Quorum Report Radio

The ads are absolutely out of control. We'll have some fun with that but the truth is that the candidates are absolutely feeling the pressure to respond to some of what's in the nonstop barrage of political commercials blanketing Texas right now. We'll go out to East Texas on the campaign trail with Rep. Gina Hinojosa in her spirited campaign to unseat the strongest Republican in Texas. And what would Texas government look like if she was successful? It's a conversation being had more and more in Austin. Our Publisher Harvey Kronberg explains how that unfolded the last time there was a divided government in Texas, which of course was more than three decades ago. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston. 

Gov. Abbott must be listening to the show because he's completely shifted his message on property taxes from blaming local governments - run mostly by Republicans - to slamming his Democratic opponent Gina Hinojosa. He says she voted to raise your taxes but what did the legislation he's talking about actually do? You'll hear from conservative Republicans about it but first you have to hear what Abbott said about gas prices. Is he against President Trump's war in Iran now? Plus Harvey weighs in on the ICE shooting in Austin and a tribute to the late Chairman Garnet Coleman, who passed away this week. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston. 

We already knew that Gov. Abbott thinks all Democrats are socialists and can't be trusted. But why is one of his major campaign themes now slamming local Republican leaders around Texas about property taxes? And oh yes, we will get into the Bo French debacle when Harvey weighs in with his weekly commentary. Plus, Suzanne Bellsnyder joins us from Texas Rural Reporter to talk about whether Abbott's campaign consultant Dave Carney is right to argue the anger over data centers is tapering off now. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.

On the anniversary of 9/11, one thing that's perfectly clear is that the politics of government surveillance have completely flipped upside down since that fateful day. Right after the terror attack a quarter century ago, Republicans and Democrats alike joined together to support the global War on Terror including stepped up surveillance within the United States. Flash forward to today and Gov. Greg Abbott is being forced to flip-flop on his past support of surveillance cameras all over Texas after his opponent Gina Hinojosa pressed him on the issue. Plus, we're reporting from Dallas this week where the 2026 RNC Midterm "Convention" just wrapped up. Harvey checks in with his thoughts on it while Tony Ortiz of Current Revolt tells us about the protesters outside the American Airlines Center. Seems like Paxton's performance in Dallas made national Republicans realize he needs some serious financial help in his bid for US Senate. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston. 

With Texas Republicans still divided following a nasty and expensive US Senate primary, Sen. Ted Cruz has this message for those in the GOP unhappy with their nominee Ken Paxton: "Stop yer bitchin.'" In this semi-special episode, we explore all facets of a question Republicans in Texas are dealing with - how to win when their standard bearer in this state is described even by President Trump as lackluster on the campaign trail? And why haven't the West Texas billionaires who always previously bankrolled Paxton now closing their wallets? It's the perfect primer heading into next week's Midterm RNC Convention in Dallas. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston. 

Gov. Abbott was searching for any kind of message during an ABC News interview this week in which he was pressed about data centers, the price of gas, and whether he would give President Trump a letter grade on the economy. Hint: He didn't. And as Harvey has pointed out, President Trump and Speaker Johnson are campaigning in Texas where top GOP candidates including Abbott and Ken Paxton are flailing at the moment. HK also checks in about Paxton's data center plan while President Trump calls James Talarico "a little freaky." But first: Do we really believe Gov. Abbott has ever even heard some of the artists on his summer playlist like BigXthaPlug? Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston. 

With Texans furious about a THC ban, rising costs for everything, data centers, transmission lines, and Big Bend border wall construction of course Little Gov. Dan Patrick is spending his time railing about "filthy books" in school libraries. But it's not just a distraction. He's also trying to make it easier for the state to take over local school districts. Plus, Harvey and James get into the way data centers are reshaping the political landscape and Speaker Burrows is asked whether he understands why conservatives don't like the way he was elected with support from Democrats. We'll also travel to Far West Texas and check in with Travis Bubenik at Marfa Public Radio for the real scoop on what's happening in Big Bend. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston. 

In a 180 for the ages, Texas House Judiciary Chairman Jeff Leach is back to fully embracing his old political mentor, Ken Paxton, after previously helping lead the charge to impeach him back in 2023. The truth is they'll rise and sink together politically with Paxton now at the top of the Texas GOP's statewide ticket. Then Harvey weighs in on Sen. Cornyn's pushback to the Trump Administration, Susan Hays helps us try to make sense of Texas' new THC crackdown, and Jen Rice at Democracy Docket explains how a plan to slash the number of voting locations around Fort Worth quickly became a political hot potato. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.

While a Fox News poll shows Democrats neck and neck with Republicans statewide, the Texas GOP is forgiving all their internal bad blood from top to bottom and starting a push to do almost anything rural voters want even if it's potentially bad for almost everyone else. In that spirit, we'll take you to an old school tent revival fused with a professional wrestling pay-per-view event. And in that vein, Republican leaders pull back on plans for electricity transmission followed by some advice for Uncle Paul Bettencourt about his Trump impersonation. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.

This week, either the Texas heat is making people do stupid things or the heat from voters is making candidates stake out positions on issues that have the potential to turn this state's politics upside down. Prime example: James Talarico wasn't saying anything on data centers. Now he sort of is while Gov. Greg Abbott celebrates the cancellation of a data center project. Why? Isn't he the one bragging about Texas being the "epicenter" of the industry? Meantime Harvey weighs in after Talarico was confronted at a town hall for Black voters. And: Paxton serves as the "hand grenade" who blew up the sports betting controversy at Texas Tech even worse than it already was. Jeff Ward will check in about that. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.