Y'all-itics

In the August 3 episode, the chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, State Rep. Gene Wu, says the new GOP congressional map calls for “extraordinary action.” State Rep. Salman Bhojani explains why he and other Democrats were looking for allies in New Mexico. And Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne tells us why she doesn’t think any district is safe and how Texans can soon find jobs. GUESTS State Repr...

One of the nation’s largest homebuilders is suing the smallest county in Texas over a planned development, even though Texas desperately needs new homes. The issue is who pays for the water, the roads, the damage from heavy trucks, and all the infrastructure associated with a huge, new development: the builder or the residents who already live in the county? In this episode of Y’all-itics, WFAA re...

In the July 27 episode, U.S. Representative Julie Johnson discusses whether she’ll even have a seat to run for next year. State Representative Chris Turner tells us why he thinks Republicans have yet to release the new political map. And Congressman Nathaniel Moran on how he’s trying to improve weather radar coverage in certain areas. GUESTS U.S. Representative Julie Johnson, D-32nd District State...

President Donald Trump wants Republicans to gain five additional Congressional seats in Texas. And it appears the GOP will stop at nothing to carve out those seats for him, a battle that will rage during the special legislative session that begins July 21. In this episode of Y’all-itics, our insiders discuss the risk associated with a mid-decade redraw and which lawmakers might be left without a s...

On this episode, state Sen. Paul Bettencourt lays out one idea to keep Texans safe during flash floods, Congresswoman Lizzie Fletcher takes questions on Democratic options in the upcoming redistricting, and state Sen. Nathan Johnson on his campaign for Texas Attorney General.

In the July 13 episode, State Rep. Mihaela Plesa explains why she’s concerned about the expanded special session. Renowned Texas meteorologist Troy Kimmel has a candid conversation about forecasters’ role leading up to the deadly Texas flooding. And Congressman Keith Self on why he voted for the tax and spending bill despite criticizing it up until the very end. Guests State Rep. Mihaela Plesa, D-...

Still reeling from the catastrophic flooding along the Guadalupe River in the Texas Hill Country, state and local leaders are scrambling to come with a plan to prevent it from ever happening again. That starts with an examination of what went wrong. In this early release episode of Y’all-itics, we discuss the next steps. Renowned meteorologist Troy Kimmel has a candid conversation about the foreca...

Estimates show Texas needs an extra 300,000+ housing units. To spur construction, the state just took away significant regulatory power from Texas cities. The passage of SB 840 will make it much easier for developers to bypass local restrictions and neighborhood objections when they create new housing out of empty office buildings, dying malls, or land that had been off-limits for residential cons...

In the June 29 episode, state Rep. Gene Wu questions why Texas would treat marijuana different than any other controlled substance. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales explains how a south Texas facility producing sterile flies will help protect Texas livestock. And Fort Bend County Judge KP George tells us why he thinks he has a path to victory after his controversial switch from Democrat to Republican. Gues...

In the July 6 episode, Attorney Aaron Reitz explains why he’s running for Attorney General. Former state Senator Don Huffines tells us why he wants to be Texas Comptroller. And former Houston Mayor Annise Parker on why she wants to return to office after nearly a decade. Guests Aaron Reitz, (R) Candidate for Attorney General Don Huffines, (R) Candidate for Texas Comptroller Annise Parker, (D) Cand...

After six months of tumultuous change inside Dallas-based Southwest Airlines, from eliminating bag fees and open seating to talk of European flights and partnerships with other international carriers, CEO Bob Jordan promised the airline would keep evolving. “We won't stop here,” Jordan told the Jasons on this episode, “we're gonna keep changing." GUEST: Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines CEO

In the June 22 episode, Kelly Hancock explains the political calculation behind leaving the Texas Senate for the Comptroller’s office. State Rep. Mitch Little, R-District 65, tells us why he supports a major redistricting effort and whether he’s running for Attorney General. And Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne, R-24th District, on where she stands on Iran and how she’s helping Texans find jobs.

EARLY RELEASE: You might not know his name and likely have trouble pronouncing it, but you’d better get to know Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti. He has led some landmark legal cases from college sports to concert tickets. Today, the U.S. Supreme Court just ruled in his favor with a precedent setting decision that bans gender affirming care for minors. In a recent trip to Texas, Skrmet...

On the June 15 episode, former Congressman Colin Allred, a Dallas Democrat, tells ITP that he is close to making a decision on whether to run for U.S. Senate. But what would be different about a 2026 campaign than the one he ran last year against Ted Cruz? Plus, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick defends the legislature's THC ban as Gov. Abbott faces political pressure to veto it this week. Patrick also reveals...

There’s a lot in play politically as we go into the summer. Will the legislature’s THC ban become law or get vetoed this month? Will Texas lawmakers come back for a special session next month at the request of President Trump? Every Texas legislature has gotten more conservative than the past. In this episode, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discusses his priorities that passed, pushback and what he’s coming...

Now that the 89th Texas Legislative Session is over in Texas, the Y’all-itics team decided to revisit a report that ranked the Lone Star State DEAD LAST in personal freedom. In this rewind episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons were joined by Dr. William Ruger, a Texas native himself, who prepares the “Freedom in the 50 States” report for the Cato Institute. This episode originally aired on January 7,...

Keeping the lights on in Texas already ain’t cheap. Now, you can expect another surcharge on your electric bill. Four years after a severe winter storm nearly led to the total collapse of the Texas grid, the state is now allowing transmission utilities to produce plans to “harden” their equipment against a hodgepodge of threats like tree limbs, stronger storms, wildfires, and even hackers and subs...

Texas’ explosive population growth is putting immense pressure on the state’s largest cities and metropolitan areas. If you’re one of the nine out of 10 Texans who live in or visit these cities, you’ve likely already dealt firsthand with some of the challenges. Nearly 200 researchers and business leaders produced a plan to build better cities in the future. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jaso...

It’s not officially a campaign but Beto O’Rourke is touring the state and talking to Texans again. So, is he preparing to launch a new campaign in 2026? In our conversation with him, we couldn’t help but notice that it sounds like he’s moving more towards the middle now. Guest Beto O’Rourke, Former U.S. Congressman, D-El Paso

The Trump Administration’s budget cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have meteorologists and forecasters sounding the alarm about the impact on public safety. Some former NWS directors even warn that more cuts could lead to unnecessary deaths during severe weather events, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. In this episode of Y’a...

More and more Americans are considering decamping from the USA and moving overseas… permanently. And a former Texas resident is leading the way. We first introduced you to Jana Lynn Sanchez last November when she announced she was leaving Fort Worth to move to The Netherlands after Donald Trump’s re-election. Nearly six months later, her new company, GTFO Tours, is, literally, helping people “GTFO...

You can be sued for sharing thoughts, opinions, or even facts. But Texas law protects you against frivolous lawsuits meant to intimidate you into shutting up. However, a proposed bill now threatens to weaken that protection. That has united some odd bedfellows to save the law. Spoiler alert: At the end of this podcast, the staggering legal fees one lawmaker is owed after he was sued and invoked th...

In only three months, he accomplished something none of his predecessors could: pushing school vouchers across the finish line. But in a rare sit-down interview, House Speaker Dustin Burrows told us it isn’t even the most important bill they’ve passed this session (5:08). Across the aisle, the leader of House Democrats says even though vouchers are now state law, his party still has a strategy to...

The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, the oldest such chamber in the country, is on high alert tracking the status of four bills lawmakers are considering in Austin. From diverting public transportation funding to eliminating DEI programs, the organization says the legislation could devastate Black and other minority-businesses, as well as entire communities if passed. In this episode of Y’all-iti...

Mark Cuban is free to talk – and he has a lot to say. From Luka Doncic to his growing new venture to lower prescription drug costs for Americans, Cuban discussed it all with WFAA’s Jonah Javad. Will Cuban enter politics? Jonah told the Jasons its doubtful – after something Cuban said to him. GUEST: Jonah Javad, WFAA Sports Anchor Mark Cuban