Hold 'em Accountable

Derrick Holder
  • 5.0 (1)
  • NEWS COMMENTARY

Welcome to Hold ’Em Accountable — a channel dedicated to shining a light on politics, policy, and the people who represent us. Here, we break down the decisions made in Indiana and across the nation, exposing how gerrymandering, corruption, and backroom deals impact everyday Americans. We ask the tough questions: Are our leaders truly serving the people, or are they protecting their own power? Through commentary, news breakdowns, and sharp analysis, we cut through political spin and demand accountability from those in office — regardless of party. This channel isn’t about left or right — it’s about right and wrong. It’s about making sure Hoosiers and all Americans know the truth, and making sure their voices are heard.

  1. Indiana Primary Recap: Who Won, Who Lost, and Why November Just Got Dangerous

    3D AGO

    Indiana Primary Recap: Who Won, Who Lost, and Why November Just Got Dangerous

    The votes are in. The signs are coming down. The consultants are sending invoices. And somewhere in Indiana right now, a candidate who spent six straight months posting pancake breakfast selfies is asking the most painful question in politics: How did I lose? In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, we break down the May 5 Indiana primary elections and what they actually mean heading into November. No spin. No campaign brochure language. No “we’re excited about the path forward,” which is usually political code for “we are absolutely panicking.” Just reality. This primary was not subtle. Republicans held a loyalty test, and Donald Trump graded it personally. Five Trump-backed challengers defeated incumbent Republican state senators who opposed his redistricting push. Seven GOP Senate incumbents lost overall—the highest number since Ballotpedia began tracking in 2010. That’s not disagreement. That’s enforcement. Meanwhile, Democrats told a more complicated story. In Indiana’s congressional races: 📍 IN-04 – Drew Cox defeated three former congressional candidates, signaling Democratic voters chose the progressive over the familiar name. 📍 IN-05 – State Senator J.D. Ford defeated progressive favorite Jackson Franklin, showing voters prioritized electability against Victoria Spartz over ideological momentum. 📍 IN-06 – Dr. Cinde Wirth stayed the Democratic standard-bearer, proving voters chose conviction over caution. 📍 IN-09 – Brad Meyer defeated former nominee Tim Peck and a competitive field, another progressive win and a rejection of political reruns. That leaves us with the real Democratic story: Three progressive wins. One moderate win. Not confusion. Strategy. In redder districts, voters said: “If we’re climbing uphill anyway, send someone who actually believes in the climb.” In battleground districts, they said: “Winning comes first.” That debate didn’t end on primary night. It got louder. We also break down why your State House and State Senate races matter more than Congress for your actual life: 🏠 Property taxes 🏥 Healthcare access 🏫 School funding ⚡ Utility regulation ⚖️ Reproductive rights 🚔 County offices that can ruin your Tuesday faster than Congress ever will Because while everyone watches Washington… your life gets decided in Indianapolis. This episode covers: ✔️ Trump’s continued control of Indiana Republican primaries ✔️ Democratic turnout and momentum heading into November ✔️ Why moderate Republicans had a very bad night ✔️ Why Democrats still have a messaging problem ✔️ Why local races matter more than most people realize ✔️ What November now looks like for both parties ✔️ Why primaries—not general elections—often decide your future From now until the end of August, we’re going weekly deep dive mode: Utility monopolies Healthcare deserts Why working full-time still feels like financial parkour Why childcare costs more than rent Why poverty somehow comes with a premium subscription fee And then…Interview-Palooza 2: Electric Boogaloo Yes, that is still the official title. No, I will not be taking feedback. That means candidate interviews, congressional races, statehouse races, and local offices that actually affect your daily life. No softballs. No campaign brochure questions. Real conversations. Because democracy does not improve when politicians talk at voters. It improves when voters get loud enough that politicians have to answer. That is the job. That has always been the job. #IndianaPolitics #IndianaPrimary #Election2026 #HoldEmAccountable #PoliticalAnalysis

    35 min
  2. Advocate Interview: Eva Posner

    5D AGO

    Advocate Interview: Eva Posner

    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? 🎙️ Coming Next on Hold ’em Accountable: We’re shifting into advocate interviews and launching a special Sci-Fi & Politics series—where we explore how fiction helps us understand power, democracy, collapse, and survival. Candidate interviews return in August. Until then—we go deeper. #EvaPosner #PoliticalConsulting #CampaignStrategy #Democracy #HoldEmAccountable

    45 min
  3. Candidate Interview: Timothy Murphy

    MAY 4

    Candidate Interview: Timothy Murphy

    Indiana’s 19th Senate District covers the kind of places that built this state. Bluffton. Hartford City. Portland. Decatur. Southwest Fort Wayne. Factory towns. Family farms. Friday night football. Church parking lots. Working families trying to hold the line while costs keep rising and opportunities keep shrinking. In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, we sit down with Timothy Murphy, Democratic candidate for Indiana State Senate District 19, to talk about jobs, healthcare, education, rural investment—and why he says democracy itself is part of the problem. His reason for running? Simple. For years, no one ran. No challenger. No real debate. No accountability. And Murphy believes voters deserve better than that. 📍 He’s a pastor, advocate, and community organizer stepping into one of Indiana’s toughest races with a focus on working families, healthcare access, public schools, labor rights, and restoring real democratic participation. 🔎 In this interview, we break down the biggest issues facing District 19: 🏥 Rural hospitals closing services and long drives for emergency care 👶 Lost maternity care and disappearing local birth units 🏫 Public school funding and private/charter school transparency 🌾 Family farms vs. corporate agricultural consolidation 🏭 Manufacturing jobs, unions, and worker protections 📡 Rural broadband and infrastructure investment 🚆 Rail access and regional economic development 🧠 Mental health and addiction treatment gaps 🏠 Population decline and keeping young people in small towns 🗳️ Ballot initiatives and expanding democratic participation in Indiana Murphy makes a strong case for: ✔️ Increasing funding for rural hospitals and emergency services ✔️ Fully funding public schools before expanding vouchers ✔️ Repealing Right-to-Work laws and strengthening unions ✔️ Protecting small family farms from corporate consolidation ✔️ Expanding mental health services statewide ✔️ Real investment in rural broadband and transportation ✔️ Creating “third places” and stronger local communities ✔️ Giving Hoosiers ballot initiative power to directly shape policy He also says something that hits hard: Democracy without choices isn’t much of a democracy. That’s why he’s running. Not because it’s easy. Not because it’s likely. Because someone has to. 🎯 Then we put it all on the line in Hold ’em or Fold ’em—our rapid-fire segment where candidates take direct positions: Rural hospitals? Hold. Public schools before vouchers? Hold. Medical marijuana? Hold. Protecting family farms? Hold. Mental health funding? Absolutely hold. Property tax relief for homeowners and seniors? Hold. No scripts. No dodging. Just answers. 📍 Whether you live in Adams County, Wells County, Jay County, Blackford County, or anywhere across Indiana, this conversation asks a bigger question: Who is actually fighting for working families now? 👉 Watch the full interview and decide for yourself: Is Timothy Murphy the kind of leadership District 19 needs? 🎙️ About Hold ’em Accountable: Real conversations. No spin. No scripts. Just the questions voters actually care about. #IndianaPolitics #TimothyMurphy #District19 #WorkingFamilies #RuralHealthcare

    34 min
  4. Candidate Interview: John Colburn

    MAY 1

    Candidate Interview: John Colburn

    Indiana’s 70th District values tradition, trust, and results. From Corydon to Borden, from Fredericksburg to the rural communities in between, voters here care about affordability, small business survival, family farms, public safety, and whether government is actually helping—or just getting bigger. In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, we sit down with John Colburn, Republican candidate for Indiana State House District 70, to talk about what he believes is driving the frustration across southern Indiana. His answer is simple: Government is too big, too expensive, and too involved. 📍 Colburn’s campaign centers on one mission: Reduce the size, scope, and power of Indiana state government. And from that, he argues, affordability follows. 🔎 In this interview, we break down the biggest issues facing District 70: 🏠 Housing affordability and why younger families are being priced out 🏥 Healthcare costs vs. health insurance bureaucracy 🌾 Family farms, property taxes, and rural land ownership 📡 Broadband access and infrastructure priorities 🚧 Roads, transportation funding, and interstate toll debates 🏪 Small business regulations and insurance burdens 🏫 K-12 education funding and administrative bloat 🧠 Mental health services and access in rural communities 💰 Property tax reform and eliminating taxes for seniors ⚖️ Free markets, limited government, and fiscal responsibility Colburn makes a strong case for: ✔️ Eliminating property taxes for homeowners 65+ ✔️ Reducing healthcare middlemen like PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers) ✔️ Expanding broadband while protecting Hoosiers from unfair tolls ✔️ Cutting red tape for small businesses ✔️ Reducing school administration costs and raising teacher pay ✔️ Investing in mental health treatment access ✔️ Challenging Republican leadership when it grows government too much He also makes something very clear: He’s not running to represent the Republican Party. He says he’s running to represent District 70. 🎯 Then we put it all on the line in Hold ’em or Fold ’em—our rapid-fire segment where candidates take direct positions: Universal healthcare? Fold. Raise the minimum wage? Fold. Corporate PAC money? Hold. Universal background checks? Fold. Mental health investment? Hold. Challenge your own party? “Holds squared.” No spin. No scripts. Just answers. 📍 Whether you live in Harrison County, Corydon, Borden, or anywhere across Indiana, this conversation is about something bigger: What kind of government actually helps working families? 👉 Watch the full interview and decide for yourself: Is John Colburn the leadership District 70 wants? 🎙️ About Hold ’em Accountable: Real conversations. No spin. No scripts. Just the questions voters actually care about. #IndianaPolitics #JohnColburn #District70 #ConservativePolitics #SmallGovernment

    21 min
  5. Candidate Interview: Sarah Blessing

    APR 30

    Candidate Interview: Sarah Blessing

    Indiana’s 70th District carries history—and right now, a whole lot of pressure. From Corydon to Borden, from Fredericksburg to Palmyra, families across southern Indiana are dealing with rising costs, shrinking healthcare access, underfunded public schools, and a growing feeling that government has stopped listening. In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, we sit down with Sarah Blessing, Democratic candidate for Indiana State House District 70, to talk about what’s happening on the ground—and why she believes the fight isn’t about party, it’s about people. 📍 Sarah isn’t a career politician. She’s a former elementary school teacher, a mother, a community advocate, and co-founder of Project NEXT—a media platform focused on real Hoosier conversations and accountability. And she makes one thing clear: She’s not running as “Democrat Sarah Blessing.” She’s running as someone fighting for her neighbors. 🔎 In this interview, we break down the biggest issues facing District 70: 🏥 Rural healthcare access and the future of local hospitals 👶 The loss of OB-GYN care in Harrison County 🌾 Family farms, land ownership, and corporate pressure 🚜 Right-to-repair laws and farmers vs. giant equipment companies 📚 Public school funding and the damage caused by voucher expansion 🏛️ Libraries under attack and broadband access gaps 💻 Internet access for rural students and working families 🧠 Mental health services and why care should be treated like infrastructure 💰 Property taxes, rising costs, and corporate loopholes 🏢 Lobbyist influence and corporate PAC money in state politics Sarah also calls out a bigger problem: Too many lawmakers are listening to lobbyists instead of the people who elected them. She talks openly about: ✔️ Corporate influence in Indianapolis ✔️ Why public schools should be funded before private vouchers ✔️ Why libraries are essential public spaces ✔️ How Indiana became a testing ground for bad policy ✔️ Why elected officials must challenge their own party when people are being hurt 🎯 Then we put it all on the line in Hold ’em or Fold ’em—our rapid-fire segment where candidates take clear positions without hiding behind talking points. Healthcare as a human right? Hold. Raise the minimum wage? Hold. Union protections? Hold. Universal background checks? Hold. Renewable energy jobs? Hold. Public schools before vouchers? Absolutely hold. No spin. No dodge. Just answers. 📍 Whether you live in Harrison County, Floyd County, Corydon, Borden, or anywhere across Indiana, this conversation is about something bigger: Who government is actually working for. 👉 Watch the full interview and decide for yourself: Is Sarah Blessing the kind of leadership District 70 needs? 🎙️ About Hold ’em Accountable: Real conversations. No spin. No scripts. Just the questions voters actually care about. #IndianaPolitics #SarahBlessing #District70 #PublicSchools #RuralHealthcare

    41 min
  6. Candidate Interview: Candy Greer

    APR 29

    Candidate Interview: Candy Greer

    Indiana’s 64th District is rural, resilient—and under pressure. From Vincennes to Patoka to Haubstadt, families are facing the same reality seen across small-town America: rising costs, stagnant wages, limited healthcare access, and fewer opportunities to stay and build a future. In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, we sit down with Candy Greer, a Democratic candidate running for Indiana State House District 64, to talk about what’s really happening on the ground—and what she plans to do about it. 📍 This isn’t theory. This is lived experience. 🔎 In this interview, Greer lays out the challenges facing southwest Indiana: 💰 Wages that haven’t meaningfully increased in over a decade 🏠 Housing shortages and corporate property buy-ups 🏥 Rural healthcare access and transportation barriers 🏫 Public school funding and the impact of voucher programs 🌾 Family farms struggling to stay profitable 🚧 Infrastructure issues—from roads to water systems to broadband 🧠 Mental health and addiction services that need real investment 🏪 Small businesses competing in an uneven system Her message is clear: “We can’t keep waiting for things to get better—we have to change them.” 💬 Key policy positions discussed: ✔️ Raising the minimum wage and restoring worker negotiating power ✔️ Expanding access to healthcare, including transportation support ✔️ Investing in public education and re-evaluating voucher programs ✔️ Addressing housing affordability and limiting corporate buy-ups ✔️ Supporting family farms and rural economies ✔️ Treating mental health and addiction as public health priorities ✔️ Strengthening infrastructure, including roads and water systems ✔️ Holding corporations accountable to pay their fair share Greer also emphasizes a different kind of leadership: Listening first. Learning from the people living these issues. And working across the aisle when it benefits the district. 🎯 Then we put it all on the line in Hold ’em or Fold ’em—our rapid-fire segment where candidates take clear, no-spin positions on key issues: • Universal healthcare • Raising the minimum wage • Union protections • Public school funding • Gun safety laws • Housing affordability • Mental health investment • Challenging party leadership when necessary No scripts. No dodging. Just answers. 📍 Whether you live in Vincennes, Gibson County, Knox County, or anywhere across Indiana, this conversation highlights the real struggles facing rural communities—and the choices that will shape their future. 👉 Watch the full interview and decide for yourself: Is Candy Greer the kind of leadership District 64 needs? 🎙️ About Hold ’em Accountable: Real conversations. No spin. No scripts. Just the questions voters actually care about. #IndianaPolitics #CandyGreer #District64 #RuralAmerica #WorkingClass

    27 min
  7. Candidate Interview: Ryan Price

    APR 27

    Candidate Interview: Ryan Price

    In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, we sit down with Ryan Price, a working-class Hoosier stepping into the fight for southern Indiana families. From Scottsburg to Charlestown to Sellersburg, District 66 sits at the crossroads of opportunity and struggle—where wages haven’t kept up, housing costs are rising, and too many families feel like the system just isn’t built for them anymore. 🔎 In this conversation, Price brings a perspective rooted in real life—not politics: 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A father working to provide for his family 🏭 A worker who’s seen wages stagnate while costs climb 🏘️ A community member watching housing slip out of reach 🏥 A Hoosier who knows how far you have to travel for healthcare And he doesn’t sugarcoat it. 💬 His message is clear: “The system is rigged against working people—and it’s time to fix it.” 📌 Key issues discussed in this interview: 💰 Raising wages beyond the $7.25 federal minimum 🏠 Addressing the housing crisis and corporate property buy-ups 🏫 Fully funding public schools and supporting teachers 🏥 Expanding rural healthcare and emergency services 🚧 Fixing infrastructure—roads, drainage, and flood prevention 🌾 Supporting rural communities and small-town economies ⚖️ Strengthening workers’ rights and union protections 🏪 Holding corporations accountable for tax incentives 🧠 Expanding mental health services across the district Price also highlights a growing frustration across his generation—what many call the “Oregon Trail generation”—who were told to follow the rules, only to find the system no longer works the way it was promised. 🎯 Then we put him through Hold ’em or Fold ’em—our rapid-fire segment where candidates take clear, no-spin positions on the issues that matter most. No talking points. No dodging. Just answers. 📍 Whether you live in southern Indiana or anywhere across the country, this conversation reflects a broader reality: People aren’t just frustrated—they’re ready for change. 👉 Watch the full interview and decide for yourself: Is Ryan Price the kind of leadership District 66 needs? 🎙️ About Hold ’em Accountable: Real conversations. No spin. No scripts. Just the questions voters actually care about. #IndianaPolitics #RyanPrice #District66 #WorkingClass #EconomicJustice

    25 min
  8. Candidate Interview: Austin Meives

    APR 24

    Candidate Interview: Austin Meives

    Indiana’s 23rd State House District isn’t one story—it’s many. From Logansport to Peru, from Mexico to the communities surrounding Grissom Air Reserve Base, this district represents a mix of rural towns, small cities, and working families all facing the same question: Why does it feel like we’re being left behind? In this episode of Hold ’em Accountable, we sit down with Austin Meives, a Democratic candidate running to represent District 23, to break down what’s really happening on the ground—and what needs to change. 📍 This isn’t about talking points. This is about reality. 🔎 In this interview, Meives dives into the issues shaping north central Indiana: 🏭 Factory closures and the limits of tax-cut economic policy 🌾 The future of family farms and rising operational costs 🏥 Rural healthcare struggles, provider shortages, and mental health access 🏫 Education funding and the need for real workforce development 📡 Broadband gaps and outdated infrastructure 🏚️ Housing challenges, abandoned properties, and community decline 🚧 Infrastructure systems that haven’t kept pace in decades ⚡ The role of the state when markets fail rural communities He makes a clear argument: “One-size-fits-all policy doesn’t work—and it’s leaving rural Indiana behind.” 💬 Key takeaways from this conversation: ✔️ Rethinking economic development beyond corporate tax incentives ✔️ Investing in rural hospitals and mental health systems ✔️ Expanding career and technical education earlier in schools ✔️ Supporting farmers with new tools and diversified income streams ✔️ Treating broadband and infrastructure as essential services ✔️ Addressing housing through vacancy policy and smarter zoning ✔️ Holding government accountable to the people—not just party leadership Meives also emphasizes something voters across the district are feeling: They’re not being heard. And when people stop feeling heard—they stop showing up. 🎯 Then we put it all on the line in Hold ’em or Fold ’em—our rapid-fire segment where candidates take clear positions with no spin: • Fully funding public schools • Supporting rural hospitals when markets fail • Expanding broadband access • Holding corporations accountable for tax incentives • Protecting family farms • Voting against party leadership when necessary 📍 Whether you’re in Logansport, Peru, Miami County, Cass County, or anywhere across Indiana—this conversation highlights the real challenges facing rural communities and the decisions that will shape their future. 👉 Watch the full interview and decide for yourself: Is this the leadership District 23 needs? 🎙️ About Hold ’em Accountable: Real conversations. No spin. No scripts. Just the questions voters actually care about. #IndianaPolitics #AustinMeives #District23 #RuralAmerica #WorkingClass

    16 min
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About

Welcome to Hold ’Em Accountable — a channel dedicated to shining a light on politics, policy, and the people who represent us. Here, we break down the decisions made in Indiana and across the nation, exposing how gerrymandering, corruption, and backroom deals impact everyday Americans. We ask the tough questions: Are our leaders truly serving the people, or are they protecting their own power? Through commentary, news breakdowns, and sharp analysis, we cut through political spin and demand accountability from those in office — regardless of party. This channel isn’t about left or right — it’s about right and wrong. It’s about making sure Hoosiers and all Americans know the truth, and making sure their voices are heard.

Information

  • Creator
    Derrick Holder
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Derrick Holder