My Old Kentucky Podcast

Martina Jackson, candidate for House in District 91, and Rene Heinrich, candidate for Senate in District 24, joined Robert this week to talk about their races. Ms. Jackson also joined Robert to talk about the news of the week, including a new entry into the gubernatorial race.

This week Robert spoke with two women running for Kentucky Senate in Central and Northern Kentucky -- Susan Cintra (District 34 in Madison and Fayette Counties) and Teresa Barton (District 20 in Franklin, Owen, Carroll Gallatin, Boone, and Kenton counties). They both spoke about their reasons for running, their experiences before running for office, and lots other items. Susan Cintra also spoke with Robert about the news this week, including the special session that led to $200 million in additional support for Eastern Kentucky.

This week we welcome Grayson Vandegrift, the Democratic candidate in House District 56 in Woodford, Franklin, and Jessamine Counties. He spoke to us about running in this area with deep Democratic roots but which has been trending towards Republicans, as well as serving as mayor in Midway. The Supreme Court of Kentucky issued their first ruling on the abortion lawsuit, which was about the emergency injunction. In addition, a special session of the Kentucky legislature started on Wednesday, and we talked about what we knew. Plus, some more quick hits.

This week we have two interview: Debby Lucas Angel, who is running in the 61st District against Savannah Maddox, and Meagan Brannon, who is running in central and northeast Kentucky. We spoke to Ms. Angel about running against an opponent who is often busy running for Governor, and how to speak as a Democrat in rural Northern Kentucky, and we spoke to Ms. Brannon about her passion for people with special needs and how she would work on those issues in Frankfort. In addition, we had a few quick hits.

This week our guest was Chris Brown, the Democratic candidate in the 69th District, in Boone and Kenton Counties. She talked about her experience organizing for social and racial justice, and her desire to bring the 69th's concerns to Frankfort. On the show, Jazmin talked about the US Department of Justice's case against four LMPD police officers in the Breonna Taylor case, and Robert wrapped up Fancy Farm, which happened last Saturday.

Terrible floods swept through Southeastern Kentucky last week. We talked about it, the response to them, and how you can help. In addition to that, Jazmin talked about a new ruling in the abortion lawsuit from an appellate judge which re-institutes a ban on abortion in the state. In the second half of the show we talked to Kelly Jones, the Democratic candidate in the 68th District in Northern Kentucky (Campbell County). She told us why she's running for office, which issues she's most passionate about, and what messages are resonating in her district.

This week Matt Lehman joined us for an interview. He is running as a Democrat in the 4th U.S. Congressional District, which stretches from the area east of Jefferson County to Greenup County in Eastern Kentucky, along the Ohio river. He talked about what it takes to run for an office like this, the issues that motivate him, and talked earnestly about the danger of continuously electing Thomas Massie to the U.S. House. Jazmin also explained the Temporary Injunction in the abortion ban lawsuit, which keeps the medical procedure legal in Kentucky while the lawsuit is ongoing. Robert talked about the end of Unity Aluminum's (Braidy Industries') attempts to build an aluminum plant in Ashland, and we brought back the COVID update.

Amelia Martens, a poet and prose writer based in Paducah, was Robert's guest this week. She spoke about Western Kentucky identity, including why she moved to Western Kentucky as an adult, what she believes "Western Kentucky" encompasses, her perspective on the evolving political identity of the region, and what parts of the region inspire her writing. In addition, Robert updated the story about Chad Meredith, and did a few Quick Hits.

This week we welcomed Velvet Dowdy to the show. She's running for House in District 11, which encompasses Henderson County. She talked about education, PFAS chemical contamination, and how she would make progress in Frankfort. Jazmin talked this week about a ruling overturning much of 2022's SB1, which made special laws for JCPS that constrained the school board. The judge's ruling includes several funny segments, and Jazmin told us all about it. Also discussed were two police shootings -- one in Louisville and one in Floyd County. Plus, lots of quick hits.

This week, Dr. Brittney Hernandez-Stevenson joined us. She's the candidate in the 15th District in Muhlenberg and Butler counties. She talked to us about why she decided to run for office, campaigning as a Black woman in a district that is more than 90% white, and the issues that she cares about most. She's yet another really great candidate in Western Kentucky this year! During the first part of the show Robert talked about President Biden potentially appointing former Bevin administration lawyer Chad Meredith to a lifetime appointment in a deal with Mitch McConnell, and Jazmin laid out the details of the lawsuit the ACLU has filed against the abortion trigger law.

This week Robert interviewed Bianca Crockam, the Democratic candidate for the 9th District in Christian County. She spoke about running for office as a Black woman who is a teacher, as well as how she is bringing the Democratic message to Hopkinsville and more rural areas in the 9th District. Robert also spoke about Dobbs v. Jackson, the Supreme Court of the United States ruling which overturned Roe v. Wade, and the fallout that resulted in Kentucky.

We welcomed Pam Dossett to My Old Kentucky Podcast this week. She's the Democratic candidate in the 8th House District in Hopkinsville (plus more of Christian, some of Trigg, and all of Caldwell Counties). She spoke about returning to politics after her 2020 race, the issues that are important to her, and how she's running in the new 8th District. Last week, former President Donald Trump endorsed Daniel Cameron in Kentucky's GOP Gubernatorial Primary, just about a year ahead of the primary actually taking place. Robert and Jazmin discussed that, including who is the most upset, whether it's going to matter, and what it means to have an entire party seeking the endorsement of a man who tried to overthrow the federal government. In addition, there were several quick hits, including a discussion about a man punching Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer, budgets passing in Lexington and advancing in Louisville, the interim President at Kentucky State University, and much more.

This week we have *two* guests who are parts of Kentucky's labor movement: Caitlin Blair, the Communications Director for UFCW Local 227 and Jay Dennis of Teamsters Local 89. We spoke with Caitlin about the current state of the labor movement in Kentucky, and how the labor movement works within Louisville and Kentucky currently. With Jay, we spoke about current ongoing actions, including an active strike within Teamsters 89 in a company right across the bridge from Louisville. We were thrilled to lean more about the current and future state of the labor union movement here in Kentucky. Before the interviews, Robert and Jazmin updated a couple of policing stories we have been tracking and discussed a report that Rocky Adkins might be considering a run for Secretary of Agriculture.

This week we welcomed Lindsey Burke, Democratic candidate in the 75th District (Lexington) to the show. She talked to us about her background, the issues shes passionate about (housing! education!) and why she's running this year. During the first half of the show, Jazmin brought a big JCPS update, including information about their new student assignment plan, their new contract with teachers, and a lawsuit in Jefferson Circuit Court. Robert talked about several quick hits.

This week, Chad Aull visited Robert and Jazmin to talk about his run for Kentucky House in the 79th District in Lexington. He spoke about why he chose this time to get back into public service, what he sees as the central issues facing Frankfort, and his vision for the future of the Kentucky Democratic Party. Also in this episode, Robert talked about Savannah Maddox, who will begin a gubernatorial campaign any day now. In addition, Jazmin took a closer look at the "liberty" candidates who swept three committee chairs out of office in Boone County during the Republican primary this month.

This week we interviewed Lamin Swann, the Democratic nominee in the 93rd district in Lexington. He talked to us about running for office as a Black man with a disability, the history of district 93 during his lifetime, and what issues he'd like to lead on if he were elected. Before speaking with Lamin, we talked about Daniel Cameron's background and his prospects for winning the GOP nomination for Governor. Then, we talked about the US Marhshals, who killed Omari Cryer, a man in the Chickasaw neighborhood.

Jazmin and Robert react to primary elections across the state including several incumbent legislators losing their seats on both sides of the aisle, major victories for candidates favored in races for mayor in Kentucky's largest cities, and a few other important races.

This week we welcomed author and historian Emily Bingham to the show to talk about her new book, My Old Kentucky Home: The Astonishing Life and Reckoning of an Iconic American Song. She talked to us about what she hoped to communicate through her book, what she meant in her conclusion, and how she approached writing a book about racism as a white person. It's a great conversation! Early voting begins on May 12th, and primary election day is May 17th (next Tuesday), so we did a primary preview of key races for state legislature, U.S. Congress, major mayoral races, LFUCG and Metro Council Seats, and even more! In addition, we talked about Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer's final proposed budget and his final vision for Louisville as mayor.   Dr. Bingham asked that we present the full lyrics of My Old Kentucky Home in the show notes so that people can better understand the conversation she hopes the book sparks. They are below -- be aware that they make use of a term for Black people which many consider a slur. You

This week we welcomed Jonathan Lowe to the show. He is running for Kentucky House in District 34 in Louisville, and shared with us why he's running, what he thinks he can accomplish, and why he is so dedicated to a life of service. Ryan Quarles announced a run for Governor, so Robert did a segment about his history in Kentucky politics and what led to this moment in Quarles's political career. Jazmin did a deep dive into our judicial system -- what the four levels of the court system are, how they are elected, and highlighting several important races across the state for seats throughout the judicial system.

This week, we welcomed Col. Pamela Stevenson to the show. She's the state representatives in District 43 in Louisville. She talked to us about her primary race, her service in the legislature, and talked to her about the West End TIF. We also checked in with Bruce Maples to talk about new stuff on Forward KY, including a legislator scorecard and a new elections portal. Robert updated us about the most recent KREF report, and Jazmin talked about the final vetoes and a stay in an abortion court case.