This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin’s special legislative session on pensions is finally taking place and Democrats think he’s tied the legislature’s hands. Bevin and Democratic rival Andy Beshear clashed during a debate at the Kentucky Farm Bureau. And Kentucky lawmakers responded to President Trump’s inflammatory tweets. WFPL's Jean West talked to Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled. Click here to support the work we do....
Jul 19, 2019•5 min•Ep. 53
This week in Kentucky politics, retired Marine fighter pilot Amy McGrath announced she will challenge Majority Leader Mitch McConnell in next year’s race for U.S. Senate. But the launch had a rocky start. And Gov. Matt Bevin might be a little closer to calling a special legislative session on pensions this summer. Jean West talked to Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled. Kentucky Politics Distilled wouldn't be possible without you. Click here to support the work w...
Jul 12, 2019•5 min•Ep. 52
This week in Kentucky politics, Democratic candidate for governor Andy Beshear continued his “unity tour,” campaigning with his former primary election rival Adam Edelen. Gov. Matt Bevin’s office says a special legislative session on pensions won’t take place until later this summer. And nearly 200 new laws went into effect this week. Jean West talked to Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled. Kentucky Politics Distilled wouldn't be possible without you. Click here ...
Jun 28, 2019•5 min•Ep. 51
This week in Kentucky politics, Lieutenant Gov. Jenean Hampton finally spoke out about the feud between her office and Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration. Meanwhile, Bevin says he has the votes to call a special legislative session on pensions, but too many lawmakers are on vacation. Jean West from member station WFPL talked to Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled. Kentucky Politics Distilled wouldn't be possible without you. Click here to support the work we do: wf...
Jun 21, 2019•5 min•Ep. 50
This week in Kentucky politics, the state Supreme Court issued two major decisions: one that blocked Marsy’s Law, the so-called “victims bill of rights,” and a ruling in favor of Gov. Matt Bevin’s overhaul of several education boards. Plus, Lieutenant Gov. Jenean Hampton’s battle against so-called “dark forces” continued. Jean West from member station WFPL talked to capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled. Kentucky Politics Distilled wouldn't be poss...
Jun 14, 2019•5 min•Ep. 49
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin is struggling to cobble together enough votes for his pension bill, and he still promises to call a special legislative session on the issue. And outgoing Lieutenant Governor Jenean Hampton asked for prayers as she battles “dark forces” following the firing of one of her staffers. Jean West and Ryland Barton talk about it on this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
May 31, 2019•5 min•Ep. 48
This week in Kentucky politics, a very interesting primary election took place. We learned that Gov. Matt Bevin will be facing off against Attorney General Andy Beshear in this year’s race for governor. But the results of the election show that both candidates have some work to do to unite their parties behind them. Jean West talked to Ryland Barton on this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
May 24, 2019•4 min•Ep. 47
This week in Kentucky politics, candidates for governor and other statewide offices made their final pitches ahead of the primary election. Democrats running for governor participated in three televised debates, Republicans running for attorney general continued to sling mud at each other, and one of Gov. Matt Bevin’s primary challengers still thinks he’ll win. Jean West and Ryland Barton talk about it on this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
May 17, 2019•4 min•Ep. 46
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin is still trying to drum up support for his new pension bill after he vetoed an earlier version of it. Meanwhile, it’s a little over a week away until Kentucky’s primary election for governor and other statewide offices.
May 10, 2019•5 min•Ep. 45
This week in Kentucky politics, He also unveiled his first reelection ad, which is scheduled to air during the Kentucky Derby. And Democrats running for governor have officially taken their gloves off in this year's primary battle.
May 03, 2019•4 min•Ep. 44
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin stepped into controversy again by claiming teacher protests caused a child to be shot in Louisville. And Democratic candidates for governor took part in their first televised debate of the campaign season, differing on the abortion issue.
Apr 26, 2019•4 min•Ep. 43
This week in Kentucky politics, Democratic candidates for governor finally appeared on stage for the first time ahead of next month’s primary election. And a battle is waging over the votes of teachers, who held massive protests in Frankfort in recent years.
Apr 19, 2019•4 min•Ep. 42
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin vetoed the pension bill that passed on the last day of the legislative session. He says he’ll call another session this summer for lawmakers to pass a new version of it. But Bevin has angered his typical allies in the Republican-led legislature.
Apr 12, 2019•4 min•Ep. 41
Mitch McConnell was hounded by hecklers in public once again, an appeals court upheld a state abortion law that had previously been struck down, and battles over Kentucky primary elections started to heat up.
Apr 05, 2019•4 min•Ep. 40
The Kentucky legislative session ended this week with lawmakers passing last-minute bills , including major financial legislation dealing with pensions and taxes. The Republican-led legislature also overrode the two bills that Gov. Matt Bevin had vetoed earlier this week. Bevin still has the opportunity strike down any of the legislation that passed on the last day, but lawmakers will not be able to override any more of his vetoes. The legislature is now finished passing bills for the year, unle...
Mar 29, 2019•4 min•Ep. 39
State lawmakers were off this week, but Gov. Matt Bevin has begun the process of signing bills that passed out of the state legislature. Bevin made news by signing two anti-abortion bills that were immediately blocked by a federal judge. And he made controversial comments about vaccinating children. Jean West from member station WFPL talked to Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Mar 22, 2019•4 min•Ep. 38
This week we look at the bills that passed this session -- many of them late Thursday night. The bills include a requirement that public schools prominently display "In God We Trust," a decrease in the amount you can be compensated for the power your solar panels add to the energy grid , and four abortion-related bills . The bills will now head to the governor's office....
Mar 15, 2019•3 min•Ep. 37
This week in state politics, teachers descended on Frankfort again to protest a handful of education and pension-related bills. And for the first time in state history, a medical marijuana bill got a vote. Time is running out on this year’s legislative session. WFPL's Jean West talked to Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Mar 08, 2019•4 min•Ep. 36
This week in the Kentucky legislature, teachers descended on Frankfort again to protest a bill dealing with their pension system and lawmakers advanced bills to allow people to carry concealed weapons without a permit. WFPL's Jonese Franklin talked to Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Mar 01, 2019•4 min•Ep. 35
Kentucky legislators were in full swing in Frankfort this week. There was more discussion about abortion restrictions, as well as a new pension bill. Jean West talks to capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Feb 22, 2019•4 min•Ep. 34
Lawmakers advanced a flurry of conservative bills in the Kentucky legislature this week, including two major anti-abortion initiatives, a bill that would scale back the state’s solar industry and a measure that would no longer require people who concealed carry weapons to get a permit. Jean West from member station WFPL talks to capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Feb 15, 2019•4 min•Ep. 33
It was a busy week in Frankfort this week with Gov. Matt Bevin’s State of the Commonwealth address, new developments on an election contest for a statehouse seat and protesters from the Poor People's Campaign finally getting a meeting with the governor. In the latest edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled, Capitol Reporter Ryland Barton speaks with WFPL host Jean West.
Feb 08, 2019•4 min•Ep. 32
This week was the filing deadline for candidates running for governor, attorney general and other statewide offices this year. And a lawsuit involving former Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis continues to roll through the courts system. Capitol Reporter Ryland Barton spoke with WFPL's Jean West for this week's episode. Related Stories: Appeals Court To Decide Who Should Pay Legal Fees In Kim Davis Case Gov. Bevin, Kentucky Clerk At Odds Over Attorneys’ Fees Here’s Who’s Running For Ky. Governor And O...
Feb 01, 2019•4 min•Ep. 31
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin confirmed that he'll run for re-election, but with a new running mate. Jenean Hampton is out, Ralph Alvarado is in. Capitol Reporter Ryland Barton has this week's Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Jan 25, 2019•4 min•Ep. 30
This week in Kentucky politics, some state leaders and political parties are responding to more details about sexual assault accusations leveled against Rep. Jeff Hoover. The accusations were revealed in a report published by the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting and Kentucky Public Radio. Capitol Reporter Ryland Barton has this week's Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Jan 18, 2019•3 min•Ep. 29
This week in Kentucky politics, the Kentucky General Assembly gavelled back in...and now, lawmakers are on a break until the beginning of February. But a lot happened in that week. There's still a House seat that's still in contention, lawmakers discussed legalizing medical marijuana and took steps to restrict abortion further in Kentucky. Oh--and pension reform is still on everyone's mind. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Jan 11, 2019•5 min•Ep. 28
This week in Kentucky politics, Rand Paul was one of the few politicians to defend President Donald Trump’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration restored vision and dental benefits to almost 400,000 people on Medicaid after taking them away earlier this month. And Kentucky’s bourbon industry ramped up its warnings about how a trade war would impact the state’s signature industry. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics...
Jul 20, 2018•4 min•Ep. 27
This week in Kentucky politics, Attorney General Andy Beshear announced he’s running for governor, the state auditor released a report finding a “pervasive lack of accountability” in Kentucky’s courts administration, and a bunch of new laws go into effect this weekend.Capitol Reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Jul 13, 2018•4 min•Ep. 26
This week in state politics, federal education officials came to Kentucky to talk about ways to make schools safer and Gov. Matt Bevin said it all comes down to kids’ cell phone use. One of the Republican lawmakers who helped make changes to the state pension system says they’ll pass the bill again if it’s struck down by the courts. And the state’s new education commissioner talked about the potential costs of taking over Louisville’s school system. Capitol reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s...
Jun 29, 2018•4 min•Ep. 25
This week in Kentucky politics, a judge struck down Kentucky’s new pension law, saying legislators broke the law by rushing the bill to passage. Kentucky’s health secretary says the state will have to cut benefits if a federal court blocks Gov. Matt Bevin’s changes to the Medicaid system. And Democrats no longer make up a majority of registered voters in the state. Capitol Reporter Ryland Barton has this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Jun 22, 2018•4 min•Ep. 24
