The statistic was startling. Twenty percent of all banks in Dallas County exclude all or parts of Southern Dallas. That means mortgages, business loans and access remain out of reach for many families and businesses south of Interstate 30. Problem is, this simply perpetuates the racial wealth gap. In this episode, the Jasons speak with two of the WFAA journalists who worked on this investigation and get a U.S. congressman on the line to explain what he thinks Washington needs to do next.

Watch Banking Below 30

The long, dark COVID winter experts have warned about is upon us.  But there’s also some light at the end of the tunnel, albeit faint and distant.  One drug manufacturer has already applied to the FDA for approval for its COVID-19 vaccine. Another company is close behind.  And the U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary says both could be available to some Americans before Christmas.  That got the Jasons thinking… can your boss force you to get a COVID-19 Vaccine?  So they turned to Sarah Mitchell Montgomery, a partner at Jackson Walker law firm who specializes in employment law.  She says there’s a short answer, with some caveats.  And she’ll tell you why she foresees a coming spike in COVID-related litigation.

Sarah Mitchell Montgomery

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? An executive in shipping says he and his family are done because he’s worried the supply chain is too stressed and some gifts simply might not make it to you in time if you don’t buy soon. But the stressed supply chain is creating opportunity for thousands of Texans. Insiders give the Jasons a revealing look at how this already unusual year continues to live up to its reputation.

As Y’all-itics prepares to celebrate its one-year anniversary, the Jasons go back to the beginning in an effort to see what a Biden-Harris administration might mean for the black community.  In our 3rd episode, we asked the founder and CEO of Black Women’s PAC why politicians ignore black women.  Now, one-year and 61 episodes later, Tracy Scott is back, and she says she’s more determined than ever.  Black women helped put the Biden-Harris Ticket over-the-top.  But now, they’re expecting results.   The Jasons are also joined by WFAA Political Producer Berna Dean Steptoe.  And both guests say the black community in general, and black women in particular, will not be ignored any more.

Editor’s Note: ZIP code 76104 near downtown Fort Worth is an historically Black area where life expectancy is 66.7 years – 12 years below the national average — not 55 years as stated in this episode

Two out of three Latinos voted for Joe Biden last week. But counties along the Texas-Mexico border exposed a growing weakness for Democrats. Biden did not win as many votes there as Hillary Clinton did four years earlier. Just two years ago, Beto O’Rourke had trouble earning support in the Rio Grande Valley. Joining the Jasons this week are political scientists James McCann from Purdue University and Michael Jones-Correa from the University of Pennsylvania discussing the emerging Latino vote and their book Holding Fast: Resilience and Civic Engagement Among Latino Immigrants. Plus, Antonio Arellano, the Interim Executive Director of Jolt Initiative, tells the Jasons where work remains for Democrats and opportunities potentially lie for Republicans.

Now that the dust has mostly settled in Texas, it’s time for the soul-searching.  Democrats thought they were in strong position to finally win a statewide office, even possibly taking the Texas House.  Not only did that not happen, in most races it wasn’t even close.  While they still see progress, party leaders are already trying to map out a new game plan for 2022.  At the same time, Republicans also turned out en masse, keeping Texas solidly red.  And they think their strong ground game and face-to-face contact worked beautifully.  In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons perform a post-election autopsy on politics in Texas.

Just like everything else in 2020, the political landscape in Texas has turned upside down.  And many national election experts say forget states like Florida and Pennsylvania, the national bellwether this year could actually be Texas.   And that’s why the Lone Star State has become a national obsession.  But those same expert are also warning everyone to proceed with caution with any predictions before the final numbers are counted because of our “unstable” political world.  In this edition of Y’all-itics, the Jasons not only take a 30,000-foot view of the election, but they also break down specific races that could not only have a big impact in Texas, but also across the nation.

The lines have snaked through parking lots, around buildings, and don the block. Texans (and Americans generally) are voting…possibly in numbers never before seen. But participation isn’t just limited to casting ballots. Millions of dollars have been wagered on this presidential contest. Oddschecker.com and PredictIt.org show how much money is being wagered on this election and who bettors are picking. On top of that, companies are capitalizing on an engaged, politicized electorate—creating products with election or campaign branding for citizens who are willing to part with some Washingtons and even Benjamins to show their support for Trump or Biden. 

More Info

https://www.electionvodka.com/ (Election Vodka) Must be 21 to enter

https://www.jonessoda.com/ Jones Soda Co.

https://www.oddschecker.com/us/insight/specials/politics/20201028-us-presidential-election-odds-$260m-staked-on-trump-vs-biden-as-us-election-becomes-most-wagered-on-event-in-betting-history

https://www.predictit.org/markets/13/Prez-Election

Guns are on back-order. Ammo is sold out. What are so many Texans preparing for? This run on guns started during some of the protests that swept the state and the country this summer. But it hasn’t slowed down since and continues to build as we approach the election. A gun store owner and a firearms trainersay what makes this year different is the fact that the surge is being driven by first-time gun buyers.  They told the Jasons why ammo is in such short supply, why people who have never owned a gun before are changing their minds and what next week’s election has to do with it all.

You’ve seen their commercials.  They are brutal.  And effective.  If you needed more proof Texas is a battleground state, The Lincoln Project is ready to spend millions of dollars here during the final days of the campaign.  Imagine that for a moment.  A group of Republicans trying to defeat a Republican incumbent in a deeply red state.  And not only that, but The Lincoln Project is also expecting some support from what a co-founder calls “deep MAGA country.” In this episode of Y’all-itics, Mike Madrid talks about their strategy in Texas, whether he thinks there is a permanent split in the Republican party and how they make those commercials so darn fast.