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.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Texas Take

The Consequences of Our Actions

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 for Lieutenant Governor. 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=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thoughts, Prayers, and Good Luck

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 Jeremy Wallace.  Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's Never Enough for Trump

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.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ain't Nobody Happy About the Border

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 The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Outlines of Campaign Season

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 session of the Texas Legislature has concluded. What's next? 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=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roe vs ...Who Knows?

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. 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=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Don't Say That

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 show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gov. Abbott Gets Covid While Fighting School Districts for Fighting Covid

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 Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Open Revolt in Texas

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/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Get Out of the Way

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 Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.   Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Masks, Voting Rights, The Border, and More

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 show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Covid Cases Rising, Complicating Things for Texas House Democrats and Gov. Abbott

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/listener for privacy information.

Stalemate

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.

Miller Lite and Voting Rights

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, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bring It. The Special Session Starts Now.

THIS WEEK — Ep114: Is a vote for Cruz a vote for Trump? Our Austin Bureau, Scott Braddock of the Quorum Report and Ryan Poppe of Texas Public Radio go behind the headlines for an insider’s take on what’s really going on with politics in the Lone Star State.