Bluegrass Politics
@bluegrasspolitics.bsky.social
Kentucky politics news from Lexington Herald-Leader journalists.
Also find our work at @kentucky.com.
Also find our work at @kentucky.com.
Counter-point: We just invested $850,000 in public funds on this giant pinball statue. ^JC
August 22, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Counter-point: We just invested $850,000 in public funds on this giant pinball statue. ^JC
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer,
Chirping robin, budding rose.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer,
Gentle showers, summer clothes.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer —
Whoosh — shiver — there it goes.
- Shel Silverstein ^JC
Here comes summer,
Chirping robin, budding rose.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer,
Gentle showers, summer clothes.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer —
Whoosh — shiver — there it goes.
- Shel Silverstein ^JC
August 13, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer,
Chirping robin, budding rose.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer,
Gentle showers, summer clothes.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer —
Whoosh — shiver — there it goes.
- Shel Silverstein ^JC
Here comes summer,
Chirping robin, budding rose.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer,
Gentle showers, summer clothes.
Here comes summer,
Here comes summer —
Whoosh — shiver — there it goes.
- Shel Silverstein ^JC
"As you read this, they are plotting." ^JC
July 29, 2025 at 1:57 PM
"As you read this, they are plotting." ^JC
Man, the tone of political campaigns sure has changed. Remember when people thought Mitch McConnell was pushing things in 1984 with that bloodhounds ad? ^JC
July 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Man, the tone of political campaigns sure has changed. Remember when people thought Mitch McConnell was pushing things in 1984 with that bloodhounds ad? ^JC
Austerity has consequences: If only we knew someone who had the ear of Kentucky's congressional delegation, which just voted to slash KET's federal funding.
Or who could, alternatively, use their position in Frankfort to increase state funding and make up the difference. ^JC
Or who could, alternatively, use their position in Frankfort to increase state funding and make up the difference. ^JC
July 20, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Austerity has consequences: If only we knew someone who had the ear of Kentucky's congressional delegation, which just voted to slash KET's federal funding.
Or who could, alternatively, use their position in Frankfort to increase state funding and make up the difference. ^JC
Or who could, alternatively, use their position in Frankfort to increase state funding and make up the difference. ^JC
This explains the failure to communicate since 12/10/19: Reading a Kentucky cabinet leader's personnel file, we find a memo that says don't talk to reporters; refer press inquiries to the governor's press secretary.
Once upon a time, we had access to state government offices and officials. ^JC
Once upon a time, we had access to state government offices and officials. ^JC
July 15, 2025 at 8:11 PM
This explains the failure to communicate since 12/10/19: Reading a Kentucky cabinet leader's personnel file, we find a memo that says don't talk to reporters; refer press inquiries to the governor's press secretary.
Once upon a time, we had access to state government offices and officials. ^JC
Once upon a time, we had access to state government offices and officials. ^JC
Whether it’s how the “big, beautiful bill” affects Kentucky or the latest on elections, you can get that and more in our free Bluegrass Politics newsletter.
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July 3, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Whether it’s how the “big, beautiful bill” affects Kentucky or the latest on elections, you can get that and more in our free Bluegrass Politics newsletter.
📩 Sign up here to make sure you don't miss it: www.kentucky.com/newsletters?...
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Kentucky in 1984: Elect Mitch McConnell
Ky in '92: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '96: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '02: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '08: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '14: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '20: Re-elect McConnell
Kentucky today: "How has Mitch McConnell stayed in the Senate so long?!!"
Ky in '92: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '96: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '02: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '08: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '14: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '20: Re-elect McConnell
Kentucky today: "How has Mitch McConnell stayed in the Senate so long?!!"
June 30, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Kentucky in 1984: Elect Mitch McConnell
Ky in '92: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '96: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '02: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '08: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '14: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '20: Re-elect McConnell
Kentucky today: "How has Mitch McConnell stayed in the Senate so long?!!"
Ky in '92: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '96: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '02: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '08: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '14: Re-elect McConnell
Ky in '20: Re-elect McConnell
Kentucky today: "How has Mitch McConnell stayed in the Senate so long?!!"
Bluesky ain't nothin' but Twitter spelled in reverse: When this is your response to child abuse ... ^JC
June 18, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Bluesky ain't nothin' but Twitter spelled in reverse: When this is your response to child abuse ... ^JC
When you lose Catturd ... ^JC
June 6, 2025 at 6:31 PM
When you lose Catturd ... ^JC
When Trump's protective inner circle wouldn't grant The Atlantic magazine access to him for an interview, the journalists called Trump on his cell phone, which he answered, apparently while watching TV. ^JC
April 28, 2025 at 6:40 PM
When Trump's protective inner circle wouldn't grant The Atlantic magazine access to him for an interview, the journalists called Trump on his cell phone, which he answered, apparently while watching TV. ^JC
The future sounds more terrifying with each passing day. ^JC
April 23, 2025 at 1:10 PM
The future sounds more terrifying with each passing day. ^JC
Number of U.S. newspaper references to "Trump" and "tariffs" in the six months prior to the Nov. 5, 2024, election: 8,878, led by The New York Times with 647.
Source: Lexis/Nexis
Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Source: Lexis/Nexis
Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen.
April 2, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Number of U.S. newspaper references to "Trump" and "tariffs" in the six months prior to the Nov. 5, 2024, election: 8,878, led by The New York Times with 647.
Source: Lexis/Nexis
Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Source: Lexis/Nexis
Just because you didn't see it doesn't mean it didn't happen.
Sen. Mitch McConnell issues a statement on the terrible earthquake in Myanmar that almost sounds like a criticism of Trump dismantling U.S. AID, the agency that once responded to things like terrible earthquakes. ^JC
April 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Sen. Mitch McConnell issues a statement on the terrible earthquake in Myanmar that almost sounds like a criticism of Trump dismantling U.S. AID, the agency that once responded to things like terrible earthquakes. ^JC
New GOP Senate campaign fundraiser from Daniel Cameron bashes "left-wing, activist judges" who rule against Trump, pledges to be a "true believer" who will never oppose Trump himself, unlike his former mentor, Sen. Mitch McConnell. ^JC
March 27, 2025 at 7:49 PM
New GOP Senate campaign fundraiser from Daniel Cameron bashes "left-wing, activist judges" who rule against Trump, pledges to be a "true believer" who will never oppose Trump himself, unlike his former mentor, Sen. Mitch McConnell. ^JC
As the Ky Leg 2025 session reaches its final two days, it's time for the annual "thank you" to people who help keep Kentuckians in the loop: LRC staffers and - although we're all supposed to hate public broadcasting now for some reason - KET. ^JC
March 27, 2025 at 1:03 PM
As the Ky Leg 2025 session reaches its final two days, it's time for the annual "thank you" to people who help keep Kentuckians in the loop: LRC staffers and - although we're all supposed to hate public broadcasting now for some reason - KET. ^JC
Kentucky Senate passes HB 520, weakening the Ky Open Records Act to shield law enforcement records. First, it withdrew Senate committee substitute introduced yesterday. ^JC
March 14, 2025 at 10:45 PM
Kentucky Senate passes HB 520, weakening the Ky Open Records Act to shield law enforcement records. First, it withdrew Senate committee substitute introduced yesterday. ^JC
R.I.P. to retired U.S. Sen. Alan K. Simpson, R-Wyoming, age 93.
In 2006, we interviewed Simpson about asking rich donors for cash. He said it felt degrading to him, but GOP colleague Mitch McConnell loved doing it.
"When he asked for money, his eyes would shine like diamonds," Simpson said. ^JC
In 2006, we interviewed Simpson about asking rich donors for cash. He said it felt degrading to him, but GOP colleague Mitch McConnell loved doing it.
"When he asked for money, his eyes would shine like diamonds," Simpson said. ^JC
March 14, 2025 at 7:02 PM
R.I.P. to retired U.S. Sen. Alan K. Simpson, R-Wyoming, age 93.
In 2006, we interviewed Simpson about asking rich donors for cash. He said it felt degrading to him, but GOP colleague Mitch McConnell loved doing it.
"When he asked for money, his eyes would shine like diamonds," Simpson said. ^JC
In 2006, we interviewed Simpson about asking rich donors for cash. He said it felt degrading to him, but GOP colleague Mitch McConnell loved doing it.
"When he asked for money, his eyes would shine like diamonds," Simpson said. ^JC
HB 520, the bill weakening the Ky Open Records Act to shield law enforcement records, has an attached "local gov't mandate" that notes it will make life easier for police by cutting back on the burden of their having to respond to the public's open records requests.
Good news for them, anyway. ^JC
Good news for them, anyway. ^JC
March 14, 2025 at 1:50 PM
HB 520, the bill weakening the Ky Open Records Act to shield law enforcement records, has an attached "local gov't mandate" that notes it will make life easier for police by cutting back on the burden of their having to respond to the public's open records requests.
Good news for them, anyway. ^JC
Good news for them, anyway. ^JC
Kentucky House gives final passage to HB 398, rolling back state workplace safety standards at request of Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. A veto from Gov. Beshear is likely (as is veto override) since his labor secretary opposes the bill. ^JC
March 13, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Kentucky House gives final passage to HB 398, rolling back state workplace safety standards at request of Kentucky Chamber of Commerce. A veto from Gov. Beshear is likely (as is veto override) since his labor secretary opposes the bill. ^JC
Wild ride: Senate State and Local Gov't Committee just briefly killed HB 520, weakening state's open records law, by failing to pass it - and then Sen. Greg Elkins flipped from "no" to "yes" to send the bill to the Senate floor. ^JC
March 13, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Wild ride: Senate State and Local Gov't Committee just briefly killed HB 520, weakening state's open records law, by failing to pass it - and then Sen. Greg Elkins flipped from "no" to "yes" to send the bill to the Senate floor. ^JC
Kentucky Senate approves HB 398, to weaken state workplace safety standards so they're no stronger than federal standards. Bill was altered in Senate, so it goes back to House for concurrence (or not). ^JC
March 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Kentucky Senate approves HB 398, to weaken state workplace safety standards so they're no stronger than federal standards. Bill was altered in Senate, so it goes back to House for concurrence (or not). ^JC
Kentucky House overwhelmingly approves Senate Bill 89, to allow pollution in more water sources. Bill is backed by coal industry and other business and development groups, opposed by environmentalists and state regulators.
March 12, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Kentucky House overwhelmingly approves Senate Bill 89, to allow pollution in more water sources. Bill is backed by coal industry and other business and development groups, opposed by environmentalists and state regulators.
Kentucky House passes HB 398, a business-backed bill that would weaken worker safety protections by rolling back state workplace standards to mirror OSHA rules. ^JC
February 26, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Kentucky House passes HB 398, a business-backed bill that would weaken worker safety protections by rolling back state workplace standards to mirror OSHA rules. ^JC
Sen. Mitch McConnell on protégé Nate Morris, 2004: "Everybody knows Nate ... Nate is the kind of kid you remember because he seems to be so sincere and so dedicated to the cause, he kind of stands out. It's obvious that it's an important part of his life."
Two decades later ... ^JC
Two decades later ... ^JC
February 13, 2025 at 9:48 PM
Sen. Mitch McConnell on protégé Nate Morris, 2004: "Everybody knows Nate ... Nate is the kind of kid you remember because he seems to be so sincere and so dedicated to the cause, he kind of stands out. It's obvious that it's an important part of his life."
Two decades later ... ^JC
Two decades later ... ^JC