Hold 'em Accountable

Derrick Holder
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Hold ’em Accountable is an independent political commentary and investigative podcast hosted by retired Marine Derrick Holder, bringing sharp analysis, historical context, and a healthy dose of sarcasm to the political issues shaping Indiana and the nation. From government accountability and political corruption to healthcare, economic inequality, veterans' issues, civil rights, and American democracy, Hold ’em Accountable goes beyond the headlines to examine how we got here, who's responsible, and what can be done about it. Through research-driven deep dives, fact-based commentary, candid conversations, and interviews with candidates, policymakers, and advocates, the show challenges political talking points, follows the evidence, and connects complicated policy decisions to the everyday lives of working Americans. Part of the Progressive Indiana Network, Hold ’em Accountable believes that patriotism means holding those in power to the same standards as everyone else, regardless of party affiliation. Stay informed, ask questions, and as always, Hold ’em Accountable.

  1. Nov 6

    Advocate Interview: Eva Posner

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Most people see politics on election day. The signs. The speeches. The victory parties. The concession speeches. But the real work? That happens long before the cameras show up. It happens in donor spreadsheets. In field plans. In fundraising call time. In the quiet panic of first-time candidates wondering if they’re about to lose everything. In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, we sit down with Eva Posner, founder and CEO of Evinco Strategies, a fully remote, women-led political consulting firm helping progressive candidates, campaigns, and organizations win. She’s worked everything from no-budget school board races to million-dollar campaigns with national attention—and she’s here to pull back the curtain on how campaigns actually work. 📍 This is not a candidate interview. This is the beginning of our transition into advocate interviews and our upcoming special series on Sci-Fi and Politics. Candidate interviews will return in August—but before we get there, we’re talking to the people behind the machinery of democracy. And few people understand that machinery better than Eva. 🔎 In this interview, we break down: 🔥 Why politics has a burnout problem 📞 Why candidates hate fundraising and why it matters anyway 🏛️ Why local races matter more than Congress for daily life 💰 Consultant culture and the political industrial complex 🧠 The myth that campaigns are about charisma instead of discipline 📊 Why candidates need infrastructure, not just inspiration 🌾 Why rural voters often feel abandoned by Democrats 🏫 Why school boards, county councils, and state legislatures matter most ⚖️ How movements are built after losing—not just after winning 🗳️ Why democracy depends on organizers, not just elected officials Eva makes one thing clear: Politics rewards exhaustion. Young staffers are expected to burn themselves out. First-time candidates are sold fantasy instead of reality. And too often, democracy is being held together by over-caffeinated people on laptops at midnight trying to stop the whole thing from catching fire. She also drops one of the strongest truths of the interview: “Democracy isn’t self-cleaning.” It requires organizers. Strategists. Advocates. People willing to learn the rules well enough to change them. We also talk about Indiana, red states, Democratic infrastructure, local organizing, consultant failures, and why so many campaigns are built to shout at voters instead of listening to them. 🎯 Whether you’re a first-time candidate, campaign volunteer, activist, or just someone wondering why politics feels broken—this conversation matters. Because candidates may be the face of the fight. But the operatives, organizers, and people dragging democracy uphill with both hands? They’re the spine. And they deserve to be seen. 👉 Watch the full interview and decide for yourself: Are we building campaigns… or just renting moments?

    Advocate Interview: Eva Posner

  2. Nov 6

    Advocate Interview: Keira Havens

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! This episode dives deep into the growing movement for citizen-led accountability in American politics. In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, host Derrick Holder sits down with activist Keira Havens to unpack the goals, challenges, and urgency behind the Citizens Impeachment movement and what it reveals about the current state of democracy in the United States. In this conversation, Derrick Holder and Keira Havens discuss the importance of citizen-led accountability in the political landscape, focusing on the Citizens Impeachment movement. They explore the challenges of engaging with Congress, the role of grassroots activism, and the necessity of maintaining sustained pressure on elected officials to uphold constitutional values. Havens shares her personal journey into activism, the strategies employed by Citizens Impeachment, and the significance of collective action in driving political change. This interview is especially relevant for viewers interested in Indiana politics, American history, constitutional accountability, and the evolving relationship between citizens and their representatives. From historical precedent to modern political inertia, this discussion connects the past to the present, asking why institutions resist accountability and how ordinary people can reclaim power through organized civic engagement. Whether you follow political commentary, study U.S. history, or simply want to understand why society functions the way it does—and how it can be fixed—this episode offers insight, context, and hard questions that demand answers. This is not partisan theater; it’s a conversation about responsibility, democracy, and the role citizens must play when systems fail to self-correct. Stay informed, question authority, and learn how grassroots movements are challenging the status quo—one conversation at a time.

    Advocate Interview: Keira Havens

  3. Nov 6

    Allen Miller: Who Gets a Say in Rural Indiana’s Future?

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Allen Miller, Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 73, joins Hold ’em Accountable for a conversation about what happens when major decisions are made about rural communities without enough input from the people who actually live there. Miller talks about data centers, farmland, water use, AI and the future of work, public-school funding, rural healthcare, broadband access, unions, and the decline of local news. He also explains why he believes no incumbent should ever run unopposed and why meaningful political competition matters even in districts that strongly favor one party. We also dig into his ideas for stronger worker protections, better transportation connections, public infrastructure, and keeping more opportunity in communities like Greensburg, Shelbyville, Hope, and Scipio. At the center of the conversation is a simple question: when rural Indiana changes, who gets to decide what that change looks like? No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. Stay informed, ask questions, and as always, hold ’em accountable.

    Allen Miller: Who Gets a Say in Rural Indiana’s Future?

  4. Nov 6

    Austin Meives: Rural Indiana Is Paying More and Getting Less

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Austin Meives, Democratic nominee for Indiana House District 23, returns to Hold ’em Accountable for a conversation about rural Indiana, rising utility bills, data centers, crumbling roads, public schools, healthcare access, and why small towns deserve more than attention during election season. District 23 includes communities throughout Cass and Miami counties, including Logansport, Peru, and surrounding rural areas where agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, and public education shape everyday life. In this interview, Austin talks about what he is hearing from voters across the district: power costs are going up, roads are struggling, teachers are being asked to do more with less, rural hospitals are losing services, and many people feel forgotten by the Statehouse after the votes are counted. We discuss:• Indiana House District 23• Austin Meives’ campaign for State Representative• Rising utility bills and power costs• Data centers and energy demand in Indiana• NIPSCO, utility regulation, and affordability• Rural roads, gas taxes, and local government funding• Public schools, property taxes, and teacher shortages• Parents, phones, cyberbullying, and classroom pressure• Rural healthcare access and Peru’s OB wing closure• Medicaid cuts and rural hospital strain• Younger candidates stepping into politics• Why voters need representatives who actually answer them• Common ground in rural Indiana Austin says rural Indiana is tired of paying taxes, paying higher bills, and still watching basic services fall behind. His message is simple: government should work for people, not forget them. No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. You can also ask Alexa to play Hold ’em Accountable with Derrick Holder.

    Austin Meives: Rural Indiana Is Paying More and Getting Less

  5. Nov 6

    Maggie Davis for Indiana House District 26: A Republican Challenging Her Own Party

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Maggie Davis, Republican candidate for Indiana House District 26, returns to Hold ’em Accountable for a conversation that does not fit neatly inside the usual party lines. Davis says she wants to change the Republican Party from within, and she takes positions that put her at odds with parts of her own party. In this interview, we press beyond campaign slogans and ask what those positions would actually mean once she reached the Indiana Statehouse. We discuss: • Indiana House District 26 and Tippecanoe County • Why Maggie wants to change the Republican Party from within • Indiana’s abortion restrictions and reproductive freedom • Cannabis legalization and potential tax revenue • Eliminating or reducing Indiana’s gas tax • Property taxes and government spending • Raising Indiana’s minimum wage • Housing costs and barriers to affordable construction • Public-school funding and local referendums • Workforce development and skilled trades • A proposed three-year moratorium on AI data centers • Farmland, water, environmental policy, and economic development • Survivor protections, consent education, and Title IX • Flock cameras, privacy, AI, and the Fourth Amendment • Working with Democrats when Republicans refuse to act • What happens when constituents and party leadership want different things Davis makes one promise repeatedly: the people of District 26 come before the Republican caucus. She says she would even accept becoming a one-term representative if standing with her constituents meant going against her own party. That gives voters something very specific to hold her accountable to if she wins. No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. You can also ask Alexa to play Hold ’em Accountable with Derrick Holder.

    Maggie Davis for Indiana House District 26: A Republican Challenging Her Own Party

  6. Nov 6

    Dr. Karen Whitney for Indiana House District 28: Who Really Pays for Indiana’s Cuts?

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Dr. Karen Whitney, Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 28, joins Hold ’em Accountable to talk about public-school funding, property taxes, affordability, healthcare, economic development, government reform, and what happens when Indiana cuts state support for services Hoosiers still depend on. Whitney spent more than 40 years in higher education, including leadership at IUPUI and as president of Clarion University. Her argument is simple: cutting the state’s share of the bill does not necessarily make the cost disappear. Schools still have teachers to pay, buildings to maintain, transportation to provide, and students to educate. As Whitney puts it, “The state can walk away,” but those expenses do not. In this conversation, we discuss: • Indiana House District 28 • Hendricks and Montgomery counties • Public-school funding and school fees • Property taxes and the hidden cost of state cuts • Teacher support and education policy • College affordability and Indiana’s brain drain • Cost of living, wages, food, housing, and utilities • Corporate incentives and job quality • Rural and suburban economic development • Family farms and local control • Water and data-center development • Rural healthcare and Whitney’s 30-minute access goal • Legislative term limits • Citizen-led redistricting • Campaign-finance reform • Citizen ballot initiatives • Bipartisan governing in the Indiana Statehouse Whitney says Indiana should stop treating schools, parks, healthcare, infrastructure, and other public services as nothing more than expenses to cut. If Hoosiers still expect those services, somebody eventually pays the bill. The question is whether Indiana is being honest about who that somebody is. No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. You can also ask Alexa to play Hold ’em Accountable with Derrick Holder.

    Dr. Karen Whitney for Indiana House District 28: Who Really Pays for Indiana’s Cuts?

  7. Nov 6

    Julie McGill for Indiana Senate District 15: Medicaid, Schools & Affordability

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Julie McGill, Democratic nominee for Indiana Senate District 15, returns to Hold ’em Accountable for a conversation about Medicaid, public schools, housing, affordability, worker power, and what happens when government programs become almost impossible for ordinary families to navigate. Julie is not talking about Medicaid from a spreadsheet. As the mother of a child with significant disabilities, she has experienced Indiana’s waiver system, insurance denials, confusing eligibility rules, provider problems, and the exhausting reality of fighting for services her family depends on. In this conversation, we discuss: • Indiana Senate District 15 and Allen County • Julie McGill’s campaign for the Indiana State Senate • Medicaid waivers and disability services • ABA therapy and support for children with autism • Special education and public-school funding • Indiana’s private-school voucher expansion • Housing affordability and corporate ownership of homes • Rent, landlords, and local property management • Working families living paycheck to paycheck • Corporate power and worker bargaining power • FSSA oversight and government accountability • Fraud versus improper Medicaid payments • Why complicated government systems hurt vulnerable families most • Why Julie says she’ll read the 300-page manual nobody else wants to read Julie’s argument is straightforward: government should not be so complicated that only people with the time, education, and confidence to fight can get the help they qualify for. Her broader question for Indiana is even simpler: if taxpayers are funding these systems, shouldn’t they actually work for the people who need them? No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. You can also ask Alexa to play Hold ’em Accountable with Derrick Holder.

    Julie McGill for Indiana Senate District 15: Medicaid, Schools & Affordability

  8. Nov 6

    Alex Wait for Indiana House District 5: Cost of Living, Schools & Housing

    Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode! Alex Wait, Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 5, joins Hold ’em Accountable to talk about the cost of living, housing, public schools, childcare, healthcare, organized labor, data centers, and whether working families can still afford to build a future in Indiana. Alex describes what he calls the “cost squeeze” facing Hoosiers: wages struggling to keep pace while housing, groceries, childcare, utilities, and healthcare eat up more of the family budget. In this conversation, we discuss: • Indiana House District 5 and St. Joseph County • Alex Wait’s campaign for the Indiana Statehouse • Housing affordability and starter homes • Indiana’s minimum wage and worker pay • Unions, right-to-work laws, and collective bargaining • Affordable childcare and universal pre-K • Public school funding and private school vouchers • Teacher resources and Indiana education policy • Data centers, local control, water, utilities, and development • Rural healthcare and the Healthy Indiana Plan • Cannabis legalization and state revenue • Why younger Hoosiers are getting involved in politics • Bipartisan opportunities on housing • Constituent communication and accountability Alex argues that Indiana’s affordability problems are connected. Housing does not exist separately from wages. Childcare does not exist separately from work. Public schools affect economic development. Healthcare affects family stability. And major development projects raise questions about who receives the benefits and who carries the costs. His campaign message centers on a basic question: if Hoosiers work hard, should that still be enough to afford a home, raise a family, and stay in Indiana? No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. You can also ask Alexa to play Hold ’em Accountable with Derrick Holder.

    Alex Wait for Indiana House District 5: Cost of Living, Schools & Housing
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About

Hold ’em Accountable is an independent political commentary and investigative podcast hosted by retired Marine Derrick Holder, bringing sharp analysis, historical context, and a healthy dose of sarcasm to the political issues shaping Indiana and the nation. From government accountability and political corruption to healthcare, economic inequality, veterans' issues, civil rights, and American democracy, Hold ’em Accountable goes beyond the headlines to examine how we got here, who's responsible, and what can be done about it. Through research-driven deep dives, fact-based commentary, candid conversations, and interviews with candidates, policymakers, and advocates, the show challenges political talking points, follows the evidence, and connects complicated policy decisions to the everyday lives of working Americans. Part of the Progressive Indiana Network, Hold ’em Accountable believes that patriotism means holding those in power to the same standards as everyone else, regardless of party affiliation. Stay informed, ask questions, and as always, Hold ’em Accountable.

Information

  • Creator
    Derrick Holder
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Hold 'em Accountable Studios 2026
  • Show Website
    Hold 'em Accountable