Tariffs update & university controversies
This week Robert provided an update about tariffs on Kentucky bourbon and Jazmin walked us through major controversies at both the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky.
Jazmin Smith
Jazmin holds a J.D. from the UK College of Law and is now a public defender in Louisville. She is also a member of the Louisville Bar Association. (Read the rest on the Contributors page.)
Floods, a Senate campaign ad, and Andy Beshear starts a podcast
This week Robert and Jazmin talked through several news items from this week, including tragic flooding throughout Kentucky, a new ad from Pamela Stevenson, and Andy Beshea’’s new podcast.
Rep. Joshua Watkins on the session, explaining the vetoes, and KDP reorganization
His first session and how it went
A Kentucky legislator walks into a karaoke bar ...
Imagine these electeds singing these songs – I’m up for it!
Vetoes and other stuff
Jazmin discusses the bills vetoed by Andy Beshear, and Robert talks through a few other items involved former elected executive branch officials in Kentucky.
The veto period has begun
As of Friday, all the bills that won’t be able to survive a veto had to be passed -- so Repubs filed a lot of secret priorities that were passed at the last second. We cover those, and Jazmin updated the status of all the bills we’ve been tracking so far this legislative session.
A major session update
This week Robert and Jazmin run down the priority bills in the House and Senate, as well as a few other bills making their way through the legislature.
Senate priority bills + other updates
Jazmin is back this week and she walked us through the ten bills the Senate is prioritizing.
Session catch-up
This week Robert and Jazmin went over several updates about the 2025 legislative session, and a few more quick hits.
Pam Stevenson running for US Senate, Mitch McConnell on 60 Minutes, and bourbon tariffs
This week Jazmin explained a plethora of news stories and Robert went in depth about the impact of potential tariffs on the bourbon industry.
Dustin Reinstedler interview, Trump administration impacts, and understanding Mitch McConnell
Kentucky AFL-CIO President Dustin Reinstedler on his role, the role of the AFL-CIO in Kentucky, and the labor movement in Kentucky. Also: how the new Trump administration is already impacting Kentuckians, and a deep dive into McConnell and his role in today’s GOP.
The first week of session, plus FOP and the consent decree
This week Robert and Jazmin discussed the first week of the session, which included a vote on one bill and the introduction of both HB 1 and 2, as well as the Louisville Police Union's opposition to the consent decree involving the DOJ and LMPD
Major Supreme Court decision about Louisville, and the start of the session
SCOKY rules that the legislature can write laws aimed at specific cities.
Election analysis and early session preview
This week Jazmin and Robert took a deeper dive into the election results, and also previewed what might happen during the next legislative session.
2024 Election Preview
In this episode, Robert and Jazmin preview all the major elections facing the Kentucky House, the Louisville Metro Council, the LFUCG Council, the State Senate, the Judiciary, the constitutional amendments, and, if you can believe it, even more.
Emma Curtis interview and Amendment Two campaign update
This week our guest was Emma Curtis, a candidate for Lexington Fayette Urban County Government in District 4. She would be the first trans person elected in Lexington, and spoke to us about her passion for government and especially local issues.
