Andy Beshear Podcast
Episode 23: Hakeem Jeffries
Date: September 10, 2025
Location: Sirius XM Headquarters, New York City
Episode Overview
This milestone episode marks the Andy Beshear Podcast’s debut on the Sirius XM Podcast Network. Governor Andy Beshear leads an open, unscripted, and non-confrontational conversation with House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Together, they tackle foundational challenges facing Americans—government funding fights, health care, economic stress, crime, and the meaning of leadership. The discussion is grounded in personal stories, shared values, and the belief that empathy, honesty, and civility can break cycles of division.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Welcoming Hakeem Jeffries
- Beshear outlines the podcast’s mission: authenticity, plain speaking, respecting facts, sharing the “why,” and having fun.
- He introduces Jeffries, highlighting his upbringing by public servants and his reputation for cross-party respect. (00:27–04:35)
2. State of Congress & Government Funding Showdown
- Jeffries (on state of DC):
“A mess. Because the whole thing has been a mess from the very beginning ... chaos, corruption, cruelty ... what Donald Trump and Republicans have unleashed…” (04:46) - The urgent need to fund the government without harming Americans’ basic needs; Democrats’ “values-based approach” is health, safety, national security, and economic well-being. (04:46–05:29)
3. Health Care Cuts & Rural America
- Beshear: Health care is integral to rural economies; cuts mean hospital closures, loss of local jobs, and ripple effects on small businesses. (07:12)
- Jeffries:
“The one big ugly bill was an assault on everyday Americans ... hurts everyday Americans in order to reward their billionaire donors.” (07:53)- Largest Medicaid cut in history, threats to hospitals and nursing homes, sky-rocketing co-pays/premiums.
- Faith & Morality:
- Beshear evokes biblical teachings (miracle of fishes and loaves) to underscore the cruelty of cutting food assistance.
- Jeffries distinguishes between politicians who “pray on Sunday, P-R-A-Y” and those who “pray, P-R-E-Y, on the American people.” (09:38)
4. Economy & Tariffs
- Beshear: New jobs lost for the first time since COVID; rising unemployment and manufacturing job loss attributed to tariff policy. (11:14)
- Jeffries:
“Costs haven’t gone down, they’re going up. Inflation is up ... because of Donald Trump’s reckless tariffs that are going to raise costs on the average American family by thousands of dollars a year.” (11:14–11:54) - Tariffs erase any minor tax benefits for working families.
5. The American Dream Addressed to Young People
- Both acknowledge a generational sense of lost opportunity: home ownership out of reach, cost of living up, family formation delayed.
- Jeffries:
“We hear you, we see you, we feel you ... our determination is to make life better for you.” (14:00) - Call for a national–local–private sector partnership to increase housing supply and affordability. (14:45–15:19)
- Beshear links lack of economic opportunity to widespread mental health concerns, connecting economic security to sense of safety and well-being. (15:19–16:05)
6. Crime, Policing, and Public Safety
- Crime perceptions vs. reality: Even when crime drops, public unease persists.
- Jeffries:
“We have to make sure ... we’re focused ... on keeping communities safe ... strengthen the relationship between the police and the community for the good of everyone.” (16:44) - Beshear on Kentucky strategy: Increase pay for state troopers, invest in recidivism reduction, youth intervention—contrasts this with “deployments” like the National Guard. (16:51)
7. Respect for Institutions & Leadership Philosophy
- Beshear asks about managing a caucus of strong personalities.
- Jeffries:
“It all begins with respect ... the four most important words that I can say to any House Democrat on any issue is: ‘What do you think?’” (22:00) - Emphasizes listening, inclusive decision-making, and ultimately making the call when needed.
8. Critique of House Republicans
- Beshear questions why some GOP members appear to harm their own districts (e.g., Kentucky Rep. Guthrie).
- Jeffries:
“They’ve just become a cult-like group... a reckless rubber stamp for Donald Trump’s extreme agenda ... they’ve abandoned any notion ... of a separate and co-equal branch of government.” (23:51)
9. Democratic Vision for a Majority-Held House
- Jeffries:
- Lower costs in housing, child care, utilities, groceries, insurance.
- Reverse cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, strengthen health care infrastructure.
- Clean up corruption at all levels of government.
- “It lifts everyone up ... brings the American dream back to life, which a lot of people right now, particularly young people, have come to the conclusion is no longer viable.” (26:52)
- Motto: “Strong floor, no ceiling.” (26:52)
10. Redistricting and Democracy
- GOP accused of “changing the rules in the middle of the game” through mid-decade gerrymandering.
- Jeffries:
“We’re not going to unilaterally disarm ... Democrats are going to respond ... to ensure that House Republicans and Donald Trump cannot mathematically gerrymander their way to an artificial victory.” (28:21–30:00)
11. Leadership Superpower – The Value of Restraint
- In response to the “superpower” question:
- Jeffries:
“Restraint is one of the most underestimated qualities that someone can have ... you never really see the upside of restraint, but you will see the downside of absence of restraint.” (30:13) - Applies the lesson to political strategy—knowing when to respond to provocation vs. staying focused on core issues.
- Jeffries:
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Faith & Hypocrisy:
“Some people in Washington, D.C. pray on Sunday … but … pray, P-R-E-Y, on the American people for the rest of the week.”
— Hakeem Jeffries (09:38) -
On Tariffs and Cost of Living:
“The math is not mathing when it comes to that situation.”
— Hakeem Jeffries (12:09) -
On Leadership:
“The four most important words that I can say to any House Democrat on any issue is: ‘What do you think?’”
— Hakeem Jeffries (22:00) -
On National Vision:
“We believe in an America with a strong floor and no ceiling.”
— Hakeem Jeffries (26:52) -
On Restraint:
“You never really see the upside of restraint, but you will see the downside of absence of restraint.”
— Hakeem Jeffries (30:13)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Podcast Opening & Mission Statement: 00:27–04:35
- Jeffries on Congressional Chaos & Funding Fights: 04:35–05:51
- Health Care Cuts Discussion: 05:51–09:03
- Cuts to Food Assistance and Faith: 09:03–10:14
- Economy, Tariffs, and Cost of Living: 10:14–14:45
- On the American Dream & Young People: 14:45–16:05
- Crime and Public Safety: 16:05–18:50
- Leadership “Why” and Managing People: 19:36–22:46
- House Republican Critique: 23:06–24:49
- What a Democratic Majority Would Mean: 24:49–26:52
- Vision: “Strong Floor, No Ceiling”: 26:52–27:57
- Redistricting and Democracy: 27:57–30:00
- Leadership Superpower—Restraint: 30:00–31:49
Additional Segments
The “Johns” Segment: Real World Economic Impact
(33:31–42:33)
- Andy and friends John Rabinowitz and John McConnell analyze the latest jobs report, the effect of tariffs on small businesses, and concerns over the administration’s policy direction.
- Candid responses about economic anxiety in everyday life.
Gen Z Lingo: “Aura Farming”
(44:05–47:41)
- Andy’s children, Will and Lila, explain “aura farming”—stepping up personal vibes/self-esteem—and gently roast their dad’s attempts at “being hip”.
- Lighthearted, cross-generational humor.
Brittany Beshear on the Podcast Journey
(49:13–51:32)
- Andy’s wife Brittany shares pride in the podcast’s growth and recommends highlights for new listeners.
- Encourages subscribing “for the plot”.
Tone & Takeaways
The episode’s tone is candid yet optimistic, balancing frustration over legislative gridlock with hope rooted in shared values, respectful debate, and personal integrity. Both Beshear and Jeffries call for responsible, fact-based leadership rooted in empathy and community—not just partisan victory. Core problems (health care, the economy, public safety) are presented not as abstract policy but as lived challenges for real people.
The show ends with warmth, humor, and a call for listeners to connect, learn, and “do it for the plot”—an invitation to invest in America’s ongoing story together.