← Andy Beshear Podcast
Andy Beshear Podcast
Episode 14: New Orleans Saints Quarterback Tyler Shough, Big Beautiful Bill, Texas Flooding, & Will Beshear is Back!
00:44:58
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- [00:00]
Andy Beshear
Foreign.
- [00:07]
John Rabinowitz
Welcome to the Andy Beshear Podcast. You can download the podcast on all major platforms and also subscribe to our YouTube channel @andy Beshear Podcast. Folks, I am excited about this episode. We're going to have our conversation with the Johns. You're going to hear in my Kentucky accent. And Will's going to teach us some more Gen Z lingo in the style that only Will can. But we also, in this episode, get to talk to a guy that we've talked about a lot throughout the early episodes. That's right. We have new New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Schuck. We talked about Tyler both during his journey in the draft and when he was drafted. And today he's going to join us to tell us what his journey that's been filled with injuries and adversity. Also a great marriage and partner with his wife and what he's looking forward to in the NFL. So we're going to have part of this episode where we don't talk about politics at all, but we follow a journey of a man that I think we're all very proud of and has a lot to say. So let's get to it when we are coming full circle on the Andy Beshear Podcast. You're listening to the Andy Beshear Podcast. Our guest this week is former Louisville quarterback and New Orleans Saints rookie competing right now for the starting job, Tyler Schuck. Tyler, welcome to the podcast.
- [01:43]
Tyler Schuck
Appreciate you. Mr. Bashir. How we doing?
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John Rabinowitz
We're doing great. I'm here with John Rabinowitz, who I know you know.
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Andy Beshear
Pretty well.
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Tyler Schuck
He's got the swag already.
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Andy Beshear
Listen, I got to support the home team.
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John Rabinowitz
Tyler, we have been talking about you since our very first podcast. We are on episode 14. So it's great to have you on. I think one of the most amazing parts of your story is how different it is than most college quarterbacks. You know, you went to three schools, have gone through a six or a seven year journey. Tell us a little bit about it.
- [02:22]
Tyler Schuck
Yeah, I mean, for me it was, it was exactly that. It was a journey. I came into college thinking it was going to be picturesque. I'm going to be in three years, you know, maybe four years max. And I'm going to go to the NFL and everything's going to be perfect. And it was anything but that. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. You know, I came out of high school in Arizona, going to Oregon. I had family from Oregon. I had a lot of connections there. Was going to hopefully take over Justin Herbert's job after he played one year, he ended up staying another. I learned so much from him and that time ended up playing Covid year 2020 that was super rough in itself just especially for everyone in general. But obviously in the sports world because everything was cut short. We only played six or seven games and was just 20 years old, you know, wasn't I was playing good, not playing great. Learned a lot about just ups and downs on the playing field there. Ended up transferring to Texas Tech, played there for three years. I had three injuries where I broke my collarbone twice broke my leg and I started all three years. Had a lot of memorable moments, but a lot of really hard times. Just kind of wondering if this whole football thing is going to work out and really came to terms that it wasn't. And I was trying to find a way to stay relevant on and off the field and ended up becoming more of like a coach and found my love of the game, just game planning and being around the guys and working out and rehabbing and you know, thought I would just really take advantage of one last opportunity and fell in love with Louisville and coach Braum and ended up just signing on board. Two weeks later we were living in the Highlands and found a new home and ended up being one of the best years of our lives.
- [04:00]
John Rabinowitz
Well, we've seen for quarterbacks going through injuries like injury Andrew Luck how difficult it can be. What was your foundation to push through one injury after another after another that were threatening this dream you had and this goal you've been working towards.
- [04:20]
Tyler Schuck
For me, I didn't grow up religious, grow up going to church a bunch. But I think the greatest thing for me was finding my faith throughout this whole journey and being able to grow through it kind of with my wife and everything that we did throughout that whole process. Just every time we tried to figure, try we had something figured out or tried to take it into our own grass, it would just be, you know, kind of taken away. You're like, no, you got to go through this journey. And I think just putting faith and. And that it's all going to work out. You know, it's part of a bigger plan that really took a lot of weight off of our shoulders. And then also her in general, just a lot of the nitty gritty stuff as you don't see behind the scenes, like helping out with my whole injuries with our dog, with day to day stuff. I mean it was. She was literally the greatest thing that ever happened to me because of, you know, you don't anticipate that and you really get tested early on. And it was amazing. And, you know, this whole journey has been super fun, you know, having my wife, Jordan, and being a part of this whole journey together. And that's been the greatest lesson I've learned is, you know, surrounding yourself with good people. And I couldn't have also done it without my trainers and coaches and teammates as well. So I think the biggest thing is all that stuff's going to happen and you're going to be able to learn how to overcome it or it's going to consume you, and you got to trust it's all going to work out in the end.
- [05:36]
John Rabinowitz
You're listening to the Andy Beshear Podcast. We're talking to Tyler Schuck, who just told us, getting through adversity, he leaned on his faith. He leaned on his life partner. You all have now been married for a little over a year, is that right?
- [05:51]
Tyler Schuck
Yes, sir. Yeah. Yes, sir. A little over a year. I felt like, you know, we've been. Been together for a while, been been journeying the United States, but we talk about a lot. We man, like, aside from football, being in Louisville was one of the funnest years that we had and hopefully can get back at at some point or maybe we're done playing. But we were not to. Not because I'm on your podcast, but we were. We were big fans of you as well.
- [06:16]
Andy Beshear
So. Listen, Tyler, I already told Andy, much like us, you out kicked your coverage with Jordan. Yeah, she's awesome and also an athlete.
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John Rabinowitz
So I was. I was thinking my great love story. My wife and I have been married about 19 years. Started at a Mexican restaurant. We met at a birthday party at a Mexican restaurant called Cantina Marina. How did you guys meet?
- [06:40]
Tyler Schuck
There you go. We met in the dining hall, so something similar, an eating area. But it was at the University of Oregon. She was a soccer player from there. And we ended up meeting there. Just kind of got introduced from a mutual friend, and I didn't have anything cool or slick to say. I think I was like just a weird dude staring at her when she was reaching her hand out. But I ended up going back and reintroducing myself that I'm not an idiot. And we ended up becoming really good friends and started dating shortly thereafter.
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John Rabinowitz
So she was a college soccer player. You are a professional quarterback. Your kids, it's going to be unfair when you have them for them to play sports against anybody else.
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Tyler Schuck
I don't know. Just a couple skinny blonde white kids running around. I don't know if they're going to have any super advantages, but they've been through a lot of. A lot of stuff. At least hopefully can pass some life lessons onto them. But they're going to get, like you said, on of the athleticism from her, but we'll see what happens.
- [07:42]
John Rabinowitz
So you go to the University of Louisville, and I think there's a great coaching staff there, especially for a quarterback. Tell me about working with The Brahms, the three Braum brothers who work in the UofL coaching staff.
- [07:58]
Tyler Schuck
Yeah, I mean, those. Some of the best people I've ever been around on the field, coaching wise of how smart they are, what they've done for me in my career, just tangibly that way, and then also off the field and who they are as people and family. You know, we've got to know them and their families really well. And spending Thanksgiving with them, going over just. It was awesome. And, you know, I think the biggest thing that I'm grateful for them for is just believing in me and giving me an opportunity and kind of giving me the keys to go out there and play and have success. And it's obvious, you know, as they know they play the position, it's going to be a lot of ups and downs. You have to get through the season and attack every single day. And they were. They just knew. They knew how it went, and I was super grateful for them.
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John Rabinowitz
So you announce or you graduate and you're headed to the NFL and you go to the combine and you elect to do it, to not just do the interviews. You're going to get out there and do the drills and. And I think the most memorable moment of the combine has to be you running the 40. Tell us. Tell us a little bit about what was going through your head and how you approached the combine.
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Tyler Schuck
Yeah, I mean, for me, I was like, it kind of goes back to that journey of I didn't think I was ever going to get here. In fact, I was told that I would never, ever get drafted and I should just kind of go get signed, be a backup, you know, hold the clipboard for the rest of my career and be grateful. And I got an opportunity at Louisville, and I was kind of like, screw this. I'm gonna go out there and rip it and have fun. And that was my mindset at Louisville, and I was not going to change it for the combine. And, you know, I obviously worked my butt off and, you know, Jordan was helping me with the playbooks, interviews, getting, you know, nutrition right. And I felt really good and I Just wanted to go out there and compete and I did not think I was going to run a 4, 6, so that's why I reacted like that. I think my best was two weeks prior was like, four, four, eight, four. I'm like, man, if I can get four seven and four seven, five, beat Josh Allen or whatever it was, I'll be really happy. And ended up running that. So that was just a full blacked out peer reaction of adrenaline. And it was, it was super funny, but it was perfectly just a great description of that whole journey and who I am.
- [10:14]
Andy Beshear
Yeah, I explained it, Andy. I remember how much, how excited you were to step on that field and how you embraced every aspect of the combine. Like, it was so impressive with just, you were ready and you were going to show them what you're made of and you just did an incredible job.
- [10:33]
Tyler Schuck
Yeah, I was just itching to get out there. I remember, you know, a lot of guys you're praying and hoping for this moment and now that it's coming, like you want, you want these coaches to, to know who you are. And I had multiple teams tell me that they really appreciated that I was one of the ones to do it. And I was like, crazy. And I was like, that's the whole point. And good and bad. I had a, you know, you're obviously going to have a bad throw here and there. You're going to have maybe a wrong answer question or you may have great responses, but for me, it was just being myself and going out there and having fun and, you know, preparing that way. And no different than what you guys are doing. You got to go out there and be yourself and let it rip.
- [11:14]
John Rabinowitz
This is the Andy Beshear podcast. We're talking to New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Schuck. That has a really nice ring to it. New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Schuck, he's talked to us about playing behind Justin Herbert at Oregon, about beating Josh Allen's 40 time at the combine. Tell me what you think it's going to feel like to play against those guys.
- [11:39]
Tyler Schuck
Yeah, no, that's a great, that's a great question. I only say that just because I. Obviously I'm a huge fan of his look up to him and his game and. But I think it'll be really cool, especially going to Buffalo and that whole franchise and fan base and also playing against the Chargers as well, both Justin and Josh. I really try and model my game after both of those guys and got to be up and close with Herbert, but yeah, super excited. And it's crazy even talking about it in that aspect. But, you know, right now, kind of thinking, not too far in the future and got to keep putting in work and go earn the spot, and then we'll see what happens.
- [12:18]
John Rabinowitz
So you go through the combine and draft night comes, and you must have been thinking and looking forward to draft night, saying, this is the night where. Where my dog is going to become a celebrity. But tell me the feeling, right? The call comes, tell me what that feels like for this dream to come true in that moment.
- [12:46]
Tyler Schuck
It's kind of one of those combine moments where you really just disassociate and it's pure energy. But the biggest thing for us was managing expectations and. And as a competitor, you want to be the first guy off the board and you feel like you're the best, you know, guy out there for every single team, and you want to convince people and show what you got. At the same time, it was great to have that perspective of a year ago when I couldn't even walk going into the Louisville treatment room and wondering if I'm going to play football again. And just being grateful that Louisville gave me an opportunity. And I want to do everything I can to make them proud and show. Improve myself. Right. And kind of having that mindset throughout the whole draft night and just being grateful just for that opportunity because I know it wasn't supposed to happen, but at this time, same time, well, dog, and I'm going to go make the most of it. I'm going to go out in there and do everything I can. And. And that was when the call came through, when we found out it was a Saints. And we were ecstatic just because, you know, I went on 11 visits and the Saints really stood out to me the most as far as, like, the culture of the people here, the culture of the staff, and just kind of the opportunity it was.
- [13:55]
John Rabinowitz
What was it like to share that moment with your wife? With. I think. Were those your parents sitting next to you?
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Tyler Schuck
Yeah.
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John Rabinowitz
And, of course, the dog.
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Tyler Schuck
Yeah. No, I know you. I totally forgot about. About Murph. But, yeah, she's. She was. The funny thing was she was dead asleep for about the whole time. Passed out from swimming all day in this. In the pool. And then all of a sudden, everyone's cheering and she wants to do whatever everybody else is doing. So she was up there cheering and it was just such a cool moment because it was exactly how she is and how our dynamic is as a family. So what it was. What a cool moment for everybody who's Kind of been a part of that journey and to be able to enjoy it and understand that, you know, now you got some more work to do and what, what a cool thing.
- [14:45]
Andy Beshear
And you know, Andy, a lot of people don't know it, but post combine, I mean, you want to talk about being busy every day, not just training. He mentioned earlier, like going to different facilities to meet with teams, to work out for teams. If you looked at his schedule, he had something every day and would fly across the country. So it's a real grind during that month leading up to the draft. It's almost like when you get to the draft, it's somewhat of a relief because you've made it through all the hurdles.
- [15:11]
Tyler Schuck
Yeah, no, there were, for sure. There were, there were a few cocktails enjoyed on that day because of how prepared and, you know, I dropped down to 9% body fat and was, you know, eating, do everything.
- [15:23]
John Rabinowitz
What's that like?
- [15:24]
Andy Beshear
I don't know. I was never been there.
- [15:27]
Tyler Schuck
I don't know. I don't know anymore. It's not. It was a short time, but no, it was, it was insane. You know, I was in five states in four days or something like that. And you're going and it's full. It's a six month interview process. And every single day you're, you know, you're on and you got to go out there and just be yourself. And they're giving you a playbook prior to they're shipping you one out. You got to learn it, regurgitate it back to them, talk about your previous offenses, talk about your journey, be able to kind of, you know, engulf yourself in theirs and go operate. And it's a high standard, but I think that's what really equipped me for it. And I think that's why I really did well throughout that process.
- [16:07]
John Rabinowitz
So you get through that process, you get the call, you go to the New Orleans Saints facility, and you're probably thinking, I'm going to be able to learn behind Derek Carr. And then really unexpectedly, at least for a fan, Derek Carr retires.
- [16:25]
Tyler Schuck
What?
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John Rabinowitz
How'd you, how'd you hear that information?
- [16:29]
Tyler Schuck
Yeah, it was, it wasn't unexpected as well, for sure. Kellen told me he would. Told me before practice, just kind of going before. Out there, going out there. I had media day that afternoon or something like that.
- [16:41]
John Rabinowitz
So you had to answer questions the day you first learned about it?
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Tyler Schuck
Yeah, yeah. It wasn't like a full media prep.
- [16:47]
John Rabinowitz
Or welcome to my job.
- [16:49]
Tyler Schuck
Yeah, exactly. I was just gonna say, I was like, you're probably used to that, but it was really go out there and practice. So you're kind of thinking about that in the back of your head, like, oh, man, this is pretty crazy. But for me, I wanted to treat it the same. I think it would have been a great opportunity to learn from him because of who he is as a person and as a player and what he's done. But I think for me, I've been prepared through a lot of that in my college career and then also just going there and trying to make the most of. Of that opportunity regardless and attack it every single day. So for me, it didn't change much, you know, from day to day, but it was. It was just a really cool moment. As far as this is what you're.
- [17:28]
John Rabinowitz
Training for now, you're putting in the work to try to win that job. I know that you all got together. Brandon Cooks invited a bunch of people together. Tell me what it was like getting to work out with some teammates.
- [17:43]
Tyler Schuck
Yeah, it was. It was a great team bonding deal. I mean, talk about a pro and a vet and Brandon Cooks and him being with the Saints and kind of bouncing all over the NFL. But coming back to it now after he was drafted here and he's been a great influence on me, he, you know, flew everyone out, put us all up in a hotel. We went and went on Lake Oswego with this super nice lake house. We went out to his house and just spent the whole day playing cornhole. We got two days of workouts in at the Nike complex facility. And it was just very, very cool to me to see just the emphasis and importance on just team coherence and everybody just getting on the same page and getting around each other. And I think the biggest thing that I learned is how can you make the NFL more like college, where we can get around each other all hours of the day, just have fun getting to know each other because it is a job and there is expectations. But like any other job, it's not going to go well if you're not spending time with each other.
- [18:40]
John Rabinowitz
Tell me how you think the Saints are going to do this season.
- [18:44]
Tyler Schuck
I think we're going to do pretty good. I think we're going to do really good just because of the group that we have. I couldn't give you a record or anything like that, but I know how we've been, how we've been practicing. The staff that we have with Kellen and his championship pedigree, the quarterbacks that he's had, and then also just the Leadership, I think that we're building and that we already have. I think those are a really good recipe for success. So, you know, I couldn't tell you what we're going to do exactly, but I know kind of throughout this whole process, it's going to be a lot of fun.
- [19:14]
John Rabinowitz
And what are you looking forward to most in your first NFL game?
- [19:18]
Tyler Schuck
Yeah, that's a good question. What am I looking forward to most in an NFL game? I would say just going out there and being able to play against a lot of guys where, you know, I grew up watching. I've also played with and against in college and to kind of get to that moment and I'm just be out there in flow state and just having fun and ripping it. I think that's what I'm looking forward to is just competing. And then afterwards you can kind of take a breath of relief and just say, you know, this was what a cool moment. But treating it like every other game. And I think that's been the biggest thing, you know, new team, new city, new college, and just going out there and having fun.
- [20:02]
John Rabinowitz
We like to end these interviews with a couple of fun questions.
- [20:05]
Tyler Schuck
Yeah.
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John Rabinowitz
So what is your favorite sport outside of football?
- [20:09]
Tyler Schuck
Are we talking like Olympic sport? Collegiate sport?
- [20:13]
John Rabinowitz
Your call.
- [20:15]
Tyler Schuck
All right, I'll go one of each Olympic. I'm gonna go swimming. I feel like I'm a pretty good swimmer. Collegiate sport outside of football would be baseball. Shout out to Louisville. Baseball for heck of a year.
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John Rabinowitz
Heck of a year.
- [20:31]
Tyler Schuck
I thought I should have played baseball because got injured a few times there. I was like, man, I should stuck with this whole BP and listen to country music and just standing out there having a good time at practice. And then I would say recreational would be cornhole. I would say cornhole for sure. We had a. We had a generational run out at Brandon Cook's house. We had five hours and one thing I do like is a little bit competitive out there. We didn't lose. Lose for five straight hours. So if there's any Kentuckians or people from Louisville that want to.
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Andy Beshear
I feel like the challenge has been issued.
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John Rabinowitz
Yeah, I think he's already working on a second career after this.
- [21:13]
Tyler Schuck
I've been. They got it on ESPN now. They got the ACL going, so we'll see.
- [21:16]
Andy Beshear
There you go.
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John Rabinowitz
Now. Now, who is the best cornhole player on the Saints? Are you calling that?
- [21:23]
Tyler Schuck
I. I think I am for sure. I haven't. I haven't seen everybody. Yeah. But yeah, me and. Me and Hunter Deckers were. We were Rolling a little bit there, but I don't know. Are you guys any. What is your favorite sport to watch and. Or play?
- [21:39]
John Rabinowitz
Oh, I think. I think watching. It's. It's. It's football and basketball. Olympic sport. I'm gonna go curling because I believe I might be able to do it. So there's a future for me.
- [21:49]
Andy Beshear
I mean, that's a great one for sure. Basketball around here, these parts with UK and I got back into baseball. I think with the pitch clock now and everything, it moves a little bit quicker.
- [22:00]
John Rabinowitz
Yeah, I love watching Will play. My son plays high school baseball, but that's a little different. And I spend so many days out there supporting him. But it has been fun catching up with professional baseball again. What's your favorite type of food?
- [22:16]
Tyler Schuck
Oh, that's one thing that moving to Louisville, where I didn't. Didn't necessarily know that was pleasantly surprised about, was the seafood there and the Italian. I'm a big Italian guy. Volare was really good in Louisville. I would say overall, I would say probably Italian.
- [22:38]
John Rabinowitz
What's your. What's your favorite memory from your wedding?
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Tyler Schuck
Oh, nice. You got some good questions.
- [22:44]
John Rabinowitz
Thank you. That's why I do a podcast.
- [22:47]
Andy Beshear
You're getting the stare down somewhere right now?
- [22:50]
Tyler Schuck
No, no, no. I. I was. I would say we're all on the dance floor and it's me and my wife. Like, we're kind of like half hugging, dancing together. Everyone's got their shirts off because we're like sweating or was in the pool.
- [23:02]
John Rabinowitz
Or something because he has 8% body fat.
- [23:05]
Tyler Schuck
Well, listen, not anymore.
- [23:06]
Andy Beshear
I was gonna say, if you live in New Orleans, there's no way you can have 9% body fat.
- [23:13]
Tyler Schuck
That was a pretty cool moment just. Just dancing with everybody.
- [23:16]
John Rabinowitz
Now, if you could go back in time and tell yourself not to follow one fashion trend that you did, what would it be? I will tell you that Maryland's governor Wes Moore apparently wore his crisscross jeans backwards. And. And I may or may not have had a bowl cut that I regret.
- [23:36]
Tyler Schuck
I would love to see that on you, Mr. Beshear. That would look pretty good.
- [23:40]
John Rabinowitz
It didn't.
- [23:40]
Tyler Schuck
Then one fashion trend, I. I see some pictures of me in high school or just growing up, and I got like even more than this flow, but it was like straight up and super long and I looked like a toe head. It was. It was pretty bad. I don't know what my parents or what I had doing, but it was like all the way out up here and it was just super long and blonde. It was bad.
- [24:04]
John Rabinowitz
If that's the worst he did. In an era where you grew up with cell phones and camera phones, I think you did all right.
- [24:09]
Tyler Schuck
See, I grew up with a flip phone. I am like 87 years old to some people. So I did have a flip phone up until high school, which was, I think was super beneficial for me. But yeah, I did go downhill after there once everyone got smartphones and all that.
- [24:25]
John Rabinowitz
Tyler, we've been rooting for you since we started this podcast. We are thrilled that you are on episode 14. We wish you the very best in your quest to be Q. And we'll be rooting for you.
- [24:36]
Andy Beshear
Yep. So proud.
- [24:38]
Tyler Schuck
Thank you, guy. Thank you, John. Mr. Bashir, I hope you become president one day, man. We will be voting for you and or John, one of you guys. I appreciate the, the opportunity and, and maybe at that point I'll be in your cabinet for Sports Advisor or something.
- [24:51]
John Rabinowitz
I appreciate the encouragement and the alternative.
- [24:54]
Andy Beshear
Yes. What could go wrong?
- [24:56]
John Rabinowitz
Thanks for joining the podcast.
- [24:58]
Tyler Schuck
Appreciate you guys.
- [25:03]
John Rabinowitz
You're listening to the Andy Beshear Podcast, available on all major platforms for download or you can watch us on our YouTube channel and subscribe at Andy Beshear Podcast. This podcast is about processing the issues of the day, the challenging news, through a conversation amongst friends. So we're back with our segment with the Johns, John Rabinowitz and John McConnell, where we're going to discuss the issues from the week, the issues with the week ahead. You're going to hear us have some differing opinions, but at the end of the day, we're all friends and we all help each other get through this complicated life. So, John Rabinowitz, we'll start with you.
- [25:45]
Andy Beshear
I think, guys, the first thing we got to talk about a little bit is this Texas tragedy that happened over the weekend. Last I saw, the count was 89 dead. There might dozens more missing. It's horrific to think about. A lot of horrific to think about as the story progresses. You kind of, at least me personally, I wonder, like, how could this ever have happened? You know, you hear that alarms went off at 1am and 4am and listen, that's tough times.
- [26:19]
John Rabinowitz
Flooding at night is really deadly.
- [26:22]
Andy Beshear
It's absolutely horrific. But I still go back to, I'm like, how did this happen? Could there have been preventative measures taken before? But it's easy to Monday morning quarterback. You've been in situations like this.
- [26:33]
John Rabinowitz
Yes.
- [26:34]
Andy Beshear
I don't think people appreciate how deadly water can be and how quickly it can come up. But some of these stories of the survivors, it's unbelievable.
- [26:42]
John Rabinowitz
Our flood in 2022 was the. Was the deadliest in Kentucky history. And it also didn't come with a forecast anywhere near as severe as what we got. We lost 45 Kentuckians, four children, all siblings stood at the foundation of what used to be their home. And the only thing left standing was a plastic swing in a tree. And that haunts me today, thinking about those kids being. I mean, their parents were holding onto them and the water pulled them away and that's the last time their parents ever saw them alive. We're all parents. And to think that your 9 year old or your 11 year old went off to camp and is not coming home. I just, I feel for, and I'm praying for each and every one of these families because I've looked on the faces of people going through this type of grief way too much.
- [27:35]
Andy Beshear
And it sounds like they've had flooding there before, but never to this level. And I don't know if it's preventative or not. I don't know if there are enough people to help out. I haven't heard the latest on that.
- [27:45]
John Rabinowitz
That's a question that I think people are rightfully asking, but we shouldn't assume an answer. We should never politicize a natural disaster, because what matters most right now are the families that are going through this. We do need to make sure that our National Weather Service is properly staffed. So what we know is that there are positions in the local National Weather Service office that weren't filled. And in Kentucky, we've lost a lot of members of our National Weather Service. But in Kentucky, we were able to correctly predict the last major flooding we had. So I deployed boats and helicopters ahead of time and we made about 1,000 rescues in the first 24 hours. So I don't know yet, and we don't know yet whether the National Weather Service might have had a different forecast if they had more people, if they could have gotten warnings out faster or if this was one of those acts of God that unfortunately took too many people. But what we do know is if we don't fully staff these offices, there will at least be one of these in the future that we could have been better prepared for.
- [28:54]
John McConnell
And when you look at 45 minutes, the river rose 26ft, and camp Mystic, I think I've got that name correctly. 750 girls were there. Of course, we all got kids.
- [29:05]
Andy Beshear
I mean, you hear survivors and heroes and the stories are just, I mean, tear jerking. But you're right. Like, who knows if anything could have been done. But I hope to God we learn from it.
- [29:19]
John Rabinowitz
I do, too. And I also hope that the country rallies around these families and puts them. Now, I remember on the second day after the flooding, maybe even the first, I think I was in Hazard and I had a reporter ask me about climate change. And I'm the first Kentucky governor that's ever said out loud that climate change is real. But I let him have it. And I let him have it because while climate change probably contributed and certainly contributes overall to these natural disasters, the families didn't need to hear that that day. It needed to be about them. We needed to make sure our humanity was front and center and that they came first.
- [30:04]
John McConnell
Yeah, a scary time, no doubt. And our thoughts and prayers are with them, obviously, for those survivors and the rescuers are out there helping them. But moving on to the big Beautiful bill.
- [30:16]
John Rabinowitz
Big Ugly Bill.
- [30:17]
John McConnell
Big Ugly Bill. Okay, we're going to change the name.
- [30:19]
Andy Beshear
There's some good Ugly Bill.
- [30:23]
John McConnell
When we look at what's happening right now, now it's passed, it is actually written in, and we look at kind of what the effects are going to be on our state, in particular with snap. And one thing I found that when I looked and tried to do some reading on this was that SNAP is now going to start to fall to us.
- [30:40]
John Rabinowitz
A larger portion of the administration of snap, which is food assistance, is going to fall to us. Kentucky's going to see about $66 million more in costs every year. We're going to have to find that in our budget. So the big ugly bill doesn't just add trillions of dollars to the national debt. It blows a hole through numerous means into every state budget that's out there. And we constitutionally have to balance our budget just like every other state. We do what the federal government can't do, we do what the federal government doesn't do. And so this is going to cause some harm and some difficulty around a lot of states, but it's the fact that fewer people will get the assistance. I just don't want anybody having hunger pains when they're going to bed or when they're waking up. You know, for me, that my faith and the miracle of the fishes and the loaves being in every book of the gospel, you know, should teach us that when there is enough, this is one of those basic needs that we ought to provide. I'm also worried about the healthcare cuts. I mean, it's going to be devastating to rural America, you and I. Saturday, we're talking to a COO of a rural hospital who was talking about maybe losing up to 200 jobs and what that means for the community. I mean, overall 20 to 30,000 healthcare workers are going to lose their jobs in Kentucky. Then think about everybody going through nursing programs because we needed them.
- [32:11]
Tyler Schuck
Sure.
- [32:11]
John Rabinowitz
And it'd be harder to find a job there. It's not just the 200,000 people that are losing their coverage and the rural hospitals that are getting hit. I mean, this is one of the fastest growing parts of our economy. This is going to hurt us economically as a country.
- [32:26]
John McConnell
And when you take millions of dollars out of these hospitals budgets, I mean, those are people's jobs. There is a direct relationship.
- [32:32]
Andy Beshear
This bill is far from perfect. But the reality is the bill passed. It's. There are in my mind, while again, far from perfect. There were some things that I wanted to talk to you guys about. Listen, extends tax relief for some on Social Security benefits, tips in overtime. Wages aren't going to be taxed. It adds money to the armed forces. There are benefits to certain things coming out of this bill. Do you see any positives of it?
- [33:05]
John Rabinowitz
This is the problem with such a big bill and it's why Congress normally doesn't do it. You either put at risk those things not passing and or you give somebody an ultimatum that either they go along with or they oppose. To me, this is like somebody saying, you know, I'm going to give you $10 and I'm going to beat you up. You know, $10 is great, but the damage that it causes is, is worse than some of those benefits.
- [33:34]
Andy Beshear
And also to your point, I think we talked about this before. It was interesting to watch procedurally how it went through in some of the carve outs with certain states to get the votes.
- [33:44]
John Rabinowitz
And you see some pork in it too, that only a specific state is getting a certain benefit just to get that vote. And that concerns me given how this bill is and its widespread ramifications. That's basically buying somebody off. And they may think that that's okay in Washington D.C. but I think all of our oaths are to the country and to do the best we can for the country. So speaking of the country, yes, we have new tariff news. We've talked about the on again, off again, reciprocal, across the board, industry specific, even company specific. I think a tariff was threatened just on Apple for a little while. Now we have the newest news, which means the deadline that was maybe today or Wednesday is Wednesday. We're filming this on Monday. It's coming out on Thursday. So if you're listening to it. It was originally yesterday is being extended to August 1st. And now the vehicle on these deals are letters. That letters are going out to at least 100 countries that say if you don't come to us and agree to a deal on August 1, you're getting the April 2 tariffs. And if that's confusing to anybody out there, it's because this whole approach is confusing.
- [35:05]
Andy Beshear
And I think we were discussing this before we got in. I think the latest I heard as we were walking in today Monday was that two letters that went out to South Korea and Japan, two critical allies, 25% tariffs if we don't reach some sort of trade agreement. Luckily, as a small business owner of an Italian restaurant at this point, I'm glad I have not seen anything with Italy.
- [35:30]
John Rabinowitz
But your clients are impacted by this one. I remember being asked on Fox News, don't you think there should be more American cars being driven around in Japan? And I said sure, but what you're not pointing out is that Toyota's biggest manufacturing facility in the world isn't in Japan. It's in Georgetown, Kentucky. And so these are two or two of our largest foreign direct investors in this state. I mean, a South Korean company helped build the two largest battery plants on planet Earth. And so I think our economy is more than just the goods that may be imported and exported. It's also the investment. And those are two critical allies that if we push to China, we are going to be less secure and just.
- [36:16]
John McConnell
Building out business in Kentucky. When you're talking to people looking to come here for economic development and every time they listen to the news, the tariff timing changes or the patterns of when they're going to happen or the countries, how difficult does that make it to have those conversations?
- [36:30]
John Rabinowitz
It makes the math enormously difficult. So let's say you're building a billion dollar new facility, but with the tariffs changing every day, it could float 300 million either way. You can't do that. That's 30% of the overall cost. That something could go up and down and no one can build reshore a new facility, especially with something we're not doing in the United States right now without importing a lot of the original product, machinery or other things that are needed.
- [37:01]
Andy Beshear
Again, we're here Monday, so it'll be interesting on Thursday when this is released to see how many trade deals have finalized, if any. And my understanding, and maybe they're not finalized, but there's a framework for Vietnam and the UK do you guys think there'll be more.
- [37:18]
John McConnell
I think there's going to be more.
- [37:20]
John Rabinowitz
I think maybe you'll see some things. In theory, I will be surprised if we actually see fully fleshed out deals. And to end on a lighter note, announcement from the president that he wants to have a UFC fight at the White House. Now, I do think we have to admit to everybody watching that the three of us have gone to a UFC fight before and been in the ring and been in the ring afterwards to take a couple of pictures. What are your thoughts?
- [37:50]
Andy Beshear
Listen, I'm all for it. I think it's awesome. I think they'd bring like 25 or 30,000 people, and it's huge right now. And what I would say is that you and I talked about it and John, we talked about it while we were there. I understand the boxing portion, the grappling portion, I struggle with a little bit. When they're on the ground, you really can't see that well. But I know there's a science to it, so I'm trying to learn that. But I'm a boxing fan, so I like the boxing aspect of it. But it's, it's very unique and it will draw a lot of interest.
- [38:22]
John McConnell
I think we're going to lean on John to make sure we get tickets, too. Falls to him.
- [38:26]
John Rabinowitz
Certainly the top level when we were there was so different than any of the other matches, and you saw the skill. But for the question of should this be at the White House or not, in the end, for me, this is the politics of distraction. I care a lot more about what tariffs are doing to the country. I care a lot more about what's going to happen with health care if Democrats get all upset about this. This is them chasing the shiny ball and not focusing on what's most important to Americans.
- [38:55]
Andy Beshear
I mean, where would you put the ring?
- [38:59]
John McConnell
South Lawn? I'm not sure.
- [39:00]
John Rabinowitz
And if he can get tickets, I'm not sure they'll let me in. But let's see. This is the Andy Beshear Podcast, and this has been another segment with John and John going over the issues of the day and apparently whether we'll sit ringside at the White House. You're listening to the Andy Beshear Podcast. This segment is called In My Kentucky Accent. It's where I talk about what's on my heart this week. This week, I want to talk about the lack of courage of so many members of Congress. See, I believe that when you are elected to these public service jobs, your number one job is to serve your constituents, not your party, not Any particular president, you are there to represent all those voters and the people who live in your community. Which is why I am so disappointed in congressional Republicans, except for a couple in failing to stand up and speak out against the big ugly bill. This is a bill that is going to hammer rural America. That is a punch in the face to rural communities. That's going to kick a ton of these representative and senators constituents off of their health care. That's going to shutter rural hospitals all across America. That's going to make Americans, whether they have private health insurance or are on Medicaid drive hours just to see a doctor. This is taking not just a hatchet to health care in rural America, but their economy. Since these are some of the biggest employers yet, how many have the courage to stand up and say, Mr. President, you might be for this, but this hurts my people and I'm standing with them almost none of them. It's time to elect people who stand on their principles and will always do what's right for their people. Which means we need to elect a whole lot of new members of Congress. And now for everyone's favorite segment of the Andy Beshear podcast, Gen Z Lingo. And we have Will back for the second straight episode. Will, what do you got for us this week?
- [41:22]
Will
All right, our word for today is bars. So a bar is something that you could say is really poetic or it's just a really cool thing to say. Like, if there's a lyric in a song that you really connect with and it's like, wow, that was really inspirational. That's a bar. And so do you have, like, I don't know what you would say. Like, maybe a favorite, like, line of a poem or something. You remember someone saying that was like.
- [41:48]
John Rabinowitz
We'Re not so old that we don't listen to music too, right?
- [41:51]
Will
Is there a lyric from a song back in the day that you.
- [41:56]
Tyler Schuck
Back in the day.
- [41:58]
John Rabinowitz
What about Universal Sound by Tyler Childers?
- [42:01]
Will
Yeah, there are a lot of bars in that song.
- [42:03]
John Rabinowitz
It's, you know that universal Sound, right?
- [42:05]
Will
That's a bar.
- [42:06]
John Rabinowitz
See, John, you always thought a bar was something different.
- [42:09]
Andy Beshear
Listen, this is a shameless plug. There's only one bar that I know of in Versailles, the Amston Bourbon Bar. But this is totally different. Now I have to use this in a whole different way.
- [42:20]
John Rabinowitz
The way you work in free advertisements to your small businesses is pretty amazing.
- [42:24]
Andy Beshear
Listen, it's crucial as we grow. Do you agree, John?
- [42:27]
John Rabinowitz
I agree.
- [42:28]
John McConnell
I just want to hear some poetry.
- [42:30]
John Rabinowitz
Come out of John.
- [42:30]
John McConnell
That's what I Want.
- [42:31]
John Rabinowitz
That would be incredible.
- [42:31]
Will
I want John to spit.
- [42:32]
John McConnell
Always some poetry.
- [42:33]
Will
Let's spit some bars.
- [42:34]
John Rabinowitz
Will, is there an opposite to a bar? Like, if you disagree, like facts and cap. If somebody says that's a bar, is there a response?
- [42:44]
Will
There is no opposite end of the spectrum there. You could say that's whack. I guess. So you guys know that one?
- [42:52]
John Rabinowitz
Yeah. That one has stood the test of time.
- [42:54]
Will
Yeah, right. That's still being used.
- [42:56]
Andy Beshear
I heard that about your attire last week.
- [42:58]
John Rabinowitz
It was whacked.
- [43:00]
Andy Beshear
I think I heard it went viral, though. Congrats on that.
- [43:03]
John McConnell
It went viral.
- [43:04]
John Rabinowitz
But, Will, what was last week's word that you used to describe it? Goated.
- [43:08]
Will
It was very goaded.
- [43:09]
John McConnell
I was goaded last week, but I didn't have a bar to recite. I didn't have anything to go with it, though. Next time, next year, I'm gonna work on that.
- [43:16]
John Rabinowitz
So, Will, could there be something else that somebody says that maybe you just never thought of before? That's a brand new thought. Could that be.
- [43:24]
Will
That's exactly what a bar is, really. It's something that you were like, wow, I never thought about it, like, it that way. And it really is like, it's just a light bulb kind of going off in your head.
- [43:35]
Andy Beshear
That's a profound statement.
- [43:36]
Will
Yeah, exactly. So you guys are catching on.
- [43:38]
John McConnell
Yeah. Like a wonderful new bar you may have found in a different town that could be possibly in for sale.
- [43:44]
Andy Beshear
I'm not 106 Court Street.
- [43:46]
Will
I only use. I only use the bars on bar 16.
- [43:48]
John Rabinowitz
You shouldn't be talking about those.
- [43:50]
Will
I'm using the bars. I'm talking about not. Not those bars.
- [43:53]
John Rabinowitz
So, Will, as. As we were sitting down, you were also talking about catching the Whoa.
- [44:01]
Andy Beshear
What is this?
- [44:02]
Will
Okay, so a whoa. If I throw it up to you, you have to catch it and, like, lock it up. All right.
- [44:08]
John McConnell
Yeah.
- [44:09]
Will
So hit the Whoa.
- [44:11]
John Rabinowitz
So I catch it and lock it. Can I throw it backhand?
- [44:15]
Andy Beshear
Yeah, got it.
- [44:18]
Tyler Schuck
John.
- [44:20]
Andy Beshear
John, you got it.
- [44:21]
John Rabinowitz
The Andy Bashir podcast has caught the whoa. I think that's a bar.
- [44:25]
Will
That's a bar. That's a bar.
- [44:27]
John Rabinowitz
This has been the Andy Beshear Podcast. We hope you had a little bit of fun. You process some of the tough news that's hitting us deep day after day. But mainly, I hope you have a really great week. Thanks for joining us. Remember, you can download us on all major platforms or subscribe to our YouTube channel @andy Beshear Podcast. Your downloads and your subscriptions are what keep us going and keeps this conversation going, so make sure you're a part of it, and let's do this together.