Texas lawmakers are meeting on Thursday in Austin – pledging to get to the bottom of the massive statewide power outages last week. But a former state lawmaker tells the Jasons that Texas missed an opportunity six years ago to start planning for something like this. Eric Johnson, the current Mayor of Dallas, was a state representative in 2015 and introduced a bill that might have helped prevent the near-failure of the Texas electric grid last week. Johnson explained what his bill would have done and how it was killed in the final moments before it was to have been passed.

We’d like to know what you think about Y’all-itics! So, please take the survey the Jasons mentioned: Cheers! 

As promised, here’s how to find out who represents you. https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

ERCOT called the Jasons super early on Tuesday to offer the first interview with CEO Bill Magness. He’s probably the most sought after newsmaker of the week in our state. Magness manages ERCOT, which is the Texas power grid. And millions of Texans are in the dark right now in below freezing temperatures. We asked Magness many of the same questions you’ve been asking us. When will this be over? Will it get worse before it gets better? Come to find out, Magness’ wife and his child are among the millions of Texans without electricity. Here’s our uncut interview with him.

We knew what was coming, so why were Texas electric utilities not ready for the severe winter weather? The widespread electric outages did not surprise energy experts in the state. In fact, history is repeating itself here. The issue that caused the widespread electric outages this week was the same thing that caused a similar failure in 2011. And one before that in 1989. A state lawmaker also told the Jasons that Texans deserve answers.

It’s hard to believe hair remains an excuse for discrimination in 2021, much of it rooted in racism.  Do a quick internet search and it won’t be hard for you to find the stories.  And this isn’t a one-size-fits-all problem as you can find victims all across the spectrum, from women in the workplace to teenage boys in High School.  In this episode of Y’all-itics, we join the project “Rooted” being shared across Tegna Texas that explores black hair in America.  The Jasons are joined by WFAA anchor Tashara Parker whose commentary helped sparked a movement of natural hair and KVUE anchor Ashley Goudeau who speaks to a woman’s basic right to natural hair and being one’s true self in the workplace.  We also explore the politics as Texas lawmakers are considering several versions of the CROWN Act that would ban discrimination based on hair.

More on “Rooted” project:  'Rooted': The natural hair movement, hair discrimination and The Crown Act | wfaa.com

It’s one of the most diverse counties in Texas. So, why then did it take 150 years for Fort Bend County to elect its second Black sheriff? And as Texas lawmakers begin to debate police reform, Sheriff Eric Fagan has his own ideas for it and wants the public to hear his perspective. Just don’t use the word “defund” around him.  In this episode of Y’all-itics, the man making – and following – history in Fort Bend County answers the call from the Jasons and discusses everything from the pressure and pride that comes from his position, to his own experience dealing with racial profiling and how that shapes his view of law enforcement.  Oh, and let’s not forget that time he was protecting that king…

Contact Tracing.  The very phrase has been somewhat poisoned in the United States, where many of us tend to think of “big brother,” that the government is watching.  A company out of New Zealand says we have it all wrong and we should instead consider it to be contact “logging.”  That company helped New Zealand essentially eliminate the virus.  And now, SaferMe has set up shop in Austin, Texas.  Does that mean we’re now well on our way to eliminating it here in the Lone Star State?  SaferMe’s CEO tells the Jasons it all depends on the politics.  But businesses are sure ready and if you tell folks we might be able to re-open the entire economy much quicker, well then, you have their attention.  And what attracted SaferMe to Texas?  Think farms and barbeque.

The Award-Winning Contact Tracing System For Business (safer.me)

There are nearly 29-million Texans.  But as of January 25, 2021, after a month of distribution, fewer than 1.5 Million of those Texans have received a single dose of the vaccine.  Only 266,000 Texans have received both doses.  At that rate, it would take nearly two years for Texans just to get one dose and nearly five years for all Texans to be fully vaccinated.  If the vaccine was developed in record time, one Texas lawmaker wants to know why the state’s distribution plan wasn’t ready.  And he tells the Jasons why he thinks we’re out of time.  But in the middle of a situation that is only seemingly getting worse, there is some hope… a bright spot in the Texas panhandle after a call that surprised the Jasons.

**WARNING:  THIS PODCAST CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE

Let the warning above be your preview as to what the Lincoln Project now thinks about Senator Ted Cruz.  In this episode of Y’all-itics, co-founder Rick Wilson joins the Jasons to talk about how the group is now actively working against the Texas Republican.  The group says Sen. Cruz is part of the “sedition caucus” and his words and actions helped contribute to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.  And Wilson thinks a third party will be born out of the schism inside the GOP.  If you normally listen to our podcast with your children, we warn again, there are R-rated words.

**Sen. Ted Cruz declined to join this episode of Y’all-itics but has a standing invitation to respond

Even though this will be the pandemic session, other business will be on the table during the 87th Texas Legislature.  And is there a bigger complaint here in Texas than ridiculously high property taxes?  But what if we told you there might be a way to cut those bills in half?  Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley says it’s not going to be easy, but it can be done if lawmakers have the will.  In this episode of Y’all-itics, he presents his plan to the Jasons, who were certainly left smiling, thinking about the possibilities.  And state Senator Nathan Johnson talks about the other legislative priorities over the next 140-days.  But about those property taxes…

Who Represents me?

That escalated quickly.  Following the insurrection at the Capitol, calls are growing for President Trump to possibly be removed from office by the 25th Amendment, an action unthinkable as recently as

48-hours ago.  But what is the 25th and how does it work?  In this emergency episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons go to law school with Stephen Vladeck from the University of Texas School of Law, a nationally recognized expert on constitutional law.  And as it turns out, the 25th isn’t the only mechanism lawmakers could use to remove a sitting President. 

Steve Vladeck

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