Overview of Andy Beshear On What Democrats Need to Change
In this Crooked Media interview, Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear discusses his new book, Go and Do Likewise: How We Heal a Broken Country, and makes the case that Democrats need to be more pragmatic, more urgent, and more focused on everyday problems that affect all Americans. The conversation ranges from faith and the Good Samaritan parable to housing, food insecurity, broadband, campaign strategy, the 2024 election map, and the increasingly dehumanizing rhetoric of Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, and their allies.
Core Message: “Neighborliness” as a Political Value
Beshear frames his book around the Good Samaritan story: the true moral lesson is not just compassion, but refusing to walk past people in need.
Main takeaway
- He argues that in a moment of deep division, politics should be about seeing people as neighbors rather than enemies.
- He contrasts that with Trump-era politics, which he says relies on “us vs. you people” thinking and dehumanization.
- Beshear says Democrats should apply faith-based values by helping people materially, not just rhetorically.
What Democrats Need to Change
Beshear is blunt that Democrats are often too slow, too bureaucratic, and too ideological.
His biggest critiques of the party
- Too much process, not enough urgency
He says Democrats often create programs that are so rule-heavy and slow-moving that help arrives too late, if it arrives at all. - Too much ideology, not enough pragmatism
He wants a party that is easier for more people to join. - Too much insider language
He says Democrats can sound preachy or like they are talking at people rather than to them. - Too little focus on results
His view is that people care more about whether their lives get better than whether a policy is perfectly designed.
His “80-100 rule”
Beshear says he spends:
- 80% of his time on issues that matter to 100% of people
- Things like jobs, health care, roads, schools, housing, and public safety
Policy Priorities He Says Democrats Should Emphasize
Beshear repeatedly returns to practical kitchen-table issues.
Food insecurity
- He says Kentucky lost food benefits for 25,000 children because of the “big, ugly bill,” leaving more kids hungry.
- He sees hunger as a moral failure and a policy failure.
Health care
- He argues everyone should be able to see a doctor when they’re sick.
- He points to opening the first pediatric autism center in Appalachia as an example of government solving a real access problem.
Housing affordability
- He says overregulation and NIMBYism have slowed housing construction.
- His suggested fix:
- Increase funding
- Use public dollars to leverage private investment
- Tie federal money to the speed of breaking ground
- He says the average age of first-time homeownership is now around 40, which he sees as a major threat to the American dream.
Broadband / infrastructure
- He criticizes the Biden-era “Internet for All” rollout for being too slow and too burdened by red tape.
- His argument: if a need is urgent, government should move fast and audit later rather than trying to perfect everything before any action happens.
Why Beshear Thinks He’s Been Successful in Kentucky
Beshear says his success in a red state comes from being disciplined, relatable, and visibly effective.
His three-part approach
- Focus on universal needs
- Roads, schools, health care, wages, housing, safety
- Talk like a normal person
- Avoids jargon and advocacy-speak
- Explain the “why”
- He thinks authenticity matters more than a list of positions
His broader argument
- Governors have an advantage because voters can see concrete results.
- He believes his record helps counter skepticism about Democrats more than messaging alone.
Campaign Strategy and the 2024 Map
As chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Beshear outlines where Democrats are competitive.
States he says are in play
- Likely/probable Democratic wins: incumbents like Katie Hobbs and Tina Kotek
- Protecting Democratic governors: Wisconsin, Michigan, Kansas
- Flip opportunities: Ohio, Nevada, Iowa, Georgia
- Later-cycle opportunities: Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Florida
Texas fundraising debate
- He addresses criticism that the DGA should spend more in Texas.
- His response: Texas is expensive, came into play later, and is also a state where donors can contribute directly to candidates.
On the Ramaswamy Ad and Political Dehumanization
A major segment focuses on the controversial ad tied to Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio, involving the abuse of Amy Acton’s mother and childhood trauma.
Beshear’s view
- He calls the ad “revolting” and says it is beyond normal politics.
- He argues Trump and Vance normalize a moral double standard:
- If something is done to “their side,” it’s unacceptable
- If it’s done to Democrats, they excuse it
- He says this kind of politics dehumanizes people and makes cruelty seem acceptable.
What he says the left should learn
- He warns Democrats not to mirror that cruelty.
- He wants the country to reject this era as an aberration, not accept it as the new normal.
Beshear on Trump, Vance, and the Right-Wing Culture of Cruelty
Beshear argues that Trump didn’t create toxic politics from nothing, but he amplified a preexisting appetite for dominance politics.
His broader point
- There is real demand in the culture for dehumanizing politics.
- Public leaders give permission for ordinary people to speak and act worse.
- He cites former Kentucky governor Matt Bevin as a local precursor to Trump-style politics.
Mitch McConnell, Institutional Breakdown, and Reform
The interview also touches on Senator Mitch McConnell’s absence and broader concerns about government dysfunction.
Beshear’s concerns
- He says there are serious questions about McConnell’s capacity to do the job.
- He argues McConnell helped break the Senate by bending rules for partisan gain.
Structural reforms he supports
- Term limits for Congress and the Supreme Court
- Outlawing partisan gerrymandering
- Overturning Citizens United
- Banning stock trading by certain public officials
He frames these as constitutional-amendment-level fixes for a broken system.
Beshear’s Political Identity and 2028 Speculation
Beshear does not announce any presidential plans, but the topic comes up.
His response
- He says he has no announcement to make.
- He emphasizes that the book is not a traditional autobiography or campaign launch.
- He says he wrote it to show how faith and public service guide him.
Closing Message: What He Wants People to Do Now
Beshear’s final advice is practical and civic-minded.
His call to action
- Volunteer
- Phone bank
- Knock doors
- Help get people to the polls
He argues that online engagement matters less than real-world turnout and local organizing.
Notable Quote / Framing
“Clicks don’t equal votes unless you actually get those people to the polls.”
He closes by saying this election could be a historic rebuke of Donald Trump if Democrats and allies mobilize effectively.