Full Show - WORD on the Street - 07-18-26

Welcome to Word on the Street with the Carolina's own Joey Hudson. Conversations with movers and shakers and stories and insights from local difference makers. Tailored just for the Carolinas, it's Word on the Street, powered by Ingalls Markets, low prices, love the savings on News Talk 989 W-O-R-D, the voice of the Carolinas. Here's Joey Hudson. Welcome in to a very special edition of the show today as we continue remembering the life, legacy, and service of South Carolina Senior Senator Lindsey Graham. For more than three decades, he helped shape our state's voice in Washington, serving in U.S. House and then the U.S. Senate while becoming one of the most influential figures in American foreign policy and national security. Throughout today's program, we'll hear from people who knew him personally, worked alongside him. Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evitt will share her perspective on Senator Graham's impact on South Carolina. Congressman William Timmons will reflect on their friendship and the lessons he learned from the senator. Longtime advisor and communications director, Kevin Bishop, will take us behind the scenes. of Graham's career and the man few people ever saw. And Cody Simpson, Republican nominee for South Carolina Commissioner of Agriculture, will discuss Senator Graham's unwavering support for South Carolina's farmers and rural communities. It's a day of remembrance, reflection, appreciation as we honor the life and legacy of Senator Lindsey Graham. We're glad you with us. Let's start with the conversation I had earlier this week with Congressman William Timmons. Join me on a guest line, Congressman William Timmons. Welcome, sir. Joey, good morning. Thanks for having me on. What a sad time for South Carolina as we're still processing the news of losing Senator Lindsey Graham. Congressman, you've said that Senator Graham wasn't just a colleague. He was your mentor, your golf partner, you traveled together on congressional business. And most importantly, he was your friend. When you first heard of the news of his passing, what was the first memory that came to mind? Well, we played golf two weeks, two weeks ago with my dad, and we had a wonderful time. We actually tied. We were, he was up, then I was up, and on the 18th green, I think I won the hole, so we ended up tying. And I thought about how fun that round was and, you know, the conversation. But, you know, it really is just surreal.

It's just surreal. He devoted his life to public service. He devoted his life to the Air Force, to Congress, to the Senate. And he spent his life building relationships and earning people's respect and their trust. And that's what made him so good at his job. Obviously, you know, we get all these partisan primary politics, people say this and that. He was a force. He was a force of good for our state, for our country, and for the world. People don't often realize the number of serious and deep... relationships, friendships. He has world leaders. There's nobody else that has anything like it. I mean, even the president doesn't have it. Yeah. Senator Graham spent enormous amounts of time with heads of state all over the country. And he talked to them regularly. And it's just, it really is. It's just a huge loss. Yeah. I loved your story that you shared about your standing golf rule that one of those world leaders called while you're playing that Senator Graham got an automatic par. How did that actually happen or how often did that happen? And who are some of the people that may have called him? It happened at least once around. One round, President Trump called him five times. I was like, why does President call you five times in the last four hours? Like, what is going on right now? And he just said, the president had a question. You want to talk me about some. So, you know, but it happened all the time. When we were dealing with a... Spider-jet sales to Turkey. Recep Tayyip Erdogan called, like, I think, twice. B.B. called all the time. You know, it was just constant. And, you know, he was, he was friends. He was very close to the president. He was very close with Vibi. You know, he spent a lot of time trying to fix. the conflict in Ukraine, obviously he literally had just gotten back. And, you know, it's just very sad. You just don't know how long you have with the people in your life. And I think it's important for us to remember that and to treasure the time that we do that. Yeah. My guest today is Congressman William Timmons. You said that one of your favorite memories was being the only person to witness, Senator Graham, make a double eagle on the ninth hole at the cliffs at Mountain Park. Paint that picture for us. How excited was he, and did he ever let you forget the shot?

Oh, no. So par five, ninth pole, plus the mountain park. He hit this drive. And when he thought he hit a bad drive, he would go, oh, Lindsay. And the ball, it wasn't well hit, but it just ran out because the course is so well maintained. So he probably hit that like 250, 260, which is a really good drive for him, Mill of Fairway. So he goes up there, gets his three wood out, and he hits it pretty well. It actually hit the bat. of a bunker and it shot out towards the green and he goes William, I think that went in. And I'm like, yeah, right. It didn't go in. And we go up there in the balls in the hole. And he got a two on a par five. A hole in one is like one in three million. A two on a par five is like one in 15 million. So it's like it was his best golf story ever, happiest I've ever seen it. And I joked with him. I joked with him. The second happiest I've ever seen him is the 400 times I heard him retell that story. And I laughed. I said, Senator, you better be nice to me because I'm the only person that saw you do it. So you need to... You need to be nice to me if you want me to confirm that that actually happened. Wow. Wow. What great memories. Congressman, when you were first elected to Congress, Senator Graham had already served, what, 20 plus years? What are the biggest lessons he taught you about public service? And what advice did he give a freshman U.S. House member? So... For the senator, it was all about relationships. And you got to put in the time to build the relationships to earn the trust, earn the respect of your colleagues on both sides of the aisle. And he was always ready to fight with anybody, his party or the other party, about whatever the issue was. And the next day, he'll turn around and he'll work with you on anything that he agrees with you on. And that's how it's supposed to work. That's how... We get things done. And that's really his legacy. That's his legacy of being effective. He had a very personal relationship with every president for the last 40 years with the exception of Bill Clinton because he led his impeachment. But, you know, George Bush oversaw his... promotion ceremony to a full bird colonel and him and obama played golf all the time him and joe biden traveled dozens and dozens and dozens of times together when they were in the senate so he he spent time developing these friendships and these relationships and he was so effective because of it and so that was the biggest thing that i um

I learned from him and I have tried to emulate it because, you know, you've got some people that just want to sweep crazy things at you and then call your names and just never work with you anything. Just be kind of a hardliner and my way or the highway. And that's just not how legislating works. It's actually not supposed to work that way. So, you know, it's going to be interesting. You got a number of people that are talking about trying to. fill his seat. No one will ever be able to fill the shoes, the void that he is leaving. But somebody's got to be there. And my only thing is this. We've got to make sure that that person is continuing the work that he did. But we don't need somebody that's going to go scream and yell and host crazy stuff and embarrass us. We need somebody that's going to go and work hard and just continue the good work that he's been doing. So it's going to be a... difficult few days we're going to be celebrating his life we're going to be mourning loss we're going to we're going to cry we're going to laugh but then then we got to get back to work and that's what he would have wanted he would have expected us to continue doing the important work that he was doing and it's not easy But it's what he would have wanted. Yeah. Congressman, we certainly are going to miss our friend Lindsey Graham for sure. I appreciate your time today and hope you have a good rest of your day. Thank you, my friend. Be well. When it comes to choices, the Ingalls Grocery Department really stands out because they believe your shopping experience should offer easy to navigate wide aisles, great prices, and of course, lots of choices, a selection that brings you the products you need and want. For example, Ingalls has thousands of organics at prices that will surprise you. Take a tour around the world in their international section. and their specialty and gourmet items will make foodies out of everyone. Ingalls carries gluten-free choices that other supermarkets do not. They carry the newest products alongside the brands that you've always trusted. Another example is the professional cheese cutters for premium cheeses, largest gluten-free selection in the southeast, and the largest craft beer collection you're going to find. And what about Ingalls' curbside? Easy to order through the curbside app, actual dedicated Ingalls employees selecting your order. They're trying to select your items as if they were shopping for themselves. Annual order is delivered to your vehicle and loaded. Shop like you were in the store without ever leaving the comfort and safety of your car. Expect more from your local store. Ingalls, low prices, love the savings. This is Word on the Street with Joey Hudson on News Talk 98-9 W-O-R-D, the voice of the Carolinas. This is Word on the Street with Joey Hudson, powered by Ingalls Markets, low prices, love the savings on News Talk 98-9 W-O-R-D, the voice of the Carolinas. Continuing today as we pay special tribute to Senator Lindsey Graham, you know, when you think about Senator Graham, your mind probably goes first to national security, the military, the courts, judiciary, or a foreign policy. Those were certainly issues that defined much of his career.

in our nation's capital. But here in South Carolina, there was another side to Lindsey Graham that often did not make the national headlines. He never forgot about the importance of agriculture. South Carolina may be growing rapidly, but farming is still one of the foundations of our state's economy and our way of life. From peaches in the upstate to cotton and soybeans in the Midlands to timber operations and livestock across South Carolina, agriculture remains one of our state's largest industries. Lindsey Graham. understood that and appreciated that. He knew that if our farmers struggle, Rural communities struggle, equipment dealer struggle, feed store struggle, local bank struggle, entire small towns will feel the impact because they're dependent upon that agricultural community. And that's why year after year, he fought to make sure South Carolina received its fair share of federal support. In fact, you don't have to look any further than the spending request, Senator Graham submitted to the Senate Appropriations Committee for the 2027 fiscal... year. And this was just recently. These weren't flashy national projects designed to grab headlines. They were practical investments aimed at strengthening agriculture and those agricultural communities across South Carolina. He requested more than $8.2 million for Clemson University's Agricultural Experiment Station to improve poultry research facilities and equipment. Now, That may sound technical, but poultry is one of the South Carolina's largest agricultural industries. Better research means healthier flocks, better production, and more competitive farmers. He also requested $550,000 for statewide agricultural services through Clemson University. Anyone familiar with Clemson Extension Service knows how valuable those programs are. They provide research, education, and technical assistance that helps farmers solve problems, improve yields, and stay competitive. And notice something else here in these requests. They weren't just about crops. Several requests focused on rural fire departments, ambulance services, emergency response services, nearly half a million dollars, for example, for fire service in Edgefield County. Nearly $1 million for fire equipment in Barnwell County. More than $700,000 for ambulance services in areas outside of Richland County. A new fire station in Monk's Corner. Why would these be priorities? Well, because Lindsey Graham understood that supporting agriculture also means supporting the communities where farmers live and work. Strong emergency services, protect families, businesses, barns, equipment, livelihoods. That's the bigger picture that the senator always seemed to understand. Perhaps one of the clearest examples of Senator Graham's commitment came after Hurricane Helene.

Many South Carolanians remember the storm, but for farmers, the damage went far beyond down trees. Entire fields were destroyed. Livestock was lost. Fences were wiped out. Timber operations suffered enormous damage. And for many producers, it wasn't just one bad season. It threatened years of hard work and their family's livelihood, their family's investment, just a few weeks ago. Senator Graham shared some welcome news. The U.S. Department of Agriculture approved $38 million to help cover Hurricane Haleen production losses in 33 South Carolina counties. Now, most of us have moved on from Hurricane Haleen. We just think about it. We know how bad it was. But these farmers are still experiencing some of what happened. In announcing the funds, Senator Graham said, when Haleen swept through our state, farmers saw their land decimated along with crops, livestock destroyed. I gladly voted for federal disaster relief for Hurricane Haleen, and now a portion of those funds are going out the door to South Carolina producers and landowners who need it. He also encouraged eligible farmers and landowners to fly through the South Carolina Department of Agriculture so the assistance could reach those who need it most. That's the kind of work that rarely makes the evening news. These aren't dramatic press conferences. They aren't viral social media moments. But for the family farmer wondering how they recover after the devastating storm a few years ago for the poultry producer trying to stay competitive. These are important. These efforts matter. Lindsey Graham often said that representing South Carolina meant representing every corner of the state, Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, but the small towns, the farming communities and those rural communities that are so much a part of who we are. Now, someone who really knows firsthand how Senator Graham supported the farming community, the agricultural community. is Cody Simpson, who is the GOP nominee for Commissioner of Agriculture. And I had a chance to catch up with Cody. I want to share a piece of my conversation with Cody about how Senator Lindsey Graham supported agriculture. and the farmers in South Carolina. Here's Cody. Let's just pause for a minute. I want to only begin by talking about the passing of Senator Lindsey Graham. He was a towering figure in South Carolina politics. He supported the agriculture industry, supported South Carolina farmers. He served on the Senate Agriculture Committee back in the day. It's been a number of years now. What did Senator Graham mean to you personally? And what did he mean to the farmers of South Carolina? He, as you know, never forgot where he came from. Rule South Carolina was in his DNA, no matter who he was or where he was at. Even the world leaders are stating of their interactions with him, of him always just being that old country boy from South Carolina. And that really resonates with all of us in South Carolina, rule area. That's why the president, again, I think, was...

was re-elected in back in office as to save rural America. Our great ambassador really was Senator Lindsey Graham. He was the ambassador of rural South Carolina all across the nation and world. He fought tirelessly, to your point, for agriculture. That's why you saw a lot of the farmers out there created the farmers for Graham because they knew... that he would fight for them, fight for us. My family, especially very fortunate for his support of the American Relief Act, the American Economic Relief Act there, I tell you, we would not have been able to survive on our farms if he had not pushed and working under various administrations there to get that passed and working with government master. had a bird's eye view of seeing all of the great work that he was able to deliver for South Carolina and never would hardly ever take credit for it. He just always was working, working, working, always wanted to make sure that the job got done. And he was on to the next project or the next thing that the state needed. And I just knew that he was always just a very humble man. And I think that... People in South Carolina are going to realize that even more of the contributions and the impact that he had on our state, not just days or weeks, but months and years ahead because of the fact that he just was a very humble man and the impact that he had touched every single person, whether you were over in my community, a home branch. Or you were over whining and dining with the King of England as he just recently did at the White House. He was still Lindsey Graham. And I think that's what resonated with our people because they truly care about one another. And yes, we like to fight. And Senator Graham was one of us. And I think that's why, you know, we're going to miss him in agriculture because we always knew we had a friend in Lindsey Graham. This is Word on the Street with Joey Hudson on News Talk 98-9 W-O-R-D, the voice of the Carolinas. This is Word on the Street with Joey Hudson, powered by Ingalls Markets, low prices, love the savings on News Talk 989 W-O-R-D, the voice of the Carolinas. On Monday, following the devastating news of the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, I joined Mike Gallagher on his national show as we paid tribute to Senator Graham. We had a number of people from South Carolina to join us, one of those being Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evett. Let me share with you, Mike and my conversation with the Lieutenant Governor about the Senator.

Pamela Evitt is the lieutenant governor of South Carolina. We both know her well. Joey Hudson and I are kind of co-hosting today because of the news of Senator Graham's passing. Madam Lieutenant Governor, welcome back to the Mike Gallagher show, even under such sad circumstances. Mike, it's always great to be with you and Joey. Well, and the two of us together, because we just are so devastated by this news, it's just hard to put into words how much Lindsey Graham meant to the people of South Carolina. Fairly polarizing. People certainly had criticisms of Senator Graham. Didn't always, not everybody agreed on everything, but there was just no question that he loved South Carolina dearly. And as Joey just pointed out, just on a bus station funding that came in for the upstate. He was always fighting for the Palmetto State. You know, that's one thing that nobody could ever doubt is just how much he loved South Carolina and how much he did. I mean, if it wasn't for Senator Graham, South Carolina wouldn't have the deepest, widest port on the East Coast, you know, bringing amazing national companies like Lockheed Martin here to South Carolina, doing everything he could to make sure infrastructure dollars got back to our state, his constituent services. were just amazing. He loved helping people. He crafted and staffed an office that felt that same sense of servant leadership that the senator had. And so he will be greatly missed. You know, I considered him a friend. He was one of the first people that I got to know when I left the business sector a few years ago and came in to serve. And he always had funny remarks. He made you feel like you've known him for years. Lieutenant Governor, let's talk about that personal relationship because a lot of people saw Senator Graham as just that, a politician. But he really was funny, wasn't he? And he was warm. And if you were his friend, he valued friendship. I mean, you were very, he made you feel like you're the only one in the room. You know, Joey, you're absolutely right. Senator, I think people didn't realize what a funny guy he was. And I can remember being on a flight with the senator. And I said this in an interview earlier. I said, you know, I can remember being on a flight and everybody was kind of hungry. And he said, when we land, I'm going to go to La Chick-fil-A. That's like my favorite restaurant. And it took me a minute, right, to think what he was talking about. I was like, oh, my goodness, I get it now, Senator. But he would just come up with stuff. all the time and tried to make everybody feel like they were part of the conversation. I think, you know, he was a powerful senator, probably the most powerful senator in D.C., and he would never know that when you met him, right? Because he was always usually smiling and by himself and always asking about David when he saw me and about, you know, my kids and how everybody was doing. He really valued friendship, and he always made sure he made you feel like he weren't just like another one of his colleagues that he had to work with. He made it a point to know who your family was. Okay, not to put you on the spot. You serve, of course, as lieutenant governor of South Carolina. Governor Henry McMaster today is scheduled to make an announcement at 4 p.m. President Trump has recommended Lindsay's sister, Darlene, to serve as interim senator.

from the great state of South Carolina. Now, look, we're friends. Let's go ahead and make some news. You probably already know what the announcement will be at 4 o'clock. So go ahead and give the Mike Gallagher show a scoop. You know, Mike, you know, I love you and Joey to Pieces, but that is news for the governor to give out. And I think the president, you know, there's no secret that the president and the senator were very close. And, you know, it's a lesson that we should all learn from because we know that they have got into it over the years, Fista Cuff. I mean, they were competitors for a presidential race. And, you know, I keep seeing these. pictures going around of when the president gave out Senator Graham's phone number to everyone. Forget it. But even if they argued, even once they made up, if they disagreed on something on policy, you always saw them playing golf on the weekends. And what a testament to how we should all start treating each other? Like you can disagree with somebody and the adages holds true. If somebody doesn't agree with you 20% of the time, they're not 20% your enemy. It's just a disagreement. And, you know, that is something they didn't just talk about. They actually showed. And I know my dad used to always say it takes two people to have an argument, right? So, you know, you would have to get the other side of the aisle to come in and actually sit down to have conversation. But Senator Graham was always somebody, and sometimes he was really criticized for that, right? Wanting to sit down and try to get something done and work both sides to figure out where we can come up to resolution. Sometimes he was criticized for that. You know, I think there are a lot of people out there that long for the days when we could actually get something done and government could actually really work for the people. So it's going to be hard. Senator Graham, those are going to be big shoes to fill. That's for sure. I mean, how do you? Obviously, if the governor appoints his sister to fulfill his term, of course, we also are going to be having a special primary to replace Senator Graham on the ballot in November. How do you replace that? I mean, Senator Graham never married. He was asking, he said, I've never met the right person. But I think you could say he was married to public service. How do you replace that? Yeah, it's going to be hard to replace. You know, it's, it is, Joe, you're right. It's going to be tight. Next Tuesday opens up filing. It'll be open for a week, and then it will be a three-week primary. It's going to be tough. But I think the people of South Carolina, we're going to want somebody that loves the state.

That is going to work not just for South Carolina, but work for the nation as a whole to make sure that we leave this amazing country we have the privilege of living in better for our children than we found it. And that should be the goal of everybody sitting in D.C. is to keep our country stronger for our children. And, you know, I've got to do my job and people will want me to ask you. Your name has been bandied about as a potential successor to fill that seat. Is that a position that you're interested in pursuing, Lieutenant Governor of it? You know, Mike, I think today is not the day. I was really saddened yesterday. First of all, that, you know, there were several people that have thrown there, you know, hats in the ring and started talking about running. And that really... That really sad in my heart because Senator Graham deserved to have a day or two celebrating his life. And the fact that he, you know, he served in the military. He served here in the state. He served in Congress for so many years. And as you so eloquently put it, Joey, he gave up his personal life to serve and to have, you know, his full dedication to service. And I think we should give him the respect of letting, his memories and really embracing his family because it wasn't just the senator that missed out. You know, he was very close to his sister. She's a lovely person. I've met her many times. I'm sure today she is feeling this loss and sadness way more than any of us. And so I hope everybody takes a moment to keep her and his family in their prayers and to think about the great things that the senator has done over his life. Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evitt, thank you very much. I know how busy you are. I appreciate you joining us here on the Mike Gallagher show. The Mike and Joey show actually today. And keep fighting the good fight. We appreciate your leadership. Well, thank you. And you guys, it's no secret. You're two of my favorite. So thank you for recognizing the senator and for making sure that we let his amazing legacy live on. Amen. Thanks. Lieutenant Governor Pem Greg Abbott joining us. When's the last time you felt genuinely good in your body? Not just okay, but good. Energized, comfortable, confident walking into a room or onto a beach or into a backyard barbecue without pulling at your clothes or avoiding the camera. Joey Hudson here. If it's been a while, this is for you. Ph.D. Weight Law starts with one belief. Your body is not broken. It is protecting you. Every diet. Every plateau, every time the scale refused to move, that was your metabolism adapting to survive, not you failing. Ph.D. fixes the metabolism first. When they do that, weight starts to release naturally. Energy comes back, the brain fog clears, and you stop feeling like you're fighting yourself every single day. Right now, call Ph.D. Weight Loss and mention Joey Hudson. You'll get two free weeks in the program, and they'll cover the cost of your food. That's $1,500 in value just for getting started. Call $864-644-1900. Or go to my PhDWatLoss.com. Summer is here. Feel good in it.

This is Word on the Street with Joey Hudson on News Talk 98-9 W-O-R-D, the voice of the Carolinas. Now back to Word on the Street with Joey Hudson on News Talk 98-9 W-O-R-D, the voice of the Carolinas. Have you been wondering if now's a good time to look at a new home? Joey Hudson here, when you partner with America's Homeplace, there's never a bad time to build a home of your dreams. Home sale prices have gone up, and with the high mortgage rates we have now, building your own home might be your best option. And that's where my friends at America's Home Place comes in. America's Homeplace can design and build the home of your dreams. As a one-stop shop for new home builds, they partner with favorable lenders to get you the rates and the terms that you need. It's just a more convenient option compared to waiting and hoping that the perfect house becomes available at a price of life. like. Instead, America's home place can help you design and build the perfect home. just for you. As a turnkey home building provider, they can help you every step of the way, from the initial design all the way through the construction of your new home. It makes the process as simple and straightforward as possible. You can find America's Homeplace on Clemsville Boulevard and Anderson and connect with him online at America's Homeplace.com. That's America's Homeplace. There's no bad time to build your new dream home. Nobody knew Senator Lindsey Graham as well as Kevin Bishop, who worked for him for 27 years. Let's join. his conversation earlier this week on the Mike Gallagher show. Seems like everybody's been talking about how painful Lindsey Graham's loss is for his staff because he was extremely loyal to his staff and his staff was loyal to him. And I kept thinking of Kevin Bishop, who I've known for years, was a long time, I think probably chief of staff as the unofficial title. He's now, he manages a communications firm, Bishop Strategy. works with C-suite executives and companies. And I saw Kevin yesterday on TV and I thought, gosh, he's going through a lot right now and it's painful, but I did want to reach out to him and see if he could join us here on the Mike Gallagher show. So it's an honor to have longtime staffer for Senator Lindsey Graham, Kevin Bishop, join us here on the Mike Gallagher show. Kevin, first of all, first and foremost, I'm so very sorry for your loss. I know how tough this has to be for all of you. And this seemingly came out of nowhere, didn't it? Yeah, Mike, it absolutely did. I worked with Lindsay for 27 years, Mike. I think one of the great, maybe untold stories about Lindsay was the number of people who were around Lindsay for decades. There are several people in the office who were with Lindsay for 30, 32, 34 years. I was there for 27. I was one of the top, but certainly not the top. And we used to joke, Mike, one of the great, you know, if you've only been in the office for 10 years, you're still sort of that sort of, you're still sort of learning the ropes a little bit, you know, that 10 year mark would sort of, you were basically learning about Lindsay by then. And Lindsay was just a guy who was really unusual in politics and that he inspired you and he had a great sense of loyalty to his people. And he appreciated everything you did. And he was a guy who.

He actually was a great, you know, some members don't like it if you challenge him a little bit. Lindsay wanted to be challenged because he knew it actually came from a place of love. That I was not going to tell Lindsay or suggest anything to him that somebody else was not going to eventually ask him, so it better be coming from someone who's looking out for you. And Lindsay just had a great sense that he had a magnetic personality. People were drawn to him and he just, he. Team Graham is what the office and the campaign and everybody associated with it would call ourselves and we just, we have lost the patriarch and we've lost a real guiding light in our lives. When I worked locally at W-O-R-D, which was then WFBC in the upstate, one of my first trips to Washington, D.C., in an official capacity, was to go visit Senator Graham in his office. And he was welcoming and gracious and gave me a tour, and we sat down for a few hours. And one of the things that struck me and that I'll never forget is that he told me, Mike, I didn't get elected to come to Washington to say no to everything just because the Democrats presented it. Sometimes the Democrats are in control. They've got more votes. And sometimes you have to say yes. Sometimes you can't say no to everything. It seems to me that certainly defined his legacy in his career. He did have a willingness to reach across the aisle. I saw this heartfelt post from Cory Booker. Now, I disagree with Cory Booker on everything. But yet, Senator Cory Booker... has a deep appreciation for the relationship that they had in the U.S. Senate. But yet that's what got Senator Graham a lot of criticism, didn't it? Because a day would never go by. I'd mention Lindsey Graham on the show or interview him, and I'd get a bunch of people texting the show. Oh, he's a rhino and he's this or that. I mean, he just followed his heart. And frankly, it's a trait that's kind of rare these days in Washington, D.C. Oh, Mike, you hit that. You hit it right on the head. I can tell you, Lindsey Graham, when he ran and was elected to the U.S. Senate, I was with him in the House too, but when he ran in 2002, he said, I'm going to the U.S. Senate to do big things. And he didn't say I wanted to go up there to see how long I could be there. I don't want a building's named after me. I'm going there to do big things. And that's the way he viewed it. Lindsay viewed it maybe in the role of a senator and something we don't see as much today and that he was going to work. cross the aisle when he could. And there was times when he would just say, no, can't get there. Sorry, maybe there's something else we can work on. But he, I think that's why you've seen everybody from President Trump to his Republican colleagues, to his Democratic colleagues. I think there was a real affection for Lindsay because he was a, Mike, the thing you know, too, Lindsay's a guy who didn't take himself too seriously. He didn't have a big entourage. He didn't, you know, this is a guy who would show up in an event. Lindsay didn't have security for many years around him. So this is a guy that'd come rolling up in a.

his car and just be Lindsay and a Stafford. I mean, you know, and he's, that's just the way he rolled. And I told people, Lindsay, Lindsay's the kind of guy he can meet with the president. He can talk to a president, a prime minister, a king or queen, or he's just as comfortable talking to the guy at Chick-Fillet. I mean, that's either one. So that's just the type of guy who was. And yet, despite that lack of pretentiousness, let's face it, he was targeted. Iran put a target on his back. I don't think Russia was particularly fond of Lindsey Graham. And inevitably, Kevin, and I hate to put to. to put this to you, but I wonder if it's crossed your mind because, again, he was just going, he was busy and active until the very end. A lot of people had a lot of speculation about what could have gone bad, could have gone wrong, a nefarious, you know, agent that may have been given to him. Did that cross your mind at all, or did you just suspect he died exactly as it's been reported by an aortic, a tear, a tear basically in one of his heart muscles? What did you think? Did that, any of that cross your mind? Well, I think he hit, there's two separate issues there. Number one is Lindsay, in the last few months last year, Lindsay had tremendous security around him. You're absolutely right. This is the first time. He was a target by lots of people and foreign actors. And frankly, there's some crazy people here in the country, too. So you never know nowadays. But when I heard the news about Lindsay, I think my initial thing, and I still think it is, Lindsay's Graham's died, Lindsay's dad died of a heart attack at age 69. And I sort of know that that runs in his family. And it went from there. I think we will get an answer to that. We want to make sure. But I think my initial thoughts and many others who love Lindsay were just, you know, that his dad had died, very similar, somewhat similar circumstances. Sure. But, I mean, there were some jokes about the fact that he wasn't exactly known to spend a lot of time about the gym. You know, he wasn't particularly... somebody who went overboard and taking care of himself. I mean, some people said he was overweight. He never struck me as looking like he was particularly overweight. But an aortic tear like that, that's the same thing that took actor John Ritter. Remember years ago, the guy from the sitcom? Yep, he had the same thing happened apparently to him and they misdiagnosed it. But it was a tear in the aorta that was brought, I guess brought on by a heart problem that Senator Graham was inevitably unaware of. Yeah. Well, Lindsay, I mean, he was not a guy just so everybody knows. Lindsay was not a guy. He was a guy who had, he worked.

That was the love of his. I mean, the guy stayed on the phone 24-7, 365 days out of the year. And he's a guy who loved to play golf. And sometimes he was even able to marry the two together, playing golf with President Trump and playing golf with his friends and colleagues. But he wasn't a guy who was, no, he wasn't going to run to the doctor every couple hours or a couple of days. And he was committed to his job and committed to his family, his sister, Darlene, who's just a loss for all of us. us and I know his sister as well too has been crushing. Well, I know personally how much he loved and admired and appreciated you, Kevin, and all the years of service you gave him. I know you feel the same about him. I know how hard this is right now, and I hope you know that all of us are praying for you and for everybody who lost a mentor, a friend, and as Brett Baer called it, a lion of the U.S. Senate. Kevin Bishop, longtime Stafford, Senator Graham, thank you for joining us very much here on the Mike Gallagher show. All the best. God bless. Thank you, Mike. That's it for today's show. Let me invite you to join me each weekday morning at 5 a.m. for Sunrise, Carolina, where we have our first cup of coffee and start today together. Your text are welcome, as are your emails, Joey at joey hudson.com. This is Word on the Street with Joey Hudson on News Talk 989 W-O-R-D, The Voice of the Carolinas.