Hold 'em Accountable

Welcome to Hold ’Em Accountable — a channel dedicated to shining a light on politics, policy, and the people who represent us. Here, we break down the decisions made in Indiana and across the nation, exposing how gerrymandering, corruption, and backroom deals impact everyday Americans. We ask the tough questions: Are our leaders truly serving the people, or are they protecting their own power? Through commentary, news breakdowns, and sharp analysis, we cut through political spin and demand accountability from those in office — regardless of party. This channel isn’t about left or right — it’s about right and wrong. It’s about making sure Hoosiers and all Americans know the truth, and making sure their voices are heard.

Hold 'em Accountable is a news podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 82 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Unknown Host hosts Hold 'em Accountable, a news show with 82 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Hold 'em Accountable

  Alex Wait for Indiana House District 5: Cost of Living, Schools & Housing

  Sep 25, 202630 min

  Alex Wait, Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 5, joins Hold ’em Accountable to talk about the cost of living, housing, public schools, childcare, healthcare, organized labor, data centers, and whether working families can still afford to build a future in Indiana. Alex describes what he calls the “cost squeeze” facing Hoosiers: wages struggling to keep pace while housing, groceries, childcare, utilities, and healthcare eat up more of the family budget. In this conversation, we discuss: • Indiana House District 5 and St. Joseph County • Alex Wait’s campaign for the Indiana Statehouse • Housing affordability and starter homes • Indiana’s minimum wage and worker pay • Unions, right-to-work laws, and collective bargaining • Affordable childcare and universal pre-K • Public school funding and private school vouchers • Teacher resources and Indiana education policy • Data centers, local control, water, utilities, and development • Rural healthcare and the Healthy Indiana Plan • Cannabis legalization and state revenue • Why younger Hoosiers are getting involved in politics • Bipartisan opportunities on housing • Constituent communication and accountability Alex argues that Indiana’s affordability problems are connected. Housing does not exist separately from wages. Childcare does not exist separately from work. Public schools affect economic development. Healthcare affects family stability. And major development projects raise questions about who receives the benefits and who carries the costs. His campaign message centers on a basic question: if Hoosiers work hard, should that still be enough to afford a home, raise a family, and stay in Indiana? No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. You can also ask Alexa to play Hold ’em Accountable with Derrick Holder. #AlexWait #IndianaPolitics #IndianaHD5 #CostOfLiving #HoldEmAccountable

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  Hold 'em Accountable

  Lauren Cole for Indiana House District 37: Affordability, Schools & Hamilton County

  Sep 18, 202621 min

  Hamilton County is one of Indiana’s fastest-growing and most prosperous areas. So why are working families still living paycheck to paycheck? Lauren Cole, Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 37, joins Hold ’em Accountable to talk about affordability, housing, childcare, healthcare, public schools, corporate influence, and whether Indiana is measuring economic success the wrong way. Lauren works in medical research and clinical trials, and she says the Statehouse could use more of the scientific method: identify the problem, follow the evidence, challenge assumptions, and change course when the facts say something isn’t working. In this conversation, we cover: • Indiana House District 37 and Hamilton County • Lauren Cole’s campaign for the Indiana Statehouse • Rising housing, grocery, utility, and healthcare costs • Why young Hoosiers are delaying homeownership and families • Childcare and the paycheck-to-paycheck economy • Public school funding and private school vouchers • Teacher pay and retaining educators • Hamilton County growth, traffic, and infrastructure • Corporate tax incentives and job quality • Wages, benefits, and taxpayer return on investment • Corporate influence in Indiana politics • Legislative power and the role of the House Speaker • Evidence-based policymaking at the Statehouse Lauren says Hoosiers are not asking for anything unreasonable. They are asking for something that used to feel possible: work hard, play by the rules, and have that work be enough to build a decent life. Hamilton County may be booming, but economic growth means very little if the people building that prosperity cannot afford to live there. No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. You can also ask Alexa to play Hold ’em Accountable with Derrick Holder. #LaurenCole #IndianaPolitics #IndianaHD37 #HamiltonCounty #HoldEmAccountable

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  Hold 'em Accountable

  Magdalaine Davis Breaks the Republican Script

  Sep 11, 202627 min

  Magdalaine Davis, Republican candidate for Indiana House District 26, joins Hold ’em Accountable for a conversation that does not sound like the usual Indiana political template. District 26 is centered around West Lafayette and Purdue University, while also including surrounding neighborhoods and rural parts of Tippecanoe County. It is a district shaped by students, longtime residents, small businesses, farmers, public schools, research, innovation, affordability, and the future of Indiana’s workforce. Magdalaine talks about growing up in a military family, becoming a Purdue student, and why her experience as a survivor of sexual violence pushed her toward public service. She says Indiana needs leaders willing to deal with uncomfortable issues instead of brushing them aside. In this interview, we discuss: • Indiana House District 26 • Magdalaine Davis’ Republican campaign • West Lafayette, Purdue, and rural Tippecanoe County • Affordability and Indiana’s minimum wage • Cost of living differences across Indiana communities • Public schools, school funding, and trade schools • Mental health care for students, veterans, and families • Bullying, cyberbullying, and teen suicide • Supporting survivors of sexual violence • Public safety, prosecutors, and prevention resources • Accessible, honest, and present leadership • Working across party lines • Why lawmakers need to think 10, 15, and 20 years ahead Magdalaine says Indiana has to stop governing only for the moment. Every bill should be judged by how it affects affordability, education, public services, police, fire departments, mental health, and the future families are trying to build. Whether voters agree with her or not, she brings a different kind of Republican voice to this race, one focused on survivor advocacy, public schools, mental health, local concerns, and being willing to admit when she is wrong. No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. You can also ask Alexa to play Hold ’em Accountable with Derrick Holder. #MagdalaineDavis #IndianaPolitics #IndianaHD26 #Purdue #HoldEmAccountable

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  Hold 'em Accountable

  Lauri Shillings: Fix the Office Nobody Notices

  Sep 4, 202634 min

  Lauri Shillings, Libertarian candidate for Indiana Secretary of State, joins Hold ’em Accountable for a conversation about one of the most overlooked offices in Indiana politics. The Secretary of State may not get the same attention as governor, Congress, or the Statehouse, but this office touches every Hoosier. Elections, ballot access, business filings, campaign finance records, public records, voter information, and public trust all run through this office. Lauri argues that Indiana needs a Secretary of State focused on service, transparency, modernization, privacy, and nonpartisan administration. She says the office should work for voters, small business owners, county clerks, candidates, and every Hoosier trying to understand how government operates. In this interview, we talk about: • Indiana Secretary of State race • Lauri Shillings’ Libertarian campaign • Election transparency and public trust • Protecting voter privacy • Modernizing Indiana’s Secretary of State website • Making business filings faster and easier • Campaign finance disclosure and dark money • Helping voters know who is on their ballot • Election audits and public confidence • Supporting all 92 county clerks • Third-party candidates and ballot access • Why Libertarians need 2% to stay on Indiana ballots • Why more choices create more accountability Lauri says voters deserve more than broken links, confusing forms, hard-to-search records, and a two-party system that too often limits real competition. Her message is simple: the office nobody notices until it breaks is exactly the office voters should pay attention to before it does. No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. You can also ask Alexa to play Hold ’em Accountable with Derrick Holder. #LauriShillings #IndianaPolitics #IndianaSecretaryOfState #ElectionIntegrity #HoldEmAccountable

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  Hold 'em Accountable

  Brad Meyer: The Chainsaw Economy Is Cutting People Down

  Aug 28, 202633 min

  Brad Meyer, Democratic nominee for Indiana’s 9th Congressional District, returns to Hold ’em Accountable for a conversation about Southern Indiana, economic anxiety, healthcare, Social Security, rural hospitals, medical debt, disability policy, food insecurity, and the fight between exploitation and opportunity. District 9 stretches across one of Indiana’s largest and most diverse congressional districts, including Bloomington, Madison, Jeffersonville, Salem, Corydon, Bedford, Nashville, and dozens of rural communities in between. Brad says voters are no longer worried about just one issue. They are worried about everything. Young people are struggling to get started, mid-career workers are still living paycheck to paycheck, and retirees are anxious about the future of Social Security. In this interview, Brad argues that capitalism can be productive, but without guardrails, it becomes coercive. He compares the current system to a chainsaw: useful when handled responsibly, dangerous when used recklessly. We discuss: • Indiana’s 9th Congressional District • Brad Meyer’s campaign for Congress • Southern Indiana’s economic struggles • Capitalism, guardrails, exploitation, and opportunity • Healthcare access and Medicare for All • Rural hospitals and maternity care closures • Medical debt and health insurance insecurity • Social Security and retirement security • Food insecurity in Southern Indiana • Disability policy and families navigating broken systems • Rural population loss and economic development • Congressional access, town halls, and local offices • Budget priorities, childcare, military spending, and trade Brad says the numbers have come alive for him on the campaign trail. Food insecurity, medical debt, disability care, rural hospital cuts, and Social Security are not just statistics. They are people’s lives with the names removed. No spin. No talking points. Just receipts. You can also ask Alexa to play Hold ’em Accountable with Derrick Holder. #BradMeyer #IndianaPolitics #IndianaCD9 #HealthcareForAll #HoldEmAccountable

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