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Second Reading Podcast
by Second Reading Podcast
Analysis of Texas Politics by Jim and Josh from the Texas Politics Project.Texas Podcast Network is brought to you by The University of Texas at Austin. Podcasts are produced by faculty members and staffers at UT Austin who work with University Communications to craft content that adheres to journalistic best practices. The University of Texas at Austin offers these podcasts at no charge. Podcasts appearing on the network and this webpage represent the views of the hosts, not of The University of Texas at Austin.
Episodes
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Breaking Down 2026 Election Estimates in the Latest Texas Politics Project Poll
James Henson and Josh Blank look at the trial ballot results in the U.S. Senate contest in Texas as well as for other statewide races in the latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll. Listener warning: it gets a little wonky. This episode was recorded by Scott Leben and mixed by Brianna Padron.
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Talking 2026 Election Politics with Ross Ramsey
Ross Ramsey, co-founder and former Editor of The Texas Tribune, joins James Henson to put the 2026 election campaign in perspective. They discuss the factors making the state more competitive, and how deep the change in Texas politics evident this cycle go. This episode was recorded by Scott…
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Looking Down Ballot at Dynamics in Texas’ Congressional and Legislative Races
James Henson and Joshua Blank abandon the top of the ballot this week to look at the state of play in Congressional and legislative elections in Texas. This episode was recorded by Scott Leben and edited by Brianna Padron.
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So much Texas 2026 polling, so little time!
Jim Henson and Joshua Blank talk about the ins and outs of all the polling data being generated in the Texas 2026 election, how to read it, and what it’s telling us so far. This episode was recorded by Scott Leben and edited by Brianna Padron.
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What we can and can’t know about the 2026 election today
Spurred on by two new statewide polls, James Henson and Josh Blank look at the knowns and unknowns in the Texas election environment. Call it an exercise in epistemological humility. This episode was recorded by Will Kurzner and edited by Brianna Padron.
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Will Trumpapalooza help Texas Republicans?
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at Texas public opinion (and vibes) to assess the possible impact of the 2026 National Convention in Dallas on elections in Texas. This episode was recorded by Scott Leben, and mixed by Brianna Padron.
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Data Centers Aren’t Reigning Over Texas Public Opinion
While the latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll found very mixed expectations among Texas voters about the expected impact of data centers in different domains, James Henson and Joshua Blank discuss the results and look at how messaging from a pro-data center group, and from Gov. Abbott, align…
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What the Latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll Tells Us About the 2026 Election in Texas
With new polling data from the August poll, James Henson and Joshua Blank talk over what the trial ballots and other election-related items can and can’t tell us about the state of Texas races as summer winds down.
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How big a problem is rural discontent for Texas Republicans in the election?
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at public opinion data from rural Texas to assess how big a problem Republicans have among rural voters.
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Interpreting Tightening Polling in U.S. Senate Race in Texas
James Henson and Joshua Blank return from a July podcasting hiatus to catch up on Texas polling in the Senate and gubernatorial races, and consider the influences on the election environment in Texas. This episode was recorded by Xayda Garza and mixed by Astrid Alvarez and Julie Rios
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Big SCOTUS Cases and the Emergence of Stronger Parties in the U.S. and Texas
James Henson & Joshua Blank look at Texas intersections with this week’s big Supreme Court decisions, and ponder the seeming emergence of stronger political parties in the U.S. and Texas. This episode was recorded by Astrid Alvarez and mixed by Uriel Murillo
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Increased Partisan Intensity, a Close Senate Race, and Data Center Backlash in the New Texas Politics Project Poll
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at 2026 Texas trial ballots and strikingly negative views of data centers and AI in the June Texas Politics Project Poll. This episode was engineered and mixed by Uriel Murillo.
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Gov. Abbott Sends Strong Signals on Texas Data Centers
In the wake of Gov. Greg Abbott’s signal-rich letter to Texas utility regulators on data centers in Texas, James Henson and Joshua Blank assess the public opinion on the issue and wade into the thicket of politics and policy as attention to the issue among policymakers and stakeholders grows.…
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Both parties gear up for Texas legislative races + the long shadow of 2018
After a week in which Texas Republicans circled the wagons for legislative elections and national Democrats announced #txlege targets, James Henson and Joshua Blank look at the landscape for legislative races, and compare differences and similarities in public opinion in 2018 and 2026. This…
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The Texas Republican Base Has Spoken: What’s Next?
In the wake of run-off wins by GOP candidates like Ken Paxton, Mayes Middleton, and Bo French, James Henson and Joshua Blank talk about dynamics in both parties, and what’s comes next in the general election and governing circles in Texas.
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Texas GOP Worries About Base Turnout Continue as Immigration Agenda Shifts
James Henson and Joshua Blank join the response to the much-discussed memo from Ragnar Research’s Chris Perkins on signs of sagging participation among Republican primary voters in Texas, and make some connections with the shifting politics of immigration and border security in the Texas GOP.…
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Views of Donald Trump and Other Election Atmospherics in Texas
James Henson and Josh Blank look at the quasi-normal looking polling on the general election matchups for Texas Governor and Lt. Governor, and assess macrolevel indicators of the political mood in Texas. This episode was recorded and edited by Nathan Crews at LAITS Studios.
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Undercurrents in the U.S. Senate Race in Texas and Other Reveals in the Latest Texas Politics Project Poll
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at highlights from the just-released UT/Texas Politics Project poll, including resurgent concerns about prices and the economy, the sharp partisan differences fueling overall opposition to the U.S. war with Iran, and some interesting underlying numbers in the…
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Abbott squeezes Texas cities, Congressional campaign groups spend in Texas, and the Texas Lyceum Poll.
James Henson and Joshua Blank check in on Gov. Abbott’s pressure on Houston, Dallas, and Austin to change immigration enforcement politics and planned spending by both parties on Texas Congressional races, then go deep on the Texas Lyceum Poll’s look at Texans’ views of the quality of life in...
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Bayliss Wagner on Reporting the Fall of Tony Gonzales
James Henson talks with Bayliss Wagner of the Austin American-Statesman and Hearst Newspapers about her reporting on the scandals that led to Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales’ exit from the U.S. House, including the role of non-traditional and social media in the emergence of the story in…
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A Look at the U.S. War with Iran with Professor Rob Moser
James Henson talks with Professor Robert D. Moser of The University of Texas at Austin Government Department about U.S. interest in Iran, how the escalation of the conflict with Iran intersect those interests, and the consequences of the war for national and international politics.
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A Texas Vibe Check During the Transitional Election Season
James Henson and Joshua Blank survey the early signs of the developing general election campaign in Texas as well as lingering primary dynamics in both parties. Topics include the early Republican attacks on James Talarico, the rock throwing between Acting Comptroller Hancock and AG Paxton, and...
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The U.S. War in Iran and the Election Climate in Texas
James Henson and Joshua Blank check into the latest twist the GOP run-off election for the U.S. Senate, then turn to what public opinion polling in Texas might tell us about the impact of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran given the current path of the conflict.
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Texas Delivers a Dramatic Primary Election
After months of anticipation, James Henson and Joshua Blank look at the results of the Texas primary election.
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New UT/Texas Politics Project Poll U.S. Senate Primaries in Texas
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at recent poll results for the Texas primary races between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico on the Democratic side, and in the GOP contest between incumbent John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and Wesley Hunt.
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A Chat with Brad Johnson about The Texas Bullpen, and Races and Election Vibes in Texas
James Henson talks with Brad Johnson about the newly launched Texas Bullpen, then checks in on Johnson’s read of vibes in the Texas Primaries, in including congressional and legislative races and, of course, the U.S. Senate primaries.
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A Hot Week in Texas Election Politics
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at three big stories in Texas generating national attention as election season heats up in the state: the special election for Senate District 9, Colin Allred’s surprising re-emergence in the Democratic Senate nomination race, and Donald Trump’s public musings...
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Public Opinion on Immigration, Gun Rights, and the First Amendment in the Politics of the Latest Minneapolis Shooting
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at how the shooting deaths of protesters by federal immigration authorities in Minneapolis activate a complex interplay among attitudes on immigration, gun rights, and the First Amendment. The discussion starts with a look at national polling in the immediate...
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A Weather Report on Issues in the 2026 Primaries
James Henson and Josh Blank use Texas polling to compare and contrast the issues at play in the Republican and Democratic primaries in Texas. Plus, some brief discussion of the latest NYT/Sienna national poll and the coverage of polling conducted by campaigns.
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Texas views on health care and immigration enforcement plus a check in on the 2026 U.S. Senate race
James Henson & Joshua Blank look at results on health care, immigration, and the 2026 U.S. Senate race in the final UT/Texas Politics Poll of 2025 and what they portend for the 2026 election year.
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Digging Up Public Opinion Nuggets from 2025 Texas Politics Project Polling
James Henson and Joshua Blank dig up some highlights from UT/Texas Politics Project polling in 2025 on subjects including property taxes, speech rights, views of the legislature, healthcare, vaccines, and more.
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Crockett and Cuellar Add New Twists to 2026
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at how Donald Trump’s pardon of Henry Cuellar, and Jasmine Crockett’s likely entrance in the race to replace John Cornyn, have complicated the 2026 election in Texas – and maybe the U.S.
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Texas Redistricting Blows Up (Again); the State of the Trump Coalition
James Henson & Joshua Blank consider the politics of the federal court decision throwing out the recently redrawn Texas Congressional map, and the MAGA crack-up trope.
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The Abbott Campaign Announcement & the Uncertain Political Environment
James Henson & Joshua Blank talk about Gov. Abbott’s 2026 campaign kick-off, the public opinion context for property tax policy, and the still uncertain dynamics of the 2026 election.
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New UT Polling and the Current Texas Landscape for the 2026 Election
The Texas Politics Project Poll team – Daron Shaw, James Henson, and Joshua Blank – discuss what their latest poll tells us about the current Texas landscape for the 2026 election.
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Assessing the State of the Constitutional Order in the U.S.
Comparative constitutional scholar Zachary Elkins joins James Henson to discuss these state of Constitutional features like the separation of powers and checks and balances during the norms-challenging Trump presidency.
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Gov. Abbott Sends the National Guard to Illinois and Wesley Hunt Formally Joins the U.S. Senate Race.
After catching up on the federal shutdown, James Henson and Joshua Blank look at the political dynamics around Gov. Greg Abbott’s fast deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois at the order of President Trump, including a look at Texas attitudes toward Abbott’s response to Operation...
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Shutdown politics and public opinion in Texas
James Henson and Joshua Blank dig into what Texas polling can tell us about the public opinion context for the government shutdown.
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Persistent economic concerns hover over views of Trump in Texas and early polling on the U.S. Senate race
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at the arc of the President’s standing in Texas and how his ratings intersect persistent economic concerns in the state. Plus, they consider approaches to (very) early polling in the 2026 U.S. Senate race.
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New Texas polling data on redistricting, marijuana, property taxes, and other legislative priorities
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at latest Texas Politics Project poll results on redistricting, marijuana, property taxes, and other priorities in the recently-concluded special legislative sessions – and share some historical data on Texans’ view of political violence.
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A PAAT panel on the special session + a sneak peak at new Texas Politics Project polling data
Gromer Jeffers, Jr., Brad Johnson, Mark Jones, and Harvey Kronberg joined James Henson for a roundtable hosted by the Professional Advocacy Association of Texas on the second special session of the Texas Legislature – plus a sneak peak at new Texas Politics Project polling data on the same subject.
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Change vs. more of the same in Texas
Ross Ramsey joins James Henson and Joshua Blank to assess to consider the nature and durability of changes in Texas politics and institutions evident during the 89th Texas Legislature, including the partisan hostility recently on display in the lege, the strengthening of the governor’s office…
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Boundary Management in Texas
In the wake of Texas House Democrats return to the legislature and the passage of the hotly contested new Congressional map by the reconvened House, James Henson and Joshua Blank talk over some of the political and institutional implications of the mid-decade redistricting in Texas.
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Timing is everything
James Henson and Joshua Blank discuss the uncertainty around Texas House Democrats’ quorum break over mid-decade redistricting, and what the ensuing politics reveal about Texas politics. While the podcast was being recorded, Democrats announced their intention to return to Texas “to take this…
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The tricky politics of agenda management as the Texas Legislature reluctantly returns for a special session
With adopting the new Congressional maps ordered by Donald Trump and response to the July 4 floods at the top of the agenda, James Henson and Joshua Blank talk about the politics of agenda management as the Texas Legislature prepares to return to the Capitol next week for a politically-fraught...
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Texans weigh in on the 89th Texas Legislature in the June 2025 UT/Texas Politics Project Poll
In a webinar hosted June 26 by the Professional Advocacy Association of Texas, James Henson and Johsua Blank look at attitudes on issues and actors in the regular session of the 89th Texas Legislature in a special video edition of the podcast.
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Interpreting Trump’s Standing in Texas in the New UT/Texas Politics Project Poll
The UT/Texas Politics Project Poll team – James Henson, Joshua Blank, and Daron Shaw – look at the much-noted decline in President Trump’s job approval numbers in their June pol and how Trump’s standing intersects attitudes on the economy and immigration, as well as what can be read into the...
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No Rest for the Weary as Immigration & Redistricting Politics Shatter the Post-Session Calm
James Henson and Joshua Blank talk about how immigration protests, the Trump administration’s push for redistricting in Texas, and the short-lived in-state tuition lawsuit have disturbed the post session lull in the Lone Star State.
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Another Texas Legislative Session is in the History Books
From ESA’s to property taxes to hurled hemp, James Henson and Joshua Blank take a day-after look at the 89th Texas Legislature and what lawmakers did and didn’t do over the last 140 days.
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#Txlege Vibe Check Ahead of a Busy Weekend at the Texas Capitol
James Henson and Joshua Blank talk about the progress made on major legislation this week and where the legislative leadership stands as the end of the regular session looms.
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Analysis of Texas Politics by Jim and Josh from the Texas Politics Project.Texas Podcast Network is brought to you by The University of Texas at Austin. Podcasts are produced by faculty members and staffers at UT Austin who work with University Communications to craft content that adheres to journalistic best practices. The University of Texas at Austin offers these podcasts at no charge. Podcasts appearing on the network and this webpage represent the views of the hosts, not of The University of Texas at Austin.
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Second Reading Podcast
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Second Reading Podcast currently has 267 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
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Analysis of Texas Politics by Jim and Josh from the Texas Politics Project.Texas Podcast Network is brought to you by The University of Texas at Austin. Podcasts are produced by faculty members and staffers at UT Austin who work with University Communications to craft content that adheres to...
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