4/3/26 - Braun’s $500K Redistricting Fight, Autism Fraud Investigation, Bears to Hammond Debate

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show features a packed lineup with two major interviews and a deep dive into the latest political developments in Indiana. Rob opens the show by previewing a conversation with Dr. Jim Dalton, CEO of Damar, about the rise in autism diagnoses across Indiana and the United States. They discuss whether the increase is due to more children developing autism or improved diagnosis, and examine the growing controversy surrounding alleged abuse and fraud by for-profit providers offering autism services in the state. Dr. Dalton also explains the work of a task force formed by the governor to investigate the issue and how much it may be costing taxpayers. Later in the hour, Rob is joined by Jacob Stewart, deputy opinion editor at The Indianapolis Star, for a spirited debate about two major local stories. First, they discuss the possibility of the Chicago Bears relocating to Hammond, Indiana, and whether bringing an NFL team closer to the region would benefit the state. They also tackle the mass firings at WRTV and debate whether viewers should feel sympathy for the employees affected, as well as the broader question of local ownership in media and what it means for local programming. Rob also reacts to a new report from Politico’s Adam Wren that Governor Mike Braun’s Hope super PAC plans to spend $500,000 supporting challengers against incumbent state senators who opposed redistricting. Rob argues most incumbents are still likely to win because of the power of incumbency and questions whether the move will create long-term political fallout within the Indiana Senate. The discussion also touches on the role of national politics in the fight over redistricting, including the influence of Donald Trump’s endorsement and how much weight it still carries in local races. Rob examines how candidates relying solely on Trump’s backing without addressing local issues may struggle with voters who care more about legislative performance than national political branding. Finally, Rob explains why he originally endorsed Braun for governor and why he now feels frustrated with how property tax reform played out in Indiana. He argues that promises were made about using political action committee funds to pressure lawmakers on property taxes but that those efforts never materialized, while significant money is now being spent on redistricting battles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices