Hi, everyone, it's Jenzaki. I'm back with episode three, season two of The Blueprint, and you're going to want to stick around for my guest today. It's Governor Andy Bashir. He is governor of the state of Kentucky, a state Donald Trump won by 30 points in 2024, but he is still one of the most popular governors

in the country. So there's a lot to talk to him about, including what's holding Democrats

back and where they should go from here. But before that, my good friend and political savant of sorts, Liz Smith, Liz is a veteran of just about every kind of democratic campaign you can think of.

If there's an up-and-coming Democratic candidate anywhere, Liz is probably involved somehow.

All right, Liz, you and I have both been pretty critical

about the gerontocracy, otherwise known as old people, who will not stop running for Congress

and refuse to leave, of which there are many. But I will say both of us are Bengals fans. Both of us

watched them. And last Thursday, there was a, what were they,

they're calling it, the Unk Off? What are they calling it? The Unk Bowl. It was the Unk Bowl. Last Thursday. And I feel

like it was a moment where the universe was sending us a little bit of a signal. Apologies to the

gerontocracy. That was one of three games in NFL history where you had two quarterbacks

playing over the age of 40. And it was one of the most electrifying games I've seen in years.

I was up until 3 a.m. ordering Joe Flacco merch, some of which may end up in your mailbox.

I want my t-shirt at 3 a.m. And, you know, I think we can tell everyone, when my son was born,

you sent him over just a big package of, you know, newborn baby bengelsmurch. That's how big fans we are.

But back to the central point here, yes, most 26, 27-year-old quarterbacks in the league are going to be better than your average 40, 41-year-old.

But not every 40-41-year-old quarterback is created equal.

And the same applies to members of Congress, elected leaders in their 70s.

And that is some nuance that I think that we all can bring to the gerontocracy discussion.

For sure. So this is a good news for the 70, 80-somethings in Congress who drink water, get their steps. And I will say, I interview a lot of

people on set. And there are some people who are in their 70s and even 80s who are so with it and great. All right, so a little bit

of a harder topic that I know you and I both have been talking about probably through the

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