Kentucky Politics Weekly

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KY Political News, notes and random thoughts from Tres Watson, the former Spokesman of the Republican Party of Kentucky, and Tom Stephens, former KY Personnel Cabinet Secretary along with a rotating cast of Democratic political operatives, former elected officials and and reporters.

Kentucky Politics Weekly


    • Jun 6, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 1h 6m AVG DURATION
    • 260 EPISODES

    4.7 from 24 ratings Listeners of Kentucky Politics Weekly that love the show mention: long.



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    Latest episodes from Kentucky Politics Weekly

    Bromance Break Up

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2025 93:39


    Democratic State Representative Adam Moore joins the show to talk about Pre-K, MAHA, and his experiences as a Freshman legislator. It turns out he and Majority Whip Jason Nemes have unknowingly formed an anti-8 bit Podcast theme music caucus in the General Assembly

    And Then There Were Six...

    Play Episode Listen Later May 30, 2025 81:45


    Robin Webb leaves the Democratic Party, Fayette County is raising taxes (maybe?) Trump hates TACOs?, and Bob Menendez is back! All on a packed KPW!

    Holiday Scatterbrain

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2025 108:58


    It's Friday on a holiday weekend, we're tired and ready for a break, can you blame us? We've got education policy, tax policy, foreign policy, and monkey wars. This one is all over the place!

    Let's Get SALTy

    Play Episode Listen Later May 16, 2025 86:33


    Kentucky Magistrates and Commissioners Association Executive Director JC Young joins the show to talk County Governments. Also, Tres talks two of his favorite (and two of Jared's least favorite) topics: his hatred of raising the SALT Deduction cap and his love for local tax reform.

    Da Pope

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2025 90:10


    Former State Rep and good Irish Catholic Killian Timoney joins the pod to talk all things pope. Also, we ask the serious questions like can raccoons develop a meth tolerance and why wouldn't a snake handler keep antivenom nearby.

    KY Derby 151

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2025 94:11


    It's Derby week in the Commonwealth and the Louisville Thoroughbred Society's own Gene McLean is back for our annual KPW Derby preview, this year brought to you by the Associated General Contractors of Kentucky. Also, Tres has grievances to be aired and KY Wired rears it's ugly head yet again.

    Don't Lick Co-Workers

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2025 74:25


    The KY Senate race gains a candidate, there's going to be a new pope, and there may be a new Secretary of Defense soon. Also, we learn important lessons about masquerading as a creepy clown and not licking your friends and co-workers.

    Do Orcas Eat Penguins?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2025 83:51


    We're back from a spring break hiatus. We've got KY Senate finance deadlines, issues with KSP, RFK Jr idiocy, bad Beshear poll numbers, and more!

    Tariffs Are Taxes

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2025 90:36


    It will never stop raining and Trump has imposed tariffs on penguins. Not sure what else we can say about this one other than ignore the fact that Abby's mic isn't turned on the first 10 minutes. It gets better.....

    Bonus Tennessee Hate Week

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2025 98:10


    It's Sine Die in the KY General Assembly and it's a rare bonus Tennessee Hate Week as the Cats gear up to play the trash men from down south. Also, KPW Foreign Correspondent Jason Emert joins the show to talk Signalgate

    Pirate's Booty

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2025 84:06


    Veto week is upon the KY General Assembly but that doesn't mean there's no news. We've got issues at KREF, Trump versus the DOE, Orcas wearing hats, and corrupt snack food magnates.

    Tired.....So Tired....

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2025 69:46


    Whether it's the grind of the General Assembly Session or the fact that the SEC doesn't know how to schedule and UK finished playing at nearly 2 AM, the KPW crew is tired. But the show must go on. We've got a look of the week that was in Frankfort, UK not teaching students about tariffs, and a summary of Bologna-gate.

    Police Blotter

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2025 74:58


    Tariffs are here. Or they're not. Or maybe they are, we're not sure. Either way, we've got all the KY and national political news you need. Also, the police blotter may be becoming a standard segment of the podcast because we've got a lot this week.

    What the Hell is Going on In London?!?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2025 67:36


    We're past the midway mark in the 2025 KY General Assembly session and a few bills are moving. The KPW crew talks about library boards, conversion therapy, professor tenure, and more. Also, Trump-Zelenskyy goes south, measles in Kentucky, John Morgan is forming his own party, and more!

    Tres is "Sleepy"

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2025 74:00


    Well, they can't all be winners. Technical "mistakes" and scattershot thoughts by KPW's host plague this one but the crew powers through with discussions about Frankfort, Washington, drug catapults, and wayward seals. The audio gets better half way through once the technical mistakes are discovered, so bear with it.

    The Orcas are Recruiting

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2025 83:00


    The KY General Assembly is in full swing. The KPW crew takes a look at some of the legislation that has caught their eyes. Also, the KY Senate and KY-6 races from 2026 seem to be heating up, and KPW has thoughts.

    Louisville Metro ABC Rocks!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 7, 2025 92:07


    The Kentucky General Assembly is back and KPW has you covered with some of our favorite (and least favorite) bills so far. Also, friend of the pod Ryan Underwood is here to pitch a bill that creates a new way for businesses to pay taxes. Finally, the KPW crew is VERY excited for the latest track to drop from Louisville Metro Alcoholic Beverage Control! That joint is lit!

    The End of the Year of January

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 31, 2025 80:06


    A week that lasted a month in a month that lasted a year is finally over. We've got coverage of Andy Beshear's conference call, Library legislation, the guy with the brain worms, the woman who likes Assad, and a trash can full of popcorn.

    Love You Children and Anything Is Possible

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2025 76:17


    We're 4 days clear of inauguration and the news simply won't stop. This week, we've got pardons, executive orders, convenience store joints, and makeup tips for Matt Gaetz from George Santos!

    And They Said It Wouldn't Last

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2025 65:34


    It's KPW's 6th Birthday and to celebrate, we add the original co-host, Tom Stephens and first guest, Adam Edelen, to the show. We've got ethical issues in State Government, education lawsuits, the tick tock for TikTok, and Tres has thoughts on snow removal and related issues in Lexington.

    Cajun is Comforting

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2025 86:33


    New year, same podcast! KPW is back in 2025 with a look at the news we've missed. The NOLA and Las Vegas terror attacks, the speaker vote, Carter's funeral, the first week of the KY General Assembly, and the case for taking over Canada, Greenland, and the Panama Canal! Also, a kudos to the fine folks at Pop Tarts.

    2025 General Assembly Preview with Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 20, 2024 64:39


    We're back with part 2 of our 2025 General Assembly preview. We're joined by Democratic State Senator Cassie Chamber Armstrong for a discussion about tax policy, education policy, and how to shape the agenda from the minority.

    2025 General Assembly Preview with Senate Majority Leader Max Wise

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 17, 2024 58:11


    Our 2025 General Assembly preview kicks off with a wide-ranging discussion with new State Senate Majority Leader Max Wise. Fresh off the State Senate Caucus retreat, Leader Wise has thoughts on where we may see the 2025 session will lead and what some of the priorities may be. Also, an in-depth discussion of Yacht Rock and Leader Wise takes a position on whether or not Poco is indeed Yacht Rock.

    Helps When the Mics are On

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2024 72:56


    Consent Decrees in Louisville, a regime change in Syria, and KDP's financial woes lead the week. Also, on a very special KPW, the crew learns an important lesson to make sure everyone's mics are on, so please forgive Jared's quiet voice the first 15 minutes.

    Rate That Coup

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 83:28


    KPW is back after a Thanksgiving break and we've got Andy Beshear making moves in New Hampshire, thoughts on the assassination of a Health Insurance CEO, a recap of Jared and Abby's trip to Vegas, and the debut of a new podcast feature: Rate That Coup. This week: South Korea.

    What is a Bearcat?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2024 55:07


    Jared and Abby are reporting to us live from the F1 race in Las Vegas, so it's an unusual, Saturday morning recording for KPW! We've got new KY Democratic House Leadership, Bearcat on Bearcat legal attacks, the departure of Matt Gaetz, and we ask the question, "Can an emu really escape if it's already feral?"

    Are Wallabys Real?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2024 79:43


    There's good news and bad news but KPW has it all. We've for JCPS issues, leadership elections, Trump appointments, and a fugitive wallaby.

    43 Free Monkeys

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2024 89:57


    The 2024 elections are over, DJT is back, and KPW have thoughts. Lots of lessons learned, unlearned, and relearned. So listen up for politics, asteroids, and William Wallace monkeys on the post-election KPW

    Appropriate for Garbage Collection or a Tennessee Game

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2024 65:00


    The United States isn't the only country holding elections this time of year. KPW's official foreign correspondent Jason Emert joins the show to talk about his work as an election observer in Georgia (the Tbilisi one, not the Atlanta one). The crew also rounds out the election and talk about Andy Beshear's proposal to eliminate the electoral college.

    Election 2024: Dear Lord, It's Almost Over

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 97:49


    It's that time again! KPW is here with your full, 19 Senate race and 100 State House race-by-race breakdown of the election. There's not as many competitive races as there were in the primary but that doesn't mean there aren't some interesting ones. Also a positive, we kept is under 2 hours!

    Arnold Palmer and Nazis

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2024 67:46


    We're a little over a week before the Presidential election and things are only getting crazier. KPW's got Arnold Palmer's manhood, Nazis, questionable science, and Tres and Jared are aggrieved by NFL refereeing.

    There Are No Coincidences

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2024 62:05


    Jared and Abby are on set, so we're remote this week but that doesn't stop the news. An organ donation scandal, a clan endorsement, a new McConnell book, and chili ice cream lead the headlines.

    Died of Shame

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2024 75:12


    KPW is back from a week's hiatus and there's lots to get to. The scandal list long this week with LMPD, the Metro Council. and Juvenile Justice leading the way. Also, there's the aftermath of hurricanes and a discussion of the Kentucky Right to Life endorsement list.

    Now Hiring: Cleaners

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2024 67:59


    Need your carpet cleaned? We've got a recommendation. Can't afford airfare to Turkey? We'll tell you how to get there. Want to make sense of dumb things politicians say? We'll try to help, but no promises.

    Live at Bespoken Bourbon

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 73:57


    KPW come to you this week from Bespoken Bourbon at Greyline Station in Lexington. We have a megacast of politicians behaving badly, including posing the question "How do you get banned from a strip club?" Also, praise for Rand Paul, the animal coalition of the willing, and a discussion with Bespoken CEO Scott Savage about their bourbon and the legal paperwork involved in building a distillery from the ground up.

    Live at Bespoken Bourbon

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2024 73:57


    KPW come to you this week from Bespoken Bourbon at Greyline Station in Lexington. We have a megacast of politicians behaving badly, including posing the question "How do you get banned from a strip club?" Also, praise for Rand Paul, the animal coalition of the willing, and a discussion with Bespoken CEO Scott Savage about their bourbon and the legal paperwork involved in building a distillery from the ground up.

    Otters Ain't Going Down Like A Punk Ass Cat

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 13, 2024 65:13


    It was debate week this week, and Nazi propaganda about people eating pets made it onto stage, so we've got that going for us. Also, Tres and Jared are not impressed with this week's football slate, Abby sticks her hands in other people's water (literally), and more.

    Do You Know This Porch Pooper?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2024 61:09


    Jared is out of town, which means it's just Tres and Abby (and briefly, Linus the dog). They cover all the important news, like media errors, cinnamon bacon, and the Louisville porch pooper.

    Unkillable

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 30, 2024 66:26


    We've got a full card for KPW Night at the Political fights! Beshear v the DOJ! Beshear v Ball! Vance v Firefighters! Trump v Arlington! Boeing and SpaceX v Gravity! Sheriff (managed by Booze) V Tractor!

    The Dolphins have Joined the Orca War

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2024 69:26


    The Democrats are convening in Chicago and dolphins are attacking in Japan. We've got these stories and everything in between along with Tres and Jared's pre-season NFL and College Football bets.

    New Recording Equipment, Who Dis?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 15, 2024 82:01


    After a massive and disappointing technical failure on the last show, KPW is back and better than ever with new recording equipment and better sound, but still with the same snark and 8-bit theme music! We've got Amendment 2 troubles in Pulaski Co, Russian restaurant yelp reviews, and the biggest politicians behaving badly segment in KPW history!

    Fancy Farm 144

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 3, 2024 87:59


    Another Fancy Farm is in the books and the KPW has a breakdown for you. Recording live from directly behind the stage, the crew is joined by State Representatives Michael Meredith, Wade Williams, and Suzanne Miles, State Senator Jason Howell, Fancy Farm Political Chair Steven Elder, and Mario Anderson of Spectrum News.

    Persistance is a Virtue

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2024 78:31


    Biden out, Harris in, mems aplenty, Beshear for VP, the Olympics, and one persistent Louisville physician, this KPW hits it all and more!

    Noem vs. Babydog

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2024 79:42


    It's another huge week in American politics. An assassination attempt, the RNC, and Biden potentially stepping aside. KPW has you covered as we march closer to election day.

    Sorry, Russell!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 12, 2024 82:09


    Things keep getting worse for Joe Biden and Jake Cox loves it. KPW's got all your Democratic Despair news! Also, while Andy Beshear is running for VP, he seems to believe it's a good idea to pick a fight nitpicking rules that could endanger children. Good idea or bad idea?

    So, Everything is Awesome, Right? Right????

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 1, 2024 77:42


    The KPW crew is back from vacation and breaks down the Presidential Debate and a week or huge SCOTUS rulings.

    LMPD Keeps on Winning

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 17, 2024 65:36


    Former co-host Stephenie Steitzer Hoelscher is back to fill in for Abby and Jared while they sail the Mediterranean. In this week's news, we've got the LMPD doing LMPD stuff, a win for the AG in court, and the dissolution of the UK Faculty Senate.

    Why Would You Come After Dolly?!?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 7, 2024 66:39


    Sen. Amanda Mays Bledsoe drops into the podcast studio to talk her first term in the State Senate, AI, and more. Also, there's talk about Dolly Parton, submarines, and Tres lays down a firm ban on cricket talk.

    Baseball Statistics

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2024 64:38


    Donald Trump is convicted and the North Koreans are attacking South Korea with poop, so it's just another, normal, everyday week on KPW. Also, Tres and Abby have their biggest argument ever about the importance of statistics to baseball vis-à-vis every other sport.

    Election Wrap-Up Live at the KY Rural Broadband Association

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2024 53:37


    The primaries have ended, turnout was low, there weren't many upsets, time marches on. The KPW crew looks at it all in front of a live audience at the KY Rural Broadband Association. Also, killer Iranian Mountains and a Utah family competes for a Darwin Award but they'll have to beat out the Colorado GOP to win it!

    #FreeScottie and Primary Preview

    Play Episode Listen Later May 17, 2024 84:20


    It's almost Primary Election week in Kentucky! KPW has a full breakdown of the State House and Senate races that will be on the ballot this Tuesday. Also, the Louisville Metro Police continue to answer the question "can we make things worse?" with a resounding YES WE CAN!

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