The Political Spotlight - Episodes Tagged with “Indianapolis”

#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'
LIVE Sunday - Thursday @ 9 p.m. (ET)
Hosted by: Kristopher H. Bilbrey
Produced by: Kate Thornburg & Brandon Rudd
https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight
https://rumble.com/c/ThePoliticalSpotlight
https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
https://www.facebook.com/Bilbrey318
https://www.facebook.com/PoliticalSpotlight318
https://www.tiktok.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight
https://x.com/BilbreyLIVE
Email: tpsprogram@gmail.com
© 2026 Mud Creek Studio.
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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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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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#720 | Thursday, August 20, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

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

The weed eaters must be strung!

The trains must have all made it to the stations on time!

And it's clearly not February!

Because this 720th episode is officially a reunion of The Political Spotlight — 3!

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey...

Producer Kate Thornburg...

& NONE OTHER THAN THE:

PURDUE-ED-U-CATED, ENGINEER-IN', WEED-EATER-STRINGIN', PUN-LOVIN', PROBLEM-SOLVIN', SON OF A GUN, BRANDON RUDD...

ARE ALL IN THE HOUSE FOR THIS BIG-TIME EPISODE!

And now that all of that is out of the way, shall we? We shall... let's roll!

On this 720th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Co-Host Brandon Rudd, and Producer Kate take a hard look at Indiana State Representative J.D. Prescott’s House Bill 1288 — a proposal Prescott has been pushing across Indiana, trying to sell Hoosiers on "HIS PLAN" to fundamentally dismantle Indiana’s property-tax system and move the state toward a sales-tax-driven funding model.

This, as you should know, is not a pro-Prescott show, nor is it an endorsement of HB 1288. That said, Bilbrey, Brando, and Producer Kate will attempt to present the pros and cons of the plan! It's just that the team firmly believes there are far more cons than pros!

The question the audience needs to consider is whether this plan could create a whole new set of problems for Indiana while trying to solve the very real property tax problems Hoosiers already face.

Under the proposal, Indiana would move toward statewide collection and redistribution of sales tax because individual counties—particularly rural counties—might not generate enough sales tax revenue on their own. The proposed distribution formula would rely heavily on population, with a portion tied to roadway miles.

That immediately raises serious questions.

What happens when local government becomes increasingly dependent on funds collected and redistributed through Indianapolis?

Which counties become net contributors, and which become net recipients?

What happens during an economic downturn when consumer spending — and therefore sales tax revenue — falls?

Does replacing property taxes actually reduce the cost of government, or simply shift where government gets its revenue?

What happens to local accountability when the link between local taxpayers, local spending, and local government becomes less direct?

How much additional pressure would this place on Indiana’s sales tax — already paid every day by working Hoosiers?

There are also serious questions about schools and existing voter-approved referenda. HB 1288 would allow existing referendum obligations to continue through a separate recapture mechanism while prohibiting new referenda.

Prescott himself has acknowledged that discussions across the state have uncovered additional problems, gaps, and flaws that still need to be examined.

That is exactly what this program is about.

Property taxes are a serious problem in Indiana. But eliminating one unpopular tax does not automatically lead to better, smaller government, lower spending, stronger local control, or a fairer system.

In this episode, The Political Spotlight examines what HB 1288 proposes, where the plan could go wrong, who could end up paying more, how it could reshape the relationship between state and local government, and why Hoosiers should look very carefully before replacing one deeply flawed tax system with another.

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VIDEO version of Ep 720: https://youtube.com/live/pW1tzv9i5hA

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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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#635 | Nut Up... Or Get Out of the Way! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey has a clear message for all currently elected and appointed public servants everywhere, as well as for everyone currently campaigning to become an elected public servant!

Specifically, to those current candidates aiming to win the primary and general elections to become elected public servants, listen very carefully and think deeply: Is this truly what you want?

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VIDEO version of Ep 635: https://youtube.com/live/ZMNhKiSMDvM

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Subscribe: https://bit.ly/subTPS
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============================

The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday - Thursday @ 9 p.m. ET)

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

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

============================

Facebook 1: https://www.facebook.com/Bilbrey318
Facebook 2: https://www.facebook.com/PoliticalSpotlight318
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight
Twitter: https://x.com/BilbreyLIVE
Email: tpsprogram@gmail.com

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🚨🚨🚨
'The Political Spotlight'
LIVE Sunday - Thursday @ 9 p.m. (ET)
Hosted by: Kristopher H. Bilbrey & Brandon Rudd
Produced by: Kate Thornburg
https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight
https://rumble.com/c/ThePoliticalSpotlight
https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
https://www.facebook.com/Bilbrey318
https://www.facebook.com/PoliticalSpotlight318
https://www.tiktok.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight
https://x.com/BilbreyLIVE
Email: tpsprogram@gmail.com
© 2026 Mud Creek Studio.
—

#527 | It's OK to Be Confused! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is back from holiday, but although he had a great time away, he still doesn't feel relaxed or reset. With everything that has been unfolding nationally, as well as at the state and local levels, things feel confusing and jumbled. It's like there’s this overwhelming sense that everyone is just waiting for the other shoe to drop!

Bilbrey discusses the current situation in Muncie/Delaware County, as well as the broader context of Indiana and the nation. He then quickly addresses the recent violence in Muncie and Indianapolis before looking ahead to upcoming events this week. He concludes by sharing his current feelings, which he believes many others share as well.

Remember, it's ok to be confused!

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VIDEO version of Ep 527: https://youtube.com/live/Rt9u1a1ZAJ8

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Subscribe: https://bit.ly/subTPS
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============================

The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
(Sunday - Thursday @ 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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