Texas in Focus

In this week's episode, Dallas City Councilman Adam Bazaldua joins host Matthew Reyna to discuss his experience at the Congressional City Conference in Washington, D.C. Councilman Bazaldua explains the importance of local officials building relationships with their federal counterparts, how Dallas is benefitting from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and the decline of local control in Texas...

In this week's episode, host Matthew Reyna checks in for a Texas Legislature mid-session progress report with State Senator Nathan Johnson (D-Dallas). Senator Johnson discusses the legislation he's currently working on, his frustrations with the partisan division at the Capitol, and his past career as a composer on the show Dragon Ball Z.   More about Senator Johnson: https://senate.texas.gov/memb...

In this week's episode, presidential historian Alexis Coe joins host Matthew Reyna to discuss Presidents' Day. Why do we get the day off in the first place? How could the holiday be improved? Why is there a variation from state-to-state on which presidents we recognize on Presidents' Day? Coe answers all of these questions, plus offers a special ranking for President Dwight Eisenhower—the only pre...

Fresh off the release of his new book  Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and a Legacy of Rage , Author Jeff Guinn joins host Matthew Reyna to discuss the infamous Waco siege and how its legacy still negatively impacts America today. The Washington Post included  Waco  in its' ten must-read books from January 2023.   Order Waco : https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Waco/Jeff-Guinn/978198...

In this week's episode, host Matthew Reyna is joined by Mayor Ron Jensen of Grand Prairie. Mayor Jensen is in his fourth term as mayor and has served Grand Prairie as an elected official for over two decades. He joins the program to discuss the importance of local control and how Texas cities will be impacted by policies enacted in the ongoing 88th regular session of the Texas Legislature.   More...

In this week's episode, host Matthew Reyna is joined by Dr. Mark Atwood Lawrence, historian and Director of the LBJ Presidential Library and Museum, to reflect on the 50th anniversary of the passing of President Lyndon Baines Johnson. Included in the interview is a discussion of LBJ's historical ranking among presidents, the legend of the Johnson Treatment, and the library's handling of classified...

In this week's episode, host Matthew Reyna is joined by two great guests in separate interviews. In the first segment, State Representative Jessica González previews the opening days of the Texas Legislature and discusses bills she's filed to increase voter participation. Next, Emily Caldwell, Washington Correspondent for the Dallas Morning News , discusses the unprecedented Speaker's race in Cong...

In this week's episode, host Matthew Reyna welcomes two great guests. In the first segment, Eleanor Dearman, state government reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, previews the 88th session of the Texas Legislature. Dearman discusses Republican and Democratic legislative strateies, bills already filed by DFW-area lawmakers, and what it takes to be a thorough statehouse journalist. In the seco...

In this week's episode, State Representatives-Elect Salman Bhojani and Venton Jones join the program to discuss their history-making victories, priorities for the upcoming Texas legislative session, and their commitment to forging relationships with their colleagues across the aisle.   More reading on Representative-Elect Bhojani:  https://www.keranews.org/government/2022-11-11/salman-bhojani-is-a...

In this week's episode, we are taking a deeper look at the ongoing workers' strike at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram . Host Matthew Reyna is joined by Kaley Johnson, criminal and social justice reporter for the Star-Telegram , who is serving as one of the vocal leaders of the strike in her role as vice president of the Fort Worth News Guild. Johnson describes the events that led to the strike, Star-...

In this week's episode, Hayden Pedigo, the star of the new PBS Documentary Kid Candidate , discusses the inspiration for the movie—his 2019 long shot run for Amarillo City Council. In the interview, host Matthew Reyna asks Pedigo to describe how the movie came together and the impact it has had on young political candidates across the country.   Watch Kid Candidate : https://worldchannel.org/episo...

In this week's episode, newly elected Texas State Representatives Frederick Frazier (R-McKinney) and Mihaela Plesa (D-Plano) join host Matthew Reyna in separate interviews to discuss their successful campaigns and policy priorities for the upcoming session of the Texas Legislature.   More reading on Representative-Elect Frazier: https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/mckinney/election/2022/...

In this week's episode, Jeffrey Kahn, Professor of Law at SMU's Dedmon School of Law, discusses the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Professor Kahn is an expert in Russian law whose writing on the subject has been published in the New York Times, Dallas Morning News, and countless academic journals. He joins host Matthew Reyna to discuss the legality of the Russian invasion, the threat of escalation w...

In this week's episode, Jay Kleberg, the Democratic nominee for Texas Land Commissioner, discusses his statewide campaign. Kleberg answers questions about the job performance of incumbent Commissioner George P. Bush, the General Land Office's oversight of The Alamo, and if he really believes that Democrats have a chance on Election Day.   Intro/Outro Music: TAMAGOTCHI by ghouldeneye (soundcloud.co...

In this week's episode, Semafor Political Reporter David Weigel joins the program to discuss the 2022 midterm elections. Weigel discusses Democratic Party investment in Texas, shifting voting patterns in the Rio Grande Valley, and the differences between Beto O'Rourke's statewide political campaigns in 2018 and 2022.    Intro/Outro Music: TAMAGOTCHI by ghouldeneye (soundcloud.com/ghouldeneye)

In this week's episode, host Matthew Reyna talks to North Texas Congressman Colin Allred (D-Dallas). Congressman Allred was first elected in 2018 and represents Texas' 32nd Congressional District. Prior to serving in elected office, he spent four seasons in the NFL as a linebacker for the Tennessee Titans. During the interview Allred lays out his case for Democrats in the 2022 midterm elections an...

On this week's episode, McKinney, TX Mayor George Fuller joins the program. Mayor Fuller is in his second term as the chief executive of one of America's fastest growing cities. In the interview, Fuller discusses governing during the pandemic, toxic partisanship seeping into local elections, and McKinney being one of the first cities in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to land an H-E-B.   Intro/Out...

On this week's episode, host Matthew Reyna interviews Texas State Representative Jasmine Crockett. Rep. Crockett is currently seeking a promotion from voters as the Democratic nominee in Texas U.S. Congressional District 30. In this wide-ranging interview, Crockett discusses her campaign for Congress, bipartisanship in the age of the Big Lie, and whether she believes President Joe Biden should be...