Who will Replace Sen. McConnell as Leader of the Republicans in the U.S. Senate? CNN Contributor Scott Jennings Gives us His Thoughts and Much More.

[00:00:00] . Welcome back to the Political Life podcast. We are glad to be here and we have a great guest for you today. We have Scott Jennings from Run Switch PR, and I am going to turn it over to my star co-host, Maggie Mick. Maggie, how are you? I'm great.

[00:00:33] I'm glad to be podcasting from home. Yes, I bet you are. Especially in our... And how appropriate for today's episode. Maggie, take it over. Thank you. Well, I am pleased to also welcome Scott Jennings onto today's episode.

[00:00:50] He is down I-64 in Louisville, I presume, today and I'm sitting in Lexington, Kentucky. So Jim always likes to kick off and say which state we're in. And today we're actually at home, which is very nice in Kentucky.

[00:01:07] Scott, you know, he's the founding principal of Run Switch PR like Jim said, but he's also a CNN contributor and commentator and he is a real podcaster, I like to say. I'm a baby podcaster.

[00:01:23] He has Fly Over Country that he produces each week with a wonderful collection of friends and colleagues and weigh in on the big topics of the day. So we're thrilled to have you and thank you, Scott, for joining us today. Maggie, good to hear your voice as always.

[00:01:42] Jim, good to see you, sir. Proud to be on your show today. This will be fun. Two Kentuckians and one whatever Jim is it'll be. It's not fair. I think if it was fair, we'd have two from Connecticut and one from Kentucky or maybe a half from Kentucky.

[00:01:56] Well, you're keeping your basketball coach, I saw today. You're going to keep your basketball coach. We are very, very big news here. And since this is not airing today, I didn't mention it, but Dan Hurley was just

[00:02:07] announced on ESPN that he has turned down the Lakers, a 70 million dollar contract and decided to stay in Connecticut. So we are very excited. Yeah. And excited that he didn't go to Kentucky either. So I know, I know, I know we're not great at keeping basketball coaches

[00:02:22] around here right now, but we're looking things are looking up for Louisville in Kentucky this year. Hopefully they are. Yes, indeed. Mark Pope just bought a house about a mile North of me. I'm pointing in that direction.

[00:02:34] So man, as tall as he is, you ought to be able to see him from your back deck. It'll be true. Well, we really, you know, when we relaunched the podcast a couple months ago now, we really wanted to bring forward friends and colleagues

[00:02:49] who had expertise on the story of the day. And there is probably no bigger story. I think in Washington this year, aside from the presidential election, then the retirement of leader Mitch McConnell and his decide his decision.

[00:03:07] He's not retiring, but his decision to step down from his long held post. And Scott is a former McConnell acolyte. Long time now. You've now gone on to do incredible things. You did incredible things during your time with him and had a post with President Bush as well.

[00:03:27] But I really wanted to focus in on not only your career as one of his mentees, but his his time in the Senate and the leadership post that he's held for so many decades. So it would be great to start with you and where your career started

[00:03:47] in your time with Leader McConnell, just for our viewers or listeners, just where where did you first meet the senator and what was your role with him? Yeah, well, I first met him when I was in the summer between my junior and senior year of high school.

[00:04:04] Now I'm from Dawson Springs, Kentucky, small town. And I got into the governor scholars program here in Kentucky, which they take these high school kids. And that same summer, one of his daughters was also there. And so was Andy Beshear, our current governor, by the way.

[00:04:21] So it was it was a political summer at GSP. But back then, I wasn't political. I was just just a kid. And so but I knew I was going to be a Republican. And so I met Mitch McConnell for the first time.

[00:04:32] And he doesn't remember this, but I do. And I introduced myself to him and I said, I'm Scott Jennings. I'm from Dawson Springs. And I'm I'm I'm a Republican. I'm for you. And he says, oh, a Republican from Dawson Springs. Now I really have met everybody.

[00:04:49] And so from there, I went and applied to be a McConnell scholar at the University of Louisville, which I was able to get. He doesn't pick them, but I was able to get it. And then for four years at UofL,

[00:05:02] I had the greatest experience as a McConnell scholar. You know, they bring in all these speakers. You get to go on these international trips. You really do get an education beyond your normal college degree education. I mean, I don't think there's really anybody outside

[00:05:16] of the Ivy League exposing students to what they get at the McConnell Center anywhere else in the country. It's really incredible. But during that time, I had also become a reporter. I was a radio broadcaster at WHAS Radio in Louisville, Kentucky.

[00:05:31] And I thought I was going to be a journalist and that was going to be my career. But in the spring of 2000, right before I was due to graduate, McConnell calls me up on the phone one day and asks me,

[00:05:44] when are you going to get off the sidelines and get into the game? I'll spare you all my lengthy McConnell impression, but that's what he said. And he was recruiting me at the time to become part of then Texas Governor George W.

[00:05:56] Bush's campaign. It was my first campaign. I said yes. And from there, the rest is history. I did that campaign. I did McConnell's 2002 race. I worked on McConnell's campaign in 2008 and then in 14 and in 20, I had some I did work on the outside.

[00:06:15] I was part of the independent expenditure group that supported Senator McConnell. So I've really been with him. I always have been with him since I was, you know, 17 years old in some ways. And I really do owe him a lot. He is my mentor.

[00:06:30] His wife, Secretary Elaine Chao, is also a mentor and has been very important and helpful to me in my career. So the McConnell's really did pluck this obscure, you know, son of a garbage man from Dawson Springs, Kentucky, and gave him a life and gave him a career.

[00:06:47] And I'll I'll be forever grateful and I'll never forget it. So in terms of your time with him and knowing that he has mentored dozens, if not hundreds of staff, what do you think that his greatest gift has been in terms of a leadership lesson or professional

[00:07:11] tip? Like, what do you think collectively you all learned from him that has led so many of you on to so many kind of diverse but successful paths? Well, I think the number one lesson that he passes on and he talks about having learned this lesson himself

[00:07:29] is the lesson of focus. You know, get focused on a goal and then do not stop trying to achieve that goal. But he talks about focus. He mentions it in his book that he wrote The Long Game. But this idea that you have to decide where you're going

[00:07:46] and where you want to go and then getting focused on the steps that you have to take and not getting sidetracked by sort of distractions, you know, emotional, you know, baggage. You know, in politics, it's easy to get emotional about things

[00:08:00] and, you know, people attack you and you can really get bogged down. With a lot of distractions. And the thing you learn from Mitch McConnell is focus. What are we trying to do and what do we have to do to get there?

[00:08:13] And he puts that into practice in his own life, whether he's trying to pass a bill, whether they're trying to win a political campaign. You know, I think about the perseverance and focus he showed during the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation back in 2018. Everybody was giving up on that thing.

[00:08:30] And he was so focused on getting it done and they did get it done. And I just I look at his career and I think about the amount of focus that was required to win a Senate seat in 1984 in Kentucky, of all places,

[00:08:44] and to accomplish some of the things he's done to become the leader. So that's the thing I draw on, honestly, is focus. And when I feel like in my own career, my own life, things are off the rails, I just take a deep breath.

[00:08:55] And I think I just got to focus like what where am I going? How do I get there? What focus is required to do that? It's been a great lesson. And in terms of the decision that you made at some point after all of these cycles,

[00:09:10] you've done a lot of different things in your career. What were some of the questions you asked yourself or, you know, starting a firm is a huge risk. Most consultancies go under, you know, what went into your decision making?

[00:09:24] What, you know, what were those triggers for you to make some big career moves yourself? Well, coming out of the Bush White House at the end of the second term, you know, I knew I wanted to come back to Kentucky.

[00:09:37] And it seemed like a good time to do it. And I also knew that I had all the skills set that I had built up from my time in politics and campaigns that I thought might be applicable

[00:09:51] in the private world because I had heard of and seen other people do it. I thought I could do it. So I actually joined an agency before I started my own. And I learned a lot at that. And but most importantly, I met some people there

[00:10:05] who were in the same position I was. My two partners, Steve Bryant and Gary Gurdiman. We realized during our time there that we had we thought we could do it a little better. And we thought we could do it in a way that better suited our work style.

[00:10:24] And so we decided to start our own firm. We started it in the summer of 2012. At the same time, I was starting that firm. I was had taken a something of a sabbatical to go work for Mitt Romney for president. So I was doing two things at once.

[00:10:39] And and Gary and Steve and I launched this thing. And it's really been a blessing ever since we launched it in a coffee shop at a bar and a coffee shop. And we worked out of there for a while. And then, you know, you steadily build yourself up.

[00:10:53] We got an office. We got a few staff and we got some more. Now we have like 25 staffers. And it's really been an amazing journey. It's hard to own a business and it's hard to have partners. You know, I mean, Gary and Steve and I, I consider them

[00:11:08] like my brothers. But like any family, you know, you do go through pains vision making and growing pains and, you know, I want to do this. They want to do that. And so but I consider all that to be extremely valuable.

[00:11:21] You know, you learn a lot about each other during these things. And ultimately, we've been able to run a very, very good business. And some of the lessons we've learned over the years about management and budgeting and overhead versus, you know, revenues and expenses like it.

[00:11:39] Yeah, I didn't go to business school. I'm a political science major. So I learned it on the fly, but I wouldn't have had it any other way than to do it with Gary and Steve. It's it's been a lot of fun.

[00:11:49] Scott, I was going to ask you, why did you decide that you wanted or you said you knew you wanted to go back to Kentucky? You obviously loved DC and love being part of that community. What made you want to go back to Kentucky? Well, I'm from here.

[00:12:03] You know, I grew up in Dawson Springs. I went to University of Louisville and it's just it's been my home. And I like my time in DC, but I never believed I was going to be not a Kentuckian.

[00:12:17] No offense to anyone who has moved away and not come back. But part of the McConnell Center training, actually part of the McConnell Center ethos is that you they're trying to to give these these full scholarships to these students who intend to be in Kentucky,

[00:12:34] to be Kentuckians, to be part of Kentucky's, you know, civic life. And it just was it was just what I always imagined that I would do. And I love it here. I live in Prospect in Oldham County now.

[00:12:48] I love it out here in the, you know, in the semi country. And but I love my state. I love our people. It's been a great place to raise a family. And I've this is what I intended to do. And it's and I'm really glad for it.

[00:13:04] That having been said, I spent a ton of time in D.C. I spent a ton of time in New York City and I spent a lot of time on the road. So part of my itch for being there, being other places,

[00:13:15] is scratched by the nature of the professional commitments that I have. But home base, the better commute. Right. No, no, no, no. The commute to Washington. Oh, it can't be. No, I mean, it kind of keeps it interesting. Like I commute to my firm in D.C.,

[00:13:31] but then I get to come home and live in Lexington. I feel very, very fortunate to be able to do that. Yeah. I mean, it's this home base. Right. I mean, this is home base. My family is here and my firm is here.

[00:13:43] All of our most of our employees are here. A couple aren't. But most you know, this is home base. And honestly, since covid, I actually think a lot of people have learned that, you know, you can you can be in a lot of different places at once

[00:13:59] and still have your home base. And so I feel like the world is now even more accommodating to what it was I was trying to accomplish than even it used to be, which is, you know, have a home base, but also feel like you're part of communities elsewhere.

[00:14:13] Something larger. Have you seen any friends that decided to raise children in Washington leave since covid? We've seen a little bit of an exodus of some of our friends that had held on and raised the kids there, but are starting to.

[00:14:27] Since covid, go to Florida or more into Virginia or go home. Yes, certainly have known some people that have moved also know some people who actively made the choice not to go that they decided to stay where they were. And, you know, one of them in the relationship,

[00:14:44] you know, may actually work most of the week in Washington. So absolutely. A lot of people. I feel like a lot of people are learning the value of a hometown, you know, the like what is the meaning of that to somebody?

[00:14:59] And and I certainly know the value of it coming from where I did at home and where I live now. I think a lot a lot of people are learning that. And it's you know, it's becoming very meaningful word for people, a hometown identity.

[00:15:13] And and yeah, I do know some folks who who've learned that lesson. So in terms of Leader McConnell's legacy, what do you think for Kentuckians they will remember most about his time in the Senate and his leadership? And what do you think folks in Washington, D.C.

[00:15:33] or around the country will remember most? Well, you you asked the question the right way because it really is two different audiences. You know, we know in Kentucky, Mitch McConnell as our senior senator and all that that entails for Kentucky.

[00:15:46] I mean, the first and foremost issue is that it has allowed Kentucky to punch above its weight. I mean, we're a small rural state. We only have six members of Congress. You know, we're not Texas, we're not New York, we're not California.

[00:15:57] We don't have huge delegations that can command whatever they want. So having Mitch McConnell as the Senate Republican leader being part of leadership for as long as he has been, has just let the state punch above its.

[00:16:12] Ask anybody at the universities, you know, ask the people at the. Grass Army Depot over in Richmond, ask the people at the gaseous diffusion plant down in Paducah, you know, ask the agriculture community, you know, ask the people who wanted the Brent Spence Bridge,

[00:16:26] you know, for all those years. And you think about some of the things that Kentucky's been able to get. It's it doesn't happen if not but for Mitch McConnell's seniority and leadership position. So that's number one. Number two, I do think Kentucky appreciates when one of her people

[00:16:46] becomes nationally prominent. You know, I think his leadership position has been a source of pride for a lot of Kentuckians. It's pretty unusual for Kentucky to have somebody at that level of politics. When you think about the Mount Rushmore of Kentucky politics, you know, it's Abraham Lincoln,

[00:17:06] you know, Henry Clay, Alvin Barkley and Mitch McConnell. I mean, that mean that's the level of history I think we're dealing with here. And I do think there is some appreciation for it and some respect for it, even from people who have been his political opponents or his

[00:17:23] detractors over the years. The longevity is incredible. I mean, he's the longest serving senator in the history of Kentucky. He's the longest serving leader of either party in the United States Senate. And these are not easy jobs to get and to hold on to,

[00:17:37] given how, you know, the violent undulations in our politics over the year. So the skill level required to do it, I think, is pretty incredible and will also be remembered. But I think his legacy in Kentucky is one of delivery.

[00:17:51] And I think his legacy in Washington is going to be one of steady hand. I mean, you've seen just constant, you know, violent undulations in our politics inside the Republican Party. And he just has been a steady hand that has allowed, you know, government to continue to function,

[00:18:11] you know, with at least one adult in the room. And that adult is Mitch McConnell. I say this all the time. We're going to miss him when he's gone. You know, we're going to miss him when he's gone.

[00:18:21] And but he's got a couple of years left on this term, even though, as you pointed out, he's stepping down from his leadership position. He's got a couple of years left. And he hasn't announced whether he's running for reelection.

[00:18:30] But whenever that day comes that he's no longer in the Senate, we're going to we're going to miss him, not just Kentucky, but Washington is going to miss him. Scott, you've had just looking at and encourage people to check out your LinkedIn page. Some of your jobs.

[00:18:46] It's just quite incredible. Is there one that stands out as the most interesting for you? Well, the best jobs I ever had, I say this all the time, were in radio. I loved being in radio when I was a kid, when I was a teenager.

[00:19:04] My first job was as a radio dish jockey in Western Kentucky, country music dish jockey. But I also got to do the news. I got to do the weather. I got to do the sports. And it was like the greatest job. You made no money.

[00:19:15] But then when I went to college, I went to the radio station, the big one in Louisville, and I asked for a job. They gave me a job in the marketing department. I hated it. I went down the hallway and begged the news director

[00:19:25] Brian Rublin, an early mentor of mine, for a job. He let me try out. And then he hired me as a news reporter. I loved it. I loved it every day being on the air and doing that. So I love those jobs.

[00:19:39] They were interesting and they were fun. Today, the CNN job, which I am now I just am passing my seventh anniversary with CNN, which is an incredible thing. I didn't know how long it was going to last when I got it.

[00:19:54] But it has been a lot of fun. And CNN has been an amazing employer. And, you know, I get asked all the time, you know, by my Republican friends and family back home about how it works. And I'll tell you this, I've never been told what to say.

[00:20:09] I've never been told to censor myself. I've never been told to take a position that I didn't agree with. All I've ever been told is to comment on the news of the day based on my personal values and my personal experience. Period. That's it.

[00:20:22] Those are the only instructions I've ever gotten. And so given that freedom to comment on things has been a real blessing. I mean, I'm the Republican commentator on there, but I also take my responsibility as middle America commentator very seriously.

[00:20:38] A lot of folks who are in this business live in D.C., live in New York. They're on the coast. They're not in middle America, and I am. And so I take my responsibility as kind of a middle America voice

[00:20:50] as seriously as I take my responsibility as a conservative commentator. And and CNN, I think, has seen the value in that. And it's been a it's been a terrific relationship. And I'm really looking forward to this presidential campaign.

[00:21:01] The last time we had one, it was kind of weird. We're all in our little boxes in our studios. But now, you know, we're going to have a real campaign with real events. We're all going to both conventions. We got CNN debate coming up June 27th.

[00:21:13] So this is going to be a real campaign and a real chance to do some great work with with a great network. And I'm proud to be there. And just for so CNN obviously has, you know, many choices when it comes to choosing online contributors,

[00:21:30] you know, on air contributors. How did that come about? Great question. And in 2016, I started doing some cable when Fox News brought Britt Hume out of retirement sort of abruptly around Labor Day. I wasn't working on the presidential campaign that year,

[00:21:47] but I knew a guy who knew Britt Hume's team and they needed somebody to come on and do some polling analysis. I agreed to do it at a great experience. I actually did quite a bit on Fox during the 2016 presidential. I stuck with that through the inaugural.

[00:22:03] And then in the spring of 2017, someone from CNN called me and asked me if I'd be willing to come on the air for a few nights. I didn't have an exclusive deal with Fox. I said yes.

[00:22:16] And the first night I was ever on the air was on the Anderson Cooper show and they put me up against Paul Bagala. So it's like, come on over and try out. And oh, by the way, we're going to put you up

[00:22:26] against our best Democratic puncher, you know. And we just had a great experience. And it was really a couple of weeks later that they asked if I'd be willing to be a contributor. I think at that time, I don't think well, look,

[00:22:39] I don't think anybody in the media expected Trump to win. And so and I certainly you know, once that happened, I think they were looking for voices who could, you know, sort of give some perspective on what happened. And, you know, for me, Republican middle America guy,

[00:22:53] you know, coming from the part of the country that really revolted against the the institutional elites at that time, I made some sense. But but they have been so good to continue to let me learn this and flourish and be part of the team.

[00:23:09] And that's that's where it started. And where I am now, I'm senior political contributor. And I, you know, I go up against David Axelrod and Van Jones and still Paul Bagala, who's still out there punching and

[00:23:22] and analyze and debate the news of the day on a on a regular basis and on the big nights. But there's no debate. There is no debate in those conversations. That's what I very much appreciate that they have you on those panels and a member of that team.

[00:23:38] I I appreciate the conversations that are had in such respectful manner. I just very much appreciated that in the last four years. This is the great thing about CNN. If you want to listen to people that have different points of view, hash it out. That's what we're doing.

[00:23:59] They're not doing that over on Fox, really. They're not doing it over on MSNBC. I mean, CNN is is trying to have conversations and with people that have a good grounding of personal and professional experience in order to have those conversations.

[00:24:15] And so I mean, obviously, if you watch the panels, you know, you'll see. I mean, my viewpoint is often the minority viewpoint. But but it is had. And I do have the space to debate. And the team we have assembled, I think we like each other.

[00:24:31] We get along with each other. We respect each other. And I think that comes through on the air. And so when you asked me earlier, Jim, you know, which of these jobs is most interesting or fun? My the relationships I've built with David Axelrod and Van Jones

[00:24:47] and Paul Buggala and some of these guys. This has been some of the most interesting conversations and relationships I've ever had with people that I would never have had a chance to meet or be part of their life

[00:24:58] or have them be part of mine, if not but for this job at CNN. So I'd have to say that it's been a really unique and valuable thing to have contacts, you know, in the other party. And it gives you a real perspective about, you know,

[00:25:11] why why people of a different political persuasion may be seeing things differently than you. Well, I suspect that, sorry. Sorry, Maggie, then I'll hand it off to you. I suspect that that first night that CNN put you on with with Paul

[00:25:26] Balaga, it was a it was an interview unbeknownst to you. And clearly you knocked it out of the park because, you know, you're being very low key, but clearly you did a very good job because they could get anybody they wanted to be their on air commentator.

[00:25:43] So, you know, you anybody who's seen you on the air knows how quite talented you are, and I just think that's great. So well, you're kind of you're kind to say that I will just at the risk

[00:25:55] of of overemphasizing it, having people on the air as good as Paul and as good as Axe and as good as Van and some. I mean, it makes a huge difference. I mean, you know, when you when you step onto a panel with those guys,

[00:26:13] you get set up a little straighter, you know, think a little harder. I mean, you know, these are smart guys, OK? Like they're there. They're there. They're not there to mess around. And so if you don't show up and bring your bring your a game,

[00:26:25] they're going to eat your lunch. And so did you spend more time preparing for that interview than you did for this interview? No, no, I knew I knew you and Maggie were going to drag me. This appearance was good. You knew this appearance was going to be tough.

[00:26:40] I mean, I've known Maggie for a long time. I mean, she's like low key. She'll come get you in one of these. You don't you don't show up ready to play. So I'm prepared. I was going to ask if you had a relationship with Alice Stewart.

[00:26:53] Yeah, I did. Alice, thank you for bringing up Alice. Alice and I knew each other for a long time, both as political operatives and then as CNN contributor. She had actually joined the network, I think, in 2016 year before I did.

[00:27:08] And we were really close, you know, as the two sort of conservative, you know, middle America people on there. You know, we spent a lot of time trading notes. I was able during, you know, our relationship burgeoned over the years.

[00:27:22] I did this fellowship at the Harvard Institute of Politics once. I recommended Alice to it. She did it the next semester and was so successful at it. They put her on the board of it. I mean, she did so well.

[00:27:34] And we just had that kind of a relationship where we really respected each other and appreciated what we were both mutually trying to do. When news that she died. It didn't seem real for several days. I mean, it just doesn't seem possible.

[00:27:51] I mean, Alice was this marathon runner. She's a picture of health, vitality and just, you know, into everything. And we were all and really, honestly, a few weeks later, we're all still in shock about it. No one can quite believe what happened. And we miss her greatly.

[00:28:06] And she meant a lot to a lot of people. She was like the main person at CNN who was constantly reaching her hand out to Democrats saying, how can we have better conversations? How can we make this more civil? How can we make this more

[00:28:21] civil discourse a reality? And and and we're going to miss it. If you looked at any of the coverage of it in Washington or talked to anybody in Washington, everybody had an Alice story about how she did something nice for them or they had some pleasant

[00:28:35] encounter with her. I mean, the fact of the matter is she was just a nice person who was pleasant to be around, who was a smart, talented professional who did a really good job at the things that she was able to do in her life.

[00:28:49] And we miss her greatly. I know her family misses her. And so we're we're going to be feeling that one for a long time. Thanks. Thanks for bringing that up. Of course. She had an important voice on the network.

[00:29:01] She did. So in 2021, you and I were sitting in Scottsdale. And we were talking about the 24 election. You were kind enough to come out and talk to a number of legislative leaders from around the country. And you said, fool me once. Shame on me only twice.

[00:29:18] I will not be fooled again. And you said that day that Trump would be the nominee in 24 and no one really believed it in 21. It seems so far away now. You said that you said, Mark my words. And I will never forget that.

[00:29:32] And I believed it after you said it. So when we think about the future of the U.S. Senate, we're going through a huge transition in terms of leadership tenor. You said the adult in the room. You've got

[00:29:48] a handful of senators who have already announced that they are going to run for leader. How much of the Trump election plays in now versus if he wins in November into who becomes the next leader and maybe walk us through the current contenders? Yeah, great question.

[00:30:10] Well, first of all, the current contenders are Senator Cornyn of Texas, Senator Thune of South Dakota and Senator Scott of Florida. So those are the three people that say they're running. I don't discount the idea that somebody could pop up later after the election.

[00:30:28] Some people, even including Donald Trump, I think, have mentioned Senator Daines, who's the current head of the National Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee. But he has demurred, I think. So, you know, who's ahead right now? Hard to say. This race has been taking place behind the scenes a lot.

[00:30:48] And I respect both Thune and Cornyn tremendously. I think they've both been excellent senators for their states. They've been great members of leadership. They've, you know, they've done everything you could possibly do to be good teammates to the rest of the Republican conference.

[00:31:03] And ultimately, that's what those guys need. They need somebody who is going to run the conference, who how to make their lives better and how to make the conference better. And both of those guys check that box for sure. I don't know who's going to win.

[00:31:18] I do think if Trump wins and we win, I say we, if Republicans win a bunch of seats and there's a larger majority, that could change the math, you know, because obviously you're going to have a whole bunch of new people coming in.

[00:31:34] And if they don't win a bunch of seats and barely win the majority or don't win the majority, which I find unlikely, but, you know, statistically possible, that could also change the calculation for the conference. So certainly the personalities in play here could make a difference,

[00:31:49] depending on how many seats are gained or not gained after the November election. I do think this I do think the conference is going to be in good hands. With with either Thune or Cornyn. And they seem like the two most likely to get it to me,

[00:32:06] especially that they're John taking the whip race. And I yes, right. And I but I but it's hard for me to handicap it today and and especially with two guys who have been around for so long and have so many personal relationships in the conference.

[00:32:22] Obviously, they know their own positions better than I would be able to handicap it for you on this podcast. But as much as I am thinking about, you know, what it's going to be like not to have Mitch McConnell at the top of the conference,

[00:32:38] I do think it'll be in good hands with with Thune or Cornyn either one if that's if that's the way the field stays. With Senator Rubio being mentioned as a vice president price, vice presidential consideration.

[00:32:54] If he is not chosen for BP, does he make a run for the leader race since his profile gets kind of changed a bit with him being in the mix? Gosh, I hadn't even really thought of that. You know, that would mean he'd be running against Rick Scott,

[00:33:07] his fellow Floridian, who's also thrown his head into the ring, although I think it's highly unlikely he would win. Great question. I don't know. I do think this there have been three senators who have really distinguished themselves in this run up to Trump, picking a running mate.

[00:33:23] You mentioned Rubio. The others are JD Vance and Tim Scott. You know, I don't know if any of the three are going to get it. I know only one person can get it. So by definition, somebody or somebodies are going back to the Senate having really, I think,

[00:33:38] distinguish themselves as part of the upper echelon of the party apparatus that is going to be, you know, the Trump will be looking to to push his agenda. On on Washington, should he be lucky enough to win the White House?

[00:33:58] So I really do think in the current iteration of the Republican Party, all three of those guys have done themselves a lot of good. Whether Rubio would try to translate that into a leadership. I don't know. That's I had considered that. So he's a former speaker.

[00:34:12] Yeah. Oh, yeah. No, he's he's a great legislator. And I tell you what, you hear a lot of people right now in the run up to Trump picking the VP talking about how Rubio would be this incredible ambassador

[00:34:24] to the Hispanic community for Trump and for the Republican Party. And when you look at the polling right now, you know, where is Trump really slicing into the normal democratic base? It's among Hispanic voters, Hispanic working class voters. So if you're looking for a strategic pick,

[00:34:39] you know, Rubio makes a lot of sense. The only problem is both he and Trump are Floridians. One of them would have to change their voter registration to a different state. So I don't know.

[00:34:47] I don't know how they work it out, but I'm sure they'd find a way. It'll be interesting how that leader race is impacted by if the former president becomes president again, if you just absolutely. Oh, he's a good hand. Leader. I do think this I think Trump

[00:35:05] is more influential on House stuff than the Senate, the senators, the Senate in general. And I mean this for both parties all of the time. I think they're less influenced by external actors than their than their colleagues over in the House.

[00:35:22] I think the senators think of themselves as a little bit more independent actors and, you know, I don't, you know, I'm in for six years. You're only in for four years, Mr. President. Their term is longer. Exactly. And so they view themselves more independent.

[00:35:37] You know, they're not, you know, I'm a senator. I didn't get I didn't come here to get bossed around by somebody. I boss people around. So I do think they have mind of their own. And so they're less susceptible to that kind of influence.

[00:35:50] It's certainly more on display often in the House. Well, thank you for that analysis in June 2024 of where we stand with the leader, the leadership race. And the last question on Leader McConnell is we talked about his impact on Kentucky, what he will be remembered for in Washington.

[00:36:12] Kind of his big his profile, some of the big um, lifts he made. He mentioned the Kavanaugh confirmation in the Senate. What is his legacy for the actual institution? Well, you just with your question, you raised it. It is the defense of the institution itself, in my opinion.

[00:36:34] And lately that has been the defense of the filibuster. You know, the Senate rules are different than the House rules. And in the Senate, you get to have 60 votes to do most anything. And when Donald Trump was president, he railed on Mitch McConnell

[00:36:46] to change the rules, to make it easier to do things. And McConnell wouldn't do it. With Joe Biden as president and with Democrats in charge, you have a lot of Democrats that would like to change your rules,

[00:36:56] get rid of the filibuster to do things, and he doesn't want to do it. And I think it really is a defense of the institution to try to protect and preserve the traditional rules. Otherwise, there's no difference between the Senate and the House

[00:37:09] if you just, you know, do it the way the House does it. And so to me, one of the great legacies here is defense of the institution itself, no matter who is in the White House. I worry a little bit about that in the future because, you know,

[00:37:24] there have been Republicans that have said, you know, they'd like to do away with some of the old rules and so on. And I'm sure if Donald Trump becomes president, just like every president, he'd love to see

[00:37:33] he'd love to see it get a lot easier to pass bills than it is right now. So I think I think defending the institution is something whoever wins the next leadership race, they have to take up that mantle.

[00:37:45] They have to take up that mantle and they will be beaten on by the White House. They'll be beaten on by some of their colleagues. The news media will be relentless. But you just got to let it roll off your back and defend the institution

[00:37:56] because the Senate is the Senate for a reason. And the way they do things, I firmly believe drives bipartisanship. When you have to get 60 votes to do anything, it makes them talk to each other and it makes bills better and more bipartisan. And so you take that away.

[00:38:14] And I think I think if you if you're unhappy with the level of partisanship in Washington today, eliminate the filibuster and it'll get 100 times worse, I promise you. So I have long appreciated his ability to withstand all the pressure

[00:38:28] that comes down from time to time from all these entities wanting to change the Senate. And McConnell has been like a rock on this and I hope the next leader is to changing gears a little bit. You run a very help founded, as you mentioned,

[00:38:46] and run a very successful firm with two other partners. Can you tell us about tell us about your your day job, your work and your firm? Yes. Run switch public relations, run switch PR that com you look for us on the Internet.

[00:39:03] We are a full service public relations, public affairs and communications firm. We're headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky. We have a team of about 25 people. Most of us are in Kentucky. We do have a couple of folks out there elsewhere, but we do work

[00:39:17] all over the nation and we work for some of the biggest names in corporate America. We do public affairs campaigns. We do crisis communications consulting. We do a lot lately of production work, video production, podcast production, digital and web based production.

[00:39:34] That's become a growing part of the business. We're writers. I know it sounds rudimentary, but we put pen to paper and we do it quickly. And oftentimes being able to get written materials out the door for clients

[00:39:49] in a in a in a way that that beats the competition or or gets ahead of some bad news or gets ahead of some issue is often the most invaluable thing that we do. So we have this really incredibly diverse staff.

[00:40:04] Some of us come from journalism and politics. Some of us come from corporations and agencies. But we have a really good team that can do a lot of different things. And we're in a lot of different sectors,

[00:40:17] everything from health care to agriculture to education to you name it. We've we've been involved in it, bourbon. So we're we're grateful for all the clients that have entrusted us with their problems and opportunities over the years.

[00:40:33] And I'm really proud of the people I get to work with. I mentioned my partner, Steve and Gary. There's one other person that I would mention named Kaylee Price. Kaylee and I have been together since 2008 when I found her.

[00:40:47] She was an intern for Brett Guthrie way back in the day. Congressman Brett Guthrie of Kentucky is a old client of mine. And we have been doing stuff together ever since. She's one of the most talented people I've ever known. And I'm enormously proud of her career.

[00:41:02] She's now our executive vice president for all public affairs work at the firm. So we just have this good team and and we can do a lot of different things. So thanks for asking. We're we're open for business. So call us if you need us.

[00:41:16] And you're also very often asked to speak at various engagements. Do you have any upcoming speaking engagements? I do, actually. It's been a busy season because of the presidential campaign, I think. But I do get hired a lot to come to association meetings and corporate briefings and things.

[00:41:35] And I've got a couple coming up, one in Las Vegas this week, actually, that we're recording this. I've got one coming up in San Diego in July. I've got one coming up in Ohio in August and some other scattered stuff out there in between.

[00:41:52] But that's actually become a really fun part of my career, is doing these briefings. It's funny, back when I worked for President Bush all those years ago, one of my main jobs as political director was, you know,

[00:42:03] people would come and visit the White House and and I would have to give them like a political briefing. So here's, you know, here's what's going on in the world. Here's the polling. Here's the issues. Here's what the president's doing.

[00:42:13] And then I would have to stand there and answer questions. And I didn't know it at the time, but this became enormously helpful training for this for this political briefing stuff that I do. But thanks for asking.

[00:42:23] And if you if you have a group out there that wants to have a speaker come in and give a political briefing or be part of a panel, I'm I'm happy to listen to it because I love to do it.

[00:42:32] And I've met some great people out there along the way. Some great companies, great associations and a lot of different states have had me come out and do it. And it's it's a it's a great show. Believe me, well worth the money. Well, thank you, Scott.

[00:42:49] It's been great to have you on the political life. You've certainly lived a couple of them. And we look forward to the election year ahead and all of your thinkings and usings with your colleagues on CNN

[00:43:04] and look forward to seeing you on the road down the down the pike. And thank you for joining us. Yeah, Scott, thank you very much. We appreciate it. Been fun to be on with you guys. Jim, congrats on your basketball coach, Maggie.

[00:43:18] I hope to run into you in the bluegrass sometime. We don't see each other as often as we used to, but hopefully hopefully sooner rather than later. I sincerely appreciate the chance to be on with you today.

[00:43:27] Great. And for our listeners out there, thank you for joining us. And we will see you next Monday.