817 Podcast - Fort Worth's Monday Morning Show

We spoke with grassroots organizer, Alexander Montalvo, the co-founder of Tarrant 4 Change and The Catalyst Project LLC. He shared with us why this moment in Fort Worth & Tarrant County is so crucial as a key moment of change that requires bold, upapologetic progressive leaders to meet the moment. He also spoke about how one of the best ways that we can bring about the change we need is to uplift diverse voices, and local support grassroot organizers who are doing this work every day.

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: Candidates for Tarrant County Commissioner Precinct 2

• Jared Williams
• Amanda Arizola
• Gabe Rivas

SHORT STORY 1: County Commissioner’s Court Changes

New rules would limit Tarrant County jail discussion, resident input at public meetings

SHORT STORY 2: Fort Worth Charter Amendments

Doubling council salaries, expanding city manager’s authority could be on Fort Worth’s May ballot

• ✅City council salaries would be $50,000, the mayor's would be $60,000.
• ❌City manager would have the ability to create, consolidate, & abolish departments without a council vote.
• ❌City manager could fire department heads & council appointees without a written statement or public hearing.
• ❌Council could approve the budget at the same required public meeting, meaning that there would be no time at all for things to change based on public input.
• ❌Remove the requirement for public utilities to report to council.

SHORT STORY 3: FWISD Under Attack from the State

Fort Worth ISD loses appeal of state takeover, prompting a trustee’s resignation

Student walkouts prompt warning from Texas leaders — raising First Amendment concerns

WINS: 

Buddhist monks on Walk for Peace journey to DC return to Fort Worth on Valentine’s Day

LOSSES: 

The County Commissioner's Court & Fort Worth City Council meetings on February 10th.

ACTIONS:

Black History Month - Support black businesses & politicians.

"I'm Done Humming and Swaying" from Power by Design

February 10 - County Commissioner’s Court at 10am

February 10 - Fort Worth City Council at 6pm

Now - March 2 - filing is open for Fort Worth city council District 10 candidates

February 15 - 817 Gather (Join)

February 17 - Early Voting begins for Primaries

February 20 - 817 Live recording at Tarrant County Democratic Party fundraising (Get your tickets)

March 3 - Election day for Primaries

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: Taylor Remet wins TX SD9

SHORT STORY 1: James Talarico & Jasmine Crockett debate

SHORT STORY 2: Wael Tarabishi died due to ICE

Son of Arlington man detained by ICE dies from rare disease / Disabled man, 30, dies alone after his solo caregiver dad is detained by ICE

SHORT STORY 3: Fort Worth Upcoming Bond Election

Fort Worth plans to devote $5M more to affordable housing after feedback from residents, council members

WINS: 

Students walk out across Tarrant County protesting ICE

Fort Worth’s Opal Lee is now a Barbie

Tarrant County College offering first-ever bachelor’s degree next fall

People’s Commissioners Court calls for policy to prevent ICE agents access to FWISD campuses

Transit Wins in North Texas

One solution for North Texas traffic jams? Building near public transit

• TEXRail’s December ridership sets new record with 25% jump
• Bus extension to Fort Worth’s Cultural District starts Feb. 1
• Trinity Railway Express fare changes begin March 1
• Texas Transit Association names Trinity Metro the Transit Agency of the Year
• Friend of Public Transit of the Year award goes to… Ann Zadeh!

LOSSES: 

Defense attorneys say lawyer’s removal from Juvenile Board list is ‘deeply troubling’

Islamic Games in Colleyville canceled for alleged ties to group Abbott calls terroristic

Fort Wort Report publisher & board decline to recognize Reporters Guild union

ACTIONS:

Donate to the Tarabishi family.

February 2 - Filing opens for Fort Worth City Council District 10 (Filing ends March 2)

February 4 - 817 Gather At The Table in District 2 (RSVP)

February 10 - Fort Worth City Council vote to approve the bond

February 17 - Early Voting begins for Primary Election

February 20 - 817 Pod will be recording live at Tarrant County Democratic Party fundraiser (Get tickets)

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

Rogelio “Rojo” Meixueiro is a prolific long-time activist and organizer in Arlington, also the founder of Sunrise Tarrant, is now running for Arlington City Council District 4.

We talk about his 817 story, his history of organizing, his campaign, and his vision for Arlington, the American Dream City.

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

SHORT STORY 1: Public Comment & City Council Drama

Fort Worth residents get more chances to speak during council meetings 

Fort Worth City Council member arrested, faces DWI charges

SHORT STORY 2: Tarrant County doubles down on ICE & Christian Nationalism

Tarrant County to beef up ICE partnership

Ten Commandments monument

Tarrant County commissioners approve funding for legal counsel in jail death, redistricting lawsuits

SHORT STORY 3: Pete Hegseth & the War Machine

Hegseth visits F-35 plant in Fort Worth

WINS: 

Tarrant Democrats seek to remove GOP candidates from ballot

Fort Worth Report staff is unionizing!

Majority of Fort Worth council wants more money for affordable housing

Landmark designation sought for historic TXU plant at Panther Island

Pedestrian safety improvements planned for Fort Worth intersections

New leadership for Near Southside as president exits for Trinity Metro

Protest for answers about Samaria

LOSSES: 

Tarrant County GOP promises to explore hand-counting ballots in future elections, but not this year’s 

$80M cooling equipment plant considered as more data centers built in Fort Worth

North Texas will have a ‘Charlie Kirk Parkway’ to honor Turning Point USA founder

UT Arlington to offer buyouts to employees amid federal funding cuts

Fort Worth missed our chance to move elections to November. (Wesley has details).

ACTIONS:

January 21 - Early Voting for Taylor Rehmet

January 31 - Election Day for TX SD 9

February 2 - Filing opens for Fort Worth City Council District 10

February 17 - Early Voting begins for Primaries

February 20 - 817 Live recording at Tarrant County Democratic Party fundraiser

March 3 - Election day for Primaries

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: An interview with Shahd Arnaout of the Tarabishi Family.

• Father cared for disabled son for years, until ICE took him away
• ‘Bring Maher home’: Family of Arlington man detained by ICE makes plea to Trump
• GoFundMe for Wael Tarabishi

SHORT STORY 1: ICE Protest

Fort Worth protest against ICE decries fatal shooting of Minneapolis woman

SHORT STORY 2: Public Comment

Fort Worth council considers restoring more chances for public to speak

SHORT STORY 3: Tarrant GOP challenging Dem signatures

Tarrant County GOP chair challenges 7 Democratic candidates, removes Republican House candidate | Fort Worth Report

WINS: 

817 Gather at the Table

Could This State Senate Runoff Be a Tipping Point for Tarrant County?

Texas teachers' union sues state over disciplinary actions tied to Charlie Kirk posts

Fort Worth eyes library, community center spaces for local art exhibitions

African American museum seeks $40K from Fort Worth to complete construction plans

Prominent Fort Worth art museum named Texas’ top free attraction

Daytripping on TEXRail: Grapevine, North Richland Hills popular with riders

A bus route extension from Stop Six to Cultural District is coming

Arlington council hears new recommendations on plan to reimagine downtown

A dumpling dream: Big restaurant, gathering spot begins construction

Fort Worth event planner hosts gatherings to uplift artists, weave communities together

A decade strong, The Welman Project moves toward more support for North Texas teachers

West Fort Worth nonprofit fills emergency food gaps, continues distribution into 2026

LOSSES: 

Texas child care programs could see funding delay during national crackdown

Arlington's Handitran service could see changes in the way users pay for rides

Court dismisses pastor's lawsuit alleging Tarrant County judge violated free speech rights

Developer behind $10B Fort Worth data center requests more land

ACTIONS:

January 13 - Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court at 10am

January 13 - Fort Worth city council public comment vote at 6pm (Sign up to speak)

January 18 - 817 Gather at 10am

January 21 - Early Voting for Taylor Rehmet

January 31 - Election Day for TX SD 9

February 17 - Democratic Primary for midterms

(P.S. There were so many articles this week that we hit the character limit and weren't able to link them all. Sorry.)

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

BIG STORY: Junior Ezeonu

After running for Gran Prairie at 21 while still he college, he beat a 12-year incumbent and became the Mayor Pro Tem. Now he's running in the Democratic Primary for Texas House of Representatives District 101. He talks about his journey and why it's so important that young people run for political office.

SHORT STORY 1: Mercy Cult goes national

Fort Worth’s Mercy Culture announces expansion with new churches in D.C., California

SHORT STORY 2: Fort Worth’s economic growth

City manager: Fort Worth’s economic growth continues to look strong

SHORT STORY 3: Alicia Ortiz to run for FW City Council District 10

votealiciaortiz.com

WINS: 

TEXRail expansion moving forward with revised $33M contract

Gateway Park to see new amenities soon. This local group is helping enact plans

Yard tools to your door: Fort Worth mobile shed loans equipment to residents for free

Fort Worth shelters plan continued improvement, less canine euthanasia in 2026

LOSSES: 

DFW one of the hardest areas for minimum-wage workers to afford rent, study says

‘Bring Maher home’: Family of Arlington man detained by ICE makes plea to Trump

2 killed in related shootings after a fight in east Fort Worth park, police say

Tarrant County Jail inmate dies after being found unresponsive in her cell

ACTIONS:

Right Now - Fort Worth City Council Report Card

January 6 - FW Public Comment at 6pm in New City Hall

January 7 - 817 Gather At The Table at 6:30pm in Arlington

January 13 - Tarrant County Commissioner’s Court

January 18 - 817 Gather at 10am

January 21 - Early Voting for Taylor Rehmet

January 31 - Election Day for TX SD 9

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

This week EJ, Ann, & Wesley bring you a special episode where we look back on all that happened in 2025, and look ahead to the possibilities for 2026.

We would love your feedback. Please fill out this form to let us know your favorite guests & episodes from 2025, and how we can improve the podcast.

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

For this week's Big Story, check out our previous episode where we interviewed Bradford William Davis. Ann is out this week for the holidays, so it's just EJ & Wesley.

SHORT STORY 1: Marc Veasey backs out

Congressman Marc Veasey drops out of Tarrant County judge race

SHORT STORY 2: Voter suppression in Tarrant County

Thousands of Tarrant County voter applications saw delays ahead of Nov. 4 election

Pastor alleges Tarrant County judge violated First Amendment by removing him from meeting

SHORT STORY 3: All 3 FW Chambers in favor of state takeover

Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce urging community to support recent TEA takeovers

WINS: 

Suicide among youths dropped dramatically in Tarrant County. Other cities have noticed

New, environmentally friendly buses part of Trinity Metro’s $12M upgrade

These Tarrant cities to clean up litter, increase recycling thanks to thousands in state funds

LOSSES: 

‘He never actually stopped’: Former Fort Worth councilman remembered for lifetime of helping others

Fort Worth emerges as hub for driverless vehicles

More details emerge about $10 billion Fort Worth data center 

ACTIONS:

January 6th - First Public Comment for FW City Council

January 18th - First 817 Gather of the year

January 21st - Early Voting for TX SD 9 Runoff Election 

Happy holidays & have a great new year!

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.

We spoke with award-winning journalist Bradford William Davis, the former opinion columnist at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, who was recently laid off after writing several amazing articles that were critical to Mayor Mattie Parker.

We focused on three of his most recent stories:

• Mayor Mattie Parker should listen to her own words as she faces her critics
• Don’t be so quick to judge intent behind a casket left at mayor’s house
• Father cared for disabled son for years, until ICE took him away

And we also talked about the series of articles he's working on about the relationship between transit, sports, and climate impact.

Join the 817 Gather Discord

Follow us on Instagram & TikTok

Join the 817 Gather Discord, donate to the 817 Gather, and follow us on Instagram & TikTok.