Y'all-itics

The Texas bullet train could finally happen sooner than you think. In fact, a vote in Congress this month might determine its future. The CEO of Texas Central, Carlos Aguilar, answered the Jasons call for this episode of Y’all-itics and gave them the lowdown on what’s happening behind the scenes, how much money is needed to finish the project, what a ticket will cost on the bullet train, as well as where...and when...the very first tracks will be laid.

Y’all-itics: August 30, 2021

The deadline for the U.S. to withdraw from Afghanistan is upon us: August 31.  Since the rapid collapse of the Afghan government, Americans in that country, Afghans who hold Special Immigrant Visas (SIV) and anyone who helped the U.S. war effort over the last 20-years have been scrambling to leave the country.  And as our military action winds down in Afghanistan, it is the dawn of a new battle, a war over paperwork.  Many critics of the withdrawal openly question why adequate preparations weren’t made to give hundreds of thousands of people time to get their paperwork together.  Now, many are trapped in limbo with their lives on the line.  Unfortunately, it looks like they could be stuck in that dangerous situation for quite a while.  In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons are joined by Holly Kuzmich, the Executive Director of the George W. Bush Institute in Dallas who talks about the frantic efforts save some of their own colleagues, all while trying to continue their promise to help empower women across the globe.  And Holly Kuzmich predicts there will be plenty of Congressional hearings to investigate what went wrong.

Guest:

Holly Kuzmich, Bush Institute Executive Director

Holly Kuzmich (bushcenter.org)

Will you need a ticket and a Covid status card for concerts? Before they could listen to the music recently, some Texas concertgoers first heard: What’s your vaccination status? With the Delta variant of the coronavirus still ravaging Texas, country music star Jason Isbell took the stage for a mid-August performance at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth in front of a crowd that---on his insistence—was comprised of people who could either show a Covid vaccination card or a recent negative test. The general manager of this institution at the Stockyards got an earful out of this concert…including from state regulators who reminded him that there’s actually a state law in Texas now that prohibits businesses from requiring proof of vaccination. Billy Bobs' Marty Travis walks the Jasons through a raucous week backstage, all of it touched off by what was just a one-night thing at this famed honkytonk. But really, this was just the beginning. Even if you aren’t a fan of Jason Isbell or vaccine requirements for entry, have a listen. Because like it has done with everything else, Covid is quickly and drastically altering admissions to live music events—as evidenced by the new requirements just announced for this year’s Austin City Limits music festival. 

Are you as confused about the local mask mandates in Texas as we are? Who can order what and when is about as clear as mud at this point.  Even the courts can’t seem to agree.  So we decided to turn to a constitutional law expert for some clarity.  Stephen Vladeck from the University of Texas joins the Jasons once again to help explain in a way only he can.  One thing he said that’s crystal clear?  This process is messy.  And unfortunately, Vladeck says we’re only in for more confusion.  And after you listen to this episode of Y’all-itics, you just might rethink how you vote for a Texas Supreme Court Justice.

Guest:Stephen I Vladeck | Faculty | Texas Law (utexas.edu)

The resistance is underway in Texas and growing by the day.  And more cities, counties and school districts are expected to challenge the Governor’s ban on mask mandates in the coming days.  For many parents who’ve already sent their kids back to school – or are about to – the issue is one of life-or-death.  In this emergency episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons are joined by two Superintendents who find themselves squarely in the middle of this debate.  Dr. Stephanie Elizalde leads the Austin ISD, which started mandating masks today in defiance of Governor Greg Abbott.  Within hours of that decision, hundreds of parents re-enrolled their kids for in-person learning when students return Tuesday, August 17.  And Dr. Elizalde walks you through the thought process and the reaction.  The Jasons are also joined by Dr. Brian Woods the Northside ISD Superintendent in San Antonio.  They have yet to make a decision on mask requirements there, but they don’t start school until Monday, August 23.  For both Superintendents, the issue boils down to local control and having the ability to make the best decisions for their individual communities.  And both fully recognize local control was once religion to the GOP, but that these days Republican leadership is telling them what they can and can’t do from Austin.

Y'all-itics is sponsored by Octopus Energy. Save $60 on a 12-month plan by using the offer code OCTOPUS60 at octopusenergy.com.  Octopus Energy — Better Energy Within Reach

Guests:

Dr. Stephanie Elizalde, Austin ISD Superintendent

https://www.austinisd.org

Dr. Brian Woods, Northside ISD Superintendent

https://www.nisd.net

Passions have already been flaring in Austin.  But the temperature may get hotter under the Capitol dome as new Census numbers arrive and the thorny process of divvying up the state's 38 Congressional districts commences.  Before he became the senior counsel for the Brennan Center's Democracy Program, Michael Li went to school and worked in Texas.  He knows the state well.  And he regards Texas as one of the "highest risk states" for what he warns could be the most aggressive gerrymandering in U.S. history in this cycle.  Li explains why a heavily partisan redraw of Congressional boundaries is a threat to democracy and undermines the concept that each Texan’s vote matters equally.  Republicans have total control in Texas government, which is why Democrats walked out at the end of the regular legislative session and decamped for D.C. throughout the first special session and now into the second special session.  Will the Dems stay away from a third legislative overtime to prevent a quorum and grind the redistricting gears to a halt?  Li talks about what we can expect as we head into what he calls the "10-year Olympics" in Texas.  This time it may look like a cross between a sprint, a marathon and wrestling... possibly with some legislative gymnastics thrown in.

Conservatives are lining up to run against incumbent Governor Greg Abbott and incumbent Attorney General Ken Paxton. Who has a shot? Does anyone have a shot? Could Abbott or Paxton face a loss? The Jasons called up two Texas Republicans from different sides of the party. Former state Sen. Konni Burton, R-Fort Worth, explains why she thinks Abbott is in political trouble. Former state Rep. Jason Villalba, R-Dallas, says he thinks Paxton could face a runoff. Sure, the GOP primary is a long way off, but the campaigns are already ramping up and that got the Jasons talking in this episode.

When the first school bells ring across Texas just weeks from now, students, parents, and educators will head back into the pandemic unknown. The Jasons check back in with Dallas ISD Superintendent Dr. Michael Hinojosa. He was on Y’all-itics a year ago when there was so much uncertainty heading into a new school term. It feels like that all over again as he readies his mega-district for the start of the ’21-‘22 session. In fact, he’ll preside over three different school start dates this year. His district and others are getting creative and sharing ideas with each other. Critics say there isn’t much guidance coming from the state, except for orders that schools can’t mandate masks or offer a virtual learning option. So, what happens if kids have to quarantine? Flush with federal cash from Covid relief legislation, Dr. Hinojosa says DISD is hiring an army of tutors. The district also plans to self-fund a virtual option if the state doesn’t agree to foot the bill for it. Also joining the Jasons for this episode is Texas PTA President Suzi Kennon, with what the state PTA will be doing to help make a tough year easier and what she’s hearing from parents across the state. Kennon also gets real---as a mom---and shares her concerns for her own child as kids head back to class at a time when the highly transmissible Delta variant of coronavirus is aggressively spreading across Texas, which continues to struggle with a lackluster vaccination rate. 

There’s no end in sight to this political standoff. Texas House Democrats remain in D.C. Austin remains at a standstill. The inevitable is likely only delayed. But is there any room for compromise? Will this legislation change how you vote? And what’s up with that case of Miller Lite on the bus with Democrats? Wheeler took off to put his feet in the sand for a few days leaving Whitely on his own to pop the top on a Miller Lite with the youngest member of the Texas legislature, state Rep. James Tallarico. In this episode, state Rep. Craig Goldman, a Fort Worth Republican, also joined Y’all-itics to talk about the lonely days in the legislature and the backchannel conversations that the GOP is having with Democrats in D.C.

In a special legislative session underway right now, Texas Republicans are once trying to change voting laws in this state.  And the Supreme Court of the United States just dealt another blow to the Voting Rights Act of 1965. That watershed law was pushed through by President Lyndon Baines Johnson, a Texas native, who rightly predicted that by signing it, he was also signing away his party's chance to hold political power in the south.  But LBJ made the political sacrifice without regret because of one formative thing that happened to him in college.  In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons go back in time with Mark Updegrove, President and CEO of the LBJ Foundation.  Mark shares what he believes LBJ would think and do in response to Republican efforts that some say have weakened one of his signature achievements.  Mark also shares what ordinary people should do to have a voice as this state and this country faces a reckoning on voting rights and restrictions.

http://www.lbjlibrary.org/page/foundation