The Rob Kendall Show

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission approving a $71 million rate increase for AES Indiana customers. Rob says Governor Braun owns the decision because he appointed three members of the five-member board, including IURC president Andy Zay, who voted for the increase. Rob argues Braun campaigned on affordability but then put an institutional insider in charge of utility regulation.

Rob says Braun does not get to complain about the rate hike after appointing the people who approved it. He argues the governor could have asked every appointee whether they would support rate increases, and if he did not, that is on him. Rob also says the utility companies already operate as government-protected monopolies, so approving higher rates while profits are strong is another example of regular people paying more because of state-backed insiders.

The show also ties the AES increase to the broader issue of data centers and rising electricity demand. Rob argues lawmakers helped create the problem by funding the IEDC’s incentives for data centers, then allowing utilities to pass the costs on to ratepayers. He says he is not anti-data center, but opposes poor and middle-class Hoosiers being forced to subsidize major corporations through higher taxes, higher bills, and state-backed giveaways.

Another major segment breaks down Rob’s interviews with pledged Republican delegates in the Secretary of State race. After talking with supporters of Diego Morales, Max Engling, Jamie Ritenour, and David Shelton, Rob says the clear theme is that Shelton appears to be many delegates’ second choice. He argues that matters because no candidate is likely to win on the first ballot, so the race will depend on where supporters go after their preferred candidate drops out.

The episode closes with Rob laying out the possible convention math. He says Max Engling may lead on the first ballot, but if he does not build a large enough lead, Shelton could become the compromise candidate as other camps look for an acceptable alternative. Rob says the big questions are whether Shelton stays viable early, whether Diego Morales finishes ahead of him, and whether delegates stick around through later rounds of voting.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Indiana Republican Convention is Saturday in Fort Wayne. The race to be the party's Secretary of State nominee is getting nasty. Attack ads are coming at the candidates from all directions. Who will prove victorious in what promises to be a wild day?

Rob Kendall, Jim Merritt, and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss on Statehouse Happenings.

You can find more information at RobKendallShow.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Brownsburg schools avoiding a referendum while more than 100 school referendums are expected across Indiana this fall. Rob argues that referendums should not be necessary if tax caps are real, and says Brownsburg proved schools can avoid raising taxes through hard work, cuts, creativity, and cooperation with other local government entities. He contrasts that with other districts that are putting tax hikes on the ballot rather than doing the harder work of budgeting.

Rob says Brownsburg’s example matters because it is statistically one of the top school systems in Indiana and still found a way to avoid asking taxpayers for more money. He argues school administrators and boards often use referendums because they are lazy or uncreative, not because there is truly no other option. Rob also says Governor Braun and Micah Beckwith should be held to their past claim that they would help defeat referendums created by Senate Bill 1.

The show also covers the Indianapolis City-County Council advancing major vehicle tax increases to qualify for state road funding. Rob explains that the state offered Indianapolis $50 million in road money if the city brought matching funds, but says the city did not have to raise taxes to do it. He argues Democrats initially framed the deal as if the state forced a tax hike, but after Republicans clarified the money could come from cuts, the council moved forward with tax increases anyway.

Another major topic is Governor Braun creating another high-paid advisory role, this time for outgoing Commerce Secretary David Adams to oversee Braun’s $1 billion life sciences initiative. Rob compares it to the Adam Krupp situation and says Braun keeps moving people into vague “advisor” jobs without clear public accountability. He also criticizes the decision to give Adams a $75,000 performance bonus shortly before he leaves the commerce role.

The episode closes with Rob blasting the IEDC and the broader Republican economic development system. He says the same organization Braun once treated as troubled enough to audit is still handing out money, bonuses, and powerful jobs to connected people. Rob argues the IEDC remains a symbol of how Indiana Republicans talk about reform while continuing the same insider-driven system of corporate giveaways, land acquisition, and taxpayer-funded economic development deals.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses on Greg Ballard’s effort to get on the ballot as an independent candidate for Indiana Secretary of State. Rob explains that Ballard needs 36,943 verified signatures by the end of June, and Abdul reported he had turned in just over 35,000 so far. Rob walks through how county officials verify signatures before they go to the state, and says Ballard likely needs to submit well above the minimum to survive challenges.

Rob says Ballard is what makes the Secretary of State race truly interesting because he gives voters an option outside the normal Republican-versus-Democrat fight. If Ballard makes the ballot and reaches 10% of the vote, his party could gain primary ballot access for the next four years, creating a real third-party threat in Indiana. Rob argues that could especially disrupt Republicans by giving disaffected conservatives and independents somewhere else to go.

The show also criticizes Indiana’s ballot access system as deliberately stacked against regular people. Rob says requiring nearly 37,000 verified signatures, or forcing candidates into expensive party convention systems, keeps normal Hoosiers from running unless they have major money or kiss the ring of one of the two major parties. He argues that Ballard’s struggle shows how hard Republicans and Democrats have made it for independents to participate.

Another major segment covers Dubois County Sheriff Tom Kleinhelter giving up his law enforcement certification while remaining sheriff. Rob explains the background: a State Board of Accounts audit flagged questionable commissary fund spending, State Police built a probable cause affidavit, but charges tied to the underlying spending were never filed after Mike Braun became governor. Rob says the case looked like it was being swept under the rug until former State Police Superintendent Doug Carter discussed it publicly and Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears later filed charges over Kleinhelter allegedly lying to investigators.

The episode closes with Rob arguing the Kleinhelter case shows two tiers of justice in Indiana: one for regular people and one for the politically connected. He says Kleinhelter may keep the elected title of sheriff, but losing law enforcement certification is still a major embarrassment and proves the state needs to reform how sheriff misconduct and commissary funds are handled. Rob also criticizes the lack of transparency around why the original case was not prosecuted and why the investigator who worked on it was punished.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses on a chaotic new moment in the Indiana Secretary of State race, starting with Diego Morales’ meltdown at a Fifth Congressional District event. Rob plays audio of Morales grabbing the microphone after the other candidates had spoken and angrily responding to criticism, including once again bringing up the India trip even though Rob says no one had mentioned it. Rob argues the clip shows Morales is rattled, unhinged, and still unable to clearly answer who paid for his trip to India.

Rob revisits the India controversy, reminding listeners that Morales went overseas on what was presented as an economic development trip despite the Secretary of State having no economic development authority. He also highlights Raju Chinthala’s involvement, the taxpayer contract with Morales’ office, and questions about visa access and venture capital connections. Rob says the question still matters because Morales’ office claimed official business, and the public deserves to know who funded the trip.

The show also criticizes Republicans who now act concerned about Morales after years of enabling him. Rob points to lawmakers, Jim Banks, Todd Rokita, and others who supported or funded Morales’ office while ignoring repeated concerns. He argues the party does not really want Morales investigated or held accountable; it simply wants him replaced quietly so the money, donors, and broader Republican brand are not damaged.

Another major topic is a website making allegations about Max Engling, including old misdemeanor claims and alleged accounts on adult hookup sites. Rob says he does not like Engling or what he represents politically, but he is not willing to condemn someone over unclear misdemeanor allegations from nearly 20 years ago or consensual adult behavior from his early twenties. He says there are plenty of legitimate reasons to criticize Engling, especially his ties to Jim Banks, without relying on innuendo.

The episode closes with Diego sending a mass text to delegates attacking Engling and comparing him to “Republican Hunter Biden.” Rob says that kind of attack shows how ugly the convention race has become and how much damage Republicans have done to themselves by ignoring Morales for years. He argues the party created this mess by refusing to deal with Morales when the warning signs were obvious, and now every faction is trying to survive the fallout.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Governor Mike Braun’s comments on data centers and Rob’s argument that Braun is misleading Hoosiers about what these projects actually mean. Rob says Braun claimed data centers will lower property taxes, create high-paying jobs, and help utility rates, but argues those claims do not match how these projects are structured. He points to tax abatements, special taxing districts, limited permanent employment, and out-of-town construction labor as reasons taxpayers should be skeptical.

Rob says the larger issue is that Indiana still has no serious statewide framework for data centers, even as communities are being reshaped by them. He argues local governments are being pressured project by project, while residents are left without clear guarantees on property taxes, utilities, water, or long-term local benefits. Rob says Braun appears unwilling to create minimum statewide protections, leaving communities to fight these battles on their own.

The show also discusses Indiana University honoring Ryan White with a statue and Rob’s view that White belongs on any Mount Rushmore of influential Hoosiers. Rob reflects on White’s impact on public health and public understanding of AIDS, then previews old interview audio with Donald Trump discussing White, along with a 2016 interview involving Mike Pence and Eric Holcomb.

Another major segment focuses on Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith’s comments about Islam and the Statehouse response from leaders including Treasurer Daniel Elliott. Rob argues Beckwith craves attention and uses inflammatory cultural or religious comments to get it, rather than fighting on policy issues like property taxes, utility bills, IEDC giveaways, tolling, or the Bears stadium subsidy. He says Beckwith was elected by many people who wanted him to be a check on Braun, but instead gave up power and has failed to deliver on the issues that matter most to taxpayers.

The episode closes with Rob warning that Republicans keep excusing bad behavior on their own side until it becomes impossible to ignore. He says Daniel Elliott’s criticism of faith-based hate carries more weight because Elliott has conservative credibility and is not coming from the left. Rob argues voters who are tired of Diego Morales, Micah Beckwith, rising taxes, corporate giveaways, and weak accountability should send that message in this fall’s Secretary of State race.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with suburban leaders increasingly speaking out about violence from Marion County spilling into surrounding communities. Rob says Carmel Mayor Sue Finkam helped start the public pushback after a violent carjacking, and now Hendricks County Prosecutor Loren Delp is adding data showing a sharp increase in murder defendants coming from Marion County into Hendricks County. Rob argues this proves the issue is no longer contained to Indianapolis.

Rob says the problem is bigger than Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears alone. He argues the judges, Mayor Joe Hogsett, and the broader Marion County justice system have all contributed to an environment where repeat offenders do not fear consequences. Rob says local control matters, but when Marion County’s failures begin draining law enforcement, court, and taxpayer resources in other counties, surrounding communities have a legitimate right to demand state action.

The show also looks at how downtown Indianapolis has changed under years of violence, disorder, and weak leadership. Rob reflects on how safe and active downtown once felt compared to what he sees now, with businesses gone, commercial real estate cheaper, and people more cautious about where and when they go. He says if Marion County leaders will not fix the problem themselves, the General Assembly may finally have enough reason to step in.

Another major topic is inflation, after new Labor Department numbers showed consumer prices rising 4.2% in May, the first time inflation topped 4% since 2023. Rob says Trump will be judged by whether he can make life more affordable, and so far he has not done enough to address the price of everyday goods. He criticizes Trump’s response to the inflation numbers, especially saying he “loves inflation,” arguing that the comment will likely be used against Republicans in swing races.

The episode closes with Rob criticizing Trump’s handling of Iran and oil prices. He says Trump campaigned as the no-more-wars candidate, but now sounds more like George W. Bush by claiming Iran was close to a nuclear weapon without showing proof. Rob argues Americans are still paying more for oil and gas, and they do not want to hear political spin when prices remain high.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Beau Bayh was victorious at the Democrat Convention, securing his

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses on Indiana’s data center boom and the lack of a statewide framework for how these projects should work. Rob points to new reporting that the IEDC has provided roughly $655 million in incentives and tax breaks for data centers, while communities are left to figure out the consequences on their own. He argues data centers have value, but taxpayers deserve transparency, clear protections, and a defined local benefit before massive projects reshape their communities.

Shelbyville remains a major example of that fight, where residents are pushing back against a proposed data center development and feel ignored by local leaders. Rob says the mayor’s caught-on-tape comments insulting opponents of the project only deepened the anger, especially after the city overrode its own planning commission. The broader concern is that without state-level rules, every community will be forced to battle these projects one at a time while the state continues subsidizing them.

The show also turns to the Supreme Court and a pending case over whether mail-in ballots can be counted after Election Day in federal elections. Rob says the ruling could have major national consequences, especially after repeated controversies in California and other states where ballots are still being processed days after polls close. He argues ballots should be received by Election Day, not merely postmarked by then, because extended counting creates distrust and gives people reason to suspect shenanigans.

Rob also criticizes California’s universal mail-in voting system, where millions of ballots are sent automatically and large numbers remain unprocessed nearly a week after Election Day. He says he is not against modern voting machines or reasonable absentee voting, but believes mass mail-in voting without strong verification is an obvious problem. Rob argues voter ID and clear Election Day deadlines are basic safeguards that should not be controversial.

The episode closes with more fallout over Indiana sheriffs, after Rob realizes he left Scott County’s former sheriff Kenneth Hughbanks off his recent list of troubled sheriffs. Rob details Hughbanks’ guilty plea related to tax evasion and his connection to Jamey Noel, then notes that Hughbanks, Diego Morales, and Jennifer-Ruth Green were still listed on Jim Banks’ endorsement page. Rob says the repeated sheriff scandals show Indiana has a serious accountability problem, especially when politically connected figures remain tied into the Republican power structure.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob’s frustration over Indiana’s property tax assessment system after trying to understand his own assessment. He explains that his home was assessed higher than nearby comparable homes, including one with a larger house and lot, but the assessor’s office could not clearly explain why. Rob argues the problem is not only that property taxes are unfair, but that the government cannot even explain how it decides what people owe.

Rob says the assessment system is broken because the burden falls on homeowners to prove the government made a mistake, even when the assessor’s office appears unable to justify the numbers. He walks through the appeal process and says it can take months or even years before a taxpayer gets an answer. Rob argues lawmakers know assessments are the core issue, but continue avoiding meaningful reform while homeowners are left fighting a confusing system on their own.

The show also criticizes Indiana Republicans for focusing on major spending projects while failing to fix basic taxpayer problems. Rob points to politicians celebrating the possibility of bringing the Chicago Bears to Indiana while ordinary homeowners cannot get clear answers about why their tax bills are going up. He says the same Republican officials who argue with him online should be spending that time fixing the property tax system they helped create.

Another segment covers the arrest of Jennings County Sheriff Kenny Freeman Jr., who was indicted after an investigation into stolen campaign signs. Rob explains that a sheriff candidate used a GPS tracker on one of his signs, which allegedly led investigators to Freeman’s property. Rob says stealing campaign signs is one of the dumbest and lowest forms of political behavior because signs cost money, represent free speech, and matter especially in local races.

The episode closes with Rob arguing Indiana needs serious reform around sheriffs and law enforcement accountability. He notes that this is the fourth Indiana sheriff by his count to face arrest or charges in recent years, which he says points to a larger problem with sheriffs acting as though they are above the law. Rob says the state should hold sheriffs to a higher standard because they are the chief law enforcement officers in their counties.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices