Miguel Solis drops by the new SAGA Pod World Headquarters in beautiful Oak Lawn to break some news about the latest developments in his efforts to establish a pre-K board policy for DISD. We also talk smack about his soon-to-be-former colleague on the school board, new Texas education commissioner Mike Morath. We wonder what changes a Morath-led TEA might undergo, and what his absence means to kids, parents, and citizens of Dallas. He also makes fun of my previous world headquarters and demands ...
Dec 16, 2015•53 min
We go deep on education on this one, as Jim Schutze and I talk about DISD, merit pay for teachers, and how politics and race figured into the bond election. We also discuss the city attorney deciding to leave his job in the wake of the failed attempt to get councilman Scott Griggs indicted. Also, Jim likes the fact a house got destroyed. Never forget he is evil. As always, please listen with your ears.
Nov 20, 2015•51 min
Jim Schutze breaks a little news -- or at least rumor that is news-y -- about DA Susan Hawk at the beginning of the SAGA Pod this week. We discuss whether the district attorney's actions are raising any red flags. Then we talk education -- why the state of Texas is making it harder to teach poor kids, and why Joyce Foreman is doing the same. We wonder why the politics of urban education make for strange bedfellows -- Clinton Democrats and business leaders on one side, far left-wingers and far ri...
Oct 14, 2015•56 min
We're back! Jim Schutze promises to make this at least a bi-weekly exercise. We'll see. This week we talk about the D Magazine story on Susan Hawk's return, why Democrats are wrong to call for her resignation (at least over this), the real story behind the end of Michael Hinojosa's honeymoon, and whether Highland Park has some racists located within. Oh, and we ask Jim why he's such a baseless speculator. Fun for the whole family. As always, please listen with your ears.
Oct 07, 2015•53 min
On his way out of town, former DISD superintendent Mike Miles stopped by the SAGA pod world headquarters to discuss all things education: teacher evaluations, pre-K, bonds -- you know, the sexy stuff. Also, I tell him he's "stubborn as hell" -- so that was fun. As always, please listen with your ears.
Jun 29, 2015•1 hr 10 min
It's SAGA Pod After Dark! We stop by Schutze Manor to discuss the Trinity Toll Road, the Mayor, the people who really run this city, the group trying to get the Toll Road done at any cost, the Dream Team plan and more traffic noise. Then we go over the latest non-scandal scandals in DISD and wonder if the Bad Guys have finally won. As always, please listen with your ears.
Apr 16, 2015•1 hr 16 min
Shy, quiet District 14 Dallas City Councilman Philip Kingston stops by world SAGA pod headquarters to discuss his ongoing opposition to the Trinity Toll Road -- including, but not limited to, bashing the mayor and his "dream team" of architects and urban planners. We also discuss the new PAC co-founded by D Magazine Group leader and D Magazine editor-in-chief Wick Allison, and its efforts to back politicians for city council who support restoration of urban neighborhoods by replacing and rerouti...
Feb 23, 2015•1 hr 1 min
Jim Schutze stops by the World Saga Pod Headquarters to discuss all things DISD: the current HR scandal, a huge DISD effort not covered by the local media (warning: I say bad words), and how Mike Miles has survived every attempt to run him out of town. Then we seque to talk about the squishy accounting system used by Mayor Mike Rawlings and endorsed by City Hall: where sitting officeholders can take as much money as they want from rich people, but the folks running against him are limited on how...
Feb 05, 2015•1 hr 1 min
Dallas Home Rule Commissioner Kevin Malonson stops by to discuss the pros and cons of Home Rule: Why he voted against writing a charter, why he isn't against reform, and what critics on both sides of the debate can learn from parents and educators. He also declines my offer to take a swing at me. As always, please listen with your ears.
Jan 29, 2015•42 min
I stop by the palacial offices of State Rep. Rafael Anchia to discuss the Trinity Toll Road, the Home Rule Commission, and his broad legislative agenda (LGBT issues, smart meter fonts, etc.). We also talk about how much Arsenal sucks and the concept of horizontal Jesus. As always, please listen with your ears.
Jan 27, 2015•43 min
DISD School Board President Miguel Solis stops by to chat about all things education. We talk about the current testing controversy, the controversial teacher evalution system, the controversial battles between Mike Miles and certain school board members -- it's a controversy-heavy discussion is what I'm saying here, people. Also, it's very clear I need to do more of SAGA podcasts in 2015, because, man, are my hosting skills rusty. I think I break a personal record for most "uhhhhhh"s in the fir...
Jan 09, 2015•53 min
Jim Schutze of the Dallas Observer (and his dogs) join Eric Celeste of D Magazine to discuss Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings' announcement that he will run for re-election. Do his opponents have a chance? What has the mayor accomplished? How can he help DISD reform? When will Eric pay Rudy Busy of the DMN the $20 he now owes him? Will the tollway be built? Why is DISD so important to this election? And why does everyone hate Eric so much? We answer-ish all these questions and more in the latest SAGA ...
Dec 03, 2014•1 hr 5 min
I travel to Jim Schutze's evil lair so we can discuss how city leaders have reacted to the Ebola crisis in Dallas. Then we talk about the squabble between DISD's Mike Miles and trustee Bernadette Nutall.
Oct 17, 2014•1 hr 8 min
Jim Schutze stops by to discuss his column from this week , which basically covers all the important things in Dallas: How we're going to get middle-class parents to send their kids to DISD schools (or if we even should want to do that); how that affect the ability of young couples to stay in the city, as they increasingly want to do; and how the Trinity River toll road (and the thinking behind it) makes all of this harder than it has to be. Also, I play a song on my phone. Because Tim convinced...
Sep 16, 2014•1 hr 8 min
We talk to Jim Schutze about the biggest news story in Dallas in 2014: the indictment of County Commissioner John Wiley Price. Jim, who has covered JWP for three decades, talks about how JWP went from being a “ray of sunshine,” and “a very brave guy” -- someone who “taught courage” to southern Dallas — to someone under indictment. Jim tells great stories from covering Price in the ‘80s (the one about how Price would intentionally sweat on editors at the Dallas Times Herald is gold). He discusses...
Jul 31, 2014•1 hr 26 min
It's another edition of the SAGA Pod, Learning-Curve-syle (ish!). Jim Schutze from the Dallas Observer is back, ready to talk DISD board and car washes. For the first half half of the show, we talk about the naming of the 15-member home rule commission, analyzing just how long it will take for Shirley Ison-Newsome to make the teachers on the board rethink their life choices. We talk about the donkey punch Bernadette Nutall delivered to the rest of the board, and how she may still be standing beh...
Jun 23, 2014•59 min
DISD trustee Miguel Solis stops by the SAGA Pod's Design District studios to talk about why he became a teacher, how his father's death gave him a renewed sense of purpose, why he's forgainst the home-rule initiative, how he thinks the board should govern, and why he's picking kale at noon on a weekday. As always, listen with your ears.
Jun 19, 2014•1 hr 1 min
It's the return of the SAGA Pod -- Learning Curve edition. Jim Schutze (Dallas Observer) and Eric Celeste (D Magazine/Learning Curve) talk about DISD's new merit-pay system for teachers; look at the controversial home-rule efforts; discuss racial politics and how that plays out in board decisions; examine Joyce Foreman vs Bertha Whatley in the Place 6 race; and explain what DISD can learn from the Dallas Housing Authority. Also, lots of nudity, violence, Buzzfeed-style quizzes -- just an amazing...
Jun 05, 2014•1 hr 2 min
Dallas City Councilman Philip Kingston joins this week to talk about the most important decision the Council will make this year: which candidate to hire as City Manager. He talks about what he hopes comes out of today's closed-door City Council meeting, why he wasn't allowed to ask a question during the first round of questions (seriously!), and why he's not sure my logic is tight when I say Mayor Rawlings will run again in the next election.
Jan 08, 2014•51 min
This week on the SAGA Pod, Jim Schutze helps me figure out what I'm going to write in my column about how Dallas has been racist and evil in its low-income housing policy downtown. Jim explains why I (and you) should care, why this means taxpayers are going to be upset, and why Mary Suhm once again gets away without any blame. Also: we debut a new, exciting guest on the show, my good friend Zach Ballenger. He has so much to say! Finally, we discuss the best naked celebrities in Dallas, and where...
Dec 05, 2013•53 min
Season 1, Episode 5 of the SAGA Pod features all things "50th." We discuss the 50th anniversary of the JFK assassination with the Dallas Observer 's Jim Schutze, who says he's trying to get behind the city's ceremony planned for Friday, even though he admits there is something odd about it. Afterwards, we call Dallas Morning News columnist Gordon Keith, who has no problems with the ceremony but is still confouned by the conspiracy theorists.
Nov 20, 2013•1 hr 7 min
Episdoe 4, Season 1 of the SAGA Pod. First we talk to Jim Schutze, city columnist for the Dallas Observer , about DISD teachers angry over the possibility of merit pay, of school board race intrigue, and whether Brett Shipp hates me. Then we talk to Mark Lamster, architecture critic of the Dallas Morning News , about tearing out highways downtown, crazy commenters, whether city hall is upside down, and what he love-hates about Dallas.
Nov 05, 2013•1 hr 22 min
Episode 3, Season 1 -- This week, we talk to Dallas City Councilman Philip Kingston, who minces no words in calling out how upset he was when Mayor Mike Rawlings wasn't up front with him about the Uber debacle; why he thinks the city manager's office is too often "sneaky"; and what the city needs in its next city manager. Also, D Magazine's Tim Rogers interviews me about why the hell I'm doing a podcast.
Oct 22, 2013•53 min
This week we talk to Matt Zoller Seitz, TV critic for New York magazine and Vulture.com, and the editor-in-chief of RogerEbert.com. We discuss his new book, The Wes Anderson Collection . Then we call up Jim Schutze, city columnist for the Dallas Observer, and discuss the trials and tribulations of DISD Superintendent Mike Miles, as well as the search to find a new city manager for Dallas.
Oct 14, 2013•1 hr 19 min
Ep 1, Season 1 of the SAGA pod -- where we talk all things Dallas -- begins with two interviews: the first, Tim Rogers, editor at large of D Magazine, discusses his story on Ladar Levinson, the guy who shut down his email service rather than let the feds spy on his users. Then we talk to voice of the Dallas Mavericks Mark Followill about the upcoming season, and why he loves the name SAGA.
Oct 08, 2013•59 min
