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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: Budget Bromance, Wallace Hall and Abbott's "Strike Force"

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Matthew about the abstinence fight in the House's overnight budget debate, a grand jury's opinions on UT Regent Wallace Hall and whether the state's health commissioner will keep his job. | Texas Tribune Be sure to follow the Tribune on Twitter.

Apr 01, 201532 min

TribCast: Cruz's Big Reveal and Budget Bickering

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Jay and Aman about Ted Cruz's presidential announcement, the differences between the House and Senate budget and the Trib's major collaboration with the Houston Chronicle, "Blood Lessons."

Mar 26, 201532 min

TribCast: Gun Bills and Texans Shooting for the White House

In this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Jay about the presidential ambitions of Jeb Bush and Rand Paul, the gun bills moving in the Legislature and the fiscal needs of former lawmakers now at the helm of state agencies.

Mar 18, 201532 min

Budgetline: A Special TribCast Series on the Texas Budget

In the inaugural episode of Budgetline, Ross and Aman start where state officials started — with the revenue estimate that predicts how much money they'll have to spend. It sounds like a simple idea, but it's a complicated stew of economics, politics and risky forecasting.

Mar 12, 201511 min

Tribcast: David Simpson, Marijuana and Crumbling State Agencies

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Jay about crumbling infrastructure at state agencies, the candidates to be the next UT-Austin president, and — what else — state Rep. David Simpson's stance on legalizing weed.

Mar 04, 201532 min

TribCast: Polling, Border Security and Tax Cuts

On this week's TribCast — the first sans Reeve! — Emily talks with Ross, Julian and Jim about the UT/TT Poll, the border security battle in the Legislature and tax cut proposals facing state lawmakers.

Feb 25, 201531 min

TribCast: State of the State and University Admissions

On Reeve's final TribCast, he talks with Evan, Emily and Ross about the most recent election results, Gov. Greg Abbott's first State of the State address, and a report on how political influence on admissions at the University of Texas at Austin.

Feb 18, 201536 min

TribCast: Expensive Chairs, New Badges and Vaccines

Reeve, Terri, Emily and Evan dive into the ongoing scandals at the state's Health and Human Services Commission, including the purchase of $2,800 executive chairs and roughly 300 high-dollar badges. And they also discuss the politics of vaccines.

Feb 11, 201531 min

TribCast: Muslim Day, Bloggers and Economic Incentives

Reeve, Ross, Neena and Emily discuss the backlash over comments made by a state representative on Texas Muslim Capitol Day, lawmakers' response to a controversial blog post, and the future of the state's economic incentive programs.

Feb 04, 201529 min

TribCast: Criminal Charges, Open Carry and Appointments

Reeve, Emily, Evan and Terri discuss a recent ruling allowing the case against former Gov. Rick Perry to proceed, the reactions to open carry advocates at the Texas Capitol, and Gov. Greg Abbott's appointees to university system boards.

Jan 28, 201528 min

TribCast: Inauguration Day and Canceled Investigations

Reeve, Ross, Emily and John recount the inauguration day festivities, look ahead to the first days of the state's new leadership and discuss the investigations that were canceled because of a veto by outgoing Gov. Rick Perry, who is embarking on a new adventure.

Jan 21, 201530 min

TribCast: The Start of the 84th Legislative Session

Reeve, Evan, Emily and Ross discuss the first day of session, the results of the speaker's race, the tactics of some open carry advocates, the biennial revenue estimate, and what happens when lawmakers mention Hitler on Twitter.

Jan 14, 201532 min

TribCast: Runoffs, Record Votes and Printable Guns

Reeve, Evan, Ross and Morgan discuss the results of the latest round of elections, the fate of gubernatorial appointees in the new administration, plans to print guns at the Capitol, and what a record vote in the speaker's race might reveal.

Jan 07, 201531 min

TribCast: What To Watch For In 2015

Reeve is joined by a number of Tribune reporters who provide some insight about what issues are likely to become hot topics during the legislative session in 2015.

Dec 31, 201433 min

TribCast: The Best of Our 2014 Live Shows

In a special edition of the TribCast, we revisit some of the best moments from this year's live shows, with appearances by members of the Slate Political Gabfest, state Reps. Jason Villalba and Donna Howard, and the Jason Roberts Band.

Dec 24, 201451 min

TribCast: Bum Steer Awards and the Rick Perry Building

Reeve, Evan, Emily and Ross talk about Texas Monthly's selection of Sen. Wendy Davis as its "Bum Steer of the Year," Texas A&M's plans to name a building after Gov. Rick Perry, and what the governor might say in his farewell speech.

Dec 17, 201430 min

TribCast: Policy Priorities and Tuition Re-Regulation

Reeve, Alexa, Ross and Evan discuss the seats in the Legislature that still have yet to be filled, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's policy priorities, and an effort to re-regulate tuition at the state's colleges and universities.

Dec 10, 201430 min

TribCast: Stay of Execution and the Spending Cap

Reeve, Evan, Terri and Ross discuss the case of a schizophrenic man on death row, the spending cap for the next budget, Gov. Rick Perry's presidential prep work, and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's latest lawsuit against President Obama.

Dec 03, 201426 min

TribCast: Suing Obama, Textbooks and Abortion Issues

Reeve, Emily, Ross and Morgan talk about Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's plans to sue the federal government again, squabbles over social studies textbooks at the State Board of Education and disagreements over who in the Legislature qualifies as "pro-life."

Nov 25, 201432 min

TribCast: Speaker Status, Incentives and More Elections

Reeve, Ross, Emily and Aman discuss the status of the race to be Texas House speaker, the latest on Gov. Rick Perry's indictment, concerns about economic incentive programs and a coming cascade of elections.

Nov 19, 201430 min

TribCast: Race for Speaker, First Bills and Transitions

Reeve, Aman, Emily and Evan discuss the latest drama in the search for the next House Speaker, review the first bills filed for the upcoming legislative session, and check in on Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's transition to his new post.

Nov 12, 201432 min

TribCast: Live Post-Election 2014 Edition

Reeve, Ross, Evan and Emily are joined by Jay and Jim for a special live taping of the TribCast on the morning after the 2014 general election. Topics covered include everything from the plight of Texas Democrats to the state's future under new leadership.

Nov 05, 201455 min

TribCast: Poll Results, Apologies and The Shale Life

Reeve, Jay, Emily and Ross gab about the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll, an unexpected apology in a race for a seat in the Texas House, and the release of the Trib's Shale Life Project.

Oct 29, 201429 min

TribCast: Early Voting, Oil Prices and Embezzlement

Reeve, Ross, Emily and Jim discuss the political landscape now that early voting has begun, the latest in the state's fight against ebola, the significance of falling oil prices, and a story about embezzlement.

Oct 22, 201428 min

TribCast: Court Confusion, Wheelchairs and Testing

Reeve, Morgan, Ross and Evan discuss the confusion caused by court decisions on voter ID and abortion restrictions, the controversy over the latest ad from the Wendy Davis campaign, and issues with standardized testing in Texas schools.

Oct 15, 201429 min

TribCast: Two Debates, a Poll and an Audit

Reeve, Emily, Evan and Ross review the recent debates between the candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, talk about the numbers in a new statewide poll, and discuss the findings of an audit of the Texas Enterprise Fund.

Oct 01, 201433 min

Tribcast: The Texas Tribune Festival Live Show

Reeve and Ben are joined be a slew of special guests, including Maggie Haberman, Dave Weigel, Donna Howard and Jason Villalba, at The Texas Tribune Festival's live TribCast taping. There was also live music from the Jason Roberts Band!

Sep 24, 20141 hr 1 min

TribCast: Uninsured Texans, Regent Drama and TribFest

Reeve, Alexa, Evan and Emily talk about the number of uninsured Texans, the politics of health care, continued drama surrounding the University of Texas System board, and the upcoming Texas Tribune Festival.

Sep 17, 201430 min
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