Y'all-itics

In the September 13 episode, Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate James Talarico touts the Republicans supporting his campaign and why he thinks he’s still an underdog despite recent polls. Plus, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin says the RNC midterm convention was so successful, that both parties will probably replicate it. But will the big GOP gathering move any voters?

The sprint starts now. Republicans have packed up and left Dallas. Insiders say prepare now for the adpocalypse. Big money is flowing into the U.S. Senate race from outside groups for negative ads. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons examine whether the RNC midterm convention moves any voters, the state of the race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton and why Texans will soon find out what it’s like living inside an advertising tornado.

Guest:

Matt Angle, Democratic Strategist/Lone Star Project Founder

Vinny Minchillo, Republican Consultant/Glass House Strategies Founder

In the September 6 episode, Republican Tarrant County Commissioner Matt Krause explains why he supported reducing the number of voting sites in his county. In the long run, he thinks it will make elections more efficient, even though he doesn't know how much money the drastic cuts will really save. The chair of the Dallas County Democratic Party talks about the protests expected at the GOP midterm convention. And Republican Party of Texas chair D’rinda Randall on why she thinks that convention will energize the GOP and she sets the record straight on those ticket prices.

At least 90,000 acres burned. More than two million gallons of water and half-a-million gallons of fire retardant dropped. The Ross Fire in Jack and Palo Pinto Counties is still going strong nearly two weeks after the human-caused blaze ignited. It comes just as The Texas A&M Forest Service, the state agency behind wildfire response, is in the process of spending $630 million lawmakers provided in 2025 for “game changer” upgrades, including aircraft that will coordinate aerial firefighting, helicopters that can carry hundreds of gallons of water and large air tankers to drop the retardant. But the Ross Fire proves there is never enough. And in this episode of Y’all-itics, you’ll learn why next year, they’ll ask lawmakers for even more; this time focused on humans instead of equipment.

GUEST

Jared Karns, Division Director for Fire & Emergency Response/Texas A&M Forest Service

This is the data center story you haven't heard. The Town of Westlake is ready to approve a new data center inside its town limit. But it's going to sit 500-feet away from a subdivision in Keller. Shouldn't a town be able to make its own decisions? But what happens to families who invested in a home never expecting a new industrial neighbor? It's presenting a new problem, and one mayor is pleading with the state for guidance.

GUEST

Teresa Woodard, WFAA Anchor/Senior Reporter

In the August 23 episode, Democratic state Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez Ramos discusses the new state audit of the Texas Education Agency which revealed a bloated bureaucracy and more managers than state regulations allow. GOP state Rep. Jared Patterson explains why he's creating a bipartisan voting bloc of DFW-area representatives who plan to advocate harder for North Texas. And Austin Council Member Mike Siegel explains why he's a Democratic Socialist, what it stands for and how much he's accomplished.

What does “Democratic Socialist” actually mean — especially in Texas? Austin City Councilman Mike Siegel joins Y’all-itics to explain why he calls higher wages, affordable housing and fighting government surveillance Democratic Socialist policies. We also ask the question many voters still have: How is this different from simply being a Democrat?

Guest

Mike Siegel, Austin City Councilmember

In the August 16 episode, Congressman Pat Fallon discusses whether he thinks the Iran war and the economy are risks to Republicans in November and what he thinks will make the difference in the U.S. Senate race. Council Member Chad West tells us why he thinks it’s time for Dallas to catch up to other cities in regulating data centers. And former Big Bend National Park superintendent Bob Krumenaker talks about the growing bipartisan fallout caused by the bulldozing of Big Bend.

The bulldozing of Big Bend National Park is underway and the bipartisan fallout emerging from the debris piles has been swift and is growing in ferocity. A bipartisan coalition of Texas House members is now calling on the federal government to immediately halt construction of the border barriers. In this episode of Y’all-itics hear from the most recent former Big Bend National Park superintendent who describes the clearing and construction as “an absurd amount of money for a massive amount of destruction for a very, very little bit of impact.”

The Texas Education Agency is inserting itself right into classrooms across the state. If just one school fails for 5 years, the TEA can take over the whole district, installing appointed leaders who can make wholesale changes without being accountable to district voters. It’s happening in 8 districts right now, with more additions possible. To see what the start of the school year looks like under recent state takeover, the Jasons check in on Fort Worth ISD, which one close observer now calls "T-E-A ISD."

Guests:

Dia Wall, Education reporter at WFAA-TV Dallas

Steven Poole, Exec. Director of the United Educators Association