Second Reading Podcast

Jim and Josh try to figure out what we might have learned from the first week of Ken Paxton’s trial in the Texas Senate, and look at interesting results on Texas’ border buoys and public education.

Jim & Josh discuss results from a new UT/Texas Politics Project Poll that finds Republican still divided or withholding judgment with suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton’s trial is set to begin.

Jim and Josh look at Texas polling data suggesting most Texans hadn’t heard enough about Ken Paxton’s legal problems to consider his reelection evidence of forgiveness.

Jim Henson and Josh Blank discuss the politics of Greg Abbott’s latest testing of the boundaries of support for his border policies, and look at the impact in Texas, or lack thereof, of the latest Trump indictments.

Jim Henson talks with Lauren McGaughy of the Dallas Morning News about the latest developments in the trials of Ken Paxton.

Jim and Josh take a close look Texans’ reviews of the legislature’s action on policies in the state and the generally mediocre reviews of the 88th Legislature (so far). 

Daron Shaw and Joshua Blank join Jim Henson for a conversation about Texans’ largely lackluster reviews of the Texas legislature session in the just-released June UT/Texas Politics Project Poll.

Jim and Josh discuss the impact (or lack thereof) of Republican legal issues on politics and public opinion in Texas.

Jim and Josh discuss Texas Republicans’ curious failure to agree on a plan for delivering a central campaign promise as Dan Patrick pushes back hard against the Governor and the Texas House.

Jim and Josh talk about Gov. Greg Abbott’s quick call for a special session and the politics of Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment and his looming trial in the senate.

 Jim and Josh look at where key legislation stands as the 88th Texas Legislature enters the final week. 

Jim Henson & Josh Blank look at the dynamics of disagreement among Texas Republicans as the 88th Texas Legislature enters its final weeks.

Jim and Josh look at what the latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll tells us about the surprising movement of a gun bill in the legislature, & Gov. Abbott’s latest moves on the border.

This week, Jim and Josh are joined by Daron Shaw to discuss the results of the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll, and what it tells us about politics and policy in the Texas legislature, and Collin Allred’s entrance in the 2024 U.S. Senate Race.

This week, Jim and Josh discuss recent polling data on Texans use and views of media and social media.

Jim and Josh discuss the sources of uncertainty in a very active legislative session in Texas.

This week, Jim and Josh discuss the House budget bill being debated on the floor this Thursday & some revealing recent episodes in legislative politics.

Does polling data support the argument that the influence of Republican primary voters explains the Texas legislature’s focus on hot button cultural politics?

This week, Jim and Josh discuss Texas Republicans’ attitudes toward Donald Trump and what public opinion polling in Texas says about the former president’s position heading into the 2024 election.

Jim and Josh zero in on public education attitudes in the latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll, especially shifts in partisan framings of public education as the legislature agains considers “school choice” and “parental rights”

Jim and Josh are joined this week by Daron Shaw to discuss the results of their latest statewide poll of Texas political attitudes, the current legislative session in Texas, and what the poll says about Texas in national politics.

This week, Jim and Josh discuss what the emergency items in the Governor’s state of the state address say about the emerging agenda in the Texas Legislature.

This episode, Jim and Josh discuss Governor Greg Abbott’s polling numbers in anticipation of this week’s State of the State address.

In this week’s episode, Jim and Josh discuss the results of the Texas Lyceum poll and what they may reveal about the current state of Texas politics.

This week, Jim and Josh discuss the politics of Texas Senate committee assignments and the first draft of each chamber’s budget bills as the Texas Legislature continues to get organized.