[♪♪] >> Bill: SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL SAYS GOVERNOR BESHEAR MAY YET ENTER THE RACE TO REPLACE HIM AS BESHEAR'S PODCAST GOES NATIONAL.

ANOTHER CANDIDATE ENTERS A CROWDED FIELD IN THE SIXTH DISTRICT RACE WHERE ANDY BARR IS LEAVING THE SEAT OPEN.

CONGRESSMAN THOMAS MASSIE LEADS AN EFFORT TO GET MORE JEFFREY EPSTEIN FILES RELEASED.

THE NEW PHONE RULES IN CLASSROOMS MAYBE SENDING MORE STUDENTS TO THE LIBRARY.

KENTUCKY GETS MUCH-NEEDED RAIN HERE AND THERE.

AND A LOTTERY JACKPOT GETS ATTENTION.

COMMENT IS NEXT ON KET.

[♪♪] >> Bill: GOOD EVENING I'M BILL BRYANT AND WE WELCOME YOU TO "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY", A LOOK BACK AT AND SOME ANALYSIS OF THE WEEK'S NEWS IN THE COMMONWEALTH.

AND THE GUESTS ON OUR PANEL OF WORKING KENTUCKY JOURNALISTS TONIGHT ARE TESSA DUVALL, POLITICS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS EDITOR FOR THE LEXINGTON HERALD-LEADER.

ISAIAH KIM-MARTINEZ, SENIOR REPORTER FOR WHAS11 IN LOUISVILLE.

AND JOINING US IS RUSS CASSADY, REGIONAL EDITOR OF APPALACHIAN NEWSPAPERS.

JUST BEFORE WE WENT ON THE AIR ON THIS FRIDAY EVENING, THE LONE DO I CITY COUNCIL IMPEACHED MAYOR WEDDELL IT FOLLOWS WEEKS OF MEETINGS AND ACCUSATIONS.

TESSA A LOT OF DRAMA LEADING UP TO THE VOTE?

>> IT'S BEEN AN EXCITING DAY IN LONDON, KENTUCKY.

ALL DAY PROCEEDINGS GOING OVER ALLEGATIONS OF MISCONDUCT AGAINST WENDELL WEDDELL HE WILL APPEAL THIS TO THE HIGHEST COURT IF HE HAS TO.

BUT ULTIMATELY HE WAS REMOVED FROM OFFICE TODAY AND AN ACTING MAYOR HAS BEEN APPOINTED.

>> Bill: IT REQUIRES A UNANIMOUS VOTE BY COUPLE AND IT HAPPENED AND WE'LL IS SEE WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE.

>> HE SAW THE WRITING ON THE WALL HE POSTED A SOCIAL MEDIA BEFORE THE IMPEACHMENT STARTED.

CAN YOU IMPEACH ME BUT YOU CAN'T IMPEACH THE VOTERS OF 2026.

HE HAS BEEN LOOKING AHEAD.

>> Bill: HANDILY HAS BEEN NAMED THE ACTING MAYOR WE WILL BE WATCHING WHAT COMES NEXT IN LONDON.

LET'S JUMP INTO STATE POLITICS IN AN INTERVIEW THIS WEEK, SENATOR MITCH McCONNELL SIGNALED HE IS NOT CONVINCED THAT GOVERNOR ANDY BESHEAR WON'T ENTER THE RACE TO SUCCEED HIM.

BESHEAR DEFIES THAT BUT HE IS ALSO TAKING HIS PODCAST NATIONAL.

>> I THINK THAT'S THE 4REU8 PODCAST THAT COULD.

IS GOING NATIONAL.

AND I THINK IT'S BECAUSE CIRRUS XM SAW THAT A COMMON SENSE, COMMON GROUND GET THINGS VOICE IS NEEDED IN OUR COUNTRY RIGHT NOW.

THIS SHOULDN'T SIGNAL TO ANYBODY THAT I'M LOOKING FOR A JOB JUST TRYING TO SPEAK REASON INTO CHAOS.

>> Bill: BESHEAR SAYS DO NOT READ ANYTHING THIS BUT HE SAID HE IS NOT RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE.

THE PODCAST IS AIMED AT A NATIONAL AUDIENCE McCONNELL MAKES THE CASE AND WE KNOW WHAT A POLITICAL STRATEGIST McCONNELL HAS BEEN FOR DECADES HE SAYS THERE'S DEMOCRATIC PRESSURE FOR BESHEAR TO GET INTO THE SENATE RACE AND IT MIGHT BE MORE ATTAINABLE THAN A RUN FOR THE WHITE HOUSE.

>> WE ARE READING INTO EVERYTHING.

BUT, YES, SENATOR McCONNELL TOLD MY COLLEAGUE AUSTIN HORN THAT HE KNOWS SCHUMER WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW HE IS BEATING DOWN ANDY BESHEAR'S DOOR TRYING TO CONVINCE HIM THAT SENATE IS THE OFFICE TO RUN FOR.

OF COURSE, DEMOCRATS ARE HOPING THEY HAVE A STRONG SHOWING IN 2026 IN THE MIDTERMS.

HOPING THEY CAN BUILD OFF OF THE UNPOPULARITY OF A LOT OF THINGS GOING ON WITHIN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

KENTUCKY HASN'T ELECTED A DEMOCRAT TO THE U.S. SENATE IN YEARS AND YEARS.

BUT THERE'S HOPE THAT IF THEY COULD, IF THEY COULD, MAYBE IT WILL BE ANDY BESHEAR.

HE IS SOMEONE THAT KENTUCKY VOTERS HAVE ELECTED TO STATE-WIDE OFFICE THREE TIMES NOW.

BEAT A TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE IN 2023.

IT IS A DIFFERENT SORT OF SET OF FACTORS TO RUN IN 2006 THAN IT IS OUR GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS WHICH ARE OFF YEAR THEY LOOK FOR DIFFERENT THINGS IN GOVERNORS THAN SENATORS.

IF ANYONE CAN DO IT HE WOULD BE THE GUY.

>> I THINK THIS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE BILL TALKED ABOUT THE LONG GAME THAT HAS ALWAYS BEEN HIS THING AND KENTUCKY HAS NOT ELECTED A DEMOCRATIC SENATOR FOR FORD WAS THE LAST ONE.

>> Renee: 1992.

>> AND THAT IS NOT COUNTING WHEN HE WAS A NEW DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IT'S BEEN DECADES LONGER.

McCONNELL CALLED HIM A GIFTED POLITICIAN WHO WON IN A RED STATE HE IS SHOWN TO BE COMPETITIVE AND WILL BE COMPETITIVE HERE.

IS IT POSSIBLE CAN WE SPECULATE THAT MAYBE HE FEELS THAT THE CANDIDATES WHOEVER COMES OUT ON TOP OF THE REPUBLICAN SIDE IS SO STRONG THAT IF YOU CAN BAIT ENOUGH PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE RUN FOR SENATE AND IF HE WERE TO LOSE, IN MANY WAYS HIS POLITICAL FUTURE TAKES A HUGE HIT.

SOME MIGHT ARGUE IT'S OVER IS THAT PART OF WHAT McCONNELL IS TRYING TO CONVEY BETWEEN THE LINES.

I KNOW THAT IS BIG SPECULATION BUT HE HANDED OUTCOME IMPLEMENTS FOR THE GOVERNOR.

>> THERE'S A BIT OF MOBILIZING THE REPUBLICANS, TOO.

IT'S CLEAR THAT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES DO NOT TAKE PAMELA STEVENSON SERIOUSLY BUT IF ANDY BESHEAR OR ROCKY ADKINS GETS INTO RACE IT CHANGES THE CALCULATION.

REPUBLICANS ARE CONFIDENT THEY WILL WIN THAT SEAT BUT ANDY BESHEAR GETTING INTO THE RACE WILL LIGHT A FIRE UNDER A DIFFERENT WAY.

>> Bill: AND YOU HAD FRESH REPORTING ON IT.

>> TWO WORDS CHRISTIE BROWN SHE IS A PART OF THE BROWN-FORMAN FORTUNE AND A PROMINENT DEMOCRATIC DONOR ACROSS THE STATE.

SHE IS A LOUISVILLE PHILANTHROPIST AND WE KNOW HER VERY WELL.

SHE SAYS I WILL CONTINUE TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO HELP HIM PERSUADE HIMSELF THAT THIS IS THE TIME.

THIS GOES TO THE OP-ED SHE WROTE URGING THE GOVERNOR TO RUN FOR SENATE SAYING THAT SHE HEARD FROM OTHER SENATORS.

THAT THE TIME IS NOW.

HE'D HAVE A BETTER SHOT AND REALLY WOULD BE ABLE TO BE ABLE TO HELP KENTUCKIANS MORE IN THIS SITUATION THAN OR AS A SENATOR THAN PRESIDENT.

AND SHE TOLD ME SHE BELIEVES HE WOULD NEED TO IT WOULD TO BE A SENATOR FIRST BEFORE RUNNING FOR PRESIDENT.

AND OF COURSE, THE THE TIMELINE DOESN'T WORKOUT.

>> Bill: IF BESHEAR WERE TO ENTER THE SENATE RACE AND HE SAYS HE IS NOT GOING TO DO THAT.

DO YOU THINK HE COULD DO AS WELL IN EASTERN KENTUCKY AS RACES FOR GOVERNOR OR IS THE NATIONAL NATURE OF THIS RACE JUST DIFFERENT?

>> WELL, OF COURSE, WE'VE HAD AN INCREDIBLE ELECTORAL TRANSFORMATION IN EASTERN KENTUCKY IN THE PAST DECADE-AND-A-HALF.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY LOST A LOST GROUND AND REPUBLICANS ARE DOMINANT DESPITE THAT ANDY BESHEAR MAINTAINED A SMALL POCKET OF SUPPORT IN EASTERN KENTUCKY THAT IS FAITHFUL.

HOWEVER, IF THE NATIONAL NATURE OF THIS RACE WERE TO TAKE THAT AWAY, OR TO CHANGE THAT, IT WOULD KIND OF GIVE US AN INDICATION THAT THE SWITCH TO REPUBLICAN IS A LITTLE DEEPER THAN JUST SURFACE LEVEL.

AND THAT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY HAS LOST GROUND.

REALLY LOST GROUND IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

>> Bill: ONCE AGAIN, BESHEAR SAID TO YOU HE IS NOT RUNNING.

>> HE SAID THE SAME THINGS.

HE WOULDN'T GIVE UP NOW HE IS SAYING ONE YEAR OF BEING GOVERNOR FOR A SIX-YEAR SENATE TERM BUT I PHRASED THE QUESTION IN LOUISVILLE I SAID GIVEN THE FACT THAT CHRISTIE BROWN EVERYONE KNOWS WHO SHE IS, IF SHE IS WRITING THIS NOW, IS THERE DID YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND?

IS THERE SOME OF THAT GOING ON AND HE SAID QUOTE NOT AT ALL.

I PROMISED TO SERVE OUT MY ENTIRE SECOND TERM AND I KEEP MY PROMISES.

HE IS STAYING FIRM ON THAT.

AND TIME'S RUNNING OUT FOR HIM TO CHANGE HIS MIND I CAN'T IMAGINE BEFORE THE HOLIDAY SEASON WOULD BE THE LATEST.

THE PHENOMENAK THAT PAMELA STEVENSON IS IN AND WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT HER WHEN IT COMES TO TALKING ABOUT ANDY BESHEAR'S NAME.

>> Bill: HE HAS NOT ENDORSED HER?

>> WOULD YOU SUPPORT HER CAMPAIGN?

HE SORT OF SAID I WILL SUPPORT ALL THESE DEMOCRATS RUNNING FOR THESE FEDERAL RACES INCLUDING THE SIXTH DISTRICT.

NOT EXACTLY STRONG VERBAL PUBLIC SUPPORT THERE.

>> Bill: ALL RIGHT.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT THE JUMP FROM CAN YOU DO BOTH?

RUN FOR THE SENATE AND POTENTIALLY FOR PRESIDENT SEEMS UNLIKELY.

TOM MASS DUEY WAS THE GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK WHEN HE BECAME THE G.O.P.

NATIONALLY.

IT IS NOT UNHEARD OF.

WE HAVE THE HISTORY IN KENTUCKY OF HENRY CLAY ELECTED TO THE HOUSE AND MADE HOUSE SPEAKER WHEN HE GOT THERE.

SOMETIMES THESE FAST RISES DO HAPPEN.

>> YEAH.

IT'S POSSIBLE.

I MEAN SAY HE WERE TO WIN THE SENATE RACE.

HE WOULD BE SWORN IN IN EARLY 27.

THE GOVERNOR WHO DOESN'T HAVE THAT NATIONWIDE REAL NAME RECOGNITION JUST YET, GOT TO IMAGINE HE WOULD BE THE FIRST OR SECOND PERSON TO ANNOUNCE AND THAT MAYBE LATE 26.

YOU CANNOT ANNOUNCE FOR PRESIDENT SWORN IN AS SENATOR THE MATH DOESN'T ADD.

>> I MEAN, NO, I THINK YOU'RE RIGHT ON.

I ALSO THINK THOUGH THE REASON WE SEE A LOT OF KENTUCKIANS PUSHING FOR HIM TO CONSIDER THE SENATE SORT OF THIS LACK OF FEELING OF STRENGTH IN THE CURRENT CANDIDATE AMONG DEMOCRATS AND ALSO PRESIDENT IS A MUCH HIGHER CLIMB.

AND THERE ARE SO MANY MORE PEOPLE LINING UP FOR THAT AS WELL.

SO THIS IS LIKE PICK YOUR LANE, PICK A STRATEGY HERE.

I DON'T KNOW.

ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AND IT'S FUN TO WATCH.

>> Bill: FUN TO SPECULATE.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE IN.

REPUBLICANS ANDY BARR, DANIEL CAMERON, NATE MORRIS CONTINUE TO BATTLE IT OUT.

RUSS, DO YOU GET ANY SENSE THAT ANYBODY IS GETTING TRACTION IN THE MOUNTAINS?

>> WELL, WHETHER THEY ARE GETTING TRACTION REMAINS TO BE SEEN BUT THEY ARE COMING HERE.

WE'VE HAD VISITS FROM SEVERAL CANDIDATES.

AND ANDY BARR WAS RECENTLY IN HAZARD.

AND THEY ARE ALL TALKING EASTERN KENTUCKY.

WHETHER THAT CARRIES ON INTO THE ELECTION AND HOPEFULLY BEYOND WITH WHOEVER WINS, REMAINS TO BE SEEN, OF COURSE.

BUT, YEAH, I MEAN, THEY ARE PAYING ATTENTION EAST OF WINCHESTER.

>> I MEAN, WE'RE STILL A LONG WAY OUT FROM THE PRIMARY AND THE FACTOR WE TALK ABOUT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE SENATE RACE ON THIS SHOW IS WHAT IS DONALD TRUMP GOING TO DO AND THAT IS SEEN AS THE MAKE OR BREAK FACTOR.

BUT THEY ARE ALL CARVING OUT THEIR LANES.

ALMOST EVERYDAY THAT I GET A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE ANDY BARR CAMPAIGN SAYING THIS LOCAL OFFICIAL, THIS STATE REPRESENTATIVE, THIS STATE SENATOR REALLY TRYING TO PLAY UP HIS TIES AND CONNECTIONS ACROSS THE STATE.

OF COURSE, DANIEL CAMERON WHILE NOT OFF TO A STRONG FUNDRAISING START HAS BEEN ELECTED TO STATE-WIDE OFFICE BY KENTUCKY VOTERS BEFORE.

BEEN ON ANOTHER STATE-WIDE BALLOT UNSUCCESSFUL BUT HE IS FAMILIAR TO VOTERS ACROSS THE STATE IN A WAY THAT ANDY BARR IS NOT NECESSARILY.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, NATE MORRIS IS DOING EVERYTHING HE CAN TO GET HIS NAME OUT THERE.

WE'RE SEEING LOTS OF ADS CONTINUING TO HIT THIS McCONNELL ANGLE.

>> IT WAS ON A PODCAST BRINGING UP NATE MORRIS HE SAID HE IS THE FAVORITE.

>> THE I DON'T KNOW THAT WE HAVE POLLING THAT SHOWS THAT.

HE CERTAINLY GOT A LOT OF MONEY TO TRY TO BECOME ONE U AND HE IS PROUD OF THE FACT HE IS GETTING TOLD ME THIS HE IS GETTING ATTENTION FROM DC FOLKS AND I'VE SAID YOU KNOW KENTUCKIANS HAVE TO VOTE FOR YOU.

BUT HE IS LEANING INTO THE FACT HE IS GETTING ON NBC NEWS AND GETTING ON "FOX NEWS".

HE IS GETTING THIS ATTENTION.

HE BELIEVES AT LEAST FAIR TO SAY HE BELIEVES IT IS A STRENGTH THAT HE HAS SOME OF THE MOVERS AND SHAKENERS DC ON HIS SIDE.

>> Bill: THE SIXTH DISTRICT RACE IN CENTRAL KENTUCKY GOT ANOTHER CANDIDATE THIS WEEK.

ERIN PETRIE IS THE FOURTH CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR THAT NOMINATION.

>> CALL ME OLD-FASHIONED BUT GOVERNMENTS THEY WERE BUILT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.

AND I WANT TO BRING THAT BACK.

LET ME SERVE YOU IN CONGRESS.

AND KNOWING POLITICS, I'M GUESSING WE ARE GOING TO NEED A FEW MORE OF THESE ALONG WAY.

CHEERS Y'ALL.

>> Bill: OKAY.

AN INTERESTING APPROACH.

>> TAKE A RUN.

>> PETRIE GREW UP IN KENTUCKY AND ATTENDED U.K. PATTERSON SCHOOL BUT HER CAREER IS WORKING IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR OUT OF STATE IN WASHINGTON.

>> RIGHT.

AND THAT'S THE WAY SHE IS HOPING TO DISTINGUISH HERSELF FROM THE DEMOCRATS RUNNING YOU HAVE A FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE, A FORMER COUNCILMEMBER, FEDERAL PROSECUTOR AND SHE SAID TO MY COLLEAGUE WHO INTERVIEWED HER IS THAT THIS IS A DIFFERENT CANED OF BACKGROUND.

SHE ALSO SAYS THAT SHE IS AWARE OF THE FACT THERE WILL BE ATTACKS BECAUSE SHE MOVED BACK TO KENTUCKY TO VIE FOR THIS.

AND LOOK, I WANT THERE TO BE A KENTUCKY WHERE PEOPLE DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE TO PURSUE OPPORTUNITIES THE WAY I DID AND I WANT TO BE THE PERSON TO MAKE THAT A REALITY.

>> INTERESTING HOW FEW STATE LAWMAKERS ARE ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE.

I KNOW ONE IS A LOCAL LAWMAKER BUT TRUE FRANKFORT SORT OF IN THE SENATE AND HOUSE CHAMBERS THE ONLY ONE IS CHERLYNN STEVENSON AND SHE LOST HER REELECTION CAMPAIGN.

SO YOU GET THE SENSE OF WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO LOSE TO EXPAND THAT.

BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, THEY HAVE NOT MADE UP A LOT OF GROUND AS FAR AS STATE SEATS ARE CONCERNED.

BUT YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER SIDE, REPUBLICANS THEY ARE LACKING AT IT FROM A DIFFERENT STRATEGY BECAUSE THEIR STATE LAWMAKERS RECENTLY HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WIN.

EVERYONE IN THE RACE THERE IS CURRENT OR FORMER LEGISLATOR.

>> Bill: RUSS, IN THE FIFTH DISTRICT, YOU HAVE PILLERSDORF CHALLENGING HAL ROGERS.

DO YOU HEAR A LOT ABOUT THAT?

I KNOW OUT OF STATE SUPPORT IS COMING IN FOR PILLERSDORF?

>> YEAH, HE IS BRINGING IN MARTIN O'MALLEY, THE FORMER SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATOR.

NED PILLERSDORF HAS THE DEEP CONNECTION TO THE SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AND THE ISSUE THROUGH THE PRO BONO WORK HE DID IN REPRESENTING THE ERIC CLIENTS AND HEADING UP THAT EFFORT.

HE KNOWS IT IS AN ISSUE OF GREAT IMPORTANCE TO A LOT OF EASTERN KENTUCKIANS.

IT'S ON THE FOREFRONT OF THEIR MINDS ESPECIALLY RIGHT NOW AFTER THE PASSAGE OF THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL AND THERE ARE CONCERNS THEY WILL SEE CUTS AT SOME POINT WHETHER THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

BUT IT IS A BIG ISSUE.

HE KNOWS HOW TO REACH THE PEOPLE HERE AND HE IS MAKING A LOT OF NOISE.

SO WHETHER HE CAN BEAT HAL ROGERS WHO IS AN INSTITUTION IN POLITICS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

BUT NO ONE CAN SAY HE IS NOT TRYING.

>> Bill: WE WILL BE WATCHING THAT.

WE KNOW THAT LONG TIME SENATOR JIMMY HIGDON IS NOT RUNNING NEXT YEAR.

HE HAS BEEN IN FRANKFORT SINCE 2003 AND THE SENATE SINCE 2009 AND HE SAYS IT'S TIME.

>> HE SAYS IT'S TIME.

HE'S BEEN IN A NUMBER OF LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE LEGISLATURE INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION CHAIR.

AND HE SAYS HE INTENDS TO BE ACTIVE.

HE IS NOT GOING TO SORT OF FADE AWAY OR LET HIS FOOT OFF THE GAS.

HE SAYS HE IS IN HIS 70s.

HIS WIFE OF 51 YEARS HAS PUT UP WITH A LOT THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND IT'S TIME TO TAKE A STEP BACK AND SPEND TIME WITH HER AND HIS FAMILY.

>> HE BROUGHT UP AGE HE SAID IF I WERE TO RUN AGAIN AND WIN AGAIN I WOULD SERVE UNTIL I'M 78 AND HE BROUGHT UP TO ME DO YOU BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE A CAP?

AND HE SAID 75.

HE SAID THAT SHOULD BE THE NORM BOTH AT A STATE LEVEL AND FEDERAL LEVEL, WHICH I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING.

WE'VE HAD PRESIDENTS WHO EXCEEDED THAT.

IT WAS INTERESTING TO TALK TO HIM AND HEAR HIM REFLECT AFTER A QUARTER CENTURY.

>> Bill: SOMERSET MAYOR ALAN KECK WHO RAN FOR GOVERNOR DECIDED NOT TO RUN AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

>> WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE AT THE TIME WHERE MY FAMILY IS AT THE TIME.

I'VE GOT AN 8TH GRADER PLAYING VARSITY BASKETBALL RIGHT NOW.

I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M LEADING WELL AT HOME.

AND I WILL FIND THE RIGHT PLACE FOR ME, MY FAMILY BUT ALSO, THE RIGHT RACE OR OFFICE REALLY.

NOT JUST WINNING ELECTIONS IT'S ABOUT GETTING THINGS DONE IF YOU DO THAT FITS AT THE TIME AND THE NEED FOR ME TO JUMP BACK IN.

>> Bill: YOU KNOW, IT'S MORE SURPRISING WHEN SOMEONE LIKE KECK IN HIS PRIME, SENATOR HIGDON HE IS READY TO GO HOME BUT KECK SEEMED AMBITIOUS HE RAN FOR GOVERNOR AND HERE HE IS PRESSING PAUSE ON POLITICS.

>> I CALLED HIM ON THE WAY HERE AND I ASSUME YOUR POLITICAL FUTURE IS NOT OVER?

HE SAID NO I STILL HAVE THE BUG WE ARE GOING TO SEE WHERE THINGS PLAY OUT WHEN I ASKED HIM WHAT THOSE COULD BE POTENTIAL FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES HE BROUGHT UP 2027, THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

HE RAN BEFORE HE SAID HE WOULD CONSIDER POTENTIALLY RUNNING AGAIN.

AND HE BROUGHT UP SENATE.

AND I WAS THINKING WHICH SEAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

AND HE SAID 2028 RAND PAUL HAS NOT SAID WHAT HE MAY DO.

OBVIOUSLY HE HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT AS A POTENTIAL REPUBLICAN CONTENDER FOR PRESIDENT IN 2028.

HE SAYS THAT MIGHT BE SOMETHING DEPENDING WHETHER THE SENATOR WERE TO RUN AGAIN AT THAT TIME HE WOULD POTENTIALLY LOOK AT.

>> I THINK MAYOR KECK IS GOING TO HAVE A POLITICAL FUTURE.

IT'S CLEAR.

HE CERTAINLY MADE AN IMPRESSION IN THAT GOVERNOR'S RACE.

REALLY TO GO FROM MAYOR OF A FAIRLY SMALL TOWN TO PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE IN A STATE-WIDE RACE.

DON'T KNOW THAT HE EXPECTED TO WIN BUT MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF AND CARVED OUT HIS OWN LANE IN THE PROCESS.

I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN THE LAST OF HIM BY ANY MEANS.

>> Bill: ANOTHER TOPIC OF DISCUSSION, REDISTRICTING NATION WIDE.

BUT YOU TALKED TO SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL TO REDRAW KENTUCKY'S LINES.

>> WITHOUT SAYING IT IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKELY IF THIS WOULD MOVE FORWARD THE SENATE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE TO SIGN OFF ON THIS AND HE SAID THERE HAVE BEEN DISCUSSIONS AND HE BROUGHT UP RACES BACK IN THE 90s, HE JOKED AND HE SAID YOU PROBABLY WEREN'T BORN YET.

I WAS HE A.

BUT I FOLLOWED WHERE HE WAS GOING.

HE BROUGHT UP THE OLD FIFTH DISTRICT AND SOME OF THOSE SIPHONED OFF FOR HAL ROGERS' DISTRICT AND THERE WAS A SWEEP THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT BACK IN THE EARLY 90s.

AND ESSENTIALLY, ENDED UP LOSING SOME OF THOSE SEATS OR LOSING THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE OF TRYING TO MAYBE GET TOO CUTE IF YOU WILL ON TRYING TO DRAW THE LINES.

HE SAID WE'RE SUGGESTED THEY ARE GOOD WHERE THEY ARE.

AND ANYBODY WHO DOES THEIR HISTORY WORK AND RESEARCH SHOULD KNOW THAT, TOO.

>> AND NEXT SESSION IS A BUDGET YEAR.

WHICH HAS TO BE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY.

>> Bill: WHICH, BY THE WAY, THE INCOME TAX LOWERING TRISHER WAS NOT HIT THAT WILL NOT BE GOING DOWN IN 27.

IT'S LAW IT WILL GO DOWN IN 26.

>> RIGHT.

RIGHT.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THE LEGISLATURE CHANGED SORT OF HOW THEY CAN LOWER IT IN THE FUTURE.

BEYOND THAT THERE ARE SMALLER INCREMENTS THAT NOW THEY CAN LOOK AT ADJUSTING IN THE FUTURE CAN DIFFERENT TRIGGERS.

>> Bill: AND THE SOAR SUMMIT IN CORBIN THERE WAS TALK ABOUT UNITING EASTERN KENTUCKY 5EU6789 AND ENERGY AND SENATE PRESIDENT ROBERT STIVERS WAS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS.

>> WE CANNOT DEFINE OURSELVES BY COUNTY LINES.

WE NEED TO THINK ABOUT THE REGION AND HOW WE PARTICIPATE WITH EACH OTHER, BECAUSE EACH OF US HAVE OUR OWN INDIVIDUAL ASSETS BUT WHEN THEY COME TOGETHER, IT MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE ABOUT HOW WE ATTRACT PEOPLE HERE AND HOW THEY LOOK TO COME AND LIVE.

>> Bill: RUSS, A LOT OF TALK ABOUT FINDING THAT SECRET SAUCE FOR EASTERN KENTUCKY'S ECONOMY?

>> YEAH, OF COURSE THERE IS.

MOST RECENTLY KIRK WITH ONE EAST KENTUCKY ADDRESSED A LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE REGARDING THE WAY THAT ECONOMIC INCENTIVES ARE SPREAD OUT AMONG THE STATE.

HE FOUND THAT SINCE COVID, THAT 95% OF THE NEW JOBS IN KENTUCKY BUT 95% OF THE JOBS ARE COMING TO PLACES WEST OF WINCHESTER.

SO HE SUGGESTED A DIFFERENT WAY OF DOING THOSE INCENTIVES.

THE LEGISLATORS THAT WERE THERE THAT SEEMED RECEPTIVE TO THAT IDEA.

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WILL BE POTENTIALLY ON THE RADAR IN THE COMING YEARS IF NOT THIS SESSION WHERE THE BUDGET MIGHT TAKE ALL THE AIR OUT OF THE ROOM.

>> Bill: AND CONGRESSMAN HAL ROGERS TALKED ABOUT PROGRESS ON THE DRUG ABUSE FRONT.

>> WE ARE SAVING MORE LIVES THAN EVER.

BECAUSE YOU GOT INVOLVED.

YOU RAISED AWARENESS.

YOU WENT TO DRUG COURT GRADUATIONS AS DID I.

AND YOU FOUGHT TO GET YOUR LOVED ONES INTO TREATMENT.

>> Bill: STILL A MAJOR ISSUE IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

BUT YOU CELEBRATE ANY PROGRESS, RUSS?

>> YEAH, WE DO.

I MEAN, THE DRUG PROBLEM HERE HAS TRANSFORMED OVER THE YEARS.

IT WAS THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC.

WHICH IS NOT EASILY TREATABLE BUT MORE TREATABLE THAN METHAMPHETAMINE WHICH AND FENTANYL WHICH HAVE TAKEN UP THE OPIOID LOSS.

SO THERE'S STILL A LOT OF CHALLENGES BUT THERE'S MORE OPTIONS FOR RECOVERY THAN EVER.

THERE'S MORE ATTENTION PAID TO IT AND IT DOESN'T HAVE KUWAIT THE STIGMA IT CARRIED 20 YEARS AGO THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE WORSENING OF THAT OPIOID EPIDEMIC THAT WE ALL KNOW ABOUT.

>> Bill: KENTUCKY CONGRESSMAN JAMES COMER AND THOMAS MASSIE WERE VISIBLE OFFERING DIFFERENT APPROACHES TO PUBLIC PRESSURE TO RELEASE THE JEFFREY EPSTEIN FILES.

>> WE ARE GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO GIVE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THE TRANSPARENCY THEY SEEK AS WELL AS PROVIDE ACCOUNT ABILITY IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS WHO HAVE ALREADY PASSED AWAY AS WELL AS THOSE IN THE ROOM AND MANY OTHERS WHO HAVE NOT COME FORWARD.

>> I APPRECIATE THE EFFORTS OF JAMES COMER LEADING THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE THEY MAY FIND SOME INFORMATION.

BUT, THEY ARE ALLOWING THE DOJ TO CURATE ALL OF THE INFORMATION THAT THE DOJ IS GIVING THEM.

IF YOU'VE LOOKED AT THE PAGES THEY HAVE RELEASED THEY ARE HEAVILY REDACTED SOME PAGES ARE ENTIRELY REDACTED AND 97% OF THIS IS ALREADY IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN.

>> Bill: TWO DIFFERENT APPROACHES IN THE NATIONAL NEWS FROM TWO KENTUCKY CONGRESSMEN?

>> ABSOLUTELY AS REPRESENTATIVE MASSIE SAID OF MORE THAN 30,000 PAGES THAT HAVE BEEN RELEASED BY THE HOUSE COMMITTEE, MANY OF THEM ARE ALREADY PUBLIC SO THERE HAS BEEN SCRUTINY ON CONGRESSMAN COMER AS A RESULT OF THAT.

AND REPRESENTATIVE MASSIE TAKE A POKE THE BEAR APPROACH AS HE HAS BEEN WITH TRUMP ON SEVERAL ISSUES BUT HAD THIS PUBLIC PRESS CONFERENCE WITH EPSTEIN VICTIMS AND IS WORKING TO GET SIGNATURES ON THE PETITION NEEDS A COUPLE MORE TO GET IT OVER THE FINISH LINE THAT THE WHITE HOUSE IS CALLING A HOSTILE ACT.

WE'LL SEE.

>> HE MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT HE DOESN'T BELIEVE THE PRESIDENT IS IMPLICATED BUT HE DOES BELIEVE AND SPECULATE THAT SOME OF THE PRESIDENT'S FRIENDS AND THOSE WITH POWER ARE.

>> Bill: AND HE PREDICTS HE WILL REACH THAT NUMBER.

HE THINKS HE WILL GET THAT DISCHARGE PETITION THROUGH?

>> I BELIEVE HE NEEDED FIVE VOTES OUTSIDE OF HIMSELF, HIMSELF BEING THE SIXTH REPUBLICAN ALL THE DEMOCRATS ARE ONBOARD AND HE BELIEVES HE HAS THE VOTES.

>> HE'S HAD THREE REPUBLICANS SIGN ON.

>> Bill: APPARENTLY KENTUCKY'S CELLPHONE BAN IN CLASSROOMS IS LEADING TO MORE LIBRARY USE MORE CHECK OUTS FROM THE LIBRARIES WE LEARNED THAT.

TESSA THAT MAYBE A BENEFIT FROM TRYING TO KEEP MORE ORDER IN THE CLASS.

>> WE SEE A LOT OF HEADLINES ABOUT PEOPLE NOT READING FOR LEISURE AS MUCH AS THEY USED TO.

NICE CHANGE OF PACE.

>> THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT FIGHTS BEING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE CELLPHONE BAN AND WE HAVE NO DATA TO PROVE THAT IT'S KIND OF YOU KNOW THE CELLPHONE BAN HAPPENED AND THE CORRELATION OF IT.

BUT TEACHERS ARE SAYING LISTEN THE CLASSROOM AND THE SCHOOL INSIDE THERE'S BETTER BEHAVIOR RIGHT NOW.

>> Bill: SO INTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF THAT LEGISLATION.

WELL, TV VIEWERS AND OTHERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY SAID FAREWELL THIS WEEK TO WYMT WEATHERCASTER BRANDON REBOUND BIN SON HE DIED AFTER A BATTLE WITH CANCER THAT HE WAS TRANSPARENT ABOUT EVEN STARTING A PROGRAM TO BENEFIT OTHERS IN EASTERN KENTUCKY.

HE WON AWARDS FOR COVERING WEATHER BUT KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE WAS ALWAYS HIS GOAL.

HE HELD SEVERAL JOBS IN THE NEWSROOM IN THE MOUNTAINS BEFORE BECOMING A FORECASTER.

AND HE WAS 42 YEARS OLD.

THAT'S "COMMENT ON KENTUCKY".

HAVE A GOOD WEEK AHEAD.