Inside the Tabloid of Record for Texas Politics

Tony Ortiz, the controversial founder of Current Revolt, joins Garrett Fulce to pull back the curtain on how Texas political media really works. From breaking Capitol scandals to exposing paid influencers, Ortiz has built a reputation for publishing stories mainstream outlets won’t touch — and for being unapologetically honest about his biases.In this wide-ranging conversation, Ortiz explains how Current Revolt began during the COVID lockdowns, why he leaned into the “trash gossip rag” label, and what it’s like to run a far-right outlet while maintaining credibility across political lines. He and Garrett dive deep into the ethics of independent journalism and how the rise of paid political content is reshaping conservative media.The episode also explores Ortiz’s growing disillusionment with Texas politics, his take on how influencers manipulate narratives for profit, and the challenges of balancing advocacy with accuracy. Whether you love him or hate him, Tony Ortiz represents a new era in political reporting — unfiltered, unconventional, and deeply Texan.Timestamps0:00 – Intro: Tony Ortiz and the rise of Current Revolt4:11 – The role of independent journalism in Texas politics6:36 – The risks of getting stories wrong and why editors matter10:03 – From “rhino hunting” to reporting across the spectrum12:41 – Far-right factions, Fuentes, and the Pale Horse fallout16:23 – Comparing Nick Fuentes and Charlie Kirk’s influence19:25 – Paid political influencers and foreign funding22:54 – How astroturfing and “influencer” PR reshape narratives24:26 – Building Current Revolt’s audience organically25:49 – Absurd Texas stories that went viral (like “Grub-Gate”)28:55 – Immigration, jobs, and the H-1B visa debate30:12 – Shared economic anxieties between left and right32:41 – Mental health, religion, and cultural disillusionment36:24 – Balancing bias, honesty, and accountability in reporting42:15 – The cost of controversial journalism in Texas46:59 – Faith, hypocrisy, and the Christian right51:14 – Tony’s disillusionment with organized religion58:16 – Expanding Current Revolt and Texas political coverage1:01:00 – Closing thoughts and what’s next on Seeing RedFind 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