#535 | Ones & Zeros... On/OFF... Heads & Tails! | The Political Spotlight

October 1st, 2025  |  1 hr 57 mins

2026 budget process, brandon garrett, city of muncie, deadline, emails, federal government shutdown, finance committee, indiana, insurance, muncie city councilor nora powell, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie politics, vacation

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey continues his exploration of the ongoing back-and-forth between Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour and various members of the Muncie City Council, specifically Finance Committee chair, Councilor Nora Powell. The wild thing is, it all comes down to a simple matter of ones and zeros, on/off, heads and tails. (2+2=4) However, it is being promoted as something much bigger! Be sure to tune in live or via replay, as you do not want to miss any of it! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#534 | Dan Said, Nora Said! | The Political Spotlight

September 30th, 2025  |  2 hrs 19 mins

2026 budget process, breaking news, city of muncie, deadline, emails, engaged, finance committee, grant county commissioner ron stewart, grant county government, indiana, insurance, madison county commissioner oliva pratt, madison county government, muncie city councilor nora powell, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie politics

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey continues to examine the back-and-forth "he said, she said" between Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour (R) and Muncie City Councilor Nora Powell (D) over the proposed 2026 budget process. Bilbrey shares the latest emails exchanged between the two sides. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

September 28th, 2025  |  1 hr 47 mins

accountability, communication, councilor nora powell, emails, muncie city council, muncie fire department, muncie indiana, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie politics, proposed 2026 budget, record requests, transparency

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! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#528 | How Do We Keep Them Engaged? | The Political Spotlight

September 22nd, 2025  |  1 hr 47 mins

2026 budget process, article, civil rights, courier-times newspaper, emails, federal lawsuit, first amendment, henry county sheriff john m. sproles, how do we keep them engaged, muncie city council, muncie mayor dan ridenour, new castle

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews two emails from Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour to the Muncie City Council about the 2026 Budget Process. Bilbrey believes the emails highlight a larger issue. Then, Bilbrey pulls up an article from the New Castle Courier-Times and reads their summary of the end of the federal lawsuit between Bilbrey and Henry County Sheriff John M. Sproles. Finally, everyone is talking about how there's "something in the air." It seems like more people are waking up to what's happening in our "political world" — but this has happened before, so Bilbrey asks, "How do we keep them engaged?" #ThePoliticalSpotlight

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

September 2nd, 2025  |  2 hrs 21 mins

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

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

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

August 26th, 2025  |  1 hr 28 mins

2026 budget, indiana, muncie city council, muncie indiana, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie politics, the political spotlight

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey breaks down Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour’s press conference unveiling the proposed 2026 city budget. From the steps of City Hall, the Mayor outlined the draft that will soon head to the City Council for review and debate.

Bilbrey shares his insights on the budget process, why it matters, and how these decisions shape the future of local government. #ThePoliticalSpotlight