#764 | Wednesday, November 04, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

November 4th, 2026  |  3 hrs 19 mins

2026 election, 2026 general election, board of works, board of zoning appeals, bza, campaign promises, citizen oversight, citizen power, delaware muncie metropolitan board of zoning appeals, east central indiana, election aftermath, gaslighting, government accountability, government transparency, henry county indiana, henry county politics, henry county sheriff, henry county sheriff elect, indiana politics, jim nicholson, john sproles, local government, local politics, muncie, muncie board of works, muncie city council, muncie indiana, november 2 2026, november 4 2026, october 29 2026, political accountability, political controversy, sheriff elect jim nicholson, sheriff transition, team nicholson

In Episode #764 of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey opens with what he calls the first major blunder by newly elected Republican Henry County Sheriff-Elect Jim Nicholson—less than 24 hours after the election. Bilbrey lays out why he believes Nicholson and his team were caught in a lie almost immediately after the win, why he sees the attempted cleanup and pushback as even worse than the original issue, and why he is drawing a line now before that kind of behavior becomes the norm in Henry County. From there, Bilbrey returns to Muncie to review the November 4, 2026, Board of Works meeting, the November 2, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting, and the October 29, 2026, Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals meeting as several local-government stories continue to develop. There is a lot to cover—and Bilbrey is not letting any of it slide. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#762 | Monday, November 02, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

November 2nd, 2026  |  2 hrs 21 mins

2026 election, 2026 midterm election, ballot, campaign season, citizen engagement, citizen power, contributing correspondents, election coverage, election day, election day eve, election issues, election night, general election, indiana elections, indiana politics, local elections, local politics, muncie, muncie city council, muncie indiana, national elections, national politics, november 2 2026, november 3 2026, political analysis, political candidates, political commentary, rachel clark, ryan reese, state elections, state politics, voter turnout, voters

In this 762nd episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey begins with a brief recap of the Muncie City Council meeting that concluded a short while ago (Monday evening, November 2, 2026). Then... it's time to look toward tomorrow! It's General Election Day Eve, and after months of campaigning, candidates, controversies, questions, forums, interviews, and political nonsense, the 2026 MIDTERM ELECTION is finally here. Bilbrey welcomes contributing correspondents Rachel Clark and Ryan Reese to the program to discuss the races, issues, and political atmosphere, and what they'll be watching as voters head to the polls on Tuesday, November 3, 2026. It's almost over! All that's left is for voters to have their say! It all comes down to this! Let's roll! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

November 1st, 2026  |  2 hrs 1 min

2026 election, 2026 midterm election, 2027 municipal elections, board of zoning appeals, bza, citizen involvement, citizen power, city council agenda, dan ridenour, delaware muncie metropolitan board of zoning appeals, east central indiana, general election, government accountability, henry county indiana, henry county politics, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, jim nicholson, john m sproles, john sproles, law enforcement, local elections, local government, mayor dan ridenour, mckinley neighborhood, muncie, muncie city council, muncie indiana, new castle indiana, new castle police department, november 2 2026, november 3 2026, public safety, republican candidate, sheriff candidate, zoning dispute

In Episode #761 of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes Jim Nicholson, the Republican candidate for Henry County Sheriff, to the program. Nicholson, a longtime New Castle Police Department officer who currently serves as Captain and previously spent eight years as Chief, discusses his campaign, his view of the current state of Henry County, and what he would want to change if elected Sheriff. After the interview, Bilbrey shares his frustration with the overall field of candidates in the 2026 midterm general election, now just two days away, and explains why he is already looking ahead to the 2027 municipal elections and the impact they could have across East Central Indiana. Bilbrey also previews the November 2, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting, reviews what appears to be a relatively quiet agenda, and closes with thoughts on the Delaware-Muncie Metropolitan Board of Zoning Appeals meeting from October 29, where the McKinley Neighborhood and Mayor Dan Ridenour's administration once again found themselves on opposite sides of an important issue that Bilbrey believes could grow into a much larger fight. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

October 16th, 2026  |  2 hrs 23 mins

2026 election, boss hogs of liberty, candidate forum, citizen engagement, citizen power, city council politics, councilor ro selvey, david bockover, delaware county politics, delaware county republican party, democrat david bockover, east central indiana, government accountability, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, jeremiah morrell, jim nicholson, john sproles, law enforcement, local elections, local government, local republican politics, muncie, muncie city council, muncie indiana, new castle indiana, political controversy, political fallout, public safety, republican jim nicholson, republican party chairman, ro selvey, sheriff candidates forum, sheriff department, sheriff election, tim overton

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey attended the Henry County Sheriff candidates' forum in New Castle, Indiana, where Republican Jim Nicholson and Democrat David Bockover fielded questions from moderator Jeremiah Morrell of Boss Hogs of Liberty and audience members. Bilbrey shares his impressions of the forum, including the questions asked, those left out, the candidates' responses, and what stood out as Henry County voters got a closer look at the two men seeking to lead the Sheriff's Department after John Sproles' term. From there, Bilbrey returns to Muncie, where he finally lays out the story involving Republican City Councilor Ro Selvey and Delaware County Republican Party Chairman Tim Overton—an issue he has been teasing since the October 5 City Council meeting. Bilbrey explains what happened, why he finds it troubling, and how the situation has continued to deteriorate. To close, Bilbrey reflects on another wild week of politics and government across East Central Indiana and looks ahead to what comes next. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

October 6th, 2026  |  3 hrs 5 mins

Brandon Garrett, citizen oversight, citizen power, city council public hearing, city council votes, council leadership, dale basham, dan ridenour, delaware county republican party, east central indiana, government accountability, government transparency, indiana politics, jerry dishman, leaked text messages, local government, local political figures, local politics, mayor dan ridenour, muncie, muncie city council, muncie city council meeting, muncie democrats, muncie indiana, muncie politics, muncie republicans, october 5 2026, political controversy, political fallout, political maneuvering, public meetings, ro selvey, shifting political power, text messages, tim overton, william mcintosh

ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

October 4th, 2026  |  1 hr 50 mins

citizen engagement, citizen power, city council leadership, city council meeting, east central indiana, government accountability, government transparency, indiana politics, local government, local political figures, local politics, muncie, muncie city council, muncie indiana, muncie politics, october 5 2026, political buzz, political controversy, political developments, political rumors, social media politics

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. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

October 1st, 2026  |  1 hr 45 mins

2026 election, 2026 general election, campaign questions, candidate accountability, citizen engagement, david bockover, democratic candidate, democratic sheriff candidate, east central indiana, government accountability, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, local elections, local government, muncie, muncie city council, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie politics, new castle indiana, september 14 2026 meeting, sheriff election

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. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

September 30th, 2026  |  1 hr 56 mins

2027 muncie budget, budget oversight, budget review, citizen oversight, citizen power, city budget, city council leadership, clerk treasurer kerry sayre, delaware county, delaware county indiana, delaware county republican party, east central indiana, finance committee, government accountability, government spending, government transparency, indiana politics, kerry sayre, local government, local politics, local republican party, muncie, muncie city council, muncie finance committee, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie politics, october 5 2026, political influence, prairie creek reservoir, prairie creek reservoir budget, public meetings, public records, public records request, randolph county, taxpayer money, voa, volunteers of america, winchester, winchester house, winchester house controversy, winchester indiana, winchester politics

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. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

September 29th, 2026  |  1 hr 43 mins

2026 general election, 2027 muncie budget, bob mccoy, budget meeting, candidate questions, citizen engagement, citizen power, city council leadership, city council meeting, city government, clerk treasurer kerry sayre, david bockover, delaware county, delaware county indiana, delaware county republican party, democratic sheriff candidate, east central indiana, finance committee meeting, government accountability, government transparency, henry county, henry county indiana, henry county sheriff, indiana politics, kerry sayre, local elections, local politics, local republican party, mayor bob mccoy, muncie, muncie city council, muncie finance committee, muncie indiana, nora powell, official facebook page, political influence, public meetings, public records request, randolph county, sara gullion, sheriff election, social media controversy, winchester, winchester indiana

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers political developments across Muncie, Winchester, and Henry County. Bilbrey begins with an unusual Delaware County Republican Party social media post promoting the upcoming October 5 Muncie City Council meeting—something he views as more than a simple reminder and possibly part of a broader effort to influence Council leadership. He then shares responses from Muncie City Councilors Nora Powell and Sara Gullion on the recent Finance Committee meetings and previews the committee’s final budget meeting on September 30, 2026, ahead of the proposed 2027 budget reaching the full Council on October 5, 2026. Next, Bilbrey returns to Winchester, where he discusses the response to his public-records request about control of the city's official Facebook page and the controversial post that angered residents. Finally, he heads to Henry County, sharing questions sent to Democratic sheriff candidate David Bockover as TPS continues its 2026 election coverage. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

September 27th, 2026  |  2 hrs 6 mins

2027, 2027 muncie budget, Contract, acting mayor, bob mccoy, carl malone, city budget, city contracts, city leadership, city of muncie, city of winchester, conflicting statements, contract employee, dale basham, dan ridenour, december 31, deputy mayor, east central indiana, end of the term, facebook, facebook post, finance committee, government accountability, government confusion, government transparency, indiana politics, jeff howe, jerry dishman, local government, local politics, mayor bob mccoy, mayor dan ridenour, mrc director, muncie, muncie city council, muncie government, muncie indiana, muncie parks board, muncie parks department, muncie politics, muncie redevelopment commission, parks superintendent carl malone, public administration, public oversight, randolph county, social media controversy, taxpayer accountability, term, tuhey, tuhey pool, william mcintosh, winchester, winchester government, winchester indiana, winchester politics

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey examines a bizarre dispute over who is actually running the City of Muncie, Indiana's Tuhey Pool. During the September 24, 2026, Finance Committee meeting, Parks Superintendent Carl Malone said he was no longer in control of Tuhey Pool and that responsibility had shifted to contract employee Jeff Howe. After Bilbrey sought clarification, Mayor Dan Ridenour gave a completely different account, saying nothing had changed and that Tuhey remained under Malone and the Parks Department. Bilbrey breaks down the conflicting statements, questions Howe's expanding role within city government, what the Parks Board and Finance Committee knew, and how councilors can responsibly build a budget when city officials apparently cannot agree on something as basic as who is in charge. The spotlight then turns east to Winchester, Indiana, where Bilbrey examines a controversial September 25, 2026, social media post that may involve Mayor Bob McCoy and has angered local residents. Muncie. Winchester. Conflicting accounts. Confused government. And one simple question: Who the hell is actually in charge? #ThePoliticalSpotlight