Texas Take

By Houston Chronicle

What's Texas Take about?

Go behind the headlines for a look at what's really going on at the Texas Capitol and in Washington with the state's #1 political podcast: Texas Take. Join the conversation featuring Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle/San Antonio Express-News political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Texas Take episodes:

05.10.2024
Let's Play the Blame Game
Even after he held school funding hostage last year in a failed bid to pass a school voucher program, Gov. Abbott is blaming Texas school districts for their local budget shortfalls. We'll explain. Plus, Congressman Henry Cuellar faces federal charges...
05.03.2024
Another Month of This?
The Texas runoff elections are now getting especially bitter and, frankly, tedious as we now have a little less than a month before election day. Speaker Phelan is fighting for his political life and the Texas House's inner workings are being debated...
04.26.2024
Civil Unrest
Gov. Greg Abbott is getting praise from the right and condemnation from the left - of course, exactly what he wants - after he appears to have set the stage for a standoff between pro-Palestinian protesters and state police at...
04.19.2024
Awkwardly Bipartisan
The political environment has become so toxic that even when Republicans and Democrats work together to accomplish something, they still don't really want to be seen together. We'll explain. Plus, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick seems to be trying to get...
04.12.2024
Abortion Explodes: Déjà vu in Texas
Abortion policy is front and center as former President Trump and Sen. Ted Cruz argue it's an issue that should be handled differently in different states and Democrats point to Texas as the most extreme example of what happens when it's done that...
03.29.2024
Nothin' Sticks to This Guy
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton this week was able to avoid a trial in his decade-long felony securities fraud case. How did that possibly happen? Plus, we set the record straight now that pro-school voucher groups are trying to refute our...
03.22.2024
Back to Work
Texas' new immigration crackdown is now being enforced as legal challenges to it this week gave legal whiplash to Republicans and Democrats alike. Plus, a speaker's race begins in Austin before the primary runoff elections have even been completed. Join...
03.09.2024
"On to the Playoffs!"
Gov. Greg Abbott significantly moved the Texas House in his direction on school vouchers during this week's GOP primary election. But the fight is far from over. "On to the playoffs!" said Abbott's chief political strategist, referring to the runoff...
03.01.2024
Be Careful What You Ask For
Sen. Ted Cruz recently dared President Joe Biden to head to the Texas border and what do you know? Mr. Biden was in Brownsville this week to go toe-to-toe with former President Donald Trump, who was in Eagle Pass on...
02.23.2024
"This is a War"
In his fight for reelection, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan this past week said "this is a war" and was joined at a Port Arthur rally by one of the biggest names in this state's GOP politics for backup: Gov....
02.12.2024
Frauds and Liars
Gov. Abbott is weaponizing his newfound celebrity status on border issues to go after Texas House Republicans who didn't vote with him 100 percent of the time last year. Plus, some Democrats are knifing each other in an increasingly nasty primary...
02.01.2024
Rubber Meet Road
What a difference a week makes. After a fairly quiet opening of the campaign season, Gov. Greg Abbott is ramping up his offensive on the ground, targeting Texas House members who voted to kill his priority school voucher proposal. Plus, the Democrats...
01.26.2024
How About a Do-Over?
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faces new questions and a Republican push to reopen his impeachment proceedings after his latest attempt to avoid answering questions under oath. Plus, Republicans are whipping people into a frenzy over the border while Democrats...
01.19.2024
A Complete Picture of Total Failure
This week, the Department of Justice released its long awaited report on the shooting in Uvalde. Families of the victims are upset about the lack of police competence, of course, but beyond that they want to know why Texas still...
01.12.2024
PTSD
A winter storm moving through Texas this weekend brings back memories of the deadly cold in February of 2021, though there are key differences this time. Plus, Gov. Greg Abbott is roundly criticized for suggesting the only reason his administration is not...
01.05.2024
New Year, Same Old Fights
A new year begins with immigration and abortion in the spotlight as the campaign season heats up ahead of Texas' March primary leading toward the general election in the fall. Scott and Jeremy are ready to dig into it all...
12.15.2023
How Far Will They Go?
The newest abortion battle shows just how far Texas is willing to go in enforcing some of the strictest anti-abortion laws in the nation. Plus, there might be new hope for an immigration and border security package in Washington. But we hear...
12.08.2023
Doin' it the Hard Way
Now that his nonstop push for a school voucher program has crashed at the Legislature, it appears Gov. Abbott is ready to move onto campaign against Republicans who voted against his top priority. Plus, the first Latina to be confirmed...
11.30.2023
Slamming the Door Shut
The Texas Legislature and Gov. Abbott are in a place they've rarely, if ever, been: Lawmakers are telling Abbott "no" to one of his major policy proposals. Now his retribution tour on school vouchers can begin as long as he...
11.17.2023
Light at the End of the Tunnel?
The border crackdown in Texas is passing the Legislature right as Gov. Greg Abbott prepares to host former President Trump in The Valley this weekend. Plus, a crisis is temporarily averted in Washington while a GOP Congressman from Texas asks...
11.11.2023
Shredding the Constitution
You can't make this stuff up: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's longtime conservative point man on border security broke with Texas Senate leadership this week to vote against the way Patrick and Gov. Greg Abbott want to crack down on immigration. You...
11.04.2023
Crashin' and Burnin'
The dysfunction at the Texas Capitol has become so intense that a Republican Legislature might not be able to send a "border security" bill to a Republican Governor. The governor's school voucher legislation is dead for now. Plus, Jeremy reports...
10.27.2023
Shut Up and Sit Down
Latino Democrats in the Texas House felt like they were told to "sit down and shut up" as they tried to push back on a sweeping state immigration crackdown that will impact people in their communities, whether documented or not....
10.13.2023
A "Serious Blunder"
The running feud between Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan exploded this week with Phelan asking Patrick to give up millions of dollars now tied to an anti-Semitic white nationalist and Patrick saying Phelan should resign. Join the...
09.29.2023
If At First You Don't Succeed, Change the Subject
Under pressure from Fox News hosts and GOP activists, Gov. Abbott is making some changes to his plans for an upcoming special session that was going to be exclusively focused on school vouchers. Now he's adding immigration to the mix. Plus, Jeremy...
09.22.2023
If at First You Don't Succeed, Threaten Everyone
Now that the smoke is starting to clear from the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton, Gov. Greg Abbott is already promising to summon lawmakers to Austin again for another special session. This time, his pet project of school...
09.17.2023
All Out War
The end of the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton seems to be the beginning of a new chapter in the Texas GOP's civil war. Plus, Gov. Abbott blasts the Castro brothers over the border and DC Republicans fight each...
09.08.2023
The People's Court?
The historic impeachment trial of Texas AG Ken Paxton is, well frankly, putting some senators to sleep. But that doesn't make the allegations against Paxton less serious. We'll get into that plus an update on the floating border wall and a legendary...
09.01.2023
Law And Order
With the impeachment trial of AG Ken Paxton starting next week while court battles play out in Texas over hot issues like the border and LGBTQ rights, Jeremy says we should just call this episode "Law and Order." Done. Plus,...
08.25.2023
Here Comes MAGA
Steve Bannon is promising to make some Texas GOP State Senators "famous" and go to war with them in primaries if they vote to remove Attorney General Ken Paxton. But does Bannon know Texas GOP voters better than former Gov....
08.18.2023
Burner Phones and a Fake Uber Account
The prosecutors in the impeachment of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton are starting to reveal some of what they hope to present in the trial, including evidence of Paxton using burner phones and an Uber account using a fake name as ways...
08.12.2023
Unsettled and Unsettling
With so much unsettled at the Texas Capitol, including the impeachment of AG Paxton and the fight over school funding and school vouchers, the politics of the state are reaching a boiling point. Meanwhile, Jeremy headed down to Eagle Pass,...
07.28.2023
"Un-American"
The fight over Texas "border security" operations intensifies this week with Vice President Kamala Harris saying the Abbott Administration is acting in an "un-American" way. Abbott meanwhile is saying he'll happily see the DOJ in court after the feds moved...
07.22.2023
The White House Strikes Back at Texas Over the Border
Following reporting by the Houston Chronicle on the treatment of migrants at the Texas-Mexico border, the Department of Justice on Friday said they'll sue the Abbott Administration over the state's "security" measures along the Rio Grande. Join the conversation with...
07.14.2023
A Perfect Day for the Legislature to Go Away
After a 7 month standoff, Republican leadership in Austin finally settled on their plan to offer property tax relief to Texans. Plus, Jeremy reports from the border on the fact that Texas' security efforts are often actually just getting in...
06.30.2023
Forget Iowa. Texas is Becoming the First Stop for the GOP Nomination
Increasingly, GOP candidates for the White House have a crucial first stop on their way to the nomination and it isn't the Iowa State Fair. It's Eagle Pass, Texas. Plus, there could be some light at the end of the...
06.23.2023
A Big Nothingburger
Amid a stalemate on property taxes, Gov. Abbott clashes with Lt. Gov. Patrick in a way that we've never seen before. Plus, Sen. Angela Paxton is not allowed to vote on the impeachment of her husband, Texas Attorney General Ken...
06.02.2023
Ten Times Worse Than You've Heard
Texas House impeachment managers are turning to legendary Houston defense attorneys to prosecute the case against Attorney General Ken Paxton. But how will the trial in the Senate be handled? Plus, it takes a special level of incompetence for Republicans to have...
05.26.2023
Where There's Smoke...
It's history in the making this week as the GOP-led Texas House moves toward impeaching Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton for multiple alleged crimes and abuse of office over the better part of a decade. Plus, we reflect on the lives lost...
05.19.2023
A Top Texas Republican Says Trump's Time Has Passed
The elder statesman of the Texas GOP, Sen. John Cornyn, this week said former President Donald Trump's "time has passed," and it's time for Republicans to find someone else to run for the White House. Meantime at the Texas Capitol:...
05.13.2023
A Mass Shooting Every Week
With a mass shooting each week in Texas, leaders are largely now skipping right past "thoughts and prayers" and talking about other stuff like the border. Plus, Latino Democrats in the Texas House beat back a proposal to form a...
05.07.2023
Threats Real and Imagined
While the Texas Legislature takes aim at "gender modification" of children, which Republican officeholders say is "genital mutilation" and "slaughter," lawmakers are largely turning a blind eye toward the actual slaughter of children. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor...
04.29.2023
Dissenting Voices
In a week of pushing back on the majority at the Texas Capitol in Austin, there were those who ran into brick walls and others who found some success. From gun legislation to a proposal to ban certain people from...
04.22.2023
Dolla Dolla Bills, Y'all
Lt. Gov. Patrick, waving cash at the TV camera like Mattress Mack in Houston, is promising Texans that his tax plan will save them more money than Speaker Dade Phelan's blueprint. Plus Gov. Greg Abbott is now saying teachers in...
04.15.2023
Texas Gov. Tucker Carlson?
With Gov. Greg Abbott once again being jerked around by Fox News Host Tucker Carlson, even some Republicans this week are privately asking "who really runs Texas?" Plus, an immigration debate gets hot at the Capitol and school vouchers hit a...
03.31.2023
Darker Than American Carnage
With an indictment looming over his head, former President Donald Trump rallied the faithful in Waco on the anniversary of the 1993 siege that's been an organizing principle for conspiracy theorists for decades. Jeremy was on the scene and gives us a...
03.24.2023
A Threat to Friday Night Lights
Gov. Greg Abbott is finally acknowledging that rural Texans are concerned that his push for school vouchers threatens a big part of their way of life: High school football. Plus, what's the consequence of trying to ban certain books in school...
03.17.2023
Steamrolling the Minority
The controversy over DEI erupted at the Texas Capitol this week as Republicans moved to ban tax dollars from being spent on such programs. Plus, the state is moving to take over the Houston school district and local leaders are...
03.04.2023
"Where Woke Goes to Die." Really?
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis made a swing through Texas this weekend in Houston and Dallas, arguing that his state and this one are where "woke goes to die." Don't roll your eyes too hard. Plus, Gov. Abbott is really pushing...
02.25.2023
It's All About Priorities
Now that the governor, lieutenant governor, and speaker have shared some of their priorities, the legislative session is finally starting to take shape. But the speaker is the one playing his cards closest to the vest. Plus, Gov. Abbott rails...

What's Texas Take about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Texas Take episodes:

Let's Play the Blame Game

Another Month of This?

Civil Unrest

Awkwardly Bipartisan

Abortion Explodes: Déjà vu in Texas

Nothin' Sticks to This Guy

Back to Work

"On to the Playoffs!"

Be Careful What You Ask For

"This is a War"

Frauds and Liars

Rubber Meet Road

How About a Do-Over?

A Complete Picture of Total Failure

PTSD

New Year, Same Old Fights

How Far Will They Go?

Doin' it the Hard Way

Slamming the Door Shut

Light at the End of the Tunnel?

Shredding the Constitution

Crashin' and Burnin'

Shut Up and Sit Down

A "Serious Blunder"

If At First You Don't Succeed, Change the Subject

If at First You Don't Succeed, Threaten Everyone

All Out War

The People's Court?

Law And Order

Here Comes MAGA

Burner Phones and a Fake Uber Account

Unsettled and Unsettling

"Un-American"

The White House Strikes Back at Texas Over the Border

A Perfect Day for the Legislature to Go Away

Forget Iowa. Texas is Becoming the First Stop for the GOP Nomination

A Big Nothingburger

Ten Times Worse Than You've Heard

Where There's Smoke...

A Top Texas Republican Says Trump's Time Has Passed

A Mass Shooting Every Week

Threats Real and Imagined

Dissenting Voices

Dolla Dolla Bills, Y'all

Texas Gov. Tucker Carlson?

Darker Than American Carnage

A Threat to Friday Night Lights

Steamrolling the Minority

"Where Woke Goes to Die." Really?

It's All About Priorities