Pod Bless Texas

On this episode of Pod Bless Texas, host Kendall Scudder sits down with his East Dallas neighbor Maggie, a public high school guidance counselor and PTA mom now in her 20th year in education. Maggie makes the case that the hardest part of the job isn't the kids. It's the growing distrust from adults, fueled by new laws, viral rumors, and the constant chance of being recorded and posted online. She shares what happens when students who arrive in ninth grade must take standardized tests in a language they're still learning, and the story of one 19-year-old student who kept showing up despite every obstacle stacked against him.

On this episode of Pod Bless Texas, host Kendall Scudder sits down with Lillian Salerno, the show's original co-host and former USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development in the Biden administration, where she oversaw a roughly $30 billion portfolio covering rural hospitals, water, electric, and broadband. Lillian says being a good candidate isn't enough: once you're in office, you have to do something. Then the conversation takes a turn, with Lillian declaring herself an "official anti-Disney adult," revealing an exclusive members-only Disney club, and her plans after the November election.

On this episode of Pod Bless Texas, host Kendall Scudder sits down with John, a Dallas activist and member of the No Love for ICE Air campaign, who has spent the past year documenting ICE flights out of Dallas Love Field. What started with him showing up to watch has grown into a full tracking operation — nearly 170 flights logged this year, tail numbers recorded, and a public Instagram account posting evidence in real time.

What does real political power look like, and what role does Texas play in shaping what comes next?

Kendall Scudder sits down with legendary organizer Dolores Huerta at the Texas Democratic Convention in Corpus Christi for a conversation about voting, organizing, working people, democracy, and why she believes Texas holds major political importance.

Huerta reflects on what decades of organizing have taught her about collective action, from improving conditions for farm workers to getting people registered to vote. She also discusses economic inequality, universal healthcare and education, threats to democratic rights, and her belief in the power of the ballot.

Senator Bernie Sanders joins Kendall Scudder to discuss what Democrats need to do to win in Texas and turn electoral victories into lasting political change. Sanders makes the case for building coalitions around policies affecting working-class Americans, from healthcare and wages to education and taxes, while arguing that winning elections means little if leaders fail to deliver once in office. The conversation also touches on grassroots organizing, campaign finance, the future of Texas politics, and one Vermont recommendation Sanders would rather keep secret.

Pod Bless Texas: www.podblesstexas.com

Follow Kendall Scudder: @kendallscudder

Bernie Sanders:

Bernie Sanders: https://berniesanders.com

Instagram: @BernieSanders

Chloe, the heart and hands behind Massage Artz at the Oasis, joins Kendall Scudder to share the personal story behind building her massage therapy business.

Inspired by her entrepreneur parents and driven by a passion for helping others, Chloe talks about the difficult period that forced her to rethink work and family life, how HUD housing provided stability when she needed it, and how she eventually turned her experience into her own growing practice.

She and Kendall also get into the everyday costs facing working Texans, parenting, toll roads, business ownership, and, somehow, Chloe's fear of E.T.

Pod Bless Texas: www.podblesstexas.com

Follow Kendall Scudder: @kendallscudder

Pod Bless Texas is back, and Kendall Scudder begins this new chapter with one of Texas's most recognizable populist voices.

Jim Hightower is a national radio commentator, writer, public speaker, New York Times best-selling author, and two-term Texas Agriculture Commissioner. For five decades, he has advocated for consumers, working families, environmentalists, small businesses, and everyday Americans. Jim brings a direct perspective and his trademark Texas humor to every conversation.

In this episode, Kendall goes beyond Jim's public career to explore the experiences and values behind his progressive populism. Their candid conversation offers a personal look at public service, community, and the role everyday people play in shaping Texas politics.

Subscribe to Pod Bless Texas for more conversations with the people working to move Texas forward.

Pod Bless Texas: www.podblesstexas.com Follow Kendall Scudder: @kendallscudder Jim Hightower: https://jimhightower.com Jim's Substack: https://jimhightower.substack.com

Show Notes:
Pod Bless Texas host Kendall Scudder is joined by Dr. Kelty Garbee of Texas Rural Funders The team discusses the constitutional election that is currently underway, particularly the work Dr. Garbee and her organziation have been doing on Proposition 8, the prop. aiming to expand high speed internet access in Texas.
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Sponsored by:Represent Texas is the official political action committee of Pod Bless Texas. To help candidates on our show, friends of the podcast, or solid Democratic candidates that are throwing down in tough districts, visit www.representtexaspac.org and chip in to help the team.
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Follow us and our guests online!Submit news stories, questions, or topics you'd like to hear on the podcast to [email protected].Website: www.podblesstexas.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PodBlessTexas
Instagram: @podblesstexas
Threads: @podblesstexas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podblesstexas
Twitter (or X?): @podblesstexas
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/podblesstexas
Mail: PO Box 140981, Dallas, TX 75214Follow Kendall Scudder online:
website: www.kendallscudder.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kendallscudder
instagram: @KendallScudder
Threads: @KendallScudder
Twitter (or X?): @KendallScudderFollow Dr. Kelty Garbee and Texas Rural Funders online:
Website: www.texasruralfunders.org

Show Notes:
Pod Bless Texas host Kendall Scudder is joined by cohost Kathleen Thompson of Progress Texas. The team discusses the upcoming constitutional election the propositions on the ballot, and the political happenings of the week.
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Sponsored by:

Represent Texas is the official political action committee of Pod Bless Texas. To help candidates on our show, friends of the podcast, or solid Democratic candidates that are throwing down in tough districts, visit www.representtexaspac.org and chip in to help the team.
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Things we talked about:

Progress Texas voter guide: https://progresstexas.org/2023-texas-statewide-ballot-guide

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Follow us and our guests online!

Submit news stories, questions, or topics you'd like to hear on the podcast to [email protected].Website: www.podblesstexas.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PodBlessTexas
Instagram: @podblesstexas
Threads: @podblesstexas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podblesstexas
Twitter (or X?): @podblesstexas
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/podblesstexas
Mail: PO Box 140981, Dallas, TX 75214

Follow Kendall Scudder online:
website: www.kendallscudder.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kendallscudder
instagram: @KendallScudder
Threads: @KendallScudder
Twitter (or X?): @KendallScudder

Follow Kathleen Thompson and Progress Texas online:
Website: www.progresstexas.org
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/progresstexas
Instagram: @progress_texas or @kathleenthompson
Twitter (or X?): @progresstx or @ktnote

Show Notes:
Pod Bless Texas host Kendall Scudder is joined by cohost Gwenn Burud of Texans Defending Democracy and this week's guest, Alliance AFT President arena Honea. The team discusses the upcoming special session on school vouchers, the dangers vouchers pose to our public school system, and the political happenings of the week.
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Sponsored by :Represent Texas is the official political action committee of Pod Bless Texas. To help candidates on our show, friends of the podcast, or solid Democratic candidates that are throwing down in tough districts, visit www.representtexaspac.org and chip in to help the team.
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Things we talked about:
Here is Greg Abbott’s agenda as Lawmakers return for third special session: https://www.kvue.com/amp/article/news/politics/texas-legislature/texas-lege-third-special-session-agenda-governor-greg-abbott/269-9cca9f2f-d4ac-45be-bb9c-5bc9d02156e8

Say No to Vouchers in Texas: https://riograndeguardian.com/hinojosa-say-no-to-school-vouchers-in-texas/

Barbara Gervin-Hawkins at odds with Fellow Democrats over Vouchers: https://www.expressnews.com/columnist/gilbert-garcia/article/texas-school-vouchers-gervin-hawkins-democrats-18404024.php

Tarrant County Rejects Funding for Girls Inc. Citing its support for LGBT, Abortion rights: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/10/04/tarrant-county-drops-funding-for-girls-inc-citing-its-support-for-lgbt-abortion-rights/?outputType=amp

Takeaways from the historic ousting of Kevin McCarthy: https://www.npr.org/2023/10/04/1203462629/kevin-mccarthy-speaker-matt-gaetz-congress-vote
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Follow us and our guests online!Submit news stories, questions, or topics you'd like to hear on the podcast to [email protected].Website: www.podblesstexas.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/PodBlessTexas
Instagram: @podblesstexas
Threads: @podblesstexas
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/podblesstexas
Twitter (or X?): @podblesstexas
Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/podblesstexas
Mail: PO Box 140981, Dallas, TX 75214

Follow Kendall Scudder online:
website: www.kendallscudder.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/kendallscudder
instagram: @KendallScudder
Threads: @KendallScudder
Twitter (or X?): @KendallScudder

Follow Gwenn Burud and Texans Defending Democracy online:
Website: www.texansdefendingdemocracy.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burud4texas
Instagram: @Gwennburud
Twitter (or X?): @BurudForTexas

Follow Rena Honea/ Alliance AFT online:
Website: http://www.texasaft.org/local/alliance/?mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AllianceAFT
Instagram: @allianceaft
Twitter (or X?): @allianceaft