5/21/26 - Statehouse Happenings

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]

6/4/26 - Statehouse Happenings: Bayh Seeks Dominance at Democrat Convention as Republicans Fight Chaos

Both Republicans and Democrats have contested Secretary of State races at their conventions this June. The storylines could not be more different. On the Democrat side, front runner Beau Bayh is seeking a big win over challenger Blythe Potter and to unify his party. The Republicans are attempting to avoid a complete implosion, as the party has become bitterly divided over the abandonment of incumbent Diego Morales. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt preview both conventions and explore how the results could impact the election this fall. You can find more information at RobKendallShow.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

6/3/26 - GOP Hypocrisy on Greg Ballard, Indiana Fever ban reporter, Intel nominee under fire

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses on Greg Ballard’s independent run for Indiana Secretary of State and why Republicans are so worried about it. Rob argues Indiana’s Republican dominance has always depended less on strong governing and more on Democrats being unelectable, and says Ballard could expose how fragile that dominance really is. If Democrats nominate Beau Bayh and Ballard qualifies for the ballot, Rob believes Republicans could face a serious problem from both the center and disaffected conservatives. Rob explains why Ballard’s campaign matters beyond just this one race. If Ballard gets at least 10% of the vote, his Lincoln Party could gain primary ballot access, creating a real third-party structure that could attract establishment Republicans, independents, and voters tired of the current GOP. Rob says that is the real nightmare scenario for Republicans, because it could threaten future races and finally give frustrated voters somewhere else to go. The show also breaks down the difficulty of getting on the ballot as an independent in Indiana. Rob argues the system is deliberately designed by Republicans and Democrats to keep outsiders from running, requiring tens of thousands of verified signatures and making professional help almost necessary. He says criticism of Ballard hiring out-of-state signature gatherers is hypocritical because the system itself forces serious independent candidates to spend huge money just to qualify. Rob also raises concerns about how Republicans appear to have obtained information about Ballard’s signature-gathering operation before the petitions were fully public. He argues that if party officials are getting access to information through local election channels, it reinforces Ballard’s argument that the Secretary of State’s office and election process have become too partisan. Rob says the office should be an impartial administrator, not a tool for either party. The episode closes with a discussion of the Indiana Fever banning reporter Scott Agness from credentialed access after his reporting on Caitlin Clark’s injury status. Rob says Agness has covered the Fever and Pacers for years and should not be punished for reporting information the team did not like. He argues the Fever and WNBA are panicking because Clark is the league’s golden goose, and if fans believe she may not play regularly, the entire surge of interest around the league could fade quickly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

6/2/26 - Iran/U.S. peace deal collapse, Indy road funding disaster, Bears chances to Indiana improve

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob looking at the state of conservative media after a Vox piece about the decline of Ben Shapiro and The Daily Wire. Rob traces the movement from Rush Limbaugh’s dominance in talk radio to the rise of podcasting, Turning Point USA, and The Daily Wire after Rush’s death. He argues that with Charlie Kirk gone, another major vacuum has opened, and the fight to fill it has become less about ideas and more about influence, clicks, and personal branding. Rob says conservative media used to be built around a core set of principles and holding politicians accountable, but he believes much of it has now become a cheerleading operation for approved political figures. He argues the MAGA movement has changed dramatically from what it was when Trump first emerged, pointing to government spending, foreign policy, immigration, and Indiana’s own economic development practices as examples of how words and actions no longer match. The show also turns to Trump, Iran, Israel, and the latest trouble with the ceasefire. Rob argues the United States is stuck in a costly middle ground where Iran remains in power, gas prices are still high, and no clear long-term outcome has been achieved. He says Trump either needed to avoid the conflict or fully commit to removing the Iranian regime, because trying to negotiate with Iran while the Strait of Hormuz remains a pressure point is leaving Americans to pay the price. Rob also criticizes Israel’s role in the latest escalation, saying Netanyahu appears to believe Israel can act however it wants because the United States will continue backing it. He supports Israel’s right to defend itself, but argues American taxpayers deserve to know what they are getting in return when U.S. policy, military resources, and gas prices are all affected. The broader concern is that Iran understands American elections and is using energy prices to pressure Trump and Republicans into concessions. The episode also previews several major Indiana topics, including Indianapolis Democrats claiming they are being forced to raise vehicle taxes, Republican Josh Bain disputing that claim, ongoing questions about the Bears stadium proposal, Diego Morales’ controversies, and Mike Braun’s property tax proposals. Rob frames all of it around the larger question of accountability, arguing the role of media should be to challenge politicians rather than protect them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]