The Rob Kendall Show Podcast

Allegations that employees in the Lt. Governor's Office were sharing artificial intelligence pornography of a state lawmaker's wife has turned the statehouse upside down. Veteran journalist Tom Lobianco has reported State Representative Craig Haggard's wife was the victim. Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith has denied the allegations and claimed he investigated and cleared the employees. With law enforce...

Another day, another round of concerns involving Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales. This time they center around Raju Chinthala, a businessman with a contract with Morales' office that is raising eyebrows. Chinthala was a part or Morales' mysterious trip to India, and the quest to find information about Chinthala's work there is featured in a new Indy Star piece. On this week's Statehouse H...

The saga of Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and the Disciplinary Commission will go on. The Supreme Court dismissed Rokita's attempt to get the complaint thrown out. Documents show Rokita has already spent almost $500,000 of taxpayer money defending his law license. It looks like the fight, and the tab will continue. Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss on Statehouse Happ...

On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt take a look at a few of the recent antics from some of Indiana's statewide office holders and explore if the need to make headlines is hurting the competency of governance from their offices.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Another year of skyrocketing property assessments has homeowners once again in a panic about the increase in tax bills that could come with them. According to a new report in the Indiana Capital Chronicle, homes saw an assessment increase of more than 10 percent on average. Will the new property tax law save people from payment pain? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss on Sta...

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has spent a lot of taxpayer money to defend himself in front of the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission. According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Rokita has run up nearly a half million dollars in legal bills, as he fights to preserve his law license. Should taxpayers be on the hook for Rokita's defense? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Me...

Indianapolis City-County Councilor Crista Carlino was allegedly kicked out of the Democrat Caucus over her calls for Joe Hogsett to resign and Council President Vop Osili and Vice President Ali Brown to resign their positions. Carlino is the second Democrat to be kicked out of the caucus in part because of criticism of the mayor. Democrats near complete shutdown of Hogsett criticism, coupled with...

There is new scrutiny over the gifts state lawmakers and statewide elected officials are allowed to receive after the Lt. Governor and Security of State were photographed attending the NBA Finals with a man who once went to prison for bribery. Should elected officials be allowed to accept gifts and should transparency and reporting requirements be beefed up? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz and Ji...

A defiant Joe Hogsett claims he has no plans to resign in the wake of the Thomas Cook scandal and his alleged role in covering it up. With public outcry and calls for him to go reaching new levels, the question is, can he be forced? Abdul-Hakim Shabazz says yes. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Abdul joins Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt to discuss a scenario that could result in the takedown of...

It was uncovered this week that State Senator Mike Bohacek is facing charges related to an OWI in January. What has many up in arms, is the alleged offense is just now becoming public thanks to a law that shields lawmakers from legal accountability shortly before, during, and after the legislative session. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz exam...

Another week, another set of bad headlines for Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales. Not only did the Marion County Election Board vote to open an investigation into his recent announcement where he is accused of potentially violating Indiana election law. On top of that, Morales is facing questions about an apparent meeting with Hungarian officials where he may have pledged action related to...

Diego Morales is back in the news. This time for appearing to make himself try and look taller by standing on his tippy-toes in multiple photos with constituents. The pictures have drawn laughter for their ridiculousness and raised questions about why the Secretary of State is so concerned about making himself look taller. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and...

It's been a rough month for Mike Braun. From a reviled property tax bill, to raising taxes to pass a budget, to an announcement about enhanced tolling in the near future, many are upset with Indiana's Governor. With the outcry showing no signs of slowing down, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt examine what the governor can do to try and quell the rage from Hoosiers.  See omnys...

Indy Politics released a new informal survey, and the results were disastrous for both Governor Mike Braun and Secretary of State Diego Morales. Of the more than 800 people who responded, 70 percent disapproved of the job Braun was doing, and an astonishing 80 percent were down on Morales. As bad as the results for those two were, the Indiana General Assembly fared even worse. Why is the populous...

Gabe Whitley is headed to prison. A Federal Judge sentenced the failed former congressional candidate to three months in prison for falsifying campaign finance reports. The judge's ruling brings to an end a long saga, in which Whitley made up donors and falsely claimed hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions. Whitley now will turn his attention to state court, where he faces a f...

Republicans have a super majority in the Indiana General Assembly, so they have no one to blame but themselves for their last-minute scramble to find more than $2 billion in savings during the final week of the Legislative Session. With just days to go, it looks like multiple tax increases are on the table to fill the budget gap. Which will put lawmakers in a bad spot, given the public backlash ov...

Mike Braun and the Indiana General Assembly managed to do the seemingly impossible: Unite the Left and the Right in Indiana over a common cause. The cause is the property tax reform bill which passed the Senate in the dead of night and the governor signed the next day. Conservatives feel betrayed by the governor for not supplying the meaningful property tax relief he promised over the last year. L...

The House Ways and Means Committee has passed its version of property tax reform. While it includes a huge win for big business, not so much for homeowners or renters. Not only will their tax relief be minimal, but it could also be offset by potential income tax increases. The public is not happy with the plan and the House appears dead set on passing it. What's next? Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and...

Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales is under fire for a trip to India paid for with what he described as private funds. The trip raised red flags when it coincided with his missing of a budget meeting. Now the heat is on Morales over his refusal to provide specifics of the trip, including who paid for it. As the pressure on Morales builds, will he provide answers to ease public concerns? Rob...

Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith and the Indiana Senate Leadership are at it again. This time over a reprimand he received for his staff filming and posting the Senate in action. The reprimand from top Republicans sparked backlash over a perceived lack of commitment to transparency from the government, and a double standard from lawmakers. What will the fallout be? Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt discuss o...

Close to 1000 people filled the Statehouse on Monday to protest skyrocketing property taxes, inaction by the legislature, and offer support of Governor Braun's plan to reform the system. It was a wild day filled with counter protests, passionate speakers, and a strong performance by the governor. Will the rally move the needle as session heads to the finish line? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz,...

The debate over what to do with property taxes rages on at the Statehouse, with a hearing in Ways and Means last week which went close to 9 hours. At the end, there still appeared to be no consensus on how to address the issue of skyrocketing property tax bills. Enter Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith and WIBC's Kendall and Casey Show, which are planning a property tax rally at the Statehouse on St. Pat...

Marion County Republicans appear more divided than ever after a hotly contested race to become Chairman. After the establishment pick Natalie Goodwin resoundingly defeated the conservative choice John Schmitz, Schmitz supporters lashed out. On this week's Statehouse Happenings Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss the vote, whether Republicans can ever be competitive in Indiana...

The fight over property taxes in Indiana has produced a new point of contention: Lawmaker ties to construction management companies. Construction management companies can make big money off local government contracts, which are funded in large part by property tax dollars. This has raised a red flag with many, over the ethics of a lawmaker voting on property taxes, when the companies they serve be...

It was a long week in the Indiana Senate as Republicans banded together to pass Senate Bill 1. But in an unusual step, after immense public backlash, many of them have now publicly admitted they don't like the bill and want to see major changes. So what happens now? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt explore property tax reform's next steps on this week's Statehouse Happenings.&nbsp...