Welcome back to Independent Times. Winston Churchill called democracy the "worst form of Government except for all the rest," and today, we feel the messy truth of that quote. 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.

No spin. No party talking points. Just clear insights to help you vote with confidence.

Independent Hero of the Week: Braver Angels, a grassroots organization dedicated to bridging the partisan divide and rebuilding trust one conversation at a time.

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Timestamps

• 00:00 Intro: Churchill's Cynical Defense of Democracy

• 02:30 The Low-Trust Crisis: 65% of Youth Open to Radical Change

• 04:00 Constitutional Federal Republic vs. Democracy

• 06:00 The Breakdown of Accountability (The Three Pillars)

• 07:30 Economic Strangling: Delinquencies, Bankruptcies, and High Stakes Clip

• 11:00 Brief Moments of High Trust (1812 to Post-WWII Peak)

• 14:45 The Great Shift: FDR's New Deal Revolution

• 18:00 Understanding the Ideological Divide: New Deal vs. Reagan

• 21:00 Betrayal: Lies from Vietnam to the Iraq War

• 23:30 Trust Killer: The 2008 Bank Bailouts Clip

• 26:00 Independents: The Key to Fixing Gridlock

• 28:00 Action Plan: Rebuilding Trust Starts with You

• 31:00 Independent Hero: Braver Angels & The Lincoln Lesson