Forward Party Launches Podcast to Tackle Political Gridlock and Unify Voters

WASHINGTON, Jan. 15, 2026 – Seeking to carve a path through America's entrenched political division, the Forward Party today launched It's Up to Us, a new bi-weekly video podcast designed to address democracy reform and engage the growing bloc of independent voters. The show, which debuted on all major podcast platforms, brings together a trio of political figures aiming to transform frustration with the status quo into a movement for systemic change.

Hosted by Forward Party CEO Lindsey Drath, the podcast features two prominent former Republican leaders: Christine Todd Whitman, the former Governor of New Jersey, and Kerry Healey, the former Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts. Each 30-to-45-minute episode promises to combine data-driven analysis with candid conversations on the core issues fueling political dysfunction, from gerrymandering to closed primary systems.

"Americans are fed up with politics that rewards division instead of solutions," said Lindsey Drath in the launch announcement. "This podcast is about cutting through the noise, talking honestly about what's broken, and showing that there is a better way forward. Fixing our democracy doesn't start with political parties, it starts with us."

A New Media Front for a Nascent Party

The podcast represents a significant strategic move for the Forward Party, a political organization founded in 2021 with the ambitious goal of becoming a viable third-party alternative. Formed through a merger of several centrist groups, including Andrew Yang's original Forward Party, the Renew America Movement, and the Serve America Movement, the party has positioned itself as a home for moderates, conservatives, and progressives disillusioned with the two-party system.

To date, the party's influence has been more aspirational than electoral. While it has endorsed a slate of candidates in recent election cycles and focused heavily on the foundational work of gaining ballot access in states across the country, it has yet to see major breakthroughs in high-profile federal or state races. Its primary impact has been in championing a specific platform of democracy reforms, including open primaries and ranked-choice voting, which it argues are prerequisites for a more functional government.

By entering the crowded but influential world of podcasting, the Forward Party is making a direct appeal to a national audience, bypassing traditional media gatekeepers. This media-centric approach allows the organization to control its message and build a community around its core principles, potentially translating listeners into volunteers and voters. The podcast serves as both an educational tool and a recruitment vehicle, aiming to build the grassroots momentum necessary for a third party to gain a foothold in the American political landscape.

The Voices of Experience and Reform

The choice of hosts is central to the podcast's appeal. By featuring Governor Whitman and Lieutenant Governor Healey, the Forward Party is leveraging the credibility of experienced leaders who have governed from the executive branch. Both women have become increasingly vocal critics of the partisan extremism they see in modern politics, particularly within the Republican Party they once helped lead.

Christine Todd Whitman served as Governor of New Jersey from 1994 to 2001 and later as Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency under President George W. Bush. Once a mainstream Republican known for tax cuts and environmental protection, she has since become a prominent voice for centrism, endorsing Democratic candidates and co-chairing the Forward Party. Her journey reflects the alienation many traditional conservatives feel from the current political climate.

"Between the three of us, we've seen firsthand what happens when leaders choose cooperation over chaos," Governor Whitman stated. "This podcast is about sharing those lessons and reminding Americans that governing doesn't have to be a zero-sum game."

Similarly, Kerry Healey served as Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts alongside Governor Mitt Romney from 2003 to 2007. Governing as a Republican in a heavily Democratic state required a pragmatic and collaborative approach, an experience she now brings to the podcast. Her involvement underscores the party's attempt to build a coalition of leaders with a track record of working across the aisle.

"People want leaders who take governing seriously and are willing to work through their differences," added Lieutenant Governor Healey. "It's Up to Us is about giving the majority of Americans who want to hear Independent voices and go beyond partisan sound bites to real solutions a home."

Tackling the Mechanics of a Broken System

Unlike many political commentary podcasts that focus on the daily horse race of politics, It's Up to Us is set to concentrate on the structural underpinnings of the system itself. The show's agenda includes deep dives into topics that are often considered niche but have a profound impact on electoral outcomes and governance. These include partisan gerrymandering, the practice of drawing electoral districts to favor one party; closed primaries, which bar independent voters from participating in early stages of elections; and ranked-choice voting (RCV), an alternative voting method designed to elect consensus candidates.

In focusing on these issues, the Forward Party is aligning itself with a broader, non-partisan democracy reform movement. Organizations like FairVote and RepresentUs have long advocated for these same changes, building momentum at the state and local levels. By creating a dedicated platform for these discussions, the Forward Party hopes to popularize these ideas and mobilize public support for legislative action.

Each episode is structured to be more than just a conversation, concluding with a practical call-to-action for listeners. This feature is designed to empower audience members to get involved in reform efforts in their own communities, reinforcing the podcast's title and central theme: that the responsibility for fixing democracy rests with its citizens.

Produced and distributed by Flexworks Studio, the podcast aims for a high-quality, professional presentation to compete in a saturated media landscape. The success of It's Up to Us will ultimately be measured not just by its download numbers, but by its ability to educate, mobilize, and create a tangible constituency for the often-unseen but critical work of democracy reform.