It's a Christmas extravaganza this week as we close out the year with a debate about ketchup on tamales with Chad Hasty, check in with my mother about her favorite songs of the season, and a Christmas Miracle as Dan Patrick brings a voice of reason to the debate over property taxes. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.  

Democrats who were hoping they could avoid what's sure to be a nasty US Senate primary in Texas are about to find out if they've got the stomach for it. We'll take you to Rep. Jasmine Crockett's launch event in Dallas and you'll get some historical perspective on how combative candidates have fared in Texas. Plus the redistricting wars that started at the Capitol in Austin at the behest of President Trump may end up being a wash, which might mean Democrats won't get as much national help as they otherwise could have as they try to defend seats south of Interstate 10. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.  

The way President Trump and New York Mayor-elect Mamdani's meeting at the White House went this week—not a fight but nearly a love fest—tells you that the MAGA right and the far left Democratic socialists largely fundamentally agree about the number one issue informing voter attitudes right now: The state of the economy. Plus, the Democrats had a big win on redistricting this week but what happens next? Let's review some of the way it played out at the Capitol. And yes our listeners are right that there are plenty of quality Thanksgiving songs to jam out to before cranking up the Christmas tunes. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.  

Panicked headlines across America and Texas as Congress dealt what many say is a lethal blow to the hemp industry. But our friend Susan Hays, an attorney who's become an expert on the subject, joined the show to say everyone should take a breath and she stressed this is a much longer game than most are saying. Plus, Rep. Tony Gonzales is now sort of addressing rumors about the apparent suicide of one of his staffers. And is Mike Collier's decision to run for Lt. Gov. as an independent going to screw Democrats out of a statewide win next year? There's a previous election we can look at for some perspective. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.

The game is certainly afoot now, with Governors Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker rallying Democrats in Texas while Gov. Abbott announces his reelection. Meantime, "Big John" Cornyn is in the fight of his political life. Driving across Texas to cover it all this weekend led to a broken windshield for me right as Rep. Jasmine Crockett gave her clearest explanation yet as to why she might run for US Senate. No kidding, a rock hit my windshield right as I was listening to her explain herself. Plus: Why does no one believe Lt. Gov. Patrick when he says he's running for reelection? Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.  

After a special election in an off year, the reminder is always to never read too much into the results. But my reminder to myself is there's no way to get y'all to avoid doing that, so let's talk about it all. One key race in Tarrant County may speak to a serious and potentially durable enthusiasm gap between Democrats and Republicans. Plus, Texas House Democrats appear to have helped California Gov. Gavin Newsom in his effort to counter Texas redistricting. Oh, and Evan thinks it's way too early to be playing Christmas music in stores or anywhere else. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston. 

The race for US Senate in Texas may be turned upside down if Rep. Jasmine Crockett jumps into the Democratic primary. Crockett says she may seriously consider it if the courts uphold the newly drawn congressional map demanded by President Trump. But we start with growing concerns that a proposal to fund critical water infrastructure projects across Texas may fail at the ballot box. Plus: After blocking legislation in the Texas Senate to address altered images in campaigns, Patrick was railing this week against an altered image in a Texas Senate campaign that he said is "satanic." Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.  

Our publisher, serial entrepreneur Harvey Kronberg recently appeared on the Changing Austin Podcast to talk about where Quorum Report has been and where we're going: "Since joining the Quorum Report in 1989 as a contract writer, Harvey Kronberg has become a trusted voice in Texas politics. In this episode of the Changing Austin podcast, Stacy Armijo sits down with Kronberg for a candid conversation about how Austin has evolved over the past four decades. From its laid-back “slacker” reputation in the 1970s to its transformation into a booming tech and policy hub, Kronberg shares first hand stories from the frontlines of Texas journalism and politics." Check it out.

In Texas politics, two things have the unique ability to inspire candidates: God and queso. But if the queso is bland, it might say something about the candidate. And if someone says God told them to run for office, watch out. We now have potentially nasty statewide Democratic primaries shaping up in addition to the GOP primaries that are already heated. As those campaigns got rolling, Democratic activists took to the streets of Texas cities as small as Brenham and as big as Dallas and Houston to protest against President Trump's Administration. And why are some Texas Democrats saying their new state party chairman sounds like Donald Trump? Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.  

Only in Texas politics could you call someone "the biggest asshole" and it's in defense of that person. You'll want to hear what that has to do with a White House call to the Texas GOP this weekend and what Speaker Dustin Burrows' comments to the Republican Party might mean for the operations of the House. Then you'll get the scoop from El Paso, where the redistricting battle that led to a smackdown at the Texas Capitol this summer is now playing out in a federal courtroom. Jen Rice was one of the only reporters to hear all the arguments. She'll check in. Plus: What is Congressman Wes Hunt really doing with his bid for the US Senate? Some newly resurfaced audio of him might provide a clue. And Gov. Abbott's pissed at Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, who spent some of the week mocking the Texas National Guard deployment in Chicago and baiting Abbott into a bit of a debate involving hot dogs. Yes, really. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.

You know, the way a government shutdown was handled in a fictional TV show years ago seemed to be more serious than the way it's being handled by leaders in Washington in real life now. Quorum Report Publisher Harvey Kronberg has the scoop on how the issue at the center of the shutdown could affect competitive elections in Texas next year. But, we start with a disturbing story out of South Texas, where a congressional staffer appears to have committed suicide by setting herself on fire. That was the original reporting of Tony Ortiz at currentrevolt.com, who stopped in with the latest. Plus, the FDA moves forward with approval of another generic abortion pill right as Texas lawmakers crack down on those medications and some women in the Legislature become much more vocal about struggles with infertility. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer, and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston.  

This week: The rumors just won't die about a possible third special session of the Texas Legislature in Austin. But what would even be left for them to tackle this year? You'll get real talk about that. Plus, more finger-pointing after the deadly shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, where a conservative media star suggested Fox News likely wouldn't even cover the story if it turned out the shooter's politics were right wing. And Quorum Report publisher Harvey Kronberg weighs in on Attorney General Ken Paxton's warnings to colleges and universities in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer, and the original music for the show is by Checkmayne in Houston. 

Sen. Ted Cruz surprised his haters this week by going back to his roots as a "rock-ribbed constitutional conservative" arguing the FCC Chairman sounded like a gangster who threatened ABC, pressuring the network to fire Jimmy Kimmel for comments about MAGA and Charlie Kirk. These things don't happen in a vacuum. And even though Kimmel is returning to TV after government threats, the erosions of free speech are everywhere, from the Capitol in Austin to the one in DC. Plus, Quorum Report Publisher Harvey Kronberg says there's plenty of irony to be found in the legislative response following the killing of Kirk. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer, who reminds you to subscribe to the show today and tell three friends about it so they'll each turn around and tell three friends about it. It's part of his scheme to make us number one.

With the assassination of Charlie Kirk as the backdrop, I got a stark personal reminder of the stakes in the aftermath of last week's shooting in Utah. Returning to the microphone, an open and honest dialogue about this whole issue is warranted and I hope this episode can be a start. Plus, Quorum Report Publisher Harvey Kronberg weighs in on the newest entrant in the race for US Senate, James Talarico. And we visited with our friend Mark Davis about the ongoing battle over THC. Our producer is the famous Evan Sherer and the original music is by Checkmayne in Houston. Check it out.