Bots, Ballots, and the #TxLEGE Grind: An Interview w/ Brad Johnson

Brad Johnson—co-founder and reporter at Texas Bullpen—joins Seeing Red to talk about the real mechanics of Texas politics: how information moves, how power consolidates, and why Twitter matters far more than most people want to admit.Brad walks through the launch of the Texas Bullpen, his path from Ohio to the Texas Capitol, and why he thinks Texas politics is entering a more “traditional” election cycle after years of chaos. We dig into the comptroller’s race, Abbott’s quiet hand in key primaries, and why Ken Paxton continues to survive scandals that would’ve ended other careers.The conversation also pulls back the curtain on the Paxton impeachment trial—what went wrong for prosecutors, how outside pressure shaped the outcome, and why bots and online noise now play a measurable role in legislative behavior. If you want to understand how Texas politics actually functions—not how it’s sold—this episode is required listening.Key Moments & Timestamps0:00 – Why Texas lawmakers obsess over Twitter replies0:47 – Launching the Texas Bullpen (and running on adrenaline)2:31 – Leaving the Texan and betting on independent media3:06 – “Punchbowl meets old Texas Monthly”: defining the Bullpen lane9:44 – How redistricting reshaped Texas elections12:25 – The comptroller’s race and Abbott’s personal stakes16:42 – Don Huffines, name ID, and why competence suddenly matters24:31 – Ken Paxton’s political durability—why nothing sticks31:24 – From tracker to reporter: learning Texas politics the hard way36:45 – Following Hillary Clinton and the life of a political tracker40:33 – Twitter bots, fake engagement, and legislative pressure49:00 – What really happened in the Paxton impeachment trial54:20 – The Speaker’s race and calendar control as raw power1:03:18 – What Texas Bullpen is building nextFind us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce