by Kayla Rogers
From our campus, to Danville, to Frankfort, to Washington D.C., politics can be an overwhelming and inaccessible space–especially within the polarizing times we live in today. Nonetheless, it remains increasingly important that we understand the policies that impact our lives and the lives of people in our community. As such, The Cento will bring you a run-down of the news you need to know–locally and nationally–to stay informed on these topics in this new section: Capitol to Campus.
First, let’s turn the lens at Kentucky politics:
- Emma Curtis, Lexington’s first openly transgender councilwoman, won her race with 52% of the vote against incumbent Brenda Monarrez, who faced harassment allegations. Curtis’s election marks a historic moment as she is believed to be the first transgender person elected to office in Kentucky.
- Governor Andy Beshear’s guest essay titled, “I’m the Governor of Kentucky. Here’s How Democrats Can Win Again,” was published in the New York Times on November 12, 2024. Beshear focused on his unique presence in our red state, championing how he is able to garner support with his democratic policies. The key to democrats winning–according to the governor–is tangible policy changes (creating new jobs, accessible health care, education, and keeping people safe).
- House Democrats elected a new slate of legislative leaders November 21, 2024. Louisville Rep. Pamela Stevenson was unanimously selected to become the new minority floor leader, the highest-ranking post for Democrats in the House. She will become the first Black woman caucus leader in Kentucky’s history.
Now, let’s look at the national level:
- Since Trump’s reelection, he has made several appointments for his cabinet and key advisors. Some appointees are not surprising and have the necessary experience for the jobs they were appointed to, but others are shocking. For example, Matt Gaetz–who is currently being investigated by the House Ethics Committee because of alleged sexual misconduct and has previously been investigated for involvement in sex trafficking–was originally selected as Attorney General. He has since stepped down and Donald Trump has put forward Pam Bondi, a former AG of Florida and one of his lawyers in his first impeachment trial. Many of Trump’s appointees have involvement with Fox News: Pete Hegseth (a former host) for Secretary of Defense, Sean Duffy (also a former host and former GOP congressmen) for Transportation Secretary, and Dr. Janette Nesheiwat (Fox contributor) for Surgeon General. Another notable appointment is Russel Vought to be the Director of Office of Management and Budget who is one of the architects of Project 2025. These are just a few appointments but the core theme is that these are loyalty picks, people who will be committed to Trump. You can find lists of all the appointments online–NPR has a particularly beneficial article titled, “Here’s who Trump has picked as Cabinet members and key advisers.”
These are just a few updates on Kentucky and United States politics to keep you up to date–please do not take this information at face value. Keep doing your research with unbiased sources (AP News, C-Span, USA Today, NPR) and reach out to us at The Cento if there is any news you would like to report on!
Contact me at kayla.rogers@centre.edu