Independent Voter Podcast: Beyond Partisan Politics

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.

Lori Thiel and Amy Tobia join host T.J. O’Hara on Deconstructed to discuss More Choice San Diego’s Top4RCV initiative. Ms. Thiel is president of the League of Women Voters of San Diego. The League of Women Voters is a national, nonpartisan, political organization that encourages informed and active participation in government; works to increase understanding of major public policy issues; and influences public policy through education and advocacy. Ms. Tobia is a local leader for RepresentUs San Diego, a grassroots organization focused on election reform, voting rights, and anti-corruption initiatives nationwide. Ms. Thiel and Ms. Tobia discuss why their organizations support More Choice San Diego’s Top4RCV initiative, which is designed to introduce Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) to San Diego elections while expanding California’s Top 2 candidate approach to include the top four candidates. Both organizations see this initiative as a way to enfranchise voters, expand the choice among candidates, and create a much fairer, open, and transparent election process. These advocates explain how Ranked Choice Voting works and how it improves the current process and addresses many of the more unfavorable aspects of the way elections are traditionally managed. They share how RCV has expanded diversity in elections to which it has been used as well as how it created a more civil election environment and one that is center upon issues rather than personalities. Ms. Thiel and Ms. Tobia also talk about the importance of expanding from Top 2 to Top 4 in the general election. They also examine how flexible the "Top 4 RCV" initiative has been designed to attract more voters, provide more choices, and better reflect the general will of the electorate. Listen and learn, and if you live in San Diego and like what you hear, tell your City Council member to put the initiative on the ballot to allow the voters to decide. On Tuesday, July 21st, 2020, San Diego’s City Council will be considering the initiative for placement on the November Ballot.