recently reported that sources close to the president said Trump is, quote, considering endorsing Barr, but he also may not endorse any candidate.

I asked Barr about that report.

>> Well, the president speaks for the president.

No anonymous sources speak for the president.

And so he will make that decision.

No one else.

>> In turn, former Attorney General Daniel Cameron touted his support for the president and his hopes for Trump's endorsement.

>> I'd be honored to have President Trump's support, and he's endorsed me two times previously and certainly been grateful for his help.

And I've always had his back.

>> Both candidates for U.S.

Senate called Northern Kentucky, an economic hub for the state and shared how they would support the region if elected.

>> And someone who aspires to serve on the Senate Banking Committee.

I have great hope and vision for Northern Kentucky, attracting more financial services innovation to Northern Kentucky.

>> I was proud when I was Attorney General.

I put an office here in Kenton County because I care deeply about this community and wanted them to know that by putting an office here, and I know that office is still doing good work.

>> Nate Morris, another frontrunner in the Republican primary for U.S.

Senate, did not attend Thursday night's dinner for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily Sisk.

>> Thank you, Emily, for that report.

Now, more national politics.

Following a visit from King Charles the Third, President Donald Trump announced yesterday that he's lifting the 10% tariff on Scotch and Irish whiskey coming into the U.S.

from Britain.

U.S.

Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky praised the rollback, saying, quote, this move will give businesses the certainty they need to increase investment in Kentucky's economy.

After more than a year of looming high prices and increased costs, Kentucky's bourbon industry and the consumers that support it can be hopeful for the future.

End quote.

Earlier today, our Mackenzie Spink spoke to Lexington Herald-Leader journalist Janet Paton on what this tariff rollback means for Kentucky's bourbon industry.

>> The Kentucky bourbon scene and the international Scotch industry are more intertwined than you might think.

>> So Brown-Forman, for instance, which we know here in Kentucky, is major bourbon maker and producer of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, also owns Scotch brands and companies that we think of as overseas the British spirits giant Diageo, which makes Johnnie Walker, also makes Bullitt bourbon here in Kentucky.

And so it's not just that, just the bourbon and just the whiskey that's coming in.

It will lift all boats.

>> Similarly to Kentucky, the Scottish spirit industry has also slowed down recently, according to the Scotch Whiskey Association, export volume to the U.S.

fell 15% after the Trump administration announced the tariff last year.

>> People probably know that Kentucky's bourbon industry has been in a slump over the last year or so.

What you may not realize is that that's been the case overseas as well.

So Scotland's Scotch industry also has been in an economic downturn.

And so this tariff, like all the tariffs, have been kind of an extra weight depressing their sales.

>> One of the main exports of bourbon industry isn't what goes into the bottles.

It's actually the empty barrels.

Experts say a more robust Scotch industry will lead to better export numbers for Kentucky producers that rely on selling used barrels across the ocean.

>> So Kentucky bourbon has to be aged in new charred oak barrels.

Everybody knows that.

I think the barrels, once they're used, can't be reused for bourbon, but they can be reused for other spirits.

And Scotch has traditionally bought millions of barrels every year, and that market has been severely depressed.

So companies like Brown-Forman that have been selling barrels overseas to Scotland had seen in the last year a 50 to 60% drop in their barrel sales, which meant meant a significant hit to their corporate bottom line.

>> Patton says the bourbon industry is still facing challenges.

According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S.

exports of American whiskey fell 19% in the last year, amounting to $250 million in loss for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Mackenzie Spink.

>> Thank you.

Mackenzie.

The Kentucky Distillers Association praised President Trump's decision to remove the tariffs, saying, quote, this action restores reciprocal tariff free trade between our historic spirits and is especially important for Kentucky, as Scotch distillers have long been the largest export market for Kentucky's used bourbon barrels, end quote.

Kentucky State Police say a person of interest is in custody following a deadly bank robbery in Madison County.

An affidavit identifies the suspect as 18 year old Braylon Weaver, the court documents says.

Weaver entered U.S.

Bank in Berea yesterday afternoon and shot two employees, killing them both.

They've been identified as 35 year old Brianna Edwards and 42 year old Brian Schweitzer.

Investigators say they tracked Weaver to Somerset and began chasing him up I-75 and into Lexington, where he reached speeds nearing 130mph before crashing.

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman says his office will pursue state murder charges.

The Urban League of Lexington has a new leader.

Today, the group announced a Floyd.

Franklin will serve as interim president and CEO.

She takes over for Peggy Peoples, who died earlier this week at the age of 80.

People served as president of the Urban League of Lexington for more than 50 years.

The organization says while people's family is still finalizing visitation plans, his funeral will take place on Monday, May 18th at First Baptist Church, Black Town in Lexington.

Monday is International Firefighters Day, a day honoring firefighters serving all over the world, including those who died while serving in Lexington.

Mayor Linda Gordon signed a proclamation declaring Monday International Firefighters Day in Kentucky's second largest city.

Fire Chief Jason Wells praised his firefighters for their hard work and dedication, and he praised the public for its support.

>> Today is a moment to honor not only the work that we do, but the dedication, courage and compassion shown by every firefighter in our department.

They respond to the hardest days in people's lives, and they do it with professionalism and heart.

It is my honor to serve alongside them.

I also want to thank the residents of Lexington.

Your trust means everything to us and it motivates us to keep improving, keep training, keep showing up.

No matter the challenge.

>> Governor Andy Beshear is ordering flags lowered to half staff Sunday, the day of the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Service.

Earlier this week, the U.S.

Supreme Court voted 6 to 3 that lawmakers went too far using racial makeup as a factor while creating a congressional district in Louisiana.

Critics of the decision say it guts the 1965 Voting Rights Act and opens the door to redistricting that will reduce black representation in Congress.

This was Governor Beshear's reaction yesterday.

>> I think this is going to push our country backwards.

The Voting Rights Act was fought for by so many, so many civil rights leaders that were out there that that had grown up at a time when they couldn't vote or access to voting just wasn't there.

That did not see representatives or senators that look like them, because areas have been racially gerrymandered to prevent it.

This was such an important protection that makes sure that we have a government of the people, and not a government that selects the people that can or cannot vote for them.

>> Congressman Morgan McGarvey of Kentucky's third congressional District also denounced the court's decision, saying it could lead to a return of Jim Crow era disenfranchisement of black voters.

A University of Kentucky law professor also says the ruling could turbocharge mid-decade redistricting and gerrymandering.

Election law and voting rights expert Joshua Douglas spoke with me earlier today about the Ruling's impact.

As we can continue our coverage of the U.S.

Supreme Court.

[MUSIC] Professor Douglas, thank you so much for being with us.

>> Thank you for having me.

>> Usually, we don't connect with you until June, which is kind of the rendition month for the U.S.

Supreme Court.

But things are a little different this time.

So let's talk about this voting rights ruling.

Voting rights advocates and experts are really sounding the alarm on this, and they're calling it a setback.

That, quote will undermine minority representation, not just in congressional districts, but if you look at legislatures, county commissions, school boards, city councils.

How do what do you make of the ruling from yesterday?

>> It's a really unfortunate decision for the cause of voting rights, for the cause of fair representation.

You know, the Voting Rights Act of 1965 was the crown jewel of the civil rights movement, and the court has slowly been cutting back different provisions in different areas, starting with the Shelby County case from 2013.

And then there was a case in 2021.

And so this is sort of like three strikes.

You're out for a baseball guy on the Voting Rights Act.

It really is a concerning approach to what's supposed to be the law that protects minority voters and really all voters with respect to a fair democracy.

>> So effectively, what did it do or undo?

And didn't the court already decide this a few years ago?

And is this a reversal of that.

>> Sort of.

So there's a lot of moving parts here.

>> Yes.

It's somewhat confusing.

>> Yes.

So this lawsuit involved what's known as section two of the Voting Rights Act.

And section two says by its terms that a state or locality cannot have a voting rule.

And that would include a redistricting map that results in discrimination on the basis of race.

Now, a couple years ago, in a case out of Alabama, a case called Allen, the court was faced with a challenge to Alabama's map.

And Alabama, in defense, tried to get the court to change the way it interprets section two.

And the court essentially rejected that approach.

Now, three years later, the court has essentially adopted, but not even the Alabama approach, what it had suggested, what the state suggested, but an even further weakening of the section two provision by two, two things that are really important here.

One, it essentially ignored that word results.

Recall that I said that section two, by its very terms, says you can't have a voting rule that results in discrimination.

And the court for decades has interpreted that to mean discriminatory effects.

You can't have the effect of discrimination.

Well, just yesterday, the court basically rejected or ignored.

I actually did a find for the word results just to see when the court was even in it barely talked about that word result.

So interesting for Justice Alito, a professed textualist, someone who looks very closely at the text of a provision to really ignore the text here.

The second thing the court did was it said to states and localities that are facing a Voting Rights Act challenge that if their goal is politics, not race, then they win the lawsuit, that you can simply use the political justification, whether it's we want more Republicans.

We want to protect incumbents.

If you just have evidence that its politics was the goal, then the plaintiffs lose their lawsuit.

So although the court didn't formally overrule and say section two is unconstitutional, it's effectively a dead letter now because it's impossible for a plaintiff to win a case.

>> And people would think, seems like that would be unconstitutional to consider party and partizan affiliations.

>> Well, that's the other part of this.

And this is why this is not really a decision just about what the court did in this Louisiana case yesterday, but it actually goes back about a decade and a half.

You have to consider that Shelby County case I mentioned, and that was about a different provision, section five of the Voting Rights Act.

But also there's a really important case in 2019 called Rucho versus common Cause.

And in that case, the court said, we're going to stay out of policing, policing, partizan, gerrymandering.

In fact, the court even said in that case, there is such a thing as constitutional partizan gerrymandering.

And the court said, no, we're not going to touch this.

You know, you can go to states and we've seen litigation in state courts.

You can go to the legislatures and try to get them to pass independent redistricting commissions.

One other really interesting point from the difference between that Rucho case in 2019 and yesterday in 2019, the court said, we're not condoning Partizan gerrymandering.

We're just saying we're not going to get involved in stopping it.

Yesterday's decision said states you can use Partizan gerrymandering as a defense to a Voting Rights Act claim.

So essentially the court is condoning Partizan gerrymandering.

Now.

When it claimed it wasn't, it just said we can't touch this issue.

Now it's telling states, you can affirmatively use that as the reason for why you passed the law and you win.

>> So Sherrilyn Ifill, a law professor at Howard University, I know you're very familiar with her, and former president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund said there were about 1500 black elected officials throughout the country in 1970.

Today, that stands at more than 10,000.

So is there a direct correlation or causation between those growth in numbers and the VRA, as we had had we had used to know it as we historically have known it.

>> Absolutely.

Because the Voting Rights Act required jurisdictions when drawing maps and also in crafting other voting rules to make sure that the the strength of minority voters.

I mean, pretty simple way to think about this.

Imagine a city and actually Justice Kagan in her dissent in the Louisiana case yesterday, basically used this hypothetical.

Imagine a city where the center part, a circle is where most of the minorities live and the outskirts, the suburbs are where most of the non minorities are white majority lives.

Well, if you have a sizable number of those minority voters who live in the same area, you've got to draw district to make sure they have some voting strength.

Now, you could just what we do call this cracking.

You could split up that central area and disperse them into various different districts, and they would get no voting strength collectively.

And I fear that's what's going to happen in many places around the country now.

>> So if we thought we were tired of political gerrymandering that's already going on in states, this could just exacerbate that.

>> I think it's going to be supercharged because of the combination of that 2019 case where the Supreme Court essentially said Partizan gerrymandering is constitutional, and now no backstop on the racial part of it.

And again, I can't overemphasize how monumental it is to tell states this is your valid defense to a lawsuit.

You can say you're trying to achieve a political goal.

You're trying to achieve incumbent protection, and that's a valid defense.

Now, the state can actively say, we want six Republicans and no Democrats in the legislature, in our congressional delegation, or vice versa.

We want to favor the Democrats.

And that's a valid defense to basically any lawsuit involving redistricting.

>> Turning now to sports.

Tomorrow, of course, is the 152nd running of the Kentucky Derby.

But before we get to the most exciting two minutes in sports, we have the Kentucky Oaks, which for the first time is moving to prime time.

Our Kelsey Starks and Laura Rogers joins us from Churchill Downs.

>> Well, it turned out to be just a gorgeous day out here for the Kentucky Oaks.

Huge crowd out here, of course, to celebrate this Friday before the Kentucky Derby.

>> Yes.

>> The excitement.

>> Is palpable.

Churchill Downs.

>> Is hopping today.

We've got some sunshine.

And also we have beautiful fashions.

I love all the shades of pink.

Oh my goodness.

Some of the things that we have seen out here, it is just truly a spectacle.

But of course today it is all about the lilies for the fillies and honoring breast cancer awareness.

Yes, absolutely.

And then also a lot of talk about that later post time.

For the first time, we're going to see the Oaks running after sunset.

Yeah, that is the big talk of course here for the Kentucky Oaks being a little bit later.

But for the fans they say it's just a longer experience.

>> It's going to be intense.

It's going to be a long day.

It's going to be an endurance race for both us and the horses.

>> I think it's nice because it allows for like a full day's worth of just kind of experience and fun and things like that.

So I think it's pretty great.

>> It seems a little late if you ask me.

But you know what?

We're going to have a good time and enjoy our day.

>> It will be a long day.

We're going to be here and make the most of it.

Of course, it's a little.

>> Crazy, but a glamorous kind of crazy.

So I'm into it.

The more people, more people dressed up.

So I love it.

>> Starts later this evening.

But you know, I'm here all day.

I'm here.

Doesn't matter me, I want to I want to take it all in.

>> It's a longer party.

Anything to put Kentucky on the in the spotlight.

And so if it's prime time TV that for two days, I think that's great for our economy.

That's great for our horse racing industry.

It's great for Kentuckians.

>> I love all the fashion.

I love all the crazy hats.

I think the funkier the better, gets people to look and interested in it.

And I love the pink.

>> Well, of course it is about the hats and the fashion, but it is also about the horses.

So we took a look at the Oaks race and I will tell you, my pick is Lovely Gray because it is a beautiful gray horse, but it also has a female trainer by the name of Kelsey Kelsey Danner.

So I'm rooting for that one.

How about you?

Sounds like a winner, but I'm going with Dazzling Dame also because I love the name and she has a female trainer, Brittany Russell.

So let's go girls.

All right.

We'll be cheering them on.

It is all about the fillies here.

We are reporting from Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Oaks.

Back to you Renee.

>> Have fun girls.

But we don't have to tell them to do because they are having it.

Thank you.

Kelsey and Laura ring in the month of May with music, food and fun.

Here's our Toby Gibbs to tell us what's happening around the Commonwealth.

>> It's a hands on look at life on the farm with the Campbell County Farm and Livestock Expo taking place at the Alexandria Fairgrounds Saturday.

See livestock demonstrations like hoof trimming and shearing, take part in a tractor driving contest and hear from agriculture specialists.

The expo also features a live equipment auction.

The event is free.

They're highlighting the handmade at the Madisonville Arts and Crafts Fair.

[MUSIC] The fair features more than 70 vendors offering a mix of handmade goods.

It's a one day event bringing together local makers and small businesses in a single space.

The fair happens Saturday.

It's a gathering grounded in heritage and hands on crafts this weekend in Grayson, with the Appalachia KY Herb and Handcraft Heritage Festival, the festival highlights Appalachian culture with a focus on plants, handmade arts and natural wellness.

The event includes workshops, demonstrations and live music tied to regional traditions.

Monticello is serving up some kid sized fun this Saturday with the Monticello Market Downtown Kids Fest.

[MUSIC] The event features a mix of vendors from crafts and boutiques to produce and food trucks, along with inflatables, games, readings and activities for kids of all ages.

The region's past and present meet on the same grounds in Lancaster at the Garrard County Rural Heritage Tobacco Festival.

It's a celebration of the region's agricultural roots, with three days of activities that includes live music, a parade, carnival rides, wrestling, talent shows and arts and crafts vendors.

The festival kicks off next Thursday.

The Bard's work is getting a new generation of voices the Young American Shakespeare Festival in Louisville features students, performers taking on Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

The event highlights emerging talent who bring new energy to two of Shakespeare's well-known comedies.

[MUSIC] The performances are next Thursday, and that's what's happening around the Commonwealth this week.

I'm Toby Gibbs.

>> Thank you.

Toby Gibbs.

We're about one hour away from coming on Kentucky as host Bill Bryant and a panel of veteran Kentucky reporters discuss Kentucky's decline in drug deaths, the U.S.

House race in the sixth district, and, of course, the Kentucky Derby.

That's coming your way at 8:00 eastern, seven central right here on KET.

I'm Renee Shaw.

Thank you for being with us all week, and I hope you have a winning derby weekend and join us right back here on Monday night until I see you again.

Take really good care and have a great one.