He was the first president ever born in a hospital. With pride, Jimmy Carter recounts how the U.S. military never fired a bullet, dropped a bomb or launched a missile on his watch. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for being the first to broker peace in the Middle East. The late U.S. President Carter represents the end of an era – when a peanut farmer from Plains, Georgia could ascend to the most powerful position in the world. Crippling inflation destroyed his chances for re-election in 1980. But Ji...
Dec 29, 2024•21 min•Ep. 270
In 2025, most Texans will no longer have to have their vehicles inspected. But in a development that surprises exactly no one, Texans will still pay the fee. The state actually sponsored a study that said those inspections were not only highly effective, but should likely be expanded. That study’s author says he’s surprised lawmakers dumped the program, and in this episode of Y’all-itics, he tells the Jasons why. And you’ll notice we said “most” Texans. Find out why drivers in 17 counties are st...
Dec 29, 2024•29 min•Ep. 312
It is the episode you’ve been waiting for, when the Y’all-itics team discusses the best and worst of politics in 2024. Who gets a cheer? Who gets a jeer? And who gets a beer? In this special holiday edition, the Jasons are joined by WFAA political producer Berna Dean Steptoe and Fort Worth Star Telegram columnist Bud Kennedy. Guests Berna Dean Steptoe, WFAA Political Producer Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star Telegram
Dec 22, 2024•57 min•Ep. 311
It’s been open for nearly two decades, with thousands passing through its doors. Though you’ve likely never heard of it, this small courtroom in Houston is having a big impact on homelessness by helping folks get out from under Class C misdemeanors. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the man who supervises the city of Houston’s homeless court tells the Jasons why those criminal charges can often keep the homeless from the very things they need to get off the streets and why it’s important that thos...
Dec 15, 2024•30 min•Ep. 310
A cruise sounds like the perfect getaway, right? How about for 3 years? It could be the perfect escape from American politics. Texan Joe Rhodes did just that, but he still had to vote. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons shared a pint with him at Three Nations Brewing in Carrollton, where they learned it hasn’t all been smooth sailing (pun intended). Guest Joe Rhodes, Cruise Ship Resident
Dec 08, 2024•44 min•Ep. 309
President-elect Trump is proposing steep tariffs on our North America trading partners. Those extra levies would be passed onto consumers in the form of higher prices on everything from clothing to food to cars. But the bigger price would be to the economies of all countries involved, says Waco-based economist Ray Perryman of The Perryman Group. He has crunched the numbers for governments, huge companies, and public policymakers. Perryman ran the tariff numbers for Y'all-itics and shares the sta...
Dec 01, 2024•31 min•Ep. 308
At some point over the past four years, you’ve likely heard about Shelley Luther. Her defiant stance against COVID shutdown orders launched a movement. But everything came to an abrupt stop when a brain aneurysm nearly took her life. Now a Representative-elect heading to Austin, don’t expect her to back down from anything… or anyone. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the GOP firebrand sits down with the Jasons at Tupps Brewery in McKinney, Texas to set the record straight and fill in the blanks ab...
Nov 22, 2024•48 min•Ep. 307
You’ve long heard about people wanting to leave the country after someone they disagree with becomes President. The sentiment could be as old as the Republic itself. But in this episode of Y’all-itics, you’ll hear from a self-described “mouthy liberal” who’s actually doing it. In fact, the Jasons sit down with her inside her own home that’s now on the market. ** Warning: this podcast contains language some may find offensive ** Guest Jana Lynn Sanchez, Democratic Activist
Nov 17, 2024•37 min•Ep. 306
To the victor belong the spoils. Texas Republicans won big and we’re starting to get a sense of their priorities. At the top of the list is school choice… and they now have the votes. The border will remain a top issue… and they now have “a great friend in the White House.” But what about casino gambling? Or another property tax cut? In this episode of Y’all-itics, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who runs the Senate, explains how school choice will work, how big another property tax cut m...
Nov 10, 2024•32 min•Ep. 305
Other than, perhaps, Senator Ted Cruz’s margin of victory over Colin Allred, there were no real election surprises in Texas. Republicans won big. Democrats are once again searching for answers. And school vouchers are closer than ever to becoming a reality. In this election night episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons and our panel of political experts break down what the vote means for you, and the future of Texas. Guests Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star Telegram Berna Dean Steptoe, WFAA Political Prod...
Nov 06, 2024•36 min•Ep. 304
You’ve heard the headlines: billionaire newspaper owners pulling their presidential endorsements in the eleventh hour. Those controversial decisions got us thinking here at Y’all-itics, so in this early release episode we ask whether newspaper endorsements even matter. The Jasons sit down with William McKenzie, the Senior Editorial Advisor at the George W. Bush Institute and a Pulitzer Prize winning editorial columnist, and Bud Kennedy, himself an icon of Texas journalism and a member of the For...
Oct 31, 2024•35 min•Ep. 303
The threats are real. So, for the first time, elections offices in Texas and across the country are preparing for worst case scenario situations: from panic buttons, to tabletop exercises, to learning de-escalation techniques. Votebeat Editorial Director Jessica Huseman joins the Jasons to pull the curtain back on preparing for potential violence during and after the election. Guest Jessica Huseman, Votebeat editorial director
Oct 27, 2024•36 min•Ep. 302
Jane Nelson rarely gives interviews. But for years she has been one of the most influential state leaders in Texas. In this special release Y’all-itics, Nelson answers questions on election misinformation, suing for citizenship records and the state's new plan for keeping voter rolls clean. WFAA Anchor Cynthia Izaguirre scored the rare exclusive and joins the Jasons with highlights. Guests Cynthia Izaguirre, WFAA Anchor Jane Nelson, Texas Secretary of State
Oct 25, 2024•55 min•Ep. 301
Can you honestly say Austin is still ‘weird’? Many now say it’s unaffordable with terrible traffic and a skyline that keeps ascending. Has all of that destroyed what made the city such a cool, hip place? Austin has had cultural booms and busts before. But can it recover from the explosive growth it’s experiencing now? The Jasons shared a beer with Author Alex Hannaford, an Austinite for 20 years who just released a book titled Lost In Austin, documenting where the capitol city went wrong – and w...
Oct 20, 2024•45 min•Ep. 300
Ted Cruz and Colin Allred are facing off in their first -- and only -- televised debate of their 2024 campaigns to represent Texas in the U.S. Senate. The debate moderators are WFAA senior political reporter Jason Whitely and Dallas Morning News political writer Gromer Jeffers.
Oct 16, 2024•58 min•Ep. 299
When have three letters ever caused such a stink? Propositions S, T and U on the November 5 ballot in Dallas would, among other things, force the city of Dallas to hire more police officers and open city leaders up to citizen-led lawsuits. Dozens of former mayors and city leaders recently came out against the propositions, arguing they would cripple Dallas for years, if not decades. In this episode of Y’all-itics, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk tells the Jasons why he thinks passing the charter am...
Oct 13, 2024•23 min•Ep. 298
There may not be any official courtrooms just yet. There aren’t even enough judges. But the new Business Court in Texas is up and running. And you can’t have Texas’ version of Wall Street, “Y’all Street,” without it. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons sit down with attorney David Harper from the huge Texas law firm Haynes and Boone. Harper explains why the court is needed, how it’s operating without any physical space to call its own and why big businesses involved in big disputes don’t ...
Oct 06, 2024•37 min•Ep. 297
America is divided, there’s no question about it. So, how do we go about fixing our problems with so many extremes on both sides? What if it was as easy as calling an engineer, instead of a politician? We’re doing just that in this episode of Y’all-itics. Texas author William Taggart examined some of the largest issues facing our country, but searched for solutions through the eyes of an engineer. The end result? A completely different way to view some of the most intractable issues dividing the...
Sep 29, 2024•30 min•Ep. 296
We told you back in February how the state of Texas, last year, abandoned a fraud-fighting database that is designed to catch repeat voters and keep voter rolls accurate. And Texas pulled out without finding a replacement. Fast forward seven MORE months, and Texas still hasn’t found a replacement for the Electronic Registration Information Center, ERIC, because none really exists. And in this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons are joined once again by Jessica Huseman, editorial director of Voteb...
Sep 22, 2024•40 min•Ep. 295
It has been 48 hours since the first Presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. But has anything really changed since the fiery exchange? In this early release episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons discuss whether the political needle is moving at all here in Texas with WFAA Political Producer Berna Dean Steptoe and Fort Worth Star Telegram columnist Bud Kennedy. Guests Berna Dean Steptoe, WFAA Political Producer Bud Kennedy, Fort Worth Star Telegram
Sep 12, 2024•30 min•Ep. 294
The fundraising figures for Kamala Harris’ bid for President are staggering. $310 Million in July. Another $361 Million in August. She could raise more than $1 Billion before Election Day and she didn’t start until late July. But that money has to come from somewhere… and someone has to get it. In this episode of Y’all-itics, one of Texas’ most prolific Democratic fundraisers sits down with the Jasons to explain why Texas is a political ATM, why fundraising is an art form and how two extremes ar...
Sep 08, 2024•35 min•Ep. 293
It is ambitious. It is far reaching. And it is also quite expensive, with a price tag of up to $54.5 Billion. But why now? In this episode of Y’all-itics, the chairwoman of the Texas Water Development Board and the chair of the Texas Senate Committee on Water, Agriculture, and Rural Affairs explain the state’s first ever flood plan, why the price tag is so high, and why the dangers facing millions of Texans will only get worse. 2024 State Flood Plan: https://www.twdb.texas.gov/flood/planning/sfp...
Sep 01, 2024•57 min•Ep. 292
The Y'all-itics's guide to the biggest race in Texas this November. In this episode, you’ll hear interviews from both candidates; Cruz making a case for six more years and Allred explaining why voters need to make a change.
Aug 25, 2024•39 min•Ep. 291
A new poll by the American Psychiatric Association found that 73% of American adults are anxious about the November election. Republicans. Democrats. Independents. Anxiety could care less about your political affiliation. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the President & CEO of The Center for Integrative Counseling and Psychology, Dr. Brad Schwall, joins a Jason at Jaquval Brewing Company and offers some do’s and don’ts if you want to keep that family get-together civil. Guest Dr. Brad Schwall...
Aug 18, 2024•39 min•Ep. 290
More and more, Texans have wondered why 'the energy state' can't deliver reliable electricity. Renewable advocates say the solution could be batteries that store power from solar and wind. In this episode of Y’all-itics , Doug Lewin, founder of Stoic Energy, a clean energy consulting firm, discusses how batteries are increasingly propping up the grid and lowering energy costs. And he explains how microgrids with solar, batteries and natural gas could have made a huge difference after Hurricane B...
Aug 11, 2024•45 min•Ep. 289
They voted for Republican Nikki Haley, but they now back Democrat Kamala Harris. And Haley isn’t happy about it, sending a cease and desist order. But this group of voters refuses to stop and by Labor Day, they expect to be a “substantial force” financially. And the Director of “Haley Voters for Harris” says his group could easily swing the election in battleground states. Craig Snyder also explains to the Jasons how they’re working with other like-minded groups to elevate Harris… and what they’...
Aug 04, 2024•42 min•Ep. 288
Most Texas cities do not have enough police, plain and simple. In Dallas, a group wants voters to force city leaders to raise pay and hire hundreds of cops. But at what cost? That’s just one of three proposed amendments the group successfully got on the November ballot. Oak Cliff Brewing Company hosted the Jasons and the Executive Director of Dallas HERO to discuss how they could fundamentally change the way Dallas does business and whether this effort will spread statewide. Guest Pete Marocco, ...
Jul 28, 2024•46 min•Ep. 287
With a growing population, political influence often follows. So why aren’t Texas lawmakers paying much attention to this group? The Jasons find out why in this episode of Y’all-itics. GUEST: Albert Shen, AAAFund National Chair
Jul 21, 2024•37 min•Ep. 286
2.7 million Texans in the dark. Why can’t the energy state deliver reliable electricity? And will anyone be held accountable for the apparent lack of preplanning by Centerpoint Energy. What KHOU’s veteran investigative reporter Jeremy Rogalski found has only exacerbated the problems for Centerpoint. Jeremy joins the Jasons to discuss. Guest Jeremy Rogalski / KHOU News Investigative Reporter Jeremy Rogalski interview with CenterPoint Director of Communications Alyssia Oshodi (7:42) Interview with...
Jul 12, 2024•37 min•Ep. 285
Texas Democrats are clashing over whether President Biden should remain in the race for the White House. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett says Democrats are scared of their own shadow and have embarked on a terrible strategy, Congressman Lloyd Doggett argues that Biden must drop out and state Rep. Ron Reynolds wants to remove “Vice” from Vice President Kamala Harris’ title. Guests Congressman Lloyd Doggett, D-Austin Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, D-Dallas State Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City...
Jul 04, 2024•32 min•Ep. 283
