Y'all-itics

‘Inside Texas Politics’: Ana Maria Rodriguez Ramos, Jared Patterson, Mike Siegel and the Democratic Socialists in Texas

In the August 23 episode, Democratic state Rep. Ana Maria Rodriguez Ramos discusses the new state audit of the Texas Education Agency which revealed a bloated bureaucracy and more managers than state regulations allow. GOP state Rep. Jared Patterson explains why he's creating a bipartisan voting bloc of DFW-area representatives who plan to advocate harder for North Texas. And Austin Council Member Mike Siegel explains why he's a Democratic Socialist, what it stands for and how much he's accomplished.

Wait… there are Socialists in Texas?

What does “Democratic Socialist” actually mean — especially in Texas? Austin City Councilman Mike Siegel joins Y’all-itics to explain why he calls higher wages, affordable housing and fighting government surveillance Democratic Socialist policies. We also ask the question many voters still have: How is this different from simply being a Democrat? Guest Mike Siegel, Austin City Councilmember

‘Inside Texas Politics’: Pat Fallon, Chad West, Bob Krumenaker, and the Bulldozing of Big Bend

In the August 16 episode, Congressman Pat Fallon discusses whether he thinks the Iran war and the economy are risks to Republicans in November and what he thinks will make the difference in the U.S. Senate race. Council Member Chad West tells us why he thinks it’s time for Dallas to catch up to other cities in regulating data centers. And former Big Bend National Park superintendent Bob Krumenaker talks about the growing bipartisan fallout caused by the bulldozing of Big Bend.

Bulldozing Big Bend

The bulldozing of Big Bend National Park is underway and the bipartisan fallout emerging from the debris piles has been swift and is growing in ferocity. A bipartisan coalition of Texas House members is now calling on the federal government to immediately halt construction of the border barriers. In this episode of Y’all-itics hear from the most recent former Big Bend National Park superintendent who describes the clearing and construction as “an absurd amount of money for a massive amount of destruction for a very, very little bit of impact.”

“This is T-E-A ISD”: Thousands Start School Under State Control

The Texas Education Agency is inserting itself right into classrooms across the state. If just one school fails for 5 years, the TEA can take over the whole district, installing appointed leaders who can make wholesale changes without being accountable to district voters. It’s happening in 8 districts right now, with more additions possible. To see what the start of the school year looks like under recent state takeover, the Jasons check in on Fort Worth ISD, which one close observer now calls "T-E-A ISD." Guests: Dia Wall, Education reporter at WFAA-TV Dallas Steven Poole, Exec. Director of the United Educators Association