Texas Republicans were at each other's throats this week fighting over whether the government can retroactively change prices in the electricity market during the state's winter storm disaster. Gov. Greg Abbott in the meantime was doing his best to talk about anything other than the fallout from the ice storm, so he tried changing the subject to immigration and "election integrity."

Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

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Without consulting with his own top medical professionals, Gov. Greg Abbott this week dropped the mask mandate and said businesses can open 100 percent despite the fact the pandemic is still unfolding all around us. President Joe Biden called it "neanderthal thinking."  Meantime, Texas lawmakers are rolling up their sleeves and getting down to work on the state's policy response to the ice storm that left millions without power or water.

Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

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Despite their political differences, Gov. Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden are together in Houston to survey damage and talk about ways to respond to the ice storm that knocked out power and put water supplies at risk for millions of Texans. Meantime, legislative hearings have begun into what went wrong with the state's power grid. And Sen. Ted Cruz cannot stop talking about his trip to Cancun during the big freeze.

Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

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Gov. Greg Abbott this week didn't wait for the lights to come back on or for Texans to stop dying in the freezing cold before he lashed out at the proponents of the Green New Deal. But after that went over like a lead balloon, Abbott did move in the direction of substantive policy changes to address the winter weather crisis gripping this state. And yes, it's true: Sen. Ted Cruz did travel to Cancun to escape the blizzard.

Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

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Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faced blistering questions this week from some of his fellow Republicans after unilaterally moving $40 million in tax dollars to give out pay raises in his office. Meantime the impeachment trial in Washington drew to a close and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick poured cold water on proposals to expand gambling in the state.

Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

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In his State of the State Address this week, Gov. Greg Abbott argues "normalcy" is coming back to Texas. But the COVID-19 statistics suggest otherwise. Plus lawmakers in Washington continue to haggle over a new COVID relief package and Ted Cruz can't help but paint himself into a corner with his pop culture references. 

Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

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As the anger builds among Republicans against the second impeachment of former President Trump, a small group in the Texas GOP wants to start a conversation about secession. Yes, that again. Plus Beto O'Rourke floats the possibility of running against Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022. Hope springs eternal for Texas Democrats.

Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

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He's just been sworn in this week and Democratic President Joe Biden is already at odds with Texas Republican leaders on a host of issues from immigration to energy. Plus Sen. Ted Cruz faces the wrath of the Lincoln Project and Gov. Greg Abbott snubs Houston's political leadership when hosting a roundtable on COVID vaccine in Houston.

Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

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President Trump was impeached for a second time right as he visited the Texas border for a subdued victory lap for an uncompleted border wall. Meantime, Sen. Ted Cruz faces questions about his role in inciting riots at the Capitol and the Texas Legislature convened under the cloud of the pandemic.

Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

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As riots unfolded at the US Capitol in Washington, Sen. Ted Cruz and his former top aide Rep. Chip Roy were on opposite sides of the argument fueling the violence. Meantime, Rep. Dan Crenshaw told Jeremy that some of his GOP colleagues who incited the rioters later behaved like "cowards." Plus, a top Texas health official is caught on tape saying the state government has reached the limits of what it can do in the battle against COVID-19.

Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

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