> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://ivn.us/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # DNC Chair Makes a Big Mistake - URL: https://ivn.us/dnc-chair-makes-a-big-mistake/ - Published: 2026-07-15T16:13:28.000Z - Updated: 2026-07-15T18:16:11.000Z - Description: Former DNC chair Jaime Harrison isn't making friends - Author: IVN Editorial Board - Tags: Weekly Newsletter **A "schtick"**? That was former DNC chair Jaime Harrison this week, on MS NOW's debate stage, waving off the voters who have given up on both parties as a gimmick. Nearly half the country now refuses to claim allegiance to either party, and **the former chair downplays that reality as... theater**. You don't have to be an independent to notice what that reveals: a leadership more comfortable mocking voters than trying to understand them. Across the table, independent veteran Paul Rieckhoff wasn't buying it. "**Most of the Democratic Party should be fired**," he shot back, pointing to independent candidates like Montana's Seth Bodnar as the actual future. [IVN has the exchange](https://ivn.us/former-dnc-chair-ridicules-independents-calls-them-a-schtick/). **Here's what the "schtick" line really tells you**. The establishment doesn't mock independents because they're a joke. **They mock independent-minded voters because they still control the rules of the game**, and it intends to keep it that way. This week alone, [South Carolina Republicans asked a judge to close their primaries](https://ivn.us/south-carolina-gop-lost-in-the-legislature-now-they-want-a-judge-to-close-the-primaries/) so independents don't have a voice. **Buffalo's charter commission told 80% of voters who backed a new election reform proposal, "No."** And Maine Democrats ran out the clock so there was no special election at all: [Graham Platner got "Joe Biden'd"](https://ivn.us/graham-platner-just-got-joe-bidend/) at the last minute, **so voters never got to weigh in**. If independent voters really are a "schtick," [party operatives sure are scared](https://ivn.us/undo-the-top-two-crossed-out-all-voters-may-vote/) of the punchline coming for their charade. Check out more stories that go outside the two-sided narrative below. ### *FEATURED ▶▶▶* ## Former DNC Chair Ridicules Independents — Calls Them a 'Schtick' [![Former DNC chair Jaime Harrison](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/07/Jamie-Harrison.jpg)](https://ivn.us/former-dnc-chair-ridicules-independents-calls-them-a-schtick/) On MS NOW’s debate stage, former DNC chair Jaime Harrison **dismissed the independent movement as a “schtick”** — and Paul Rieckhoff fired back that “most of the Democratic Party should be fired.” Watch the clash over whether independents are a gimmick or the Democrats’ real problem. [READ FULL ARTICLE](https://ivn.us/former-dnc-chair-ridicules-independents-calls-them-a-schtick/) ### *CALIFORNIA ▶▶▶* ## The Only Independent in Congress Wants Five Debates. His Democratic Opponent Won’t Commit to One. [![Rep. Kevin Kiley](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/07/image-18e6323a-cd9c-45f2-be86-1cfa3b7511fe.jpg)](https://ivn.us/the-only-independent-in-congress-wants-five-debates-his-democratic-opponent-wont-commit-to-one/) Independent Rep. Kevin Kiley has challenged his Democratic opponent, former state senator Dr. Richard Pan, to five debates in California’s redrawn 6th District — arguing voters, not attack ads, should decide the race. **Pan won’t commit to a single one**, apparently betting the district’s blue lean carries him in November. [READ FULL ARTICLE](https://ivn.us/the-only-independent-in-congress-wants-five-debates-his-democratic-opponent-wont-commit-to-one/) ### *POPULAR ON IVN ▶▶▶* [South Carolina GOP Lost in the Legislature—Now They Want a Judge to Close the Primaries ](https://ivn.us/south-carolina-gop-lost-in-the-legislature-now-they-want-a-judge-to-close-the-primaries/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/06/1517747530842.jpg) Jeremy Gruber [ ![South Carolina GOP Lost in the Legislature—Now They Want a Judge to Close the Primaries](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/07/south-carolina-gop-sues-close-primaries.png) ](https://ivn.us/south-carolina-gop-lost-in-the-legislature-now-they-want-a-judge-to-close-the-primaries/) [80% of Buffalo Voters Asked for More Choice. The Charter Commission Said No ](https://ivn.us/80-of-buffalo-voters-asked-for-more-choice-the-charter-commission-said-no/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/dJY12ln-_400x400.jpg) Shawn Griffiths [ ![80% of Buffalo Voters Asked for More Choice. The Charter Commission Said No](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/07/buffalo-ny.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/80-of-buffalo-voters-asked-for-more-choice-the-charter-commission-said-no/) [Maine Democrats Are About to Lock Independents Out of the Process—Again ](https://ivn.us/maine-democrats-are-about-to-lock-independents-out-of-the-process-again/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/02/dJY12ln-_400x400.jpg) Shawn Griffiths [ ![Maine Democrats Are About to Lock Independents Out of the Process—Again](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/07/image-faacdac7-9f4f-4788-ae08-d8162864290e.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/maine-democrats-are-about-to-lock-independents-out-of-the-process-again/) [The DSA Surge Has One Real Challenger—Independents ](https://ivn.us/the-dsa-surge-has-one-real-challenger-independents/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/07/NAthan-Smolensky.webp) Nathan Smolensky [ ![The DSA Surge Has One Real Challenger—Independents](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/07/zohran-mamdani-dsa-candidates.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/the-dsa-surge-has-one-real-challenger-independents/) [Rhode Island’s Voters Left the Parties. Now the Candidates Are Following. ](https://ivn.us/rhode-islands-voters-left-the-parties-now-the-candidates-are-following/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/05/matt-shinners.png) Matt Shinners [ ![Rhode Island’s Voters Left the Parties. Now the Candidates Are Following.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/07/rhode-island-independent-candidates.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/rhode-islands-voters-left-the-parties-now-the-candidates-are-following/) [Massachusetts Insiders Tried to Kill Primary Reform. Voters Get the Final Word. ](https://ivn.us/massachusetts-insiders-tried-to-kill-primary-reform-voters-get-the-final-word/) By Kevin Johnson [ ![Massachusetts Insiders Tried to Kill Primary Reform. Voters Get the Final Word.](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/07/Massachuseets-More-Choice.webp) ](https://ivn.us/massachusetts-insiders-tried-to-kill-primary-reform-voters-get-the-final-word/) [My Vote Is My Right—Not a Party Privilege ](https://ivn.us/my-vote-is-my-right-not-a-party-privilege/) By ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w30/2026/07/Angel-Martinez---1.jpeg) Angel Martinez [ ![My Vote Is My Right—Not a Party Privilege](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/size/w320/2026/07/right-to-vote.jpg) ](https://ivn.us/my-vote-is-my-right-not-a-party-privilege/) ### *FEATURED PODCAST ▶▶▶* ## Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff takes on a brutal news week: a collapsed Iran ceasefire and 140 U.S. strikes across the region, the death of Sen. Lindsey Graham and the scramble over his seat, and another death tied to ICE. **One independent voice cutting through the two-party spin.** [WATCH NOW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImMrUXz2DQw&ref=ivn.us) ### *GOING VIRAL ▶▶▶* ## Sen. John Fetterman Calls His Phone a 'Drone,' Confuses Logan Paul [![Sen. John Fetterman Calls His Phone a 'Drone,' Confuses Logan Paul](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/07/Fetterman_Clip_Preview.png)](https://www.instagram.com/p/DawB8oqDcSb/?ref=ivn.us) Why does Sen. John Fetterman keep holding his phone up mid-interview? On the IMPAULSIVE podcast, hosts Logan Paul and Mike Majlak were sure he was scrolling social media — and **a confused back-and-forth followed**, with Fetterman briefly calling the phone a “drone” before clearing it up: it’s live captioning that helps him process conversations since the 2022 stroke that nearly killed him. He likens it to glasses: “I know how to read, but I use that as a tool.” [WATCH NOW ON INSTAGRAM](https://www.instagram.com/p/DawB8oqDcSb/?ref=ivn.us) ## NEW: Join the Conversation Now, when you [sign-up for an account on IVN](https://ivn.us/#/portal/signup), you can help frame, change, and inform the discussion. In fact, you can [submit your own news stories](https://ivn.us/publish/), as long as you follow the simple [IVN Etiquette](https://ivn.us/etiquette/). [SIGN UP NOW](https://ivn.us/#/portal/signup) ### *LATEST EPISODE ▶▶▶* ## Independent Voter Podcast Political strategist and author Mike Madrid joins the Independent Voter Podcast to unpack why so many Latino voters swung to Trump — and then to Zohran Mamdani. His answer is **the one neither party wants to hear**: these aren’t ideological voters, they’re anti-establishment ones the two-party system keeps misreading. [WATCH NOW](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pe2h8sedyR8&ref=ivn.us) [![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/dc/be/dcbe1ac4-146f-43be-92a6-ea84728d86a6/content/images/2026/05/omp-320x50-1.gif)](https://openmyprimary.org/?ref=ivn.us)