Y'all-itics

In the October 18 episode, Democratic nominee for Governor Gina Hinojosa tells us why she thinks Governor Greg Abbott is “scared” and she addresses some recent Republican attacks on her record. And we highlight the race for Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme Court between Republican Jimmy Blacklock, who is hoping voters elect him to the position after being appointed by the Governor, and Maggie Ellis, who is hoping to become the state’s first ever female Chief Justice.

Texans have the opportunity to select the state’s 13th Agriculture Commissioner in the midterm election. And it’s a big job in Texas, from helping farmers and ranchers grow and sell their product, to protecting consumers through safeguards such as pesticide regulation, to administering federal nutrition programs in public schools. But the key issue in this race might just be data centers. In this episode of Y’all-itics, hear from the two main candidates, Democrat Clayton Tucker and Republican Nate Sheets.

In the October 11 episode, Democratic nominee for Attorney General Nathan Johnson explains why he thinks undecided voters will swing the race in his direction and why he’s targeting his opponent in a major, statewide ad blitz. And the two candidates running for Dallas County Commissioner District 2 – Republican Barry Wernick and Democrat Andy Sommerman – discuss their campaigns with a focus on the proposed property tax increase that promises to be top of mind for voters.

It’s a lengthy resume. U.S. Army infantry officer. Section Chief for Counterterrorism. FBI Special Agent in Charge of the D.C. and Dallas Field Offices. Now retired from the FBI, Matthew DeSarno could have picked his job in the private sector. But he chose instead to become a… columnist. DeSarno argues that the rule of law is slowly eroding in our country and it could cause permanent damage, so writing is his new high-stakes mission. As the Jasons learned over a cold one with DeSarno at Union Bear Brewing Company in Plano, his new gig began with a letter to his daughters. We also wanted to know what’s the one thing he believed in while working for the FBI that he no longer trusts.

GUEST

Matthew DeSarno, DMN Contributing Columnist

Republican political consultant Vinny Minchillo, who’s worked on countless campaigns, says there are a million ways to win an election, but losing candidates do ten things. And he’s laid it all out in a new book, essential reading for first time candidates, or voters wanting a peak behind the political curtain. Negative ads. Debates. Endorsements. Fundraising. Polling. In this episode of Y’all-itics, Minchillo discusses how each can impact an election while having a cold one with the Jasons at Peticolas Brewing Company. The veteran politico will even explain why he hates those darn yard signs so much, and how they can be a drag on a campaign.

GUEST

Vinny Minchillo, Author/GOP Political Consultant

In the October 4 episode, find out what President Donald Trump has to say about Republican U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton one month before the election, and we ask the President whether he regrets endorsing Paxton over Sen. John Cornyn. And in Dallas County, Commissioners are asking residents to raise taxes to fund homelessness efforts. Commissioner John Wiley Price explains his opposition while families are struggling, while County Judge Clay Lewis Jenkins will tell you why he thinks the permanent tax will help the county grow.

In the September 27 episode, Republican U.S. Representative Jodey Arrington tells us why he’s calling for a constitutional amendment to balance the federal budget and why he chose Dallas for a field hearing to discuss the $40 trillion national debt. Republican nominee for Ag Commissioner Nate Sheets explains why he’s not calling for a data center moratorium and how he’d help Texas farmers and ranchers stay in business. And Dallas Council Member Paula Blackmon on the coalition now calling for Dallas voters to decide the fate of City Hall.

Democrat James Talarico is asking Republican Ken Paxton if he’ll commit to a debate in their Senate race if it’s in what Talarico calls Paxton’s “safe space” on FOX News. If that doesn’t happen, for the first time in a quarter century, the U.S. Senate candidates in Texas will not go before Texas voters to explain their policies and defend their positions in a debate. Talarico has repeatedly said yes. Paxton? Not so much. In this episode of Y’all-itics, you’ll learn why debates are going the way of the dodo. And a longtime Republican consultant tells us why he thinks Paxton is dodging a debate and why he would still advise his clients to accept one.

GUESTS

Brian Mayes, GOP Political Consultant

Brandon Rottinghaus, UH Political Science Professor

The headline is stunning enough: “Fiasco in the Factory: Taxpayers Funded a $533 Million Artillery Plant That Made Nothing”. But the details in the story that follow are even more extraordinary: crashing robotic machines, equipment catching fire, and an artillery shell that was supposed to be smooth coming out shaped like a soft serve ice cream swirl. The Jasons are joined by the ProPublica reporter who broke the blockbuster story on a Mesquite, Texas plant where he says taxpayers got nothing for the big bucks they spent. And more reports are coming. Note: Y’all-itics reached out to General Dynamics to give them a chance to respond to the details of the ProPublica report and/or to join the podcast discussion and they declined comment and passed on an interview. We tried reaching out to Repkon with the same offers for their response and didn’t hear back.

Guest:

Jesse Coburn, Reporter at ProPublica

The full Pro Publica Report:

https://www.propublica.org/article/general-dynamics-artillery-factory-failed

‘Inside Texas Politics’: Chip Roy, Clayton Tucker, and How AI and Data Centers Are Shaping the Midterms

In the September 20 episode, Republican U.S. Representative Chip Roy explains why he thinks government must take a “human first” approach to regulating AI, and why he disagrees with President Trump calling AI safety fears a “hoax.” And Democrat Clayton Tucker tells us why he’s so focused on data centers in his race for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, and why one of the first things he’d do in office is conduct an agriculture impact study.