Progressive Indiana Network Special Events

https://progressiveindiana.net

https://www.keilroark.com/

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SUMMARY:

Keil Roark, Democratic candidate for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District, presents himself as a moderate centrist who can win crossover votes from independents and disenfranchised Republicans in this conservative district. A former UAW assembly-line worker, Navy Reserve officer, and Purdue engineering graduate now at Rolls-Royce, Roark campaigns on affordability and raising wages to match inflation. He supports increasing the federal minimum wage to $12-15 and pegging it to inflation, takes a cautious “need to research it” stance on Medicare for All, opposes expanding the Supreme Court (fears endless tit-for-tat additions), and advocates reforming but not abolishing ICE. Roark takes traditional conservative positions on transgender rights, opposing updated IDs or bathroom access matching gender expression. He models himself after Joe Manchin and John Fetterman, explicitly positioning himself as the centrist candidate best positioned to win the general election against more progressive primary opponents who he believes won’t appeal to the 20-30% of Republican voters Democrats need to flip this seat.

QUESTIONS:

4:51 - AFFORDABILITY: HOW DO WE RAISE WAGES AND LOWER COSTS?

- Raise federal minimum wage from $7.25 (unchanged since 2009) to $12-13 range, Virginia just moved to $15

- Advocate for folks to go into skilled trades (pipe fitters, plumbers, electricians) facing worker shortage as boomers retire

- These trades pay well traditionally and are in dire need

8:56 - WHAT SHOULD THE MINIMUM WAGE BE?

- Would start negotiations at $18/hour to land at $14-15 range accounting for political reality

- Economists say it should be $25-30, but bipartisan legislation is difficult to pass

- Adjusted for 1-2% inflation year-over-year calculation yields $12-13

12:01 - SHOULD MINIMUM WAGE BE PEGGED TO INFLATION?

- Yes, treat it like Social Security with automatic cost of living adjustments

- Problem is numbers aren’t changing over time while dollar value changes 2-3% annually

- Would advocate for automatic adjustments so we don’t go another 15+ years without raises

13:05 - CHRISTINE ASKS: HOW ABOUT HEALTHCARE FOR PEOPLE?

- Need to address drug pricing caps, look at what Biden did capping insulin at $35

- Pursue legislation forcing pharmaceutical companies to lower prices on certain drugs

- Would go after drug companies and health insurance companies driving up costs

16:26 - MEDICARE FOR ALL / SINGLE-PAYER HEALTHCARE?

- Would need to research it carefully, doesn’t have best answer

- Acknowledges studies show more people with healthcare means premiums come down

- Concerned about cost and coverage quality—if too costly people will drop it or coverage won’t be good

18:35 - SHOULD DEMOCRATS PURSUE IMPEACHMENT OF TRUMP?

- Would need to pick offense most likely to get 67 Senate votes, otherwise exercise in futility

- Would consider going after Pam Bondi more than Trump—she’s “easier prey”

- Bondi giving orders to pardon folks, violating rule of law as Attorney General

23:58 - WOULD YOU SUPPORT EXPANDING THE SUPREME COURT?

- No—opposes court packing, worried about “snowball effect” where each administration adds justices

- Takes “long view”—Democrat 2028-2036, then Republican adds two, Democrat adds two, etc.

- Instead supports impeaching corrupt justices (happened in 1920s, threatened in late 60s/early 70s)

27:39 - WHO WAS BEST U.S. PRESIDENT OF 20TH CENTURY?

- John F. Kennedy—”truly inspirational president”

- Tenure cut short by assassination

- (Note: Asked to limit to 20th century to avoid easy Lincoln/Washington answers)

31:41 - DATA CENTERS: SHOULD WE SLOW DOWN, PAUSE CONSTRUCTION?

- Counties like Dearborn working on moratoriums, Franklin County might already have one

- Two problems: (1) Requiring NDAs—not disclosing funding sources or construction workers; (2) No value proposition for communities

- Data centers should pay communities percentage of revenues annually like Alaska oil royalties

35:17 - WOULD YOU SUPPORT A WEALTH TAX ON BILLIONAIRES?

- “Absolutely. All day long. Absolutely.”

- Pick the number—$1 billion, $2.6 billion, $7.4 billion threshold

- Calls current wealth concentration “most absurd thing I’ve ever heard in my life”

38:27 - SHOULD U.S. CONTINUE SUPPLYING ISRAEL WITH OFFENSIVE WEAPONS?- Doesn't claim to be expert on Middle East peace—conflict cycles every few years going back to his childhood

- Gives Trump credit for current ceasefire and path toward peace agreement (though hard to give him credit)

- Supplying offensive weapons to Israel undermines peace negotiations—providing aid to one party offends the other41:14 - RAE ASKS: WOULD YOU ACCEPT MONEY FROM AIPAC?- Would reject AIPAC money—doesn't know where it's coming from, not familiar with his union/campaign goals

- Uses shell organizations to obscure funding sources

- Would consider PAC support only if based on his policy positions (affordability, tech training, banning congressional stock trading)42:35 - WOULD YOU ACCEPT CORPORATE PAC MONEY?- Can't answer definitively—"it depends"

- Some nonprofit corporations support unions, would need to evaluate case-by-case

- Not a blanket yes or no on corporate PACs43:53 - YOUR POSITION ON ICE?- ICE acting unprofessionally, Secretary should be fired and agency reorganized

- However, opposes abolishing ICE—federal/local law enforcement collaboration necessary for public safety

- Cities should cooperate with ICE to arrest illegal immigrants with warrants, give them due process

49:39 - TRANSGENDER RIGHTS: UPDATING GOVERNMENT IDS?

- Opposes allowing trans people to update IDs (driver’s license, birth certificate) to match gender expression

- “If you were born a male, you need to be identified as a male...need a reference point”

- Supports LGBTQ+ people’s right to be happy but wants birth sex on government documents

50:03 - WHICH RESTROOMS SHOULD TRANSGENDER PEOPLE USE?

- “Traditional view”—people should use restrooms matching birth sex regardless of presentation

- Says born male dressed as woman should use male stall; born female dressed as male should use female stall

- As father of three daughters, uncomfortable with “male in same room” even if presenting as woman

54:05 - WHICH CURRENT MEMBER OF CONGRESS DO YOU MOST ALIGN WITH?

- Used to be Joe Manchin (now independent), currently John Fetterman

- Also admires Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (though not congressman)

- “Pretty moderate...in the middle, have some centrist traditional views”

55:13 - CLOSING PITCH

- “Definitely the best candidate” to win primary and general

- Can get crossover appeal from independents and disenfranchised Republicans (need 20-30% in 9th District)

- More progressive candidates won’t fare well in general; his centrist policies are best chance to beat Erin Houchin

More information about that candidate at https://www.keilroark.com/

Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us continue doing this work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

Scott Aaron Rogers delivers a solo abbreviated episode as MADVoters’ Kaitie fill came down with something at the last minute and her backup is at another event. With only one more week until the Indiana legislative session ends February 27, Scott provides updates on bills tracked throughout this compressed session (shortened by December’s redistricting special session). Thursday was the committee hearing deadline - bills that didn’t make it out of committee are now dead, though their language can resurrect as amendments elsewhere (”zombie language”). Good healthcare bills HB 1335 (nonprofit hospital accountability) and SB 85 (medical debt protections) died in committee, but so did awful bills SB 182 (trans/non-binary legal erasure) and SB 236 (Texas-style abortion bounties). However, numerous dangerous bills remain alive heading into the final week: SB 4 (library defunding), HB 1343 (National Guard police powers), HB 1423 (IPS takeover), SB 76 (ICE cooperation mandate), SB 1 (Medicaid/SNAP restrictions), and HB 1359 (early voting slashed to 16 days via sneaky Senate amendment). Scott explains concurrence process and warns about conference committees that can stack all Republicans, operate behind closed doors, and insert zombie language without public comment. Urges immediate constituent calls to legislators.

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WHAT WE DISCUSSED

0:48 - INTRODUCTION & SESSION TIMELINE

- Solo episode due to illness

- Only one week remaining in shortened session (ends Feb 27)

- Thursday committee deadline passed - bills that didn’t make it out are dead (but zombie language can return as amendments)

3:46 - LEGISLATIVE PROCESS OVERVIEW

- Bills that originated in House have crossed over to Senate (committee, then full vote)

- Bills that originated in Senate have crossed over to House (again, committee before a full hearing)

- Amendments trigger concurrence process back in original chamber

5:46 - HB 1335: NONPROFIT HOSPITAL ACCOUNTABILITY (DEAD - Unfortunately)

- Would have required nonprofit hospitals to provide community benefits exceeding value of tax exemptions

- Mandated hospitals proactively inform patients online about financial assistance and charity programs

- Did not pass out of Senate committee - bill is dead

6:39 - SB 85: MEDICAL DEBT PROTECTIONS (DEAD - Unfortunately)

- Bipartisan bill by Sen. Ed Charbonneau (Valparaiso) and Sen. Fady Qaddoura (Indianapolis)

- Would have protected patients from aggressive medical debt collection practices

- Required hospitals to offer payment plans and publicize clear information about options

- Did not pass out of House committee - bill is dead

8:00 - SB 182: TRANS/NON-BINARY LEGAL ERASURE (DEAD - Good riddance)

- Would have established sex and gender as synonyms in Indiana Code, defined solely by chromosomes/anatomy at birth

- Prohibited changes to gender markers on birth certificates

- Required prisons and schools to segregate bathrooms/locker rooms by biological sex

- Did not make it out of committee - big win, though BMV already stopped gender marker changes via Braun executive order

10:25 - SB 236: ABORTION PILL BOUNTIES (DEAD - Bye Felicia)

- Would have criminalized mailing, possessing, or delivering abortion pills (mifepristone, misoprostol) into Indiana

- Enabled private citizens to file wrongful death lawsuits with $100,000 bounties against those providing pills

- Changed definition of abortion to exclude miscarriage management and ectopic pregnancy (medically inaccurate)

12:07 - SB 4: LIBRARY DEFUNDING (ALIVE - Scheduled Monday House vote)

- Originally SB 8, zombie language added to SB 4

- Turns final budget approval for public libraries over to local government with binding review

- Threatens financial independence of libraries, part of culture war crusade (eg bogus pornography accusations)

14:02 - HB 1343: NATIONAL GUARD POLICE POWERS (ALIVE - Scheduled Monday Senate vote)

- Allows adjutant general to establish military police force with arrest powers, search/seizure, firearms

- Governor can deploy anywhere for war, disaster, or “any other time the governor considers necessary”

- Could support federal ICE operations like Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota (Rep. Matt Pierce: “invading force”)

17:08 - HB 1423: IPS TAKEOVER (ALIVE - Scheduled Monday Senate vote)

- Reduces power of democratically-elected Indianapolis Public Schools board

- Transfers decision-making to all-appointed board chosen by mayor, influenced by pro-charter privatization interests

- Taxation without representation, adds costly bureaucratic layer

18:21 - SB 76: ICE COOPERATION MANDATE (ALIVE - One vote from governor’s desk)

- Mandates law enforcement, schools, universities, local governments cooperate with ICE or face $10,000 per violation

- Prohibits employers hiring undocumented people (already illegal federally)

- Sen. Shelli Yoder: “Every employee becomes extension of federal enforcement agent,” violates separation of powers

21:17 - SB 1: MEDICAID/SNAP RESTRICTIONS (ALIVE - Scheduled Monday House vote)

- Senate GOP’s ONLY priority bill, authored by Sen. Chris Garten (Charlestown)

- Claims to prevent “waste, fraud, and abuse” citing Minnesota case (already being prosecuted, ringleader was white woman)

- Will COST state money while covering fewer people, especially harms students, low-income parents, seniors, immigrants

24:23 - HB 1359: EARLY VOTING SLASHED (ALIVE - Scheduled Monday Senate vote)

- SNEAKY: Amendment added in Senate Elections Committee AFTER passing House

- Cuts early voting from 28 days to just 16 days

- No public comment opportunity (Sen. Gaskill: people testified on “similar bill” last year)

- 32% of Indiana voters voted early in 2024; over 1/3 of counties had 30+ minute waits

27:12 - CONCURRENCE & CONFERENCE COMMITTEES EXPLAINED

- Next week (final week): Bills with amendments return to original chamber for concurrence vote

- If concurrence fails, conference committee forms (4 members: 2 reps, 2 senators, bipartisan initially)

- Bill author as chair can remove members and appoint all Republicans, no public hearings, can insert zombie language

- Session ends Friday, February 27

31:09 - CALLS TO ACTION

- Visit madvoters.org to find legislators and direct phone numbers

- Call senators and representatives - next week is the final week

- Aides log all calls and track constituent positions

- Make voice heard on Monday votes in the coming final week

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. Help us bring you more valuable information by becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode, I sit down with Cinde Wirth for a thoughtful, candid conversation about what it means to lead with integrity in a state that desperately needs it. Cindi brings a clear, grounded perspective shaped by years of community involvement, public service, and a deep understanding of what Hoosier families are actually facing.

We talk about the issues that don’t always make headlines but shape everyday life — from economic stability to public education to the importance of showing up for people who feel unheard. Cinde’s approach is refreshingly practical and rooted in lived experience, not political theater.

This isn’t a soundbite interview. It’s a real conversation about what’s possible when leaders choose transparency, compassion, and accountability over partisanship. If you’re looking for a hopeful, substantive discussion about Indiana’s future, you’ll want to hear this one.

https://progressiveindiana.net

https://jacksonfranklinforcongress.com/

Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us continue doing this work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

SUMMARY:

Scott Aaron Rogers hosts a virtual town hall with Jackson Franklin, Democratic candidate for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District running to replace Victoria Spartz. Franklin, a combat medic in the Indiana Army National Guard and paramedic, describes himself as the “younger, angrier Bernie Sanders of Indiana” running an unapologetically progressive grassroots campaign. He touts having conducted nearly twice as many town halls across all six counties in the district compared to Spartz’s two total, emphasizing his commitment to constituent engagement. Franklin’s platform centers on Medicare for All, getting money out of politics, abolishing ICE, advocating a Green New Deal, and fighting fascism without meeting it halfway. Throughout the town hall, he addresses questions about protest training, data centers, statehood for DC and Puerto Rico, sub-minimum wage, police reform, the meaning of a Green New Deal, and what inspired him to run. He emphasizes revolutionary optimism and building a movement based on popular progressive policies rather than corporate-backed moderate Democrats who he argues consistently lose elections.

QUESTIONS

0:09:49 - Does your campaign still support training citizens in defensive protest methods?

- Yes, providing protest training to Muncie community and Ball State students on effective protesting

- Training includes protest medic basics (use water not milk for CS gas, have lasers ready for surveillance)

- Everyone has a role if things escalate, continued action needed beyond calls and letters

0:13:33 - Would you support statehood for Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico?

- 100% support, but should have referendum for Puerto Rico to choose (statehood or independence)

- Does not believe in colonialism or imperialism, whatever Puerto Rico chooses in free and fair election

- Senate already rigged (16% of population can control majority), no more territories

0:15:37 - What efforts can undo data centers in our communities and protect natural resources with real jobs?

- Halt all further data center construction in Indiana until renewable process developed

- Need online safety Bill of Rights like EU has (companies can’t sell data without permission)

- Green New Deal jobs would replace environmentally destructive data centers (7 water bottles per ChatGPT prompt)

0:18:12 - Are you from District 5?

- Yes, lives in Muncie, lived there whole adult life

- Multiple primary opponents do not live in district (one from Fort Wayne, one in Indianapolis)

0:24:54 - What are your thoughts on the sub-minimum wage?

- Sub-minimum wage is disability discrimination, shouldn’t exist

- Campaign advocates for $25 minimum wage with phase-out of sub-minimum wage

- Employers brag about record profits but won’t pay workers living wage, tips should be on top of living wage not instead of it

[0:18:45-0:24:29 - We experienced some technical difficulties here. Scott makes a pitch to support Progressive Indiana Network]

0:29:48 - Would you agree to an ice bag punching contest? / Thoughts on ICE coming to your district?

- Would do fundraiser for immigration lawyers (ice bag punching contest for entry)

- Need to abolish ICE (the “Gestapo”), not reform it - they’re terrorizing people

- Democrat leadership proposing body cameras is absurd when they already record themselves shooting people

0:36:47 - If Democrats take back Congress, what do we do with ICE agents and Trump administration who committed crimes?

- Need second Nuremberg trials (first ones after WWII massively failed, most Nazis got away)

- Must uphold rule of law and impeach criminals for insurrection and immigration abuses

- Need due process but throw them in prison for life - can’t rehabilitate people who want ethnic cleansing

0:41:38 - Can you explain specifics of the Green New Deal?

- Green New Deal is basic starting level, not socialist utopia despite Fox News claims

- Includes carbon tax, jobs incentive program for manufacturing green tech (what EU already does)

- Must go big on climate crisis, planet being murdered by fossil fuel industry and lobbyists

0:49:36 - What policies would you fight for regarding police reform?

- End disastrous war on drugs (Black people 4x more likely to get drug possession charge despite same usage rates)

- 13th Amendment still allows slavery for incarcerated people, fuels for-profit prison industry

- Strengthen investigations (end police investigating themselves), demilitarize police, end qualified immunity

0:54:18 - What was your “I need to be the one to do this” moment that finalized your decision to run?

- Bernie Sanders activated him and entire generation 10 years ago

- Brother Julian encouraged him to run after years of working on campaigns as policy advisor

- Tired of seeing corporate conservative Democrats win nomination then lose general elections, wanted to run on popular progressive message

More information at jacksonfranklinforcongress.com

Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us continue doing this work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this episode, I sit down with Cindi Clayton for a candid, generous, and deeply grounded conversation about what it means to show up for your community — not in theory, but in the day‑to‑day realities of work, family, advocacy, and the systems we’re all trying to navigate.

Cindi brings a perspective shaped by lived experience, local engagement, and a clear-eyed understanding of what Hoosiers are facing right now. We talk about the issues that keep people up at night, the gaps that too many families fall through, and the small but powerful ways ordinary people can push for change.

This isn’t a soundbite interview. It’s a real conversation — the kind that reminds you why voices like Cindi’s matter, and why listening to each other still counts for something.

If you’re looking for a thoughtful, honest, and refreshingly human take on the challenges and possibilities in Indiana, you’ll want to hear this one.

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

With only two weeks remaining in Indiana's shortened legislative session, Scott and Amanda review critical bills at various choke points where Republican supermajority priorities clash with Hoosier needs. The session focuses on Republican culture war attacks (criminalizing homelessness, erasing trans and non-binary people, banning abortion pills with citizen bounty hunters, defunding libraries, and preemptively blocking ranked choice voting) alongside dangerous expansions of state power (mandatory ICE cooperation, granting National Guard police powers, and IPS school board takeover by mayoral appointees stocked with charter profiteers). While a few bipartisan measures offer hope (protecting patients from medical debt collection, DCS oversight improvements, childcare tax credits, and utility affordability reforms), the dominant theme is GOP legislators wasting taxpayer time and money on ideological crusades rather than addressing actual problems. The most insidious bill disguises Medicaid and SNAP restrictions as "waste, fraud, and abuse" prevention while actually costing the state more money and kicking vulnerable Hoosiers—students, seniors, low-income parents, and immigrants—off critical programs through bureaucratic harassment. Amanda emphasizes this is the last week for crossover committee hearings, making it the final opportunity to kill bad bills or rescue good ones before they proceed to floor votes.

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WHAT WE DISCUSSED

0:06:34 - HB 1001 (HOUSING SUPPLY & REGULATIONS)

- Republican supermajority’s top priority bill this session

- Addresses housing supply and regulations

- Currently in Senate committee awaiting hearing

0:08:22 - HB 1335 (NONPROFIT HOSPITAL ACCOUNTABILITY)

- Increases nonprofit hospital accountability and patient awareness of financial assistance programs

- Awaiting Senate committee hearing

- Contact your senators to support

0:09:44 - HB 1343 (NATIONAL GUARD POLICE POWERS)

- Grants police powers to National Guard (Mike Braun’s secret police)

- Reassigned from Homeland Security to Appropriations committee

- Potential choke point to kill this bill

0:10:59 - HB 1423 (IPS SCHOOL BOARD TAKEOVER)

- Subsumes elected IPS board under new Indianapolis Public Education Corporation appointed by mayor

- New corporation stocked with charter school supporters

- Anti-democratic, taxation without representation

0:12:44 - SB 8 (PUBLIC LIBRARY FINANCIAL INDEPENDENCE)

- Threatens financial independence of public libraries

- Part of Republican culture war on libraries

- Authored by Gary Byrne and Chris Garten

0:16:18 - SB 85 (MEDICAL DEBT COLLECTION PROTECTIONS)

- Protects patients from aggressive medical debt collection practices

- Bipartisan support (Fadi Khodora and Ed Charbonneau co-authors)

- Awaiting House committee hearing

0:17:09 - SB 182 (LEGAL ERASURE OF TRANS/NON-BINARY PEOPLE)

- Legal erasure of trans and non-binary Hoosiers

- BMV already stopped issuing non-binary driver’s licenses

- Attacks on less than 1% of population

0:19:45 - SB 236 (ABORTION PILL CRIMINALIZATION & BOUNTIES)

- Criminalizes abortion pills with Texas-style citizen bounty hunter system ($100,000 reward)

- Can’t cover Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library but can fund this?

- Indiana already top 3 for maternal mortality

0:23:07 - SB 277 (ENVIRONMENTAL DEREGULATION)

- Environmental deregulation bill

- Indiana already has terrible air and water quality

- Concern about data centers and environmental impact

0:24:17 - SB 285 (CRIMINALIZING HOMELESSNESS)

- Criminalizes homelessness with $500 fines, forces people into overwhelmed criminal justice system

- Creates criminal records that make future housing even harder

- Impacts veterans disproportionately

0:26:21 - SB 76 (IMMIGRATION/ICE COOPERATION) - WEEK IN REVIEW

- Mandates Indiana law enforcement, schools, universities, local governments cooperate with ICE ($10,000 fine per violation)

- House passed 61-28 on Thursday, heading back to Senate for concurrence

- Last chance to stop this bill

0:31:03 - HB 1423 (IPS TAKEOVER) - WEEK IN REVIEW UPDATE

- Passed Education committee on Thursday, reassigned to Appropriations

- Reduces decision-making power of elected IPS board

- Transfers to all-appointed board influenced by pro-charter interests

0:31:50 - HB 1343 (NATIONAL GUARD) - WEEK IN REVIEW UPDATE

- Passed Homeland Security committee on Thursday, reassigned to Appropriations

- Governor could send force anywhere without consulting local leaders

- ICE already increasing presence in Carmel area

0:33:57 - HB 1176 (CHARTER SCHOOL CONVERSIONS)

- Creates additional pathways to convert public schools into charter schools

- Passed Senate Appropriations Committee

- Eligible for full Senate vote

0:34:35 - HB 1002 (UTILITY AFFORDABILITY) - WEEK IN REVIEW

- Performance based ratemaking, low-income assistance, moratorium for shutoffs during hot weather

- Controversial levelized billing provision

- Shaping up to be a good bill, passed committee and eligible for Senate vote

0:37:08 - SB 2 & SJR 1 (BAIL CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT) - UPCOMING

- Constitutional amendment allowing judges to deny bail to “substantial risk” suspects

- Heading for House amendments and potential House vote next week

- Voters will have final say in November if it passes

0:40:06 - SB 12 (RANKED CHOICE VOTING BAN) - UPCOMING

- Preemptively bans ranked choice voting (ironically, Republicans used it at their own convention)

- Works successfully in Alaska and New York City, has moderating influence

- Up for House amendments and potential House vote next week

0:43:00 - SB 91 (SYRINGE EXCHANGE PROGRAM) - UPCOMING

- Extends syringe exchange program (originally 10 years, amended down to only 2 years)

- Helped reduce HIV and hepatitis spread since Mike Pence/Scott County crisis

- Very effective, low-cost public health measure

0:46:18 - SB 1 (MEDICAID/SNAP RESTRICTIONS) - UPCOMING

- Imposes harsh administrative burdens on Medicaid and SNAP recipients

- Will actually COST state more money while covering fewer people (students, parents, seniors, immigrants)

- Committee hearing Monday afternoon with NO public testimony - contact committee via email

0:50:33 - HB 1002 (UTILITIES) - MONDAY SCHEDULE

- Previously discussed utility bill

- Scheduled for full Senate vote on Monday

0:51:00 - HB 1176 (CHARTER SCHOOLS) - MONDAY SCHEDULE

- Previously discussed charter school conversion bill

- Scheduled for full Senate vote on Monday

0:51:32 - HB 1036 & HB 1307 (DCS OVERSIGHT BILLS) - MONDAY SCHEDULE

- Two bipartisan Department of Child Services oversight bills

- Make positive changes to DCS operations

- Scheduled for full Senate vote on Monday

0:53:23 - HB 1177 (CHILDCARE TAX CREDITS) - TUESDAY SCHEDULE

- Incentivizes businesses to provide childcare through tax credits

- Indiana struggling with childcare access and affordability

- Senate committee hearing on Tuesday

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. Help us bring you more valuable information by becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In this bonus episode of The Recovered Republican, we’re digging into a story that should have everyone’s attention — no matter your politics. Six Democratic lawmakers were recently spared by a grand jury after facing an attempted prosecution tied to statements they made about military conduct. What happened, why it happened, and what it means for free speech and democratic norms is far bigger than one case or one party.

I’m joined by attorney — and my husband — Brandon Newhart, who helps break down the legal landscape, the implications for political speech, and why this moment is a warning sign for anyone who cares about constitutional rights. Together, we unpack how cases like this shape public trust, civic engagement, and the boundaries of government power.

If you care about accountability, civil liberties, or the future of political discourse in Indiana and nationwide, this is an episode you don’t want to skip.

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

Scott Aaron Rogers interviews Kaitie Rector from MADVoters for their weekly legislative update covering bills moving through the Indiana General Assembly. Bills have crossed over from their original chambers. Good news: HB 1333 (agricultural/data centers) appears dead after public outcry. Positive bills include DCS reforms (HB 1036, 1307), syringe exchange (SB 91), medical consent (SB 90), hospital oversight (SB 225, HB 1335), anti-bribery (HB 1065), childcare credits (HB 1177), and environmental impact studies (HB 1343). Concerning bills include SB 76 (immigration enforcement), SJR 1 (bail amendment), HB 1423 (IPS charter), SB 239 (eliminating financial aid/charter schools), SB 88 (”good citizenship”/success sequence), SB 200 (Turning Point USA in schools), SB 15 (library restrictions), and SB 277 (eliminating environmental monitoring).

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BILLS DISCUSSED (IN ORDER WITH TIMESTAMPS):

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0:06:51 - HB 1333: Agricultural Development / Data Centers

- Would allow data centers on brownfield agricultural land, overriding local control

- Passed House 56-43 showing Republican defections

- Authors walking back support after public outcry; appears dead

0:10:31 - HB 1086: Ten Commandments in Schools (DEAD)

- Watered down from required to optional posting

- Died before crossover

0:11:37 - HB 1199: Death Penalty / Firing Squad Methods (DEAD)

- Would have added firing squad as execution method

- Died before crossover

0:13:10 - SB 76: Immigration Enforcement Cooperation

- Mandates law enforcement, schools, universities, local governments cooperate with ICE

- Heavy fines for non-compliance

- Vague “cooperate” language could require detaining individuals without warrants

0:19:28 - SJR 1: Constitutional Amendment on Bail

- Would allow judges to deny bail for “substantial risk to community”

- Concerns: higher pretrial detention, jail overcrowding without funding

0:20:56 - HB 1036 & HB 1307: DCS Reform Bills

- Improving DCS processes and transparency

- Mandating assessments for vulnerable kids

0:22:27 - SB 91: Syringe Exchange Program

- Redoing/improving syringe exchange program

- Passed Senate 48-2

0:24:15 - SB 90: Medical Consent for Unconscious Patients

- Requires consent for pelvic, prostate, rectal exams on unconscious patients (except emergencies)

- “How is this not already illegal?”

0:26:22 - SB 225: Hospital Business Practices Oversight

- Increases hospital oversight

- Protects patients from aggressive medical debt collection

0:28:19 - HB 1065: Bribery/Gratuities to Public Officials

- Bans “gratuities” to public officials

- Responding to 2024 Supreme Court case finding Portage mayor’s payment was “tip” not bribe

0:29:27 - HB 1066: Luxury Vehicle Purchase Ban (DEAD)

- Rep. Mitch Gore’s bill would have mandated base model vehicles for elected officials

- Would have blocked Beckwith and Morales from $90,000 luxury vehicles

- Passed committee unanimously but pulled from schedule at deadline

0:31:01 - HB 1177: Child Care Expenditure Credit

- Expands childcare expenditure credit, incentivizes businesses to provide childcare benefits

- Does NOT increase childcare worker pay or fund CCDF vouchers

0:35:14 - HB 1343: Environmental Impact Studies for Large Projects

- Requires environmental impact studies before major projects (LEAP, data centers)

- Committee hearing 9 AM Wednesday, Room 233

0:41:07 - HB 1423: IPS Charter School Conversion

- Indianapolis Public Schools charter conversion bill

- Part of “War on Public Education Wednesday” schedule

0:41:30 - SB 239: Charter Schools / Eliminating Need-Based Financial Aid

- Eliminates need-based financial aid for Indiana students

- Creates pathways to convert public schools to charter schools

- Public testimony allowed Wednesday morning

0:44:06 - SB 88: “Good Citizenship” Curriculum / Success Sequence

- Requires teaching “waiting until marriage to have children” (”success sequence” from conservative think tank)

- Amendment for comprehensive sex education rejected

- NOTE: Skipped initially, returned to after SB 239

0:48:45 - SB 200: Political Youth Organizations in Schools (Turning Point USA)

- Allows partisan political organizations like Turning Point USA in public schools

- State actively partnering with and promoting Turning Point USA

0:52:17 - SB 15: Library Restrictions / Foster Youth Bill of Rights

- Requires DCS to create Foster Youth Bill of Rights

- Includes library restrictions

0:53:01 - HB 1335: Nonprofit Hospital Accountability

- Requires nonprofit hospitals provide community benefit exceeding tax exemptions

- Requires proactively informing patients of financial assistance options

0:54:41 - SB 236: Additional Abortion Restrictions

- Bans abortion pills

- Allows citizens to be “bounty hunters” against providers

0:57:26 - SB 277: Eliminating Environmental Monitoring

- Eliminates requirements for monitoring air and water quality

- Committee vote Wednesday

CONTACT INFORMATION:

- Visit madvoters.org for bill tracker

- Phone numbers connect directly to legislators’ desks with voicemail

- Nothing is final - bills still being amended

MADVoters Bill Tracker: https://www.madvoters.org/bill-tracker

Support MADVoters: https://www.madvoters.org/donate-here

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Tracie pulls back the curtain on what it was like to live through the COVID‑19 crisis while working for one of the largest obituary companies in the country. Her perspective is raw, grounded, and unlike anything you’ll hear in the usual pandemic discourse.

Along the way, we talk about what pushed her to step into Indiana’s COVID‑19 advocacy battles — the moments that lit the fire, the systems that failed families, and the reasons she refuses to look away from the human cost.

And because real conversations rarely stay in one lane, we also dive into Autism Spectrum Disorder. We talk about why stimming is not a behavior to “fix,” but a regulation tool that autistic children need in their bodies, and how shifting our mindset can change the way we support them.

It’s honest, layered, and full of the kind of lived experience that reshapes how we think about public health, disability, and care.

progressiveindiana.net

bradmeyer.org

Progressive Indiana Network is subscriber-supported independent media. To help us continue doing this work, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

SUMMARY:

Host Scott Aaron Rogers conducted a virtual town hall with Brad Meyer, Democratic candidate for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District. Meyer, a seventh-generation Hoosier who quit his job a year before retirement to run for office, fielded questions from viewers on YouTube and progressiveindiana.net about immigration enforcement, impeachment, small business development, education funding, campaign finance reform, Supreme Court ethics, minimum wage, and campaign strategy. Meyer emphasized the need for thoughtful, pragmatic solutions that can win elections in Southern Indiana’s conservative-leaning district, while maintaining progressive values. He expressed support for voting against ICE funding, impeaching Trump if evidence warrants, raising the federal minimum wage to $20/hour, reforming the Supreme Court through ethics constraints, and focusing his campaign on rural counties beyond Democratic strongholds in Bloomington and New Albany. The town hall was the first in a planned series, with the next scheduled for four weeks later.

TIMESTAMPED CHAPTER LIST:

-------------------------

0:00:31 - Introduction & Opening Statement

- Welcome and technical issues with Facebook Live

- Brad Meyer introduces himself as 7th generation Hoosier

- Background: quit job before retirement to run for office after Trump came to power

0:03:32 - Question 1: ICE Funding & Government Shutdown

- Scott asks: Would you vote against measure continuing to fund ICE/DHS?

- Reference to Rep. Ro Khanna’s stance on Meet the Press

- Meyer: Yes, would vote against continuing ICE funding

- Discussion of Democrats giving up leverage in budget negotiations

- Follow-up on Democratic compromise proposals (no masks, body cameras, warrants)

- Meyer: Current administration acting in bad faith; Democrats need to push for more than promises

0:07:53 - Question 2: Wealth Tax & Gavin Newsom

- California Governor Newsom opposes billionaire wealth tax at state level (capital flight concerns)

- Supports wealth tax at federal level in principle

- Would you support a wealth tax at the federal level?

- Meyer: Uncomfortable with framing as “wealth tax” - sounds punitive, like class jealousy

- Prefers starting with: what kind of society do we need, what will it cost, how do we fund it?

- Supports policies that favor working people and small businesses over billionaires

- Taxes on ultra-wealthy will have to go up, but focus should be on economic policies for all

- Rather have 50,000 people make $20K more than one more billionaire

0:12:23 - Question 3: Dissolving ICE (Liliana Young - YouTube)

- Would you support a bill to completely dissolve ICE?

- Meyer: No, not without replacement

- Need laws surrounding immigration

- Comparison to “defund the police” - doesn’t play well in Southern Indiana

- Need to address legitimate needs of country with alternative solutions

- ICE existed under Obama and Biden - issue is brutal policies, not institution itself

0:14:59 - Question 4: Impeachment & 25th Amendment (David Kirk - Facebook)

- Do you support removing Trump through impeachment or 25th Amendment?

- Meyer: Yes, ample evidence and justification for impeachment

- Congress needs to push back on illegal actions beyond impeachment

- Discussion of Trump’s lack of legal authority for certain actions

0:16:26 - Question 5: Small Business Incentives (George Wright - YouTube)

- What incentives to encourage new small businesses in rural/small town communities?

- Meyer priorities:

* Broadband/good internet access in rural Indiana

* Access to capital and small business loans

* Technical support and resources

* Regulatory environment that doesn’t favor large corporations over small business

0:19:32 - Question 6: Public Dollars for Private Schools (Nora Sallows on progressiveindiana.net)

- How do you feel about spending public dollars on private schools?

- Meyer: Strong supporter of public education

- Republicans trying to undermine, weaken, gut, and sell off education to private hands

- Private schools often ideologically-based rather than fact-based

- Voucher system is wealth transfer from public to private, often religious schools

- Federal role through Department of Education is limited by Constitution

- Need to support and increase funding for public education

0:26:32 - Question 7: Campaign Finance Reform (Chelsea McDonnel on Facebook)

- Is money in politics the root of many issues?

- Support overturning Citizens United? Support state-funded elections?

- Meyer: No clear path to overturn Citizens United legislatively

- Money in politics always been a problem, sometimes worse, sometimes better

- State-funded elections is state issue, would defer to state candidates

- Current priorities: funding for hungry people over funding campaigns

0:30:09 - Follow-up: Government-Funded Campaigns (George Wright)

- Would you support government-funded campaigns to get around Citizens United?

- Meyer: Merit to the idea (citing England example)

- Concern: Current administration would abuse power, deny funding to progressive Democrats

- Requires government to be fair and dispassionate - not current reality

0:30:43 - Follow-up: Constitutional Amendment & Supreme Court Reform (Nora Sallows & Scott)

- American Progress organization promoting constitutional amendment on campaign contributions

- What can be done about Supreme Court as the problem?

- Support expanding court, ethics rules, defunding?

- Meyer: Supports ethics constraints on Supreme Court

- Court expansion and term limits have merit

- Need to be thoughtful about implementation to avoid opening door to abuse

- Historical precedent: court has been different sizes before

0:36:27 - Question 8: Impeaching Supreme Court Justices (Liliana Young)

- Should justices be impeached for taking bribes (Clarence Thomas)?

- Meyer: Yes, unequivocally need better constraints on behavior

- Justices who violate ethical standards should be impeached

- Important distinction: impeach for taking bribes, NOT for decisions we disagree with

- Must maintain principle even if bribe led to favorable decision

0:38:56 - Question 9: Federal Minimum Wage (David Kirk)

- At what dollar amount should federal minimum wage be set?

- Current: $7.25 since 2009

- Meyer: Should be $20/hour

- Discussion of cost of living, housing affordability

- Minimum wage should allow full-time worker to afford basic necessities

0:42:16 - Follow-up: Tying Minimum Wage to CPI (George Wright)

- Support automatic annual increases based on Consumer Price Index?

- Meyer: In principle yes, but concerns about acceleration/feedback loop

- Could create “critical race condition” where wage increases drive inflation which drives wages

- Sometimes need flexibility to use good judgment rather than automatic mechanisms

0:44:13 - Question 10: Campaign Strategy (Ripley County Democrats - Facebook)

- Beyond Bloomington and New Albany, what’s your strategy to flip moderate and rural voters?

- Meyer: Many advisors say focus only on 3 Democratic stronghold counties

- Might work for primary, but general election requires broader reach

- Cannot write off rural communities

- Strategy: Knock on doors, talk to people in all 20 counties

- Focus on shared values: freedom, independence, fiscal responsibility

- Talk about issues that matter to rural communities

- Need to understand concerns of people who disagree with you

0:46:46 - Follow-up: Volunteer Team & Digital Outreach (Ripley County Democrats)

- How many active volunteers on field team?

- Are you integrating digital outreach to reach young voters?

- Meyer: Strong base in many counties, actively expanding

- Setting up social media presence on 8 platforms

- Digital outreach important for reaching voters across 2 hours wide by 2 hours deep, 18-county district

0:48:17 - Question 10: Gaza & U.S. Military Aid to Israel

- Gaza has deeply divided the party

- Young voters didn’t turn out for Harris because she didn’t denounce Israel’s actions

- What is your position on continuing U.S. military aid to Israel?

- How would you advocate for long-term resolution?

- Meyer: Believes in stable, durable peace between Palestine and Israel

- Two-state solution has always been right answer, but no clear path currently

- Concerned about suppression approach leading to cycle of violence

- Would condition military aid on Israel working toward two-state solution

- Acknowledges this is enormously divisive issue

0:52:34 - Follow-up: Was it Genocide in Gaza? (Christina Persson - progressiveindiana.net)

- Do you believe that a genocide occurred in Gaza?

- Meyer: Calling it genocide would alienate U.S. from ability to broker durable peace

- Would lose 75-year ally and strongest ally in region

- Acknowledges position is unpopular

- Believes in diplomacy as long-term solution

- Need to maintain some influence to help bring about peace

0:54:37 - Question 11: Other Constitutional Amendments Needed

- You mentioned other constitutional amendments besides campaign finance reform

- What are they?

- Meyer: Universal health care amendment - shouldn’t go broke trying to stay alive

- Balanced budget amendment - if Congress fails to pass budget by Oct 1, members barred from standing for re-election for duration of their term

- Congress not doing primary job (power of the purse)

- Missing paychecks won’t affect wealthy members, need real consequences

0:57:07 - Closing Remarks

- Meyer emphasizes need to discuss economy more

- Economy tilted toward the rich, government should create balanced economy

- Young people losing hope - less than 50% will be better off than parents

- Issue is affordability AND opportunity for fair shot at decent life

- Next town hall in 4 weeks - economic questions encouraged

0:59:42 - Campaign Information

- Website: bradmeyer.org

- Phone: 812-929-0045

- Primary election: May 5th

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