My Old Kentucky Podcast

This week, Blake Gerstner joins Robert to talk about Andy Beshear and pre-K, labor issues at the University of Kentucky, and endorsements in the Herald-Leader. Check back tomorrow for an election preview with Jazmin!

This week we interviewed Tarah Combs LeBlanc, a Democratic candidate in District 33. She spoke to us about running for office as a working mother and what she would bring to Frankfort as a person who is actually impacted by issues. In addition to the interview, we spoke about Donald Trump making major endorsements in the Kentucky Senate and US-6 district, and the impacts on those races, plus several quick hits.

This week Jazmin returns to talk about Jacqueline Coleman and her run for Governor. In addition, Robert and Jazmin talk about Andy Beshear's recent statements criticizing UK and UofL as well as a disappointing open records ruling at the Kentucky Supreme Court

This week Robert goes solo as he brings news about Jacqueline Coleman's declaration that she is running for Governor. Also, Robert walks through his analysis of W-NOMINATE over the 2026 legislative session.

This week Jazmin and Robert looked at several bills that passed before the veto period -- as well as a few which didn't. That list includes a significant housing bill which still has a few hurdles to clear.

This week Robert and Jazmin discussed the major bills that made it through the legislature ahead of the veto period. Anything else that passes during the session can be vetoed by Governor Beshear. Included in this discussion is plenty of talk about the budget and earmarks which passed.   In addition to that discussion, Robert and Jazmin interviewed Roz Welch and David Yates, the two Democratic candidates for Jefferson County Clerk. Each offered their vision for why they would fit the office best.

This week Robert and Jazmin interviewed Rebekah Skaggs, the Democratic candidate in District 97 in Eastern Kentucky. She talked about the process of deciding to run for office, plus what she hopes to accomplish when she gets to Frankfort.   Ahead of that, Robert discussed what is happening here at the end of the session, and Jazmin updated several stories we've been talking about over the past couple of weeks.

Jazmin describes this show as a "rant" at the end. In it, Robert and Jazmin talk about SB 4, which has warped into a bill completely changing the structure of the JCPS school board. Additionally, Jazmin explains about a judicial impeachment making it's way through the legislature, and how that might actually be a big power play by the legislature bringing more power to themselves than they already have.

This week Robert and Jazmin interviewed Alisha Chaffin, the Democratic candidate running in House District 88. She talked about why she was running, how she's campaigning, and what she expects to see in Frankfort when she gets there. Before that, Jazmin talked through the major points of Joe Sonka's most recent reporting about Addiction Recovery Centers and the fraud scandal they are wrapped within, and Robert delivered several quick hits.

This week Robert and Jazmin took at look at 6 different bills that are at various points in the legislative process which you should keep at eye on as we move through the session. In addition, the pair interviewed Cassie Blausey, the Democratic candidate in District 29

This week Robert dug into HB 1 -- what the new charter school legislation means for Kentuckians and how the federal program it supports functions. Jazmin looked into the two other bills that the legislature has passed.

This week Jazmin explained the ruling by the Supreme Court of Kentucky, which struck down the legislature's attempts to fund charter schools in the state. It was a unanimous ruling, which is unusual! Then, Robert talks about a major rate increase in front of the Public Service Commission and the discussion that has surrounded that.

This week we welcomed Jason Bailey to the show! He's the executive director of Kentucky Center for Economic Policy/KY Policy, and he joined us to talk about this year's budget, including significant cuts to healthcare for state workers. Before the interview, Robert and Jazmin talked about Andy Beshear's differences with Auditor Allison Ball and Attorney General Russell Coleman.

This week Jazmin discussed several education bills making their way through the legislature, and Robert talked about developments in the US Senate and US House 5 races on the Republican side (with some Democratic news as well)

This week Democratic House Whip Joshua Watkins joined Robert and Jazmin to discuss the session so far, including conversations about the budget, education, Medicaid, and more. Then, Robert and Jazmin interview Iva Markicevic Daley, the Democratic candidate in the 99th District.

This week Robert and Jazmin talk about Kentuckians reactions to the ICE killings in Minnesota as well as catch up on some of the priority bills in the session so far, and Robert goes in depth on the cuts to JCPS voted on by the school board.

This week, Adrian Paul Bryant of the Herald-Leader joined us to talk about Lexington -- major issue facing the city, as well as the significant turnover the LFUCG council is experiencing. Robert also presented a few quick hits about Craig Greenberg's campaign, JCPS, and Elon Musk backing a US Senate candidate.

This week Robert and Jazmin talked about the first week of the general assembly and reacted to all the filings that will make up the 2026 elections.

This week, Jazmin dove deep into the Kentucky Supreme Court ruling which overturned 2022's SB 1, which impacted the way JCPS could govern the school district. Also, Robert looked at some quick hits.

This week Robert and Jazmin previewed the 2026 legislative session, gave out their 2025 superlatives, and said goodbye to their friend Tatum, who died tragically last week.

This week Robert and Jazmin took a look at the full slate of candidates running for US Senate and decided what they thought of the group. In addition, they analyzed the news about the former battery plant in Hardin County that has been developing for a week or so.

This week Robert and Brook Benningfield discuss Charles Booker's entrance into the US Senate race and Daniel Grossberg's ongoing troubles.

This week Jazmin tells us about a lawsuit against the Trump administration's approach to HUD, and Robert brings us several other stories.

This week Robert and Jazmin talked about ongoing transitions, changes, and issues happening in the two largest public school districts in Kentucky.

This week Allison Wiseman joins Robert to talk about Dale Romans' entry into the US Senate race and her take on the state of the Democratic Primary, plus a few quick hits.

This week Robert and Jazmin discuss the horrific plane crash in Louisville as well as several smaller news items from this week.

This week Jazmin spoke to us about the impact of SNAP benefits disappearing for many Kentuckians during the Government Shutdown and Robert talked about the approval of 2 new power generation projects LG&E/KU has proposed.

This week Ricardo Santiago joined us to speak about his new job at the Executive Director at the Americana Community Center. We had spoken about the center's uncertain future in the wake of it's federal funding being cut, and Ricky talked to us about how Americana was approaching it's future--including ways for everyone to get involved. During the first part of the show Robert and Jazmin discussed the federal election commission fundraising reports and spoke about a JCPS task force.

Robert is flying solo this week! He talks about four smaller stories that mostly update issues MOKP has been tracking this year.

This week Robert and Jazmin interviewed Joel Willett, one of the Democratic candidates for US Senate in 2026. In addition, they talked about Mayor Greenberg's appointments to the County Clerk and Sheriff positions, plus Amy McGrath's entry into the US Senate race.

This week Maddie Shepard joins Robert and Jazmin to talk about the Protect Our Schools KY effort to increase education spending in Frankfort by $718 million, as well as the recent news about the JCPS budget. Before that, Robert and Jazmin discuss the evolving Democratic side of the 2026 US Senate race and a recent controversy involving a vote by Morgan McGarvey.

Jazmin and Robert dig into the plan put forth by Louisville Metro Council Republicans and whether or not it actually addresses "crime," and update several stories the show has been following.

Jazmin and Robert took on five topics this week: Kentucky's revenue did not meet the criteria set by Republicans for a tax cut, and may even be in a shortfall The Charter School funding mechanism created by Republicans will go before the Supreme Court of Kentucky Mayor of London Randall Weddle was ousted from his position last week LG&E/KU may be shirking their climate pledges There is a new candidate for Congress on the Democratic side in Kentucky 6.

This week we catch up on two stories we've discussed before: the union election in Hardin County at the Blue Oval SK plant and Fayette County Public Schools' ongoing budget disaster. In addition, Jazmin talks about a crime story involving shock probation that has many Republicans in Louisville talking.

This week Jazmin talked about a story making the rounds about Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg's communication department and Robert talked about the union election at the Blue Oval SK plant in Glendale.

This week Robert and Jazmin discussed the ongoing issues regarding the Fayette County School System's budget as well as discuss criminal justice issue related to gun violence plaguing Louisville during the first week of school.

This week Jazmin explains Kim Davis' lawsuit which she hopes to argue before the Supreme Court, and Robert talks about multiple nuclear power projects coming to Paducah.

Robert is back this week, and Jazmin asked him about the news of the day, plus Robert does a profile on Ralph Alvarado and his career in Kentucky (and Tennessee) politics as he launches his campaign for the 6th District US Congress seat.

Jazmin is solo this week and comes bearing Courts Quick Hits and Campaign Quick Hits, including what’s going on with Brett Hankison and Kim Davis, new challengers in the KY-6 Congressional race, and more!

This week, Jazmin talked to us about an audit of the Department of Education and Robert talked to us about issues surrounding a data center in Oldham County.

This week Jazmin discussed the news related to the verdict in the case of Crystal Rodgers' murder and Robert talked in depth about the impacts of the "One Big Beautiful Bill" on Kentucky, and how the bill works.

This week Sarah Ritter joins Robert to talk about Nate Morris running for US Senate and about what's going on in Lexington.

Robert and Jazmin both are busy this week, so the show is just 10 minutes of quick hits from Robert -- two involved Kentucky's US Congressional delegation, and an update to a story from last week.

This week Robert and Jazmin were joined by US Congressional District 6 Democratic candidate Cherlynn Stevenson, who spoke to us from the road about her race for Congress. Before that, Robert and Jazmin discussed a hearing on a lawsuit filed by Daniel Grossberg, the KDP Convention, the "No Kings" Protests, and the "People's Consent Decree" resolution passed by the Louisville Metro Council.

Robert and Jazmin are joined by Nicholas Hazelett this week to talk about Democratic organizing in Eastern Kentucky. Before that, they discuss two new candidates in the 6th Congressional District as well as updates about Kentucky's two largest school districts.

This week Robert and Jazmin discuss the first criminal trial involving the Crystal Rogers killing and talk about the wild path Fayette County Public Schools is taking to try and fill its deficit hole.

This week Jazmin and Robert talked about two major Louisville stories: the Trump administration's decision to seek a dismissal of the consent decree with LMPD and JCPS hiring a new superintendent.

This week, Robert and Jazmin discussed the deadly storm that ripped through Kentucky over the weekend and the government's response to it. In addition, Robert discussed the major Medicaid cuts being discussed in Washington D.C. right now.

This week Robert and Jazmin discuss the entrance of Cherlynn Stevenson in Congressional District 6, as well as two Louisville stories which form a parable about openness in government.

This week Robert and Jazmin talked about Andy's not-yet-declared-but-probably-existant campaign for US President, as well as updates to multiple stories about UofL and UK.