Ever wonder why independent voters keep getting sidelined, even as their numbers grow? IVP just conducted the largest-ever survey of California independent voters. Hosts Cara McCormick and Chad Peace break down what NPP voters are really demanding, why insiders fight to keep them on the margins, and how battles over ballot language, gerrymandering, and open primaries in states like Missouri, Nevada, West Virginia, and Alaska could reshape elections nationwide. We’re back each week digging into stories like this.

Read more and follow along at IVN.us.

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast
00:01:16 – Inside the California NPP Poll and What It Reveals
00:03:05 – Missouri Ballot Language and Gerrymandering Games
00:07:44 – How Parties Manipulate Ballot Questions
00:10:44 – West Virginia Closes Its Primaries and Joe Manchin Responds
00:14:15 – Alaska, Ranked Choice Voting, and Senate Politics
00:18:06 – Independents Reach Record Highs Nationwide
00:24:30 – Nevada’s Push to Enshrine Equal Voting Rights
00:28:38 – Santa Clara’s Costly Runoff Election Problem
00:30:38 – What Comes Next for Independent Voters

Ever wonder why independent voters keep getting sidelined, even as their numbers grow? IVP just conducted the largest-ever survey of California independent voters. Hosts Cara McCormick and Chad Peace break down what NPP voters are really demanding, why insiders fight to keep them on the margins, and how battles over ballot language, gerrymandering, and open primaries in states like Missouri, Nevada, West Virginia, and Alaska could reshape elections nationwide. We&rsquo;re back each week digging into stories like this.
Read more and follow along at&nbsp;IVN.us.
Chapters:
00:00:00 &ndash; Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast 00:01:16 &ndash; Inside the California NPP Poll and What It Reveals 00:03:05 &ndash; Missouri Ballot Language and Gerrymandering Games 00:07:44 &ndash; How Parties Manipulate Ballot Questions 00:10:44 &ndash; West Virginia Closes Its Primaries and Joe Manchin Responds 00:14:15 &ndash; Alaska, Ranked Choice Voting, and Senate Politics 00:18:06 &ndash; Independents Reach Record Highs Nationwide 00:24:30 &ndash; Nevada&rsquo;s Push to Enshrine Equal Voting Rights 00:28:38 &ndash; Santa Clara&rsquo;s Costly Runoff Election Problem 00:30:38 &ndash; What Comes Next for Independent Voters

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.

Why Is California So Stuck? What New Independent Voter Poll Reveals

The House just passed the SAVE America Act - national voter ID + proof of citizenship to register. On the Independent Voter Podcast, we unpack what’s in the bill, why polls show broad support for voter ID, and the sticking points: which IDs count (student ID?), costs (should IDs be free?), and whether new rules could block eligible voters before 2026. 

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

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast

00:02:30 – Missouri Gerrymander and Filing Deadline Chaos

00:05:24 – Maine Ranked Choice Voting Expansion Debate

00:10:04 – Ballot Initiatives and Signature Verification

00:12:32 – California’s Top-Two Primary and Governor’s Race

00:20:50 – Congressional Stock Trading Ban Stalemate

00:22:13 – SAVE Act and National Voter ID Debate

00:26:00 – Federal Overreach and the “Mega Act”

00:29:16 – Mail Voting, Ballot Harvesting, and Election Integrity

00:34:04 – IVP Updates and Closing

The House just passed the SAVE America Act - national voter ID + proof of citizenship to register. On the Independent Voter Podcast, we unpack what&rsquo;s in the bill, why polls show broad support for voter ID, and the sticking points: which IDs count (student ID?), costs (should IDs be free?), and whether new rules could block eligible voters before 2026.&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 &ndash; Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast
00:02:30 &ndash; Missouri Gerrymander and Filing Deadline Chaos
00:05:24 &ndash; Maine Ranked Choice Voting Expansion Debate
00:10:04 &ndash; Ballot Initiatives and Signature Verification
00:12:32 &ndash; California&rsquo;s Top-Two Primary and Governor&rsquo;s Race
00:20:50 &ndash; Congressional Stock Trading Ban Stalemate
00:22:13 &ndash; SAVE Act and National Voter ID Debate
00:26:00 &ndash; Federal Overreach and the &ldquo;Mega Act&rdquo;
00:29:16 &ndash; Mail Voting, Ballot Harvesting, and Election Integrity
00:34:04 &ndash; IVP Updates and Closing

83% Want Voter ID - So Why Is Congress Fighting It? SAVE Act Explained

Emmy-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst (Project Baltimore) unpacks Failure Factory: soaring Baltimore City Public Schools budgets, stagnant outcomes, grade-changing allegations, and public-records battles that raise waste and potential fraud red flags. What real accountability could look like for taxpayers, parents, and students. As the nation grapples with government fraud allegations across the country, Papst brings a unique perspective.

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

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Why Independent Voters Need a Different Education Conversation
00:00:29 – Introducing Chris Papst and the Failure Factory Investigation
00:01:42 – Following the Money: Rising School Budgets, Stagnant Outcomes
00:05:27 – Graduation Rates vs Math Proficiency: The Data Gap
00:07:28 – Where the Money Really Went: Administrators Over Classrooms
00:11:46 – Grade Changing and the Illusion of Student Success
00:14:01 – Suing the School System and Uncovering Systemic Fraud
00:16:29 – Accountability Failure and the Role of Local Elections
00:21:18 – Broken Incentives, Leadership Failure, and Voter Responsibility

 

Emmy-winning investigative reporter Chris Papst (Project Baltimore) unpacks <a href="https://www.sunburypress.com/collections/all-books/products/failure-factory?variant=43575891099741">Failure Factory</a>: soaring Baltimore City Public Schools budgets, stagnant outcomes, grade-changing allegations, and public-records battles that raise waste and potential fraud red flags. What real accountability could look like for taxpayers, parents, and students. As the nation grapples with government fraud allegations across the country, Papst brings a unique perspective.
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; Why Independent Voters Need a Different Education Conversation 00:00:29 &ndash; Introducing Chris Papst and the Failure Factory Investigation 00:01:42 &ndash; Following the Money: Rising School Budgets, Stagnant Outcomes 00:05:27 &ndash; Graduation Rates vs Math Proficiency: The Data Gap 00:07:28 &ndash; Where the Money Really Went: Administrators Over Classrooms 00:11:46 &ndash; Grade Changing and the Illusion of Student Success 00:14:01 &ndash; Suing the School System and Uncovering Systemic Fraud 00:16:29 &ndash; Accountability Failure and the Role of Local Elections 00:21:18 &ndash; Broken Incentives, Leadership Failure, and Voter Responsibility
&nbsp;

Fraud & Waste Red Flags in Public Education: Inside “Failure Factory” | Chris Papst

Steve Peace, co-founder of the Independent Voter Project and architect of California’s top-two primary, breaks down the wide-open CA governor’s race and why campaigns still think in party buckets. The hosts dig into open primaries + ranked-choice, ICE/immigration and civil liberties, voter ID and ballot security, and the controversy over seized Fulton County ballots—plus a quick update on Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and the USS Midway’s Freedom Park.

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

Chapters:

00:00:00 – Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast
00:00:45 – Introducing Steve Peace and his role in California reform
00:02:00 – California’s wide-open governor’s race and early contenders
00:07:00 – Open primaries, party power, and why campaigns haven’t adapted
00:16:00 – Ranked choice voting and reform incentives
00:23:45 – ICE, immigration enforcement, and political overreach
00:31:10 – Voter ID, mail ballots, and election trust
00:44:10 – Federal seizure of ballots and election integrity debates
00:52:00 – Fear-driven fundraising and partisan narratives
01:02:30 – Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and closing reflections

Steve Peace, co-founder of the Independent Voter Project and architect of California&rsquo;s top-two primary, breaks down the wide-open CA governor&rsquo;s race and why campaigns still think in party buckets. The hosts dig into open primaries + ranked-choice, ICE/immigration and civil liberties, voter ID and ballot security, and the controversy over seized Fulton County ballots&mdash;plus a quick update on&nbsp;Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and the USS Midway&rsquo;s Freedom Park.
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; Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast 00:00:45 &ndash; Introducing Steve Peace and his role in California reform 00:02:00 &ndash; California&rsquo;s wide-open governor&rsquo;s race and early contenders 00:07:00 &ndash; Open primaries, party power, and why campaigns haven&rsquo;t adapted 00:16:00 &ndash; Ranked choice voting and reform incentives 00:23:45 &ndash; ICE, immigration enforcement, and political overreach 00:31:10 &ndash; Voter ID, mail ballots, and election trust 00:44:10 &ndash; Federal seizure of ballots and election integrity debates 00:52:00 &ndash; Fear-driven fundraising and partisan narratives 01:02:30 &ndash; Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and closing reflections

Why Is California So Stuck? What New Independent Voter Poll Reveals

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