ICE Eviction, Healthcare Grift, and Government Transparency | Controller Mark Pinsley

Stop Blaming Presidents. Fix the Incentives - Startup Playbook for Fixing Politics | Neil Thanedar

Why is politics so broken — and why do we keep blaming our presidents for everything? Is dark money the real problem… or is it the incentive structure behind the system? In this episode of Meyerside Chats, I sit down with Neil Thanedar [https://www.linkedin.com/feed/#] — Executive Director of the Michigan Campaign Finance Network, author of Positive Politics, and a founder who went through Y Combinator — to explore campaign finance reform, political incentives, direct democracy, and how everyday citizens can move from outrage to action. Neil draws a powerful parallel between startups and politics — asking: what if there were a “Y Combinator for politics”? A structured accelerator that helps ambitious optimists launch campaigns, pass ballot initiatives, and build real civic momentum the same way founders build companies. As the son of U.S. Congressman Shri Thanedar — and someone who helped guide and advise his father’s congressional campaigns — Neil brings firsthand insight into how incentives, messaging, fundraising pressure, and party structures shape political decisions long before legislation is ever passed. We unpack: • Why presidents get too much credit — and too much blame • How money and party incentives drive political behavior • Whether you must pick a political party to succeed • Direct democracy and ballot initiatives as reform tools • The “Y Combinator for Politics” concept • Applying startup discipline to civic reform • The human reality of serving in Congress • Why action beats social media outrage If you care about political reform, startup thinking, civic engagement, or breaking the red vs blue blame cycle — this conversation is for you. Check it out, and please subscribe to support our mission: https://youtu.be/zkpyJUEYWJ8 ⏱ CHAPTERS 00:00 Intro 02:30 Changing Political Incentives 06:45 The Startup Mindset in Politics 09:30 What If There Were a Y Combinator for Politics? 14:00 Why Most Candidates Quit After One Loss 18:40 Complaining vs Civic Action 22:00 The Presidential Blame Cycle 27:30 Direct Democracy & Ballot Reform 32:00 Do You Have to Pick a Party? 38:00 Fighting Corruption Without Becoming Toxic 46:00 Inside Congress: The Human Reality 52:00 Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” 55:00 Final Takeaways Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105354/support] About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org [http://mygovtools.org/], a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com [https://beautifyearth.com/], a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com [http://rideamigos.com/], a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats [https://www.youtube.com/@meyersidechats], Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth. He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

Changing the Algorithm, Rebuilding American Unity & the Psychology of Belief | Adam Mizel

Are we truly as divided as we’re told — or are we being conditioned to believe we are? In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan sits down with Adam Mizel — longtime CEO, investor, and co-founder of US United — to explore how media incentives, cognitive bias, and social algorithms amplify division while drowning out unity. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful idea: we can change the algorithm. Adam argues that polarization isn’t just political — it’s cultural and psychological. Social media rewards outrage. News cycles reward conflict. Labels replace people. But what if millions of Americans deliberately posted stories of cooperation, compassion, and bridge-building once a week? What if we overwhelmed the system with unity instead of anger? They explore: * What a “fact” really is — and why definitions matter * How media and incentives distort perception * Why politics has become identity * The psychology behind tribalism and confirmation bias * The wealth and power dynamics that fuel division * The “Unity Seats” concept at sporting events * How storytelling and lived experience shift minds * Why self-work is the starting point for cultural change If division is profitable, unity must be intentional. This episode challenges you to rethink how you consume information — and how you contribute to the algorithm shaping our culture. Chapters 00:00 Introduction  02:00 US United & The Mission of Unity  07:45 What Is a “Fact”?  12:00 Media Manipulation & Algorithmic Incentives  18:30 Politics as Identity  24:00 Abortion & Moral Complexity  35:00 Wealth, Power & Democracy  47:00 Self-Work & Psychological Awareness  55:00 Changing the Algorithm  59:30 Unity Seats & Cultural Solutions If this conversation resonates, share it — especially with someone who sees the world differently than you. Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105354/support] About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org [http://mygovtools.org/], a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com [https://beautifyearth.com/], a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com [http://rideamigos.com/], a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats [https://www.youtube.com/@meyersidechats], Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth. He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

ICE Eviction, Healthcare Grift, and Government Transparency | Controller Mark Pinsley

In this episode of Meyerside Chats, I sit down with Mark Pinsley, the elected Controller of Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, for a wide-ranging conversation on transparency, public trust, and how government financial systems really work when you look under the hood. Mark explains why his office uncovered unpaid rent tied to ICE’s use of county buildings, how a simple breakdown in contracts and oversight led to years of missed payments, and why fiscal accountability must remain separate from political pressure—even when the headlines get loud. We also dive deep into: * Why 70% of county spending goes to law and order * How jail phone commissions and healthcare middlemen distort incentives * The hidden role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and how Lehigh County saved millions by auditing them * What government efficiency efforts get right—and wrong—when compared to initiatives like DOGE * Why transparency changes behavior before laws ever do * How political labels collide with the reality of independent oversight * The rising personal risks faced by local officials—and how we lower the temperature This conversation isn’t about left vs. right. It’s about systems vs. incentives, people vs. power, and what it actually takes to earn public trust in government again. Video here:  https://youtu.be/1Crt-mysGG8 00:00 Intro – What a County Controller Actually Does 01:10 Evicting ICE: How the County Discovered Unpaid Rent 02:25 Contracts, Oversight Failures, and Government Blind Spots 04:05 Separating Fiscal Oversight from Political Polarization 05:40 ICE, Community Trust, and Reporting Crime Without Fear 08:50 Citizens vs Residents: How County Spending Really Works 10:40 Where County Money Actually Goes (71% to Law & Order) 13:30 Balancing Objectivity and Personal Convictions as Controller 15:30 Public Defenders vs Prosecutors: A Budget Fairness Problem 16:45 Why Mark Identifies as a Democrat (and What That Really Means) 18:10 Populism, Corporate Power, and Anti-Trust Failures 20:40 Why Independents Can’t Win (Yet) + Ranked Choice Voting 22:10 Modernizing Government Systems: Process Before Software 23:30 Tools of Oversight: Excel, Python, and Catching Errors 24:45 Legacy Systems, Data Access, and Why IT Bottlenecks Matter 26:00 DOGE: Good Idea, Flawed Execution 28:10 Can Government Really Cut $2 Trillion? 29:40 Who Should Pay More Taxes—and Why 32:10 Wealth, Assets, and Buying Influence 34:00 Money in Politics and the Limits of Reform 36:30 Why Transparency Is the Real First Step 39:15 Civics Education and Who People Blame (Wrongly) 41:50 Where Mark Gets His News—and Why He Trusts None of It 43:40 Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Hidden Healthcare Grift 46:30 How Lehigh County Found $3M in Healthcare Savings 49:00 Giving Credit Where It’s Due on Healthcare Transparency 51:40 Receiving a Death Threat: The Cost of Public Service 54:30 Gratitude, Perspective, and Cooling the Temperature 57:00 Closing Reflections on Democracy and Trust Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105354/support] About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org [http://mygovtools.org/], a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com [https://beautifyearth.com/], a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com [http://rideamigos.com/], a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats [https://www.youtube.com/@meyersidechats], Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth. He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

Cincinnati on ICE, AI, Public Safety, Housing & Federal Pressure | Councilmember Mark Jeffreys

Cincinnati City Councilmember Mark Jeffreys joins Meyerside Chats for a grounded, wide-ranging conversation on how cities actually govern during moments of national tension. Drawing on his background as a Procter & Gamble executive, entrepreneur, and public servant, Jeffreys explains how local governments balance housing shortages, public safety, federal immigration enforcement, media narratives, and community trust — all while operating within real political and legal limits. This episode covers housing supply, federal-local power dynamics, data-driven governance, political narratives, AI in government, and how cities can remain pragmatic in an increasingly polarized environment. 🎧 Available on YouTube and all major podcast platforms. ⏱️ Chapters / Timestamps 00:00 – Intro: Local leadership in national moments 01:05 – What’s top of mind for Cincinnati residents right now 03:30 – Minneapolis, ICE, and local government anxiety 06:00 – Separating public safety facts from political narratives 09:00 – Data vs headlines: how cities assess risk 11:30 – Procter & Gamble, brands, and political narratives 14:45 – KPIs, bureaucracy, and governing by metrics 18:20 – Housing supply, zoning, and neighborhood resistance 22:00 – Why housing has become so polarized 26:10 – Comparing Cincinnati and California housing policy 30:00 – Why developers won’t build at 3% returns 33:30 – AI, automation, and the future of city government 37:30 – One-party cities, red states, and balance of power 41:45 – How to restore healthy debate without culture wars 46:00 – What real federal-local collaboration should look like 48:00 – Closing thoughts on trust, safety, and governance  🎧 Also available on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GR_TnZGjZ28 Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105354/support] About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org [http://mygovtools.org/], a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com [https://beautifyearth.com/], a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com [http://rideamigos.com/], a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats [https://www.youtube.com/@meyersidechats], Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth. He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.

Dark Money, Elections & the Supreme Court — Inside Citizens United | Tiffany Muller

What really changed after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision—and why do most Americans believe it broke democracy? In this episode of Meyerside Chats, Evan Meyer sits down with Tiffany Muller, President and Executive Director of End Citizens United, for a deep, practical conversation about money in politics, dark money, corporate influence, and what can actually be done to fix it. Tiffany brings rare, end-to-end experience to this conversation—having served as an elected City Council Member on the Topeka City Council, Deputy Political Director at the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, and Chief of Staff to a Member of Congress. Together, we explore how incentives—not just ideology—shape political behavior, why reform remains bipartisan among voters but partisan in Washington, and whether democracy can be “unrigged” without changing human nature itself. 🎧 You can also find the audio version on your favorite podcast players. ⏱️ Chapters 00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY] – Introduction & Tiffany Muller’s background 01:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=110s] – What Citizens United actually decided 03:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=220s] – How money creates gridlock & public distrust 06:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=390s] – Super PACs, dark money & billionaire influence 09:10 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=550s] – Campaign donations vs lobbying explained 12:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=760s] – The revolving door: Congress → lobbying 16:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=960s] – Is corruption just human nature? 20:40 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=1240s] – Why voters support reform but Congress resists 24:30 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=1470s] – Supreme Court ethics & reform ideas 29:50 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=1790s] – A realistic roadmap to reform 35:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=2100s] – Why reform has become partisan 38:20 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=2300s] – Local politics, civic engagement & hope 42:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPknU92CReY&t=2520s] – Final reflections & how to get involved Support the show [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2105354/support] About Evan Meyer Tech entrepreneur and civic leader - he founded mygovtools.org [http://mygovtools.org/], a platform to drive government efficiency, constituent representation, and civic engagement; BeautifyEarth.com [https://beautifyearth.com/], a platform accelerating urban beautification through art; and its sister nonprofit, transforming schools in underserved areas. He also co-founded RideAmigos.com [http://rideamigos.com/], a platform that optimizes commuter travel globally. Previously, he served as District Director for the California State Senate and led many civic initiatives in Santa Monica. Through seminars and his podcast Meyerside Chats [https://www.youtube.com/@meyersidechats], Evan inspires civic engagement, innovation, and cultural growth. He loves the outdoors, is a master of creative projects, is an avid muralist and musician, and finds the world fascinating in every regard.