Indy Politics Podcast with Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

There’s a new sheriff candidate in town. Marion County Republicans have tapped Southport Police Chief Tom Vaughn, a 30–year law enforcement veteran, to run for Marion County Sheriff in one of the most challenging political environments in the state.

The Sons of Svengoolie and Socey celebrates America’s 250th birthday by honoring the 48th anniversary of TV horror host Son of Svengoolie. Film critic and WFYI host Matthew Socey recalls growing up on rubber-suited monsters, bad puns, and late-night creature features that shaped his love of cinema. From championing oddball movies to starring in a local production of “1776,” Socey proves that America’s pop culture is as important as its parchment.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun says “affordability is my top priority” as he extends Indiana’s suspension of the gasoline usage and excise taxes for another 30 days, promising Hoosiers “the cheapest gas in America” over the July 4th holiday. In this episode, we break down Braun’s claims about gas tax relief, the state’s budget surplus, and what it all means for Indiana’s roads and long‑term infrastructure.

Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard turned in his final batch of petition signatures this week, telling reporters his independent run for Indiana Secretary of State under the new Lincoln Party banner has already cleared the ballot-access hurdle that, in his telling, both major parties built to keep newcomers out.

Voting-rights advocate Julia Vaughn says Indiana’s political class is pouring energy into imagined threats at the ballot box while ignoring the real work of making elections fairer and more competitive.

In a follow-up conversation after a federal judge blocked the state’s attempt to use the federal SAVE immigration database to purge alleged non-citizen voters, Vaughn, executive director of Common Cause Indiana, said the ruling is just one skirmish in a much larger fight over how Hoosiers vote and who gets a voice.

As summer begins and outdoor activity increases, Indianapolis officials and community leaders are confronting renewed concerns about crime, even as data show violent crime trending downward compared to historic highs.

In a recent interview, Reverend Charles Harrison of the Indianapolis Ten Point Coalition said citywide numbers for non-fatal shootings, stabbings, homicides, and criminal homicides are lower than the peak years of 2021 and 2022, when Indianapolis recorded more than 200 homicides annually for several consecutive years.

Nine hundred delegates picked a nominee in Fort Wayne. Greg Ballard says he's got 52,000 signatures that say otherwise. Indy Politics hears from new GOP secretary of state nominee Max Engling and independent challenger Greg Ballard on what the fall race for Indiana's elections chief is really about — closed primaries, party unity, and whether an independent can crack a ticket the GOP has swept since 2014.

Nine hundred delegates picked a nominee in Fort Wayne. Greg Ballard says he's got 52,000 signatures that say otherwise. Indy Politics hears from new GOP secretary of state nominee Max Engling and independent challenger Greg Ballard on what the fall race for Indiana's elections chief is really about — closed primaries, party unity, and whether an independent can crack a ticket the GOP has swept since 2014.

State Rep. Danny Lopez, a Republican from Indiana House District 39, told members of the Greater Lawrence Chamber of Commerce that Indiana’s long‑term economic health will depend on smarter tax policy, honest advocacy, and deeper engagement between schools and employers.

With party conventions approaching and political temperatures rising, Indy Politics devoted a recent segment to the state of civility in local politics, featuring Alexandra (Lexi) Hudson, author of The Soul of Civility and founder of Civic Renaissance. The conversation focused on how social media is reshaping local discourse and what ordinary residents can do to foster more respectful engagement.