Is New York about to elect a “communist,” or just a democratic socialist with better ground game? 

Cara McCormick and Chad Peace rip into a wild week in politics: the three-way brawl for NYC mayor, California’s ballot language that literally tells you it’ll cost “a few million dollars,” Maine’s voter ID wordplay, and the gerrymandering arms race both parties pretend they aren’t running. 

Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast
00:01:25 - Country Before Party
00:03:11 - The White House Ballroom Controversy
00:03:52 - Ballot Language and Political Manipulation
00:04:25 - Gerrymandering: A Nonpartisan Battle
00:08:10 - Fear, Authoritarianism, and Hyperbole
00:10:19 - What Democratic Socialism Really Means
00:11:55 - Why Ranked Choice and Open Primaries Matter
00:17:07 - Gerrymandering and the Fight for Fair Elections
00:18:16 - From Breakdowns to Breakthroughs

Is New York about to elect a &ldquo;communist,&rdquo; or just a democratic socialist with better ground game?&nbsp;
Cara McCormick and Chad Peace rip into a wild week in politics: the three-way brawl for NYC mayor, California&rsquo;s ballot language that literally tells you it&rsquo;ll cost &ldquo;a few million dollars,&rdquo; Maine&rsquo;s voter ID wordplay, and the gerrymandering arms race both parties pretend they aren&rsquo;t running.&nbsp;
Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at <a href="http://ivn.us">IVN.us</a> and <a href="http://olasmedia.com">olasmedia.com</a>
Chapters: 00:00:00 - Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast 00:01:25 - Country Before Party 00:03:11 - The White House Ballroom Controversy 00:03:52 - Ballot Language and Political Manipulation 00:04:25 - Gerrymandering: A Nonpartisan Battle 00:08:10 - Fear, Authoritarianism, and Hyperbole 00:10:19 - What Democratic Socialism Really Means 00:11:55 - Why Ranked Choice and Open Primaries Matter 00:17:07 - Gerrymandering and the Fight for Fair Elections 00:18:16 - From Breakdowns to Breakthroughs

Tired of being told what to think by partisan gatekeepers? So are we.
The Independent Voter Podcast brings you conversations that challenge the two-party echo chamber and reject the false binaries dominating today’s political narratives. We focus on two things:
 (1) Election reforms that increase real competition and voter choice, and
 (2) Policy issues that defy the black-and-white frameworks set by national party agendas.

We’ve been called everything: liberals, undercover Republicans, progressives, socialists, libertarians—even anarchists. And depending on the article, they’re all true.
We are open to any voice that follows our simple etiquette. If you believe political independence is a mindset, not a middle ground, you’re in the right place.
This the Independent Voter Podcast..

Tired of being told what to think by partisan gatekeepers? So are we. The Independent Voter Podcast brings you conversations that challenge the two-party echo chamber and reject the false binaries dominating today&rsquo;s political narratives. We focus on two things: &nbsp;(1)&nbsp;Election reforms that increase real competition and voter choice, and &nbsp;(2)&nbsp;Policy issues that defy the black-and-white frameworks set by national party agendas.
We&rsquo;ve been called everything: liberals, undercover Republicans, progressives, socialists, libertarians&mdash;even anarchists. And depending on the article, they&rsquo;re all true. We are open to any voice that follows our simple etiquette. If you believe political independence is a mindset, not a middle ground, you&rsquo;re in the right place. This the Independent Voter Podcast..

Independent Voter Podcast

Tired of being told what to think by partisan gatekeepers? So are we.
The Independent Voter Podcast brings you conversations that challenge the two-party echo chamber and reject the false binaries dominating today’s political narratives. We focus on two things:
 (1) Election reforms that increase real competition and voter choice, and
 (2) Policy issues that defy the black-and-white frameworks set by national party agendas.

We’ve been called everything: liberals, undercover Republicans, progressives, socialists, libertarians—even anarchists. And depending on the article, they’re all true.
We are open to any voice that follows our simple etiquette. If you believe political independence is a mindset, not a middle ground, you’re in the right place.
This the Independent Voter Podcast.

Tired of being told what to think by partisan gatekeepers? So are we. The Independent Voter Podcast brings you conversations that challenge the two-party echo chamber and reject the false binaries dominating today&rsquo;s political narratives. We focus on two things: &nbsp;(1)&nbsp;Election reforms that increase real competition and voter choice, and &nbsp;(2)&nbsp;Policy issues that defy the black-and-white frameworks set by national party agendas.
We&rsquo;ve been called everything: liberals, undercover Republicans, progressives, socialists, libertarians&mdash;even anarchists. And depending on the article, they&rsquo;re all true. We are open to any voice that follows our simple etiquette. If you believe political independence is a mindset, not a middle ground, you&rsquo;re in the right place. This the Independent Voter Podcast.

Ballrooms, Ballots, and a Three-Way Fight for New York

Pro-democracy activists don’t just need to win reforms at the ballot box; they have to stay in the battle to keep their initiatives from being torn apart the morning after. On this week’s Independent Voter Podcast, Chad Peace and Cara McCormick lament the quiet persistence of partisan political sabotage: the delays, rewrites, and procedural tricks that greet any changes to the status quo, even when voters overwhelmingly approve.

For anyone wondering why popular reforms like RCV and Open Primaries are so hard to pass and protect, this episode offers at least one answer: power never yields without sustained resistance, so reformers survive by comparing notes, learning from one another, and sticking together.

Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Kicking Off: What Journalists Keep Missing

00:00:32 – Snowstorms, San Diego Dreams & Reform Roots

00:03:40 – The Reform Playbook Only Insiders Know

00:06:13 – D.C.’s Top-Five Win… and the Political Bait-and-Switch

00:10:24 – Why Every Reform Fight Starts to Look the Same

00:11:06 – Inside D.C.’s Battle to Delay Ranked Choice Voting

00:14:23 – Power Players Will Always Use Every Tool They Can

00:17:14 – Exposing the Firms Profiting Off Disabled Veterans

00:22:11 – Who Actually Helps Veterans — and Who Pretends To

00:24:17 – Holidays, Kids, and a Warm Wrap to the Episod

Pro-democracy activists don&rsquo;t just need to win reforms at the ballot box; they have to stay in the battle to keep their initiatives from being torn apart the morning after. On this week&rsquo;s Independent Voter Podcast, Chad Peace and Cara McCormick lament the quiet persistence of partisan political sabotage: the delays, rewrites, and procedural tricks that greet any changes to the status quo, even when voters overwhelmingly approve.
For anyone wondering why popular reforms like RCV and Open Primaries are so hard to pass and protect, this episode offers at least one answer: power never yields without sustained resistance, so reformers survive by comparing notes, learning from one another, and sticking together.
Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at<a href="http://ivn.us"> IVN.us</a> and<a href="http://olasmedia.com"> olasmedia.com</a>
Chapters:
00:00:00 &ndash; Kicking Off: What Journalists Keep Missing
00:00:32 &ndash; Snowstorms, San Diego Dreams &amp; Reform Roots
00:03:40 &ndash; The Reform Playbook Only Insiders Know
00:06:13 &ndash; D.C.&rsquo;s Top-Five Win&hellip; and the Political Bait-and-Switch
00:10:24 &ndash; Why Every Reform Fight Starts to Look the Same
00:11:06 &ndash; Inside D.C.&rsquo;s Battle to Delay Ranked Choice Voting
00:14:23 &ndash; Power Players Will Always Use Every Tool They Can
00:17:14 &ndash; Exposing the Firms Profiting Off Disabled Veterans
00:22:11 &ndash; Who Actually Helps Veterans &mdash; and Who Pretends To
00:24:17 &ndash; Holidays, Kids, and a Warm Wrap to the Episod

The Games Politicians Play After Voters Pass Election Reforms

In this episode of the Independent Voter Podcast, Chad and Cara dive into the exploding world of political prediction markets with special guest Chris Gerlacher of Prediction News—unpacking how platforms like Kalshi and crypto-based markets are reshaping how insiders gauge races from California governor to New York City mayor. Chad and Cara also highlight Shawn Griffiths’ latest election reform roundup at ivn.us, covering new signature drives in Oregon, Nevada, and Oklahoma to end taxpayer-funded closed primaries and expand rights for independent voters, as well as the gritty reality of signature gathering and ballot access. Plus, Cara breaks down a Politico gerrymandering poll that ignores independent voters and shares how unlikely allies—from Democrats to MAGA Republicans—can find common ground on fixing the system, even in a hyper-polarized era.

Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com

00:00:00 - Welcome Back & IVP Updates

00:01:29 - Introducing Chris Gerlacher & Prediction Markets

00:03:34 - How Prediction Markets Outperform Polls

00:04:14 - California Governor Odds: Swalwell, Porter, Steyer

00:06:21 - How Political Trading Works

00:09:32 - Gambling Concerns, Safeguards & Forecasting Value

00:13:27 - When Candidates Bet on Themselves

00:19:19 - Independent Voter Growth & State Reform Movements

00:32:14 - Signature Gathering, Costs & Citizen Power

00:43:18 - Cross-Ideology Dialogue & Closing Reflections

 

In this episode of the Independent Voter Podcast, Chad and Cara dive into the exploding world of political prediction markets with special guest Chris Gerlacher of Prediction News&mdash;unpacking how platforms like Kalshi and crypto-based markets are reshaping how insiders gauge races from California governor to New York City mayor. Chad and Cara also highlight Shawn Griffiths&rsquo; latest election reform roundup at ivn.us, covering new signature drives in Oregon, Nevada, and Oklahoma to end taxpayer-funded closed primaries and expand rights for independent voters, as well as the gritty reality of signature gathering and ballot access. Plus, Cara breaks down a Politico gerrymandering poll that ignores independent voters and shares how unlikely allies&mdash;from Democrats to MAGA Republicans&mdash;can find common ground on fixing the system, even in a hyper-polarized era.
Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at <a href="http://ivn.us">IVN.us</a> and <a href="http://olasmedia.com">olasmedia.com</a>
00:00:00 - Welcome Back &amp; IVP Updates
00:01:29 - Introducing Chris Gerlacher &amp; Prediction Markets
00:03:34 - How Prediction Markets Outperform Polls
00:04:14 - California Governor Odds: Swalwell, Porter, Steyer
00:06:21 - How Political Trading Works
00:09:32 - Gambling Concerns, Safeguards &amp; Forecasting Value
00:13:27 - When Candidates Bet on Themselves
00:19:19 - Independent Voter Growth &amp; State Reform Movements
00:32:14 - Signature Gathering, Costs &amp; Citizen Power
00:43:18 - Cross-Ideology Dialogue &amp; Closing Reflections
&nbsp;

Betting on Democracy: Prediction Markets, Polls & the Independent Voter Uprising

Missouri voters approved legal cannabis twice - first for medical use, then for recreational use in 2022. But as Dave Craig, VP of Marketing for legal cannabis brand From the Earth, explains to host Cara McCormick, an unregulated shadow market is undermining everything voters intended. While legal dispensaries test every product and have already paid $245 million in state taxes to benefit veterans and schools, gas stations and unlicensed dispensaries are selling untested, intoxicating hemp products, some found to be laced with dangerous chemicals. This episode unpacks the loopholes, the need to protect public health, and what happens when following voter-approved rules makes you uncompetitive in your own market.

Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com.

Chapters:

00:00:00 - The Unfair Fight Begins

00:01:00 - How Missouri Became a Cannabis Success Story

00:04:10 - The Rise of Unregulated Gas Station Weed

00:06:00 - Farm Bill Loopholes and Dangerous Products

00:09:00 - What Legal Cannabis Testing Really Means

00:15:00 - An Unfair Playing Field for Legal Operators

00:20:00 - Federal Taxes and the Need for Rescheduling

00:23:00 - Lawmakers Struggle to Close the Loophole

00:30:00 - Can Missouri’s Legal Market Survive?

00:39:00 - Fairness, Safety, and What Comes Next

 

Missouri voters approved legal cannabis twice - first for medical use, then for recreational use in 2022. But as Dave Craig, VP of Marketing for legal cannabis brand From the Earth, explains to host Cara McCormick, an unregulated shadow market is undermining everything voters intended. While legal dispensaries test every product and have already paid $245 million in state taxes to benefit veterans and schools, gas stations and unlicensed dispensaries are selling untested, intoxicating hemp products, some found to be laced with dangerous chemicals. This episode unpacks the loopholes, the need to protect public health, and what happens when following voter-approved rules makes you uncompetitive in your own market.
Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at <a href="http://ivn.us">IVN.us</a> and <a href="http://olasmedia.com">olasmedia.com</a>.
Chapters:
00:00:00 - The Unfair Fight Begins
00:01:00 - How Missouri Became a Cannabis Success Story
00:04:10 - The Rise of Unregulated Gas Station Weed
00:06:00 - Farm Bill Loopholes and Dangerous Products
00:09:00 - What Legal Cannabis Testing Really Means
00:15:00 - An Unfair Playing Field for Legal Operators
00:20:00 - Federal Taxes and the Need for Rescheduling
00:23:00 - Lawmakers Struggle to Close the Loophole
00:30:00 - Can Missouri&rsquo;s Legal Market Survive?
00:39:00 - Fairness, Safety, and What Comes Next
&nbsp;

Ballrooms, Ballots, and a Three-Way Fight for New York

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