Independent Voter Podcast

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 olas...

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, Nevad...

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...

Prop 50 is redrawing California’s political battlefield, sparking new fears of gerrymandering, backroom mapmaking, and voters losing their voice. We cut through the spin to explain what’s really changing, who benefits, and what it could mean for competitive elections, election reform, and independent voters. Plus, Independent CA-40 candidate Nina Linh joins us to spell out how Prop 50&...

Host Chad Peace and co-host Cara McCormick dive into the left’s political freak-out over Trump potentially rescheduling cannabis — and what it exposes about a system that weaponizes even 80/20 issues. With guest Adam Swart of Crowds on Demand, they go from weed reform to immigration to gerrymandering asking: Can independents help drag politics back to common sense solutions? Listen to...

Pro-democracy activists don’t just need to win reforms at the ballot box; they have to stay in the battle to keep their initiatives from being torn apart the morning after. On this week’s Independent Voter Podcast, Chad Peace and Cara McCormick lament the quiet persistence of partisan political sabotage: the delays, rewrites, and procedural tricks that greet any changes to the status q...

In this episode of the Independent Voter Podcast, Chad and Cara dive into the exploding world of political prediction markets with special guest Chris Gerlacher of Prediction News—unpacking how platforms like Kalshi and crypto-based markets are reshaping how insiders gauge races from California governor to New York City mayor. Chad and Cara also highlight Shawn Griffiths’ latest electi...

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...

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...

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 St...

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 n...

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,...

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 t...

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 o...

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...

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 packa...

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,...

Think it’s easy to run for president as an Independent in the U.S.? Think again. In this episode of our new How It Really Works series, Chad Peace sits down with electoral reform powerhouse Cara McCormick to unpack why running outside the two-party system is so hard, it’s almost impossible. Cara breaks down seven hidden barriers independent candidates face—from brutal ballot acce...

This is the inaugural episode of the Independent Voter Podcast with Chad Peace and Cara McCormick . In this launch, they share the complexities of independent candidacies in U.S. presidential elections. Ever wondered why so few run as independents? Chad and Cara explore the formidable challenges, from ballot access hurdles to debate stage exclusions and fundraising disparities. They examine how th...

The author of  California’s Top Two Candidates Open Primary,  which took effect in 2012, wants to reform his reform. Steve Peace, a founder of the  Independent Voter Project,  wants California to move to a system that would ask voters to rank 4 or 5 candidates instead of voting for just one. Alaska and Maine have adopted a similar Rank Choice Voting system. Peace looks through the national politic...

Binational entrepreneur, Juan Hernandez Sr., Former Senator Steve Peace, and Senator Brian Jones join guest host Assemblymember, David Alvarez on the Politic Deli podcast to discuss the importance of cross-border cooperation and collaboration between California and Mexico. In the bustling border region of San Diego-Tijuana, three extraordinary individuals stand as beacons of hope and progress. (Or...

From the IVP Summit in Hawaii, retired corrections officer Stephen Walker talks to Andy Moore , Executive Director of NANR (National Association of Non-Partisan Reformers). Stephen serves as IVP Board Member and shares how his passion led him to the Independent Voter Project . Andy speaks to the value of convening, catalyzing and connecting, when challenging and changing policies and how primaries...