Y'all-itics

You’ve heard on Y’all-itics recently that the Holy Trinity for Democrats in Texas this election will be winning President, U.S. Senate and flipping the Texas House.  On this episode, the Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party says while all three are realistic, only one is their strategic imperative.  Manny Garcia also discusses the numerous election lawsuits still unfolding in courts a mere five weeks from the election.  Confused about them?  He shares some knowledge.  And like many of our other guests, Garcia says Texas is definitely the biggest battleground state in the country.  So why should voters be prepared to be annoyed?!?

Wait, what just happened in D.C.? Democrats and Republicans completely swapped sides on a major contentious issue – whether the U.S. Senate should vote on a Supreme Court nominee this close to a presidential election. Four years ago, under Obama, Republicans didn’t want to consider a judicial nominee and Democrats did. Today, under President Trump, it’s exactly the opposite. Hypocrisy? Senator Ted Cruz says it’s just politics. He joins the Jasons for this early release of Y’all-itics. Plus, six weeks away from the election, Cruz also told us that “Texas is a battleground.”

Hard to imagine that both political parties can find any common ground these days but reforming criminal justice reform is shared by Republicans and Democrats. Thirty years ago with rising crime across this state and the country, there was a general sense that offenders should be locked up and the key thrown away. Three strikes, you’re out. Remember that? Today, 30 years later, both parties are working to reform what is seen as a broken criminal justice system – from bail reform to offenders returning to society. Next week, Unlocking Doors, a Texas-based reentry program for ex-offenders, hosts its annual symposium with lawmakers, offenders, and criminal justice experts. On this episode, Christina Melton Crain from Unlocking Doors discusses her legislative wish list and filmmaker Cynthia Salzman Mondell speaks about a documentary she produced with 64-women inmates incarcerated at the Dallas County Jail. The film will be previewed in the virtual symposium. MORE: https://www.unlockingdoors.org/

The chairman of the Texas Republican Party joins the Jasons on this week’s Y’all-itics and he didn’t hold back.  The conservative firebrand wants the party to win suburban women and black voters in November and he has a plan to do it.  But he also made clear he isn’t happy with how the republican Governor of Texas has handled the state’s coronavirus response calling Greg Abbott’s response heavy-handed.

The Jasons have a candid conversation with Beto O’Rourke as he looks back on his career and ahead at his own political future.  Democrats have three main goals in Texas in November and O’Rourke talks about which one is most realistic.  Plus, he shares the one thing he stopped doing in the last six months and the one thing he still hasn’t given up.

More about the Texas Tribune Festival

The educator.  The Author.  The Politician.  The reporter.  They’re all back three months after joining the Jasons for the podcast “My Skin is not a Weapon.”  It’s not lost on anyone that the shooting of another black man in police custody frames the conversation… again.  While there is a great deal of discouragement and frustration, this panel of African-Americans does think some change, no matter how small, has taken root in the three months since.  But in another powerful conversation, they make clear we still have a long way to go.

Republicans formally nominated Donald Trump for a second term as president this week. Traditionally, national political conventions are tasked with two fundamental priorities every four years: nominate a president and vice president and establish a platform – a set of ideas that the party members believe in. But the RNC is skipping the process of creating a platform this year. That’s a mistake says Texas state Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth). “Parties should revolve around principles, not personalities,” Krause said. “It’s always a good exercise to flesh out those principles every four years.”

The race is on now! The Democratic National Convention (2020 virtual edition) is underway, and will be immediately followed next week by the Republican National Convention (also virtual in this pandemic). 

That’s the message one north Texas superintendent would deliver to state leaders.  His district returned to class August 4th and they’ve already learned a lot.  He says one development shocked him.  And after the first week, many teachers had a common concern.  In fact, this superintendent says he’s fielding several calls a day from other superintendents across the state of Texas looking for advice before they return to class.  In this episode of Y’all-itics, the two Jasons discover what’s working in the Keene ISD… and what needs to change.  They also find out why Texas’ largest teachers’ union fears some teachers may go to work, even if they feel sick.  

Keene ISD Return to School Plan

TSTA

That’s exactly what the founder of Minnie’s Food Pantry in Plano would tell politicians right now.  And Cheryl Jackson says if they came out and saw the problem first hand, it would be the only motivation they’d need to get a deal done to help.  As it stands, a federal $600/week unemployment benefit has now expired.  So Jackson says a terrible situation is about to get worse.  Still, “Action” Jackson, as she’s known, delivers her message with energy… and hope.  And if you want to take action yourself, find out how you can in this episode of Y’all-itics.

Minnie’s Food Pantry: 

Minnie’s Wish List: