From car and phone to tractor owners, a populist wave is rising to end the 'captive' repair economy

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Casey Putsch speaks with supporters at a campaign event in Toledo, Ohio, on Thursday, April 9, 2026. He is far behind in the polls, but Putsch is part of a nationwide message of economic populism and is promoting "right to repair" legislation. Sue Ogrocki | AP It used to be that if your iPhone or Galaxy was damaged, you were at the mercy of Apple or Samsung to get it fixed as manufacturers snowed customers with a blizzard of unattainable proprietary parts and …