#584 | Rules, Tools, & Fools: Local & State Politics in 3 Words! | The Political Spotlight

January 6th, 2026  |  2 hrs 20 mins

city council, council president, councilor jeff green, delaware county republican party chairman, district 35, first amendment, house joint resolution 2, indiana, indiana state government, local politics, muncie, muncie city council meeting, new year, reorganizational meeting, state representative elizabeth rowray, the star press, tim overton

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey provides more in-depth commentary on the Muncie City Council meeting held on Monday, January 5, 2026. Additionally, he'll share his thoughts on The Star Press' coverage of the meeting—their journalism is genuinely remarkable. Then Bilbrey recounts an intriguing telephone conversation he had earlier with Tim Overton, Chair of the Delaware County Republican Party. Tim attempted to explain Council President Jeff Green's (R) desire to amend the Muncie City Council's longstanding rules. Although Bilbrey and Tim remained respectful during the nearly thirty-five-minute discussion, it did get heated at times. Lastly, Bilbrey turns his attention to the Indiana State Government, offering his perspective on "House Joint Resolution 2," authored by Indiana State Representative Elizabeth Rowray (R-District 35). #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#583 | Muncie City Council's 2026 Reorganizational Meeting - QUICK RECAP! | The Political Spotlight

January 5th, 2026  |  1 hr 14 mins

city council, council president, councilor jeff green, first amendment, indiana, local politics, muncie, new year, reorganizational meeting

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey provides a brief recap of the Muncie City Council Meeting... (this will be a short episode due to the meeting's length). Bilbrey will provide the full recap in episode 584 on Tuesday, January 6, 2026. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#582 | BIG NEWS + Bad Deputy + Upcoming Muncie City Council Mtg + Updates! | The Political Spotlight

January 4th, 2026  |  2 hrs 28 mins

2026, arson & murder, big news, blackford county sheriff's deputy tyler wood arrested for domestic battery, burglary & shooting, delaware county, election 2026, indiana, local, muncie, muncie city council meeting, national, politics, state, the new year

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's back to work we go... with corruption here and idiots there... We're back! Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey has a LOT to cover in this 582nd episode! From the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting and related developments to news from Blackford and Delaware Counties about an evil sheriff's deputy who found himself locked behind bars for a change. While he is innocent until proven guilty, he needs to find a new career quickly. Then Bilbrey covers a few updates on a couple of issues that popped up right at the end of last year (like the burglary and shooting that occurred on Saturday, December 27, 2025... the arson and murder case that took place on Sunday, December 14, 2025... and a couple of last-minute, end-of-the-year campaign announcements). And lastly, Bilbrey teases some BIG NEWS coming up on the horizon! It's good to be back! 2026... here we come! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#581 | Goodbye 2025! Happy New Year 2026! | The Political Spotlight

December 31st, 2025  |  3 hrs 2 mins

2025, 2026, anderson, ball drop, delaware county, delaware county democrat chairman andrew dale announces run for state senate district 26, dr. katherine callahan, end of the year talk, goodbye 2025, grapes, hello 2026, indiana, madison county, muncie, muncie city councilor sara gullion (d-4) to run for district 34, politics, start of the new year talk, state representative sue errington (d-35) not seeking re-election

This 581st episode of 'The Political Spotlight' is being broadcast on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, starting at 9 p.m. (ET) - the last episode of the year! 2025 is quickly drawing to a close, and 2026 is rapidly approaching! Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes contributing correspondent Dr. Katherine Callahan to the show to look back at what was and look forward to what could be! What will be made of 2026? As Bilbrey so often says: "ONLY TIME... WILL TELL!" And God willing, 'The Political Spotlight' will be right here along for the ride with you all! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#561 | Mayor Dan Ridenour, Reimagining Muncie! Plus: A Stupid Movie! | The Political Spotlight

November 19th, 2025  |  2 hrs 15 mins

build back better, camping, city parks, crazy video, curt d. andersen, hollywood movie magic, indiana, indiana american water company, madison county election board meeting, madison county politics, mayor dan ridenour, muncie, muncie politics, prairie creek reservoir, press conference, reimagining muncie, whitestown indiana cleaning lady shooting

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers the BIG news of the day in Muncie, Indiana—the closure of 234 campsites on the North Shore of Prairie Creek Reservoir. Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour announced this during a press conference held earlier in the day (Wednesday, November 19, 2025). This is something Bilbrey has heard was coming for some time, but it still comes as a shock. Bilbrey discusses what this could mean for the city in the long run, as well as the potential political fallout for Mayor Ridenour. Finally, Bilbrey explains the difference between reality and fantasy while describing how Hollywood movie magic works! For those wondering, this is connected to the "Whitestown Cleaning Lady Shooting" case. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#553 | Thursday, November 6, 2025 - Open Show! | The Political Spotlight

November 6th, 2025  |  1 hr 29 mins

east central indiana, free-association, indiana, local state national politics, media, muncie, open show, political commentary, state house

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey kicks off the show on a pretty calm Thursday, November 6, 2025. This will be a free-association style show! Come one, come all... #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#543 | Disrespect Toward Taxpayers! | The Political Spotlight

October 15th, 2025  |  1 hr 50 mins

2026 budget process, anderson, city clerk, city council, city council meeting, commissioners pass ordinance to cary guns, councilor dale basham, councilor nora powell, county council, delaware county, disrespect toward taxpayers, emails, grant county, indiana politics, investigative powers, local politics, madison county, marion, mayor, muncie, muncie city council, muncie mayor dan ridenour, resolution #17-25

The system is designed so that, regardless of who is in charge, the type of government, or the situation, it allows or even encourages elected and appointed public servants to be disrespectful toward taxpayers. Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers a few odds and ends as he waits for the big meeting for the City of Muncie on Thursday, October 16, 2025. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#523 | Out of the Box, No Turning Back! | The Political Spotlight

September 14th, 2025  |  1 hr 53 mins

america, budget meetings, charlie kirk, commissioners meeting, delaware county, delaware county commissioners, delaware county council, democratic party, finance committee meetings, first amendment, indiana, industrial solar, local politics, muncie, muncie city council, national politics, politics, republican party, solar ordinance, state politics

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey previews a busy week of upcoming public meetings in Muncie, Delaware County, and other parts of east central Indiana. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

Bilbrey also shares his thoughts on where America stands following the tragic events of last week. Additionally, Bilbrey discusses his stance on people saying horrible things about the death of Charlie Kirk.

Bilbrey is a First Amendment purist, and his views on this matter clearly show that!

#517 | The City of Muncie’s Continuing Struggle With Transparency! | The Political Spotlight

September 5th, 2025  |  1 hr 59 secs

2026 budget, city clerk, city controller, communications, dan ridenour, finance committee, indiana, muncie, muncie city council, muncie fire department, muncie mayor, muncie politics, the political spotlight, transparency

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey, while not 100% is on the mend but in a bad mood due to Muncie politics being Muncie politics. Bilbrey dives into Muncie’s second Finance Committee meeting — the one that wasn’t live-streamed, yet may have been the most important of all. Just more of the same in Muncie! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#516 | City of Muncie 2026 Budget Review! | The Political Spotlight

September 2nd, 2025  |  2 hrs 21 mins

2026 budget, city council emails, democrat control, finance committee meetings, fire station, indiana, mfd, muncie, muncie city council, muncie fire department, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie politics, republican control, resolution 1625, the political spotlight

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews the proposed 2026 budget for the City of Muncie, Indiana. He questions how Muncie can have the same council that presents different outcomes on the same issue. He informs the audience about a controversial resolution (16-25) ahead of the upcoming Council meeting on September 8, 2025. And surprise, there is more email drama with the councilors. #ThePoliticalSpotlight