THE KICK Podcast

The agency shaping Texas energy is one most voters barely understand.In this episode, Jon Rosenthal joins THE KICK Podcast to unpack one of the most overlooked and consequential offices in Texas government: the Railroad Commission. Despite the name, this is not about trains. It is about the fuel, infrastructure, and oversight that sit underneath a huge share of the Texas economy.Fritz and Rosenthal dig into what the commission actually controls, why natural gas reliability matters so much to the power grid, and how weak enforcement can quietly create bigger risks for businesses, households, and the state itself. They also explore the practical side of energy policy, from flaring and pipeline bottlenecks to the difference between political talking points and technical reality.At the center of the conversation is a bigger business question. What does sensible oversight look like in an industry this large, this essential, and this tied to the future of Texas growth? Rosenthal makes the case that stability, competence, and technical expertise are not anti business. They are what keep the whole system running.Key MomentsWhat the Railroad Commission actually regulates and why its name hides how powerful it really isHow natural gas reliability affects the electric grid, even though the commission does not run the grid itselfHow routine flaring wastes value, weakens efficiency, and leaves money on the tableWhy pipeline capacity and permitting matter to growth across the energy economyHow emerging technologies like geothermal can build on Houston’s existing industrial workforceTimestamps0:14 - Who Jon Rosenthal is and why he's running for Railroad Commission 5:20 - What the Railroad Commission actually controls and why the name misleads voters 12:35 - The Texas power mix and the natural gas problem behind grid reliability 24:40 - Flaring, wasted gas, and the business case for capturing more value 33:15 - Pipelines, permitting, and why moving energy is becoming harder 47:10 - Beyond electricity: exports, petrochemicals, and the next wave of energy innovation

Harris County does not need more noise. It needs leadership that can actually make government work.In this episode, Annise Parker breaks down one of the most misunderstood roles in Texas politics: the Harris County Judge. It is not a courtroom job. It is the position responsible for keeping a region of millions functioning, especially when things go wrong.From flood control and emergency response to affordability, public safety, and infrastructure, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how local government really operates. And more importantly, what happens when it stops working as a system.At the center of it all is a bigger question. In a political environment dominated by extremes, who is actually governing for the middle 80 percent? And what does it take to bring coordination, discipline, and accountability back to a county this complex?Key TakeawaysWhy the Harris County Judge is less about authority and more about alignment across competing power centersHow dysfunction at the top can quietly slow down everything from flood mitigation to public safetyWhat most people misunderstand about where local tax dollars actually goWhy affordability is tied to infrastructure, not just housing pricesThe hidden tradeoffs behind law enforcement spending, mental health care, and jail overcrowdingHow governing for the “middle 80%” changes decision-making in a polarized environmentTimestamps0:00 - Who Annise Parker is and what the Harris County Judge actually does4:50 - The real responsibilities: emergency management, flood control, and public systems11:30 - Why Harris County government feels dysfunctional right now16:10 - The real priorities: affordability, economy, and flood mitigation31:00 - From mayor to county judge: experience vs. authority39:40 - Law enforcement, budgets, and what’s driving costs

Texas is paying a hidden price for politics without accountability.For years, emergency powers and insider contracting have quietly reshaped how taxpayer dollars move through the state. In this episode, gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa argues that Texans are footing the bill for a system that favors access over fairness.In this episode, Gina digs into what she calls the corruption tax, the idea that when competitive bidding disappears and vendor contracts multiply, money drifts away from classrooms, small businesses, and working families. They examine how that shift connects to vouchers, healthcare funding, electricity costs, and whether government is serving taxpayers or protecting insiders.This is not a conversation about party labels. It is about whether Texas still offers an even playing field, and what it would take to restore competition, accountability, and trust in how the state does business.Episode Links:https://www.citizen.org/news/public-citizen-report-abbott-donors-draw-nearly-1-billion-in-no-bid-state-contracts/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/08/texas-hub-program-paused-comptroller-historically-underutilized-businesses/#:~:text=Women%2C%20minority%20small%20business%20owners,to%20485%20participants%20%E2%80%94%20all%20menKey Takeaways:How emergency powers can quietly transform a competitive marketplace into an insider system.Why competitive bidding is foundational to business confidence and not a partisan issue.What happens when vendor spending begins to crowd out core public priorities.How affordability pressures can trace back to policy decisions, not just market forces.Why restoring accountability could reshape both public trust and private sector opportunity.Timestamps:0:14 - Who Gina Hinojosa is and why she entered politics 3:18 - The corruption case: monthly emergency orders and no bid contracting8:09 - HUB program elimination and what fairness in contracting should look like11:22 - Zero based budgeting for schools and why vendor spending crowds out priorities16:38 - Vouchers, accountability, and the governor’s power to block an unaccountable program23:25 - Affordability levers: electricity bills, data centers, and holding corporations accountable33:58 - Why 2026 is a high stakes midterm and what redistricting means for the future

Texas has not always felt this unsettled. There was a time when public institutions operated with balance, the Attorney General functioned as a check on power, and businesses could rely on steady and predictable rules. This episode examines what has shifted and what a different approach to leadership could look like.Fritz sits down with Joe Jaworski, former Mayor of Galveston and candidate for Texas Attorney General in 2026, to discuss what the office is meant to be. From oversight of state leadership to safeguarding fair competition in government contracting, Jaworski argues the Attorney General must answer to Texans rather than political alliances or primary pressures.The conversation makes a clear pro business case for institutional integrity. When discretion is exercised responsibly, when local authority is respected, and when the rule of law is applied consistently, stability follows. Stability creates the conditions for communities and markets to grow with confidence.Timestamps0:00 - Welcome to THE KICK8:16 - Can the Attorney General investigate the Governor11:15 - The HUB program and fairness in state contracting19:06 - ICE, local control, and what cities are allowed to do23:25 - What private citizens can legally do during ICE actions40:55 - Medicaid funds Texas rejected and the cost to taxpayers44:28 - Why business should care who becomes Attorney General