The Rob Kendall Show

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing growing bipartisan scrutiny of Flock Safety’s automated license plate cameras after Senator Josh Hawley launched a congressional investigation. Rob says the technology may have legitimate law-enforcement uses, but argues the massive amount of data being collected demands much stronger safeguards, limits, and public transparency. The show also covers new polling showing significant regret among younger voters who backed President Trump, especially Gen Z. Rob argues the decline comes back to affordability, saying Trump won many young voters by promising to get prices under control but has failed to deliver on the economic issue that mattered most to them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guests: Jim Merritt, Niki Kelly Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob arguing that mid-cycle redistricting is little more than both parties trying to rig maps instead of governing better. He points to court setbacks in Virginia and Maryland and says Indiana wasted taxpayer money on a special session for an issue voters largely did not care about. The show also covers James Briggs’ IndyStar column criticizing Republicans for attacking Greg Ballard’s proposed voter guide after years of failing to hold Diego Morales accountable. Rob says Republicans tolerated Morales’ scandals until they believed he could no longer win, and argues Ballard and Beau Bayh should keep that lack of accountability at the center of the Secretary of State race. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Governor Mike Braun blinked first in the battle with Andy Zay over his removal from the IURC. Despite citing Zay's potentially serious campaign finance violations as a reason for his removal, Braun approved a $625,000 settlement with the former State Senator. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt examine the massive payout from the taxpayers, which kept the governor from perhaps having to testify under oath. You can find more information at RobKendallShow.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest: Greg Ballard Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing Greg Ballard’s proposal to send every registered voter a $2.5 million statewide voter guide. Rob questions the expense but argues Republican outrage is hypocritical after years of silence over Diego Morales’ controversies and other questionable government spending. The show also covers President Trump approving a major disaster declaration for Indiana following severe storms and flooding, opening federal assistance to residents and local governments across multiple counties. Rob supports disaster aid as a legitimate government function but questions why the declaration took two weeks and argues taxpayers—not politicians—deserve credit for funding the assistance. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Kendall and Kenny Britt are back and taking a look at Week 0 of College Football. Plays include TCU vs North Carolina and NC State at Virginia. Plus, Rob and Kenny examine ways to potentially judge teams before they've played a game and the Bears possible move to Indiana. Pigskin, Plays and Props is intended for entertainment, news, and educational purposes only. You must be 21 or over and physically located in the state of Indiana to place a sports wager. All betting picks, analysis, and odds discussed on this show do not constitute financial advice or a guarantee of success. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob remembering Matt Bair after the longtime WIBC traffic reporter and radio personality passed away at 48. Rob describes Bair as one of the most beloved and important people at WIBC, praising his talent, humility, kindness to coworkers and listeners, and his work with Ryan Hedrick on the Supporting Sobriety podcast. The show also turns to the Indiana Supreme Court agreeing to hear Spencer Deery’s challenge in the Senate District 23 recount. Rob says the case is not about whether Deery or Paula Copenhaver wins, but whether Hoosiers still have a guaranteed right to vote if legally cast ballots can be rejected because government workers failed to process them properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob blasting the $625,000 settlement between Mike Braun’s administration and former IURC member Andy Zay. Rob says taxpayers are now paying Zay to do nothing through 2030 while also paying his replacement, arguing Braun settled because he did not want discovery, sworn testimony, or courtroom cameras exposing what happened behind the scenes. The show also covers Abdul-Hakim Shabazz’s latest informal survey at IndyPolitics, which Rob says offers a useful look at how politically engaged Hoosiers are viewing the Secretary of State race and statewide officials. Rob highlights Greg Ballard leading Max Engling and Beau Bayh in the survey, weak approval numbers for Braun and Micah Beckwith, and strong opposition among respondents to using state incentives to bring the Chicago Bears to northwest Indiana. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guest: Jim Merritt Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing Indiana’s move toward universal school choice, where education dollars follow students regardless of family income. Rob says he supports school choice in principle, but argues the system becomes broken when public schools can still use referendums to raise taxes, leaving poor and middle-class taxpayers subsidizing private school vouchers while also paying higher local school taxes. The show also covers Republicans trying to make men in women’s sports a major issue in the Secretary of State race because, Rob argues, they have little to run on after Diego Morales’ scandals. Rob says Greg Ballard put himself on defense by trying to explain his past support for Holcomb’s veto of a transgender sports bill, while Max Engling used the issue to shift attention away from the Secretary of State’s office. Jim Merritt guests and talks about Andy Zay's lawsuit and the Deery stolen votes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guests: Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, James Briggs Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing Mike Braun’s reaction to Chris Garten being chosen as the next Indiana Senate leader. Rob argues conservatives may be disappointed if they expect Garten to be a major change from Rod Bray, saying speeches about redistricting matter less than votes on property taxes, utility bills, Medicaid, and state government corruption. The show also covers the national debt officially passing $40 trillion. Rob says the country has added roughly $10 trillion in debt in just a few years, with little to show for it beyond inflation, weaker buying power, and a government baseline that keeps expanding under both parties. Abdul-Hakim Shabazz joins Rob to discuss Andy Zay’s lawsuit against Governor Braun and other major Indiana political stories. James Briggs from the IndyStar also joins the show to talk about his view of data centers and the potential benefits they could bring. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Former Senator Andy Zay is trying to reclaim his seat on the IURC with a lawsuit that targets Mike Braun and several others. Yesterday, the governor struck back with his response, alleging multiple inappropriate acts by Zay, including very large campaign expenditures after he had been appointed to lead the IURC. What's next, and will it involve the governor being put under oath? Rob Kendall and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss on this week's Statehouse Happenings. You can find more information at RobKendallShow.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Guests: Adam Ritz (Yacht Rock Radio), Glenn Adams (Brownsburg Town Council) Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob covering the latest filings in Andy Zay’s lawsuit against Mike Braun over his removal from the IURC. Rob says Braun’s office is now pointing to campaign spending, bonuses, and other alleged conduct, but Rob also argues Braun’s own public comments about the AES rate case could create problems if the case reaches sworn testimony. The show also turns to Chris Garten being chosen to replace Rod Bray as Indiana Senate President Pro Tem. Rob warns conservatives not to celebrate too quickly, arguing Garten’s voting record is largely aligned with Bray’s and that one redistricting speech does not prove he will fight on property taxes, utilities, the IEDC, or state spending. Adam Ritz joins the show to discuss local radio, his time at X103 in Indianapolis, and his syndicated Yacht Rock Radio show. Glenn Adams also joins the discussion to break down the new wheel tax proposals many communities are now considering. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rob Kendall and Kenny Britt have some fun examining the upcoming College Football and NFL seasons with predictions for team and individual awards, including the National Championship and Heisman in college and Super Bowl and MVP in the NFL. Pigskin, Plays and Props is intended for entertainment, news, and educational purposes only. You must be 21 or over and physically located in the state of Indiana to place a sports wager. All betting picks, analysis, and odds discussed on this show do not constitute financial advice or a guarantee of success. Please gamble responsibly. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT (1-800-994-8448) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob criticizing Congressman Mark Messmer for using taxpayer-funded franking money on what Rob says looks like a campaign ad. Rob argues the Terre Haute TV spot, featuring Messmer touting “conservative results,” is another example of politicians using public money to protect themselves while the country is $40 trillion in debt. The show also revisits Spencer Deery’s court fight after ballots were thrown out in his race against Paula Copenhaver. Rob says Deery’s challenge is about whether Hoosiers truly have a right to vote if ballots can be rejected because election workers failed to process them properly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing a USA Today column about the left trying to rewrite its 2020–2021 record. Rob argues progressives like AOC cannot dismiss “woke 1.0” as a temporary mistake because positions like defund the police, abolish ICE, and no prisons reflected what they actually believed. The show also covers an IndyStar op-ed on Mike Braun, data centers, and utility rates. Rob says Braun is inviting massive power demand through data-center incentives while blaming the IURC for utility increases, even though the grid needs costly upgrades and the rules are set by the governor and General Assembly. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob criticizing Jim Banks and Andrew Ireland for sharing a false post claiming the Chicago Bears had finalized a move to Indiana and would become the “Indiana Bears.” Rob says the story was obviously shaky, later retracted by the original poster, and showed poor judgment from elected officials dealing with billions in taxpayer money. The show also turns to Rob explaining why he mixes entertainment with government coverage, using a local wheel tax fight as an example. Rob says his posts pushed officials and media to dig into whether the tax had to be increased, leading to discussion of a possible tax decrease instead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing an IndyStar report on Amazon’s massive New Carlisle data center campus, which could eventually use enough electricity to power about half of Indiana’s homes. Rob argues the project shows why Hoosiers are worried about data centers: higher utility pressure, lost rural character, emergency power cutbacks, and pollution from backup generators. The show also turns to wealth inequality after NBC News reported the Lakers are being sold for $12.5 billion. Rob says he is not against people becoming rich legally, but argues society becomes unstable when the ultra-wealthy keep gaining billions while working middle-class people struggle to afford basic life. He also discusses John Fetterman’s praise for Republican Senator Dave McCormick, saying it shows how politics often becomes more about numbers and power than principle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andy Zay has sued Governor Mike Braun and others over his dismissal from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission. Zay's demand to be reinstated to his position and details of alleged actions by the governor and senior staffers has rocked the Statehouse. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz examine the allegations and potential impact on utilities in Indiana. You can find more information at RobKendallShow.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob revisiting the Spencer Deery–Paula Copenhaver recount, arguing that voters were disenfranchised because their ballots were rejected over mistakes made by government workers. Rob highlights an IndyStar legal expert’s warning that once elections stop mattering, the system begins looking like a “banana republic,” and says the Recount Commission’s decision gives voters another reason to believe participation is pointless. The show also covers James Briggs’ IndyStar column criticizing Mike Braun’s repeated gas tax suspensions by executive order. Rob says he supports suspending the gas tax, but argues Braun should call a special session and make the General Assembly vote instead of using flimsy emergency excuses like Ukraine and Canadian wildfires. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing the Indiana Recount Commission flipping the Spencer Deery–Paula Copenhaver Senate race by throwing out absentee or provisional ballots over technical mistakes made by election officials. Rob says voters followed the rules, but their votes were tossed because government failed to process them properly, turning Deery’s three-vote lead into a three-vote Copenhaver win. The show also covers Andy Zay’s lawsuit against Mike Braun after Zay was removed from the IURC. Rob says Zay’s complaint alleges the governor’s office improperly pressured an independent commission over the AES rate case, and argues that if the meetings and ex parte concerns happened as described, Braun could be facing a major scandal. Also: Anthony Gary from IndyDwell Real Estate discusses if cities should be able to cap rental homes, and the FSSA asks able bodied adults to pay more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing former NBA players Enes Kanter Freedom and Royce White declaring themselves eligible for the WNBA draft after saying they identify as women. Rob says the story has local implications because of recent comments from Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham, and he argues the WNBA created this situation by becoming a political operation instead of simply acknowledging that biological men and women have different physical advantages in sports. He says Kanter Freedom and White are calling the league’s bluff under its own eligibility standards, forcing the WNBA to either clearly define women’s sports around biological sex or risk legal and public-relations consequences. The show also turns to Jacob Stewart’s IndyStar column on Governor Mike Braun extending Indiana’s gas tax suspension after previously saying he had no authority to do it again. Rob says he supports suspending the gas tax because it helps affordability, but argues Braun is using a ridiculous emergency justification, including the war in Ukraine and Canadian wildfires, instead of calling a special session and having the General Assembly act through law. Rob compares the move to Eric Holcomb’s unchecked COVID executive orders, saying conservatives cannot oppose executive overreach only when they dislike the result while accepting it when it saves them money at the pump. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing Mike Braun’s latest appointment to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, naming Indianapolis City-County Councillor Josh Bain after Andy Zay was removed. Rob says Bain is a good person and a friend of the show, but argues the real problem is the system itself: the IURC is bound by laws and statutes written by the governor and General Assembly, meaning Braun cannot fix utility rates simply by swapping out commissioners. Rob also connects the issue to Braun’s gas tax executive order, saying Braun is again focusing on how he looks instead of pursuing a lawful, permanent fix through a special session and legislation. The show also turns to President Trump’s renewed effort to restrict birthright citizenship, including orders targeting birth tourism and expanding categories of people who would not qualify for automatic citizenship. Rob argues the 14th Amendment was designed to protect freed slaves after the Civil War, not to reward people who enter the country illegally or abuse visas to secure citizenship for their children. He says the fight reflects a larger need to regain control over immigration, stop fraud, and challenge courts that have expanded birthright citizenship far beyond its original purpose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing Governor Mike Braun’s extension of the gas sales tax suspension. Rob argues Braun broke the law by extending the suspension and uses the issue to question how state leaders handle taxes, executive power, and accountability when government wants to appear helpful without following the proper process. The show also looks at former Governor Eric Holcomb, with Rob criticizing what he sees as Holcomb’s incompetence in office. Rob connects Holcomb’s record to broader failures in Indiana government and argues that many of the state’s current problems are tied to leaders who avoided accountability while making damaging decisions. Tom Bartelt from Dubois County joins the show to discuss Governor Braun’s personal highway project, the Mid-States Corridor in southern Indiana. Rob frames the project as another example of government pushing a costly plan despite local opposition and questions about who actually benefits. Another segment focuses on Michael Hicks’ IndyStar column about immigration and open borders. Rob discusses Hicks’ argument about the benefits of immigration and pushes back on the idea that Indiana or the country should embrace an approach that downplays border enforcement and assimilation. The discussion also turns to younger generations increasingly living with parents or family members. Rob looks at how affordability, housing costs, wages, and broader economic pressures are changing what adulthood looks like for younger people and making independence harder to achieve. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Conservatives cheered when Senate boss Rod Bray announced he would not seek another term in charge of the upper chamber. That enthusiasm only grew when Chris Garten announced he would seek to replace Bray. Garten has become a darling of the right after his passionate floor speech in favor of redistricting. But a closer examination of Garten's actual voting record shows not a lot of daylight between him and Bray. Couple that with Garten's endorsement to be his number two, and conservatives may be in for a major letdown. Rob Kendall and former State Senator Jim Merritt discuss on this week's Statehouse Happenings. You can find more information at RobKendallShow.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob warning listeners that Indiana’s gas tax suspension is about to expire, which he says could push prices sharply higher at a time when gas may already be headed toward $4 or more. Rob argues property taxes and gas taxes are predatory because Hoosiers cannot realistically opt out of either, and he says Indiana’s $4 billion in reserves proves the state could keep the gas tax suspension in place if Governor Mike Braun and Republican lawmakers actually wanted to help taxpayers. He also ties the issue back to one-party rule, arguing that Republicans are choosing to protect government spending rather than call a special session to make gas more affordable. The show also covers the Michigan Democratic Senate primary, where Rob says Abdul El-Sayed’s narrow win over Haley Stevens shows the growing fight between establishment Democrats and the Bernie Sanders/AOC wing of the party. Rob says Stevens was the more electable general election candidate against Republican Mike Rogers, while El-Sayed’s victory gives Republicans a better opening in a state that usually tilts blue. He also points to more than 60,000 votes cast for Mallory McMorrow after she had dropped out as another example of how close races prove individual votes still matter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing former State Senator Andy Zay being fired from the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission just months after Mike Braun appointed him and made him chairman. Rob argues Zay was a bad appointment from the beginning because he was an institutional Republican unlikely to challenge the utility industry, and he says Braun’s handling of the IURC follows the same pattern as property taxes and the IEDC: identify a problem, promise action, offer a solution that does not fix the issue, then blame someone else when nothing changes. Rob also says Braun cannot claim to care about utility affordability while signing legislation allowing utilities to recoup costs for unproven technology and making a string of failed appointments across state government. The show also turns to Rob’s break with the Libertarian Party after prominent Libertarians reacted to the Save Heritage Indiana immigration event by suggesting attendees were Nazis, bigots, or KKK members. Rob says he has long given Libertarians a platform because he believes in free speech and ballot access, but argues the party has wasted 35 years of opportunity in Indiana and has been taken over by unserious voices. He says Lori Shilling’s failure to clearly reject those attacks makes her unacceptable as a Secretary of State candidate, and he argues voters should deny Libertarians ballot access if the party thinks support for secure borders and immigration law enforcement makes people extremists. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing dueling immigration events in Indiana, including a private Save Heritage Indiana gathering in Greenfield featuring former Border Patrol official Greg Bovino. Rob says the event was peaceful, law-abiding, and focused on immigration enforcement, but the left turned it into a larger story by staging a pro-immigration rally in Fishers and comparing anti-illegal immigration activists to the Ku Klux Klan. He argues Democrats keep making themselves unelectable in Indiana by treating support for immigration laws as extremism, while regular Hoosiers are much closer to wanting border enforcement than abolishing ICE or mass amnesty. The show also turns to Rob’s broader argument that immigration problems include not only illegal entry, but also a failure of assimilation among some legal immigrants. Rob says he supports “a very big wall with a very wide gate,” meaning strong border enforcement paired with legal immigration for people willing to become part of American life. He uses a miles-long Khalistan car rally in Indianapolis as an example, arguing that people who come to America should focus on America, speak the language, follow the rules, and assimilate rather than bringing foreign political conflicts into Indiana streets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing Greg Ballard’s Secretary of State campaign crossing the $1 million fundraising mark. Rob says the number is impressive because Ballard reached it without a party apparatus behind him, but he also uses the moment to talk about the broken campaign finance system, the reality of large donors, and how difficult it is for any independent statewide candidate to compete without major financial support. The show also covers Rod Bray announcing that he will not seek another term as Indiana Senate leader, though he will remain in place until a new leader is selected. Rob argues Bray has been bad for taxpayers on issues like gas taxes, property taxes, Medicaid, and the IEDC, but says the political pressure against him only seemed to become serious once he failed to follow Trump’s lead on redistricting. Rob also reviews his IndyStar article about how Mike Braun uses daycare subsidies to buy votes. The broader discussion ties that issue back into Rob’s criticism of politicians who use government money, favors, or rigged systems to protect power rather than create policy that actually serves taxpayers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob arguing that partisanship has destroyed accountability in politics. Rob says the Secretary of State race gives voters legitimate reasons to consider Beau Bayh, Greg Ballard, or the Libertarian candidate, while rejecting the Republican nominee as a way to punish the party for Diego Morales and the broader culture that protected him. He also says Ballard’s independent run could help break the red-versus-blue stranglehold, while a Politico poll showing many MAGA voters would stick with scandal-plagued candidates proves how deeply team loyalty has overtaken basic standards. The show also turns to Indiana’s Public Access Counselor, where Rob says years of Republican changes have weakened one of the few free tools citizens had to hold government accountable on public records and open-door complaints. He highlights a media coalition threatening legal action over delayed advisory opinions, then connects the issue to Governor Mike Braun’s office shifting staff back only after pressure mounted. The discussion also looks at Senate races in Texas and Michigan, with Rob arguing both parties are making winnable races harder by nominating scandal-plagued or extremist candidates instead of normal, broadly acceptable choices. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republican Candidate for Secretary of State Max Engling made headlines this week when his campaign announced they had returned a $60,000 donation from a dark money group associated with Senator Jim Banks. The announcement came after Knox County Clerk David Shelton filed a complaint about the donation. Multiple parts of the story have raised eyebrows, including Engling's camp claiming ignorance about the status of group despite what appears to be multiple associations with Engling over the past year. Will the dark money return be an issue during the campaign or something that will quickly be forgotten? Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss on Statehouse Happenings. You can find more information at RobKendallShow.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob covering the Indiana Recount Commission’s decision in the Spencer Deery–Paula Copenhaver Senate race, where Copenhaver’s campaign wanted to subpoena voters and question them under oath about how and why they voted. Rob says Diego Morales, despite making the moment about himself and pushing closed primaries, cast the deciding vote against that request. Rob argues voters followed the law by requesting a Republican ballot and voting, and says Republicans are angry because they got beaten under the same primary rules they created. The show also turns to an IndyStar report on Mayor Joe Hogsett using city-controlled suites at Pacers, Fever, Colts, and other events despite once pledging to reject perks of office. Rob says the suites are supposed to be used for city business, yet campaign donors, family members, political allies, and Hogsett himself have attended major events, including Taylor Swift, WWE Royal Rumble, and a Chaka Khan concert. Rob argues the story reflects the broader lack of accountability around Hogsett, Indianapolis City Hall, and voters who keep rewarding politicians no matter how brazen their conduct becomes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob continuing his criticism of Republican Secretary of State nominee Max Engling over the returned $60,000 donation from Hoosier Leadership for America. Rob says the issue is bigger than a campaign finance mistake because Engling was chosen to replace Diego Morales after Republicans finally admitted Morales’ scandals had become politically untenable, yet Engling’s first major headline now involves a questionable donation from a dark money group tied to Jim Banks. Rob highlights David Shelton’s argument that the group’s 501(c)(4) nonprofit status made the $60,000 contribution improper under Indiana’s $5,000 corporate contribution limit, and says Engling’s role as his own treasurer makes it harder for the campaign to shift responsibility elsewhere. The show also turns to COVID, Anthony Fauci, and the lasting damage Rob says government policy caused during the pandemic. Rob argues the shutdowns, mask rules, business closures, inflation, social disruption, and lost jobs were all part of a disastrous government response that relied heavily on Fauci as a shield for bad decisions. He points to journal entries released by Rand Paul and discussed by Robby Soave, arguing they show Fauci privately knew early on that the market was not the original source of COVID while publicly pushing a different narrative, and Rob says Fauci’s role in funding and defending risky virus research should have brought far more accountability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob breaking down the controversy around Republican Secretary of State nominee Max Engling returning a $60,000 contribution from Hoosier Leadership for America, a dark money group associated with Jim Banks. Rob says the complaint from Knox County Clerk David Shelton raises serious questions because the group is registered as a nonprofit corporation, and Indiana law limits corporate contributions to statewide candidates to $5,000. He argues the Engling campaign’s explanation that the entity type was “unclear” is hard to believe given Engling’s ties to Banks, the group’s major role in Indiana politics, and the fact that Engling is serving as his own campaign treasurer. The show also turns to school referendums, with Rob focusing on Noblesville Schools and Superintendent Daniel Hile’s objections to new ballot language showing the actual dollar impact of a proposed referendum. Rob says schools have long benefited from confusing “cents per $100 of assessed value” language, while the new requirement makes the potential tax increase clearer to homeowners. He argues Noblesville’s proposed rate increase proves the district is asking for more money, despite Hile saying otherwise, and says taxpayers deserve to know plainly that a median $350,000 home could see an annual property tax increase of $955. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob criticizing Senator Todd Young’s push to block people convicted of COVID-era SBA fraud from receiving future small business assistance. Rob says the idea is fine on its own, but argues Young and other lawmakers helped create the problem by voting to flood the economy with trillions of dollars during COVID with too few safeguards, leading to fraud, inflation, distorted housing markets, and lasting economic damage. The show also covers Democrats’ unwillingness to confront the growing socialist wing of their party, using Marie Gluesenkamp Perez’s response to a question about the party’s direction as Rob’s latest example. The discussion then turns to Governor Mike Braun joining President Trump’s pledge meant to protect utility customers from data center costs, with Rob arguing Hoosiers should be skeptical because data centers have already received major subsidies, use enormous amounts of power, create relatively few long-term jobs, and have not proven they will truly pay their own way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing the stock trading ban that has passed the House and now heads to the Senate. Rob looks at what the proposal would mean for public officials and whether lawmakers should be able to trade stocks while holding positions of power and access. The show also turns to IndyStar columnist James Briggs, who says Mayor Joe Hogsett made a major mistake by vetoing the Indianapolis wheel tax increase. Rob breaks down the disagreement over whether the city needs the additional revenue or whether officials should be forced to find money inside the existing budget. Another segment focuses on the state of Indiana certifying that Greg Ballard will appear on the ballot in the Secretary of State race as the Lincoln Party candidate. Rob discusses why Ballard’s ballot access matters, what it could mean for voters looking outside the Republican and Democratic parties, and how it changes the race. The discussion also covers a Gallup survey looking at early Republican presidential polling for 2028. Rob highlights J.D. Vance leading Marco Rubio and considers what that says about where Republican voters may be headed after the current Trump era. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After raising taxes by a billion dollars last year, Mike Braun wasted no time pumping $200 million into subsidized daycare. At a recent event in Indianapolis, Braun said he intended to ask for $200 million more. The move has outraged some, as the state is sitting on massive surpluses that appear likely to grow, yet there appears to be no appetite to return money to the citizens despite the now needless tax increase. What's next? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss on Statehouse Happenings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Mike Braun’s decision to keep taxpayer overpayments and use the money to subsidize daycare. Rob also covers Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears being called out by the FOP’s Rick Snyder over the treatment of Broad Ripple business owners. The discussion also turns to $10.9 million in alleged Indiana Medicaid fraud. Rob then looks at the latest developments in Liz Brown’s election recount, including her attorney’s explanation of the victory. Rob also examines President Trump’s handling of Iran and whether he can find a way out of the growing debacle. Another segment focuses on an IndyStar article about Indianapolis’ new wheel tax and comments from columnist James Briggs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing Michael Hicks’ Indiana Capital Chronicle column on the proposed Chicago Bears stadium in Hammond. Rob says state leaders are selling the idea on excitement rather than showing a real business plan with numbers proving the project would benefit taxpayers. He argues the stadium would create few meaningful long-term jobs, rely heavily on seasonal game-day work, and divert major Indiana Toll Road funds away from infrastructure projects that benefit the whole state. The show also turns to an IndyStar report on Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett’s Ethics Commission, which was created to protect residents from corruption but has reportedly met only once during his decade in office. Rob says the situation is absurd, especially after one listed member said he did not even know he was on the commission, and the city still cannot clearly explain how many ethics complaints have been handled. Rob argues the commission is “functional in name only” and reflects the broader lack of accountability around Hogsett and City Hall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob discussing the FBI raid on Andy Card’s Westfield home and business. Rob says Card has played a major role in large Indiana sports developments, including the Pacers Athletic Center in Westfield, and that federal officials confirmed court-authorized law enforcement activity at Card’s home and business on July 16. Rob frames the story as part of a broader warning about government getting involved in sports complexes, fieldhouses, and other projects it is not equipped to manage. Rob explains that reporting has tied the investigation to a Florida home and a Mishawaka city-financed fieldhouse project. Court documents allege Card fraudulently used money from the $38 million Mishawaka Fieldhouse project to help pay for a $6.6 million waterfront home on Marco Island. Rob says these types of public-private sports deals are nearly impossible for regular taxpayers to track, especially when financing involves tax increment financing, grants, and complex agreements. The discussion also turns to Rob’s larger argument that local government should focus on basic responsibilities like roads, bridges, sidewalks, water, sewer, public safety, and caring for the most vulnerable. He says stadiums, rec centers, swimming pools, amphitheaters, and similar projects fall outside what government should be doing. Rob argues that when government branches into areas it cannot properly oversee, taxpayers face unnecessary risk and officials end up partnering with private actors they may not be capable of monitoring. Another segment focuses on school board races and why Democrats keep winning them in heavily Republican communities. Rob says the reason is simple: school board candidates do not have to identify by party the way candidates for most other Indiana offices do. He argues school boards should not get special treatment because they are often the largest taxing entity, receive enormous state funding, and employ large numbers of people in their communities. Rob says last year’s Republican-backed reform was watered down because candidates can choose whether to declare a party, but are not required to do so. He points to Capital Chronicle numbers showing that of 1,043 school board candidates, 515 declared no affiliation or called themselves nonpartisan, while only 66 identified as Democrats. Rob argues that proves many Democrats are still hiding their affiliation in Republican communities, and that voters will keep getting the same results unless they demand more transparency and accountability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob arguing that Governor Mike Braun repeatedly identifies major problems, promises to fix them, takes an action that does not solve the problem, and then declares victory. Rob says this pattern has played out with property taxes, utility bills, and now the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. He argues voters are increasingly drawn to independent voices because they are tired of partisan cheerleading and want authenticity from people who are actually on their side. Rob focuses on a new Indiana Capital Chronicle report showing the IEDC is spending $200,000 on a hospitality suite at an IndyCar race around the National Mall in Washington, D.C. He says the suite includes 30 tickets and all-inclusive food and drinks, with the possibility of spending up to $250,000 if additional tickets are purchased. Rob argues this proves Braun’s promised IEDC reforms have not changed the agency’s culture of using taxpayer money to benefit powerful insiders. The discussion also revisits past reporting on the IEDC, including concerns about incentives, insider influence, and public money flowing to well-connected businesses. Rob says the agency operates like a shadow government entity that takes money from poor and middle-class taxpayers and redirects it toward wealthy corporations and politically connected people. He argues Braun’s audit and board changes were cosmetic because the same kinds of spending and conflicts continue. Rob says the spending is especially offensive when state leaders claim there is not enough money for vulnerable Hoosiers, including families caring for severely disabled loved ones. He contrasts that with the IEDC finding hundreds of thousands of dollars for a luxury racing suite and says taxpayers should ask lawmakers why that is considered acceptable. Rob argues the state could represent Indiana’s motorsports industry without spending that kind of money on exclusive hospitality access. Rob closes by saying the IEDC spending shows Braun has not fixed anything and that Republican lawmakers who fund the agency share responsibility. He points to legislators who criticize local tax hikes while voting for budgets that allow spending like this to continue. Rob says the public is craving authenticity because they do not believe politicians or much of the media are truly fighting for them, and he argues this kind of IEDC story is exactly why voters are looking for alternatives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob examining new campaign finance reports in the Indiana Secretary of State race. Rob says Greg Ballard’s fundraising is the biggest surprise because Ballard raised more than $671,000 in the quarter despite not yet being on the ballot. He argues that number shows Ballard is not just trying to reach 10% for Lincoln Party ballot access, but is attempting to become a serious statewide contender. Rob compares Ballard’s fundraising to Beau Bayh and Max Engling, noting that Bayh raised more than $557,000 for the quarter while Engling brought in just over $202,000. He says Bayh still has major institutional advantages and a large overall fundraising total, but Ballard’s organic support is more impressive because it came without a party structure behind him. Rob also warns that Libertarian Lori Shilling’s low fundraising total could put Libertarian ballot access at risk if protest voters shift toward Ballard instead. The discussion also turns to Diego Morales continuing to receive campaign donations after losing the Republican nomination. Rob questions why donors, including people from outside Indiana, would keep giving money to someone who will not remain Secretary of State after this year. He says the small-dollar donations from out-of-state contributors are especially strange and deserve more scrutiny. Another segment focuses on a major court ruling involving Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears, the Indiana Department of Revenue, and a tax investigation into Broad Ripple bar owner Robert Sabatini. Rob says Judge Clark Rogers’ filing alleges the prosecutor’s office and state revenue officials conducted an unjustified fishing expedition into Broad Ripple businesses without evidence of criminal activity. He argues that if the allegations are proven, Mears should face serious professional consequences. Rob says the ruling is frightening for small business owners because it suggests confidential tax records were accessed without a warrant, probable cause, or even a clear suspicion of wrongdoing. He says the case damaged Sabatini’s reputation and shows how dangerous government power becomes when officials can target businesses first and justify the investigation later. Rob argues the story should receive statewide attention because it erodes public trust in prosecutors, revenue officials, and the rule of law. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Braun introduced former State Representative Chuck Goodrich as Indiana's new Commerce Secretary. Goodrich quickly declared he would not be stepping down as the CEO of Gaylor Electric, despite his new leadership position in state government. The announcement immediately raised red flags as Gaylor Electric helps build data centers, which have been a major focus of incentives from the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, which Goodrich will oversee. Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss the controversial appointment of and refusal to step down by Goodrich on this week's Statehouse Happenings. You can find more information at RobKendallShow.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob breaking down Greg Ballard officially turning in 41,299 verified signatures for his independent Secretary of State run. Rob says Ballard cleared the required 36,943-signature threshold by roughly 12%, which is an extraordinary accomplishment given how difficult Indiana makes ballot access for anyone outside the Republican and Democratic parties. He argues Ballard’s campaign cracked a code that has kept regular people and independent candidates locked out for decades. Rob says the real importance of Ballard’s run is not just whether he wins, but whether he gets the Lincoln Party to 10% and earns primary ballot access. He argues that 2% would give the party general election access, but 10% would be the true breakthrough because it would put Lincoln Party candidates on primary ballots and give them taxpayer-subsidized visibility. Rob says Ballard’s strongest message should be that he is running for voters themselves by creating a new path for people shut out by the two-party system. The discussion also critiques Ballard’s presentation at the Statehouse. Rob says the signature turn-in was professional and dignified, but missed a chance to become a larger media moment that could have grabbed statewide attention. He argues Ballard now needs sharper messaging focused on two themes: Republican corruption tied to Diego Morales and the idea that voting for Ballard is a vote to open the system for more Hoosiers. Another segment focuses on Chuck Goodrich being named Indiana Secretary of Commerce and head of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Rob says the appointment is troubling because Goodrich remains CEO of Gaylor Electric, a company that says data center construction has been a major part of its business growth. Rob argues it is an obvious conflict for someone whose company works on data centers to oversee incentives and economic development decisions that could involve data centers and major construction projects. Rob says the Goodrich appointment shows the IEDC has not been fixed, despite years of concern over corruption, insider dealing, and taxpayer-funded corporate incentives. He argues Governor Mike Braun spent public money auditing the IEDC and replacing its board, only to put someone with clear business overlap in charge of the same incentive system. Rob says lawmakers and media outlets should be demanding answers, because the situation reinforces the same culture that allowed figures like Diego Morales to operate without real accountability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob covering Indianapolis’ move toward pausing new data center development. The Metropolitan and Economic Development Committee voted 10 to 3 to recommend a moratorium through December 2027, sending the proposal to the full City-County Council. Rob says the timing may be politically convenient ahead of the next mayoral and council elections, but argues the pause is still a good thing because local governments do not yet understand the full financial, infrastructure, and utility impact of these projects. Rob says the basic math on data centers still does not make sense to the public. He argues that while billion-dollar facilities sound attractive on paper, long-term abatements, sales tax exemptions, and minimal job creation mean many communities may not see the payoff for decades, if ever. He says the state and local governments need to explain exactly why taxpayers are subsidizing these developments and how they benefit the communities taking on the risk. The discussion also focuses on the need for statewide guardrails before more data centers are approved. Rob says power, water, utility rates, and tax incentives do not stop at city or county lines, so Indiana needs a broader policy framework instead of letting every community make it up as they go. He says the state should establish a minimum floor for transparency and community benefit, while still allowing local governments to adopt stricter rules if they choose. The show also turns to Beau Bayh’s new pledge in the Secretary of State race. Bayh says that if elected, campaign staffers will be barred from contacting state employees about state business, and he will not award Secretary of State contracts to campaign donors. Rob says this is a direct shot at Diego Morales and a smart campaign move because it keeps Republican corruption in the office at the center of the race, regardless of who Republicans nominate. Rob says Bayh’s pledge also puts pressure on Republican nominee Max Engling, especially because Engling has received support from Marty Obst’s Hoosier Leadership for America, a dark money group that does not disclose its donors. The discussion also notes Bayh’s ties to fundraiser Emily Gurwitz, whose firm was paid by Bayh’s campaign and who has been connected in reporting to questions around Joe Hogsett donors and city contracts. Rob argues the Secretary of State race is shaping up around transparency, corruption, donor influence, and whether voters will finally punish Republicans for what happened under Diego Morales. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob previewing a discussion of Jamey Noel, the former Clark County sheriff and Republican power broker now in prison. Rob points to a new WHAS11 documentary, Tarnished Badge: The Jamey Noel Story, as a detailed look at Noel’s abuse of power, political influence, and taxpayer-funded corruption. He says the biggest question is how someone so publicly connected to Indiana’s political elite could live so far beyond his means for so long without people around him asking obvious questions. Rob says the Noel story fits a broader pattern of powerful Indiana officials acting brazenly because they do not fear accountability. He compares the situation to Diego Morales, noting that the issue is not that the circumstances are identical, but that both involve obvious behavior that people in power ignored or enabled. Rob argues the political system protects insiders until the evidence becomes impossible to avoid. The discussion also turns to the power of Indiana sheriffs and the lack of oversight around them. Rob says the Noel case, along with cases involving sheriffs like Tom Kleinhelter, shows the state needs serious reform in how sheriffs are monitored and held accountable. He argues both parties tolerate corruption when it benefits their own power structures, pointing to Republicans in state government and Democrats in Indianapolis as examples of officials avoiding accountability. Rob also highlights Greg Ballard preparing to turn in more than 41,000 verified signatures for his independent Secretary of State campaign. Rob says the achievement is one of the most significant political moments in Indiana history because it could open ballot access for the Lincoln Party and give more people a path outside the Republican-Democrat system. He argues Republicans were arrogantly wrong when they dismissed Ballard’s chances of making the ballot, and that their reaction shows how much they want to control who can participate. Another segment focuses on Indianapolis City-County Council President Maggie Lewis proposing a pause on new data center development in the city. Rob says the move is a major step because it creates time to study utility capacity, infrastructure demands, environmental concerns, economic outcomes, and neighborhood impact before more projects move forward. He says he is not anti-data center, but argues Indiana needs statewide guardrails because these projects affect power, water, taxes, and communities far beyond the city or town where they are built. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

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

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

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob criticizing House Bill 1288, J.D. Prescott’s proposal to eliminate Indiana property taxes and replace them with a 7% sales tax on services. Rob says the bill would technically erase property taxes, but would replace the roughly $11.6 billion currently collected with as much as $15.4 billion in new revenue. He argues that means regular people would face a major tax increase while politicians still get to claim they “eliminated property taxes.” Rob says the biggest winners under the plan would be wealthy property owners, large corporations, and data centers, because their property tax obligations would disappear. Regular homeowners would save on their property tax bills, but then pay more for services like haircuts, car repairs, landscaping, legal work, and accounting. Renters could be hit especially hard because landlords would have no guarantee or requirement to pass property tax savings back through lower rent. The discussion also lays out Rob’s three requirements for any serious property tax reform. He says state leaders must first admit local governments are out of control, stop taxing people based on what someone else sold a house for, and eliminate the ability of local governments to bypass tax caps through referendums. Rob argues Prescott’s bill fails because it does not restrain local spending, does not fix the assessment system, and creates more money for government instead of forcing reform. Another segment focuses on State Senator Mike Young, who criticized Rob online after a listener posted a photo of an old golf plaque with Rob’s name on it. Rob says the exchange matters because it shows how thin-skinned and entitled long-serving politicians become when they are challenged. He argues Young’s reaction had nothing to do with golf and everything to do with anger that Rob has repeatedly said Young has served too long, accomplished too little, and should leave office after decades in the General Assembly. Rob uses the Mike Young exchange to argue that many career politicians see taxpayers as an endless ATM and resent anyone who calls attention to how they govern. He says Young and others complain about anger while ignoring the frustration caused by high taxes, crony capitalism, corruption, and a government that keeps taking more from regular people. Rob says the reason his show resonates is because he says out loud what many taxpayers already believe about the people who run the state. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices