6/10/26 - Shelbyville Data Center spotlight, Supreme Court to decide mail-in balloting

6/10/26 - Shelbyville Data Center spotlight, Supreme Court to decide mail-in balloting

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses on Indiana’s data center boom and the lack of a statewide framework for how these projects should work. Rob points to new reporting that the IEDC has provided roughly $655 million in incentives and tax breaks for data centers, while communities are left to figure out the consequences on their own. He argues data centers have value, but taxpayers deserve transparency, clear protections, and a defined local benefit before massive projects reshape their communities. Shelbyville remains a major example of that fight, where residents are pushing back against a proposed data center development and feel ignored by local leaders. Rob says the mayor’s caught-on-tape comments insulting opponents of the project only deepened the anger, especially after the city overrode its own planning commission. The broader concern is that without state-level rules, every community will be forced to battle these projects one at a time while the state continues subsidizing them. The show also turns to the Supreme Court and a pending case over whether mail-in ballots can be counted after Election Day in federal elections. Rob says the ruling could have major national consequences, especially after repeated controversies in California and other states where ballots are still being processed days after polls close. He argues ballots should be received by Election Day, not merely postmarked by then, because extended counting creates distrust and gives people reason to suspect shenanigans. Rob also criticizes California’s universal mail-in voting system, where millions of ballots are sent automatically and large numbers remain unprocessed nearly a week after Election Day. He says he is not against modern voting machines or reasonable absentee voting, but believes mass mail-in voting without strong verification is an obvious problem. Rob argues voter ID and clear Election Day deadlines are basic safeguards that should not be controversial. The episode closes with more fallout over Indiana sheriffs, after Rob realizes he left Scott County’s former sheriff Kenneth Hughbanks off his recent list of troubled sheriffs. Rob details Hughbanks’ guilty plea related to tax evasion and his connection to Jamey Noel, then notes that Hughbanks, Diego Morales, and Jennifer-Ruth Green were still listed on Jim Banks’ endorsement page. Rob says the repeated sheriff scandals show Indiana has a serious accountability problem, especially when politically connected figures remain tied into the Republican power structure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

6/9/26 - Max Engling supports Special Investigator into Morales? Plus Property tax appeals disaster

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob’s frustration over Indiana’s property tax assessment system after trying to understand his own assessment. He explains that his home was assessed higher than nearby comparable homes, including one with a larger house and lot, but the assessor’s office could not clearly explain why. Rob argues the problem is not only that property taxes are unfair, but that the government cannot even explain how it decides what people owe. Rob says the assessment system is broken because the burden falls on homeowners to prove the government made a mistake, even when the assessor’s office appears unable to justify the numbers. He walks through the appeal process and says it can take months or even years before a taxpayer gets an answer. Rob argues lawmakers know assessments are the core issue, but continue avoiding meaningful reform while homeowners are left fighting a confusing system on their own. The show also criticizes Indiana Republicans for focusing on major spending projects while failing to fix basic taxpayer problems. Rob points to politicians celebrating the possibility of bringing the Chicago Bears to Indiana while ordinary homeowners cannot get clear answers about why their tax bills are going up. He says the same Republican officials who argue with him online should be spending that time fixing the property tax system they helped create. Another segment covers the arrest of Jennings County Sheriff Kenny Freeman Jr., who was indicted after an investigation into stolen campaign signs. Rob explains that a sheriff candidate used a GPS tracker on one of his signs, which allegedly led investigators to Freeman’s property. Rob says stealing campaign signs is one of the dumbest and lowest forms of political behavior because signs cost money, represent free speech, and matter especially in local races. The episode closes with Rob arguing Indiana needs serious reform around sheriffs and law enforcement accountability. He notes that this is the fourth Indiana sheriff by his count to face arrest or charges in recent years, which he says points to a larger problem with sheriffs acting as though they are above the law. Rob says the state should hold sheriffs to a higher standard because they are the chief law enforcement officers in their counties. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

6/8/26 - Bears move forward with Hammond? Beau Bayh wins convention and Trump quits Interview

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses on the Chicago Bears’ announcement that their board voted to advance a stadium project in Hammond, Indiana. Rob breaks down the carefully worded statement, pointing out that the Bears did not say the move is final or that a deal has been signed. He says Indiana politicians are acting like it is done, but the Bears’ language suggests they may still be using Indiana as leverage against Illinois. Rob compares the reactions from Indiana leaders, noting that House Speaker Todd Huston sounded certain the Bears are coming, while Governor Braun was more cautious and said major real estate deals are not final until they are truly completed. Rob argues Braun’s more measured tone reflects the reality that Chicago and Arlington Heights may still be in play, especially since Illinois officials continue saying they remain open to keeping the Bears. The show also digs into the political and financial stakes of the Bears proposal. Rob says Indiana’s offer is extremely generous to the team, with taxpayers potentially helping subsidize a multibillion-dollar franchise through toll road money, tax breaks, and other public support. He argues that while landing an NFL team would be a major spectacle, it could come at a serious cost to regular Hoosiers. Another major topic is Trump’s interview on Meet the Press, where he clashed with Kristen Welker over California’s election system. Rob says California’s slow vote count, mail-in ballot rules, and jungle primary process create exactly the kind of distrust that fuels claims of rigged elections. He argues that even if no fraud is proven, taking a week or more to count ballots is unacceptable and makes the system look broken. The episode closes with Rob saying California’s election process needs serious reform, especially when late-counted ballots repeatedly change the direction of races. He argues voters should have confidence in results quickly after Election Day, and that states should not be counting large numbers of ballots days later. Rob says systems like Indiana’s, with voter ID and faster reporting, do far more to protect public trust. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

6/5/26 - Indiana GOP Comes for Shelton, Garten steps down, Senate turns on Trump's Ballroom

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses on the growing meltdown inside the Indiana Republican Party. Rob argues many Republican voters have spent years frustrated by a party that promises lower taxes and smaller government, but delivers record taxes, bigger government, and overcollection of taxpayer money. He points to Governor Braun suspending the gas tax while using state reserves to cover the cost, saying those reserves prove Hoosiers were overtaxed in the first place. Rob says the bigger Republican panic is tied to the Secretary of State race, where Beau Bayh is likely to become the Democratic nominee and Greg Ballard may qualify for the ballot as an independent. He argues Republicans have depended for years on weak Democratic candidates and no serious third-party challenge, but that formula could fall apart if Bayh brings money and moderation while Ballard gives disaffected Republicans another place to go. The show also looks at the possibility of Ballard’s Lincoln Party getting ballot access if he reaches 10% of the vote. Rob says that would create a real long-term threat to Republicans because it could attract stronger candidates, taxpayer-funded primary ballot access, and voters who are tired of both major parties. He frames the current moment as the kind of political disruption he has talked about for years. Another major topic is California’s election system, which Rob calls a disaster. He criticizes the state for still having millions of votes uncounted days after Election Day and says the slow count feeds public distrust, especially when Republican candidates lead early but lose ground as late-counted ballots come in. Rob argues this is why states need clearer national voting standards and why Indiana’s system, with voter ID and quicker results, is far more trustworthy. The episode closes with Rob arguing that confidence in elections depends on speed, transparency, and clear rules. He says California’s system creates the appearance of chaos even if no wrongdoing occurs, and that alone is damaging. Back in Indiana, he says Republicans are facing the consequences of years of bad governance, and the combination of Ballard/Bayh, voter frustration, and internal party fights could make this the most unstable political moment for the GOP in years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

6/4/26 - Braun suspends gas taxes (again), Shelbyville Mayor caught on tape, House war resolution

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Governor Braun once again suspending Indiana’s two gas taxes: the sales tax on gas and the separate gas excise tax. Rob says the move will save drivers about 62.5 cents per gallon, but argues the bigger story is that the suspension proves how much taxes drive up the cost of basic necessities. He says Republicans are only pausing the taxes now because people are paying attention to high gas prices and because the issue is hurting Trump politically. Rob also points to Indiana’s large reserve fund as proof that Hoosiers are being overtaxed. He argues the state can absorb more than $100 million a month in lost gas tax revenue because it has collected far more money than it needed, while still raising taxes last year after inaccurate revenue forecasts. Rob says the gas tax has always been a money grab, and that suspending it temporarily does not fix the larger problem. The show also examines whether Braun even has the legal authority to keep extending the gas tax suspension without action from the General Assembly. Rob argues the law appears to allow only one renewal of the emergency order, but says Braun is likely moving forward because no one is going to sue to make gas more expensive. He criticizes Attorney General Todd Rokita for staying silent on the legal question while Republican leaders praise the move politically. Another major segment focuses on Shelbyville Mayor Scott Ferguson, who was caught on video insulting residents with “no data center” signs in their yards. Rob says the mayor’s comments show open disdain for working-class people and renters who are concerned about a massive proposed data center project in their community. He argues residents have every right to question how a 429-acre, 11-building data center complex could change the look, feel, resources, and future of Shelbyville. The episode closes with Rob using the Shelbyville controversy to make a broader point about politicians and public accountability. He says the mayor’s apology sounded more like regret over getting caught than a real apology to residents. Rob also says Indiana needs a serious statewide framework for data centers that protects communities, taxpayers, water, utilities, and local finances instead of leaving each city to fight these battles on its own. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]