Andy Beshear Podcast – Episode 25: Katie Couric

Date: September 18, 2025
Main Theme:
This important episode centers on civil discourse in divisive times, exploring the role of news media, the impact of political violence, and how Americans can find hope and unity—featuring an in-depth, honest conversation with legendary journalist Katie Couric and a candid discussion on political violence with Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg.

1. Introduction: Setting the Stage

• [00:39] Andy Beshear introduces the episode, citing its urgency due to recent political violence, especially the murder of Charlie Kirk, and commits to fostering meaningful processing and understanding.
  • “We have news Titanicon Katie Couric...to connect some of the tough events and most meaningful events in the recent past to what we're seeing here today.”
  • Audience is told to expect frank, unscripted conversations designed to help process recent traumatic events.

2. Katie Couric Interview: Journalism, Tragedy, and Hope

[02:27 – 31:25]

Major Discussion Points

• Katie’s Most Important Career Moments:
  • Columbine interviews, anchoring on 9/11, and the Sarah Palin interviews as formative and searing moments in American media.
• On Covering Tragedy - Columbine:
  • Couric recounts the raw shock of early mass shootings; how her focus was telling the human story.
    • [03:46] “At that point in time, school shootings had not become the almost daily occurrence...I have always tried to cover the personal side of stories, the real world human impact.” — Katie Couric
• On Missed Opportunities After Mass Violence:
  • [05:55] Couric mourns society’s repeated failure to act—"74% of NRA members are actually in favor of stronger gun regulation...If all these children were murdered...and nothing was done...I gave up a lot of hope in our country when that didn’t happen.”
• Journalistic Responsibility Regarding Shooters:
  • [08:25] Couric reflects on balancing the need for information and not glorifying killers:
    • “There was a feeling among the vast majority of journalists that we should not glorify people like this...I don't believe in taking guns away, but I do believe there are certain measures we can take...It’s very frustrating to me that politicians have been so weak and cowardly...I’m not particularly objective...I've met...too many people who have lost loved ones.”
• Anchoring During September 11:
  • [11:12] Couric on the immense pressure of 9/11:
    • “I've never felt more responsibility in my life or in my career because I know so many people were watching in stunned silence...I was terrified...I had to sit on my hand so viewers wouldn't see how shaken I was.”
  • The challenge: reporting in real time, dealing with personal worry for family, and trying to be not only an anchor but a source of humanity.
• National Unity After Tragedy:
  • [15:07] Discusses the fleeting unity post-9/11 versus entrenched polarization around contemporary events.
    • “Even murder...can somehow be political suddenly or partisan.”—Andy Beshear [16:58]
    • “How his [Charlie Kirk’s] work is being viewed posthumously has been fascinating...a portion of the country sees him as a hero and martyr...another...as an instrument of divisiveness...” —Katie Couric [17:02]
• Sarah Palin, Celebrity, and Trump:
  • [19:46] Couric draws a direct line from Palin to Trump in American politics:
    • “Absolutely not. I think she was the first example of the injection of an incredibly charismatic, relatable, accessible person into the body politic.”
    • [20:18] “She was the...top chef of word salad before Kamala Harris even came on the scene.”
  • Explores the “cult of personality,” strategic choices in candidacy, media’s embrace of “shock,” and the impact of revelatory interviews.
    • [22:13] “I think that campaign officials...were trying to capitalize on what Hillary Clinton had captured among female voters...such a cynical move, as if women just want a woman no matter what.”
• What Worries & Gives Hope:
  • [26:10] “I’m really worried about the hate and the rage and the anger, our inability to come together, our demonization of each other, our lack of proximity...We've dehumanized each other...The country really needs some healers and true leadership.” —Katie Couric
  • [28:00] Balances this with optimism:
    • “I think people are basically good...social media has really drowned out the good-hearted people...I grew up when compromise wasn’t such a dirty word and moderation wasn’t such a dirty word.”
    • [29:17] “We never hear about people coming together or somebody raising money for the kid with cancer...all these simple acts of kindness that get no attention...I really do believe with the right leaders...we can galvanize this big center of kind, caring people.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• [03:46] “These two people coming together, united by this horrifying event and unimaginable shock and grief, was just a profound experience for me to witness.” — Katie Couric, on Columbine
• [05:55] “So, yes, a missed opportunity after Columbine, but so many missed opportunities after that.” — Katie Couric
• [11:12] “I've never felt more responsibility in my life or in my career...I was terrified.” — Katie Couric, on 9/11
• [17:02] “Political violence should be decried among everyone...It's how someone's work is viewed posthumously that's fascinating, because you've got a portion of the country who sees him as a hero...another part...as an instrument of divisiveness.” — Katie Couric
• [22:13] “I think that it was trying to galvanize women. And I also think a lot of it was the cult of personality...She was more of a blank slate, and they could create a candidate instead of...being given a candidate.” — Katie Couric, on Sarah Palin
• [26:27] “We are surrounded virtually and often physically by like minded people. We don't talk to people who disagree with us...And we've dehumanized each other.” — Katie Couric
• [28:00] “I think people are basically good...I think social media has drowned out the good-hearted people who aren't super pissed off at the other side.”
• [29:17] “We never hear about people coming together ...all these simple acts of kindness that get no attention.”

3. Political Violence: Reflections with Craig Greenberg

[32:34–47:37]

Key Topics

• Personal Story of Political Violence:
  • [34:13] Craig Greenberg details being the target of an assassination attempt during his 2022 mayoral campaign—“A man walked in...pointed a gun directly at me from about 15ft away and fired six gunshots...It was a surreal experience, one that changed my family and me forever.”
• Family Impact:
  • [36:11] “I called my wife and said, I’m okay...That night is when the emotions started to come out...It was days that I literally felt physically different with the adrenaline...It really changed me as a person.”
• Wider Trend of Political Violence:
  • Andy Beshear and Greenberg draw parallels to other incidents: murder of Charlie Kirk, firebombing of Governor Shapiro’s home, assassination attempt on President Trump, threats to Governor Whitmer, and the killing of their friend Tommy Elliot in a mass shooting.
• Resisting Politicization:
  • [41:04] Beshear’s stance: “That day I didn't want [the name of the murderer] out there because I didn't want there to be any excuse for murder. I didn't want any politicizing of what he had done to our friend.”
• Leadership’s Choice:
  • [42:45] “Leaders have a choice right now. They can either condemn all violence against anyone, period, full stop, or only condemn violence against people that look like them, sound like them, and believe in what they believe in.” —Andy Beshear
  • [43:27] Greenberg: “You would think that the one issue we could come together on...is that murder is bad...that should be the opportunity when we all lock arms.”
• Social Media’s Role:
  • [44:12] Beshear: “There have got to be an obligation for these social media platforms not to be showing the graphic murder of someone to anyone of any age that can be on and see it.”
  • [44:30] Greenberg: “I couldn't believe how quickly that graphic video was circulated...there should be some base level of standards...”
• Rejecting Radicalization:
  • [44:53] Beshear points to contrasting voices:
    • Condemns Elon Musk’s “Violence is coming for you. Fight back or die,” as dangerous.
    • Praises a Utah senator calling for no modifiers: “We shouldn’t be talking about a radical right or a radical left...When it’s reached this stage, it’s wrong no matter what.”
• Building Unity and Pragmatism:
  • [45:52] Greenberg: “It’s so counterproductive...We know in this case, we're still Kentuckians. We've got to work on things together… People would be happier.”
• The Need for De-politicized Solutions:
  • [46:43] Discussion on jobs, community, averting politicization of every issue: “Even what we're talking about today…are people actually politicizing murder?...But it shows how far it's been pushed.”

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• [34:13] “A man walked in...pointed a gun directly at me...fired six gunshots. I am the most fortunate person in the world to still be here today.” —Craig Greenberg
• [42:45] “Leaders have a choice...They can either condemn all violence against anyone...or only condemn violence against people that look like them, sound like them, and believe in what they believe in.”—Andy Beshear
• [43:27] “You would think that the one issue we could come together on as a country...is that murder is bad. ...that should be the opportunity when we all lock arms.”—Craig Greenberg
• [44:12] “There have got to be an obligation for these social media platforms not to be showing the graphic murder of someone to anyone of any age.”—Andy Beshear
• [45:52] “It’s so counterproductive... People would be happier.”—Craig Greenberg

4. Levity Segment: Gen Z Lingo — “Clock It”

[47:54–51:53]

• Intern Shai Young explains the Gen Z phrase “Clock it”—a sassy way of expressing enthusiastic approval or admiration, similar to a silent applause.
  • [48:27] “When we say ‘clock it’ as in Gen Z, it's more so like a silent applause.”
• Lighthearted banter follows about generational language differences, ending the episode on an upbeat note after the heavy main discussions.

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [00:39] — Beshear sets the tone, references recent violence, and previews the episode
• [03:46] — Couric recounts Columbine, human-focused journalism
• [05:55] — Couric on America’s failure to act after gun violence
• [11:12] — Couric describes anchoring 9/11 coverage
• [15:07] — Discussion on fleeting national unity, growing partisanship
• [17:02] — Couric reflects on the polarized response to Charlie Kirk’s murder
• [19:46] — Drawing the connection: Sarah Palin, Trump, and media celebrity
• [26:10] — What most worries Couric about the country
• [28:00] — Couric’s hope: belief in human goodness, drowned out by social media
• [34:13] — Craig Greenberg’s firsthand account of surviving a shooting
• [41:04] — Handling the aftermath, refusing to politicize murder
• [42:45] — Beshear on leadership choices after violence
• [44:12] — Social media’s rapid and graphic propagation of violence
• [45:52] — The danger of politicizing everything; call for pragmatic unity
• [47:54–51:53] — “Clock it”: Gen Z segment offers comic relief

Tone and Takeaways

• Direct, empathetic, honest. The episode doesn’t shy away from America’s trauma but persistently searches for hope, healing, and the possibility of civil discourse.
• Notable for frank admissions: Couric admits her loss of objectivity on gun violence, Greenberg describes real trauma, and Beshear insists on unconditional opposition to political violence.
• Unified Message: Recognizing the nation’s pain, the speakers urge leadership that is courageous, compassionate, and pragmatic, condemning violence universally and focusing on solutions that transcend partisan lines.

Memorable Moments

• Katie Couric on the motivations behind gun violence reform
  “If all these children were murdered by someone with a gun and nothing was done despite the national outrage and shock of that situation, I gave up a lot of hope in our country when that didn’t happen.” [05:55]

• Craig Greenberg’s harrowing account “A man walked in our office...pointed a gun directly at me from about 15ft away and fired six gunshots. I am the most fortunate person in the world to still be here today that he missed.” [34:13]

• Katie Couric on hope “I think people are basically good...social media has really drowned out the good-hearted people...I grew up when compromise wasn’t such a dirty word and moderation wasn’t such a dirty word.” [28:00]

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a nuanced examination of America’s current political anxieties and the role media and political leaders play in shaping national discourse. Through deeply personal stories and a sincere call for unity, the podcast suggests that healing is possible—but only with honest recognition of our divisions and a renewed commitment to shared humanity.

“We can galvanize this big center of kind, caring people who care deeply about our country and who can speak about complicated issues in a nuanced way, not in such a black and white right and wrong way.” —Katie Couric [29:17]

For further engagement, listeners are encouraged to subscribe or download the Andy Beshear Podcast for future episodes that continue these crucial conversations.