Senate candidates Barr and Booker tackled the issues in the raceto succeed Mitch McConnell, the sixth district House candidates Alvarado and Dimbo, also confront the issues face to face.

A key state senator gives hints about how the data center discussion could go in Frankfort.

A massive nuclear energy power plant is proposed in Lewis County, heading toward the early voting in Kentucky and with more awesome weather out there, comment is next on KET.

[MUSIC] Good evening.

I'm Bill Bryant and we welcome you to comment on Kentucky.

A look back at and some analysis of the week's news in the Commonwealth and the guests on our panel of working Kentucky journalists tonight are.

Liam Niemeyer, reporter for the Kentucky Lantern.

Morgan reporter for the Kentucky Center for Investigative Reporting.

And Isaiah Kim Martinez, political reporter for WHAS11 in Louisville.

This was the week thatKentucky voters got to see candidates on stage and on TV debating the issues in the U.S.

Senate race.

Democrat Charles Booker and Republican Andy Barr tangled over the issues at KY T in Lexington.

The economy and affordability discussion.

>> We do need to lower costs gasoline, groceries, housing, everything.

And we're working on that and making a lot of progress.

Digging out of the disastrous policies of the Biden administration and my opponent supports the radical GreenNew Deal, which would dismantle fossil energy and skyrocket prices.

>> The price of groceries is going up underAndy Barr's watch, the going up under Andy Barr's watch.

So one of the most importantthings we need to do to bring down costsis get Andy Barr out of office.

>> Well, this was the only scheduled debate between Barr and Booker, and it was not a disappointment for those who tuned in.

>> I knowBill, it was fiery.

It was fiery.

And both sides kind of knew the assignment going in.

Right.

You heard Congressman Barr word socialist.

I counted at least ten times.

We know that is something that he is trying to attach.

Charles Booker's campaign to, calling him the Zoran Mamdani of Kentucky, referencing the New York City mayor.

And then you had Charles Booker, who camein really trying to attach Barr not just to President Trump's agenda, not just to Senator Mitch McConnell, but he really tried to lean in, listen, Barr has been in office for a longtime and has gotten essentially rich off.

It is the point he kept trying todrive home, and he says that is not serving Kentuckians well.

So that was sort oftheir back and forth in themes in the in this debate.

>> It struck me thatthey were both sort of prosecuting the case against the other, more than talking about really what they Senate term.

>> I know and you were moderating.

You're trying to get them back on the policy issues.

Yeah, it was, you know, compared to the sixth district debate, which was pretty heavily focused on the issues with a few shots taken here and there.

This one was definitely, you could tell Charles Booker was trying to get some kind of viral moment out of this, because that is really what can help you in debates.

Sometimes the old adage is like, don't lose a debate.

But as far as winning, one can be hard.

But you could tell Congressman Barr has sort of mission in don'tslip up.

Right.

You're the favorite in this race.

Don't say anything that could come back to bite you.

And you could tell.

>> I mean, especially with, you know, how campaignsoperate in the digitalworld that we're in.

I mean, things can be clipped so quickly,so easily, and go viral.

And so by trying to stay in their lanes, keep up with theiragendas for the debate, they'retrying to avoid those moments that, you know, those slip ups know,go viral, go viral on Facebook, etc.

>> Atleast Barr did.

I think Booker had nothing tolose.

Or you could tell he was approaching it.

>> That way.

It appearedhe thought he had a potential moment.

Booker at one point said that Barrwants a flock.

Cameras on your front porch.

Oh, yeah.

And then, of course, Barr pushed back hard on that, saying that that issue needs further ridiculous statement and all of that.

So there was plenty of back and forth.

Morgan.

Not surprising in this race, right?

>> No.

Definitely not.I mean, especially because it's like it's a nationalit's a race for anational seat.

So, you know, plus it's interesting that we even got a debate on that because a lot of times you don't get debates in these congressional seats anymore or in of the fact that there are more and more safe districts, which, I mean, Andy Barr is running for a safe seat.

Like he is.

Like, if you look at the numbers, it's considered easily a Republican seat.

So like, you have more a lot of a lot of people who are holding these seats are like, what's the point?

>> So surprised heeven did one, considering what the numbers.

>> C Liams previous right?

I mean, because they know that it's there on the high wire.

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah.

>> Yeah, yeah.

And I mean.

>> It can go, I mean, those clips can go viral very quickly.

And also there was an interesting pointmade by a Republican strategist, my editor, the Kentucky lantern editor Linda Blackford, had a column about, you know, some of the debates and just the broader themes with it, you know, with the hyper partizan environment that, you know, politics often is nowadays, it can be hard to find the persuadable voters out there to move forward, especially when, you know, say,Barr and Booker areoftentimes kind of speaking to their choirs.

>> Yeah.

And who do you play to, you know, is it the potentially persuadablevoters or are you trying to rile up your own base?

>> Anybody I generallysaysthe people who watchthese 90 plus percent of them already knowhow they're voting.So maybe it is a little bit of a get the pompoms out for Team Blue or Team Red.

>> But we're debates can be more useful to politicians wheretheysee the value in it is if you have an open seat, which is what we have in the sixth district, right where you've got there isn't an incumbent in there.

So to some extent, both candidates get some benefit from, okay, I'll do a debate, hopefully get some more people >> And to your point about how rare this was, that there was some reporting that quantified it.

This week, The Washington Post reported there were debates in only 16 of the 35 U.S.

Senateraces nationwide as the candidates, just tend to avoid those debates, although some stateshave had multiple debates.

So it depends.

>> I think Morgan hit on it.

Well, Ithink it depends on how known are you.

Right.

And do you have maybe a point that you want to get hits social media, that maybe younger voters will see, because we know they're probably not tuning into these live.

They see things afterthe fact.

If it starts to circulate.

So politics has it's the same, but it's also changed a lot in that way as far as how to get your message out.

>> Barr is a heavy favorite.

What did Booker have to do in that night and between now and Election Day?

Andas he is,he moving the needle?

>> I think he had to Barr to slip up in some way of youknow, I said this four weeks ago.

Now I'm sort of dialing it back.

Congressman, more generally, and maybe some of this is because the seat leans so heavily.

That is solid.

He pretty much stuck to a lot of like, hesees value in PresidentTrump's tariffs.

He said that he doesn't think the war in Iran necessarily should end.

He used thewords, I we'refightingto end it.

Very different story.

Again in the sixth district, Andy Barr largely stuck to a lot of sort of the Republican Trump agenda values that we heard him talk about when thepresident was in northern Kentuckyjust a few days.

>> Well, and there was also that debate in the sixth CongressionalDistrict, a race that has been moved from leans Republican to toss up in that category now by the Cook Political Report, which of those political forecasters out there and one that a lot of people pay attention to, that that debate, hosted by W d KY Republican Ralph Alvarado and Democrat Zach Dembow, laid out their differences over the airwaves.

>> What we have todo is end this senseless war in Iran.

Everyone knows that's what's led to these huge spikes in gas and diesel.

>> We need to make sure that end the war that's there.

I think it's time for us to end it.

And once it ends, though, however, the gas prices are still going to be high.

We need to manufacture more oil refineries that can help refine oil and be able to get gas and diesel prices down lower.

>> And again, as a contrast in styles and some major differences on some major issues, but also some common ground in some areas.

>> Yeah, you could tell that they know that what 12% of the district is independent.

And that could very well election.

Like they sway many elections.

You got this sense that they were making sure that they had certain issues where they did buck with their party leaders.

Right.

You had Zach Denver, the Democrat, saying, well, thereare parts of President Trump's big, beautiful bill that Ithink are valuable.No tax on tips, no tax on Social Security, no tax on overtime.

And then you also had Republicans say, well, listen, the Iran war actually needs to end right now.It's run its course.

Andyou've seen certain Republicans do that around the country.

He also wentahead and said, yeah,maybe some of these tariffs are really hurting a lot of the industries in Kentucky, like Kentucky Bourbon.

So these are just issues where all of a sudden, I think Zach Denver at one point said, I am a centrist.

Like I'm worried about the 7,080% in the middle who have been lost >> This kind of moving toward the middle.

>> It's a swing.

You got the swing district message.

>> And yet a major issue out there is affordability.

And that was one of the early questions.

And that led to some intrigue.

>> The question was a good one, and that was and I'm paraphrasing here, essentially, what have you noticed price wise in the grocery store?

What's going up for you?

Are you noticingprices go up and the moderators really pressed each candidate who didn't answer at first, giving a specific good in the grocery store.

Zach Denver, eventually, I believe, mentioned the price of groundbeef being up.

Ralph Alvarado had a moment where he said a couple of times that his wife actually does the grocery shopping and they live on a farm,so they produce a lot of their ownproduce and food.

What I can say about this is we've seen historyshows in politics, right?

It's the whole price of milk question.

H.W.

Bush, when political candidates can't answer that question with specificity, it can hurt them.

We'll see what happens in thisrace.

>> Liam, there was a discussion about data centers as well in this debate, as it seems as in every political discussion these.

>> Days.

The day.

>> Center debate, to be honest, it's it's found its way in races of all different levels, not just, you congressional district, but yeah, some of the, the fodder of attacks and critiques that they had during the debate were picking up from criticisms they levied at each other.

You know, earlier in the month, you know, for example, Denver, you know, has suggested that Alvarado has, you know, investment in data centers.

And Alvarado has gone after Denver, for example, for being having close say, you know, suggesting not necessarily mentioning by by name the Lexington mayor, but, you know, suggesting his his close ties with the mayor and his family business, gray Construction, which has been involved in.

>> The former mayor.

>> The former mayor, correct.

Yeah.

Thank you.

You know, the his family business.

Gray Construction with with their involvement with data centers, basically both trying to connect the, the very public polling out there that shown that data centers are not popular with the public trying to connect that negative connotation with the other candidate.

>> And Denver did say he was proud to have Gray's endorsement in the race.

>> He did.

Yeah.

I mean, Jim Gray was, I think, the first person to come out for.It was over at theborough in Lexington to comeout Big sort of endorsement kickoff.

So, I mean, he didn't shy away from that.

But to Liam's point, they both have to find a way to manage datacenters.

And the issue that folks are really passionate about.

>> Right now.

Yeah.

And Morgan, overall, the artificial intelligence question is in these discussions these days as well.

And it's often about whether the technology will replace too much of the workforce and whether Washington should regulate.

And that is just something that Americans aretrying to reckon with.

>> Yeah, it'sa tough issue for politicians to answer.

Some of them anyway, because it's like it doesn't fall neatly on, oh, the the hardcore Republican voters are super into AI and the Democrats hate it, or vice versa.

It is not likethat.

Like this is a case where you have bipartisan, large bipartisan dislike of data centers which are connected to AI because you build data centers to power theAI.

You have like people across the political spectrum who are worried about losing their job to AI.

As the a lot of the AI, like company leaders are, are out here saying that's what's going to happen, you know?

So yeah, it's hard to answer that.

>> A little later, we'll get a little bit of a telegraph on howit here from a senator on that.

But hemp also came up in the congressional debate.

Both seem uncomfortable with the regulations that are set to hit in December.

But Alvarado says he wants more study about the THC levels.

There is that concern.

>> Yeah, that's beenI mean, the whole we're seeing a hemp ban coming up because some hemp products have certain levels of certain kinds of THC in them.

And traditionally, like a lot of Republicans have been like, we don't wantanything that gets you high, right?

So it's, you know, he's looking at like, let's study.

I want to see more study of that demo was like, also was like, you know, safety, some safetyprotections here are warranted.

But they also like what happens to all these hemp farmers, you know.

>> The sixth district had that one debate, but there's going to be High School coming up Tuesday night, and a high school student is going to be the moderatorofthat.

Isaiah.

And KY T is going to be a circulating that on one of its channels and also a streaming that.

>> I love it.

I mean, the whole thingright now is, you know, I think the governor has said this before, young people are some of themost passionate, you know, tuned in to these issues.

But, but the, the, the verbiage is, well,you got to vote too.

So this to me is a great opportunity to show that young people are not just engaged, but they're also encouraging others to take part in the democratic process and go, go to the polls and vote for your candidate.

>> The sixth is not an easy district to win or campaign in.

Lexington leansleft in its voting patterns.

The outlying agricultural areas lean right in their patterns.

Cities like Richmond and Georgetown, and they're growing very fast, tend to be right down the middle.

Therefore, this really is a district to watch.

>> Itis, it is.

And if just off raw numbers, if every Republican and every Democrat gets out, Republicans have the edge.

So thequestion is, how do these independent voters sort of swing?

I talked with a political scienceprofessor, Stephen Voss, over at the University of was saying that, generally speaking, independents lean a little conservative.

They lean a little, right, based on what he's seeing right now.

They're leaning a little bit more to the Democratic side in this election.

So does that show itself in the sixth congressionalrace?

I think that will be something to watch in those areas.

>> President Trump did a rally in northern Kentucky that Alvarado did went to court daysin Mount Sterling.Instead, Barr was at the Trump event, as were some other Republican candidates.

>> This is the most important midterm in the history of our country, because we've gotten more things done and they can undo them if we start losing an election, and especially this one.

So pretend I'm on the ballot, go out and vote.

You got to do it.

>> All right.

So this obviously an attempt to drive up Republican enthusiasm.

We always say that these polls that are released by campaigns have to be taken witha grain of salt, especially late, and that we only see what campaigns want us to see.

But there is one out of the fourth district from the Democratic nominee, Melissa Strange, that says she's close.

>> Yeah, a tightening race.

Again, it's So everything has to be taken with a grain of salt.

You know, polling is never supposed to be predictive of election results.

I will say sort of the wild card in all this, right, is how these Massie supporters vote.

Because ultimately, do they stay home?

Do they vote for the libertarian candidate, Jeremy Todd, who actually justspoke to today?

And he's basically doingthe math in his head saying, if I get independents and I the Massie supportershere, then the numbers are inmy favor.

You know, Republicans are favored in that district.

Paul Ryan is, is, is the frontrunner.

But Melissa Strange, I think definitely sees an opportunity with those who are unhappy with Massie's loss to maybe bring those over to the Democratic Party this election.

>> You always kindof question thewhen you get these.

The reason that about polls that are coming from campaigns is it is this like backed by like solid polls, scientific approaches, or is this marketing.

>> It'spart of theircampaign.

>> And how muchof each is it, you know, and.

>> Are these voters staying home?

Because like, it's a plus?

1819 R district.

>> So Governor Beshear traveling to eight other states in his capacity as head of the Democratic Governors Association.

He's hitting hard in some statesthat President Trump won in 2024.

That could have a dual purpose, right?

As he makes his trips, if he's interested in something in 28.

>> Oh, yeah.

I mean, it's everybody's talkingabout the election this month.

You're gettingout.

You're talking to people.

You're being.

Yeah, this helps you get in front of people in other states seem more presidential, you know, get yourface out.

>> battle is going to be long wherever you live.

Some races that you may not have heard about could be on there.

So the advice from the Secretary of State, Michael Adams.Get a sample ballot foryour precinct studyahead of time.

And you don't want to be that person trying to look up the ballot on your phone while you're standing in line at the polls.

Right?

And Secretary of State Adams indicates the turnout could be about 40% or so.

I don't think he's done an official projection at this point.

The robust discussion of data centers in Kentucky does continue looks to be a major issue in the upcoming session of the Kentucky General Assembly.

But Senator Chris McDaniel, who is a key voice in that chamber, indicates Republican reluctance to create rules that could deny data centers to communities that might want them is something that they'll be talking about.

>> I think that we tryto leave autonomy with local communities to decide what theyneed to decide is best for their community.

There are some places where the, you know, the the tax implications, the revenue that this will bring in could be earth shattering for that community.

Could be, you know, life changing for, for communities rightnow that are really struggling to survive.

And they may make a very, very decision than othercommunities.

And that's okay.

>> But don't you think some of the cities and counties that have passed moratoriums, they want the some rules from the state.

That's what they're waiting for.

>> Well, they may want some rules from the state, but they also on many, many other issues, want to be leftalone.

>> Okay.

So Liam, we see the protests and the local moratoriums being put in place, but it is anddried issue with the legislature.

>> Definitely not.

I mean, the debate isgoing to be probably very thorough, and it sort of echoes the the debates that are happening at the local level.

I mean, just even going back to earlierthis month, there was a a quote unquote listening session hosted by some Democrats in the minority in the Kentucky House of Representatives, where some, you these communities, some ofthem dealing with activedata center proposals, called on lawmakers to put in state rules, saying that we need more guidance.

We can't go go up against these large multibillion dollar corporations thatare looking to put together these proposals in terms of making sure that the community is protected, has theright benefits.

But, you know, to McDaniel's know, I'm there.

There is you know, I'm sure some sentiment in the Republican legislature of not wanting to cut off potential economic development opportunities.

>> Well, does a project like the Mason County Hyperscale Data Center proposal by meta, does that make some communities maybe think twice, even if there is strongopposition within the community?

>> Sure.

>> And,you know, companylike meta, you know, they're planning on investing billions upon billions of dollars into that community and, and public safety upgrades, infrastructure upgrades, etcetera.

But, you know, there's, there's people that are also also debating of how much tax incentives should a data center such as meta, a technology company such as meta receive, according to one analysis by a progressive tank in Kentucky, you know, some local tax breaks are tentatively being offered to themeta data center.

Could be roughly around $50 million a year.

>> Yeah.

Another major issue that's just starting to emerge.

A Lexington based company wants to build a massive nuclear power plant complex in Lewis County.

Liam.

That would be along theOhio River, six reactors.

It would involve.

>> Yes.

>> And I can't emphasize with you enough of how much if this is fully realized, it would be the largest nuclear power plant complex site in the entire country.

6.6GW of electricity.

And when you think about Kentucky's largest utility, Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky utilities, their entire power plant, plant, fleet generates a little bit over seven gigawatts of power.

So 6.6 to 7GW.

It's a lot of energy, very beginning stages of the proposal.

>> Sure.

>> A lot to to be worked through.

But, you know, Isaiah, the legislature has moved to keep nuclear energy as a part of Kentucky's energy portfolio.

>> They've put tens of millions of dollars over the last couple sessions to do this, to essentially see what sites would work to partner with different companies.

Danny Charles, who's been big on this, and he's got leadership behind him.

>> Isn't it interestingthat suddenly the issue set that is out there for even Kentucky lawmakers to deal with, right?

Yeah, yeah.

>> Data centers AI all.

>> Energy is a very weirdtopic politically.

>> It is.

>> I mean, it's interesting because that that site with the nuclear power plant complex, Plex, the proposed site, it's not too the river on the Ohio side of things.

You know, open AI is proposing massive data center with massive natural gas fired power.

>> A lot of action in that northeastern corridor right now.

Kentucky.Yeah, yeah.

All right.

Governor Beshear is calling on Kentucky colleges and universities to review their policies about how they handle sexual assault.

It comes after the high the country have highlighted that issue.

>> As part of the 90day review, universities and colleges should, at minimum, look at awareness campaigns, ease of access to resources, reporting steps, victim services and due process, bystander prevention, education on retaliation and resulting appropriate action.

By working together, we can create learning environments where everyone feels safe.

>> Morgan Beshear indicates that he are issues on campuses, but he wants every college to look at their sexual assault reporting policies and then report back to him.

>> Yeah, he doesn't.

In the letter he sent to the, you know, telling colleges what he wanted, he doesn't mention it.

But this has got to be a response in particular to a case at Cornell University, where a really serious allegations woman being sexually assaulted at a fraternity that has gotten massive national scrutiny after their college newspapers broke the story and a newspaper broke the story, and has just brought this issue back into the limelight.

And a lot of scrutiny, in particular on how Cornell handled that case.

And I think you see now Beshear saying, let's look at our policies and let's communicate with the public about what are.

>> Trying to get ahead of it.

You think, Isaiah, you know, to to avoid a situation like New York.

>> I,I don't see why there wouldbe any downside to do that very thing, you know, because thelast thing you want to be is the governor overseeing something where I didn't know that was going on.

>> All right.

Governor's office also announced a local governmentscan apply for talent grants, and he's extended the deadline for that.

That was passed by legislature.

That's an opportunity for cities to try to keep their folks around their workers, their young folks.

>> Right?

Yeah.

Support communities, try to get folks to stay in the state, stay in their communities, which is always a priority, including Louisville, just some of the according to the release, some of the benefits here, workforce relocation, retention, and then marketing initiatives, which will >> And Morgan, the attorney general, Russell Coleman, announced the Opioid Advisory Commission is accepting grant applications in areas of treatment and recovery.

Some of those in the first round of that funding have are just being rolled out, and they sort of invite the organizations to be creative.

>> Yeah, definitely sort of trying to send the message of like, hey, if you've got kind of looking, wehave a lot of money from settlements withcompanies that fueled the opioid crisis and trying to say like, you know, we're, we welcome thinking, youknow, somewhat outside the box about it.

>> Bipartisan issue, at least that effort.

>> Yeah, right.

Well, show business isgrowing here in the Bluegrass State.

I guess that's bipartisan too, right?

University of Kentucky has added degree programs designed to get students ready to work in film, entertainment and in the music industries there within U. K s College of Fine Arts, it is launching at a time when Kentucky's film industryis growing and creating 27,000 jobs since 2022.

Early voting next Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Election day is Tuesday, November 3rd.

That's common on Kentucky.

Have a good week