This week in Kentucky politics, the legislature wrapped up its 2020 session with a flurry of veto overrides, abortion bills and constitutional amendments. Gov. Andy Beshear said he’s working with a group of neighboring states to coordinate when and how to ease coronavirus restrictions. And protestors gathered at the capitol to protest business closures. Erica Peterson talked to capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Apr 17, 2020•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Andy Beshear urged churches to not hold Easter services during the coronavirus pandemic. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that banning drive-in church services violates first amendment rights. And the legislature returns next week to consider overriding Gov. Beshear’s vetoes.
Apr 11, 2020•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, the legislature finally passed a budget, but they have little idea of how much money the state will make during the coronavirus epidemic. A legislative staffer has contracted the disease. And Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell continued his quest to fill judicial vacancies with conservative judges.
Apr 03, 2020•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, the state legislature still met during the coronavirus pandemic. They passed an emergency bill to help provide some relief to workers and businesses dealing with the virus, and they advanced a slew of other measures. And Kentucky’s 4th district Congressman Thomas Massie received America's ire for threatening to block a federal coronavirus bill. Donate to support this and future seasons of Kentucky Politics Distilled....
Mar 28, 2020•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, the legislature met amid the growing coronavirus pandemic. Lawmakers rushed to pass a budget and other bills before eventually adjourning for a week. And all of it took place during a lock down of the capitol, with only legislators, essential staff and reporters allowed inside. Donate to support this and future episodes of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Mar 21, 2020•5 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Andy Beshear headed up the state’s response to the coronavirus outbreak, recommending that schools, churches and employers cease in-person activities. And Leaders of the legislature say they’re evaluating how to proceed with this year’s budget writing session.Kentucky Politics Distilled Donate to support this and future episodes of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Mar 13, 2020•6 min
This week in Kentucky politics, the House of Representatives passed a budget that cuts some of Gov. Andy Beshear’s proposals. Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate participated in a forum in Newport. And the legislature is considering more anti-abortion measures. Donate to support this and future episodes of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Mar 06, 2020•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, a Republican won a historically Democratic seat in the state House of Representatives during a special election. And the Kentucky Democratic Party called for a Republican state senator to resign after he made homophobic remarks during a campaign event. Donate to support this and future episodes of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Feb 28, 2020•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, a medical marijuana bill passed out of a legislative committee, raising hopes for advocates that this will be the year the measure passes. Executives for the controversial Braidy Industries aluminum mill testified in the state capitol after the removal of its CEO. And advocates rallied to try and build support of gun safety measures.
Feb 14, 2020•6 min
This week in Kentucky politics, the legislature passed a bill requiring every school in the state to have an armed law enforcement officer. Gov. Andy Beshear tried to rally support for a measure to legalize sports betting in Kentucky, but initial momentum behind the bill is fading.
Feb 07, 2020•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear unveiled what he wants the state budget to look like for the next two years. But Republican leaders of the legislature have their own ideas of how to put together the spending plan, and they’ll be in charge of the process. Plus, a bill banning so-called sanctuary immigration policies passed the first step of the legislative process.
Jan 31, 2020•6 min
This week in Kentucky politics, a voter ID bill passed a major hurdle on its way through the legislature. Anti-abortion advocates are throwing their support behind new abortion restrictions. And Republican education leaders are pushing for every school in the state to have an armed guard.
Jan 27, 2020•5 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Andy Beshear gave his first state of the commonwealth address, calling on the legislature to reach across party lines. The state legislature finished its first full week, advancing a bill to move gubernatorial elections to even-numbered years. And the sponsor of an anti-sanctuary cities bill has made changes following criticism.
Jan 17, 2020•7 min
In the first season of Dig, a new podcast from the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting, we bring you the results of a yearlong look at how rape cases are investigated in Louisville. What we’ve learned: here, the police defer to prosecutors on rape cases -- and prosecutors reject the vast majority of cases presented to them. Due to this unusual relationship, most people accused of rape here will never face consequences. Most won’t be arrested or convicted. And the case will be closed anyw...
Dec 18, 2019•2 min
This week in Kentucky politics, outgoing Governor Matt Bevin claimed he lost his reelection because Democrats “harvested votes in urban areas.” Governor-elect Andy Beshear named some of his cabinet secretaries. And education commissioner Wayne Lewis defended himself, as his job might be in jeopardy in the new administration.
Dec 06, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin said he’s going to return to the private sector after losing his race for reelection. Gov.-elect Andy Beshear named the first appointees of his administration. And incoming Secretary of State Michael Adams says he wants to clean Kentucky’s voter rolls and get a voter ID bill passed before next year’s elections.
Nov 22, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin conceded his race for reelection, paving the way for Gov.-elect Andy Beshear to take office next month. Bevin had requested a recanvass of the results after losing by about 5,000 votes, but the process only produced one new vote. Meanwhile, Andy Beshear has begun assembling his administration.
Nov 15, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Attorney General Andy Beshear beat Gov. Matt Bevin at the ballot box, but Bevin still hasn’t conceded the election. Bevin has asked for a second look of the results and has hinted at an official election contest. But even Republicans have started to distance themselves from the governor. We talk about what could happen next.
Nov 08, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, candidates for governor participated in two debates. Now Gov. Matt Bevin and Attorney General Andy Beshear are crisscrossing the state making their final pitches ahead of Election Day on Tuesday. And the Kentucky Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit against a Lexington T-shirt maker that refused to make shirts for a gay pride festival. We talk through it all this week on Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Nov 01, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin said he’ll re-open a prison to help deal with the state’s booming prison population. President Trump announced he’ll visit Lexington the night before Election Day. And Attorney General Andy Beshear says he’ll restore voting rights to some people with felony convictions if he’s elected. We talk about it all, this week on Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Oct 25, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, candidates for governor and attorney general both participated in televised debates. And a new poll shows Gov. Matt Bevin and Attorney General Andy Beshear tied ahead of next month’s election. Jonese Franklin and Ryland Barton talk about it in week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Oct 18, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, a judge says that Republican attorney general candidate Daniel Cameron is eligible to run, ruling against a claim that he doesn’t have enough experience. Teachers in several rural districts received emails to this week on their official accounts supporting Gov. Matt Bevin’s reelection. And Bevin’s attempt to reshape Kentucky’s Medicaid system is back in court. It's all in this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Oct 11, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, the Chief Justice John Minton appointed a new judge to preside over the teacher “sickout” lawsuit after a Facebook like. There was a shakeup on Gov. Matt Bevin’s campaign after a sparsely attended rally in Pikeville. And Kentucky’s congressmen responded to the impeachment inquiry of President Trump. Jonese Franklin talks to Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled.
Sep 27, 2019•5 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin released a list of all the times he’d used the state plane for official business , but he didn’t say when he used it for personal reasons. A Louisville man has filed a lawsuit to try and have Republican Attorney General Candidate Daniel Cameron removed from the ballot . And the state board of elections has started moving some people onto an “inactive voter” list. Ryland Barton joins Jonese Franklin to talk about it on this week’s edition of Kentuck...
Sep 20, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, former Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Jerry Lundergan was found guilty of illegally funding campaign work for his daughter, Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. The Courier Journal discovered that Gov. Matt Bevin has been a state-owned plane to fly to events around the country. And Bevin continues to double down on his anti-abortion platform. Erica Peterson talked to Capitol Reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled. Cli...
Sep 13, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, a judge refuses to step down from the lawsuit over the Bevin administration’s investigation into protesting teachers. Two coal miners have demanded that Senate candidate Amy McGrath stop using their images in a campaign video. And the eastern Kentucky segments of the KentuckyWired broadband project are now complete. Jean West from member station WFPL talks with Capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled. Click here to sup...
Sep 06, 2019•4 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Donald Trump Jr. visited Pikeville to headline a rally for Gov. Matt Bevin. The governor is trying to get a judge removed from the lawsuit against his investigation into protesting teachers. And Kentucky’s worst-funded pension fund is showing some signs that it’s getting healthier . Jean West talked to capitol reporter Ryland Barton for this week’s edition of Kentucky Politics Distilled....
Aug 30, 2019•5 min
This week in Kentucky politics, President Trump came to Louisville to lend a hand to Gov. Bevin’s reelection campaign. Meanwhile Bevin made more controversial comments about teacher protests and Lt. Governor Jenean Hampton is suing him over the firing of her staffers.
Aug 23, 2019•5 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Lieutenant Gov. Jean Hampton filed a lawsuit against Gov. Matt Bevin for firing two of her staffers. The University of Louisville announced a deal to try and buy the struggling Jewish Hospital system with a $50 million loan from the state. And sports radio host Matt Jones announced he’s writing a book about Mitch McConnell, but still won’t say if he’s running against him. Kentucky Politics Distilled wouldn't be possible without you. Click here to support the work ...
Aug 16, 2019•5 min
This week in Kentucky politics, Gov. Matt Bevin signed the so-called pension “relief” bill into law after a short special legislative session. Attorney General Andy Beshear threatened to sue over the session, saying that Bevin had blocked lawmakers from considering other proposals. And Amy McGrath addressed the bumpy launch to her U.S. Senate campaign. 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 26, 2019•5 min•Ep. 54
