Just as Gov. Greg Abbott gave his State of the State Address stressing "school choice," one of his top education officials admitted in a recorded phone call that a school voucher program would mean there would be fewer teachers in Texas public schools. Plus, Texas Republicans are now taking aim at GOP Attorney General Ken Paxton's proposed settlement with former employees who accused him of corruption. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Once again, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is following the lead of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the culture wars. This time, it's a ban on diversity, equity, and inclusion training in government agencies. Plus, a state senator is arrested and the stage is set for a showdown over school vouchers at the Texas Capitol. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Gov. Greg Abbott this week leaned even harder into pushing for school vouchers, but he has yet to take any official action on it. His upcoming State of the State Address may shed more light. Plus, a GOP push for casino gambling begins in the Texas House. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

After key reporting by Jeremy, a GOP lawmaker says changes are coming to a proposal to ban Chinese nationals from making land purchases in Texas. Plus, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan is punching back after the Republican Party of Texas slammed him over the longstanding practice of appointing Democratic chairmen in Austin. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Now that the pomp and circumstance of the Texas Inauguration is concluded, lawmakers will get down to business on everything from keeping kids safe in schools to banning Chinese investment in Texas. Yes, seriously. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

From proposals to eliminate Democratic chairs in Austin to smoking cigars in Washington, some Texas politicians cranked up the faux outrage machine to new levels this week. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

2023 kicked off on Capitol Hill with Texans playing key roles in the epic throwdown over US House leadership. Plus, the Texas Legislature is about to convene in Austin. What will the biggest fights be about? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Lawmakers in DC took one last shot at immigration reform this year but the deal is falling apart. Plus, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan throws shade at former President Trump. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

As the good news broke this week that Houstonian Brittney Griner was released from a Russian prison, some folks couldn't help but criticize her for some past statements and question why the Biden Administration hasn't secured the release of other American prisoners held overseas. Plus, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick lays out his priorities for the legislative session, but it's all pretty vague. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

From casinos to online sports betting, gambling interests are getting ready for perhaps their biggest push yet to change laws to allow Texans to place wagers in their home state. Plus, the debate over whether there should be Democratic Chairmen in the Texas Legislature is really about the next GOP primary election. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

After one of the most brutal campaigns in recent memory, Gov. Greg Abbott and statewide Republicans ran the board in Texas while no "red wave" for the GOP materialized nationally. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

The early voting numbers do not bode well for Democrats as candidates across Texas make their final push toward election day. Plus, 911 audio from calls of children in Uvalde has surfaced. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

Candidates are making their final pitches to voters as Texans head to the polls in one of the most contentious elections the state has ever seen. Plus, families from Uvalde confront the head of the state police, demanding that he resign. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Early voting in person starts Monday across Texas and the candidates up and down the ballot are working hard to get their voters to the polls. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Gov. Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke were neck and neck in fundraising this time around as they head into the homestretch of this election and we now have a $200 million governor's race. Plus, musicians are getting involved in this campaign season in creative and perhaps more aggressive ways than in the past. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

The statewide combatants for Governor of Texas are now blistering each other in television ads about the economy, guns, and more. What's really resonating with voters? Plus: Do Democrats really have a shot at winning the race for Texas Attorney General? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

This week: A special episode focusing on the one and only scheduled debate between Beto O'Rourke and Greg Abbott. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

Year after year, Texas Republicans have promised to "fix" property taxes. But with those tax bills rising, Democrats are calling them out for it as suburban homeowners seem increasingly up for grabs in the November election. Plus: Democrats are on defense about immigration and the economy. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

We're back. Gov. Greg Abbott has the attention of national Democrats now with his migrant busing stunt. Plus, he achieved something that's become pretty uncommon: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis followed Abbott's lead instead of the other way around. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Parents of victims of the Uvalde massacre traveled to Austin this week to demand that Gov. Abbott take action on new gun laws. But Abbott says raising the legal age for certain firearms purchases would be unconstitutional. Plus Sen. Ted Cruz slams young people as "slacker" baristas who need to put down "the bong." But it sounds like he's actually nervous that those young people will get out to vote after President Biden moved to cancel some student debt. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

Across Texas, most GOP statewide candidates including Gov. Abbott seem to have gone quiet on the issue of abortion while Democrats have launched an all out air war against Republicans for pushing abortion restrictions with no exceptions. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

From abortion rights to gun violence, women in Texas who might otherwise vote for Republicans are angry about a host of issues and saying they cannot support Greg Abbott this fall. Of course, it's anecdotal so there's no way to know just yet how much political danger this creates for the Texas GOP. Plus: Rep. Dan Crenshaw says it's time to unfollow the trolls online. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Uvalde tops the show once again after Beto O'Rourke dropped the f-bomb responding to a heckler who laughed as the Democrat was talking about the massacre of children at an elementary school. Plus, some Texas Republicans have been slow to defend President Trump after his home was raided by the FBI. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

It's August and Republicans and Democrats are talking past each other on too many issues to count: Abortion, the electricity grid, immigration, and more. Plus: Why did Ted Cruz and Jon Stewart spend part of the week at each other's throats? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

Leaders in Uvalde are getting the brush off from Gov. Greg Abbott as they call for changes to gun laws in this state. Plus, the push for school vouchers heats up in Austin and national Democrats just cannot get it right in the way they're trying to convince Texas Latinos to choose them. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

Howdy Texas Take listeners, please enjoy this bonus episode by Lisa Gray and her team at City Cast Houston. This episode was originally published June 6, 2022. Fear not, Scott and Jeremy will be back next week. At 17, Keri Blakinger was a top-level ice skater. But after her skating career fell apart, so did she. She ended up living on the streets shooting and selling heroin. In 2010, she was busted carrying a Tupperware full of it. Now, after two and a half years in prison, she lives in Houston and covers prisons herself as a top-level journalist for the Marshall Project. Her memoir Corrections In Ink was released June 7th.

As the campaigns and the summer heat up, Gov. Greg Abbott faces accusations of abandoning the people in Uvalde following the worst school shooting in Texas history. Plus, Beto O'Rourke is on the campaign trail in places not particularly hospitable to Democrats. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace, reporting this week from Muleshoe, Texas.

We now have several polls showing a tightening race for governor between Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke. But what the polls say about Texans' attitudes across a host of issues might be more telling than anything. Plus, the mayor of Uvalde insists the state is trying to cover up what really happened during the massacre at Robb Elementary School. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

If anyone thought the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v Wade was the last word in the abortion fight, they were very wrong. Texas lawmakers are already plotting ways to try to keep women from traveling to other states to seek abortions. Meantime, a tragedy in San Antonio reignites the immigration and border security debate in Austin and DC. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

Breaking news on Friday as the US Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade and Texas abortion clinics halted services. Plus, Sen. John Cornyn is nearly booed off the stage at the Republican Party of Texas Convention as he pushes through the most significant gun safety legislation in a generation. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

About a month after the Uvalde massacre, both the cops and politicians are under heavy scrutiny for their indecision and delay in reacting on the day of the shooting as well as a policy response in the halls of power. Join us for another special edition of the show with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

As politicians with the biggest platforms debate gun policy in Texas and America, the smallest voices can be heard now saying they're afraid to even go back to school following the shooting in Uvalde. Join us for a special edition of the show with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.  

Day after day, new information emerges about the massacre in Uvalde and much of it completely contradicts what had previously been understood about the rampage. How can we sort that out plus address the issues now raised about gun control and school safety? Join us for another special edition of the show with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

Grief and agony after 19 children and 2 teachers were gunned down in Uvalde, Texas, sending shockwaves around this nation and the world. Gov. Greg Abbott and his challenger Beto O'Rourke came face to face in the aftermath and the debate seems to have shifted, for the moment, away from the usual talking points from both sides. Join us for a special edition of the show with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Another electricity grid scare in Texas as the Abbott Administration plays a potentially deadly game of hide-the-ball with energy conservation requests in May. Plus, have the words of Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Sen. Ted Cruz, and others pushed some young and impressionable people to commit acts of violence against people of color? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.   

Gov. Greg Abbott this week went further than any Texas governor ever has in promoting a school voucher program, potentially upending the state's politics. Plus, the fight over abortion rights is playing out in the race for governor as well as a key South Texas race for Congress. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Abortion rights are front and center once again in Texas as it appears the United States Supreme Court is poised to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade decision. Plus, Sen. Cruz predicts Republicans are going to sweep elections this year in South Texas, when he really means parts of The Valley. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

As Gov. Greg Abbott ramps up "border security" spending even more, there are growing questions about the increasing number of military deaths along the Rio Grande. Plus, Rep. Chip Roy calls Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez a "communist witch" and a Texas death row inmate's life is spared at the last minute. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.   

Gov. Greg Abbott and Beto O'Rourke traded jabs this week in the race for governor over Abbott's shutdown of the Texas-Mexico border. Plus, a right-wing activist in Houston was indicted over an election fraud conspiracy theory and some in the Texas GOP started to ramp up pressure on state leaders to embrace a school voucher program. At least not yet, anyway. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Gov. Greg Abbott this week announced he'd be busing migrants from the Texas border to Washington, DC. But later his office let us all know it would be on a voluntary basis. Liberals and some conservatives alike blasted it as a "bullshit stunt." Meantime, we're sorry to tell you it's not likely that Beto O'Rourke and Abbott are actually tied in the race for governor. At least not yet, anyway. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. 

After trashing renewable energy during last year's deadly winter storm, Gov. Greg Abbott this week did something of an about face on the value of renewable energy sources in Texas. Plus, Sen. John Cornyn signals Republicans are not done with their fight in opposition to gay marriage. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.  More politics coverage from the Houston Chronicle.

Sen. Ted Cruz sought the spotlight during the confirmation hearings for President Biden's pick for the Supreme Court, Judge Katanji Brown Jackson. Plus, we revisit this question: Is Beto O'Rourke too mean this time around in his campaign against Gov. Greg Abbott or is he being just mean enough? Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. READ: After being mocked by Ted Cruz during SCOTUS hearing, 'Antiracist Baby' book hits bestseller list More Texas politics from the Houston Chronicle.

Gov. Greg Abbott continues to slam President Joe Biden over the deadly flow of fentanyl across the border even though, as Jeremy notes, both the feds and the state are having some success cracking down on it. Plus the State of Texas goes after families with transgender children as alleged "child abusers" while the state acknowledges horrific child abuse in state-funded facilities. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

The Texas primary is in the books and the GOP candidates for Attorney General are already arguing over which one of them should get a show of love from former President Trump. Meantime one of the Democrats running for Lt. Gov. called on the other to drop out of the race. Why? Plus congressional runoffs may test the strength of progressives in South Texas. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.  More Texas politics from the Houston Chronicle.

As the clock ticks down to March 1 and early voting wraps up, top Texas Republicans broke with ex-President Trump this week when he praised Russian President Vladimir Putin after he ordered troops to invade Ukraine. Plus three of the GOP candidates for Texas Attorney General faced off in a televised debate as they looked for a chance at a runoff with AG Ken Paxton, who did not join them on stage. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. More: Election 2022 on HoustonChronicle.com.

Just two days before a key deadline, Texas Secretary of State John Scott attempted to clear up confusion about how to apply for a mail-in ballot while Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick managed to confuse GOP voters about how to do it. Meanwhile, some listeners wanted to know our thoughts on AOC's comments that Texas will inevitably "turn blue." Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.  More Texas politics on HoustonChronicle.com.

Early voting has begun in the election of consequence in Texas: The primary. Gov. Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Ag Commissioner Sid Miller all face multiple challengers as they try to win by pushing in all their chips on former President Trump's endorsement. Down ballot races are heating up as well and we've got you covered. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Portions of this episode were recorded before a live audience at the Texas REALTORS® Winter Meeting in Austin.

The latest ice storm in Texas, almost nothing like the one that was so devastating last year, has mostly passed but not without causing a panic across the state and potential political fallout on the campaign trail. Plus, Republicans lash out at Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo after the funeral of a fallen officer. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.

Former President Trump is slated to return to Houston this weekend as a war rages within the Texas GOP over his endorsement of Gov. Greg Abbott. Plus, Beto O'Rourke sets the tone for in-person campaigning and in-person voting despite lingering concerns about the pandemic. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.  <iframe src="https://omny.fm/shows/texas-take/the-trump-show-returns-to-texas/embed" width="100%" height="180" frameborder="0" title="The Trump Show Returns to Texas "></iframe>

As he courts GOP primary voters and makes good on promises to contributors, Gov. Greg Abbott has to carefully maintain that he's pro-public education in Texas while pushing more "school choice" initiatives including a "Parental Bill of Rights." Meanwhile, Beto O'Rourke had an impressive fundraising haul and Rep. Dan Crenshaw gets into an argument with a young girl because it's possible he just talks too much. Join the conversation with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report, and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace.