Connect with Travis: https://hub.futureis.org
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What if the biggest problem in politics isn’t left vs. right, but the middlemen in between?
In this episode of thinkfuture, host Chris Kalaboukis speaks with Travis Misurell, founder of the FINC Coalition, about an ambitious effort to upgrade democracy through a citizen-owned civic internet.
Travis argues that American democracy has become increasingly dominated by gatekeepers—big money, political parties, media organizations, and institutional interests that shape which candidates voters see and which ideas gain traction.
His solution?
A platform designed to bypass the middlemen.
The Fink Coalition aims to create a citizen-owned political infrastructure that helps voters make more informed decisions through candidate report cards, conflict-of-interest tracking, promise accountability, and journalist transparency.
We explore:
Why Travis believes democracy is failing ordinary citizens
The impact of the Citizens United ruling on modern elections
How campaign spending exploded from millions to billions
Why voters often face a “false choice” between establishment candidates
The vision for a citizen-owned civic internet
Candidate report cards and promise tracking
Journalist accountability and credibility scoring
Why FINC is movement-first and technology-second
A future where citizens—not corporations—own the platform
Looking ahead to 2036, Travis envisions FINC becoming the primary hub for American political engagement, with ownership distributed through a unique one-person, one-share cooperative model.
Whether you agree with the vision or not, this conversation raises important questions about trust, transparency, and the future of democratic participation.
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