Texas Take

Following reporting by the Houston Chronicle on the treatment of migrants at the Texas-Mexico border, the Department of Justice on Friday said they'll sue the Abbott Administration over the state's "security" measures along the Rio Grande. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.  Learn more about your ad choices...

After a 7 month standoff, Republican leadership in Austin finally settled on their plan to offer property tax relief to Texans. Plus, Jeremy reports from the border on the fact that Texas' security efforts are often actually just getting in the way of Border Patrol. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.  Learn...

Increasingly, GOP candidates for the White House have a crucial first stop on their way to the nomination and it isn't the Iowa State Fair. It's Eagle Pass, Texas. Plus, there could be some light at the end of the tunnel in the property tax stalemate in Austin. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Learn more...

Amid a stalemate on property taxes, Gov. Abbott clashes with Lt. Gov. Patrick in a way that we've never seen before. Plus, Sen. Angela Paxton is not allowed to vote on the impeachment of her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton but she will be there for the trial in the Senate. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jere...

Texas House impeachment managers are turning to legendary Houston defense attorneys to prosecute the case against Attorney General Ken Paxton. But how will the trial in the Senate be handled? Plus, it takes a special level of incompetence for Republicans to have a record budget surplus and fail to come up with a tax cut plan. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report,...

It's history in the making this week as the GOP-led Texas House moves toward impeaching Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for multiple alleged crimes and abuse of office over the better part of a decade. Plus, we reflect on the lives lost and the still unanswered questions one year after the massacre in Uvalde. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Housto...

The elder statesman of the Texas GOP, Sen. John Cornyn, this week said former President Donald Trump's "time has passed," and it's time for Republicans to find someone else to run for the White House. Meantime at the Texas Capitol: Fights about transgender athletes, DEI, guns, and more as time runs out in the session. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Hous...

With a mass shooting each week in Texas, leaders are largely now skipping right past "thoughts and prayers" and talking about other stuff like the border. Plus, Latino Democrats in the Texas House beat back a proposal to form a "civilian border protection unit." Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Learn more...

While the Texas Legislature takes aim at "gender modification" of children, which Republican officeholders say is "genital mutilation" and "slaughter," lawmakers are largely turning a blind eye toward the actual slaughter of children. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...

In a week of pushing back on the majority at the Texas Capitol in Austin, there were those who ran into brick walls and others who found some success. From gun legislation to a proposal to ban certain people from legally purchasing Texas real estate, the results of the dissenters were mixed. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political wri...

Lt. Gov. Patrick, waving cash at the TV camera like Mattress Mack in Houston, is promising Texans that his tax plan will save them more money than Speaker Dade Phelan's blueprint. Plus Gov. Greg Abbott is now saying teachers in Texas public schools are teaching kids to hate America. What? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer...

With Gov. Greg Abbott once again being jerked around by Fox News Host Tucker Carlson, even some Republicans this week are privately asking "who really runs Texas?" Plus, an immigration debate gets hot at the Capitol and school vouchers hit a brick wall in the Texas House of Representatives. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writ...

With an indictment looming over his head, former President Donald Trump rallied the faithful in Waco on the anniversary of the 1993 siege that's been an organizing principle for conspiracy theorists for decades. Jeremy was on the scene and gives us a sense of what it was really like. Plus, veteran Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee shakes up the race for Mayor of Houston. Join the conversation with...

Gov. Greg Abbott is finally acknowledging that rural Texans are concerned that his push for school vouchers threatens a big part of their way of life: High school football. Plus, what's the consequence of trying to ban certain books in school libraries and criminalize librarians? Then Jeremy takes us on a trip back to the 1980s. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Repor...

The controversy over DEI erupted at the Texas Capitol this week as Republicans moved to ban tax dollars from being spent on such programs. Plus, the state is moving to take over the Houston school district and local leaders are outraged. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Learn more about your ad choices. V...

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a swing through Texas this weekend in Houston and Dallas, arguing that his state and this one are where "woke goes to die." Don't roll your eyes too hard. Plus, Gov. Abbott is really pushing his school voucher proposal now but he seems to be missing the mark with the folks he actually needs to convince. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum...

Now that the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker have shared some of their priorities, the legislative session is finally starting to take shape. But the speaker is the one playing his cards closest to the vest. Plus, Gov. Abbott rails against transgender athletes in collegiate sports and Sen. Cruz keeps his options open when it comes to running for president. Join the conversation with Sco...

Just as Gov. Greg Abbott gave his State of the State Address stressing "school choice," one of his top education officials admitted in a recorded phone call that a school voucher program would mean there would be fewer teachers in Texas public schools. Plus, Texas Republicans are now taking aim at GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton's proposed settlement with former employees who accused him of corrup...

Now that the pomp and circumstance of the Texas Inauguration is concluded, lawmakers will get down to business on everything from keeping kids safe in schools to banning Chinese investment in Texas. Yes, seriously. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?off...

From proposals to eliminate Democratic chairs in Austin to smoking cigars in Washington, some Texas politicians cranked up the faux outrage machine to new levels this week. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See...

2023 kicked off on Capitol Hill with Texans playing key roles in the epic throwdown over US House leadership. Plus, the Texas Legislature is about to convene in Austin. What will the biggest fights be about? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=12...

Lawmakers in DC took one last shot at immigration reform this year but the deal is falling apart. Plus, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan throws shade at former President Trump. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast S...

As the good news broke this week that Houstonian Brittney Griner was released from a Russian prison, some folks couldn't help but criticize her for some past statements and question why the Biden Administration hasn't secured the release of other American prisoners held overseas. Plus, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick lays out his priorities for the legislative session, but it's all pretty vague. Join the con...

From casinos to online sports betting, gambling interests are getting ready for perhaps their biggest push yet to change laws to allow Texans to place wagers in their home state. Plus, the debate over whether there should be Democratic Chairmen in the Texas Legislature is really about the next GOP primary election. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston...

After one of the most brutal campaigns in recent memory, Gov. Greg Abbott and statewide Republicans ran the board in Texas while no "red wave" for the GOP materialized nationally. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podca...