← Andy Beshear Podcast
Andy Beshear Podcast
Jim Messina, the SNAP Crisis and a Gen Z Lingo Pop Quiz
00:49:58
In this week’s episode, Andy sits down with Jim Messina, the strategist known as “the fixer” behind President Barack Obama’s 2012 re-election campaign. From his days in the West Wing to managing one of the most data-driven campaigns in history, Messina shares what still matters most in politics today — trust, leadership, and connecting with working families. He reflects on lessons from President Obama’s steady hand, the future of political communication, and what gives him hope for American democracy. 🇺🇸
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- [00:00]
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- [00:38]
Andy Beshear
Welcome to this week's episode of the Andy Beshear Podcast. I am excited about this week. We have one of the most brilliant political minds in the business, Jim Messina. Jim ran Barack Obama's 2012 reelection campaign. It was one of the key strategists that helped pass the Affordable Care act, ensuring no one can get kicked off their coverage for a pre existing condition. Our discussion is going to talk about the real impact that good public policy can make and why it's important to elect good people to office. Then you're going to hear my conversation with the Johns. We're going to cover a lot of topics, from the cost of housing to the Trump administration's decision to not fully fund snap. Those are food benefits to people who would otherwise go hungry. And you're even going to hear about my turn this Halloween as Mr. Rogers. Then Lila is going to come full circle and give us a quiz on Gen Z lingo. So all of you out there, get ready. We're going to see how many episodes you've seen and how well you can do on this quiz. Remember, you can download the Andy Beshear Podcast on all major platforms, but please subscribe to our YouTube at Andy Beshear Podcast let's get to this great episode. And now on the Andy Beshear Podcast, a very special guest that we are excited to have. Jim Messina has been called one of the most brilliant political minds of our lifetime. He served in the Obama administration as Deputy Chief of Staff. He ran the 2012 reelection campaign that's been held up as a standard about getting ahead of technology and winning based on what's next. He also had a pivotal role in securing the votes for the Affordable Care act, something that's changed the lives of of millions of Americans for the better. Jim welcome to the podcast, Governor.
- [02:42]
Jim Messina
Thanks for having me.
- [02:44]
Andy Beshear
So when you're described as one of the most brilliant political minds, I think a lot of folks would assume that you somehow started in the halls of Harvard or in the vicinity of Washington, D.C. but you cut your teeth politically on where you're coming from today, and that's Montana. Tell us about that.
- [03:07]
Jim Messina
Yeah, look, when I was 11 years old, I wrote a paper, what do you want to be when youn Grew up? I said, either the starting quarterback of the Denver Broncos, which John Elway had that job locked, or I wanted to be the president's campaign manager. And I started at home in Montana. I went to the University of Montana, started working on campaigns in college, and ended up running city council races, elected the mayor when I was still in college, and. And ran state legislative races. And you and I have talked about this in the past, but most of the wisdom out there in politics doesn't come from Washington, D.C. and I learned in running races in very tough red states like Montana and North Dakota that people really want to have real conversations. They want to sit down and talk about the issues. And it really taught me grassroots campaigns. One of the things that made me sort of infamous in politics in Montana, I invented this thing called the Bacchus Burger bonanza for my. For my former. For Max Baucus, former senator from Montana. And we went to every red county in the state and threw a free barbecue, hamburgers and beer. And so the only thing you got to do is come have a burger and have a conversation with Max. And in every county where we did one of those, we carried the election. And it just started to teach me that, you know, people don't want to be partisan all the time. They want to just have a conversation. And it was a great sort of beginning teachings of what Barack Obama would later kind of master.
- [04:44]
Andy Beshear
So at 11 years old, you know that if you can take the job from John Elway, you'll take it. I'm still. I'm still hoping to be an NFL quarterback, but at 11, you know, you want to be the president's campaign manager. What's your. Why? What grabbed you at that age where you said, this is what I want to do in life?
- [05:06]
Jim Messina
Governor, I grew up super poor. Mother raised four of us kind of on her own. But I was a reader. I'd sit in the back and just read. And I fell deeply in love with politics very, very young, and realized that if I wanted to help my family, if I wanted to take care of people who were, you know, like my mother, that politics could do that and that people made decisions that affected people's lives. We were food stamp kids. I did free hot school lunch, all those things. And I understood probably earlier than I should have that, that was because of politics. And, and I decided to go do that. And fortunately, when I figured out I couldn't throw a football, it's all I've ever wanted to do.
- [05:54]
Andy Beshear
So having grown up that way, having wanted to make that impact, what did it mean to you to be able to get the Affordable Care act passed? To know that so many more people were going to be able to afford health care coverage that expanded Medicaid in states, could do what they did In Kentucky, cover 600,000 Kentuckians that previously didn't have coverage?
- [06:18]
Jim Messina
Well, you know, you understand this because when you're an elected official, you got to make choices. And on the first day of the Obama White House House, before the inaugural balls, we sat down in the West Wing and had a big old, very nice fight about what issue to do first. And the very end, President Obama on his first day in office stood up and said, look, I've been campaigning for president for two years and none of you want me to do healthcare because you know how hard it is and 10 presidents have tried it. But I know that it's the one thing that could make people's lives better. And so we're going to do health care. And he looked at me and said, messina, how long to get it through the Senate? And I said, no more than six months. Fourteen months later, I walked. Yeah, it was an estimate. Thank you. He was shooting hoops and I walked to him and I got to say, Congratulations, Mr. President, we have the votes to pass universal health care in America. And there's a picture of him holding this basketball and me crying like an 11 year old kid.
- [07:26]
Andy Beshear
That's pretty special. The impact that that's had, as you know, has been tremendous. But I wouldn't be governor if that hadn't passed. One of the reasons that I ran for this job is my dad was governor. When you all passed the Affordable Care act, he got to implement it in Kentucky. And I'll never forget the day a woman walked onto an elevator that we were on, burst into tears and told a story about how she was alive today because that passed because the companies couldn't claim her cancer was a preexisting condition. How she was able to get the treatments she needed and that she was cancer free. Talk about a living, breathing example that government can truly help people.
- [08:08]
Jim Messina
I mean, it goes all the way. You're exactly right. During the 14 month campaign, I met so many people across the country who told those stories. 38 million people, including my wife, had preexisting conditions and couldn't get insurance or was thrown off insurance. You know, in the course of one law, none of those people could be discriminated against. Both of my, all four of my nieces and nephews were chip kids who, you know, got health insurance because of a government program that was. Yeah, yeah, there you go. And you know, all those things I remember, you know, when Vice President Biden was standing next to the president, had those infamous words, this is a big effing deal. You know, it really was. And I remember the signing ceremony, Governor. There was no one who wasn't crying because everyone in that room, everyone in America, had someone that they knew who'd been thrown off an insurance plan, who couldn't get coverage, who had to split a pill down the middle because they couldn't afford it. You know, it's one of those things that you realize why you and I do what we do, which is to make people's lives better.
- [09:19]
Andy Beshear
So President Obama gets elected and one of your first roles is helping him fill out his cabinet. Tell us a little bit about what that's like, because it almost seems like you're picking a kickball team, though. You're the only team and you can choose anyone in America.
- [09:38]
Jim Messina
Yeah, everyone becomes your friends real quick. Like, on the other hand, this very wise politician who sadly passed Harry Reid, said, when I got that job to help the president, I ran the personnel for the transition. And then I was White House deputy chief of staff. And he said to me, messina, you're going to realize something very quickly. And I said, what's that? And he said, well, whoever you pick thinks you waited too long to do it, and everyone who you didn't pick is going to hate you for the rest of their lives. And that's maybe a little bit of hyperbole. But on the other hand, you got to put these amazing people in these jobs who are going to go change the world. I remember. You know, the environment's obviously a big issue. And we put this woman, Lisa Jackson, into epa, who probably did more to solidify Clean Drinking Water act than anyone in America. No one's heard of her, but she did that. And it's because she got that job and she had a president who would trust her.
- [10:46]
Andy Beshear
So in 2012, you lead the. Well before 2012, you lead the re election campaign. And you did a lot of things that had never been done before that were innovative. Maybe at the time, the most advanced technological campaign, though I guess every next one should be, if you're doing that correctly, tell us how you went about that because you did a lot of meetings to find out truly what was going to be the cutting edge.
- [11:15]
Jim Messina
Well, it kind of started on day one, on Christmas Day 2010 in Hawaii. I was with the President for his Christmas vacation. They called and said, president wants to take you for a swim in the ocean. And for those of you listening on the podcast, you can't see, but I'm not the kind of pale complexion you should take in the ocean. And I was like, nope, nope, bad idea. And they're like, well, he's the leader of the free world. He'd like you to come swim. You'll go swim. And we're out there. And he said, messina, you're leaving the White House. And I said, well, I just helped pass universal health care. Why are you firing me? And he said, no, no, you're going to go run the reelect. And I were sitting there kind of paddling in the ocean, and I said, I just need one favor. I need you to promise me we're not going to run the same campaign you did last time. And he said, jim, what are you talking about? You know, I did win that one. And I was like, yeah, but to quote Sarah Palin, you're not the Hopi changey guy anymore. You have a record. We're in the worst economic situation the country had been in since the Depression, and we're going to have to kind of go run a new kind of campaign. And he said, okay, but I want to make sure it's about the grassroots. And so I went on this grand tour, kind of went all over the world and interviewed people, listened to people, learned from people who were doing new things. I sat with Steve Jobs weeks before he died, and he talked to me about this new thing he just invented called the iPhone, and how you could put all the voter file on the iPhone and people could have an entire campaign on this thing. I sat with Steven Spielberg, and he talked to me about narrative and how you build the narrative and how the first time Barack Obama was, as he said, like the 1965 Rolling Stones. And the second time, you know, he was someone that everyone has seen their concert every many times, and we're going to have to do something to make it new and sexy. And so I kind of went and spent a bunch of time in front of a whiteboard and tried to dream up how you did this again and how you did it in a way that was new but true to who he was, and we were able to kind of do that.
- [13:43]
Andy Beshear
So when you think about Technology and the pace of technology changing. How different now do you think each election is, especially the presidential election every four years, with social media especially seeming to make that change almost exponential about how and on what platforms you communicate?
- [14:05]
Jim Messina
Yeah, this is something I'm obsessed with and I'm sort of upset about. You know, so We've helped elect 15 presidents and prime ministers around the world in the past few years. And, you know, to your point, it is just changing in light seconds. And, you know, after 2012, Democrats had this massive lead on how to communicate, on how to use voter files, on how to use social media. You know, we were the first campaign to ever use a tweet. We. We made Facebook kind of politically relevant. And right now, Democrats are in the wilderness. Republicans have a massive advantage. And part of it is we've sort of put our heads in the sand and said, we know how to do this. We don't need to innovate. Part of it is the rise of TikTok and the issues around TikTok, but also part of it is we had generational leaders who weren't technology first and they didn't communicate that way. And it is one of the challenges that I am most worried about. I recently saw this bubble graph about who the biggest influencers are in politics in the United States, and there were 41 red bubbles and under 10 blue bubbles of people who had big share of voice. And that is just unsustainable long term for this party and this movement.
- [15:33]
Andy Beshear
Right now we've got a government shutdown going on. And I know that's one of the most fraught political moments for any party as this is going to be coming out, they may have reached a resolution. But if you were advising the Democratic leadership of the House and the Senate right now, what would be your best message?
- [15:57]
Jim Messina
Well, look, I've been on both sides of this. Before I went to the White House, I was chief of staff for both members of the Senate and members of the House. And I was the guy who threatened to shut down the government. And then for Obama, I was the guy who had to kind of negotiate to keep the government open. And what you realize and what I hope that the party is doing right now is using these technologies that you and I were just talking about to communicate very real stories of the effects on this. You've been amazing at this in your home state about making sure people understood. I, you know, I'm not just sucking up because I'm on your show. I've seen you talk about the tariffs, and I've seen you talk about what the tariffs do to Kentucky, to Kentucky bourbon, which is something that I care very deeply about. And you know, those personal anecdotes, interviewing people actually affect it. You know, so much right now feels like we are a Washington driven party in a time where the country doesn't like Washington. And we want everything to be about this negotiation in Washington. And if you are the swing voters who have an average of 2.6 jobs, think about politics four minutes a week. All you care about is how this is for your family. You know, you're, you're going through a tough time and you want to know how this affects you. And we seem to have decided that our job is to be the defenders of Washington instead of the defenders of the people or at least tell those stories.
- [17:31]
Andy Beshear
That has me thinking about the soybean farmers and we'll see what deal or non deal that China makes. But we got a ton of soybean farmers. They do corn and beans and rotate them in Kentucky, but then all through the Midwest and they vote predominantly but not solely Republican. But you hear them speaking out when some people might not expect it. Why? Because their livelihood, their, their families are on the line.
- [17:59]
Jim Messina
Boy, it's really true. You know, I'm, my nearest neighbor is three miles away and I live in ranch country and I think Barack Obama got 30 some percent in my county. But yet these, these ranchers are incredibly upset on the tariffs. And last week the President of the United States told them they have to get over it. They didn't understand. And you know, you have to personalize that story. You don't have Jim Messina on the, on social media, you put the rancher who says, hey, I'm not a Democrat, I'm not a Republican, I'm a rancher. And this is what these policies do to, to your cost of getting a burger. Make it very, very specific. You know, I, I say all the time that if Democrats win the economic argument, they win the presidential race. If they lose the economic argument, they lose. And right now, Republicans have a 12 point lead on the economy, even with Donald Trump doing some of the things that you and I know are bad policy in part because we don't have an economic message that normal voters understand. And until we fix that, I don't care how unpopular Donald Trump gets. We will not be successful as we need to be if we don't have our own economic narrative.
- [19:17]
Andy Beshear
Do you think that Democrats should be talking about the American dream? It's half of America thinks it's no longer true that if you work hard and play by the rules, that you can succeed. And that is kind of the heart of how we look as a family at our economic well being.
- [19:33]
Jim Messina
You know, I recently watched this polling presentation from a very good Democratic pollster who said we need to stop talking about the American dream. We're seen as out of touch when we say that. I think that's exactly wrong. And I think the reason why it's wrong is because you need to see and hear the voter. This is the first generation in American history that no longer believes their children will be better off than they are. But we have to be the party that challenges and says, we understand that's your challenge, but we also don't think that's okay. We're angry too. And there's things we can do to help you achieve that dream. And we're going to be the party that does that. And if we do that, we will go back to winning national elections. And if we don't, I promise you, we won't.
- [20:19]
Andy Beshear
How big of an impact do you think that the, that the big, I got to call it ugly bill is, is going to have? Because I certainly see it in terms not just of health care, but how it's going to impact rural communities economically with the largest payroll in many communities, you know, is either going to fully go under or shed a whole lot of its jobs. And the revenue flowing through those counties.
- [20:47]
Jim Messina
Boy, I think it's going to be huge. And I think this Medicaid cuts you've been outspoken on this as well is a ticking time bomb for the Republican Party. In 2005, when we had no, we didn't have the House, we didn't have the Senate, we didn't have the White House. Kind of the last time we were where we are now, the Republicans tried to privatize Social Security and Medicare. And the House and Senate Democrats decided to make that the fight of the 2006 election. And they made a very questionable decision, Governor, and hired me to run the campaign. And I remember going to the House and Senate caucus and saying, we're just not going to talk about anything other than this. And a year and a half later, we took the House, we took the Senate and set up the White House. And 82% of Americans approve of the Medicaid program. And they just put a trillion dollar cut into. If we can't sell that, if we can't sell to your point, why in these rural communities this is going to get rid of health care, then we don't deserve to win. And so I think it's absolutely an issue that we can win on these rural hospitals, these rural economics, some of these programs you just talked about for soybean and farmers. But we have to personalize it. And we can't make it about DC Program. We have to make it about if you're in X County, this will make your life much, much worse.
- [22:13]
Andy Beshear
I always talk about that in terms of the signing in the Rose Garden isn't real to people anymore. The vote on the floor isn't real to anyone anymore. We've got to be standing in front of that hospital that's just closed where you used to be able to see a doctor for in an hour, and now you got to drive two to a big city, maybe even see that same doctor there and take a whole day off work.
- [22:35]
Jim Messina
Boy, you're exactly right. And when you look at why we're in the minority in the House, when we look at the red states we used to have Senate seats in that we no longer have Senate seats in, it's because we are historically underperforming in these rural counties. We're actually doing pretty good in the cities. We're doing better in the suburbs. But we are just getting historically slaughtered in these communities that you and I are talking about. And, and if we just do a little bit better, make the case, we.
- [23:05]
Andy Beshear
Call that not red to blue because it's not going to go blue, but red to pink do 5% better in the toughest of counties. And that also, I think, makes you a better candidate and better in the office because you better understand people's plight, most of which isn't all that partisan. But as we've got you for a couple more minutes, obviously you're a brilliant guy. What do you do to relax, to turn your brain off?
- [23:34]
Jim Messina
Fly fishing is the. I just got back from Canada fly fishing. And then I do a little hiking, and then I might be the largest college football fan in the world. The University of Montana Grizzlies, currently second in the Division 2 FCS polls. And then, you know, the SEC, you're an SEC country. You know, I know Kentucky's having a tough year, but Stoops will figure it out.
- [24:01]
Andy Beshear
Al good. What, when, when, when you go out to dinner. What, what type of restaurant do you like the most?
- [24:08]
Jim Messina
Oh, my God, if I could eat steak every night, maybe it's because I'm a Montana, but I like steak. And then I like to go. Whenever I'm doing a campaign, I like to go sit in a bar and just talk to folks, have a beer and just see what people are saying out there. You know, get off the, get off the T. And I think if you go into a rural bar and have a conversation with people, you'll learn more than any focus group you and I can be a part of.
- [24:33]
Andy Beshear
When you're in that bar, what is your favorite Kentucky bourbon?
- [24:37]
Jim Messina
Oh, Buffalo Trace.
- [24:39]
Andy Beshear
Okay, the Buffalo Trace itself or one of the products there.
- [24:44]
Jim Messina
It's a great question. I like their bourbon. That's the one I drink the most. But you and I have a mutual friend in Matthew Barzin who every once in a while sends me some nice Woodford. That is, that is not a bad thing. But if it's brown, I'll drink it.
- [25:04]
Andy Beshear
Outside of politics, what's another talent that you have that people might not know about? We call it our secret superpower.
- [25:14]
Jim Messina
I once was a world class runner long distance, which as you know, in a campaign that is a very helpful thing. The hard part of campaigns is how long they are and realizing when you have to sit there in the pack and when you have to sprint at the end. I'm no longer I'm now. I turned 56 this week, so I don't think I'm going to break any records. But get me out into a mountain and let me do a little hiking with my wife and I'll be the happiest guy you know.
- [25:45]
Andy Beshear
Jim, this has been a pleasure. Thank you for coming on the Andy Beshear podcast.
- [25:51]
Jim Messina
Thanks for having me and thanks for doing this. We need more people doing this kind of thing and I hope a lot.
- [25:55]
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- [27:00]
Andy Beshear
Now on the Andy Beshear Podcast, our segment, My Conversation with the Johns. This is about processing the issues of the day, following the stories of not just the week, but of the last several months, and hopefully giving you an opportunity to think about what you believe in each and every one of these stories, and then preparing yourself for the week ahead. So, guys, are you ready?
- [27:28]
John McConnell
Ready, ready.
- [27:29]
John Rabinowitz
We have a lot to talk about.
- [27:30]
Andy Beshear
We do. Let's start with something that we're all concerned about, and that's people having enough to eat during this shutdown. The Trump administration initially announced that they were going to be the first administration ever during a shutdown not to fund snap. They said they didn't have the legal authority, even though the USDA on its website had said that they did before. But I filed a lawsuit along with a number of other AGs and governors. Cities filed a separate lawsuit, and two separate federal judges came to the conclusion that, yes, there was this authority. One of the judges said you can do one of two things. You can partially fund SNAP benefits through a contingency account, or you can even move money from another place and fully fund them. I think the second judge said you can and should fully fund as where we are today filming this on a Monday, the Trump administration said they were going to partially fund the benefits.
- [28:36]
John Rabinowitz
So we've talked about this before. I think this is a completely nonpartisan issue. Our people should not starve. The fact that we're fighting about this, I know it's because of the shutdown, but it's truly a partisan issue. And today I'm glad that they're going to partially fund this. But still, what happens now? So are they going to go back to the states, divvy it up? I guess there might be a formula, maybe, you know, we don't know yet. And then also, you're still having to step in. And at most, what is that going to give you? A week, two weeks of funding people and new, new people for this month? I guess they're going to get nothing based on this amount being supplemented.
- [29:17]
Andy Beshear
Yeah. You point out two challenges. Number one, these are people that are already facing hunger and so cutting what little they get. Only getting part of it is problematic. The other piece is it's delayed. Now we're here. I think Saturday is, is when most, some of the benefits at least, would normally go out. It's Monday, and as of this moment, the states don't have the tables. That's what the federal government has to Send to them to send the information for the benefits to start flowing. So states are doing different things. In Kentucky, I declared a state of emergency. We've got $5 million going out to help our food banks. But this is something that doesn't have to happen.
- [30:00]
John Rabinowitz
And I don't think the food pantries can keep up. These lines must be outrageous.
- [30:05]
John McConnell
And of all the things I thought we were ever going to talk about on the podcast, feeding people at the very basis of just how do you take care of those in need? Because these are going to be families, seniors, veterans. It's everyone who's applied for these and had them award.
- [30:20]
Andy Beshear
What I love about this podcast is even though we have different positions on different things, different parties, when you're friends, you can actually get down to hunger's wrong and we ought to be doing something about it.
- [30:31]
John Rabinowitz
It's also common sense. Take care of our people.
- [30:34]
Andy Beshear
Yeah. So this isn't the only basic need that's impacting a lot of Americans. We also have housing.
- [30:43]
John McConnell
And housing is something that we've all seen. I mean, the, the barrier to be able to afford a house now, you know, and you look at a state like Kentucky that's growing, Andy, and you talk about, you know, young families trying to move here to take advantage of our economy that's growing and how long are they now going to put off starting families when they look at just the sheer cost of housing and what it takes to start.
- [31:08]
Andy Beshear
And in Kentucky, it's still more affordable than just about anywhere else. I still remember a business owner who's looking at potentially moving his headquarters here, said, you know what I love about Kentucky? My workers own their own homes. They go home after work to their own homes. That's part of the American dream, that you can buy a home and make memories with your families. But everywhere across this country, it's getting tougher and tougher and you wonder if.
- [31:36]
John Rabinowitz
That dream is going to be delayed. Right. Based on some of the conversations we've had, I think we probably all remember the first house we were able to purchase and how exciting that was and nerve wracking at the same time. I can't imagine coming out of college now and even in Kentucky, seeing the prices of some of these houses. It also makes me wonder, are all my daughters going to live with me forever? Which is a bit terrifying.
- [31:59]
Andy Beshear
Just help them with that. With that down payment. I think about. I really love that you pointed that out because that's an important moment in your life, owning that first home. It's also terrifying because it's the biggest debt that you've ever had. I remember getting the legal documents for my first one and they were all wrong. And I sent all the changes in and I showed up for the closing and none of it had been corrected. I almost lost my mind. And the closing agents almost quit. But that idea that you could provide, you know, that you were making it, and I just can't imagine right now being a young couple that can't afford a home and it's maybe five years after their parents could afford a home. Part of that American dream that drives you is you should be able to do at least as well as your parents. And that's not about being competitive. That's hopefully about, you know, families getting better in each generation.
- [32:55]
John Rabinowitz
You know, I don't even know if when we got out of college, one of the things, and we got a job, we right away, let's go get a house. Like we were thinking, that was a thought process that we had. Now it's, let's go see what we can afford to rent.
- [33:09]
John McConnell
Yes.
- [33:10]
John Rabinowitz
And availability too, by the way.
- [33:12]
Andy Beshear
I think there's blame to go around. I think that there have been policies that some blame on Democrats, but I think could apply across the board on supply, on too many difficulties in building new homes, affordable mid level, what have you. But on the other end, tariffs are making this problem a whole lot worse. Everything that goes into building a home now has a tariff on it. Everything inside the home from the furniture to the cabinets has a tariff on it. At a time when it's already too tough, this is just making it that much more difficult.
- [33:48]
John Rabinowitz
You know, speaking of tariffs, this Wednesday, I think the Supreme Court will hear the arguments on whether or not the sweeping tariffs are legal or not.
- [34:00]
Andy Beshear
You made a good point earlier that I'd love for you to explain. You said you think this is going to come down to politics or law and which one wins today.
- [34:08]
John Rabinowitz
It really is fascinating because at one point I think we were talking about hearing Trump showing up in the courtroom and I feel like the legal issue is pretty narrow. Like if you follow the law, the answer is that he should not have the spending power that Congress has, and.
- [34:26]
Andy Beshear
Certainly not unlimited power.
- [34:27]
John Rabinowitz
Unlimited power. But here there's going to be a lot of pressure on these justices.
- [34:37]
Jim Messina
To.
- [34:37]
John Rabinowitz
Rule in a certain way and it's going to be really interesting to see if they follow the law.
- [34:41]
John McConnell
Well, it's like the tariff against Canada. Whenever there was a, you know, a TV ad that came out that he didn't like, that automatically decided we should add more tariffs.
- [34:50]
Andy Beshear
That is another example that ought to make this, I think, legally an easy case, that he's just very honest about why he's imposing tariffs. But while he is being honest, he is giving an honest reason that can't be used as the reason for tariffs. A commercial you don't like is not an emergency that allows you to impose a tariff. A prosecution in Brazil is not a reason that allows you to tariff. And I was just reading about the pressure on coffee right now that most American companies that import from Brazil are running out of their supplies and the price of coffee is starting to spike. I can't live without coffee. I think that's everyone else, too. But we also have major retailers around the country that are going to have really difficult decisions of do you eat some of it? Do you eat all of it? What's the margin on each cup of coffee and what impact does that have?
- [35:53]
John Rabinowitz
Another big issue we should talk about is the redistricting going on. I think Ohio, Indiana, Missouri. Again, we've talked about this before. Where does it end?
- [36:06]
Andy Beshear
Virginia. Now?
- [36:07]
John Rabinowitz
Yeah, Virginia, Illinois. The pendulum will just swing back and forth. Where do you guys think it ends or how does it end?
- [36:15]
Andy Beshear
I think at this point, any state that thinks they can redistrict, that's able to do it under law is at least going to take a look at it. I don't think that it is great for democracy, but again, you can't unilaterally disarm. I think Democrats learned a lesson after Citizens United passed. When Republicans started taking dark money, Democrats said, oh, we're too good for this, and they lost a number of races and then started taking dark money. You know, the rules are the rules. But if something good could come out of this, what I'd really love to see is an amendment to the US Constitution on how we do redistricting. Think about it. The same set of rules would apply everywhere. Hopefully it would be nonpartisan in the way that it's done. But I think the only way that happens is that I think the party that started the redistricting ends up paying a price for it. That the American people say, wait, this is not how it's supposed to happen and we'll change the way we vote because we don't like you changing the rules.
- [37:17]
John McConnell
Well, this becomes part of the practice for politics. Depending on who's going to run what given year and who has control of the redistricting maps is going to change who's going to run and their odds of coming out ahead.
- [37:30]
John Rabinowitz
You Know, it is interesting, I think that it was a nonpartisan commission in Ohio and it was a unanimous agreement to redistrict. But then I think I read that Democrats said it could have been way worse, so we weren't letting this go to the legislature.
- [37:47]
Andy Beshear
Yeah. So Ohio's redistricting, I followed. In the best scenario, you don't redistrict. You wait until that 10 year period when you're supposed to do it. And you certainly don't do it at the call of a president that says, wait, I'm going to lose control of the US House of Representatives. Let's cheat. Let's change the rules midstream. But we did see some folks step up and say, why don't we try to find an agreement since we know this is going to happen. I will give them credit. Mike DeWine pushed for a more bipartisan agreement. You actually see a number of Indiana Republicans right now that are saying, we think our maps are fair and we don't want to change them. And, you know, I think you've got to respect that.
- [38:32]
John Rabinowitz
I think some of these states, like Indiana, I don't know that they have the vote to redistrict in the legislature. So it'll be interesting to see how this plays out.
- [38:40]
Andy Beshear
It would be interesting to see a couple of them fail and then see what impact that has on the others.
- [38:46]
John Rabinowitz
Listen, we had a former guest on this show. Yes, we did, yesterday, make his first start in the NFL. Did any of you guys catch Tyler?
- [38:56]
John McConnell
I did.
- [38:56]
Andy Beshear
I did.
- [38:57]
John McConnell
I got to watch some of it.
- [38:58]
Andy Beshear
I caught the highlights. Tyler Schuck, veteran of the Andy Beshear podcast, is the first guest to ever throw an NFL touchdown.
- [39:07]
John Rabinowitz
And listen, as the game progressed, got better and better. Played a really tough team in Los Angeles. But I will tell you, he did an amazing job stepping in and really, really playing at a very high level.
- [39:22]
Andy Beshear
I just think about how he's a great human being. His wife is a great human being, they got a great dog. I'm just, I'm rooting for him.
- [39:30]
John Rabinowitz
And listen, he was so pumped that you made him a colonel.
- [39:32]
Andy Beshear
Yes.
- [39:32]
John Rabinowitz
So I heard about it last week. Then the other thing I think we have to talk about, and I hope video is added. Can you please tell us about your Halloween costume and just how you picked this particular Rogers himself, this particular character?
- [39:51]
Andy Beshear
Well, during Halloween, I want to find something that's fun, but that's also positive. And so last year I was Ted Lasso, trying to get everybody to believe. This year I decided to answer a Call. I think that goes all the way back to the pandemic. And that is to be Mr. Rogers. During the pandemic, I think my daily updates were viewed as calming. And I realized I wore a red sweater way too often in them. It was a quarter zip that I'd been told to burn. And so when you did not. Oh, no, I still have it. You know, I don't throw out clothes. I'm way too cheap for that. And so this Halloween came up and there was an opportunity for it and I jumped. It went a little bit viral. Now, the very first take, they wanted me to sing and I tried and I got halfway to the stage and just said, I cannot do this.
- [40:48]
John Rabinowitz
Where is that take, John? We need it.
- [40:50]
Andy Beshear
Oh, that blueprint is out and it is right now.
- [40:53]
John Rabinowitz
I love it.
- [40:56]
Andy Beshear
It's a beautiful day. I can't do it. I can't do it. I'll hum it. I just sing so badly. I can't do it.
- [41:04]
John Rabinowitz
That's great. Then I think, lastly, we need to talk about the passing of a former governor.
- [41:10]
Andy Beshear
So we lost former Kentucky governor Martha Lane Collins over the weekend. She's our first and only female governor, which is really important. My daughter can look at the portraits of Kentucky's governors and see somebody that looks like her. She was also impactful until the. The Blue Oval investment, which. Which I was able to bring in. The. The investment that defined 30 years of economic development in Kentucky was Toyota putting its largest manufacturing facility in the world. It's still the largest manufacturing facility in the world today in Georgetown, Kentucky. It was the first North American plant. I actually remember it because my dad was lieutenant governor at the time. It is hard to describe how big that investment was for Kentucky.
- [42:02]
Jim Messina
Yeah.
- [42:02]
John Rabinowitz
What a tremendous leader. The more I read about her, the more fascinating it is. And you're right. What an impactful person on this Commonwealth.
- [42:09]
Advertisement Voice
Yeah.
- [42:09]
John McConnell
And her legacy will be filled.
- [42:10]
Andy Beshear
Yeah. She was both nice and tough, which is an example that I think is really important. And she probably had to be tougher than she should have been. I mean, you think about. It's hard, right? I think people are too hard on. On women candidates right now. They judge them much more harshly. Imagine running in the 80s and what Martha Lane Collins had to put up with. But she pushed right through it and then had a great reputation for doing international economic development work for the Commonwealth, years later supported me, which I'm grateful for. Still had a good relationship with. With my family. Know her son Steve, who's involved in historic preservation in Kentucky. But she will be missed. Just thinking about her family and thinking about her legacy that hopefully gives all the rest of us in government in Kentucky just a push to be that much better and to continue to recognize that legacy by trying to provide for our families today.
- [43:15]
John Rabinowitz
Well said.
- [43:22]
Andy Beshear
And now in my Kentucky accent, a segment where I talk about what's on my heart and mind. I believe that health care is a basic human right and I have seen the power of health care coverage firsthand. I've seen the expansion of Medicaid in my state where we went from one of the highest uninsured rates to one of the lowest. I've talked with people who had contracted cancer who are kicked off their health care coverage claiming it was a pre existing condition to get that coverage and become cancer free. That is the power of health care. It's also a part of my faith. Jesus said a doctor is for the sick and you can only see that doctor when you have that health care coverage. Yet what Congressional Republicans are doing right now by refusing to extend the supplemental tax credits on the Affordable Care act is going to make health care out of reach to so many Americans. Listen, we are already facing potential devastation in rural health care. The big ugly bill is going to cut over a trillion dollars of revenue in primarily rural health care where the number one cost is personnel, doctors, nurses, people who work to keep you healthy. And now on top of that, there are going to be people that could see a doctor and those health care institutions would receive that coverage rate of insurance that now are not going to have it at all. Why can't we, as both Democrats, Democrats and Republicans agree that a healthy population is important and no one should needlessly suffer. There is still some time up to December for Congressional Republicans to extend the ACA credits. They should, because if they don't, Democrats, Republicans, Independents will all suffer. We're better than this. They ought to take that.
- [45:23]
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- [46:46]
Andy Beshear
As we close out this episode of the Andy Beshear Podcast, it's the return of one of our favorite segments, Gen Z Lingo. We are joined by Do it for the Plot herself, Lila Bashir returning. What do you have for us this week, Lila?
- [47:02]
Lila Bashir
Okay, so instead of the normal Gen Z lingo, we're going to do a pop quiz today. That's what the ones.
- [47:09]
John Rabinowitz
We never agreed to this.
- [47:11]
John McConnell
No.
- [47:12]
Andy Beshear
So we are doing a pop quiz.
- [47:14]
Lila Bashir
On previous Gen Z Lingos and to make it harder, all of the answers are from other episodes.
- [47:23]
Andy Beshear
Okay. Well, I think I was here for most of them. Probably all of them.
- [47:28]
Lila Bashir
So we're going to have five words and ABCs to each of them.
- [47:32]
Andy Beshear
Multiple choice.
- [47:33]
Lila Bashir
Multiple choice. And what you think the answer is, you'll write it down on your board and we'll keep score and there will be a winner at the end.
- [47:40]
Andy Beshear
I'm ready and I'm competitive.
- [47:42]
John Rabinowitz
Yes.
- [47:43]
Lila Bashir
So for the first episode, we have skibidi. Is it A awesome baby? An overall feeling or mood or C. Good.
- [47:56]
Andy Beshear
I am so ready for this quiz.
- [47:59]
Lila Bashir
Ready.
- [48:00]
Jim Messina
Yep.
- [48:00]
Andy Beshear
And so we will turn. I say C. Good.
- [48:04]
John Rabinowitz
Listen, let me tell you why I said A. Okay? Because I think of skippity and fire when you're comparing the two and I feel like fire is even better than awesome.
- [48:13]
Andy Beshear
What's better than awesome?
- [48:15]
Jim Messina
Great.
- [48:16]
John McConnell
Is he trying to convince his way.
- [48:17]
Lila Bashir
To the right answer?
- [48:18]
Andy Beshear
He is.
- [48:19]
Lila Bashir
Listen, John and Dad both got a point. John 2. Not John 1.
- [48:24]
John Rabinowitz
So disappointing.
- [48:26]
Andy Beshear
I hope your legal arguments are better than that.
- [48:29]
John Rabinowitz
So disappointing.
- [48:30]
John McConnell
He tried to talk himself into the wind.
- [48:31]
Lila Bashir
Why don't each of you put a tally on your board?
- [48:33]
Andy Beshear
Yes, ma'. Am. Okay, so it is 1 to 1 to 0 on the Andy Beshear Podcast, but we all know the three of us are losing and Lila's absolutely winning this segment.
- [48:44]
Lila Bashir
Okay. It's Time for dad's favorite from the second episode. We have do it for the plot. Does it mean A, writing a story so it works with the plot, B, doing something and not caring how it turns out? Or C, a silent applause.
- [49:02]
Advertisement Voice
Oh.
- [49:05]
Andy Beshear
So down with this quiz. This is the modern day sat.
- [49:10]
Lila Bashir
Okay, let's see those boards.
- [49:12]
Andy Beshear
I said B. Oh, my gosh.
- [49:14]
Lila Bashir
Everybody got it right. Good job, guys.
- [49:16]
John Rabinowitz
Well, I almost put C. I came close. I thought about it.
- [49:19]
Andy Beshear
Remember, the theme of the Andy Bashir podcast is we definitely did this for the plot.
- [49:25]
John Rabinowitz
We couldn't get that one wrong.
- [49:26]
Andy Beshear
Sirius XM Radio. The plot's good.
- [49:30]
Lila Bashir
Okay, our third word is from the the fifth episode, and it's bet. Does bet mean let's do it? B, physically betting on something, or C, agreeing with someone.
- [49:45]
Jim Messina
Ooh.
- [49:45]
Andy Beshear
Oh, this all of a sudden got difficult.
- [49:51]
John Rabinowitz
Oh, man.
- [49:56]
Andy Beshear
All right, are we ready, gentlemen? This is when it starts to get tough. I went C. Both Johns went A.
- [50:03]
Lila Bashir
The Johns got it right.
- [50:05]
Jim Messina
Oh.
- [50:07]
Lila Bashir
John, too.
- [50:08]
John Rabinowitz
With a lead.
- [50:09]
Lila Bashir
You have a one point lead.
- [50:10]
John McConnell
Look at that.
- [50:11]
Andy Beshear
I was close to C. Apparently, I need to pay more attention to the Andy Beshear podcast. Remember, if you download it two to three times, you probably get each of these questions right.
- [50:21]
Lila Bashir
Okay, now, from episode 13, we have goaded. Does it mean A, being the greatest of all time, B, you have a lot of goats, or C, description that something is the best?
- [50:36]
Andy Beshear
I really want to say you've got a lot of goats. I know that's not right, but that would be some of the best Gen Z lingo be like, hey, bud, you got a lot of goats. I don't really know what I'd be saying to somebody.
- [50:50]
John Rabinowitz
Ready?
- [50:51]
Andy Beshear
All right, here we go. I'm going C. You were the only.
- [50:54]
Lila Bashir
One that got it right. The answer was C. Oh, wait.
- [50:57]
Andy Beshear
Greatest of all time, John McConnell, I'm coming for you.
- [51:00]
John Rabinowitz
Oh, Go. Did well.
- [51:02]
Andy Beshear
And John Rabinowitz, have you made an episode?
- [51:06]
John Rabinowitz
Yeah, I got one right.
- [51:08]
Andy Beshear
You've been virtual A while.
- [51:09]
Lila Bashir
You got two right.
- [51:10]
John Rabinowitz
Two right.
- [51:10]
Lila Bashir
You have two tallies.
- [51:11]
John Rabinowitz
There we go.
- [51:12]
Andy Beshear
All right.
- [51:12]
Lila Bashir
Okay. The last one I chose a very special episode. This was episode 23 where we were in New York.
- [51:20]
Andy Beshear
Can you all believe we can pick from over 30 episodes? Episode 23 was special.
- [51:27]
Lila Bashir
Yeah. Our word is aura farming. Does it mean A, being a part of a group, B, suspicious, or C, doing things to be cooler? All right, all right.
- [51:41]
Andy Beshear
I went C. I went C. John went C. There you go, Lila.
- [51:45]
John McConnell
Just mine might be a better answer.
- [51:47]
John Rabinowitz
I mean, bribery.
- [51:48]
Andy Beshear
John McConnell is trying to buy off my daughter. Possibly. What do you mean possibly?
- [51:53]
John Rabinowitz
Chicken.
- [51:53]
Lila Bashir
Chicken.
- [51:54]
John Rabinowitz
Answer.
- [51:54]
Jim Messina
And hold it.
- [51:55]
John Rabinowitz
The worst example, I think C is underneath the 20.
- [51:57]
Lila Bashir
The answer is C. Oh, let's go. Which means Andy won the winner.
- [52:02]
John Rabinowitz
Oh, well, that's Andy Beshear Podcast. I feel like it was rigged.
- [52:05]
Lila Bashir
First Andy Beshear, Gen Z Lingo Podcast Quiz.
- [52:09]
Andy Beshear
We tied his dad.
- [52:11]
John McConnell
Dad.
- [52:12]
Andy Beshear
You might think that this was rigged and you'd probably be right. But hey, it's called the Andy Beshear Podcast for a reason. We hope you all enjoyed this episode as much as we did. We got to have a little bit of fun with the words at the end, but hope you got a lot out of the interviews. And remember, we'll be back next week with episode 32. We'll see you then.
- [52:43]
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John Rabinowitz
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John Rabinowitz
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