In 2025, most Texans will no longer have to have their vehicles inspected. But in a development that surprises exactly no one, Texans will still pay the fee. The state actually sponsored a study that said those inspections were not only highly effective, but should likely be expanded. That study’s author says he’s surprised lawmakers dumped the program, and in this episode of Y’all-itics, he tells the Jasons why. And you’ll notice we said “most” Texans. Find out why drivers in 17 counties are still facing an annual exam.

Guest

Dr. Michael Murphy, University of Texas at Austin

It is the episode you’ve been waiting for, when the Y’all-itics team discusses the best and worst of politics in 2024. Who gets a cheer? Who gets a jeer? And who gets a beer? In this special holiday edition, the Jasons are joined by WFAA political producer Berna Dean Steptoe and Fort Worth Star Telegram columnist Bud Kennedy.

Guests

Berna Dean Steptoe, WFAA Political Producer

Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star Telegram

It’s been open for nearly two decades, with thousands passing through its doors. Though you’ve likely never heard of it, this small courtroom in Houston is having a big impact on homelessness by helping folks get out from under Class C misdemeanors. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the man who supervises the city of Houston’s homeless court tells the Jasons why those criminal charges can often keep the homeless from the very things they need to get off the streets and why it’s important that those who find themselves before the judge are called clients, not defendants.

Guest

Scot More, Houston Homeless Court Administrator

A cruise sounds like the perfect getaway, right? How about for 3 years? It could be the perfect escape from American politics. Texan Joe Rhodes did just that, but he still had to vote. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons shared a pint with him at Three Nations Brewing in Carrollton, where they learned it hasn’t all been smooth sailing (pun intended).

Guest

Joe Rhodes, Cruise Ship Resident

President-elect Trump is proposing steep tariffs on our North America trading partners. Those extra levies would be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices on everything from clothing to food to cars. But the bigger price would be to the economies of all countries involved, says Waco-based economist Ray Perryman of The Perryman Group. He has crunched the numbers for governments, huge companies, and public policymakers. Perryman ran the tariff numbers for Y'all-itics and shares the staggering results that include a significant shrinking of the economy and tremendous job losses if the tariff's Trump is threatening actually materialize.

Guest: Dr. Ray Perryman, President & CEO-The Perryman Group

At some point over the past four years, you’ve likely heard about Shelley Luther. Her defiant stance against COVID shutdown orders launched a movement. But everything came to an abrupt stop when a brain aneurysm nearly took her life. Now a Representative-elect heading to Austin, don’t expect her to back down from anything… or anyone. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the GOP firebrand sits down with the Jasons at Tupps Brewery in McKinney, Texas to set the record straight and fill in the blanks about her story that’s played out in front of TV cameras for the last four years.

Guest

Representative-elect Shelly Luther, R-Sherman

You’ve long heard about people wanting to leave the country after someone they disagree with becomes President. The sentiment could be as old as the Republic itself. But in this episode of Y’all-itics, you’ll hear from a self-described “mouthy liberal” who’s actually doing it. In fact, the Jasons sit down with her inside her own home that’s now on the market.

** Warning: this podcast contains language some may find offensive **

Guest

Jana Lynn Sanchez, Democratic Activist

To the victor belong the spoils. Texas Republicans won big and we’re starting to get a sense of their priorities. At the top of the list is school choice… and they now have the votes. The border will remain a top issue… and they now have “a great friend in the White House.” But what about casino gambling? Or another property tax cut? In this episode of Y’all-itics, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who runs the Senate, explains how school choice will work, how big another property tax cut might be and whether you should be placing any bets on casino gambling.

Guest

Dan Patrick, (R) Texas Lieutenant Governor

Other than, perhaps, Senator Ted Cruz’s margin of victory over Colin Allred, there were no real election surprises in Texas. Republicans won big. Democrats are once again searching for answers. And school vouchers are closer than ever to becoming a reality. In this election night episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons and our panel of political experts break down what the vote means for you, and the future of Texas.

Guests

Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star Telegram

Berna Dean Steptoe, WFAA Political Producer

You’ve heard the headlines: billionaire newspaper owners pulling their presidential endorsements in the eleventh hour. Those controversial decisions got us thinking here at Y’all-itics, so in this early release episode we ask whether newspaper endorsements even matter. The Jasons sit down with William McKenzie, the Senior Editorial Advisor at the George W. Bush Institute and a Pulitzer Prize winning editorial columnist, and Bud Kennedy, himself an icon of Texas journalism and a member of the Fort Worth Star Telegram’s editorial board.

Guests

William McKenzie, Senior Editorial Advisor at the George W. Bush Institute

Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star Telegram Editorial Board