Gov. Andy Beshear on Winning as a Dem in a Red State

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast: "Gov. Andy Beshear on Winning as a Dem in a Red State"

Release Date: March 18, 2025

In this insightful episode of The MeidasTouch Podcast, hosts Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas engage in a comprehensive conversation with Governor Andy Beshear of Kentucky. The discussion spans critical topics ranging from economic policies and healthcare to political strategies and social issues, providing listeners with an in-depth understanding of how a Democratic governor successfully leads in a traditionally red state.

---

1. Introduction

The episode kicks off with the hosts welcoming Governor Beshear, setting the stage for a candid dialogue on current events and governance in Kentucky.

---

2. Economic Policies and Tariffs

Donald Trump's Tariff Announcement: The conversation begins with Governor Beshear's reaction to former President Donald Trump's announcement of making April 2nd "Liberation Day" by imposing additional tariffs aimed at enriching Americans.

• Governor Beshear (00:56):
  "Tariffs, especially on Canada, lead to increases in the price of gas. How much they lead to that increase is the Trump tax. You're paying it solely because of the president."

Beshear critically analyzes the impact of Trump's tariffs on Kentucky's economy, highlighting how these measures have led to higher costs for gas, groceries, and housing materials. He emphasizes that such policies are detrimental, potentially pushing the economy towards a recession.

• Governor Beshear (02:21):
  "Every economist is saying, don't do it. It's slowing down our economy. It could lead us into a recession. You know, you inherited an economy that was growing more than most in the world, and you're tanking it. You're wrecking it."

He points out that Kentucky, with its significant exports to Canada, is particularly vulnerable to these tariffs, affecting industries like bourbon and aerospace.

---

3. Medicaid and Healthcare

Impact of Medicaid Cuts: The discussion shifts to the threats posed by proposed cuts to Medicaid under Trump's administration and its devastating effects on Kentucky and rural America.

• Governor Beshear (02:40):
  "Medicaid covers the people that we love the most, our parents and our kids... If they go through with these cuts, virtually every rural hospital will close."

Beshear outlines the critical role Medicaid plays in providing healthcare to Kentucky's children and seniors. He warns that cuts would not only reduce access to medical care but also lead to significant job losses in rural hospitals, thereby undermining community stability and health.

• Governor Beshear (03:52):
  "It's not just those on Medicaid. It's everybody else who is going to see the doctor in their community when their rural hospital closes has to drive two hours to a bigger city to see the same doctor."

---

4. Winning as a Democrat in Kentucky

Strategies for Success in a Red State: Governor Beshear shares his insights on winning elections in a predominantly red state, attributing his success to three main strategies.

• Governor Beshear (04:32):
  "It's focus on the core concerns that Americans wake up with in the morning. It's talking to people like they're real people, not using all the sanitized language that's been out there. And third is sharing your why."

He emphasizes addressing everyday issues such as jobs, healthcare, infrastructure, and public safety, communicating in relatable language, and transparently explaining the motivations behind his policies.

• Governor Beshear (07:42):
  "If we can explain our why, we can create, hopefully, the grace and the space to have some disagreements that are out there, but people still understand what you're doing each and every day and how you're going to make their life better."

His approach underscores the importance of connecting with voters on a personal level and maintaining authenticity in leadership.

---

5. Addressing Discrimination and Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community

Standing Against Discrimination: The conversation delves into Governor Beshear’s stance on discrimination, particularly against the LGBTQ+ community, and his efforts to promote inclusivity in Kentucky.

• Governor Beshear (08:00):
  "Kentucky and the rest of the United States cannot possibly reach its full potential unless our people feel supported to be themselves. Discrimination against our LGBTQ+ community is unacceptable. It holds us back, and in my Kentucky accent, it ain't right."

Beshear critiques the prevalent discrimination and emphasizes the importance of supporting marginalized communities to foster a more inclusive and prosperous society.

• Governor Beshear (09:04):
  "Bullying is always wrong and standing up for people is always right. Hate's always wrong and love's always right."

He advocates for a balanced approach where Democrats stand up for their principles while actively contributing to community development, thereby avoiding the pitfalls of echo chambers and partisan divisiveness.

---

6. Leadership and National Message

Humanity and Empathy in Leadership: In his closing remarks, Governor Beshear addresses the broader national challenges, focusing on leadership characterized by humanity and empathy.

• Governor Beshear (11:26):
  "Our country is right now at a test of our humanity and a test of our empathy... We as leaders need to set the right example."

He laments the current administration's lack of empathy, particularly regarding job losses and disaster responses, and calls for a leadership style that prioritizes the well-being of families and communities over partisan politics.

• Governor Beshear (14:24):
  "I refuse to leave a broken country to my kids. They deserve to have a strong, solid America that's governed by the rule of law."

He conveys a message of hope and resilience, urging Americans to uphold their humanity and work towards common ground to build a better future.

---

7. Conclusion

The episode concludes with Governor Beshear expressing his gratitude for the opportunity to speak and reiterating his commitment to leading Kentucky with integrity and compassion.

---

Key Takeaways:

• Economic Impact: Tariffs imposed by Trump are adversely affecting Kentucky's economy, increasing costs for essential goods and services.

• Healthcare Concerns: Proposed Medicaid cuts threaten the sustainability of rural hospitals and access to healthcare for vulnerable populations in Kentucky.

• Political Strategy: Successful Democratic leadership in a red state hinges on addressing everyday concerns, authentic communication, and a clear articulation of underlying motivations.

• Social Inclusivity: Governor Beshear champions the fight against discrimination and advocates for the support and acceptance of the LGBTQ+ community.

• Leadership Ethos: Emphasizing humanity and empathy, Beshear calls for responsible and compassionate leadership to guide the nation through its challenges.

This episode offers a nuanced perspective on navigating political landscapes, the importance of empathetic governance, and the ongoing efforts to uphold democracy and social justice in America.

Transcript

[Host or Interviewer]

I'm joined by Governor Andy Beshear of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Governor, welcome.

[Andy Beshear]

Oh, thanks for having me. Very excited to be here.

[Host or Interviewer]

Let's start with the news of the day. Donald Trump announcing Yesterday he's calling April 2nd the day after April Fool's Liberation Day, where he says he's imposing more tariffs on the country. And he says that's going to make everybody super rich. Let me show this to you, and then let me get your reaction from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Let's play it.

[Andy Beshear]

April 2nd is Liberation Day for our country because we're going to finally be taking in money. We're already doing it, a lot of money. As you know, we put down some early tariffs on people and countries that were not treating us well.

[Host or Interviewer]

Governor, I know the Commonwealth of Kentucky has been hit pretty hard by these tariffs. What do you make of that statement? And is that how the people in the commonwealth are feeling liberation?

[Andy Beshear]

Well, first, April 2nd is actually the day after my wife and my anniversary because we got married on April Fool's Day. I'm told that means I can forget it once for a couple of hours before I fix it. But in seriousness, this is the Trump tax day or the super inflation day. Tariffs, especially on Canada, lead to increases in the price of gas. How much they lead to that increase is the Trump tax. You're paying it solely because of the president. Tariffs on places like Mexico increase the price of groceries, which are already too high. The extra amount you pay is the Trump tax. The tariff on lumber that's out there is going to increase the price of new homes that are already so tough for that couple trying to buy their first home. That increase in price is the Trump tax. And I don't say that because I'm a Democratic governor and he's a Republican president. I say it because it's solely his fault. Every economist is saying, don't do it. It's slowing down our economy. It could lead us into a recession. You know, you inherited an economy that was growing more than most in the world, and you're tanking it. You're wrecking it. And people in my state are going to pay more than most because our number one export target is Canada. And so whether it's Kentucky bourbon or our aerospace exports, we get hit and we get hit hard.

[Host or Interviewer]

Also, I think it's one in three people who live in Kentucky are on Medicaid, and that's being hit pretty hard as well. What's going on there with the drastic cuts that Doge and Trump and Musk are doing to Medicaid and just shutting down essential government services.

[Andy Beshear]

Medicaid cuts would be devastating for Kentucky, but really all of rural America. So Medicaid covers the people that we love the most, our parents and our kids. Half of Kentucky's kids are covered by Medicaid. 70% of our long term care costs for our seniors are covered by Medicaid. So what happens when you cut Medicaid? Kids see the doctor less. Our parents and grandparents aren't with us as long don't get the same level of care. But Medicaid and expanded Medicaid are critical to rural health care. If they go through with these cuts, virtually every rural hospital will close. That's the typically the second largest employer behind the public school in so many of these rural communities. And so think about it from the job loss. But think about it from, from this way. It's not just those on Medicaid. It's everybody else who is going to see the doctor in their community when their rural hospital closes has to drive two hours to a bigger city to see the same doctor who had to move because they lost their job. This will be devastating, devastating across the country. And it'll make a country that needs to get more healthy, less healthy.

[Host or Interviewer]

It's not a secret that the Commonwealth of Kentucky is generally considered to be a red state. You are a Democratic governor in what would otherwise be called a ruby red state. You won your election back in 2023. You got about 53% of the vote. 2024, Trump won the state over Kamala Harris by like 30 points. So you won the state and then he beat Kamala by 30 points in the same state where you're a Democratic. What's the what, what do you think the secret is here? Because there seems to be a roadmap there. You're doing something right to, to be able to win in Kentucky. So what are you doing?

[Andy Beshear]

That's kind. I think it's three things. It's focus on the core concerns that Americans wake up with in the morning. It's talking to people like they're real people, not using all the sanitized language that's been out there. And third is sharing your why. So if you start with focusing on people's everyday worries, when most people wake up in the morning, they're not thinking about politics, they're thinking about their job and whether they make enough to support their family. They're thinking about their next doctor's appointment for themselves or their parents or their kids. They're thinking about the roads and Bridges, they drive every day. They're thinking about the public school they drop their kids off at, and they're thinking about how safe they feel in their community. If you don't feel secure in all of those areas, it's really hard to reach another issue or cause, no matter how much you care about it, because you're worried about your family. So for me, listen, I always stand up for my beliefs. I vetoed a lot of nasty discriminatory bills, but I'm always out there trying to create that next job, trying to make health care more accessible. When we built a road in Eastern Kentucky, it cut down the commute for some families by 20 minutes. Both ways. People underestimate the impact on somebody's lives. 40 more minutes with your family. And so it's making sure that 80% of what I or what the Democratic Party should be talking about should be those core concerns. But how you talk about them is important, too. I mean, we've gotten to a point where we use language that doesn't mean anything. We use the term substance use disorder instead of addiction. Well, the folks I know that have gone through addiction, they call it addiction or food insecurity. When people are going hungry, it makes us sound like professors as opposed to talking to people as people. And then the words lose their power and their meaning. But the last piece may be the most important, and that's. I think we as leaders need to explain our authentic why, why we make decisions, why we do these jobs with everything you got to put up with, why we put our families through it. And for me, it's my faith. And so, for instance, when I vetoed the nastiest anti LGBTQ bill during my election year in Kentucky, I explained it, why I did it, and that's that my faith teaches me that all children are children of God. And I wanted those children who are being hated on by their General assembly to know their governor cares for them and loves them. And my faith tells me that that's my job to do, to stand up for them. And so I'll never forget, I think the next day a guy walks up to me and I thought, oh, you know, what's. What's coming now? And he said, andy, I don't know if I agree with you, but I know you were doing what you think is right. And so if we can explain our why, we can create, hopefully, the grace and the space to have some disagreements that are out there, but people still understand what you're doing each and every day and how you're going to make their life better.

[Host or Interviewer]

To show everybody a video that you posted in the past 24 hours where you say, discrimination holds our commonwealth and our country back, Put in my Kentucky accent, it just ain't right. Let me show you this video and then I got a question. Let me play it right now.

[Andy Beshear]

Kentucky and the rest of the United States cannot possibly reach its full potential unless our people feel supported to be themselves. Discrimination against our LGBTQ+ community is unacceptable. It holds us back, and in my Kentucky accent, it ain't right.

[Host or Interviewer]

Now, if a Democratic governor in Kentucky can do that, what are Democrats afraid about in the rest of the. It drives me crazy. You're in Kentucky and you're saying, look, I'm not going to let people be bullied. I'm not. I'm not okay. My faith makes me not okay with marginalized people just getting punched down. Yet it seems that Democrats are living in right wing frameworks and echo chambers and feeling, you know, what, if I want to win an election, I gotta, I guess I gotta kind of be like that. I guess I gotta kind of, you know, you know, grow out and punch down and bully. And you're saying, I'm in Kentucky and you know what the people in Kentucky like? People who stand up for what they believe in and fight for them.

[Andy Beshear]

Right. Well, bullying is always wrong and standing up for people is always right. Hate's always wrong and love's always right. Judging people is always wrong and accepting them is always right. But I think what many Democrats are doing is misreading the last election. They're seeing that last ad that was played and thinking that the last movable voters voted on that anti trans issue. I don't think that they did. I think what Donald Trump convinced them is that, is that his opponent was distracted by other issues while he was focused on prices and the economy. And so this isn't an either or. As a Democrat, stand up for what you believe in. Stand up for, for, for protecting people. But at the same time, the next day, be out there opening that new factory. Be in your community cutting the ribbon on the new clinic where people are going to be able to see a doctor that are right there. Be out there making sure that public safety is improving for everybody. We've got to show people that you can stand up for your principals while at the same time being there every single day for every working family, regardless of their politics. We have to do both and understand that this is not an either or.

[Host or Interviewer]

You know, some of this stuff I feel like, you know, is a little bit of a layup, too. I mean, as Americans, pensions are being destroyed as 401ks in the gutter. What was Donald Trump posting this weekend? I just won the golf championship at the Trump International Golf Club. Such a great honor. The awards dinner is tonight at the club. I want to thank the wonderful golf staff and all of the many fantastic golfers that participated in the event. He doesn't even spell event right. Such. And he's saying such fun as Americans were suffering, by the way, as there were horrific storms ravaging the Midwest with dozens of people dead. He's saying having, having fun. I, I mean, what's, what's your, what's your closing message right now? You know, it's your first time on the Midas Touch Network, just to the country in general. I know a lot of people know who you are, but, you know, there may be some people on this network seeing you for, seeing you, you know, on this network for the first time. What's your message generally about where, where we're at right now as a country.

[Andy Beshear]

And what you' well, first, congratulations to y'all on all this success and for being out there speaking truth and making sure people get real information. For me, I think our country is right now at a test of our humanity and a test of our empathy. You know, the idea that tens of thousands of Americans are getting laid off from civil service, many of them veterans trying to continue their service, and Donald Trump and Elon Musk are lying to them, saying it was because of their performance. You can think that the government's too big, but have the humanity and the empathy to be concerned about these families, many of which have young kids, have the humanity and the empathy to say it's wrong to lie to people about why they're losing their job. I think that we've got to make sure as a country that we as leaders are setting the right example. We. While at the same time we are pushing back. What's happening through this president and out of Washington, D.C. is wrong. It is wrong in so many different ways, and it sets such a bad example for our kids and for the people of America. But I'm convinced that we as Americans are better than this. And if we are reminded of our humanity and who we are, that we can rise above this. See, I see it after every natural disaster that hits my state. We've been hit by 13 federally declared disasters since I became governor. And what do you see? You see people pulling up into each other's driveways, introducing themselves for the first time and saying, how can I help? You see somebody sitting on their neighbor's porch while the waters rise because their neighbor doesn't want to leave until the neighbor's ready and then carrying them out. Now, we may have folks out there that thought that Donald Trump was going to be focused prices they're seeing right now he's focused on anything. But we deserve a president and we deserve a government that always puts our people first and recognizes that those basic needs shouldn't be partisan. So just imagine a federal administration that every day is trying to create more jobs for Democrats, Republicans and Independents, trying to make health care more affordable for every American, trying to have safe roads and bridges for every state. And everyone who's out there trying believes in public education instead of trying to tear it down and wants to improve public safety in every single community. The answer to where we go is something that won't just win elections, but it's good for all Americans and hopefully can help us find some common ground. So I know we're going through a tough time, but I certainly haven't lost my hope. And I'm in this fight because I refuse to leave a broken country to my kids. They deserve to have a strong, solid America that's governed by the rule of law. And I'm going to make sure I do everything I can so they get that country.

[Host or Interviewer]

Well, you pump me up for the day. You're making me feel good right now. Governor Andy Beshear from the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Thanks so much for joining us on the Midas Touch Network. We hope you come back.

[Andy Beshear]

I'd be honored to thank you all so much for having me.

[Host or Interviewer]

Everybody hit subscribe. Let's get to 5 million subscribers. Thanks for watching. Can't get enough Midas? Check out the Midas plus subs stack for ad. Free articles, reports, podcasts, daily recaps from Ron Philipowski and more. Sign up for free now at midasplus. Com.