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Hoosier Democrats, Republicans and insiders talk candidly about issues, the Indiana Statehouse and everything in between on Indiana Week In Review from WFYI Public Media. Join host Brandon Smith and political experts as they dive into the debates shaping Indiana. You'll get policy updates on policy, the state legislature and more, from the left, right and middle of the aisle.
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A look back at the Governor’s race between Republican- and eventual winner- Mike Braun, Democrat Jennifer McCormick, and Libertarian Donald Rainwater. Host Brandon Smith is joined by Democrat Ann DeLaney, Republicans Mike O’Brien and Chris Mitchem, Jon Schwantes of Indiana Lawmakers, Oseye Boyd of Mirror Indy, and Niki Kelly of the Indiana Capital …
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Senate Democratic Leader Greg Taylor faces sexual harassment allegations from three women. A state task force makes their recommendations on changes to Indiana tax law targeting property taxes, but cautions that any changes will not be felt until 2026. A committee tasked with making legislative recommendations on Medicaid once again released a repo…
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Jim Banks prepares to enter the U.S. Senate. Micah Beckwith criticizes Senator Todd Young and Senator-elect Jim Banks over reports the pair cast ballots to elect John Thune as Senate Majority Leader. Pamela Whitten faces criticism over her handling of Israel-Palestine protests at Indiana University, which also resulted in an overwhelming vote of no…
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A review of this week’s election results. Republicans see major gains, with Donald Trump taking the White House, Jim Banks elected to the U.S. Senate, Mike Braun succeeds Eric Holcomb as Governor, and Todd Rokita retains his position as Indiana Attorney General. Host Brandon Smith is joined by Republican Mike O’Brien, Democrat Ann DeLaney, Niki Kel…
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Democrat Valerie McCray and Libertarian Andrew Horning face off in a debate for Indiana’s open U.S. Senate seat. A legislative study committee makes recommendations to tackle rising health care costs. Kelley School of Business projects optimism for 2025, but warns Trump’s proposed tariffs could ignite a global trade war that would harm Indiana’s ec…
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Gubernatorial candidates Mike Braun, Jennifer McCormick and Donald Rainwater debate for the last time before the election. More than half of the Indiana Supreme Court is on the ballot as voters decide whether to keep them on the bench. Multiple felonies of a former Clark County Sheriff prompt proposal of a new ethics reform legislation in order to …
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Attorney General candidates Todd Rokita and Destiny Wells face off in a contentious debate. Mike Braun urges that the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission reject the conversion of an AES power plant from coal-fired to natural gas. Secretary of State Diego Morales and Todd Rokita question the citizenship of over half a million registered voters abo…
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Mike Braun unveils his public safety plan, including increased criminal penalties and mental health access. Jennifer McCormick’s abortion proposal includes changes to the state ban and medical records privacy protections. Indiana officials refuse to disclose cost of new execution drug as the state seeks to carry out the death penalty for the first …
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Mike Braun, Jennifer McCormick, and Donald Rainwater face off in a gubernatorial debate. Mike Braun’s campaign releases an attack ad against democrat Jennifer McCormick using a doctored image in violation of state law. The Indiana Behavioral Health Commission releases a new report calling for improved funding for services and addressing employment …
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Senator Mike Braun proposes expansions to healthcare legislation targeting prior authorizations and regulations. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick releases an economic development strategy focused on local input and small business support. Indiana loses over $4 billion per year due to affordable child care. Host Brandon Smith is…
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Two recent polls show vastly different results for statewide races- with Democrats either tying in races for governor and attorney general, or being defeated by Republicans by a large margin. A lawsuit accuses healthcare providers and hospitals of mass Medicaid fraud costing the state millions. Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Braun releases…
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A county judge rules against abortion care providers seeking to expand access to abortion in Indiana. Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump square off in their first- and possibly only- debate ahead of the November election. Jennifer McCormick unveils a plan to gradually roll out legalized cannabis, focusing on medical use …
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Governor Holcomb visits Ukraine to bolster ties and sign a memorandum of understanding with a Ukrainian province. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick proposes ethics reforms that would place limits on lobbyists and create new sexual harassment reporting systems. Vaccination rates for toddlers falls for the first time since before …
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Democratic gubernatorial candidate- and former State Superintendent of Public Instruction- Jennifer McCormick unveils her education plan. Local governments face nearly $2 billion annually in road maintenance costs over the next 10 years. Former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel pleads guilty to 27 felonies related to his time as sheriff and in runnin…
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IREAD-3 scores show some improvement, but still fall well below pre-pandemic levels. A federal judge dismisses a lawsuit to Senate Enrolled Act 202, which requires university faculty to teach opposing political viewpoints or risk losing tenure. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce calls for a new water planning team amid continued uncertainty over the L…
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Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick unveils her tax relief proposal. The Indiana Department of Education releases a new draft of its high school diploma overhaul. Lieutenant Governor candidates Republican Micah Beckwith, Democrat Terry Goodin, and Libertarian Tonya Hudson debate at the Indiana State Fair. Host Brandon Smith is joi…
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Kamala Harris names Minnesota Governor Tim Walz as her running mate. Calls for Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett to resign in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against top aid Thomas Cook going back to 2017. Indiana’s new All-Payer Claims Database lets Hoosiers see how much individual medical procedures cost in the state. Indiana Public Broadc…
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Mike Braun makes changes to his newly released property tax proposal amid criticism over uneven impact. University leaders from across the state express concern over Indiana’s new high school diploma standards, with Purdue University saying such diplomas will not meet admissions requirements.The Indiana University Board of Trustees unveils a new po…
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Vice President Kamala Harris makes Indiana one of her first presidential campaign stops, speaking at Zeta Phi Beta Sorority’s national Boule. An Indianapolis lawyer files a professional conduct complaint against Attorney General Todd Rokita. Indiana reached the end of its fiscal year with a $421 million surplus, the lowest margin in the post-pandem…
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Indiana’s political leaders react to the assassination attempt against Donald Trump. Democrats formally choose Terry Goodin and Destiny Wells as their lieutenant governor and attorney general nominees. I-LEARN scores show some improvement in reading levels, but increased struggles with mathematics. Host Brandon Smith is joined by Democrat Ann DeLan…
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Loretta Rush seeks a third term as Chief Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court. Fewer Indiana high school students enroll in FAFSA, with at least some blame placed on glitches in the rollout of a new version of the application. The Gary Community School Corporation officially shifts back to local control seven years after a state takeover. Host Bran…
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The U.S. Supreme Court grants presidents near-total immunity and sets a high bar for prosecution. A judge invalidates Indiana’s 2020 Medicaid expansion waiver, ending Healthy Indiana Plan Plus payments for the foreseeable future. Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Donald Rainwater proposes changing the state constitution to cap property taxes. Hos…
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Senator J.D. Ford announces that he will not run for lieutenant governor against conservative Democrat Terry Goodin. Former state legislator Randy Head is elected unanimously as chair of the Indiana Republican Party. Governor Eric Holcomb and A.G. Todd Rokita announce the state will seek to resume executions after a 15 year pause. Host Brandon Smit…
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Christian nationalist Micah Beckwith chosen as Mike Braun’s gubernatorial running mate over Braun’s hand-picked candidate Julie McGuire. Jennifer McCormick names conservative Democrat Terry Goodin as her pick for lieutenant governor. The state makes further changes that will impact how families of medically complex children receive Medicaid benefit…
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The state approves nearly $100M to expand the controversial LEAP district. An anti-abortion group sues the state health department to regain access to terminated pregnancy reports. Indiana Republicans gather for the state party convention.Di viewerswfyi@wfyi.org (WFYI Public Media)
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Todd Rokita threatens to sue Gary, East Chicago, West Lafayette and Monroe County over “sanctuary city” ban. Gubernatorial candidates Mike Braun, Jennifer McCormick, and Donald Rainwater agree to at least one televised debate. Rokita weighs in on the controversy surrounding Indianapolis’ dueling soccer stadium plans, with the Indy Eleven stadium in…
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Donald Trump found guilty in the New York business records case. A court hears final arguments on Indiana’s near-total abortion ban. Indiana spends nearly half a billion dollars on private schools through the voucher program, even though nearly 70% of students have no record of attending an Indiana public school. Indiana Public Broadcasting digital…
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Families of medically complex children sue the FSSA to stop Medicaid changes that would impact their ability to provide care. Literacy training requirements for teachers change after backlash from educators. All counties in Indiana opt into the state public health initiative to address immunizations, chronic disease prevention, and maternal and chi…
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The ACLU sues Purdue University’s board of trustees over a new state law impacting tenure. Jim Banks attends a Mar-A-Lago fundraising lunch for Donald Trump that was largely viewed as an audition for potential running mates. A look ahead at this summer’s legislative study committees, who will be looking into issues ranging from school absenteeism t…
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Mike Braun wins the GOP gubernatorial primary and names political newcomer Julie McGuire as his running mate. Democrat Valerie McCray becomes the first Black woman to be a nominee for U.S. Senate in Indiana history.Di viewerswfyi@wfyi.org (WFYI Public Media)
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Indiana University students protest Israel’s war in Gaza. Marijuana reclassification plans put pressure on the Indiana General Assembly to legalize use. A grassroots organization meets with the FSSA and Governor Holcomb over planned Medicaid cutbacks.Di viewerswfyi@wfyi.org (WFYI Public Media)
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The final GOP gubernatorial primary debate sees sparks fly between candidates and moderator Jon Schwantes. The Indiana State Teachers Association pushes back on the state Department of Education’s science of reading training. Indiana’s largest teachers union endorses Democrat Jennifer McCormick for governor.…
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Indiana’s six-way GOP primary is now the most expensive in state history, with over $35 million spent by candidates so far. Indiana University’s Bloomington faculty have overwhelmingly voted no confidence in IU President Pamela Whitten. An IndyStar report claims the state Democratic Party largely ignored sexual harassment allegations against state …
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ReCenter Indiana, a centrist group aimed at moderating state government, asks democrats to vote in the GOP primary. Governor Holcomb announces new READI grant recipients, distributing $500 million to programs across the state. Hoosiers with disabilities or who wish to age in place will have a harder time accessing the Aged and Disabled waiver from …
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An appeals court rules the state’s near-total abortion ban likely violates RFRA protections, siding with a trial court. South Korean tech company SK Hynix to build its first U.S. semiconductor plant at Purdue Research Park in West Lafayette. Mike Braun’s U.S. Senate campaign receives the second-largest fine in Senate campaign history over disclosur…
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Governor Eric Holcomb calls for Republican gubernatorial candidates to provide details on their positions on issues commonly addressed by the office of the governor. Controversial funding changes for the Indiana Gaming Commission. Todd Rokita presents a report claiming the state used “faulty” data to justify the Stay-At-Home order at the beginning …
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Gov. Holcomb vetoes a bill that would define and ban antisemitism in Indiana public schools. Gubernatorial candidate Brad Chambers unveils his economic plan. Fellow candidate Jamie Reitenour decries her exclusion from televised debate. Mike Braun picks up what could be a key endorsement for his own campaign for governor. Host Brandon Smith is joine…
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The first GOP gubernatorial primary debate as Mike Braun, Brad Chambers, Suzanne Crouch, Eric Doden, Curtis Hill, and Jamie Reitenour vie for their party’s nomination. A compromise struck on the antisemitism bill removes the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s examples of antisemitism. Disqualification language for attorney general candi…
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Mike Braun leads in a Republican gubernatorial primary poll. Indiana’s public access counselor could see a significant change in duties and indefinite term limits in a bill headed to Holcomb’s desk. The state legislature approves a bill limiting the governor’s ability to extend statewide disaster emergency declarations. Host Brandon Smith is joined…
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John Rust is removed from the Republican senate primary ballot after both the Indiana Election Commission and the Indiana Supreme Court rule against him. New limits on debt protections for Hoosiers as the statute of limitations on bank charge disputes lowers from six years to two. Public pension recipients will not receive a 13th check for the seco…
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The Senate GOP seeks to enshrine new protections for gun makers and sellers, in an effort to kill a lawsuit by the city of Gary. A senate committee unanimously approves new wording for the antisemitism bill to clarify that it does not bar criticism aimed at the state of Israel. A proposal for limits on attorney general candidates who face sanctions…
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Republican lawmakers propose tenure changes to higher education and seek trustee appointments on university boards. The Indiana Supreme Court hears arguments in a ballot access lawsuit to determine if John Rust can run for senate on the Republican ticket. U.S. House Republicans impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on their second …
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Victoria Spartz reverses course on reelection, announcing she will run for another term. A bill repealing wetlands protections heads to Governor Holcomb’s desk this week, without input from wetlands experts or advocates. Todd Rokita launches an online platform that will allow anyone to submit perceived examples of race, gender, and political ideolo…
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The Indiana House approves a bill to roll back child care regulations for unlicensed providers. A tenant protection bill failed in a Senate committee, with at least one senator arguing that it does not contain protections for landlords. A bill to update state Medicaid policy was not called down for a House floor vote, failing to meet a deadline to …
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State Senate committee advances legislation that would allow religious chaplains to serve as public school counselors. House lawmakers consider legislation to scale back child labor laws in order to bring them in-line with federal regulations. Three virtual school administrators arrested for alleged scheme to defraud the Indiana Department of Educa…
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Beth White announces a bid for Indiana attorney general, challenging incumbent Todd Rokita and fellow Democrat Destiny Wells. A new bill aimed at defining and banning antisemitism in public educational institutions advances from the Indiana House to the Senate. A Senate committee advances legislation limiting the use of prior authorization by insur…
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Governor Holcomb announces that his READI 2.0 initiative will receive a $250 million boost from the Lilly Endowment. Larry Bucshon and Greg Pence will not seek reelection in 2024, joining Victoria Spartz and Jim Banks, who is running for Mike Braun’s open U.S. Senate seat. Republicans in the House and Senate lay out their agendas, focusing on educa…
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An Indiana Medicaid error leads to a $1 billion shortfall in the state budget, with the issue largely centered on home and community-based long-term care services. Governor Holcomb teases his final legislative agenda. Outgoing Republican mayors Duke Bennett of Terre Haute and Jim Lienhoop of Columbus say local officials need fewer state restriction…
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A look ahead at the 2024 elections. Mike Braun, Brad Chambers, Eric Doden, Curtis Hill, and Jamie Reitenour compete for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. Jim Banks, John Rust, Marc Carmichael, and Valerie McCray seek their party’s nomination for the U.S. Senate race. Todd Rokita faces a challenge from Democrat Destiny Wells in the Attorney General’…
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A look back at 2023. A big budget session delivers major investments to public and mental health and creates near universal access to school vouchers. Mike Braun, Brad Chambers, Suzanne Crouch, Eric Doden, Curtis Hill, and Jamie Reitenour compete for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. The Indiana Supreme Court rules the near-total abortion ban does …
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