Are election rules protecting voters or protecting parties? Chad Peace and Cara McCormick break down voter ID laws, Texas Republicans shutting out independents, the FCC's move against late night TV, and why Gallup stopped polling. Independent voters are nearly half the electorate, and the parties are scared. 

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.

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.

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...

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.

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...

A viral question - “Has ICE gone too far?” - turns into a deep dive on immigration enforcement after the Minneapolis shooting of Renee Nicole Good.

Ever wonder why independent voters keep getting sidelined, even as their numbers grow?

Wondering how a major political figure walks away from power, and what that says about the system behind the scenes?

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’s map shifts are already reshaping her district - and her race.