Binational entrepreneur, Juan Hernandez Sr., Former Senator Steve Peace, and Senator Brian Jones join guest host Assemblymember, David Alvarez on the Politic Deli podcast to discuss the importance of cross-border cooperation and collaboration between California and Mexico. In the bustling border region of San Diego-Tijuana, three extraordinary individuals stand as beacons of hope and progress.

(Originally aired 15August23)

Binational entrepreneur, Juan Hernandez Sr., Former Senator Steve Peace, and Senator Brian Jones join guest host Assemblymember, David Alvarez on the Politic Deli podcast to discuss the importance of cross-border cooperation and collaboration between California and Mexico. In the bustling border region of San Diego-Tijuana, three extraordinary individuals stand as beacons of hope and progress.
(Originally aired 15August23)

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.

Make it in Mexico | Assemblymember David Alvarez

Wondering how a major political figure walks away from power, and what that says about the system behind the scenes?

This episode unpacks Tim Walz’s decision to step aside in Minnesota and how allegations around daycare funding brought to light by YouTuber Nick Shirley have cracked open a wide-open governor’s race. You’ll see how partisan spin quickly takes over moments like this, and why independent thinking matters when facts, accusations, and political incentives collide. Hosts Chad Peace and Cara McCormick break it down with real-world context, including what an open seat could mean for a Jesse Ventura-style independent run. We drop new episodes each week. You can read more and follow along at IVN.us.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Welcome to 2026 and the Return of Independent Voter

00:05:00 – Tim Walz Steps Aside and Minnesota’s Open Governor Race

00:07:30 – Could an Independent Win Again Like Jesse Ventura?

00:09:45 – The Minnesota Fraud Allegations and Oversight Failures

00:12:30 – When Scandals Become Wedge Politics

00:13:55 – Venezuela, Maduro, and the Politics of Intervention

00:20:35 – What Slips Through While the News Is Distracted

00:21:35 – The USPS Postmark Change That Affects Voting and Taxes

00:29:40 – California’s Voter ID Initiative and Ballot Language Games

00:44:05 – Alaska, Ranked Choice Voting, and the Fight Over Power

Wondering how a major political figure walks away from power, and what that says about the system behind the scenes?
This episode unpacks Tim Walz&rsquo;s decision to step aside in Minnesota and how allegations around daycare funding brought to light by YouTuber Nick Shirley have cracked open a wide-open governor&rsquo;s race. You&rsquo;ll see how partisan spin quickly takes over moments like this, and why independent thinking matters when facts, accusations, and political incentives collide. Hosts Chad Peace and Cara McCormick break it down with real-world context, including what an open seat could mean for a Jesse Ventura-style independent run. We drop new episodes each week. You can read more and follow along at <a href="http://ivn.us">IVN.us.</a>
Chapters:
00:00:00 &ndash; Welcome to 2026 and the Return of Independent Voter
00:05:00 &ndash; Tim Walz Steps Aside and Minnesota&rsquo;s Open Governor Race
00:07:30 &ndash; Could an Independent Win Again Like Jesse Ventura?
00:09:45 &ndash; The Minnesota Fraud Allegations and Oversight Failures
00:12:30 &ndash; When Scandals Become Wedge Politics
00:13:55 &ndash; Venezuela, Maduro, and the Politics of Intervention
00:20:35 &ndash; What Slips Through While the News Is Distracted
00:21:35 &ndash; The USPS Postmark Change That Affects Voting and Taxes
00:29:40 &ndash; California&rsquo;s Voter ID Initiative and Ballot Language Games
00:44:05 &ndash; Alaska, Ranked Choice Voting, and the Fight Over Power

Why Did Walz Drop Out? Daycare Fraud & Chaos in Minnesota

Prop 50 is redrawing California’s political battlefield, sparking new fears of gerrymandering, backroom mapmaking, and voters losing their voice. We cut through the spin to explain what’s really changing, who benefits, and what it could mean for competitive elections, election reform, and independent voters. Plus, Independent CA-40 candidate Nina Linh joins us to spell out how Prop 50’s map shifts are already reshaping her district - and her race.

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

Chapters:

00:00:00 – When Voters Decide and Politicians Push Back

00:01:13 – Missouri’s Gerrymandering Fight and Citizen Power

00:03:20 – The Games States Play to Block Reform

00:06:12 – Maine’s Ranked Choice Battle: A Warning Story

00:09:21 – Why Both Parties Fear Competition

00:11:16 – Inside the Largest Independent Voter Survey Ever

00:12:56 – Cannabis, Fox News, and the Regulation Irony

00:16:26 – Meet Nina Linh: From Democrat to Independent Candidate

00:21:43 – Affordability, Trust, and Why Voters Are Exhausted

00:27:48 – Gerrymandering, Voter ID, and What Comes Next

 

Prop 50 is redrawing California&rsquo;s political battlefield, sparking new fears of gerrymandering, backroom mapmaking, and voters losing their voice. We cut through the spin to explain what&rsquo;s really changing, who benefits, and what it could mean for competitive elections, election reform, and independent voters. Plus, Independent CA-40 candidate Nina Linh joins us to spell out how Prop 50&rsquo;s map shifts are already reshaping her district - and her race.
Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at <a href="http://ivn.us">IVN.us</a>&nbsp;
Chapters:
00:00:00 &ndash; When Voters Decide and Politicians Push Back
00:01:13 &ndash; Missouri&rsquo;s Gerrymandering Fight and Citizen Power
00:03:20 &ndash; The Games States Play to Block Reform
00:06:12 &ndash; Maine&rsquo;s Ranked Choice Battle: A Warning Story
00:09:21 &ndash; Why Both Parties Fear Competition
00:11:16 &ndash; Inside the Largest Independent Voter Survey Ever
00:12:56 &ndash; Cannabis, Fox News, and the Regulation Irony
00:16:26 &ndash; Meet Nina Linh: From Democrat to Independent Candidate
00:21:43 &ndash; Affordability, Trust, and Why Voters Are Exhausted
00:27:48 &ndash; Gerrymandering, Voter ID, and What Comes Next
&nbsp;

How Gavin Newsom’s Prop 50 is Reshaping California - For Better or For Worse

Host Chad Peace and co-host Cara McCormick dive into the left’s political freak-out over Trump potentially rescheduling cannabis — and what it exposes about a system that weaponizes even 80/20 issues. With guest Adam Swart of Crowds on Demand, they go from weed reform to immigration to gerrymandering asking: Can independents help drag politics back to common sense solutions?

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

Chapters:
00:00:00 – This Week’s Viral IVN Stories
00:01:20 – Trump and the Reclassification Shockwave
00:03:07 – When Politics Becomes Credit-Claiming
00:05:06 – Immigration, Extremes, and the Reality Most Americans Agree On
00:08:11 – Why Our Election System Fuels Division
00:10:15 – The Gerrymandering Bill Everyone Supported
00:13:30 – Why Good Ideas Don’t Win in Today’s Politics
00:15:39 – Trust, Representation, and What Voters Actually Want
00:21:33 – Meet Adam Swart: Inside the Business of Paid Protests
00:30:11 – Protest, Legitimacy, and Who Gets a Voice
00:40:58 – Takeaways and What’s Coming Next

Host Chad Peace and co-host Cara McCormick dive into the left&rsquo;s political freak-out over Trump potentially rescheduling cannabis &mdash; and what it exposes about a system that weaponizes even 80/20 issues. With guest Adam Swart of Crowds on Demand, they go from weed reform to immigration to gerrymandering asking: Can independents help drag politics back to common sense solutions?
Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at <a href="IVN.US">IVN.us</a> and <a href="olasmedia.com">olasmedia.com</a>
Chapters: 00:00:00 &ndash; This Week&rsquo;s Viral IVN Stories 00:01:20 &ndash; Trump and the Reclassification Shockwave 00:03:07 &ndash; When Politics Becomes Credit-Claiming 00:05:06 &ndash; Immigration, Extremes, and the Reality Most Americans Agree On 00:08:11 &ndash; Why Our Election System Fuels Division 00:10:15 &ndash; The Gerrymandering Bill Everyone Supported 00:13:30 &ndash; Why Good Ideas Don&rsquo;t Win in Today&rsquo;s Politics 00:15:39 &ndash; Trust, Representation, and What Voters Actually Want 00:21:33 &ndash; Meet Adam Swart: Inside the Business of Paid Protests 00:30:11 &ndash; Protest, Legitimacy, and Who Gets a Voice 00:40:58 &ndash; Takeaways and What&rsquo;s Coming Next

Make it in Mexico | Assemblymember David Alvarez

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