The Political Spotlight - Episodes Tagged with “Government Accountability”

#761 | Sunday, November 01, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 01 Nov 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey kicks off the 761st episode of The Political Spotlight, welcoming Jim Nicholson, the Republican candidate for Henry County Sheriff, to the show.

Nicholson currently serves as a Captain with the New Castle Police Department, where he has served for 36 years, including 8 as Chief.

This is Nicholson's second run for Sheriff; he ran four years ago and lost the primary to the current lame-duck Sheriff John M. Sproles.

Bilbrey and Nicholson discuss the campaign, Nicholson's views on Henry County's current state, and his plans for the county if elected.

Connect with Nicholson on social media at the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587574460100 . . .

After the interview, Bilbrey again shares that he feels underwhelmed by nearly everyone running for office in the 2026 midterm general election, which is just two days away.

Bilbrey is ready to put this election behind him and look ahead to the 2027 municipal elections, which he believes could have a much greater impact on local politics and government across East Central Indiana.

Bilbrey then looks ahead to the Muncie City Council meeting scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, November 2, 2026. He reviews the agenda and notes that it appears to be a relatively quiet meeting.

Lastly, Bilbrey shares a few quick thoughts on the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals, which met last Thursday, October 29, 2026.

At that meeting, the McKinley Neighborhood and Mayor Dan Ridenour's administration once again found themselves on opposite sides of this important issue. Bilbrey believes this was merely the opening round of a much larger fight in the months ahead.

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VIDEO version of Ep 761: https://youtube.com/live/QJTKWZ99lqw

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

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🚨🚨🚨
'The Political Spotlight'
LIVE Sunday - Thursday @ 9 p.m. (ET)
Hosted by: Kristopher H. Bilbrey
Produced by: Kate Thornburg & Brandon Rudd
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© 2026 Mud Creek Studio.
—

Special Guest: Jim Nicholson.

#760 | Friday, October 30, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Fri, 30 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Welcome to the 760th episode of The Political Spotlight, broadcasting LIVE on this special Friday night, October 30, 2026!

Normally, Fridays are off nights around here, but after missing Thursday night's show, we're making it up—with only THREE MORE WAKE-UPS until the 2026 midterm election on Tuesday, November 3, 2026.

And since it's been nearly two months since everyone's favorite doctor to love, hate, hate to love, or love to hate appeared on the program, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey figured there was no better time to bring Dr. Katherine Callahan back into the spotlight.

Bilbrey and Callahan discuss what she has cooking in her neck of the woods, where things stand with just days to go before the BIG VOTE, and everything else happening in Indiana politics as Election Day approaches.

And, of course, they return to one of the best political philosophies in the state of Indiana:

"It's better to be a Republican in bad standing than to stand with a bad Republican!"

Bilbrey and Callahan dive into it all—politics, candidates, party loyalty, accountability, Election Day, and whatever else comes up.

You will NOT want to miss this episode. That is a promise!

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VIDEO version of Ep 760: https://youtube.com/live/90ZhkAqdaZc

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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Special Guest: Dr. Katherine Callahan.

#759 | Wednesday, October 28, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

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

The 2027 race for Muncie mayor has officially begun—or has it? Just kidding, it has... Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey will explain!

This 759th episode of The Political Spotlight opens with the biggest local political development in a while: well-known businessman and Muncie Southside wrestling star Gary Myers has announced plans to run for mayor of Muncie in the 2027 municipal election.

Myers is the first to publicly announce his intention to run for mayor of Muncie in the 2027 municipal election, and the announcement quickly spread throughout Muncie and Delaware County.

However, the rollout was a bit confusing.

Myers' original post initially limited comments, then disappeared altogether. He later said he had accidentally deleted the post, confirmed he is running, and said another announcement would follow.

Bilbrey shares his initial thoughts on Myers entering the race, what it could mean for Muncie politics, and why the announcement and the news of the announcement may mark the beginning of a new chapter in how The Political Spotlight approaches politics from here on.

From there, Bilbrey reviews the City of Muncie Board of Works meeting held this morning, Wednesday, October 28, 2026, at 9 a.m.

Bilbrey also checks in on the Henry Township Advisory Board's emergency makeup meeting, held earlier this afternoon. All board members were present, and a township resident was on hand to "redress" those on the board.

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VIDEO version of Ep 759: https://youtube.com/live/ETQWp5xFQQs

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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#758 | Tuesday, October 27, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 27 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 758th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey examines the latest developments in Henry County after a special prosecutor filed criminal charges on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, against former Henry County Sheriff's Sergeant Ryan Burns.

Burns faces the following charges:

— Theft, a Class A misdemeanor. . .

— Fraud, a Level 6 felony. . .

— Official Misconduct, a Level 6 felony. . .

— Ghost Employment, a Level 6 felony. . .

Henry County Sheriff John Sproles later issued a statement announcing Burns's arrest and resignation from the Henry County Sheriff's Department.

Bilbrey breaks down these developments, shares his thoughts on what may come next, and turns his attention to another major unanswered question:

What happens to Sgt. Bobby Lackey, the other HCSD sergeant on paid leave for the past 5-plus months?

From there, Bilbrey works through other political and governmental odds and ends.

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VIDEO version of Ep 758: https://youtube.com/live/6b15mCg1HGY

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
& All Other Podcast Hosting Sites

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#757 | Monday, October 26, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 26 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

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; those interested can watch the Town Hall event here: https://youtube.com/live/4JZJL0EfTPw . . .)

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.

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VIDEO version of Ep 757: https://youtube.com/live/jN_0LDuf5R0

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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#756 | Sunday, October 25, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 25 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

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.

Bartlett's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/BartlettForIN

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.

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VIDEO version of Ep 756: https://youtube.com/live/dnEuDa8Kau0

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
& All Other Podcast Hosting Sites

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Special Guest: John Bartlett.

#755 | Thursday, October 22, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 755th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers a bizarre assortment of political and governmental oddities from across Indiana.

Frankly, it's almost too weird—and too pathetic—to mention, yet here we are!

From allegations that one Muncie Police officer ran a person over while another shot a dog for no reason, to the half-assed attempt at the Indiana Secretary of State's Candidates Debate, to a legal showdown between a small school corporation and the big, bad boogey bill known as Senate Enrolled Act 1 (formerly SB1), to breaking news out of Indianapolis that several attorneys have left the Indiana ACLU, and you'll never believe why. There is no shortage of BS!

Bilbrey also offers a word of caution about the "Hoosier Enquirer" and its owner and head AI copy-and-paste'er, Gabe Whitley. This is cropping up because several people locally seem to be using his "AI slop machine" to gather information. Bilbrey just wants everyone to be forewarned!

Nothing is off the table in this episode. There is a lot to cover... so let's get to it, then!

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VIDEO version of Ep 755: https://youtube.com/live/3E_f8aka-IY

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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#754 | Wednesday, October 21, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

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

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.

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VIDEO version of Ep 754: https://youtube.com/live/RSh3jn9EVTg

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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#753 | Tuesday, October 20, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 20 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 753rd episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey takes a closer look at the growing data center dispute in Muncie and Delaware County.

As the debate heats up, citizens are being bombarded with facts, rumors, misconceptions, outright misinformation, and, in Bilbrey's view, obfuscation from those in power.

The time to get involved is now!

But getting involved starts with getting educated!

Bilbrey argues that this fight must be grounded in facts—what is known, what is not known, and what still needs to be answered. Once emotion takes over and facts are lost, these debates can quickly derail.

Bilbrey reviews the current state of affairs, including remarks by Delaware County Commissioner Stephen Brand at the end of the Commissioners' meeting on Monday, October 19, 2026.

Bilbrey reminds the audience that many unknowns remain!

So Bilbrey tries to cut through the noise, separate fact from rumor, and get down to brass tacks: what is actually happening, what citizens should watch for, and what comes next.

Data centers. Local government. Private property. Citizen involvement. Facts. Rumors. Transparency. Accountability.

All that and more in this 753rd episode of The Political Spotlight.

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VIDEO version of Ep 753: https://youtube.com/live/xo1mHQ-onJE

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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#752 | Sunday, October 18, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 18 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

As the show gears up for a busy two and a half weeks leading up to the Tuesday, November 3, 2026, general election, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey takes a broader look at where things stand politically at the local, state, and national levels ahead of the 2026 midterm election.

Bilbrey examines assumptions held by both Republicans and Democrats and asks a broader question: Do everyday citizens actually see things the way political parties think they do?

Or have people become so locked in their own political bubble that they no longer understand what anyone outside it thinks?

As Election Day 2026 rapidly approaches, Bilbrey tries to sort through the noise, competing narratives, and the disconnect between political insiders and ordinary citizens as he sets the stage for an extremely busy stretch.

Local politics. State politics. National politics. Republicans. Democrats. Voters. The road to the 2026 midterms. All that and more in this episode of The Political Spotlight.

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VIDEO version of Ep 752: https://youtube.com/live/2wRDLkIs1IU

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
& All Other Podcast Hosting Sites

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#751 | Friday, October 15, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Fri, 16 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey attended the Henry County Sheriff candidates' forum in New Castle, Indiana, on Thursday, October 15, 2026, where Republican Jim Nicholson and Democrat David Bockover faced off and fielded questions from moderator Jeremiah Morrell of Boss Hogs of Liberty and the audience.

Bilbrey shares his impressions of the forum—the questions asked and those left unasked, the candidates' responses, and what stood out as Henry County voters sought to learn more about the two men vying to take over the Sheriff's Department after Lame-Duck John Sproles' disastrous four years at the helm.

Bilbrey then turns to Muncie and to an issue involving Republican City Councilor Ro Selvey and Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Tim Overton—a story Bilbrey has been teasing since the Monday, October 5, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting.

Bilbrey finally lays out what happened, why he finds the situation troubling, and how it has deteriorated over the past several days.

Listeners won't want to miss this!

To wrap up, Bilbrey reflects on another wild week of politics and government across East Central Indiana and beyond, then looks ahead to what comes next.

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VIDEO version of Ep 751: https://youtube.com/live/PGa7sIiNN_Y

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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#749 | Monday, October 12, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 749th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey dives into today's (Monday, October 12, 2026) major political BREAKING NEWS from Muncie, Indiana.

Mayor Dan Ridenour has officially announced that he will NOT seek a third term in 2027!

Mayor Ridenour said he will retire from public office at the end of his current term on Friday, December 31, 2027, ending his tenure as Muncie mayor.

Bilbrey shares his thoughts on the announcement, its timing, and what it means for Muncie/Delaware County politics, City Hall, and the 2027 mayoral race.

Bilbrey also touches on a few other odds and ends that have been circulating recently and merit a moment in the spotlight.

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VIDEO version of Ep 749: https://youtube.com/live/PrcaUa70RL8

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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday — Thursday at 9 p.m. ET)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
& All Other Podcast Hosting Sites

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#748 | Sunday, October 11, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 11 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 748th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey dives into the latest political drama unfolding in Delaware and Herny Counties.

DELAWARE COUNTY:

At the center of the latest mess in Delaware County is the Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Tim Overton, who, in Bilbrey's view, can't seem to make the right call. One wrong turn after another is creating controversy, confusion, and political fallout, not only for Tim but also for those around him.

HENRY COUNTY:

From there, Bilbrey heads to Henry County, where it appears a #SprolesWatch is officially in effect.

Lame-duck Sheriff John Sproles appears to have a newer, previously county-owned vehicle for sale in his parents' yard. While everything may ultimately prove to be above board, many questions remain about how the vehicle ended up there, how the sale came about, and why Sproles keeps putting himself in situations that at least create the appearance of impropriety.

Staying in Henry County, Bilbrey examines the still-unresolved issue involving two Henry County Sheriff's Department deputies on paid leave for more than five months.

How long will taxpayers continue to foot the bill for their "staycation"? When will the situation finally be resolved? And why is the Henry County Prosecutor's Office dragging its feet?

Lastly, regarding Henry County, Bilbrey has a couple of concerns about the Henry County Merit Commission.

WRAP-UP:

To close out the show, Bilbrey shares his vision for the upcoming Political Candidate Series on The Political Spotlight and outlines what viewers can expect from the program in the week ahead.

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VIDEO version of Ep 748: https://youtube.com/live/AI5SNGNPkzw

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#746 | Wednesday, October 07, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey dives into the day's 'political slop' in East Central Indiana on Wednesday, October 7, 2026...

It's not even worth naming it all; it's just slop!

Entitled, self-important elected and appointed officials and candidates running around, not giving a shit! Public servants who DO NOT serve the public!

Doing whatever they please, with no communication, transparency, or accountability!

Bilbrey talks freeform for a bit, then gets into the latest developments regarding the inappropriate text messages sent among four men in the local communities.

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VIDEO version of Ep 746: https://youtube.com/live/i5TdXMC6vfE

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#745 | Tuesday, October 06, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey breaks down the October 5, 2026, Muncie City Council public hearing and regular meeting—a meeting that proved anything but routine.

The public hearing began at 645 p.m. and ended almost immediately, making it one of the quickest Bilbrey has ever witnessed. The regular City Council meeting followed at 7:00 p.m.

But two absences completely altered the meeting's political makeup.

Councilor Brandon Garrett (D/R-District 3) was absent for his annual October vacation, and Councilor Ro Selvey (R-At Large) missed the meeting due to a health issue.

That left only seven councilors present: three Republicans—including Councilor Jerry Dishman (D/R-District 5), a Trans-Republican—and four Democrats.

That shift in the political makeup mattered!

What Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour and Delaware County Republican Chairman Tim Overton may have hoped would be a relatively quiet meeting turned out to be very different.

It wasn't as long as some recent council meetings, but it was packed with surprises, political maneuvering, unexpected votes, and plenty to discuss.

Bilbrey provides a comprehensive overview of both the public hearing and the council meeting—what happened, why it mattered, and what it may mean going forward.

Bilbrey also discusses recent developments in the fallout involving four local figures following the release of several group and two-way text-message exchanges—messages that are now raising new questions and sparking extensive local political conversation.

Muncie City Council! Shifting power! Political maneuvering! Text messages! Fallout! Accountability!

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VIDEO version of Ep 745: https://youtube.com/live/_ouOi8qGrhw

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#744 | Sunday, October 04, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 04 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 744th episode, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting on Monday, October 5, 2026. Will this meeting remain calm, or will it continue down the path of insanity seen in the last several?

Then, Bilbrey examines the recent buzz on social media about several local political figures. Is something significant developing—or is it much ado about nothing?

Bilbrey breaks down what's being said, what may actually matter, and what to watch for as Muncie politics heats up.

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VIDEO version of Ep 744: https://youtube.com/live/SMKgpYUESys

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#743 | Thursday, October 01, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

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.

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VIDEO version of Ep 743: https://youtube.com/live/bCZZJQC3URE

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#742 | Wednesday, September 30, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 742nd episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews the third and final meeting of the Muncie City Council's Finance Committee, held Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Bilbrey highlights several revealing moments from the discussion of the proposed 2027 budget for Prairie Creek Reservoir.

He also offers more on the Delaware County Republican Party and what he views as its ongoing effort to influence Muncie City Council leadership ahead of the October 5, 2026, meeting.

Finally, the spotlight returns to Winchester, Indiana, where Bilbrey reviews public records he received from City Clerk-Treasurer Kerry Sayre and explains what they reveal about the VOA "Winchester House" disaster.

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VIDEO version of Ep 742: https://youtube.com/live/jQJU7lEv33k

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#741 | Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers political developments in three communities across east-central Indiana in this 741st episode of The Political Spotlight.

If you live, work, or play in Muncie, Winchester, and/or Henry County, this episode is for you! If you're tired of political nonsense and want to hear how others are fighting back, this episode is for you! Or if you like it when someone calls the balls and strikes as they should be, tune in; this episode is for you!

First up, Bilbrey examines an unusual social media post from the Delaware County Republican Party promoting the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting on Monday, October 5, 2026.

It's not just a meeting reminder; it reads more like a "call to action"! Bilbrey views the post as the latest sign of what he believes has been a yearlong effort by the local Republican Party to influence—and potentially take control of—the Muncie City Council's leadership.

From there, Bilbrey turns to emails he received from Muncie City Councilors Nora Powell (D-District 2) and Sara Gullion (D-District 4) regarding the two recent Finance Committee meetings on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and Thursday, September 24, 2026.

He also reminds citizens that the committee has one final budget meeting on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, before the full council takes up the proposed 2027 budget at its Monday, October 5, 2026, meeting.

Then, once again, the spotlight shifts east to Winchester, Indiana, as Bilbrey shares the response to a public-records request he sent to Clerk-Treasurer Kerry Sayre seeking answers about who controls the city's official Facebook page—and, more specifically, who was responsible for a controversial post last week that left citizens up in arms.

Bilbrey shares what he learned and explains why, in his view, the response confirms what he has long known about Mayor Bob McCoy.

Finally, Bilbrey wraps up the program in Henry County by sharing a list of questions he sent to Democratic sheriff candidate David Bockover, as The Political Spotlight continues preparing for the upcoming 2026 general election season.

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VIDEO version of Ep 741: https://youtube.com/live/IA1VfHdl8Pg

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#740 | Sunday, September 27, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey explores a bizarre and increasingly confusing situation in the City of Muncie, Indiana, involving Mayor Dan Ridenour, Parks Superintendent Carl Malone, contract employee Jeff Howe, and Tuhey Pool.

The issue arose during Parks Superintendent Carl Malone's appearance before the Finance Committee (comprising Muncie City Councilors Dale Basham, Jerry Dishman, and William McIntosh) on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

While discussing Tuhey Pool and the disastrous 2026 pool season, Parks Superintendent Carl Malone told the committee he was no longer in charge of the facility.

Malone explained that, because of his illness and absence, he could not speak in detail about much of what happened this year. That is understandable. However, Bilbrey believed that upon his return, Malone would have received a full debriefing on what took place so he could try to correct issues going forward.

That did not happen; Malone continued to offer little information about what went wrong, what would change, and how Tuhey Pool could improve for next year and beyond.

Then came the surprise.

Malone said control of Tuhey Pool had shifted to Jeff Howe—a city contract employee who serves as Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission. He has also been named Deputy Mayor and served as the "Acting Mayor" during Mayor Ridenour's medical leave. All of this, despite many still questioning the legality of his contracts with the city.

Malone also said Howe now has a team working on the pool.

That was news to Bilbrey. Honestly, it came as a shock!

Apparently, it was news to members of the Muncie Parks Board, too.

So Bilbrey started asking questions.

He emailed Mayor Ridenour and several others for clarification.

The Mayor responded quickly—and the answers directly contradicted what Malone told the Finance Committee.

According to Mayor Ridenour, nothing had changed. Tuhey Pool remained under the Parks Department and under the authority of Parks Superintendent Carl Malone.

So what the hell is going on?

Who is actually running Tuhey Pool?

Did responsibility shift to Jeff Howe?

Why did the Parks Superintendent tell the Finance Committee one thing while the mayor says something completely different?

Which story is the Finance Committee and the council as a whole supposed to use to build the Parks Department's budget?

How do they know who is telling the truth about this or anything else?

What do the other City Council members think?

What does the Parks Board know?

How can anyone responsibly budget, plan, or hold anyone accountable when city officials apparently cannot even agree on who is in charge?

Bilbrey walks through the backstory, the conflicting statements, the unanswered questions, and what he believes is really happening behind the scenes.

Then Bilbrey heads east toward Winchester, Indiana, where a controversy has been brewing for several days.

He examines what appears to be a political and social-media faux pas posted on Friday, September 25, 2026, that may involve Mayor Bob McCoy. Let's just say Winchester residents are NOT happy.

This episode covers the Muncie and Winchester governments, questions about city leadership, conflicting accounts, budgets, and the bigger question of who the hell is actually responsible for what.

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VIDEO version of Ep 740: https://youtube.com/live/_TNl-DBTIcE

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#739 | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Piggybacking off the last episode... In this 739th episode, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shows why he is so bloody frustrated with our elected public servants by reviewing the second meeting of the Muncie City Council's Finance Committee.

It was, AGAIN, a difficult watch!

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VIDEO version of Ep 739: https://youtube.com/live/9yWEHFMRsAE

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#738 | Wednesday, September 23, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is nearing his breaking point...

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VIDEO version of Ep 738: https://youtube.com/live/6nrU7B7sc8I

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#737 | Tuesday, September 22, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 737th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey takes a close look at several local-government meetings across East Central Indiana — and there is plenty to discuss!

Bilbrey begins with the first Muncie City Council Finance Committee meeting, held earlier this evening, Tuesday, September 22, 2026, as councilors began reviewing the proposed 2027 city budget.

Before delving into the meeting itself, a few questions need answering.

Who knew what, and when did they know it? Who was informed about the meeting, how were they informed, and who might have been left out of the loop?

Bilbrey offers insight into what he believes is ongoing "game play" by the Ridenour Administration and inept Council leadership.

Then there is the meeting itself.

What should have been an opportunity for serious discussion of Muncie's financial future became, in Bilbrey's view, an absolute MOCKERY of the budget process!

From there, Bilbrey turns to the Delaware County Commissioners' meeting on Monday morning, September 21, 2026, where he shares his thoughts on the county's "letter of intent" for nuclear energy, specifically small modular reactors (SMRs).

Finally, the spotlight returns to Winchester, Indiana, where Monday evening's Winchester City Council meeting addressed the former Volunteers of America (VOA) Winchester House facility at 313 South Meridian Street.

Bilbrey shares his thoughts on the latest development and what he has done since the last show.

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VIDEO version of Ep 737: https://youtube.com/live/l6QcTa2dIfo

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#736 | Sunday, September 20, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 736th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey brings back an old favorite right up front: Winchester, Indiana!

It all began with a Winchester Board of Works meeting that two sources sent to Bilbrey for very different reasons. While reviewing the meeting, something caught his attention—and suddenly, an old controversy came back to mind.

That's right. Bilbrey revisits former Winchester Mayor Shon Byrum (D), the five bumbling Republicans who served on the Winchester City Council, and the disastrous decision that brought the "Winchester House" drug treatment facility to Winchester.

Bilbrey recounts what he sees as Byrum's attempt to jump-start his political career by putting Volunteers of America (VOA)'s interests ahead of his responsibility to Winchester's citizens.

But that was roughly TEN YEARS AGO! VOA has been gone from Winchester for years.

So what brought all this back now?

Bilbrey shares what caught his attention at the Winchester Board of Works meeting and takes a well-deserved, long-awaited victory lap!

From there, the spotlight shifts back to Muncie, where the City Council is preparing for three key meetings about the proposed 2027 budget.

All three meetings are scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. ET:

Meeting 1 - Tuesday, September 22, 2026...
Meeting 2 - Thursday, September 24, 2026...
Meeting 3 - Wednesday, September 30, 2026...

The next couple of weeks in Muncie will be critical, and Bilbrey explains why citizens need to pay attention!

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VIDEO version of Ep 736: https://youtube.com/live/Dx0F4IssGXE

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#735 | Thursday, September 17, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 735th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is at his wit's end over what he sees as the complete breakdown of "public service" among far too many local public servants across East Central Indiana and beyond.

Muncie, Delaware County.
Anderson, Madison County.
Winchester, Randolph County.
New Castle, Henry County.
Indianapolis, Marion County.

Different communities. Different offices. Same recurring problem:

Too many people in public office seem to have forgotten who they work for... and too many citizens aren't involved and can't be bothered. It's only getting worse!

Bilbrey begins with a brief review of the most recent Muncie Board of Works meeting from Wednesday, September 16, 2026, then turns to the Muncie Redevelopment Commission meeting from earlier today, Thursday, September 17, 2026.

This is where the frustration really mounts.

As calmly as he can, Bilbrey attempts to explain the problems citizens face with the Redevelopment Commission — the decisions being made, the way business is conducted, the lack of accountability, and the larger question of whether the public is truly being served by those exercising public power: Mayor Dan Ridenour and Jeff Howe.

Then, for the rest of the episode, Bilbrey heads straight down the rabbit hole:

It is time for more people to run for local office! Republicans, Democrats, and Libertarians!

Not someday! Not after the next disaster! Not after another four years of complaining! Now! Starting now, because the next election cycle begins in January 2027!

If citizens are tired of the same miserable mopes making the same bad decisions, someone has to step up and challenge them.

Bilbrey spends the rest of the show talking directly to the people who keep saying local government is broken — and asking the obvious question:

Are you willing to do something about it?

If better people never file, organize, campaign, or put their names on the ballot, nothing changes.

This episode is about local government, public service, accountability, citizen power, and finding the next generation of people willing to step forward and run for office.

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VIDEO version of Ep 735: https://youtube.com/live/qIRUU2HHGAM

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#734 | Wednesday, September 16, 2026 - (PART 2) | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

This is Episode 734, Part 2, the conclusion, of The Political Spotlight's two-part look at the completely "OFF THE RAILS" Muncie City Council meeting.

In this episode, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey will conclude his detailed commentary and analysis of everything that happened—including the highs and lows, the winners and losers, the status of major issues, and what comes next for Muncie. Specifically, Bilbrey will cover:

The Council's discussion, public input, and first vote on Ordinance 19-26, which would amend Ordinance 16-25, the City of Muncie's salary ordinance.
The Council's discussion, public input, and first votes on Ordinances 20-26, 21-26, and 22-26, the three proposed budget ordinances for MITS, the MSD, and the city.
The Council's discussion, public input, and vote on Resolutions 13-26 and 14-26. Resolution 13-26 asks the Council to investigate how the city and George-Jeffrey Howe handled his contract. Resolution 14-26 is a memorial resolution honoring Craig Wright, who passed away.
The Public Comments portion of the meeting.

That concludes Part 2 - Episode 734. As a reminder, in Part 1, Episode 733, which aired on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Bilbrey covered the following topics:

The Public Hearing before the regular meeting, during which Ordinances 20-26, 21-26, and 22-26 were made public "on the record," and citizens were allowed to speak on each ordinance if they wished!
The start of the regular meeting and the housekeeping issues addressed before the Ordinances and Resolutions were discussed.
The Council's discussion, public input, and first vote on Ordinance 16-26, a zoning issue.
The Council's discussion, public input, and first vote on Ordinance 17-26, which seeks to expand the Designated Outdoor Refreshment Areas in Downtown Muncie. A nonissue the Council spent too much time on, unlike serious issues they try to push through with little time or thought.
The Council's discussion, public input, and first vote on Ordinance 18-26, the "In God We Trust" Ordinance, the meeting's first major issue. Citizens and the Council trade blows, and, of course, Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour shows up with an attitude. The Council continues to show just how backward they are on nearly everything.

Episode 733 - Part 1 LINK: https://youtube.com/live/Qnl-61qySz8 . . .

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VIDEO version of Ep 734: https://youtube.com/live/BBNSXba_8_w

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#733 | Tuesday, September 15, 2026 - (PART 1) | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews the completely "OFF THE RAILS" Muncie City Council meeting, including a public hearing held before the regularly scheduled monthly meeting on Monday, September 14, 2026.

Bilbrey analyzes the meeting's proceedings in this two-part series: Part 1 - Episode 733, aired Tuesday, September 15, 2026, and Part 2 - Episode 734, aired Wednesday, September 16, 2026.

In this 733rd episode (Part 1), Bilbrey provides a comprehensive breakdown of the important September 14, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting, beginning with the Public Hearing on the three "Budget Ordinances" 20-26 for the Muncie Indiana Transit System (MITS), 21-26 for the Muncie Sanitary District (MSD), and 22-26 for the City of Muncie. Bilbrey has been concerned that the council's current leadership would strip six of the nine councilors from the Finance Committee, returning to the old 3-person Finance Committee, which makes no sense and would be an extremely partisan move.

Bilbrey and City Councilor William McIntosh both support keeping the entire council involved in the budget process. But not everyone on the council sees it the same way.

From there, Bilbrey's review turns to the regular meeting, where he explains the document the council's attorney presents to the council and the public at the start. Bilbrey fully supports it!

Next, Bilbrey covers the discussion of Ordinances 16-26, 17-26, and 18-26.

Ordinance 16-26 is pretty simple, yet the council, being as incompetent as they are, manages to screw it up.

Ordinance 17-26 is another non-issue; however, the council spends a good amount of time discussing it, and Bilbrey shares his thoughts.

To wrap up Part 1 - Episode 733, Bilbrey covers Ordinance 18-26, the "In God We Trust" Ordinance, the meeting's first major issue. Citizens and the Council trade blows, and, of course, Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour shows up with an attitude. The Council continues to show just how backward they are on nearly everything.

This concludes Part 1 - Episode 733.

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In Part 2 - Episode 734, Bilbrey will conclude his analysis and commentary on the September 14, 2026, Muncie City Council Meeting, including:

The Council's discussion, public input, and first vote on Ordinance 19-26, which would amend Ordinance 16-25, the City of Muncie's salary ordinance.
The Council's discussion, public input, and first votes on Ordinances 20-26, 21-26, and 22-26, the three proposed budget ordinances for MITS, the MSD, and the city.
The Council's discussion, public input, and vote on Resolutions 13-26 and 14-26. Resolution 13-26 asks the Council to investigate how the city and George-Jeffrey Howe handled his contract. Resolution 14-26 is a memorial resolution honoring Craig Wright, who passed away.
The Public Comments portion of the meeting.

Episode 734 - Part 2 LINK: https://youtube.com/live/BBNSXba_8_w . . .

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VIDEO version of Ep 733: https://youtube.com/live/Qnl-61qySz8

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#732 | Sunday, September 13, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 13 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

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 rapidly approaches, Bilbrey begins outlining how The Political Spotlight plans to cover candidates from across the region and beyond.

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VIDEO version of Ep 732: https://youtube.com/live/gwP1CcKMZ2M

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#731 | Thursday, September 10, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey kicks off episode 731 with a deep dive into Todd Beamer — A TRUE AMERICAN HERO! (If that name does not immediately ring a bell, this episode is absolutely for you.)

Bilbrey reflects on Beamer's courage, sacrifice, and role aboard United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

THIS IS A MUST-SEE FOR EVERY AMERICAN.

From there, the show returns to the City of Muncie, Indiana, and the fallout from Mayor Dan Ridenour's "love letter" to Flock cameras.

It is safe to say the reaction did not go as the mayor likely expected.

This may now be turning into a real line in the sand over surveillance, privacy, government power, and how far Muncie is willing to go in embracing Flock's license-plate reader network.

Soon, Muncie City Council members will have to make a tough decision.

Which side will they take?

Will they back the mayor's push for Flock cameras?

Or will they draw a line when it comes to government surveillance and tracking citizens?

This one could get very interesting.

Finally, Bilbrey heads to Winchester, Indiana, where greed, poor decisions, and sheer ignorance may have finally killed 'The Journey Home' — something Bilbrey and Producer Kate warned could happen long ago.

This episode shifts from heroism and sacrifice to local government, surveillance, political accountability, and the consequences of poor leadership and bad decisions.

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VIDEO version of Ep 731: https://youtube.com/live/42Z5o56WenQ

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#730 | Wednesday, September 09, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 730th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey turns his attention back to Muncie City government and several developments from Wednesday, September 9, 2026.

He begins with a review of this morning's Muncie Board of Works meeting. At 11 and a half minutes, the meeting was longer than usual, and there are likely a few points of interest that need to be covered, or uncovered!

Next, Bilbrey shares his thoughts on Ordinance 18-26 (the "In God We Trust" Ordinance), which the council will consider at the Monday, September 14, 2026, meeting.

From there, Bilbrey reviews Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour's community update from this afternoon — particularly the mayor's strong support for Flock license-plate reader cameras and his declaration that the City of Muncie intends to embrace the technology.

Bilbrey, of course, takes issue with that position, arguing that Ridenour approaches the surveillance question from an extremely unconservative perspective.

At a time when communities across the country, including in Indiana, are raising serious questions about privacy, government surveillance, data sharing, abuse, oversight, and constitutional liberty, Bilbrey asks why Muncie seems determined to move in the opposite direction.

The discussion then turns to the proposed 2027 Muncie budget.

For the past several years, all nine members of the Muncie City Council have participated in a series of budget meetings to work through the mayor's proposed spending plan. Will that process continue this year?

Given the current council leadership structure — and the political dynamics surrounding it — Bilbrey is not convinced the process will play out the same way.

Speaking of City Council leadership, Bilbrey shares his thoughts on what the council may look like next year. Who should hold the leadership positions, and who does Bilbrey believe will? What will those choices mean for the council's direction?

Finally, Bilbrey shares a quick update on a development related to the ongoing McKinley neighborhood situation that occurred today.

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VIDEO version of Ep 730: https://youtube.com/live/DqDETItnSVU

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#729 | Tuesday, September 08, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is back from the Labor Day 2026 holiday for the 729th episode of The Political Spotlight!

The program gets back on track as the 2026 general election season approaches; there's work to be done concerning the election and all the insanity in local, state, and national government.

Bilbrey begins with a look at the City of Muncie's proposed 2027 budget and the ongoing Delaware County Budget meetings. This is just a teaser, as a more in-depth episode is coming.

Also, as another teaser, Bilbrey again mentions the McKinley Neighborhood ordeal currently underway in Muncie. As he has always known, this is going to be a bigger story than it has already been made out to be.

From there, Bilbrey turns to Henry County, where he has heard of another concerning situation involving a former employee of the Henry County Sheriff's Office.

The conversation then shifts to candidates, campaigns, and political behavior.

Bilbrey wants people to understand what they need to know before they file to run for public office. It seems like many don't fully understand the responsibilities that come with becoming a candidate and, if elected, a public servant.

That discussion includes the latest round of craziness involving Randy Howard and what his behavior says about candidates, campaigns, and the people who decide to put their names on the ballot.

Finally, Bilbrey heads west to Madison County, where tonight's County Council meeting became heated — giving us one more example of why local government deserves far more attention than it usually receives.

Episode 729 is a bit of a catch-all:

Muncie budgets. Delaware County government. Henry County concerns. Candidates behaving badly. Randy Howard. Madison County politics.

As election season 2026 comes into focus, The Political Spotlight is back on track and moving onward and upward.

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VIDEO version of Ep 729: https://youtube.com/live/R2hVEciBVvc

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#728 | Friday, September 04, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

(Part 2 of 2) :

Once again, Dr. Katherine Callahan, a contributing correspondent from Madison County, Indiana, joins Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey for this 728th episode (part 2 of 2) of The Political Spotlight to discuss the past couple of weeks of political and governmental developments in and around Madison County!

From residency issues involving a Lapel Councilor to the insanity of the recent Madison County Commissioners meeting, and the open-door violations and more involving the Madison County Parks Board... this is going to be an informative show, as always!

(This is part 2 of a 2-part series)

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VIDEO version of Ep 728: https://youtube.com/live/14YZzeQfkuM

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Special Guest: Dr. Katherine Callahan.

#727 | Thursday, September 03, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

(Part 1 of 2) :

Dr. Katherine Callahan, a contributing correspondent from Madison County, Indiana, joins Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey for this 727th episode (part 1 of 2) of The Political Spotlight to discuss the past couple of weeks of political and governmental developments in and around Madison County!

(This is part 1 of a 2-part series)

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VIDEO version of Ep 727: https://youtube.com/live/ZulXq0fwr-w

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Special Guest: Dr. Katherine Callahan.

#726 | Wednesday, September 02, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The Political Spotlight examines Grant County Commissioner Chuck Poling and the investigation his local government requested into his WILD behavior over the past couple of years, both before and during his tenure as Commissioner.

The investigation ran for roughly five weeks, from late July 2026 through September 2, 2026, but it examined allegations and incidents dating back at least to 2025 — and, in some witness accounts, even earlier.

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey outlines serious allegations against Grant County Commissioner Chuck Poling and details his conduct in county government.

According to the investigation, former Grant County Treasurer Tiffany Griffith described an atmosphere of fear, intimidation, political pressure, and concerns about possible retaliation—concerns she says were significant enough to prompt her to leave county government after years of public service.

Grant County Recorder Kathy Foy has described alleged aggressive behavior, political pressure, retaliation after disagreements, workplace incidents, employee concerns, and attempts to influence decisions within county government.

In this episode, Bilbrey lays out the timeline, examines the accounts, and begins connecting the events, personalities, political relationships, and government actions surrounding this developing story in Grant County.

What happened?

Who knew what — and when?

Were county employees intimidated or pressured?

Were political relationships influencing county government operations?

What records, security footage, public meeting minutes, written statements, and other documentation could help establish exactly what happened?

And perhaps most importantly:

Is Grant County government operating in a way that citizens should accept from those entrusted with public power?

These are serious allegations, but as Bilbrey often says, "allegations are not automatically facts." When multiple current and former elected officials describe troubling experiences in the same county government, those claims deserve scrutiny — and the public deserves answers.

Grant County and Commissioner Poling are under the white-hot spotlight in this episode. As Bilbrey said in April and May 2025, "something is up with Commissioner Poling; it's just a matter of time until it hits the fan!"

Well, surprise, surprise... Bilbrey was right again, and he discusses it all tonight!

Also, Bilbrey begins with a brief word about Henry and Madison Counties!

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VIDEO version of Ep 726: https://youtube.com/live/Z09tLy-LEVU

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#725 | Monday, August 31, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is broadcasting from Southern Command for Episode 725 of The Political Spotlight.

Bilbrey shares additional thoughts on the violence and mayhem that rocked Muncie over the weekend — including troubling reports that the victim and witnesses in one of the major incidents are not cooperating with police.

What does that mean for the investigation? More importantly, could unresolved tensions lead to further violence in the coming days or weeks?

Bilbrey believes that possibility cannot be ignored.

What is being done to protect the public? What are police and other public-safety officials preparing for? What are Muncie's elected leaders thinking about the incident? Are they fully aware of the seriousness of the situation — and are they paying attention to what could come next?

Bilbrey then shares his take on the latest political gossip circulating in Henry County.

We might be close to another #SprolesWatch!

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VIDEO version of Ep 725: https://youtube.com/live/Wg-6c9fjwWk

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#724 | Sunday, August 30, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 30 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 724th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey first updates listeners on the status of the tech issues.

From there, Bilbrey shares his thoughts on the wild weekend in the City of Muncie. Both Friday, August 28, and Saturday, August 29, 2026, saw heavy police activity across the city—particularly downtown and on the Southside—with Saturday night by far the worst.

The night began with violence at a boxing event at the Cornerstone Center for the Arts, where five people reportedly jumped on and brutally attacked one man.

From there, attention shifted to a large gathering at Southway Plaza on Madison Street, which quickly got out of control. The response expanded beyond the Muncie Police Department to include Delaware County sheriff's deputies, Indiana State Police, officers from several smaller Delaware County departments, and even the Henry County Sheriff's Department.

And it didn't stop there.

Police spent much of the early morning hours responding to calls involving armed individuals, vehicles moving around Muncie, reports of people displaying high-powered firearms from car windows, disturbances at gas stations, and multiple shots-fired calls.

Bilbrey shares his thoughts on what happened, what it indicates about the public-safety situation in Muncie, and what city officials need to focus on going forward.

Then we head north to Fort Wayne, where the fight over Flock surveillance cameras took another major turn.

Last week, Fort Wayne officials voted to end the city's Flock contract. Questions then arose about whether police might try to preserve the system. However, Mayor Sharon Tucker ultimately made it clear: the contract is ending, and the Flock cameras are coming down.

That matters for Muncie.

As Muncie continues to grapple with serious crime and public-safety concerns, there will inevitably be pressure to adopt more technology, more surveillance, and more government tools to fight crime.

Yet public safety and constitutional liberty are not mutually exclusive.

Muncie officials should closely watch what happened in Fort Wayne before expanding surveillance systems here.

Bilbrey also turns his attention to Henry County, including the county's budget situation and last week's Henry County Commissioners meeting.

Finally, Bilbrey looks ahead to the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting on Monday, September 14, 2026 — what's coming before the council, what citizens should watch, and why local government deserves just as much scrutiny as anything happening in Washington.

Crime. Public safety. Government surveillance. County budgets. City government. Accountability.

Because what happens in your community matters!

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VIDEO version of Ep 724: https://youtube.com/live/A5Keu_fUvIM

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#722 | Wednesday, August 26, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

This was a different kind of episode of The Political Spotlight.

While dealing with ongoing technical issues, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey broadcasts this 722nd episode from outside Mud Creek Studio. As major internet and studio problems persist, Bilbrey begins with a brief emotional breakdown, discussing several stressful weeks—including a health scare that turned out all right, thank God! Bilbrey then talks candidly about exhaustion, loss, stress, and everything he has been dealing with behind the scenes.

From there, Bilbrey gets down to business.

MUNCIE & DELAWARE COUNTY'S 2027 BUDGET PICTURE:

The State of Indiana has released its estimated 2027 Local Income Tax distributions, providing the city, the county, and The Political Spotlight with one of the first important benchmarks for the upcoming budget meetings for the City of Muncie and Delaware County.

FORT WAYNE CITY COUNCIL SAYS NO TO FLOCK — BY A VOTE OF 9 TO 0:

The Republican-led Fort Wayne City Council voted UNANIMOUSLY, 9–0, to end funding for the city's Flock Safety license-plate-reader system.

Six Republicans... Three Democrats... Nine NO votes...

Council members raised concerns about mass surveillance, constitutional rights, privacy, civil liberties, government overreach, data sharing, transparency, and public trust.

While this is great for Fort Wayne, Bilbrey mentions it because he believes the Muncie City Council needs to investigate what happened there. He hopes this vote will draw the attention of every member of the Muncie City Council.

Muncie already has more than 20 Flock cameras, and Bilbrey makes his position clear: the Muncie City Council should reject further expansion, end funding for the program, and begin removing the existing cameras.

Public safety matters! So does liberty!

KNIGHTSTOWN'S TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026, SPECIAL ELECTION — THE NUMBERS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY:

Knightstown's unusual 2026 Republican primary saga culminated in a special election on Tuesday, August 25, 2026—and the results looked very different from those of the May primary.

The original May primary was marred by a ballot-programming error that allowed some voters outside Knightstown to receive ballots that included Knightstown races. Litigation followed, and a judge ordered a new election. Voters returned to the polls in August.

In May, Karla R. Easton Gorman narrowly defeated incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Barton Joe Whitesitt by two votes in the certified results, 238 (Gorman) to 236 (Whitesitt).

In the August special election?

Incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Barton Joe Whitesitt reversed his two-vote loss, defeating Karla R. Easton Gorman by a vote of 123 (Whitesitt) to 83 (Gorman).

A race decided by two votes in May shifted to a 40-vote Whitesitt advantage in August.

Turnout also fell sharply.

The Town Council results shifted as well, though Guy Louks and David Mattix remained the two winners.

What caused the differences?

The numbers alone cannot tell us how much was attributable to the May ballot problem versus to dramatically different participation in a standalone August special election—but the contrast still warrants examination.

Bilbrey breaks down the timeline, the numbers, the election controversy, the allegations that circulated during the campaign, and why accusations of election-law violations still require actual evidence.

This is a heavy episode... but Bilbrey also covers local politics, constitutional liberty, elections, government funding—and a little bit of life behind the microphone.

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VIDEO version of Ep 722: https://youtube.com/live/1q3Mr_-XsKU

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

This 718th episode will be a free-for-all!

First up, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes back Madison County's contributing correspondent, Dr. Katherine Callahan. Callahan joins Bilbrey to break down several major developments in Madison County and the City of Anderson over the past month and a half, including:

The most recent Election Board meeting on July 30, 2026...
The recent historic weather event—Callahan shares her thoughts on the flooding in her neck of the woods and how she feels public servants and elected officials have handled the situation...
The "emergency" Madison County Council meeting, held today, Monday, August 17, 2026. The meeting concerned appropriating funds from the Rainy Day Fund — 1186 for flood relief — to the Madison County Emergency Management Agency and the Office of Homeland Security...

Then, from Madison County to Delaware County... the focus shifts back to the ongoing discussion of the issues faced by the Delaware County (City of Muncie) 911 Emergency Communications Center during the historic flooding on August 12-13, 2026.

During a regularly scheduled meeting of the Delaware County Commissioners today, Monday, August 17, 2026, Delaware County 911 Director Fred Cummings addressed the Commissioners and the public regarding the ongoing public-safety communications situation. His latest remarks appeared to walk back several statements he made at last week's "emergency" meeting while also offering significant new claims about the system's current status.

Bilbrey examines what has changed, what has been clarified, and what questions still remain—and oh yes, there are still plenty of questions. That said, it appears that The Political Spotlight is making some headway!

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VIDEO version of Ep 718: https://youtube.com/live/3eGK_NigSIs

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Special Guest: Dr. Katherine Callahan.

#715 | Tuesday, August 11, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 11 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

After initial rumors in early 2026 that something was amiss at the Delaware County EMS office, the story began to unfold publicly on March 12, 2026, when The Political Spotlight reported that longtime Delaware County EMS Office Manager Meagan R. Coutinho was no longer employed by Delaware County amid allegations of an internal theft investigation.

On March 23, 2026, the situation escalated dramatically when Delaware County Commissioners announced the suspension of County EMA Director John Coutinho — Meagan Coutinho’s husband — and County EMS Director Mike Ashley, as the Indiana State Police investigation into the alleged theft continued.

The investigation ultimately led to the arrest of Meagan R. Coutinho on June 3, 2026, and to the public release of the Probable Cause Affidavit, which detailed what Indiana State Police investigators alleged had occurred within Delaware County government and beyond.

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More than five months after The Political Spotlight first publicly reported that something was happening inside the Delaware County EMS office, and more than two months after the arrest, the case has reached another major milestone.

On Tuesday, August 11, 2026, the Delaware County Prosecutor’s Office formally filed 10 felony counts against Meagan R. Coutinho, including multiple counts of Theft and Fraud, as well as one count each of Conflict of Interest and Official Misconduct.

The formal charges stem from allegations involving approximately $181,749.93 in unauthorized compensation, thousands of hours of allegedly unauthorized overtime, money allegedly taken or diverted from a Delaware County EMS-related account, undeposited checks payable to Delaware County EMS, allegations related to retirement funds or benefits, an alleged conflict of interest involving a private cleaning company that received money from Delaware County, and, last but not least, allegations of theft from the Delta High School Girls Golf Boosters.

In this 715th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey takes viewers through a recap of the entire timeline — from the first rumblings of trouble inside Delaware County EMS to the Indiana State Police investigation, the June arrest, and the official filing of 10 felony charges by Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman.

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Beyond the criminal allegations, several important questions remain for Delaware County Government:

If the allegations are true, how could this have persisted for years without detection?

Who was responsible for reviewing payroll?

Who authorized — or failed to question — thousands of hours of overtime?

What internal controls were in place?

Who was overseeing the funds?

What changes, if any, have been made to ensure that something like this cannot happen again?

And one of the most important questions of all:

Was Husband John Coutinho, or anyone else, involved?

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Meagan R. Coutinho is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The allegations in the charging documents and Probable Cause Affidavit remain allegations unless established through the judicial process.

In this 715th episode of The Political Spotlight, Bilbrey leads the audience through the paper trail, examines the charges, breaks down the potential penalties, and continues to ask the questions Delaware County taxpayers deserve answers to.

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Timeline of other episodes connected to this topic:

First Mention: Episode 618 (03.12.26):
https://youtube.com/live/KHsZo1vua7A . . .

Commissioners Suspend EMA & EMS Directors (03.23.26):
https://youtube.com/live/GAKNvIVHY_o . . .

Arrest of Meagan R. Coutinho (06.03.26):
https://youtube.com/live/oa9h375x6QM . . .

News Relating to John Coutinho (06.10.26):
https://youtube.com/live/peN24gRaVfc . . .

Commissioners Terminate John Coutinho (06.16.26):
https://youtube.com/live/631ScX-qidM . . .

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VIDEO version of Ep 715: https://youtube.com/live/jx3z8xsN2mM

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

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.

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VIDEO version of Ep 713: https://youtube.com/live/kOxSkMXt4hE

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#712 | Thursday, August 06, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 06 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey continues battling the tech gremlins in this 712th episode of The Political Spotlight. Bilbrey also explains an email he sent to the Muncie City Council on Thursday, August 6, 2026.

It's a new day, looking forward! Now to see if everyone else agrees!

All of the above, plus a few other bits and bobs, round out what has been a hectic and chaotic week for Bilbrey and The Political Spotlight.

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VIDEO version of Ep 712: https://youtube.com/live/8MgQHr9vr4Q

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

This is Episode 711, Part 2, the conclusion, of The Political Spotlight's two-part look at the highly anticipated August 3, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting.

The Council's discussion, public input, and final vote on Ordinance 14-26, which aims to prevent current and future mayors from appointing their staff and other city employees to various governmental boards and commissions.
The Council's discussion, public input, and final vote on Resolutions 10-26 and 11-26, both of which relate to Ordinance 9-26 regarding the proposed construction of a new Station 5 for the Muncie City Fire Department.
The Public Comments portion of the meeting.

That may not seem like much, but those three points convey a lot of information.

That concludes Part 2 - Episode 711. As a reminder, in Part 1, Episode 710, which aired on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, Bilbrey covered the following topics:

The Public Hearing on Ordinance 9-26, which concerns the proposed construction of a new Station 5 for the Muncie City Fire Department.
The start of the regular meeting, including the Committee Reports and an unusual mid-meeting "public hearing" on Resolution 8-26, the Council's investigation into the City Controller's office's financial operations and internal controls.
The Council's discussion, public input, and final vote on Ordinance 9-26, which concerns the proposed construction of a new Station 5 for the Muncie City Fire Department.
The Council's handling of Ordinance 15-26 (the watered-down version of the vetoed Ordinance 13-26 concerning the McKinley neighborhood's overlay district). Bilbrey shared what went unsaid at the meeting, explaining why no action was taken on the vetoed Ordinance 13-26, why Councilor Jerry Dishman quietly withdrew Ordinance 15-26, why the rest of the Council went along with it, and why, at least for now, both sides are happy and working together.

Episode 710 - Part 1 LINK: https://thepoliticalspotlight.fireside.fm/710

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VIDEO version of Ep 711: https://youtube.com/live/Phf2TfbNq8A

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 04 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

The dust has settled after the highly anticipated August 3, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting. Now it is time for the full postmortem.

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey offers detailed commentary and analysis of everything that happened—including the highs and lows, the winners and losers, the status of major issues, and what comes next for Muncie—in this two-part series: Part 1 - Episode 710, airing Tuesday, August 4, 2026, and Part 2 - Episode 711, airing Wednesday, August 5, 2026.

In this 710th episode (Part 1), Bilbrey provides a complete breakdown of the important August 3, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting, beginning with the Public Hearing on Ordinance 9-26, which concerns the proposed construction of a new Station 5 for the Muncie City Fire Department.

Amazingly, issues began right away in the meeting, ranging from audio problems to Council President Jeff Green's attempt to silence Bilbrey during the public hearing. Hang on; it only gets worse from here.

Next, Bilbrey covers the start of the regular meeting. He details the Committee Reports and the unusual mid-meeting "public hearing" on Resolution 8-26, which concerns the Council's investigation into the financial operations and internal controls of the City Controller's office.

From there, Bilbrey covers the discussion of Ordinance 9-26, which concerns the proposed construction of a new Station 5 for the Muncie City Fire Department. This was the final discussion before the final vote. It was a serious issue, deserving everyone's full attention (wake up from your siesta, Bilbrey - IYKYK).

To wrap up Part 1 - Episode 710, Bilbrey covers the Council's handling of Ordinance 15-26, the watered-down version of the vetoed Ordinance 13-26 concerning the McKinley neighborhood's overlay district. Bilbrey shares what went unsaid during the meeting, explaining why no action was taken on the vetoed Ordinance 13-26, why Councilor Jerry Dishman quietly withdrew Ordinance 15-26, why the rest of the Council went along with it, and why, at least for now, both sides are happy and working together.

This concludes Part 1 - Episode 710.

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In Part 2 - Episode 711, Bilbrey will conclude his analysis and commentary on the August 3, 2026, Muncie City Council Meeting, covering:

The Council's discussion, public input, and final vote on Ordinance 14-26, which aims to prevent current and future mayors from appointing members of their staff and other city employees to various governmental boards and commissions.
The Council's discussion, public input, and final vote on Resolutions 10-26 and 11-26, both of which relate to Ordinance 9-26 regarding the proposed construction of a new Station 5 for the Muncie City Fire Department.
The Public Comments portion of the meeting.

Episode 711 - Part 2 LINK: https://thepoliticalspotlight.fireside.fm/711

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VIDEO version of Ep 710: https://youtube.com/live/Mg1_cMiye6g

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

This is the calm before the storm! In the 709th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey outlines the government events scheduled for tomorrow, Monday, August 3, 2026, in the City of Muncie and Delaware County, Indiana.

This episode airs on the eve of what is certain to be a consequential and potentially contentious Muncie City Council meeting, set to begin at 6:45 p.m. on Monday, August 3, 2026. Bilbrey previews the major issues expected to come before the Council, including:

• The Council’s investigation into the internal operations and financial controls of the Muncie City Controller’s Office, authorized by Resolution 8-26.

• Ordinance 9-26, along with Resolutions 10-26 and 11-26, concerning a proposed construction project for a new fire station at the current Station 5 location.

• The future of the vetoed Ordinance 13-26. Will the Council allow the mayoral veto to stand, effectively killing the ordinance, or will at least six of the nine Council members vote to override it?

• Ordinance 15-26, a watered-down version of Ordinance 13-26, sponsored by District 5 Councilman Jerry Dishman. Bilbrey argues that Dishman should withdraw the ordinance or that the Council should reject it if it overrides the veto of Ordinance 13-26.

• The highly debated vote on Ordinance 14-26, a transparency and accountability measure intended to prevent the mayor from appointing members of the mayor's staff and other city employees to city boards and commissions.

Bilbrey will also share his thoughts ahead of the Delaware County Commissioners' meeting, set for 9:00 a.m. Monday, August 3, 2026.

With multiple controversial ordinances, a possible veto override, an ongoing investigation, and major decisions on public accountability and city operations, Monday could be one of the most significant days in recent Muncie government.

Whatever you do, do not miss episode 709 of The Political Spotlight.

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VIDEO version of Ep 709: https://youtube.com/live/SpmaKWVtb9Q

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#533 | Building the Benches! + Free Speech Battles Continue! + The PAC! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 29 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey opens episode 533 by sharing his thoughts on the local Republican and Democratic parties and what they seem to be doing or not doing, as Indiana gets ready for the 2026 midterm election season.

From there, Bilbrey explores the ongoing madness surrounding speech in America. Citizens and public officials alike are calling for others to lose their jobs, be penalized, or face other consequences just because of the language being used. It isn't easing up; if anything, it might be worsening.

Lastly, Bilbrey addresses several points regarding Indiana's Record Request process, the Open Door Law, and the Public Records Laws. He also shares a sad realization about the current Indiana Public Access Counselor, Jennifer Ruby.

Tune in, this is a show you absolutely DO NOT want to miss!

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VIDEO version of Ep 533: https://youtube.com/live/oJ9hEesBw0I

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