Turning a little bit to national politics.

We're seeing it across the country.

Democratic politicians having town hall meetings and Republican congressional districts.

And now it's happened in central Kentucky.

Former Congressman John Yarmuth, a Democrat who served in Louisville, hosted a town hall last night at the Lyric Theater in Lexington.

And Congressman Andy Barr's sixth congressional district.

Barr has declined to appear in person at town halls himself, calling them, quote, manufactured outrage.

Instead opting to host town halls by telephone.

We are here tonight primarily because of Andy Barr, because he's not, because he doesn't want to hear from the constituents that who elected him.

His leadership has told them not to do them.

That's one thing, which is, I think, indicative of the way the national Republican Party feels about, their policies.

They're afraid to go out and defend their policies in public.

I think Andy is, too.

I know he held a telephone town hall.

On Monday, and I used to do telephone town halls, too.

They are a great tool.

When done correctly, what does Andy do?

He forces you to register if you can.

He controlled every bit of it.

I think that, there was a great deal of emotion, not just in this room tonight, but in the country.

And as people realize the, the, unusual or unprecedented, actions of the Trump administration and how it's impacting us or threatens me, it threatens them back their lives.

So we, you know, we've got potential cuts to Medicaid, the veterans benefits to, all sorts of, important programs, not just in Kentucky, but across the country.

Farm subsidies snap benefits.

What they are doing to our veterans is what they have done to our health care system as a whole.

We have to we have to mobilize around that as well, because if not, we're going to continue to see this Trump administration roll back the progress that we have made, especially in places like Kentucky, where under Democratic leadership, we've begun to make progress in terms of of the health outcomes of communities that have been long devastated by not having access to quality and affordable health care.

One of the things we need to do as a party is to get rid of a lot of people who have been running the party and.

You know, when I love Nancy Pelosi and and Steny Hoyer and Jim Clyburn, they're dear friends of mine.

They were great to me.

They're all three of them are 84 right now.

They they had they they probably stayed around too long in their leadership positions.

But at least a couple of years ago they they deferred to a younger group.

We need people who are thinking futuristic Lee in our party, because the world is changing far more rapidly than most people can deal with.

And we need agile minds and younger minds who can think that way.

And that, I think, will also engage a lot of different people in democratic activities and, and get get support for the Democratic agenda.

This was a Democratic seat for a while.

It hasn't been in Republican hands that long in the grand scheme of things since 2013.

So and this is a, a district with a very strong Democratic base.

I think there's an opportunity for a quality Democratic candidate to to win.

And that I think the, the National Democratic Party has recognized that.

That's why they're putting it on the target list.

Congressman Barr has expressed interest in running for Senator Mitch McConnell's seat in 2026.

Senator McConnell recently announced he would not seek an eighth term.

Now, the Republican Party of Kentucky offered a statement about the Yarmuth event in Lexington last night, saying, quote, the KDP display of fake outrage and political theater is embarrassing, and it's a clear reflection of why Democratic approval nationally has 10 to 27%.

Kentucky Republicans are proud to stand with President Trump in his fight to make America great again and quote.