Kentucky Tonight

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about national politics with KC Crosbie, Republican National Committee Co-Chair; former Kentucky Congressman John Yarmuth, Democrat; Andy Westberry, communications director for the Republican Party of Kentucky; and former Kentucky State Treasurer Jonathan Miller, Democrat.

Continuing a recap of the 2025 Rx and Illicit Drug Summit, KET interviews Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman; Van Ingram, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy; and Tom Vicini, president and CEO of Operation UNITE. Recovery, treatment and prevention groups featured on the program include Lifeline Recovery Center in Paducah and Scott County Detention Center.

Renee Shaw recaps the Rx and Illicit Drug Summit 2025 with one-on-one interviews, including U.S. Representative Hal Rogers (R-KY5); U.S. Representative James Comer (R-KY1); U.S. Representative Brett Guthrie (R-KY2); and Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about Kentucky's flood response with Eric Gibson, director of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management; Nadine McCrindle, regional chief executive officer of the Kentucky Region of the American Red Cross; State Representative Josh Bray (R-Mount Vernon); State Representative Erika Hancock (D-Frankfort); and Michael Mueller, Franklin County Judge/Executive.

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion and review of the completed 2025 Kentucky General Assembly session with State Representative David Meade (R-Stanford), House Speaker Pro Tempore; State Representative Pamela Stevenson (D-Louisville), House Minority Floor Leader; State Senator Gerald Neal (D-Louisville), Senate Minority Floor Leader; and State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R-Lexington).

Renee Shaw discusses abortion and maternal health with Addia Wuchner from Kentucky Right to Life and Tamarra Wieder from Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. Next, Renee discusses gender identity with Chris Hartman from the Fairness Campaign; David Walls from The Family Foundation; Emma Curtis, Lexington-Fayette Co. councilwoman; and Colin Smothers from Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood.

Renee Shaw hosts a review of the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly session with State Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser (R-Taylor Mill), chair of the House Health Services Committee; State Rep. Lindsey Burke (D-Lexington), House Minority Whip; State Senator Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville), chair of the Senate Economic Development, Tourism and Labor Committee; and State Senator Robin Webb D-Grayson).

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion with State Rep. Scott Lewis (R), Chair of the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee; State Rep. Tina Bojanowski (D), member of the House Primary and Secondary Education Committee; State Sen. Stephen West (R), chair of the Senate Education Committee; and State Sen. Reginald Thomas (D), Senate Minority Caucus Chair and member of the Senate Education Committee.

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about the mid-point of Kentucky's legislative session with State Senator David Givens (R-Greensburg), Senate President Pro Tempore; State Senator David Yates (D-Louisville), Senate Minority Whip; State Representative Steven Rudy (R-Paducah), House Majority Floor Leader; and State Representative Al Gentry (D-Louisville), House Minority Caucus Chair.

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about the economy, jobs and business issues with Andi Johnson, chief policy officer, Commerce Lexington; Jason Bailey, executive director, Kentucky Center for Economic Policy; Andrew McNeill, president, Kentucky Forum for Rights, Economics & Education (KYFREE); and Terry Brooks, executive director, Kentucky Youth Advocates.

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about family and health issues with State Senator Julie Raque Adams (R-Louisville); State Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D-Louisville; State Representative Kimberly Poore Moser (R-Taylor Mill); and State Representative Adrielle Camuel, (D-Lexington).

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion with freshman lawmakers in Kentucky's General Assembly. Guests: State Senator Craig Richardson (R-Hopkinsville); State Senator Keturah Herron (D-Louisville); State Representative Mitch Whitaker (R-Fleming-Neon); and State Representative Anne Gay Donworth (D-Lexington).

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly with State Senator Max Wise (R-Campbellsville), Senate Majority Floor Leader; State Senator Reginald Thomas (D-Lexington), Senate Minority Caucus Chair; State Representative David Meade (R-Stanford), House Speaker Pro Tempore; and State Representative Lindsey Burke (D-Lexington), House Minority Whip.

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly session with State Senator Robert Stivers (R-Manchester), Kentucky Senate President; State Senator Gerald Neal (D-Louisville), Senate Minority Floor Leader; State Representative David Osborne (R-Prospect), Kentucky House Speaker; and State Representative Pamela Stevenson (D-Louisville), incoming House Minority Floor Leader.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss national and state politics. Guests: Steve Robertson, former chair of the Republican Party of Kentucky; Mike Ward, Democratic consultant and former Kentucky congressman; Kelsey Coots, Democratic strategist and principal of Blue Dot Consulting; and Tres Watson, former spokesman for the Republican Party of Kentucky and founder of Capitol Reins PR.

Renee Shaw hosts a 2024 election eve preview. Guests: Colmon Elridge, chair of the Kentucky Democratic Party; Steve Robertson, former spokesman for the Republican Party of Kentucky; Amy Wickliffe, a Republican strategist and partner at McCarthy Strategic Solutions; and Stuart Perelmuter, a Democratic consultant and founder and CEO of Good Influence.

Renee Shaw hosts a candidate conversation with the incumbent in Kentucky's 3rd Congressional District, U.S. Rep. Morgan McGarvey. Next, a discussion about the 2024 election with State Senator Damon Thayer (R- Georgetown), Senate Majority Floor Leader, and State Senator Reggie Thomas (D-Lexington), Senate Minority Caucus Chair.

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about Amendment 2 with Tom Shelton, chair of the Protect Our Schools Campaign and a former school superintendent; Heather LeMire, Kentucky state director of Americans for Prosperity; Jim Waters, president of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions (BIPPS); and Jessica Hiler, president of the Fayette County Education Association.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss the youth vote in the 2024 election nationwide and in Kentucky. Guests: Allison Wiseman, president of the Kentucky Young Democrats; Sebastian Torres, chair of the Kentucky Young Republican Federation; Rick Adams, a Democrat and former state House candidate; and Emily White, national committeewoman for the Kentucky Young Republican Federation.

Renee Shaw hosts a conversation about the progress and challenges facing Northern Kentucky. Guests include: Gary Moore, Boone County Judge-Executive; Lee Crume, president & CEO, BE NKY Growth Partnership; Kevin Canafax, vice president of regional public affairs at Fidelity Investments; and Cady Short-Thompson, Ph.D., president of Northern Kentucky University.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss school choice and Amendment 2. Guests: Tom Shelton, chair of the Protect Our Schools Campaign and a former school superintendent; Randy Adams, former principal in the Anderson County School district; Matt Robbins, former superintendent of Daviess County Public Schools; and Jim Waters, president of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss affordable and available housing. Guests include: Winston Miller, executive director and CEO, Kentucky Housing Corporation; Pam Featherstone, president, Kentucky Realtors; Charles Aull, executive director, Kentucky Chamber Center for Policy and Research; Adrienne Bush, executive director, Homeless and Housing Coalition of Kentucky.

Renee Shaw hosts a conversation about the National Conference of State Legislatures 2024 Summit held in Louisville. Guests include: State Senator Robert Stivers (R- Manchester), Kentucky Senate President; State Representative David Osborne (R-Prospect), Kentucky Speaker of the House; and State Representative Cherlynn Stevenson (D-Lexington), Kentucky House Minority Caucus Chair.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss K-12 education. Guests: Robbie Fletcher, Ed.D​., commissioner of the Ky. Dept. of Education; Rep. James Tipton (R-Taylorsville), chair of the House Education Committee; Rep. Tina Bojanowski (D-Louisville), special education teacher and a member of the House Education Committee; and Rhonda Caldwell, Ed.D., executive director of the Ky. Assoc. of School Administrators.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss the progress and opportunities in Owensboro. Guests include: State Rep. Suzanne Miles (R-Owensboro); Owensboro Mayor Tom Watson; Mark Marsh, president and CEO of Owensboro Health; Candance Castlen Brake, president and CEO at Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce; and Jake Boswell, Greater Owensboro Chamber Young Professionals.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss national politics. Guests: David Tandy, attorney, Democrat and former Louisville Metro Councilman; Rebecca Hartsough, Republican and senior policy director at Babbage Cofounder; Mike Ward, former Democratic congressman and Democratic political consultant; and Tres Watson, former spokesman for the Republican Party of Kentucky and founder of Capitol Reins PR.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss the progress and opportunities in southwestern Kentucky. Guests include State Rep. Jason Petrie (R-Elkton); Wayne Hunt, chairman and CEO of H&R Agri-Power; Carter Hendricks, executive director of the Southwestern KY Economic Development Council; Madisonville Mayor Kevin Cotton; and Elizabeth McCoy, president and CEO of Planter's Bank.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss the state of the media. Scheduled: Al Cross, journalist and director emeritus of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues; Jamie Lucke, editor-in-chief of the Kentucky Lantern; Michael Abate, First Amendment and media law attorney; Rick Green, executive editor of the Herald-Leader; Jennifer Brown, co-founder, publisher and editor of Hoptown Chronicle.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss school choice, the subject of an upcoming constitutional amendment in fall 2024. Guests: Jason Bailey, executive director of the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy; Chad Meredith, attorney; Joel Wolford, vice president of the Kentucky Education Association; and Jim Waters, president of Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions.

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about the 2024 primary election. Guests: Morgan Eaves, executive director of the Kentucky Democratic Party; Tres Watson, Republican strategist and founder of Capitol Reins PR; Jared Smith, Democratic strategist and partner at Piper/Smith; and Iris Wilbur Glick, Republican consultant and founder of IW Strategies.

Renee Shaw holds conversations with two candidates in the U.S. primary election races. Guests: Dana Edwards, Republican candidate for the U.S. House in Kentucky's 5th Congressional District; Shauna Rudd, Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Kentucky's 6th Congressional District.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss homelessness and housing policy in Kentucky. Guests: Kungu Njuguna, policy strategist for the ACLU of Kentucky; Paul Salamanca, University of Kentucky law professor; George Eklund, director of education and advocacy for the Coalition for the Homeless; and Richard Nelson, executive director of the Commonwealth Policy Center.

Renee Shaw hosts a review of the 2024 Kentucky lawmaking session with legislators. Guests: State Sen. Phillip Wheeler (R-Pikeville); State Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D-Louisville); State Rep. Rachel Roarx (D-Louisville); and State Rep. Michael Sarge Pollock (R-Campbellsville).

Renee Shaw and guests recap the 2024 General Assembly. Guests: Morgan Eaves, executive director of the Kentucky Democratic Party; Tres Watson, Republican political strategist and founder Capitol Reins PR; Abby Piper, founder and managing partner of Piper | Smith LLC, a government and public relations firm; and Jared Smith, a Democratic strategist and partner at Piper | Smith LLC.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss the state budget. Guests: State Sen. Chris McDaniel (R-Ryland Heights), chair of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee; State Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson (D-Lexington), House Minority Caucus Chair; and State Sen. Robin Webb (D-Grayson), member of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss school safety. Guests: State Senator Max Wise (R-Campbellsville); State Senator Reggie Thomas (D-Lexington); Ryan Straw, Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police; Chris Barrier, chief of police, Montgomery County School District; Cathy Hobart, Moms Demand Action Kentucky; and Rhonda Caldwell, Ed.D., executive director, Kentucky Association of School Administrators.

Renee Shaw leads a discussion on early childhood education. Guests: State Sen. Danny Carroll (R-Benton); State Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D-Louisville); Sarah Vanover from Kentucky Youth Advocates; Kate Shanks from the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce; Brigitte Blom from the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence; and Andrew McNeill from Kentucky Forum for Rights, Economics & Education.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss abortion legislation. Guests: State Representative Nancy Tate (R-Brandenburg); Tamarra Wieder, state director of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates; Addia Wuchner, executive director of Kentucky Right to Life; and Jackie McGranahan, senior policy strategist for the ACLU of Kentucky.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss school choice and education issues. Guests: Eddie Campbell, president of the Kentucky Education Association (KEA); Heather LeMire, Kentucky State Director of Americans for Prosperity; Brigitte Blom, president and CEO of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence; and Jim Waters, president and CEO of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) at Kentucky colleges and universities. Guests include: Richard Nelson from the Commonwealth Policy Center; State Rep.Tina Bojanowski (D-Louisville); Travis Powell from the Kentucky Council on Postsecondary Education; and State Sen. Mike Wilson (R-Bowling Green), Senate Majority Whip (pre-recorded).

Guests discuss the Safer Kentucky Act proposed during the 2024 General Assembly. Guests: State Rep. Jared Bauman (R-Louisville), sponsor of the Safer Kentucky Act; State Rep. Keturah Herron (D-Louisville); Ryan Straw from the Kentucky State Fraternal Order of Police; Kungu Njuguna from ACLU of Kentucky; George Eklund from Coalition for the Homeless; and State Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Middletown).

Renee Shaw hosts a discussion about the 2024 Kentucky General Assembly. Guests: State Representative David Osborne (R-Prospect), Speaker of the House; State Senator Robert Stivers (R-Manchester), President of the Senate; State Representative Derrick Graham (D-Frankfort), House Minority Floor Leader; and State Senator Gerald Neal (D-Louisville), Senate Minority Floor Leader.

Renee Shaw and guests discuss Governor Andy Beshear's Budget Address. The program will include Gov. Beshear's pre-taped budget address. Guests: Amy Wickliffe, Republican strategist; Sherman Brown, Democratic strategist, both from McCarthy Strategic Solutions; Charles Aull from the Kentucky Chamber Center for Policy and Research; and Jason Bailey from the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

Renee Shaw hosts a 2024 legislative session preview. Guests: State Representative Chad Aull (D-Lexington); State Representative Stephanie Dietz (R-Edgewood); State Senator Cassie Chambers Armstrong (D-Louisville); and State Senator Amanda Mays Bledsoe (R- Lexington).