Breakdown: The rules of American democracy continue to bend toward partisan agendas. In California, independent redistricting commissioner J. Ray Kennedy, a Democrat, says the politicians effectively “starved” its independent commission long before the midterm map fights began in Texas. Hosts Chad and Cara then discuss the Texas Republican Party’s lawsuit against the Lone Star State to try to end its century-old open primary system. While speaking about Attorney General Ken Paxton’s refusal to defend the state, they revisit Thurgood Marshall’s 1944 case that struck down Texas’s whites-only primaries. They also break down Fox News’ distorted reporting on cannabis, Trump’s hints from the White House that he may finally reschedule marijuana, and a debate that went viral on the Independent Voter Facebook page.

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

Chapters:

00:00:00 - A New Era of Independent Voter News
00:00:45 - The Redistricting Battle Royale
00:02:14 - J. Ray Kennedy Exposes California’s “Illusion” of Independence
00:06:10 - Gerrymandering Games Across the States
00:07:25 - Texas Republicans Move to Close Primaries
00:09:30 - Ken Paxton’s Legal Twist Against Open Elections
00:13:25 - Lessons from Thurgood Marshall and the White Primary Case
00:17:09 - The Fight for Independent Voter Rights Continues
00:25:14 - Fox News, Cannabis, and Media Propaganda
00:32:01 - Should Trump Win the Nobel Peace Prize?