Episode

“It’s Not Just Broken — It’s Rigged” How The Closed Primary System Stifles The Power Of Independents.

Podcast: Independent Americans with Paul Rieckhoff
Published: Jun 14, 2026
Duration seconds: 993
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Summary

The two parties don't just run the game — they run the refs. In this News Nation panel conversation, Paul Rieckhoff makes the case that America's closed primary system isn't merely broken, it's rigged: party-run, party-refereed, and engineered to push both sides to the fringe while the 90-million-strong angry middle gets locked out. With independents now giving Donald Trump an approval rating in the twenties and an independent senator like Angus King already shaping Maine politics, the 2026 midterms are shaping up to be a referendum the MAGA machine can't spin its way out of.