The Rob Kendall Show

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Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show continues the fight over Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, with Rob arguing the Republican Party is finally imploding over a scandal it ignored for years. He says party leaders are not abandoning Morales because they suddenly care about ethics, but because they believe he will lose the office if he remains the nominee. Rob argues Morales should fight back, expose the people who enabled him, and refuse to quietly disappear for the benefit of the same Republican power structure that protected him.

A major focus is Elina Kupce, the former deputy chief of staff in Morales’ office who reportedly was not a U.S. citizen. Rob says the issue is especially serious because the Secretary of State oversees elections, businesses, and sensitive information tied to millions of Hoosiers. He notes that Morales finally addressed the controversy in a letter to delegates, but did not appear to deny that Kupce was a noncitizen, while Treasurer Daniel Elliott has gone further by claiming she was illegally in the country.

Rob also criticizes Elliott, Todd Rokita, Jim Banks, Mike Braun, Micah Beckwith, and other Republicans for acting concerned now after years of silence. He says if they truly believe Morales has done something serious enough to resign, they should be calling for criminal and ethics investigations, not just trying to push him off the ballot. Rob argues the party does not want the full truth exposed because it could implicate the broader Republican network that funded, protected, and benefited from Morales.

The show also steps back into a broader discussion about what the Republican Party has become. Rob reflects on once seeing the GOP as a place for free thought, low taxes, accountability, and policing its own, but says that has been replaced by Trump loyalty as the main standard. He points to Morales using his loyalty to Trump as a defense and argues the party now often excuses bad behavior as long as someone is aligned with the right political faction.

The episode closes with Rob discussing Ken Paxton winning the Republican Senate runoff in Texas, despite years of serious ethical and legal controversies. Rob compares the reaction to Paxton with the Morales situation, saying Republicans are increasingly willing to celebrate deeply flawed candidates if they have Trump’s support. He warns that while Trump’s endorsement can still dominate Republican primaries, candidates like Paxton may become major liabilities in general elections when voters outside the party base start paying attention.

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Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses heavily on Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales and the Republican Party’s attempt to distance itself from him before the state convention. Rob argues party leaders are not interested in real accountability, but instead want Morales and his scandals to quietly disappear before they cost Republicans the office in November. He points to years of ignored questions about the India trip, no-bid contracts, the $90,000 vehicle, family hires, and Morales’ connections to questionable figures as proof that the party knew exactly what it was dealing with.

Rob also criticizes Governor Mike Braun for refusing to take a position on Morales, despite the mounting scandals and recent reporting about former deputy chief of staff Elena Copsey. He argues Braun is treating the race like a normal convention fight, when the issue is really about whether a statewide officeholder who oversees elections and business records has abused public trust. Rob says Braun’s silence is about political self-preservation, shared donors, and avoiding anything that could implicate the broader Republican power structure.

A major part of the show breaks down the sudden push behind Max Engling as the Republican alternative to Morales. Rob argues the move is less about finding the most qualified person and more about Jim Banks and Todd Rokita trying to increase their control inside the Indiana Republican Party. He questions why party leaders did not rally behind David Shelton, who actually has election experience, and instead moved toward someone closely tied to Banks after years of standing by Morales.

The show also turns to Indiana’s suspended gas taxes, with Rob arguing the pause proves taxes make everyday life more expensive. While he credits Braun for suspending the sales and excise taxes on gas, Rob says the move only happened because voters are furious about high gas prices and because those prices are hurting Trump politically. He warns that if state leaders truly believed the gas taxes were wrong, they would work to eliminate them permanently instead of temporarily suspending them when people are paying attention.

The episode closes with a sharp critique of Trump’s handling of the Iran conflict and the confusion around a possible deal. Rob says Trump created unnecessary chaos by suggesting a deal was close without clearly explaining what was in it, leading even supporters like Lindsey Graham, Ted Cruz, and Roger Wicker to raise concerns. He argues the administration needs a clear outcome that stops Iran’s nuclear ambitions and support for terrorism, and says Trump’s public messaging has made an already difficult foreign policy situation even more unstable.

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Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses on the growing fallout around Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales and the Republican Party’s sudden push to move on from him. Rob argues the real story is not just Morales’ scandals, but the fact that powerful Republicans knew about many of these issues for years and did nothing until they feared losing the office. He says party leaders are now trying to make Morales disappear politically rather than fully exposing what happened inside the Secretary of State’s office.

Rob spends much of the show calling out what he sees as gaslighting from Republican officials who previously ignored, defended, or endorsed Morales. He points to questions surrounding the India trip, no-bid contracts, the $90,000 vehicle, use of state resources, and the recent reporting about former deputy chief of staff Elena Copsey. Rob argues that if party leaders were serious about accountability, they would be demanding investigations and answers, not simply pushing Morales aside before the convention.

The show also digs into Jim Banks’ role in backing Max Engling as the new Republican alternative for Secretary of State. Rob questions Banks’ explanation that the Copsey story was the final straw, arguing that Engling’s name had already been circulating before that reporting became public. He suggests powerful Republicans may have known about the issue earlier and held it back until Morales became too big of a political liability.

Another major topic is whether Copsey, who reportedly rose to deputy chief of staff in Morales’ office, was not only a noncitizen but possibly in the country illegally. Rob highlights comments from Treasurer Daniel Elliott that appear to suggest that possibility and says reporters should press Banks, Rokita, Elliott, and Morales for clear answers. He argues the distinction matters because Republican leaders built their politics around “America First” messaging while apparently ignoring major questions inside one of Indiana’s most sensitive statewide offices.

The episode closes with Rob arguing that Morales should stay in the race rather than allow party leaders to quietly push him out and bury the story. He says the situation could expose how the Republican power structure really works, especially if Morales starts talking about the people who enabled him. Rob also highlights Greg Ballard’s reaction, saying the chaos helps prove Ballard’s argument that more competition is needed in Indiana politics because the current system protects insiders instead of voters.

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Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses on the growing effort inside the Indiana Republican Party to move on from Secretary of State Diego Morales. Rob argues party leaders are not truly trying to hold Morales accountable, but instead trying to protect themselves after years of ignoring scandals, questions, and warnings about his conduct. He compares the situation to Democrats pushing Joe Biden aside in 2024, saying Republicans praised Morales until they decided he had become too much of a political liability.

A major part of the show centers on Max Engling entering the Republican Secretary of State race and the role Rob believes Jim Banks is playing behind the scenes. Rob questions why party leaders suddenly describe Engling as the “viable” alternative when David Shelton, a county clerk with actual election experience, has already been running. He argues the move is less about qualifications and more about power, control, and preventing Morales from dragging the party down in November.

Rob also reacts to Jim Banks and Todd Rokita withdrawing their endorsements of Morales. He criticizes both for backing Morales despite years of controversies, then only changing course when it looked like Republicans could lose the office. Rob says the real issue is that they still are not publicly demanding answers about Morales’ India trip, no-bid contracts, use of state resources, the $90,000 car, or the recent questions surrounding former deputy chief of staff Elena Copsey.

The show also looks at how Republican officials and state lawmakers are responding to Rob’s criticism. Rob says politicians are trying to dismiss him as irrelevant or bitter while avoiding the underlying issue: they failed to deal with Morales when they had the chance. He argues the audience continues to support the show because it says plainly what many people in Indiana politics already know but refuse to say publicly.

The episode closes with Rob urging people not to let the Morales story disappear just because party leaders may try to replace him. He says the public still deserves answers about what happened inside the Secretary of State’s office and why so many powerful Republicans protected Morales for so long. Rob also highlights his latest IndyStar column on school referendums, arguing that Indiana lawmakers should eliminate a system he says is rigged in favor of local governments and school districts seeking more taxpayer money.

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Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses heavily on the Republican Party’s reaction to Congressman Thomas Massie losing his primary after being targeted by President Trump. Kendall argues Massie’s record lined up with many things Republicans claim to support, including lower spending, less debt, transparency, and accountability on the Epstein files. He questions why Massie became a top enemy of the party while figures like Lindsey Graham are treated as allies, saying the message now seems to be loyalty to Trump matters more than conservative principles.

Kendall expands that into a broader warning about where the Republican Party is headed. He argues the party is increasingly demanding total obedience to Trump, even from lawmakers like Lauren Boebert who have been loyal but still supported Massie. Kendall says the real test will come in November, when Trump-backed primary winners have to face the larger general electorate, which polling shows is far less enthusiastic about Trump’s policies than Republican primary voters are.

The show also revisits new reporting from Indy Politics about Secretary of State Diego Morales and a former high-ranking employee in his office. Kendall highlights questions about whether Elena Copsey, who reportedly served as deputy chief of staff, was a noncitizen and how someone with limited government experience rose to such a senior role. He argues Morales needs to answer basic questions about her status, what she did in the office, why she left, and whether she had access to sensitive information tied to elections and Indiana businesses.

Another major topic is the sudden entrance of Max Engling into the Republican Secretary of State race. Kendall explains how the state convention process works and says Engling’s candidacy likely reflects growing concern among delegates that Diego Morales could be a disaster in the general election. While Kendall says David Shelton remains the most qualified candidate, he argues both Shelton and Engling need to directly confront Morales’ record if they want to beat him at convention.

The episode closes with a broader look at Republican primary voters versus the general electorate. Kendall argues that while Trump endorsements remain powerful inside GOP primaries, national polling suggests the wider public is increasingly unhappy with inflation, gas prices, spending, and the direction of the country. His warning is that Republicans may keep winning internal party fights while setting themselves up for major losses in the fall if they ignore what voters outside the Trump base are saying.

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Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with new reporting from Indy Politics involving a former deputy chief of staff in Secretary of State Diego Morales’ office. Kendall walks through Abdul-Hakim Shabazz’s reporting that the employee, Elena Copsey, was paid $160,000 a year and carried a driver’s license restriction associated with non-U.S. citizens, while also having previously signed a voter registration form affirming U.S. citizenship. Kendall says there are still unanswered questions, but argues the story is especially serious because Morales has built much of his public image around election integrity, Trump loyalty, and “America First” messaging.

Kendall focuses heavily on the implications of a high-ranking official in the Secretary of State’s office potentially being a non-citizen, especially in an office that oversees elections, businesses, and sensitive information tied to millions of Hoosiers. He questions how someone with no listed prior government experience rose so quickly to a senior role and why the position was not publicly posted. He also says Morales should immediately answer the questions raised by the reporting instead of falling back on his usual strategy of attacking the media and waiting for the story to fade.

The show also covers Paula Copenhaver officially requesting a recount in her extremely close Senate primary race against Spencer Deery. Kendall says a recount is fair given the margin, but criticizes Copenhaver’s legal strategy of trying to subpoena 14 voters and question whether they were eligible to vote in the Republican primary based on alleged crossover voting. He argues that if voters are legally registered and cast legal ballots, attempting to invalidate them over presumed political intent is dangerous and could set a terrible precedent.

That discussion leads into a broader critique of Indiana Republicans pushing to close primaries after the Deery race. Kendall points out that Republicans have benefited from open primaries in the past, including Mike Braun’s own explanation years ago that he voted in Democratic primaries because those races determined local offices where he lived. Kendall argues that if taxpayers fund party primaries, voters should be allowed to choose which ballot they want, especially in heavily gerrymandered areas where the primary is often the only election that matters.

The episode closes with a look at the Chicago Bears stadium situation and whether Indiana is still being used as leverage against Illinois. Kendall says he originally believed the Bears were mostly using Indiana to force a better deal in Illinois, but now thinks Indiana’s offer may be so generous that the team could seriously consider leaving. He argues the Bears are ultimately a business chasing the best financial deal, and warns that Indiana taxpayers could end up subsidizing a multibillion-dollar franchise if Illinois fails to get its act together.

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Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with a look at new polling showing deep concern about the economy and President Trump’s handling of it. Kendall argues many Republicans are too emotionally attached to Trump to acknowledge warning signs, including voters saying they feel worse off financially, stressed about the economy, and unable to keep up with inflation. He says the numbers point to real trouble for Republicans this fall if affordability, gas prices, and inflation do not improve.

Kendall then shifts into a larger question about what the Republican Party is becoming, using Congressman Thomas Massie’s primary fight as the central example. He argues Massie represents many of the principles Republicans claim to support, including lower spending, smaller government, transparency, and skepticism of foreign wars. Despite that, Massie is being targeted by Trump and outside groups because he has been willing to challenge the president.

The show also examines how loyalty to Trump has become the dominant force in Republican primaries. Kendall points to polling showing a Trump endorsement remains the most powerful factor among Republican voters, but questions whether that power helps the party in general elections when Trump’s broader economic numbers are weak. He warns that a party built around obedience to one person rather than policy principles may struggle once voters begin judging results outside of the primary electorate.

Another major topic is the influence of issues like AI, tech companies, and data centers on voters. Kendall highlights polling showing both Trump and Harris voters are increasingly concerned about regulating AI and large tech companies, calling it a major warning sign for local officials dealing with data center fights in Indiana. He argues candidates who take a strong but reasonable position on data centers could find real support across party lines.

The episode closes with Kendall reflecting on what Massie’s race could reveal about the future of the Republican Party. If Massie wins, Kendall says it may show there is still room for independent thought and policy-driven conservatism. If he loses, he argues it will signal that the party has moved even further toward personality-driven politics, where disagreement with Trump is treated as disloyalty no matter how conservative a person’s record may be.

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Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with a look at the changing media landscape and why Kendall believes independent, local-focused shows are succeeding while larger conservative media brands are struggling. Using a New York Magazine article about The Daily Wire as a jumping-off point, he argues audiences are increasingly craving authenticity, independence, and content they cannot get anywhere else. Kendall says the success of his own Indiana-based show comes from staying focused on local issues, refusing to act as a cheerleader for politicians, and being accountable only to the audience.

The show then shifts to Brownsburg, where the school system reached an agreement with local government entities to avoid pursuing a school referendum. Kendall explains how the deal came together and frames it as an example of what can happen when officials actually look for creative ways to protect taxpayers. While he remains critical of school spending overall, he gives Brownsburg credit for choosing a smaller, negotiated solution instead of asking voters for a tax increase that would fall outside the property tax caps.

Kendall also uses the Brownsburg example to warn other communities about the wave of school referendums expected across Indiana this fall. He argues many school districts will use referendums as an easy way to raise taxes rather than making difficult budget decisions. Kendall lays out a strategy for opposing them, including organizing a group, forming a political action committee, raising money, identifying the strongest arguments against the proposal, and making sure voters understand how much their taxes could increase.

Another major topic is the renewed Republican push to close Indiana’s primary elections after concerns that Democrats may have crossed over in the Spencer Deery and Paula Copenhaver race. Kendall argues that if taxpayers are funding party primaries, voters should be allowed to choose which ballot they want. He points out that heavily gerrymandered districts often make the primary the only meaningful election, meaning independents and minority-party voters may have no real voice unless they participate in the dominant party’s primary.

The episode closes with a broader critique of political control inside Indiana’s Republican Party. Kendall argues the push for closed primaries is less about principle and more about preventing dissent, limiting voter choice, and protecting insiders from challenges they do not like. He says Republicans who want closed primaries should also support nonpartisan map-drawing, arguing that they should not be allowed to rig districts and then complain when voters use the only election that matters to have a say.

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