817 Podcast - Fort Worth's Monday Morning Show

Rogelio “Rojo” Meixueiro is a prolific long-time activist and organizer in Arlington, also the founder of Sunrise Tarrant, is now running for Arlington City Council District 4. We talk about his 817 story, his history of organizing, his campaign, and his vision for Arlington, the American Dream City. Join the 817 Gather Discord , donate to the 817 Gather , and follow us on Instagram & TikTok .

SHORT STORY 1: Public Comment & City Council Drama Fort Worth residents get more chances to speak during council meetings   Fort Worth City Council member arrested, faces DWI charges SHORT STORY 2: Tarrant County doubles down on ICE & Christian Nationalism Tarrant County to beef up ICE partnership Ten Commandments monument Tarrant County commissioners approve funding for legal counsel in j...

BIG STORY: An interview with Shahd Arnaout of the Tarabishi Family. Father cared for disabled son for years, until ICE took him away ‘Bring Maher home’: Family of Arlington man detained by ICE makes plea to Trump GoFundMe for Wael Tarabishi SHORT STORY 1: ICE Protest Fort Worth protest against ICE decries fatal shooting of Minneapolis woman SHORT STORY 2: Public Comment Fort Worth council consider...

BIG STORY: Junior Ezeonu After running for Gran Prairie at 21 while still he college, he beat a 12-year incumbent and became the Mayor Pro Tem. Now he's running in the Democratic Primary for Texas House of Representatives District 101. He talks about his journey and why it's so important that young people run for political office. SHORT STORY 1: Mercy Cult goes national Fort Worth’s Merc...

This week EJ, Ann, & Wesley bring you a special episode where we look back on all that happened in 2025, and look ahead to the possibilities for 2026. We would love your feedback. Please fill out this form to let us know your favorite guests & episodes from 2025, and how we can improve the podcast . Join the 817 Gather Discord , donate to the 817 Gather , and follow us on Instagram & T...

For this week's Big Story, check out our previous episode where we interviewed Bradford William Davis. Ann is out this week for the holidays, so it's just EJ & Wesley. SHORT STORY 1: Marc Veasey backs out Congressman Marc Veasey drops out of Tarrant County judge race SHORT STORY 2: Voter suppression in Tarrant County Thousands of Tarrant County voter applications saw delays ahead of...

We spoke with award-winning journalist Bradford William Davis, the former opinion columnist at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, who was recently laid off after writing several amazing articles that were critical to Mayor Mattie Parker. We focused on three of his most recent stories: Mayor Mattie Parker should listen to her own words as she faces her critics Don’t be so quick to judge intent behind a...

BIG STORY: We talk with Tiffany Burks about how the District Attorney's office has changed over the years, what power it holds, what problems it has created, and how Tiffany plans to solve them. Join the 817 Gather Discord , donate to the 817 Gather , and follow us on Instagram & TikTok .

BIG STORY: Our interview with Tiffany Burks went so long that we made this a 2-part episode, so stay tuned for the full interview with Tarrant County Criminal District Attorney candidate, Tiffany Burks. SHORT STORY 1: Who filed to run in 2026. Filing deadline drama sets up primary elections. Here are the Tarrant County candidates Rep. Jasmine Crockett enters Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Demo...

BIG STORY: Last Public Comment of the Year Removal of attendees, Christmas tree lighting plans punctuate Fort Worth council meeting SHORT STORY 1: Star-Telegram fires their most outspoken columnist Bradford Davis talks about his firing on LinkedIn. Mayor Mattie Parker should listen to her own words as she faces her critics Don’t be so quick to judge intent behind a casket left at mayor’s house Fat...

BIG STORY: Mayor Mattie Parker’s Damage Control PR Tour Mayor’s Chair Not for the Thin-Skinned by Fort Worth Magazine Tarrant residents get fewer chances to speak at local government meetings. What does that mean?   SHORT STORY 1: Texas Congressional Redistricting Chaos Texas redistricting ruling upends candidates’ plans for 2026 Court order on Texas redistricting forces election officials, county...

For the 30th anniversary of infamous article in D Magazine, "Who Runs Fort Worth?", we spoke with the journalist who made The Fort Worth Way known to all, Katie Sherrod. Read the article here . We talk about how folks define The Fort Worth Way, what (if anything) has changed in the last 30 years, and what we do about fixing The Fort Worth Way. We hope you enjoy this very special episode....

BIG STORY: We spoke with Alberto Govea from LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) & Stephanie Drenka from Texas Civil Rights Project about the legal battle against the racist gerrymandered maps that Republicans on Tarrant County Commissioners Court passed this year in an attempt to diminish black & brown voices. SHORT STORY 1: Tarrant County GOP’s plan to destroy elections Tarra...

BIG STORY: An interview with Taylor Rehmet, TX SD9 Candidate. In a surprise upset, Taylor Rehmet, the machinist & union leader who ran as a Democrat in the special election for TX Senate District 9, came out top of the ticket with 48% of the vote, beating out 2 Republican candidates. Now he'll be in a runoff election with Leigh Wambsganss, the Patriot Mobile backed candidate who led book...

BIG STORY: An interview with Gina Hinojosa She's a candidate for Texas Governor, who was in town for a town hall about resisting the state takeover of FWISD, demonstrating how & why it's so important that we fight back against the corruption of Greg Abbott and an authoritian government. SHORT STORY 1: Money in Senate District 9   Nearly $3M pours into Tarrant County’s race for Texas...

This is an audio-only show run by EJ in his home office. Ann and Wesley are out of town, but we felt a show was needed given what happened to FWISD. GET ACTIVE: EXPLORE OUR LINKTREE STORY 1: FWISD State Takeover - Star-Telegram ‘Keep Austin out of our schools.’ Opponents of state takeover of FWISD speak out - Live stream of press conference - Texas Education Agency takes over Fort Worth ISD, repla...

BIG STORY: Mayor Mattie Parker’s Wild Week. Fort Worth mayor asked church to pack City Council meeting, state lawmaker says Fort Worth residents rally behind activist accused in casket incident with mayor Police report casts doubt on Fort Worth Mayor’s claims about casket incident Mayor Mattie Parker should listen to her own words as she faces her critics SHORT STORY 1:   Arlington council delays...

BIG STORY:   This week we have a discussion on how to define the word "progressive", the worldview, the policies, what it takes to win an election as a bold unapologetic progressive, and how we can all play a part in improving the world around us. SHORT STORY 1: BREAKING NEWS: Renye Telles names as Executive Director of Tarrant County Democratic Party SHORT STORY 2: Traffic & Transit...

This week we're bringing you a special episode with organizers for Fort Worth's No Kings Rally on Saturday, October 18th at 11am in Burk Burnett Park downtown. It'll be filled with speakers, organizations, and our fellow Fort Worthians dedicated to the fight against authoritarianism. No Kings Fort Worth is hosted by Tarrant County AFL CIO, Fort Worth Area Indivisible, Indivisible TX...

BIG STORY: Patrice Jones, activist, community leader, and founder of Southside Community Garden joins us to talk about her history of activism, and what happened when Mayor Mattie Parker threatened her after defending public comment. Fort Worth reduces how often residents can bring concerns to council in public comments Activist accuses Fort Worth mayor of ‘threat.’ Parker says she was being famil...

BIG STORY: Adwoa Asante, lawyer of Raunaq Alam, and Lydia Faith of Free Palestine Tarrant speak about the freedom of speech case right in Tarrant County and the far right leaders funded by Christian Zionists seeking to make an example of Raunag Alam. @i_raunic @freepalestine.tarrant bit.ly/raunaqdefensefund SHORT STORY 1:  Reactions to  Political Violence Conservative leaders urge action during Fo...

BIG STORY: An Interview with Alisa Simmons, Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 2. Tarrant County’s Democratic commissioners skip meeting to prevent vote on lower tax rate SHORT STORY 1: Charlie Kirk rally in downtown Fort Worth brings in far right extremist sponsors throughout the Metroplex. SHORT STORY 2: Here’s how much Fort Worth’s fire department, new EMS will cost the city SHORT STORY 3: No...

Big Story: Mayor Mattie Parker writes a letter drawing anger over a city councilmember's social media post quoting Charlie Kirk, and lowers the flags to half-mast at Trump's order.   Fort Worth council members decry political violence clash over now deleted Charlie Kirk post Short Story 1: Fort Worth's biggest budget item is police Fort Worth's Crime Control and Prevention budg...

This week we have a special episode with FWISD teachers Ale Checka & Ernie Morán as we discuss a possible Texas Education Agency takeover by Commissioner Mike Morath, and what life looks like for teachers these days after all the recent legislative changes from the state. For more context on what's been happening, check out these articles: From a cell phone ban to Ten Commandments posters...

This week Ann Zadeh is out of town, so EJ & Wesley were joined by Chris Tackett. BIG STORY: Chris Tackett of See It Name It Fight It talks about how Fort Worth votes blue, and spells out a playbook for how Fort Worth can become deeper blue to counteract gerrymandering on a couty & state level. SHORT STORY 1: Nicole Collier held in Texas House Chamber & Texas Republicans pass gerrymande...