The Rob Kendall Show Podcast

In a move to unite factions of the Indiana Republican Party, WIBC's Rob Kendall and Republican Candidate for Governor Mike Braun appeared together after Kendall's endorsement of Braun the day before. The pair agreed about the need to work together and support Braun to help him enter 2025 with a mandate to pass meaningful property tax reform. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Kendall, Abdul-Hak...

All three candidates for Lt. Governor met at the State Fair on Tuesday to debate. For close to an hour, they debated everything from property taxes to water rights. According to the Statehouse Happenings panel, a clear victor emerged at the end. And it might surprise many. On this week's program, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss who got the biggest bump from the spirited b...

A new piece in Mirror Indy about longtime Joe Hogsett advisor Thomas Cook has rocked Indianapolis politics. In a follow-up to a piece in the Indianapolis Star , multiple women have come forward, and agreed to be named, alleging inappropriate behavior by Cook when he was Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis. The women also allege Mayor Joe Hogsett was aware of the allegations and did little to address them...

It was a good rollout for Mike Braun...until it wasn't. The Republican Candidate for Governor impressed many with his initial property tax overhaul plan, centered around resetting tax bills to 2021 levels. However, he was then met with outrage, after the campaign clarified it was tied to an enhanced Homestead deduction, and the specifics were revealed to leave many without any relief at all. Then...

The home where former Congressional Candidate Gabe Whitley lives was searched by the FBI last week. Reportedly, multiple devices were seized. While it is not known exactly what authorities were looking for, it could be related to allegations of campaign finance violations that plagued Whitley throughout the primary. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Me...

It was a strange Indiana Democrat Convention to say the least. From a Republican Candidate for Congress campaigning for a Democrat Candidate for Lt. Governor, to the announcement of the failed attempt on former President Donald Trump's life, delegates were exposed to a different convention than in year's past. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz b...

Indiana Democrats are set to host their state convention this Saturday. There are multiple contested offices delegates will have to make choices on. From an old guard vs new guard contest in the Attorney General's race, to activist outrage at the party's preferred Lt. Governor choice, passions are sure to be high. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merr...

Libertarian Candidate for Governor Donald Rainwater surprised many by announcing he had raised over $100,000 in the quarter. The fundraising haul not only improves his chances of appearing in all televised debates, but also shows he has kept much of the support he had during an impressive 2020 run. With much of Rainwater's 2020 support coming from upset Republicans, there's a real chance he could...

For a brief period, Indiana Republicans were seen as being in chaos over the selection of Micah Beckwith to be their Lt. Governor nominee. But that spotlight didn't last long. Now it is the Democrats who are reeling, as Jennifer McCormick has picked former State Representative Terry Goodin to be her preferred running mate. Goodin's pro-life and anti-gay equality votes have sparked outrage from Dem...

In what came as a shock to many, Micah Beckwith was victorious over Julie McGuire in the race for Lt. Governor at the Indiana Republican Party State Convention. Beckwith proved victorious, despite McGuire having the endorsement of Governor Nominee Mike Braun, most Statehouse officials, and even former President Donald Trump. So why did Beckwith beat them all? Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt explore hi...

Democrats in Indiana are in shambles ahead of their state convention. Their U.S. Senate candidate is mostly unknown, their governor nominee is struggling to raise money, and no one seems to want to be her Lt. Governor. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, as the Republicans prepare for a wild convention of their own, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt explore how things got so bad...

A piece from the Indiana Capital Chronicle is shining a new light on the unbelievable saga of disgraced former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, and all the Republican Party power players he rubbed elbows with over the years. The biggest question now, is who knew what about Noel and when? That includes one of his closest friends and political allies, Governor Eric Holcomb. When pressed about his re...

The Republican race for Lt. Governor is heating up. And it may be closer than some think. Mike Braun has announced he will be touring the state with his handpicked choice Julie McGuire. Can Braun's pitch make the difference with delegates? Or will Micah Beckwith's campaign to hold the Republican Party accountable continue to resonate? Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt discuss on th...

Republican Candidate for Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith joined Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt this week on Statehouse Happenings. The wide-ranging conversation about his unique campaign touched on everything from a strong desire to hold the Indiana GOP accountable, to his plan to fix skyrocketing property taxes.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Braun is pulling out all the stops to try and prevent Micah Beckwith from becoming the party's nominee for Lt. Governor. From high profile endorsements to allegedly tough talk in private conversations, the GOP Nominee for Governor is trying to flex his political muscles to get Julie McGuire across the finish line at convention. Will the in-your-face approach work with delegates or will it bac...

Mike Braun wasted no time making his selection on who he would like to be his running mate. One day after winning the Republican Primary, Braun said he would prefer delegates to the State Convention pick State Representative Julie McGuire. That sets up what is likely to be a bruising race with Pastor Micah Beckwith, who has been securing delegates for months. On this week's Statehouse Happenings,...

Another year, another round of skyrocketing property tax assessments are hitting mailboxes. Once again, voters are angry. But few candidates running for public office appear to have an answer on what to do. Including the six candidates running for governor. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, and Jim Merritt examine voter outrage over property taxes and why the...

The final Republican debate for governor was held Tuesday night and was panned by many as a complete trainwreck. Most of the criticism was divided between the moderator and the Indiana Debate Commission. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz and Jim Merritt discuss the disastrous evening, and how debates might change as a result.  See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita appeared to throw his support behind Micah Beckwith in the upcoming Lt. Governor's Race, which will play out at the Republican State Convention in June. At a recent candidate forum, Rokita spoke fondly of Beckwith's candidacy and described it as an "insurance policy." On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss...

Former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, once one of the most powerful Republicans in the state, and a close friend and political ally of Governor Eric Holcomb, is headed to jail after being found in contempt of court by a Scott County judge. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, and Jim Merritt discuss why Indianapolis media has remained largely silent on Noel's downfall, and why they...

Mike Braun was hit with one of the largest fines in FEC history, over reporting mistakes from his 2018 run for US Senate. How will it impact his 2024 run for governor? Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss on this week's Statehouse Happenings.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After over an hour and 30 minutes of completely wasting everyone's time, Congressional Candidate "Honest" Gabe Whitley had his petition for a protective order against Abdul-Hakim Shabazz quickly denied. It was a court hearing that bordered on the unbelievable at times, and the insulting and embarrassing at others. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Abdul joins Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt to dis...

The incredibly bizarre saga of Congressional Candidate "Honest" Gabe Whitley is set to take another strange turn Monday, when he is seeking a protective order against Abdul-Hakim Shabazz. Abdul says not only is Whitley's complaint full of it, but he has also perjured himself in the process. Add to that, numerous other serious issues facing Whitley, including complaints to the IED and FEC over alle...

The first debate between Republicans who want to become the next Governor of Indiana failed to deliver Monday. In more than an hour, the candidates failed to deliver much sizzle, and spent very little time going after or separating themselves from each other. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz and Jim Merritt break down the underwhelming debate performances.  Se...

Despite mounting problems with things likes taxes, Medicaid and the budget, Indiana Republicans have trained their focus this legislative session on gutting the power and tools of the Public Access Counselor. Led by Senator Aaron Freeman, the GOP is set to take away the independence of the office and many of the resources the Public Access Counselor uses to help ensure transparency. On this week's...