11/25 Torchbearer Weekly Policy Update
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Let’s dig in…
- Braun Says Redistricting Fight in “Just the First Inning”
- What Education Issues Will Indiana Lawmakers Consider in 2026?
- U.S. Added 119k Jobs in September After August Decline, Delayed Report Shows
- White House Drafts Order Directing Justice Department to Sue States That Pass AI Regulations
- Indiana’s Legislature Appears Poised to Make History by Ignoring a Governor’s Special Session Call
- Indiana Startups Survive Longer Than Average
- The Proposals That Could Reshape Indianapolis Public Schools
- Eli Lilly Joins the $1 Trillion Club
- Thanksgiving May Be A Little Cheaper This Year
- Share the Torchbearer Newsletter with Your Network!
- Important Dates
Braun Says Redistricting Fight in “Just the First Inning”
It took less than 10 minutes for the fractures between the Indiana Republican Party to show after lawmakers convened for the ceremonial start of the 2026 legislative session.
Why it matters: The redistricting fight is dividing Republicans, while the Trump administration is pressuring the party to unite and deliver additional GOP congressional seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Catch up quick: Gov. Mike Braun called lawmakers in for a special redistricting session even though Senate Republicans said they didn't have the votes.
- Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) confirmed last week the chamber would not come in to take up redistricting.
The latest: Braun said last week he's considering ways to compel the Senate to show up for the session and take a public vote.
Driving the news: A procedural vote taken on each Organization Day — usually without issue — divided that chamber's Republican caucus.
- 19 of 40 Republican senators voted against a resolution allowing the chamber to adjourn until January, trying to force the Senate to come back and take up the redistricting issue.
- The resolution passed with Democratic support.
What they're saying: Sen. Mike Young (R-Indianapolis) said he'd "be sick" if the GOP was short of the majority by one or two seats after the midterms.
The other side: Bray said every member of his caucus wants to deliver a Republican majority in Congress next time.
- "A number of members of our caucus — I'm included in that — don't feel like it's the right way to move forward, simply because it's not the right way to get that goal achieved," Bray told reporters Tuesday.
- Instead, Bray wants to see the party focus on flipping the 1st congressional district in northwest Indiana by recruiting and supporting a strong candidate to challenge incumbent Democrat Frank Mrvan.
House Speaker Todd Huston (R-Fishers) said Tuesday he's keeping the first two weeks of December open with the hopes that they'll come back to pass a new congressional map and that Braun is keeping up his calls for a public vote.
- "It's a question of evening up the playing field and we're just getting started," Braun told reporters. "This is just in the first inning."
Reality check: Polls show the majority of Hoosiers are opposed to mid-cycle redistricting.
- A pro-redistricting rally held Tuesday at the Statehouse had an anemic turnout, just a fraction of the crowd that turned out for several anti-redistricting rallies over the last several months.
What's next: The regular session is set to convene Jan. 5.
What we're watching: If lawmakers don't return before then, there is a chance some redistricting supporters will try to push the legislation through at the beginning of the regular session.
- But that would make for difficult timing ahead of the February congressional filing deadline. (Axios)
What Education Issues Will Indiana Lawmakers Consider in 2026?
The 2026 legislative session in Indiana has started with intense discussions around redistricting, overshadowing other legislative priorities.
Why it matters: The redistricting debate has drawn national attention and may impact the political landscape in Indiana for years to come.
- Lawmakers have limited time to introduce new legislation, including key topics like education reform.
What’s next: The session is short and concludes in March, meaning significant legislative changes could still occur, similar to past sessions.
- Upcoming proposals and advocacy group priorities will be announced by January, shaping the session’s direction.
Education focus: House Education Chair Bob Behning continues a multiyear deregulation effort of Indiana’s education code, Title 20, aiming to ease bureaucratic constraints on schools.
- Key changes from 2025 include eliminating certain experience requirements for the Secretary of Education and reducing transportation notice requirements.
- The Indianapolis Local Education Alliance is expected to deliver recommendations that could redefine school district governance and resource sharing.
Career education: Emphasis is shifting from early education to career and technical education, with lawmakers promoting programs that offer students workplace experience and skills.
- Despite calls for a robust preschool program, Republican leaders maintain a focus on career readiness and technical skills development. (Chalkbeat)
U.S. Added 119k Jobs in September After August Decline, Delayed Report Shows
The U.S. economy added 119,000 jobs in September, surpassing economists‘ expectations despite a rise in the unemployment rate to 4.4%.
Why it matters: The unexpected job growth highlights resilience in the labor market even amid economic disruptions.
- The 43-day federal government shutdown delayed the release of the report and affected millions of federal workers.
The big picture: Economists had predicted only 50,000 job gains with a stable unemployment rate, but the actual figures exceeded forecasts.
- However, BLS revised August’s figures from a gain to a loss of 4,000 jobs, indicating volatility.
What’s next: This report is the last employment data before the Federal Reserve’s final policy meeting of the year on Dec. 9-10.
- The October jobs report will not be issued, and the November report is now set for Dec. 16, further adding to economic uncertainty. (The Hill)
White House Drafts Order Directing Justice Department to Sue States That Pass AI Regulations
The Trump administration is crafting an executive order for the Justice Department to sue states regulating AI, as revealed by The Washington Post.
Why it matters: This move could clash with presidential power limits and disrupt states‘ democratic processes.
- It follows a failed attempt to block state AI regulations, highlighting a divide within the GOP.
- Concerns over AI’s impact on jobs, children, and energy costs are elevating the issue politically.
The big picture: The order would challenge state laws on AI, claiming interference with interstate commerce.
- Critics argue it bypasses Congress and undermines states’ rights.
- The plan includes a task force to assess state AI laws and their implications on free speech.
What’s next: Trump aims for a federal AI standard, suggesting its inclusion in a defense bill, stirring opposition from some Republican governors.
- The ongoing debate underscores the tension between federal oversight and state autonomy in AI governance. (IBJ)
Indiana’s Legislature Appears Poised to Make History by Ignoring a Governor’s Special Session Call
Indiana’s Senate has adjourned until January, ignoring Gov. Mike Braun’s call for a special session on redistricting.
Why it matters: This marks an unprecedented move in Indiana’s history, highlighting tensions between the governor and lawmakers over legislative authority.
- The decision reflects a divide within the state’s Republican Party, with some supporting redistricting efforts while others resist.
What’s next: Gov. Braun is exploring methods to compel the Senate to act, though details are currently unclear.
- The debate centers on whether the legislature is legally obligated to meet when summoned by the governor.
The backdrop: Historically, governors have relied on special sessions to address urgent issues, but the current standoff questions the balance of power between Indiana’s executive and legislative branches.
- Former high-profile instances of legislative defiance include the 2011 Democratic walkout over “right-to-work” legislation.
Details: The Indiana Constitution allows the governor to call special sessions, but it also grants the legislature autonomy over its proceedings, creating a constitutional gray area. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Indiana Startups Survive Longer Than Average
More than half of new Hoosier businesses make it to their fifth year, per the latest federal data.
Why it matters: Keeping a startup alive is no small feat, and their ability to survive amid difficult conditions bodes well for the resilience of Indiana's small business sector and overall economic sentiment.
Driving the news: According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data, 53.4% of Indiana businesses that opened in March 2019 were still up and running in March 2024.
- That's higher than the national average of 51.6%, and the 14th highest startup survival rate in the U.S.
Zoom out: West Virginia (57.6%), Connecticut (57.5%), and Alaska and Pennsylvania (both 56%) have the highest survival rates.
- Washington (41.1%), Missouri (43.2%) and Washington, D.C. (44.7%) have the lowest.
Zoom in: In honor of Global Entrepreneurship Week, Gov. Mike Braun's office released data Wednesday finding that businesses under five years old account for 74% of the state's new job growth.
- Indiana also ranks in the top five when looking at startups in an even shorter term, with 84% of businesses keeping their doors open after one year.
- About 1.2 million Indiana residents — about 43% of the overall workforce — are employed by small businesses, per the governor's office.
Between the lines: Americans filed nearly 5.5 million new business applications in 2023, or about 16.3 for every 1,000 residents, per the most recent U.S. Census Bureau data.
- Marion County saw some of the nation's largest gains with a state-leading 25.4 new business applications per 1,000 residents.
- That puts it in the top 100 U.S. counties.
State of play: Braun credits much of Indiana's success to state initiatives created to help entrepreneurs get their ideas off the ground.
- The Indiana Small Business Development Center assisted 5,817 entrepreneurs and helped 372 new businesses launch in 2025.
- The Community Collaboration Fund awarded more than $925,000 to accelerator projects statewide, including Indianapolis' Ignition at 16Tech incubator designed to support early-stage collegiate founders.
- Young entrepreneurs received backing from efforts like Indiana's new Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship Caucus and the STARTedUP Challenge, the nation's largest annual high school pitch competition formerly known as Innovate WithIN.
What he's saying: "We're working to make Indiana the best place in the country to start and grow a business, and with the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Power Up Indiana, READI 2.0 and our new jobs-and-wages centered economic development model, we're well on our way to achieving that goal this Global Entrepreneurship Week," Braun said in a statement.
Go deeper: The big concerns of small businesses (Axios)
The Proposals That Could Reshape Indianapolis Public Schools
The future governance of Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) is under scrutiny as new models are proposed.
Why it matters: These models could reshape how IPS and its charter schools operate, impacting resource sharing and student services.
- The Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA) is working to develop recommendations by year-end.
- Models range from a collaborative compact to independent authorities for transportation and facilities.
Transportation models: Two main proposals are being considered for the 40,000 students needing transportation.
- A collaborative compact involving fees from charter schools.
- An independent transportation authority managing walk zones and budgets.
Facilities models: Four options aim to balance control and accountability in school facilities management.
- Options include IPS as the main service provider or an independent building authority.
- Decision-making power remains a critical issue.
Governance concerns: The shift in decision-making power raises questions about accountability and community involvement.
- Superintendent Aleesia Johnson emphasizes the importance of community voices through elections.
- Some alliance members support expertise-driven decision-making.
Next steps for ILEA: Listening sessions are planned for December, with a final vote set for Dec. 17. (Indy Star)
Eli Lilly Joins the $1 Trillion Club
Eli Lilly reached a market valuation of $1 trillion in trading Friday, becoming the 10th member of an elite U.S. club dominated by the tech behemoths.
Why it matters: Crossing the threshold underscores Lilly's emergence as the new king of the obesity drug market.
By the numbers: Shares of Lilly have risen more than 36% so far this year.
- Since the launch of its flagship obesity drug, Zepbound, two years ago, Lilly's shares have risen more than 75%, Reuters notes.
- Lilly is the first healthcare company and the only non-tech company other than Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (counting Tesla as tech) in the trillion-dollar club.
Zoom out: Lilly has overtaken Novo Nordisk as the leader in the obesity market.
- Obesity and diabetics drugs now account for more than half of Lilly's revenue.
- Two new injectable obesity drugs are in trials.
Yes, but: More competition could be in the pipeline. As Axios has reported, Roche, AstraZeneca, Merck, Amgen and Pfizer are angling for a piece of the obesity market, chiefly through acquisitions. (Axios)
Thanksgiving May Be A Little Cheaper This Year
The average "classic holiday feast for 10" will run $55.18 this Thanksgiving, per the American Farm Bureau Federation's new annual survey.
- That's about $5.52 per person, and down about 5% from last year — the third straight year of declines.
Yes, but: "Three years of declines don't fully erase dramatic increases that led to a record-high cost of $64.05 in 2022," AFBF says.
How it works: The group's estimate is based on a basket of traditional Thanksgiving favorites, including (of course) turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing and more.
- Prices were gathered by volunteer shoppers nationwide both in person and using grocery store apps and websites.
- "They looked for the best possible prices without taking advantage of special promotional coupons or combined purchase deals," per AFBF.
Zoom in: Cheaper turkey is driving much of the overall decline.
- The average price of a 16-pound frozen bird is $21.50 this year, down over 16% from last Thanksgiving.
Between the lines: Wholesale turkey prices are up amid avian flu outbreaks, but retailers are eating into their margins to keep prices down at the grocery store, Axios' Kelly Tyko reports.
What they're saying: "Farmers are still working to rebuild turkey flocks that were devastated by avian influenza, but overall demand has also fallen," AFBF Economist Faith Parum said in a statement.
- "The combination will help ensure turkey will remain an affordable option for families celebrating Thanksgiving."
Meanwhile: A separate Deloitte survey based on a different basket of goods found that a Thanksgiving dinner for eight people will run $76.50 — "up only 0.6% from 2024 and somewhat below the food-at-home inflation rate." (Axios)
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Important Dates:
Anticipated First Day of Legislative Session: Monday, January 5th