>> Renee: GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

I'M RENEE SHAW.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

OUR TOPIC TONIGHT, TOMORROW MARKS THE END OF THE 2022 MID-TERM ELECTION CYCLE AS GEORGIA VOTERS PICK BETWEEN RAPHAEL WARNOCK AND HERSCHEL WALKER IN THAT STATE'S U.S. SENATE RUNOFF.

REGARDLESS OF WHAT HAPPENS THERE, DEMOCRATS WILL CONTINUE TO CONTROL THE U.S. SENATE, MEANING U.S.

SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL WILL NOT BECOMEUT SENATE ALERT.

REPUBLICANS TAKE CONTROL OF THE U.S. HOUSE MEANING CONGRESSMAN CORM OF THE 1st CONGRESS A DISTRICT WILL HOST THE REFORM COMMITTEE.

WHAT DID THE CHANGES IN ARE THE WA DC MEAN FOR KENTUCKY AND KENTUCKY'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION?

AND HOW DOES THIS AFFECT THE APPLICABLE CLIMATE POLITICAL CLIMATE IN KWE AS WE HEAD INTO THE 2023 RACE FOR GOVERNOR AND OTHER STATE-WISE OFFICE?

TO CALLS THIS WE'RE JOINED IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO BY ANNE CIZMAR, GOVERNMENT PROFESSOR AT EASTERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY.

STEVE VOSS, POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY.

MICHAEL WARD, FORMER CONGRESSMAN AND DEMOCRATIC STRATEGIST.

AND ELLEN WILLIAMS, REPUBLICAN STRATEGIST AND OWNER OF A CONSULTING AND GOVERNMENT RELATIONS FIRM.

WE DO WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU TONIGHT SO SEND US YOUR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS BY TWITTER AT KYTINTED KET.

SEND AN EMAIL TO KET.ORG.

OR USE THE WEB FORM AT KET.ORG/KYTONIGHT OR YOU CAN CALL 1-800-494-7605.

WELCOME TO ALL OF OUR GUESTS.

I HAVEN'T BEEN AT THIS TABLE IN ALMOST A MONTH SO IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK AND GOOD TO HAVE ELLEN WILLIAMS BACK.

>> THANKS.

>> WHO IS OFTEN WITH US ON THESE ELECTION SHOWS.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK.

LET'S START WITH TOMORROW.

WE'LL TAKE A LITTLE DETOUR HERE AND TALK ABOUT THE GEORGIA U.S. 123459 RACE WHICH IS KIND OF ATYPICAL OF WHAT WE USUALLY DO ON HERE BUT, ELLEN, I WANT TO GO TO YOU.

WHAT DO YOU PREDICT ABOUT THE RUNOFF TOMORROW?

IN GEORGIA.

>> I'D LIKE, AS A REPUBLICAN I HOPE HERSCHEL WINS.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE HARD FOR HIM TO PULL IT OFF IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE.

IT'S NOT -- IF THE VOTERS GO AND THINK I'M GOING TO VOTE TO KEEP COMMITTEE PARITY, I DON'T THINK THEY WILL.

THEN THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

THE P DEMOCRATS STILL ARE GOING TO CONTROL THE SENATE.

THEY'RE STILL GOING TO CONTROL THE COVERAGES PROS.

HERSCHEL WALKER WIN IMPLICATION IT HAD A 50/50 AND THEN WE HAVE A QUALITY EQUALITY ON THE COMMITTEES BUT IT DOESN'T CHANGE McCONNELL'S ROLE IN THE SENATE.

SO WE SHALL SEE.

HE'S HAD SOME STRUGGLES IN THIS CAMPAIGN, HERSCHEL WALKER HAS, AND SOME MISAT THE SAME TIMES STATEMENTS.

>> I WANT TO GO TO FORMER CONGRESSMAN MIKE WARD.

I KNOW WHOSE SIDE YOU'RE ON ON THIS, BUT WHAT DO YOU THINK THE OVER IS GOING TO BE FOR RAPHAEL WARNOCK TOMORROW?

>> I THINK THE ELECTION WILL BE OVER AND HE'LL BE REPEAT RELIEVED.

HE'LL WIN IT.

LOOKS AS IF THAT WILL HAPPEN.

NOTHING REALLY CHANGED FROM THE NOVEMBER ELECTION WHEN WALKER RAN 200,000 VOTES BEHIND THE TOP OF THE TICKET OF GOVERNOR JA, AND WITHOUT -- THERE'S NO REASON FOR THAT TO CHANGE.

SECONDLY, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT GET OUT THE VOTE ISSUE OF IT TAKING CONTROL OF THE SENATE FROM ONE PARTY TO THE OTHER.

AND I THINK THAT THE DEMOCRAT WILL WIN.

AND THE COMMITTEE PARITY IS NOT GOING TO BE A MOTIVATING FACTOR FOR VOTERS, AS ELLEN SAYS, BUT IT IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL WHEN YOU'RE DEALING WITH COMMITTEES IN THE SENATE THAT ARE RIGHT NOW 50/50.

SO IF THERE 16 MEMBERS, IT'S EIGHT Ds, EIGHT Rs, AND I PRESUME GO TO TEN DS OR SIX R'S.

NO, 10 TEN AND EIGHT AS OPPOSED TO NINE AND NINE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG CHANGE BUT I THINK THE GEORGIA RACE TOMORROW NIGHT WILL BE A DEMOCRATIC VICTORY.

>> AS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT EARLIER IT'S HARD TO GAUGE WHAT THIS EARLY TURNOUT MEANS.

>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION.

I WAS GOING TO ASK THE PROFESSOR.

PROFESSOR CYSTS MARCH, WELCOME TO YOU.

THIS IS YOUR FIRST APPEARANCE ON "KENTUCKY TONIGHT."

SO WHAT CAN WE GLEAN FROM EARLY VOTING?

BECAUSE WE KNOW THERE WITH AS TREMENDOUS EARLY VOTING IN GEORGIA.

>> THE EARLY VOTING'S BEEN VERY STRONG.

I THINK THAT WE TYPICALLY THINK THAT WOULD CAVER DEMOCRATS, AND I HEARD ON THE GROUND THAT BASICALLY 60% OF THE IN-PERSON BALLOTS WOULD NEED TO BREAK FOR WALKER IN ORDER TO PROBABLY GIVE THAT VICTORY TO WALKER, SO IT'S NOT LOOKING VERY FAVORABLE FOR HIM.

ADDITIONALLY I GUESS IT'S GOING TO RAIN TOMORROW, WHICH YOU WOULDN'T THINK THAT WOULD KEEP PEOPLE HOME FROM THE POLLS, BUT THERE IS TALK IF THERE'S GOING TO BE LONG VOTING LINES AND PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT OUTSIDE FOR A LOT OF THAT, THAT MAYBE THEY WON'T COME OUT TO VOTE BEGINNING THE BAD WEATHER.

>> DR. VOSS, DO YOU SEE IT SIMILARLY FROM WHAT YOU CAN GLEAN FROM EARLY VOTING AND THE TURNOUT SO FAR?

>> YEAH, LOOKING AT WHO HAS BEEN TURNING OUT FOR THE NUMBERS COMPARED TO THE RATES AT WHICH THEY VOTED IN PAST ELECTIONS IT'S LOOKING STRONG FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

WE KNOW REPUBLICANS LIKE TO VOTE ON ELECTION DAY.

THE RAGE CAN ONLY COST A COUPLE OF PERCENT.

CLEARLY IT MATTERS BUT NOT BY A TON.

YOU NEVER WANT TO, UNLESS YOU HAVE A CRYSTAL BALL, SAY SOMETHING IS SURE, BUT MOST SAY IT'S LOOKING GOOD FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS PATRIOTTY THING IF YOU DON'T MIND MEI ME EXPLAIN.

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER THE DEMOCRATS WILL HAVE CONTROL OF THE SENATE, BUT WHEN IT'S 50/50 WITH A VICE PRESIDENT SPLITTING A TIE, THEY DON'T HAVE CONTROL AT THE LEVEL THAT THEY'RE ABLE TO STACK THE COMMITTEES AND SET THE CHAMBER RULES.

ONE MORE VOTE IF WARNOCK WINS, THAT MEANS THE DEMOCRATS HAVE A VOTE EVEN WITHOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT.

THEY HAVE THE MAJORITY WITHOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT AND THEY START SETTING THE RULES IT.

MAKES A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> DR. CIZMAR, ANYTHING ELSE WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND?

BECAUSE SOMETIMES WE TAKE IT FOR GRANTED OUR AUDIENCE ALREADY UNDERSTANDS THOSE THINGS.

ONE QUESTION I GET FROM VOTERS IS WHY DO SOME STATES HAVE THIS KIND OF RUNOFF RULE ANYWAY?

>> YEAH, SO EACH STATE IS ALLOWED TO SET ITS OWN ELECTORAL RULES AS PER OURY FEDERALISM SYSTEM.

IN THIS PARTICULAR CASE WE HAD A RUNOFF ELECTION WHERE NEITHER CANDIDATE WAS ABLE TO GET THAT 50% OF THE VOTE THAT WAS REQUIRED BY LAW.

AND SO WE HAVE TO GO TO THAT RUNOFF ELECTION WHERE YOU NO LONGER OF THE THIRD PARTY CANDIDATES OR INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES RUNNING.

>> AND, OF COURSE, REMEMBER WHY GEORGIA HAS A RUN OFF.

IT WAS TO KEEP AFRICAN-AMERICANS FROM WINNING IN NOVEMBER.

JUST THAT SIMPLE.

>> AND YOU HAVE NOW TWO AFRICAN AMERICANS IN A RAHN.

>> IRONICALLY.

>> ONE OTHER THING, WHY ARE WE ONLY LEARNING NOW WHO IS WINNING THE SENATE RACE?

LOUISIANA TRIED 0 DO IT THE OTHER WAY AROUND WHERE THEY HAD THEIR FIRST CONTEST BEFORE ELECTION DAY AND ONLY SETTLED THE TIE IN NOVEMBER SO THAT EVERYBODY WOULD KNOW AT THE SAME TIME BUT THEY WERE STRUCK DOWN IN FEDERAL COURT SAYING THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR ELECTION ON THE SAME DAY AS EVERYONE ELSE.

AND FOR SOME REASON HAVING A RUNOFF LATER IS FINE, BUT HAVING THE RACE GET DECIDED AHEAD OF TIME BY SOMEONE TAKING A MAJORITY AND WINNING BEFORE NOVEMBER WAS CONSIDERED UNACCEPTABLE.

>> INTERESTING.

INTERESTING.

>> A LITTLE FUN FACT ON MITCH McCONNELL.

HE BECOMES THE LONGEST SERVING MEMBER OF THE SENATE, SENATE LEADER EVER, SURPASSING MIKE MANSFIELD.

HE'S ALREADY BEEN -- HOLDS THE RECORD FOR THE LONGEST SERVING REPUBLICAN LEADER, BUT NOW HE'S THE LONGEST SERVING.

>> SO MANY PEOPLE ALSO, INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW IF HE WILL SERVE HIS FULL TERM UP UNTIL 2026.

DOES ELLEN WILLIAMS HAVE ANY INTEL ON TO THAT SIMPLE.

>> I THINK HE ABSOLUTELY SERVES HIS FULL TERM TO 2026, AND I DON'T THINK YOU CAN COUNT HIM OUT IN THE UPCOMING ELECTION.

HIS HEALTH LOOKS GREAT.

HIS MIND IS AS SHARP AS IT EVER WAS.

AND I HOPE HE STAYS IN THE UNITED STATES SENATE FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

THE COUNTRY NEEDS HIM.

>> THIS QUESTION FROM ROBERT COUPLING FROM RUSTLE COUNTY.

WITH WITCH McCONNELL NOT BEING NAMED MAJORITY LEADER, WHAT INFLUENCE DOES KENTUCKY HAVE ON THAT STAGE?

>> IN THE SENATE?

>> YES.

>> MITCH McCONNELL UNDERSTANDS THE RULES OF THE SENATE AND HOW TO HOLD HIS MAJORITY TOGETHER.

AND WE STILL HAVE MANSION IN WEST VIRGINIA WHO YOU CAN'T ALWAYS VOTE TO COUNT ON WITH THE DEMOCRATS, AND WE'LL SEE WHAT THE REST OF THE CAUCUS LOOKS LIKE AND KIND OF ISSUES THEY BRING FORWARD.

>> ALSO, A LOT OF BUSINESS IN THE SENATE RELIES ON MORE THAN A MAJORITY.

MORE REALLY EVEN THAN 60 VOTES.

OFTEN, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR IS WHAT'S CALLED UNANIMOUS CONSENT AGREEMENTS WHERE THE MINORITY LEADER AND THE MAJORITY LEADER ARE COORDINATING THEIR TROOPS TO GET THINGS DONE.

A MINORITY LEADER HAS A LOT MORE POWER IN THE U.S. SENATE THAN IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

>> McCONNELL WAS CHALLENGED, AND BEAT BACK THE CHALLENGE EASILY, 37 TO 10.

>> RIGHT.

>> SO HE HAS THE SUPPORT OF MORE THAN THE MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

>> SO LET'S GO TO THE LOWER CHAMBER, AND WHAT ABOUT KEVIN MCCARTHY?

HOW DO THINGS LOOK FOR HIM?

WE UNDERSTAND THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE SPEAKERSHIP, THERE'S GOING TO BE A PUSH TO GET TO THOSE 218 VOTES, DR. CIZMAR, THAT HE NEEDS, AND ARE THERE SOME SPECULATION HE MAY NOT GET THERE.

>> IT'S DEFINITELY POSING A BIG CHALLENGE FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, AND SO IT'S THE LAST POSITION WHERE WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHO IS GOING FULFILL THAT ROLE IN THE NEW WORKING CONGRESS.

HE NOTES TO GET TO THAT 218 VOTES AND THERE ARE SOME RETICENT MEMBERS, PARTICULARLY OF THE FREEDOM CAUCUS GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT POSED TROUBLE FOR RECENT SPEAKERS AS WELL INCLUDING JOHN BARREN AND THEN PAUL RYAN.

SO IT'S SOMETHING THAT HE'S GOING TO NEED TO WORK ON GETTING EVERYBODY TOGETHER TO GET THAT MANY VOTES.

THERE WAS SOME TALK THAT PERHAPS THEY WOULD HAVE TO COME UP WITH A COMPROMISE CANDIDATE WITH DEMOCRATS.

I THINK, THOUGH, THAT IS VERY DISTO THE REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE SO THEY END OF THE DAY SOMEONE WILL PREVAIL FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, LIKELY MCCARTHY BUT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY FOR HIM TO GET THERE.

>> AND WHAT DOES WE HAVE TO -- >> WHAT DOES HE HAVE TO GIVE UP TO GET THOSE.

>> RIGHT.

AND I THINK TO THE VIEWERS' BENEFIT THERE ARE 222 REPUBLICANS IN THE HOUSE, 212 DEMOCRATS AND ONE VACANT SEAT.

SO HE DOESN'T HAVE A LOT OF WIGGLE ROOM.

I THINK THE THOUGHT WAS WE REPUBLICANS WOULD WIN MORE SEATS IN HOUSE THAN THEY DID, AND I THINK SOME OF THE ELECTION DENIERS MAYBE WEREN'T AS SUCCESSFUL AS MANY HAD THOUGHT, AND I THINK THAT'S PUT A WHOLE DIFFERENT DYNAMIC EVER ON CONGRESS.

>> THAT WAS GOING TO BE MY NEXT QUESTION.

AREN'T SOME OF THE INCOMING CLASS OF REPUBLICANS, ARE THEY NOT MORE MODERATE AND PERHAPS WOULD FAVOR, AND AS SOME HAVE SAID, WE WANT MCCARTHY TO BE THE SPEAKER?

>> THEY DO WANT MCCARTHY TO BE THE SPEAKER, BUT YOU ALSO HAVE THE WASHINGTON POST DID AN ARTICLE I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING ON THESE PEOPLE THAT HAVE MADE STATEMENTS THAT WE BELIEVE THAT THE 2020 ELECTION WAS RIGGED AND THINGS LIKE THAT, SO HOW DOES THAT IMPACT WHAT HAPPENS AND WHERE THE VOTES GO?

>> AND MR. WARD, WE ALSO KNOW THAT FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP IS ALSO REIGNITING THE WHOLE 2020 ELECTION AGAIN BY SAYING PRETTY MUCH YOU JUST GET RID OF THE CONSTITUTION.

>> WELL, IF THE SWEARING-IN I ATTENDED TODAY FOR OUR RE-ELECTED PROPERTY VALUATION ADMINISTRATOR COLENE YOUNGER WHO DOES A GREAT JOB, SHE SWORE TO PROTECT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION.

SHE SWORE TO IT.

SO DID EVERY ELECTED OFFICIAL.

AND NOW WHERE ARE THEY WHEN DONALD TRUMP SWEARS HE WON'T, SWEARS THAT IF IT'S IN HIS INTERESTS, WE OUGHT TO CHANGE THE CONSTITUTION, NOT BY HAVING A CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION, NOT BY PROPOSING A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT BUT JUST BY DISREGARDING IT.

WELL, THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM.

AND IT'S A PROBLEM FOR AMERICA.

IT'S A PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRACY.

BUT, BOY, IT'S A PROBLEM FOR SENATOR McCONNELL AND SOME OF THE OTHERS WHO ARE BEING FORCED TO SAY THAT -- TO ANSWER THE QUESTION WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

AND THE QUESTION IS ARE YOU ON THE SIDE OF MOST SUCCESSFUL AND LONGEST LASTING DEMOCRACY IN THE HISTORY OF THE GLOBE OR ARE YOU ON THE SIDE OF A MEGALOMANIAC WHO SIMPLY WANTS POWER?

>> I'VE NOT HEARD ANY REPUBLICAN IN THE SENATE AGREE WITH WHAT TRUMP HAS SAID.

IT'S MORE LIKE -- >> BUT HAVE YOU -- >> I'VE HEARD TWO OF THEM DISAGREE AND SAY -- >> TWO?

>> TWO MEMBERS.

>> THAT'S 5%.

AWESOME.

>> LEADERSHIP SAY YOU'RE ELECTED TO DEFEND AND PROTECT THE CONSTITUTION, SO IT'S ANOTHER TRUMP STATEMENT, AND I THINK THOSE KIND OF STATEMENTS ARE GOING TO MAKE THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR PRESIDENT A LOT MORE INTERESTING AND NOT A FOREGONE CONCLUSION, LIKE MANY PEOPLE THOUGHT IF TRUMP FILED, HE WINS.

I THINK IF HE CONTINUES TO SAY THESE KIND OF THINGS, THAT HE WILL CONTINUE TO MARGINALIZE HIMSELF AND HE WILL NOT BE OUR NOMINEE.

>> SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH McCONNELL ALMOST SAID A MUCH LAST WEEK.

IT RATES AS A QUESTION OF ELECTABILITY.

ANY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO WOULD HANG AROUND AND HAVE DINNERS WITH CAN'T YEAH WEST AND A ANTISMITE AND WHITE SUPREMACIST YOU HAVE TO AQUEOUS JAMES COMER PUT IT, THEIR JUDGMENT.

>> SANITY, JUDGMENT, ELECTABILITY.

>> BUT IT STILL SEEMS, DR. CIZMAR, THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP, FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, HAS A SIGNIFICANT HOLD ON A THIRD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> HE ABSOLUTELY DOES, AND I WOULD NOT CONSIDER HIM OUT OF THIS RACE BY ANY STRETCH EVEN AFTER THE RECENT EVENTS THAT HAVE ISSUED THROUGHOUT THE SATIRE ENTIRE TIME HAD HIS CANDIDACY THERE WERE MANY INSTANCES IN WHICH PEOPLE THOUGHT HE WAS DONE.

HE CAN'T POSSIBLY GO AROUND DOING THOSE SORTS OF THINGS AND HAVE PEOPLE STILL VOTING FOR, BUT BUT THERE IS A SIZABLE PORTION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF THAT WILL CONTINUE TOSSPOT.

I AM HAD IN ADDITION TO PEOPLE LIKE RON DESANTIS OR OTHER FOLKS COMING MOO THE RACE COULD SHAKE THINGS BUT AS THEY GET MORE ELITE PARTY SUPPORT I THINK THAT MIGHT DRIVE DOWN INTEREST IN SOME OF THE CORE TRUMP WHEN THEY VIEW DESANTIS AS A DONATED CANDIDATE.

>> WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP IS WHAT'S HE TRYING TO DO?

>> SO ONE THIRD OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY MAY SOUND LIKE NOT VERY MUCH, BUT REMEMBER ONE THIRD OF THE REPUBLIC PADRE PARTY IS ALL DONALD TRUMP HAD WHEN HE STARTED IN 2016.

A THIRD GOES A LONG WAY UNLESS THE NATIONAL PARTY CIRCLES THE WAGONS AND TRIES TO STOP THE RISE OF THE CANDIDATE.

THEY WOULD HAVE TO PLAY DONALD TRUMP A LOT SMARTER NEXT TIME THAN THEY PLAYED HIM IN 2016.

>> WELL, THEY'D HAVE TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY BETTER TOGETHER.

AND THAT'S A QUESTION FOR ELLEN, HAVING BEEN IN THE HIGHEST LEVELS OF REPUBLICAN POLITICS, DO YOU THINK THAT THE CANDIDATES CAN BE SELFLESS ENOUGH TO SAY, OKAY, JOE, OR MARY, YOU'RE THE BEST DONATED CANDIDATE TO BEAT TRUMP IN THE PRIMARY SYSTEM.

BECAUSE REMEMBER THE EARLY PRIMARIES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE ARE BY RULE WINNER TAKE ALL.

SO THEY WIN THE EARLY PRIMARY STATES.

THEY GET ALL THE DELEGATES.

AND IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF BEING HARD TO CATCH UP TO.

DO YOU THINK THEY CAN COME TEG AND COALESCE AROUND AN OPPONENT TO FRUMP?

>> I HOPE SO.

I DON'T KNOW YET.

I'M GOING TO QUOTE SCOTT JENNINGS FROM A CNN SHOW HE DID AFTER THE ELECTION WHEN THEY WERE TALKING ABOUT DONALD TRUMP ANNOUNCING FOR PRESIDENT, WHEN IS HE GOING TO ANNOUNCE, AND IT'S NOT A QUESTION OF IF, IT'S WHEN, AND IF PRESIDENT TRUMP ANNOUNCES, BUS HE FREEZE THE FIELD, AND THEN BIDEN ANNOUNCES EARLY, HE FREEZES THE FIELD, AND JENNINGS SAID IT WAS HE WAS AXLEROD, I BELIEVE, IT'S LIKE THE MOVIE ALIENS AND PREDATORS AND HUMANS LOSE.

AND SO I THOUGHT THAT WAS A PRETTY TELLING STATEMENT TO MAKE, BUT I HOPE THAT WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AND DO WHAT'S GOOD FOR THIS COUNTRY FRANKLY.

>> SPEAK.

>>> ANNOUNCEMENT MAYBE MORE TEPID, IT SEEMS LIKE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN WITH HIS COMMENTS AND THE THE DNC TALKING ABOUT NOW SOUTH CAROLINA SHOULD BE A PART OF THIS PRIMARY PROCESS, I MEAN, SO HE'S PRETTY MUCH SAYING I'M IN THIS.

IF YOU EVER HAD ANY DOUBT, I'M GOING FOR IT IN 2024.

>> HE HAS SAID ALL ALONG THAT HE HAS EVERY PLAN TO RUN BUT HE HAS NEVER SAID, "I AM RUNNING" AND FILED THE COMMITTEE.

PRESIDENT TRUMP WHEN HE BECAME PRESIDENT FILED A RE-ELECTION COMMITTEE THE DAY OF THE INAUGURAL, I BELIEVE.

SO WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

BUT I TELL YOU WHAT, JOE BIDEN IS SOMEBODY TO BE CONTENDED WITH, TO END A SENTENCE WITH A APPROPRIATION PERCEPTION PREPOSITION.

THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING TO WIN A SENATE SEAT TOMORROW IN GEORGIA IS TESTIMONY TO HIS PRESIDENCY BECAUSE THEY HAVE SAID A THOUSAND MILLION TIMES DOWN IN GEORGIA, IF YOU LOOK AT THE WARNOCK, YOU'RE GIVING JOE BIDEN A BLANK CHECK.

WELL, APPARENTLY PEOPLE ARE WILLING TO SIGN THAT CHECK IN A STATE THAT DID NOT HAVE A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR TWO YEARS AGO AND HAS NOT VOTED FOR A DEMOCRAT FOR PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS UNTIL TWO YEARS AGO, STAYING WITH JOE BIDEN.

SO I WOULD NOT DISCOUNT HIM FOR A SECOND.

>> I DON'T THINK IT HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH BIDEN AS MUCH AS I THINK IT HAS TO DO WITH CANDIDATES.

CANDIDATES MATTER.

AND ARE THEY UP FOR THE TASK OF RUNNING FOR SENATE?

AND I THINK THIS WAS PROBABLY A BIGGER FIGHT THAN HERSCHEL WALKER KNEW AND BANKED ON, RIGHT?

>> I'M NOT GOING TO -- IT'S SO FRUSTRATING BECAUSE SENATOR McCONNELL WILL SAY, CANDIDATE SELECTION HAD A LOT TO DO WITH THIS, AND THEN HE GOES FOR ALL THE WAY WITH THESE CANDIDATES WHO ARE JUST NOT READY TO BE IN OUR UNITED STATES SENATE, BUT HE SAYS, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING TO VOTE FOR THE PERSON WE GET JUST AS HE SAYS WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP, THAT HE'LL VOTE FOR FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR RE-ELECTION.

>> WHEN HE'S HE WAS ASKED THAT RECENTLY -- >> HE DIDN'T SAY THAT RECENTLY.

HE HAS NOT SAID HE WOULD VOTE FOR TRUMP RECENTLY.

>> RECENTLY.

HASN'T SAID IT RECENTLY.

TOMORROW IS ONE OF HIS REGULAR PRESS CONFERENCE I HAVE A DOLLAR THAT SAYS HE WILL NOT SAY ANYTHING DIFFERENT OTHER THAN THE SAME MEAL MOUTHED STUFF THAT DOESN'T STAND UP TO A TYRANT WHO TRIED TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

>> IT DOES BRING UP A POINT, ELLEN WILLIAMS, ABOUT MANY PEOPLE DO WANT OR EXPECT LEADER McCONNELL TO BE MORE ROBUST IN HIS DENUNCIATION FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP, AND WHY DOESN'T HE?

WHY ARE REPUBLICANS FEARFUL OF DONALD TRUMP?

>> I THINK McCONNELL IS FOCUSED ON THE TASK THAT THE SENATE AND CONGRESS HAS TO DEAL WITH IN THIS LAME DUCK SESSION.

WE'VE THEY'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING SO GOVERNMENT DOESN'T SHUT DOWN.

THEY HAVE A DEFENSE SPENDING BILL.

THERE'S -- WHAT DO THEY CALL IT?

>> RECONCILIATION.

>> -- SEX AND INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE LAW, THE RECONCILIATION, ELECTORAL COLLEGE REFORM ACT, SO THEY'VE GOT SOME PRETTY BIG ITEMS THAT THEY NEED TO GET DONE, AND HE IS LASER FOCUSED ON TASK AT HAND AND HE'S NOT GOING TO GET INTO A VERBAL WAR.

>> BUT HE VOTED AGAINST LAST WOOK ON THE SAME-SEX AND INTERRACIAL MARRIAGE.

>> HE DID.

>> SO IS THIS A LAME DUCK SESSION?

AND MANY PEOPLE WOULD SAY THE NEXT TWO YEARS THE 118th CONGRESS IS LAME BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH SLIM MAJORITIES WHENEVER THEY EXIST.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT.

>> RECENT HISTORY SHOWS US IT'S GOING TO BE DIFFICULT FOR MUCH LEGISLATION ON PASS ON ANY SORT OF CONTROVERSIAL OR REALLY WEIGHTING TOPICS WITH A DIVIDE GOVERNMENT LIKE IT WILL BE COMING MOO THE 2024 ELECTION.

IT'S GOING TO BE GIVE U.

DIFFICULT FOR MUCH MOVEMENT TO HAPPEN.

>> DR. VOSS.

>> THE ONLY THING TO ADD TO THAT IS USUALLY FIGHTING PARTISAN BATTLES AND LOBBING BOMBS IS SUCCESSFUL BUT EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE PEOPLE FEEL THE NEED TO LEAD.

AND GOING INTO THIS LAST SET OF ELECTIONS ALL OF A SUDDEN ISSUE THAT HAD BEEN BOGGED DOWN IN CONGRESS STARTED MOVING.

THE GUN REGULATIONS BILL, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE DEMOCRATS DECIDE THEY NEED SOMETHING THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP DECIDES THEY NEED AND IT GETS DONE.

IF THEY FEEL THEY NEED TO SHOW SOME ACHIEVEMENTS WEEK YOU CAN MOVE FORWARD WITH A DIVIDED CONGRESS.

>> AND I THINK THAT'S THE STRENGTH OF MITCH McCONNELL.

HE IS ABOUT MAKING A DIFFERENCE, NOT MAKING HEADLINES.

HE CAN MAKE A LOT OF HEADLINES BY GETTING INTO VERBAL WARFARE WITH DONALD TRUMP, BUT IT SERVES MOW PURPOSE AND IT DIVIDES HIS CAUCUS BECAUSE HE HAS QUITE A FEW MEMBERS THAT ARE BIG TRUMP SUPPORTERS, SO WHY WOULD HE ENGAGE?

AND I THINK HIS FOCUS IS TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR THE COUNTRY.

>> WELL, I -- I'D GIVE YOU A POINT OF COMPARISON.

WHEN RICHARD NIXON RELEASED THE SMOKING GUN TAPES WHICH SHOWED THAT HE HAD COVERED UP WATERGATE AND LIED ABOUT IT FOR A YEAR AND A HALF, YOU KNOW WHO GOT HIM FINALLY TO RESIGN WAS THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP OF THE U.S. SENATE.

YOU KNOW WHY?

BECAUSE THEY WERE LEADERS.

MITCH McCONNELL LOVES BEING CALLED THE LEADER.

WELL, THERE ARE TIMES IN OUR LIVES WHEN YOU HAVE TO LEAD EVEN IF IT'S A RISK, EVEN IF YOU TAKE THE CHANCE OF LOSING AN ELECTION.

AND THIS IS THE TIME TO BE THE LEADER, TO DO WHAT THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP IN THE SENATE DID IN THE '70s WHEN SENATOR McCONNELL WAS UP THERE INTERNING OR WORKING AS A STAFF MEMBER FOR A MEMBER OF THE SENATE.

HE SAW IT FIRSTHAND.

AND IT'S FRANKLY A DISAPPOINTMENT.

>> WE'LL AGREE TO DISAGREE ON THAT BECAUSE I THINK HE WILL LEAD ON IT BUT MITCH MCCONNELL, IF NOTHING, IS ABOUT TIMING, FOCUS, DISCIPLINE, AND HIS FOCUS RIGHT NOW IS ON THE LAME DUCK, GEORGIA TOMORROW, SEEING WHAT HAPPENS, AND THEN THE COMMITTEE STRUCTURE AND WHAT CAN HE DO THE NEXT 30 DAYS ARE ON 25 DAYS BEFORE THEY SWEAR A A NEW CONGRESS IN.

>> THAT DOES REMIND ME ABOUT KENTUCKY AND OUR SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE.

KENTUCKY HAS LANDED THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS UNDER A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, AND THAT IS BEFORE WE HAD A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT.

SO WE ARE SEEING AGAIN AND AGAIN THAT THERE'S A ADVANTAGE IN KENTUCKY TO HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR WHO WORKS WITH THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT AND A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT WHO IS WILLING TO LOOK BEYOND THE FACT THAT HE IS NEVER GOING TO CARRY KENTUCKY BUT STILL PERFORMANCE FOR US BECAUSE HE'S NOT GOING THE POLITICALLY EXPEDIENT THING.

HE IS SPENDING THE FEDERAL -- MAKING THE FEDERAL DECISIONS ON SPENDING THAT REALLY MATTER TO A STATE LIKE KENTUCKY, WHICH IS, OF COURSE, AS WE ALL KNOW A NET RECIPIENT OF TAX DOLLARS.

AND HE WANTS TO HELP US, AND HE HAS AGAIN AND AGAIN.

THERE'S ANOTHER ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW WITH UPS THAT'LL REFLECT THAT.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT ANOTHER RISING REPUBLICAN IN THE HOUSE, 1st DISTRICT CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER WHO SERVE IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE BUT HE IS SET TO BECOME THE OVERSIGHT CHAIRMAN, AND HE SAID IN A SEAT VERY SIMILAR TO WHERE YOU ALL ARE SITTING THAT HIS FOCUS IS GOING TO BE ON THE HUNTER BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THE ORIGINS OF COVID, SO IF WE THOUGHT THAT RAND PAUL LOST HIS OPPORTUNITY TO GO AFTER FAUCI, IS JAMES EMCORE GOING TO TAKE THAT UP, ELLEN WILLIAMS?

>> I THINK JAMES COMER IS GOING TO DO A GREAT JOB ON THIS COMMITTEE, AND HIS RISE IN SIX SHORT YEARS TO CHAIR THIS COMMITTEE IS MIRK THAN ANY OTHER MEMBER OF CONGRESS IN HISTORY.

HE'S GOING TO BE FOCUSED.

HE'LL BE DISCIPLINED AS WELL AND HE'S A FIGHTER.

AS HE SAID, I'M NOTE GOING TO PASS OUT SUBPOENAS, I BELIEVE HE SAID, LIKE PARKING TICKETS BUT BE MEASURED.

HE SENT A LETTER TO ANDREW BLANKEN.

HE'S GOING TO LOOK INTO A BIDEN SECRET MEETING THAT HE HAD WITH SAUDI ARABIA TO SEE IF HE COULDN'T GET THE SAUDIS TO INCREASE OIL PRODUCTION PRIOR TO NOVEMBER ELECTIONS SO HE'S GOT DEADLINES ON THAT.

HE'S SAID TODAY PUBLICALLY, I WOULDN'T EVEN MIND HAVING ELI MUSK COME BEFORE MY COMMITTEE AND TALK ABOUT THE TWITTER AND THE HUNTER BIDEN TAPES AND THE AND SEE WHAT'S GOING ON.

I'M INTERESTED TO SEE IT'S HE'S GOING TO BE ON CBS, MEET THE PRESS.

EVERYWHERE ALL OVER FOX.

>> HE SAID THERE'S 30 OR 40 INVESTIGATES ALTHOUGH THE MADE DOESN'T ASK HIM ABOUT THE ORIGINS FAUCI AND THE HUNTER BIDEN INVESTIGATION.

I WANT TO GO TO YOU, PROFESSOR CIZMAR, AMERICANS ARE SAYING, I'M REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT MY GAS PRICES, MY GROCERY BILL, ENERGY COSTS.

LET'S JUST PUT ALL THAT OTHER STUFF TO REST.

BUT THIS IS WHAT THIS COMMITTEE DOES, RIGHT?

THEY'RE NOT THERE TO ADDRESS MAYBE THESE OTHER KIND OF MEAT AND POTATO TABLE KITCHEN TYPE QUESTIONS AND CURIOSITIES, RIGHT?

>> I DO THINK HE WILL APPEAL TO A PARTICULAR AUDIENCE WITH THE TYPE OF INVESTIGATIONS HE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT HE PLANS -- >> WHAT TYPE OF AUDIENCE DO YOU THINK?

>> AN AUDIENCE THAT IS PERHAPS VERY CONSERVATIVE, AN AUDIENCE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN FOR THE ENTIRETY OF THE LAST TWO AND A HALF YEARS, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S WHAT AVERAGE AMERICANS HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT.

AND SO ALTHOUGH HE IS GOING TO I THINK APPEAL TO A PARTICULAR AUDIENCE WITH THIS TYPE OF DISCOURSE, I'M NOT SURE THAT THIS IS ACTUALLY GOING TO BECOME A HOT TOPIC FOR A LOT OF AMERICANS TO START TALKING ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN AND FAUCIY.

I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE READY TO PUT COVID BEHIND THEM.

I THINK WE'VE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS FROM VARIOUS OUTLETS ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN THAT JUST HAVEN'T HAD AN AUDIENCE AND HAVEN'T STUCK FOR GENERAL PUBLIC.

HE IS WHISTLING TO A PARTICULAR GROUP BUT I'M NOT SURE THIS IS GOING TO BECOME A KEY TOPIC OF KENTUCKY POLITICS.

>> AND I JUST GOT TO WEIGH IN BECAUSE WITH BIDEN IN THE PRESIDENCY, THE SENATE CONTROLLED BY THE DEMOCRATS, I THINK COMER AND HIS CHAIRMANSHIP AND HIS COMMITTEE WILL BE SORT OF THE OVERSIGHT BODY, IF YOU WILL, OF ALL THAT GOES ON IN WASHINGTON AND PARTICULARLY THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, AND I THINK HIS ROLE BECOMES CRITICALLY IMPORTANT AND TRANSPARENCY AND OVERSIGHT SO THAT THE PERSON PEOPLE DO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON AND THERE AREN'T SECRET MEETINGS IN AUD RAUB YEAH TO SEE IF YOU CAN -- SAUDI ARABIA TO SEE IF YOU CAN'T GET GAS PRICES TO DROP.

I DON'T THINK HUNTER BIDEN WILL BE FOCUS.

I THINK IT WILL BE ONE.

THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THAT WAS DISCUSSED.

>> MOST MESSILY IN PARTISAN AUDIENCES.

IN MAINSTREAM NEWS THIS HAS NOT RECEIVED THE TYPE OF ATTENTION IT HAD HAS FROM A PARTICULAR GROUP PEOPLE, AND I THINK A LOVE THEM PROBABLY ARE COMER SUPPORTERS SO THERE'S DEFINITELY AN AUDIENCE THAT HE WILL BE TALKING TO WITH THIS THAT COULD HELP SCORE POINTS OR HELP SORT OF INCREASE HIS NOTORIETY, BUT AGAIN WITH INFLATION PRESSING DOWN LIKE IT IS, WITH THE WAR IN UKRAINE, WITH A LOT OF OTHER PRESSING ISSUES I'M NOT SURE THE AVERAGE AMERICAN IS GOING TO WANT TO GO THROUGH HUNTER BIDEN AGAIN.

>> I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE ONLY ISSUE, AS I SAID.

I THINK HE'S GOING TO HOLD THE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE AND TRY TO MAINTAIN TRANSPARENCY IN SOME OF THESE BIG EDUCATIONAL THAT GO ON SO THAT THEY'RE.

THE BIG EDUCATIONAL SO THAT THEY'RE NOT SEPTEMBER UNDER THE RUG.

>> I KNOW HE SAID IT WOULDN'T SEEM PARTISAN BUT I JUST REALLY HAVE A CONCERN THAT HE'S NO GOING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE THIS PLAY TO AGAIN, A GENERAL AUDIENCE.

>> AND HE HES HA SAID HE WILL VOTE FOR KEVIN McCARTHY AS SPEAKER.

NOT SURPRISING.

>> >> PROFESSOR VOSS.

>> I THINK THESE HEARINGS ARE INSIDE THE BELTWAY STUFF THAT MOST PEOPLE JUST DON'T CARE ABOUT.

NOW, IF YOU CAN USE THE POWER TO BRING PEOPLE IN AND YOU'RE ABLE TO EXPOSE ACTUAL FACTS, ACTUAL DISCOVERIES THAT PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT, YOU KNOW, EXPOSE CRIME, THEY CAN MATTER, BUT MOST OF THE TIME PEOPLE ARE SITTING AROUND AT THEIR COFFEE POT DECIDING WHAT THE BIG NEWS IS, IT'S NOTE THIS YOU SUPPLIED THE BELTWAY STUFF THAT DC FOLKS OBSESS OVER OR FRANKFORT FOLKS OBSESS OVER.

IT'S WHAT'S GOING ON AT YOUR GROCERY REGISTER.

IT'S WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE GAS PUMP.

IT'S ARE PEOPLE LOSING THEIR JOBS?

ARE NEW BUSINESSES FAILING.

>> SAME?

>> IT'S A GREAT WAY, AS A MAGICIAN WILL DO, TO DISTRACT PEOPLE FROM THE REPUBLICAN PLANS TO CAP SOCIAL SECURITY OR MAKE IT HAVE TO BE RENEWED EVERY FIVE YEARS.

I MEAN, SENATOR SCOTT MADE A VERY SPECIFIC PROPOSAL THAT WOULD DAMAGE SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND THE FUTURE OF THE LEAST AMONG US.

WELL, IF THEY WANT TO DO THAT, PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO DO IT IS DON'T LOOK AT WHAT I'M DOING WITH MY RIGHT HAND.

LOOK AT THIS MAGIC BALL HERE.

LOOK AT THIS WAND.

AND CONVINCE PEOPLE KIND OF LIKE THEY DID WITH BENGHAZI.

REMEMBER, SPEAKER-TO-BE MCCARTHY SAID, WE DID A GREAT JOB BRINGING HILLARY DOWN WITH THE BENGHAZI STUFF.

WHICH IS JUST CRAVEN BECAUSE IT WAS PEOPLE'S LIVES.

PEOPLE DID DIE AT BENGHAZI.

WHETHER OR NOT HILLARY KNEW -- YOU KNOW, DIDN'T KNOW ALL THE FACTS IMMEDIATELY ESSENTIALLY IS WHAT THE WHOLE CONVERSATION WAS ABOUT.

SO THIS IS TO THEIR ADVANTAGE, TO HAVE A COMMITTEE THAT'LL BRING UP JUST THE BIGGEST RED HERRINGS IN THE WORLD TO AVOID TALKING ABOUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING WITH THE OTHER HAND.

>> MAY I ADD SOMETHING TO THAT?

THIS ISN'T ONLY A ONE-PARTY PROBLEM.

THE DEMOCRATS THOUGHT THEY COULD FIGHT THE LAST ELECTION WITH JANUARY 6th AND DONALD TRUMP AND IT WAS ALL INSIDE THE BELTWAY STUFF.

SOMETIMES FAIRLY EXPLOSIVE STUFF.

BUT IT STILL WAS A FLOP WITH THE VOTERS.

WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PIVOTED AND STARTED SAYING, WE'RE FOCUSED ON INFLATION, WE'RE TRYING TO DEAL WITH THE THINGS THAT ARE ACTUALLY BOTHERING YOU, THAT'S WHEN DEMOCRATS STARTED MAKING HEADWAY THE IN CONGRESSIONAL A ELECTIONS.

THE DC FOLKS, BOTH PARTIES, THEY WANT TO FOCUS ON THEIR INTERNAL STUFF AND VOTERS ARE MOSTLY YAWNING UNTIL THEY MOVE TO POLICIES THAT ARE GOING TO AFFECT US AT HOME.

>> I JUST GO BACK TO COMB SER GOING TO FOCUS ON ISSUES AND MAKE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THAT THERE'S TREASON IN ACTIONS AND TRANSPARENCY IN DECISIONS WHATEVER THE ISSUES MAY BE.

HUNTER BIDEN HAPPENS TO BE ONE THEM BUT THAT IS NOT HIS ONLY FOCUS NOR THE ONLY ISSUE.

THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON, AND WITH THE MAJORITY THAT THE REPUBLICANS HOLD IN THE HOUSE AND COMER WITH HIS CHAIRMANSHIP, HE BECOMES THE GUY IN THE COMMITTEE THAT WILL INVESTIGATE THINGS THAT HE BELIEVES WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED AND WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO WE'LL SEE.

>> JAIME IS A GOOD FELLOW, A FRIEND OF MINE, AND I HAVE NO QUESTION THAT HE'LL DO THAT TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITY.

BUT REMEMBER, HE IS CHAIR AT THE LEAVE OF THE SPEAKER, KEVIN MCCARTHY, AND KEVIN MCCARTHY ONLY GETS TO STAY SPEAKER SINCE THE FIRST THING HE HAD TO DO WAS AGREE THAT THEY COULD CALL A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE AT ANY TIME IN THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS TO THROW HIM OUT, AND IF HE LITERALLY HAS FOUR VOTES TO SPARE OR FIVE IN THE -- ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE, FOUR VOTES TO SPARE, THAT HE HAS NO MARGIN FOR ERROR, SO WHEN THE CRAZIEST OF CEASES ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, MARGELY TAYLOR GREENE AND HER BUDS START CALLING FOR THIS, THAT OR THE OTHER, JAIME'S GOING TO HAVE -- AND I SAY JAIME, CONGRESS COMER IS GOING TO TO HAVE A HARD TIME STOPPING THAT.

AND SPEAKER MCCARTHY IS GOING TO PUSH HIM TO DO IT OR THEY'LL DO IT IN ANOTHER COMMITTEE.

SO HIS INTENTIONS COULD BE THE VERY BEST, BUT IT'S GOING TO REAL TOUGH TO KEEP OFF THE CRAZIES WHEN KEVIN HAS SUCH A NARROW RULING MAJORITY.

>> WELL, THAT'S ALL PREDICTION, WHAT WILL HAPPEN, WHAT WON'T HAPPEN.

I'VE WATCHED CONGRESSMAN COMER SINCE HE CAME TO THE STATE HOUSE A 24, 25 YEARS OF AGE.

AND I NEVER UNDERESTIMATE HIS ABILITY TO RUN A COMMITTEE, TO SEE AN ISSUE, TO MANAGE AN ISSUE, AND TO REALLY DIG INTO THE MEAT OF IT, AND BE TRANSPARENT.

I KEEP USING THAT WORD BUTTED TRAPPERS AND ACCOUNTABILITY I THINK D. TRANS TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ARE THE TWO WORDS HE WILL USE.

HE WILL WIN ALL THE REPUBLICANS IN HOUSE, MAYBE NOT SO MUCH THE DEMOCRATS, BUT I THINK HE WILL WORK WITH ALL FACTIONS, IF YOU WILL, IN THAT REPUBLICAN HOUSE AND DO A GREAT JOB.

>> SO LET'S TALK ABOUT A DEMOCRAT.

THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK FROM THE FEDERAL DELEGATION FROM KENTUCKY IS MORGAN McGARVEY WHO HAS BEEN A STATE SENATOR AND BEEN THE MINORITY LEADER IN THE STATE SENATE AND HOW WILL GO TO WASHINGTON AND BE IN THE MINORITY PARTY THERE.

SO HE'S USED TO THAT, RIGHT?

>> OH, YEAH.

AND HE KNOWS HOW TO SUCCEED WITH THAT.

>> SO WHAT'S HIS APPROACH AND HIS STYLE?

FOR THOSE WHO HAVEN'T SEEN HIM IN ACTION ON KET IN AND THESE KIND OF DISCUSSIONS.

>> WELL, HIS APPROACH IS TO WORK WITH EVERYONE.

HE BECAME A MEMBER OF THE STATE SENATE IN 2012'S ELECTION AND WAS IN THE SUPER MAJORITY -- MINORITY ON DAY ONE, BUT PASSED 18 BILLS, MANY OF THEM VERY SUBSTANTIVE BY WORKING WITH EVERYBODY IN THE STATE SENATE AND IN THE STATE HOUSE.

HE KNOWS HOW TO GET THINGS DONE, AND THAT'S WHY HE'S THERE.

I WAS UP WITH HIM LAST WEEK, ACTUALLY JUST HAVING SOME FUN HELPING HIM PICK OUT THE ACTUAL OFFICE HE'D BE IN.

IT'S THE ONLY TRULY, TRULY NON-PARTISAN THING IN THE U.S. HOUSE.

IT'S BASED ON SENIORITY AND THEN THERE ARE 74 FRESHMEN THIS YEAR.

EACH DREW A NUMBER.

NOW, BACK WHEN I WAS DRAWING MY NUMBER FOR A NEW OFFICE, I DREW NUMBER 7.

AND MORGAN ALMOST DID AS WELL.

HE DREW NUMBER 8.

BUT WE HAD FUN, AND I SPENT TIME VISITING WITH OTHER MEMBERS, AND THEY ALL KNOW ABOUT MORGAN McGARVEY.

THEY'RE ALL REALLY EXCITED THAT HE'S GOING TO BE THERE.

AND INTERESTING BYPRODUCT OF HIS TAKING OFFICE WHEN THE DEMOCRATS GO INTO THE MINORITY IS THAT THE LEADERS OF THE PARTY, THE COMMITTEE CHAIRS, THE SUBCOMMITTEE CHAIRS WHO ARE JUST CRAZY BUSY SETTING THE AGENDAS, WORKING THE BILLS, MAKING DECISIONS, BUILDING COALITIONS, DON'T HAVE ANYTHING RIGHT NOW.

THEY'RE GOING TO SPEND THE NEXT TWO YEARS WITH A LOT OF TIME ON THEIR HANDS, AND CONGRESSMAN McGARVEY WILL HAVE THE CHANCE TO DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM, WHICH IS VITALLY IMPORTANT FOR KENTUCKY.

HE ALREADY HAS MET WITH SENATOR McCONNELL, HAD A GOOD CONVERSATION WITH HIM.

THEY DIDN'T TALK ABOUT POLITIC.

THEY TALKED ABOUT WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR KENTUCKY, WHAT THEY CAN DO FOR MORGAN'S DISTRICT IN LOUISVILLE, ALTHOUGH MORGAN, AS JOHN YARMOUTH BEFORE HIM, TAKES THE VIEW THAT HE IS KENTUCKY'S DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSMAN AND NEEDS TO WATCH OUT FOR THE ENTIRE STATE.

I DON'T HAVE TO REPEAT FOR PEOPLE WHO PAY ATTENTION TO A SHOW LIKE THIS, BUT KENTUCKY HAS PLENTY OF PROBLEMS, AND WE NEED TO WORK TOGETHER TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF GUY CONGRESSMAN McGARVEY WILL BE.

>> WELL, THERE ARE SOME BIG ISSUES THAT HAVE COME TO THE FORE.

OF COURSE WE HAVE HAD A FEW, MASS SHOOTINGS JUST IN THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS AND WE KNOW THAT ONCE AGAIN PRESIDENT BIDEN IS MAKING RENEWED CALLS ARE FOR EVEN TIGHTER GUN CONTROL.

ELLEN MENTIONED SOME OF THE ISSUES BEFORE, SOME ARE IN THE THROES OF BEING EXAMINED, BUT WE THINK ABOUT THE PRESSING PROBLEMS OF THIS COUNTRY, GUN VIOLENCE AMONG THEM, I MEAN, FOR MIDDLE OF THE ROAD, MODERATE AMERICANS, WHAT DO THEY WANT FROM THEIR REPRESENTATIVES IN DC?

>> I THINK THE NUMBER ONE THING PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IS STABILITY, AND THAT COMES IN TERMS OF THE ECONOMY, THAT COMES IN TERMS OF VIOLENCE AND CRIME, BOTH MASS SHOOTINGS BUT ALSO JUST CRIME IN GENERAL WAS DEFINITELY A THEME DURING THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS, AND SO I THINK THEY'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR CONGRESS TO HELP PROVIDE SOME STABILITY AND HELP US FEEL THAT PEOPLE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THINGS ARE IMPROVING IN TERMS OF SAFETY AND THE ECONOMY.

>> THERE'S A BIFURCATED SIGNIFICANCE.

IT'S EITHER MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT OR TAKING THE GUNS OFF THE STREET.

DR. VOSS, THERE IS THERE ANY MID-GROUND TO BE HAD?

>> THE VOTERS ARE USUALLY IN THE MIDDLE GROUND IN THAT SQUARING OFF.

VERY FEW ISSUES FIND VOTERS PARTICULARIZED THE WAY THE D. POLARIZE AND THERE'S A FEW THAT SAY DO SOMETHING.

LIBERAL, CONSERVATIVE, THEY DON'T CARE MUCH, THEY SEE A PROBLEM AND WANT TO SO IT ADDRESSED.

>> AND WHY DOESN'T IT HAPPEN, ELLEN WILLIAMS?

>> WE COULD BE COMING INTO A TIME WHEN IT'S TIME FOR TO IT HAPPEN AGAIN, AND I THINK WE'LL WATCH THIS LAME DUCK SESSION, BUT I THINK TO THE POINT OF WHAT EVERYBODY HAS SAID ABOUT WE DO HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND INFLATION IS SCARY.

INTEREST RATES FOR HOUSING SCARY.

I HAVE A SON AND DAUGHTER-IN-LAW TRYING TO BUY THEIR FIRST HOME AND EITHER THE PRICES ARE HIGH, NOW THE PRICES ARE DROPPING AND THE INTEREST RATES ARE HIGH.

SO THE GAS PRICES, GROCERY PRICES, I MEAN, IT'S A VERY SCARY TIME FOR YOUNG FAMILIES.

SENIOR CITIZENS.

FOR EVERYBODY.

AND SO I THINK WE NOW EXPECT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS TO COME TEG ON THE BIG ISSUES BE THE TOGETHER ON THE BIG ISSUES.

WE'RE ALWAYS GOING TO FIGHT OVER THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT STUFF, BUT I THINK THAT -- I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE COME JANUARY PEOPLE BEGINNING TO WORK TOGETHER AND REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE.

WE HAVE TO.

>> ARE YOU AS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THAT?

>> I'M ALWAYS OPTIMISTIC.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL COUNTRY, A WONDERFUL SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT, AND WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITIES.

I JUST HOPE THEY TAKE THEM.

>> WELL, IN THE TIME WE HAVE REMAINING WE DO WANT TO KIND OF SHIFT AND TALK ABOUT 2023, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE HERE IN KENTUCKY AND THOSE DOWN BALLOT RACES.

WE WON'T GET TOO SPECIFIC ABOUT THEM BUT THE FIELD IS GROWING AT LEAST EVERY WEEK.

THIS IS GOOD.

THAT IS THIS IS WHAT WE LIVE FOR.

>> WE HAVE HAD THE EARLIEST FILING DEADLINE.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> JANUARY 6th AT 4:00 P.M.

SO IF YOU'RE GOING TO RUN FOR ANY OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OFFICES IN 2023, YOU GOT TO KNOW AND HAVE YOUR PAPERWORK IN BY 4:00 P.M. ON THAT DAY.

>> AND THAT'S TO INCENTIVIZE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO GET DOWN TO BUSINESS, RIGHT?

HOW IS THAT WORKING?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

WE'LL SEE.

[LAUGHTER] >> BUT THIS IS A SHORT SESSION.

>> THERE'S NO BUDGET.

THERE'S NO SOME OF THOSE BIG JUGGERNAUTS.

>> NOT AT ALL.

BUT THIS ONE ANDY BESHEAR, DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR IN A VERY, VERY, VERY RED STATE.

WE HAVE SUPER MAJORITIES IN THE SENATE.

WE HAVE 31 MEMBERS OF THE SENATE AND SEVEN DEMOCRATS, SIX WHEN MORGAN LEAVES.

>> AND THEN SEVEN AGAIN.

>> AND THEN SEVEN AGAIN.

AND WE HAVE 80 REPUBLICANS IN THE STATE HOUSE, THAN THE 2 DEMOCRATS.

SO -- 20 DEMOCRATS.

SO I THINK THERE'S TEN REPUBLICANS RIGHT NOW THAT ARE IN THIS RACE, AND MAYBE ONE OR TWO MORE.

I JUST -- WE DON'T KNOW.

AND WE'LL SEE.

I KNOW.

WE SHALL SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BUT WE ARE A WINNER TAKE ALL PRIMARY.

AND SO THE TOP VOTE GETTER OF THOSE TEN CANDIDATES, ASSUMING THEY ALL STAY IN THE RACE, WE'LL SEE.

>> AND THE STATE LAW ALSO CHANGED WHERE YOU DIDN'T HAVE TO NAME YOUR RUNNING MATE UNTIL AUGUST, SO YOU COULD SEE SOME INTERESTING PAIRINGS AFTER THE PRIMARY.

>> DEPENDING.

YOU HAVE HAD KELLY CRAFT, FORMER AMBASSADOR TO CANADA.

>> WHO HAS ALREADY MADE HER CHOICE.

>> AMBASSADOR DO THE UN HAS MIXED MAX WISE, FORMER EDUCATION CHAIRMAN, NOW ECONOMIC TOURISM COMMITTEE CHAIR.

SO THEY ARE -- MANY SEE SHE'S THE ONE TO BEAT.

SHE'S VERY WELL FUNDED.

SHE'S VERY WELL ORGANIZED.

SHE'S GOT GREAT NEGOTIATING SKILLS.

SO I'M WATCHING HER AND HER CAMPAIGN.

YOU HAVE RYAN QUARLES, AG COMMISSIONER, REALLY GOOD.

DANIEL CAMERON, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WHO SUED BESHEAR A LOT.

MIKE HARMON, AND THEN A HOST OF OTHER CANDIDATES.

SO WE'LL SEE.

>> YOU THROW SAVANNAH MADDOX -- >> SAVANNAH MADDOX.

>> A WOMAN, I GUESS THERE ARE TWO WOMEN NEAR THE TOP.

BUT MY QUESTION, I WAS SMILING A MINUTE AGO BECAUSE ELLEN SAID, WELL, YOU NEVER KNOW WHO IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

MEN OF.

MATT BEVIN.

MATT BEVIN.

HOW DOES HE NOT RUN WITH SUCH A SCATTERED FIELD KNOWING HE JUST HAS TO GET A SIMPLE PLURALITY?

>> WHICH IS WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME.

>> 83 VOTES, I BELIEVE.

>> YES, THAT'S CORRECT.

>> I'M GOING TO HAVE A LAWN CHAIR AND A BAG OF POPCORN.

I'M GOING SIT OUTSIDE THE SCARY STATE'S OFFICE ON JANUARY 6th.

>> YOU WON'T BE THE ONLY ONE.

>> AND WATCH AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> YOU ALL NEED TO STREAM THAT.

>> NOT A BAD IDEA.

>> WE HAVE GREAT CANDIDATES.

WE HAVE JONATHAN SHELL YOUNG MAN RUNNING FOR AG COMMISSIONER.

HE'S BEEN ALL OVER THE STATE.

MANY CREDIT HIM WITH THE FLIP IN THE STATE HOUSE BECAUSE OF HIS OUTSTANDING CANDIDATE RECRUITMENT IN 2016.

WHICH IS WHEN REPUBLICANS TOOK OVER.

O.J.

ON LIKE A, RUNNING FOR STATE TREASURER HAS FILED.

ALLISON BALL, FILED FOR STATE AUDITOR.

GREAT WOMAN.

>> AND ON THE OTHER SIDE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL PAMELA STEVENSON WHO WAS IN THE STATE HOUSE.

>> AND WEAVE RUSSELL COLEMAN.

OUTSTANDING.

>> I WAS AT TWO DIFFERENT EVENTS ON IS ON SATURDAY, WITH PAMELA STEVENSON AND THEN RUSSELL.

IT WAS VERY FUNNY.

WE HAVE A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY IN THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE BECAUSE PAMELA STEVENSON IS A UNIQUE CANDIDATE AND UNIQUELY QUALIFIED.

20-27 YEARS AS -- IN THE JAG CORPS FOR THE U.S. AIR FORCE.

SHE IS A YOU FULL BIRD COLONEL IN THE AIR FORCE RETIRED AND SUCCEED CHARLES BOOKER WHEN HE RAN FOR SENATE IN 2020 TAKING OVER HIS HOUSE SEAT?

LOUISVILLE, JUST RE-ELECTED TO A SECOND TERM.

SHE IS JUST A BALL OF FIRE.

SHE'S ALSO A PASTOR, A WOMAN OF DEEP FAITH, WHICH I THINK WILL RESONATE IN PARTS OF KENTUCKY THAT MANY DEMOCRATS HAVE NOT.

SO I SEE GREAT THINGS FOR PAMELA STEVENSON COMING UP.

>> AND I MEAN ALL EYES WILL BE ON KENTUCKY, JUST ONE OF A FEW HANDFUL OF STATES THAT WILL HAVE CONTESTS IN 2023, SO WHAT EXPECTATION DO WE HAVE FOR THE NATIONAL POLITICAL ENVIRONMENT TO INFILTRATE THE KENTUCKY ENVIRONMENT AND CHANGE SOME OF THOSE DYNAMICS?

>> WELL, I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY COMPETITIVE RACE, AND SO NOT ONLY ARE WE ONE OF THE ONLY RACES IN 2023 BUT BECAUSE OF THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION THAT'S EXPECTED, I THINK WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF ATTENTION DEVOTED TOWARDS OUR STATE.

I DO THINK THAT YOU WILL SEE BESHEAR TRYING TO PLAY OUT THE CONNECTION WITH BIDEN AND ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT HE'S BEEN ABLE TO BRING TO THE STATE AND THE VARIOUS PROJECTS OR ASSISTANCE THAT WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO GET FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SO THANK YOU YOU'LL HAVE THAT EFFECT COMING IN.

REPUBLICANS ALSO DON'T HAVE NANCY PELOSI OR HILLARY CLINTON AROUND AT THE MOMENT TO SORT OF USE THEM EITHER AS THE BOOGIE WOMEN, AND SO I DON'T KNOW WHO THEY'RE GOING TO TRANSFER THAT TO IF THEY'LL BE ABLE TO USE BIDEN IN THAT SAME WAY BUT I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF STATE LEVEL POLITICS FOCUSING ON NANCY PELOSI'S SORT OF SCARY IMAGE, LOOKING A WITCH WITH FLYING -- WHATEVER.

>> THE GIFT THAT KEPT ON GIVING FOR MANY YEARS.

>> FOR REPUBLICANS, AND THEY DON'T HAVE HER ANYMORE TO DO THAT.

SO I DEFINITELY THINK IT WILL GET THIS NATIONAL FLAVOR.

BUT I'M CURIOUS TO SEE WHAT THAT WILL LOOK LIKE FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE GIVEN THE CARE VARIOUS STATE OF DISCUSSION OF TRUMP VERSUS THE OTHER CANDIDATES AND THE FACT THAT THEY DON'T HAVE SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL FOILS THAT THEY CAN USE IN THE ELECTION.

>> I'D SAY REPUBLICANS HOPE THAT BESHEAR REALLY KOZ IS UP WITH BIDEN IN THIS CAMPAIGN, BECAUSE YOU TALK ABOUT THE JOBS EARLIER THAT HAVE COME TO KENTUCKY, AND I WOULD CHALLENGE THAT THE JOBS COMING TO KERRY BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES -- KENTUCKY ARE BECAUSE OF THE CHANGES IN THE TAX STRUCTURE AND THE ELIMINATION OF RIGHT TO WORK AND PREVAILING WAGE THAT HAPPENED WHEN THE REPUBLICANS, JEFF HOOVER WAS SPEAKER, TOOK OVER THE HOURS AND MADE SOME PRETTY SWEEPING PRO-BUSINESS CHANGES.

>> IN THE FIRST WEEK OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL SESSION AFTER MATT BEVIN HAD BEEN INAUGURATED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THERE HAVE BEEN BIG POLICY CHANGES THAT HAVE REALLY ENHANCED OUR BUSINESS CLIMATE AND MADE PEOPLE WANT TO COME TO KENTUCKY.

>> WELL, ELLEN.

>> MIKE.

>> VIRTUALLY ALL OF THESE HUGE PROJECTS ACTUALLY ARE ALREADY ORGANIZED BY UNIONS.

5 NOW NEW UAW MEMBERS WILL BE EMPLOYED AT THE FORD TRUCK BATTERY PLANT NEAR ELIZABETHTOWN.

SO IF UNION WAS AN ISSUE, FORD WOULDN'T HAVE DONE ALL THE THINGS THEY'VE DONE IN KENTUCKY AND CONTINUE TO DO THEM.

SECONDLY, THE TAX CHANGES THAT YOU'RE BRAGGING WERE JUST AN EFFORT TO STARVE GOVERNMENT.

THEY HAVEN'T TOLD US WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO CUT IN THE WAY OF SERVICES, WHICH HAVE BEEN CUT TO THE BONE AS IT IS, WHILE AT THE SAME TIME DOING TAX CHANGES THAT WILDLY FAVOR NOT THE CORPORATIONS THAT RUN OUT OF MICHIGAN OR OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY THAT ARE CAUSING THESE JOBS TO BE CREATED, BUT RATHER THE KINDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE EARNING BETWEEN $400,000 AND $1 MILLION A YEAR WHO AREN'T AFFECTED ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE BRING THESE JOBS TO KENTUCKY.

SO I THINK THOSE ARE JUST CANARDS AND EXCUSES TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO TO MAKE THINGS BETTER FOR THE WEALTHY.

AND I'M NOT SAYING THERE'S ANY WRONG WITH BEING WEALTHY.

NOT AT ALL.

BUT WE SHOULD PAY OUR FAIR SHARE, AND THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE CHANGING.

THEY JUST ANNOUNCED THEY'RE GOING TO CHANGE OUR TAX STRUCTURE AGAIN SO THAT IT WILL GO MORE HEAVILY TOWARD THE SALES TAX, WHICH IS CLEARLY REGRESSIVE.

NOBODY DISAGREES WITH THAT.

>> SO DR. VOSS IS GOING TO -- >> I'M NOT A REGULAR VOTER BUT I'LL PLAY ONE ON TV.

SO AT THIS POINT THERE ARE THREE PEOPLE IN THE AUDIENCE.

THERE ARE ALL THE REPUBLICANS THAT ARE SAYING, YEAH, YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

THERE ARE ALL DEMOCRATS SAYING, YOU GO GET THEM, MR. WARD.

AND THEN THERE'S OTHER FOLKS SITTING ON THEIR COUCH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH.

I HEAR IT ALL THE TIME.

I CAN'T SORT THIS OUT.

I'M IN THE AN ECONOMIST.

I'M A VOTER.

AND THEY TUNE ALL THAT OUT.

>> THAT'S THE PROBLEM, THOUGH.

DOCTOR, FACTS ARE FACTS.

AND SOMEBODY'S GOT TO REPEAT THEM INSTEAD OF TALKING ABOUT HUNTER BIDEN WHICH IS JUST A BUNCH HOOEY.

I'M SORRY BUT I DIDN'T COME TO ARGUE WI POLITICAL 69 BUT I JUST -- I AGREE WITH YOU THAT IT TURNS PEOPLE OFF, BUT IF WE DON'T TELL THE TRUTH, WHY THE HELL DRIVE OVER FROM LOUISVILLE?

>> OUR ECONOMY IS IN GOOD SHAPE IN KENTUCKY BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES PASSED BY REPUBLICANS.

BESHEAR VETOED MANY OF THEM AND THEY OVERRODE HIM.

BUT THE FIRST VOTE THAT YOU'RE GOING TO SEE TAKEN BY BOTH HOUSE AND SENATE MEMBERS IN THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS TO DROP THE PERSONAL INCOME TAX RATE A HALF A PERCENT.

I THINK PEOPLE WILL LIKE THAT.

>> IF THEY -- TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY THINK, OH, MY TAXES ARE GETTING CUT.

BUT THE VAST MAJORITY OF KENTUCKIANS ALREADY ARE AT THE LOWEST LEVEL.

THEY'RE NOT GOING TO SEE A CHANGE IN THEIR TAKE HOME PAY AS A RESULT OF THIS.

BUT THEY WILL SEE A CHANGE WHEN THEY BUY THINGS AND HAVE TO PAY A LARGER SALES TAX, WHICH IS GOING TO BE THE ONLY SOLUTION, OR PAY SALES TAX ON THINGS THEY DIDN'T USED TO PAY SALES TAX ON LIKE DRY CLEANING OR -- YOU'VE GOT TO HAVE YOUR SUIT FOR THE FUNERAL OR THE JOB INTERVIEW AND YOU'RE PAYING MORE FOR IT TO SUBSIDIZE THE PLAN FOR THE REPUBLICANS TO MAKE IT EASIER ON THE WEALTHY.

IT'S JUST SO DISCOURAGING.

>> THERE ARE A LOT OF GREAT JOBS COMING TO KENTUCKY AND I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES.

I REALLY MANY OPERATE MIX ABOUT -- >> I ALWAYS AM OPTIMISTIC.

>> ME TOO.

>> I DID WANT TO GO BACK AND TALK ABOUT HOW SOME OF THE FEDERAL DYNAMICS WOULD PLAY INTO THE CONSTITUTIONAL RACES, PARTICULARLY WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL DANIEL CAMERON WHO IS SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR AND WHO HAS TOUTED THAT HE HAS SECURED THAT ENDORSEMENT FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP, NOW HAVEN'T HEARD THAT IN A COUPLE OF MONTHS MAYBE, BUT I MEAN, HOW -- HOW TRUMPY DO THESE CANDIDATES NEED TO BE IN ORDER TO WIN THE NOMINATION?

>> I DON'T KNOW BECAUSE THERE IS STILL A LARGE -- I SAY LARGE.

I DON'T KNOW.

I HAVEN'T SEEN A RECENT POLL ON TRUMP'S POPULARITY IN KENTUCKY.

SO I'M JUST NOT SURE.

YOU HAD AMBASSADOR CRAFT WHO WORKED, AS APPOINTED TWO TIMES BY PRESIDENT TRUMP TO TWO DIFFERENT AMBASSADORSHIPS.

DANIEL HAS THE ENDORSEMENT.

I JUST DON'T KNOW HOW THAT FACTORS IN.

I KNOW THAT IN KENTUCKY WE'RE ALWAYS KIND OF A PRECURSOR TO WHAT THE NATIONAL ELECTION LOOKS LIKE, SO IF ANDY BESHEAR SHOULD WIN, DOES THAT BODE WELL FOR A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE?

I MEAN, SOMETIMES IF YOU LOOK AT TRENDS, SO GOES KENTUCKY, SO GOES THE NATION.

SO I THINK THE STAKES ARE REALLY, REALLY HIGH FOR THE GOVERNORSHIP NEXT YEAR FOR REPUBLICANS TO WIN.

>> DR. VOSS, YOUR TAKE.

>> WE HAVE MULTIPLE TRUMP ELECTORATES HERE.

WE'VE GOT THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT.

WE'VE GOT THE PERSON WHO WORKED FOR TRUMP.

WE'VE GOT TO MORE TRUMP-LIKE CANDIDATES.

AND IF YOU'RE A TRUMP VOTER AND YOU'RE GETTING INTO THE BOOTH FOR THIS ELECTION, I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU REALLY KNOW WHICH WAY TO GO.

BUT IF WE GET AS MANY REPUBLICAN CAPES, IT'S BASICALLY ANDY BARBER AGAINST A BASKETBALL TEAM PLUS SOME EXTRA.

WHO KNOWS HOW THAT VOTE ULTIMATELY GETS SUBDIVIDED WITH THAT MANY CANDIDATES IN THE RACE.

>> BUT THAT'S HEALTHY, RIGHT, TO HAVE THAT MANY CANDIDATES IN A RACE?

>> IF WE HAD GEORGIA'S RUNOFF MAYBE OR RANK CHOICE VOTING SO THAT WE COULD PUT FIRST, SECOND, THIRD, FOURTH CHOICE.

WHEN YOU CAN WIN THE NOMINATION FOR OFFICE WITH A FAIRLY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE, OF THE SMALL PERCENTAGE OF OUR SOCIETY THAT TURNED OUT, IT'S NOT REALLY DEMOCRACY AT THAT POINT.

>> WELL, THAT HAPPENED IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WITH SOME STATE LAWMAKERS.

WE SAW THAT.

IF YOU LOOK UP THERE IN BOONE COUNTY, THERE WERE SOME CASUALTIES OF LOW VOTER TURNOUT, AND THE ONES WHO CAME OUT WERE A LITTLE BIT ON A DIFFERENT SIDE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, PERHAPS, MAINSTREAM, I'LL SAY.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN, IT'S -- I DON'T KNOW WHAT TURNOUT WILL BE IN 2015, THE LAST LIVELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY WE HAD 13% OF REPUBLICANS GO TO THE POLLS.

>> WHEN WE THINK ABOUT TURNOUT, THOUGH, I MEAN, WHAT DO WE DO TO INCREASE VOTER PARTICIPATION, PARTICULARLY IN PRIMARIES IN THESE OFF-OFF YEAR ELECTIONS?

>> IT'S REALLY HARD TO GET PEOPLE TO GO TO THE POLLS BECAUSE THEY'RE THINKING, OH, I JUST VOTED IN 2022 AND THEY'RE LOOKING FORWARD THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION.

BUT IF THERE ARE CANDIDATES WHO ARE REALLY ENGAGING AND EXCITING THEN THEY CAN'T HELP TO MOBILIZE VOTERS SO ON BEHALF OF THE PARTIES AND DID THE CANDIDATES IS GOING TO BE CRITICAL IN DETERMINATION HOW THAT PRIOR PRIMARY IS GOING TO GET OUT.

>> YOU HEARD THAT REFERENCE TO GET OUT THE VOTE EFFORTS.

TURNING OUT IS NOT JUST INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE JUST FEELING INSPIRED TO GO TO THE POLLS.

ORGANIZATIONS, INTEREST GROUPS, THE PARTIES PULLED PEOPLE INTO THE ELECTORATE, AND BECAUSE IT'S AN OFF YEAR AND WE'RE ONE OF THE ONLY GAMES IN TOWN, A LOT MORE MONEY CAN COME HERE TO TRY TO MOBILIZE PEOPLE.

SO THERE'S SOME CAUSE FOR OPTIMISM.

>> RIGHT, AND JUST A LOT OF TV TIME.

>> AND I LIKED THE VOTING.

IN ANDERSON CROWN, MY COUNTY CLERK WE HAVE DRIVE-THROUGH VOTING, BUT LIKE BEING ABLE TO VOTE WITH THURSDAY -- OR THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND THEN -- OR WHATEVER THE DAYS ARE YOU COULD VOTE, BUT I THINK IT MAKES YOU THE A LOT EASIER, PARTICULARLY FOR WORKING MOMS AND FAMILIES.

>> AND WORKING DADS.

>> AND DADS.

SORRY, MIKE.

>> BUT SOME OF THOSE, DURING THOSE PANDEMICS-RELATED ELECTION REFORMS THAT SECRETARY OF STATE MICHAEL ADAMS EMBRACED AND WORKED WITH GOVERNOR BESHEAR ON, HE GOT SOME FLACK WITH HIS OWN PARTY, BUT THEY'VE WORKED OUT IN A REITERATED FORM OF.

>> IT'S WORKED OUT.

THERE'S STILL SOME CONVERSATIONS GOING ON BECAUSE THERE WERE LONG LINES AT SOME OF THE VOTING CENTERS, BUT, I MEAN, MAYBE THEY'LL GIVE IT ONE MORE ELECTION CYCLE BEFORE THEY START TO MAKE ANY CHANGES.

>> WHAT WE DID WAS A NICE HAPPY MEDIUM BECAUSE PEOPLE DID GET EARLY VOTING.

THEY GOT THAT WEEKEND.

BUT IT WASN'T STRETCHED OUT SO EARLY THE WAY IT IS IN SOME STATES WERE THE ELECTION SEASON WASN'T DONE.

>> IT'S LIKE A TIME LAPSE A OPPOSED TO JUST A SNAPSHOT.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAD IN 2020.

TEN, 12 DAYS.

IN THE TIME WE HAVE HAD RAILING HOW OPERATED MICK, DR. CIZMAR, ARE YOU ABOUT THE 118th CONGRESS?

AND ARE YOU JUST GOING TO PRESS PAUSE ON THAT AND GO RIGHT TO THE 2023 ELECTION CONTEST IN KENTUCKY AND SAY FORGET ABOUT WHAT CONGRESS IS GOING BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING?

>> I AM SKEPTICAL THAT THEY'LL GET MUCH DONE HOWEVER I HOPE FOR THE NATION THAT I'M WRONG WITH THAT AND THEY ARE ABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS ON SOME OF THE PRESSING ISSUES WE'RE FACING AS A NATION, AND SO I DO HOPE WE HAVE THIS OPTIMISTIC STORY LIKE SOME OF OUR PANELISTS HAVE SAID IN WHICH THEY REALIZED IT'S TIME TO GET WORKING FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

>> WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO KEEP THE OPTIMISM ALIVE AND HAVE CIVIC DISCUSSIONS, DRIVING FROM LOUISVILLE OR WHEREVER YOU COME FROM.

WE THINK IT'S WORTH THE MILEAGE CERTAINLY.

>> I KEEP COMING.

I KEEP COMING, DON'T I?

>> YOU SURE DO.

WELL WE APPRECIATE YOU SO VERY MUCH.

IT'S BEEN A GOOD CONVERSATION ABOUT NATIONAL POLITICS AND A LITTLE BIT STATE POLITICS THROWN IN AT THE VERY END.

WE HOPE YOU WILL SEE US TOMORROW NIGHT AT 6:30 EVEN/5:30 CENTRAL FOR KWE EDITION.

AND YOU CAN WATCH BILL BRYANT AND A TEAM OF JOURNALISTS DISCUSS THE NEWS OF THE WEEK ON COMMENT ON KATY 8 EASTERN SEVEN CENTRAL.

WE WILL SEE YOU FOR KENTUCKY TONIGHT NEXT MONDAY NIGHT, A SPECIAL PROGRAM ABOUT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS THE SPECIAL TOWN HALL TO TALK ABOUT ALL THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS THAT ARE GOING ON IN THE STATE.

THAT'S A GREAT CONVERSATION NEXT MONDAY AT 8 EASTERN, 7:00 CENTRAL RIGHT HERE ON KET.

MANY