What if the biggest threat to democracy isn't extremism, foreign interference, or misinformation — but the two-party system itself?

In this eye-opening conversation, entrepreneur and author Metin Pekin argues that political parties have become gatekeepers that filter our choices, serve elite interests, and divide us into warring tribes. Drawing on the warnings of America's Founding Fathers and examples from democracies around the world, Pekin makes the case for a radical solution: eliminating parties altogether.

We explore:

Why George Washington, John Adams, and Thomas Jefferson all warned against political factions
How a "no-party democracy" would actually work in practice
Whether independents could prevent extremism better than the current system
Why 45% of Americans now identify as independent — and what that means for the future
The role of money in politics and Pekin's proposed "democracy tax"
Real-world examples from Australia and other countries experimenting with independent candidates

Whether you're frustrated with both parties, curious about democratic reform, or skeptical that anything can change, this conversation will challenge how you think about representation, power, and what democracy could look like in the 21st century.

Metin Pekin is the author of Breaking Democracy's Chains: Freeing and Fortifying Democracy Against Hidden Capture and the founder of several successful businesses based in the UK.

Warning: This episode may make you question everything you thought you knew about how democracy is supposed to work.

Political parties, democracy reform, independent candidates, two-party system, voter suppression, campaign finance, Founding Fathers, Federalist Papers, George Washington, party politics, democratic capture, elite control, voter apathy, structural reform, shadow president, no-party democracy, political polarization, Liliana Mason, mega identity, gerrymandering, military industrial complex, AIPAC, independent voters, grassroots movement, political theory, representative democracy, separation of powers, UK politics, US politics, Breaking Democracy's Chains, Metin Pekin,