This episode is an exhale. This week, Andy welcomes Philly's own Alex Pearlman, the comedian and internet personality better known to over a million followers as @pearlmania500. Alex has spent 20 years as a stand-up comedian and built a massive online following with his loud, unfiltered takes on everything from local news to national politics, even landing a seat in the press corps after one of his videos on the I-95 collapse went viral. Now he's bringing that same energy into the studio to talk Trump, online reactions and speaking up (yelling!) when you can. Plus, our interns take the wheel for a special rapid fire edition of Gen Z Lingo. No cap.

It's a lighter episode with a lot of laughs, a couple cringes, and a genuine generational exchange about how young people communicate – and why it matters for anyone trying to actually reach them.

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This July marks 250 years since America declared its independence – and on this special America250 episode, Andy takes a step back to celebrate not just the country's birthday, but the people stepping up to serve it. All year long, the Primed for 2026 series has crisscrossed the country, sitting down with the candidates and leaders shaping this critical midterm year. Now, with primary season largely behind us and the road to November coming into focus, it's time for a recap.

Looking to get caught up on all the top gov races happening in November? Look no further. 50 minutes, 36 governor's races, it's time for a rapid-fire round. We're revisiting the competitive governor primary in Maine, Georgia and the Colorado race that happened just this week. Plus, the open-seat battle for Michigan's governorship, Dr. Amy Acton's fight for Ohio, Gov. Katie Hobbs's reelection bid in Arizona, Rob Sand's big moves in Iowa, and a look ahead at the critical 2026 midterms.

Many of these candidates have now won their primaries and are gearing up for the general election. This will be a big fight. As we mark a quarter-millennium of American self-government, this episode is a reminder of what the founders actually built: not a finished product, but an ongoing argument about who gets to lead, and how. Here's to 250 years, and to the people still showing up to do the work. Let's get into it.

Looking for more deep-dives ahead of the 2026 election? Check out the full episodes:

Maine: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YneO24fTVpo&t=4s

Colorado: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shv7GfI-0SU

Georgia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bj0g7vDSs7Y&t=1360s

Texas: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lVvqr2RSUE

Ohio: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsBX-r8McIA&t=1s

Michigan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeNpMikYCNA&t=9s

Iowa: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cky6Lc6E5g&t=2754s

New Mexico: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=munw-ad1LBU&t=13s

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With an alleged ceasefire in Iran, Andy Beshear sits down with former national security advisor Susan Rice, the only person in American history to serve as both National Security Advisor and Domestic Policy Advisor to the President of the United States for a sweeping conversation on the crises demanding America's attention abroad right now. They dig into the wars in Ukraine and Iran, the complicated history and future of U.S.-Cuba relations, the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, and what it feels like to be in the Situation Room in critical moments. Rice has advised two presidents, represented America at the United Nations, and spent decades at the center of the hardest decisions this country has had to make. And now, she's watching a very different White House's Situation Room and not holding anything hold back.

Then, Andy sits down with Knowa De Baraso a 14-year-old political commentator, debater, and podcaster who is already one of the most exciting young voices in American politics. Knowa has interviewed Vice President Kamala Harris, gone toe-to-toe with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, and built a platform rooted in the kind of fearlessness that many adults twice his age haven't found. They talk about why young people belong in this conversation, what it's like to debate grown men who don't take you seriously, the real influence of political influencers, and why the 2026 midterms may be the most important election of his lifetime – even if he can't vote in them yet.

And as always, Andy chimes in on the headlines this week including the not-so-Reflecting Pool, rising tensions between Trump and Congress, JD Vance's The View appearance, and the US Men's Soccer Team's big win. Don't miss it.

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This week, Andy Beshear sits down with two fearless voices in political media: YouTube star and political commentator Adam Mockler and former kindergarten teacher-turned-education-advocate Arielle Fodor, better known as Mrs. Frazzled. They dig into reaching people who have been written off, hold powerful people accountable, and keeping Americans informed and engaged in an era of rampant misinformation.

Then, First Lady Britainy Beshear and the First Dog herself, Winnie, stop by for a special Ask Andy segment – because not every question has to be about foreign policy.

And we close out with a rapid-fire roundup of the week's biggest moments: the Iran ceasefire and what it means for stability in the Middle East, Donald Trump's 80th birthday/UFC fight at the White House, Elon Musk crossing the trillion-dollar threshold, and the New York Knicks getting it done.

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The world is at an inflection point and so is American democracy.

Gov. Andy Beshear sits down with Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, for a wide-ranging conversation on the crises demanding our attention around the world right now. They dig into the ongoing war in Ukraine, what a weakened U.S. commitment to our allies means for the broader fight against Russian aggression, and the growing threat posed by Iran on the world stage. Congressman Meeks pulls no punches on what American leadership looks like and what happens when it goes missing in action.

Then the conversation turns home. With the Voting Rights Act stripped of much of its power through a series of court decisions, Congressman Meeks, a lifelong civil rights champion, breaks down what's been lost, who's most at risk, and what it will take to restore the protections that millions of Americans fought, marched, and died for.

This is a conversation about power: who has it, who's losing it, and who's fighting to take it back.

Plus, it's John's birthday – don't miss a special birthday celebration featuring a certain First Dog of Kentucky.

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Happy Pride Month! Today's guest, Kelley Robinson, is the President of the Human Rights Campaign, the largest civil rights organization in the United States.

She made history as the first Black queer woman to lead HRC in the organization's 40-years, and she's leading it through a very consequential moment in history. Under her leadership, HRC declared a national State of Emergency for LGBTQ+ people for the first time in the organization's existence.

This cycle, HRC is investing $15 million in the 2026 midterms, the most it has ever spent in a non-presidential election, targeting eight battleground House seats - because Kelley believes that losing this moment could set LGBTQ+ rights back generations. Andy and Kelley talk about what's actually happening to LGBTQ+ families right now, how Donald Trump and the extreme right have weaponized faith against the very people Jesus spent his life standing up for, and why Kelley still believes — even in this moment — that we are not without hope and not without power. This is the conversation this month and this moment calls for.

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People have written Kansas off before. But Andy knows a little about that.

This week we sit down with both Democrats running to be the next governor of Kansas – and they couldn't be more ready for this fight.

Cindy Holscher is a state senator from Overland Park who has spent her career winning in Republican-leaning districts and delivering real legislative results. She's committed to public education, healthcare access, and economic affordability. Ethan Corson is a state senator from Fairway who has been endorsed by Gov. Laura Kelly and former Gov. Kathleen Sebelius. He's built his campaign around making Kansas the most affordable state in the country, and he believes Democrats can win by competing everywhere.

Whoever wins the August 4th primary will attempt to follow in the footsteps of Gov. Kelly, who won close races in 2018 and 2022 and cannot seek a third consecutive term.

Two candidates. One mission. And a state that's more in play than Washington D.C. may think. Listen now.

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It's a Texas-sized episode. People have been writing off Texas for 30 years, but 2026 may be really different.

Our guests today are two people who refuse to believe the naysayers about Texas. Gina Hinojosa is a state representative who left the state in 2025 to fight a corrupt redistricting map, and is now running for governor. And Isaiah Martin is a 26-year-old from Houston who built a movement online, was arrested for fighting against the Republican's redistricting efforts, and shows up online and on the air to take on the other side.
These leaders represent something important: A Democratic Party that shows up, speaks plainly, and competes everywhere.

That's the kind of party we believe in. And we think after this conversation, you will too.

Plus, a special behind-the-scenes look at the people who make the Andy Beshear Podcast happen every week.

Let's hop in.

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