Independent Voter Podcast

Olas Media
  • 0.0 (0)
  • POLITICS
  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

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..

  1. 83% Want Voter ID - So Why Is Congress Fighting It? SAVE Act Explained

    1D AGO

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

    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 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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

    2D AGO

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

    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 Conversation00:00:29 – Introducing Chris Papst and the Failure Factory Investigation00:01:42 – Following the Money: Rising School Budgets, Stagnant Outcomes00:05:27 – Graduation Rates vs Math Proficiency: The Data Gap00:07:28 – Where the Money Really Went: Administrators Over Classrooms00:11:46 – Grade Changing and the Illusion of Student Success00:14:01 – Suing the School System and Uncovering Systemic Fraud00:16:29 – Accountability Failure and the Role of Local Elections00:21:18 – Broken Incentives, Leadership Failure, and Voter Responsibility   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    28 min
  3. How the “Politics Industry” Breaks Everything: ICE, CA Governor’s Race & Reform | Steve Peace

    FEB 5

    How the “Politics Industry” Breaks Everything: ICE, CA Governor’s Race & Reform | Steve Peace

    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 Podcast00:00:45 – Introducing Steve Peace and his role in California reform00:02:00 – California’s wide-open governor’s race and early contenders00:07:00 – Open primaries, party power, and why campaigns haven’t adapted00:16:00 – Ranked choice voting and reform incentives00:23:45 – ICE, immigration enforcement, and political overreach00:31:10 – Voter ID, mail ballots, and election trust00:44:10 – Federal seizure of ballots and election integrity debates00:52:00 – Fear-driven fundraising and partisan narratives01:02:30 – Attack of the Killer Tomatoes and closing reflections See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    1h 8m
  4. Does the 4th Amendment Apply to Everyone? ICE, Warrants, and Constitutional Rights

    JAN 29

    Does the 4th Amendment Apply to Everyone? ICE, Warrants, and Constitutional Rights

    Does the 4th Amendment protect only U.S. citizens - or everyone on U.S. soil? Chad and Cara dig into warrants, search-and-seizure limits, and how immigration enforcement tests constitutional boundaries. They also weigh the politics of voter ID - why it polls well, how ballot measures get framed, and what it means for trust and access in elections. Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com Chapters: 00:00:00 – Welcome Back and What’s Ahead00:02:00 – Does the Constitution Apply to Everyone on U.S. Soil?00:05:00 – ICE, Warrants, and Dangerous Precedents00:07:30 – When Extremes Replace Nuance in Immigration Enforcement00:08:25 – Oklahoma’s Fight to End Taxpayer-Funded Closed Primaries00:13:50 – FCC, Equal Time Rules, and Leaving Independents Out00:19:15 – Why Congress Still Won’t Ban Stock Trading00:23:20 – Voter ID as an 80/20 Issue That Gets Weaponized00:26:00 – California’s Governor Race and the Independent Lane00:28:40 – Gerrymandering, Forced Party Registration, and the Way Forward See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    35 min
  5. Can “Aggressive Civility” Fix Politics? The Polarization Problem

    JAN 27

    Can “Aggressive Civility” Fix Politics? The Polarization Problem

    Political strategist and writer Gregory Graf joins the Independent Voter Podcast to break down Idaho’s semi-closed primaries, rising outside PAC money, and the growing split inside the GOP. Drawing on his reporting and analysis at Political Potatoes (https://politicalpotatoes.substack.com/) the hosts explore why open/nonpartisan primaries (and where ranked-choice fits) could change incentives - and how “aggressive civility” might lower the political temperature.  Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com Chapters: 00:00:00 – Why Idaho Politics Matter More Than You Think 00:02:20 – California Transplants and the Myth of “Turning Idaho Blue” 00:04:00 – How Closed Primaries Changed Idaho Elections 00:05:45 – Campaign Finance Caps, PAC Money, and Political Machines 00:07:10 – Independents as Idaho’s Second Largest Voting Bloc 00:08:45 – Budget Battles, School Choice, and Republican Infighting 00:11:15 – Ranked Choice Voting, Open Primaries, and Party Power 00:14:55 – How Party Establishments Block Reform Nationwide 00:18:30 – Political Hypocrisy, Threats, and the Cost of Speaking Out 00:25:00 – Aggressive Civility and Lowering the Temperature in Politics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    29 min
  6. Has ICE Gone Too Far in Minnesota? EXPOSING Partisan Narratives

    JAN 22

    Has ICE Gone Too Far in Minnesota? EXPOSING Partisan Narratives

    A viral question - “Has ICE gone too far?” - turns into a deep dive on immigration enforcement after the Minneapolis shooting of Renee Nicole Good. The team weighs conflicting video narratives, what voters actually want ICE to prioritize, and reports of would-be citizens being turned away at naturalization ceremonies. Listen to more episodes and join the conversation at IVN.us and olasmedia.com Chapters: 00:00:00 – Why the ICE debate has exploded again 00:05:00 – Viral outrage, conflicting narratives, and selective facts 00:09:00 – What independent voters actually think about ICE 00:13:00 – Dangerous criminals vs. people following the rules 00:17:00 – Gerrymandering, Newsom, and bipartisan power games 00:22:00 – Trump, bravado politics, and market volatility 00:25:00 – Closed primaries and the myth of crossover sabotage 00:31:00 – Oregon, ballot language, and voter exclusion 00:36:00 – What it really means to be an independent voter See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    51 min
  7. Why Is California So Stuck? What New Independent Voter Poll Reveals

    JAN 15

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

    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 Podcast00:01:16 – Inside the California NPP Poll and What It Reveals00:03:05 – Missouri Ballot Language and Gerrymandering Games00:07:44 – How Parties Manipulate Ballot Questions00:10:44 – West Virginia Closes Its Primaries and Joe Manchin Responds00:14:15 – Alaska, Ranked Choice Voting, and Senate Politics00:18:06 – Independents Reach Record Highs Nationwide00:24:30 – Nevada’s Push to Enshrine Equal Voting Rights00:28:38 – Santa Clara’s Costly Runoff Election Problem00:30:38 – What Comes Next for Independent Voters See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    34 min
  8. Why Did Walz Drop Out? Daycare Fraud & Chaos in Minnesota

    JAN 8

    Why Did Walz Drop Out? Daycare Fraud & Chaos in Minnesota

    Wondering how a major political figure walks away from power, and what that says about the system behind the scenes? This episode unpacks Tim Walz’s decision to step aside in Minnesota and how allegations around daycare funding brought to light by YouTuber Nick Shirley have cracked open a wide-open governor’s race. You’ll see how partisan spin quickly takes over moments like this, and why independent thinking matters when facts, accusations, and political incentives collide. Hosts Chad Peace and Cara McCormick break it down with real-world context, including what an open seat could mean for a Jesse Ventura-style independent run. We drop new episodes each week. You can read more and follow along at IVN.us. Chapters: 00:00:00 – Welcome to 2026 and the Return of Independent Voter 00:05:00 – Tim Walz Steps Aside and Minnesota’s Open Governor Race 00:07:30 – Could an Independent Win Again Like Jesse Ventura? 00:09:45 – The Minnesota Fraud Allegations and Oversight Failures 00:12:30 – When Scandals Become Wedge Politics 00:13:55 – Venezuela, Maduro, and the Politics of Intervention 00:20:35 – What Slips Through While the News Is Distracted 00:21:35 – The USPS Postmark Change That Affects Voting and Taxes 00:29:40 – California’s Voter ID Initiative and Ballot Language Games 00:44:05 – Alaska, Ranked Choice Voting, and the Fight Over Power See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    49 min
See All (32)

About

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..

Information

More From Olas Media