In this year-end special, hosts Brian Phillips and Derek Cohen sit down with Brad Johnson, Senior Reporter & Managing Editor at The Texan News, to recap the biggest political stories of 2025 and what they mean heading into the 2026 cycle.

From the unexpected twists in the Texas Senate race, to the fallout of mid-decade redistricting, to the biggest legislative wins and disappointments, this episode covers it all. We also unveil our Politician of the Year and Texan of the Year awards.

3:35 – Hot Take: Jasmine Crockett jumps into the 2026 Senate race
9:10 – DLCC targets the Texas House for 2026
11:43 – Democrats field candidates in every statewide/federal race
13:11 – Why Dems still struggle to build a top-tier slate
16:20 – 2025 Legislative Session recap: Was 2025 the most conservative Texas legislative session ever?
18:38 – Biggest wins of the year: Burrows, bail reform, ESAs, border
23:42 – Biggest disappointments: energy, tariffs, healthcare messaging
31:07 – Biggest story of 2025: Mid-decade redistricting; the THC fight and its ripple effects
35:10 – Under-the-radar wins: DEI enforcement & agency elimination
44:25 – Politician of the Year awards
55:19 – New Year’s resolutions for 2026