When it comes to politics in Appalachian Kentucky, one of the first things anyone will tell you is that people defy easy categorization.

There are fervent church goers who say that Jesus’ message of helping others is basically socialism, and that’s a good thing. There are gun owners who pine for universal healthcare.

Home to shuttered coal mines and steel plants, Appalachian Kentucky remains one of the most disadvantaged regions in America. Unlike many other Republican-leaning parts of the country, there are few military-adjacent companies or industries in its hollers and hills.

With two of the 13 American military members killed in the Iran war so far from Kentucky, the decisions being made in Washington on what many are calling a needless conflict are hitting home hard. And while Donald Trump won 65% of the vote in Kentucky in the 2024 election, there are growing signs that the conflict is fueling mounting discontent here.

Early estimates suggest the first 12 days of the war on Iran cost the US taxpayer around $16.5bn. An estimated 40% of children in eastern Kentucky are growing up in households where income is below the federal poverty level. In July 2022, flooding from heavy rain led to the deaths of 38 people in eastern Kentucky.