Indianapolis Radio: $65 Breakfasts Drive GOP Concern

A single breakfast at a local diner now costs $65. That figure anchors a warning issued by radio host Tony Katz and retired Army Col. Kurt Schlichter on WIBC 93.1 FM in Indianapolis.

Katz stated that the recent election results show a disconnect between Republican leadership and the financial reality of working families. He noted that mainstream polling in battleground states like Michigan and Wisconsin failed to capture the size of the shift. Katz said, “These polls don’t make any sense. They’re undercounting Republicans.” He added that many Republicans voted for Democrats due to economic frustration.

The core issue is the price of basic goods. Katz cited a $20 burrito as a symbol of the strain on middle-class budgets. He argued that the problem is not the purchase itself, but the high cost. He said, “It’s not that you shouldn’t buy a $20 burrito. It’s that the burrito shouldn’t cost $20.”

Schlichter, author of the new book American Warlord, joined the discussion to analyze the political fallout. He pointed to a $28 pound of steak as another marker of inflation. Schlichter said, “Dude, we cannot have a functioning country where breakfast costs $65.” He explained that voters feel they are doing everything right but lack political support.

Both speakers blamed poor optics for alienating voters. Schlichter mentioned Republican leaders who vacationed in Florida or owned getaway homes while constituents faced freezing weather and debt. He also cited offices that failed to answer constituent phone calls. Katz described this behavior as a form of complacency that ignores the needs of frontline workers.

The segment aired on weekdays during the 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time slot. The discussion focused on the need for Republican leaders to change their approach before the 2028 election cycle. The hosts emphasized that voters are ready to punish the party in power when kitchen-table economics fail.