Podcast Summary

Interrupted by Matt Jones

Episode 20: Andy Beshear
Release Date: September 2, 2025
Host: Matt Jones
Guest: Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear
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Main Theme

Matt Jones sits down with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear for a candid, wide-ranging discussion about Beshear’s time in office, his leadership through adversity, the changing face of Democratic politics, faith and public service, Kentucky’s challenges (including COVID response and economic revitalization), speculation about a presidential run, and thoughts on building unity in America. The conversation is marked by openness, warmth, and a strong Kentucky flavor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Relatability and Leadership Style

• Kentuckians calling him “Andy”: Jones and Beshear reflect on Beshear’s approachable governing style and why people use his first name as a sign of familiarity and connection.
  • Beshear:

    "It's loving the state, loving our people, and working my tail off every day to try to make life better...not letting the job change you." (02:42)

  • Cites his parents (who also worked in government) and his family as grounding forces.

2. Crisis Management: COVID-19 & Natural Disasters

• Early weeks as governor: Beshear recounts being hit with COVID and serial natural disasters right after taking office.

  • "I read that list [of COVID deaths] every day for a year and a half, mainly because I didn't want anybody else to have to. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done." (05:17)

• Kentuckians’ resilience: Both men discuss how adversity brought out the best in people — from sharing resources during COVID to community recovery after tornadoes and floods.
  • Beshear shares a story:

    “She looks at me and says, where do I start? Well, there were 12 people standing around us, and every single one of them looked at her and said, start with us." (06:37)

• Learning from disasters:
  • Focus on preparation, always looking for improvements for the next crisis, and the importance of staying present for affected communities (08:18).

3. Governing as a Democrat in a Red State

• Unique position: Beshear is one of the few Democrats governing a solidly Republican state.

  • "I'm laser focused on people's everyday needs. I'm recognizing that when people wake up in the morning, they're not thinking about politics...they're thinking about their job, their family..." (09:28)

• Political lessons:
  • Spend most time on issues “important to 100% of Americans.”
  • Talk like a normal human, not in “advocacy speak” or sanitized language.

  • "The term food insecurity drives me crazy because when people don't have enough food, they're hungry." (12:54)

4. Empathy, Faith, and the Why of Policy

• Faith-driven policies: Beshear cites healthcare and food security as areas where his Christianity is central to his policy beliefs:

  • "In the Bible, Jesus says the doctor's for the sick. Yet these cuts...are going to make it a lot harder for the sick to see a doctor." (15:24)

  • "The miracle of the fishes and the loaves is...in every book of the gospel. Yet the national Republican Party just significantly cut how much food is going to be available to hungry Americans." (15:49)

• Rejecting meanness:

  • "There have been a number of bills that I've vetoed simply because they're mean. And my faith tells me that we should be reaching out with kindness." (13:54)

  • "Or cruelty. Out of the Trump administration, we are seeing cruelty." (14:19)

5. COVID-19 Decisions & Reflections

• Criticism over church closures:
  • Beshear clarifies only 8 churches didn’t close voluntarily during the height of COVID-19:

    "I'd like to think strong leaders make really tough decisions." (17:22)

• Mistakes and humility:
  • The “Tupac Shakur” unemployment incident—Beshear recalls wrongly accusing someone of fraud, publicly apologizing, and explaining the importance of leaders admitting mistakes. (17:31–18:27)
• Decision-making under pressure:
  • Every decision made with the best available scientific information, admits in hindsight some could have been more nuanced with today’s knowledge. (18:27–19:26)
  • Acknowledges Trump advised governors to shut down at the start:

    "It was President Trump on the phone that told us all that these steps needed to be taken." (19:54)

6. Reflections on Trauma and Moving Forward

• Processing loss:
  • Beshear discusses the scale of pandemic loss in Kentucky and whether the community has processed the trauma. (21:09–22:18)

7. Presidential Ambitions (or Not)

• National speculation: Beshear gives careful, noncommittal answers to Jones pressing him on 2028 ambitions.

  • "Right now I'm traveling the country trying to speak reason into chaos...And then at that point, I'll sit down with my family and we'll talk about it." (23:00–24:38)

• Can pragmatic, moderate Democrats win primaries?

  • "What people are craving right now is someone who is committed to helping them in their everyday life...if you can't pay for your next child's prescription, you'll vote for anybody you think can help you." (26:19)

8. Kentucky's Economic and Social Future

• Winning over Trump voters:

  • "Trump won Kentucky by 30 points and I won it by five." (27:58)

  • "I think there are some who say I agree or I disagree with them on some of these things, but the state's moving in the right direction." (28:22)

• Connecting with voters elsewhere:
  • Acknowledges challenge in building the same personal connection nationally that he has in Kentucky. (29:48)
• Stability and trust:

  • "I think people are...looking for stability and competence. And those are two things I definitely think I can bring to the table." (30:33)

9. Policy Critiques and Bipartisanship

• Praise where due:
  • Credits the Trump administration for strong FEMA response to Kentucky flooding, asserting:

    "When you're president, you get the blame, so you ought to get the credit, too." (32:32)

• Tariffs and reshoring debate:
  • Admires focus on manufacturing, but critiques tariffs as counterproductive to reshoring.

    "The problem is [tariffs] don't work...his method is preventing his goal." (35:04)

10. Revitalizing Rural & Eastern Kentucky

• Eastern Kentucky’s decline:
  • Beshear recognizes feelings of abandonment:

    "Eastern Kentucky mined the coal that powered the industrial revolution...when the energy economy changed, the new jobs didn't go where the old jobs were, didn't get a thank you, didn't get credit..." (36:11)

• State investments:
  • Describes housing, broadband, and the Mountain Parkway expansion as paths to renewal (38:51–40:21).
  • Warns that cuts to rural hospital funding threaten entire community economies. (38:52)
• Regional cooperation:
  • Praises regional cooperation by county officials across party lines. (40:21–41:06)

11. Public Service, Personal Growth & Kentucky Identity

• Personal growth as governor:

  • "When you've gone through what we've gone through, you show who you are to the people that you serve. I mean, you can't hide anything about yourselves in a pandemic..." (42:23)

• Future public service:
  • Only interested if he can bring value and help heal the country, reiterates Kentucky pride and optimism. (43:16–44:33)

12. Kentucky Sports, NIL, and Community

• Sports loyalty:

  • "When you're the governor of Kentucky, you got two jobs to root for your in-state schools...and to root against Duke." (45:17)

• On Mark Pope and coaches:
  • Praises new UK basketball coach Mark Pope and women's coach Kenny Brooks, highlights community engagement. (45:35–46:35)
• NIL policy:
  • Notes his executive order on Name, Image, and Likeness rights for athletes, credits Coach Calipari as a driving force. (46:42)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On leadership throughout crisis:

  “If you think this job makes you smarter, taller, or better looking, then it's going to eat you up.”
  — Andy Beshear (02:42)

• On the generosity of Kentuckians during disaster:

  “There were 12 people standing around us, and every single one of them looked at her and said, start with us.”
  — Andy Beshear (06:37)

• On authenticity in politics:

  “We gotta get back to talking like normal human beings.”
  — Andy Beshear (11:07)

• On meanness in politics:

  “For me, that's my family and my faith…There have been a number of bills that I've vetoed simply because they're mean. And my faith tells me that we should be reaching out with kindness.”
  — Andy Beshear (13:54)

• On public apologies:

  “I called him that night, and I apologized. I said, it's all on me, and I'm so sorry. I mean, I was governor, and I basically threw this guy under a bus, and it's just wrong.”
  — Andy Beshear, recounting the “Tupac Shakur” unemployment incident (17:31)

• On possibility of a presidential run:

  “At that point, I'll sit down with my family and we'll talk about it. I would have told you right after reelection that I was done…as I sit here today, I'm committed to not leaving a broken country to my kids or anyone else's.”
  — Andy Beshear (24:38)

• On Kentucky values in sports:

  “When you're the governor of Kentucky, you got two jobs: to root for your in state schools…and to root against Duke.”
  — Andy Beshear (45:17)

Important Timestamps

• Relatability & Leadership Style: 02:00–04:00
• COVID-19, disasters, and community: 04:10–08:30
• Governing as a Democrat in a Red State: 08:30–11:37
• Language, empathy & faith-driven policy: 11:37–16:08
• COVID Criticism & Mistakes: 16:08–19:54
• Processing pandemic trauma: 21:09–22:18
• Presidential speculation: 23:00–25:03
• Winning across party lines: 27:58–30:33
• Trump policy critiques & bipartisanship: 32:32–35:04
• Rural/eastern Kentucky economic challenges: 36:11–41:06
• Public service, growth, and Kentucky sports: 41:06–47:10

Final Thoughts

Matt Jones and Andy Beshear offer a conversation rich in both substance and human feeling: frank talk about the burdens and rewards of leadership, strategies for bridging deep political divides, the role of faith in decency-driven policy, and the enduring, idiosyncratic strengths of Kentucky and its people. Beshear’s reflections, humility, and earnestness come across as hallmarks of his political approach, while Jones’ irreverence and rapport keep the interview lively and engaging.