Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, one of the most popular governors in the United States, offers a succinct and specific description of how health insurance cuts and tariffs are devastating rural towns.
More than three dozen rural hospitals are likely to close, he said in a Feb. 10 appearance on the “11th Hour with Stephanie Ruehl.” Those hospitals in many cases are the largest employers in the county. Jobs will be lost. Healthcare services will be harder to access. And the loss of those paychecks will have a ripple effect on diners and shops, the governor noted.
Beshear has a 65 percent approval rating in Kentucky, a state where voters gave 65 percent of the presidential vote in 2024. At this point in time, Beshear is more popular in the Bluegrass State than Trump. (He’s also a dark horse contender for president in 2028.)
Relevant portion starts at the 5:42 mark.
