Texas Take

In an exclusive interview, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz talks in-depth about how legislation he crafted will expand private school vouchers in Texas, even beyond the separate state program Gov. Greg Abbott has signed into law. Cruz also addresses his reputation as a bomb thrower in the U.S. Senate and how, in this case, it helped him score some key legislative victories in President Donald Trump's big, beau...

Be careful what you ask Gov. Greg Abbott and President Donald Trump after a tragedy. As the state and federal governments respond to the disaster in the Texas Hill Country, Abbott and Trump both made clear some questions from the media are completely off limits for them. We catch you up to speed on what happens next in the disaster response and get you ready for the special session of the Texas Le...

Democrats are trying to get it together ahead of what should be a pretty good election cycle for them here in Texas. But the top of their ticket already includes the very real possibility of a US Senate nominee who lost badly to one of the most hated Republicans in America just 9 months ago. What are they even doing? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houst...

We have reached a really dangerous point in American history when people aren't so much judged for what they did, they're judged differently based on who did it even if it's the exact same thing. We'll explain plus Little Gov. Patrick looks defeated on THC and Jeremy reports on what might be the last days of a dying industry in Texas. No one can come close to covering this state like we do, right?...

While Gov. Abbott waits until the last possible minute to let us all know how he's going to handle the proposed THC ban in Texas, candidates are already lining up for races up and down the ballot in next year's elections. We've got the fullest report on that yet. Plus, the rift within President Trump's MAGA base was on full display when Tucker Carlson and Sen. Cruz duked it out during a two-hour a...

Lt. Gov. Patrick this week called Jeremy "stupid" and "crazy" for asking him if adults should be able to use THC products legally in Texas while protecting children. Jeremy's ready to respond on the show. Plus, Gov. Abbott got his wish of cracking down on crime through "bail reform." But what does it really mean and did Abbott try to go too far? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of...

Lt. Gov. Patrick brought the Texas House to heel this week in his quest to ban THC completely. How did he do it? We'll fill you in. Plus, single moms in a large swath of Houston have no representation in Congress as their food assistance is threatened. And this weekend marks the third anniversary of the Uvalde massacre. We'll take a look back and tell you about how little has been done to respond...

Little Gov. Dan Patrick says this has been a "boring session" for him. Why would that be? Well, maybe it's because the Texas House is doing just about whatever the right-wing Texas Senate wants even though Speaker Dustin Burrows was elected with a majority Democratic coalition. Plus, the fight over Medicaid cuts gets downright nasty in Washington and Sen. Ted Cruz has serious concerns about Presid...

Texas Republicans this week moved to ban some foreigners from owning land in this state, sparking an emotional and lengthy debate about a crackdown on immigrants that still won't help many GOP lawmakers avoid nasty primary challenges. Plus, Gov. Abbott says his signature school voucher initiative is a huge win for families and a "promise kept" from his campaign. We'll spell out the facts on that....

This week a legendary Texas conservative, former Sen. Phil Gramm, told Jeremy that President Trump's tariffs aren't just hurting Texans and all Americans, but he also called them "political poison." Check out the exclusive interview. Plus, Texas lawmakers got into knockdown dragout fights about "furries," ESG, and more. And the race for US Senate from Texas still doesn't seem to be fully formed. J...

With the help of President Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott has successfully bullied Texas Republican lawmakers into passing his signature policy initiative of school vouchers. So, with roughly 6 weeks to go in the legislative session, what will they argue about now at the Texas Capitol? Plenty including abortion, immigration, voting rights, and more. We'll break it down. Plus, Jeremy's got his up and down...

With last-minute help from President Donald Trump, Gov. Greg Abbott pushed his signature policy goal of school vouchers across the finish line in the Texas House. We've got all the tea on how it really went down. Plus: Why did lawmakers break into a knockdown dragout fight about honoring a dead Texan this week? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chr...

Democrats and others slammed Sen. Ted Cruz again this week for the "Cruz Curse" after the University of Houston lost the national championship men's basketball game in San Antonio with Cruz in attendance. Cruz keeps showing up to support Texas teams - and it doesn't work out - but he won't show up for Sen. John Cornyn in his primary against Texas AG Ken Paxton. Plus: A marathon debate in the Texas...

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is on a crusade to ban all THC products while he teams up with a movie star whose career was launched by a film about teenage stoners in Texas. What are Patrick and Matthew McConaughey fighting against conservatives about? Meanwhile, the Texas Senate moved to ban soda and chips from food benefits for poor people. And Jeremy reports that Greg Abbott bragged this week about taki...

The Democrats are struggling now - not just to find a message but they're looking for a leader to deliver it. We'll tell you about their starting lineup just as baseball season gets underway. Plus, stunning testimony in the Texas House leads to the swift firing of the CEO of an insurance company that admitted to spying on patients, legislators, and at least one journalist. Join the conversation wi...

Some top Texas Republicans now acknowledge that women are suffering and dying as a result of the state's strict abortion crackdown. They say it needs to be fixed. But where is Gov. Abbott on this? Plus: We debut a diss track against a school voucher pusher and Texas Democrats are about to choose a new chairman leading into the next election. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The...

A 20-hour Texas House hearing this week on school vouchers showcased some arguments you may have never heard before about this and proved Gov. Greg Abbott's signature initiative is still very controversial even among Republicans. I stayed up all day and night for it. We also have the exclusive audio, captured by reporter Ben Wermund, of Gov. Abbott pointing to "furries" as a reason for parents to...

A measles outbreak in Texas. In 2025? Yup. And somehow RFK Jr. is quicker to respond than Gov. Greg Abbott. We'll get into that plus some Texas House Republicans face anger in their communities over Abbott's school voucher plan. And a Houston political giant passed away this week. We've got a tribute to Sly Turner. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston...

During a recent live event at the San Antonio Express-News headquarters, Jeremy talked with GOP former Rep. Steve Allison and Democratic former House candidate Kristian Carranza about school vouchers, property taxes, and other issues central to the legislative session unfolding at the Texas Capitol. Our regular show with Quorum Report Editor Scott Braddock and Houston Chronicle political writer Je...

People on the left and right enjoy Trump impersonations for different reasons. But it can go too far and it's becoming a bit of an issue at the Texas Capitol. Plus Gov. Abbott may be celebrating too soon on school vouchers and Jeremy digs into the similarities between Republicans now and some Democrats nearly 100 years ago. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, an...

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick declared war on the Texas Lottery this week, launching his own pseudo investigation into what he says are some shady dealings. Plus, Gov. Greg Abbott is getting more unhinged in his approach to campaigning for a school voucher program. And check out Jeremy's "Up and Down of the Week." Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle...

Gov. Greg Abbott is changing his tone in the debate over school vouchers - but does it mean he's cocky and sure it'll pass or is he on defense because he's nervous? We'll get into that. But first: What are Texas GOP leaders willing to do to clarify abortion restrictions in this state? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jer...

This week, we saw fear in immigrant communities across Texas as the Trump Administration began arrests in major cities here and around the nation. Jeremy asked Gov. Greg Abbott about that in an exclusive interview for the show. Plus: The Texas Senate moves with lighting speed to establish a new government handout: School vouchers. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Rep...

The inauguration of President Trump in Washington was marked by some technical difficulties, a very energetic 78 year old whose message sounded like a president from a century ago, an appearance by Gov. Greg Abbott, and some sweeping changes to federal policies that will no doubt be felt in Texas. Plus, the Texas House banned Democratic Chairs and the people who have been asking for exactly that w...

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick didn't get his way in the speaker's race and had a fit about it. Speaker Dustin Burrows got elected with a majority of Democrats in his coalition and that's sending the right-wing professional activist class through the roof. And a Texas boy gets his shot on the national stage at the Trump inauguration coming up next week. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of T...