5/28/26 - Statehouse Happenings

7/10/26 - What Krupp actually does, Stutzman demands McConnell answers, Trump wants birthright redo

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob reacting to Jacob Stewart’s IndyStar column arguing that it is too easy to form a political party in Indiana. Rob strongly disagrees, saying Greg Ballard’s independent Secretary of State campaign proves the opposite because Ballard needed money, organization, volunteers, and a major signature operation just to get on the ballot. He argues Indiana’s ballot access laws are designed to protect Republicans and Democrats while shutting out independent-minded voters and candidates. Rob says Ballard “cracked the code” by raising enough money and building enough infrastructure to get the signatures needed for ballot access. He explains that if Ballard’s Lincoln Party gets 2% in the Secretary of State race, it can nominate candidates for future general elections, but 10% is the real prize because it would earn primary ballot access. Rob says that would create a major shift in Indiana politics by giving more voters and candidates a way around the two-party system. The discussion also looks at how Rob is weighing the Secretary of State race. He says the most important goal is making sure Republicans lose the office so Diego Morales’ conduct does not get swept under the rug. Rob says he could see himself voting for Ballard if Ballard has a real chance to reach 10%, but could also vote for Beau Bayh if Bayh becomes the clearest path to taking the office away from Republicans. Another segment focuses on WRTV’s reporting on former Department of Child Services director Adam Krupp, who left that role and then reappeared as a special adviser to Governor Mike Braun at the same $210,000 salary. Rob says the job appears vague, was not publicly posted, and allows Krupp to work fully remote despite Braun’s return-to-work push for state employees. He argues the duties described so far sound like basic research, meetings, and clerical work that do not justify that salary. Rob says the Krupp situation undercuts Braun’s image as a government reformer. He argues the state keeps claiming it lacks money for vulnerable Hoosiers, including families caring for severely disabled loved ones, while still finding large salaries for politically connected insiders. Rob praises Kara Kenney’s reporting and says taxpayers deserve to know why Krupp disappeared, what he is actually doing now, and why that position should exist at all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

7/9/26 - Braun guts transparency, Bayh's running against Diego, Trump says Iran wants him gone

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob arguing that Indiana’s gas tax suspension proves Hoosiers have been overtaxed for years. He says the state is now giving back money it never needed to take in the first place, with the suspension saving drivers about 61 cents per gallon. Rob argues government officials frame this as a loss for the state, but it is really taxpayers getting some of their own money back. Rob says the state is expected to give up more than half a billion dollars in gas tax revenue through October while still absorbing the cost and reimbursing local governments. To him, that proves Indiana’s government has far more money than it needs for basic operations. He argues the “surplus” is really overtaxation, and that Republicans are only suspending the tax now because high gas prices under Trump and renewed conflict with Iran are politically damaging. The discussion also criticizes Republican leaders for claiming they need yet another long-term road funding solution. Rob points out that many of the same officials supported the 2017 gas tax increase, which was sold as the long-term fix, and then passed another road funding bill last year. He says the problem is not a lack of revenue, but the government’s failure to manage and allocate the money it already takes from taxpayers. Another segment focuses on the Thomas Carl Cook scandal and the continued failure of Indianapolis officials to reform how workplace misconduct complaints are handled. Rob says Cook, a powerful figure in Mayor Joe Hogsett’s administration and campaign operation, was accused of inappropriate relationships involving people connected to his power structure. Even after outside investigators recommended complaints be handled outside the mayor’s control, the City-County Council still has not created an independent process. Rob argues Hogsett’s stated concern about protecting victims’ privacy is an excuse to keep control over sensitive complaints. He says public records experts and existing executive-session rules show there are ways to protect complainants while still creating an independent review system. Rob says the lack of action reflects a broader problem in Indianapolis politics: Republicans are ineffective, most Democrats are afraid to challenge Hogsett, and only a few voices like Jesse Brown are willing to confront the power structure. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

7/9/26 - Statehouse Happenings: Braun's Redistricting Backtrack

In an interview conducted weeks ago, Governor Mike Braun indicated his primary reason for calling a special session and attempting to ram redistricting through the General Assembly was fear of retribution from the White House. The comments appeared to match Braun's original warning from last winter which he later recanted. In light of the governor's newest commentary, many are once again asking what projects or funding was the governor worried about losing? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt examine on this week's Statehouse Happenings. You can find more information at RobKendallShow.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

7/8/26 - Illegal immigrants skyrocket housing costs, Republicans evade road funding blame

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7/7/26 - Dave 'The King' Wilson joins, Jim Irsay collection makes bank, DeLaney blasts Republicans

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob covering the Indianapolis City-County Council’s vote to approve major wheel tax increases for Marion County residents. Rob says the council passed the hikes 14 to 10 in order to raise local road money and unlock a state match, but argues the city could have found the money through budget cuts instead. He says the shifting explanations from council members show taxpayers were not dealing with honest brokers. Rob explains that the state created a matching fund for Indianapolis road work because Marion County remains an economic hub and carries traffic from people who do not live there. But he argues the city should have been required to use existing revenue rather than new taxes, especially because roads are one of the core responsibilities of city government. He says the proposed increase would take the average vehicle fee from around $20 to $100, with some larger vehicles facing much higher costs. The discussion also puts blame on both parties. Rob says Democrats on the council voted to raise taxes, but Republicans at the Statehouse created the structure that allowed them to do it. He argues Republican lawmakers could have required Indianapolis to use existing funds for the match, but instead handed local Democrats the ability to raise taxes and then act surprised when they used it. Another segment focuses on the IndyStar’s reporting about the sale of Jim Irsay’s memorabilia collection, which brought in more than $105 million. Rob says he does not begrudge wealth, inheritance, or people spending money on hobbies, but argues the Irsay family’s wealth is different because so much of it was enhanced by taxpayer-funded stadium deals. He says Lucas Oil Stadium and its related tax increases helped make the Colts more valuable while regular people were forced to pay. Rob says the Irsay collection shows why billionaires should not be subsidized by poor and middle-class taxpayers. He points to the guitars, historic artifacts, and other memorabilia as proof the family had enormous private wealth while still benefiting from public money. Rob argues every tax dollar represents someone’s time, freedom, and labor, and that money should not be taken from regular people to make sports franchise owners even richer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]