Go behind the headlines for a look at what's really going on at the Texas Capitol and in Washington with the state's #1 political podcast: Texas Take. Join the conversation featuring Houston Chronicle/San Antonio Express-News political writer Jeremy Wallace.
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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 shif...
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 ...
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, ...
This episode delves into the profound impact of President Trump's immigration policies on Texas, revealing how the detention of non-criminal individuals, including children and mariachi musicians, has triggered a significant backlash among Latino voters. It examines how this shift is making key South Texas congressional districts, once thought safe for Republicans, highly competitive. Additionally, the discussion covers the influence of cultural figures like Kacey Musgraves in raising awareness and the implications of a recent Supreme Court redistricting ruling for Texas's future political landscape.
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 Crocke...
The Texas Take dives into the controversial resignation of U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez following sexual misconduct allegations, detailing the investigation and political fallout. It also covers the heated Texas Senate race between Cornyn and Paxton, complete with ad wars and Trump's elusive endorsement. Additionally, the episode explores Ted Cruz's national political aspirations, global events affecting Texas agriculture, and an in-depth look at the NRA's efforts to rebrand after financial scandals, including their views on gun control and school safety.
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 b...
This episode delves into the legal challenges against new THC regulations in Texas, the controversy surrounding proposed Christian nationalist curriculum changes in public schools, and the ongoing saga of fining Texas House Democrats for their quorum break. It also explores the public feud between Dan Crenshaw and Ted Cruz, and RNC Chair Joe Gruders discusses the Republican strategy to defy historical odds in the upcoming midterm elections.
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...
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...
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. P...
This episode delves into the ongoing political drama surrounding Donald Trump's delayed endorsement in the Texas Senate race, the financial impact on GOP donors, and the Republican attacks on James Talarico over his veganism stance. It explores Talarico's counter-argument that culture wars are distractions from real issues, the costly nature of Texas Senate races, and an airport confrontation over TSA funding amid a government shutdown. The podcast also covers Chief Justice John Roberts' response to criticism of the Supreme Court, highlighting judicial independence and the dangers of personal attacks.
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 G...
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 v...
The Texas Take dives into the unexpected "February surprises" shaking up the state's primary elections. Host Jeremy Wallace and guests examine how a Colbert interview unexpectedly propelled James Talarico's Senate campaign, the serious implications of an alleged affair involving U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, and Wesley Hunt's attempt to clarify his 2016 vote. The episode also features a heated discussion between Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and opponent Nate Sheets on their qualifications and the controversial regulation of THC and hemp products.
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...
The Texas Take podcast delves into a shocking North Texas special election where a Democrat flipped a long-held Republican State Senate seat, signaling potential shifts for the 2026 cycle and prompting a "wake-up call" for the GOP. The episode also covers Christian Menefee's immediate impact on the House Republican majority after his Houston win, despite facing an unexpected primary challenge. Finally, it highlights Congressman Joaquin Castro's deeply personal involvement in securing the release of a detained 5-year-old and his father, while drawing attention to the many other children still caught in the immigration system.
Host Jeremy Wallace delves into the Trump administration's immigration policies and calls for recalibration, featuring a firsthand account from Reps. Castro and Crockett on a child's detention. The episode also analyzes the Crockett-Talarico debate, scrutinizes Wesley Hunt's missed votes in Congress, and explores the contentious special election in Houston's 18th District, including Al Green's strong reaction to a columnist advocating for new leadership.
In a live interview, Beto O'Rourke explains why he's not running for office, instead leading "Powered by People" to significantly increase voter registration and turnout in Texas. He emphasizes the critical importance of down-ballot races, the high stakes for democracy in upcoming elections, and finds surprising connections between his punk rock music background and the ethos of grassroots political organizing.
U.S. Sen. John Cornyn joins host Jeremy Wallace to talk about his campaign and what President Donald Trump told him about a potential endorsement for the U.S. Senate. Plus, a week after podcaster Shawn Ryan said he was disinviting Rep. Dan Crenshaw on his show, the Houston Republican drops in to respond to Ryan. Finally, San Antonio Express-News reporter Bayliss Wagner jumps aboard to help break down how the military action in Venezuela affects Texas oil and the border, and how Democrats are str...
In this episode, Congressman Dan Crenshaw provides insights into the US strategy in Venezuela, defending the legality of actions against Maduro and contrasting it with approaches to Mexican cartels. He discusses Venezuela's historical decline and the implications of foreign adversaries' presence. Crenshaw also addresses the "America First" foreign policy debate and refutes public accusations regarding his personal wealth and stock market activities, highlighting issues of media trustworthiness and politically motivated attacks.
Who made the biggest splash in Texas politics in 2025? And who saw their fortunes take a turn for the worse? In this week’s end-of-year episode, host Jeremy Wallace channels the legendary Casey Kasem to count down the 7 politicians who saw their political stocks climb the most and those who saw theirs tumble. Which lists did Greg Abbott, Ted Cruz, John Cornyn and Jasmine Crockett end up on? Plus, reporters Taylor Goldenstein and John Moritz join the program to break down the biggest stories of t...
Host Jeremy Wallace delves into the complex and uncertain landscape of Texas politics. The discussion covers the heated U.S. Senate Democratic primary, highlighting Jasmine Crockett's potential entry, the regional strengths of candidates, and voter demographics. The episode also examines the "yo-yo" legal status of THC products in Texas, the surprising conservative coalition advocating for them, and the political risks for opponents like Dan Patrick. Finally, it addresses the persistent fight for Dreamers' protection, exploring legislative efforts by Sylvia Garcia and Dick Durbin, Republican proposals, and the challenges to achieving meaningful reform.
What looked like Gov. Greg Abbott’s gift to President Donald Trump may turn out to be a nightmare for the White House. A court this week put Abbott's plan to eke out five new GOP congressional seats in jeopardy, thanks largely to one big misstep by the governor himself. San Antonio Express-News reporter Bayliss Wagner joins host Jeremy Wallace to explain the problem and show how, instead of boosting Republicans' chances in next year's midterms, the redistricting push could wind up making it easi...
California Gov. Gavin Newsom took a victory lap in Houston, trolling Gov. Greg Abbott who the very next day kicked off his re-election campaign. But Abbott wasn’t phased in the least. Reporter Benjamin Wermund joins host Jeremy Wallace to break down how Abbott responded and what his next big priority will be if he wins a record-shattering 4th term. Finally, you’ll hear how a Texas Congressional seat could play a big role in the fight over the Jeffrey Epstein files and why it matters to the whole...
Nine weeks after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gave President Donald Trump the redistricting map he wanted in Texas, California Gov. Gavin Newsom roared back with an improbable victory on Election Day that will allow the Golden State to negate everything Abbott and Trump thought they were gaining in Texas. California political reporter Monica Madden and Texas House Democratic Leader Gene Wu both join host Jeremy Wallace to explain how much harder of a lift for Newsom this really was — with a lot of hel...
Even after 189 years, the tale of the Alamo remains one of the most debated pieces of Texas history. And it continues to produce casualties to this day. Just this week, the person at the center of the reconstruction around the Alamo was forced out after Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick objected to something she wrote for her college dissertation. Columnist Chris Tomlinson joins the show to talk about the latest drama around the iconic mission. Plus, reporter Ryan Nickerson digs into who might be the n...
