Tony Katz and the Morning News 3rd Hr 3-17-26

What is Toyota affordability? It's buying smart. Your local Toyota dealer has great deals available today on Tacoma, Tundra, and Forerunner with the space and features for any adventure. It means driving for less, with available hybrid options, delivering great MPGs without sacrificing power. And it means trading for more. Toyota is known for building long-lasting vehicles, meaning your truck will hold its value for years to come. Shop Toyota.com to find out more. Toyota. Let's go places. So we have the story over at WIBC.com about a scam with the BMW. Tony Katz. That's me. Hey, how are you? 93, WIBC, live streaming on the YouTube. Check it out for yourself. Just go to WIBC and subscribe. All the shows are there, and they are very entertaining. So as the story goes, there's a warning about a text message scam where people are impersonating the BNV, links that resemble official state of Indiana web addresses, that go to fake websites that mimic the BMW, and then generate fake receipts. And now you are spending your money to not get what you need to get done. That's what's going on here. I'm always amazed by the...

By the ingenuity, the ingenuity, the ingenuity would be something completely different of these people. They could just get jobs. They know how to build websites. Go do that. But it's the scam. It's how do we take advantage of people. So this story is there, and you might want to share that with some people that you love and make sure they know not to fall for it. Now, I don't know if this is something to fall for. I just want to say for the record that I have no on the record information about what really happened here. But this story of Rob Schumacher from the Indianapolis Zoo stepping down as president and CEO. Yeah, I'm not buying this story at all. This story has all of the new fields of vibes. where they got rid of Charles Venable and then they brought on the new woman to be the CEO, and then the next thing you know, Colette Pierce Burnett, she's gone and the financial impropriety and where the money go and members are resigning. And yet nobody will answer a question. They still have an answer to question for the people. But now that some of that board is gone, Some of those, clearly people only interested in the DEI, not actually interested in running a museum. Now that those people are gone, I'm very, very interested in getting back into supporting the museum. Because if they're going to be about art, all kinds of art, I'm down. If they're going to be about ridiculousness, which they were. and making everything about race and not about art, no thank you. They did this to themselves, and they had very, very bad board leadership. The zoo does not have bad board leadership. And they do some very interesting stuff over there. But this guy, Rob Schumacher, I've never met, I've heard him speak. It's time for me to make room for the next leader. He's been the CEO. for 16 years. We've done all these good things. The plan has been built out, and now it's time for somebody else to take the reins. He didn't say I'm going to be stepping down in a year or so, and we're going to work with somebody and get them up to speed, so we have a smooth transition. March 6th. March 6th. You mean you already stepped down? There's a story here. I don't know what it is. But there is a story here. And I can't wait to find out. I don't know what it is. Oh, I've done some reaching out. I have no idea what the story is. But I assume that there's a story. This has all of the Newfield's vibes. Not that there is financial impropriety that something weird went on. There's a story behind the story. I don't know if it'll make a difference to the zoo. I want them to be successful. But it's going to be interesting. Tony Katz 93 WIBC. Good morning.

What is Toyota affordability? It's buying smart. Right now, your local Toyota dealer has great deals available on some of the most reliable trucks on the market, like the off-road ready to coma, rugged full-sized tundra, and legendary forerunner, each with the space, tech, and features to handle it all, from the work site to the trails. It means driving for less, with efficient hybrid options available, extending your overall driving range and delivering great MPGs, meaning bigger savings at the pump without sacrificing power. And it means trading for more. The Tacoma and Tundra are ranked number one and number two in resale value over all vehicles, according to Kelly Boo Book, which can mean thousands more than average right back in your pocket when it's time to trade in. That's Toyota affordability. Buy smart, drive for less, and trade for more. Shop Toyota.com or your local dealer for deals and details. Vehicles projected resale value is specific to the 2026 model year. For more information, visit Kelly Blue Books, KB.com. Toyota brand average resale value is 53% versus the average vehicle at 45%. Toyota, let's go places. Now being reported that Iran's security chief was killed in airstrikes, Israel making this claim. Tony Katz 93 WIBC, good morning. Good to be with you. directing the IDF to continue to hunt down the leadership of the terror and oppression regime in Iran and cut up the head of the octopus again and again and prevent it from regrowing. I think it's supposed to be the head of the, the head of the snake. But, hey, there could be a whole language barrier there. The fight continues pace. And I shared the story earlier that... There was a write-up in, of all places, Al Jazeera, and you're like, why? Why, Tony, would you bring up an Al Jazeera story? It's accurate. It's very, it's, it's the weirdest thing ever. The idea that everything's a mess and everything's terrible and the Americans didn't plan properly and they don't know what they're doing and they're failing. No part of this is true. It's true if you listen to Senator Chris Murphy. If you listen to the woke right, if you pay attention what's happening on the ground, Iran is being destroyed. Their infrastructure, the military, their Navy, their ability to shoot missiles down 92%. They're going to lose Karg Island, K-H-A-R-G, where the oil flows through. There are people desperate for America to lose because their entire existence is predicated on the idea of no more Forever Wars and somehow we're more pious. You're not pious. The whole life idea of Forever Wars is a childlike Pablam piece. The terrorists that are the Iranian regime need to be removed and should have happened 47 years ago, 46 years ago, 45 years ago, 44 years ago. It's happening now and good. Chearing for Americans to lose like Senator Chris Murphy is, and my view, Rokane is, and a host of others, it's weird. It's gross. It's nothing I ever would want to vote for. It's not people I would want to be around, and I sure is hell.

Sure as hell don't want them as leadership of any party or any movement that I'm a part of. I would not want to want to belong to any club that would have someone like them as a member. But there are other things happening. The reality is that we are better up without the Iranian regime. I think the administration has done not a great job of selling this. And there are some realities that come back to us, like oil prices. There's another reality going on, which is what's going on with housing. Because mortgage rates were moving down. Now mortgage rates are moving back up. We hear these stories that there has been progress on this road. And then you hear about rental caps here in Indiana. You're hearing about the president talking about whether or not corporations can buy houses. Mark Deedle joins us right now, markdeedle.com, your real estate guy, and of course, a sponsor here at WIBC. Mark, I appreciate you taking the time. There's a lot going on nationwide and a lot going on locally. in housing. Let's start with a bit of the nationwide and this idea of moving legislation to prevent large companies, whether it's the black rocks of the world or others, from buying up houses. Talk to me what's happening out there as you see it in the real estate market with corporations buying up houses. And do you see that as an issue to the first time or second time home buyer? Well, I think there's no question across the country, those large institutional investors. Let's just call them like a thousand homes or more. Do come into markets across the country, and they are competitive, and they can push out those first-time homebuyers. I think that's just a fact. Now, to what degree in each area, you know, that depends on what part of the country is, is in. It depends on your price point. But there's no question there's that competition that exists out there with large institutional investors. So the question before us is when we see people saying that you shouldn't be allowed to sell your home to one of these people, really, what they say is these people can't be buying these houses, but it's telling individuals that they can't sell their homes. What is the response that you're seeing and how has this affected individual prices on houses that you're dealing with? Well, right now, there's no question even here in central Indiana. We do have, we continue to have a supply issue. Now, with that said, Indianapolis, Central Indiana is a, it would be considered a favorably priced market. And because of that, we do have a tendency to have more of the institutional investors, especially in the Marion County area, maybe less so on the overall donut area, to compete with. But right now, Mark Deagle Realty, we're working with sellers and buyers right now. And from a buyer standpoint,

When you're talking about first-time homebuyers, we're talking about more of an affordability issue specifically for that particular buyer. And oftentimes it's not going out and having a challenge competing with an institutional investor. It's more, can we solve their challenges as a first-time home buyer and help them find that down payment? Can we make sure they have reliable, verifiable income? So from that perspective, running into first-time homebuyers with a lot of competition. from the investors, there is, but we have an initial situation to solve first. Talking to Mark Dietel, Mark Detel, Diedel, Mark Detel.com, the real estate guy, and, of course, a sponsor here at W-I-B-C, so I go to the pros when I want answers. to questions. Also, there's a conversation about the rental caps, right? You had places like Carmel and other places saying that we want to put a cap on rentals and now you have the state coming in saying, they're saying no caps on rentals, right? They're saying, we're going to make this decision for you. What does that do to the marketplace? Well, I think, again, when you look at the rental cap situation, I think you have these towns, cities, municipalities that have very good intentions. And the people that live there obviously have very good intentions that they want to protect the integrity of their neighborhoods. Statistically speaking, I mean, an homeowner is going to take more pride. You know, single family owner occupied. is going to take more pride in taking care of maintaining their home. And I think that's critical. But then at the same time, there's people that need to rent. And that whole decision on the rental camp, it's interesting that we're having this conversation. I happen to be on the planning commission of Bargersville, and we were just before us last night. We actually had... a new subdivision coming in and we actually asked for a commitment to put that 10% rental cap on that specific neighbor hood. So there are a couple of different ways a town and a community can go about kind of protecting that home ownership percent in the particular area. But I can definitely understand people wanting to have that individual choice and there's a question on whether we want the state to come in here. and make decisions for us individually in our own particular communities. And that's obviously that's a big debate for another time. Yeah, well, it is, as I see it, part of the biggest part of this debate. Before I let you go, Mark, talking to Mark Detel, Mark Detel.com, talking real estate, take a look at mortgage rates right now, which we're down and we're coming down. And the president wants to make moves to bring mortgage rates down, like 50-year mortgages, which I vehemently oppose the idea. I mean, if somebody wants one, I say give it to him. But the idea that that is solving a problem of home ownership, I think, is...

A bit of madness, we should be more focused on the regulatory side than anything else. But mortgage rates have started creeping back up. If we take a look at national averages, I'm looking at bank rate right here, not saying that they're the only ones to look at. The national average is 6.24%. Maybe you're seeing it differently with clients that you're dealing with. But have you seen a housing slowdown because of mortgage rates? Well, that, you know, the rates we were just talking about before, obviously, this conflict going on that we've all heard about in the Middle East and Iran. Before that was going on, we actually had some tailwind as far as those rates dropping down below 6%. So yeah, just yesterday, we saw an average of looking more like 6.4, depending on the product, depending on the credit score, things like that. So right now, I think there's a question, obviously, can this situation get resolved? I think that's creating uncertainty in the overall markets and rates have. kicked back up. And I do believe, professionally speaking, in a Mark Diedel Realty, interest rates almost single-handedly. If those things move and can move down below 6%, even not a large degree, but can stay there consistently, that's going to do more for the housing supply and the churn that we need than almost any other thing. Now, there's things that can be done targeting wise as it relates to down payment assistance as it relates to special programs. particularly for home, first-time homebuyers, but as it relates to really getting the market moving, rates are still the key driver in that respect. Mark Dietel, D-E-T-E-L-MarkDietel.com. I appreciate you taking the time. What is Toyota affordability? It's buying smart. Your local Toyota dealer has great deals available today on Tacoma, Tundra, and Forerunner with the space and features for any adventure. It means driving for less, with available hybrid options, delivering great MPGs without sacrificing power. And it means trading for more. Toyota is known for building long-lasting vehicles, meaning your truck will hold its value for years to come. ShopToyota.com to find out more. Toyota, let's go places. Dow futures are up 99, NASDAQ futures are up 20. Tony Katz, 93 WIBC. Good morning. Good to be here. Good to be with you. Good to be back. Thank you, Craig, for handling the fort yesterday. Oil prices are up. $95.54 on the West Texas crude. Over $100 a barrel on the Brent crude coming out of the oceans, $102. And 30 cents. That is the barrel price. The 10-year treasury right now, 4.21%. It had spiked a little bit on Friday, ending last week at 4.285. Gold prices down a little $5,019 an ounce. That is the bid price right now in gold. Silver at $80.73. It's weird to say it's down and gold's at $5,000. Silver and 80. It's weird to say that those prices are down. It is. Bitcoin right now, it's $74,000.

reasons. I'm against the war because I don't see a national interest in us, you know, expending one, two billion dollars a day. But I also don't see it for our young men and women, some of whom I know that will serve in this. I really just don't believe that ultimately it's in our national interest to send our young men and women into fight and die in Iran. That argument needs to be countered. We're not sending our young men and women to die in Iran. We are sending soldiers to end a threat. Why can't we admit that it's a threat? Why can we not admit that indeed the sponsoring of terrorism and the killing Americans for 47 years is a threat? Why can't we say the words? We go in with overwhelming force. We do the absolute best we can to minimize the loss of life. Is that not worth it? And if the answer is, it's never worth it, well, then what is the soldier? Senator Paul. You argue this isn't worth it. And the next guy argues that's not worth it. Okay, there's always going to be some disagreement about whether or not we think this is the right move. But the screaming of we're sending our young men and women to die in Iran. If the soldier is not sent to the fight, then anybody can be a soldier. Being a soldier is nothing more than looking good in a uniform. But that isn't what makes the soldier, and that's not why soldiers sign up. They're different. It's why we revere them. It's why we have to remember their names. It's why we have to honor their sacrifices. It's why we have to say thank you for serving and doing what very few people are willing to do. But it doesn't mean that we don't protect our interests and our societies by ending the threats to us. We do that. very awkward conversations and arguments being made by Senator Paul and a host of others. It's the differences I think with Senator Paul, it's the standard for him. And I just think that he's off base on that standard. It isn't, he isn't in it the business for clicks. That's what I would say about the man. All the respect in the world. Real disagreement here. You don't send your young men and women to dying around. You overwhelm and do the very best. You take the army that you have and you utilize the assets that we have. But eliminating this terrorist threat is a very good idea. I'll say it again. I favor these moves. Some people will disagree with me. So it goes. Matt Bear has traffic on the fives. What's up, Matthew? That's signed crash. Eastbound 465, and I, 66, slowing us down about halfway to U.S. 31 East. Also at crash, south side. Southbound 69, a banter road on the right shoulder. Northbound 65, stop and go traffic after Keystone Avenue into the south split, a six-minute delay.

Eastbound 70 delayed three minutes after Harding into the South split. Inbound 69 slows 96th Street 2465. Traffic sponsored by Drexel Interiors. Turn your tax refund into new floors at Drexel Interiors, luxury vinyl and carpet on sale now. Visit us in Carmel or River Road or on North Shadlet online at Drexel.in.com. I'm Matt Bear with Traffic on the Fives. Follow us at WIBC Traffic. 16 degrees in the American standard, heating weather center, and some snow in the area. The time is 846. A $200 million buyback to mortgage securities plus a new rate-friendly Fed chair coming this spring. These moves intended to push mortgage rates lower. The last time rates dropped, we saw selling and buying frenzy. Now is the time to prepare to sell your home. Call the expert Mark Dietl. Maybe you need to sell now. Mark can give you a fast cash. offer. Mark Dietl is the real estate expert trusted and recommended with the sale of your home. Mark Dietl guarantees your home sold at a mutually agreed upon price and deadline or he will buy it. You just pick the move date. No long-term contracts. You cancel any time you want. Sharon and Greenwood said I had moved into my new home and I needed a smooth sale of my old place as soon as possible. Mark Zedal's team prep my home quickly and launched an aggressive marketing plan. Success. It sold for over-asking in just 10 days while making everything simple and stress-free for me. Call the local Indianapolis agent trusted and recommended the agent who guarantees your home sold or he will buy it. Call Mark Dietel today. 317-755-4-2-2-2. Get all the details or go online to markdietel.com. That's Mark Detel, Diedel, Dettel.com. It's time to play America's favorite game. What the heck is this television theme song? Here's how we play our game. Producer Carl has selected a television theme song from yesteryear. I have to guess what it is. The chat room is allowed to help and I'm allowed to phone a friend. But usually when I phone a friend, it doesn't work out well because the only friend I'm allowed to phone is Matt Bear. It doesn't work out so well. It does not work out so well.

I am not sure. The chat room seems to have a, a guess, and I'll go with that in a second. Let me start by phoning a friend. Matt Bear. What is this television theme song? Tony, that's Oz. Nice. That is the theme song to Oz. It's a dark, dark show, kitten. Dark show. For sure. The chat room is in near agreement. Is this the theme song to Punky Brewster? Really? It's not Oz. Punky Brewster. Wow. I would not have, I would not have guessed this. Soleil Moon Fry as an adult. How about we leave all that to me, Carl? You are not qualified to do that. You make it weird. Very, very, very weird. On Tonycats today at noon. You now have more of the Iranian leadership that has been killed. So does this... Break the IRGC. Do you have to take Carg Island to break the IRGC? What are the next steps? And what is it with Americans on the left and the woke right that are very desperate for America to lose so they can somehow like prove their point? I would pay attention to their anti-Zionist insanity, but it's boring at this stage of the game. We get it. You turn a term and now you're just screaming the term. We get it. Get it. Right? Been through this. Heard it all before. I want to destroy the Iranian regime. I want to see the Iranian people live free and I don't want to have to deal with the terrorist threat of Iran anymore so we can stop paying so much attention to the Middle East. That's my take. Haven't changed on that. All the screaming and yelling. You should see my feeds on X and on Facebook. It's nuts. Whatever. And there's no convincing argument. There's just a lot of anger. Can't do anything about someone's anger. Then we have Afghanistan accusing Pakistan, NBC News reporting. of killing 400 people in an airstrike on a drug rehab hospital in the Capitol. So, yeah, maybe the world's a little bit on fire. Just a bit. Just a bit. I will have both of those stories on Tony Katz today. At noon, there's a part of me that wants to tell a story of something I saw last night. I was at an event and I just don't know if it's appropriate for me to do so. But people could have shot video while they were there. It wasn't a private event. It was so ridiculous. I can't believe it actually happened and I'm sitting at this table with people I know and people that I don't.

And I actually said out loud, what is he doing? So I'm going to take a just today to see whether or not I feel like I'm on good footing, there's the words, to share the story. Because it was not to totally not recognize what it is you're saying, what is that's happening, to be so insulated. This involves Republicans in Indiana. I'll, you know what, I'll go through it and see if I'm going to hit that story tomorrow. Tune in, be there. Join me on Tony Katz today at noon. I'll be live streaming on the YouTube. What is Toyota affordability? It's buying smart. Right now, your local Toyota dealer has great deals available on some of the most reliable trucks on the market, like the off-road ready Tacoma, rugged, full-sized tundra, and legendary forerunner, each with the space, tech, and features to handle it all. from the work site to the trails. It means driving for less, with efficient hybrid options available, extending your overall driving range and delivering great MPGs, meaning bigger savings at the pump without sacrificing power. And it means trading for more. The Tacoma and Tundra are ranked number one and number two in resale value over all vehicles, according to Kelly Boo Book, which can mean thousands more than average right back in your pocket when it's time to trade in. That's Toyota affordability. Buy smart, drive for less, and trade for more. Shop Toyota.com or your local dealer for deals and details. Vehicles projected resale value is specific to the 2026 model year. For more information, visit Kelly BlueBookskb.com. Toyota brand average resale value is 53% versus the average vehicle at 45%. Toyota, let's go places.