Pride, Strength and Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson

Summary

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Andy Beshear Podcast — “Pride, Strength and Human Rights Campaign President Kelley Robinson”

Episode Date: June 4, 2026
Host: Andy Beshear
Guest: Kelley Robinson (President, Human Rights Campaign)
Theme: Pride, Advocacy, and the Fight for Equality

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Episode Overview

This episode marks the opening of Pride Month with a powerful, unscripted conversation between Governor Andy Beshear and Kelley Robinson, the historic president of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the first Black queer woman to lead the nation's largest LGBTQ+ civil rights group. The discussion ranges from the harsh realities facing the LGBTQ+ community, intersectionality in civil rights, and nationwide attacks on fundamental freedoms, to Robinson’s personal motivations and the HRC’s 2026 electoral strategy. The episode also offers personal insights into Kelley’s background and leadership style, highlighting the human dimension of advocacy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pride Month: Progress, Struggle, and Hope

[26:17–29:12]

• Kelley Robinson shares excitement for Pride as a time to both celebrate progress and acknowledge remaining challenges.
  • “As a Black queer person in America … things are far from perfect. But do not put me in a time machine. We have overcome so much just to exist right now.” — Kelley Robinson [26:17]
  • She emphasizes the community’s roots: survivors of the AIDS crisis and inheritors of the Stonewall legacy.
• Emphasizes joy, unity, and the vital role of allies.

2. Intersectionality & Civil Rights

[27:05–29:12]

• Robinson underscores that threats to LGBTQ+ rights are tied to all forms of civil rights:
  • “Any attack they wage against LGBTQ community, especially our trans community and our trans kids, that is a preview of the attacks that they intend to wage against all of us.” — Kelley Robinson [28:04]
• Stresses mutual responsibility for advocacy: if we witness attacks on one community, we must act, as it endangers everyone.

3. Defining & Responding to Modern Strength

[29:12–31:19]

• Beshear contrasts definitions of strength:
  • “The Trump administration defines strength as bullying. I define strength as the person willing to stand between the bully and who they're picking on.” — Andy Beshear [29:30]
• Robinson celebrates the emergence of ‘heroes’ who run toward, not away from, the fight.
  • Cites HRC’s milestone of 4 million members, with 1 million joining during recent waves of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation. [30:00]
  • Praises Kentucky’s official Pride Month declaration.

4. State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ Americans

[31:19–33:54]

• Robinson explains HRC's 2023 declaration of a national state of emergency:
  • Cites a spike in anti-LGBTQ+ laws, rising hate crimes (1 in 5 hate crimes motivated by anti-LGBTQ bias), and people “going back into the closet.”
  • Recounts skepticism at first, but says all warnings have since come true.
  • Advocates voter engagement as the solution and previews HRC's record $15 million electoral investment in 2026.

5. The HRC’s 2026 Electoral Strategy

[34:03–36:09]

• Targeting eight key races in five states (New York, California, Michigan, Ohio, Arizona) to shift Congress and “put a check on Donald Trump.” [34:24]
• Encourages everyone, regardless of their district, to get involved—democracy “is a participatory sport.”
• Predicts a "rainbow wave" instead of a blue one.

6. The Power of the LGBTQ+ Vote

[36:09–37:15]

• 92% of the LGBTQ+ community is highly motivated to vote.
• 74 million “equality voters” exist—greater than all battleground state registered voters combined.
  • “If we turn out, we win. Period.” — Kelley Robinson [36:50]
• LGBTQ+ voters projected to make up 10% of the electorate in 2026, increasing to 20% by 2040.

7. Corporate Engagement & the Economy

[37:15–39:04]

• Gen Z’s 30% LGBTQ+ identification strengthens community influence as consumers and workers.
• Calls on companies to stand for fairness, not special rights; recounts past corporate activism (e.g. North Carolina "bathroom bill").
  • “I’m trying to make it so … both of us can have pictures of our family up when we’re sitting at our desk.” — Kelley Robinson [38:09]

8. Sustaining Hope: What Drives Kelley Robinson

[39:04–41:05]

• Draws inspiration from everyday acts of courage by parents, teachers, and advocates.
• Religiously rooted belief in universal dignity: “Every child is made in the image of God … That tradition is big enough to hold all of our hopes and all of our dreams.” — Kelley Robinson [39:30]
• Beshear seconds with his own reflections on faith and inclusivity, citing the absence of exclusions in core Christian teachings. [40:29]

9. What Winning Looks Like

[42:25–44:17]

• “Winning looks like us not having to be concerned with the fight for rights in every single election cycle.”
• Immediate goal: stop politicians from sacrificing any community for political gain.
• Long-term goal: enshrine rights so future generations need not fight these battles.

10. The Ordinary Lives and Shared Concerns of LGBTQ+ Families

[44:29–45:39]

• Robinson emphasizes: “The issues that we care about are the same issues that everyone else does … best schools … job stability … health.”
• Reminds listeners that “there’s more uniting us than dividing us.”

11. Getting Personal: Kelley Robinson's Story

[45:39–50:12]

• Started as an organizer for Barack Obama’s first campaign after a stint as an MMA fighter and bartender.
  • “If I don’t have to get punched in the face, I’ll give it a shot [as an organizer]. And let me tell you, I fell in love with organizing.” — Kelley Robinson [46:17]
• Met her wife while both worked at Planned Parenthood; they bonded over the Real Housewives franchise.
• Favorite date night is any night off from parenting (children aged 1 and 4)! Enjoys concerts—recent favorite: Erykah Badu in the rain.
• Secret talent: MMA fighting. Had 7 official bouts ("that was enough").

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Any attack they wage against LGBTQ community … is a preview of the attacks that they intend to wage against all of us.” — Kelley Robinson [28:04]
• “When cruelty is on full display, you also see heroes showing up in important ways.” — Kelley Robinson [30:50]
• “The best of America is still showing up.” — Kelley Robinson [29:01]
• “I’m a fighter to my core.” — Kelley Robinson on her MMA background [46:22]
• “There are no asterisks, exclusions, or the phrase, comma, unless after the most important teachings.” — Andy Beshear [40:29]
• “If we turn out, we win. Period.” — Kelley Robinson [36:50]
• “I hope to work myself out of a job.” — Kelley Robinson [42:36]

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Timestamps for Key Sections

• Pride Month & Intersectionality: [26:17–29:12]
• Defining Modern Strength: [29:12–31:19]
• State of Emergency & Advocacy: [31:19–33:54]
• Electoral Strategy & Rainbow Wave: [34:03–36:09]
• LGBTQ+ Vote & Demographics: [36:09–37:15]
• Corporate Allyship: [37:15–39:04]
• Finding Hope: [39:04–41:05]
• Vision for Winning: [42:25–44:17]
• What LGBTQ+ Families Face: [44:29–45:39]
• Kelley Robinson’s Backstory: [45:39–50:12]

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Episode Summary

This episode is a heartfelt and strategic call to action at the start of Pride Month, amplifying the everyday dignity and similar hopes of LGBTQ+ Americans while confronting political and social headwinds. Kelley Robinson, the Human Rights Campaign’s storied leader and a self-described fighter, shares both urgency and hope—urging listeners to stand against all forms of bigotry and participate in democracy, emphasizing that the fight for equality is everybody’s fight.

To get involved and learn more, visit: HRC.org

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Transcript

[Jay Uso]

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[Andy Beshear]

Hey, podcast family, it's Andy. And welcome to our newest episode of the Andy Beshear Podcast. It's been a little while since I've had a conversation with the Johns. And so we're going to start today by talking about all the craziness that hits you through the news minute after minute. From this ongoing war with Iran, where we apparently have ceasefires, where we still fire at each other, to Donald Trump's slush fund, where now it's not enough to pardon the January 6 felons, he wants to pay them as well. And then we move to something that I believe deeply in. That every person deserves to be seen. That every person deserves to be safe. That every person is a child of God. And every person deserves a government that shows up for them, not one that uses their identity as a weapon. Our guest this week has spent her entire career fighting for exactly that. You're going to hear from Kelly Robinson, the president of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest civil rights organization in the United States with more than 3.6 million members that advocates for our LGBTQ population. She made history as the first black LGBTQ woman to. To lead the organization in 40 years. She started out as an organizer for Barack Obama's campaign in Missouri. She's even going to tell you a secret. She was once an MMA fighter. She is passionate. She's going to talk about not just the what. What the community is facing, but her why. And she is going to give a compelling, passionate argument for everyone out there to have empathy for this community and its right to be seen. We're filming this on June 1st. That is the start of Pride Month in America. So everybody out there, happy Pride. Now, there's a lot at stake at these elections coming up for this country. Kelly's going to talk about that, but my encouragement is for everybody out there to do what we're seeing in record numbers, and that is to vote. I just got back from Alabama. They doubled their Democratic primary from four years ago, South Carolina. That said, no thanks to Donald Trump's redistricting has broken records day in and day out about early voting. People out there, they're not waking up. They are already awake and they're saying who Donald Trump is trying to make us ain't who we are. This is an important time in our country. These are important conversations this week. So I hope you enjoy this new episode of the Andy Beshear Podcast. We're kicking off the podcast this week by catching up on news from the last month or so. That seems just about as crazy as at any time in my life. For this conversation we have John Rabinowitz, attorney and small business owner. John McConnell, insurance agency owner and small business owner. We call this my conversation with with the Johns. That's been going on since the very first episode a year plus ago. Gentlemen, how we doing?

[John Rabinowitz]

Doing great.

[Andy Beshear]

Doing great.

[John McConnell]

Doing well. Listen, are we just going to ignore the elephant in the room?

[Andy Beshear]

If you are watching on YouTube, John McConnell has a heck of a T shirt on. It is fully accurate. But you got to go over and subscribe to our YouTube channel to know what I'm talking about.

[John McConnell]

I do think you're more than somewhat,

[John Rabinowitz]

I appreciate the vote of confidence. I do.

[Andy Beshear]

For our listeners. Let's start off with, I think, what's on everybody's minds, and that's the war with Iran. We filmed this on a Monday through the weekend. We kept being told that we were really close to a deal that would end the war, which Donald Trump said was already over. That would address the ability to build a nuclear bomb, which Donald Trump said he'd already obliterated, but that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and hopefully bring down gas prices. But then the president decided he wanted to get personally involved and change some of the terms. We're now exchanging fire with Iran. And while they say they're continuing to negotiate, the Iranians are saying that they are no longer at the table. Who is surprised by the failure of diplomacy of this administration for the fourth or fifth time?

[John Rabinowitz]

So, John, I got a question for you. So how many times between now and Thursday do you think there will be a change to the ceasefire or it'll be a ceasefire without being, well, to

[John McConnell]

your point, every week you think there's an end in sight and really like it's, we should just not believe it anymore. It's just, it doesn't seem like there's, I know we don't know anything. We don't know everything. Sorry. But, but I do believe that there's had to, we've had to make some progress, right? Like the four months were going on and we're still, I don't know, I Guess still where we were when we begun.

[Andy Beshear]

Maybe we're in a worse place in some instances. How are our relationships with other Middle Eastern countries? The president the other day said if Oman does not behave, he will blow them up.

[John McConnell]

Well, we did. Evidently, we've. We've brought, what, 70 ships over the last few weeks through the Strait to try to help our problem, which I guess has not helped, which is likely

[Andy Beshear]

less than a day, I think.

[John McConnell]

I think there were like a hundred a day, weren't there? At one point? I, you know, again, I go back to. We do not want them to have the ability to purchase a nuclear bomb or have nuclear material. But it is really hurting Americans now.

[Andy Beshear]

Yeah, and I want to turn to that in a second, but it's just tough to see what we've actually accomplished. I think this president went in wanting regime change, and now he has the more radicalized son of the former leader that we killed.

[John McConnell]

Do you wonder? I mean, first off, I don't know if we're ever going to get a deal done, because I feel like they don't. Who are we negotiating with?

[Andy Beshear]

Well, in the way the Iranians negotiate, they want to delay, delay, delay, delay. But that works in their favor because this is a president who is negotiating this like it's a development deal in New York. He is stringing it along, saying he's not in a hurry, he doesn't care about the midterms, and he doesn't think about the financial situation of Americans.

[John Rabinowitz]

And we've proved the point that Iran can stop this like they can stop the Strait. It's always been a theory what happens if we go to a war with Iran. And now we've proven it that, yes, they can control the majority of the world's oil trade.

[John McConnell]

And how can you have a ceasefire when you're setting off a missile and

[Andy Beshear]

a double blockade of the Strait? It just. With everything that this country went through with Iraq and Afghanistan, the fact that we have a president that apparently learned nothing, even though he promised not to repeat that, went in to a war with no real plan on what winning looks like, no realistic objectives, and we are now economically in a much worse situation.

[John McConnell]

What do you believe winning looks like now?

[Andy Beshear]

Getting the strait open, securing in some way or destroying what is left of that nuclear material, trying to get a framework in place to where we're not back here in another couple years. Sadly, I think that what the Trump administration is trying to do is to get to the former agreement that the Obama administration had put in place that the Trump administration Undid in the first term. The fact that that's now what they think is the best outcome just shows to me this is a total failure. But in addition to being a failure, it's hurting the American people.

[John Rabinowitz]

And when you look at the economy, what it's doing right Now, I mean, 70% of what we circulate in this country is all consumer spending. So now prices are up and it costs more to drive everywhere.

[Andy Beshear]

Yeah, prices are up because the price of gasoline and diesel are significantly higher based on the closing of the Strait of Hormuz. And everything that we buy is shipped around the country. So it's going to be more expensive and some of it being made, it requires oil and gas.

[John McConnell]

I mean, I don't know if you guys have booked an airplane ticket recently, but I mean, those prices are out of control. I mean, to a point where if I can drive there, if I can be there in six hours or less, I'm going to probably drive because it's even more expensive to fly now, even though gas is ridiculous, the price of

[John Rabinowitz]

gas, I mean, most of this country cannot afford to not have gas. That is how they get to work.

[Andy Beshear]

Yes.

[John Rabinowitz]

That is how they tackle every day, make choices.

[Andy Beshear]

And now the first couple hours of work may be just paying for how to get there.

[John McConnell]

Yeah. And I mean, listen, you're having to give up things to be able to afford gas for the week for your family.

[Andy Beshear]

Of course, the great irony in Kentucky is when this president came in, he killed the incentives that were pushing the EV industry where we're building giant plants here in Kentucky, gas prices are through the roof. And we're saying, oh, if there only there was a way to power your car other than gasoline. So Donald Trump made EVs more expensive and then he made gasoline more expensive. So he basically got you either way.

[John Rabinowitz]

And when you look at a measurement of what the economy is right now, you've got credit cards because if families can't make enough to continue to afford, they still have to eat the, they still have to get to work, they have to move forward. So you're looking at credit card delinquencies hitting a 15 year high. And when does that start to play out in the economy and I guess everybody's homes.

[John McConnell]

To your point, Andy, earlier when you said he'll make a decision on a deal when the time is right. It's so like heartless to what it's really doing to Americans here.

[Andy Beshear]

That's right. I mean, how every day that somebody has to fill up their tank every day that they need to make a purchase. They're paying more, they're suffering, they're falling further behind. And the longer you wait, the longer the American people fall behind.

[John McConnell]

And I'll tell you what, I got three kids driving around this summer, and I am not looking forward to these gas prices.

[Andy Beshear]

So let's move to what I think is one of the other biggest news stories that's out there that is so far over the line. Republicans are finally speaking out against one of Trump's actions, and that's the slush fund. This was him supposedly settling his personal lawsuit against the DOJ, which he oversees to create a $1.7 billion. Let's call it what it is. Slush fund, anti weaponization, where the January 6 rioters apparently not only get pardoned, but now get paid.

[John Rabinowitz]

Well, I guess it's an insurrection check is what we're going to have to call it. Now, who's going to get their insurrection check? And, you know, how do they gauge how much it is?

[John McConnell]

Do you believe what the AG Said in that or the acting AG Said in that the Trump, Trump nor his family will take anything from this fund? And does that have any impact?

[Andy Beshear]

They can remove any of the people who decide who gets the money at any time whatsoever. Listen, are you not going to be

[John McConnell]

on this commission if asked?

[Andy Beshear]

I don't think they're going to put me on this. The fact that his family is profiting from the presidency is bad enough. It's corruption in and of itself. But to pay somebody who beat up a Capitol Police officer that stormed the symbol, the Capitol, I mean, the United States of America is what they attacked that day. And the idea that they would now get paid for it, it's just crazy.

[John McConnell]

But I believe. Was it last week? End of last week, a federal judge blocked it, so it's temporarily being held until they have another hearing on the issue.

[Andy Beshear]

Well, and a lot of people in Congress are speaking out against it, and it appears to have stalled Homeland Security funding, that it was that big of a deal and possibly that the president came out against some sitting US Republican senators and they lost all of a sudden. Maybe that's the straw that breaks the camel's back.

[John McConnell]

And again, goes back to what we've talked about in podcasts in the past. Who has the power of the purse, Right? I mean, it's clearly Congress can't be okay with this.

[John Rabinowitz]

No, they shouldn't be. But I mean, as far as the pressure that keeps mounting on them, it's. It's his party. Shortly after recording this Surprise, surprise. Trump walked back the $1.8 million slush fine. The NBC podcast can't claim full credit,

[Mike Pence]

but we'd like to.

[Andy Beshear]

So, speaking of one last failure of this administration, let's talk about the America 250th celebration and what's currently going on with.

[John McConnell]

I cannot believe you two are hating on Milli Vanilli and Vanilla Ice and Brilliant. If we have some, like, music we can play in the background, I'd love that.

[John Rabinowitz]

Are you going to lip sync some millionaire for us?

[John McConnell]

John Gov knows it's true.

[Andy Beshear]

I'd say, you know, things are falling apart when Bret Michael says no thanks to that check.

[John McConnell]

That is crazy. Why would he back out of something like that?

[Andy Beshear]

Well, part of this is because America250 is being put on not by some regular group or government group. It's now being managed by a political group connected to Donald Trump that's been out there on things that most Americans would disagree with. And these artists are finally seeing the contracts of who they're actually doing business with and saying, no, thank you, not okay with it.

[John McConnell]

Well, this UFC fight coming up on the 12th, 12th and 13th, and then they have a Grand Prix. This all sounds like kind of cool stuff.

[John Rabinowitz]

Yeah, I mean, are we going to get invites? The podcast going to get to go?

[John McConnell]

There's zero percent chance.

[Andy Beshear]

So the most recent suggestion, though, from The President on America 250 is, well, fine, if none of these musicians wanted to want to come, I'll come out there and we'll do a rally. And I keep thinking the last time he did a rally on or near the mall didn't turn out very well, though. He's now trying to pay the people who came.

[John McConnell]

Are we going to do anything in Kentucky?

[Andy Beshear]

Yeah, we are.

[John McConnell]

This two feet we got. I mean, Milli Vanilli, esque.

[Andy Beshear]

No, we got Walker Montgomery.

[John McConnell]

We gotta call him.

[Andy Beshear]

Podcast. He's coming. He's looked okay.

[John Rabinowitz]

He knows. All right.

[Andy Beshear]

All right. Now let's talk about Carlos Espina, who was on the podcast, came down to the Kentucky Derby this year. Great guy. He has now bought a soccer team.

[John Rabinowitz]

Yeah, one of my dreams, by the way. So, Carlos, you're actually living my dream of owning a soccer team.

[John McConnell]

Like, what an. It sounds like it's something similar to what they did in Wrexham with some of the movie stars that purchase a team and are developing it for players, and hopefully the brand increases. But he's also doing it to get more people who could not afford to go to games, giving them the ability

[John Rabinowitz]

to come watch and the team was relegated, which means it had to move down a league. So, you know, different than our sports professionally. If you don't win, you can't, like, take it off year to get better picks. You're able to get some swag, move down a league. Oh, swag.

[Donald Trump]

Should be great.

[Andy Beshear]

Swag. Yeah, they should have, like a patch that says Andy Beshear podcast. I hear we're huge in Honduras.

[John McConnell]

Oh, we're about to be.

[John Rabinowitz]

That's right. We're about to be.

[John McConnell]

Hey, I do want to ask you, I saw you on Meet the Press.

[Andy Beshear]

Yes.

[John McConnell]

On Sunday, and I saw that you were in South Carolina with a former podcast guest, Representative Clyburn. Can you tell us a little bit about what you were doing down there? I know this fish fry dinner is a super famous.

[Andy Beshear]

It was electric because we had just come off South Carolina saying no thanks to Donald Trump's redistricting. And yes, please, to Representative Clyburn continuing to be the conscience of the U.S. house of Representatives, Democrats there had gotten a big win. And while their legislature, their Democrats are in the super minority, they'd been smart. They figured out how to, how to play this during the time. And I got to tell you, people were thrilled. So much so that early voting had broken a record every day that it was open. But we're seeing that.

[John McConnell]

I was going to say that seems like a universal.

[Andy Beshear]

We're seeing that all over the South. In Alabama, I did an event with Doug Jones, run for governor there, former US Senator and federal prosecutor. Good guy. He showed me that their Democratic primary Turnout doubled from four years before. I mean, double. That's not up 20%. That's up 100%. And so I think that the midterms were already trending towards Democrats, that we were going to see big turnout. But then the Supreme Court, with what I believe is a shameful decision also on the Voting Rights act, has motivated that many more people. You know, the idea that if you're going to take away somebody's voice, they're going to speak as loud as they can.

[John McConnell]

You know, I thought it was pretty interesting on your response to one of the questions on gerrymandering, Meet the Press, maybe you can rehash that a little bit.

[Andy Beshear]

Yeah. It's just that we have so many structural challenges in our political system right now caused by a Supreme Court that has basically taken away all the rules. And that's why I think it's time for a fix. The darn country constitutional amendment. And I know people say, oh, constitutional amendments don't Happen very often. They do happen after dark times in our country, and I think we're going through one right now. So how about we actually enshrine in our Constitution, no political gerrymandering, that the people choose their elected officials instead of elected officials choosing their voters, that it's got to be done only at a certain time and that we can't gerrymander anytime for any reason just to win. Because right now, at the most recent decision, it's going to happen right before every single election. But while we're at it, why don't we overturn Citizens United, which you can do in the Constitution. We can get corporate money out of these elections. While we're at it, let's have term limits for everybody, including the Supreme Court. No more gaming, trying to put somebody on for 40 years, trying to get somebody to retire at a certain point. Right. This ought to be the best judges, and that will be the best justices. And not trying to pack it with a certain number of Rs versus Ds, though. You can't say it out loud. I just. I think that could bring a lot of people together, people that believe that the system is rigged. Guess what? It'd be a big fix for it.

[John Rabinowitz]

And it feels that way when you see lifetime appointments, basically. It's just hard to feel a different way about it.

[Andy Beshear]

The reception in South Carolina, though, was incredible. And part of it is because Southern Democrats were overlooked, underfunded, even looked down upon for a long period of time. We've scrapped to get a seat back at the table. We have now three Southern Democratic governors and myself, Josh Stein and Abigail spanberger. There are two U.S. senators, both from Georgia. And Roy Cooper, who is on the podcast, is going to be the next Southern US Senator that's a Democrat, I think. Keisha Lance Bottom's another podcast guest, just had a resounding win in her primary with a great chance to be the next Southern Democratic governor. And so people could feel that maybe that hadn't had as much hope in a while. And it turned out 800 plus people at the Democratic dinner, which was just raucous by the time I finished. People ready to get out there and to fight for a better country. And then the fish fry, which is several thousand people.

[John McConnell]

Wow.

[Andy Beshear]

Showing their love for Jim Clyburn. So I decided to join in and made him a Kentucky colonel on the stage.

[John McConnell]

Oh, let's go.

[Andy Beshear]

So he's now Colonel Clyburn.

[John McConnell]

Well, I do think the message of unification across the country is one that's really. Everybody wants it's one that really came across in your messaging.

[John Rabinowitz]

Well, there's one thing that I heard Texas is in play.

[Andy Beshear]

So the Texas Senate rates is certainly in play. Listen, Ken Paxton, the current attorney general is the most corrupt politician I have ever been around. I mean, he is so corrupt, his own party impeached him and that's the person they're putting forward simply because he will say yes to Donald Trump more. They don't care. All the things that this guy has done, the allegations his wife just made in their divorce, the insider trading that he was accused of. In fact, one of our former governor, Matt Bevin, who I believe was corrupt, his chief of staff goes down to work for Paxton. Was he a whistleblower and becomes a whistleblower?

[John McConnell]

Yeah, that's what I remember.

[Andy Beshear]

Paxton is that bad. And so, yes, I think it puts it in play because people might say, oh, Texas is really Republican. Well, Texas doesn't have to be pro corruption. Texas can basically send a message saying we are not going to elect a bad person. They don't have to agree with James Talarico on everything. They can just believe he's a good man that will try to do the right thing certainly more times than Ken

[John McConnell]

Paxton, what is your response to and I think about Texas, I think about Indiana. What are your thoughts on still these that Trump effect still exists on the Republican Party side? I know your turnout on the Democrat side is a huge deal, but on this Republican side it's still very much

[Andy Beshear]

what it means is is the party of litmus tests has flipped. It's no longer the Democrats. Listen, this is should be a big tent party. You can come and disagree with us on a couple issues as long as you want to move American families forward, reduce prices, help people do a little bit better. The Democratic Party ought to be your place right now. But the Republican Party now has one litmus test. Do you agree with everything Donald Trump said today, even if it's the opposite of what he said yesterday? And if your answer is no, if you want to have your own brain, if you want to make up your mind on things, if you believe you should be able to disagree with a leader in your party every once in a while, the Republican Party, San Adios. Donald Trump doesn't want you anymore and is basically beating you in a primary for it.

[John McConnell]

Right.

[John Rabinowitz]

Wow.

[John McConnell]

Well, quite a few weeks, guys.

[Andy Beshear]

And Father's Day coming up.

[John Rabinowitz]

Yes, it is.

[Andy Beshear]

So I know we're all proud of a lot of things. John, you have a great. Your middle daughter just graduated from high school.

[John McConnell]

Oh, I'm so pumped for her. I've never seen her more excited. And it's amazing because her group of friends grew up together from preschool on. And to see them all being super successful and going off to college, it's an incredible thing and also makes me feel incredibly old.

[Andy Beshear]

John, your son has a big birthday.

[John Rabinowitz]

Sixteen years old.

[Andy Beshear]

Yeah.

[John Rabinowitz]

Lyndon is now 16. So we're, we're changing gears at our house pretty dramatically.

[John McConnell]

Andy has a senior.

[Andy Beshear]

I now have a rising senior junior in high school.

[John McConnell]

Welcome to the club.

[Andy Beshear]

Which means I still don't know anything when I'm at home.

[John McConnell]

Amen.

[Andy Beshear]

I believe next week Will Bashir is going to be back with a little bit more Gen Z lingo, and we're going to have some big news to share from him.

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[Andy Beshear]

Our guest this week on the Andy Beshear podcast is the perfect guest for this month because we're filming this on June 1st, which is the start of Pride Month. Today, we're welcoming Kelly Robinson, who is a trailblazing advocate and leader in the fight for human rights. As the president of the Human Rights Campaign, she is the first black queer woman to hold this position. HRC is the largest civil rights organization in the United States dedicated to achieving equality and liberation for LGBTQ individuals. With over 15 years of experience, she's been fighting hard for a long time. Robinson has spearheaded numerous successful campaigns for lgbtq, racial and gender equity. Thank you for joining the podcast.

[Kelly Robinson]

The pleasure is all mine. You are really a trailblazer to get to talk to on this Pride Month.

[Andy Beshear]

Well, I'm excited about our conversation, but let's just start there. You know, tell our viewers a little bit about how you're excited about Pride Month and what you hope to communicate, especially during the times that we're living in.

[Kelly Robinson]

Thank you. You Know, I am excited for Pride Month because this is our moment to celebrate how far we've come and. And also acknowledge how far we have to go. You know, you mentioned this earlier, but I am so proud to be the first black queer woman to lead the Human Rights Campaign. And let me tell you, as a black queer person in America, things are far from perfect. But do not put me in a time machine. We have overcome so much just to exist right now. I can't help but to remember that we are the survivors of the ones who made it through the AIDS crisis. We are the inheritors of those who fought at Stonewall. And this is just another moment for us to fight for it and fight together, but to do it with joy, with our families by our side, and with allies like you that we know are carrying this fight for.

[Andy Beshear]

So in being the first black queer woman to head hrc, it must have felt both a special moment, a moment of change, but also the weight, the weight on you to fight for and fight successfully for people who just want to be seen for who they are.

[Kelly Robinson]

You know, I am committed to being the first, but absolutely not the last. And I feel like I have a real privilege of lifting up in this moment that the ways that our fights for progress, for civil rights are intertwined. You know, I wouldn't be here without the work of Bayard Rustin, right? A black gay man that fought in the civil rights movement. I wouldn't be here without the folks that came before me that held so many of our identities. And I think right now, when you see the attacks that are happening, whether there are the attempts to undermine marriage equality for LGBTQ people, which usually those attacks are also undermining loving Virginia that allowed for interracial marriage, or the attack communities trying to kick them out of bathrooms, trying to take away critical health care access. Those are fights that aren't just about the LGBTQ community. They are about all of us. And you know this as well as anyone else, because I've seen you fight for it. But any attack that they wage against LGBTQ community, especially our trans community and our trans kids, that is a preview of the attacks that they intend to wage against all of us. So if you see somebody under attack, if you see a bully coming after one of us, you better stand up, because you know that somebody, sooner or later, they're going to come for your community, too. So as hard as this moment is that we're in, the thing that I am reassured by is that it's reminding me that the best of America is still showing up. The people are still saying, we are going to stand on the side of fairness. We're not going to allow these bullies to come after our kids, any of our kids. And we're going to make sure that when we say that we're fighting for freedom, we're talking about freedom for every state, single person.

[Andy Beshear]

This last weekend in South Carolina, I was asked a question. I think it was in terms of masculinity, but I want to talk about it in terms of strength. You know what, what that looks like? And I said, the Trump administration defines strength as bullying, as being the bully. I define strength as the person willing to stand between the bully and who they're picking on.

[Kelly Robinson]

Absolutely. I could not agree with you more. And, you know, I think that right now, folks are seeing cruelty on display. Look, we have had hundreds of anti LGBTQ bills move through states all across this country. We've had a concerted effort by our opposition to roll back civil rights. Not for some of us, but for all of us. You see the Supreme Court cases trying to undermine the ability of trans kids to exist. You've seen federal laws attacking our community, trying to create legal pathways for conversion therapy. Again, you've seen it all. But what you also need to see is that the Human Rights Campaign just celebrated reaching 4 million members. That means that over the last two years, roughly a million new folks have jumped into this fight. So at the exact moment when our community is experiencing the most treacherous of attacks that we've seen in a generation, you had a million new people not run away from the fight, but run towards it. That is what I mean when I talk about the best of us showing up. We have to be willing to see the light right now. Because when cruelty is on full display like it is today, you also see heroes showing up in important ways. Heroes like you in Kentucky vetoing all those anti trans bills, showing up as the first governor in Kentucky's history to declare Pride Month an official month of your state. And you see neighbors showing up for one another. But that's what I want to remind folks of, is that even in these dark times, you have glimmers of light that are showing up. And if enough of us commit to being that light, we're going to make it through these dark times.

[Andy Beshear]

Well, I was proud to do each and every one of those actions. One, because it was the right thing to do, and number two, because I really hate bullies. So in speaking of where the fight is right now, your organization declared a state of emergency for the first time in what its 40 year history. Tell us what led you to that declaration and why you did it.

[Kelly Robinson]

Yeah. We declared that national state of emergency for LGBTQ people in 2023. That's when we really started to see this escalation of state attacks on our rights and our lives. And it wasn't just the bad bills. We also saw the FBI say that 1 in 5 of every hate crime was motivated by anti LGBTQ bias. We were also seeing people start to go back into the closet in ways that we hadn't seen in a generation. We knew that this was a crisis. But the thing about it is, when we declared that state of emergency in 2023, there were people around us that said, aren't you overreactive? Aren't you making a bigger deal out of something that it is? And then flash forward to where we are today. Every warning that we said in 2023 has become a reality. And the reason why that matters is we gotta be clear that they're not coming for some of our rights. They're coming for all of them. And if there's one thing that we can do, it is stand up and make our voices heard today to try to do something in the midst of this crisis. Because for me, this is not a political fight. The fight in front of us is so that me and my wife can live our lives raising our kids, being in the suburbs, and be happy. The fight in front of us is for the mother that I talked to last week who said her prayer is that one day she care more. She can worry more about whether or not her kid finishes their vegetables at dinner than whether or not they will survive until tomorrow. This is a fight for human dignity in our lives. And there's something that we can do. If you are committed to being one of the people that stands up to bullies, do it with us and show up. In this election cycle, we have an opportunity to send a message that we as a community are saying enough of the attacks on families, on our neighbors, and particularly on our kids. And that's the hopeful thing. You know, we're also involved in this massive election effort. We're putting $15 million into the election

[Andy Beshear]

this year, the most ever that I think that you've ever done. And my understanding is you're targeting eight races.

[Kelly Robinson]

That's right. We've got opportunities for folks to show up everywhere and anywhere that they are. And we believe we can have a concerted impact in eight districts across five states. That can be the game changer in putting a check on Donald Trump.

[Andy Beshear]

Tell our listeners that may want to be involved in those races what they are and how you decided on them.

[Kelly Robinson]

Absolutely. We looked at places where we have a high number of equality voters, people that care about equality issues when they think about who to vote for, and a deep base of volunteers with a Human Rights Campaign and LGBTQ plus organization. By overlaying those two things, it gave us a set of places in five states. Right. We're looking at New York and California, Michigan and Ohio and Wisconsin. Places that, excuse me, in Arizona, that have these races that are actually going to be the difference maker when you get to November and creating a pro equality Congress. So we're investing there and making sure that folks have the tools to turn out our voters. And they can do that by volunteering with the Human Rights Campaign and using even our relational organizing tools to help you call people that are in your own phone book and remind them to get out to vote. But what I want to remind folks is, is that democracy is a participatory sport. So the way that we can change the nature of the game is by getting involved. If you live in one of those eight districts or five states, come on and do it with us. But if you don't, there are still ways for you to get involved, because there are hundreds of races across this country that we can make a difference in. I think that they've overplayed their hand, our opposition, and we are actually going to see, I wouldn't even say a blue wave. I'm going to say a rainbow wave across this country that can take back important power to make sure our voices are heard.

[Andy Beshear]

We are seeing huge Democratic primary turnout, even in places where there aren't necessarily competitive elections. I think people showing up saying, if you're going to try to take my voice, you're going to hear from me loud and clear, you got another thing coming.

[Kelly Robinson]

And look, our community is strong. I got to remind folks of three things. First, 92% of the LGBTQ community is actually motivated to vote. 92%. And we're early in the election. That number of folks are already saying they're committed to vote is huge. Number two, there are 74 million equality voters across this country that prioritize LGBTQ issues when deciding who to vote for. That's more than the number of registered voters in every battleground state combined. If we turn out, we win. Period. And finally, then, this is important. 10% of the electorate is expected to be a member of our community this year. 10%. And by 2040, 20% of the electorate will be a member of our community. That is power. So when I think about our issues in our community, we are not a liability. We are important partners of any coalition that you need to win in every state across this country. And we gotta start behaving like.

[Andy Beshear]

So you all are also consumers, part of this U.S. economy. Talk to me about corporate engagement, because if we went back not that many years ago, you saw the private sector in North Carolina say, we will not tolerate discrimination. And that's just something we're not seeing right now in America.

[Kelly Robinson]

Look, we need to see more of it. I think you see companies trying to navigate some really treacherous waters and challenging times. But if you look at the numbers, it is a no brainer about why you need to stand with the LGBTQ community. Look, 30% of Generation Z identify as a member of our community. 30%, one in ten of every adult. Not only that, our consumer power is huge and our portion of the working population is extraordinary. When we talk about standing with the community, what I want to clarify is we're not talking about special rights. I'm trying to make it so that if I work in a cubicle and my colleague does, both of us can have pictures of our family up when we're sitting at our desk.

[Andy Beshear]

That's right.

[Kelly Robinson]

I'm trying to ensure that if I'm going to the grocery store and I'm trying to check out with my, you know, my toothpaste and my milk, I get. I'm not discriminated against at the cash register, and nobody else should be. We want to create fairness and equal playing ground where people get to be who they are. That's what we're talking about. And when we do that, you unlock the potential and possibility of America. Right. We get to be the melting pot that everyone else, everyone has always dreamed and talking about the American dream can live. That's what we're talking about right now. And companies have a huge opportunity to stand on the side of fairness and equality, especially right now.

[Andy Beshear]

Well, being so entrenched in this important fight, what keeps you going? Like on the tough days, when you see the Supreme Court and what they did with the Voting Rights act, when you see some of these awful bills passing through state legislatures, what gives you the energy to get back up the next day and keep fighting?

[Kelly Robinson]

You know, the people are what keep me going. Knowing that every day there's a parent that's standing up for their kid no matter what, that there's a teacher that's willing to risk so much to make sure. That a kid can feel loved and accepted in a classroom, knowing there are people like you, Governor, who are willing to stand up in the face of bullies and make sure that every person is treated with dignity and respect. Look, I'm like you. I grew up in the church, and I do believe in the tradition that every child is made in the image of God. And if that is the truth, I think that tradition is big enough to hold all of our hopes and all of our dreams. And I think this is the moment where we're being tested. But I also know that you can't have a testimony without a test. And I believe that there's something hopeful on the other side of this, something powerful, when we all come together. And I'm glad that we get to be a part of writing that next chapter of our story.

[Andy Beshear]

Yeah. Whenever I think about church and this issue, I think about the fact that there are no asterisks, exclusions, or the phrase, comma, unless after the most important teachings. You know, it's that we love our neighbor as ourself, not we love our neighbor, comma, unless they're gay, that we're told to accept one another as Christ has accepted us. Not, comma, unless they're different. You know, the parable of the Good Samaritan is about people who look different, think different, pray different, vote different. Yet we're still told we're supposed to cross that street, that road, and pick up that person in trouble.

[Kelly Robinson]

Yes. Come on, Reverend, Doctor, Governor. Yes. And that's the beauty of this time. I think that sometimes when cruelty is on display, it gives people of good conscience the opportunity to say no. And I think we're in a moment right now where silence is not an option. And it's not only not an option for my community, it's not an option for any of us. Look, if I look around, the issues that LGBTQ+ voters care about, they're the same issues everyone else does. Everyone is struggling with the skyrocketing cost of healthcare. Everybody is struggling with the challenge and crisis to our democracy. Everybody is struggling in this economy. These are not only LGBT issues. These are all of our issues. And if all of our issues are the same, then perhaps we can approach them with a dignity and respect that says we all deserve to get the chance to solve them and do it together. And I do see examples of that happening all over the country, and so many of those examples, led by governors of states like you, like Abigail Spamberger, like Mikey Sherrill, and so many others that are showing us a path forward. So, you know, as dark as things are, I remain hopeful about what could be possible, especially in a challenging moment like this.

[Andy Beshear]

So what does winning look like for HRC? Let's say both in 2026, but how about also 10 years from now?

[Kelly Robinson]

Yes, well, you know, I hope to work myself out of job, out of a job one of these days. I think winning looks like us not having to be concerned with the fight for rights in every single election cycle. Right. And that's not where we are today, but I think it's where we can get to. Because fundamentally, I think that this election, and really this year, when I think about the 250th anniversary of the United States of America birthday. Excuse me, of the United States of America, it's about us saying definitively and with our whole chest, who is a part of this great nation, and ensuring that all of us can be a part of its next chapters. So when I think about what winning looks like right now, it's ensuring that anyone who's running to represent our states and our country are not willing to throw any community under the bus for political gain. That we understand that every community, especially the LGBTQ community, deserves the same dignity, respect, and civil rights as anybody else. And second, I think it means really fighting to ensure that we turn the size of our community, the presence of our community, into the power that we need to have rights and laws that will protect us, not just year to year or election cycle to election cycle, but in perpetuity. And right now, that looks like creating a check on Donald Trump and his dangerous administration, but into the future, that means actually fortifying our rights for a generation so that, you know, my kids don't have to fight for the same civil rights that we're fighting for today.

[Andy Beshear]

What is something about the LGBTQ community that you want America to know that you think maybe some. Some of our listeners might not?

[Kelly Robinson]

I want folks to know that the issues that we care about are the same issues that everyone else does. When I talk to members of our community and they're going about their day to day lives, they're trying to find the best schools to drop their kids off so that they can learn something and come home safe. They're trying to find a job that will give them the stability that they need. Not to worry about every week, about whether or not they can pay the bills or afford gas in their car. They're trying to make sure that their family is healthy. Right in the midst of this healthcare crisis that we find ourselves in. That's what we're fighting for. And at the end of the day, all of us know and love somebody who is a part of this community. And I hope that through this moment of crisis, folks can get more in touch with those stories and find out or remind ourselves that there's more uniting us than dividing us. This is not something that needs to be a political issue. This is simply a piece of. And the people of my community are making all of our communities stronger, and we just deserve the same rights and protections as everyone else.

[Andy Beshear]

So on the podcast, we also like to let our listeners get to know our guest as a person and what drives them. I want to start with you began your career as an organizer for President Barack Obama. Tell us about that.

[Kelly Robinson]

Oh, that's right. Oh, my goodness. My first, first organizing moment was in 2007 in Barack Obama's first campaign. And look, I'm going to tell you the truth. I grew up in Chicago. I went to school at the University of Missouri, and I ended up leaving school for a minute to do bartending and MMA fighting. I'll tell you more about that off

[Andy Beshear]

podcast that that is a secret superpower MMA fighter.

[Kelly Robinson]

I'm a fighter to my core.

[Andy Beshear]

Wow.

[Kelly Robinson]

But in the midst of all that, I got a call from the Obama campaign asking me if I wanted to be an organizer. I had no idea what it was, but I said, if I don't have to get punched in the face, I'll give it a shot. And let me tell you, I fell in love with organizing just the idea that people could come together and feel frustrated, feel pissed off about the same issues that have been plaguing our communities for generations, but felt like there was something they could do about it. And people came into that campaign office for Barack Obama, but they stayed because of the community that we were building. I remember out of that campaign, there was a mom that figured out how to get a stop sign on her street so that the kids could play safely. There was somebody that learned how to run for city council, somebody that got connected with social services that improve their health care access exponentially. We learned how to take care of care of ourselves and each other. So I am a lifelong organizer and believer in the power of what can happen when folks come together and believe that they can make change.

[Andy Beshear]

We laugh on the podcast that my wife and I met each other at a Mexican restaurant, Cantina Marina, which is no longer in Washington, D.C. but every great love story, we joke starts at a Mexican restaurant. Where did you and your wife meet?

[Kelly Robinson]

Oh, My goodness. We both worked at Planned Parenthood, but across the country from each other. She was in Seattle, Washington, and I was in Washington, D.C. and we met on the road. And although our story does not involve great authentic Mexican food, it does involve the Real Housewives of about every city. So our relationship kind of bloomed when we were watching Real Housewives together from the country.

[Andy Beshear]

That's good. What's the best type of date night?

[Kelly Robinson]

Oh, my gosh, any date night. Look, we've got two little kids, a one year old and a four year old, so if we can have a date, we are happy to have it. If we're up after 8pm watching old episodes of Scandal, that's a great date night. If we get to make it out the house, our favorite thing is to go to a concert. And let me tell you, an outdoor concert under the stars, a little good weather and a little wine. It's a dream.

[Andy Beshear]

Best recent concert you've been to?

[Kelly Robinson]

Oh, that's a good question. Recent concert, Sort of recent. Do you know Snow Allegra?

[Andy Beshear]

No, I. I'll admit a different direction.

[Kelly Robinson]

Erykah Badu. We saw Erica Badu at wolf trap in D.C. and it rained and it was one of those great concerts where she's performing, it's thunderstorming, we're in the rain. I mean, it was iconic.

[Andy Beshear]

Best musical period. As you look back, I will say I think it's 90s hip hop and 90s country because they were both good at the same time.

[Kelly Robinson]

You are my kind of guy. I'm going 90s R&B all day. And I love the resurgence of R and B we're seeing right now. Kalani is one of my favorites. Bringing back that old school R and B tradition. There's so much to love.

[Andy Beshear]

What's something you're really good at that no one knows about?

[Kelly Robinson]

Oh, good question.

[Andy Beshear]

I think the MMA fighting was a pretty good answer to super superpower question.

[Kelly Robinson]

Okay, that's a good one. Maybe it is. Just maybe. There's my little mma.

[Andy Beshear]

How many? How many official bouts?

[Kelly Robinson]

I only had like seven, but that was enough, I will tell you that.

[Andy Beshear]

How many did you win?

[Kelly Robinson]

Oh, we don't have to talk about that.

[Andy Beshear]

Well, as long as you're winning your current job, I think that's what's most important.

[Kelly Robinson]

That's right. I learned how to take a punch.

[Andy Beshear]

Well, we appreciate your advocacy on behalf of the Andy Beshear podcast. Happy Pride. Thanks for being on Happy Pride.

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[Donald Trump]

I'm in no hurry. I'd like to say I'm in a hurry because you know gasoline prices are going to come tumbling down. But if you're going to be in a hurry, you're not going to make a good deal. And slowly but surely we're getting, I think, what we want. And if we don't get what we want, we're going to end it a different way.

[Andy Beshear]

Slowly but surely is how the American people are falling further and further and further behind the I'm not in a hurry with the price of gas and diesel right now. I mean, how many different sets of bills does he want the American people to not be able to pay? How many families does he want to not make it during this period of time? Now he's viewing this like it's some development deal. It's not. And the American people have already suffered from the failure that is the Trump economy before he started this war and raised prices on everything.

[Kelly Robinson]

Iran wants control of the Strait of Hormuz. Would you accept a short term deal that allows Iran and Oman to control the strait and would they have to open it immediately or would you be open to that happening over a period of time?

[Donald Trump]

No. The strait is going to be open to everybody.

[Kelly Robinson]

And who would control that?

[Donald Trump]

It's international waters. Nobody's going to control it. We're going to watch over it. We'll watch over it, but nobody's going to control it. That's part of the negotiation that we have. They would like to control it. Nobody is going to control it. It's international waters. And Oman will behave just like everybody else who will have to blow them up. They understand that. They'll be fine.

[Andy Beshear]

Worst president for foreign policy ever. Just look at everything that this president has done. He is taking America from being leader of the free world to being the bully on the playground to threatening countries that are apparently trying to help us. The idea that because we have military might, we can shove anyone and everyone around. You know what he's finding out, what it's like when you don't have any friends at all. And it's just one of the reasons we can't get the Strait of Hormuz open. That if you talk about blowing up countries that are trying to get a resolution, if you attack Canada's sovereignty, almost like kicking little brother. If you go about foreign policy in the way this president does, when you make the call, when you need the help of other countries, they're not going to be there.

[Mike Pence]

You know, I'll be honest with you that I'll never minimize what happened on January 6th. And I'll always believe, by God's grace, we did our duty that day to the seat of the peaceful transfer of power under the Constitution. It's one of the reasons why this talk of a weaponization fund, Margaret, the idea of creating a fund that could compensate people who, who assaulted police officers and vandalized the Capitol that day is totally unacceptable. My hope is the administration will drop it, drop the idea entirely.

[Beautyrest Announcer]

You think Senate Republicans will make them drop it because it's hard to stand up to the president? Many Republicans. Well, because of what you just said. It is primaries and those midterms.

[Mike Pence]

It is. But I've been heartened by the number of Republicans in the Senate who've spoken out against it. Look, people that assaulted police officers on January 6th and vandalized our capital should not get one dime of taxpayer money from that fund or anywhere else.

[Beautyrest Announcer]

But I mean, even just the precedent of setting it up, should they exclude January 6th attackers? The idea of a weaponization fund is its own, you know, thing that it bears examining. But I want to explicitly ask you about something also that happened in Washington.

[Mike Pence]

We don't need slush funds to settle cases.

[Beautyrest Announcer]

You view it as a slush fund.

[Mike Pence]

There was a pro life family that was literally run over by the Biden Department of Justice, that it was just a seven figure settlement for them. The DOJ can settle these issues where people have had their rights trampled on and ought to do that. I welcome that settlement greatly.

[Andy Beshear]

Well, let's start by saying he's right on a couple things. It's a slush fund. It shouldn't happen. And it's meant to pay felons that attacked our very country and the capital that represents it. But come on, Mr. Vice President, have a little bit of courage. You still will not criticize Donald Trump, who sent a Mob that wanted to hang you. It doesn't take much to say that's wrong and that Trump's wrong and that he's wrong for America. But the problem that you see with Mike Pence, and sadly so many, is he cares more about being a good Republican than a great American. It's time we put being Americans first and Democrats and Republicans third, fourth or

[Beautyrest Announcer]

fifth against Donald Trump in 2024, arguing that he put himself above the Constitution on January 6th. And I guess my question is, do you believe that President Trump is a populist and that the party needs to move beyond Donald Trump?

[Mike Pence]

Well, I'm not much for labels, but I do say in the book that I lost count of the number of times that I would say to the president privately, well, that's the conservative position. And he wave his hand and say he'd say it's not conservative, it's just common sense. But mean, in fairness to the president, he's never really said he was a conservative. And in so many ways, I think he's, you know, he represents in some measure what the populist right is about. The populist right is attempting to take the president's departure from the conservative agenda, whether it be on tariffs, whether it be with regard to Ukraine in Eastern Europe, whether it be regard to life, and try to make that the new foundational philosophy of the Republican Party.

[Beautyrest Announcer]

So are you saying it's time for Republicans to move beyond Donald Trump?

[Mike Pence]

Well, look, you know, you know, as I wrote in the book, leaders fade into history, but principles endure. And I truly do believe that Republicans deserve to know that there is a populist right movement. Some of their agenda items the administration has embraced, some they haven't. I mean, I give the president, I give the president great credit for the way he stood with Israel, stood up to Iran, to the way the president extended all those Trump Pence tax cuts. But, but where he's embraced that populist movement, there's a, I think you could see the Republican Party, if we don't get it right, we're going to end up moving in the progressive direction and for the sake, not of our party or elections, but for the sake of the country.

[Andy Beshear]

Mike, the man sent a mob to hang you. It is okay to say I disagree with Donald Trump. It's okay to criticize Donald Trump. He wanted to cause you harm. And, oh, it's great that you're finally drawing a line. No insurrection checks. Apparently you won't criticize the president for pardoning them. He's just not allowed to pay them. How about we stand up against a president when we think he's wrong, regardless of what our party is? Your former vice President act like it Everybody, thank you for tuning in to another episode of the Andy Beshear Podcast. Make sure you tell your friends and family about it. Let's keep growing this podcast, this content. Let's make sure important messages reach people all over the United States and beyond. I think about today's episode and that every generation has a moment that defines what type of country we're going to be. This is ours. Kelly Robinson and the Human Rights Campaign are fighting to make sure this moment goes the right way for every LGBTQ American, for every family, for every kid who just wants to feel safe being who they are. You can learn more and you can get involved by visiting HRC.org or visit the Andy Beshear Podcast and we'll have links, New episodes Wherever you get podcasts, Remember, we're out there trying to spread the good news to make sure that everyone is supported, to have a United States of America where we love our neighbor as ourself, where we look for things that unite us instead of divide us. This is our chance to be that better country, to be those better people. Let's go out and do it. Remember, you can download the Andy Beshear Podcast wherever you get your podcast, but make sure you have that Sirius XM app and tune in to the Progress Channel Saturday mornings at 11am to hear the Andy Beshear Podcast. Boom. Clock it.

[John McConnell]

Foreign.

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[Andy Beshear]

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[John McConnell]

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[Andy Beshear]

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