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?

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 &ldquo;starved&rdquo; its independent commission long before the midterm map fights began in Texas. Hosts Chad and Cara then discuss the Texas Republican Party&rsquo;s lawsuit against the Lone Star State to try to end its century-old open primary system. While speaking about Attorney General Ken Paxton&rsquo;s refusal to defend the state, they revisit Thurgood Marshall&rsquo;s 1944 case that struck down Texas&rsquo;s whites-only primaries. They also break down Fox News&rsquo; distorted reporting on cannabis, Trump&rsquo;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 <a href="http://ivn.us">IVN.us</a> and <a href="http://olasmedia.com">olasmedia.com</a>.
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&rsquo;s &ldquo;Illusion&rdquo; of Independence 00:06:10 - Gerrymandering Games Across the States 00:07:25 - Texas Republicans Move to Close Primaries 00:09:30 - Ken Paxton&rsquo;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?

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.