49 Democrats in the Texas House just helped elect a Republican Speaker, their leader says without any political horse-trading. Seen as a setback to the far right, the result changes the calculus inside the Capitol. In this early release episode of Y’all-itics, the Lieutenant Governor and the new leader of Texas House Democrats explain how, and what it means for Texans.

Guests

Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, R-Texas

State Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston

They don't even have the keys to their Capitol offices yet, or access to the computer system to file bills. But two incoming Texas Representatives have lofty goals. One is pushing for a total ban on abortion and penalties for women who end their pregnancies. The other aims to strengthen public schools and stop the Republican march toward a private school voucher system. But they both agree that the first battle of picking a new House Speaker is a horse race and that Democrats, long in the minority here, will have outsized influence in choosing a winner. How that goes will impact what does, and doesn't, get done in this once-every-two-years legislative session.

GUESTS

Representative-elect Brent Money, R-Greenville

Representative-elect Aicha Davis, D-DeSoto

Tim O’Hare, the unapologetic conservative leader of Tarrant County, has cut $58M from the budget without any layoffs during the first half of his term. What’s planned for the next two years? What didn’t he expect about this job? And what do folks get wrong about him? Judge O’Hare is our guest this episode.

Guest

Judge Tim O’Hare, Tarrant County

He was the first president ever born in a hospital. With pride, Jimmy Carter recounts how the U.S. military never fired a bullet, dropped a bomb or launched a missile on his watch. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for being the first to broker peace in the Middle East. The late U.S. President Carter represents the end of an era – when a peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia could ascend to the most powerful position in the world. Crippling inflation destroyed his chances for re-election in 1980. But Jimmy Carter might be best remembered for what he did after his presidency, rather than his one-term in the White House. In this candid 2014 interview, just after his 90th birthday, Carter put down his toolbox at a Habitat for Humanity worksite in Dallas to have a conversation with Jason Whitely about his life, legacy, and politics.

GUEST:

Former President Jimmy Carter in 2014

In 2025, most Texans will no longer have to have their vehicles inspected. But in a development that surprises exactly no one, Texans will still pay the fee. The state actually sponsored a study that said those inspections were not only highly effective, but should likely be expanded. That study’s author says he’s surprised lawmakers dumped the program, and in this episode of Y’all-itics, he tells the Jasons why. And you’ll notice we said “most” Texans. Find out why drivers in 17 counties are still facing an annual exam.

Guest

Dr. Michael Murphy, University of Texas at Austin

It is the episode you’ve been waiting for, when the Y’all-itics team discusses the best and worst of politics in 2024. Who gets a cheer? Who gets a jeer? And who gets a beer? In this special holiday edition, the Jasons are joined by WFAA political producer Berna Dean Steptoe and Fort Worth Star Telegram columnist Bud Kennedy.

Guests

Berna Dean Steptoe, WFAA Political Producer

Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star Telegram

It’s been open for nearly two decades, with thousands passing through its doors. Though you’ve likely never heard of it, this small courtroom in Houston is having a big impact on homelessness by helping folks get out from under Class C misdemeanors. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the man who supervises the city of Houston’s homeless court tells the Jasons why those criminal charges can often keep the homeless from the very things they need to get off the streets and why it’s important that those who find themselves before the judge are called clients, not defendants.

Guest

Scot More, Houston Homeless Court Administrator

A cruise sounds like the perfect getaway, right? How about for 3 years? It could be the perfect escape from American politics. Texan Joe Rhodes did just that, but he still had to vote. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons shared a pint with him at Three Nations Brewing in Carrollton, where they learned it hasn’t all been smooth sailing (pun intended).

Guest

Joe Rhodes, Cruise Ship Resident

President-elect Trump is proposing steep tariffs on our North America trading partners. Those extra levies would be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices on everything from clothing to food to cars. But the bigger price would be to the economies of all countries involved, says Waco-based economist Ray Perryman of The Perryman Group. He has crunched the numbers for governments, huge companies, and public policymakers. Perryman ran the tariff numbers for Y'all-itics and shares the staggering results that include a significant shrinking of the economy and tremendous job losses if the tariff's Trump is threatening actually materialize.

Guest: Dr. Ray Perryman, President & CEO-The Perryman Group

At some point over the past four years, you’ve likely heard about Shelley Luther. Her defiant stance against COVID shutdown orders launched a movement. But everything came to an abrupt stop when a brain aneurysm nearly took her life. Now a Representative-elect heading to Austin, don’t expect her to back down from anything… or anyone. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the GOP firebrand sits down with the Jasons at Tupps Brewery in McKinney, Texas to set the record straight and fill in the blanks about her story that’s played out in front of TV cameras for the last four years.

Guest

Representative-elect Shelly Luther, R-Sherman