Think it’s easy to run for president as an Independent in the U.S.? Think again. In this episode of our new How It Really Works series, Chad Peace sits down with electoral reform powerhouse Cara McCormick to unpack why running outside the two-party system is so hard, it’s almost impossible.

Cara breaks down seven hidden barriers independent candidates face—from brutal ballot access laws to being shut out of debates. You’ll also hear real clips from RFK Jr. and Ross Perot as we rewind the tape on what happened when outsiders actually tried to make a run for it.

This episode is packed with wild (and sometimes infuriating) truths about the system—and it’s just the beginning.

Don’t forget to follow or subscribe at OlasMedia.com or wherever you get your podcast

Some key moments of this episode:

00:00 – Welcome to “How It Really Works”

02:28 – Why No One Runs as an Independent

03:11 – RFK Jr. and the Ballot Access Trap

04:27 – Americans Elect: A Case Study

09:01 – The Financial Toll on Independents

12:22 – No Infrastructure, No Chance

17:14 – The Spoiler Effect Is Real

24:26 – Debate Stage Lockout

35:58 – Electoral College Math Doesn’t Add Up

39:10 – Even Insiders Get Shut Out

Think it&rsquo;s easy to run for president as an Independent in the U.S.? Think again. In this episode of our new How It Really Works series, Chad Peace sits down with electoral reform powerhouse Cara McCormick to unpack why running outside the two-party system is so hard, it&rsquo;s almost impossible.
Cara breaks down seven hidden barriers independent candidates face&mdash;from brutal ballot access laws to being shut out of debates. You&rsquo;ll also hear real clips from RFK Jr. and Ross Perot as we rewind the tape on what happened when outsiders actually tried to make a run for it.
This episode is packed with wild (and sometimes infuriating) truths about the system&mdash;and it&rsquo;s just the beginning.
Don&rsquo;t forget to follow or subscribe at <a href="https://olasmedia.com/shows/politic-deli">OlasMedia.com</a> or wherever you get your podcast
Some key moments of this episode:
00:00 &ndash; Welcome to &ldquo;How It Really Works&rdquo;
02:28 &ndash; Why No One Runs as an Independent
03:11 &ndash; RFK Jr. and the Ballot Access Trap
04:27 &ndash; Americans Elect: A Case Study
09:01 &ndash; The Financial Toll on Independents
12:22 &ndash; No Infrastructure, No Chance
17:14 &ndash; The Spoiler Effect Is Real
24:26 &ndash; Debate Stage Lockout
35:58 &ndash; Electoral College Math Doesn&rsquo;t Add Up
39:10 &ndash; Even Insiders Get Shut Out

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.

Running for President as an Independent - EP5

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/d57f2f8a-7bab-4064-9571-ae7c0139f8ec/clips/4ccbca1d-f026-4a79-b962-b2c1015fb5f5/transcript