Displaying 8 items of The Political Spotlight with the tag "2026 general election".
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#757 | Monday, October 26, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 26th, 2026 | 1 hr 23 mins
2026 election, 2026 general election, absentee ballot, absentee voting, academy of model aeronautics, ama, body camera footage, citizen engagement, citizen involvement, citizen oversight, citizen power, data center controversy, data center town hall, data centers, delaware county, delaware county indiana, dog shooting, east central indiana, election concerns, election day, government accountability, government transparency, hoosier voters, indiana elections, indiana politics, local government, mail in ballot, mail voting, midterm election, muncie, muncie indiana, muncie police, muncie police department, police accountability, police body camera, public records request, unanswered questions
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is back in the studio after attending the AMA/Data Center Town Hall in Delaware County. The event was livestreamed here on The Political Spotlight. In this 757th episode of The Political Spotlight, Bilbrey examines what happened at the AMA/Data Center Town Hall. Where does everything stand? Were any new details learned? What questions remain unanswered? And, most importantly, what happens next? With the 2026 midterm general election just over a week away, Bilbrey has MAJOR concerns about Hoosiers who have requested mail-in ballots. If you have requested an absentee ballot by mail in Indiana, you will want to hear this discussion. This is an IMPORTANT topic you will not want to miss! Lastly, Bilbrey has an update on his request for records related to the Muncie Police body camera footage of the officer who shot a dog that was acting aggressively. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#756 | Sunday, October 25, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 25th, 2026 | 2 hrs 59 secs
2026 election, 2026 general election, blackford county, candidate interview, citizen involvement, citizen power, delaware county, democratic challenger, early voting, election day, government accountability, henry county, house district 33, indiana house district 33, indiana house of representatives, indiana politics, indiana state representative, j d prescott, jay county, jd prescott, john bartlett, local politics, november 3 2026, political candidate series, political nonsense, randolph county, republican incumbent, state politics, voter engagement
In this 756th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes John Bartlett to the program. Bartlett is the Democratic challenger to incumbent State Representative J.D. Prescott in Indiana House District 33, which includes Blackford and Randolph Counties and portions of Delaware, Henry, and Jay Counties. Bartlett makes his case to District 33 voters, explaining why he believes they should support him during early voting or on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2026. From there, Bilbrey shifts gears and begrudgingly turns to the past couple of days' nonsense—once again arguing that the public seems eager to get involved, though not always in what matters most. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#754 | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 21st, 2026 | 2 hrs 11 mins
2026 candidate interview series, 2026 election, 2026 general election, board election, board meetings, board of works, candidate interviews, citizen engagement, citizen oversight, citizen power, east central indiana, election coverage, government accountability, government meetings, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county township trustees board, indiana politics, local elections, local government, muncie, muncie board of works, muncie indiana, muncie parks board, parks board, political candidates, township government, township trustees
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey begins by reviewing two recent Muncie government meetings: the Muncie Parks Board meeting on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, and the Muncie Board of Works meeting on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. Bilbrey then heads to Henry County, where a concerning situation is unfolding involving the Henry County Township Trustees Board, its meetings, and the upcoming board election. YOU WILL NOT WANT TO MISS THIS! Finally, Bilbrey turns to The Political Spotlight's "2026 Candidate Interview" series and discusses what's ahead as election coverage kicks into high gear. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#752 | Sunday, October 18, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 18th, 2026 | 1 hr 30 mins
2026 election, 2026 general election, 2026 midterm election, american voters, campaign season, citizen engagement, citizen power, democratic party, democrats, election coverage, election day, election narratives, everyday citizens, government accountability, local elections, local politics, midterm elections, national elections, national politics, november 3 2026, political assumptions, political bubbles, political discourse, political insiders, political parties, political polarization, republican party, republicans, state elections, state politics, voter attitudes, voters
As The Political Spotlight heads into a busy final stretch before the November 3, 2026, general election, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey takes a broader look at the political landscape at the local, state, and national levels. Bilbrey examines the assumptions Republicans and Democrats make and asks whether everyday citizens actually see the political world the way the parties think they do—or whether too many people have become trapped in political bubbles that distort how they understand everyone outside them. With Election Day rapidly approaching, Bilbrey cuts through the noise, competing narratives, and disconnect between political insiders and ordinary voters, setting the stage for an extremely busy two and a half weeks ahead. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#743 | Thursday, October 01, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
October 1st, 2026 | 1 hr 45 mins
2026 election, 2026 general election, campaign questions, candidate accountability, citizen engagement, david bockover, democratic candidate, democratic sheriff candidate, east central indiana, government accountability, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, local elections, local government, muncie, muncie city council, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie politics, new castle indiana, september 14 2026 meeting, sheriff election
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shares an update on the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting held Monday, September 14, 2026. Bilbrey also updates listeners on Democratic candidate for Henry County Sheriff David Bockover and his continued refusal to answer questions about his campaign. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#741 | Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
September 29th, 2026 | 1 hr 43 mins
2026 general election, 2027 muncie budget, bob mccoy, budget meeting, candidate questions, citizen engagement, citizen power, city council leadership, city council meeting, city government, clerk treasurer kerry sayre, david bockover, delaware county, delaware county indiana, delaware county republican party, democratic sheriff candidate, east central indiana, finance committee meeting, government accountability, government transparency, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, kerry sayre, local elections, local politics, local republican party, mayor bob mccoy, muncie, muncie city council, muncie finance committee, muncie indiana, nora powell, official facebook page, political influence, public meetings, public records request, randolph county, sara gullion, sheriff election, social media controversy, winchester, winchester indiana
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers political developments across Muncie, Winchester, and Henry County. Bilbrey begins with an unusual Delaware County Republican Party social media post promoting the upcoming October 5 Muncie City Council meeting—something he views as more than a simple reminder and possibly part of a broader effort to influence Council leadership. He then shares responses from Muncie City Councilors Nora Powell and Sara Gullion on the recent Finance Committee meetings and previews the committee’s final budget meeting on September 30, 2026, ahead of the proposed 2027 budget reaching the full Council on October 5, 2026. Next, Bilbrey returns to Winchester, where he discusses the response to his public-records request about control of the city's official Facebook page and the controversial post that angered residents. Finally, he heads to Henry County, sharing questions sent to Democratic sheriff candidate David Bockover as TPS continues its 2026 election coverage. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#732 | Sunday, September 13, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
September 13th, 2026 | 1 hr 58 mins
2026 election, 2026 general election, attorney john brooke, budget season, campaign season, campaigns, candidate accountability, candidates, citizen oversight, city council leadership, city of muncie, council leadership, delaware township, delaware township government, delaware township indiana, delaware township trustee, denise thornburg, east central indiana, elected officials, government accountability, government transparency, henry county, henry county government, henry county indiana, henry county politics, henry county sheriff, henry county sheriff election, indiana elections, indiana politics, john brooke, legal strategy, local government, local politics, muncie, muncie budget, muncie city council, muncie city council meeting, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie politics, political candidates, public office, september 14 2026, sheriff candidates, sheriff race, township government, township trustee, trustee denise thornburg, voters
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey looks ahead to a busy week in local politics — starting with the Muncie City Council meeting on Monday, September 14, 2026. Bilbrey previews what to expect, shares his thoughts on several issues likely to shape the meeting, and offers a broader look at the current state of Muncie City Council leadership. How will the council conduct itself during the meeting? How will current leadership address the issues at hand? What should citizens expect from the council as the budget season and the city's day-to-day operations continue? Only time will tell! From there, Bilbrey turns to the ongoing issues involving Delaware Township Trustee Denise Thornburg and Attorney John Brooke. A lot is going on in Delaware Township, and Bilbrey breaks down the latest developments, the personalities involved, the broader questions about local government, legal strategy, and accountability, and how strange the situation has been. Then the show heads south to Henry County, where Bilbrey offers commentary on the two sheriff candidates and what voters should watch for as the race unfolds. Finally, as election season approaches, Bilbrey outlines how The Political Spotlight plans to cover candidates from across the region and beyond. #ThePoliticalSpotlight
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#729 | Tuesday, September 08, 2026 | The Political Spotlight
September 8th, 2026 | 2 hrs 24 mins
2026 election, 2026 general election, campaign behavior, campaigns, candidate responsibility, candidates, citizen oversight, city of muncie, county budget meetings, county council meeting, delaware county, delaware county budget, delaware county government, delaware county indiana, east central indiana, elected officials, government accountability, government spending, government transparency, henry county, henry county government, henry county indiana, henry county politics, henry county sheriff, henry county sheriff's office, indiana elections, indiana politics, local government, local politics, madison county, madison county council, madison county government, madison county indiana, madison county politics, mckinley neighborhood, mckinley neighborhood muncie, muncie, muncie budget, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie politics, political candidates, proposed 2027 muncie budget, public meetings, public office, public servants, randy howard, taxpayer money
Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey returns from the Labor Day holiday for Episode #729 of The Political Spotlight as the program gets back on track heading toward the 2026 general election. Bilbrey begins in Muncie and Delaware County, previewing the City of Muncie's proposed 2027 budget, ongoing county budget discussions, and the developing McKinley Neighborhood situation—both stories that will receive deeper attention in future episodes. From there, the spotlight moves to Henry County, where Bilbrey discusses concerns involving a former employee of the Henry County Sheriff's Office. Then comes a broader discussion about candidates, campaigns, and the responsibility that comes with seeking public office. What should someone understand before filing to run? What does a candidate's behavior tell voters about how that person might act once entrusted with public power? Bilbrey uses the latest developments involving Randy Howard to dig into those questions. Finally, the program heads west to Madison County, where a heated County Council meeting reminds viewers why citizens should pay much closer attention to local government. Madison County's council is the county's fiscal body and holds regular public meetings. #ThePoliticalSpotlight