The Rob Kendall Show Podcast

Taxpayers across the state sent angry emails and phone calls to lawmakers, as the Senate Committe on Tax and Fiscal Policy gutted the property tax reform bill of key provisions on Tuesday. The surprise move left citizens upset and the governor scrambling on how to save his top legislative item. Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss what's next for Senate Bill 1 on Statehouse Ha...

An event months in the making, the Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee finally heard testimony on Senate Bill 1, Governor Braun's plan to reform property taxes. While the testimony was being heard, Governor Braun dominated the media cycle with a "Fireside Chat" on the need to help taxpayers. The testimony in front of lawmakers failed to produce a robust and organized opposition from local government o...

Mike Braun is set to give his first State of the State Wednesday evening. Front and center will be property tax reform, which Braun has described as his top priority. Will Braun be able to sway lawmakers to make big changes to property taxes in Indiana? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss on this week's Statehouse Happenings.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales had a rough go of it in his recent appearance before House Ways and Means. There to ask for more money from the taxpayers, some on the committee didn't seem impressed. That included longtime Democrat Representative Ed DeLaney, who took Morales to task over hiring a family member and no-bid contracts. Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss...

Several counties in Illinois have stated their desire to break away from The Prairie State. Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston would like to give them that opportunity. The Speaker unveiled his desire to form a commission at potentially making those Illinois counties a part of Indiana. Will it work? Is it a good use of taxpayer resources? Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss on...

Before the Indiana General Assembly even began, a couple of Republican Senators let their disdain for incoming Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith be known. Senators Jim Buck and Susan Glick filed a bill that would strip Beckwith of a huge portion of his power and responsibilities. Will their attempt backfire by angering the voters who elected Beckwith to send a message? Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdu...

The 2025 Indiana General Assembly is set to convene and there are a ton of hot button issues to be addressed. From passing a budget, to road funding, and Universal School Choice, many controversial issues are facing the legislature. Top among them will be Mike Braun's plan to revamp the property tax system. Will Braun be able to beat back the special interest fight to protect the status quo? Rob K...

It was another wild year in Indiana politics and government. Among the many stories that captivated the public's attention were allegations from multiple women about unwanted sexual advances from Democrat power players. These allegedly occurred both in the Statehouse and the Mayor's Office. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss how the allegations rocked...

It was a wild year in Indiana politics and government, with many big stories dominating the news cycle. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Jim Merritt and Rob Kendall take a look back at the year that was and discuss some of the biggest headlines of 2024.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill has claimed vindication as a years old lawsuit against him was dropped. The lawsuit was related to alleged inappropriate behavior in a bar back in 2018. After the women dropped their lawsuit, Hill again professed his innocence and claimed the women's decision to drop the case was proof of such. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hak...

Randy Head's abrupt resignation as head of the Indiana Republican Party has revealed a position and selection process about which there are many unanswered questions. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall ponders a run for the position to bring transparency to the process, while panelists Jim Merritt and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz try to make sense of how it all works. See omnystudio.com/list...

On this week's Statehouse Happenings, incoming Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith sits down with Rob Kendall for a wide-ranging interview. The two discuss his upset victory at the GOP Convention, helping Mike Braun power to victory in November, his plans to make Indiana government better and more accountable, and much more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

An expose in the Indy Star about Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor allege he made inappropriate advancements towards multiple women who worked in Statehouse. The article's details, coupled with Taylor's lack of denial, and his reappointment to lead Democrats in the Senate, rocked Org Day. Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss the allegations, as well as the future of the Democ...

Abdul-Hakim Shabazz dropped a bombshell post to his IndyPolitics.org website this week when he claimed the Feds are investigating Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales. Shabazz alleges Morales is under investigation for "alleged allegations of money laundering and violating the federal racketeering statute." If indeed the allegations of investigation are true, it could be the biggest story in t...

The media wanted you to believe it was going to be a different 2024 for Indiana Democrats. Election Day came and Election Day went, and the results were largely the same from previous years: Double digit wins across the board for Republicans. From Jennifer McCormick running for governor, to Destiny Wells attempting to become Attorney General, it was a massive under performance based on expectation...

Jennifer McCormick has made her supposed "Common Sense" approach to government a central theme of her campaign. This included trying to label Mike Braun and Micah Beckwith extremists unfit for office. Central to that, has been a statewide television ad featuring "Walter", a Republican who claimed to be fed up with radical views of both Braun and Beckwith. But an investigation into "Walter" reveale...

Liberals in Indiana are still seething over the Indiana Supreme Court's decision to uphold the state's abortion ban. This election season they're trying to do something about it. With three justices up for retention, the left is making a strong play to get people to vote against retaining the judges. Will they succeed? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss on this week's Stateh...

Attorney General Todd Rokita and his Democrat challenger Destiny Wells squared off in a debate aired on Fox 59 and CBS 4. While there were no moments that were likely to alter the outcome of the election, Wells clearly got under Rokita's skin on multiple occasions. And according to Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, it was a comment by Rokita about the employment of Wells in the AG's Office that could have rami...

After a lackluster debate performance in his one-on-one debate with Jennifer McCormick, some Republicans were worried about the state of Mike Braun's campaign. But Braun appeared to ease concerns and reset the race in the second debate, with a much stronger performance. Some are giving credit to the appearance of Libertarian Donald Rainwater on the stage. Not only did Rainwater take away much of D...

A new poll commissioned by Indy Politics has Republicans up big in all statewide races against their Democrat opponents...but one. While Mike Braun is ahead of Jennifer McCormick by seven points in the race for governor, his advantage is far less than the double digit leads the rest of his fellow Republicans hold. Which has left some asking, is there a path to victory for McCormick? Rob Kendall, A...

Still several weeks away from Election Day, but Democrats appear headed for another round of huge losses for statewide races in Indiana. The answer for their electoral blues may lie in a recent feud between Statehouse Happenings host Rob Kendall and Democrat Attorney General Candidate Destiny Wells. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt examine the rec...

A new poll from Emerson appears to be bad news for Indiana Democrats seeking statewide office. From Governor to Attorney General, Republicans hold double digit leads over their Democrat counterparts. The results were in stark contrast to a Democrat poll released last week that showed multiple races being competitive. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz and Jim Me...

Democrat Candidate for Attorney General Destiny Wells is putting out a new poll that she claims puts her within striking distance of Republican Todd Rokita. But in a state that almost always goes strong for Republicans statewide, and Wells big loss to Diego Morales for Secretary of State just two years ago, how much of a predictor is this poll on what's likely to happen in November? Rob Kendall, A...

The Democrat and Republican Candidates for Governor are hitting the television airwaves. And their ads leave a lot to be desired. Not just for what they are saying, but also what they aren't. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob, Abdul, and Jim Merritt examine the opening messages from Mike Braun and Jennifer McCormick and predict what might come next.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

It appears the Jamey Noel saga may finally be coming to an end...for now. The disgraced former Clark County Sheriff and Republican power player pled guilty to 27 felony counts on Monday. While the judge has yet to accept Noel's guilty plea, and Noel's wife and child's future remain in doubt, the biggest question for many remains unanswered. That is, what did Governor Eric Holcomb, one of Noel's be...