Texas Take

Stop us if you've heard this one: Gov. Abbott is trying to have it both ways on a controversial proposal supported by many grassroots Republicans. This time, it's the permitless carry of firearms bill that passed the Texas House and seems to be blocked in the Texas Senate. Plus a new poll shows actor Matthew McConaughey would beat Gov. Abbott in a head to head matchup. But, people should slow their roll on that.

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Why did the Texas Legislature go from narrowly focusing earlier in the year on COVID and the ice storm to now being a political red meat festival? That plus the latest on the voting rights fight at the Capitol.

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

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The fight over voting rights in Texas was on the national stage this week as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick traded barbs with some corporations and the Texas House started to move in a bit different direction from the Texas Senate on the issue. Plus former US House Speaker John Boehner has some choice words for Sen. Ted Cruz.

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

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Democrats warned Republicans in Texas this week that the majority party is "kickin' a bear" and "waking up a beast" by trying to make it harder to vote in this state. We've got the latest on the fight over voting rights as well as the faux outrage over the border. Plus a congressional candidate from New Jersey by way of Nevada tries his luck in a Texas special election.

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

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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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