#575 | What’s the Deal W/Madison Co Sheriff John Beeman & the Sumner Case? | The Political Spotlight

December 18th, 2025  |  1 hr 56 mins

dr. katherine callahan, former county councilor steve sumner, fugitive from justice, howard county maryland, madison county indiana, madison county politics, madison county sheriff john beeman, political activist, record requests, sharon bailey barker, twenty-thousand dollar reward, united states marshals service

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey dives deep into the strange case of former Madison County Councilor and preacher Steve Sumner, who spent more than two years as a fugitive before his arrest, following a $25,000 reward offered by Dr. Katherine Callahan.

Bilbrey walks through the arrests of Sumner and his girlfriend, Sharon Bailey Barker, their extraditions back to Indiana, and the troubling questions surrounding who provided the tip, who should receive the reward money, and why the Madison County Sheriff John Beeman acted so strangely, trying to get Callahan to issue payment to someone who did not call in the tip. Answers begin to surface—after Bilbrey receives the records he requested from Howard County, Maryland. But this story is only getting started. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#565 | MAPS: MadCo A**hole Public Servants! | The Political Spotlight

November 25th, 2025  |  2 hrs 35 mins

accountability, anderson indiana, anderson politics, anderson redevelopment commission, correspondent dr. katherine callahan, election board, indiana, madison county clerk's office, madison county commissioner, madison county politics, maps, public access, rebecca crumes, record requests, redrawing precincts, transparency, voters' registration

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey had to step in during Madison County drama earlier today (Tuesday, November 25, 2025), and it’s never a good day when that happens. So, what was the issue? Madison County, Indiana, is in the process of redrawing its election and voting precincts, and this topic will be discussed during an upcoming commissioners meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. on Monday, December 1, 2025. However, Madison County Election Officials were frustrating citizens by refusing to provide both the current and proposed precinct maps for review before the meeting. But then Bilbrey stepped in! To help explain all this, Bilbrey invited contributing correspondent Dr. Katherine Callahan to the show to discuss the current MAPS drama—aiming to clarify and help Madison County residents stay involved. #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#542 | Access, Emails, and an Investigation! | The Political Spotlight

October 14th, 2025  |  2 hrs 6 mins

2026 budget process, board of works, city attorney, city clerk's office, city of muncie, councilor dale basham, emails, executive assistant shareen wagley, investigatory powers, muncie city council, muncie city fire department, muncie mayor dan ridenour, muncie politics, open door complaint, open door laws, open door violation, public access counselor, record requests, resolution 16-25, resolution 17-25

Counting down the minutes, hours, and days until the Muncie City Council meeting on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey updates everyone on the Public Access Complaint, reviews some emails, and shares his desire for the City Council to investigate the Resolution 16-25/17-25 fiasco! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#541 | Muncie's Proposed 2026 Budget Process - TAKE 2! | The Political Spotlight

October 12th, 2025  |  1 hr 33 mins

2026 budget process, apra, aubrey crist, city attorney, city clerk, city controller, city councilor dale basham, city councilor nora powell, city of muncie, council's investigative power, craig wright, indiana politics, insurance, mayor dan ridenour, muncie city council special meeting, muncie politics, record requests

The goal should always be to move forward, not backward, especially in government. However, right now, the City of Muncie, Indiana, is taking two steps back and going in circles! Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey guides the audience through starting over with TAKE 2 of Muncie's Proposed 2026 Budget Process. This should be the week something happens, but then again, who knows? It's all a waiting game. #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

#514 | Everything, All the Time, All at Once! | The Political Spotlight

August 28th, 2025  |  2 hrs 6 mins

access to public records, budget process, indiana, political commentary, record requests, the political spotlight

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey is dealing with a lot... budgets, record requests, councilors, and other public officials. In this 514th episode of 'The Political Spotlight,' he examines it all! NONSTOP POLITICS! Everything, All the Time, All at Once! #ThePoliticalSpotlight

#508 | Blackford Co Record Request Snag! & Indiana Redistricting Nonsense! | The Political Spotlight

August 18th, 2025  |  1 hr 56 mins

access to public records act, blackford county indiana, indiana congressional districts, ingop, louis david galligan, odds and ends, randolph county indiana, record requests, redistricting, selma indiana, the political spotlight

Host Kristopher H. Bilbrey had planned to dive into Indiana’s controversial redistricting efforts, a disappointing public record request response from Blackford County, and news about Louis David Galligan's return to the Randolph County jail. He planned to touch on the recent tragedy in Selma, Indiana, and a few other odds and ends.

But from almost the very start of the show, things take a wild turn, and it nearly all derails, so take it as it comes. It can only get better from here! #ThePoliticalSpotlight