Veterans could be one of the most powerful forces in democracy reform - if they stop playing by the old rules. Holly Burd makes the case for a radical new path in Chicago: civic assemblies, ranked choice voting, open primaries, and a nonpartisan city charter that could finally make local government feel accountable again.

On this episode of Double V: From War to Activism, Chaz talks with Holly Burd, a Marine Corps veteran, data scientist, and civic activist who is building momentum around election reform from the ground up. Holly explains why she shifted from watching politics to actively reshaping it, how veterans can bridge divides that keep communities stuck, and why the current system feels intentionally confusing.

You'll discover:

• What a civic assembly is, and why Holly believes it can rebuild trust faster than traditional politics
• How sortition and representative citizen panels work in real life
• Why ranked choice voting and open primaries matter for independent voters
• What Holly learned from veteran-led reform efforts in Chicago, Akron, and Michigan
• How nonpartisan activism can give veterans a way to defend democracy beyond party loyalty

Chaz and Holly also get into the reality of Chicago politics, the limits of two-party thinking, and why so many people feel shut out of civic life in the first place. Holly brings a sharp, reform-minded perspective rooted in both military service and data-driven analysis, while Chaz pushes the conversation into the deeper questions of race, representation, community trust, and who actually gets heard.

Holly Burd is a Marine Corps veteran, civic activist, and data science student focused on nonpartisan election reform. She works with veteran-led democracy groups and has been building support for civic assemblies and city charter reform in Chicago.

Sound Bites

"I focus on nonpartisan reform and civic activism."

"We need to diversify all of our experiences."

"Veterans can build bridges over systemic gaps."

Holly Burd

Chapters

00:00Introduction to Holly Burd and episode overview

02:51Holly Burd's background and military service

04:11Transition from military to civic activism

07:13Inspiration behind civic reform efforts

09:09The significance of a Chicago city charter

10:11Veterans for All Voters and election reform

12:24Understanding civic assemblies and deliberative democracy

16:47The documentary 'Goodbye Politicians, Hello Democracy'

19:21Experiences from civic assemblies in Michigan and Akron

23:10The importance of inclusive civic spaces

26:45Connecting civic organizations and community efforts

29:39The potential of civic assemblies to rebuild trust

33:52Veterans' role in election reform and democracy

35:50The need for diversity and inclusion in civic spaces

38:51The importance of community-based activism

41:11The influence of historical and systemic issues in politics

45:37The significance of local engagement and neighborhood involvement

48:39Addressing racial and economic disparities in civic participation

52:26Building networks and organizing for systemic change

55:38Closing thoughts and future outlooks for civic reform