The modern political landscape often feels like a choice between two extremes, leaving a vast number of Americans feeling politically homeless. While the national spotlight stays fixed on partisan gridlock in D.C., a growing movement is shifting the focus back to where politics actually begins: our local communities.

In this episode, Kevin and John sit down with Bridget Myers and John Lembke from the Colorado chapter of the Forward Party. They break down the mechanics of the "two-party doom loop" and explain how structural reforms like Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) can eliminate the spoiler effect, allowing voters to support candidates they actually believe in without fear.

From the challenges of getting a minor party on the ballot to specific local issues like housing density and campaign finance reform, this conversation explores what it takes to prioritize data-driven solutions over emotional rhetoric. It is a look at how we can stop hate voting and start building a system that delivers actual results.

Connect with our Guests:

Colorado Forward Party: https://www.coloradoforwardparty.com/

Forward Party National: https://www.forwardparty.com/

Contact Bridget Myers: Email for Bridget Myers: BoulderFWD@gmail.com

John Lembke on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-lembke/

Chapter Timestamps:

00:00 – Bunker beards and the rising cost of beard oil

02:54 – Headlines: The redistricting drama in Virginia

05:38 – Introducing Bridget Myers and John Lembke

08:33 – From engineering to politics: John’s impetus for change

10:33 – Why Bridget traded physical therapy for political science

13:33 – Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) explained

17:15 – The "Longmont Example" of the vote-splitting effect

21:20 – How to change a city charter for voting reform

26:28 – Dennis Rodman’s take on the political duopoly

31:14 – How the Forward Party got on the ballot in Colorado

34:54 – Multi-winner districts and ending gerrymandering

38:40 – Addressing local issues: The reality of housing

46:25 – The business of complaining vs. the business of solving

56:45 – How to get involved with the Forward movement

#weneedarevolution #forwardparty #coloradopolitics #rankedchoicevoting #politicalreform #thirdparty #localgovernment #nonpartisan #politics2026

Is the American Dream of homeownership officially dead for the next generation, or have we just been spoiled by a decade of unsustainable economics? Kevin and John sit down with real estate expert John Gravelyn to dismantle the private equity plague and the mechanics currently swallowing the housing market.

We dive into how housing was transformed from a place to live into a high-yield financial product for institutional investors. John breaks down the lockdown effect of low interest rates, the reality of the 1.37 million dollar wealth gap between renters and owners, and why the starter home as we knew it has vanished. We also discuss the controversial role of the Realtors Political Action Committee and whether government assistance programs are actually moving the needle for first-time buyers.

Chapter Timestamps:

00:00 Thomas Jefferson and the prey of the rich

02:12 The Presidents Ayurvedic doctor and public transparency

04:46 Tax loopholes and the 1% money

07:42 Why is it so hard for first time homebuyers?

08:42 The Lockdown Effect: Why supply is frozen

11:13 The million dollar wealth gap

15:36 Global markets and luxury homes as status symbols

16:50 The real threat: Blackrock vs. mid-tier investors

18:28 Airbnb and the destruction of local supply

20:31 The death of the 1,100 square foot starter home

25:16 1031 exchanges and building wealth without taxes

27:08 Programs for the common person: Down payment assistance

30:00 Lobbying: How much the Realtors Association spends on elections

33:54 Can we build our way out of this?

42:52 Are houses actually at a 50 year mean for affordability?

49:36 First time homebuyer perks and retirement withdrawals

Connect with John Gravelyn:

Official Site: https://thefppartners.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-gravelyn/

Join the Revolution: We record LIVE on YouTube every Wednesday at 9pm ET. Subscribe and hit the bell to get notified when we go live! https://www.youtube.com/@WeNeedaRevolutionShow

#weneedarevolution #housingmarket #realestate #privateequity #nonpartisan

What happens when you realize the political party you grew up in no longer speaks your language? In this episode, Kevin Rosenquist and John Banks are joined by Brendan Frasier, a student at the University of Cincinnati and a Democratic precinct captain who is working to pull his party back to its working-class roots.

Brendan shares his journey from a rural Ohio community devastated by power plant closures to the floor of the National Young Democrats convention. We discuss the disconnect between urban political strategies and rural realities, the difference between neoliberalism and New Dealism, and why young voters are feeling increasingly alienated from the status quo. From the corruption in state politics to the unexpected ways data centers are uniting Ohioans across the aisle, Brendan offers a boots on the ground perspective on how to subvert the political duopoly from the inside.

Read Brendan's op-ed in The Hill:

https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/5665419-new-dealism-future-democratic-party/

Connect with the Clermont County Young Democrats:

Official Site: https://www.clermontfwd.com

Chapter Timestamps:

00:00 Alice Walker and the power of the individual

01:45 Introducing Brendan Fraiser: Subverting the duopoly at 20

04:04 The Zimmer and Beckjord plant closures: A rural wake up call

06:07 Why I didn't quit the Democratic Party

08;21 Economic policy and the death of local industry

10:39 What exactly is a delegate?

12:05 What exactly is a precinct captain?

13:49 Neoliberalism vs. New Dealism: Where the party lost its way

18:42 The branding of democratic socialism vs. social capitalism

21:57 It is the economy, stupid: Why paycheck politics still win

24:26 Overturning Citizens United: The Montana strategy

25:43 Competition and small business: A capitalist critique

31:36 International perspectives: Why the world is nervous to visit

38:14 The 3C Strategy: Why ignoring rural Ohio is a losing game

44:01 Data centers and the unlikely alliance of farmers and activists

58:33 Building a movement: How to get involved locally

Join the Revolution:

We record LIVE on YouTube every Wednesday at 9pm ET. Subscribe today! https://www.youtube.com/@WeNeedaRevolutionShow

#weneedarevolution #ohiopolitics #workingclass #politicalreform #youngdemocrats #ruralamerica #nonpartisan #news #politics2026