Texas Take

On this episode of Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace examines the fatal ICE shooting of an unarmed Houston construction contractor that has reignited debate over immigration enforcement, transparency and accountability in Texas. Jeremy speaks with U.S. Representative Sylvia Garcia and Houston Chronicle reporter Julian Aguilar about the conflicting accounts of the shooting, the calls for an independent investigation, similarities to the shooting in Maine, and the broader political fallout. He also breaks down the renewed effort by Texas Republicans to ban THC products after Governor Greg Abbott’s vetoed their ban last year. Plus, a rare public campaign stop from Senate candidate Ken Paxton shows how he’s going to use a classic GOP line of attack in his battle against Democratic challenger James Talarico in one of the hottest races in the nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Texas Take, Jeremy Wallace is joined by Texas Politics Reporter Haajrah Gilani, Chief Politics Reporter John C. Moritz and reporter Isaac Yu to unpack a week of political reversals. They discuss why Texans are being pulled into the Graham Platner controversy in Maine, why Gov. Greg Abbott is handing the comptroller’s office to former rival Don Huffines, and how the Dallas RNC convention could shape Ken Paxton’s tightening race against James Talarico. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on the Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace is joined by Austin American-Statesman’s John Moritz to break down the Texas Democratic convention in Corpus Christi and James Talarico’s big test as a potential new face of the party. The episode also features an exclusive interview with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker on Democratic tensions over Israel and Gaza, and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro on ICE detentions across Texas. Finally, Wallace and Moritz dig into the fallout from ICE detaining a nun in McAllen and what it could mean for U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s South Texas reelection fight. And there’s no way to do a show partly from Corpus Christi without some Selena and Robert Earl Keen tunes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Can the party the says it believes in freedom of religion also ban people from worshiping how they want? That’s exactly the line Texas Republican Party is trying to walk. On this week’s Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace pushes one of the leaders of the anti-Islam push in Texas, Alan Schoolcraft, about his claim this isn't about religion. The Democrat running to lead the biggest county in Texas isn’t buying it. Harris County Judge candidate Letitia Plummer, a Muslim, joins the Take for an exclusive interview to explain how the GOP's latest culture war won’t distract her from what she says is the real work of dealing with affordability and public safety. "When people are having culture wars, we are bringing hope," Plummer says. Plus, D’rinda Randall, fresh off her victory to become the new chair of the Republican Party of Texas stops by the show for an exclusive 1-on-1 interview to talk about her plan for fixing how the state party operates. And yes, we have elephants peeing and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in more leather than you’ve ever seen him. Reporters John Moritz and Haajrah Gilani join this week’s episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Talarico is getting an unexpected boost from shifting political winds in South Texas and Houston as he seeks to become the first Democrat to win statewide in Texas in over 30 years. National Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha and Houston Chronicle reporter John Lomax join Texas Take host Jeremy Wallace to explain it all. But Talarico faces hurdles too, specifically a looming $100 million problem. Reporter Benjamin Wermund joins the program to explain how Gov. Greg Abbott's huge campaign war chest could become a valuable resource for Republican Ken Paxton as he looks to fend off Talarico in the U.S. Senate race. And red alert, we are just 5 months away until Election Day and 3 months from the first absentee ballots going out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace breaks down a primary night that ended major Texas political careers, including Sen. John Cornyn’s long run in statewide office. Joined by Gromer Jeffers of The Dallas Morning News and John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman, Wallace digs into Ken Paxton’s victory, MAGA’s strength in Texas, and what Democrat James Talarico would need to do to compete in November. The episode also looks at other major runoff results and the generational shift reshaping Texas politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is this U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s last hurrah? Host Jeremy Wallace and Brad Johnson of the Texas Bullpen break down President Donald Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton, including why he made it now, just days before the May 26 primary runoff, and how much trouble Cornyn is in. Plus, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz joins Wallace for an exclusive interview on his continued concerns over China, drawing a contrast with what Trump told Chinese Leader Xi Jinping. Finally, John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman stops in to talk about why President Obama ordering tacos near UT Austin with James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa was such a big deal. And don't worry, Jeremy and John defend the honor of potato, egg and cheese tacos, no matter what the national media says. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s time to vote again in Texas. With in-person early voting starting statewide on Monday, journalists Bayliss Wagner and John Moritz join host Jeremy Wallace to break down the hottest races on the runoff ballot. The whole nation is watching the state because what happens here could have a huge impact on which party ultimately controls the U.S. Senate for Donald Trump’s last two years in office. Has Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton done enough to knock out 24-year incumbent John Cornyn? Plus, Republican Chip Roy joins the program for an exclusive interview about how he’s trying to overcome Mayes Middleton’s barrage of attack ads against him as he seeks to become the Republican nominee to replace Paxton in the attorney general’s office. The episode also highlights Wagner's reporting on elderly donors in Texas who say WinRed and ActBlue signed them up for repeated campaign contributions without their full understanding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace looks at how President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown is affecting Texas politics, Latino voters and families held at the Dilley detention facility. Houston Chronicle immigration reporter Julián Aguilar explains the cases of detained children and families, while Democratic strategist Laura Barberena breaks down how backlash over the crackdown could reshape South Texas congressional races. Plus, they’ll get into why Texas music star Kacey Musgraves is helping shine a bigger spotlight on it all with her new tour. Finally, after seeing Post Malone in a Texas-themed anti-litter ad, Wallace counts down the five best "Don’t Mess with Texas" ads in history. Sure, Willie Nelson is guaranteed to make the cut, but will George Strait, Matthew McConaughey, Warren Moon and Earl Campbell? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a contentious Democratic primary, James Talarico is making a big push to win over Black voters, many of whom had backed his opponent, Jasmine Crockett. In an exclusive interview with Texas Take host Jeremy Wallace at Prairie View A&M University, Talarico explains what he’s doing to win them over and talks about his relationship with Crockett. “There is no way to win Texas without Black voters,” Talarico says. In Dallas and Houston, Talarico lost 9 out of every 10 Black voters to Crockett. Can he win them back? Dallas Morning News Political Writer Gromer Jeffers Jr. joins the show to outline what Talarico has been doing and how much work he still has to do. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The mounting pressure finally caught up with now-former U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales. After other members of Congress moved to expel him for his affair with a staffer, the San Antonio Republican formally resigned, leaving people from San Antonio to El Paso with no representative in the House for the foreseeable future. San Antonio Express-News political reporter Bayliss Wagner joins host Jeremy Wallace to outline why Gonzales finally relented and what happens next to replace him. Plus, the NRA’s Justin Davis joins the program to explain how they are trying to win back members and why they opposed increased background checks on 18-year-olds after the Uvalde school shooting. Also, while Democrat James Talarico socks away huge money for his November Senate bid, the Republicans in the race continue to fight among themselves and burn GOP donor cash. Finally, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who has never been shy about his ambition to run for president again, is starting to show up outside of Texas in places like California and Iowa. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Scandal and declining membership have beset the National Rifle Association in recent years, but the group is still expecting 70,000 gun owners to descend on Houston starting Thursday for its annual convention. Justin Davis, Director of Public Affairs for the NRA, sat down with Texas Take Podcast host Jeremy Wallace to discuss how the organization is trying to win back members and what it's done to better watch how money is spent. For just the second time since 2015, President Donald Trump will be a no-show at the event. Davis also defends the NRA’s opposition to red flag laws and the gun safety measures passed in Congress after the Uvalde school shooting in 2022. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The THC industry is fighting back against new Texas regulations that threaten to put many of them out of business. Houston Chronicle reporter Isaac Yu joins host Jeremy Wallace to explain key parts of the new regulations, the industry's recent lawsuit and what will happen next. Also, they break down the latest way that Christian nationalism may be seeping into public schools. Later, the Austin American-Statesman’s John Mortiz joins the program to talk about how Texas Democrats are still paying for their attempts to stop the congressional redistricting plan and why U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw is calling out U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Finally, Republican National Committee chair Joe Gruters stops in to acknowledge the tough midterm elections ahead, but insists the party has a plan to defy recent electoral history. Why? "We have no other option. We have to win," he says. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The leader of the Republican National Committee knows he will have to defy history to defend President Donald Trump in Texas and beyond as Democrats vow to retake control of the U.S. House. In an exclusive interview with Texas Take host Jeremy Wallace, RNC chair Joe Gruters said he knows almost every president over the 150 years has lost seats in Congress during midterm elections. But the GOP has to overcome the odds in order to save Trump from an endless stream of investigations and impeachment hearings during his final two years in office. “We have no other option. We have to win,” Gruters said. A big part of that mission is Texas. With the GOP national convention scheduled for Houston in 2028 and a potential midterm convention in Dallas this year, Gruters has been in Texas a lot, preparing to fight Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico and other threats to Trump’s legacy up and down the ballot in the Lone Star State. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Did Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott just get snubbed by CPAC in their own backyard? Houston Chronicle reporter Benjamin Wermund joins this week's episode to explain why the crowd favored JD Vance and Marco Rubio over either. Plus with gas prices climbing, Trump voters may be paying more at the pump. In Midland and Odessa, people are pay much more for a gallon of gas than those in Houston, Dallas or Austin - all places Kamala Harris carried in 2024. And host Jeremy Wallace has seen far too many Godzilla movies. He explains why a congressional hearing about deep-sea mining operations of the Gulf Coast has him worried about what lurks beneath the waves. Finally State Sen. Nathan Johnson joins the program for an exclusive one-on-one to talk about his campaign for attorney general, his double life writing music for Dragon Ball Z and his concern over the calcification of power in the governor's office that he says would have alarmed the framers of the Texas Constitution. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, are worlds apart politically, but this week both were in the Lone Star State on a similar mission: win over Texans who could become critical if they both run for the White House in 2028. Gallego sits down with host Jeremy Wallace for an exclusive interview in San Antonio, where he says his message is as simple as can be: “no stupid wars, focus on the homeland.” His target audience in the Alamo City was clear: Latinos and veterans. Plus, University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus explains that it’s not just Texas BBQ bringing would-be presidential candidates to Texas. He explains why the state is such a proving ground for candidates of both parties. Also, Austin American-Statesman political reporter John Moritz drops in to relay what Democrat James Talarico said in response to a Tennessee pastor who called for God to kill him. All that, plus Conroe’s Parker McCollum, shows how a Houston rodeo concert is supposed to end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The longer President Donald Trump drags out his endorsement of either Sen. John Cornyn or Ken Paxton, the more it is costing GOP donors as the two Senate combatants continue to throw money at each other instead of turning their attention to Democrat James Talarico. Host Jeremy Wallace breaks down the latest in the drama to court Trump’s political love. Plus, what exactly did James Talarico say about veganism that has Republicans vowing to defend BBQ? Finally, Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar force their way onto the show by verbally sparring in the pickup line at the airport – all in front of Wallace. The reason? Who is to blame for long TSA lines at airports around the nation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Texas shattered voting turnout records in a wild primary season that saw James Talarico defeat Jasmine Crockett, and Sen. John Cornyn pushed into a runoff election with Ken Paxton. Gromer Jeffers of the Dallas Morning News and John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman join host Jeremy Wallace to break down all the results including hot races for Congress, the Texas Legislature and statewide offices. Plus, Bayliss Wagner of the San Antonio Express-News joins with the latest on U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, whose career in Congress will be coming to an end after he confirmed that he had an affair with a staffer who later died after setting herself on fire. Finally, Wallace looks at how President Donald Trump used a stop in Corpus Christi to tout gas prices being down 10 cents, only to see them shoot up 20 cents days later after he ordered the attack on Iran. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Months of ads, rallies and campaign travel have brought us to this. On Tuesday, Texas will know whether Jasmine Crockett or James Talarico will be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. And on the Republican side, will U.S. Sen. John Cornyn survive the toughest GOP primary of his career against Ken Paxton and Wesley Hunt? John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman joins host Jeremy Wallace to break down the closing arguments of all the top candidates and look at the record pace of early voting, with shocking turnout numbers in Harris, Bexar and Collin counties, to name a few. Plus, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales is vowing never to resign despite new evidence related to an affair he had with a congressional aide who killed herself last year. Finally, President Donald Trump heads to Corpus Christi to tout the economy despite continued criticism that he hasn't done enough to address affordability in America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico got a sudden boost from Stephen Colbert in his Democratic primary battle against Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. New evidence has emerged related to an alleged affair U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales had, which has changed his re-election prospects. And did Wesley Hunt vote for President Donald Trump in 2016 or not? John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman, Bayliss Wagner of the San Antonio Express-News and James Osborne of the Houston Chronicle all join host Jeremy Wallace to break it down. Plus, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and his GOP primary opponent Nate Sheets both drop by to jab at each other, talk about their showdown and explain how they plan to manage the future of THC and hemp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the start of in-person early voting in Texas about to get underway, attack ads are filling up television sets around the Lone Star State. Host Jeremy Wallace breaks down some of the hottest primary races in Texas and plays a ton of attack ads from various races to show just how intense things have gotten. Can Mayes Middleton catch Chip Roy in the race to replace Ken Paxton as Attorney General? Is Don Huffines about to defeat Gov. Greg Abbott's preferred choice for the state's top accountant job? The Houston Chronicle's Isaac Yu joins the program to explain why so much is at stake for Abbott in the that race. Plus, San Antonio Express News reporter Bayliss Wagner stops in to talk about the proxy war in San Antonio that has the most vicious ads in the state filling the airwaves of the Alamo City. And Drew Landry, who teaches government at South Plains College in Lubbock, joins to break down the most wide-open GOP primary for Congress playing out in West Texas. Finally, could the only Latina ever to represent Houston on Capitol Hill be in jeopardy on March 3? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A North Texas shocker has turned Lone Star State politics on its ear. Host Jeremy Wallace and the Austin American-Statesman’s John Moritz explain the wide ramifications of Democrat Taylor Rehmet’s victory from a truly Texas perspective. President Donald Trump quickly distanced himself from the debacle. Plus, the newest member of Congress wasted no time reporting for duty after a dominating win in a Houston runoff battle, and it’s already messing with House Speaker Mike Johnson’s math. In San Antonio, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro takes us behind the scenes of his late-night drive to a detention facility to personally escort 5-year-old Liam Ramos and his father to freedom in Minnesota. Finally, you’ll hear exclusive audio from U.S. Reps Greg Casar and Jasmine Crockett. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Texas congressional members are demanding that the Trump administration release a 5-year-old Minnesota boy and his father from a detention camp near San Antonio. Host Jeremy Wallace meets up with U.S. Reps Jasmine Crockett and Joaquin Castro, who talk about visiting the boy and his father this week in Dilley, Texas. Gov. Greg Abbott is among the Republicans suggesting that it may be time for the White House to “recalibrate” its mission as tensions boil over in Minnesota and beyond. Plus, reporter John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman joins the program to help break down the first debate between Crockett and James Talarico. In addition, Wallace hits Houston's 18th Congressional District, where Amanda Edwards and Christian Menefee are making their final push to win that seat on Jan. 31. Finally, Houston Chronicle columnist Joy Sewing drops by to make sense of why U.S. Rep. Al Green is so upset with what she wrote recently. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Recorded live at Stubb’s in Austin, Texas Take host Jeremy Wallace sits down with Beto O’Rourke for a conversation about why he chose not to run for office this cycle and what he’s doing instead. O’Rourke talks about his work with Powered by People, efforts to register and turn out new voters across Texas, and why down-ballot races matter as much as marquee contests. The discussion also touches on Democratic primary dynamics where O'Rourke weighs in on the race between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico, voter suppression, the stakes of the 2026 midterms, and the unexpected parallels between grassroots politics and punk rock, drawing on O’Rourke’s time as a musician. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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U.S. Sen. John Cornyn joins host Jeremy Wallace to talk about his campaign and what President Donald Trump told him about a potential endorsement for the U.S. Senate. Plus, a week after podcaster Shawn Ryan said he was disinviting Rep. Dan Crenshaw on his show, the Houston Republican drops in to respond to Ryan. Finally, San Antonio Express-News reporter Bayliss Wagner jumps aboard to help break down how the military action in Venezuela affects Texas oil and the border, and how Democrats are struggling to present a coherent response. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw sits down for an interview with host Jeremy Wallace to discuss why he supported President Donald Trump’s actions in Venezuela, but why he doesn’t believe U.S. soldiers will be needed on the ground there. The Houston Congressman is a member of the House Intelligence Committee and partly grew up in neighboring Colombia when Venezuela was a prosperous tourist destination. Also, Crenshaw responds to popular conservative podcaster Shawn Ryan, a fellow Navy SEAL, who has gone somewhat viral for accusing Crenshaw of threatening him - a charge Crenshaw calls bogus. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who made the biggest splash in Texas politics in 2025? And who saw their fortunes take a turn for the worse? In this week’s end-of-year episode, host Jeremy Wallace channels the legendary Casey Kasem to count down the 7 politicians who saw their political stocks climb the most and those who saw theirs tumble. Which lists did Greg Abbott, Ted Cruz, John Cornyn and Jasmine Crockett end up on? Plus, reporters Taylor Goldenstein and John Moritz join the program to break down the biggest stories of the week. Finally, you’ll hear a tribute to some big names in Texas politics that the state lost in 2025. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The future of THC in Texas is once again in jeopardy. Reporters Isaac Yu of the Houston Chronicle and John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman join host Jeremy Wallace to dig into how the industry is bracing for a new effort to destroy their businesses. Plus, what impact will U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett have on the U.S. Senate race if the outspoken Democrat jumps in, as expected. Finally, U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia stops by the program to vent about how nothing has happened a year after President Donald Trump said he wanted to work with Democrats to help ‘dreamers.” The Houston Democrat says the White House has done little to help advance her legislation that would protect tens of thousands of people in Texas brought to the country as children from being deported. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What looked like Gov. Greg Abbott’s gift to President Donald Trump may turn out to be a nightmare for the White House. A court this week put Abbott's plan to eke out five new GOP congressional seats in jeopardy, thanks largely to one big misstep by the governor himself. San Antonio Express-News reporter Bayliss Wagner joins host Jeremy Wallace to explain the problem and show how, instead of boosting Republicans' chances in next year's midterms, the redistricting push could wind up making it easier for Democrats to regain the House majority. Plus, U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, joins the program to give her take on what just happened and why the federal judges who stopped the redistricting plan were right. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Gov. Gavin Newsom took a victory lap in Houston, trolling Gov. Greg Abbott who the very next day kicked off his re-election campaign. But Abbott wasn’t phased in the least. Reporter Benjamin Wermund joins host Jeremy Wallace to break down how Abbott responded and what his next big priority will be if he wins a record-shattering 4th term. Finally, you’ll hear how a Texas Congressional seat could play a big role in the fight over the Jeffrey Epstein files and why it matters to the whole state that a Lubbock Congressman is calling it quits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nine weeks after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gave President Donald Trump the redistricting map he wanted in Texas, California Gov. Gavin Newsom roared back with an improbable victory on Election Day that will allow the Golden State to negate everything Abbott and Trump thought they were gaining in Texas. California political reporter Monica Madden and Texas House Democratic Leader Gene Wu both join host Jeremy Wallace to explain how much harder of a lift for Newsom this really was — with a lot of help from Texans, at least financially. It partly explains why Newsom is taking a victory lap in Houston to celebrate his victory. Plus, reporter Taylor Goldenstein joins the program to help make sense of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's somewhat awkward speech to college students, where he focused heavily on his own legal troubles and the attempt by fellow Republicans to oust him from office two years ago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even after 189 years, the tale of the Alamo remains one of the most debated pieces of Texas history. And it continues to produce casualties to this day. Just this week, the person at the center of the reconstruction around the Alamo was forced out after Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick objected to something she wrote for her college dissertation. Columnist Chris Tomlinson joins the show to talk about the latest drama around the iconic mission. Plus, reporter Ryan Nickerson digs into who might be the next member of Congress from Texas. And finally, Houston Democrat Andrew White stops by the show to explain why he is running for governor again and what lessons from his father’s winning 1982 campaign have been incorporated into his bid to defeat Greg Abbott next year. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the rarest things to do in Texas politics is to defeat an incumbent U.S. Senator in a primary. It has only happened once since World War II, yet Houston Republican Wesley Hunt is jumping headfirst into the 2026 GOP primary convinced he can beat U.S. Sen. John Cornyn. In this special episode of the Texas Take, Hunt explains why he’s running, talks about the role President Donald Trump has played in the campaign so far and defends his voting record after having a higher missed vote percentage than most members of Congress from Texas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Listen to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pledge to spend “most of” his $90 million campaign warchest in and around Houston to turn the area “dark red.” Given he’s lost Harris County by larger margins every time he’s been on the ballot since 2014, it seems like a fool's errand. But reporter Benjamin Wermund joins host Jeremy Wallace to dig into why the Republican might be so confident even in one of the state’s bluest counties. Plus, they break down who his top donors are by name, detailing where they came from, and what some have received in return for their loyalty. Also State Sen. Paul Bettencourt joins the show to talk about the surprising drop in voter registrations in Texas. Since last year, Texas saw the voter rolls shrink by 130,000 people - the biggest drop since 2012. And finally, the show looks at why a South Texas Republican is calling for Congress to extend Obama Care tax credits. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Democrat Gina Hinajosa says she is no sacrificial lamb. In a one-on-one sit-down interview, the Rio Grande Valley native explains how she thinks she can beat Gov. Greg Abbott. In short, she says Abbott has let billionaires have too much influence over Texas while the working class struggles. Plus, the state’s 8th-largest city is so close to running out of water that it’s tearing apart the community to the point that people were getting arrested at a recent city council meeting. We'll play what happened. Reporter Megan Kimble joins host Jeremy Wallace to explain why the city's struggle has broad implications statewide and could be replicated in more Texas cities in the future. Finally, Eric Dexheimer provides details on why and how a small group of mostly out-of-staters is attempting to take over the government in the tiny Loving County. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker slammed Gov. Greg Abbott for allowing Texas National Guard soldiers to be deployed in the Windy City without their permission. Reporters Benjamin Wermund and Bayliss Wagner join host Jeremy Wallace to break down the tension and dig into how Abbott is responding. Plus, political reporter John Moritz joins the program to assess the latest in the red-hot U.S. Senate race in Texas. Does Wesley Hunt really has a shot in the GOP Primary and why is Jasmine Crockett doing so well in polls on the Democratic side, despite not being in the race? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why is the new mayor of Texas’s second-largest city publicly fighting people in her own party and a guy known as Spurs Jesus? Express-News reporter Molly Smith gets behind the scenes of the turmoil of Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones’s tumultuous first 100 days in office. Plus U.S. Reps. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, and Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, join the program to explain their frustration at the other side over the government shutdown and what's at stake for millions of Texans. Castro also hints at his political future. Will he run for the U.S. Senate? Governor? Finally, tune in for an update from Alamo expert Scott Huddleston on what is happening around the historic battle site that has been heavily debated for years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Texas Republicans and their national brethren were settling a lot of scores this week. While the Texas GOP officially threatened the political future of fellow Republican House Speaker Dustin Burrows, the Trump White House went after comedian Jimmy Kimmel to the objection of notable Texas Republicans like Sen. Ted Cruz. Reporters Benjamin Wermund and Taylor Goldenstein join host Jeremy Wallace to assess how much danger Burrows is in and what Cruz had to say at The Texas Youth Summit amid the Kimmel controversy. Plus, state Sen. Carol Alvarado joins the program to slam Republicans for threatening the political career of the only Latina to ever represent Houston in Congress. Listeners will also hear what Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett said during a speech in Austin and why it was so important. Finally, listen to Cruz break into his favorite characters from his favorite movie -- a flashback to when he was once the president of his high school drama club. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Veteran Texas political reporters Gromer Jeffers of the Dallas Morning News and John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman join host Jeremy Wallace to break down the suddenly red-hot 2026 primaries, including the clash between Sen. John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton plus the budding rivalry between Colin Allred and James Talarico. They also dive into a major upheaval in the state’s congressional delegation and tell you the latest on what Democrat Jasmine Crockett and Republican Wesley Hunt are planning. Finally, Jeffers, Moritz and Wallace all explain their origin stories and have advice for campaigns, academics and legislative staffers on how to get into stories, TV appearances, podcasts and newsletters. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The political turmoil around Texas A&M University this week has been years in the making as Republican leaders from Vice President JD Vance to Gov. Greg Abbott have made clear that college campuses are the new battlefront in controlling the future of the nation. Reporter Samantha Ketterer joins host Jeremy Wallace to help explain what is happening and why A&M is a prime target. Reporter Benjamin Wermund also explains why there are huge overtime bills being racked up at the Texas border by state troopers and columnist Joy Sewing spells out the real world consequences of Houston still being without a member of Congress for nearly 800,000 people. Retired Houston astronaut Terry Virts also drops by the program to explain why he’s running for the U.S. Senate and we delve into the life of Charlie Kirk and how he rose to such prominence in American politics over the last decade. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another Texas summer is in the books and it had us wondering who in Texas politics made the most of their opportunity to get ahead. Host Jeremy Wallace, with help from reporters Benjamin Wermund and James Osborne, breaks down 10 names in Texas politics that crushed the summer and are riding high going into the fall. In the process, you’ll hear the latest on congressional redistricting, the battle over THC and a big change to testing in public schools. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Houston Democrat Gene Wu has received a burst of national attention for being the leader of the Texas House Democrats as they fled the state to try to stop President Donald Trump's redistricting plan. Ultimately, the maps passed despite Wu's efforts. He sits down with Texas Take host Jeremy Wallace to explain what if anything Democrats accomplished, how he's dealt with racists attacks as his profile has grown and why many in his community warned he about making too many waves in politics. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump got the redistricting maps he wanted from Texas, but it may come with a big political price tag. The Democratic Party, so fractured after the 2024 campaigns, suddenly found a rallying issue that washed away many of its own internal divisions - at least temporarily. Brad Johnson of The Texan and Kat Vargas of Howdy Politics join host Jeremy Wallace to break it all down. Plus, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called out Gov. Greg Abbott again for his stance against banning all THC products in Texas, further muddying what the Legislature will do in the closing days of the special session of the Legislature. And finally, Texas House Democratic Leader Gene Wu joins the show for a deep dive on how his recent national media attention has helped illustrate how he’s had to navigate racism and generational norms in the Asian-American community.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn joins the Texas Take for a special episode to talk about being a political underdog for the first time in decades and pushes back against attacks that he's going more MAGA just to win his GOP primary next year. The Republican also explains why he called on the Justice Department to investigate Texas Democrats and what he did to make sure the state got reimbursed for all of the border spending it did during the Biden administration. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From California to New England, Texas Democrats have the entire nation focused on the Great State and President Donald Trump’s push to redraw the state's congressional districts. Reporters John Moritz and Taylor Goldenstein explain where things stand and whether Democrats are succeeding in their mission. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn also joins the show, pushing back against critics who say he is becoming more MAGA just to salvage his political career. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Colin Allred also drops by to talk about where he went wrong in his last campaign and how he’ll be a different candidate this time. Finally, there’s another Bush family member ready to jump on the campaign circuit. Host Jeremy Wallace breaks it all down with a little inspiration from Paul McCartney, George Strait and Randy Rogers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this special edition of The Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace shares the full audio of a rare 1990 speech by President Ronald Reagan, delivered in Chicago to recent high school graduates. Recorded two years after leaving office and just a few years before he would stop making public remarks, Reagan reflects on topics from repealing the 22nd Amendment to his criticism of gerrymandering. This copy, one of the few remaining, is being donated to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Texas Republicans weren’t messing around. Their Trump-directed redistricting map could end the political careers of the three longest-serving Texas Democrats in Congress and shake up who represents Black and Hispanic districts. It all triggered heated exchanges in and around the Texas Capitol. We break it all down, plus give you the latest on the battle over THC products, the future of the STAAR test and another potential way Gov. Greg Abbott wants to stop property tax hikes. As an added bonus, we have a rare recording of Ronald Reagan weighing in on the evils of redistricting 35 years ago in one of his last speeches ever on the topic. Host Jeremy Wallace breaks it all down with Reporters Isaac Yu and Benjamin Wermund. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices