Second Reading Podcast

By Second Reading PodcastNews Government

Second Reading Podcast episodes

October 01 Looking Down Ballot at Dynamics in Texas’ Congressional and Legislative Races
James Henson and Joshua Blank abandon the top of the ballot this week to look at the state of play in Congressional and legislative elections in Texas. This episode was recorded by Scott Leben and edited by Brianna Padron.
54 min
September 24 So much Texas 2026 polling, so little time!
Jim Henson and Joshua Blank talk about the ins and outs of all the polling data being generated in the Texas 2026 election, how to read it, and what it’s telling us so far. This episode was recorded by Scott Leben and edited by Brianna Padron.
1 hr 1 min
September 17 What we can and can’t know about the 2026 election today
Spurred on by two new statewide polls, James Henson and Josh Blank look at the knowns and unknowns in the Texas election environment. Call it an exercise in epistemological humility. This episode was recorded by Will Kurzner and edited by Brianna Padron.
53 min
September 10 Will Trumpapalooza help Texas Republicans?
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at Texas public opinion (and vibes) to assess the possible impact of the 2026 National Convention in Dallas on elections in Texas. This episode was recorded by Scott Leben, and mixed by Brianna Padron.
56 min
September 03 Data Centers Aren’t Reigning Over Texas Public Opinion
While the latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll found very mixed expectations among Texas voters about the expected impact of data centers in different domains, James Henson and Joshua Blank discuss the results and look at how messaging from a pro-data center group, and from Gov. Abbott, align with the perceived trade-offs revealed in the latest […]
47 min
August 26 What the Latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll Tells Us About the 2026 Election in Texas
With new polling data from the August poll, James Henson and Joshua Blank talk over what the trial ballots and other election-related items can and can’t tell us about the state of Texas races as summer winds down.
50 min
August 20 How big a problem is rural discontent for Texas Republicans in the election?
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at public opinion data from rural Texas to assess how big a problem Republicans have among rural voters.
44 min
August 06 Interpreting Tightening Polling in U.S. Senate Race in Texas
James Henson and Joshua Blank return from a July podcasting hiatus to catch up on Texas polling in the Senate and gubernatorial races, and consider the influences on the election environment in Texas. This episode was recorded by Xayda Garza and mixed by Astrid Alvarez and Julie Rios
1 hr 4 min
July 02 Big SCOTUS Cases and the Emergence of Stronger Parties in the U.S. and Texas
James Henson & Joshua Blank look at Texas intersections with this week’s big Supreme Court decisions, and ponder the seeming emergence of stronger political parties in the U.S. and Texas. This episode was recorded by Astrid Alvarez and mixed by Uriel Murillo
1 hr 12 min
June 23 Increased Partisan Intensity, a Close Senate Race, and Data Center Backlash in the New Texas Politics Project Poll
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at 2026 Texas trial ballots and strikingly negative views of data centers and AI in the June Texas Politics Project Poll. This episode was engineered and mixed by Uriel Murillo.
1 hr 3 min