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At the Indiana Energy Association conference in French Lick, political commentator Chris Stirewalt examines how partisan politics and low-turnout primary elections are shaping American life and government. He argues that political identity has crowded out family, faith and community, while pressure from primary voters discourages members of Congress from working across party lines.

In a wide-ranging talk and Q&A, Stirewalt discusses voter dissatisfaction, energy costs, public trust and the importance of local connections. His closing advice: save your strongest opinions for the issues that matter most.

Hear Indiana’s top fiscal thinkers break down the numbers that will shape the state’s future. In this IFPI panel, experts dig into inflation’s real impact on working families, why “credentials of value” matter more than ever, how self-sufficiency beats old poverty measures, and what population trends say about Indiana’s quality of life.

Council Leaders Say Public Is Welcome, Disruption Is Not by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears defended his record on crime, clarified his office’s role in immigration enforcement, and outlined his priorities heading into November during a brief conversation at a westside candidate forum.

The Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday heard fast-tracked arguments in a razor-thin Republican primary dispute that could decide the winner of the Senate District 23 race and clarify how far the state’s Recount Commission may go in rejecting ballots over technical defects.

The head of the Indiana AFL-CIO says the state of labor in Indiana is strong and getting stronger, with union membership growing and public support for organized labor near historic highs.

In a recent conversation with Indy Politics, Brett Voorhees, president of the Indiana AFL-CIO, said both national and state-level numbers point to a favorable environment for unions, even as workers continue to struggle with inflation and affordability.

Indiana’s business climate remains strong, buoyed by billions in new investment, but faces mounting challenges from legal, tax, and local regulatory decisions that could slow growth, Indiana Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Cinders told Indy Politics.

Former Republican state senator Jim Merritt, who spent three decades in the Indiana Senate and 14 years as chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), says Indiana’s energy future is “bright” but increasingly shaped by politics, data centers, and a renewed openness to both coal and nuclear power.

Ball State economist Michael Hicks joins Indy Politics to break down Trump’s trade war with Canada, the hit to Indiana’s $15 billion export market, and why he believes Hoosier families are staring at a multi-billion-dollar tax hike.

Four candidates for Indiana Secretary of State clashed over election integrity, voter access, business services, and political reform during a wide-ranging debate hosted by the Indy Chamber, Fox 59, CBS 4, and IBJ in Indianapolis.

On stage were Republican Max Engling, Democrat Beau Bayh, Libertarian Lori Shillings, and Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard, the former mayor of Indianapolis. Moderators Dan Spehler of Fox 59 and Leslie Weidenbener of IBJ stressed the race’s significance, calling it one of the most closely watched contests on Indiana’s November ballot.