The Political Spotlight - Episodes Tagged with “Muncie”

#750 | Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 14 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 750th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers an unusually long Muncie Board of Works meeting, the first "Community Update" from Mayor Dan Ridenour in quite some time, and a viral candidate interview from Fayette County, Indiana.

Bilbrey opens with a review of the latest Muncie Board of Works meeting, which runs nearly 20 minutes—WOW!

From there, he turns to Mayor Dan Ridenour's latest Community Update—his first since announcing he won't seek a third term as mayor.

Then Bilbrey heads to Fayette County, Indiana, for a candidate interview that has gone viral.

Just when viewers think East Central Indiana has cornered the market on questionable political candidates, think again!

Bilbrey reviews the interview, shares his thoughts, and argues that bad candidates and bizarre political behavior aren't limited to Muncie, Delaware County, Henry County, Winchester, or the communities the spotlight regularly covers.

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VIDEO version of Ep 750: https://youtube.com/live/Br-4DkM4Gxo

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#749 | Monday, October 12, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 12 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 749th episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey dives into today's (Monday, October 12, 2026) major political BREAKING NEWS from Muncie, Indiana.

Mayor Dan Ridenour has officially announced that he will NOT seek a third term in 2027!

Mayor Ridenour said he will retire from public office at the end of his current term on Friday, December 31, 2027, ending his tenure as Muncie mayor.

Bilbrey shares his thoughts on the announcement, its timing, and what it means for Muncie/Delaware County politics, City Hall, and the 2027 mayoral race.

Bilbrey also touches on a few other odds and ends that have been circulating recently and merit a moment in the spotlight.

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VIDEO version of Ep 749: https://youtube.com/live/PrcaUa70RL8

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#746 | Wednesday, October 07, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey dives into the day's 'political slop' in East Central Indiana on Wednesday, October 7, 2026...

It's not even worth naming it all; it's just slop!

Entitled, self-important elected and appointed officials and candidates running around, not giving a shit! Public servants who DO NOT serve the public!

Doing whatever they please, with no communication, transparency, or accountability!

Bilbrey talks freeform for a bit, then gets into the latest developments regarding the inappropriate text messages sent among four men in the local communities.

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VIDEO version of Ep 746: https://youtube.com/live/i5TdXMC6vfE

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey breaks down the October 5, 2026, Muncie City Council public hearing and regular meeting—a meeting that proved anything but routine.

The public hearing began at 645 p.m. and ended almost immediately, making it one of the quickest Bilbrey has ever witnessed. The regular City Council meeting followed at 7:00 p.m.

But two absences completely altered the meeting's political makeup.

Councilor Brandon Garrett (D/R-District 3) was absent for his annual October vacation, and Councilor Ro Selvey (R-At Large) missed the meeting due to a health issue.

That left only seven councilors present: three Republicans—including Councilor Jerry Dishman (D/R-District 5), a Trans-Republican—and four Democrats.

That shift in the political makeup mattered!

What Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour and Delaware County Republican Chairman Tim Overton may have hoped would be a relatively quiet meeting turned out to be very different.

It wasn't as long as some recent council meetings, but it was packed with surprises, political maneuvering, unexpected votes, and plenty to discuss.

Bilbrey provides a comprehensive overview of both the public hearing and the council meeting—what happened, why it mattered, and what it may mean going forward.

Bilbrey also discusses recent developments in the fallout involving four local figures following the release of several group and two-way text-message exchanges—messages that are now raising new questions and sparking extensive local political conversation.

Muncie City Council! Shifting power! Political maneuvering! Text messages! Fallout! Accountability!

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VIDEO version of Ep 745: https://youtube.com/live/_ouOi8qGrhw

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

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

In this 744th episode, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting on Monday, October 5, 2026. Will this meeting remain calm, or will it continue down the path of insanity seen in the last several?

Then, Bilbrey examines the recent buzz on social media about several local political figures. Is something significant developing—or is it much ado about nothing?

Bilbrey breaks down what's being said, what may actually matter, and what to watch for as Muncie politics heats up.

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VIDEO version of Ep 744: https://youtube.com/live/SMKgpYUESys

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

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shares an update on the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting held Monday, September 14, 2026.

Bilbrey also updates listeners on Democratic candidate for Henry County Sheriff David Bockover and his continued refusal to answer questions about his campaign.

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VIDEO version of Ep 743: https://youtube.com/live/bCZZJQC3URE

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

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

In this 742nd episode of The Political Spotlight, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reviews the third and final meeting of the Muncie City Council's Finance Committee, held Wednesday, September 30, 2026.

Bilbrey highlights several revealing moments from the discussion of the proposed 2027 budget for Prairie Creek Reservoir.

He also offers more on the Delaware County Republican Party and what he views as its ongoing effort to influence Muncie City Council leadership ahead of the October 5, 2026, meeting.

Finally, the spotlight returns to Winchester, Indiana, where Bilbrey reviews public records he received from City Clerk-Treasurer Kerry Sayre and explains what they reveal about the VOA "Winchester House" disaster.

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VIDEO version of Ep 742: https://youtube.com/live/jQJU7lEv33k

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

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers political developments in three communities across east-central Indiana in this 741st episode of The Political Spotlight.

If you live, work, or play in Muncie, Winchester, and/or Henry County, this episode is for you! If you're tired of political nonsense and want to hear how others are fighting back, this episode is for you! Or if you like it when someone calls the balls and strikes as they should be, tune in; this episode is for you!

First up, Bilbrey examines an unusual social media post from the Delaware County Republican Party promoting the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting on Monday, October 5, 2026.

It's not just a meeting reminder; it reads more like a "call to action"! Bilbrey views the post as the latest sign of what he believes has been a yearlong effort by the local Republican Party to influence—and potentially take control of—the Muncie City Council's leadership.

From there, Bilbrey turns to emails he received from Muncie City Councilors Nora Powell (D-District 2) and Sara Gullion (D-District 4) regarding the two recent Finance Committee meetings on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, and Thursday, September 24, 2026.

He also reminds citizens that the committee has one final budget meeting on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, before the full council takes up the proposed 2027 budget at its Monday, October 5, 2026, meeting.

Then, once again, the spotlight shifts east to Winchester, Indiana, as Bilbrey shares the response to a public-records request he sent to Clerk-Treasurer Kerry Sayre seeking answers about who controls the city's official Facebook page—and, more specifically, who was responsible for a controversial post last week that left citizens up in arms.

Bilbrey shares what he learned and explains why, in his view, the response confirms what he has long known about Mayor Bob McCoy.

Finally, Bilbrey wraps up the program in Henry County by sharing a list of questions he sent to Democratic sheriff candidate David Bockover, as The Political Spotlight continues preparing for the upcoming 2026 general election season.

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VIDEO version of Ep 741: https://youtube.com/live/IA1VfHdl8Pg

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 27 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey explores a bizarre and increasingly confusing situation in the City of Muncie, Indiana, involving Mayor Dan Ridenour, Parks Superintendent Carl Malone, contract employee Jeff Howe, and Tuhey Pool.

The issue arose during Parks Superintendent Carl Malone's appearance before the Finance Committee (comprising Muncie City Councilors Dale Basham, Jerry Dishman, and William McIntosh) on Thursday, September 24, 2026.

While discussing Tuhey Pool and the disastrous 2026 pool season, Parks Superintendent Carl Malone told the committee he was no longer in charge of the facility.

Malone explained that, because of his illness and absence, he could not speak in detail about much of what happened this year. That is understandable. However, Bilbrey believed that upon his return, Malone would have received a full debriefing on what took place so he could try to correct issues going forward.

That did not happen; Malone continued to offer little information about what went wrong, what would change, and how Tuhey Pool could improve for next year and beyond.

Then came the surprise.

Malone said control of Tuhey Pool had shifted to Jeff Howe—a city contract employee who serves as Director of the Muncie Redevelopment Commission. He has also been named Deputy Mayor and served as the "Acting Mayor" during Mayor Ridenour's medical leave. All of this, despite many still questioning the legality of his contracts with the city.

Malone also said Howe now has a team working on the pool.

That was news to Bilbrey. Honestly, it came as a shock!

Apparently, it was news to members of the Muncie Parks Board, too.

So Bilbrey started asking questions.

He emailed Mayor Ridenour and several others for clarification.

The Mayor responded quickly—and the answers directly contradicted what Malone told the Finance Committee.

According to Mayor Ridenour, nothing had changed. Tuhey Pool remained under the Parks Department and under the authority of Parks Superintendent Carl Malone.

So what the hell is going on?

Who is actually running Tuhey Pool?

Did responsibility shift to Jeff Howe?

Why did the Parks Superintendent tell the Finance Committee one thing while the mayor says something completely different?

Which story is the Finance Committee and the council as a whole supposed to use to build the Parks Department's budget?

How do they know who is telling the truth about this or anything else?

What do the other City Council members think?

What does the Parks Board know?

How can anyone responsibly budget, plan, or hold anyone accountable when city officials apparently cannot even agree on who is in charge?

Bilbrey walks through the backstory, the conflicting statements, the unanswered questions, and what he believes is really happening behind the scenes.

Then Bilbrey heads east toward Winchester, Indiana, where a controversy has been brewing for several days.

He examines what appears to be a political and social-media faux pas posted on Friday, September 25, 2026, that may involve Mayor Bob McCoy. Let's just say Winchester residents are NOT happy.

This episode covers the Muncie and Winchester governments, questions about city leadership, conflicting accounts, budgets, and the bigger question of who the hell is actually responsible for what.

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VIDEO version of Ep 740: https://youtube.com/live/_TNl-DBTIcE

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#739 | Thursday, September 24, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Piggybacking off the last episode... In this 739th episode, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey shows why he is so bloody frustrated with our elected public servants by reviewing the second meeting of the Muncie City Council's Finance Committee.

It was, AGAIN, a difficult watch!

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VIDEO version of Ep 739: https://youtube.com/live/9yWEHFMRsAE

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 26 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

This was a different kind of episode of The Political Spotlight.

While dealing with ongoing technical issues, Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey broadcasts this 722nd episode from outside Mud Creek Studio. As major internet and studio problems persist, Bilbrey begins with a brief emotional breakdown, discussing several stressful weeks—including a health scare that turned out all right, thank God! Bilbrey then talks candidly about exhaustion, loss, stress, and everything he has been dealing with behind the scenes.

From there, Bilbrey gets down to business.

MUNCIE & DELAWARE COUNTY'S 2027 BUDGET PICTURE:

The State of Indiana has released its estimated 2027 Local Income Tax distributions, providing the city, the county, and The Political Spotlight with one of the first important benchmarks for the upcoming budget meetings for the City of Muncie and Delaware County.

FORT WAYNE CITY COUNCIL SAYS NO TO FLOCK — BY A VOTE OF 9 TO 0:

The Republican-led Fort Wayne City Council voted UNANIMOUSLY, 9–0, to end funding for the city's Flock Safety license-plate-reader system.

Six Republicans... Three Democrats... Nine NO votes...

Council members raised concerns about mass surveillance, constitutional rights, privacy, civil liberties, government overreach, data sharing, transparency, and public trust.

While this is great for Fort Wayne, Bilbrey mentions it because he believes the Muncie City Council needs to investigate what happened there. He hopes this vote will draw the attention of every member of the Muncie City Council.

Muncie already has more than 20 Flock cameras, and Bilbrey makes his position clear: the Muncie City Council should reject further expansion, end funding for the program, and begin removing the existing cameras.

Public safety matters! So does liberty!

KNIGHTSTOWN'S TUESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2026, SPECIAL ELECTION — THE NUMBERS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY:

Knightstown's unusual 2026 Republican primary saga culminated in a special election on Tuesday, August 25, 2026—and the results looked very different from those of the May primary.

The original May primary was marred by a ballot-programming error that allowed some voters outside Knightstown to receive ballots that included Knightstown races. Litigation followed, and a judge ordered a new election. Voters returned to the polls in August.

In May, Karla R. Easton Gorman narrowly defeated incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Barton Joe Whitesitt by two votes in the certified results, 238 (Gorman) to 236 (Whitesitt).

In the August special election?

Incumbent Clerk-Treasurer Barton Joe Whitesitt reversed his two-vote loss, defeating Karla R. Easton Gorman by a vote of 123 (Whitesitt) to 83 (Gorman).

A race decided by two votes in May shifted to a 40-vote Whitesitt advantage in August.

Turnout also fell sharply.

The Town Council results shifted as well, though Guy Louks and David Mattix remained the two winners.

What caused the differences?

The numbers alone cannot tell us how much was attributable to the May ballot problem versus to dramatically different participation in a standalone August special election—but the contrast still warrants examination.

Bilbrey breaks down the timeline, the numbers, the election controversy, the allegations that circulated during the campaign, and why accusations of election-law violations still require actual evidence.

This is a heavy episode... but Bilbrey also covers local politics, constitutional liberty, elections, government funding—and a little bit of life behind the microphone.

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VIDEO version of Ep 722: https://youtube.com/live/1q3Mr_-XsKU

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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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Special Guest: Dr. Katherine Callahan.

#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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#713 | Sunday, August 09, 2026 | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 09 Aug 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is hearing rumors that the Muncie Police Department has been meeting with various members of the Muncie City Council about FLOCK CAMERAS!

At this time, the content and context of those meetings remain unknown. Questions have been asked, but answers have not yet been provided.

This needs to be an ALL SKATE — ALL HANDS ON DECK.

Citizens need to start asking questions, demanding answers, and finding out exactly what the City of Muncie may be planning regarding Flock cameras and expanded surveillance.

Freedom-loving citizens of Muncie, Delaware County, and across Indiana need to pay attention and push back against the ongoing “BIG BROTHERING” of our communities.

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VIDEO version of Ep 713: https://youtube.com/live/kOxSkMXt4hE

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#698 | A Look at Madison County, Indiana, on a Friday Night in July 2026! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Fri, 10 Jul 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes back contributing correspondent Dr. Katherine V. Callahan to the program for this special Friday night episode.

And look, it's been over a month since Callahan was last here... which means there is NO WAY Bilbrey could even begin to craft a legitimate set of show notes, a description of what Bilbrey and Callahan will cover, in what is almost sure to be a hodgepodge of A.D.D.-fueled thoughts about political and governmental goings-on in Anderson, Indiana... Madison County, Indiana... the State of Indiana... and maybe Bilbrey will get a chance to throw in a few comments or thoughts about Muncie, Indiana... and/or Delaware County, Indiana.

So join the ride. It's bound to be wild!

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VIDEO version of Ep 698: https://youtube.com/live/qXnb6XvVMc0

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'The Political Spotlight'
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Hosted by: Kristopher H. Bilbrey & Brandon Rudd
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Special Guest: Dr. Katherine Callahan.

#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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Audio Podcast: https://ThePoliticalSpotlight.fireside.fm
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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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#685 | The Vulture Eats the Turtle! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 17 Jun 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey and producer Kate keep a close eye on severe weather in the Midwest, particularly in Illinois and Indiana. The team will be ready to cover and document what comes their way during the live broadcast! The main thing is for everyone to stay vigilant and safe!

Beyond that, Bilbrey has a few points to discuss regarding the current "Acting" Mayor of Muncie, Indiana, George-Jeffrey Howe. With last night's Park Board meeting (Tuesday, June 16, 2026), today's Board of Works meeting (Wednesday, June 17, 2026), and tomorrow's Muncie Redevelopment Commission meeting (Thursday, June 18, 2026) in mind, Bilbrey thinks this is the BEST time to ask Howe a few questions that keep coming up, yet no one seems to want to answer them!

Bilbrey then brings up the situation involving the Dunreith Indiana Volunteer Fire Department (in Henry County, Indiana). There appear to be serious issues here, and The Political Spotlight WILL get it sorted!

Lastly, Bilbrey has BREAKING NEWS about the extremely heartbreaking "death of the 11-year-old child of the Delaware County Sheriff's Deputy who left her in his truck after school on August 14, 2025." You WILL NOT want to miss this information, especially if you have been unhappy with the recent decision.

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VIDEO version of Ep 685: https://youtube.com/live/zoVWxf1JuCw

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#679 | We Do What We Do Because It’s Right! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey reminds the audience why he fights the fight! Why it matters! What it's all about... and, more importantly, why YOU are needed to help in the fight!

As Bilbrey discussed in this episode, click the following link for episode 678:
https://youtube.com/live/nZjKjqegryE . . .

Click this link for the RAW recording of the hearing discussed in this episode and episode 678: https://youtu.be/F8FPynDZLYw . . .

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VIDEO version of Ep 679: https://youtube.com/live/knazWLCpAkI

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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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#666 | The Episode From Hell! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers several bits and pieces of information about Muncie, Henry County, Knightstown, and beyond!

He's really feeling the pain from his broken ribs, which is fitting since this is the episode from hell - episode 666!

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VIDEO version of Ep 666: https://youtube.com/live/Af6xGDE8C1A

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#662 | Delaware County Commissioners Want MORE Taxes! What Say You? | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 14 May 2026 21:00:00 -0400

In this 662nd episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey takes a hard look at a newly proposed property tax increase, pushed by the Delaware County Commissioners through the creation of a “Cumulative Capital Development Fund.”

Delaware County Commissioners Sherry Riggin (R), Shannon Henry (R), and Stephen Brand (R) will hold their regularly scheduled second meeting of the month on Monday, May 18th, 2026, at 9 a.m. During that meeting, a 'public hearing' will be held in which citizens SHALL be heard on this matter.

This meeting/hearing is important and a key opportunity for citizens to advocate against the tax increase. Bilbrey will explain what will happen at the meeting/hearing and what citizens need to do to oppose the proposed increase!

Bilbrey will examine what this fund is and how it will be used. He'll discuss why Delaware County's so-called "conservative Republican" Commissioners are trying to saddle taxpayers with another tax and why such tax increases are becoming more common across local governments.

Most importantly, Bilbrey will outline what citizens can legally do to challenge or oppose the proposal. The bottom line is that it takes commitment!

Honestly, this isn’t just about this proposal — it’s about transparency, accountability, communication, priorities, and whether taxpayers are truly heard.

The Delaware County Commissioners Meeting/Public Hearing will be held on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 9 a.m. in Room 309A on the 3rd floor of the Delaware County Building at 100 West Main Street, Muncie, Indiana, 47305. The meeting/hearing will be streamed live; however, Bilbrey recommends attending in person for the best results.

This is something ALL citizens of Delaware County, Indiana, need to be concerned about!

'The Political Spotlight'
Real issues. Real accountability. Real conversations.
A light on the darkened path - a voice of reason amid the chaos & corruption!

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VIDEO version of Ep 662: https://youtube.com/live/D2NNfCNZbuA

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#643 | Randall McCallister (R) Candidate for State Representative Dist 34! | The Political Spotlight

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

Join Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey as he welcomes Randall McCallister, Republican candidate for Indiana State Representative for District 34, to the show.

McCallister, who has been active in national political campaigns for the past few years, decided to throw his hat in the ring for the office of Representative to the Indiana State House for District 34, which is made up mostly of the city of Muncie. He hopes to capture the seat for the Republicans for the first time since 1994, when Fred Wenger (R) was defeated after serving only one term.

Bilbrey and McCallister discuss the campaign, McCallister's thoughts on Indiana's current state, and his plans for legislation if elected.

Connect with McCallister on social media at the following links:

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61575856065770 . . .

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VIDEO version of Ep 643: https://youtube.com/live/eS199jd5RY4

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

Special Guest: Randall McCallister.

#635 | Nut Up... Or Get Out of the Way! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey has a clear message for all currently elected and appointed public servants everywhere, as well as for everyone currently campaigning to become an elected public servant!

Specifically, to those current candidates aiming to win the primary and general elections to become elected public servants, listen very carefully and think deeply: Is this truly what you want?

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VIDEO version of Ep 635: https://youtube.com/live/ZMNhKiSMDvM

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

#633 | Upcoming Governmental Meetings, Candidate Forums, & More! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey anticipates a busy political week ahead.

He begins this episode by reviewing all scheduled events for the week, including the Delaware County Commissioners meeting, the Muncie City Council meeting, and the live Q&A sessions that Henry County Sheriff John M. Sproles will kick off—all planned for Monday, April 6, 2026. Voter registration for the upcoming primary election will also close at 11:59 p.m. Monday night, as early voting begins Tuesday, April 7, 2026.

He also discusses the two Candidate Forums scheduled in Henry County this week: the first on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and the second on Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Lastly, Bilbrey mentions the interviews with the Henry County Sheriff and Prosecutor candidates conducted by Henry County citizen Gayla Taylor that aired earlier today (Sunday, April 5, 2026).

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VIDEO version of Ep 633: https://youtube.com/live/YL-IyZFEAPE

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#628 | Responsibility, Another Tort Claim, and Our Offer! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey begins this 628th episode by talking about the City of Muncie, Indiana. Bilbrey discusses the upcoming City Council meeting set for Monday, April 6, 2026. He also covers the responsibilities citizens have when participating in politics and government.

Next, Bilbrey highlights the latest developments in the ongoing chaos surrounding the current election for Sheriff of Henry County, Indiana.

Finally, Bilbrey shares a generous offer made to two different groups in Henry County, Indiana.

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VIDEO version of Ep 628: https://youtube.com/live/W8qYY0cb34k

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

#610 | Monday-Funday (Free-for-All Chat)! | The Political Spotlight The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey has just about had all the studio moving he can handle... not to mention it's happening right in the middle of the kickoff of the 2026 Election Season, as well as during what is shaping up to be a busier-than-usual "end-of-winter period," politically speaking!

It's all just a bit too much! And that's why this 610th episode is a "free association" show. A Monday-Funday (Free-for-All Chat)! But don't worry, Bilbrey will cover a few political and governmental odds and ends!

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VIDEO version of Ep 610: https://youtube.com/live/X6OXPnVJa_M

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#593 | We Were Wrong! + Where's Rob? + & Drawing a Line on Stupidity! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 22 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey follows up on the Muncie Fire Department information he and contributing correspondent Audie Barber discussed in episode 592 (last night). If he's going to be wrong, he might as well get it out of the way early in the new year!

Then Bilbrey examines an ongoing mystery involving WIBC's Rob Kendall.

Lastly, Bilbrey draws a line on stupidity: he WILL NOT deal with it!

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VIDEO version of Ep 593: https://youtube.com/live/SnKrlaiXo3g

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#592 | Muncie Fire Station 6 + PCR & the Parks Board + the 2026 Election! | The Political Spotlight

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

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes contributing correspondent Audie Barber to the program to discuss a couple of Muncie/Delaware County topics!

First up, Audie shares some interesting news about the ongoing construction of the brand-new Muncie Fire Station 6. If the news checks out, it could pose a problem for the Fire Department and the City!

From there, Bilbrey and Audie examine the new addition to the Muncie City Parks Board and discuss what it means for Prairie Creek Reservoir and the rest of the City's Parks!

Lastly, they look ahead to the upcoming 2026 Election in Delaware County! As this program often says: the more things change, the more they stay the same!

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VIDEO version of Ep 592: https://youtube.com/live/dE2_z-6e4fI

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Special Guest: Audie Barber.

#589 | The 2026 Can of Worms! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 15 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes contributing correspondent Dr. Katherine Callahan to the show to discuss the 2026 "can of worms" that citizens of Madison County and beyond will have to sift through to find the few good people to vote for in May and November.

It can seem hopeless at times, but that is why Bilbrey does what he does: to help people understand that we can make a difference and overcome this nonsense... if we educate ourselves, get active, and work together. We can defeat corruption and make this world a better place.

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VIDEO version of Ep 589: https://youtube.com/live/evteOPrYgVU

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey provides more in-depth commentary on the Muncie City Council meeting held on Monday, January 5, 2026.

Additionally, he'll share his thoughts on The Star Press' coverage of the meeting—their journalism is genuinely remarkable.

Then Bilbrey recounts an intriguing telephone conversation he had earlier with Tim Overton, Chair of the Delaware County Republican Party. Tim attempted to explain Council President Jeff Green's (R) desire to amend the Muncie City Council's longstanding rules. Although Bilbrey and Tim remained respectful during the nearly thirty-five-minute discussion, it did get heated at times.

Lastly, Bilbrey turns his attention to the Indiana State Government, offering his perspective on "House Joint Resolution 2," authored by Indiana State Representative Elizabeth Rowray (R-District 35).

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VIDEO version of Ep 584: https://youtube.com/live/X1vViuofBXM

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey provides a brief recap of the Muncie City Council Meeting... (this will be a short episode due to the meeting's length).

Bilbrey will provide the full recap in episode 584 on Tuesday, January 6, 2026.

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VIDEO version of Ep 583: https://youtube.com/live/Axc7Xo7HR9A

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 04 Jan 2026 21:00:00 -0500

Hi Ho, Hi Ho, it's back to work we go... with corruption here and idiots there...

We're back! Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey has a LOT to cover in this 582nd episode!

From the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting and related developments to news from Blackford and Delaware Counties about an evil sheriff's deputy who found himself locked behind bars for a change. While he is innocent until proven guilty, he needs to find a new career quickly.

Then Bilbrey covers a few updates on a couple of issues that popped up right at the end of last year (like the burglary and shooting that occurred on Saturday, December 27, 2025... the arson and murder case that took place on Sunday, December 14, 2025... and a couple of last-minute, end-of-the-year campaign announcements).

And lastly, Bilbrey teases some BIG NEWS coming up on the horizon!

It's good to be back! 2026... here we come!

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VIDEO version of Ep 582: https://youtube.com/live/0I5u5yd1aDw

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 31 Dec 2025 21:00:00 -0500

This 581st episode of 'The Political Spotlight' is being broadcast on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, starting at 9 p.m. (ET) - the last episode of the year!

2025 is quickly drawing to a close, and 2026 is rapidly approaching!

Many are saying, "GOODBYE & GOOD RIDDANCE TO 2025!" A year of confusion, suffering, corruption, turmoil, and pain!

As many others anxiously await 2026... with hope, wonder, enthusiasm, and a good amount of uncertainty and fear!

But the truth is... 2026 will be... WHAT WE MAKE IT!

The human race can be loving or hateful... helpful or harmful... honest or untrustworthy... cautious or reckless... kind or cruel... understanding or unwilling... and on and on!

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey welcomes contributing correspondent Dr. Katherine Callahan to the show to look back at what was and look forward to what could be!

What will be made of 2026? As Bilbrey so often says: "ONLY TIME... WILL TELL!"

And God willing, 'The Political Spotlight' will be right here along for the ride with you all!

Come on in and let's count down to the NEW YEAR TOGETHER!

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VIDEO version of Ep 581: https://youtube.com/live/6bKQ0VzBiuI

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Special Guest: Dr. Katherine Callahan.

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 19 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0500

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers the BIG news of the day in Muncie, Indiana—the closure of 234 campsites on the North Shore of Prairie Creek Reservoir.

Muncie Mayor Dan Ridenour announced this during a press conference held earlier in the day (Wednesday, November 19, 2025). This is something Bilbrey has heard was coming for some time, but it still comes as a shock.

Bilbrey discusses what this could mean for the city in the long run, as well as the potential political fallout for Mayor Ridenour.

Finally, Bilbrey explains the difference between reality and fantasy while describing how Hollywood movie magic works! For those wondering, this is connected to the "Whitestown Cleaning Lady Shooting" case.

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VIDEO version of Ep 561: https://youtube.com/live/pgSJ8vSm7rM

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 21:00:00 -0500

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

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VIDEO version of Ep 553: https://youtube.com/live/FneN9C2JZp8

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#543 | Disrespect Toward Taxpayers! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Wed, 15 Oct 2025 21:00:00 -0400

The system is designed so that, regardless of who is in charge, the type of government, or the situation, it allows or even encourages elected and appointed public servants to be disrespectful toward taxpayers.

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey covers a few odds and ends as he waits for the big meeting for the City of Muncie on Thursday, October 16, 2025.

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VIDEO version of Ep 543: https://youtube.com/live/dwUEzkf2p6U

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 14 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

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

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

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

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VIDEO version of Ep 523: https://youtube.com/live/hD8OSPDLFpE

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Fri, 05 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey and the team have all been feeling under the weather; however, it seems like they might be on the mend! And just in time for some City of Muncie nonsense!

Tune in to this 517th episode as Bilbrey discusses the details of the City's second Finance Committee meeting held at 6 p.m. on Friday, September 5, 2025. The one that DID NOT get live-streamed... even though it might have been the most important of all the scheduled Finance meetings!

Just more of the same for the City of Muncie!

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VIDEO version of Ep 517: https://youtube.com/live/1M1xrDY-G7E . . .

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

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Tue, 02 Sep 2025 21:00:00 -0400

In this 516th episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses the proposed 2026 budget for the City of Muncie. This is the budget that Mayor Dan Ridenour and his Administration have submitted to the City Council for their review and possible passage.

The Council, which was previously under Democratic control (6 to 3), is now controlled by the Republicans (5 to 4) due to Councilors Brandon Garrett and Jerry Dishman both switching parties from Democratic to Republican in July and August 2025.

Bilbrey reviews the proposed budget and shares his thoughts on what he expects to happen during the subsequent four Finance Committee meetings and two City Council meetings.

In keeping with the episode's theme — the proposed 2026 budget, taxpayer money, and meetings — Bilbrey highlights an interesting find on the agenda for the upcoming September 8, 2025, City Council meeting. Bilbrey examines Resolution 16-25, a resolution promoted by the Ridenour Administration. Bilbrey believes the resolution is out of line and should NOT be passed at this time. Will you agree with him or the Mayor?

And lastly, it appears that the City Councilors are experiencing issues with their emails again... THE NEVER-ENDING STORY!!!

Tune in - this will be an essential meeting for all who will be watching the City's upcoming budget meetings.

Proposed 2026 budget for the City of Muncie, presented by Mayor Dan Ridenour to the City Council. NO CHANGES have been made to this specific budget! If or when changes are made and a budget is passed, an updated copy of the budget will be reviewed and included in the description of that episode. Link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/179-h5KjT4OF-1D44pnocoCgOmaFj0gDu?usp=sharing . . .

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VIDEO version of Ep 516: https://youtube.com/live/gVKT8cf3Bzg . . .

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#501 | The Flip Has Flopped! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 21:00:00 -0400

In this 501st episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey discusses two major local government meetings held today, Monday, August 4, 2025. While several meetings took place across Indiana this morning—including the Delaware County Commissioners, Randolph County Commissioners, and Grant County Commissioners—Bilbrey focuses on the Muncie City Council Meeting and the Winchester City Council Meeting, both held this evening.

First, Bilbrey shares a statement that former Muncie City Councilor Jeff Robinson issued about the recent "political party hopping." Bilbrey offers his thoughts on Jeff's letter and explains why he believes Jeff is right on the money with his statement.

From there, Bilbrey explores the Muncie City Council Meeting, which turned out to be a major disappointment. The City Council passed "ordinance 2025" (an ordinance raising EMS rates in the City). While this decision is more than likely a poor choice for the citizens of Muncie, and the Council should have tabled it to gather more information, the main issue is how the discussion and votes were handled! This one specific vote demonstrated that the two former Democrat Councilors who recently switched to the Republican Party quickly aligned with their new colleagues, voting along party lines. Proving that the Republicans truly hold the majority on the Muncie City Council. It is completely frustrating that five of the nine Councilors could vote "NO" to gathering more information before voting!

However, at the Winchester City Council Meeting, things turned out much better. The Council voted to end a controversial measure — a big win for property rights and homeowners. Bilbrey was present at the meeting, and he shares his thoughts about what happened, why it matters, and what it means going forward.

As always, Bilbrey explains everything with his signature insight and straightforward commentary.

VIDEO version of Ep 501: https://youtube.com/live/XW5OasQKk_0 . . .

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#500 | THE FIVE HUNDREDTH EPISODE! | The Political Spotlight

Kristopher H. Bilbrey, Kate Thornburg, & Brandon Rudd (The Political Spotlight) — Sun, 03 Aug 2025 21:00:00 -0400

HERE IT IS — THE BIG 5-0-0! WOW... That is a lot of political commentary! Well, ok — enough of that! It's time to get to work. There is a lot to discuss!

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey celebrates this 500th episode the only way he knows how — by diving straight into the latest political and governmental issues impacting Muncie, Delaware County, and beyond. No fluff. No spin. Just straight talk. Let's get started... the topics for this episode are:

1️⃣ (Party Hopping in Muncie Politics)
City Councilor Jerry Dishman and former Councilor Roger Overby, both longtime Democrats, have switched to the Republican Party. What does this mean for local politics? Why does this keep happening, and will there be more swapping in the future?

2️⃣ (Muncie Government – August 2025)
Preview of the upcoming Muncie City Council meeting (Monday, August 4, 2025 @ 7 PM). A discussion about the DLGF’s 2026 Budget Workshop that was canceled last Thursday. Why was it scrapped, and what’s next for that meeting and the city’s 2026 budget process?

3️⃣ (Other Upcoming August 2025 Meetings)
— Delaware County Commissioners meeting.
Monday, August 4, 2025 @ 9 AM.

— Randolph County Commissioners meeting.
Monday, August 4, 2025 @ 9 AM.

— Winchester City Council meeting.
Monday, August 4, 2025 @ 6 PM.
Private Property Dispute - Bilbrey will be attending in person.

— Delaware-Muncie Plan Commission meeting.
Tuesday, August 12, 2025 @ 6 PM.
Solar Ordinance discussion.

4️⃣ (The Text Message Question)
A citizen has made a complaint about a text message that his daughter received, which was allegedly sent by Delaware County Prosecutor Eric Hoffman. What is the context here? Bilbrey takes a deeper look into the situation to attempt to determine what went on.

5️⃣ (The Latest Story of Ongoing Police Corruption)
The former Chief Deputy Sheriff of Fayette County, Indiana, has been accused of working as a "mole" for a drug dealer who ran a multi-million dollar operation. This is just the latest in what is becoming a long line of law enforcement officers, other government officials, and public servants who are being implicated in illegal behavior. How many more are there? How far does this go? And how can this be stopped?

6️⃣ (BIG 500th Episode Announcement)
Bilbrey shares a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT with the audience!

💬 Join the conversation LIVE or via replay — celebrate the 500th episode of unfiltered political talk... debate the issues... and share your thoughts in the LIVE chat or comments!

VIDEO version of Ep 500: https://youtube.com/live/fmCE8L-FwWw . . .

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