Sex continues to dominate politics in Texas and Washington.

U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold of Corpus Christi becomes the latest casualty of the sex-harassment scandal in Washington, even as new allegations surface that he crudely treated staffers and was boorish and worse with woman who worked for him.

In Austin, the filing period for candidates in 2018 elections closed, and almost immediately the sparks started flying -- first between incumbent Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and GOP challenger over a 1981 song by Ted Nugent, Miller's campaign chairman.

Nugent's "Jail Bait" is about sexual notions about a 13-year-old girl. Oops!

Jeff Mateer, who had been nominated for a federal judgeship, had his name withdrawn by President Trump over comments he made in a 2015 speech suggesting that transgender children were part of "Satan's Plan."

At the Texas Capitol, Gov. Greg Abbott has dispatched storied Texas Rangers to investigate reports of sexual abuse in the state's youth lockups.

With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio.

Texas Democrats have eight -- count 'em, eight -- candidates running for governor in the spring 2018 primary. Eleven candidates, seven Republicans and four Democrats, have signed on to replace Ted Poe in Congress.

Outspoken Republican Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has picked up a GOP primary challenger. So has GOP Land Commissioner George P. Bush, who has three -- including his colorful predecessor, Jerry Patterson, long an outspoken critic.

To say the least, the 2018 elections season promises to be, as the Church Lady once said, so sp-e-e-e-cial.

Add to that rambunctious list yet more debate over the bathroom bill, controversy over the Alamo and mounting complaints about the recovery from Hurricane Harvey, and the political season in Texas is beginning to look like a main event. Get the lowdown on what's really going on in this week's Texas Take podcast.

With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio.

Amid continuing revelations about lurid details from his last, and demands from fellow Republicans to step aside, U.S. Rep. Joe Barton decides not to seek another term. He becomes the first casualty of the national uproar over sexual harassment.

 Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick push back on plans by the Texas Department of Transportation to add more toll roads to Texas' transportation future.

 And oft-controversial Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller picks up a GOP primary opponent who hopes that Texans have had their fill of the colorful Sid, who fires an opening salvo at challenger Trey Blocker by calling him out for supporting liberal Democrats in the past.

Miller, if you recall, is the guy who flew to Oklahoma at taxpayer expense for a cure-all "Jesus Shot."

 As Texas politics continue to jerk from the anatomical to the serious, this is the place where you can find out what's really going on behind all the government-speak and partisan bluster.

 With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio

In Texas and Washington, politics seems to be getting uglier and uglier.

Take, for instance, the U.S. Senate campaign of Alabama justice and conservative icon Roy Moore, who has been accused of groping and trying to date young girls years ago. Appearing at a rally to support Moore was Houston doctor and conservative Texas Republican Steven Hotze, who insisted that those trying to force Moore from the race are part a left-wing conspiracy.

In his speech, he spoke about communist Democrats and the alt-left press.

Back in Texas, Gov. Abbott took the unusual step of endorsing a Republican challenger to a sitting House member, state Rep. Sarah Davis, because she is not conservative enough to suit him.

Filmmakers who are looking to shoot a movie about state Sen. Wendy Davis' historic abortion filibuster in 2013 plan to include the pivotal "let her speak"moment, where then-Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, demands to know what it will take for a woman to be heard in the Senate.

They plan to cast Davis in that role, not Latina Van de Putte. Sandra Bullock is to play Davis.

As the political season in Texas continues to more resemble a Jerry Springer show, this is the place where you can find out what's really doing on behind all the political talk and bluster.

With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio.

The tragic church shooting in South Texas instantly revived debate over gun control in Texas. One question is whether a key to preventing future tragedies might be for more Texans to carry handguns -- on Sundays, to work and everywhere else.

Attorney General Ken Paxton became the first Republican state official to suggest that, a comment that drew former CNN host Piers Morgan to call Paxton "a brainless moron."

Morgan, the British commentator who a lot of Second Amendment supporters in Texas love to hate, is the same guy who several years ago engaged Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on guns in what has become a famous exchange, where Patrick disparaged "northeast Liberals" for making fun of the Lone Star State's 

As the political season ramps up for the filing period for candidates, Texas' congressional delegation continues to make news with retirements and Democrats are still looking for a flagship candidate for governor.

With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio.

Politicians in Washington are arguing over how to cut taxes, and Texans are suggesting they should quit all the talking and just get it done. Let's not make this another drawn-out debate by Republicans where nothing happens in the end, like the Obamacare repeal, average folks are saying.

Gov. Greg Abbott makes a pitch to Congress to give Texas $61 billion -- yes, that's billion, with a 'b' -- to repair public infrastructure hammered Hurricane Harvey, and he gets a cool reception to any fast approval of such a big amount.

And as the political season ramps up for primary elections next spring, incumbent Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick gets a GOP challenger who disagrees with him on public education and school vouchers, among other things. 

With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio.

Give us a listen by using the player on this page, or even better search for "Texas Take" on Apple Podcasts and click subscribe. You can find us on Stitcher, too.

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus delivered a stunner this week when he announced he will retire from his job as presiding officer. Unlike other top Texas Republicans who retired, he’s not expected anytime soon on Dancing with the Stars. Instead, he may get very involved in the GOP primary. 

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick insists his differences with Straus were never personal, even if it sure sounded that way as recently as Monday with Patrick arguing Straus should change his behavior and stop attacking Gov. Greg Abbott. 

President Donald Trump visits Texas with supporters cheering him and handing over their cash while opponents call him a “liar, liar, liar.” 

And Gov. Abbott thinks he can get the UT and Texas A&M game going again, but that’s easier said than done. 

With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio. Listen to more of their podcasts on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com.

The President started it all, with some Trump-speak about how some former presidents didn't call the families of dead soldiers to express condolences. After he walked those comments back, Energy Secretary Perry, a veteran himself, called the public controversy over The Donald's remarks as "asinine."

Add a CNN debate between U.S. Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Bernie Sanders to a week supposed corruption in the Texas House -- part of a political drama show that's just beginning to unfold, involving the controversial bathroom bill.

That and more on this week's show, the lowdown on all the political entertainment in Austin and Washington -- and what it all means to average Texans.

With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio. Listen to more of their podcasts on our subscriber site, HoustonChronicle.com.

An angry Gov. Greg Abbott takes on fellow Republicans in the U.S. House for getting "rolled" by not demanding that Texas gets an additional $18 billion now in Hurricane Harvey relief funding.

And former top Trump adviser Steve Bannon says he's fixin' to unseat all Republican U.S. senators except Texan Ted Cruz, as U.S. Rep. Al Green of Houston files paperwork to impeach Donald Trump for . . . well, being Trump.

That and more on this week's show, the lowdown on all the political entertainment in Austin and Washington -- and what it all means to average Texans.

With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio.

The worst shooting massacre in modern U.S. history sparks an intense new debate over gun control, including a ban on "bump stocks" that can make rifles function like an automatic weapon.

Gov. Greg Abbott shuts down complaints in Houston about the pace of Hurricane Harvey recovery by writing the Bayou City a $50 million check.

And Arnold Schwarzenegger wants to terminate gerrymandering.

That and more on this week's show, the lowdown on all the political action under the Pink Dome in Austin -- and what it means to Texans.

 With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, comes Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio.