Texas Take

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...

The race for Texas House Speaker is about to come to a head on Tuesday and we're nowhere near a resolution. We'll break it all down for you. Plus, a full preview of what's on the agenda for the full legislative session including teacher pay raises, school vouchers, casinos and sports betting, border security, and more. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Hou...

Jeremy is off this week. So in the meantime, enjoy the conversation I had with Austin radio legend Jeff Ward, who was curious about whether sports betting and casino gambling might be legalized this year. Well, here's an idea: What if those were both approved on the condition that the tax revenue would fund a school voucher program? It would certainly please some of the wealthiest people putting m...

It's a tradition: Congress is in meltdown mode over budget issues during the holiday season. But this time, President-elect Trump is clashing with some Texas conservatives who don't agree with his plans for big spending in the coming year. Plus, the Texas House speaker race has cooled down to a simmer. And a big thanks to y'all for sticking with us throughout what's been a shitshow of a year. Join...

There was a frantic push to elect a speaker of the Texas House over the last few days, but the race is far from over. We've got all the tea, as the kids say. Plus, we've reached a new milestone for how many women are serving in the Texas Legislature. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.  Learn more about your...

President-elect Trump has talked at length about how much he loves Texans. If that's the case, even some Republicans are starting to wonder why he's not appointing almost any Texans to his incoming administration. Plus: Little Gov. Dan Patrick declares all out war on the sale of anything containing THC. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle p...

As President-Elect Trump prepares for his next term in office, most Texas Republicans seem ready to just do whatever he says. But, maybe not all of them. We'll dig into that. Plus: Little Gov. Dan Patrick loves to do a little sidestep lately when the issue of casino gambling is raised. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Je...

"The Empire Strikes Back" comes to mind as Republicans asserted their dominance across Texas in Tuesday's election. But even with a 10-point swing toward the GOP statewide, only one incumbent Democrat lost a seat in the Texas Legislature. We'll get into that plus what the election results mean for abortion rights and the fight over school vouchers. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor...

It's hard to overstate the role that famous people from Texas are playing in this election. Beyoncé, Dr. Phil, Tony Hinchcliffe, Joe Rogan, Mark Cuban, and others are lining up on opposite sides of the political aisle. And you're not wrong if the first thing that came to mind was "hey, some of those people are not even from Texas!" But, welcome to the reality of living in a fast-growing state wher...

The race for the White House comes to Texas this weekend with Vice President Harris, Beyoncé, and Rep. Colin Allred rallying in Houston while former President Trump, Joe Rogan, and Sen. Ted Cruz appear in Austin. Plus: The case of death row inmate Robert Roberson brings stars to the Texas Capitol and a rebuke from Gov. Abbott, who saw his authority threatened by lawmakers who have questions about...

There's never been anything like it in Texas politics: A bipartisan group of lawmakers went to extraordinary lengths as they raced to stop an execution in its tracks because there are serious questions about the case against death row inmate Robert Roberson. Plus, Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Colin Allred faced off in their only debate of the campaign with just days to go before Texans will begin castin...

After the Houston Astros were eliminated in the playoffs, the Colin Allred campaign is blasting Sen. Ted Cruz for the alleged "Cruz curse." Hey, in a close election, anything that outrages enough people in Houston and San Antonio could help close the gap. Plus, we've got the latest on the race to lead the Texas House in 2025. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report,...