As U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz touts the Republican-pushed tax cuts recently approved in Washington, he predicts that Texans will see more in their paychecks by next month. A prophecy, he calls it, that will refute the claims of Democrats who opposed the cuts.

With the spring primary elections in Texas just weeks away, fireworks are already underway in several races, mostly among Republicans, as Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and GOP challenger Trey Blocker have words and as Land Commissioner George P. Bush pushes back from criticism by challenger Jerry Patterson over the Alamo and Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts.

GOP STUDY: Ted Cruz begins 2018 Senate race with 18 point lead over Texas Democrat Beto O'Rourke

Several House and Senate contests are already shaping up to be political firefights, as Gov. Greg Abbott gets involved in several legislative races -- a rarity for a Texas governor. Add to the entertainment the feral hogs that are running wild and the longstanding fight over illegal voting, and you have a full slate of entertainment for Texans.

As they say in Texas, politics is seldom boring, always entertaining.

Welcome our sponsor this week: The Texas Association of Counties.

With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio.