Indy Politics Podcast with Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

This election season, Tammy Silverman of the Indiana Youth Institute joins us to discuss how families can help kids understand civic engagement, evaluate political information and build healthy habits. Listen for practical ideas on youth wellness, from community involvement to nutrition, sleep and movement.

Indiana’s state treasurer’s race rarely commands the spotlight, but Democratic candidate Coumba Kebe says voters should pay attention to the office that manages and invests billions of public dollars. In an interview with Indy Politics, Kebe argued that the treasurer can help make government more transparent and press lawmakers to consider the financial and economic consequences of policy choices. She is challenging Republican incumbent Dan Elliott for the statewide position.

In a speech this past week with the Greenwood Rotary,, Outgoing Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray described Indiana’s bipartisan legislative process, tax cuts, economic growth, and education gains. He discussed rising Medicaid costs and challenges facing local governments. On marijuana, road funding, and data centers, he shared his views on public health, infrastructure costs, and local decision-making. He also defended the Senate’s decision against mid-decade redistricting.

Fox 59 SOS Debate - Beau Bayh by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Fox 59 SOS Debate - Max Engling by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Fox 59 SOS Debate - Dr Laura Wilson by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Republican Secretary of State nominee Max Engling and State Rep. Jim Pressel at a Statehouse news conference Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026. They lay out a proposal to crack down on “chameleon” trucking companies that dissolve and re-form LLCs after crashes. Engling also responds to Beau Bayh’s reckless-driving ad and says a defamation lawsuit is coming.

The Indianapolis City-County Council has approved a $1.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2027. The council’s Democratic majority describes it as a balanced plan focused on public safety and infrastructure. Republican leader Brian Mowery said the budget was “rubber stamped” without meaningful input.

The Indianapolis City-County Council has approved a $1.9 billion budget for fiscal year 2027. The council’s Democratic majority describes it as a balanced plan focused on public safety and infrastructure. Republican leader Brian Mowery said the budget was “rubber stamped” without meaningful input.

On the race to fill the seat being vacated by State Senator Kyle Walker,  Dr. Juanita Albright and Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestall offered contrasting perspectives on state policy, local funding and public safety at a Greater Lawrence Chamber candidate forum. Chamber President Brad Klopenstein moderated the discussion, which also covered roads, education and the proposed arrival of the Chicago Bears in Indiana.

More than 100 people gathered at Marquette Senior Living on Indianapolis’ north side to hear Indiana House District 86 candidates Ed Delaney and Glenn Bill discuss issues facing the state. Data centers were a central point of disagreement.

Indianapolis City-County Councilor and tech expert Michael Paul Hart joins Indy Politics to discuss Flock license-plate reader cameras, privacy concerns and the safeguards the city should consider.

The Great SOS Debate - Greg Ballard by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

The Great SOS Debate - Beau Bayh by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

The Great SOS Debate - Max Engling by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

The Great SOS Debate - Lauri Shillings by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

The Great SOS Debate by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Indianapolis City-County Council President Maggie Lewis said Monday night that the council is expected to take up possible guardrails for the city's Flock license plate camera system after its Oct. 19 budget vote.

Pollster Andrew Weiser joins Indy Politics for a polling 101 conversation on what polls can—and can’t—tell us. He explains likely-voter surveys, how to spot transparent polling, and why election polls are snapshots, not predictions.

Pollster Andrew Weiser joins Indy Politics for a polling 101 conversation on what polls can—and can’t—tell us. He explains likely-voter surveys, how to spot transparent polling, and why election polls are snapshots, not predictions.

A year after the arrest of a Life Church pastor’s son brought scrutiny to the church and its leadership, questions remain about the congregation’s response, an internal denominational investigation and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s ties to the church, reporter Tom Lobianco said in an interview with Indy Politics.

A year after the arrest of a Life Church pastor’s son brought scrutiny to the church and its leadership, questions remain about the congregation’s response, an internal denominational investigation and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith’s ties to the church, reporter Tom Lobianco said in an interview with Indy Politics.

Republican Secretary of State nominee Max Engling discusses why he plans to keep a $50,000 campaign contribution from a donor with a federal bribery conviction. He also outlines his positions on election security, county clerk training and Indiana’s business registration process in this conversation with Indy Politics.

SoundCloud description At the Indiana Energy Association conference in French Lick, political commentator Chris Stirewalt examines how partisan politics and low-turnout primary elections are shaping American life and government. He argues that political identity has crowded out family, faith and community, while pressure from primary voters discourages members of Congress from working across party lines. In a wide-ranging talk and Q&A, Stirewalt discusses voter dissatisfaction, energy costs, public trust and the importance of local connections. His closing advice: save your strongest opinions for the issues that matter most.

Hear Indiana’s top fiscal thinkers break down the numbers that will shape the state’s future. In this IFPI panel, experts dig into inflation’s real impact on working families, why “credentials of value” matter more than ever, how self-sufficiency beats old poverty measures, and what population trends say about Indiana’s quality of life.

Council Leaders Say Public Is Welcome, Disruption Is Not by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears defended his record on crime, clarified his office’s role in immigration enforcement, and outlined his priorities heading into November during a brief conversation at a westside candidate forum.

The Indiana Supreme Court on Thursday heard fast-tracked arguments in a razor-thin Republican primary dispute that could decide the winner of the Senate District 23 race and clarify how far the state’s Recount Commission may go in rejecting ballots over technical defects.

The head of the Indiana AFL-CIO says the state of labor in Indiana is strong and getting stronger, with union membership growing and public support for organized labor near historic highs. In a recent conversation with Indy Politics, Brett Voorhees, president of the Indiana AFL-CIO, said both national and state-level numbers point to a favorable environment for unions, even as workers continue to struggle with inflation and affordability.

Indiana’s business climate remains strong, buoyed by billions in new investment, but faces mounting challenges from legal, tax, and local regulatory decisions that could slow growth, Indiana Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Cinders told Indy Politics.

Former Republican state senator Jim Merritt, who spent three decades in the Indiana Senate and 14 years as chairman of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission (IURC), says Indiana’s energy future is “bright” but increasingly shaped by politics, data centers, and a renewed openness to both coal and nuclear power.

Ball State economist Michael Hicks joins Indy Politics to break down Trump’s trade war with Canada, the hit to Indiana’s $15 billion export market, and why he believes Hoosier families are staring at a multi-billion-dollar tax hike.

Four candidates for Indiana Secretary of State clashed over election integrity, voter access, business services, and political reform during a wide-ranging debate hosted by the Indy Chamber, Fox 59, CBS 4, and IBJ in Indianapolis. On stage were Republican Max Engling, Democrat Beau Bayh, Libertarian Lori Shillings, and Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard, the former mayor of Indianapolis. Moderators Dan Spehler of Fox 59 and Leslie Weidenbener of IBJ stressed the race’s significance, calling it one of the most closely watched contests on Indiana’s November ballot.

Four candidates for Indiana Secretary of State clashed over election integrity, voter access, business services, and political reform during a wide-ranging debate hosted by the Indy Chamber, Fox 59, CBS 4, and IBJ in Indianapolis. On stage were Republican Max Engling, Democrat Beau Bayh, Libertarian Lori Shillings, and Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard, the former mayor of Indianapolis. Moderators Dan Spehler of Fox 59 and Leslie Weidenbener of IBJ stressed the race’s significance, calling it one of the most closely watched contests on Indiana’s November ballot.

Four candidates for Indiana Secretary of State clashed over election integrity, voter access, business services, and political reform during a wide-ranging debate hosted by the Indy Chamber, Fox 59, CBS 4, and IBJ in Indianapolis. On stage were Republican Max Engling, Democrat Beau Bayh, Libertarian Lori Shillings, and Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard, the former mayor of Indianapolis. Moderators Dan Spehler of Fox 59 and Leslie Weidenbener of IBJ stressed the race’s significance, calling it one of the most closely watched contests on Indiana’s November ballot.

Four candidates for Indiana Secretary of State clashed over election integrity, voter access, business services, and political reform during a wide-ranging debate hosted by the Indy Chamber, Fox 59, CBS 4, and IBJ in Indianapolis. On stage were Republican Max Engling, Democrat Beau Bayh, Libertarian Lori Shillings, and Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard, the former mayor of Indianapolis. Moderators Dan Spehler of Fox 59 and Leslie Weidenbener of IBJ stressed the race’s significance, calling it one of the most closely watched contests on Indiana’s November ballot.

Four candidates for Indiana Secretary of State clashed over election integrity, voter access, business services, and political reform during a wide-ranging debate hosted by the Indy Chamber, Fox 59, CBS 4, and IBJ in Indianapolis. On stage were Republican Max Engling, Democrat Beau Bayh, Libertarian Lori Shillings, and Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard, the former mayor of Indianapolis. Moderators Dan Spehler of Fox 59 and Leslie Weidenbener of IBJ stressed the race’s significance, calling it one of the most closely watched contests on Indiana’s November ballot.

With mandatory township mergers set to roll out across Indiana as early as next year, one northern Indiana official is warning that local governments are unprepared for the political and financial shock that is coming. Jason Critchlow, the elected trustee of Portage Township in St. Joseph County, told Indy Politics that roughly one-third of the state’s more than 1,000 townships are expected to be forced to merge under legislation already on the books. He argued that while consolidation may sound simple in theory, the reality on the ground—especially around fire protection and emergency medical services—is far more complex.

Independent Secretary of State candidate Greg Ballard says Indiana must keep tight control of its own voter data as he pushes a new statewide system of printed and digital voter guides that he argues will better inform Hoosiers and boost turnout.

Indianapolis just hit the pause button on new data centers until the end of 2027 — but three big projects are still moving ahead. On this episode, City-County Councilor Michael Paul Hart breaks down why a blanket moratorium could cost the city economically, how water, noise, and diesel concerns really work, and why “data center” has become a political dirty word. We also get into Flock license plate cameras and police drones — how IMPD actually uses them, what they can (and can’t) see, and where privacy and public safety collide in Indianapolis.