Y'all-itics

The third special legislative session begins October 9, and “school choice” and vouchers will be front and center once again. But has anything changed to make passage more likely? In this episode of Y’all-itics, veteran political consultant Brian Mayes gives it even lower odds than the regular session because he says Governor Abbott has woken up parents, teachers and especially moms… and they’re fighting mad. For more than three decades, Mayes has only worked on Republican campaigns, so you’ll also want to learn why he calls the Governor a “boot licker” for wealthy donors. 

Guest

Brian Mayes, GOP political consultant

Location

Kearney's Feed Yard,  3602 N Belt Line Rd, Sunnyvale, TX 75182

Even though Attorney General Ken Paxton was acquitted by the Texas Senate, taxpayers could still be on the hook for a settlement agreement Paxton himself approved. And if the case makes it to trial, the $3.3 Million settlement could double or even triple. In this episode of Y’all-itics, whistleblower Mark Penley and his attorney Don Tittle explain to the Jasons why they’re confident they could win… in a real court. And Penley describes how he felt while listening to the impeachment votes and answers the difficult question of whether he’s still a rock-ribbed Republican.

Guests

Mark Penley, Paxton whistleblower

 Don Tittle, Penley’s attorney

Location

Manhattan Project Beer Co.

2215 Sulphur St, Dallas, TX 75208

SYNOPSIS:

In his first in-depth interview since the senate acquitted Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick takes Jason Whitely behind the scenes of the trial, the reforms he wants to the impeachment process, why the alleged mistress, Laura Olson, did not testify, whether it was a good idea to take $3M from a pro-Paxton group and whether Patrick thinks Paxton’s behavior crossed a line.

GUEST:

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick / R-Texas

Before state Senators began deliberating the fate of suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton, attorneys from both sides had one final opportunity to make their case. In this special release Y’all-itics, listen to those closing arguments in the historic impeachment trial. Each side received one hour, but the arguments are split. State Representative Andrew Murr, a Republican who is the chair of the House board of impeachment managers, went first with a 10-minute argument. He was followed by Paxton’s lead impeachment attorney Tony Buzbee, with a brief argument from fellow defense attorney Dan Cogdell. You’ll then hear Rep. Murr conclude his closing, before yielding his final time to state Representative Jeff Leach, another Republican member of the House board of impeachment managers.

Closing arguments:

State Rep. Andrew Murr, (R) House board of impeachment managers chair

Tony Buzbee, Paxton’s lead impeachment attorney

Dan Cogdell, Paxton impeachment attorney

State Rep. Jeff Leach, (R) member of the House board impeachment managers

Y’all-itics special release: September 13, 2023

The leader of the Republican Party of Texas says there will be an “all-out Republican civil war” if suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton is removed from office. In this special release Y’all-itics, Matt Rinaldi also explains why no matter the outcome, Republican primaries in 2024 could become a season of revenge.

Guest

Matt Rinaldi, Republican Party of Texas Chairman

Claims of a coup. One of the state’s top leaders accused of acting like he had “a gun to his head.” Tears. And plenty of explosive back-and-forth testimony. Week one of the Ken Paxton impeachment trial is in the books and if anyone was expecting a whimper, they were sorely disappointed. In this special release Y’all-itics, take a deep dive into the week’s developments and the legal, political and practical ramifications for the suspended Attorney General.

Guests

Ashley Goudeau, KVUE anchor/Managing Editor of Political Content

Tanya Eiserer, WFAA senior investigative reporter

Jason Villalba, Attorney/former Republican state Representative

Defense attorneys for suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton did everything they could to have the impeachment charges against him dismissed. But state Senators, in this case the jurors, overwhelmingly rejected those efforts, one by one. In this special release episode of Y’all-itics, listen to the opening statements in the historic impeachment trial. State Representative Andrew Murr, a Republican who is the chair of the House board of impeachment managers, went first. He was followed by Paxton’s lead impeachment attorney Tony Buzbee and then another Paxton attorney, Dan Cogdell.

Opening Statements:

State Rep. Andrew Murr, (R) House board of impeachment managers chair

Tony Buzbee, Paxton lead impeachment attorney

Dan Cogdell, Paxton impeachment attorney

Days before the Ken Paxton impeachment trial begins in the Texas Senate, several questions loom large. Can the “prior-term doctrine” save the suspended Attorney General? Will Ken Paxton testify? And it only takes 10 Republicans to prevent impeachment. Will they? In this early release episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons have a conversation with David Lethe, a Republican precinct chair in Paxton’s home of Collin County, and one of the few there to publicly support the impeachment trial. He is blunt when explaining why he thinks Paxton should resign. And they get answers from Matt Mackowiak, a GOP political consultant and chair of the Travis County Republican Party, who also gives odds for Paxton’s survival.

Guests

Matt Mackowiak, GOP consultant/Travis Co Republican Party Chair

David Lethe, R/Precinct 119 Chair, Collin County

Former state Senator Beverly Powell is out of politics, but she's not done with fundraising. The Fort Worth Democrat started the project to build a new elementary school in Uvalde after the 2022 massacre. They need $60M. They’ve raised $48M so far. Plus, will she run for office again? Listen to what she told the Jasons in this episode recorded live at The Texas Ale Project in Dallas.

Guest

Beverly Powell, former state Senator

Location

Texas Ale Project 

1001 N Riverfront Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207

Former state Senator Beverly Powell is out of politics, but she's not done with fundraising. The Fort Worth Democrat started the project to build a new elementary school in Uvalde after the 2022 massacre. They need $60M. They’ve raised $48M so far. Plus, will she run for office again? Listen to what she told the Jasons in this episode recorded live at The Texas Ale Project in Dallas.

Guest

Beverly Powell, former state Senator

Location

Texas Ale Project 

1001 N Riverfront Blvd, Dallas, TX 75207