Now that the 89th Texas Legislative Session is over in Texas, the Y’all-itics team decided to revisit a report that ranked the Lone Star State DEAD LAST in personal freedom. In this rewind episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons were joined by Dr. William Ruger, a Texas native himself, who prepares the “Freedom in the 50 States” report for the Cato Institute. This episode originally aired on January 7, 2024.

“Freedom in the 50 States” 2023 report| Cato Institute: https://www.freedominthe50states.org/

Guest

William Ruger, CATO Institute

Keeping the lights on in Texas already ain’t cheap. Now, you can expect another surcharge on your electric bill. Four years after a severe winter storm nearly led to the total collapse of the Texas grid, the state is now allowing transmission utilities to produce plans to “harden” their equipment against a hodgepodge of threats like tree limbs, stronger storms, wildfires, and even hackers and substation saboteurs. The Jasons go to the headquarters of the largest utility in Texas to get details on the first resilience plan to be filed with the state… a $3 billion blueprint. How will it keep your lights on? And how will it be paid for?

Guest

Brian Lloyd, VP of Regulatory Policy for Oncor

Texas’ explosive population growth is putting immense pressure on the state’s largest cities and metropolitan areas. If you’re one of the nine out of 10 Texans who live in or visit these cities, you’ve likely already dealt firsthand with some of the challenges. Nearly 200 researchers and business leaders produced a plan to build better cities in the future. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons are joined by one of the lead researchers for the “Texas Metropolitan Blueprint” who explains why they took it to lawmakers in Austin and what’s at stake if those same lawmakers do nothing.

Guest

Steven Pedigo, Faculty Director/LBJ Urban Lab at The University of Texas at Austin

It’s not officially a campaign but Beto O’Rourke is touring the state and talking to Texans again. So, is he preparing to launch a new campaign in 2026? In our conversation with him, we couldn’t help but notice that it sounds like he’s moving more towards the middle now.

Guest

Beto O’Rourke, Former U.S. Congressman, D-El Paso

The Trump Administration’s budget cuts to the National Weather Service (NWS) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) have meteorologists and forecasters sounding the alarm about the impact on public safety. Some former NWS directors even warn that more cuts could lead to unnecessary deaths during severe weather events, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons share a pint with renowned Texas meteorologist Troy Kimmel who told them he thinks the cuts are already impacting safety.

Guest

Troy Kimmel, Meteorologist

More and more Americans are considering decamping from the USA and moving overseas… permanently. And a former Texas resident is leading the way. We first introduced you to Jana Lynn Sanchez last November when she announced she was leaving Fort Worth to move to The Netherlands after Donald Trump’s re-election. Nearly six months later, her new company, GTFO Tours, is, literally, helping people “GTFO” out of the country. Sanchez joined the Jasons to explain how it all works, and who is best suited for relocation.

* Warning: this episode contains adult language

Guest

Jana Lynn Sanchez, Texas Expatriate

You can be sued for sharing thoughts, opinions, or even facts. But Texas law protects you against frivolous lawsuits meant to intimidate you into shutting up. However, a proposed bill now threatens to weaken that protection. That has united some odd bedfellows to save the law.

Spoiler alert: At the end of this podcast, the staggering legal fees one lawmaker is owed after he was sued and invoked this very law. Our guest is Laura Lee Prather, a Texas attorney and fierce free speech advocate now leading the charge to protect a law that's now in jeopardy.

Guest: Laura Lee Prather, Attorney/Partner/Chair of Media Law Practice Group, Haynes Boone

In only three months, he accomplished something none of his predecessors could: pushing school vouchers across the finish line. But in a rare sit-down interview, House Speaker Dustin Burrows told us it isn’t even the most important bill they’ve passed this session (5:08). Across the aisle, the leader of House Democrats says even though vouchers are now state law, his party still has a strategy to fight them (24:17). With school choice in the rearview mirror, both leaders join us on this episode of Y’all-itics to discuss what’s next for Texas.

Guests

Speaker Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock

Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston

The Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce, the oldest such chamber in the country, is on high alert tracking the status of four bills lawmakers are considering in Austin. From diverting public transportation funding to eliminating DEI programs, the organization says the legislation could devastate Black and other minority-businesses, as well as entire communities if passed. In this episode of Y’all-itics, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Harrison Blair explains to the Jasons why throwing briskets, not bombs, could be the key to stopping these bills.

Guest

Harrison Blair, Dallas Black Chamber of Commerce President & CEO

Mark Cuban is free to talk – and he has a lot to say. From Luka Doncic to his growing new venture to lower prescription drug costs for Americans, Cuban discussed it all with WFAA’s Jonah Javad. Will Cuban enter politics? Jonah told the Jasons its doubtful – after something Cuban said to him.

GUEST:

Jonah Javad, WFAA Sports Anchor

Mark Cuban