Party Politics

In this image from video, President Donald Trump speaks during a televised address from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019.

As the government shutdown nears a record-setting length, President Donald Trump and the Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives continue to jockey over the construction of a billion-dollar border wall.

Following the dueling prime time addresses by Trump and the Democratic leaders, Party Politics co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer highlight the politics of the biggest legislative skirmish of the President’s two years in office.

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email [email protected]. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.

NATIONAL TOPICS
-White House walks back Syria withdrawal
-Manafort shared polling information with Russians
-Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib calls Trump MF in discussion about impeachment
-Supreme Court takes gerrymandering case
-Rod Rosenstein leaving DOJ – Was he forced out?
-Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dances her way into prime time

TEXAS TOPICS
-Texas State Senator Charles Schwertner bows out of Chair role due to harassment allegations
-Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds released from jail in time for session
-Revenue estimate from Comptroller Glenn Hegar – does Texas have enough money for all three priorities?
-Texas 86th Legislative Session opening week
-Beto O’Rourke grows beard and the Internet freaks out

President Trump’s promise to build a "big" and "beautiful" wall along the southern border of the United States has run into political trouble in the form of a partial government shutdown since the branches have yet to agree on a short or long term budget.

The new Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives makes it harder to get a deal and the White House is digging in. With all this bickering, how long will the government be shut down?

"Party Politics" co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer bring some context to the politics of the shutdown and discuss what the conflict means going forward.

NATIONAL TOPICS
She’s running – Elizabeth Warren announces White House bid
White House Chief of Staff out – John Kelly’s parting shots
Trump threatens to close southern border while two immigrant children die
Romney Vs. Trump – Round 2
Stock market down for the year

TEXAS TOPICS
County officers sworn in – Big changes in Harris, Fort Bend Counties
Julián Castro Vs. Beto for… President?
School Finance Plan is out – Will we see big changes?
Texas Legislature 86th Session starts next week – What to expect

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email [email protected]. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.

The Texas Legislature’s biennial session is slated to start in January with a massive agenda punctuated by serious policy problems.

The session takes place in the wake of big electoral gains by the Democrats in the Legislature but a returning cast of Republican statewide officials, as well as Republican Dennis Bonnen as the new House Speaker.

"Party Politics" podcast co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer identify the major issues confronting Texas government, the divided politics that shape them, and what to expect for the 140-day regular session.

Passing a budget will be one of the main tasks of state legislators, but Rottinghaus and Aiyer also point out that funding for public education could be one of the most interesting topics in Austin in 2019, with the possibility of reforming the recapture system or creating pre-kindergarten education, which Governor Greg Abbott supports.

Religious liberty might also create some sparks in the Legislature.

“You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email [email protected]. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.”

A new Democratic House?  Check.  A narrowly-held Republican Senate?  Check.  A wildcard Republican President?  Check.  In 2019, the 116th session of Congress promises to be politically consequential with several new policy directions. 

This week’s “Party Politics” podcast focuses on what can happen on Capitol Hill with the new year and a new composition of Congress, which –among other factors— will be marked by the record number of women serving.

Hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus preview the upcoming Congressional session, discuss the policy items on the agenda, the resulting political friction, and the implications for the 2020 presidential elections.

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email [email protected]. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.

Despite a losing bid for the U.S. Senate in Texas, Betomania hasn’t cooled off as many in the Democratic Party are hoping he’ll run for higher office. Although Beto O’Rourke said during the campaign he would not be a candidate for president in 2020, he suggested this week that he might be open to the idea.  We are a long way from a decision from Team Beto and the 2020 election is two years away, but “Party Politics” co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer break down what this might mean for Texas, the Democratic Party, and American politics. 

NATIONAL TOPICS
-Ivanka Trump use of private email for government business has drawn scrutiny
-Paul Manafort breaches plea deal; Mueller not happy
-Climate change report buried
-Trump lashes out at Federal Reserve Chair over policies
-Melania’s “spooky” holiday decorations

TEXAS TOPICS
-Prosecutors of Ken Paxton criminal case lose court battle – will this end the prosecution of the state’s Attorney General?
-Texas Attorney General advises on confederate plaque in Capitol
-Texas spent less money this year than last for kids with autism
-Elections aren’t over! Update on race for Senate District 6 and recount starting in House District 108
-Bill introduced to mandate UT Austin and Texas A&M play each other in football

“You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email [email protected]. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.”

After several contentious legislative sessions and a widening ideological divide within the Republican Party, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus stepped down leaving the chamber without a leader. Representative Dennis Bonnen, of Angleton --- which is 50 miles south of Houston --- announced this week he has the votes to win the position. Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus discuss the importance of this change in leadership for the parties, politics, and policy in the upcoming legislative session.

NATIONAL TOPICS
-Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized
-Nancy Pelosi’s leadership fight
-CNN sues White House
-White House turnovers – First Lady Melania v. Deputy National Security Adviser Mira Ricardel
-Florida electoral recounts – what is the political impact?
-Trump refuses to visit WWI veterans memorial in France due to rain

TEXAS TOPICS
-State Board of Education curriculum leaves in Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller
-Senator John Cornyn announces he will run for reelection in 2020
-Texas Supreme Court Justice Phil Johnson retiring – who might Governor Abbott select to replace?
-Asylum policy change’s impact on Texas border
-State Senator Sylvia Garcia resigns– the upcoming race for Senate District 6
-Pre-File mania! Texas legislators rush to file bills in advance of the session

“You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email [email protected]. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.”

The midterms are behind us and the political shock waves are being felt nationally and across Texas. “Party Politics” co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus look at how successful the blue wave was for the Democrats and what it means to our national politics. Here in Texas: did Betomania deliver the state for the Democrats, and was the success the start of something bigger, or a one-time occurrence?

NATIONAL TOPICS

• Another mass shooting tragedy--this time in California
• Trump fires Jeff Sessions--what does this mean to the Mueller investigation?
• CNN reporter credentials are revoked from the White House

TEXAS TOPICS

• Analysis of the midterm elections

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email [email protected]. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.

We’re entering the home stretch of the 2018 midterm elections and it promises to be a wild finish. Last-minute campaign ads pulse in the background as a record number of people in Texas are voting.  Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus make final predictions about what to expect on Election Day in the state and in the rest of the nation. 

NATIONAL TOPICS

-Pittsburgh mass shooting tragedy
-Trump floats idea of ending birthright citizenship
-White House prepares to send 5,000 troops, or more, to the southern border
-Trump tweets pitching advice during World Series

TEXAS TOPICS

-Race for Texas House Speaker heats up – who’s in and who’s out?
-Aid to U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar says she was fired over pregnancy
-Voter fraud in Harris County? Several Republicans think so
-Eight day fundraising reports – who’s up, who’s down?

“You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email [email protected]. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.”

Early voting is underway and voters are participating all over Texas in big numbers!  Early voting numbers in the midterm election are approaching presidential year levels and are breaking all kinds of records. Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus break down the impact of the swell of voters and discuss what this means for races up and down the ballot.

NATIONAL TOPICS:

-Mail bombs draw attention to the coarseness of political discourse
-Sandra Day O’Connor diagnosed with dementia
-Trump Administration considers redefining rules on transgender individuals
-SCOTUS sides with Trump Administration by blocking questioning of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross about census citizenship inquiry
-New migrant caravans forming in Central America – what are the political implications less than two weeks until the election?

TEXAS TOPICS:

-Houston Trump rally recap – did it move or motivate Texas voters?
-Prairie View A & M University students sue Waller County for not providing enough voting locations
-Austin: Boil water notice due to floodwaters
-Child foster care system court ruling – what does this mean for Texas’ broken foster care system?
-Justin Nelson kicked out of parking lot for “mugshot mobile”

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email [email protected]. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.

With less than three weeks from Election Day, the nation’s most watched Senate race is going down to the wire and the gloves were off in the second debate between Congressman Beto O’Rourke and Senator Ted Cruz. Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus give us the blow-by-blow, analyzing the impact this debate will have on the race. What does O’Rourke need to do to score an upset? Can Cruz hold on to his lead?

NATIONAL TOPICS:
-President Trump, fresh after a victory in court, goes against his accuser Stormy Daniels using controversial and charged language
-Senator Elizabeth Warren all but declared for a 2020 presidential campaign by releasing a DNA test confirming her ethnic ancestry, while sparking more controversy
-A gruesome alleged murder in the Saudi consulate sparks a global crisis
-Despite a strong economy, the U.S. deficit jumps 17 percent

TEXAS TOPICS:
-Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti comes to Houston, raising money for Democrats
-MAGA comes to Texas — Trump rallies for Cruz
-Texas State Representative Pat Fallon mocks Texas State Representative Mary González’s sexuality
-Beto O’Rourke shatters fundraising record — Does it matter?-Julián Castro running for President?

“You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email [email protected]. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.”