Andy Beshear Podcast: “Chris Pappas for Senate, A Conversation with College Students, and a New Year”

Date: January 1, 2026

Episode Overview

The inaugural episode of the “Primed for 2026” series features Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear in candid conversation with U.S. Representative Chris Pappas (NH-01), now a candidate for the U.S. Senate. This episode mixes a deep dive into Pappas’s motivations and policy priorities, approachable storytelling about his small business life, and two roundtable panels with college students and young professionals. The central themes: political division, hopefulness entering a pivotal year, small business realities, and how the next generation perceives news, leadership, and the future.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chris Pappas: Running for Senate—Motivation and Vision

[02:29 - 05:19]

• Why Senate? Pappas describes his leap from the House to the Senate as motivated by “a bigger way to advocate for people who need common sense leadership right now and focus on how we can get things done.”
• Economic Focus: Specifics on Trump’s tariffs negatively affecting NH small businesses, stifling growth, and disrupting trade with Canada. He laments, “Even Trump voters…feel like this isn’t what they voted for in the last election” ([03:43]).
• Policy Imperatives:
  • Need to “translate the will of the people into meaningful progress.”
  • Priorities: access to health care, affordable housing, childcare, defending personal freedoms, and preserving democracy.

Notable Quote:

“So instead of these self-inflicted wounds, instead of these manufactured crises...we got to focus on people.” – Chris Pappas ([04:35])

2. Trade, Tourism & Tariffs

[05:19 - 07:56]

• The economic impact of Trump administration’s tariffs is causing direct harm:
  • Small businesses pay significantly more for materials
  • NH’s tourism sector hit hard due to a decline in Canadian visitors, harming hospitality and retailers.
• Uncertainty and unpredictability in federal policy “is just impossible for folks to navigate and read.” ([07:12])

Notable Quote:

“The Canadian visitors didn’t come. And so that’s the impact of this trade war. Not only are our businesses losing out and things are becoming more expensive, but our tourism industry...is really dragging down.” – Chris Pappas ([06:24])

3. Small Business Roots & Philosophy

[07:56 - 10:01]

• Pappas shares personal experience running his family’s four-generation restaurant—“When you've run a small business, it's often hard for you to really appreciate where the business stops and where the community starts.”
• Discusses origins (Greek immigrant story), size (230 employees), and challenges: “Every day is an all-hands-on-deck moment.”
• Connects pragmatic small business perspective to public service (“meeting payroll, dealing with vendors...helped me understand how federal programs can help or hurt”).

Fun Fact:

Pappas’s family restaurant claims to have invented chicken fingers. “Well, then there you go. I mean, that's all you need, right?” – Chris Pappas ([10:16])

4. Leadership, Bipartisanship & Solving Problems

[13:27 - 15:59]

• Praised for bipartisan reputation—New Hampshire “wants folks to work together and solve problems.”
• Will “always take a solution...over an ability to make a political argument. That’s what most people here in New Hampshire expect.”

Notable Quote:

“Too many people view it as a zero sum game where it’s about your team beating the other team...I’ll always take a solution...over making a political argument in a campaign.” – Chris Pappas ([14:34])

5. Priority Legislation & Congressional Dysfunction

[17:09 - 20:28]

• If Democrats win both chambers in 2026:
  • Tackle affordability: housing, health care costs, energy, child care
  • Frame session as “one of the most unproductive” ever.
• Critiques extremism and performative politics in Congress (mentions Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie).

Notable Quote:

“The first order of business has got to be affordability and getting this economy going for everyone.” – Chris Pappas ([18:27])

6. Importance of New Voices & Next-Gen Leadership

[20:54 - 23:08]

• Argues Democratic Party needs to “write its next chapter,” with young, authentic leaders.
• Race pits him against former Senators Sununu and Brown—“people who represent the failed ideas of the past.”

Notable Quote:

“It has to involve new voices and a new generation who are seeking office. So this is a time to put our best foot forward.” – Chris Pappas ([21:56])

7. Maintaining Optimism & Mental Health in Politics

[23:08 - 25:34]

• Congress is “a very toxic place” and this year was “the most challenging.”
• Personal strategy: recharge by “just being at home, to be a congressman in the state of New Hampshire, out there with people.”
• Running and family time help him stay grounded.

8. Behind the Scenes: Fun, Family, and “Superpowers”

[26:07 - 27:54]

• On meeting his husband post-restaurant and the joys of yard work as his “secret superpower.”
• “Some years we can get almost 200 bags of leaves. So my husband never looks forward to the fall.”

9. What Makes New Hampshire Special

[28:16 - 29:13]

• Recommends hiking in the White Mountains during late summer/early fall; emphasizes the state’s four seasons and close, intimate political culture.
• Advice for politicos visiting: “It’s just really a grassroots state...personal connection.”

10. The Senate Race: What’s at Stake

[31:04 - 33:28]

• “This is going to be a battleground Senate race,” crucial for balance of power.
• “Politics is just a game of inches in New Hampshire.”
• Support and info: chrispappas.org and all social media.

College Student/Young Professional Roundtables

A. Panel 1: Caroline, Martha, Enrique

[33:44 - 43:17]

Concerns & Hopes for 2026

• Themes: Political extremism, division, uncertainty, tempered by hope from community and the arts.
  • Enrique: “2026 is going more and more radical...wanting more bipartisanship...”
  • Caroline: “Any instance...you see people come together around a common goal…gives me a lot of hope.” ([35:36])

News & Media

• Primary source for all: social media, especially TikTok and Twitter, but with skepticism and follow-up verification.
  • “I feel like I get my news on TikTok, which is probably not good to say…” – Caroline ([37:55])

AI and the Future

• Cautious/negative views; concern that AI erodes human connection and critical thinking.
  • “I was using AI so that AI could recognize AI and I was like, where did the human like connection piece go?” – Caroline ([39:13])

What They Want in Candidates

• Martha: “Transparency. Especially for the youth...connecting with us.”
• Andy (summarizing): “Being real, listening, actually getting something done.” ([40:54])

Reactions to Pappas

• Humanizing effect of business background.
• Praised for “clear and concise” speech.
  • “He understands what people are going through, especially in this economy...” – Martha ([41:14])
  • “I really appreciated how clear and concise he was...” – Caroline ([41:33])

B. Panel 2: Ian, Stella, Yashir

[43:43 - 51:26]

Concerns & Hopes

• Ian: “2026 holds a lot of promise, a start to something new...But that change could also be for the worse.”
• Stella: “November kind of felt like the beginning of a new era...that makes me excited for 2026.” ([45:58])

Tariffs and Economic Chaos

• Universal frustration with tariffs—harms consumers, unpredictability breeds chaos.
  • “If we raise tariffs, they're going to raise tariffs and eventually no one wins...” – Ian ([47:37])

What Works for Candidates

• Present results with community proof; share real stories from real people.
  • “The closer of a relationship these representatives have with their people, the more that they’re able to see the results that they worked for...” – Stella ([49:26])

Advice to Candidates

• “Connect with the people, understand their problems...make sure they feel heard.” – Ian ([50:46])
• “Engage with your community...genuine conversations...” – Stella ([51:02])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Chicken Fingers and Small Business:
  “We were a pioneer with respect to fried chicken tenders, at least according to media and journalists...” – Chris Pappas ([10:16])

• On Leadership:
  “You don't have to compromise on your core values, but you always should look for ways to make people's lives better.” – Chris Pappas ([14:15])

• On Political Discourse:
  “People ought to be able to admit that cruelty is not strength.” – Andy Beshear ([42:08])

• Student Skepticism:
  “Is it AI at the end of the day? So it's like there's always something being pushed and you don't know which side...” – Martha ([38:27])

Key Takeaways

• Chris Pappas is running as a pragmatic, solution-seeking moderate focused on affordability, bipartisan action, and restoring faith in institutions, with deep roots in family business and real-world challenges.
• College students and young professionals are both hopeful for change and wary of increasing radicalism, division, and economic headwinds—but desire authentic, transparent, and engaged leaders.
• Both Pappas and student panels emphasize the need for staying grounded in community, being real and direct, and moving beyond performative politics to meaningful results.
• The series is positioned as a space for open, hopeful dialogue amidst America’s divisiveness.

Useful Timestamps

• Opening & Episode Introduction: [00:38 - 02:27]
• Chris Pappas Interview Begins: [02:27]
• Why Run for Senate: [02:49]
• Tariffs & NH Economy: [05:19]
• Small Business Background: [07:56]
• Bipartisanship Discussion: [13:27]
• Priority Legislation if Dems Win: [17:09]
• Next Generation Leadership: [20:54]
• Mental Health in Politics: [23:08]
• Fun Questions/Family: [26:07]
• NH Travel Tips: [28:16]
• The Race’s Stakes: [31:04]
• College Student Panel 1: [33:44]
• Student Panel: News & Trust: [36:09]
• Panel 2 Introduction: [43:43]
• Tariffs & Results: [47:37]
• Panel 2 Final Advice: [50:46]
• Wrap-Up: [51:32]

Tone Snapshot

• Original: Honest, pragmatic, informal yet substantial. Beshear’s signature Kentucky warmth and humor, Pappas’s down-to-earth candor, and students’ directness and reflection foster an inviting, earnest listen.

Perfect for those seeking insight into 2026 politics without the noise—this podcast episode delivers substance, connection, and hope through lived experience and youthful voices.