Independent Voter Podcast: Beyond Partisan Politics

On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths welcomes back FairVote Senior Analyst Deb Otis to discuss a new report she co-authored on the impact ranked choice voting had on New York City. NYC held its first ranked choice voting primary election in June 2020, and after the November election, the nation's largest city got its most diverse city government in history. Ranked choice voting is an alternative voting method in which voters rank candidates in order of preference. Advocates point out that RCV gives voters more choice and allows for additional rounds of runoff in no candidate has a majority without the expense of another election. A separate runoff election would also have a lower turnout meaning winners wouldn't be decided when the most voters participated. FairVote's report shows a higher turnout in the primary, and greater confidence among voters that their voice at the ballot box mattered. Shawn and Deb dive deep into the report and talk about what voters should take away from it, as well as campaigns looking to pass ranked choice voting in their own city or state. Want to know more about the benefits of ranked choice voting and what it offered the nation's largest city? Check out this episode. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling The Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths is joined by Andy Moore, the executive director of the National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers (NANR). NANR is a coalition of several organizations that span the political spectrum and advocate for a broad range of reforms. However, they are united behind the shared goal for solutions that will give voters more competition, choice, accountability, and transparency in elections. The group is hosting its annual summit on Friday, December 10, at 2 pm EST. Due to the ongoing state of the COVID-19, the summit will be held virtually and is open to both members and non-members to attend. It is an excellent opportunity to not only learn more about the coalition, its diverse membership, but also get up to speed on how dozens of organizations are making history each year with election innovations that millions of Americans want to see. Andy says reformers have a message for hope that Americans need to hear at a time when so many are disenchanted and disenfranchised by the electoral process. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling The Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths is joined by Eric Bronner, co-founder and COO of Veterans for Political Innovation (VPI). VPI's mission is to mobilize veterans and supporters to advance reform measures that produce a more competitive and less toxic electoral process. It's the first national group of its kind. Eric talks about his own journey in helping create the organization, and why veterans are a critical segment of the population to get behind reform. According to Eric, half of veterans do not identify with a political party and would be better served by a political system that is not controlled and dominated by the Republican and Democratic Parties. We need a system that does not force voters into two divided boxes. We need a system where candidates have to actually compete for voters, and is accountable to citizens. This is how we shift the incentive in the political industry to put the public interest above the self-serving interests of public officials and their parties. Eric talks about what elections need to give voters a system they desperately need and deserve. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths is joined by the leader of the Yang Gang himself, Andrew Yang. Yang is a US business leader, a former Democratic presidential candidate, a former Democratic mayoral candidate in New York City, author of the book "Forward,"and has been featured as a commentator on national media outlets. Now, Yang has founded the Forward Party with a focus on bringing systemic democracy reform to the US political process that will give control back to voters. Griffiths and Yang discuss his decision to leave the Democratic Party, register independent, and form his own political party. They also discuss the short- and long-term goals of the Forward Party, and why he supports reforms like ranked choice voting, open primaries, independent redistricting commissions, and term limits. It's a candid conversation on what's wrong with the way the US conducts its elections, why the duopoly must be toppled, and where the country needs to go to move Forward. Note from the host: Apologies for the occasional choppiness in the audio. There were some brief but sporadic connection issues during the interview. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling The Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths is joined by Cathy Stewart and Amikka Smith, who are co-hosting IndependentVoting.org's 20th Annual Anti-Corruption Awards on Monday, October 25 at 6 PM EDT. This year, Independent Voting is taking the event national by hosting a virtual event available to anyone who wants to register to attend. The awards honor individuals that span the political spectrum who are working to advance the independent voter movement. This year, the honorees include former Gehl Foods CEO Katherine Gehl, founder of the Institute for Political Innovation and leading advocate for Final Five Voting, which would implement a nonpartisan top-5 primary with ranked choice voting in the general election. The event will also honor Farhad Mohit, founder of Flipagran (which was acquired by the company behind TikTok), who started an open source platform to help independent candidates be more competitive called the Good Party, and Gaby Cardenas, Principal and CEO of the multicultural marketing firm The Colibri Collective, for the strides she has made in connecting independent voters. Cathy and Amikka promise attendees will have a good time as they learn more about the honorees and the growing independent voter movement. You can register for the event here. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

Toppling the Duopoly host Shawn Griffiths is joined by Tom Charron, who is representing a new group called the California RCV Coalition (Cal RCV). At a time when ranked choice voting is having a moment, the group is set to officially launch on September 21 during an online Zoom event that is open to the public. Charron explains why more California cities and the state as a whole need ranked choice voting for their elections and the benefits it would bring to bolstering representation across sociopolitical demographics. The goal is twofold: (1) Work toward a statewide ballot initiative, but also to (2) help local RCV efforts in cities across the Golden State. Charron further explains the nonpartisan nature of ranked choice voting, which now has broad support across the political spectrum. If you liked this podcast or found it informative, be sure to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review where possible. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths is joined once again by FairVote Senior Research Analyst Deb Otis to discuss the historic ranked choice voting (RCV) primary election in New York City. The election was not without controversy, as a human error caused the initial tally to be off in the hotly contested Democratic primary. Critics and individuals skeptical of RCV used it as an opportunity to raise doubts on the alternative voting method. However, it is widely acknowledged that the error was not a result of RCV, but human error on the part of election administrators. Deb explains exactly what happened in the election that caught the attention of media outlets across the country, and how ranked choice voting was a huge success in the Big Apple. Not only did it prevent a candidate from winning the Democratic primary with 32% of the vote, but voters reported that they found the voting method simple, fair, and easy. Check out this episode to learn more about the NYC primary under RCV and other additional wins in the RCV movement. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths takes some time to discuss the purpose of the podcast and what it means when he and others talk about the "duopoly." This is not about dumping the two major parties. Parties have an important role in a democratic process. However, that role should not be to control the electoral and political processes. In any other industry in the United States, we would be outraged if one company or two companies had such an iron grip on their industry that competition cannot emerge. We should be equally outraged that this happens in our political industry. The rules have been rigged to protect the major parties from competition, and thus the incentive at every level is to put party first. We need reforms that shift the incentive to put voters and country first because that is the only way we will see long-term solutions to the nation's biggest problems emerge. This is what it means to "topple the duopoly." --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths talks with Jeff Clements, the president of American Promise, a nonpartisan group taking on the challenge of big money in politics. Most Americans, across the political spectrum, agree that moneyed interests have too much influence over politics in the US, yet the Supreme Court has made it difficult to do anything about it, which is why American Promise is proposing a 28th Amendment to the US Constitution. It may sound like a tall hurdle to clear, but Jeff explains how it is not impossible. Shawn and Jeff discuss the process to getting to a 28th Amendment, overcoming partisan barriers, and the strength this movement already has, particularly in relation to the broader movement to give voters a fairer, more accountable, and less corrupt political system -- a system that serves the people first, not the parties or special interests. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On the latest episode of Toppling The Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths talks with Benjamin Singer, the executive director of the cross-partisan organization, Show Me Integrity, about the effort to stop Missouri lawmakers from making the ballot initiative process all but impossible to use as a means to effect the direction of government and elections in the state. Missouri lawmakers are proposing legislation that would raise the threshold to pass an initiative on the ballot to two-thirds of the vote, while also reducing the time campaigns have to collect petition signatures and raising the amount of signatures needed to put an initiative on the ballot. But, it doesn't stop there as legislators have decided that the people have too much power Singer discusses in detail the consequences the proposed legislation could have on politics in Missouri, and what this means for voting rights in the state. It is an important discussion about a blatant power grab at the expense of the rights and will of voters. You don't want to miss it. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths is joined by Elena Ashburn and Dariel Cruz Rodriguez, the co-founders and co-directors of the recently launched national group, Students for Open Primaries. Students for Open Primaries originally started during the campaign for Amendment 3 in Florida, which would have implemented a nonpartisan top-two open primary for state executive and legislative races. These two young civic engagement activists are now taking their efforts nationally. Amendment 3 in Florida garnered overwhelming support from Florida voters, getting many more votes than either presidential candidate in the 2020 election. However, because it fell 3 points shy of 60%, under Florida law, it didn't pass. However, Elena and Dariel say their experiences during the campaign have motivated them even more to push for nonpartisan primary reform in other states across the country. Elena and Dariel discuss their ambitions for their organization and the future of reform in the US. Growing activism among young voters and young people on the cusp of voting age are needed to keep the momentum behind nonpartisan, pro-voter reform going. Dariel and Elena are showing their own peers what's possible when young people take action. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

In the latest episode of Toppling the Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths and his guests discuss a lawsuit that seeks to overturn the will of the people in Alaska, who approved a comprehensive reform amendment in November 2020 that: Shines a light on dark money in state politics Implements a nonpartisan top-four primary Makes Alaska the second state to adopt ranked choice voting Joining Shawn to talk about this is Jason Grenn, executive director of Alaskans for Better Elections, and Scott Kendall, attorney for the group. Alaskans for Better Elections spearheaded the campaign for the amendment, which was on the ballot as Ballot Measure 2, and is now an intervening party in the lawsuit against it. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit assert that the new system harms individual rights to association on the ballot, but the courts have already weighed in on this in multiple states for similar systems, and found this claim to hold not merit since it treats voters and candidates equally from the onset of the electoral process. Jason and Scott talk about Ballot Measure 2, the lawsuit, and continued efforts to increase voter education on the new electoral system created under the amendment, which they say is boosting support even more. Even legislators are coming together and forming cross-partisan coalitions as the new system shifts the incentive structure to put voters before party. Check out this amazing conversation, and if you haven't already be sure to like or subscribe to Toppling the Duopoly wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening, and as always... stay independent. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths interviews Dan Falconer, director of the award-winning documentary film, UnRepresented. UnRepresented "reveals the driving forces behind political corruption and the unprecedented reforms to restore a government that better serves the people." Shawn and Dan discuss the nuances of a topic that is not as simple as many might assume. When people think of corruption, they think of illegal forms of it, like bribery. But, what happens when partisan and moneyed-interests have an outsized influence over policymakers and the way they legislate and it is all perfectly legal? Americans are silenced in a system that is supposed to be "of, by, and for the People," allowing private, gain-seeking interests to treat government like it exists to serve them, rather than voters. This is not just an issue of corruption, this is a voting rights issue... and a voter suppression issue. UnRepresented features a host of luminaries and public leaders from across the political board and/or involved in the growing anti-corruption movement, including Harvard Law Professor Lawrence Lessig, Center for Responsive Politics Executive Director Sheila Krumholz, FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub, former US Rep. Justin Amash, Admiral Bill Owens (Ret.), RepresentUs Director Josh Silver, Take Back Our Republic Executive Director John Pudner, Unite America Executive Director Nick Troiano, and many, many more. The documentary will soon rollout on PBS stations in markets across the country, starting in Southern California on the week of March 20, but over the course of the next month it will hit television markets from the West Coast to the East Coast. Want to know more about the documentary or when it might air in your city? Check out the film's website and be sure to check your local listings. Don't miss this fantastic, uncut discussion between Dan Falconer and Shawn Griffiths, and be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening, and as always... stay independent. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, host Shawn Griffiths is joined by former US Rep David Jolly to discuss his party, the Serve America Movement. The SAM Party is a unique political organization as it is founded not on a single ideology, but a celebration of diverse ideologies. It is a party that brings people together who are committed to one agenda: To serve and be accountable to the communities being represented. Jolly discusses what sets SAM apart from other political parties, both major and minor, and how his party can meet the growing desire among voters to see a viable third option emerge in the US political landscape. Gallup recently found that 62% of US voters believe the GOP and Democratic Party are doing such a bad job that a third party is needed. However, the system has been designed explicitly to prevent competition from emerging to challenge the two major parties, and many third parties, Jolly says, have to this point replicated a major failure point of the parties in power. Is the SAM model what Americans are looking for in a new party -- especially as Americans are increasingly rejecting strict partisanship in elections and want public officials to work together, across ideological and party lines to put country first? Listen to the episode and decide for yourself. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling The Duopoly, election reform expert Shawn Griffiths is joined by Andrew Allison of Austinites for Progressive Reform, a group with 4 reform proposals on the city's May 1 ballot that would transform how city elections and government operate. One of the propositions, Prop E, would implement ranked choice voting, which Allison said is needed to eliminate low turnout December primaries where elections end up being decided by a marginal percentage of voters. In order to ensure accountable and fair elections, we need elections that are decided by the most voters. If you liked this episode or found it informative, be sure to follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and leave a review on Apple Podcast should that be where you get your podcasts. Thanks for listening and as always... stay independent. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling The Duopoly, election reform expert Shawn Griffiths is joined by Dr. TJ O'Hara to take a deeper dive into the manufactured political divide in the US. The national narrative would have us believe that America is on the brink, but this is a perception forced on the population in the zero-sum contest between the Republican and Democratic Parties. The truth is, America is not as divided as the parties would have you think. TJ O'Hara is an internationally recognized author, speaker, strategic consultant in private and public sectors and the Principal Political Analyst for the IVN Network. He is also host of the IVN podcast, Deconstructed, and is a former presidential candidate. So, in his field and in his experiences in national politics, he has extensive experience examining why the divide between the parties and their members has gotten to a boiling point. However, while the parties have never been further apart, due to how elections are designed, we have allowed an extreme minority to represent society as a whole. The American people have largely expressed not only a desire to work together and compromise, but when presented with a comprehensive look at the nation's biggest issues, people tend to find common ground a lot more often than one might think. It is a fascinating discussion between Shawn and TJ. Be sure to stick around for the whole thing, and if you like the podcast and/or find it informative be sure to leave a review where possible, and follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening, and as always... stay independent. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

Imagine going out to dinner but there are only two restaurant options from which to choose. The customer service may be sloppy in both, and no matter how much a customer raises grievances with the limited options on the menu, nothing changes. Instead of adapting their business practices to an evolving consumer base, they increasingly distance themselves from the interests of consumers. What's worse, employees of these two restaurants also write the rules and regulations that govern the service industry and other employees enforce the rules. Sounds crazy, right? Why would we ever allow this to happen? Well, this is essentially the situation of the US political system. On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, election reform expert Shawn Griffiths features a segment from a recent conversation he had with author and podcaster Jim Duncan on his show, Independent Riot, which is also a part of the IVN Network. Shawn and Jim give a basic breakdown of what the duopoly is and some misconceptions about what people mean when they refer to the "duopoly." If you are interested in the full interview between Shawn and Jim, check out Independent Riot on IVN.us as well as the other podcasts featured on the IVN Network. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

In this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, election reform expert and host Shawn Griffiths takes a look at the momentum behind ranked choice voting. Of all the nonpartisan reforms being proposed to transform the political process to one that is truly "of, by, and for" the people, the one that is bringing more voters, scholars, public figures, and reform advocates together is ranked choice voting. Joining Shawn to talk about this is Deb Otis, the Senior Research Analyst for the national nonpartisan reform group FairVote. Ranked choice voting has been adopted and/or implemented in 21 cities and 2 states (Alaska and Maine), representing a total voting age population of over 9.2 million people. It has gone from an optimistic thought experiment to a reform that, in practice, boosts voters' confidence in elections, raises turnout, increases civility on the campaign trail, and has been identified by the DOJ as a remedy to Voting Rights Act violations and racial inequality in elections. Want to learn more about ranked choice voting? Check out the podcast, and if you like it or find it informative, leave a review where possible and follow or subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts. You can also help keep Toppling the Duopoly going by becoming a financial supporter, an option available on Anchor. Your listenership is greatly appreciated. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

On this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, the focus turns to Kansas where a group of lawmakers are attempting to push a constitutional amendment that by law has to go before voters for approval. The thing is, advocates for the amendment want to put it on the 2022 closed primary ballot, which would have substantially lower turnout and disenfranchise nearly 30% of voters. Why? Because those in power want to game the system to protect and strengthen their majority in the legislature. It is the type of partisan machinations and voter suppression that happens all the time when parties have control over a critical stage of the elections process: the primaries. Shawn is joined by Elaine Stephen, who is one of 3 co-leaders of the new reform group, Kansans Demand Better. Ms. Stephen breaks down the issue and the consequence it would have on Kansans' right to vote. Her organization is asking state lawmakers a very simple and common sense question: Why not put items that affect state law on the general election ballot when the most voters participate? This is also an opportunity for all voters, in and outside the state of Kansas, to reflect on how their state and local governments conduct elections. Kansas is not the only state where these partisan stunts happen. Yet, voters are accustomed and conditioned to look at elections a certain way, so it doesn't even occur to them that there is something fundamentally wrong with how the system works and how it can be gamed to deny them a meaningful say. If you like this episode or find it informative, be sure to leave a review wherever possible and like and subscribe wherever you choose to listen to podcasts. Thanks for listening! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

In this episode of Toppling the Duopoly, nationally-recognized expert in election reform and host Shawn Griffiths interviews John Pudner, the executive director of the nonpartisan nonprofit Take Back Our Republic. Take Back Our Republic is committed to educating the public on conservative solutions to reform. In the process, it builds nonpartisan coalitions to take on corruption in the political process, shine a light on dark money, end partisan gerrymandering, and implement instant runoff voting (more well known as ranked choice voting) in elections. John Pudner also expresses his disgust for what happened at the US Capitol on January 6, and the lies and misinformation constantly fed to a segment of voters that led to the insurrection. However, he says if there is any silver lining, it is that it was a wake up call to everyone that we cannot have millions of people who believe election results are illegitimate based on no evidence or reason other than to serve the interests of those in power. It is a phenomenal interview with someone with first-hand experience fighting corruption in US politics. Check it out, and as always... stay independent. Interested in a deep dive into the issue of election integrity, particularly as it pertains to the 2020 election cycle, and what neither party wants you to think about? Check out Shawn's latest piece on IVN.us here, and uncover the true source of the problem in the US political process. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/toppling-the-duopoly/support

2020 Provides Clear Vision for Legendary San Diego Business Owners In this New Year's episode, Fred Pierce, Pierce Education Properties, and Neil Senturia, Blackbird Ventures, are iconic businessmen in San Diego. As the New Year approaches, they share with Jeff why there’s reason for optimism based on their successful past experiences.

Chad Peace and Scott Greytak join T.J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to examine whether we should stick with the Electoral College, shift to a straight democratic vote, or entertain the consideration of something in-between. Mr. Peace is the founder and president of IVC Media LLC and a nationally-recognized leader in election law and voter rights. Mr. Greytak is an anti-corruption attorney who is the Advocacy Director for the United States Office of Transparency International -- the oldest and largest anti-corruption coalition in the world. Together, they discuss the history of the Electoral College, the pros and cons of retaining it, and what needs to be done if changes are to be made. Most recently in the 2000 and 2016 elections, the winner of the popular vote for President lost to the winner of the Electoral College (as is dictated by law). This has only happened three other times in history (1824, 1876, and 1888). However, it has been the topic of ongoing debate for several decades. The challenge to the Electoral College seems to be intuitive: One person, one vote. Yet, there are issues with defaulting to a popular vote as well. Messrs. Peace and Greytak do an excellent job of explaining the nuances behind the debate. Correspondingly, the Electoral College is embedded in the Constitution. Extracting and replacing it is a complicated process and requires the ability to meet a very high threshold. Are the arguments against the Electoral College sound enough to pass a constitutional Amendment? Are there weaknesses with using the popular vote as well? Are the parties polarized on the issue because of partisan preferences? Listen to Chad Peace and Scott Greytak examine the issue with T.J. O’Hara… and then, form your own opinion.

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Dec. 16 by Independent Voter Podcast

Christina Tobin and Eli Beckerman join host T. J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to discuss presidential debates. The Commission on Presidential Debates (the “CPD”) has catered to establishment candidates for decades, denying the electorate of an exposure to legitimate alternative choices. As a result, we have often been given a choice between “the lesser of two evils.” Christina Tobin and Eli Beckerman and their two organizations are trying to change that. Ms. Tobin is an activist and leader in the election reform and voters’ rights movements. She is the Founder of The Free & Equal Elections Foundation, a non-profit organization with a mission to open the electoral process through education and collaborative action. Mr. Beckerman is a strategic thinker, organizer, and communications professional who has worked with the Green and Libertarian Parties as well as political independents in the past. He is the founder and director of Open the Debates, whose mission is to open the political debates of our Nation to all ballot-qualified candidates, at every level of government. Ms. Tobin’s and Mr. Beckerman’s organizations combined to offer three open presidential debates during the 2020 election cycle that attracted candidates from a wide variety of Parties. One of the debates was hosted during the primary cycle while the other two fell closer to the date of the general election. Ms. Tobin and Mr. Beckerman examine how important it is to explore serious issues from a diverse range of positions. They discuss the role that presidential debates should play versus the choreographed role the CPD orchestrates to secure the status quo for the Democrat and Republican Parties. They also talk about how their non-traditional forum has evolved over the years and what changes they see on the horizon. How will blockchain technology enter into the equation? Will cryptocurrency play a role in addressing the massive monetary advantage the CPD enjoys? Will “We the People” ever enjoy real debates rather than increasingly embarrassing debacles the CPD has offered? Listen to Deconstructed to learn how presidential debates may evolve. Hopefully, we will find a way to embrace political diversity before our Nation’s 250th birthday in 2026.

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Dec. 9 by Independent Voter Podcast

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Dec. 2 by Independent Voter Podcast

The Honorable David M. Walker joins T. J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to discuss his latest book: America in 2040: Still a Superpower? A Pathway to Success. Mr. Walker is a distinguished professor at the United States Naval Academy and the former Comptroller General of the United States and CEO of the United States Government Accountability Office under Presidents Clinton and Bush (#43). Mr. Walker book explores the current trajectory of the United States in comparison to China, India, and other emerging powers. Over the next 20 years, will our Nation retain its position as the world’s only superpower, or will it be joined (and even passed) by other countries?  He shares his opinion of what will happen if nothing changes as compared to what may happen if the United States evolvers in certain ways. Mr. Walker also provides advice to the whomever will be serving as President of the United States during the next four years; citing three critical issues that will need to be addressed.  He discusses the reality of taxation proposals and the addiction to spending that is dramatically expanding our Nation’s debt.  COVID-19 only exacerbates the problem. Then, T.J. queries Mr. Walker on a variety of issues including trade, energy, defense, and personal financial security.  The two then discuss what economic and political recommendations should be considered to our nation’s future. Mr. Walker’s book poses a serious question:  Will the United States still be a superpower in 2040?  If not, why not?  If so, what will it take to assure that it maintains that status.  Listen to the show to find out and read Mr. Walker’s book to get the details.

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Nov. 25 by Independent Voter Podcast

An interview with Amy Tobia from Represent.Us in San Diego.

Kenneth C. Davis joins host T. J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to talk about his new book, Strongman: The Rise of Five Dictators and the Fall of Democracy. Mr. Davis is a renowned historian and also the author of Don't Know Much About History, which spent 35 consecutive weeks on The New York Times bestseller list and gave rise to the expansive Don't Know Much About-series of books and audios. His books are well-researched and extremely informative. Mr. Davis discusses the origins of democracy before exploring how dictators like Benito Mussolini, Adolf Hitler, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, and Saddam Hussein have trampled on human rights in their quests to secure and expand their power. He provides an overview of each of these individuals, including the millions of people who died under their reigns. Mr. Davis provides insight into what characteristics these individuals shared and what common “tools” they deployed to gain and hold power. He draws certain parallels with respect to world leaders who share some of these traits today. T. J. also questions Mr. Davis about how some of the same characteristics and tactics could be used to describe what we are seeing at the party-level these days. Mr. Davis shares why he thinks the United States has been protected from such tyrants to date. He also warns that those same protections may not hold in the future. Listen to discussion and form your own conclusions. Do any current leaders pose a threat at this historic level? Are political parties using some of the same tactics to control power? The exercise is both interesting and a little frightening.

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Nov. 18 by Independent Voter Podcast

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Nov. 11 by Independent Voter Podcast

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Nov. 4 by Independent Voter Podcast

Ben Sheehan joins host T.J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to discuss his new book, OMG WTF Does the Constitution Actually Say? – A Non-Boring Guide to How Our Democracy is Supposed to Work. You may think you know the origins of the “OMG WTF” acronyms, but you will have to listen to the interview to determine whether your assumptions are correct. Mr. Sheehan is a Funny or Die alumnus and an award-winning executive producer who has spent his career creating innovative and entertaining content in an effort to make politics more accessible. In 2016, he was Executive Director of the Save the Day PAC that used videos to register 50,000 young voters, and his various projects have received over a billion views. Mr. Sheehan discusses the importance of the “Preamble” with T.J. and provides an easy-to-understand overview of the first three Articles of the Constitution. In addition, he reviews some of the more salient elements of the Bill of Rights, including the Reconstruction Amendments (the 13th, 14th, and 15th) and the 19th Amendment. Ben and T.J. even discuss the presidential election of 1876, which is perhaps the most consequential election in our Nation’s history. If you do not know why, you need to listen to the podcast. Mr. Sheehan also shares insights into certain nuances of the Constitution as well as some of the “weird” subjects that it covers. It is a great primer on the Constitution at a time during which the teaching of Civics has gone by the wayside. Even if you think you know the Constitution, you are likely to gain additional insights from Mr. Sheehan’s book. If, like over 60 percent of our population, you lack an understanding about how our Government is actually supposed to work, Mr. Sheehan’s entertaining and straight-forward book can help close the gap… and his interview with T.J. is an excellent starting point.

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Oct. 28 by Independent Voter Podcast

Conversation with Dr. Rodney Hood, M.D. | San Diego COVID-19 Equity Task Force by Independent Voter Podcast

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Oct. 21 by Independent Voter Podcast

Nathan Lockwood, Managing Director of Rank the Vote, joins host T.J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to discuss how his team is helping grassroots initiatives pursue Ranked Choice Voting across the Nation. Rank the Vote is a national non-partisan organization dedicated to sharing strategies and tactics with activists at the state-level. Mr. Lockwood is a Yale graduate who previously served as a statewide speaker and as the Communications Co-Lead for Voter Choice Massachusetts, the organization which helped launch the "Yes on 2" ballot campaign in that state. He also was an executive board member of the Voter Choice Education Fund, member of Unite America, and an elected member of the Planning Board for the Town of Lunenburg, Massachusetts. As such, he has a deep understanding of what it takes to successfully promote political programs. Nathan explains the advantages he sees in Ranked Choice Voting over the current system. He shares his experience in marshalling resources, managing fundraising, and gaining the endorsements of high-ranking officials to either pass legislation or drive ballot initiatives. He also tells T.J. what works and what doesn’t when it comes to an initiative like Ranked Choice Voting. If you struggle with what has become a two-party system that often leads you to decide between “the lesser of two evils,” listen to this interview. It will provide you with a potential avenue to pursue in your own state to try to improve our election process.

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Oct. 14 by Independent Voter Podcast

In this episode of "UnRig It,” Independent Voter News Editor Shawn Griffiths talks with Unite America Executive Director and National Association of Nonpartisan Reformers Board Member Nick Troiano about the peril the country is in under the two-party “Doom Loop.” A phrase coined by author Lee Drutman, the two-party “Doom Loop” describes the downward spiral US politics is in as a result of the perpetual us-vs-them, tit-for-tat mindset our nation’s elected officials maintain as their pursuit is not the interests of voters but gaining power for their respective parties. Troiano says the two-party “Doom Loop” is destroying our country, but there is hope that we can break this cycle and nonpartisan reformers are providing that hope. Don’t miss out as Troiano and Griffiths talk about the proposed reforms on the ballot this November that can transform the political process to be fairer and more competitive for the American people.

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" on Mightier 1090: Oct. 7 by Independent Voter Podcast

Michael Allman joins host T.J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to discuss the challenges facing public schools during the COVID-19 pandemic and in general. Mr. Allman is a candidate for School Board in California’s San Dieguito Union High School District. He is a local CEO and an experienced board member having chaired numerous public and private boards and as well as chairing several audit committees. Mr. Allman has also been a Founder, President, and Chair of numerous successful technology companies, which he feels uniquely qualifies him to help the school board navigate today’s complicated issues of selecting and implementing technology for distance learning. He shares his views on the task of delivering a quality education to students during the pandemic: i.e., how school boards should weigh the interests of the students, parents, and teachers versus the political interests of the powerful teachers’ union. Are school boards “following the science” or deferring to the power and monetary influence of the union? Is the best solution a “one size fits all” approach or a more flexible model that takes additional needs into consideration? Find out his opinion during this revealing interview. Mr. Allman also shares his view of the need for school boards to focus on academic excellence and to take ownership of their budgetary responsibilities. He discusses the current state of public schools and the disparate impact on minority students. T.J. also quizzes him on schools’ “zero tolerance” policies as they are being applied across the country. The two discuss what role technology needs to play in the necessary evolution of our public schools. Correspondingly, Mr. Allman describes how he has applied Voterfied, the core technology of a company he founded, to expand the voice of the parents and students in the role the school board plays. Learn how limited most school boards’ exposure is to their core constituencies as compared to how great it could be. Michael Allman provides insight into the current state of our public schools and gives us a glimpse of what they could be. Listen to the interview to gain a greater understanding of what is happening behind the scenes of our public education system.

In this episode, we discuss in more detail the Aztecs' decision to play in Carson, affordable housing and more.

"The Extra Point with Jeff Marston" is aired weekly on Mightier 1090am from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday. In this episode, Marston talks to Fox 5 sports director Troy Hirsch and KUSI sports reporter Maddison Sinclair about the concerns surrounding Aztecs playing in Carson. Plus, a new perspective is offered on WHO's recent COVID-19 guidelines from local orthodontist, Dr. Kami Hoss.

Lori Thiel and Jennifer Avina join host T.J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to discuss how the League of Women Voters is trying to make a non-partisan difference in the 2020 elections. Ms. Thiel is president of the League of Women Voters of San Diego. Ms. Avina is an attorney and a member of the League, who currently coordinates the San Diego chapter’s Youth Internship program and the "101 Days of Action" campaign that provides daily activities related to the upcoming election. Ms. Thiel shares the history of the League of Women Voters as it celebrates its 100th anniversary. She talks about the 19th Amendment and the League’s commitment to fostering a democracy in which every person has the desire, the right, the knowledge, and the confidence to participate in our Nation’s elections. She also describes the local chapter’s impressive online voting resources and the League’s long history of facilitating Candidate Forums and “Prop Talks” to increase voter awareness. Ms. Avina talks about the unique challenges of the 2020 election cycle, including how heightened political interest and COVID-19 have impacted the process. She provides insight into where, when, and how people can vote and shares online links that will help individuals understand what their options are and how to complete the process to assure their votes count. Ms. Avina also describes how outreach programs have been impacted by the pandemic and what ‘virtual’ adjustments have been made to address the issue. Both women offer their perspectives on the "101 Days of Action" campaign and how it helps generate greater awareness and engagement in the political process. Listen to this edition of Deconstructed to learn about the information and opportunities the League of Women Voters offers to help you become more productively involved in the world of politics.

In this episode, Jeff Marston talks to KUSI sports anchor Brandon Stone about how professional athletes influence student athletes.

Host Jeff Marston talks to former state lawmaker Steve Peace about SDSU West and IVN San Diego columnist Ron Donoho about homelessness, plus more.

Joe Collins is T.J. O’Hara’s guest on Deconstructed. Mr. Collins spent 13 years in the United States Navy and served with distinction in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has a strong sense of duty, commitment, and leadership and is running for a seat in the United States Congress. He must also like combat because he is running as a Republican in California, and he is taking on an incumbent by the name of Maxine Waters. Representative Waters is a 15-term member of Congress and, including her previous stint in the California Assembly, has held office in District 43 for the last 44 years. So why in the world would a smart young man challenge Maxine Waters on her own turf? Mr. Collins has the answer: Because it’s his home turf. While Rep. Waters moved to Los Angeles from St. Louis and doe not live in her District, Mr. Collins was born and raised in South LA until a drive-by shooting convinced his mother to move the family to Texas. He finished school there and enlisted in the Navy. After completing his military commitment, he was drawn to return to South LA and was shocked to see how it had declined even further. Having already taken an oath to defend the Constitution and the people of the United States, he decided to defend those his hometown. Mr. Collins is seeking to rebuild District 43 to support small businesses, attract high-paying jobs, and expand housing opportunities. South LA has been suffering from a lack of opportunities and an ever-expanding homeless population. Having traveled the world, Mr. Collins discusses why this is not an acceptable ‘norm’ and what he intends to do about it. He talks about his goal to improve the financial literacy of his constituents including teaching them the importance of savings and building wealth, and he discusses the pros and cons of the Opportunity Zone approach championed by the Trump Administration. T.J. also questions him on recent racial tensions and the importance of pursuing meaningful criminal justice reform. While Mr. Collins knows he faces a daunting challenge overcoming the name-recognition of Maxine Waters to win an election in a District that is ranked by the Cook Partisan Voting Index as +29 Democrat (making it roughly equivalent to the Congressional Districts won by “the Squad”), Joe Collins has a plan. Listen to this edition of Deconstructed to find out what it is.

Amber McReynolds joins host T.J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to discuss “at home” voting. Ms. McReynolds is the CEO of the National Vote at Home Institute, co-author of the book When Women Vote, and an expert on election policy and administration. She is also the former Director of Elections for Denver, Colorado, where she transformed the Elections Division into a national and international award-winning office. In addition, Ms. McReynolds was recognized by Governing Magazine as a 2018 Top Public Official of the Year for her transformational work to improve the voting experience. There is a fair amount of confusion and controversy surrounding the proliferation of mail-in ballots to combat the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Ms. McReynolds does a deep dive into the security of “at home” voting, a phrase that more appropriately describes the process than the more colloquial “mail-in” terminology. In fact, the majority of purported “mail-in” votes are never actually returned by mail. Ms. McReynolds also addresses how the chain-of-custody works within the context of “at home” voting and what steps and technologies are used to ensure the integrity of the vote. She explains how ballot tracking and signature verification works and why we should not fear the “at home” voting process. Amber and T.J. also discuss the social challenges. Is foreign interference a real concern? Is Party interference a greater threat (i.e., through ballot harvesting, etc.)? What about the United States Post Office? Is the Administration tampering with it to impede the election? And finally, with the early voting “schedule creep” we are witnessing, how “early” is too early? Find out the answers to all these questions and more when you listen to At Home Voting: The Method and the Madness.

In the latest episode of "Unrig It," Independent Voter News Editor Shawn Griffiths interviews Open Primaries President John Opdycke about the combined efforts to get nonpartisan primary reform passed with an alternative voting method in Alaska, Arkansas, North Dakota, St. Louis, and the campaign to bring nonpartisan primaries to one of the nation's biggest battleground states -- Florida. Griffiths and Opdycke not only talk about these reform efforts, but the state of nonpartisan reform movements across the country -- successes, lessons learned, and what leaders in these movements can still work as they look beyond 2020. As Opdycke says, "We're throwing a punch at the bipartisan establishment," and the momentum is on our side.

Scot Faulkner joins host T. J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to discuss his experience as the first Chief Administrative Officer of the United States House of Representatives and how he views the transitioning nature of our Nation. He shares the inside story of just how corrupt the House was when he was called upon to “fix it” in 1995 and who erected barriers (and why) to limit the change in the second edition of his critically acclaimed bestseller, "Naked Emperors; The Failure of the Republican Revolution.” Prior to serving as the House of Representatives’ first CAO, Mr. Faulkner held executive positions at the Federal Aviation Administration, the General Services Administration, and the Peace Corps as well as serving in the Presidential Transition and on the White House Staff for the Reagan Administration. His business-based reforms saved our country hundreds of millions of dollars and became a model for the operation of at least 44 national parliaments around the world. Mr. Faulkner’s accomplishments have been recognized with 26 management awards and four letters of commendation from the President of the United States. His approach was named one of the Top 100 Innovations in American Government by the Ford Foundation and Harvard University, and he personally was honored as an Outstanding Member of Congress by Americans for Tax Reform. In other words, his opinions are based on facts rather than speculation. Scot and T. J. explore recent events and their impact on our Nation’s collective memory, free speech, and civic culture. Mr. Faulkner also discuss the “death of leadership” and the emergence of a new wave of “naked emperors” who favor money and power over the good of the people. He also shares his view on one of the elements that has shaken the current Administration and how it could have been avoided. This is a fascinating and insightful segment that reveals just how bad Congress was… and how bad it remains. You will even learn what members of Congress laughingly referred to as “the last plantation” within its own walls. Brace yourself for a dose of reality and realize the ongoing efforts that are made to hide the truth from the general public.