Indy Politics Podcast with Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Nine hundred delegates picked a nominee in Fort Wayne. Greg Ballard says he's got 52,000 signatures that say otherwise. Indy Politics hears from new GOP secretary of state nominee Max Engling and independent challenger Greg Ballard on what the fall race for Indiana's elections chief is really about — closed primaries, party unity, and whether an independent can crack a ticket the GOP has swept since 2014.

With party conventions approaching and political temperatures rising, Indy Politics devoted a recent segment to the state of civility in local politics, featuring Alexandra (Lexi) Hudson, author of The Soul of Civility and founder of Civic Renaissance. The conversation focused on how social media is reshaping local discourse and what ordinary residents can do to foster more respectful engagement.

Nick Roberts, an Indianapolis city-county councilor and self-described data geek, joins Abdul to break down the surprising Democratic surge in Indiana’s recent primary. They dig into why traditionally red suburbs and counties are suddenly seeing more Democratic ballots, and how MAGA-aligned groups and anti-incumbent sentiment reshaped key races. Roberts explains why these numbers should have Republicans worried heading into November — and why Democrats think they finally have a real opening in Indiana.