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

September 8th, 2026  |  2 hrs 24 mins

2026 election, 2026 general election, campaign behavior, campaigns, candidate responsibility, candidates, citizen oversight, city of muncie, county budget meetings, county council meeting, delaware county, delaware county budget, delaware county government, delaware county indiana, east central indiana, elected officials, government accountability, government spending, government transparency, henry county, henry county government, henry county indiana, henry county politics, henry county sheriff, henry county sheriff's office, indiana elections, indiana politics, local government, local politics, madison county, madison county council, madison county government, madison county indiana, madison county politics, mckinley neighborhood, mckinley neighborhood muncie, muncie, muncie budget, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie politics, political candidates, proposed 2027 muncie budget, public meetings, public office, public servants, randy howard, taxpayer money

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey returns from the Labor Day holiday for Episode #729 of The Political Spotlight as the program gets back on track heading toward the 2026 general election. Bilbrey begins in Muncie and Delaware County, previewing the City of Muncie's proposed 2027 budget, ongoing county budget discussions, and the developing McKinley Neighborhood situation—both stories that will receive deeper attention in future episodes. From there, the spotlight moves to Henry County, where Bilbrey discusses concerns involving a former employee of the Henry County Sheriff's Office. Then comes a broader discussion about candidates, campaigns, and the responsibility that comes with seeking public office. What should someone understand before filing to run? What does a candidate's behavior tell voters about how that person might act once entrusted with public power? Bilbrey uses the latest developments involving Randy Howard to dig into those questions. Finally, the program heads west to Madison County, where a heated County Council meeting reminds viewers why citizens should pay much closer attention to local government. Madison County's council is the county's fiscal body and holds regular public meetings. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

September 4th, 2026  |  2 hrs 8 mins

Part 2, citizen oversight, commissioners meeting, dr katherine callahan, elected officials, government accountability, government transparency, indiana politics, lapel, lapel council, lapel councilor, lapel government, lapel politics, local government, local politics, madison county, madison county commissioners, madison county government, madison county indiana, madison county parks board, madison county politics, open door law, open door violations, parks board, part 2 of 2, political accountability, public meetings, public records, residency issue, residency requirements

(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! #ThePoliticalSpotlight (This is part 2 of a 2-part series)

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

September 3rd, 2026  |  1 hr 44 mins

Part 1, citizen oversight, commissioners meeting, dr katherine callahan, elected officials, government accountability, government transparency, indiana politics, lapel, lapel council, lapel councilor, lapel government, lapel politics, local government, local politics, madison county, madison county commissioners, madison county government, madison county indiana, madison county parks board, madison county politics, open door law, open door violations, parks board, part 1 of 2, political accountability, public meetings, public records, residency issue, residency requirements

(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! 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! #ThePoliticalSpotlight (This is part 1 of a 2-part series)

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

September 2nd, 2026  |  2 hrs 33 mins

Politics, allegations, chuck poling, citizen oversight, commissioner chuck poling, county employees, county government, county investigation, elected officials, former grant county treasurer, government accountability, government intimidation, government investigation, government transparency, grant county, grant county commissioners, grant county government, grant county indiana, grant county politics, grant county recorder, henry county, indiana politics, kathy foy, local government, local politics, madison county, meeting minutes, political accountability, political pressure, political relationships, political retaliation, public corruption, public employees, public power, public records, public trust, security footage, tiffany griffith, workplace intimidation, written statements

On this 726th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey puts Grant County Commissioner Chuck Poling under the white-hot spotlight. Bilbrey examines a roughly five-week investigation requested by Grant County government into Commissioner Poling's conduct, while also tracing allegations and incidents dating back to 2025 and, in some witness accounts, even earlier. Bilbrey walks through the timeline, the witnesses, the political relationships, and the government actions surrounding the developing controversy. Who knew what—and when? Were county employees pressured or intimidated? Were political relationships influencing county operations? What records, footage, minutes, statements, and other documentation can help establish what actually happened? Bilbrey also opens with brief updates involving Henry and Madison Counties. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

August 31st, 2026  |  1 hr 29 mins

citizen safety, city government, city of muncie, community accountability, crime prevention, delaware county, east central indiana, government, government accountability, henry county, henry county politics, indiana politics, law enforcement, local government, local politics, mud creek studio, muncie, muncie crime, muncie elected officials, muncie indiana, muncie police department, muncie politics, muncie violence, police investigation, political gossip, public safety, shots fired, southern command, sproles watch, technical issues, victim cooperation, violent crime, witness cooperation

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! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

August 30th, 2026  |  1 hr 1 min

Police, Politics, Privacy, armed individuals, citizen engagement, city council meeting, city of muncie, civil liberties, constitutional liberty, cornerstone center for the arts, county government, crime, delaware county, delaware county government, delaware county politics, delaware county sheriff, flock cameras, flock safety, fort wayne, government accountability, government surveillance, henry county, henry county budget, henry county commissioners, henry county government, henry county sheriff, indiana, indiana politics, indiana state police, law enforcement, license plate readers, local government, local politics, madison street, muncie city council, muncie crime, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie police, muncie police department, muncie politics, muncie public safety, public safety, sharon tucker, shots fired, southway plaza, surveillance cameras, violent crime

In this 724th Episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey begins with an update on the ongoing technical problems before turning to a violent weekend in Muncie. Bilbrey examines heavy police activity on August 28–29, including an assault at Cornerstone Center for the Arts, a large out-of-control gathering at Southway Plaza, armed-individual calls, reports of high-powered firearms, disturbances, and multiple shots-fired calls that drew responses from several local and state law-enforcement agencies. From there, Bilbrey discusses what the weekend says about public safety in Muncie and what city officials need to prioritize. The show then turns to Fort Wayne, where Mayor Sharon Tucker has confirmed the city's Flock surveillance-camera contract is ending and the cameras are coming down. Bilbrey argues Muncie officials should pay close attention before expanding surveillance locally, because public safety and constitutional liberty are not mutually exclusive. Bilbrey also covers Henry County's budget situation and recent Commissioners' meeting, then previews the upcoming September 14 Muncie City Council meeting and what citizens should be watching. Crime. Public safety. Government surveillance. County budgets. City government. Accountability. Because what happens in your community matters. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#723 | Thursday, August 27, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

August 27th, 2026  |  41 mins 34 secs

indiana government, indiana politics, local government, local politics, political commentary, technical exile, technical issues

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey ends the week (Sunday, August 23, 2026, through Thursday, August 27, 2026) with optimism that he'll be back in the studio sometime next week! Bilbrey is feeling better than he did on Wednesday, August 26, 2026 (episode 722), and things will be back to normal SOON! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

August 26th, 2026  |  1 hr 24 mins

2027 budget, Election Law, Privacy, august 25 2026 election, ballot programming error, barton joe whitesitt, civil liberties, constitutional rights, data sharing, delaware county, delaware county budget, delaware county politics, election controversy, election results, flock cameras, flock safety, fort wayne city council, government accountability, government overreach, government surveillance, indiana politics, karla easton gorman, knightstown, knightstown special election, liberty, license plate readers, lit distributions, local government, local income tax, local politics, mass surveillance, mud creek studio, muncie, muncie budget, muncie city council, muncie politics, public safety, public trust, technical problems, voter turnout

Episode #722 of The Political Spotlight is a different kind of show. Broadcasting outside Mud Creek Studio amid ongoing internet and studio problems, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey opens up candidly about several difficult weeks, including a health scare that thankfully turned out all right, exhaustion, loss, stress, and life behind the microphone. Then it's back to business. Bilbrey examines Muncie and Delaware County's early 2027 budget picture after Indiana released its estimated Local Income Tax distributions. He then turns to Fort Wayne's unanimous 9–0 City Council vote to end funding for Flock Safety license-plate-reader cameras over concerns about surveillance, privacy, constitutional rights, civil liberties, data sharing, transparency, and government overreach. Bilbrey argues that the Muncie City Council should take notice, reject further expansion, end funding, and begin removing Muncie's existing Flock cameras. Finally, Bilbrey breaks down the dramatic results of Knightstown's August 25 special election, ordered after ballot-programming problems affected the May Republican primary. Clerk-Treasurer Barton Joe Whitesitt reversed a two-vote May loss and defeated Karla R. Easton Gorman by 40 votes in August, while turnout dropped sharply. Bilbrey examines the timeline, changing numbers, election controversy, campaign allegations, and why claims of election-law violations still require actual evidence. A heavy episode covering local government, budgets, surveillance, constitutional liberty, elections, accountability—and life behind the microphone. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#721 | Monday, August 24, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

August 24th, 2026  |  1 hr 25 mins

city of muncie, city of new castle, delaware county government, delaware county politics, henry county, henry county government, henry county politics, horrible technical issues, indiana's conservative talk radio, light at the end of this long tunnel, local government, local politics, matt bair, matt bair death, muncie politics, new castle politics, northwest indiana, odds and ends from across east central indiana, political and governmental topics, sad news, the region

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is starting to feel hopeful that there is a light at the end of this LONG tunnel, which has been filled with nearly a month of HORRIBLE TECHNICAL ISSUES! He's hoping to cover a few odds and ends from across East Central Indiana. He'll cover political and governmental topics from Muncie and Delaware County to New Castle and Henry County, along with some sad news from Indiana's conservative talk radio world. If time allows, Bilbrey even asks what the heck is going on in "the region" (Northwest Indiana). #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

August 19th, 2026  |  22 mins 53 secs

Communication, answers, city of muncie, delaware, delaware county, delaware county city of muncie dispatch communications issues, delaware county government, delaware county indiana, delaware county politics, episode cut early, future program, latest email from delaware county commissioner stephen brand, local government, local politics, muncie board of works meeting, muncie city council, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie parks board meeting, muncie politics, muncie sanitary district board meeting, ongoing technical issues, questions, specail meeting, unanswered questions

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

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