Kate Thornburg is half of the "Vulgar Poets," a production team for several political programs hosted by Kristopher H. Bilbrey over the years. The other half is her husband, Niles Thornburg.
Kate is the Head of Production and Research at The Political Spotlight.
Producer Kate is a military wife, mother, activist, friend, and reporter. She is very active in her community and the State of Indiana! Her main roles on the show include research, production, and trying to channel Bilbrey and Brandon's passions and chaos into nightly episodes.
Kate is the chair of the Libertarian Party in Randolph County, Indiana.
The Political Spotlight team is dedicated to this mission.
Join the conversation and help make the world better one conversation at a time!
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LIVE episodes of The Political Spotlight air on YouTube: Sunday - Thursday @ 9 p.m. (ET)
Link: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight
Audio-only episodes can be found at the following Home Link: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
& All Other Podcast Hosting Sites!
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Connect with Kate Thornburg via email at
[email protected] or [email protected]
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Kate Thornburg has hosted 61 Episodes.
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#531 | And Then Mayor Ridenour Replied! (Muncie's 2026 Budget Battle) | The Political Spotlight
September 25th, 2025 | 1 hr 56 mins
city council, councilor nora powell, dan ridenour, emails, health insurance, muncie indiana, muncie mayor, muncie politics, proposed 2026 budget process
As the 2026 Budget process for the City of Muncie wraps up in these last few months of 2025, tensions seem to be rising instead of easing. While Muncie City Councilor Nora Powell (D - District 2) has been questioning and criticizing the Mayor and his administration over the past few weeks, Mayor Dan Ridenour now appears ready to push back against the Council and Powell specifically. Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the Mayor's recent remarks and shares his perspective on how this situation might develop. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#530 | Madison County Budget 2026 Update! | The Political Spotlight
September 24th, 2025 | 2 hrs 34 mins
2026 budget process, indiana, madison county, madison county commissioners, madison county council, madison county politics, madison county sheriff's department
We've reviewed the 2026 budget processes for Muncie and Delaware County. Now, let's take a look at what's happening in Madison County, with a focus on their 2026 budget. Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes contributing correspondent Dr. Katherine Callahan to the show to discuss it! #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#529 | It's Going to Be Tight! | The Political Spotlight
September 23rd, 2025 | 2 hrs 4 mins
2026 budget process, city of muncie indiana, delaware county commissioners, delaware county council, delaware county indiana, delaware county politics, finance committee meeting, mayor dan ridenour, muncie city council, muncie politics
The 2026 budget processes for both the City of Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana, are nearing completion, and it's going to be tight. Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the issues related to the processes happening in both Muncie and Delaware County. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#528 | How Do We Keep Them Engaged? | The Political Spotlight
September 22nd, 2025 | 1 hr 47 mins
2026 budget process, article, civil rights, courier-times newspaper, emails, federal lawsuit, first amendment, henry county sheriff john m. sproles, how do we keep them engaged, muncie city council, muncie mayor dan ridenour, new castle
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews two emails from Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour to the Muncie City Council about the 2026 Budget Process. Bilbrey believes the emails highlight a larger issue. Then, Bilbrey pulls up an article from the New Castle Courier-Times and reads their summary of the end of the federal lawsuit between Bilbrey and Henry County Sheriff John M. Sproles. Finally, everyone is talking about how there's "something in the air." It seems like more people are waking up to what's happening in our "political world" — but this has happened before, so Bilbrey asks, "How do we keep them engaged?" #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#527 | It's OK to Be Confused! | The Political Spotlight
September 21st, 2025 | 1 hr 38 mins
back from holiday, charlie kirk, community violence, current events, first amendment, indiana politics, indianapolis, its ok to be confused, muncie indiana, muncie politics, national politics, shootings
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey has returned from his holiday. While he enjoyed it, he doesn’t feel reset and senses that he’s waiting for the other shoe to drop. Bilbrey discusses the recent increase in violence in Muncie and Indianapolis. He’s disappointed that there’s little discussion about it in Muncie. He also covers the upcoming busy week before touching on the uneasy feelings many are sharing right now, all across the nation. Bilbrey reminds the audience that it's okay to be confused! #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#526 | Madison County's Plan to: MAX THE TAX! | The Political Spotlight
September 18th, 2025 | 1 hr 33 mins
bilbrey on holiday, contributing correspondent, dr. katherine callahan, indiana, madison county, madison county politics, max the tax
Contributing correspondent Dr. Katherine Callahan guest hosts for Kristopher H. Bilbrey, who is away on holiday!
Katherine will be examining the Madison County Government's plan to MAX THE TAX on all of their citizens!
If you live in Madison County, Indiana, or if you're a citizen interested in government and politics... then this is an episode you won't want to miss! #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#525 | Bullying Bullies, and the Bullied Bulls they Bull and Katherine! | The Political Spotlight
September 17th, 2025 | 2 hrs 10 mins
bilbrey's holiday break, election integrity, election laws, election security, guest host, indiana, katherine callahan, larry savage, local politics, madison county politics, plea deal, political bullies, politics and bullying, producer kate, prosecution, surprise show, taxes
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is on autopilot as he prepares for his big holiday break. So, he called Dr. Katherine Callahan to help Producer Kate keep everything on track. The show focuses on bullies and bullying in politics. Additionally, this episode sets the stage for part two, where Katherine will guest-host in Episode 526. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#524 | Solar Ordinance Delay & Voter List Fiasco! | The Political Spotlight
September 15th, 2025 | 2 hrs 1 min
accountability, bluestate49, city council, commissioners meeting, delaware county, delaware county commissioners, delaware county politics, diego morales, first amendment, freaks, hoosier politics, indiana, indiana politics, indiana secretary of state diego morales, indiana state house, liberals, local government, solar ordinance, transparency, voter data
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey summarizes the Delaware County Commissioners’ meeting, where the Solar Ordinance was tabled yet again.
From there, Bilbrey then shifts his focus to Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, who recently provided the federal government with the personal information of 5 million registered voters from Indiana. Of course, Bilbrey is upset about that.
And finally, Bilbrey gives a shoutout to superfan “Bluestate49.” #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#523 | Out of the Box, No Turning Back! | The Political Spotlight
September 14th, 2025 | 1 hr 53 mins
america, budget meetings, charlie kirk, commissioners meeting, delaware county, delaware county commissioners, delaware county council, democratic party, finance committee meetings, first amendment, indiana, industrial solar, local politics, muncie, muncie city council, national politics, politics, republican party, solar ordinance, state politics
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey previews a busy week of upcoming public meetings in Muncie, Delaware County, and other parts of east central Indiana. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
Bilbrey also shares his thoughts on where America stands following the tragic events of last week. Additionally, Bilbrey discusses his stance on people saying horrible things about the death of Charlie Kirk.
Bilbrey is a First Amendment purist, and his views on this matter clearly show that!
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#522 | Extradition Waived! & A Killer Caught! | The Political Spotlight
September 12th, 2025 | 2 hrs 37 mins
charlie kirk, charlie kirk assassination, county council, extradition waived, first amendment, freedom of speech, killer caught, madison county indiana, madison county politics, second amendment, steven sumner, tyler robinson
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shares the latest on the arrest of former Madison County Councilor Steven Sumner, who is BACK in the Madison County jail. He also updates on the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation. It's been a long, emotional week. Tune in for top-tier political commentary with friends. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#521 | The Death of Intelligence! | The Political Spotlight
September 10th, 2025 | 1 hr 39 mins
assassination, charlie kirk, first amendment, murder, political commentator, political culture, political discourse, the death of intelligence, turning point usa
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reports the heartbreaking news that political commentator Charlie Kirk was shot and killed earlier today, Wednesday, September 10, 2025, while participating in a political discussion event at Utah Valley University. Bilbrey shares the limited information currently available, along with his thoughts on the incident. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#520 | Wanted Fugitive From Madison County Steven Sumner — CAPTURED! | The Political Spotlight
September 9th, 2025 | 1 hr 49 mins
arrest, madison county indiana, madison county sheriff's department, politics, prosecution, sex crimes, steven sumner, us marshals, wanted fugitive
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the arrest of wanted fugitive Steven Sumner from Madison County, Indiana. Former Madison County Councilor Steven Sumner was wanted on 18 charges related to serious sex crimes against children. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#519 | September 8, 2025 - Muncie City Council Meeting Review! | The Political Spotlight
September 8th, 2025 | 2 hrs 12 mins
mayor dan ridenour, muncie city council, muncie fire department, muncie indiana, muncie politics, proposed 2026 budget
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews and gives his commentary on the Muncie, Indiana, City Council meeting from Monday, September 8, 2025. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#517 | The City of Muncie’s Continuing Struggle With Transparency! | The Political Spotlight
September 5th, 2025 | 1 hr 59 secs
2026 budget, city clerk, city controller, communications, dan ridenour, finance committee, indiana, muncie, muncie city council, muncie fire department, muncie mayor, muncie politics, the political spotlight, transparency
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey, while not 100% is on the mend but in a bad mood due to Muncie politics being Muncie politics. Bilbrey dives into Muncie’s second Finance Committee meeting — the one that wasn’t live-streamed, yet may have been the most important of all. Just more of the same in Muncie! #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#514 | Everything, All the Time, All at Once! | The Political Spotlight
August 28th, 2025 | 2 hrs 6 mins
access to public records, budget process, indiana, political commentary, record requests, the political spotlight
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is dealing with a lot... budgets, record requests, councilors, and other public officials. In this 514th episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' he examines it all! NONSTOP POLITICS! Everything, All the Time, All at Once! #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#513 | City of Muncie's 2026 Budget Time! | The Political Spotlight
August 26th, 2025 | 1 hr 28 mins
2026 budget, indiana, muncie city council, muncie indiana, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie politics, the political spotlight
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey breaks down Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour’s press conference unveiling the proposed 2026 city budget. From the steps of City Hall, the Mayor outlined the draft that will soon head to the City Council for review and debate.
Bilbrey shares his insights on the budget process, why it matters, and how these decisions shape the future of local government. #ThePoliticalSpotlight