WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING u THE MIDTERM ELECTION IS THREE WEEKS FROM TOMORROW, AND TONIGH WE'RE LOOKING AT RACES IN THE U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES I DISTRICTS 4, 5, AND 6.

MATTHEW LEHMAN IS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE IN DISTRICT 4 IN NORTHERN KENTU HE JOINS US TONIGHT.

HIS OPPONENT IS CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSEY, THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT, WHO DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR INVITATION TO APPEAR.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

SKO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS on TWITTER AT KYTONIGHTKET.

SEND AN EMAIL TO KYTONIGHT@KET.ORG.

OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/KYT.

OSH YOU CAN JUST GIVES A CALL AT 1-800-494-7605 WELCOME, MR. LEH.

THANK YOU FOR COMING THIS EVENING.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ME, RENEE.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I'LL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE 4th DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY AND VIEWERS ACROSS THE STATE.

WHY ARE YOU SEEKING THIS OFFICE?

>> HI, RENEE, AND AGAIN THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

THANK YOU FOR DOING THIS.

KET HAS A LONG HISTORY OF, LONG TRADITION OF PUBLIC FORUMS AND HELPING INTRODUCE CANDIDATES TO VOTERS AND VICE VERSA.

P AS YOU SAY, I'M A NATIVE NORTHERN KENTUCKY PAINE WENT TO THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE.

I HAD A CHANCE, I LIVED OUT OF THE STATE FOR A WHILE, LIVED INTERNATIONALLY FOR ABOUT SEVEN YEARS IN COUNTY.

AND GERMANY, LIVED IN OTHER PARTS OF THE CRY, MOVED BACK TO KENTUCKY SEVEN YEARS AGO AND AGAIN SETTLED WOO MY FAMILY BACK IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

I CHOSE TO RUN FOR THIS OFFICE BECAUSE EYE BEEN VERY FRUSTRATED WITH THE TYPE OF REPRESENTATION WE'VE HAD IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND THROUGHOUT THE 4th DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY.

AND DECIDED TO STEP UP AND TRY TO MAKE A CHANGE.

>> WHAT ARE THE FRUSTRATIONS SPECIFICALLY THAT YOU HAVE WITH THE REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT OR THE WAY THAT YOU FEEL LIKE HIS REPRESENTATION IS NOT REPRESENTING THE PEOPLE HERE?

>> WELL, SURE.

I THINK WHAT WE SEE TONIGHT I AM I MEAN, HE'S A COWARD TO DOESN'T TALK TO HIS CONSTITUENTS.

HE DOESN'T SHOW P TO THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE MEETING IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY ANYMORE.

HE DIDN'T YOU MEET WITH HEALTH CARE WORKERS.

HE IS TOLD THE JEWISH AND OTHER LEADERS IN CINCINNATI HE DOESN'T WANT TO MEET WITH THEM.

HE'S BASICALLY BEEN A VACANT SEAT REPRESENTING THE 4th DISTRICT FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS.

>> IDENTIFICATION WITH THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS STRONG IN THAT 4th DISTRICT, AS WE KNOW, AND SO I'M CURIOUS ABOUT HOW IF PARTY AFFILIATION IS WHAT MAY DRIVE VOTE PERHAPS TOWARD THE INCUMBENT, HOW DO YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU CAN MUSTER UP ENOUGH VOTES FROM REPUBLICANS WHO MIGHT HAVE VOTED FOR CONGRESSMAN MASSEY BEFORE TO SWITCH AND VOTE FOUR?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

AGAIN, I'M NOT NAIVE.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

IT HAS BEEN A CONSERVATIVE LEANING DISTRICT FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.

BUT AGAIN, I GREW UP IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

LIVE IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE THERE.

II HAVE A PRETTY GOOD SENSE OF THE VALUES AND THE INTERESTS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

AND THE WAY YOU ASK FOR VOTES FROM INDEPENDENTS, FROM MODERATE REPUBLICANS IS YOU TALK TO THEM, YOU SHOW UP, YOU ASK QUESTIONS.

I'VE BEEN VERY DELIBERATE ABOUT THAT AS WELL AS TALKING TO, OF COURSE, DEMOCRATS.

YOU KNOW, I'M A LIFELONG PRAGMATIC DEMOCRAT.

I BELIEVE IN STANDING UP FOR THE WORKING CLASS, FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS, TRYING TO ADVANCE WHAT MAKES FAMILIES BETTER, AND I THINK THAT'S THE MESSAGE YOU GET THROUGH AND PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO LISTEN.

I THINK IT'S WORTH POINTING OUT, AND THIS IS IMPORTANT -- I MEAN, REPRESENTATIVE MASSEY REALLY REPRESENTS A PRETTY EXTREME FRINGE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

HE HAS BACKED A NUMBER OF CANDIDATES IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY, WELL, AND EVEN SHELBY COUNTY AND OTHER PARTS OF THE 4th DISTRICT THAT THEY REFER TO THEMSELVES AS THE LIBERTY CAUCUS OR THE LIBERTY CANDIDATES.

I'M NOTE QUITE SURE WHAT VERSION LIBERTY THEY STAND FOR FOR.

BUT THEY HAVE BACKED INSURGENT INCUMBENTS AGAINST MORE MAINSTREAM REPUBLICANS, AND THAT IS TO THE DETRIMENT OF OUR DISTRICT OF OUR REGION.

I THINK THAT'S WORTH POINT POINTING OUT.

>> SO WHAT ARE THE VOTERS THERE TELLING YOU WHEN YOU INTERFACE WITH THEM WHAT THEY WANT A REPRESENTATIVE TO DO FOR THEM IN WASHINGTON?

>> VERY QUICK, NUMBER ONE IS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC, MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS TREATMENT AND THAT OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND OUR HEALTH CARE AGENCIES ARE SUFFICIENTLY STAFFED AND FUNDED TO ADDRESS THIS.

IT'S A MORAL ISSUE.

IT'S I.

AFFECTED NEARLY EVERY FAMILY THAT I'VE TALKED TO THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

IT'S AFFECTING OUR WORKFORCE AND OUR ECONOMY.

THAT IS CLEARLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

>> YOU MENTIONED JUST A MOMENT AGO THAT YOU LIVED IN UKRAINE.

I THINK YOU LIVED THERE IN THE 2000s, IS THAT CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

>> SO LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT.

AS YOU KNOW, TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS OF AID HAVE GONE TO UKRAINE.

IT'S COME FROM WASHINGTON.

SOME AMERICANS BELIEVE WITH THE GREATNESS OF NEED HERE IN AMERICA BECAUSE OF THE ECONOMY AND BECAUSE, QUITE FRANKLY, LOOK AT THE NATURAL DISASTERS AND THOSE WHO HAVE NEEDED TORNADO AND HURRICANE AND FLOOD RELIEF, THAT THOSE DOLLARS SHOULD BE REPRIORITIZED TO DOMESTIC NEEDS.

YOUR THOUGHTS.

>> WELL, I WOULD CHALLENGE THAT CATEGORIZATION.

THAT'S A FALSE EQUIVALENT.

WE CAN DO MULTIPLE THINGS AT ONCE IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND I THINK THERE HAS BEEN A PRETTY STRONG BIPARTISAN COMMITMENT AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE IMPORTANCE OF WORKING WITH DEMOCRATIC PARTNERS, OUR ALLIES EVEN THOUGH UKRAINE IS NOT A FORMAL ALLY.

WE'VE HAD A LONGSTANDING FRIENDSHIP ABOUT UKRAINE.

UKRAINEES A MAJOR EXPORTER OF GRAIN, FERTILIZER, OF ENERGY SOURCES, SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT ON OUR ECONOMY, SECURING AND HELPING FREE DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES IS IMPORTANT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COUNTRY.

I MEAN, AGAIN, THE 4th DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY WE HAVE TWO MAJOR AIR HUBS AT THE CINCINNATI NORTHERN KENTUCKY AIRPORT JUST OUTSIDE THE DISTRICT OF LOUISVILLE.

WE HAVE ANOTHER MAJOR LOGISTICS HUB.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE SECURE TRANSPORTATION, SECURE AIR TRAVEL, SECURE SHIPPING LANES.

AND THE WAY YOU DO THAT IS THROUGH STRONG INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIPS WITH DEMOCRATIC COUNTRIES.

SO THIS IS MONEY VERY WELL SPENT.

IT IS IN OUR INTERESTS ECONOMICALLY AS WELL AS OUR INTERESTS MORALLY.

>> AS YOU KNOW, THE CONFLICT IN UKRAINE HAS LED TO HIGHER ENERGY PRICES AND INFLATION IS A BIG TOPIC THAT'S ON THE MINDS OF A LOT OF AMERICANS WHO ARE PAYING 8% MORE, MORE THAN 8% MORE FOR GOODS AND SERVICES THAN THEY DID JUST A YEAR AGO.

YOU KNOW THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WAS SUPPOSED TO ADDRESS SOME OF THAT, BUT SOME SAY IT DOESN'T OFFER IMMEDIATE RELIEF.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THAT BILL DID ENOUGH TO ADDRESS INFLATION ADEQUATELY?

AND WHAT IF ELECTED TO GO TO WASHINGTON WOULD YOU DO TO LOWER DID PRICE OF ENERGY AND FOOD COSTS AND MORE COSTS OF LIVING EXPENSES?

>> YES.

SO COMING BACK TO THE ISSUES IN THE DISTRICT, AS YOU -- AS I MENTIONED, OPIOID IS CLEARLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

NUMBER TWO I HEAR IS INFLATION AND THE EFFECT ON PEOPLE'S POCKETBOOKS AND THEIR DAILY LIFE.

YOU'RE RIGHT, I WISH THERE WAS A QUICK FIX.

WE DO HAVE GLOBAL -- AND THIS IS A GLOBAL INFLATION PROBLEM.

YOU CAN LOOK AT ANY NUMBER OF FACTORS, FROM SOME OF THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING AND FISCAL STIMULUS FROM COVID THAT HELPED START THIS, THE ENERGY PRICES AND FOOD PRICES IN LARGE PART BECAUSE OF THE INVASION OF UKRAINE BY RUSSIA.

WE HAVE SEVERE SUPPLY DISRUPTIONS IN CHINA.

WE HAVE SEVERE WORKFORCE SHORTAGES IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT'S ALSO A LOT I HEAR ABOUT BE, ESPECIALLY IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY IN NORTHERN KENTUCKY.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO HIRE PEOPLE.

THE LABOR EMPLOYMENT RIGHT IS AT ALL-TIME HIGHS IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE DISTRICT.

SO I DO THINK THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT THAT WAS THE BIPARTISAN PLAN THAT WENT THROUGH CONGRESS WENT -- YOU KNOW, IT DID WHAT IT COULD DO, BUT WE'VE GOT A LOT OF STEPS THAT NEED TO BE TAKEN PROBABLY REDUCING SOME OF THE DISCRETIONARY SPENDING WITHOUT LIMITING THE LONG-TERM INVESTMENTS THAT ARE BEING MADE IN INFRASTRUCTURE.

>> SO DISCRETIONARY SPENDING.

LET'S REVATE THAT POINT.

WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE DISCRETIONARY?

AND WHAT DO YOU THINK COULD BE LIMITED OR TAILORED OR REDUCED WHEN IT COMES TO DISCRETIONARY SPENDING?

>> WELL, I MEAN, I THINK THAT SOME OF -- THE ONE THING I BREAK WITH THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS WHAT WE'VE DONE WITH SOME OF THE STUDENT LOAN DEBT REDUCTION.

I THINK THAT THIS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN THE RIGHT TIME TO DO THAT.

I THINK THERE'S, AGAIN, SOME OF THE STIMULUS THAT HAS BEEN LEFTOVER THAT IS NOT REALLY INVESTMENT AND LONG-TERM INFRASTRUCTURE, THINGS LIKE ROADS, BROADBAND, THOSE TYPES OF THINGS, AND THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL COULD BE SCALED BACK FOR A PERIOD OF TIME.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE IMPORTANT.

>> EVEN THOUGH THAT WOULD HAVE AFFECTED THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE.

>> JUST TO BE CLEAR, I AM VERY MUCH IN FAVOR OF INVESTMENTS.

I MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

THERE'S INVESTMENTS AND THEN THERE IS SHORTER TERM SPENDING.

SO DURING THE PANDEMIC I THOUGHT IT WAS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE WERE AT A RISK OF DEPRESSION THAT WE DID HAVE FISCAL STIMULUS.

THAT STARTED IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND CONTINUED UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

NOW THAT WE'VE GOTTEN THROUGH THE WORST OF THAT, IT'S TIME TO SCALE BACK SOME OF THAT SPENDING.

BUT LONG-TERM INVESTMENT IN INFRASTRUCTURE, LIKE THE BRENT SPENCE BRIDGE, AND WE'VE GOT 20 BRIDGES OR SO IN THE 4th DISTRICT.

THEY ALL NEED HELP AT THIS POINT.

BROADBAND ACCESS IS A MAJOR ISSUE, ESPECIALLY IN THE RURAL PARTS OF THE COUNTY OR RURAL PARTS OF THE DISTRICT IN THE RURAL COUNTIES THE IN 4th DISTRICT.

RIVER ACCESS IN PLACES LIKE LEWIS COUNTY.

I WAS IN VANCEBURG A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO AND THEY DESPERATE WANT A DOCK ON THE OHIO RIVER AND WHAT EVER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES COULD BE HAD THERE.

SHOWS ARE INVESTMENTS.

IT'S NOT SHORT-TERM FISCAL STIMULUS JUST TO MAKE THAT DISTINCTION.

>> SO LET'S GO BACK TO YOUR POINT ABOUT HOW THIS IS WHERE YOU MAY WREAK WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN, AND THAT'S THE STUDENT LOAN FORGIVENESS PROGRAM THAT COULD BE ANYWHERE FROM $10,000 OR $20,000 FOR ERINERS WHO HAVE 25K OR LESS TO HAVE THAT AMOUNT FORGIVE.

WHAT'S YOUR PHILOSOPHICAL REASON ABOUT BEING AGAINST THAT PLAN.

>> I DON'T KNOW THAT IT IS OOH A PROBABLE REASON.

I THINK IT'S PRACTICAL.

I DO THINK AT THIS MOMENT IN TIME THE PRIORITY NEEDS TO BE FINDING WAYS TO MAKE POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES LESS EXPENSIVE AND MORE ACCESSIBLE TO PEOPLE RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, JUST USING THE RESOURCES OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO FORGIVE THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN INCURRED.

I WOULD BE IN FAVOR FOR FINDING DEBT RELIEF FOR PEOPLE IN COLLEGE.

I MEAN, WE DO HAVE OPPORTUNITIES FOR PEOPLE TO SERVE IN THE MILITARY, SERVE IN PUBLIC SERVICE, SERVE IN HEALTH CARE, AND THEN THERE ARE WAYS THAT PEOPLE CAN WORK THROUGH AND HAVE THEIR DEBT REDUCED.

I'M IN FAVOR OF THOSE.

I AM IN FAVOR OF ALLOWING COLLEGE DEBT TO BE HANDLED THROUGH THE BANKRUPTCY CODE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY NOT.

SO I THINK THERE'S WAYS TO ADDRESS IT WITHOUT NECESSARILY A LARGE GIVEAWAY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LABOR SHORTAGE.

WE DO KNOW THAT THE LABOR MARKET IS TIGHT NATIONWIDE.

THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ABOUT 3.5%.

MOST PEOPLE WHO CAN FIND WORK PROBABLY CAN IF THEY'D LIKE TO.

WHAT POLICY SUGGESTIONS DO YOU HAVE TO HELP SHORE UP THE WORKFORCE?

AND WE KNOW THAT IT'S ALSO HELPED PUSH WAGES UP HIGHER.

DO YOU THINK THOSE WAGES ARE NOW COMPARABLE TO WHAT IT TAKES TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING?

AND WHAT POLICIES WOULD YOU HAVE OWN SURE THAT THAT HAPPENS GOING FORWARD?

>> WELL, I WOULD COME BACK TO, LET'S REMEMBER, WE HAVE COME INTO A PANDEMIC.

I MEAN, COVID IS STILL WITH US AND THERE ARE STILL PEOPLE DYING, SO WE HAVE HAD A MUCH HIGHER DEATH RATE IN THE PAST FEW YEARS THAN USUAL.

IT APPEARS TO BE DRIVEN BY NOT JUST COVID-19 BUT OPIOID OVERDOSES.

AND THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC IN PARTICULAR HAS HIT THE MALE POPULATION IN PARTICULAR THE HARDEST, SO WHEN WE LOOK AT THE JOBS THAT ARE HARDEST TO FILL RIGHT NOW, THEY'VE TRADITIONALLY BEEN FILLED BY WORKING AGE MEN, MEN IN THEIR 20 TO 40-YEAR-OLD RANGE.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M HEARING FROM BUSINESSES.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S A WAY TO DEAL WITH THE WORKER SHORTAGE UNTIL WE DEAL WITH THE HEALTH AND THE MENTAL HEALTH OF OUR POPULATION, AND THAT I THINK HAS TO BE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY.

>> SOME, PARTICULARLY IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WILL SAY THAT IN ORDER TO HELP THE PIPELINE OF OPIOIDS AND DEADLY ILLICIT DRUGS LIKE FENTANYL THAT'S COMING INTO THE U.S., THERE NEEDS TO BE TIGHTER BORDER SECURITY IN MEXICO, SO CAN YOU TALK TO US ABOUT YOUR POSITION ON IMMIGRATION AND OPEN BORDERS, ET CETERA, ET CETERA.

>> WELL, I WOULD AGREE, CERTAINLY IT IS WORTHILY OF OUR TIME AND OUR RESOURCES TO TRY TO PREVENT ILLICIT DRUGS FROM COMING INTO THIS COUNTRY FROM ANY BORDER, THE SOUTHERN BORDER.

FROM WHAT I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF THE OPIOIDS ARE ACTUALLY COMING IN THROUGH PORTS OF ENTRY, THEY SEEM TO BE MANUFACTURED IN CHINA COMING THROUGH PORTS OF ENTRY ON THE WEST COAST.

I -- THE TRUTH IS THE OPIOID CRISIS WAS CAUSED BY DOMESTIC U.S. PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES THAT DEVELOPED NOVEL FORMS OF OPIOIDS.

FENNEL HAS BEEN IN THIS COUNTRY SINCE 1968.

FENTANYL.

I THINK THESE AREN'T NEW, NEW DRUGS.

THERE HAVE BEEN NEW FORMULATIONS THAT WERE ILLEGALLY MARKETED STARTING IN THE 1990S THAT GOT A LARGE PART OF THIS POPULATION ADDICTED TO OPIOIDS.

IN 2015, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT STARTED TO CRACK DOWN ON THIS.

YOU KNOW, THINK STARTED CRACKING DOWN ON PILL MILLS, AND I THINK IT WAS FINE.

THE PROBLEM IS WE'VE NEVER ACTUALLY TREATED THE UNDERLYING DEPENDS PROBLEM THAT HAS AFFECTED WAY TOO MANY PEOPLE IN OUR POPULATION IN THIS COUNTRY.

UNTIL WE DO THAT, THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A SUPPLIER IF THERE'S A DEMAND, AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, THE OVERCONCENTRATION ON THE SUPPLIERS AND, AGAIN, A LOT OF IT'S COMING FROM CHEAP MANUFACTURERS ABROAD, IS MISSING THE POINT.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE CAUSE OF DEMAND AND THE DEPENDENCE ISSUES WE HAVE IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> I WANT TO SHIFT TO TALK ABOUT INDIVIDUAL LIBERTIES IN TIME WE HAVE REMAINING.

ON YOUR WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK YOU SAY INDIVIDUAL REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS, MARRIAGE EQUALITY AND HEALTH CARE P. P SAY THAT NO ONE DESERVES TO HAVE THE POLICE OR THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM INVOLVED IN HEALTH CARE CHOICES.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT YOU MEAN BY THAT.

>> I THINK IT'S SELF-EXPLANATORY.

WE TALK ABOUT THE OVERTURN OF THE DOBBS DECISION THIS SUMMER OR I SHOULD SAY OVERTURN OF ROE V. WADE THE WITH DOBBS DECISION THIS SUMMER.

THIS TRIGGERED A PRETTY EXTREME BAN ON ABORTION.

>> IN ELECTED, WOULD YOU SEEK TO CODIFY ROE V. WADE?

>>> YES, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO THAT.

AND WE HAVE TO POINT OUT MY OPPONENT HAS SIGNED IN WRITING, HE SIGNED ONTO NOT JUST BANNING ABORTION IN ALL CASES BUT BANNING THINGS LIKE CONTRACEPTION.

THIS IS A VERY EXTREME VERSION OF THESE ISSUES.

'67 I I DON'T WANT TO SEE -- I'VE BEEN THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT.

I HAVE NOT HEARD ONE PERSON TELL ME THEY WANT MORE ABORTIONS BUT THEY WANT LATE TERM ABORTIONS.

THAT IS -- >> AND YOU'RE NOT A PROPONENT FOR LATE TERM ABORTIONS.

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

NOBODY IS.

BUT WHAT WE DO WANT IS TO MAKE SURE THAT WOMEN ARE ABLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS IN CONSULTATION WITH THEIR DOCTOR.

WE DON'T NEED THE PROSECUTORS INVOLVED.

WE DON'T NEED THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DISPROVED.

I MEAN, IT'S OBSCENE TO ME THAT WE'RE ASKING -- LOOK, YOU'RE GOING TO INTERVIEW THREE MIDDLE-AGED MEN TONIGHT ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

WE SHOULDN'T BE MAKING THIS DECISION.

WE SHOULD LET WOMEN AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS MAKE THIS DECISION.

>> IN 30 SECOND, CAN YOU PLEASE TELL US WHY YOU SHOULD BE SENT TO WASHINGTON AND REPLACEMENTS FOR MASSEY AS THE CONGRESSMAN FOR 4th DISTRICT.

>> SURE, AND I SAY REPEATEDLY I THINK I'VE DEMONSTRATED THE ABILITY TO RESPECT THE CONSTITUENTS OF 763,000 PEOPLE IN THE 4th DISTRICT AND I'VE TRIED TO MEET WITH EVERY ONE OF THEM.

I PROMISE TO TAKE THE JOB SERIOUSLY AND REPRESENT THE VALUES OF OUR DISTRICT AND THE INTERESTS OF OUR DISTRICT TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY IN DC.

>> THANK YOU, MR. LEHMAN, FOR BEING WITH US HERE TORAIN.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

IT WAS A REAL PLEASURE.

>>LY WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS OF THE 5TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

STAY WITH US.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR STICKING WITH US ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW U.S. REPRESENTATIVE HAL ROGERS HAS BEEN SERVING THE 5TH DISTRICT SINCE 1981.

HE JOINS US NOW.

HE IS OPPOSED IN THE NOVEMBER 8TH ELECTION BY DEMOCRAT CONNOR HALBLIEB, WHO DID NOT MEET OUR CRITERIA TO APPEAR.

WE ASK YOU to SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS BY TWITTER@KY TONIGHT SEND AN EMAIL TO KYTONIGHT@KET.

OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/.

OR YOU CAN SIMPLY GIVE IS US A CALL AT 1-800-494-7605.

WELCOME, CONGRESSMAN ROGERS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US.

>> THANK YOU.

PLEASURE BEING WITH YOU.

>> AS I ALLUDED YOU SERVED 21 CONSECUTIVE TERMS AND SERVED AS THE RANKING MEMBER OF SEVERAL APPROPRIATIONS AND SUBCOMMITTEES INCLUDING CHAIRMAN OF THE HOMELAND SECURITY AFTER 9/11 ATTACKS, BEEN ON THE FULL APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, CHAIRMAN OF THAT, 2011 TO 2017.

THIS YEAR YOU BECAME DEAN OF THE U.S. HOUSE AS THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF THE HOUSE.

WHAT MORE DO YOU HOPE TO ACCOMPLISH SHOULD YOU BE ELECTED TO ANOTHER TERM TO SERVE IN WASHINGTON?

>> WELL, TO CONTINUE OUR EFFORTS TO RECRUIT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY INTO OUR REGION, TO EMPLOY OUR PEOPLE AND KEEP THEM HOME.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WE'RE CONFRONTED WITH THIS TRIPLE WHAMLY OF THE WHAMLY OF THE PRESCRIBED DRUG PANDEMIC, IF YOU WILL, AS WELL AS THE LOSS OF THE COAL INDUSTRY IN THE REGION, AND, OF COURSE, THE PANDEMIC IN REAL.

SO I WILL BE WORKING EFFORTLESSLY TO COMBAT THOSE PROBLEMS.

THAT REGION, OUR REGION HAS BEEN IMPACTED OVER TIME WITH OVERWHELMING PROBLEMS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE TIMBER INDUSTRY AT THE TURN OF LAST CENTURY WAS A BIG INDUSTRY IN EAST KENTUCKY.

THAT'S NOW ESSENTIALLY GONE, AS WELL AS THE COAL INDUSTRY.

WE LOST 12,000 GOOD-PAYING JOBS DURING THE DEMISE OF THE COAL INDUSTRY.

AND NOW WE'VE BEEN HIT BY THIS HORRENDOUS FLOOD.

WHICH IS CATASTROPHIC IN EVERY WAY.

SO THAT'S CONSUMING A LOT OF MY TIME, OF COURSE, AS WELL AS THE OTHER DIFFICULTIES.

>> TO THAT CONCERN, WHEN YOU WERE TAPPED TO LEAD THE FIRST SUBCOMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY, YOUR BIO ONLINE STATES YOU DEMANDED ANSWERS FROM FEMA IN THE WAKE OF FEDERAL RESPONSE TO WILDFIRES, HURRICANES AND FLOODS.

SO I WANT TO ASK YOU IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS FOLLOWING THE LATE JULY FLOODS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY, THERE WERE MANY FRUSTRATIONS, FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE, BUT RESPONSE FROM FEMA, WHETHER IT BEING SLOW OR THE REPEATED DENIALS FOR INDIVIDUAL ASSISTANCE.

MANY PEOPLE SAYING FEMA NEEDS TO STEP IT UP, AND EVENTUALLY THEY HEARD THOSE CALLS.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TO ENSURE A MORE PROMPT RESPONSE IN RESPONSE TO CLAIMS AND FILLING THOSE CLAIMS BY THOSE WHO ARE IN NEED AND AFFECTED BY NATURAL DISASTERS SUCH AS WHAT WAS EXPERIENCED IN EASTERN KENTUCKY?

>> WELL, ON THE NIGHT OF THE HEAVY RAINS THAT PRECIPITATED THE FLOODING, AS SOON AS WE GOT THE WORD THAT THE FLOODING WAS HORRENDOUS, I RALLIED THE U.S. REPS FROM KENTUCKY AND SENATORS ON A LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT ASKING A DECLARATION OF AN EMERGENCY IMMEDIATELY, AND HE DID.

THE PRESIDENT DID SIGN THE PROCLAMATION THE SAME DAY THAT THE DISASTER OCCURRED.

THAT'S A RARITY.

SINCE THAT TIME FEMA HAS BEEN IN THERE DOING A LOT OF WORK.

SO FAR THEY'VE APPROVED MORE THAN $130 MILLION FOR FLOOD SURVIVORS AND $65 MILLION FOR HOUSINGS ASSISTANCE.

SBA IS THERE, THE NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM HAS APPROVED $22 MILLION.

AND YET I GET A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT FEMA'S NOT WILLING TO BE HELPFUL TO PEOPLE WHO APPLY FOR RELIEF.

AND WE'VE TALKED TO THEM AND BEEN ASSURED THAT THEY ARE DOING ALL THEY CAN TO SOLVE COMMUNICATIONS PROBLEM.

BUT I'M TOLD THAT SOME FIVE APPEALS ARE MADE PER INDIVIDUAL BEFORE THEY FINALLY GET RELIEF.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE, AND WE'LL BE RIDING HERD ON THE FEMA FROM HERE ON OUT.

>> AND WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE, RIDING HERD ON FEMA?

>> WELL, IT MEANS WORKING WITH THEM, VISITING WITH THEM, TALKING TO THEIR SUPERIORS, AND MAKING THE PLEA ON BEHALF OF PEOPLE WHO ARE WITHOUT A HOME, WITHOUT A CAR, SLEEPING IN A TENT OR IN A CAR OR TRUCK, SO THESE ARE NOT NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

>> LET'S PIVOT NOW AND TALK ABOUT SOCIAL SECURITY.

AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE 70 MILLION AMERICANS WHO RECEIVE SOCIAL SECURITY.

THE ADMINISTRATION, AS I SAY, ANNOUNCED LAST WEEK THAT BENEFICIARIES WOULD SEE AN 8.7% INCREASE IN THEIR MONTHLY PAYMENTS, WHICH IS GOOD NEWS BUT THAT'S BECAUSE THE INFLATIONARY RATE IS WHERE IT IS.

SO THE COLA IN 202023 WILL BE THE LARGEST INCREASE SINCE 1981.

THE AVERAGE PERSON IS EXPECTED COULD SEE AN AVERAGE INTHREES OF $144 IN PAYMENTS.

DO I SUPPORT PLANS TO CUT SOCIAL SECURITY FOR MEDICARE BENEFITS OR CHANGE ELIGIBILITY TO ONE OR BOTH OF THOSE PROGRAMS?

>> NO, I WOULDN'T, NOT SUPPORT CUTS TO THOSE AGENCIES.

>> THE REPUBLICAN AGENDA IN THE HOUSE, MANY DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING THAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT THOSE PROGRAMS TO GO ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK IN SOME WAY.

WILL YOU INTERVENE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT REPUBLICAN AGENDA, IF THAT IS SO TRUE, IS NOT CARRIED OUT?

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE, AND IT WILL NOT BE DONE.

>> ON JANUARY6TH, CONGRESSMAN ROGERS, YOU WERE THE ONLY MEMBER OF THE STATE'S FEDERAL DELEGATION TO VOTE AGAINST CERTIFYING THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION RESULTS CITING CLAIMS OF ELECTION FRAUD OF COURSE THOSE VOTES CAME HOURS AFTER AN INSURRECTION AT THE CAPITOL FORCED A LOCKDOWN, AB AS SUPPORTERS OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL.

EXPLAIN YOUR RATIONALE FOR VOTING AGAINST OR TO THROW ON THE ELECTORAL VOTES IN TWO STATES, ARIZONA AND PENNSYLVANIA, WHY YOU CHOSE TO DO THAT.

BEING THE SOLE MEMBER OF THE KENTUCKY DELEGATION TO DO SO.

>> WELL, WITH 2020 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WAS UNLIKE ANY OTHER.

LATE CHANGES WERE MADE TO THE ELECTION PROCESS IN SEVERAL STATES.

POSTPONED ELECTION AUDITS, LEGAL HEARINGS LED TO VALID QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RESULTS.

MY OFFICE WAS INUNDATED BY PHONE CALLS AND OTHER COMMUNICATIONS FROM PEOPLE ACROSS MY DISTRICT QUESTIONING THE INTEGRITY OF THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION IN OTHER STATES.

SO ON BEHALF OF THE PEOPLE OF MY DISTRICT WHO OVERWHELMINGLY OBJECTED TO ELECTORAL VOTES TIED TO ALLEGATIONS OF ELECTION FRAUD, DROVE ME TO TAKE THE ACTION I DID.

>> SO THOSE ALLEGATIONS OF ELECTION FRAUD, DID YOU SENSE THEN OR DO YOU NOW POSSESS EVIDENCE THAT THERE WAS SIGNIFICANT ELECTION FRAUD AND THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN WAS NOT DULY AND FAIRLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES?

>> WELL, I THINK THERE'S STILL SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT SOME STATES AND WHAT THEY DID, BUT IT'S OVER.

THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN ELECTED AND CERTIFIED.

WHAT -- I KNEW THAT MY OBJECTION WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED THE COURSE OF THE ELECTION.

BUT I WANTED TO ECHO THE SENT INLET I MEAN OF MY REGION IN THAT LARD.

>> DO YOU PERSONALLY BELIEVE THAT JOSEPH BIDEN WAS FAIRLY ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FAIR AND SQUARE?

>> I THINK HE WAS.

>> THIS QUESTION FROM A VIEWER, DAVID WEBB FROM FLOYD COUNTY, TO YOU.

ARE YOU WILLING TO GET A ACCIDENT WAGE FOR PEOPLE FOR -- DECENT WAGE FOR PEOPLE THAT WE LACK IN KENTUCKY -- THIS IS A QUOTE.

THE MINIMUM WAGE ASK STILL 5:DOLLARS 25 AN HOUR AND YOU VOTED NO ON A MINIMUM WAGE RAISE.

WOULD YOU BE WILLING TO VOTE YES, ASKS THIS CALLER?

>> WELL, I THINK WE'VE HAD TO LOOK AT IT.

YOU'VE GOT TO WORRY ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WOULD BE SEVERELY IMPACTED BY THIS.

SO THERE'S TWO CONNECTS WITH.

THERE'S THE INDIVIDUAL THAT IN MANY CASES, MOST CASES DESERVES A RAISE.

AND THEN THERE'S CONCERN ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES THAT WOULD BE PUT OUT OF BUSINESS BY SUCH A MOVE.

>> HOW DO YOU BALANCE THOSE COMPETING INTERESTS?

>> WELL, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IF IT TAKES PLACE.

>> DO YOU SUPPORT ANY RAISE IN THE CURRENT FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE?

>> IN THE MINIMUM WAGE?

>> POW DO YOU SUPPORT ANY INCREASE.

THERE'S BEEN SOME PROFESSIONALS FOR $15 AN HOUR.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S TOO STEEP?

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOULD BE A POLITICALLY PALATABLE MINIMUM WAGE.

IN THIS PROPOSAL?

>> IN THESE DIFFICULT ECONOMIC TIMES, PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO SURVIVE.

THE PRESIDENT'S POLICIES ARE SO INFLATIONARY, PEOPLE ARE LOSING EVERY DAY.

GASOLINE PRICES THROUGH THE SKY.

SHOPPING AT THE GROCERY STORE IS AN ECONOMIC TRAGEDY ALMOST.

SO ALL OF THESE FACTORS PLAY INTO WHETHER OR NOT WE CAN AFFORD TO LOSE A LOT OF BUSINESSES.

>> WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN PLAN TO EASE INFLATION?

IF IT WAS NOT THE BIPARTISAN INFLATION REDUCTION ACT THAT WAS PASSED RECENTLY, WHAT ELSE SHOULD BE DONE?

AND WHAT ARE REPUBLICANS PREPARED TO OFFER?

>> WELL, I THINK YOU'VE GOT TO LOOK AT WHAT CAUSED INFLATION IN THE FIRST PLACE, AND THAT WAS EXCESSIVE GOVERNMENTAL SPENDING MANY, IN THE TRILLIONS.

AND THAT STILL IS AROUND, SO INFLATION WAS CAUSED BY SPENDING TOO MUCH.

SO I THINK WE HAVE TO TRIM SPENDING IN ORDER TO CUT BACK ON INFLATION.

AND I THINK YOU HAVE TO TAKE ACTIONS ACROSS THE BOARD TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

>> WHERE WOULD YOU BEGIN, SIR?

IF YOU WERE TRYING TO REDUCE GOVERNMENT SPENDING, WHERE WOULD YOU START?

>> MOST OF THE SPENDING INCREASES OF LATE HAS BEEN WHAT'S CALLED MANDATORY SPENDING SPENDING.

THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF SPENDING, DISCRETIONARY WHERE YOU ACTUALLY VOTE ON IT, AND MANDATORY, WHICH IS AUTOMATIC BY LAW.

WHEN I FIRST WENT TO CONGRESS, MANDATORY EXTENDING EXTEND SPENDING HAS ONLY A THIRD OF THE BUDGET.

NOW IT'S TWO-THIRDS.

AND WE ONLY APPROPRIATE ONE-THIRD OF THE GOVERNMENT'S SPENDING.

AND THAT HAS TO BE THE APPLIES WHERE WE TRY TO CUT BACK BUT ALSO THE MANDATORY SPENDING IS REALLY WHERE THE ACTION IS AND SHOULD BE.

>> ANY PARTICULAR PROGRAM OR AGENCY THAT YOU BELIEVE SHOULD BE TRIMMED?

>> WELL, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK IN THE COURSE OF TIME.

>> SO LAST MONTH HOUSE GOP LEADERS KEVIN MCCARTHY UNVEILED LEGISLATIVE ROADMAP IF THE REPUBLICANS ARE ABLE TO RECAPTURE THE HOUSE IN NOVEMBER.

SUPPORTING TAX CUTS AND REDUCTIONS IN GOVERNMENT SPENDING, BUT ALSO WAYS IN SOME CRITICAL AND CONTROVERSIAL CULTURAL ISSUES, FOR EXAMPLE, PLEDGING TO SUPPORT, QUOTE, ONLY WOMEN CAN COMPETE IN WOMEN'S SPORTS WHICH WOULD SEEK TO BAN TRANS WOMEN FROM PLAYING ON WOMEN'S SPORTS TEAMS.

COULD YOU TELL US WHY THAT HAS EMERGED AS MUCH A CRITICAL ISSUE WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY PLATFORM ABOUT TRANSGENDER ISSUES?

AND DO YOU SUPPORT SUCH A MOVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT PART OF THE PLATFORM IS ACCELERATED?

>> YES, I WOULD SUPPORT THAT.

>> PLEASE EXPLAIN WHY.

>> WELL, BECAUSE IT'S VERY OBVIOUS THAT IN THIS DAY AND AGE THE FACTORS INVOLVED IN SPORTS THAT WE'VE NEVER FACED BEFORE, THIS IS ONE WHERE I THINK WE NEED TO FACE IT AND MAKE A DECISION.

>> THERE ARE MANY WHO SAY THERE ARE SO FEW OF THESE INCIDENTS THAT THE SOLUTION IS IN SEARCH OF A PROBLEM.

CAN YOU TALK TO US WHY THIS IS SUCH A BIG PROBLEM THAT THE REPUBLICANS WOULD CLAIM PART OF THEIR PLATFORM WHEN IT PERHAPS AFFECTS SUCH A FEW SEGMENT OF THE POPULATION.

>> THE PROBLEM THE COUNTRY FACES IS POLICIES BY THIS ADMINISTRATION IN ALLOWING THE OPEN BORDERS WITH MEXICO.

WE'RE LOSING OUR YOUNG PEOPLE TO FENTANYL FROM AGES 18 TO 45.

MORE PEOPLE ARE DYING FROM FENTANYL THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

IT'S COMING ACROSS THAT BORDER FROM CHINA TO MEXICO AND THE CARTELS AND ACROSS THE BORDER INTO THE U.S. WITH THE CARTELS STILL IN CHARGE IN AMERICA BECAUSE OF THAT OPEN BORDER.

SO IN ADDITION TO INFLATION WHICH THE ADMINISTRATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR, YOU HAVE THIS DEADLY PROBLEM OF FENTANYL CAUSED BY AN OPEN BOARDER TO OUR SOUTH.

-- BORDER TO OUR SOUTH.

WE HAVE 2 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS ARRESTED IN ONE YEAR.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

AND IT'S SO OBVIOUS.

AND IT'S A PROBLEM WAY ABOVE ANYTHING ELSE WE'VE TALKED ABOUT TONIGHT.

OR ELSEWISE.

>> MANY PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT WHERE MANY COUNTIES HAVE BEEN RANKED AND DEEMED PERSISTENTLY IMPOVERISHED, THEY WOULD WANT TO HAVE OR LEARN FROM YOU AN ECONOMIC PLAN TO HELP ELEVATE THOSE WHO ARE IN POVERTY TO HIGHER RANKS.

WHAT IS YOUR ANTI-POVERTY PLAN?

>> I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THESE FOR MANY YEARS, TO RECRUIT BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY INTO THE REGION.

WE CREATED AN ORGANIZATION CALL CALLED SOAR, WITH DID THAT WITH FORMER GOVERNOR BESHEAR, AND WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL SUMMIT, AND IT'S THIS WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY IN PIKEVILLE, AND I ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GO.

IT'S OUR EFFORT TO PUT TOGETHER A REGIONAL-WIDE EFFORT IN RECRUITING BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, AND DOING THE NECESSARY THINGS THAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO BECOME COMPETITIVE IN THAT ARENA.

BEFORE THAT, I STARTED IN THE LATE '80s AN ORGANIZATION CALLED SKED, SOUTHERN KENTUCKY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, TO RECRUIT BUSINESS.

SO FAR THEY CAN CALCULATE 10,000 JOBS THAT THEY'VE BEEN ABLE TO SECURE.

WE ALSO STARTED A CLEANUP CAMPAIGN CALLED PRIDE, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN A DESIRABLE ENVIRONMENT, TO HELP CLEAN UP THE MESS THAT WE'VE MADE ON OUR ROADS AND HIGHWAYS WITH TRASH.

.

AND THE LIKE.

AND THAT'S BEEN IMMENSELY SUCCESSFUL.

THEY'VE PICKED UP A MILLION TIRES AND 180,000 REFRIGERATORS, BATHTUBS AND WHATEVER THROWN OVER THE HILLSIDE.

THAT SUCCEEDED GREATLY IN MAKING OUR REGION FORE ATTRACTIVE.

>> CONGRESSMAN, I HATE TO YOU WANT ENTER BUT REAL HAVE TO LEAVE IT THERE.

I APPRECIATE YOU BEING HERE TONIGHT AND SHARING YOUR IDEAS WITH YOUR CONSTITUENTS AND THE VIEWERS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU.

PLEASE STAY WITH US.

WE'LL BE BACK WITH JEFF YOUNG OF THE 6th DISTRICT.

'67.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR STAYING WITH US ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE Shaw.

IN THE 6TH DISTRICT, DEMOCRAT GEOFF YOUNG FACES REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT ANDY MR. YOUNG JOINS US NOW.

KET INVITED CONGRESSMAN BARR TO APPEAR TONIGHT BUT HE DECLINED.

WE HOPE YOU WILL SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS BY TWITTER @KYTONIGHT SEND AN EMAIL TO KYTONIGHT@KET.

OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/.

OR YOU CAN GIVE US A CALL AT 1-800-494-7605.

MR. YOUNG, WELCOME.

>> THANK YOU, RENEE.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE YOURSELF TO THE VOTERS OF THE 6th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT AND THE VIEWERS ACROSS THE STATE.

WHY ARE YOU SEEKING THIS OFFICE?

>> THE MAIN REASON I'M SEEKING THIS OFFICE IS TO TRY TO PREVENT WORLD WAR III.

PREVENT A NUCLEAR WAR BREAKING OUT, POSSIBLY IN UKRAINE OR POSSIBLY NEAR TAIWAN OR SEVERAL OTHER HOTSPOTS ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD.

I THINK THE DANGER OF A NUCLEAR WAR IS HIGHER NOW THAN IT HAS EVER BEEN IN HUMAN HISTORY.

THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING.

>> ON YOUR WEBSITE, ON YOUR PLATFORM YOU MENTION SEVERAL ISSUES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS YOU SAY IS IMPEACH PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR RISKING WORLD WAR III WITH RUSSIA AND CHINA.

SO PERHAPS THE PRESIDENT AGREES WITH YOU THAT THE THREAT OF NUCLEAR WAR IS AS HIGH AS IT'S A BEEN, BUT YOU WANT HIM IMPEACHED.

WHY?

>> WELL, HE HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRISIS.

>> IN WHAT WAYS?

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT FIRST UKRAINE.

IN 2014 THE UNITED STATES, THE CIA AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT CAUSED A COUP IN UKRAINE AGAINST THEIR ELECTED PRESIDENT.

IT WAS KIND OF A NEUTRAL PERSON BETWEEN RUSSIA AND THE EUROPEAN UNION.

HE WAS KIND OF TRYING TO BE IN THE MIDDLE.

AND HAVE GOOD RELATIONS WITH BOTH SIDES.

HE WAS OVERTHROWN BY THE UNITED STATES, AND SKINS THAT COUP -- SINCE THAT COUP UKRAINE HAS NOT BEEN A DEMOCRACY.

IT HAS BECOME A TOTALITARIAN PUPPET STATE CONTROLLED BY THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT, THE CIA, THE PENTAGON, AND GROUPS OF HEAVILY ARMED UKRAINIAN NAZIS WHO HAVE GRADUALLY INCREASED THEIR INFLUENCE OVER THE GOVERNMENT, AND NOW IT WOULD BE ACCURATE TO SAY THAT UKRAINE IS A NAZI DICTATORSHIP.

>> MR. YOUNG, YOU'VE RUN SEVERAL TIMES FOR CONGRESS DATING BACK TO THE YEAR 2012.

YOU'VE MOSTLY RUN AS A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE BUT YOU APPEARED ON THE CANDIDATE AS A MEMBER OF THE REPUBLICAN AND GREEN PARENTS FILED SEVERAL LAWSUITS AGAINST A VARIETY OF POLITICAL FIGURE AND IS HOLD VIEWS THAT MANY CONSIDER OUT OF STEP WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY SUCH AS WHAT YOU JUST MENTIONED TO ABOLISH THE CIA.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU ALSO MENTIONED ABOUT THE UKRAINIAN GOVERNMENT MILITARY ARE CONTROLLED BY NAZIS, WHICH IS PERHAPS -- >> THE UNITED STATES PRIMARILY AND NAZIS ON THE GROUND.

>> RIGHT.

OPINIONS THAT PERHAPS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY WOULD NOTE ESPOUSE.

HOW CAN YOU ASSURE DEMOCRATIC VOTER THAT MAY VOTE FOR YOU THAT YOU WILL REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS IN WASHINGTON?

>> WELL, IT'S IN NO ONE'S INTEREST TO DIE IN A NUCLEAR WAR.

I WANT TO BE A PERSON WHO, IF I SEE A MUSHROOM CLOUD ON THE HORIZON, I WANT TO BE ABLE TO SAY TO MYSELF IN THE LAST FEW SECONDS BEFORE MY LIFE ENDS THAT I DID EVERYTHING I COULD TO PREVENT IT.

>> AND WHAT WOULD THAT BE, SIR?

WHAT WOULD YOUR PLAN BE TO PREVENT NUCLEAR WAR SPECIFICALLY?

>> BACK OFF.

IN DECEMBER OF 2021 RUSSIA PRESENTED A DETAILED PEACE PROPOSAL TO THE UNITED STATES AND TO EACH INDIVIDUAL COUNTRY.

IN EUROPE.

MOST OF THEM NATO MEMBERS.

AND THAT PEACE PROPOSAL WAS TO BASICALLY BACK OFF, AGREE THAT UKRAINE WOULD N. NEVER BECOME A MEMBER OF NATO WHICH IS A MILITARY ALLIANCE HOSTILE TO RUSSIA, SO THEY WERE MAKING VARIOUS PROPOSALS TO IMPROVE THEIR SECURITY, BUT I READ THE PROPOSALS AND THEY WOULD HAVE IMPROVED MUTUAL SECURITY OF RUSSIA AND ALL THE OTHER COUNTRIES IN EUROPE.

THE PROPOSAL RUSSIA MADE WHICH WAS HARDLY EVEN REPORTED IN THIS COUNTRY, I HAD TO FIND THE WORDING OF IT ON PRETTY OBSCURE WEBSITES THAT I KNOW ABOUT, IT WAS REASONABLE.

IT WOULD HAVE GREATLY REDUCED THE RISK OF A CONVENTIONAL WAR, WHICH IS WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING FROM FEBRUARY UNTIL THE PRESENT DAY IN UKRAINE, AND IT WOULD HAVE GREATLY REDUCED THE RISK OF A NUCLEAR WAR.

WE SHOULD HAVE ACCEPTED THAT PROPOSAL.

BUT INSTEAD, PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM PRETTY MUCH REJECTED IT OUT OF HAND.

THAT WAS A TREMENDOUS MISSED OPPORTUNITY, AND ALL OF THE MEMBERS, IN MY OPINION, OF PRESIDENT BIDEN'S NATIONAL SECURITY TEAM SHOULD BE FIRED OR IMPEACHED FOR FAILING TO TAKE THAT OPPORTUNITY TO REDUCE TENSION IN EUROPE, TO IMPROVE THE SECURITY OF EVERY COUNTRY.

IN EUROPE, AND TO IMPROVE OUR OWN NATIONAL SECURITY AS WELL.

>> ARE YOU ON THE SIDE OF RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN?

ARE YOU A SYMPATHYIZER OF PUTIN?

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> DO YOU AGREE WITH HIS STRATEGY AND INVASION OF UKRAINE?

>> IT WASN'T AN INVASION.

I THINK YOUR QUESTION INCLUDES A FALSE ASSUMPTION.

SINCE 2014 THE UNITED STATES HAS BEEN FUNNELING MORE AND MORE WEAPONS INTO UKRAINE AND HAD -- AS OF FEBRUARY IT HAD ESSENTIALLY TURNED THIS PUPPET GOVERNMENT THAT WE CREATED INTO A NATO BASE, A HUGE NATO BASE.

THE ENTIRE COUNTRY OF UKRAINE EXCEPT FOR A TINY FRACTION OF IT THAT WAS PRO-RUSSIA, TURNED IT INTO A NATO BASE RIGHT ON RUSSIA'S BORDER.

TREMENDOUS NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT.

SO WHEN RUSSIA SENT ITS FORCES INTO UKRAINE ON FEBRUARY 24th, 2022, IT WAS NOT AN INVASION.

IT WAS CERTAINLY NOT AN ILLEGAL INVASION AGGRESSION OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

RUSSIA WAS ACTING IN SELF-DEFENSE.

>> YOU ALSO PROPOSED TO ABOLISH THE CIA.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN YOUR MAKE SUCH A PROPOSAL.

>> BECAUSE THE CIA IS THE WORST TERRORIST ORGANIZATION IN THE WORLD TODAY.

EVER SINCE IT WAS FOUNDED IN 1947, THE CIA HAS OVERTHROWN DOZENS OF GOVERNMENTS, HAS ASSASSINATED I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING ONE OF OUR PRESIDENTS, JOHN F. KENNEDY IN 1963.

THE CIA DID THAT.

AND THEY ARE A ROGUE FORCE.

THEY ARE COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL.

AND THEY REPRESENT AMERICAN EMPIRE.

THE CIA IS THE SPEAR POINT OF AMERICAN IMPERIALISM.

AND THE REST OF THE WORLD IS RACKETING VERY NEGATIVELY AGAINST HAVING THEIR GOVERNMENTS OVERTHROWN, HAVING THEIR PEOPLE TORCHED TORTURED.

THE CIA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF TORTURING PEOPLE WHICH IS A WAR CRIME.

AND, YEAH, WE'VE GOT 16 OTHER INTELLIGENCE AGENCIES.

LET'S SAVE SOME MONEY AND GET RID OF THE WORST ONE.

>> THIS QUESTION FROM A VIEWER.

DO YOU STAND BY YOUR REPEATED CLAIMS THAT THE KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS RIGGED THE ELECTIONS AGAINST YOU?

>> I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS YEAR, BUT THEY DEFINITELY DID IN 2014.

THEY VIOLATED A KENTUCKY STATUTE WHICH IT'S KRS 118.105 SECTION 1, WHICH SAYS THAT NEITHER PARTY, NO PARTY THAT HAS A PRIMARY -- SO IN KENTUCKY THAT'S ALMOST ALWAYS THE REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRATIC PARTY -- NO PARTY THAT HAS A PRIMARY MAY PUT THEIR FINGER ON THE SCALE AND RIG THEIR OWN PRIMARY.

SO THE KDP DID IT IN 2014 APPROVABLY APPROVE PROVE.

2015 DETHINK IT AGAINST ME.

2016 I DON'T KNOW.

MAYBE.

'17 NO ELECTION.

2018 THEY DEFINITELY RIGGED IT AGAIN.

>> SO WHY ARE YOU RUNNING ON THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY?

>> IN 2020 THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGGED IT AGAINST ME.

>> SO WHY ARE YOU RAISING DEMOCRAT, MR. YOUNG?

>> BECAUSE THERE'S NO WAY TO WIN IF YO'RE NOT A DEMOCRAT OR A REPUBLICAN, SO IN 2020 I SWITCHED THE TO REPUBLICAN PARTY, RAND AGAINST ANDY BARR IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

THEY RIGGED IT IN PRECISELY THE SAME WAY THE DEMOCRATS DO.

AND THIS YEAR, 2022, I GUESS THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYBODY FAMOUS ENOUGH OR WEALTHY ENOUGH TO BEAT ME.

I WORE THEM DOWN.

YOU KNOW, I JUST WORE THEM DOWN.

I JUST KEPT RUNNING AND THEY COULDN'T FIND SOMEBODY, YOU KNOW, FAMOUS TO WIN.

>> SO BECAUSE YOU HAVE MADE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RUN FOR OFFICE, WHY DO YOU KEEP PURSUING WHAT SEEMS TO, AT THIS POINT TO BE ELUSIVE?

>> ELUSIVE?

WELL, THIS YEAR, MAY 17th I WON MY FIRST PRIMARY EVER.

DOING GREAT.

>> DO YOU FEEL CONFIDENT THAT YOU WILL BE VICTORIOUS IN NOVEMBER?

>> WELL, I DON'T KNOW.

I THINK MY CHANCES ARE AT LEAST 50%.

AND ANDY BARR, BY WHICH I CHICKENING OUT, REFUSING TO BE HERE TONIGHT, I THINK THAT -- THAT SPEAKS POORLY ABOUT HIM.

BUT I WANT TO TALK ABOUT ANOTHER ISSUE.

>> SURE.

>> AND THAT IS THE ABORTION ISSUE.

>> MM-HM.

>> ON JUNE 24th OF THIS YEAR, SIX REPUBLICAN PARTISAN HACKS, I THINK IT'S -- THEY DON'T DESERVE THE TITLE JUSTICE OR JUDGE, SIX PARTISAN HACKS OVERTURNED ROE VERSUS WADE, 1973 DECISION WHICH I FEEL IS THE WISEST, BEST DECISION OF MY LIFETIME.

THEY OVERTURNED IT FOR ONE REASON ONLY, AND THAT WAS BECAUSE THEY HAD THE VOTES.

THEY HAD THE RAW POLITICAL POWER TO OVERTURN IT, SO THEY DID.

I READ ALL OF THE OPINIONS OF THE SIX, AND IT WAS COMPLETELY MERITLESS.

THEIR ARGUMENTS WERE ILLOGICAL.

THEY SHREDDED THE BILL OF RIGHTS.

THEY TOOK RIGHTS AWAY FROM EVERY AMERICAN WOMAN.

AND THEY ATTACKED ALL-AMERICAN WOMEN AND MOST OF THE MEN SIMPLY AS A POLITICAL POWER PLAY.

AND THE FACT THAT REPUBLICAN PARTY DID NOT ABANDON THEM OR DENOUNCE THAT TERRIBLE DECISION APPROVES TO ME PROVES TO ME THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TODAY IS TOTALLY IMMORAL.

TOTALLY WORTHLESS.

>> I WANT TO GET BACK TOO HAD TO ANOTHER ONE OF YOUR ISSUES THAT YOU MENTION ON YOUR WEBSITE, THAT YOU BELIEVE IN LEGALIZING ALL DRUGS, AND I WONDER IF ALL MEANS ALL.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT AND YOUR POSITION PARTICULARLY ON MEDICAL MARIJUANA.

DO YOU MEAN ALL DRUGS ILLEGAL, OTHERWISE?

EXPLAIN TO US YOUR POSITION ON THAT.

>> WELL, IS THE WAR ON DRUGS HAS FAILED, STARTED BY PRESIDENT NIXON IN THE 1970S, AND IT'S JUST FAILED.

WE HAVE A TREMENDOUS PROBLEM IN KENTUCKY WITH OVERDOSE DEATHS, AND SO ON MY WEBSITE I HAVE A LINK ON JOHN OLIVER'S EXCELLENT SEGMENT, TOWARD THE END OF MARCH OF 2022, HE HAD A SEGMENT ON HARM REDUCTION.

AND HE SHOWED ADDICTS GOING INTO A CLINIC WHERE THEY WOULD GET A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF THEIR DRUG THAT THEY WERE ADDICTED TO AND IT WOULDN'T KILL THEM.

NOBODY'S EVER BEEN KILLED IN THESE -- NOBODY'S DIED IN THESE CLINICS BECAUSE IT'S THE REAL THING.

PEOPLE DIE WHEN FENTANYL OR SOME KIND OF POISON IS INCLUDED IN A STREET DRUG, AND THOUSANDS OF KENTUCKIANS HAVE DIED OF DRUG OVERDOSESOVER THE YEARS.

>> YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS HARM REDUCTION TECHNIQUE IS THE ANSWER TO REVERSING THE OVERDOSE DEATH RATE IN KENTUCKY.

>> YES.

IT'S A WONDERFUL ANSWER.

IT TAKES POLITICAL COURAGE TO PROPOSE IT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SAY, OH, YOU'RE JUST HELPING THESE ADDICTS STAY ADDICTED.

WELL -- >> WHO PAYS FOR THAT?

>> THE GOVERNMENT.

>> AND WHAT GOES THE COST OF SUCH A PROPOSAL?

>> THE COST IS NEGATIVE.

COMPARE TO ARRESTING THESE PEOPLE, LOCKING THEM UP, HOLDING THEM IN JAILS AND PRISONS FOR YEARS, BUT THE COST OF PUTTING UP CLINICS AND GIVING THEM SMALL DOSES OF THEIR DRUG AND, OF COURSE, AT THE SAME TIME YOU HAVE TO HAVE DRUG TREATMENT AND HELP THEM KICK THEIR ADDICTION.

>> WHILE THEY'RE STILL USING.

>> MAYBE THEY CAN SWITCH TO MARIJUANA, WHICH IS NOT ADDICTIVE, GET THEM OFF THE HEROIN, YOU KNOW, GET THEM OFF THE ADDICTIVE DRUGS, AND THEY'RE HALFWAY TO RECOVERY.

I'M SORRY.

WHAT WERE YOU ASKING?

>> I WAS JUST SAYING, SO, YES, OOH DICTION IS THE ISSUE HERE, SO WOULD YOU BE SWAPPING ONE ADDICTION FOR ANOTHER?

AND SO WE CAN ASSUME THAT YOU'RE FOR MEDICINAL AND RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA, FOR ALL OF IT TO BE LEGALIZED.

>> RIGHT.

TREAT IT THE SAME WAYS A ALCOHOL.

IF YOU TAKE TOO MUCH OF MARIJUANA OR WHATEVER AND YOU GET INTO A -- CAUSE AN ACCIDENT, THAT WOULD BE DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE.

YOU SHOULD BE PROSECUTED.

>> BUT YOU WOULD BE FOR DECRIMINALIZING POSSESSION OF MARIJUANA AND ALL OTHER DRUGS?

>> YEAH, LEGALIZING LITE LIKE PORTUGAL HAS DONE.

WHOLE COUNTRIES HAVE DONE THIS QUITE WELL.

>> TIME WE HAVE REMAINING, MR. YOUNG, PLEASE MAKE YOUR CASE FOR WHY THE VOTERS OF THE SUGGESTED DISTRICT SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU.

>> IF WE DON'T CHANGE ALL OF OUR FOREIGN POLICIES 180 DEGREES REAL SOON, THE ENTIRE WORLD OR 90% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION IS GOING TO UNITE AGAINST THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE THEY'RE SICK AND TIRED OF BEING DOMINATED MILITARILY BY A COUNTRY THAT OBVIOUSLY OUR GOVERNMENT DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE OR ANY OTHER COUNTRY IN THE WORLD.

THE WORLD IS GOING TO SHRUG US OFF, SHAKE US OFF, AND WE'LL BE LEFT ISOLATED.

WHY SHOULD THEY SELL US ANYTHING?

THE DOLLAR WILL BE WORTHLESS.

OUR CURRENCY WILL COLLAPSE.

WE WILL SINK INTO A GRESSION WORSE THAN THE 1930S.

>> THANK YOU, MR. YOUNG, FOR YOUR TIME TONIGHT.

AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

WE WILL BE PREVIEWING THE TWO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS NEXT MONDAY.

JOIN US.