Shows / Texas Take
Texas Take
Go behind the headlines for a look at what's really going on at the Texas Capitol and in Washington with the state's #1 political podcast: Texas Take. Join the conversation featuring Houston Chronicle/San Antonio Express-News political writer Jeremy Wallace.
Episodes
- Texas Take
Civil Unrest
Gov. Greg Abbott is getting praise from the right and condemnation from the left - of course, exactly what he wants - after he appears to have set the stage…
- Texas Take
Awkwardly Bipartisan
The political environment has become so toxic that even when Republicans and Democrats work together to accomplish something, they still don't really want to…
- Texas Take
Abortion Explodes: Déjà vu in Texas
Abortion policy is front and center as former President Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz argue it's an issue that should be handled differently in different states and…
- Texas Take
Nothin' Sticks to This Guy
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton this week was able to avoid a trial in his decade-long felony securities fraud case. How did that possibly happen? Plus, we…
- Texas Take
Back to Work
Texas' new immigration crackdown is now being enforced as legal challenges to it this week gave legal whiplash to Republicans and Democrats alike. Plus, a…
- Texas Take
"On to the Playoffs!"
Gov. Greg Abbott significantly moved the Texas House in his direction on school vouchers during this week's GOP primary election. But the fight is far from…
- Texas Take
Be Careful What You Ask For
Sen. Ted Cruz recently dared President Joe Biden to head to the Texas border and what do you know? Mr. Biden was in Brownsville this week to go toe-to-toe with…
- Texas Take
"This is a War"
In his fight for reelection, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan this past week said "this is a war" and was joined at a Port Arthur rally by one of the biggest…
- Texas Take
Frauds and Liars
Gov. Abbott is weaponizing his newfound celebrity status on border issues to go after Texas House Republicans who didn't vote with him 100 percent of the time…
- Texas Take
Rubber Meet Road
What a difference a week makes. After a fairly quiet opening of the campaign season, Gov. Greg Abbott is ramping up his offensive on the ground, targeting…
- Texas Take
How About a Do-Over?
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faces new questions and a Republican push to reopen his impeachment proceedings after his latest attempt to avoid answering…
- Texas Take
A Complete Picture of Total Failure
This week, the Department of Justice released its long awaited report on the shooting in Uvalde. Families of the victims are upset about the lack of police…
- Texas Take
PTSD
A winter storm moving through Texas this weekend brings back memories of the deadly cold in February of 2021, though there are key differences this time. Plus…
- Texas Take
New Year, Same Old Fights
A new year begins with immigration and abortion in the spotlight as the campaign season heats up ahead of Texas' March primary leading toward the general…
- Texas Take
How Far Will They Go?
The newest abortion battle shows just how far Texas is willing to go in enforcing some of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the nation. Plus, there might be…
- Texas Take
Doin' it the Hard Way
Now that his nonstop push for a school voucher program has crashed at the Legislature, it appears Gov. Abbott is ready to move onto campaign against…
- Texas Take
Slamming the Door Shut
The Texas Legislature and Gov. Abbott are in a place they've rarely, if ever, been: Lawmakers are telling Abbott "no" to one of his major policy proposals. Now…
- Texas Take
Light at the End of the Tunnel?
The border crackdown in Texas is passing the Legislature right as Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to host former President Trump in The Valley this weekend. Plus, a…
- Texas Take
Shredding the Constitution
You can't make this stuff up: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's longtime conservative point man on border security broke with Texas Senate leadership this week to vote…
- Texas Take
Crashin' and Burnin'
The dysfunction at the Texas Capitol has become so intense that a Republican Legislature might not be able to send a "border security" bill to a Republican…
- Texas Take
Shut Up and Sit Down
Latino Democrats in the Texas House felt like they were told to "sit down and shut up" as they tried to push back on a sweeping state immigration crackdown…
- Texas Take
A "Serious Blunder"
The running feud between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan exploded this week with Phelan asking Patrick to give up millions of dollars…
- Texas Take
If At First You Don't Succeed, Change the Subject
Under pressure from Fox News hosts and GOP activists, Gov. Abbott is making some changes to his plans for an upcoming special session that was going to be…
- Texas Take
If at First You Don't Succeed, Threaten Everyone
Now that the smoke is starting to clear from the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton, Gov. Greg Abbott is already promising to summon lawmakers to…
- Texas Take
All Out War
The end of the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton seems to be the beginning of a new chapter in the Texas GOP's civil war. Plus, Gov. Abbott…
- Texas Take
The People's Court?
The historic impeachment trial of Texas AG Ken Paxton is, well frankly, putting some senators to sleep. But that doesn't make the allegations against Paxton…
- Texas Take
Law And Order
With the impeachment trial of AG Ken Paxton starting next week while court battles play out in Texas over hot issues like the border and LGBTQ rights, Jeremy…
- Texas Take
Here Comes MAGA
Steve Bannon is promising to make some Texas GOP State Senators "famous" and go to war with them in primaries if they vote to remove Attorney General Ken…
- Texas Take
Burner Phones and a Fake Uber Account
The prosecutors in the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are starting to reveal some of what they hope to present in the trial, including…
- Texas Take
Unsettled and Unsettling
With so much unsettled at the Texas Capitol, including the impeachment of AG Paxton and the fight over school funding and school vouchers, the politics of the…
- Texas Take
"Un-American"
The fight over Texas "border security" operations intensifies this week with Vice President Kamala Harris saying the Abbott Administration is acting in an…
- Texas Take
The White House Strikes Back at Texas Over the Border
Following reporting by the Houston Chronicle on the treatment of migrants at the Texas-Mexico border, the Department of Justice on Friday said they'll sue the…
- Texas Take
A Perfect Day for the Legislature to Go Away
After a 7 month standoff, Republican leadership in Austin finally settled on their plan to offer property tax relief to Texans. Plus, Jeremy reports from the…
- Texas Take
Forget Iowa. Texas is Becoming the First Stop for the GOP Nomination
Increasingly, GOP candidates for the White House have a crucial first stop on their way to the nomination and it isn't the Iowa State Fair. It's Eagle Pass…
- Texas Take
A Big Nothingburger
Amid a stalemate on property taxes, Gov. Abbott clashes with Lt. Gov. Patrick in a way that we've never seen before. Plus, Sen. Angela Paxton is not allowed to…
- Texas Take
Ten Times Worse Than You've Heard
Texas House impeachment managers are turning to legendary Houston defense attorneys to prosecute the case against Attorney General Ken Paxton. But how will the…
- Texas Take
Where There's Smoke...
It's history in the making this week as the GOP-led Texas House moves toward impeaching Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for multiple alleged crimes and…
- Texas Take
A Top Texas Republican Says Trump's Time Has Passed
The elder statesman of the Texas GOP, Sen. John Cornyn, this week said former President Donald Trump's "time has passed," and it's time for Republicans to find…
- Texas Take
A Mass Shooting Every Week
With a mass shooting each week in Texas, leaders are largely now skipping right past "thoughts and prayers" and talking about other stuff like the border…
- Texas Take
Threats Real and Imagined
While the Texas Legislature takes aim at "gender modification" of children, which Republican officeholders say is "genital mutilation" and "slaughter,"…
- Texas Take
Dissenting Voices
In a week of pushing back on the majority at the Texas Capitol in Austin, there were those who ran into brick walls and others who found some success. From gun…
- Texas Take
Dolla Dolla Bills, Y'all
Lt. Gov. Patrick, waving cash at the TV camera like Mattress Mack in Houston, is promising Texans that his tax plan will save them more money than Speaker Dade…
- Texas Take
Texas Gov. Tucker Carlson?
With Gov. Greg Abbott once again being jerked around by Fox News Host Tucker Carlson, even some Republicans this week are privately asking "who really runs…
- Texas Take
Darker Than American Carnage
With an indictment looming over his head, former President Donald Trump rallied the faithful in Waco on the anniversary of the 1993 siege that's been an…
- Texas Take
A Threat to Friday Night Lights
Gov. Greg Abbott is finally acknowledging that rural Texans are concerned that his push for school vouchers threatens a big part of their way of life: High…
- Texas Take
Steamrolling the Minority
The controversy over DEI erupted at the Texas Capitol this week as Republicans moved to ban tax dollars from being spent on such programs. Plus, the state is…
- Texas Take
"Where Woke Goes to Die." Really?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a swing through Texas this weekend in Houston and Dallas, arguing that his state and this one are where "woke goes to die."…
- Texas Take
It's All About Priorities
Now that the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker have shared some of their priorities, the legislative session is finally starting to take shape. But…
- Texas Take
Oh, So Vouchers Will Just Mean Fewer Teachers? Cool, Cool.
Just as Gov. Greg Abbott gave his State of the State Address stressing "school choice," one of his top education officials admitted in a recorded phone call…
Texas TakeTime to Get to Work
Now that the pomp and circumstance of the Texas Inauguration is concluded, lawmakers will get down to business on everything from keeping kids safe in schools…
Texas TakeFake Outrage
From proposals to eliminate Democratic chairs in Austin to smoking cigars in Washington, some Texas politicians cranked up the faux outrage machine to new…
Texas TakeA New Year and New Beginnings
2023 kicked off on Capitol Hill with Texans playing key roles in the epic throwdown over US House leadership. Plus, the Texas Legislature is about to convene…
Texas TakeImmigration Deal Fizzles as 2022 Comes to an End
Lawmakers in DC took one last shot at immigration reform this year but the deal is falling apart. Plus, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan throws shade at former…
Texas TakeWhy So Nasty?
As the good news broke this week that Houstonian Brittney Griner was released from a Russian prison, some folks couldn't help but criticize her for some past…
Texas TakeLegalized Gambling in Texas? Don't Bet On It
From casinos to online sports betting, gambling interests are getting ready for perhaps their biggest push yet to change laws to allow Texans to place wagers…
Texas TakeIt is Mercifully Over
After one of the most brutal campaigns in recent memory, Gov. Greg Abbott and statewide Republicans ran the board in Texas while no "red wave" for the GOP…
Texas TakeThe Finish Line is in Sight
The early voting numbers do not bode well for Democrats as candidates across Texas make their final push toward election day. Plus, 911 audio from calls of…
Texas TakeClosing Arguments
Candidates are making their final pitches to voters as Texans head to the polls in one of the most contentious elections the state has ever seen. Plus…
Texas TakeReady, Set, Vote!
Early voting in person starts Monday across Texas and the candidates up and down the ballot are working hard to get their voters to the polls. Join the…
Texas TakeNeck and Neck
Gov. Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke were neck and neck in fundraising this time around as they head into the homestretch of this election and we now have a $200…