The Political Spotlight - Episodes Tagged with “Emails”

#673 | Muncie Flipped the Script! Who’s in Charge Here? | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Fri, 29 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey had to do it!

It's Friday night... which is supposed to be a night off, but it just couldn't wait until Sunday... so here he is for a special Friday Night episode! All because the City of Muncie, Indiana, is unlike any other government! At the last minute, they "flipped the script," and boy oh boy, is it a major flip!

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour is expected to be out for 6 to 8 weeks starting June 1, 2026. The prevailing account was that he would name Muncie City Councilor Jeff Green as the "acting" Mayor. Mayor Ridenour has said as much in interviews over the past few weeks.

Then, at the last minute earlier today (Friday, May 29, 2026), the City of Muncie announced that Muncie Redevelopment Commission Director Jeff Howe has been named "Deputy Mayor," a position that has been unfunded for the past couple of years.

Under Indiana Code 36-4-5-8, Mayor Ridenour has designated the newly named Deputy Mayor Howe to serve as "acting" Mayor starting at 12 a.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026, for 15 days.

What is supposed to happen after those 15 days, given that Ridenour could be absent for 6 to 8 weeks?

What happened to naming Councilor Jeff Green?

Why does the official paperwork show Howe was sworn in on Tuesday, May 5, 2026?

What is really going on?

Bilbrey discusses it ALL right here in episode 673!

Now, do you see why this episode could not wait?

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VIDEO version of Ep 673: https://youtube.com/live/1QHzj7M2bgk

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'The Political Spotlight'
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#672 | Muncie's Failed Transparency! Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How? | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 28 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Muncie politics continues to grow more complex by the day!

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey dives headfirst into several major questions about Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour's medical absence and the designation of Muncie City Council President Jeff Green as "Acting Mayor."

Why is the administration refusing to provide greater transparency?
What legal steps are being taken under Indiana Code 36-4-5-8 to designate Councilor Green as "Acting Mayor" during Ridenour's absence?
When does the transfer of authority officially take effect?
Will Councilor Green receive additional compensation for serving as "Acting Mayor"? If so, where will that compensation come from, and what is the process?
Can Councilor Green legally serve as both "Acting Mayor" AND City Councilor?
Could this create separation-of-powers concerns or constitutional questions?

Bilbrey breaks down what is known, what is not known, and why the public deserves REAL answers!

PLUS...

⚠️ More bad press for a local first responder and for emergency services as a whole.

A former Muncie firefighter now faces multiple serious criminal charges alleging misconduct involving a minor. Bilbrey will discuss the charges and explore what this case means for the community. As always, Bilbrey recognizes that the current charges are merely allegations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty or until they plead guilty in court.

AND...

🍿 Republican Party drama is heating up (ONCE AGAIN) in Madison County.

Republican candidate Mikeal Vaughn has reportedly filed multiple complaints with Indiana GOP District 5 leadership. His complaints appear to involve fellow Madison County Republicans Katherine Callahan, Nicole Kapuściński, and Larry Savage. What's behind the complaints? What's the fallout? And what does it mean for local Republican politics moving forward?

💥 Real issues.
💥 Real conversations.
💥 Real accountability.

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VIDEO version of Ep 672: https://youtube.com/live/Hm4Y3fPDUrE

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#660 | - Mother's Day! - The Latest on Knightstown! - & More! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 10 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey wishes a very happy Mother's Day to all the amazing mothers out there doing it large! Of course, he also wishes the mothers in his life a special Mother's Day!

Then Bilbrey provides a brief update on the Knightstown situation he discussed in episode 659. If you haven't watched that episode yet, you should definitely go back and watch it.

Lastly, Bilbrey offers a glimpse at a few things the team is currently looking into, including an arrest at a local meeting in Hobart, Indiana, as well as the scuttlebutt about the newest addition to the City of Muncie Parks, "Gotta Love Munc e!"

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VIDEO version of Ep 660: https://youtube.com/live/e1IljiiVmK8

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#543 | Disrespect Toward Taxpayers! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:00:00 -0400

The system is designed so that, regardless of who is in charge, the type of government, or the situation, it allows or even encourages elected and appointed public servants to be disrespectful toward taxpayers.

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers a few odds and ends as he waits for the big meeting for the City of Muncie on Thursday, October 16, 2025.

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VIDEO version of Ep 543: https://youtube.com/live/dwUEzkf2p6U

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#542 | Access, Emails, and an Investigation! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 14 Oct 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Counting down the minutes, hours, and days until the Muncie City Council meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2025.

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey updates everyone on the Public Access Complaint, reviews some emails, and shares his desire for the City Council to investigate the Resolution 16-25/17-25 fiasco!

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VIDEO version of Ep 542: https://youtube.com/live/o9eX2OEQNgw

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#536 | Will He, Won't He? - All Elected Officials SUCK! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Fri, 03 Oct 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey provides the final update before the Muncie City Council meeting on Monday, October 6, 2025.

Tune in to find out if Councilor Brandon Garrett will be in attendance at the meeting and whether the Council will pass the proposed budget, or not.

Crazy Times!

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VIDEO version of Ep 536: https://youtube.com/live/PS1RL-yyGDU

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#535 | Ones & Zeros... On/OFF... Heads & Tails! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 01 Oct 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey continues his exploration of the ongoing back-and-forth between Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour and various members of the Muncie City Council, specifically Finance Committee chair, Councilor Nora Powell.

The wild thing is, it all comes down to a simple matter of ones and zeros, on/off, heads and tails. (2+2=4) However, it is being promoted as something much bigger!

Be sure to tune in live or via replay, as you do not want to miss any of it!

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VIDEO version of Ep 535: https://youtube.com/live/xG_Lo0Ea4jU

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#534 | Dan Said, Nora Said! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey continues to examine the back-and-forth "he said, she said" between Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour (R) and Muncie City Councilor Nora Powell (D) over the proposed 2026 budget process.

Bilbrey shares the latest emails exchanged between the two sides.

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VIDEO version of Ep 534: https://youtube.com/live/mJEL2amxSfg

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#532 | A Demand & a Deadline in Muncie! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey provides an update on the situation in Muncie, Indiana, following the city council's demand that the mayor give them a letter or email from the new insurance provider, detailing the latest figures and proposed savings for the city.

That demand also had a deadline — Friday, September 26, 2025, which passed. Did Mayor Ridenour meet the deadline, or did he resist the Council's request?

Where does everything currently stand, and what are the next steps for both sides? Tune in to find out!

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VIDEO version of Ep 532: https://youtube.com/live/2D22z4gmL44

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#531 | And Then Mayor Ridenour Replied! (Muncie's 2026 Budget Battle) | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

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.

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VIDEO version of Ep 531: https://youtube.com/live/AkBRsZFHYhY

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#528 | How Do We Keep Them Engaged? | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Brandon Rudd, & Kate Thornburg (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 22 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

In this 528th episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' 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?"

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VIDEO version of Ep 528: https://youtube.com/live/BbQ7f4kL1CA

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