In this episode, Indy Politics sits down with Republican Marion County Prosecutor candidate Phil Foust to talk crime, courts, and politics in Indianapolis. Foust lays out why he thinks the current administration is too soft on repeat and juvenile offenders, why he believes the relationship between the prosecutor’s office and IMPD is “at an all‑time low,” and how he’d use tougher sentencing tools and more transparency in the juvenile system. We also dig into domestic violence, public corruption allegations, and how he plans to win over moderates and Democrats in a heavily blue county.

About 2,000 people gathered at Holland Park in Fishers this week for an anti-deportation rally where State Sen. Fady Qaddoura drew historical parallels between Indiana’s past and current efforts to target immigrants and religious minorities, urging attendees to fight fear with hope and take their concerns to the ballot box.

Former State Senator Jim Merritt says if Indiana is serious about growing its manufacturing base, welcoming power-hungry data centers, and cutting carbon emissions, it needs to get serious about nuclear power — specifically small modular reactors.

In a recent conversation, Merritt, a Republican who chaired the Senate Utility Committee from 2004 to 2020, argued that public perception of nuclear energy is still stuck in the era of Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Hollywood thrillers. The technology Indiana is now considering, he said, is something very different.

“This is not your father’s or your grandfather’s nuclear reactor,” Merritt said, pointing to small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors that he believes are poised to reshape how Indiana generates electricity.

Common Cause Indiana’s Julia Vaughn joins Abdul-Hakim Shabazz to break down Indiana’s turbulent run-up to Election Day — from the Senate District 23 recount and a key decision protecting ballot secrecy, to lawsuits over proof-of-citizenship rules and former Mayor Greg Ballard’s independent run for Secretary of State.

With a little more than 100 days to go before the November election, Democratic Secretary of State nominee Beau Bayh tells Indy Politics why he’s calling for an independent audit of the office, blasting what he calls corruption and incompetence under Diego Morales and tying Republican nominee Max Engling to the same political machine.

The Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute (IFPI) discussed Indiana's $1.1 billion surplus and $4 billion in reserves. Stephanie Wells highlighted that revenues exceeded budgeted expenditures by $1.855 billion, with reserves at 16.5%, slightly above the recommended 10-15%. The surplus is primarily from sales taxes, which contribute 45-50% of state revenue. The discussion also covered the impact of Senate Enrolled Act One on property taxes, the potential for local government consolidation, and the need for long-term solutions for transportation funding, including toll roads and vehicle miles traveled taxes.

Ruckelshaus Proposes Statewide ‘Water Czar by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Marion County Libertarians are in open revolt against their own leadership.

In a tense, standing-room-only meeting, members voted to call a special convention to decide whether to remove the county chair after weeks of controversy over his rhetoric, strategy, and comments about ballot access. Long‑time activists say they’ve been “limping this party along” with little help, while the chair argues he’s been “throwing grenades” to shake the party out of complacency and take the fight to the Marion County GOP.

In this episode of Indy Politics, we break down what happened in the room, why Libertarians are so divided over message and tactics, and what the August 8 convention could mean for third‑party politics in Indianapolis.

Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett announces his veto of Proposal 192, the City-County Council's increase to the county vehicle excise surtax and wheel tax, in a recorded message released July 16, 2026.

Prop 192 would have taken most Marion County drivers from $10-$50 a year to a flat $100, with a $240 wheel tax on heavier vehicle classes, raising about $70 million a year starting Jan. 1, 2027. The council passed it 14-10 on July 6. An override takes 17 of 25 votes.

Hogsett says the increase is more than stretched households can absorb, and that his administration will meet the state's $50 million annual road funding match without it.

A day that started with good fiscal news at the Statehouse ended in a fight over minority contracting. Comptroller Elise Nieshalla and state budget officials rolled out Indiana's FY 2026 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report — a AAA rating, a $1.6 billion surplus, and restored Medicaid reserves. Gov. Mike Braun touted a $2 billion upside and announced the state will unwind race- and sex-conscious contracting provisions following Attorney General Todd Rokita's opinion that they're unconstitutional. House Democrats Greg Porter and Ed DeLaney weren't buying it. Listen to all of it here.