The Rob Kendall Show Podcast

Former Head of the IEDC Brad Chambers is making a big bet on establishment heavyweights carrying him to Governor of Indiana. In addition to adding high profile names like former GOP Chairman Kyle Hupfer to his campaign, Chambers has also loaned himself $5 million to get started. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss if Chambers' gamble will...

Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch has said she wants to eliminate the income tax as her signature economic proposal in her run for governor. But lack of details, specifically how she plans to pay for it, have left many with doubts it can be implemented. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, along with Jim Merritt and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz examine Crouch's proposal and discuss why it's getting...

Indiana Republican Party boss Kyle Hupfer announced he is stepping down. In his place, Governor Eric Holcomb has nominated long time party insider Anne Hathaway to take his place. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss why Hupfer is leaving, where he's going, and what Hathaway's appointment will mean to the state party.  See omnystudio.com/l...

Micah Beckwith's outsider campaign for Lt. Governor has many Republican insiders wanting to rethink how the choice is made. Governor Eric Holcomb threw cold water on that idea this week, when he back the continuation of delegates making the choice at convention. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss why Holcomb came out in favor of the stat...

The apparent alliance between Suzanne Crouch and Greg Pence was short lived. After reports surfaced that Pence was Crouch's choice to be her Lt. Governor, and her campaign confirmed he was being considered, Crouch reversed course, saying Pence should run on his own at convention like anyone else. So what happened? On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hakim Shab...

In recent weeks, former Vice President Mike Pence has taken a hardline stance against President Donald Trump. Pence has offered strong rebukes of Trump on a variety of topics, most recently criticizing his actions on and around January 6. Pence's comments have stoked strong backlash from many in the Republican Party, leaving Pence floundering in the polls and currently short of the donor threshold...

Republican Candidate for Mayor of Indianapolis Jefferson Shreve angered conservatives with his proposal for gun control as part of his Public Safety Plan. After weeks of conservative pushback, Shreve appeared on Kendall and Casey radio show to discuss the plan and try to ease fears. It doesn't appear to have worked. On this week's Statehouse Happenings , Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt discuss the int...

Republican Candidate for Mayor of Indianapolis, Jefferson Shreve released his public safety plan last week. Part of the plan called for banning certain guns, raising the age to purchase a firearm, and ending the ability to carry without a permit. The plan has angered many conservatives in Marion County, who have said it is both illegal and unconstitutional. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Ro...

Former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill is attempting a political comeback, announcing this week he is running for governor. He joined Rob Kendall and Casey Daniels on Wednesday on The Kendall and Casey Show to discuss his successes as Attorney General, why he was targeted by the establishment, and what he hopes to accomplish if elected governor. Kendall and Casey's interview with Curtis Hill,...

Last week, Indiana's Supreme Court upheld new restrictions on abortion. The Indiana General Assembly passed the new restrictions last summer after the overturning of Roe vs. Wade. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall looks at the State Supreme Court's ruling, how the General Assembly wrote a good bill with good process, and why the ruling is another example of why Democrats can't win...

State Representative Randy Frye has announced he is resigning in the middle of his term. Frye cited unspecified health issues as the reason. Frye's resignation with over a year to go, has once again raised red flags on how lawmakers are replaced in Indiana, where a small group of party insiders select the new office holder. This not only gives the people representation they didn't elect, but the w...

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb took another pass on endorsing his Lt. Governor, Suzanne Crouch, in her 2024 run for governor. Holcomb has now had multiple opportunities to support Crouch and has refused each time. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt discuss why Holcomb would keep taking declining to publicly back his very loyal Number Two.  See omnystudio.com/listener...

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb penned an Op-Ed in the Indy Star, lamenting spending and printing of money by the Federal Government. However, Holcomb was king of the federal cash during COVID, admitting he left his Emergency Declaration in place long after the state was fully opened, so he could secure more federal money. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hak...

Pastor Micah Beckwith announced Monday he is running for Lt. Governor in 2024. In order to win, he may need to defy the party's nominee for governor and defeat their preferred choice. He will do that by making his case to delegates at the State Convention next year. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Beckwith joins Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt to discuss why he's running and how he plans to emer...

Former Indiana Governor Mike Pence is set to declare a run for president on June 7. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, along with Jim Merritt and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss how Pence came to the decision and what his path to the presidency is.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indianapolis suburbs have seen a blue move over the past decade. Unchecked growth has enabled an influx of Democrat voters to move to once solidly Republican communities. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Micah Beckwith discuss the cause of the changing demographics, what the impact has been on towns and cities, and if anything can be done to reverse the tide.  See omnystudio.c...

Former Indiana General Attorney General Curtis Hill is reportedly considering a run for governor. Hill's political career was derailed over alleged interactions with women in bar while Attorney General. However, Hill remains a favorite of many conservatives. In a thus far uninspiring Republican field, could Hill complete an incredible comeback and secure hist party's nomination? Rob Kendall and Ji...

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has struck a deal, using taxpayer money, with a high-powered Terre Haute lawyer to help him fight the release of an opinion from the Inspector General regarding his second job. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt discuss the optics of Rokita spending the public's money to attempt to keep them in the dark on an important topic.  See...

The race for Mayor of Indianapolis is set. In shows of dominance, businessman Jefferson Shreve cruised to victory on the Republican side, while incumbent Joe Hogsett made short work of his Democrat opponents. Now the General Election will feature Shreve's huge personal wealth against Hogsett's Democrat machine. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt discuss who is likely...

With one day to go in session, the State Budget has been approved by Republican leaders. And barring some last-minute changes, it includes massive raises for statewide elected officials such as the governor and Attorney General. However, there is very little for many taxpayers in the budget, including no meaningful property tax relief. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Jim Merr...

It only took three years, but Indiana House Republicans have finally voted to get to the bottom of the lockdowns and mandates from Governor Eric Holcomb during COVID. An amendment to Senate Bill 4 has passed, which would form a commission to examine actions taken not just be the state, but also local governments. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt discuss what took s...

After months of taxpayers being concerned House Republicans had not done enough with property tax relief, Senate Republicans said it was too much. Earlier in the week, they removed almost all significant help to taxpayers from the House bill. With next to nothing left, and almost no time to fix it, home owners are left looking at bleak prospects. Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt discuss on this week's...

Governor Eric Holcomb waited until the last minute, but he finally signed a bill banning transition procedures for minors. The governor's consent came after waiting an entire week. His multiple conflicting statements kept lawmakers guessing until the very end if he would sign. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, former Republican Senator Jim Merritt tells Rob Kendall that Holcomb's lack of direc...

Property tax bills are hitting mailboxes across the state. As predicted, they are much larger than last year for many people. As the backlash begins from angry homeowners, Statehouse Republicans are void of answers on why they did not act quicker, and what their plans are to remedy the situation. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall, along with Tony Kinnett and Jim Merritt discuss the...

A big spending Republican is dropping a great deal of money into the Mayor of Indianapolis race. Former City-County Council member Jefferson Shreve has committed to spend $600,000 on radio and television in the primary. On this week's Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Jim Merritt discuss what sort of bang Shreeve is getting for his buck, and if his wealth could propel him to lead City Hall. ...