Texas Take

Gov. Greg Abbott hosted ex-President Trump in Texas this week and that went about like you'd expect. Jeremy traveled to the border to give you the real scoop. Plus, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Abbott don't agree about doing more to address the state's electricity crisis. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: h...

With ex-President Trump on his way to Texas next week to visit the border with Gov. Greg Abbott, national Democrats including Vice President Kamala Harris and First Lady Jill Biden are here as well. We've got their trips covered plus there's now a crowded field as GOP challengers look to take down Texas AG Ken Paxton in the primary. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Hous...

Gov. Greg Abbott this week declared Texas will build a wall of it's own between this state and Mexico. But unlike ex-President Trump's original proposal, Texas taxpayers will have to pony up the starter cash. Plus, Texas Democrats traveled to DC to continue the fight for the right to vote. And Juneteenth is now a federal holiday, putting a huge smile on the face of a legendary civil rights activis...

With the Texas legislative session coming to a dramatic end, campaigns are already ramping up with Gov. Greg Abbott and others arguing that voters should reelect them based on the fact that ex-President Trump "likes me." Plus, Texas Democrats get an historic if temporary victory in killing a sweeping proposal to restrict voting. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston...

Frustrated with the Texas House this week, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick demanded that Gov. Greg Abbott call an immediate special session to address "conservative priorities." Abbott immediately dismissed the suggestion as "pretty goofy." And as the legislative session winds down, big issues like elections, electricity, and more are still unsettled. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report...

As the clock ticks down on the legislative session in Austin, the Texas House and Senate are in a war with each other over the legislative agenda. Plus, Attorney General Ken Paxton lashes out at Land Commissioner George P. Bush as one prepares to possibly challenge the other in the GOP primary. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy W...

As the Texas Legislature takes a hard right turn in the final weeks of its regular session, we examine the way ex-President Donald Trump is influencing legislators months after he lost the election. Plus, country artist Randy Rogers is teaming up with Texas legislators to save dance halls across the state. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political wri...

The final weeks of the Texas Legislature's regular session are heating up with debates about fundamental voting rights, transgender athletes in schools, permitless carry of handguns, "defunding police," and more. Connect 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=n...

Texas House Democrats are asking the Department of Justice to monitor legislative proceedings in Austin after the way a GOP Chairman tried to rush passage of sweeping changes to voting laws in this state. We'll explain. Plus, an allegation of sexual assault rocked the Texas Capitol this week. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wal...

Stop us if you've heard this one: Gov. Abbott is trying to have it both ways on a controversial proposal supported by many grassroots Republicans. This time, it's the permitless carry of firearms bill that passed the Texas House and seems to be blocked in the Texas Senate. Plus a new poll shows actor Matthew McConaughey would beat Gov. Abbott in a head to head matchup. But, people should slow thei...

Why did the Texas Legislature go from narrowly focusing earlier in the year on COVID and the ice storm to now being a political red meat festival? That plus the latest on the voting rights fight at the Capitol. Connect 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=n...

The fight over voting rights in Texas was on the national stage this week as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick traded barbs with some corporations and the Texas House started to move in a bit different direction from the Texas Senate on the issue. Plus former US House Speaker John Boehner has some choice words for Sen. Ted Cruz. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle pol...

Democrats warned Republicans in Texas this week that the majority party is "kickin' a bear" and "waking up a beast" by trying to make it harder to vote in this state. We've got the latest on the fight over voting rights as well as the faux outrage over the border. Plus a congressional candidate from New Jersey by way of Nevada tries his luck in a Texas special election. Connect with Scott Braddock...

Texas Republicans were at each other's throats this week fighting over whether the government can retroactively change prices in the electricity market during the state's winter storm disaster. Gov. Greg Abbott in the meantime was doing his best to talk about anything other than the fallout from the ice storm, so he tried changing the subject to immigration and "election integrity." Connect with S...

Without consulting with his own top medical professionals, Gov. Greg Abbott this week dropped the mask mandate and said businesses can open 100 percent despite the fact the pandemic is still unfolding all around us. President Joe Biden called it "neanderthal thinking."  Meantime, Texas lawmakers are rolling up their sleeves and getting down to work on the state's policy response to the ice storm t...

Despite their political differences, Gov. Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden are together in Houston to survey damage and talk about ways to respond to the ice storm that knocked out power and put water supplies at risk for millions of Texans. Meantime, legislative hearings have begun into what went wrong with the state's power grid. And Sen. Ted Cruz cannot stop talking about his trip to Cancun...

Gov. Greg Abbott this week didn't wait for the lights to come back on or for Texans to stop dying in the freezing cold before he lashed out at the proponents of the Green New Deal. But after that went over like a lead balloon, Abbott did move in the direction of substantive policy changes to address the winter weather crisis gripping this state. And yes, it's true: Sen. Ted Cruz did travel to Canc...

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faced blistering questions this week from some of his fellow Republicans after unilaterally moving $40 million in tax dollars to give out pay raises in his office. Meantime the impeachment trial in Washington drew to a close and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick poured cold water on proposals to expand gambling in the state. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quo...

In his State of the State Address this week, Gov. Greg Abbott argues "normalcy" is coming back to Texas. But the COVID-19 statistics suggest otherwise. Plus lawmakers in Washington continue to haggle over a new COVID relief package and Ted Cruz can't help but paint himself into a corner with his pop culture references.  Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle...

As the anger builds among Republicans against the second impeachment of former President Trump, a small group in the Texas GOP wants to start a conversation about secession. Yes, that again. Plus Beto O'Rourke floats the possibility of running against Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022. Hope springs eternal for Texas Democrats. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle p...

He's just been sworn in this week and Democratic President Joe Biden is already at odds with Texas Republican leaders on a host of issues from immigration to energy. Plus Sen. Ted Cruz faces the wrath of the Lincoln Project and Gov. Greg Abbott snubs Houston's political leadership when hosting a roundtable on COVID vaccine in Houston. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Ho...

President Trump was impeached for a second time right as he visited the Texas border for a subdued victory lap for an uncompleted border wall. Meantime, Sen. Ted Cruz faces questions about his role in inciting riots at the Capitol and the Texas Legislature convened under the cloud of the pandemic. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jerem...

As riots unfolded at the US Capitol in Washington, Sen. Ted Cruz and his former top aide Rep. Chip Roy were on opposite sides of the argument fueling the violence. Meantime, Rep. Dan Crenshaw told Jeremy that some of his GOP colleagues who incited the rioters later behaved like "cowards." Plus, a top Texas health official is caught on tape saying the state government has reached the limits of what...

Now that the dust has settled from the elections and even Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is admitting President Trump won't be in office come January, it's time to take stock of 2020. We reflect on the year that was. Plus, is there any real shot for casinos in Texas along with legalized pot? Maybe. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace...

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, embroiled in his own personal legal troubles, is now rushing to the defense of President Donald Trump in trying to overturn the election results. That's sparked some speculation that Paxton is trying to get a presidential pardon for his alleged crimes. Plus Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick looks to change the rules in the Texas Senate once again so that the number of votes i...