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This week on the Blue Dot Podcast, Natalie and Brian cover major developments in Northern Kentucky and national politics. Locally, they discuss the groundbreaking of the $125M Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence and ongoing concerns about transparency. They also unpack the canceled “road diet” on Dixie Highway after public backlash, highlighting the power of community engagement.
With 443 candidates filing across Northern Kentucky, the hosts note rising political energy ahead of the midterms. Nationally, they review primary results, key Senate battlegrounds, and challenges facing both parties.
The episode also explores economic concerns like inflation and gas prices, along with controversy over federal spending and national park funding. They close with a call to action, encouraging listeners to get involved locally and make their voices heard at the ballot box.
SPEAKER_00
Welcome to the Blue Dot, Northern Kentucky's premier political podcast, brought to you by the Kent County Democratic Executive Committee. Welcome back to the Blue Dot Podcast for our weekly roundup where we deliver you all the news you need to know in 10 minutes or less. Thanks for joining. I'm Natalie McDonald.
SPEAKER_01
And I'm Brian Cale. Hey Nat. Just a few things happening in politics on the national and world stages, like another week of drinking from the fire hose. But uh first, uh let's follow up on one of the topics we recently discussed on a podcast.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, we spoke uh with Democratic Senate Representative Matt Lehman about the $125 million Commonwealth Center for Biomedical Excellence. Uh this Thursday, NKY Port, Kenton County, and the universities came together for its groundbreaking.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, that groundbreaking ceremony took place on Thursday, June 11th and is expected to be under construction for at least two years, all taking place right across from the Northern Kentucky Convention Center.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, we're hoping for greater transparency about the project as it progresses. So it'll be really interesting to see how all of this pans out and how much communication goes out to the people of the region.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, let's let's hope it improves because as uh we discussed with uh with Representative Lehman, um, there are some kind of unknowns out there that have some people kind of uh a little nervous. And there's been significant focus in northern Kentucky on infrastructure, including a controversial project that took an unexpected turn this week. Kentucky transportation officials have abandoned plans for a quote road diet, which has got to be one of the worst phrases I've ever heard, that would have narrowed a heavily traveled stretch of Dixie Highway in Boone, Kenton counties. Uh, you know, state officials cited pedestrian safety as the primary reason for the road reconfiguration, which, you know, does make sense and is important, but local residents and businesses pushed back because traffic congestion is already an issue and reducing lanes would only make it worse.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, and this is especially in light of the Brent Spence Bridge construction project that is also going to continue to ramp up and potentially detour traffic through Dixie Highway. And, you know, I just think that so many leaders and residents were just frustrated because they weren't informed about what exactly was planned, and it seemed to just come out of the blue. Um, you know, I I personally don't have a really strong opinion either way. You know, from what I've seen, there are advantages and disadvantages to moving forward with the plan to either make the change or maintain the status quo. But either way, I think people just want it to be informed.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, right. I mean, uh it is a little uh frustrating and scary, some of these really large intersections with multiple four lanes coming together and pedestrians trying to cross. We need to focus on that and make sure, you know, our citizens are safe. But for right now, they're just going to fix the potholes, repave the road, and upgrade some safety measures this summer, and then possibly revisit changes in the future. But I think the takeaway message, as you said here, is that citizens standing up and demanding transparency and accountability works.
SPEAKER_00
It sure does. And I hope the candidates are listening and taking note of that because there are an awful lot of candidates running in the national, state level, county, municipal, and school board races in Campbell counties. I mean, there's a total of get this, Brian, 443 candidates filed to run across Northern Kentucky as of June 4th.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, that's a great turnout, great uh intensity. I mean, it's incredible, and I say it every week. Democrats are fired up, and this intensity is really at no risk, risk of waning as Republicans continue to govern only in the interests of the well-off and the well-connected. I mean, they have no clue about the challenges working families face on a daily basis, just keeping food on the table and gas in the tank. Democrats' laser sharp focus on health care, food prices, jobs, and housing bodes well for local and state races, as well as winning back majorities in both the U.S. House and the Senate this November.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, and especially if President Trump keeps saying things like he did yesterday, and he's saying, I I love the inflation numbers. I don't know if you saw that. He said they're great. I think they're great.
SPEAKER_01
I heard it. I wanted to immediately replay, you know, all the things they were saying about Biden and, you know, inflation when it was at 3.2. But uh anyway, we uh digressed.
SPEAKER_00
Yes. Yes, because nationally we saw another round of primaries this week, so the midterm candidates are sh uh starting to sh take shape nationally as well.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, right. The Democrats are looking pretty good for flipping the House of Representatives to Democratic control, but the Senate is still looking to be a tough battle. To win the Senate majority, Dems need to hold on to their own vulnerable seats in Michigan and Georgia, plus also flip four Republican-held seats.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, it it is going to be tough, but it is definitely possible. The most likely paths are in North Carolina, where there is an empty seat, and in Maine, where long-term incumbent Republican Susan Collins is vulnerable, and then flip at least two more, likely from Ohio or New Hampshire. Um, there's also Texas and Iowa and some other states.
SPEAKER_01
Lot of potential opportunities there. And not to give even a shred of legitimacy to polymarket odds, but they are another data source that political observers keep an eye on. And right now, the polymarket odds are that showing that Democrats have a 65% chance of winning in Maine. It's 50-50 in North Carolina. There's a 71% chance of Democratic success in Michigan, and an 80 to 85% chance of success in Georgia. I have to think general election Republican candidates are going to need to distance themselves from this administration. Case in point, new numbers released last Wednesday show inflation has jumped to 4.2%, and gas prices continued to be up an average of 18% over last year.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, and how many times do we have to be told that Americans vote with their pocketbooks?
SPEAKER_01
Right.
SPEAKER_00
You know, no matter how you look at it, Brian Trump has made living more expensive for the average American. And I I I know that's going to work against Republicans in in the midterm, especially with Trump intensifying this war in Iran, which one day we're a ceasefire, but he's never had a ceasefire, you know?
SPEAKER_01
Yeah.
SPEAKER_00
And he's gone from a few weeks.
SPEAKER_01
It's going to be in a few weeks, and now it's a few days.
SPEAKER_00
Everything's always two days or two weeks.
SPEAKER_01
Right.
SPEAKER_00
You know.
SPEAKER_01
Right.
SPEAKER_00
But uh, you know, none of this is stopping him from doing really, really important things like robbing National Park Service of millions of dollars for his vanity projects.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah. Uh the Trump administration has diverted at least $90 million from the National Park Service's recreation fee account, which is money collected directly from visitor entrance fees and America the Beautiful Passes. He's taking this money to fund his pet projects around D.C.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, and I'm a National Parks geek. I always buy my American The Beautiful Pass. I did not this year because it does he had to put his face on it. So I'll just pay my fees without the pass.
SPEAKER_01
The mayor became America the Ugly pretty fast there, didn't it?
SPEAKER_00
So I want to I want to dig a little deeper into how all of this is being allowed with virtually zero oversight because this redirection of funds is pulling money from our iconic national parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite to just finance Trump's projects despite a massive $24 billion nationwide park maintenance backlog.
SPEAKER_01
Yes, under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, national parks are required to keep at least 80% of their collected entry fees for on-site maintenance. However, the remaining 20% goes into a centralized agency-wide fund. Historically, parks across the country competed for this 20% pot to fix urgent infrastructure like bathrooms and visitor centers. The Trump administration has shifted priorities so that over 90% of this fund's recent contract spending has gone exclusively to his pet projects.
SPEAKER_00
And then we have this Ark of the Trump, which pretty much everyone is protesting, most notably the Veterans Group, because this monstrosity will desecrate the view and entrance of Arlington National Cemetery. It's such a Well Right.
SPEAKER_01
Trump has a long history of disrespecting the troops and veterans, so this is pretty much par for the course. Uh I saw where he's also directing millions to cover bronze horse statues near the Lincoln Memorial with extra thick 23 karat gold. Just what everybody wants, right? You know, we need to pay attention. The ballroom, the arch, painting the pool, protecting pedophiles, the UFC fight arena in the White House's front yard, random gold statues. Hey, everybody, this is your tax money. I mean, if you're not pissed off about this, you should be, especially when at the same time our health care is being taken away, hospitals are closing, deserving people are being kicked off of food benefits, gas and food costs a fortune, and innocent neighbors are being held illegally and abused in private prisons. If you're not actively speaking out and acting out against all these abuses and injustices, I'm sorry, I feel like you're being passively complicit.
SPEAKER_00
Bravo, Brian, 100%. I mean people need to get agitated and take action. At the very least, register your discontent with your vote this November and encourage everyone you know to do the same. Do you want to know who is not asleep at the wheel and taking all this lying down?
SPEAKER_01
I got an idea.
SPEAKER_00
It's the Democrats who are very busy, especially those in northern Kentucky.
SPEAKER_01
Yeah, you got that right. The the Kenton Dems are holding summer canvass season sessions. In fact, there will be two canvassing sessions each month on the second Sunday and fourth Tuesday of each month.
SPEAKER_00
Yeah, they uh will also be holding virtual volunteer training on the second Tuesday of each month through September. And we can't forget about all of the fun events as well. Uh tonight, uh Friday, June 11th, there will be a World Cup 2026 watch party. It'll be USA versus Paraguay at nine o'clock at Molly, Malone's and Cummington. And of course, this month's happy hour will be at the Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club on Thursday, June 18th at 6:30.
SPEAKER_01
That's right, the Ludlow Bromley Yacht Club. Be there or be square. There are so many ways for people to get involved with their local parties by helping to write postcards, phone bank, join our visibility on outreach events, help recruit volunteers. I mean, so get involved because as we always say, change is made in our own backyards.
SPEAKER_00
It sure is, and we will continue to talk about all of this next week because our 10 minutes are up. Until next time, stay curious, keep those facts in focus, and never stop fighting for what matters. Peace out, everybody.
