TEXAS TOPICS:

No Trump endorsement in the Texas Senate Race.

Senator John Cornyn to be investigated by the FEC.

Texas House Democrat urge Attorney General Ken Paxton to initiate an investigation into Grok AI.

Governor Greg Abbott wants to takeover Harris County elections.

Texas Officials hand over voter rolls to the Department of Justice.

Steve Bannon to bring show to Texas ahead of primaries.

NATIONAL TOPICS:

President Donald Trump and Fed Chair Jerome Powell are at odds.

Iran protest and potential aid mentioned by Donald Trump.

New gold lettering on the outside of the West Wing near Rose Garden at the White House.

This week on Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina start the conversation far from Texas, with a global crisis that’s quickly becoming a domestic political test: the invasion of Venezuela.

The discussion examines what the situation in Venezuela means for U.S. foreign policy, the international response, and how the conflict is already shaping political debate at home. The episode looks at the economic and humanitarian stakes, along with the way foreign crises can sharpen partisan messaging during an election year.

Former President Donald Trump’s reaction to the invasion is part of the conversation, as is the question facing Democrats in power: how to respond politically and diplomatically without overreaching. The episode explores the limits of executive authority, the role of Congress, and the political risks on both sides of the aisle.

Congressional updates include a look at Trump’s recent speech at the Kennedy Center and what it reveals about his political strategy and cultural messaging.

The episode also takes up Sen. Mark Kelly’s proposal to reduce pension benefits, weighing fiscal responsibility against political risk for a senator facing a closely divided electorate.

Back in Texas, Andrew White’s decision to leave the governor’s race reshapes the Democratic field, while Rep. James Talarico’s latest fundraising numbers and new campaign ad offer an early look at how candidates are positioning themselves moving forward.

This week on Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina take a tour through a Texas political landscape that’s shifting from the Rio Grande Valley to the suburbs of Fort Worth — and everywhere in between. Democrats across the state are trying to chart a path forward, and a wave of new candidates is giving us a clearer picture of what 2026 might look like.

We start in South Texas, where Democrats are still wrestling with the Latino vote. After several cycles of GOP gains, the big question is whether the party can reconnect with voters who once formed the backbone of its statewide coalition. Messaging, turnout, and trust are all on the table.

Up the ballot, the governor’s race is taking shape with Democrats:

Gina Hinojosa, the Austin state representative with a policy-heavy platform; Chris Bell, former congressman returning to a familiar statewide stage; and Mark White, Houston attorney hoping to turn legal credibility into electoral momentum. Additional candidates include Patricia Abrego, Bobby Cole, Angela Villescaz and Jose Navarro Balbuena. Each offers a different vision of how Democrats claw back statewide competitiveness — or whether that’s even realistic in 2026.

Over in the Attorney General’s race, Democrats are leaning hard into an accountability message. Candidates Joe Jaworski and Nathan Johnson also jump into the Attorney General's race.

Congressional politics aren’t quiet either. In TX-18, the Democratic runoff features Christian Menefee and Amanda Edwards, two well-known Houston figures vying to carry the district’s civil-rights legacy forward — but the race has become even more complicated. Because the special election and the next regular election overlap, both candidates also had to file for the 2026 primary at the same time, and longtime congressman Al Green has now jumped into that 2026 race as well, setting up a crowded and unusually tangled contest for one of the state’s most recognizable Democratic seats. Meanwhile, after Jasmine Crockett surprised many by entering the Texas Senate race, Colin Allred shifted gears and moved his campaign to the newly re-drawn TX-33, where he joins Julie Johnson in a district reshaped by redistricting and quickly becoming one of the cycle’s most closely watched battlegrounds.

Back home in Harris County, the open county judge seat is drawing heavyweight attention. Former mayor Annise Parker, Council member Letitia Plummer, and nonprofit leader Matthew Salazar are all pitching themselves as the next steward of the state’s largest county. The outcome could reshuffle Democratic politics in Houston for years.

And in Tarrant County, Democrats see an opening —  Commissioner Alisa Simmons and Democratic Rep. Marc Veasey run for County Judge Tim O'Hare's seat which will test just how “purple” Fort Worth really is.

This week on Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina unpack a full slate of stories where courts, campaigns, and culture collide in Texas politics.

Governor Greg Abbott has set a date for the Congressional District 18 runoff, a race drawing statewide attention as candidates compete to represent a key Houston-area district. But as voters get ready to cast ballots, a federal court has blocked Texas’s newly drawn redistricting maps, throwing another curve into the state’s already contentious political landscape and raising questions about fair representation heading into 2026.

On the national stage, Senator Ted Cruz is once again hinting at a White House bid, while Senator John Cornyn faces fresh scrutiny over his 2026 reelection prospects and shifting standing within the Republican Party. Meanwhile, Bo French has jumped into the Railroad Commissioner race, drawing attention for his controversial statements about energy policy and loyalty within the GOP.

Culture and politics overlap again in Lubbock, where the city’s Buddy Holly crosswalk is in talks of removal following Governor Abbott’s directive to eliminate political or advocacy-themed displays from public spaces. The move has sparked debate about how far state orders should reach — and whether cultural landmarks fall under the same rules.

And in Washington, the U.S. House has voted to release the Epstein files, promising to shed new light on a long-simmering scandal.

From redistricting fights to symbolic removals, the political map — and mood — of Texas is shifting fast. Brandon and Jeronimo explore what these developments reveal about power, identity, and politics in the Lone Star State.

House votes and Senate approves Epstein files bill, sending it to Trump’s desk.

In addition to YouTube, Party Politics airs every Friday night at 8:00 p.m. CT on Houston Public Media TV-8 (PBS), or listen every Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT on News 88.7. The audio podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts).

On this week’s Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina break down how Crockett’s potential entry could reshape the Democratic strategy in Texas, where statewide races have long favored Republicans but recent cycles show signs of shifting voter dynamics.

The conversation also dives into how Trump’s foreign policy moves are echoing in current debates — including his latest break from the “America First” agenda with Argentinean beef — and what the ongoing government shutdown stalemate means for Texans. Plus, the hosts explore a wave of legal and political developments across the state: Gov. Greg Abbott’s appointment of Kyle Hawkins to the Texas Supreme Court, Paxton’s lawsuit against Tylenol manufacturers over alleged autism links, and the state’s takeover of Fort Worth ISD.

Meanwhile, as campaign season builds momentum, fundraising is heating up in Texas’ 18th Congressional District — setting the stage for another competitive race.

From Washington headlines to Texas power plays, this week’s episode connects the dots between national narratives and local political stakes.

In addition to YouTube, Party Politics airs every Friday night at 8:00 p.m. CT on Houston Public Media TV-8 (PBS), or listen every Friday at 7:30 p.m. CT on News 88.7. The audio podcast is also available on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts).