The Political Spotlight - Episodes Tagged with “Muncie Indiana”

#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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🚨🚨🚨
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Hosted by: Kristopher H. Bilbrey
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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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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

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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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The Political Spotlight Airs LIVE
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YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 19 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

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:

Muncie Parks Board Meeting (Tuesday, August 18, 2026)...
Muncie Board of Works Meeting (Wednesday, August 19, 2026)...
Muncie Sanitary District Board Meeting (Wednesday, August 19, 2026)...

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VIDEO version of Ep 719: https://youtube.com/live/mvJVQX2HwM4

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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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#717 | Sunday, August 16, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

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

In this 717th episode, The Political Spotlight continues its coverage of last week's historic flooding in Muncie, Delaware County, and elsewhere across East Central Indiana, focusing on the lives lost and the major property damage.

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey also continues to investigate the serious public-safety communications problems reported during the event. We now have more information — but we also have two very different accounts of what happened.

The Political Spotlight obtained firsthand accounts from Muncie police, fire, and EMS personnel, along with an end-of-shift report from MPD Lt. Justin Peters detailing intermittent police radio issues, problems with Fire/EMS paging, flooding at the Sampson Avenue communications site, alternative methods of dispatching officers, Priority 1-only responses, and concerns about the availability of a fully operational backup system.

Delaware County Commissioner Stephen Brand has now responded, stating that the county's backup and failover communication processes worked, emergency communications continued despite flooding at the Sampson Avenue tower control building, backup channels were used, and he is not aware of any critical communication failures or public consequences.

So which description is correct?

Possibly both — which is exactly why more answers are needed.

In this episode, Bilbrey examines what we KNOW, what we DON'T KNOW, and the critical questions that remain:

Was MPD limited to Priority 1 calls — and for how long?

What exactly failed or degraded?

What backup systems were activated, and what capabilities did they provide?

How do the county's claims of a successful failover align with what Muncie first responders reported in real time?

Is the communications system fully back to normal today?

What equipment was damaged, what will repairs or replacement cost, and who will ultimately pay?

And perhaps most importantly: What will Muncie and Delaware County do differently before the next catastrophic emergency?

This is not about manufacturing a controversy. It is about establishing the facts surrounding one of the most important pieces of public-safety infrastructure in Delaware County.

If the backup system worked exactly as intended, the public deserves to understand how.

If weaknesses were exposed, the public deserves to know how they will be corrected.

And if The Political Spotlight reported something incorrectly, officials have been invited to identify exactly what was wrong and provide the correct information.

In this episode, Bilbrey lays out the entire timeline and follows the evidence wherever it leads.

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VIDEO version of Ep 717: https://youtube.com/live/SfLBHkFIUJU

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#716 | Thursday, August 13, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey explores the extraordinary weather emergency and disaster that has struck East Central Indiana, particularly the southern portions of Muncie and Delaware County, extending into Henry and Randolph counties, as historic flooding — reportedly the worst in more than 113 years — has overwhelmed roads, neighborhoods, infrastructure, and emergency services.

As police, firefighters, EMS personnel, emergency management officials, and first responders worked to protect the public during the flooding, the Muncie City–Delaware County 911 Dispatch Center and the public-safety communications system faced an emergency of their own.

The dispatch center handles emergency and non-emergency communications for police, fire, and EMS throughout the City of Muncie, Delaware County, and the smaller communities and departments across the county. During one of the area's most serious weather emergencies in generations, critical radio communications encountered major problems.

The Political Spotlight obtained information from within the Muncie Police Department indicating that city police radios went in and out throughout much of the overnight shift from Wednesday, August 12, through the morning hours of Thursday, August 13, 2026. Officers were reportedly informed that the primary Motorola communications tower near 18th Street and Sampson Avenue in Muncie had been found underwater.

By approximately 4:45 a.m., the paging-tone system used for Fire and EMS was reportedly down, with no estimated time for restoration.

Personnel were further advised that there was no fully operational “Plan B” to replace the affected tower if it failed completely. AEP was expected to shut off power to the tower to protect whatever equipment could still be salvaged — a move that would further disrupt MPD radio and dispatch operations.

With communications compromised, MPD personnel were reportedly responding only to Priority 1 calls at the time, while dispatchers and supervisors relied on alternative communication methods to coordinate officer responses.

In this 716th episode, The Political Spotlight examines what happened, how severe the communications failure was, what contingency measures were — or were not — available, and the questions that Muncie and Delaware County officials will now have to answer about the reliability and redundancy of one of the county's most critical public-safety systems.

Questions have been asked; have answers been provided yet? Tune in for more.

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VIDEO version of Ep 716: https://youtube.com/live/AOGJS1RpZaA

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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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#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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#708 | Onward to August 2026 - This Way to Fall & Other Topics! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey attempts to fight off the "tech gremlins" in this "SPECIAL" 708th "FRIDAY NIGHT" episode of the show!

Bilbrey uses this to explain what's going on with the show, since we've been off more than on lately. A SOLUTION IS IN THE WORKS!!!

And if things are running smoothly, he will try to get through a bit of prep for the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting and beyond!

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VIDEO version of Ep 708: https://youtube.com/live/n6juCuA4hhg

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#707 | July 29, 2026: We're Back, Ballin' Bigger Than Ever! Let's Roll! | The Political Spotlight

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

We're back, ladies and gentlemen! It's time for the 707th episode of The Political Spotlight! Let's roll!

There is so much going on in the City of Muncie, Indiana... and Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey has so much to say!

Let's get into this!

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VIDEO version of Ep 707: https://youtube.com/live/3LUPPGiQrqw

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#706 | Muncie, Indiana: Meetings, Meetings, & More Meetings! | The Political Spotlight

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

In this 706th episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey breaks down two packed days of public meetings in Muncie, Indiana, and growing concerns about transparency, accountability, and the McKinley Overlay District controversy.

Bilbrey begins with the Muncie Board of Public Works and the Muncie Sanitary District meetings, then turns to the highly anticipated Public Service Subcommittee meeting. All three meetings took place on Wednesday, July 22, 2023.

The Public Service Committee, composed of three Muncie City Councilors (Jerry Dishman, Jeff Green, and Sara Gullion), met for the second time to seek answers from the Mayor's Office administration, the Controller's Office, the Muncie Fire Department, City attorneys, and the administration’s bond counsel. Although several questions were addressed, Bilbrey believes important concerns remain unresolved. Mayor Ridenour was not in attendance due to a "Mayor's Conference" and did not send a representative—an absence Bilbrey argues warrants serious scrutiny.

Bilbrey then moves to Thursday, July 23, 2026, when the Muncie Redevelopment Commission held an unusual 8:00 a.m. makeup meeting after failing to reach a quorum the previous week.

Notably, the City's Controller and the Muncie Redevelopment Commission’s attorney did not arrive on time. However, when local newsman and author Rick Yencer mentioned the meeting time and asked whether the meeting had been properly noticed, the Mayor's Secretary, Shareen Wagley, an MRC member, made a snarky remark that the makeup meeting was properly noticed and then some. Bilbrey doesn't exactly buy that claim, however.

That aside, the central issue in the discussion for both the MRC members and the community is the ongoing drama surrounding the McKinley Overlay District ordinance, including decisions, delays, and unanswered questions.

There is a great deal happening within Muncie city government, and citizens deserve to know how these meetings are conducted, who attends, who is absent, and whether the public is receiving the transparency it deserves.

Do not miss this episode of The Political Spotlight.

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VIDEO version of Ep 706: https://youtube.com/live/VAAmmEuO_XY

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#697 | Put On Notice! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey attended the Muncie Board of Works meeting on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, where he raised procedural concerns about the Professional Services Contract and the first and second addenda to the contracts between the City of Muncie, under Mayor Dan Ridenour, and George-Jeffrey Howe.

As expected, the Board of Works members offered no response.

Newsman and author Rick Yencer then asked: "How much is Howe getting paid?" Once again, no answer was provided. Howe was not in attendance, and the meeting concluded just 10 minutes and 5 seconds after it began.

Combined with statements by Muncie City Councilor Sara Gullion during Monday's Muncie City Council meeting, today's Board of Works meeting raises even more questions about transparency and accountability within the Ridenour Administration.

Join Kristopher as he breaks down what happened, why it matters, and why this may be the moment the Ridenour Administration is officially put on notice.

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VIDEO version of Ep 697: https://youtube.com/live/R8rNbuRoRUc

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#696 | The BIG Recap of the Commissioners & City Council Mtgs (July 2026)! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey recaps the Delaware County Commissioners' and Muncie City Council meetings, both held on Monday, July 6, 2026.

In the 696th episode of The Political Spotlight, Bilbrey breaks down the key discussions, votes, and decisions from both meetings while offering in-depth analysis and commentary on the issues that matter most to Delaware County and the City of Muncie.

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VIDEO version of Ep 696: https://youtube.com/live/ktJydJw0ucQ

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#694 | The Big 250th Birthday - Week! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey closes the week out the same way it started and the same way it's been rolling... with not much going on!

But it is the United States' 250th Birthday week... so there's that!

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VIDEO version of Ep 694: https://youtube.com/live/mMrBED3AsaA

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#692 | That Time of Year (June 30, 2026)! | The Political Spotlight

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

It's that time of year! Summertime, 2026, and Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey explains what it means while having a chinwag with the audience! (Tuesday, June 30, 2026).

...this episode turned into a complete disaster!

Not all of them can be bangers!

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VIDEO version of Ep 692: https://youtube.com/live/yt6kIscLDew

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#691 | The Non-Meeting Meeting! | The Political Spotlight

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

On this 691st episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey breaks down the so-called Muncie City Council Public Service Committee meeting—"non-meeting" last Friday, June 26, 2026. The "meeting" left council members and the public with more questions than answers.

For the second time in one week, the Ridenour Administration has stuck its middle finger up to the council and the citizens of Muncie. The question now is what to do.

At some point, something has to give.

Bilbrey discusses this and more in this episode.

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VIDEO version of Ep 691: https://youtube.com/live/7BTboGPX9bw

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#687 | The IN-GOP Convention Is Over! Tuhey Pool Problems! Res 8-26! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shares his thoughts on the Indiana State Republican Party Convention held this past weekend in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Of course, the results favored the Indiana GOP Establishment!

From there, Bilbrey turns to the issues facing the City of Muncie's Tuhey Pool. On Thursday, June 18, 2026, the City of Muncie praised employees for their work around the pool and noted that the Tuhey Pool season was going wonderfully. But then came Saturday, June 20, 2026, just two days later. The pool closed early due to insufficient staffing, and now The Political Spotlight is aware of even worse issues facing Tuhey Pool.

Lastly, Bilbrey discusses the upcoming deadline for the first part of Resolution 8-26, which concerns the City of Muncie's Controller's Office and the City Council.

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VIDEO version of Ep 687: https://youtube.com/live/auOUkLRqtas

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#686 | Attitudes Not Access! What’s Really Happening Here? | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews the Muncie Redevelopment Commission meeting held earlier today (Thursday, June 18, 2026). What unfolded was low-key, off the chain.

Redevelopment Commission Director George-Jeffrey Howe — who also currently serves as Muncie's "Acting" Mayor and was recently appointed Deputy Mayor of Muncie — provided yet another example of why Bilbrey believes he is unfit for those positions. From his dismissive attitude and rude behavior to the revelation that he apparently lacks access to Muncie City Hall's computer system, Bilbrey asks the obvious question: How can someone serve as "Acting" Mayor and Deputy Mayor without access to the City's computer system?

But Howe wasn't alone.

MRC Board President Isaac Miller once again displayed the behavior that has made him one of the City's biggest yet still nearly unknown assholes! Mayor Dan Ridenour's secretary, Shareen Wagley, also played her part in the drama.

Bilbrey breaks down the clash between city officials and citizens, highlighting the "large" number of McKinley neighborhood residents who attended the meeting to voice concerns about what is happening there. Those citizens held their ground even after Miller tried to limit what the public could say.

After hearing what transpired at the meeting, Bilbrey believes a turning point has been reached — and if this meeting is any indication, things are only going to get more interesting from here.

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VIDEO version of Ep 686: https://youtube.com/live/28gT9E8eSWw

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#682 | Howe Becomes the Acting Mayor of Muncie, Indiana — INDEFINITELY! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shares and discusses the BREAKING NEWS of the day (Thursday, June 11, 2026). Current "Acting" Mayor of Muncie, Indiana, George-Jeffrey Howe, who was recently appointed "Deputy" Mayor and remains the Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, has filed legal documents along with Muncie City Council President Jeff Green to continue as "Acting" Mayor INDEFINITELY!

INDEFINITELY could mean anything longer than the original 15-day plan that Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour had discussed, and up to 6 months, as outlined in the Indiana Code.

Bilbrey examines the legal filings and shares his thoughts on what this could mean for Muncie in the long term.

You WILL NOT want to miss this episode!

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VIDEO version of Ep 682: https://youtube.com/live/ss2DZcmhw8I

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

#677 | End of the Week Review (Sunday 05.31.26 - Thursday 06.04.26)! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey recaps the past week in the 677th episode of 'The Political Spotlight'.

The Delaware County Commissioners' and Muncie City Council's meetings on Monday, June 1, 2026...
Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour's surgery and the temporary transfer of power to Jeff Howe, the recently appointed Deputy Mayor and current Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, who is serving as "Acting" Mayor during Ridenour's absence...
The arrest of former Delaware County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) office manager Meagan Coutinho...
Questions about "Acting" Mayor Jeff Howe's pay...

And more!

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VIDEO version of Ep 677: https://youtube.com/live/tm9DCa9tR08

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#676 | Money Is the Root of All Politics! Politics Is a Synonym for Evil! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey examines the Probable Cause Affidavit for the arrest of former Delaware County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) office manager Meagan Coutinho.

Coutinho was arrested earlier today, Wednesday, June 3, 2026, by the Indiana State Police on six felony charges. She was booked into the Delaware County Jail on a $30,000.00 bond and was able to bond out of jail almost immediately.

Her charges stem from two separate incidents. One involves allegations of theft from the Delaware County Government, and the other involves allegations of theft from a sports booster program at Delta High School.

Coutinho's charges are as follows:

Count 1: Theft
(Delta Golf Boosters)
IC 35-43-4-2 Level 6 Felony...

Count 2: Theft
(Delaware County Government)
IC 35-43-4-2 Level 5 Felony...

Count 3: Theft
(Delaware County EMS)
IC 35-43-4-2 Level 6 Felony...

Count 4: Theft
(Delaware County Government)
IC 35-43-4-2 Level 6 Felony...

Count 5: Official Misconduct
IC 35-44.1-1-1 Level 6 Felony...

Count 6: Conflict of Interest
IC 35-44.1-1-4 Level 5 Felony...

Coutinho is alleged to have taken more than $200,000 over the past four years, during which she was among the 20 highest-paid employees in Delaware County. Bilbrey demands to know how this was possible!

There is much to unpack about Coutinho's actions, but that is only half the story. Her husband, John, is the Director of the Emergency Management Agency of Delaware County. He has been on paid leave while this investigation runs its course. What did he know? How could he not have known? Again, HOW WAS THIS POSSIBLE?

Bilbrey examines the broader implications of this situation.

While keeping the focus on fiscal questions, Bilbrey shifts to the City of Muncie. The Board of Works held its weekly meeting earlier today, Wednesday, June 3, 2026. The meeting raised a serious concern for careful observers.

Did Jeff Howe, the Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission and the recently appointed Deputy Mayor, who is also currently the "Acting" Mayor of the City of Muncie, receive a raise around the first of the year (2026) that no one knew about?

All this and more in an ACTION-PACKED episode!

This episode connects to episode 681. Click the following link to listen to that episode: https://youtube.com/live/peN24gRaVfc . . .

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VIDEO version of Ep 676: https://youtube.com/live/oa9h375x6QM

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#675 | Muncie City Council Meeting Review & Mayor Howe's First Day! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews the June 1, 2026, Muncie City Council public hearing and the regularly scheduled monthly City Council meeting.

And of course, today was Jeff Howe's first day in the big seat! How did it go? Who knows...

Bilbrey covers it all in this episode!

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VIDEO version of Ep 675: https://youtube.com/live/SY251wooHz4

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#674 | Muncie's Tomorrow — The Promises, The Problems, & The Truth! | The Political Spotlight

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

Muncie, Indiana, stands at the precipice of an uncertain and potentially consequential chapter in the city's political future.

As Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour hands the City over to "Acting" Mayor Jeff Howe, the recently appointed Deputy Mayor and current Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, effective at 12 a.m. Monday, June 1, 2026, some wonder what the future holds!

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey breaks down the impending transition of power at Muncie City Hall as Mayor Dan Ridenour prepares to hand over the reins of city government to Acting Mayor Jeff Howe at midnight on June 1, 2026. With Howe recently appointed Deputy Mayor while continuing to serve as Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission, questions remain about the legality of the move and what the coming days and weeks could mean for the city's future direction.

Bilbrey also previews what could be a highly attended and potentially controversial night at Muncie City Hall on Monday evening, as the Muncie City Council holds a public hearing at 6:45 p.m., followed immediately by its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at 7:00 p.m., during which the Council will consider several important ordinances and a resolution.

Will the council chambers be packed? Will important questions be answered? Will the Council do what is best for the City or for the Ridenour Administration and itself? And what challenges, surprises, or controversies could arise as Muncie enters this temporary leadership transition?

Then, Bilbrey examines what the city may face over the next several weeks with an acting mayor at the helm and explains why local residents should pay close attention to the decisions being made.

Finally, The Political Spotlight turns to a viral traffic stop by a Palm Beach County, Florida, Sheriff's Office deputy that has sparked outrage nationwide. A law enforcement officer pulled over a woman and accused her of illegally using her cell phone with her right hand while driving.

There was just one problem: The woman didn't have a RIGHT hand!

Bilbrey examines the body camera footage, raising concerns about accountability and professionalism in law enforcement and why this incident should serve as a case study for police training programs and departments across America.

Link to the Body-Cam video: https://youtu.be/PdA1nS5suWQ?si=B_58hDHZiW1McD-r . . .

From local government and city politics to accountability, leadership, and public trust, Episode 674 is packed with the stories that matter.

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VIDEO version of Ep 674: https://youtube.com/live/m7uwj8Sngxs

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#673 | Muncie Flipped the Script! Who’s in Charge Here? | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey had to do it!

It's Friday night... which is supposed to be a night off, but it just couldn't wait until Sunday... so here he is for a special Friday Night episode! All because the City of Muncie, Indiana, is unlike any other government! At the last minute, they "flipped the script," and boy oh boy, is it a major flip!

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour is expected to be out for 6 to 8 weeks starting June 1, 2026. The prevailing account was that he would name Muncie City Councilor Jeff Green as the "acting" Mayor. Mayor Ridenour has said as much in interviews over the past few weeks.

Then, at the last minute earlier today (Friday, May 29, 2026), the City of Muncie announced that Muncie Redevelopment Commission Director Jeff Howe has been named "Deputy Mayor," a position that has been unfunded for the past couple of years.

Under Indiana Code 36-4-5-8, Mayor Ridenour has designated the newly named Deputy Mayor Howe to serve as "acting" Mayor starting at 12 a.m. on Monday, June 1, 2026, for 15 days.

What is supposed to happen after those 15 days, given that Ridenour could be absent for 6 to 8 weeks?

What happened to naming Councilor Jeff Green?

Why does the official paperwork show Howe was sworn in on Tuesday, May 5, 2026?

What is really going on?

Bilbrey discusses it ALL right here in episode 673!

Now, do you see why this episode could not wait?

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VIDEO version of Ep 673: https://youtube.com/live/1QHzj7M2bgk

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#672 | Muncie's Failed Transparency! Who, What, Where, When, Why, & How? | The Political Spotlight

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

Muncie politics continues to grow more complex by the day!

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey dives headfirst into several major questions about Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour's medical absence and the designation of Muncie City Council President Jeff Green as "Acting Mayor."

Why is the administration refusing to provide greater transparency?
What legal steps are being taken under Indiana Code 36-4-5-8 to designate Councilor Green as "Acting Mayor" during Ridenour's absence?
When does the transfer of authority officially take effect?
Will Councilor Green receive additional compensation for serving as "Acting Mayor"? If so, where will that compensation come from, and what is the process?
Can Councilor Green legally serve as both "Acting Mayor" AND City Councilor?
Could this create separation-of-powers concerns or constitutional questions?

Bilbrey breaks down what is known, what is not known, and why the public deserves REAL answers!

PLUS...

⚠️ More bad press for a local first responder and for emergency services as a whole.

A former Muncie firefighter now faces multiple serious criminal charges alleging misconduct involving a minor. Bilbrey will discuss the charges and explore what this case means for the community. As always, Bilbrey recognizes that the current charges are merely allegations and that all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty or until they plead guilty in court.

AND...

🍿 Republican Party drama is heating up (ONCE AGAIN) in Madison County.

Republican candidate Mikeal Vaughn has reportedly filed multiple complaints with Indiana GOP District 5 leadership. His complaints appear to involve fellow Madison County Republicans Katherine Callahan, Nicole Kapuściński, and Larry Savage. What's behind the complaints? What's the fallout? And what does it mean for local Republican politics moving forward?

💥 Real issues.
💥 Real conversations.
💥 Real accountability.

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VIDEO version of Ep 672: https://youtube.com/live/Hm4Y3fPDUrE

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#622 | Public Perception: (PCR & MFD)! | The Political Spotlight

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

This 622nd episode of 'The Political Spotlight' is going to be a BIG ONE! Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes contributing correspondent Rachel Clark to discuss "public perception" and the growing disconnect between local leadership and the community.

First, Bilbrey provides an update on a recent email he requested from the City of Muncie regarding communications between Mayor Dan Ridenour's Office and employees at Prairie Creek Reservoir. The email concerned the "perception" that PCR employees gave citizens when citizens complained about rate increases at the park. Even though the employees at PCR were "technically correct" in their responses to citizens, the Mayor's Office didn't want them to keep using that response.

What was that response, and why didn't the Mayor's Administration want it released? Bilbrey examines all of this and then provides a brief overview of the March 17, 2026, Muncie Parks Board meeting, sharing his frustrations with how it unfolded.

BUT THEN, BILBREY AND CLARK MOVE ON TO THE MAIN FOCUS OF THE EPISODE! THE BREAKING DEVELOPMENTS INVOLVING THE MUNCIE CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT!

This BREAKING NEWS surrounds the ongoing legal battle between MFD firefighter Troy Delaney and the department—widely referred to as the “cheating scandal”—which takes center stage as new information adds to mounting concerns about leadership, accountability, and the department’s ability to properly address critical internal issues. This is an issue not only for the Fire Department but also for the Mayor and his entire Administration.

As the situation evolves, Bilbrey and his team are investigating and working to bring transparency to issues affecting the Muncie community. DO NOT MISS THIS PROGRAM!

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VIDEO version of Ep 622: https://youtube.com/live/UyEolLxQR4s

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#621 | Muncie's Drone Station! + Park Board Mtg! + The Randy Update! | The Political Spotlight

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

In this 621st episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the latest updates on the Muncie Police Department's effort to install a "drone charging station" at the old Delaware County Building.

He then reminds viewers of the upcoming Muncie Park Board meeting scheduled for tomorrow (Tuesday, March 17, 2026, at 6 p.m.) and encourages those concerned about the Prairie Creek Reservoir issue to attend.

Finally, Bilbrey shares an update on Henry County's Comic Relief, Randy Howard!

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VIDEO version of Ep 621: https://youtube.com/live/peY-GiHqHjQ

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#614 | Muncie City Council Meeting (03.02.26) Recap! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 03 Mar 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey offers his commentary and analysis of the Muncie City Council meeting on Monday, March 2, 2026.

The meeting was once again long; however, the tone was markedly different! Honestly, this meeting was a WIN for transparency, accountability, and communication, and for the citizens of Muncie!

This meeting should be a teaching moment for Muncie's elected and appointed officials, as well as its citizens! The takeaway is: The Council WILL DO what is right IF the citizenry stands up and forces them to!

For the citizens, this shows, yet again, that all it takes is a bit of action. For Muncie's officials, specifically the city council, it proves that the people WILL speak!

Now, we just need to get to a point where the council does the right thing without needing the citizenry to hijack several meetings in a row!

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VIDEO version of Ep 614: https://youtube.com/live/0HAm5jXWdbw

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#609 | He's Just a Wannabe Podcaster - No One Takes Him Seriously! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews the agenda and action items for the upcoming March 2, 2026, Muncie City Council meeting. Although it appears to be a light meeting, with only two new ordinances and two resolutions, it could, once again, be an interesting meeting because of the continued stalemate between the public and Council President Jeff Green over the so-called "Council Rules," as well as an interesting Ordinance and Resolution. Time will tell!

Then, as he winds down the last show of the week, Bilbrey explains the contest viewers will have a chance to participate in next week. If you're interested, watch until the end!

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VIDEO version of Ep 609: https://youtube.com/live/oMwCN1t29S0

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#605 | More of the Same in 2026! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 12 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey explains that even though the names have changed, the games remain the same for the Delaware County Republican Party!

And Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour is looking to spend some money... does anyone have a building for sale?

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VIDEO version of Ep 605: https://youtube.com/live/w8pdWFzCjkM

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#598 | The February 2026 Muncie City Council Meeting - REVIEW! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Well, the February 2, 2026, meeting of the Muncie City Council was a straight-up shit show! LIKE HONESTLY, THERE ARE NO WORDS!

But you know that's not true! Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey ALWAYS has words, and he's here in this 598th episode to offer the best analysis and commentary on what happened at the meeting!

He also shares a couple of quick thoughts on the Delaware County Commissioners meeting held earlier today, Monday, February 2, 2026.

So grab your favorite snacks and a drink, and let's rock this thing!

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VIDEO version of Ep 598: https://youtube.com/live/hQumwnvOTGM

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#580 | The Blind & The Ignorant! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shares more of his thoughts on the recent shooting in Muncie, Indiana, and the nonsense spreading throughout the community as a result.

He also discusses Ordinance 3-26 in more detail. The Muncie City Council will consider it at its meeting on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Only 2 days left in 2025, as of the broadcast of this episode!

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VIDEO version of Ep 580: https://youtube.com/live/GLL707F8UQg

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#576 | The Shortest Day (2025)! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 21 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is coming to you LIVE from Sunday, December 21, 2025, THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR!

From here on, we slowly start to get more sunlight through June 2026, which is FANTASTIC NEWS!

That said, this is the start of the BIG Holidays... and the end of the 2025 year! Things are slowing down on the surface; however, there are still so many things going on behind the scenes, and Bilbrey digs into it all in this episode!

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VIDEO version of Ep 576: https://youtube.com/live/oUN9sDti4Sk

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#574 | President Donald J. Trump's LIVE Address to the Nation (12.17.25)! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Episode 574 opens with President Donald J. Trump's LIVE Address to the Nation at 9 p.m. (ET) on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.

Following the president's speech, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey examines issues affecting Indiana, including the 2026 election cycle and developments among candidates for state office.

Bilbrey then discusses the City of Muncie's Parks Board meeting on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, and notes that Dustin Clark has been overseeing all matters related to Prairie Creek Reservoir—a fact that should upset everyone!

Bilbrey calls on Mayor Dan Ridenour to hand over planning for what will be the "NEW" Prairie Creek Reservoir to a board or a group of stakeholders from Muncie and across Delaware County. This should not be planned solely by the Mayor or Dustin Clark.

Next, Bilbrey turns to the Muncie Board of Works meeting, highlighting the "lowlights" of that production.

Lastly, Bilbrey reports that Spartech LLC, a plastics manufacturer specializing in engineered acrylics and thermoplastics for the healthcare, aerospace, and packaging industries, will lay off 125 employees beginning December 23, 2025. It's always bad when a business closes and jobs are lost; it's even worse when that company just asked the city for a five-year tax abatement plan in December 2023.

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VIDEO version of Ep 574: https://youtube.com/live/0waBoNBCWlg

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#573 | Park Board Mtg! + MadCo's No Vote to New Precincts! + Boards 10-96! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 16 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is feeling much better and ready to rock and roll!

First, Bilbrey highlights the ongoing issues the City of Muncie faces with communication, transparency, and, flat out, just giving a shit!

Bilbrey attended the Muncie Park Board meeting this evening and became increasingly upset as a citizen addressed the board about feeling excluded by the Mayor and his team. Things only got worse when Parks Superintendent Carl Malone stood up and showed a complete lack of understanding of how a public servant should behave, clearly proving the citizens' point.

Because of that, Bilbrey had to step up to correct the record and share a few points.

Next, shifting to a few Madison County points of interest, Bilbrey welcomes contributing correspondent Dr. Katherine Callahan to discuss the Madison County Commissioners' "NO VOTE" on the effort to redraw voting precincts.

Then, Bilbrey and Callahan discuss the recent decision by Madison County Circuit Court Division 3 Judge Andrew Hopper, who ruled that Carl Roy Webb Boards II—the man charged with the shooting death of Elwood Police Officer Noah Shahnavaz—is not competent to stand trial.

This and much more is coming your way... DO NOT MISS A SECOND OF IT!

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VIDEO version of Ep 573: https://youtube.com/live/obmDV6JYuAg

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#572 | Bilbrey is SICK! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 14 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is here... barely! He's sick, but he still has a lot to say! This is 100% political... TUNE IN!

(Original Broadcast = Sunday, December 14, 2025)

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VIDEO version of Ep 572: https://youtube.com/live/SWAj72biKo8

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#569 | The "Republican" Political Advantage Is the Public's Disadvantage! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 04 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers the day's events at the Indiana State House in Indianapolis, including House Bill 1032 (the redistricting bill), as well as other bills discussed during the three committee hearings held this morning (Thursday, December 4, 2025).

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VIDEO version of Ep 569: https://youtube.com/live/8X1CgGGVLRs

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#567 | December 1, 2025 - Review of the Day’s Governmental Happenings! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews the events from various government meetings held throughout the day (Monday, December 1, 2025).

Bilbrey covers the following meetings in this 567th episode:

Delaware County Commissioners Meeting...
Madison County Commissioners Meeting...
State of Indiana General Assembly - House of Representatives (Day 1 of the 2026 Session)...
City of Muncie City Council Meeting...

Tune in for Bilbrey's review and commentary on the proceedings of these meetings.

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VIDEO version of Ep 567: https://youtube.com/live/65C1J3k8E5U

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#566 | A Long December! Meetings & a Possible Redistricting Reversal! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 30 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey and 'The Political Spotlight' are back after the Thanksgiving 2025 break, and it's time to get back to work. Bilbrey gives an overview of the key upcoming meetings scheduled for early December 2025.

He also discusses the "about-face" made by Indiana's State Senators at the very end of the news cycle last week, as everyone was heading into the Thanksgiving break. The Indiana State Senate will now be heading into session on Monday, December 8, 2025.

Let's roll!

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VIDEO version of Ep 566: https://youtube.com/live/dDpWfpXd1k0

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#563 | What About the Other 133? MTG's News! Anthony v Kelly! & Hindsight! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 23 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey returns for this 563rd episode of 'The Political Spotlight.'

Bilbrey examines the Prairie Creek Reservoir North Shore Camping fiasco more closely. It seems that Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour may have excluded more "stakeholders" than just his PCR employees, as he delivered the "bad news" to Muncie's residents. This is just another example of Ridenour's shortsighted, narrow-minded approach.

Then, Bilbrey shifts his focus to the national stage, where Marjorie Taylor Greene (MTG), a U.S. representative from Georgia's 14th District, recently submitted her resignation letter. Was this the right choice for her, or the wrong one? What message is she sending with her resignation? Bilbrey breaks it all down!

And then, a recent comment by political commentator Megan Kelly about the victims of Jeffrey Epstein has drawn criticism from several people, including none other than "2008's Mother of the Year" winner, Casey Marie Anthony. Was Kelly in the wrong? Does Anthony have a point, or should she crawl back into her hole and not come out again? Bilbrey presents both sides, and then he offers the only side that matters — HIS!

Finally, 2A advocate, attorney, and radio personality Guy Relford discussed an interesting case on his show over the weekend, focusing on "HINDSIGHT!" Bilbrey thought it would be a good topic to discuss, given its apparent relevance to current events in Indiana.

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VIDEO version of Ep 563: https://youtube.com/live/8olFgq0dpFM

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#552 | The City of Muncie Finally Made the Paper! & 2025 Election Results! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey responds to an article in The Star Press about the recent Muncie City Council meeting held on Monday, November 3, 2025.

Bilbrey then discusses the results of the general election held on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, in various states across the country. Indiana was not among those states, as this is an off-year election. Indiana's election cycle will resume in January 2026. But can Hoosiers learn anything from the results elsewhere to help decide what might happen next year? Tune in and find out!

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VIDEO version of Ep 552: https://youtube.com/live/YAkIgpddlOM

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#551 | The November 3, 2025, Muncie City Council Meeting Update! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 03 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0500

The November 3, 2025, Muncie City Council meeting has concluded. All that remains now is for Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey to share his analysis and commentary on everything that occurred (or didn't occur) during the meeting.

Tune in for this episode of 'The Political Spotlight' LIVE or via replay, as you won't want to miss this breakdown of the meeting.

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VIDEO version of Ep 551: https://youtube.com/live/kwnR9-uj6mI

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#550 | Finally... Resolution 19-25! Plus: Bilbrey Is a Scumbag! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 02 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour's proposal for a new, 11-million-dollar fire station construction project is on track to be discussed and voted on during the November 3, 2025, Muncie City Council meeting.

The agenda has been released, and for the third consecutive month, the final resolution listed—now called "Resolution 19-25" (initially numbered 16-25 in September and 17-25 in October)—is what the Ridenour Administration has been attempting to jam through.

Who is sponsoring Resolution 19-25? None other than Muncie City Councilor Dale Basham. But, will anything come of the actions taken by Mayor Ridenour's Executive Assistant, Shareen Wagley, when she sent the resolution to the City Clerk's office to have it added to the October agenda with Councilor Dale Basham's signature, without his prior approval?

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey has a lot to say about all of that, as well as the rest of the agenda for the November 3, 2025, City Council meeting.

Bilbrey then discusses being a "scumbag" due to his thoughts and comments regarding a recent local news story. That, or perhaps everyone else is not intelligent enough to comprehend complex thoughts.

All this and more in this 550th episode of 'The Political Spotlight.' Tune in because you won't want to miss it.

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VIDEO version of Ep 550: https://youtube.com/live/JfF7-UdjosA

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#532 | A Demand & a Deadline in Muncie! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 28 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey provides an update on the situation in Muncie, Indiana, following the city council's demand that the mayor give them a letter or email from the new insurance provider, detailing the latest figures and proposed savings for the city.

That demand also had a deadline — Friday, September 26, 2025, which passed. Did Mayor Ridenour meet the deadline, or did he resist the Council's request?

Where does everything currently stand, and what are the next steps for both sides? Tune in to find out!

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VIDEO version of Ep 532: https://youtube.com/live/2D22z4gmL44

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#531 | And Then Mayor Ridenour Replied! (Muncie's 2026 Budget Battle) | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 25 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

As the 2026 Budget process for the City of Muncie wraps up in these last few months of 2025, tensions seem to be rising instead of easing.

While Muncie City Councilor Nora Powell (D - District 2) has been questioning and criticizing the Mayor and his administration over the past few weeks, Mayor Dan Ridenour now appears ready to push back against the Council and Powell specifically.

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the Mayor's recent remarks and shares his perspective on how this situation might develop.

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VIDEO version of Ep 531: https://youtube.com/live/AkBRsZFHYhY

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#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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#519 | September 8, 2025 - Muncie City Council Meeting Review! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 08 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews and gives his commentary on the Muncie, Indiana, City Council meeting from Monday, September 8, 2025.

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VIDEO version of Ep 519: https://youtube.com/live/DXNJlFRmUGQ

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#518 | Come One Come All to the Muncie City Council Mtg (Monday 09.08.25)! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 07 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey issues his final call to action for the Muncie City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, September 8, 2025. The meeting begins at 645 p.m., and Muncie residents are encouraged to attend to voice their opinions on the proposed 2026 budget and Resolution 16-25. Resolution 16-25 initiates the process to build a second fire station, before the first one is completed. This second station, costing $11.5 million, raises concerns for Bilbrey and should do the same for others.

From there, Bilbrey covers two follow-up pieces.

The first relates to the "Till-Pond" project in Muncie.

The second involves the arrests made during a Town Hall meeting held in Warrick County by Indiana's Lt. Governor, Micah Beckwith, on Wednesday, August 20, 2025.

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VIDEO version of Ep 518: https://youtube.com/live/2MuZSxXgyE0 . . .

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#513 | City of Muncie's 2026 Budget Time! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 26 Aug 2025 21:00:00 -0400

In this 513Th episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour's press conference held earlier today (Tuesday, August 26, 2025, at 3 p.m.) on the steps of City Hall in Muncie, Indiana.

The point of the presser was for the Mayor to unveil his proposed budget for the 2026 year. This draft will then be presented to the City Council, which will hold Finance Committee meetings to review the budget line by line, one department at a time.

The proposed budget will then need to be presented to the full Council for a vote on introduction. If approved, it will require a second vote in a subsequent Council meeting before November 1, 2025.

Bilbrey shares his thoughts on today's press conference and the city's budget process as a whole. This is one of the most critical aspects of local government.

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VIDEO version of Ep 513: https://youtube.com/live/8Wy59Ju2rmI . . .

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