This week, for our big story, we sit down with Hunter Griffin and Emeri Calloway from the Tarrant County Young Democrats to showcase how young people in Tarrant County make a difference when fighting for democracy. TCYD helped fight Tim O'Hare's attempt to eliminate college campus voting sites , Keller ISD's attempt to resegregate , and get a Fort Worth progressive elected . We listen to their origin story and how a band of small groups can make a difference while also building community. Enjoy!...
Jul 07, 2025•1 hr 22 min
The team is joined by Allison Campolo, who is running for chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party . She ran for the Texas Senate in 2017 and served as the former county chair from 2021 to 2023. She shares why she wants to get back in the saddle and updated plans on how to turn the county blue! Watch on YouTube . BIG STORY: An interview with Allison Campolo - DFW native Kendall Scudder is the Texas Democratic Chair - Democrats Allred, Castro, O’Rourke, Talarico meet to discuss 2026 options -...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 17 min
Ann, EJ, and Wesley attended Bernie Sanders' Oligarchy Tour with some awesome 817 Gatherers. We give a full analysis of the event, but also what is to come! Watch on YouTube Big Story: Bernie’s Fighting Oligarchy Tour at Dickies Arena Short Story 1: Absences force cancellation of Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting Short Story 2: Fort Worth City Council weighs ending minority business incentive programs Council to vote on suspending Fort Worth’s diversity and inclusion department Short St...
Jun 24, 2025•48 min
Ann, EJ, and Wesley walk into the studio with a smile on their faces and hope in their hearts, after attending the No Kings Rally in Fort Worth and a weekend of community events. The trio discusses what's next after Mayor Parker's Gay Pride Proclamation, as Juneteenth is this week and Bernie Sanders is coming to town. BIG STORY: Protesters in downtown Fort Worth declare US has ‘No Kings’ Turnout was great for Fort Worth. Easier 2-3 times more than last month. EJ’s speech March Dissent Short Stor...
Jun 16, 2025•1 hr 3 min
Ann, EJ, and Wesley provide a comprehensive post-analysis of the June 3rd commissioners court meeting, where Judge Tim O'Hare, Commissioner Manny Ramirez, and Commissioner Matt Krause voted 3-2 to accept Map 7. Why Map 7? Where did Map 7 come from? How does this impact Fort Worth? Watch this episode to get a deep dive. BIG STORY: Tarrant County commissioners vote 3-2 to redistrict, adopting a racially gerrymandered map They selected Map 7 Citizens Map Lawsuit in place FW Council Meeting Tony Tin...
Jun 09, 2025•58 min
Ann and EJ have the privilege to be joined on air with former Commissioner of Precinct Two, Devan Allen. She is the youngest commissioner in county history. She was also the first black female to lead as a commissioner in Tarrant County and the 3rd female in the county's 100-year history to hold such an office. She was part of the court when the county underwent the redistricting process in 2020, during which the 3-2 Republican majority court voted 4-1 to maintain the existing maps. She also pos...
Jun 02, 2025•1 hr 16 min
This is our first VIDEO episode! You can watch on YouTube! Subscribe, share with friends, and do not forget to add us on social media! The format of this episode is a little different due to all the announcements and progress we have made over the last two weeks. So we start the show with a little introduction and a description of what listeners can expect. The meat of the episode is Judge Tim O'Hare's Racial Gerrymandering attempt by redistricting our precincts in the middle of a census period ...
May 26, 2025•52 min
Today, we have a deep and intimate conversation with Jarred Howard, CEO of the National Juneteenth Museum . We discuss how to celebrate Juneteenth in 2025 with NJM at their inaugural Freedom Vibes Festival . You can get your tickets now . As usual, the pod has three short stories before the big story. We will update you on redistricting and how Fort Worth has amassed a million people, passing Austin! Short Stories #1: Has Fort Worth become a Top 10 City? - Monumental milestone: Fort Worth popula...
May 19, 2025•1 hr 6 min
This is a complete show, starting with the cancellation of six figures of NEA funding in North Texas. Mercy Culture breaks ground on its new center, and top county officials praise it. The big story is redistricting updates, and where does funding go in Tarrant and Texas? COMMUNITY UPDATES: Join the Discord RSVP for the 817 Gather SHORT STORY #1: North Texas arts groups have lost over $280,000 in NEA funding - Fort Worth groups lose $110K in NEA funds to transform former KKK hall after Trump mov...
May 12, 2025•54 min
Ann and EJ review the election results. Turnout was at its lowest level in over a decade, yet extremism lost. What does this mean moving forward as we prepare for Tim O'Hare's obsession with gerrymandering Tarrant County? Sign up to make your voice heard! Join the online community. Come to the 817 Gather on May 18th! SHOW NOTES: SHORT STORY #1: Election Results SHORT STORY #2: Tarrant County confirms first measles case - Tarrant health officials issue warning about possible measles exposure in A...
May 05, 2025•43 min
Ann and EJ are back from a big weekend of events to give you three short stories, one BIG story, and wins and losses for the city of Fort Worth. Our big story is an interview with Dr. Mia Hall, who is running for City Council District 6 . Our three short stories are a collection of articles that analyze who gets the money in council races, why Tim O'Hare's National Day of Prayer is a cesspool for Christian Nationalism ideology, and what the new state performance ratings mean to Fort Worth ISD. S...
Apr 28, 2025•1 hr 28 min
Ann and EJ sit down with Daryl Davis II, a candidate for City Council District 6, this week for the big story. We also discuss how anti-DEI is impacting TCU and TCC. We give you updates on redistricting talks at the county level as Tim O'Hare's voter fraud law firm gets approved for tens of thousands of our tax dollars. SHORT STORY #1: Anti-DEI impacts TCU and TCC: - TCU cuts Diversity & Inclusion office amid funding cut threats, higher-ed politicization - Tarrant GOP attacks TCU - Texas DEI...
Apr 14, 2025•1 hr 22 min
Ann and EJ present three short stories and an interview with Cowtown Democrats President Geoffrey Hyder, who will host the new Texas Democrat Party Chair, Kendall Scudder, on April 15th ! Enjoy the episode, and we apologize for the audio, as we had to move into an outdated studio. We will be better in the future! SHORT STORY #1: Measles Exposure in Tarrant County - RFK Jr. Heads to Texas Kid's Funeral Who Dies from Measles - Tarrant health officials issue warning about possible measles exposure ...
Apr 07, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Democrats have been making gains across the country in special elections, but what does that mean for Tarrant County, where our GOP Judge is looking to rezone the county in his favor and the Tarrant Democratic Party can barely afford rent? Ann and EJ analyze the city, county, and state situation and believe hope exists. Be a part of the hope and attend a Gather . Join our Discord . SHORT STORY 1: Legacy Downtown Wells Fargo Bank Moves to Clearfork SHORT STORY 2: Parents sue Trinity Valley School...
Mar 31, 2025•58 min
Today, we sit down with the president and a lead organizer of the César Chávez & Dolores Huerta Committee of Tarrant County , Maricela Jimenez and Maria Morales, to discuss the upcoming March for Justice . If you want to join us, we will gather at 9:30 am at the JFK Memorial on March 29th. If you cannot make the walk, they also have a link to donate . SHORT STORY #1: Fort Worth-based Texas refugee office receives $47M in paused funds after legal battle - The government is actually spending m...
Mar 24, 2025•57 min
Ann and EJ are guest-less this pod, which is the first in weeks! Ann attends a Mayoral panel where the last four mayors of Fort Worth talk about the past, present, and future of Fort Worth. This leads to the question: Is Fort Worth better today than pre-pandemic or post Betsy Price? SHORT STORY #1: Keller ISD Remains One District - Keller ISD abandons plan to split district into two, citing financial barriers - ‘It’s not over’: Opponents of squashed Keller ISD split rejoice, but demand transpare...
Mar 17, 2025•1 hr 8 min
Brandi Waller-Pace, the organizer and visionary behind Fort Worth's African American Roots Festival , joins us in the studio. She shares her motive for bringing such a curated experience to the city and how Fort Worth can be a destination for art and music that uplifts marginalized voices. As usual, we go through our short stories, wins, and losses! SHORT STORY #1: Measles Outbreak: Where is our Health Director Brian Byrd? - Tarrant County is preparing for measles: " Moderate to high likelihood ...
Mar 10, 2025•1 hr 27 min
Ale Checka, an award-winning public school teacher with 17 years of experience in FWISD, organized an opinion piece in the Star-Telegram to oppose Governor Abbott's Voucher Program. This voucher program aims to defund public schools while subsidizing private schools for privileged families. FWISD is already facing budget cuts and school closures, and this bill could exacerbate these challenges in our school communities. We are in the 9th inning, so Ale joins Ann and EJ to get us out of our seats...
Mar 03, 2025•1 hr
Ann and EJ sit down with Jason Ballmann , who is running for city council District 3. Jason was a former council member in Marfa, Texas, and is currently a brand strategist at Texas Instruments. Fort Worth is growing fast, and we need leadership that puts people first, not just developers and big real estate interests. Jason shares how he has seen firsthand what happens when communities get priced out, neighborhoods lose their character, and working families struggle to keep up with rising costs...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 19 min
Today, the 817 Pod community hears from Lara and Zephyr, two students at Keller High School who are part of the Keller Student Activism Organization . This grassroots movement was initiated by a small but determined group of students who have made their voices heard at recent board meetings and organized a school walkout to protest the board's proposal to split the school district into two parts . This plan is controversial and has garnered opposition from community leaders, who are presenting e...
Feb 17, 2025•47 min
Ann and EJ sit down with a friend of the podcast, Katrina Carpenter, with Carpenter's Cafe . EJ and Ann riff on short stories, giving you all updates on election filers, federal executive orders, and the shenanigans in District 6. ENJOY! SHORT STORY #1: Who has filed to run and events you should know about - Who's running for Fort Worth City Council in 2025? Here are the candidates for the May 3 election - Join us at the 817 Gather - The Future of the City (EJ's moderating) - Interested in Runni...
Feb 10, 2025•1 hr 28 min
This week, the big story is a sit down with Chris and Mendi Tackett from See It. Name It. Fight It . Chris was a former school board trustee and an influential voice on CNN's Deep in the Pockets of Texas . He shares his expansive research and foresight since the show and his upcoming workshop for those interested in running for their community's school board . Mendi's experience is following the nuances around Christian nationalism in Texas and how we have to hold Republicans even more accountab...
Feb 03, 2025•2 hr 15 min
Today, we have a conversation with Laney Hawes , a mother of four children who attends schools at Keller ISD. She is also the co-founder of the TX Freedom to Read Project , which seeks to connect, support & mobilize parent-led groups fighting to protect students' right to read throughout the state. Her conversation is timely as Keller ISD's next school board meeting is on Thursday . We will continue our regular program next week. Join our community Discord and attend our next 817 Gather on F...
Jan 27, 2025•54 min
Ann and EJ sit down with Josh Lucas, an emerging star in Fort Worth who is running for Mayor in this election cycle . In this episode, we discuss the deaths occurring in the Tarrant County jail and the spread of Christian White Nationalism in Texas churches. Enjoy the discussion, and be sure to support Josh! SHORT STORY #1: How what is going on in Keller ISD can impact Texas schools across the state. - Stop the secrecy’: Keller ISD residents overwhelmingly oppose plan to split district - Why a p...
Jan 20, 2025•1 hr 23 min
This week, filing starts to put your name on the ballot in a local Texas election. We sit down with Tara Maldonado, a progressive candidate who ran three times for city council in Fort Worth . Ann and Tara share stories and perspectives that give average listeners a genuine look inside what it takes. SHORT STORY #1: Censoring Art: Modern Exhibit Receives Backlash - The Modern Releases Statement Regarding Removed Sally Mann Photographs in Fort Worth - Don’t let critics censor Fort Worth photo exh...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 40 min
Ann and EJ come back from the holidays, bursting into the new year with many new takes and concerns! Recent census data show Fort Worth is now the 4th largest city in Texas, surpassing Austin. The duo proceeds the show discussing ageism in politics after reports of Kay Granger's health get exposed by right-wing media. The big story is that Tim O'Hare finally speaks to the media. SHORT STORY #1: Do Fort Worth People Have Two Lives? Ann and EJ talk about how they have lives and communities outside...
Jan 06, 2025•1 hr 34 min
Ann and EJ finish out the year talking about an important topic that brings together all the recent local news into one big question -- Who controls the connectedness of Fort Worth? The show includes updates on Mercy Culture and recent updates on crucial development projects. Oh! How could we forget transit news from Ann! SHORT STORY #1: How Did Mercy Culture Get Its Way? - How Mercy Culture beat Fort Worth’s bureaucracy and politics to get its shelter built - Fort Worth council member Chris Net...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 24 min
We've created a unique bonus pod to help you cope with yesterday's shenanigans. So many people inspired us yesterday, and we hope you hear allyship and frustration from your favorite Fort Worth podcast. For context, the city council approved Jay Chapa as city manager and granted Mercy Culture their exploitation center. Join the 817 Gather
Dec 12, 2024•52 min
Did you miss us?!? We are back with a full episode, including a conversation with councilmember Chris Nettles, who shares his authentic concerns about how the Mayor and council have hired the city's next CEO. December 10th is going to be a historic council meeting. The council will vote on whether Jay Chapa will be our next city manager and whether Mercy Culture will get its exploitation center. Tune in and get active this week! SHORT STORY ONE: Mercy Culture wants Fort Worth’s OK on housing for...
Dec 09, 2024•1 hr 30 min
Ann and EJ record the last episode of the month as we enter into Thanksgiving break. Before the recording, they had an in-person experience with listeners and friends called 817 Gather. In this episode, they talk about Elon Musk, Dr. Phil, and Mercy Culture. SHORT STORY #1: Commute Times Increase in FW: The Solution? NOT ROADS - Theft ring suspects accused of stealing nearly $300K in fuel at North Texas gas stations - Nationwide criminal ring stole nearly $5 million worth of cars from DFW Airpor...
Nov 18, 2024•1 hr
