How Democrats can win back Trump country (with Gov. Andy Beshear)

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
Today's episode is sponsored by Better Medicare Alliance. More than 35 million seniors and people with disabilities rely on Medicare Advantage for affordable, comprehensive healthcare. But when payment rates fail to keep pace with rising medical costs, seniors can face higher out-of-pocket costs, fewer benefits and fewer planned choices. Learn more about what's at stake for seniors at supportmedicareadvantage.com.

**Andy Beshear** (0:25)
Don't just talk about the what. Don't just talk about your policy points. Talk about your why. People want to know you. They want to know what drives you. They want to know how you'll make a decision for an issue that they're not even thinking about.

**Dasha Burns** (0:42)
Hello, hello, and welcome to The Conversation. I'm Dasha Burns, POLITICO's White House Bureau Chief, and every week on this show, I invite one of the most compelling and sometimes unexpected power players in Washington and beyond in for a chat to find out how they're navigating and shaping this incredible era of American politics. And this week, I spoke with Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. Now, Beshear is a Democrat in a red state, and he's improved his margins in every election, even in 2024, when Trump won the state by 30 points. And he's the most popular Democratic governor. That's all put him in the spotlight as a potential 2028 contender. Now, on the show, I've chatted with a lot of Democrats about the party's brand problem. But when Beshear and I spoke on the subject, he was less interested in where the party is now, and more focused on where Democrats should go in the upcoming elections. We talked about whether or not Democrats should engage in the culture wars. We discussed faith in politics and how his party can better communicate their why. Governor Andy Beshear joins The Conversation.
Governor Andy Beshear, thank you so much for joining The Conversation.

**Andy Beshear** (1:55)
Thanks for having me.

**Dasha Burns** (1:56)
I want to start with some of your recent comments about Vice President JD Vance that are raising some eyebrows. I was a little struck by them because knowing your Southern gentlemanly demeanor, it was interesting to hear you talk about the Vice President in this way. You said, quote, there's no one who will work harder no matter what I'm doing that year to beat JD Vance in 2028 You've also previously called the Vice President the most conceited elected official you've ever heard speak and incredibly condescending. Governor, you're known for being able to play nice with just about anybody. So this seems a little personal.

**Andy Beshear** (2:32)
Well, JD Vance looks down on rural America. He did it in his book where he called the people of my state lazy, blame them for poverty, even blame them for the opioid epidemic that has taken so many lives in Kentucky. His administration's policies also look down on rural America. The big ugly bill threatens to close 35 rural hospitals in my state, lay off 20,000 health care workers, kick 200,000 Kentuckians off their coverage and win the largest payroll in a community, shuts down, which is that hospital. The coffee shop closes, the restaurant closes, the bank closes, the insurance company closes. Look at their tariff policy and what it's done to soybean farmers in my state and others. This is a guy that thinks he is better than everyone else, but his policies are certainly the worst we've seen.

**Dasha Burns** (3:22)
Have you talked to Vance in person at all?

**Andy Beshear** (3:25)
I spoke to him many, many years ago. He was an investor in a company in Kentucky. Of all things, me, him and Martha Stewart were in the same room.

**Dasha Burns** (3:35)
Okay, that sounds like the beginning of a joke.

**Andy Beshear** (3:37)
Doesn't it?

**Dasha Burns** (3:39)
The three of you walk into a bar. What did you find at that time when he was obviously in a very different position?

**Andy Beshear** (3:46)
This is a guy who's changed his name multiple times and talks about his childhood as his origin story. JD Vance has reinvented himself multiple times in the pursuit of wealth and of power. So the person that I talked to that day isn't even close to the person that we see in the vice presidency today.

**Dasha Burns** (4:03)
Wow, that's fascinating to hear. I mean, you've said you're concerned that Republicans will put up someone in 2028 who is, quote, more scary and damaging than Trump. Does JD Vance fit that mold in your eyes?

**Andy Beshear** (4:15)
And look at what he is doing around the world. He is insulting our European allies repeatedly. He is flirting with the far right in many of these countries, which is incredibly dangerous. Here at home, he even talked down to our troops when talking to them at Thanksgiving. This is somebody who doesn't listen to anyone, thinks he has all the answers, and that's really dangerous in governing.