“Sometimes the only way you can really improve is when you have a big breakdown. Even personally, this is how we learn, this is how we form a more perfect union.” — Cara McCormick

The latest Independent Voter Podcast episode takes listeners through the messy intersections of politics, reform, and public perception. Chad and Cara open with the irony of partisan outrage over trivial issues like a White House ballroom while overlooking the deeper dysfunctions in our democracy. From California to Maine, they unpack how the very words on a ballot can tilt entire elections and how both major parties manipulate language and process to maintain power.

The conversation turns to gerrymandering and ideological tribalism, what Cara calls “anti-democratic behavior to save democracy.” As Chad points out, even when both sides believe they’re protecting the system, the result is the same: more division, less trust, and fewer voters who feel represented. They explore how ranked choice voting and open primaries could rebalance elections, allowing voters to choose freely without fear of wasting their vote.

But amid the frustration, there’s hope. Cara argues that the transparency we’re seeing today, even when ugly, could lead to progress. “Big breakdowns can lead to big breakthroughs,” she says, reminding listeners that every democratic evolution starts by confronting its failures. The episode ends with a challenge and a promise: to keep questioning, keep learning, and keep pushing for a system that works for voters, not parties.

Listen to this episode and more from Independent Voter Project on Spotify and Apple Music.