Texas Take

Amid a flurry of issues in Texas politics as another special session careens toward its end, we thought it would be good to slow down a little and talk about potential long term consequences of some of the debates unfolding at the Capitol this year. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.  Support the show: https://offers.hou...

Even when a school shooting dominates national headlines after every parent's nightmare unfolded at a high school in North Texas, it only gets a passing mention from this state's leadership as they seek to focus attention on the border. Plus, women take to the streets of Texas to protest the state's new abortion law and Matthew Dowd starts taking some heat in his bid to be the Democratic nominee f...

Gov. Abbott finds himself between Trump and a hard place as he tries to placate the former president with elections audits and stiffer penalties for illegal voting. Will Trump withdraw his endorsement of the governor? Also, the new Texas abortion law has the attention of lawmakers in DC this week. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jere...

Both President Biden and Gov. Abbott are under fire from members of their own political parties over the crisis at the Texas-Mexico border. Plus, former President Trump now wants Abbott to push for a forensic audit of the Texas 2020 election. Hoo boy. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.    Support the show: https://offers...

There's still at least one more special session of the Texas Legislature starting Monday, but we are already seeing the outlines of what campaign season in this state will look like in 2022: Abortion, guns, immigration, and more are on the agenda. Plus two Houston-area members of Congress who usually play nice with each other are now clashing on Capitol Hill. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of...

Roe vs ...Who Knows? Under Texas' new 6 week abortion ban, enforcement will not be up to District Attorneys like it was decades ago when Dallas DA Henry Wade became the Wade in the landmark Supreme Court Case. The new law instead empowers anyone to file civil litigation against abortion providers, creating a more diffiulct patth to legal challenges. We'll explain. Plus, the year's second special s...

After the Democratic quorum break and months of public fighting over the elections bill, it finally came to a head on the Texas House floor this week. Right out of the gate, Speaker Dade Phelan asked lawmakers to avoid the term "racism," and you can imagine how that played out. Plus, former Gov. Rick Perry made a sales pitch at the Texas Capitol that even rubbed some Republicans the wrong way. Con...

Gov. Greg Abbott this week announced he has tested positive for coronavirus just as he ramps up his fight against independent schools districts to prevent them adopting covid restrictions to protect children. Plus, the quorum break ends in the Texas House of representatives. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the...

It has been a week of open defiance to Gov. Greg Abbott's orders banning cities, counties, and school districts from mandating masks and taking other precautions to contain the spread of coronavirus. Plus, a dramatic filibuster of the elections bill unfolded in the Texas Senate while Texas House Democrats continue to deny GOP leadership a quorum. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum R...

Republicans wish Texas House Democrats would get out of the way and stop blocking an agenda from moving forward in Austin while President Biden wants Gov. Greg Abbott to get out of the way of an effective response to coronavirus. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?off...

Even with covid cases on the rise in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott is attempting to keep extra health measures from being implemented while he instead focuses on border security and rounding up immigrants. Meanwhile, Texas Democrats in Washington testified before Congress about the ongoing voting rights fight and their dramatic measures aimed at stopping elections legislation. Connect with Scott Braddoc...

The Texas House Democrats in Washington breaking quorum to stop elections legislation had their plans complicated by positive covid tests this past week. Meantime, Gov. Greg Abbott says he will absolutely not reinstate mask mandates despite rising cases of coronavirus.  Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.   Support the sho...

Stalemate  On this special edition of the show, Scott reports from Washington on the latest in the standoff between Texas House Democrats who fled the state to delay an elections bill and GOP leadership demanding they return.  Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/...

On this special edition of the show, Scott updates you on the developing story of Texas Democrats breaking quorum to try to block elections legislation from moving forward in Austin.  Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report.   Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn m...

Texas lawmakers will convene in Austin again this week after Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled a lengthy list of mostly red meat topics for them to address in the first of what could be several special sessions. This happens as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick moves away from some of the more controversial proposals in an elections bill that was killed by Democrats in the regular session. Connect with Scott Braddock,...

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...