Independent Times

The Senate passed H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, by a strong 89-10 vote on March 12, 2026. This bipartisan bill limits large institutional investors' ability to buy more single-family homes while protecting small landlords and families. It aims to curb corporate ownership and help restore affordable homeownership. In this episode, Independent Times News gives an Independent voters' look at the new bill: what it does, its limits (no forced sales of existing corporate-held homes), and why it appeals to Independents who value practical results over partisanship. Recent polls show housing affordability ranks as a top issue for Independent voters, alongside inflation. We cover price-to-income trends and how this rare cross-aisle step could make the American Dream more reachable.

America’s two‑party duopoly has lost its precision. Like a luxury watch brand chasing flash over craftsmanship, the parties now deliver gridlock, polarization, and closed primaries that shut out more than 27 million Independent voters. The result is predictable: extreme candidates, broken incentives, and a democracy running out of alignment.But Independents now hold a record 45% of the electorate (Gallup’s latest high) hold the power to fix it.Inspired by master watchmaker Philippe Dufour, who walked away from big brands to restore true accuracy, Independents can do the same for American politics. By pushing for open primaries, ranked‑choice voting, and proven reforms from groups like Unite America and FairVote, we can shift politics from partisan hype to accountable, measurable results.The gears are finally turning.The Independent majority can supply the momentum.Listen now to learn how we restore precision to American democracy.

In the 1958 NFL Championship, remembered as “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” it wasn’t a spectacular highlight that sealed victory, but Alan Ameche’s overlooked one‑yard plunge. He powered through the final inches everyone assumed were covered, breaking the deadlock that changed the NFL forever.America’s political arena looks a lot like that over time moment today: stuck, exhausted, and gridlocked between partisan extremes. And standing in the gap is the Independent voter.Independents are now the largest bloc in the country at a record 45 percent (Gallup 2025), outnumbering Democrats and Republicans at 27 percent each. In 2024, they made up 34 percent of actual voters, swinging key outcomes as the only pragmatic force still capable of breaking political ties. Their rise is driven by party extremism, collapsing trust in government and media, and foreign actors exploiting our divisions. This is not a fluke. It is a structural shift.Like Ameche’s decisive yard, Independents have the power to deliver the momentum needed for real reform.In this episode, we explore what this quiet revolution means for American democracy, why younger generations are leading it, and how Independent voters could finally force accountability in a system built to avoid it.Listen now on Independent Times News, the podcast for voters ready to win the game.

Independent voters are the quiet force reshaping American politics, an invisible miracle hiding in plain sight. Now, 45% of the electorate, Independents are larger than either political party, yet the system treats them like an afterthought. They’re shut out of primaries, ignored by pundits, and underestimated by politicians who still pretend the country is neatly divided into red and blue. But the truth is simple: Independents decide elections, set the balance of power, and represent the exhausted majority of Americans who want solutions, not tribal warfare. In this episode, we explore why Independents are the most important and most overlooked group in American democracy, and how their rise could finally break the gridlock, soften the extremes, and restore common‑sense leadership. If you’ve ever felt politically homeless or tired of the noise, this episode is for you.

We stand at the dawn of a new era of division one that mirrors the Gilded Age of 1892. That era, defined by corruption, monopolies, and economic ruin, gave birth to the Populist Party and a radical new vision for the American worker. Today, history is repeating itself. Independent voters now stand as America's largest voting bloc. At a record 45%, we have surpassed both major parties to become the true center of the nation. We echo the reformers of the past, like Ignatius Donnelly, who warned of a nation on the "verge of moral, political, and material ruin." He drafted the Omaha Platform's bold demands for fairness; today, we draft our own. Independents do not need to win every election to lead the nation. Our decentralized power should pressure the system toward fair elections, true accountability, and lasting change. From Theodore Roosevelt's "Square Deal", born from Populist ideals, to today's call for unity over partisan absorption, the moment has arrived. It is time for Independents to refuse the status quo and write a fairer chapter in the American story. We can prove that bold ideas endure even when political parties falter.

A record 45% of Americans now identify as Independent, the largest voting bloc in the country, and a clear signal that the two‑party system is failing to meet the moment. This episode examines why millions are leaving the parties, how partisan gridlock and closed primaries push voters away, and what it means for the future of American democracy.Independents are rejecting extremes, resisting the outrage industry, and demanding practical reforms like open primaries, ranked‑choice voting, and fair redistricting. They’re the “exhausted majority,” but also the group most capable of restoring pragmatism, civic engagement, and national unity, especially as we head toward the 2026 midterms.If you want facts over party spin, and solutions over noise, this episode is for you. Listen and decide for yourself.

With trust in government at a record-low 22%, it's time to ask a critical question: What is our civic duty in fixing this mess? Welcome back to Independent Times. Host Lisa Singer, along with co-hosts Leyla Gullen and Bryan Gallo, explores the "core covenant" of American citizenship, from George Washington’s promise to the JFK ideal. We argue that the independent majority is now responsible for restoring the republic. We Unpack: The Core Covenant: The history and definition of the bargain: government provides protection and liberty, and citizens provide accountability and engagement. Duty vs. Responsibility: We examine the crucial role of independent voters in revitalizing a self-governing republic by fulfilling their civic duty and responsibility through active engagement, drawing inspiration from historical movements that leveraged the First Amendment to demand accountability. The First Amendment Superpowers: We demonstrate how independent changemakers throughout history, such as the Women's Suffragists and Civil Rights Protestors, activated their rights to force systemic change and held officials accountable: The Ongoing Fight: We examine the modern threat to voting rights, including the 79 restrictive laws passed since 2020 and the persistence of closed primaries in 22 states. Timestamps: 00:00 | Title Sequence 00:44 | Clip: “JFK’s Famous Inaugural Address Passage, 1961.” 02:14 | Intro: George Washington's Core Covenant of Citizenship 05:16 | The Paradox of Apathy; Why Citizens Check Out 06:33 | The Price of Freedom Is Eternal Vigilance 07:49 | Clip: “The West Wing, Margaret Mead Quote.” 10:12 | The Purpose of Government is Human Happiness 11:29 | Clip: “Dave Chapele Hosts SNL: Douglass/Lincoln Lesson.” 14:06 |  Superpowers of the American Citizen: The First Amendment Toolkit 15:15 | Civic Duty vs. Civic Responsibility: Formal vs. Proactive 17:49 | Clip: “Inn 2024 Frontline PBS Revisits 2020 Voters.” 19:24 History Proves Engagement Works: Voting and Protesting 20:46 | Clip: “BBC Interview With MLK on Peaceable Assembly.” 25:24 | Power to the People, Voting Rights Restrictions 27:42 | Clip: “Voting Rights Rollbacks, Shelby vs. Holder.” 30:19 | Clip: “LBJ Voting Rights Act Speech to Congress, 1965.” 32:11 | Our Independent Hero of the Week: The League of Women Voters 35:51 | 4 Things Independent Voters Must Do RIGHT NOW   Don't Miss Out! Join the Independent Times community on our website: www.IndependentTimes.news   Find Us Everywhere! Follow us on all social media platforms: @IndyTimesNews   How to Listen! Available on all podcast platforms: Search "Independent Times" on your favorite podcast app ️ Independent Times – Season 1 Independent Times is the source for independent voters' news and analysis.

Trust in government is at historic lows, with a 2025 study showing that 65% of young Americans are open to radical change, driven by economic anxiety and the perception that leaders prioritize the interests of elites over the public good. Host Lisa Singer, along with co-hosts Leyla Gullen and Bryan Gallo, bridges the gap between widespread distrust and the government's essential functions. We Unpack: The Defining Divide: We clarify the core ideological platforms. Democrats view the government as the solution and a safety net, as seen in FDR's New Deal; Republicans view the government as the problem and advocate for lean, free markets, as exemplified by Reagan's philosophy. The Great Erosion: We trace the collapse of trust from the post-WWII peak of 80% to the present day, fueled by historic betrayals such as the Vietnam War lies, Watergate, and the devastating 2008 bank bailouts. The Economic Urgency: We examine the current financial crisis, characterized by rising delinquencies and family farm bankruptcies, and why economic stagnation threatens to push citizens into the arms of "strongmen." The Fix: With 86% of Americans fed up with gridlock, independent voters are the key to change. We share practical steps to restore accountability, starting at the local level. Independent Hero of the Week: Braver Angels, a grassroots organization dedicated to bridging the partisan divide and rebuilding trust one conversation at a time. Timestamps: 00:00 | Title Sequence 00:44 | Clip: “All In The Family” Archie Debates Politics 01:32 | Intro: Churchill's Cynical Defense of Democracy 03:53 | The UN Defense of Democracy 05:55 | What Makes America a Democracy? 07:16 | Clip: President Obama on Public Service 08:15 | Democracy vs. All Other Forms of Government 12:28 | Threats of Polarization and Lack of Accountability 13:28 | Economic Stress, Delinquencies, and Bankruptcies, 14:03 | Clip: Everyday Americans are Struggling 15:16 | What Breaks a Democracy? 17:01 | Brief Moments of High Trust (1812 to Post-WWII Peak) 16:16 | The Great Shift: FDR's New Deal Revolution 19:21 | Clip: The Great Depression 21:35 | The Ideological Divide: New Deal vs. Reagan 25:46 | Clip: Ronald Reagan on The Tonight Show (1975) 27:11 | Betrayal: Lies from Vietnam to the Iraq War 28:35 | Clip: 60 Minutes on the 2008 Bank Bailouts Clip 29:59 | Independents: The Key to Fixing Gridlock 33:52 | Independent Hero of the Week: Braver Angels 35:52 | Final thoughts, next week's topic, and call to action.   Don't Miss Out! Join the Independent Times community on our website: www.IndependentTimes.news   Find Us Everywhere! Follow us on all social media platforms: @IndyTimesNews   How to Listen! Available on all podcast platforms: Search "Independent Times" on your favorite podcast app   ️ Independent Times – Season 1 Independent Times is the source for independent voters' news and analysis.

Today, we tackle a crisis: A 2025 YouGov poll shows only 29% of independents trust the media. How did we go from the unified trust of Walter Cronkite to a polarized "sea of spin?" Host Lisa Singer, along with co-hosts Leyla Gullen and Bryan Gallo, explores the history of media failures and provides practical tools to help independent voters navigate the news with confidence. We unpack: The Great Shift: The crucial moments from the Pentagon Papers triumph to the Fairness Doctrine's demise that fueled today's partisan media environment. Trust Killers: How major media failures, including the Iraq WMD reporting and the 2008 financial crisis, damaged the public's faith. False Balance & Narrative: How the push for "performative neutrality" prioritizes political narratives over facts, as Margaret Sullivan's critique shows. The Local News Crisis: The dire impact of social media and ad revenue cuts, leading to over 3,200 newspaper closures since 2005. The Fix: Practical steps for independents, including diversifying sources and using news literacy tools to spot bias. Independent Hero of the Week: Alan Miller, founder of the News Literacy Project, a nonpartisan nonprofit empowering students to spot fact from fiction. Timestamps: 00:00 | Title Sequence 00:45 | Clip: Walter Cronkite & The Unifying Force of the Press 01:22 | Intro: 29% Independents Trust the Media 03:37 | Clip: The Presidential Battle with the Free Press 05:30 | The Press as Watchdog: The First Amendment & The Fourth Estate 07:38 | Clip: The Katharine Graham Story (Courage in Publishing) 09:30 | The End of Trust: History Behind the Erosion of Media Credibility 10:51 | The End of the Fairness Doctrine (The Birth of Partisan Media) 11:32 | Clip: The Fairness Doctrine: A Brief History 13:48 | The WMD Disaster: How the Media Failed on the Iraq War 16:41 | Clip: Judith Miller and Jon Stewart on the NYT Coverage of WMD 18:10 | The Price of Partisan Narratives: Prioritizing Narrative over Truth 21:12 | Clip: Margaret Sullivan on Hillary Clinton’s Emails 22:09 | Major Media Mistakes (Woodward, Caliphate, FOX/Dominion) 23:52 | Clip: FOX News Massive Settlement with Dominion Voting 25:12 | The Ethics Failure & What Journalists Must Adhere To 28:17 | The Bleeding Out: Social Media & The Death of Local News 29:44 | The Fix: Practical News Literacy Tools for Independent Voters 32:47 | Clip: On Media Literacy 35:15 | Independent Priorities: The Cost Battlegrounds (Health & Finance) 36:50 | The Human Cost of Frustration 37:48 | Finding Clarity in the Spin & Independent Hero of the Week 40:15 | Final thoughts, next week's topic, and call to action.   Don't Miss Out! Join the Independent Times community on our website: www.IndependentTimes.news Find Us Everywhere! Follow us on all social media platforms: @IndyTimesNews   How to Listen! Available on all podcast platforms: Search "Independent Times" on your favorite podcast app   ️ Independent Times – Season 1 Independent Times is the source for independent voters' news and analysis.

The Founding Fathers established the free press as the "Fourth Estate," a vital check on government power. Today, with only 16% of Americans subscribing to a newspaper and one to two papers closing weekly, that pillar is crumbling. Host Lisa Singer and co-hosts Leyla Gullen and Bryan Gallo uncover what's at stake and how Independents can help save this essential safeguard of democracy. We unpack: The Core Fight: From Thomas Jefferson's scandal to Nixon's Watergate, why the battle between politicians and the press is constant. The Laws That Bind: Key historical laws, the Sedition Act, the Espionage Act, and modern challenges like Florida's weakened protections that make investigative reporting harder. Journalism's Shield: The landmark Supreme Court cases of NYT v. United States, The Pentagon Papers, NYT v. Sullivan "Actual Malice" standard, and why they are under threat. The Cost of Truth: The financial and legal risks facing journalists and how the Privacy Protection Act of 1980 offers limited defense. Independent Hero of the Week: The American Journalism Project (AJP), which invests in nonprofit news organizations to sustain local news.   Timestamps: 00:00 | Title Sequence 00:45 | Clip: “JFK on the Vital Role of a Free Press” 01:20 | The free press as the "fourth estate" and its current struggle. 03:26 | The Partisan Press: Jefferson/Sally Hemings scandal (1802) 03:59 | The eternal love-hate relationship between politicians and the press. 06:34 | Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein's Watergate investigation. 12:21 | Florida and Texas are weakening protections for journalists 14:56 | Historical Laws Limiting the Press: Sedition Act, Espionage Act 16:05 | Julian Assange and the Espionage Act Danger 20:12 | Privacy Protection Act of 1980 to shield work product 23:49 | New York Times v. United States (1971) 26:02 | New York Times v. Sullivan – The “Actual Malice” Shield (1964) 28:41 | Donald Trump calls for "opening up" libel law protections 30:07 | Independent Hero of the Week: The American Journalism Project 32:13 | Final thoughts, next week's topic, and call to action.   Don't Miss Out! Join the Independent Times community on our website: www.IndependentTimes.news   Find Us Everywhere! Follow us on all social media platforms: @IndyTimesNews   How to Listen! Available on all podcast platforms: Search "Independent Times" on your favorite podcast app   ️ Independent Times – Season 1 Independent Times is the source for independent voters' news and analysis.

Host Lisa Singer, joined by co-hosts Leyla Gullen and Bryan Gallo, investigates the history and the enormous barriers facing independent political candidates. We unpack: You are America's largest voting bloc, yet true independent politicians are nearly extinct. The Legacy of Ross Perot and other disruptors like Ralph Nader, and whether independents risk being "spoilers." The Rare Breed: Why only 25 out of 7,386 state legislative seats are held by independents and zero in the U.S. House. The Forward Movement: Andrew Yang's crusade to fix the system using ranked-choice voting and open primaries to give voters real choices. The Two-Party Grip: How confusing ballot rules, lack of funding, and state-by-state election laws keep 3rd parties out. Independent Hero of the Week: Andrew Yang, the founder of the Forward Party, on how “changing the incentives” with open primaries and ranked-choice voting forces politicians to represent the nation’s majority, not the extremes of each party. Timestamps:00:00 Title Sequence 00:44 Seinfeld Clip – Kramer asks, “What’s the deal with politics?” 00:58 Intro by Lisa, Bryan, and Leyla – the rarity of independent politicians 02:55 Ross Perot's Presidential Bid (1992 Clip) 05:44 Bernie Sanders Presidential Bid (montage) 07:03 Bernie Sanders on Joe Rogan to discuss the minimum wage (clip) 08:25 Angus King explains that most Maine voters are unenrolled (clip) 09:40 The Statehouse Scarcity 10:05 Andrew Yang makes the case for universal basic income (clip) 11:15 Andrew Yang, The Forward Party, and Local Wins 11:42 Andrew Yang makes the case for the Forward Party (clip) 14:20 The Barrier: Sore Loser Laws & Party Flipping 14:24 NYC 2025 Mayoral Race, Cuomo and Adams switching to independent (clip) 15:22 Is the Two-Party System in the Constitution? 18:00 Steve Kornacki on how independents vote (clip) 19:15 RFK Jr. flips to independent in the 2024 election (clip) 20:47 Unaffiliated independent voters explain why (clip) 24:19 The best reform ideas for independents (clip) 26:26 Andrew Yang is our independent hero of the week 26:59 Independent Hero: Andrew Yang's TED Talk 28:27 Outro   Independent Times is the source for independent voters' no-spin news and analysis. Welcome to the first podcast built for America’s largest voting bloc: 43% of voters now identify as independent, outpacing both Democrats and Republicans. Don't Miss Out! Join the Independent Times community on our website: www.IndependentTimes.news   Find Us Everywhere! Follow us on all social media platforms: @IndyTimesNews   How to Listen! Available on all podcast platforms: Search "Independent Times" on your favorite podcast app

Host Lisa Singer, joined by co-hosts Leyla Gullen (FOX24 News Now) and Bryan Gallo (Emmy-winning producer), unpack: Why most Americans reject Red vs. Blue labels How independents have swung every election since 2004 Frustration with a system that locks 27 million out of primaries The power of independents to heal a divided nation Independent Hero of the Week: Dr. Jackie Salit, author of Independents Rising, co-author of The Independent Voter, and co-director of ASU’s Center for an Independent and Sustainable Democracy, shares her 30+ years advocating for independent voters to unite America. Timestamps: 00:00 | Title Sequence 00:44 | Opening Clip: Family Guy Sketch 01:17 | Welcome & Introductions by Lisa, Bryan, and Leyla 02:48 | Video Clip: Independent voters – America’s largest voting bloc 03:43 | Discussion: Analyzing the 43% independent voter majority 04:42 | Video Clip: Independents are a rising new force in our politics 05:54 | Key Question: What do independent voters actually want? 08:40 | Video Clip: Who are independent voters? 12:18 | Discussion: The power of independents to swing an election 13:44 | Video Clip: Exploring the phenomenon of "split-ticket voters" 16:19 | The purpose of the Independent Times podcast 19:01 | Independent Hero: Featuring Dr. Jackie Salit 19:33 | Wrap-up & Outro   Don't Miss Out! Join the Independent Times community on our website: www.IndependentTimes.news   Find Us Everywhere! Follow us on all social media platforms: @IndyTimesNews   How to Listen! Available on all podcast platforms: Search "Independent Times" on your favorite podcast app