TribCast: The scene in Texas as Title 42 lifts
On this week’s episode, we discuss the situation at the Texas-Mexico border and the failed effort to raise the age at which Texans can buy semi-automatic rifles.
May 12, 2023•32 min
Texas Tribune TribCast
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: Can Texas’ political leaders stop their bickering for the legislative homestretch?
In this week’s episode, we discuss the final three weeks of the Legislature and Colin Allred’s bid for U.S. Senate.
May 05, 2023•40 min
TribCast: Texas’ troubled juvenile justice system
In today’s episode, we discuss the problems in the Texas state agency intended to rehabilitate children who have committed crimes — and whether the Legislature is eyeing any solutions.
May 01, 2023•27 min
TribCast: Major LGBTQ bills are in the Texas House’s hands
In this week’s episode, we discuss the Texas House’s appetite to pass bills related to drag shows, medical care for transgender children and the discussion of sexuality at schools.
Apr 21, 2023•35 min
TribCast: A major Texas abortion case and a potential Gov. Greg Abbott pardon in a murder trial
In this week’s episode, we discuss an attempt to use the courts in Texas to restrict the use of an abortion drug and Gov. Greg Abbott’s potential pardon of an Army sergeant found guilty of murdering a protester in Austin.
Apr 14, 2023•33 min
TribCast: Is the school choice bill dead in the Texas House?
In this week’s episode, we discuss whether the House’s recent vote to ban school vouchers means a top Gov. Greg Abbott priority is doomed.
Apr 07, 2023•30 min
TribCast: Weighing Donald Trump’s support among Texas Republicans
In this week’s episode, we discuss the Texas reaction to the indictment of Donald Trump and check in on how the leaders of the Legislature are getting along.
Mar 31, 2023•47 min
TribCast: Police officers’ fear of the AR-15 in Robb Elementary
In this week’s episode, we discuss the weapon used by the school shooter in Uvalde and new details that highlight how fear of the gun contributed to the botched police response.
Mar 24, 2023•30 min
TribCast: Will the Texas Legislature pay Ken Paxton’s legal settlement?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James about lawmakers’ reluctance to spend $3.3 million on a whistleblower settlement for Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Mar 20, 2023•29 min
TribCast: Talking politics with Jen Psaki
In this week’s episode, James speaks with former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki as she prepares to transition to hosting a new show on MSNBC.
Mar 10, 2023•31 min
TribCast: How will Texas lawmakers cut property taxes?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Texas Tribune reporters Joshua Fechter and Patrick Svitek about the different proposals to reduce Texans’ property tax burdens.
Mar 04, 2023•26 min
TribCast: The politics of diversity, equity and inclusion on college campuses
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with higher education reporter Kate McGee about Texas leaders’ push to limit the role of diversity in hiring on college campuses.
Feb 24, 2023•28 min
TribCast: Takeaways from Gov. Greg Abbott’s State of the State speech
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Texas Tribune politics reporters James Barragán and Patrick Svitek about Abbott’s prime-time address.
Feb 17, 2023•31 min
TribCast: Will Texas avoid a recession?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Pia Orrenius, vice president and senior economist for the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, about the 2023 outlook for the Texas economy.
Feb 10, 2023•26 min
TribCast: Is Texas uniquely bad at disaster preparedness?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with University of Texas at Austin professor Michael Webber and environment reporter Erin Douglas about the state’s widespread power outages.
Feb 04, 2023•28 min
TribCast: The fight against solitary confinement in Texas
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Jolie about a hunger strike in Texas prisons and a lawsuit seeking to reform the use of solitary confinement on death row.
Jan 27, 2023•24 min
TribCast: Is bipartisan immigration reform a realistic goal?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Washington correspondent Matthew Choi and immigration reporter Uriel J. García about U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s trip to the border and the odds of Congress passing a major immigration bill.
Jan 20, 2023•32 min
TribCast: The Texas Legislature is off and running
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James and Patrick about the fight over Democrats chairing committees in the Texas House and other highlights of the first week of the legislative session.
Jan 13, 2023•26 min
TribCast: Evan Smith reflects on a career of watching Texas politics and media
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with outgoing Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith about the state of politics in Texas.
Dec 30, 2022•45 min
TribCast: What happens in Texas if Title 42 lifts?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Uriel about immigration policy and the migrant crisis in El Paso.
Dec 23, 2022•28 min
TribCast: Texas’ persistent problem with maternal mortality
On this week’s TribCast, Matthew speaks with Eleanor about a long-awaited state report on maternal mortality in Texas and Alex about cities’ efforts to decriminalize marijuana.
Dec 16, 2022•34 min
TribCast: How much will Texas spend on tax cuts?
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James and Karen about property taxes and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities.
Dec 02, 2022•37 min
TribCast: The future of rural Texas
In this week’s episode, Texas Tribune regional editor Nic Garcia guest-hosts from Texas Tech University for a discussion about the issues facing the rural residents of the state.
Nov 21, 2022•52 min
TribCast: Breaking down the 2022 midterm election results
In this week’s podcast, Matthew, James, Alexa and Evan analyze the results of the 2022 midterm elections and what they mean for Texas moving forward.
Nov 10, 2022•59 min
TribCast: What’s at stake for both parties in next week’s elections?
In this week’s episode, Matthew Watkins is joined by political writers Matthew Choi, Patrick Svitek and James Barragán for one last preview of Tuesday’s elections.
Nov 04, 2022•33 min
TribCast: The role of churches in politics
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Jeremy and James about the rarely enforced rules barring churches from participating in political campaigns.
Nov 01, 2022•32 min
TribCast: Greg Abbott is a fundraising juggernaut, and is Lina Hidalgo in trouble?
On this week’s podcast, James, Zach and Patrick discuss the governor’s fundraising and a surprisingly competitive race for Hidalgo, the Harris County judge.
Oct 21, 2022•39 min
TribCast: Is time running out for Texas Democrats to swing the election?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James and Patrick about the state of the governor’s race and other elections that have grabbed their attention.
Oct 14, 2022•31 min
TribCast: Stress, misinformation mount as midterm elections near
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Alexa, Pooja and Rob about the difficult task facing election administrators ahead of the 2022 vote.
Oct 07, 2022•32 min
TribCast: Trouble in Ken Paxton’s office
In this week’s episode, Matthew Watkins speaks with Jake Bleiberg of the Associated Press and Steve Vladeck from the University of Texas School of Law about the turmoil in the Texas attorney general’s office and its litigation success.
Sep 30, 2022•49 min
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