Episodes
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On this episode of Texas Take, Jeremy Wallace is joined by Texas Politics Reporter Haajrah Gilani, Chief Politics Reporter John C. Moritz and reporter Isaac Yu to unpack a week of political reversals. They discuss why Texans are being pulled into the Graham Platner controversy in Maine, why Gov. Greg Abbott is handing the comptroller’s office to former rival Don Huffines, and how the Dallas RNC convention could shape Ken Paxton’s tightening race against James Talarico.
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This week on the Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace is joined by Austin American-Statesman’s John Moritz to break down the Texas Democratic convention in Corpus Christi and James Talarico’s big test as a potential new face of the party. The episode also features an exclusive interview with U.S. Sen. Cory Booker on Democratic tensions over Israel and Gaza, and U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro on ICE detentions across Texas. Finally, Wallace and Moritz dig into the fallout from ICE detaining a nun in McAllen and what it could mean for U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz’s South Texas reelection fight. And there’s no way to do a show partly from Corpus Christi without some Selena and Robert Earl Keen tunes.
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Can the party the says it believes in freedom of religion also ban people from worshiping how they want? That’s exactly the line Texas Republican Party is trying to walk. On this week’s Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace pushes one of the leaders of the anti-Islam push in Texas, Alan Schoolcraft, about his claim this isn't about religion.
The Democrat running to lead the biggest county in Texas isn’t buying it. Harris County Judge candidate Letitia Plummer, a Muslim, joins the Take for an exclusive interview to explain how the GOP's latest culture war won’t distract her from what she says is the real work of dealing with affordability and public safety.
"When people are having culture wars, we are bringing hope," Plummer says.
Plus, D’rinda Randall, fresh off her victory to become the new chair of the Republican Party of Texas stops by the show for an exclusive 1-on-1 interview to talk about her plan for fixing how the state party operates. And yes, we have elephants peeing and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick in more leather than you’ve ever seen him. Reporters John Moritz and Haajrah Gilani join this week’s episode.
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James Talarico is getting an unexpected boost from shifting political winds in South Texas and Houston as he seeks to become the first Democrat to win statewide in Texas in over 30 years. National Democratic strategist Chuck Rocha and Houston Chronicle reporter John Lomax join Texas Take host Jeremy Wallace to explain it all. But Talarico faces hurdles too, specifically a looming $100 million problem. Reporter Benjamin Wermund joins the program to explain how Gov. Greg Abbott's huge campaign war chest could become a valuable resource for Republican Ken Paxton as he looks to fend off Talarico in the U.S. Senate race. And red alert, we are just 5 months away until Election Day and 3 months from the first absentee ballots going out.
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On this episode of Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace breaks down a primary night that ended major Texas political careers, including Sen. John Cornyn’s long run in statewide office. Joined by Gromer Jeffers of The Dallas Morning News and John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman, Wallace digs into Ken Paxton’s victory, MAGA’s strength in Texas, and what Democrat James Talarico would need to do to compete in November. The episode also looks at other major runoff results and the generational shift reshaping Texas politics.
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Is this U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s last hurrah? Host Jeremy Wallace and Brad Johnson of the Texas Bullpen break down President Donald Trump's endorsement of Ken Paxton, including why he made it now, just days before the May 26 primary runoff, and how much trouble Cornyn is in. Plus, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz joins Wallace for an exclusive interview on his continued concerns over China, drawing a contrast with what Trump told Chinese Leader Xi Jinping. Finally, John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman stops in to talk about why President Obama ordering tacos near UT Austin with James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa was such a big deal. And don't worry, Jeremy and John defend the honor of potato, egg and cheese tacos, no matter what the national media says.
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It’s time to vote again in Texas. With in-person early voting starting statewide on Monday, journalists Bayliss Wagner and John Moritz join host Jeremy Wallace to break down the hottest races on the runoff ballot. The whole nation is watching the state because what happens here could have a huge impact on which party ultimately controls the U.S. Senate for Donald Trump’s last two years in office. Has Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton done enough to knock out 24-year incumbent John Cornyn? Plus, Republican Chip Roy joins the program for an exclusive interview about how he’s trying to overcome Mayes Middleton’s barrage of attack ads against him as he seeks to become the Republican nominee to replace Paxton in the attorney general’s office. The episode also highlights Wagner's reporting on elderly donors in Texas who say WinRed and ActBlue signed them up for repeated campaign contributions without their full understanding.
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On this episode of Texas Take, host Jeremy Wallace looks at how President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown is affecting Texas politics, Latino voters and families held at the Dilley detention facility. Houston Chronicle immigration reporter Julián Aguilar explains the cases of detained children and families, while Democratic strategist Laura Barberena breaks down how backlash over the crackdown could reshape South Texas congressional races. Plus, they’ll get into why Texas music star Kacey Musgraves is helping shine a bigger spotlight on it all with her new tour. Finally, after seeing Post Malone in a Texas-themed anti-litter ad, Wallace counts down the five best "Don’t Mess with Texas" ads in history. Sure, Willie Nelson is guaranteed to make the cut, but will George Strait, Matthew McConaughey, Warren Moon and Earl Campbell?
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After a contentious Democratic primary, James Talarico is making a big push to win over Black voters, many of whom had backed his opponent, Jasmine Crockett. In an exclusive interview with Texas Take host Jeremy Wallace at Prairie View A&M University, Talarico explains what he’s doing to win them over and talks about his relationship with Crockett. “There is no way to win Texas without Black voters,” Talarico says. In Dallas and Houston, Talarico lost 9 out of every 10 Black voters to Crockett. Can he win them back? Dallas Morning News Political Writer Gromer Jeffers Jr. joins the show to outline what Talarico has been doing and how much work he still has to do.
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The mounting pressure finally caught up with now-former U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales. After other members of Congress moved to expel him for his affair with a staffer, the San Antonio Republican formally resigned, leaving people from San Antonio to El Paso with no representative in the House for the foreseeable future. San Antonio Express-News political reporter Bayliss Wagner joins host Jeremy Wallace to outline why Gonzales finally relented and what happens next to replace him. Plus, the NRA’s Justin Davis joins the program to explain how they are trying to win back members and why they opposed increased background checks on 18-year-olds after the Uvalde school shooting. Also, while Democrat James Talarico socks away huge money for his November Senate bid, the Republicans in the race continue to fight among themselves and burn GOP donor cash. Finally, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who has never been shy about his ambition to run for president again, is starting to show up outside of Texas in places like California and Iowa.
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Scandal and declining membership have beset the National Rifle Association in recent years, but the group is still expecting 70,000 gun owners to descend on Houston starting Thursday for its annual convention. Justin Davis, Director of Public Affairs for the NRA, sat down with Texas Take Podcast host Jeremy Wallace to discuss how the organization is trying to win back members and what it's done to better watch how money is spent. For just the second time since 2015, President Donald Trump will be a no-show at the event. Davis also defends the NRA’s opposition to red flag laws and the gun safety measures passed in Congress after the Uvalde school shooting in 2022.
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The THC industry is fighting back against new Texas regulations that threaten to put many of them out of business. Houston Chronicle reporter Isaac Yu joins host Jeremy Wallace to explain key parts of the new regulations, the industry's recent lawsuit and what will happen next. Also, they break down the latest way that Christian nationalism may be seeping into public schools. Later, the Austin American-Statesman’s John Mortiz joins the program to talk about how Texas Democrats are still paying for their attempts to stop the congressional redistricting plan and why U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw is calling out U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz. Finally, Republican National Committee chair Joe Gruters stops in to acknowledge the tough midterm elections ahead, but insists the party has a plan to defy recent electoral history. Why? "We have no other option. We have to win," he says.
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The leader of the Republican National Committee knows he will have to defy history to defend President Donald Trump in Texas and beyond as Democrats vow to retake control of the U.S. House. In an exclusive interview with Texas Take host Jeremy Wallace, RNC chair Joe Gruters said he knows almost every president over the 150 years has lost seats in Congress during midterm elections. But the GOP has to overcome the odds in order to save Trump from an endless stream of investigations and impeachment hearings during his final two years in office. “We have no other option. We have to win,” Gruters said. A big part of that mission is Texas. With the GOP national convention scheduled for Houston in 2028 and a potential midterm convention in Dallas this year, Gruters has been in Texas a lot, preparing to fight Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico and other threats to Trump’s legacy up and down the ballot in the Lone Star State.
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Did Ted Cruz and Greg Abbott just get snubbed by CPAC in their own backyard? Houston Chronicle reporter Benjamin Wermund joins this week's episode to explain why the crowd favored JD Vance and Marco Rubio over either. Plus with gas prices climbing, Trump voters may be paying more at the pump. In Midland and Odessa, people are pay much more for a gallon of gas than those in Houston, Dallas or Austin - all places Kamala Harris carried in 2024. And host Jeremy Wallace has seen far too many Godzilla movies. He explains why a congressional hearing about deep-sea mining operations of the Gulf Coast has him worried about what lurks beneath the waves. Finally State Sen. Nathan Johnson joins the program for an exclusive one-on-one to talk about his campaign for attorney general, his double life writing music for Dragon Ball Z and his concern over the calcification of power in the governor's office that he says would have alarmed the framers of the Texas Constitution.
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Vice President JD Vance and U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Arizona, are worlds apart politically, but this week both were in the Lone Star State on a similar mission: win over Texans who could become critical if they both run for the White House in 2028. Gallego sits down with host Jeremy Wallace for an exclusive interview in San Antonio, where he says his message is as simple as can be: “no stupid wars, focus on the homeland.” His target audience in the Alamo City was clear: Latinos and veterans. Plus, University of Houston political science professor Brandon Rottinghaus explains that it’s not just Texas BBQ bringing would-be presidential candidates to Texas. He explains why the state is such a proving ground for candidates of both parties. Also, Austin American-Statesman political reporter John Moritz drops in to relay what Democrat James Talarico said in response to a Tennessee pastor who called for God to kill him. All that, plus Conroe’s Parker McCollum, shows how a Houston rodeo concert is supposed to end.
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The longer President Donald Trump drags out his endorsement of either Sen. John Cornyn or Ken Paxton, the more it is costing GOP donors as the two Senate combatants continue to throw money at each other instead of turning their attention to Democrat James Talarico. Host Jeremy Wallace breaks down the latest in the drama to court Trump’s political love. Plus, what exactly did James Talarico say about veganism that has Republicans vowing to defend BBQ? Finally, Cornyn and U.S. Rep. Greg Casar force their way onto the show by verbally sparring in the pickup line at the airport – all in front of Wallace. The reason? Who is to blame for long TSA lines at airports around the nation.
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Texas shattered voting turnout records in a wild primary season that saw James Talarico defeat Jasmine Crockett, and Sen. John Cornyn pushed into a runoff election with Ken Paxton. Gromer Jeffers of the Dallas Morning News and John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman join host Jeremy Wallace to break down all the results including hot races for Congress, the Texas Legislature and statewide offices. Plus, Bayliss Wagner of the San Antonio Express-News joins with the latest on U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, whose career in Congress will be coming to an end after he confirmed that he had an affair with a staffer who later died after setting herself on fire. Finally, Wallace looks at how President Donald Trump used a stop in Corpus Christi to tout gas prices being down 10 cents, only to see them shoot up 20 cents days later after he ordered the attack on Iran.
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Months of ads, rallies and campaign travel have brought us to this. On Tuesday, Texas will know whether Jasmine Crockett or James Talarico will be the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate. And on the Republican side, will U.S. Sen. John Cornyn survive the toughest GOP primary of his career against Ken Paxton and Wesley Hunt? John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman joins host Jeremy Wallace to break down the closing arguments of all the top candidates and look at the record pace of early voting, with shocking turnout numbers in Harris, Bexar and Collin counties, to name a few. Plus, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales is vowing never to resign despite new evidence related to an affair he had with a congressional aide who killed herself last year. Finally, President Donald Trump heads to Corpus Christi to tout the economy despite continued criticism that he hasn't done enough to address affordability in America.
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U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico got a sudden boost from Stephen Colbert in his Democratic primary battle against Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. New evidence has emerged related to an alleged affair U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales had, which has changed his re-election prospects. And did Wesley Hunt vote for President Donald Trump in 2016 or not? John Moritz of the Austin American-Statesman, Bayliss Wagner of the San Antonio Express-News and James Osborne of the Houston Chronicle all join host Jeremy Wallace to break it down. Plus, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and his GOP primary opponent Nate Sheets both drop by to jab at each other, talk about their showdown and explain how they plan to manage the future of THC and hemp.
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With the start of in-person early voting in Texas about to get underway, attack ads are filling up television sets around the Lone Star State. Host Jeremy Wallace breaks down some of the hottest primary races in Texas and plays a ton of attack ads from various races to show just how intense things have gotten. Can Mayes Middleton catch Chip Roy in the race to replace Ken Paxton as Attorney General? Is Don Huffines about to defeat Gov. Greg Abbott's preferred choice for the state's top accountant job? The Houston Chronicle's Isaac Yu joins the program to explain why so much is at stake for Abbott in the that race. Plus, San Antonio Express News reporter Bayliss Wagner stops in to talk about the proxy war in San Antonio that has the most vicious ads in the state filling the airwaves of the Alamo City. And Drew Landry, who teaches government at South Plains College in Lubbock, joins to break down the most wide-open GOP primary for Congress playing out in West Texas. Finally, could the only Latina ever to represent Houston on Capitol Hill be in jeopardy on March 3?
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