The Rob Kendall Show

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with a continued focus on property taxes, but this time zeroing in on the role of county assessors and the system itself. Kendall argues that property taxes function as a “forever lien” on your home, forcing people to pay every year on something they already own, regardless of whether they’ve made any money on it. He contrasts that with other assets like stocks, where you’re only taxed when you realize gains, and questions why homeowners are instead taxed based on what others sell their homes for.

He traces his long-standing frustration with the system back to the 2007 property tax protests and says little has changed since then. Kendall points out that assessments continue to rise even when homeowners have no intention of selling, meaning they’re effectively penalized for staying in their homes. He also calls out the lack of organized pushback from assessors themselves, arguing that while many will privately admit the system is flawed, there has been no unified effort to challenge it publicly or demand reform.

The discussion then shifts to public education spending, where Kendall examines new data comparing how much states spend per student versus actual outcomes. He breaks down Indiana’s funding levels, noting that when combining state, local, and federal dollars, the total reaches tens of billions annually. Despite that, he argues there’s no clear correlation between higher spending and better performance, pointing to states that spend far more but don’t rank highly in reading or math scores.

Kendall challenges the common argument that schools simply need more money, asking what the actual target number would be and suggesting there isn’t one. He frames it as a system where funding is always deemed insufficient regardless of results, while data shows outcomes don’t consistently improve with increased spending. The broader takeaway is that how money is used matters more than how much is allocated, a point he says often gets overlooked in policy debates.

The show wraps with a look at new polling on President Donald Trump and the economy, highlighting declining approval ratings and growing concerns over inflation and the cost of living. Kendall walks through the numbers, noting that a majority of Americans disapprove of how economic issues are being handled, and argues that affordability remains the central issue for voters. He also discusses how policies like tariffs and ongoing conflicts are contributing to rising costs, reinforcing the idea that immediate economic pressures are shaping public opinion.

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Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show focuses heavily on property tax assessments, as Kendall reacts to what he and many listeners are seeing across central Indiana. He explains how his own assessment increased and points out that others are dealing with far larger jumps, urging people to call their local assessor and demand a full explanation rather than simply accepting the numbers. He walks through how the system works, including the appeal process, and stresses that these rising assessments are the real driver behind higher tax bills, not the temporary deductions many people were promised.

He then revisits Senate Bill 1 and argues that what was sold as relief ultimately failed to address the core issue. Kendall breaks down how the math plays out, showing how even small increases in assessed value can quickly erase any short-term savings. He ties those outcomes directly to decisions made by lawmakers, saying the structure of the law ensures taxes will continue to rise. The discussion builds into a broader criticism of state leadership and questions about why more wasn’t done to prevent what he says was an obvious outcome.

The conversation expands to what’s coming next, including the likelihood of more school referendums and additional tax pressure in the near future. Kendall argues that many homeowners will see any remaining savings disappear entirely, leaving them paying more than they were just a few years ago. He also raises concerns about how assessments are determined and the limited accountability around them, describing a system where taxpayers have little control once values are set.

Another major segment looks at Indiana’s marijuana laws, using new reporting on the size of the cannabis market tied to Hoosiers. Kendall argues that prohibition isn’t stopping usage, with many residents already accessing it either out of state or informally, while the state misses out on significant tax revenue. He frames the issue as both a financial and policy question, especially as surrounding states continue to allow legal access.

The show also touches on a potential change from the IHSAA regarding whether high school athletes can profit from their name, image, and likeness. Kendall lays out both sides, noting the traditional concerns while also pointing to court decisions that suggest some form of NIL is likely inevitable. He explains the proposed restrictions and questions how much impact the change would realistically have for most athletes, framing it as an attempt to manage something that’s already reshaping amateur sports.

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Today’s show opens with a breakdown of why gas prices are spiking so sharply, both nationally and here in Indiana. Prices have jumped more than 40% since late February, and the discussion focuses on the two main drivers: escalating tensions involving Iran and a refinery outage in northwest Indiana that’s hitting the Great Lakes region especially hard. The segment walks through how those factors are impacting everyday costs and why the increases feel so sudden and severe for drivers.

The conversation also digs into the lack of clear messaging around what Americans are getting in return for those higher costs. With oil prices climbing and uncertainty continuing, the focus turns to how expectations were set versus what people are experiencing now, and why frustration is building as costs continue to rise without a clear explanation of long-term benefits.

From there, the show shifts to Indianapolis politics, focusing on Joe Hogsett and the possibility of a fourth term as mayor. After years of signaling he might step away, new comments suggest he could stay in the race, and the segment looks at how his tenure is being viewed, particularly around major events like the 2020 riots and ongoing concerns about crime, development, and population shifts in the city.

The discussion expands into the broader political landscape in Marion County, including the lack of competition in many local races and what that means for voters. It also touches on how political parties are functioning at the local level and how that impacts who runs, who wins, and what choices voters actually have when they go to the ballot box.

The final segment moves to the national level with a major Supreme Court decision on redistricting and the Voting Rights Act. The ruling centers on how claims of discrimination must now be proven, narrowing the standards for legal challenges and changing how states approach drawing congressional maps. The discussion looks at what the decision means going forward and how it could reshape election law and representation across the country.

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This week on Statehouse Happenings, Rob Kendall and Abdul-Hakim Shabazz discuss the prospect of upsets across the state in Senate Primaries,

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Today’s show opens with a major update on Adam Krupp and the

From there, the conversation expands into the broader implications of

The show then shifts to Indiana’s state Senate primaries, focusing on

That leads into a deeper look at why many of these races are failing

Finally, the show examines Greg Ballard’s recent comments on

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Today’s show opens with a detailed look at gas taxes in Indiana, breaking down how drivers are paying multiple layers of taxation, including both an excise tax and a sales tax that rises along with fuel prices. The discussion centers on recent comments from the governor about whether to suspend parts of those taxes, how previous temporary relief impacted prices, and what may happen next. It also explores how different proposals—from both Republicans and Democrats—approach the idea of tax relief and what that means for everyday costs.

The conversation then moves into how those tax decisions are framed, particularly the idea that any reduction in taxes could impact infrastructure like roads and bridges. That leads into a broader look at state spending priorities, including recent examples involving large amounts of public money, and how those decisions compare to the relatively small savings taxpayers might see at the pump. The segment ties these ideas together by questioning how funding tradeoffs are presented to the public.

In the second major segment, the focus shifts to Indiana Republican politics, using a recent Indy Star column about Diego Morales as a starting point. The discussion looks at how party support works, why certain candidates continue to receive backing from top officials, and what that says about leadership and accountability within the party. It also examines the role of party loyalty versus performance and how that affects decision-making at higher levels.

That conversation expands into a broader reflection on political culture, including how both major parties elevate certain voices over others and how that impacts voters’ perception of candidates. There’s also a focus on how expectations of elected officials—particularly around competence, transparency, and behavior—play into how they are evaluated by both party insiders and the public.

The final segment moves to the national stage, analyzing a New York Times focus group of Trump voters and what it reveals about current political sentiment. The discussion highlights how voters view issues like cost of living, immigration, and foreign policy, and how those views connect to approval ratings. It also emphasizes how expectations set during campaigns—especially around affordability—can shape how voters respond once those expectations aren’t fully met.

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Today’s show covers three major stories that all tie back to accountability and transparency in government. It starts with a serious issue involving swatting incidents that targeted Indiana lawmakers during the redistricting fight. Despite multiple cases and the potential for real harm, there have been no arrests, no updates, and no clear answers from state officials, raising questions about how something this significant could seemingly disappear without resolution.

The conversation then shifts to the Fourth Congressional District race, where Jim Baird, Craig Haggard, and John Piper are competing in the primary. The focus centers on Haggard’s past controversies and a new dispute involving a data center–connected super PAC. Allegations include undisclosed campaign expenditures, ties between the PAC and a data center company, and questions about legislation and business dealings that could benefit those same interests.

From there, the discussion zooms out to a broader look at elections in Indiana, with early voting trends and turnout issues across the state. While Marion County is seeing increased participation, much of the state continues to struggle with low engagement, prompting a deeper look at why voters are tuning out.

A key theme is the lack of distinction between candidates, especially in primary races. Many challengers are criticized for running on limited issues without clearly defining how they differ from incumbents, leaving voters with little reason to feel invested or motivated. Examples from state Senate races highlight how candidates often take similar positions, even while attacking each other in campaign materials.

The show ultimately raises a consistent question across all these topics: whether it’s unanswered investigations, campaign controversies, or uninspiring candidates, how much accountability are voters actually getting from the people seeking to represent them.

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Today’s show digs into how Indiana handles your money, starting with the reality that drivers are hit with two separate taxes on gasoline—an excise tax and a sales tax that rises with prices. The governor’s temporary suspension of the sales tax is under scrutiny, especially with uncertainty around whether it can legally continue without legislative approval and whether relief for taxpayers will actually last.

From there, the conversation shifts to property taxes and the broader role of local government. Using real examples from a Brownsburg meeting, the discussion highlights how decisions are delayed, avoided, or buried in process when officials are asked to think outside the usual framework. It paints a picture of systems driven more by playbooks and bureaucracy than by problem-solving or accountability to taxpayers.

A major focus is the frustration over how governments talk about “lost revenue,” especially after years of rising property tax collections. The show examines how taxpayers are seeing only modest relief while local entities react as if funds they never owned were taken from them, raising questions about where previous increases actually went and why budgets still fall short.

The episode also revisits the state’s property tax reform efforts, including claims about how many people actually saw decreases versus increases. It breaks down concerns that any short-term relief may disappear due to unchanged assessments, combined with the likelihood of future referendums and other tax pressures returning.

Finally, there’s an update on the Adam Krupp situation, focusing on his disappearance from DCS, his return in a newly created role with no defined responsibilities, and the lack of transparency from state leadership. The segment raises broader questions about accountability, hiring practices, and how high-level positions are handled when issues arise behind the scenes.

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In this episode of The Rob Kendall Show, we break down how ambition,

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On today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show, we start with the fallout

We then dig into why redistricting failed to gain traction in Indiana

From there, we move into a major example of that frustration: state

Next, we take a closer look at Todd Rokita and how political

Finally, we break down a growing scandal out of Clinton County

All of this ties back to a central theme: the issue isn’t whether

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