One month of session left and the kids are fighting
As we embark on the month of May, the gang recaps the big topics so far - vouchers, water, immigration and THC, among others - and the work left to be done.
May 06, 2025•43 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
Oceans $95 million: Inside the lottery scandals roiling Texas
What the hell is happening at the Texas Lottery? Local lottery expert/Texas Tribune night reporter Ayden Runnels takes us inside.
Apr 29, 2025•38 min
Get out the popcorn, it's Paxton vs. Cornyn
It’s the insurgents versus the incumbents in the biggest Senate showdown in years. We dig into the details.
Apr 22, 2025•36 min
Can Texas retain and train teachers?
With schools being a top issue this legislative session, we zoom in on one important constituency: teachers. How will the proposed pay raises affect them? What has the impact of hiring more uncertified teachers in recent years? And how are they feeling overall about their jobs?
Apr 15, 2025•28 min
Covering Texas' new abortion fights
Legislators will attempt to clarify the abortion bans, while also further cracking down on pills. And, the first post-Dobbs arrest!
Apr 08, 2025•34 min
THC you in a special session? How the battle to ban THC in Texas could play out
Current status of marijuana laws and the fight to regulate - or ban - THC products
Apr 01, 2025•36 min
How long til there's a Buc-ee's on Mars?
What does the space industry want from the Texas Legisature?
Mar 25, 2025•37 min
Texas measles outbreak and vaccines
It’s the five year anniversary of COVID, and Texas is facing measles, avian flu and increased vaccine hesitancy. What have we learned?
Mar 18, 2025•41 min
Session so far
Things are about to significantly speed up under the dome, but there have been no shortage of fireworks so far. We’ll recap what’s already happened and what’s to come. We’ll also bid adieu to James.
Mar 11, 2025•40 min
Texas attempts to regulate AI
In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with University of Texas at Austin professor Sherri Greenberg about attempts by state lawmakers to protect Texans from the dangers of artificial intelligence and the blowback it's creating by some Republicans and people in the tech industry.
Mar 04, 2025•36 min
Panhandle wildfires and Texas disaster prep
On this week's episode, we talk about the one-year anniversary of the Panhandle wildfires and how prepared Texas is for various natural disasters.
Feb 25, 2025•38 min
Vouchers
On this week’s episode, the gang digs into the hot issue of the session: school vouchers, featuring public education reporter Jaden Edison
Feb 18, 2025•50 min
Immigration
How the federal government is running with Texas’ playbook on immigration
Feb 11, 2025•33 min
Greg Abbott's priorities
Looking at Abbott's state of the state speech and his role in the legislative session.
Feb 04, 2025•37 min
Water crisis in Texas
On this week's episode, we recap the week's news and interview an expert on the state's need for water infrastructure investment.
Jan 28, 2025•45 min
The Trump administration and Texas
On this week’s episode, the crew talks Trump’s inauguration, the Texans in the new administration and what it’ll all mean for Texas.
Jan 21, 2025•41 min
Look at the Speaker's Vote
On this week’s episode, the team dissects the first day of the legislative session and the vote for the next speaker of the House.
Jan 15, 2025•31 min
Previewing the 2025 legislative session
The Texas Tribune’s politics podcast returns with a look at the race for House speaker, the future of school vouchers and other major legislative issues this year.
Jan 10, 2025•39 min
The TribCast is returning!
After a year-plus hiatus, The Texas Tribune's political podcast is back forthe 2025 legislative session.
Jan 07, 2025•1 min
TribCast is going on hiatus
The Texas Tribune put this podcast on hiatus in August 2023 due to staffing changes in the newsroom. The TribCast was The Texas Tribune's weekly political podcast, hosted by Matthew Watkins and featuring a rotating cast of editors, reporters and other guests.
Aug 25, 2023•51 sec
TribCast: Big changes in Houston ISD after state takeover
In this week’s episode, we discuss the changes at Houston ISD after a state takeover in June.
Aug 18, 2023•33 min
TribCast: Turmoil at Texas A&M
In this week’s episode, we discuss two cases at Texas A&M University that raised questions of academic freedom — and the fallout that ensued.
Aug 04, 2023•43 min
TribCast: Texas’ tough border security tactics under scrutiny
In this week’s episode, we discuss the half-million people booted from Texas’ Medicaid rolls and the state’s deployment of razor wire and buoys along the border in Eagle Pass.
Jul 28, 2023•39 min
TribCast: Texas lawmakers approve property tax cuts after 7 months of trying
In this week’s episode, we discuss the winners and losers — politically and financially — after lawmakers approved an $18 billion tax cut bill.
Jul 14, 2023•35 min
TribCast: Extreme heat and the toll of climate change on Texas
In this week’s episode, we speak with The Texas Tribune’s climate reporter Erin Douglas about why it’s been so hot in Texas and examine the long-term implications as climate change shifts the entire range of Texas heat upward.
Jul 07, 2023•32 min
TribCast: How will Texas universities maintain diversity without considering race in admissions?
In this week’s two-topic TribCast, we discuss the U.S. Supreme Court blocking the consideration of race in college admissions and the dangerous heat inside Texas prisons this summer.
Jun 30, 2023•32 min
TribCast: The rise of renewable energy in Texas
In this week’s episode, energy expert Doug Lewin discusses how wind and solar power are supplying an increasing amount of power in Texas whether state leaders like it or not.
Jun 23, 2023•38 min
TribCast: Why can’t Texas Republicans get along?
In this week’s episode we check in with radio host Mark Davis and politics reporter Patrick Svitek about the GOP intraparty fighting over property taxes and Ken Paxton’s impeachment.
Jun 16, 2023•33 min
TribCast: How does Nate Paul’s arrest affect Ken Paxton?
In this week’s episode, we discuss the arrest of Austin developer Nate Paul, what it might say about Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial and whether it makes Paxton more vulnerable to criminal prosecution.
Jun 09, 2023•32 min
TribCast: The conservative plan to eliminate school property taxes in Texas
On this week’s episode, we speak to the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s James Quintero, who has been at the center of the debate over property taxes this week.
Jun 02, 2023•42 min
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