Is New York about to elect a “communist,” or just a democratic socialist with better ground game? 

Cara McCormick and Chad Peace rip into a wild week in politics: the three-way brawl for NYC mayor, California’s ballot language that literally tells you it’ll cost “a few million dollars,” Maine’s voter ID wordplay, and the gerrymandering arms race both parties pretend they aren’t running. 

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

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast
00:01:25 - Country Before Party
00:03:11 - The White House Ballroom Controversy
00:03:52 - Ballot Language and Political Manipulation
00:04:25 - Gerrymandering: A Nonpartisan Battle
00:08:10 - Fear, Authoritarianism, and Hyperbole
00:10:19 - What Democratic Socialism Really Means
00:11:55 - Why Ranked Choice and Open Primaries Matter
00:17:07 - Gerrymandering and the Fight for Fair Elections
00:18:16 - From Breakdowns to Breakthroughs

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Missouri voters approved legal cannabis twice - first for medical use, then for recreational use in 2022. But as Dave Craig, VP of Marketing for legal cannabis brand From the Earth, explains to host Cara McCormick, an unregulated shadow market is undermining everything voters intended. While legal dispensaries test every product and have already paid $245 million in state taxes to benefit veterans and schools, gas stations and unlicensed dispensaries are selling untested, intoxicating hemp products, some found to be laced with dangerous chemicals. This episode unpacks the loopholes, the need to protect public health, and what happens when following voter-approved rules makes you uncompetitive in your own market.

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

Chapters:

00:00:00 - The Unfair Fight Begins

00:01:00 - How Missouri Became a Cannabis Success Story

00:04:10 - The Rise of Unregulated Gas Station Weed

00:06:00 - Farm Bill Loopholes and Dangerous Products

00:09:00 - What Legal Cannabis Testing Really Means

00:15:00 - An Unfair Playing Field for Legal Operators

00:20:00 - Federal Taxes and the Need for Rescheduling

00:23:00 - Lawmakers Struggle to Close the Loophole

00:30:00 - Can Missouri’s Legal Market Survive?

00:39:00 - Fairness, Safety, and What Comes Next

 

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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?

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Hosts Chad Peace and Cara McCormick use the viral Katie Porter clip as a case study in how election rules shape campaigns and coalitions in California. They unpack why the moment struck a nerve, then explain the incentives of the Top Two primary and what a Final Five model - with an open top-five primary and a ranked-choice general - could change, drawing lessons from Alaska. Along the way, they note recent shifts in the 2026 field and connect the conversation to a timely Supreme Court fight over counting properly postmarked mail ballots after Election Day - clear, voter-first context beyond the outrage cycle.

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

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

00:01:37 – California Governor’s Race and Katie Porter Interview

00:05:18 – Expanding Top-Two to Top-Five Elections

00:09:26 – Party Division and Candidate Behavior

00:11:11 – National Guard, Governors, and Political Power Plays

00:12:33 – Origins of Ranked-Choice Voting Advocacy

00:18:17 – Supreme Court Cases and Independent Voter Rights

00:29:04 – California’s Prop 50 and the State of Democracy

00:33:26 – Closing Reflections and Call to Action

 

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If you are into independent politics and don’t know Eric Bronner, you should.

A former veteran, Eric Bronner is one of the 60% of veterans that don’t belong to either major political party. Eric jumped into the nonpartisan reform movement 5 years ago after listening to a podcast on Freakonomics with Katherine Gehl.

In just 5 years, the organization he formed, Veterans for All Voters, has grown to more than 7,000 members and been a part of some of the most impactful nonpartisan reform efforts in the country.

Now, they’re launching an ambitious national project to engage voters across the country to revisit their oath to their county.

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

Chapters:

00:00:00 - Opening the Conversation
00:01:06 - Eric Bronner’s Path from Navy to Reform
00:02:23 - Founding Veterans for All Voters
00:05:24 - Choosing Nonpartisan Values
00:06:10 - The Oath Challenge Campaign
00:08:36 - Education and Action in Reform
00:10:14 - Legal Challenges and Supreme Court News
00:13:34 - Building a Movement Beyond Partisanship
00:17:17 - Expanding in Communities & Veteran Engagement
00:19:19 - Oath, Unity, and Next Steps

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The assassination of Charlie Kirk shocked the nation and exposed just how divided our political realities have become. In this episode, Chad Peace and Cara McCormick reflect on the tragedy, the need for unity, and what history teaches us about coming together after moments of crisis.

They also delve into the chaotic New York City mayoral race to explain why New York needs ranked-choice voting in the general election, and how closed primaries continue to shut out millions of voters. From New York to California, the conversation highlights how both major parties manipulate election rules to preserve power while independent voters are left on the outside looking in.

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

Chapters:

00:00:00 - The Shock of Charlie Kirk’s Assassination
00:02:20 - Living in Different Realities
00:04:30 - Remembering 9/11 and the Lost Sense of Unity
00:05:55 - New York’s Mayoral Race and Ranked Choice Fallout
00:10:00 - Closed Primaries and Voter Exclusion
00:14:25 - California’s Nonpartisan Primary and Redistricting Battle
00:19:30 - Fear-Based Politics and the Stakes of Power
00:23:40 - Finding Common Ground and Healing the Divide

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The national conversation focuses on the wars being waged by the Republicans and Democrats, against each other.

But what about the rights of voters?

In this episode of the Independent Voter Podcast, Chad and Cara talk about the Gerrymandering battle growing beyond Texas and California, a retired attorney who has taken a Florida voting rights case all the way to the Supreme Court, and how the war on the rights of independent voters could be hitting a critical moment in the arc of our democracy.

Tune in!

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

Chapters:
00:00:00 - Welcome to the Independent Voter Podcast
00:01:00 - Gerrymandering battles across states
00:04:00 - Who really loses? Independent voters
00:06:00 - Supreme Court precedents on voting rights
00:07:00 - A retired attorney takes on closed primaries
00:09:00 - Collusion behind the veil of partisanship
00:11:00 - Reform ideas: open primaries and ranked choice
00:12:00 - Are independents anti-party?
00:13:00 - Power, democracy, and meaningful votes
00:15:00 - Losing forward and finding optimism

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In this conversation, Chad and Cara delve into the complexities of gerrymandering, exploring its partisan nature and the implications for independent voters. They discuss the ongoing battle between Democrats and Republicans in states like California and Texas, the role of independent redistricting commissions, and the importance of public engagement in understanding these issues. The conversation highlights the legal dimensions of gerrymandering, particularly concerning the rights of independent voters.

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

Chapters:
00:00:01 - Welcome and introduction to gerrymandering
00:02:06 - Who gerrymanders more: Republicans or Democrats?
00:04:10 - Fighting fire with fire: partisan justifications
00:05:12 - The danger of overturning independent commissions
00:07:08 - Fear of authoritarianism and the 2026 election
00:09:28 - The race to the bottom and who benefits
00:10:22 - Why politicians always use the power they have
00:12:28 - Public engagement and awareness on gerrymandering
00:14:15 - California’s Prop 50 and the role of independent voters
00:19:03 - Is gerrymandering against independents’ constitutional rights?

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Think hemp products are harmless just because they’re legal? Think again.
In this episode of the How It Really Works series of the Independent Voter Podcast, guest host Tony Manolatos sits down with journalist Chris Casacchia to expose the hidden dangers of synthetic hemp flooding stores across America.

Casacchia, an award-winning reporter covering the industry, explains how candy-like packaging, legal loopholes, and zero regulation are creating a public health crisis that’s sending kids to the ER. From the 2018 Farm Bill’s unintended consequences to the economic fallout for legitimate businesses, this conversation lifts the veil on a booming gray market few people even know exists.
This episode is a must-listen for parents, policymakers, and anyone concerned about the next wave of America’s health crises — because what you don’t know can hurt you.

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

Some key moments of this episode:

00:00:00 - Welcome to How It Really Works
00:02:11 - Meet Chris Casacchia
00:04:17 - What Is Synthetic Hemp?
00:08:16 - The 2018 Farm Bill Loophole
00:12:14 - Hidden Dangers and No Regulations
00:17:35 - Kids, ER Visits, and Parental Warnings
00:22:36 - The Battle for Regulation
00:28:09 - Economic Impact on Legal Markets
00:32:26 - Can States Like Minnesota Lead the Way?
00:36:19 - A Call for Federal Action

 

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Think the justice system only affects the incarcerated? Think again. In this episode of the How It Really Works series of the Independent Voter Podcast, Chad Peace sits down with corrections expert Michael Cantrell to unpack the hidden mental health crisis facing correctional officers across the country.

Cantrell, a former officer and host of the Prison Officer Podcast, reveals how burnout, PTSD, and emotional isolation have become normalized in a profession that rarely makes the headlines. From training culture to administrative neglect, this conversation peels back the layers on a system that’s breaking the very people we expect to hold it together.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone serious about justice reform—and it’s just one chapter in a much bigger story.

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

Some key moments of this episode:

00:00 – Welcome to How It Really Works
01:12 – The Forgotten Side of Justice Reform
03:40 – What Correctional Officers Are Really Trained For
08:25 – The Mental Health Toll of the Job
13:05 – Why Officers Don’t Ask for Help
18:44 – Breaking the Silence Around Trauma
24:31 – Culture Shift vs. Policy Change
30:12 – Wrapping Up: What Real Reform Requires

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.