In this week’s episode of The Independent Voter Podcast, Chad Peace and Cara McCormick tackle one of the most consequential stories for democracy today: the fight over redistricting and open primaries. From California’s independent commission being starved of resources to North Carolina’s push for even more partisan maps, the message is clear — both parties are gaming the system, and voters are the ones paying the price.

The conversation shifts to Texas, where the Republican Party has sued to close the state’s open primaries, a move Chad calls “a threat to representative democracy.” With Attorney General Ken Paxton refusing to defend the century-old open system, the hosts draw a powerful historical parallel to Smith v. Allwright, the 1944 Supreme Court case that struck down whites-only primaries. It’s a stark reminder that voting rights battles are never truly over.

From there, Cara and Chad dissect media manipulation calling out Fox News for spreading misleading stories about cannabis use and public safety just as national rescheduling debates heat up. The episode closes with an unexpected twist: a debate on whether Donald Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize. Through it all, the show underscores one message — democracy only works when voters, not parties, control the process.

Listen to the full episode of The Independent Voter Podcast and explore more stories about how democracy really works at olasmedia.com or wherever you get your podcasts.

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