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Texas Tribune TribCast

The Texas Tribunewww.texastribune.org
The TribCast is a weekly political podcast hosted by Matthew Watkins, James Barragán and Eleanor Klibanoff, and featuring a rotating cast of editors, reporters and other guests. The TribCast is returning as a limited-run weekly series during the 2025 legislative session.
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Episodes

TribCast: UT Leadership, Higher Ed Outcomes and Endorsements

Emily, Aman, Evan and Ross on the resignation of University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa, the Tribune's higher ed outcomes explorer and the non-endorsement endorsements from the state's junior U.S. senator.

Feb 14, 201432 min

TribCast: Overrated Races and Would-Be Comptrollers

Evan, Reeve, Ross and Aman wonder whether the Texas gubernatorial race is among the country's most overrated, evaluate the candidates' media relations operations, and catch up on the comptroller's race.

Feb 05, 201433 min

TribCast: Lite Gov Debate and Decriminalizing Marijuana

Emily, Reeve, Ben and Ross review the debate between the Republican lieutenant governor candidates, Gov. Rick Perry's support for decriminalizing marijuana, and the Wendy Davis campaign's latest response to critics of her biography.

Jan 29, 201431 min

TribCast: The Wendy Davis Bio and Gay Marriage

Evan, Ross, Reeve and Emily talk about the recent scrutinization of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Wendy Davis' biography and discuss the growing debate surrounding gay marriage in Texas.

Jan 22, 201430 min

TribCast: Fundraising, Speaker's Race and Life Support

Emily, Reeve, Ross and Evan discuss the latest campaign fundraising totals, state Rep. Scott Turner's plan to challenge Speaker Joe Straus, and the complicated case of a pregnant woman on life support in Fort Worth.

Jan 15, 201433 min

TribCast: Payday Lending, Scorecards and Navigators

Ross, Becca, Reeve and Jay discuss a recent dust-up over payday lending, disputes about political scorecards, and discord surrounding proposed rules for federal health care navigators.

Jan 08, 201429 min

TribCast: What to Expect in 2014

Reeve is joined by a plethora of reporters to forecast the coming year in politics, health care, education, energy, criminal justice, immigration, the environment and more.

Jan 01, 201432 min

TribCast: 2013 End-of-Year Extravaganza

Reeve is joined by a number of reporters as he revisits some of the memorable TribCast conversations about the hottest topics in Texas politics in 2013. Be sure to stay tuned for a special treat at the end.

Dec 25, 201331 min

TribCast: Bill Powers and the Governor's Race So Far

Evan, Ross, Jay and Reeve review the beginnings of the gubernatorial battle between Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy Davis and provide an update on the turmoil at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M University.

Dec 18, 201335 min

TribCast: Stockman, Filing Deadline and Mack Brown

Reeve, Emily, Ross and Evan talk about U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman's decision to challenge U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, how the 2014 election brackets shaped up, and potential job openings at the University of Texas at Austin.

Dec 11, 201333 min

TribCast: Campaigns, Education and a Forgotten Gun

Reeve, Morgan, Ben and Evan give an update on who is officially on and off the statewide Democratic ticket, review the latest from the State Board of Education, and mull the significance of a lawmaker's forgotten weapon.

Nov 27, 201331 min

TribCast: Van de Putte and the Young Conservatives

Reeve, Emily, Ross and Evan talk about the anticipated entry of state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, into the lietuenant governor's race and the recent uproar over a planned and quickly canceled game of "catch an illegal immigrant."

Nov 20, 201331 min

TribCast: Abbott's Ethics Proposals, Double Down and UT

Reeve, Brandi, Evan and Ross talk about the latest policy proposals from gubernatorial candidate Greg Abbott, revelations in the recently released book Double Down, and the latest drama involving the University of Texas at Austin. You can also listen here: trib.it/19kIXtK

Nov 13, 201331 min

TribCast Plus: University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll

Jim, Daron, and Josh join Reeve for a special edition of the TribCast focusing on the latest numbers in the University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll on the gubernatorial race, Ted Cruz, health care, immigration reform and more.

Nov 08, 201336 min

TribCast: Elections, Polling Numbers and Abortion Laws

Reeve, Ross, Ben and Emily review the results of the recent election, ponder the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll, and discuss the latest developments in the state's implementation of new abortion laws. You can also listen here: http://trib.it/1hjzNaU

Nov 06, 201333 min

TribCast: Affidavits, Senate Races and Propositions

Reeve, Ben, Evan and Ross talk about the need for some high-profile politicians to sign an affidavit to vote, potential turnover in the Senate and what to expect from the upcoming election. You can listen to it on the Trib's site: http://trib.it/1iv1Or8

Oct 30, 201331 min

TribCast: Transparency Committee and Ag Commissioners

Reeve, Emily, Ben and Neena discuss the House Committee on Transparency in State Agency Operations' ongoing impeachment probe, Ted Nugent's involvement in the race for agriculture commissioner, and the lesser prairie chicken.

Oct 23, 201328 min

TribCast: Water Poll, Impeachment Call and Kinky

Reeve, Emily, Jim and Jay discuss the recent University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll gauging support for water funding, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's call for President Obama to be impeached, and Kinky Friedman's return to Texas politics.

Oct 16, 201333 min

TribCast: Shutdown, Tutoring and In-State Squabbles

Reeve, Morgan, Evan and Ben discuss the government shutdown and what it means for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, what went wrong with a tutoring program in Texas, and recent arguments over in-state tuition for immigrants in the race for lieutenant governor.

Oct 09, 201335 min

TribCast: Live From the Texas Tribune Festival

Reeve and Ben are joined by a handful of special guests, including Shinyribs, Jeremy Bird of Battleground Texas, and former state Rep. Aaron Peña, R-Edinburg, for a special live Tribcast recorded in KUT's Studio 1A during the Texas Tribune Festival. | Texas Tribune Be sure to follow the Tribune on Twitter.

Oct 02, 20131 hr 3 min

TribCast: Filibusters, Fauxlibusters and Retiring Reps

Emily, Reeve, Evan and Ross discuss U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's recent efforts to defund Obamacare, the latest round of retirements announced in the Texas House, and the upcoming Texas Tribune Festival. | Texas Tribune Be sure to follow the Tribune on Twitter.

Sep 25, 201332 min

TribCast: Embargoes, Pauken and Health Insurance

Reeve, Becca, Evan and Ross discuss Wendy Davis' embargoed announcement of a coming announcement, the gubernatorial campaign of Tom Pauken and the latest on Rick Perry's approach to federal health care reform.

Sep 19, 201332 min

TribCast: College Rankings and Candidate Comments

Reeve, Ben, Emily and Ross talk about how Texas fared in the latest college rankings, the respective returns of Dan Morales and Wayne Christian, and attention-grabbing comments from candidates for statewide office. | Texas Tribune Be sure to follow the Tribune on Twitter.

Sep 12, 201330 min

TribCast: Justices, UT Admissions and New Laws

Ross, Evan, Reeve and Ayan discuss Chief Justice Wallace Jefferson's departure from the Texas Supreme Court, conflict between state Rep. Jim Pitts and University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall, and the new state laws that recently took effect.

Sep 04, 201331 min

TribCast: Calling the Police, the DOJ and DPS

Reeve, Emily, Ross and Ben talk about Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst's infamous call to the Allen Police Department, discuss the clash between Texas and the Department of Justice, and review the latest on allegations of feces at the Texas Capitol.

Aug 28, 201330 min
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