#719 | Wednesday, August 19, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

August 19th, 2026  |  22 mins 53 secs

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Due to ongoing technical issues, this episode was cut short. Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey did not complete the full show. What was NOT covered here will be covered in a future program!

In this 719th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the latest email from Delaware County Commissioner Stephen Brand regarding the "Delaware County-City of Muncie Dispatch Communications Issues," a topic that has been discussed for the past week. The City of Muncie still has not responded to The Political Spotlight with answers to the questions Bilbrey has been trying to get answered. Bilbrey highlights what Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour has done over the past several days, which leads to a discussion of the Special meeting of the Muncie City Council set for tomorrow, Thursday, August 20, 2026, at 145 p.m. Lastly, Bilbrey reviews a few meetings held in Muncie over the past couple of days, including the Muncie Parks Board Meeting, the Muncie Board of Works Meeting, and the Muncie Sanitary District Board Meeting. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#718 | Monday, August 17, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

August 17th, 2026  |  2 hrs 29 mins

911 director fred cummings, 911 dispatch, anderson, anderson government, anderson indiana, anderson politics, delaware county, delaware county commissioners, delaware county emergency communications, delaware county government, delaware county indiana, delaware county politics, dr katherine callahan, elected officials, election board, emergency communications, emergency dispatch, emergency management, emergency meeting, first responders, flood emergency, flood relief, flooding, fred cummings, free-for-all, government accountability, government transparency, historic flooding, homeland security, local government, local politics, madison county, madison county commissioners, madison county council, madison county election board, madison county emergency management agency, madison county government, madison county indiana, madison county politics, muncie, muncie delaware county 911 emergency communications center, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie politics, public safety, public safety communications, public servants, rainy day fund, rainy day fund 1186, recent historic weather event, southern baptist disaster relief, the election board meeting

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes Madison County correspondent Dr. Katherine Callahan to discuss recent developments in Madison County and Anderson, including the July 30, 2026, Election Board meeting, the historic flooding, and the August 17, 2026, "emergency" Madison County Council meeting that involved Rainy Day Fund money for flood relief. Bilbrey then returns to Delaware County and the ongoing questions surrounding the Muncie–Delaware County 911 Emergency Communications Center during the August 12–13, 2026, flooding. Delaware County 911 Director Fred Cummings addressed the County Commissioners on August 17, 2026, offering new information and appearing to walk back parts of statements made during the previous week’s emergency meeting. Bilbrey examines what has changed, what has been clarified, and the significant questions that still remain about Delaware County’s public-safety communications system. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#713 | Sunday, August 09, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

August 9th, 2026  |  1 hr 43 mins

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Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is hearing rumors that the Muncie Police Department has been meeting with various members of the Muncie City Council about FLOCK CAMERAS! At this time, the content and context of those meetings remain unknown. Questions have been asked, but answers have not yet been provided. This needs to be an ALL SKATE — ALL HANDS ON DECK. Citizens need to start asking questions, demanding answers, and finding out exactly what the City of Muncie may be planning regarding Flock cameras and expanded surveillance. Freedom-loving citizens of Muncie, Delaware County, and across Indiana need to pay attention and push back against the ongoing “BIG BROTHERING” of our communities. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#711 | Wednesday, August 05, 2026 - (PART 2) | The Political Spotlight

August 5th, 2026  |  2 hrs 59 mins

city controller, city government, city of muncie, councilor jeff green, councilor jerry dishman, delaware county, fire station 5, government accountability, government transparency, indiana politics, local government, local politics, mckinley neighborhood, muncie city council, muncie fire department, muncie indiana, muncie politics, ordinance 13-26, ordinance 14-26, ordinance 15-26, ordinance 9-26, overlay district, part 1, part 2, public accountability, public comment, resolution 10-26, resolution 11-26, resolution 8-26

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey concludes his two-part analysis of the August 3, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting. In Part 2, Bilbrey examines the Council’s discussion, public input, and final vote on Ordinance 14-26, a measure intended to prevent current and future mayors from appointing members of their staff and other city employees to governmental boards and commissions. He also breaks down Resolutions 10-26 and 11-26, both connected to Ordinance 9-26 and the proposed construction of a new Station 5 for the Muncie City Fire Department, before reviewing the meeting’s Public Comments. This episode concludes Bilbrey’s full postmortem of the August 3 meeting, including the major votes, controversies, winners and losers, and what the decisions could mean for Muncie moving forward. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#710 | Tuesday, August 04, 2026 - (PART 1) | The Political Spotlight

August 4th, 2026  |  2 hrs 37 mins

city controller, city government, city of muncie, councilor jeff green, councilor jerry dishman, delaware county, fire station 5, government accountability, government transparency, indiana politics, local government, local politics, mckinley neighborhood, muncie city council, muncie fire department, muncie indiana, muncie politics, ordinance 13-26, ordinance 14-26, ordinance 15-26, ordinance 9-26, overlay district, part 1, part 2, public accountability, public comment, resolution 10-26, resolution 11-26, resolution 8-26

The dust has settled after the August 3, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting, and host Kristopher H. Bilbrey begins a two-part postmortem examining what happened, who won and lost, where the major issues now stand, and what comes next for Muncie. In Episode 710 — Part 1, Bilbrey breaks down the public hearing and final discussion on Ordinance 9-26, concerning the proposed construction of a new Muncie Fire Department Station 5; early meeting problems, including audio issues and Council President Jeff Green’s attempt to silence Bilbrey during public comment; Committee Reports; and the unusual mid-meeting public hearing on Resolution 8-26 regarding the Council’s investigation into the financial operations and internal controls of the City Controller’s Office. Bilbrey also examines Ordinance 15-26, the watered-down version of vetoed Ordinance 13-26 concerning the McKinley neighborhood overlay district, explaining why Ordinance 13-26 received no action, why Councilman Jerry Dishman withdrew Ordinance 15-26, and why both sides appear willing to work together—for now. This concludes Part 1 - Episode 710. Episode 711 — Part 2 will continue the analysis with Ordinance 14-26, Resolutions 10-26 and 11-26, and the Council’s Public Comments. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#709 | Sunday, August 02, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

August 2nd, 2026  |  1 hr 37 mins

city controller, city of muncie, delaware county, delaware county indiana, delaware county politics, fire station 5, government accountability, government transparency, indiana politics, local government, local politics, muncie city council, muncie politics, ordinance 13-26, ordinance 14-26, ordinance 15-26, resolution 8-26, veto override

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey previews a potentially consequential day in Muncie and Delaware County government on Monday, August 3, 2026. Ahead of the 6:45 p.m. Muncie City Council meeting, Bilbrey breaks down the Council’s investigation into the City Controller’s Office under Resolution 8-26; the proposed new Fire Station 5 project under Ordinance 9-26 and Resolutions 10-26 and 11-26; the possible veto override of Ordinance 13-26; Councilman Jerry Dishman’s Ordinance 15-26; and the controversial transparency measure, Ordinance 14-26, which concerns mayoral staff and city employees serving on boards and commissions. Bilbrey also looks ahead to the Delaware County Commissioners' meeting at 9:00 a.m. With an ongoing investigation, a possible veto override, major spending decisions, and significant questions about transparency and accountability, Monday could be one of the most important days in recent Muncie government history. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#704 | Muncie's Financial Folly! & Del-Co Commissioners Mtg (07.20.26)! | The Political Spotlight

July 20th, 2026  |  2 hrs 21 mins

2nd amendment, city of muncie, commissioner shannon henry, commissioner sherry riggin, commissioner stephen brand, community update, delaware county, delaware county commissioners meeting, delaware county government, delaware county politics, ed vs fred, financial folly, george-jeffrey howe, local politics, long period of silence, muncie city council, muncie city government, muncie fire department, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie politics, proposed fire station 5 project, public services committee, questions and answers, recaps, ridenour administration

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey highlights the "Financial Folly" by Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour in relation to the Mayor's most recent "community update" from Friday, July 17, 2026, which references the Muncie Fire Department's proposed plans for a new Fire Station 5. Then, Bilbrey recaps the Delaware County Commissioners meeting from Monday, July 20, 2026. There were key details from the meeting that citizens of Delaware County need to be aware of. Lastly, Bilbrey shares what he believes is the start of what will likely be a long period of silence from the Ridenour Administration, as he attempts to get answers to several important questions concerning the City of Muncie! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#698 | A Look at Madison County, Indiana, on a Friday Night in July 2026! | The Political Spotlight

July 10th, 2026  |  2 hrs 29 mins

amendments, anderson, anderson politics, contributing correspondent, delaware county, delaware county politics, democratic party, dr. katherine v. callahan, hodgepodge of a.d.d.-fueled thoughts about political and governmental goings-on, indiana, indiana politics, local politics, madison county, madison county politics, muncie, muncie politics, republican party, rights, special friday night episode, state of indiana, state politics, vote, voters, voters' rights, voting, wild ride

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes back contributing correspondent Dr. Katherine V. Callahan to the program for this special Friday night episode. And look, it's been over a month since Callahan was last here... which means there is NO WAY Bilbrey could even begin to craft a legitimate set of show notes, a description of what Bilbrey and Callahan will cover, in what is almost sure to be a hodgepodge of A.D.D.-fueled thoughts about political and governmental goings-on in Anderson, Indiana... Madison County, Indiana... the State of Indiana... and maybe Bilbrey will get a chance to throw in a few comments or thoughts about Muncie, Indiana... and/or Delaware County, Indiana. So join the ride. It's bound to be wild! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#696 | The BIG Recap of the Commissioners & City Council Mtgs (July 2026)! | The Political Spotlight

July 7th, 2026  |  3 hrs 44 mins

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Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey recaps the Delaware County Commissioners' and Muncie City Council meetings, both held on Monday, July 6, 2026. In the 696th episode of The Political Spotlight, Bilbrey breaks down the key discussions, votes, and decisions from both meetings while offering in-depth analysis and commentary on the issues that matter most to Delaware County and the City of Muncie. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#679 | We Do What We Do Because It’s Right! | The Political Spotlight

June 8th, 2026  |  1 hr 45 mins

accountability, anderson, communication, delaware county, democrats, doing what's right, fight the fight, government, indiana gop 5th district, indiana state democratic party, indiana state republican party, local, madison county, muncie, national, politics, public servants, republicans, state, state parties, transparency, truth, what it's all about, why it matters, you are needed to help in the fight

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reminds the audience why he fights the fight! Why it matters! What it's all about... and, more importantly, why YOU are needed to help in the fight! #ThePoliticalSpotlight