Despite months of warnings, anxiety and political battles, Title 42 appears to have ended with a whimper, not the expected bang. The pandemic-era health policy that allowed authorities to quickly expel migrants, even asylum seekers, is no longer in place. And the predicted migrant surge and chaos along our southern border simply has not happened. In fact, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security says the number of illegal crossings has dropped by more than half. And in this episode of Y’all-itics, we explore why. The Jasons sit down for a cold one with Laura Collins, Director of the Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative. That’s a fancy way of saying she’s an expert on immigration and the economics surrounding it, and she recently took part in a white paper about smart border policy for the 21st century. Collins says Title 42 was bad for humanitarian and enforcement reasons and tells us why its demise means we’re “back to normal” along our southern border. And she explains how a refugee crisis in the western hemisphere makes this much more than an American problem.

Guest:

Laura Collins, Director/Bush Institute-SMU Economic Growth Initiative

Location:

George W. Bush Presidential Center

Eight innocent people dead. Seven more wounded. And hundreds more still suffering from shock and fear after being caught in the middle of a mass shooting involving another AR-15 style rifle. This time, it happened in Allen, Texas, a Dallas suburb. But at this point, it seems you can insert any Texas city’s name, like a Mad Lib. What is different is that a handful of Republicans have at least signaled they’re willing to have a discussion on guns. Will there ever be a tipping point for the Texas GOP to support even modest gun control measures? Will it take more Allens, as if Uvalde, El Paso, Sutherland Springs and Santa Fe weren’t enough already? A recent University of Texas at Austin survey found that the vast majority of Texans support raising the minimum age to buy any gun from 18 to 21 (76%, including 64% of Republicans). But the Republican-controlled Legislature has, so far, avoided a vote. In other words, no Texas Republican has yet had to go on record whether they support raising the age, or any other gun safety legislation. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons are joined by veteran WFAA journalist Teresa Woodard, who got the interview everyone’s been talking about… a Republican lawmaker who bluntly said something must be done about guns. And the Representative of the district where the Allen massacre took place explains why he thinks it will lead to legislative changes. But what kind of change? That answer is what most Texans have been waiting for.

Guests

Teresa Woodard, WFAA Senior Reporter/Anchor

State Rep. Frederick Frazier, R-McKinney

State Rep. Jeff Leach, R-Allen

If you plan to protest your property appraisal in Texas, you’re running out of time. In many appraisal districts, the deadline is May 15. That’s why we aren’t waiting to release this special episode of Y’all-itics, which will provide pro tips to help you take your protest to the next level. One important factor to know this year before you get started: Your 2023 appraisal is based on research the appraisal district did last year. Exactly when they did that really matters, maybe more than it did in previous years. And you’ll learn why kitchens and bathrooms could make or break your protest. The Jasons are joined once again by one of Texas’ leading experts on protesting property appraisals, realtor Chandler Crouch. And he'll help you learn more about comps, codes, full agent reports and everything else you were afraid to ask to help you lower your appraisal, which could significantly lower your property tax burden. They also discuss why lawmakers haven’t done a thing to lower property taxes, despite many promises leading into the legislative session.

Guest:

Chandler Crouch, Chandler Crouch Realtors

FreeTaxProtest.com

James 'Jim' Chapman

Chairman, Appraisal Review Board of Dallas County

Location:

Division Brewing Company

Arlington, TX

Before you book your summer vacation, you’ll want to hear this episode. What is going on at Southwest Airlines – a carrier known for efficiency and customer loyalty? The Dallas-based airline has had a rough go of it the last six months. The December meltdown cancelled more than 16,000 flights, impacting more than two-million passengers. Then in April, the failure of a computer firewall delayed 1,700 flights on a random Tuesday. Jason Whitely grabbed a seat next to CEO Bob Jordan on a recent flight to Hawaii as the airline marked four years of flights to the islands with a 737 sporting a newly painted Hawaiian-themed livery. Mr. Jordan took Jason’s questions on all the recent problems, the fixes in place before next winter, getting phone calls from the U.S. Secretary of Transportation, a new contract for pilots and what he has learned in his first 14 months as the top executive at the airline. But if talking to the CEO isn’t rare enough, Southwest also made the Chief Operating Officer, Andrew Watterson, available to Whitely. What destinations are Southwest considering next? Will you be able to get from A to B? This is the episode to download before you pack your bags for your summer vacation.

GUESTS:

Bob Jordan, CEO, Southwest Airlines

Andrew Watterson, COO, Southwest Airlines

Catholic bishops in Texas upset some parishioners after recently asking the flock to take a political stand and support Education Savings Accounts, one of the most controversial bills this legislative session. Parishioners have now gone public with their outrage, contacting us, and even writing letters to the editor – telling the church to stay in its lane and out of politics. Catholic schools in Texas do stand to benefit financially if Texas lawmakers approve ESAs and give tax dollars to families to send their children to private schools, including parochial ones. Parishioners ask why Catholic bishops have not invested the same political energy into school violence, homelessness or healthcare. But Dr. Veronica Alonzo, associate superintendent of Catholic schools at the Diocese of Dallas, says this issue is about more than money. For 25-years, as an educator, she has advocated for school choice and spent part of this spring in Austin meeting face-to-face with state lawmakers about the topic. In this episode, she joins the Jasons to make the case for school choice and defend the church’s position to parishioners.

GUEST:

Dr. Veronica Alonzo, associate superintendent of Catholic schools, Diocese of Dallas

Some Texas Republicans now want to tell you what you can and cannot do on your land. SB 624, moving through that chamber right now, is one to watch. State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst, R-Brenham, wrote this one that takes specific aim at the renewable energy sector, with landowners who want to supplement their income by having wind or solar placed on their property taking some inadvertent fire. Kolkhorst wants landowners to get permits from the state and they’d have to let folks within 25-miles of any project know they were applying for a permit. If SB 624 is passed, an energy expert says Texas would be no different than the old Soviet Union, where decisions for your property are made by the state, not you. And this is just one of many bills that would regulate renewable energy in Texas different than oil and gas. We hoped to have Sen. Kolkhorst join us on this episode of Y’all-itics to explain her bill, but the Senator’s staff did not respond to our request. The renewable energy sector is talking. And it’s worried, with the Texas-based President of Advanced Power Alliance telling the Jasons this legislation is a “missile in search of a target.”

GUEST

Jeff Clark, Advanced Power Alliance

BEER SELECTIONS:

WHEELER: Weisser Time (Wheat Beer) 5.4% ABV, 15 IBU

Hop & Sting Brewing Co.

Grapevine, TX

WHITELY: Heart O' Texas (Red Ale) 6% ABV, 35 IBU

Four Corners Brewing

Dallas, TX

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said they were his highest priorities, from lowering property taxes to giving Texas parents money to send their kids to a new school. But with only six seeks left in the legislative session, many of those priorities are stalled in the Texas House… and he isn’t happy about that. In this special release episode of Y’all-itics, the Lieutenant Governor doesn’t hold back and takes the fight to House leaders, even calling Speaker Phelan “California Dade.” The Republican leader also made clear he won’t negotiate with what he calls the House’s “bad math” when it comes to lowering property taxes, saying “hell will freeze over” before that chamber’s plan passes. Expect the final weeks of the session to be anything but boring, as Lieutenant Governor Patrick makes crystal clear in this wide ranging interview where nothing was off topic.

GUEST

 Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, R-Texas

Only hours after a Travis County jury unanimously found a man guilty of murder, Governor Greg Abbott promised to pardon him as soon as a request from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles hit his desk, something widely expected since he appoints those members. The unprecedented move by the Governor immediately elicited cheers from the conservative right, whose prominent figures had been calling for the pardon, and outrage and confusion just about everywhere else. The Travis County District Attorney called the Governor’s statement troubling, saying: "A jury gets to decide whether a defendant is guilty or innocent, not the governor." In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons explore what it means for the future independence of the legal system and whether it could have a chilling effect on future juries. UT School of Law professor Jennifer Laurin says we should all be concerned about the politicization of the criminal legal system. And former Travis County Criminal Court Judge David Wahlberg calls the move for a pardon outrageous, particularly since the Governor never set foot in the courtroom where jurors spent more than a week listening to several dozen witnesses.

GUESTS

 Professor Jennifer Laurin, UT School of Law (START/9:11)

 Judge David Wahlberg, Senior District Judge/former Criminal District Judge (START/19:49)

BEER SELECTIONS:

WHITELY: Han's Pills, 5.3% ABV, 50 IBU (Pilsner)

Real Ale Brewing Company/Blanco, TX

WHEELER: Pretzel Stout, 6.5% ABV, 60 IBU (Stout)

Martin House Brewing Co/Fort Worth, TX

Laney Hawes, a fed-up mother with children in Keller ISD, has a simple wish: make school board meetings boring again. Next month, voters can select who represents them on city councils and school boards. Most Texans don’t bother with municipal elections. Republicans figured that out and have won majorities on at least four North Texas school boards, including Keller ISD. Conservatives are now capitalizing on their wins, by reviewing and removing some books from school libraries, along with other policy changes. The popular children’s book series “Dog Man and Cat Kid” has even been pulled from some shelves. Y’all-itics first told you about this effort in February 2022. Fast forward to this episode and now, Laney Hawes and other parents are fighting back against the conservative changes. Their grassroots effort includes recruiting and supporting new candidates to run for school boards. But it’s a tough effort since many of those races have devolved into brutal partisan politics. Most importantly, they say their goal is to increase voter turnout. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons met Laney at Odd Muse Brewery in Farmer's Branch to hear about the price she’s paid for speaking out; from being called a “library porn apologist,” to doxing and physical threats. But Hawes says she’s no villain, just a moderate mom looking out for her kids and the community.

GUEST

Laney Hawes, Keller ISD Families for Public Education

LOCATION

Odd Muse Brewing, Farmer's Branch, TX

BEER SELECTION:

WHITELY: Ombibulous, Pre-Prohibition Pilsner, 4%

WHEELER: Opulence (We Has It) Imperial Stout, 9%

It is no longer “likely.” Former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson is running for President. But who is this Republican and why does he think he can win in 2024? Y’all-itics first introduced you to Governor Hutchinson last October. So, here is that conversation again now that he’s officially joined the field.

Original Summary (October 9, 2022)

The race for 2024 begins next month – as soon as the polls close in the November midterm. There’s already been lots of speculation about Florida Governor Ron DeSantis potentially running for the White House. But another Republican governor, who neighbors Texas, suggested to the Jasons he might launch his own bid for President. Asa Hutchinson is a former Congressman, the former head of the DEA, and now term-limited out as Governor of Arkansas. And unlike other Republicans today, Gov. Hutchinson is not afraid to disagree with Donald Trump. Which begs the question, can a center-right, Reagan-style Republican, survive nationally in today's GOP? Gov. Hutchinson, who was in Austin recently as a guest speaker for The Texas Tribune Festival, says leadership in that environment is a delicate balancing act. And in this episode of Y’all-itics, he has a candid conversation with the Jasons about his plan to secure the border, abortion and why he says limitations and restrictions are not the way out of gun violence.

GUEST

Gov. Asa Hutchinson, (R) Arkansas