Advertise on podcast: Seeing Red: A Texas Politics Podcast

Forget Paxton vs. Talarico for a minute — Garrett says the race that could actually decide who runs Texas is happening three rows down the ballot, in state Senate and House districts nobody's covering. In this solo breakdown, he walks through every competitive Texas Senate and House seat, why Tarrant County is on track to turn blue for the first time ever, and which Republicans are one bad night away from losing their seats. Using early-vote data, fundraising reports, and insider survey numbers, Garrett grades out the real toss-up map: the Texas Senate seats Dan Patrick is quietly worried about, the dozen-plus House districts that could flip in a big Democratic wave, and the handful of Republicans (and Democrats) running strong enough personal campaigns to survive a bad macro environment. No guest this week — just the numbers and the districts the statewide coverage is skipping. Topics discussed: - Texas Senate District 9: Leigh Wambsganns vs. Taylor Rehmet and the Tarrant County special-election wild card - Senate Districts 2 and 11: why Dan Patrick is watching Bob Hall and Dennis Paul's races - Texas House math: Republicans' 88-seat majority and the 27 seats truly up for grabs - Border and Rio Grande Valley House races (HD41, Eddie Morales, Villalobos vs. Sines, Janie Lopez, McLaughlin vs. Castellano) - San Antonio and Austin swing seats: John Lujan, Mark LaHood vs. Zach Dunn, Caroline Harris Davila - Houston-area battlegrounds: Mano DeAyala, Lacey Hull, Sarah McGee vs. Mike Schofield, Charles Cunningham - Dallas County's marquee races: Angie Chen Button and Morgan Meyer - Why Tarrant County is trending blue and what it means for Republicans up and down the ballot - Collin and Denton County swing districts tied to the Bo French fallout - Fort Bend races and Garrett's home-turf read on JC Chittan's old seat Sources: - The Texan — Northeast Tarrant County Conservative Candidates Suffer Losses in School Board Races: https://thetexan.news/elections/2025/northeast-tarrant-county-conservative-candidates-suffer-losses-in-school-board-races/article_7e5c2fd8-99ab-4349-b588-4c9c6273e84c.html - The Texas Tribune — By Alex Nguyen — Sept. 13, 2026 — Texas GOP condemns Bo French, but few are pulling support: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/13/bo-french-john-cornyn-republican-texas-railroad-commissioner-ut/ - Houston Public Media — By Andrew Schneider — Sept. 14, 2026 — Faced with condemnation over alleged racism, GOP Texas railroad commissioner candidate Bo French doubles down: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/09/14/561784/gop-texas-railroad-commissioner-candidate-bo-french-doubles-down/ Chapters 0:00 Intro & Methodology 1:35 Texas Senate: The 3 Seats in Play 10:20 Texas House: Mapping the Battleground 12:36 Border & Valley Races 23:04 San Antonio & Austin Swing Seats 30:03 Houston-Area Battlegrounds 39:27 Dallas County's Marquee Races 42:24 Tarrant County's Blue Shift 45:47 Collin & Denton County 50:21 Fort Bend & What's Next Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

A top Republican pollster just told us the quiet part out loud: Texas Republicans have a real "under-response" problem, and candidate quality — not MAGA versus traditional GOP — is what's deciding close races right now. Nick Weinstein of Cygnal, one of the biggest GOP polling firms in the country, joins Garrett to break down how real campaign polling actually works, why the industry is still recovering from the 2016 miss, and what a 10-day Marist poll in the field right now might be getting wrong about Texas. Then Garrett runs the numbers himself: a brand-new poll showing Ken Paxton's lead over James Talarico down to just 2 points, a batch of mysterious mailers hitting conservative households that nobody will claim credit for, and the Governor Abbott moment with a TMZ reporter that's all over Texas Twitter this week. Nick explains multimode polling, why nobody answers a landline survey anymore, what a crosstab actually is, how margin of error balloons once you drill into subgroups, and why he thinks "Republicans aren't answering polls" is mostly cope. Garrett and Nick also get into real 2026 prognostication — House control, the Senate map, and whether the current Trump coalition can survive past Trump himself. Topics discussed: - How Cygnal builds a poll and why multimode (text + phone) replaced landline-only polling - Why the 2016 polling miss changed the whole industry - RealClearPolitics averages and prediction markets — useful or noise? - What a crosstab is and how margin of error grows in small subgroups - Why a 10-11 day field period is a red flag for a statewide poll - The real scope of "Republicans won't answer pollsters" — and how firms control for it - Candidate quality vs. MAGA/traditional labels, and why incumbency isn't the advantage it used to be - 2026 prognostications: House control, Senate map, Maine, Kansas, Alaska, and Texas - Garrett's breakdown of a new UH Hobby School poll showing Paxton's lead over Talarico narrowing to about 2 points, and what it means down-ballot - Texas House majority math and what happens to the Speaker's race under different outcomes - The mystery "dark arts" mailer campaign sent to conservative households referencing a trans advocacy group that says it never sent them - Governor Abbott's viral moment getting a TMZ reporter to chug a Shiner - A PSA on why you shouldn't read too much into early voting turnout numbers Guest: Nick Weinstein, Cygnal, a Washington, D.C.-based political research and polling firm that works for Republican candidates, campaigns, and issue groups. Cygnal posts a public monthly survey at cygn.al. Follow Nick on X @nickweinstein and Instagram @nick_weinstein. Cygnal: x.com/Cygnal, facebook.com/CygnalPolitical, instagram.com/cygnal_research. Sources: - Houston Public Media — By Andrew Schneider — Oct. 18-19, 2026 — Talarico holds slight edge over Paxton in U.S. Senate race on cusp of election, poll shows: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/10/18/564673/talarico-holds-slight-edge-over-paxton-in-u-s-senate-race-on-cusp-of-election-poll-shows/ - The Texas Tribune — By Kayla Guo and Alejandro Serrano — Oct. 9, 2026 — Talarico makes first public appearance since flu-induced absence: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/09/james-talarico-returns-to-campaign-trail-flu-austin-city-limits-senate/ - The Bulwark — MAGA's Talarico Mental Breakdown Conspiracy Implodes—Instantly: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/maga-james-talarico-mental-breakdown-conspiracy-theory-implodes-sortor-amacher-lindner - Mediaite — James Talarico Appears at ACL Music Festival After Days Away: https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/talarico-resurfaces-after-over-a-week-off-the-campaign-trail-which-fueled-wild-maga-rumors/ - The Daily Signal — Oct. 19, 2026 — LGBT Student Guide Mailers Sent to Texas Families Raise Questions: https://www.dailysignal.com/2026/10/19/texas-families-lgbt-student-resource-guide-mailers/ - TMZ — Oct. 17, 2026 — Texas Governor Greg Abbott Has Beer Summit with TMZ, and It's Not Pretty: https://www.tmz.com/2026/10/17/greg-abbott-offers-beer-to-tmz-dc-reporter/ - The Texas Tribune — By Carlos Nogueras Ramos — Sept. 14, 2026 — Bo French doubles down on racist post made after UT-Ohio football game: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/14/bo-french-post-ut-ohio-football-game/ Chapters 0:00 Cold open: kitchen-table politics 0:29 Dems eye first statewide win since '94 1:45 GOP pollster Nick Weinstein joins the show 3:59 Why pollsters dumped landlines 9:49 Crosstabs and public vs. private polls 19:41 Do Republicans really dodge pollsters? 31:27 Red wave, blue wave, or a wash? 37:53 New poll: Paxton's lead shrinks to 2 44:16 The "dark arts": mystery trans mailers 54:48 Abbott chugs a Shiner for TMZ Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

A Texas Railroad Commissioner candidate looked at a photo of Indian American students celebrating a UT football win and said it proved "the problem" was "far worse than anyone imagined" — and Hindu American Foundation communications director Mat McDermott joins Garrett Fulce to explain exactly what that fight is about and why it matters far beyond one tweet. McDermott recently wrote about the controversy for the Houston Chronicle, and he and Garrett dig into the surge in anti-Hindu rhetoric, why Hindu voters are quietly drifting away from Democrats, and why McDermott thinks the far left — not the far right — may be the bigger long-term threat to his community. Then Garrett closes out with the wildest 48 hours in the Paxton-Talarico Senate race: a debunked mental-institution conspiracy theory, a fake-private-jet story that fell apart on a phone at a pumpkin patch, and a brand-new Wall Street Journal bombshell about Ken Paxton's New Year's Eve in Dubai. This week on Seeing Red, Garrett sits down with Mat McDermott of the Hindu American Foundation to talk about what it's actually like to be a Hindu American in Texas right now, how that community has historically voted, and whether rhetoric like Bo French's has a shot at reshaping Texas politics. Then it's a full rundown of the chaos surrounding James Talarico's disappearance from the campaign trail and a fresh scandal hitting Ken Paxton just weeks before Election Day. Topics discussed: - Bo French's comments on Indian American UT football fans and Boy Scouts - The history of anti-Catholic bigotry in America and parallels to anti-Hindu rhetoric today - How Hindu Americans have historically voted — and why that may be shifting - Fort Bend County's unique, closely-split multicultural political landscape - Christian nationalism, Islamism, and finding natural political allies - The Democratic Socialists of America and the "bigger threat: left or right" debate - James Talarico's days-long disappearance from the campaign trail and the fallout - A debunked conspiracy claiming Talarico was treated at a mental health facility - New Wall Street Journal reporting on Ken Paxton's New Year's Eve trip to Dubai - What Republican outside money pulling back in Texas could mean for the Senate race Guest: Mat McDermott is senior communications director at the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) and host of HAF's "HAF Reacts" and "That's So Hindu" podcasts. Find HAF at hinduamerican.org or @HinduAmerican on social media. Chapters: 0:00 Senate Chaos Teaser 1:12 Welcome Mat McDermott 2:33 Bo French's UT Comments 8:57 How Hindu Americans Vote 11:04 Fort Bend County Politics 14:32 Fighting Anti-Hindu Rhetoric 17:18 Left vs. Right: Bigger Threat? 29:35 HAF's Post-Election Priorities 33:30 Talarico's 8-Day Vanishing Act 44:05 Paxton's Dubai Bombshell Sources: - Houston Chronicle (Chron.com) — By Michael Shapiro — Sept. 14, 2026 — Cornyn slams Bo French for racist social media post on UT crowd — https://www.chron.com/news/article/bo-french-racism-texas-muslims-22429882.php - The Texas Tribune — By Alex Nguyen — Sept. 13, 2026 — Several Texas Republicans condemn Bo French's racist posts calling Asian students at UT a "problem" — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/13/bo-french-john-cornyn-republican-texas-railroad-commissioner-ut/ - The Texan — Fort Bend County Judge KP George Indicted Over Fake Racist Messages — https://thetexan.news/issues/criminal-justice/fort-bend-county-judge-kp-george-indicted-over-fake-racist-messages/article_75f821e0-7f6f-11ef-8fa7-07b00681d210.html - Houston Chronicle — By Mike Ward — May 16, 2014 — Patrick: Briefly hospitalized for depression in 1980s — https://chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Patrick-Briefly-hospitalized-for-depression-in-5483462.php - The Texas Tribune — By Kayla Guo and Alejandro Serrano — Oct. 9, 2026 — Talarico makes first public appearance since flu-induced absence — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/09/james-talarico-returns-to-campaign-trail-flu-austin-city-limits-senate/ - Breitbart — Oct. 8, 2026 — Paxton Campaign Asks Talarico for 'Proof of Life' After 12-Day Absence — https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/10/08/ken-paxtons-campaign-demands-james-talarico-show-proof-life-12-day-absence/ - Townhall — By Scott McClallen — Oct. 10, 2026 — 'Must Be Nice': Paxton Rips Talarico's Two-Week Disappearance — https://townhall.com/news/scott-mcclallen/2026/10/10/must-be-nice-paxton-rips-talaricos-two-week-disappearance-n2684455 - Mediaite — Talarico Spox Rages After MAGA Influencers Promote Utterly Bizarre Conspiracy Theory That He Was Locked In a Mental Hospital — https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/talarico-spox-rages-after-maga-influencers-promote-utterly-bizarre-conspiracy-theory-that-he-was-locked-in-a-mental-hospital/ - Mediaite — Talarico Campaign Provides Time-Stamped Security Cam Images to NYT Showing He Was Home in Austin — https://www.mediaite.com/media/print/talarico-campaign-provides-time-stamped-security-cam-images-to-nyt-showing-he-was-home-in-austin/ - Yahoo News (reporting on a Wall Street Journal exclusive) — Oct. 12, 2026 — Ken Paxton Reportedly Partied in Dubai With Fugitives Wanted in U.S. — https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/ken-paxton-reportedly-partied-dubai-025552820.html - The Texas Tribune — By Gabby Birenbaum — Sept. 11, 2026 — Senate GOP's super PAC starts spending big for Ken Paxton — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/11/senate-gop-leadership-ken-paxton-john-thune-texas-spending/ Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Texas just had, by one measure, its best legislative session for housing reform in the country, and almost nobody outside the Capitol knows the job that makes bills like that actually work. Legislative lawyer Sam Hooper, aka "the Lege Lawyer," joins Garrett to pull back the curtain on how a policy idea becomes real statute, why Texas's new starter-home and mixed-use laws are already putting thousands of units online, and why AI-drafted bills could be the next headache at the Capitol. Then Garrett breaks down the Angela Paxton ad running in markets nationwide and the growing Republican fight over who to blame if November goes badly. Sam Hooper spent a session drafting bills for the nonpartisan Texas Legislative Council before moving to the Institute for Justice to work on property rights and economic liberty, and now runs his own solo legislative practice. He and Garrett dig into the real fights behind housing policy, property rights vs. neighborhood control, state preemption vs. local control, and why Houston's lack of zoning lets a law student live next to River Oaks for under $2,000 a month. They also cover occupational licensing reciprocity, how "bracketing" lets lawmakers target specific cities without naming them, and why AI-written "slop bills" might flood the Capitol next session. Garrett closes with a rundown of the Texas Senate race ad everyone's talking about and Luke Macias's take on GOP accountability heading into the midterms. **Topics discussed:** - Sam Hooper's path from English management consultant to Texas legislative lawyer - What Texas Legislative Council does and how bill drafting actually works - The 2023 housing bill failures vs. the 2025 housing reform wins (starter homes, ADUs, mixed-use zoning, occupancy limits, single-stair reform) - Early data from Senate Bill 840 and the mixed-use housing law - "Bracketing": how bills target specific cities without naming them - The property-rights vs. neighborhood-control debate, and the YIMBY/NIMBY divide - State preemption vs. local control, and why housing became a statewide issue - Houston's no-zoning model vs. Austin's permitting maze - Occupational licensing reform, reciprocity, and universal license recognition - How AI could change (and complicate) bill drafting ahead of the next session - Pre-filing season and who might become the next "point of order" power player - The Angela Paxton ad airing in national markets ahead of the Senate race - Luke Macias's commentary on GOP accountability if Republicans underperform in November **Guest:** Sam Hooper, independent legislative lawyer ("the Lege Lawyer"), formerly of Texas Legislative Council and the Institute for Justice. Find him on Substack and X at @LegeLawyer (also on Instagram and TikTok). **Sources:** - *The Texas Tribune*, By Colleen DeGuzman, Oct. 3-4, 2026, [In TV ad, Angela Paxton urges voters to back "the Republican ticket" that includes her estranged husband](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/03/angela-paxton-tv-ad-ken-paxton-texas-senate-2026/) - *The Washington Times*, Oct. 3, 2026, [Paxton's estranged wife backs Texas GOP ticket in new ad](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/oct/3/paxtons-estranged-wife-backs-texas-gop-ticket-new-ad/) - *The Texas Tribune*, By Gabby Birenbaum, Sept. 22, 2026, [Senate Republicans increase ad buy for Ken Paxton to $100 million](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/22/texas-paxton-ads-100-million-senate-race-talarico/) - *The Luke Macias Show* (Texas Scorecard), [Who Will You Blame If November Goes Badly?](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-luke-macias-show/id1450702621) Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Texas just quietly sat on one of the largest rare earth mineral deposits outside of China's control — and the state's Land Commissioner is the one turning it into cash for schools. Dawn Buckingham joins Garrett to explain how the General Land Office manages 13 million acres of Texas land, why that makes Texas the "tip of the spear" on energy, minerals, and border security, and what's really happening with the $450 million Alamo overhaul. Then Garrett runs the solo rundown: a $7.5 billion border security reimbursement finally landing at the Comptroller's Office, a voter registration glitch affecting thousands of Texans, and where the Abbott-Hinojosa and Paxton-Talarico races actually stand five weeks out. Commissioner Buckingham breaks down how the GLO's mineral leases fund the Permanent School Fund, why she declared cartel-controlled islands in the Rio Grande part of Texas, and how "Mines to Magnets" is meant to end America's reliance on China for the minerals that power phones, jets, and the grid. Garrett also covers the ongoing GOP fight over Railroad Commission nominee Bo French and where the debate season stands for Senate and Governor. **Topics discussed:** - Dawn Buckingham's path from medical practice to Texas Senate to Land Commissioner - What the General Land Office does and why it predates the state government - The Permanent School Fund and its impact on Texas schools and property taxes - The "Texas Engine" plan: energy, rare earth minerals, and produced water - Breaking China's rare earth mineral monopoly with USA Rare Earth and El Paso Minerals - The $450 million Alamo restoration and the new Visitor Center - Big Bend border wall strategy and protecting state ranchland from contractors - The Veterans Land Board's nursing homes, cemeteries, and mortgage program - The Comptroller's Office, the $7.5 billion Operation Lone Star reimbursement, and staff shakeups - A voter registration processing glitch affecting thousands of Texans - Where the Abbott-Hinojosa and Paxton-Talarico races stand, and the fight over debates **Guest:** Dawn Buckingham, MD — Texas Land Commissioner, former Texas State Senator. More info: dawnbuckingham.com **Sources:** - *Texas Tribune* — By Gabby Birenbaum — Sept. 18, 2026 — [Feds reimburse Texas for $7.5 billion in border spending, ending delay](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/18/texas-border-money-reimburse-billions/) - *Texas Tribune* — By Alejandro Serrano — Sept. 15, 2026 — [This Gen-Z politico is running the Texas comptroller's office](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/15/texas-comptroller-shakeup-don-huffines-noah-betz/) - *Texas Tribune* — Sept. 25, 2026 — [Texas' delayed voter applications highlight registration woes](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/25/texas-voter-registration-delay-backlog-online-dps/) - *Texas Tribune* — By Alex Nguyen — Sept. 13, 2026 — [Cornyn calls out Bo French over racist social media post](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/13/bo-french-john-cornyn-republican-texas-railroad-commissioner-ut/) - *The Washington Times* — Sept. 3, 2026 — [Ken Paxton turns down CNN debate offer in Senate race](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/3/ken-paxton-turns-cnn-debate-offer-senate-race/) Chapters 0:00 Intro & Episode Preview 0:44 Meet Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham 2:57 GLO 101: History & Duties 7:32 Texas Engine: Power, Minerals & Water 13:21 Restoring the Alamo 19:44 Big Bend Border Wall Fight 23:53 Veterans Land Board 25:13 Comptroller Shakeup & $7.5B Border Check 29:14 178K Voter Registrations in Limbo 33:19 Horse Race & Debate Watch Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Want a job in Republican politics? Dustin Tropp, the headhunter who runs republicanjobs.gop, has placed more than 3,500 people in GOP jobs and says entry-level D.C. staffers are now starting at $70,000 — a number that didn't exist for Garrett's generation. Garrett sits down with Tropp to break down exactly how to get in the door, move up the ladder, and avoid torching your career before it starts. Dustin built Republican Jobs from a headhunting side project into the GOP's largest political staffing operation, working with nearly 500 organizations and running the party's biggest virtual career fair. He and Garrett dig into why AI hasn't killed political jobs (and might be creating more of them), why the hardest jump in politics isn't getting your first job but your second one, and why Gen Z keeps turning down perfectly good stepping-stone jobs. Then Garrett goes solo to explain his recent Houston Chronicle op-ed on why he came out against Bo French, and breaks down some of the wildest statewide polling Texas has seen in years. Topics discussed: - How Dustin Tropp built republicanjobs.gop into the GOP's top political headhunting firm - Why entry-level political jobs are easier to land than ever, with $70K starting pay in D.C. - How AI is actually changing political jobs (and why it hasn't eliminated them) - The real career path from campaign volunteer to political operative - Comms, lobbying, and vendor jobs beyond just campaigns and the legislature - Dustin's new podcast "Staffed Up" and Republican Jobs' December 3rd virtual career fair - Garrett's Houston Chronicle op-ed explaining why he came out against Bo French - Fresh Texas polling showing Republicans running behind the generic ballot statewide Guest: Dustin Tropp, President of Republican Jobs (republicanjobs.gop). Apply, browse openings, or sign up for the newsletter at republicanjobs.gop. Chapters: 0:00 Intro & Episode Preview 0:55 Meet Dustin Tropp, Republican Jobs Founder 1:58 Building Republican Jobs From Scratch 7:07 Why Entry-Level Jobs Got Easier 10:42 AI's Real Impact on Political Jobs 15:59 Breaking In: Entry to Mid-Career 22:37 Comms, Lobbying & Vendor Jobs 32:51 Staffed Up Podcast & Career Fair 39:30 Garrett Goes Solo: Bo French Fallout 45:33 Texas's Wild New Poll Numbers Sources: - Houston Chronicle — By Garrett W. Fulce — Want to keep Texas red? Say no to Bo. — https://houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/no-bo-french-garrett-fulce-save-texas-republicans-22435711.php - The Texas Tribune — By Alex Nguyen — Sept. 13, 2026 — Cornyn calls out Bo French over racist social media post — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/13/bo-french-john-cornyn-republican-texas-railroad-commissioner-ut/ - The Texas Tribune — By Carlos Nogueras Ramos — Sept. 14, 2026 — Bo French doubles down on racist post made after UT-Ohio football game — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/14/bo-french-post-ut-ohio-football-game/ - The Texas Tribune — By Will Hammann — Sept. 17, 2026 — John Cornyn says he won't vote for Bo French as backlash to racist post rises — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/17/john-cornyn-bo-french-texas-railroad-commission-racist-post/ - The Texas Tribune — Sept. 14, 2026 — Karl Rove will vote for Democrat over Bo French — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/14/bo-french-kal-rove-endorsement-jon-rosenthal/ - Chron.com (Houston Chronicle) — Aug. 13, 2026 — Fort Bend Constable Ali Sheikhani responds to anti-Muslim attacks — https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/ali-sheikhani-anti-muslim-attacks-22387359.php - Emerson College Polling / Nexstar Media — Sept. 17, 2026 — Texas 2026 Poll: Talarico and Paxton in Dead Heat, Abbott Maintains Edge — https://emersoncollegepolling.com/texas-2026-poll-talarico-and-paxton-in-dead-heat-abbott-maintains-edge/ - TelevisaUnivision (N+ Univision) — Sept. 9, 2026 — N+ Univision News Poll Finds Texas Governor's and Senate Races Deadlocked — https://corporate.televisaunivision.com/press/2026/09/09/n-univision-news-poll-finds-texas-governors-and-senate-races-deadlocked-ahead-of-2026-midterms/ Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

A pickup truck crashed through State Rep. Charles Cunningham's living room at 4 a.m.—and it's the reason he's now fighting bail reform battles in Austin. Rep. Cunningham (House District 127, Humble) joins Garrett Fulce to break down Texas's $51 billion in property tax relief, why school districts are "underfunded" rather than "unfunded," and how his district turned a flood-control headache into a funding fix by selling sand out of Lake Houston. Then Garrett runs through the week's fights back home: a Texas GOP statewide candidate's racist meltdown over University of Texas students, a flood of Republican outside money rushing in to save Ken Paxton's Senate campaign, Jimmy Kimmel spiking a Talarico interview, and Galveston County getting slapped down by the Texas Supreme Court for trying to redraw its voting maps mid-cycle. Rep. Cunningham walks through his path from a 30-year career at CenterPoint Energy and 12 years on the Humble ISD school board into the Texas House, where he's pushed bail reform legislation, worked on the state's multi-year property tax relief package, and helped stand up a first-of-its-kind dredging district to fund flood control on Lake Houston. Garrett then covers the biggest fights heating up Texas politics 60 days before Election Day. **Topics discussed:** - The 4 a.m. truck crash that pushed Cunningham into running for office - Bail reform: the Minimum Bond Act, "Felony on Bond," and ending the "revolving door" - Fights over who pays for judges — state vs. county funding - $51 billion in property tax relief over two legislative sessions - The push to cut state agency spending 3% to fund more property tax relief - School district budgets, personnel costs, and "underfunded" vs. "unfunded" mandates - Education Savings Accounts and school choice competition in Humble ISD - Flooding, dredging, and turning Lake Houston sediment into a funding source - A statewide GOP candidate's controversial post about UT students and the backlash from Texas Republican leadership - Republican outside money rushing in to boost Ken Paxton's Senate campaign - Jimmy Kimmel pulling a James Talarico interview off broadcast TV - Galveston County's blocked mid-cycle redistricting plan **Guest:** Charles Cunningham represents Texas House District 127 (Humble area) and serves on the Public Education, Local & Consent Calendars, and Public Health committees. He spent more than 30 years at CenterPoint Energy and served 12 years on the Humble ISD school board before his election in 2022. He pointed listeners to Texas Legislature Online and his campaign website for more information — exact URL not clearly stated on air, producer to confirm and fill in. **Sources:** - *Houston Public Media* — Sept. 14, 2026 — [Several Texas Republicans condemn Bo French's racist posts calling Asian students at UT a "problem"](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/09/14/561685/several-texas-republicans-condemn-bo-frenchs-racist-posts-calling-asian-students-at-ut-a-problem/) - *KERA News (Texas Tribune)* — By Gabby Birenbaum — Sept. 14, 2026 — [Senate Republicans finally mobilize with big money for Ken Paxton in Texas](https://www.keranews.org/politics/2026-09-14/senate-republicans-finally-mobilize-with-big-money-for-ken-paxton-in-texas) - *NBC News* — Sept. 10, 2026 — [Jimmy Kimmel says show won't air James Talarico interview on TV, citing FCC threats](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/jimmy-kimmel-abc-tv-show-wont-air-james-talarico-interview-fcc-threats-rcna596994) - *Houston Public Media* — By Julianna Washburn — Sept. 11, 2026 — [Texas Supreme Court blocks Galveston County from using new precinct map in November election](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/galveston-county/2026/09/11/561599/texas-supreme-court-blocks-galveston-county-from-using-new-precinct-map-in-november-election/) Chapters 0:00 Cold Open: This Week's Fights 0:45 Meet Rep. Charles Cunningham 1:33 The Wreck That Started It 3:56 Bail Reform Wins & Fights 11:27 Property Tax Relief Explained 20:29 School Choice Rollout in Humble 24:23 Flooding & the Dredging Fix 34:06 A GOP Candidate's Meltdown 41:13 Cash Floods In for Paxton 45:00 Kimmel, Galveston & More News Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Ryan Patrick, runs the group that's been the single biggest force behind Texas tort reform for 30 years. And right now, trial lawyer money is quietly flowing into Republican primaries to take him down. Ryan Patrick, CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR), joins Garrett to break down "nuclear verdicts," the medical billing fraud scheme inflating your insurance bill, and the shadowy Delaware-incorporated group of Republicans fighting his organization from the inside. The former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas under President Trump, a former Harris County state district judge, and now the CEO of TL, Ryan walks through how a small number of Texas counties and aggressive "billboard lawyers" are driving up insurance costs for every Texan, why Texas now leads the nation in verdicts over $10 million, and why a group of Republicans is now taking trial lawyer money to fight tort reform from inside the party. **Topics discussed:** - The history of Texans for Lawsuit Reform and Texas's "judicial hellhole" era in the 1990s - What a "nuclear verdict" actually is and why Texas now leads the country in them - How medical billing fraud and "letter of protection" schemes inflate lawsuit payouts - The hidden "lawsuit tax" — $3,000 to $4,200 a year added to Texas insurance premiums - TLR's push to put medical billing benchmarks in front of juries - The "RATLR's" — a Delaware-incorporated, trial-lawyer-funded group attacking TLR from inside the GOP - Judicial Fairness PAC and the fight to elect conservative judges in Harris, Dallas, and other urban counties - Third-party litigation funding, and concerns over foreign (including Chinese) money bankrolling Texas lawsuits - Why Ryan Patrick believes the 2026 elections could decide the future of tort reform in Texas **Guest:** Ryan Patrick, CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR). Find TLR at tortreform.com.  **Sources:** - *Texas Tribune* — Aug. 12, 2026 — [Trial lawyers, once a force for Democrats, reclaim political clout in Texas GOP's MAGA wing](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/12/texas-trial-lawyers-gop-texans-for-lawsuit-reform-tort-civil-justice/) - *Dowd Bennett* — May 15, 2025 — [Texas codifies the Business Judgment Rule (SB 29)](https://www.dowdbennett.com/news/texas-codifies-the-business-judgment-rule/) - *Texans for Lawsuit Reform PAC* — [TLRPAC- and JFPAC-Supported Candidates Dominate in General Election Contests](https://tlrpac.org/press_release/tlrpac-and-jfpac-supported-candidates-dominate-in-general-election-contests/) Chapters 0:00 Meet Ryan Patrick, TLR's CEO 0:53 What Texans for Lawsuit Reform Does 6:45 What Are "Nuclear Verdicts" 12:24 Inside the Medical Billing Fraud Scheme 23:00 TLR's Fix: Benchmarking Jury Bills 28:21 GOP Civil War: Meet the "Rattlers" 37:22 Winning Texas's Judicial Races 44:33 Foreign Money in Texas Lawsuits 49:11 Where to Find TLR Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Garrett spent this week at the Texas Young Republican Federation's 69th Annual Convention in San Marcos, and the mood among the campaign staffers, volunteers, and college Republicans he talked to wasn't confidence. It was worry. Back in Austin, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick wants to fail entire school districts a letter grade over library books (including a Holocaust memoir), Governor Abbott just yanked state money out of Flock surveillance cameras, and Texas public schools are quietly losing more students than anyone in the Capitol is talking about. This week Garrett brings you convention interviews with Texas Young Republican Federation leadership and college Republicans on what's actually driving young conservatives into 2026: affordability, immigration, and turnout. Then he breaks down why even hardened Republican staffers are starting to sound nervous about November, walks through the fight over Flock license-plate cameras, digs into Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's push to dock school accountability grades over "dirty books," and flags an under-covered enrollment crisis hitting Texas school districts heading into the 90th legislative session. **Topics discussed:** - Inside the Texas Young Republican Federation's 69th Annual Convention in San Marcos - What's actually driving young conservatives: affordability, property taxes, and immigration - Block walking, GOTV mechanics, and how Young Republicans plug into campaigns - Campus fights: RSO restrictions, free speech, and volunteer turnout on Texas college campuses - 2028 dream candidates: Rubio, Vance, and Cruz name-checked by convention attendees - Why Republican staffers are nervous about November for the first time since 2018 - Money flowing into Ken Paxton's Senate campaign and what it signals - How polling actually works and why turnout modeling matters more than topline numbers - The end of straight-ticket voting and what it means for down-ballot Republicans - Flock license-plate cameras: security tool, Big Brother, or both - Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's push to dock school accountability ratings over library books - Why "Night" by Elie Wiesel landing on a "dirty books" list undercuts the argument - Meta's data center investment in El Paso and the growing backlash to AI infrastructure - A quiet, under-reported enrollment crisis facing Texas public schools **This week's convention voices:** Derek Wilson (Chairman, Texas Young Republican Federation), Eric Perikakis (Policy Director, Texas Young Republican Federation), William (Chairman, Texas College Republicans), and Joanne Luke and Will French (Texas Federation of College Republicans). Handles and additional titles not stated in transcript, producer to fill in. **Sources:** - *The Texas Tribune* — By Alejandro Serrano — August 19, 2026 — [Dan Patrick: "We're coming for the books" in school libraries](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/19/texas-dan-patrick-obscene-books-school-libraries-penalties/) - *Houston Chronicle* — August 2026 — [Holocaust book among titles flagged for removal from Texas schools](https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/banned-books-schools-dan-patrick-22402659.php) - *The Texas Tribune* — By Ayden Runnels — August 28, 2026 — [Gov. Abbott blocks state agencies from spending money on Flock cameras](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/28/texas-greg-abbott-flock-cameras-order-state-money/) - *Axios* — August 21, 2026 — [Scoop: Cruz-linked super PAC jumps into Texas Senate race](https://www.axios.com/2026/08/21/ted-cruz-super-pac-ken-paxton-texas-senate-race-republicans-midterms) - *Houston Public Media* — By Andrew Schneider — August 24, 2026 (updated August 27, 2026) — [Trump to headline RNC fundraiser in Houston aimed at boosting Ken Paxton's Senate campaign](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/08/24/560231/trump-to-headline-rnc-fundraiser-in-houston-aimed-at-boosting-ken-paxtons-senate-campaign/) - *The Texas Tribune* — July 30, 2026 — [What is still legal under Texas' latest THC ban](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/30/texas-thc-cannabis-ban-delta-9-8-marijuana/) Chapters 0:00 Cold Open: This Week's Rundown 1:28 Derek Wilson: TYRF Chairman on 2026 10:03 Eric Perikakis: Policy Priorities and 2028 Picks 14:43 College Republicans on Campus Fights 17:39 College Republicans on Voter Fear and Turnout 27:48 Why Young Republicans Are Getting Nervous 38:56 Flock Cameras: Security Tool or Big Brother 47:58 Dan Patrick's "Dirty Books" Fight 55:35 Texas Schools' Quiet Enrollment Crisis Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

State Rep. Jeff Barry (R-Pearland) sits on the two committees at the center of next session's biggest fight: the governor, lieutenant governor, and House Speaker all want agencies to cut spending 3% across the board — and Barry breaks down why you can't cut property taxes without cutting state spending first. As a freshman on Appropriations, he walks through how a budget bill actually becomes law, why "Robin Hood" school funding is about to collide with the push to eliminate local school taxes, and the insurance reform bill he says already stopped a rate hike for coastal homeowners. Then Garrett takes over solo to break down the Talarico-Paxton Senate race turning into a real toss-up, why Governor Abbott's numbers are sliding in his own re-election bid, how data centers became the wedge issue nobody in the GOP wants to touch, and a wild pilot program out of El Paso ISD that's putting administrators back in the classroom as substitute teachers. **Topics discussed:** - The Texas budget process, from subcommittees to conference committee to the governor's veto pen - The "Big 3's" push for 3% across-the-board agency budget cuts ahead of the 90th Legislature - Why cutting property taxes requires cutting state spending first - Property tax compression, homestead exemptions, and the fight over eliminating the M&O school tax - Robin Hood recapture and funding for rural school districts - The taxpayer-funded lobbying fight and the role of the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) - Barry's bill eliminating the TWIA insurance tax and his push for a state reinsurance program - New building codes aimed at making homes more storm-resistant - The Ike Dike and protecting the Houston Ship Channel from storm surge - Privatizing operation of state mental health hospitals - The Talarico-Paxton U.S. Senate race and the Abbott-Hinojosa governor's race - Data centers becoming a rural-vs-suburban political wedge issue - El Paso ISD's plan to have central office administrators substitute teach **Guest:** State Rep. Jeff Barry represents House District 29 (Pearland/Brazoria County) and serves on the House Appropriations and Natural Resources committees. Learn more or get involved at votejeffbarry.com. **Sources:** - *The Hill* — August 20, 2026 — [Texas, Iowa Senate races shift to toss-ups: Cook Political Report](https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/6041660-cook-political-report-texas-iowa-senate-races/) - *The Texas Tribune* — By Gabby Birenbaum — August 20, 2026 — [Talarico floods Texas airwaves in U.S. Senate race as Paxton, GOP stay quiet](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/20/texas-us-senate-race-donors-ken-paxton-james-talarico/) - *The Center Square* — [Polls show tight Texas governor race, closest margin in Abbott's career](https://www.thecentersquare.com/texas/article_5e175925-bc41-467f-a20c-4682c21a9422.html) - *The Texas Tribune* — By Paul Cobler and Alejandra Martinez — August 3, 2026 — [New Texas data center projects frozen until state audits them](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/03/texas-data-center-project-audit-greg-abbott/) - *Texas Tribune* (via Houston Public Media) — By Jaden Edison — July 22-23, 2026 — [Texas' longstanding 'Robin Hood' school finance system will face a new legal challenge](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2026/07/23/557775/west-texas-midland-district-lawsuit-school-finance-robin-hood/) - *KFOX14/CBS4 El Paso* — [EPISD confirms central office staff, including superintendent, must sub eight days](https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/episd-confirms-central-office-staff-including-superintendent-must-sub-eight-days-this-year) - *Houston Public Media* — By Lucio Vasquez — August 14, 2026 — [Texas schools see modest improvement in 2026 A-F ratings. Here's how they fared](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/education-news/2026/08/14/559560/texas-schools-see-modest-improvement-in-2026-a-f-ratings-heres-how-they-fared/) Chapters 0:00 Cold Open & Episode Preview 1:17 Rep. Jeff Barry Joins the Show 4:27 How the Texas Budget Process Works 13:17 Cutting Spending to Cut Property Taxes 18:15 Robin Hood School Funding Explained 31:49 TWIA Tax Cut & Insurance Reform 40:53 The Ike Dike & Storm Surge Risk 48:32 Solo Segment: Senate Race Toss-Up 52:16 Data Centers Become a Political Wedge 54:34 El Paso ISD's Substitute Teacher Plan Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Governor Abbott just ordered Texas regulators to freeze new data center hookups to the power grid until they pass an audit, and former Republican Party of Texas chair James Dickey joins Garrett Fulce to explain exactly why, plus what it means for the fight over massive new 765-kilovolt transmission lines cutting across the state. Dickey, who now runs JD Key Consulting and publishes Hyperscale News, breaks down the difference between a real policy fight over eminent domain and water use versus manufactured outrage, plus what he's seeing on the 2026 campaign trail. Then Garrett goes solo to break down the TEA's new A-F school ratings, why Austin ISD is on track for a state takeover, and why that's a political headache for a certain gubernatorial candidate. This week: Abbott's PUC and ERCOT audit of data centers, the messy fight over 765kV transmission lines connecting the Permian Basin to the rest of the state, what a former state party chair is seeing on the campaign trail heading into November, and predictions for what actually passes in the 90th Legislature. Then, the state's newest school ratings are out, and Austin ISD's repeated failing grades are about to become both a policy problem and a campaign problem. Topics discussed: - Governor Abbott's directive requiring PUC and ERCOT audits before new data centers connect to the grid - How Senate Bill 6's new "batch" process is supposed to fix ERCOT's endless interconnection evaluations - Why data centers' water-use survey compliance came in under 20% - The fight over 765-kilovolt transmission lines linking the Permian Basin to the Texas Triangle - Eminent domain, property rights, and who's really driving the need for new transmission - Balancing renewable and dispatchable power on the Texas grid - James Dickey's read on 2026 campaign unity and messaging discipline - Predictions for the 90th Legislature: property tax cuts, school choice, water infrastructure - The TEA's new A-F school ratings and a likely Austin ISD state takeover - Why Austin ISD's failing grades are a political problem for Gina Hinojosa - Houston ISD's state takeover results, merit pay, and early-intervention teaching Guest: James Dickey is the founder and principal of JD Key Consulting, publisher of Hyperscale News, and former chair of the Republican Party of Texas (2017–2020). Find him on X and LinkedIn. Chapters: 0:00 Cold Open 0:29 Meet James Dickey 1:35 Abbott's Grid Audit Explained 10:36 765kV Transmission Line Fight 22:24 GOP Campaign Trail Insights 29:33 2027 Session Priorities Preview 33:58 TEA Ratings & Austin ISD Crisis 44:45 Houston ISD Takeover Lessons Sources: - The Texas Tribune — By Paul Cobler — August 3, 2026 — New Texas data center projects frozen until state audits them — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/03/texas-data-center-project-audit-greg-abbott/ - Texas Policy Research — August 4, 2026 — Texas Releases First Education Freedom Accounts Report — https://www.texaspolicyresearch.com/texas-releases-first-education-freedom-accounts-report/ - The Texas Tribune — July 31, 2026 — Texas must rethink massive transmission lines, lawmakers say — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/31/texas-transmission-lines-dan-patrick/ - Texas Scorecard — Patrick, Schwertner Call on PUC To Reject Controversial 765-kV Transmission Applications — https://texasscorecard.com/state/patrick-schwertner-call-on-puc-to-reject-controversial-765-kv-transmission-applications/ - The Texas Tribune — By Andrea Ball — August 14, 2026 — Failing AISD campuses reach Texas threshold for state intervention — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/14/austin-isd-ratings-texas-school-takeover-trigger/ - KERA News — August 14, 2026 — Texas schools see modest improvement in 2026 A-F ratings. Here's how they fared — https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2026-08-14/texas-education-public-school-rating-tea-2026 - Houston Public Media — August 13, 2026 — 4 HISD schools receive F ratings, Mike Miles says, a year after there were no failing campuses — https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/education/2026/08/13/559474/hisd-accountability-ratings-houston-schools-wheatley-high-school/ - K-12 Dive — Houston ISD stays at B rating in 2025-26 — https://www.k12dive.com/news/houston-isd-stays-at-b-rating-in-2025-26/827960/ - MyRGV.com — October 24, 2025 — Democrat cites Valley roots in bid to challenge Republican Gov. Greg Abbott — https://myrgv.com/local-news/2025/10/24/democrat-cites-valley-roots-in-bid-to-challenge-republican-gov-greg-abbott/ Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Garrett Fulce sits down with Peyton Hornberger of the Alliance for Secure AI for a genuinely spirited debate on how (or whether) government should regulate artificial intelligence. Garrett and Peyton go back and forth on AI policy, data centers, age verification, and what it means that AI agents from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta have all recently "escaped" test environments and hacked into other companies. Then Garrett dives into the Paxton-Talarico Senate race and what shifting prediction markets actually tell us, two major Second Amendment rulings out of Texas courts, and a new legal fight over the state's Ten Commandments classroom law. **Topics discussed:** - Inside the Alliance for Secure AI's mission and policy priorities - Lessons from the "Wild West" of Internet 1.0 and 2.0 applied to AI - Age verification laws, app stores, and the fight over online anonymity - Whether AI is becoming a partisan wedge issue heading into 2026 - Data centers, the power grid, and fears the issue becomes "climate change 2.0" - AI agents going rogue: the OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta cybersecurity incidents - Betting markets (Kalshi, Polymarket) show a dead-even Paxton vs. Talarico race - A federal judge guts National Firearms Act registration for suppressors - Ken Paxton's latest courtroom loss over the State Fair of Texas gun ban - A new legal challenge to Texas' Ten Commandments classroom law **Guest:** Peyton Hornberger, Alliance for Secure AI (secureainow.org) — find her on X/Twitter at @peytonhb_ **Sources:** - *The Texas Tribune* — By Gabby Birenbaum — July 28, 2026 — [Talarico leads Paxton by 5 points in new Texas Senate poll](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/28/texas-senate-poll-james-talarico-ken-paxton-july-2026/) - *Houston Public Media* — By Andrew Schneider — August 4, 2026 — [Another poll shows James Talarico leading Ken Paxton in their race for the U.S. Senate](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2026/2026/08/04/558614/talarico-paxton-poll-senate-texas-southern-university-black-voters/) - *Fox 7 Austin* — August 7, 2026 — [New Texas polls show a tight Senate race between Talarico and Paxton](https://www.fox7austin.com/news/talarico-paxton-senate-race-polling-august) - *Associated Press (via Washington Post)* — August 5, 2026 — [Texas judge rules that law regulating firearm suppressors and some guns can't be enforced](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/2026/08/05/gun-law-firearms-rifle-silencer-texas-judge/61fecd62-9127-11f1-9fdc-0a725c989a7b_story.html) - *The Texas Tribune* — By Alex Nguyen — August 6, 2026 — [Appeals court rejects Attorney General Ken Paxton's effort to overturn Texas State Fair gun ban](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/08/06/texas-state-fair-dallas-gun-ban-paxton-appeals-court-ruling/) - *Click2Houston/KPRC* — By Christian Hudspeth — August 7, 2026 — [Houston moms lose first round in fight over Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms](https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/08/07/ten-commandments-classroom-mandate-lawsuit-heads-to-injunction-hearing-after-judge-denies-emergency-order/) - *CNN Business* — July 22, 2026 — [An OpenAI test model escaped and broke into a real company's servers](https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/22/tech/openai-hugging-face-ai-cybersecurity) - *Axios* — July 30, 2026 — [Anthropic says three Claude models reached real-world systems during cyber tests](https://www.axios.com/2026/07/30/anthropic-mythos-security-testing) - *CNN Business* — August 5, 2026 — [An AI model from Meta also hacked another company during testing](https://www.cnn.com/2026/08/05/tech/meta-ai-hacking) Chapters 0:00 Cold Open: This Week's Rundown 0:48 Guest: Peyton Hornberger Joins 2:44 AI vs. The Internet 1.0 Playbook 11:30 Age Verification & App Stores 14:27 How Peyton Actually Uses AI 17:29 Is AI Becoming a Voting Issue? 26:44 Data Centers: The Left's Next Cause? 32:40 AI Agents Going Rogue 37:47 Senate Race Betting Markets Flip 42:40 Gun Law Gutted + State Fair Fight 49:27 Ten Commandments Law Challenge Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Texas just shattered its all-time power demand record during a brutal heat wave — and for the first time in years, ERCOT didn't ask anyone to turn down their AC. Former State Senator Drew Springer joins Garrett to break down exactly why, and what's coming next as data centers and AI reshape the Texas grid. Drew Springer was in the Texas Senate for Winter Storm Uri and helped write the reforms that followed. Now running Springer Financial Services, he comes back on Seeing Red to explain the post-Uri grid overhaul, the Texas Energy Fund, the fight over massive new 765-kilovolt transmission lines, and why the "Wild Wild West" era of data center growth is about to get its first real guardrails from the Legislature. Garrett also breaks down Gov. Abbott's new affordability push and the fresh trouble brewing for Senate candidate James Talarico. **Topics discussed:** - Why ERCOT didn't issue conservation alerts during last week's record heat wave - What actually caused Winter Storm Uri's grid failure — and the SB3 reforms that followed - 40,000+ megawatts added to the grid since 2021 — wind, solar, batteries, and gas - The Texas Energy Fund and the push for more reliable, dispatchable power - What an "interim charge" is and how the real legislative work gets done between sessions - The fight over 765-kilovolt transmission lines and rural landowners pushing back - Why data centers took off with zero regulation — and what guardrails are coming - AI as a national security issue and why banning data centers outright would be a mistake - How AI could change opportunity for the next generation of Texans **Guest:** Drew Springer, former Texas State Representative and State Senator; now runs Springer Financial Services. (Social handle not stated in transcript — producer to fill in.) **Sources:** - *NATiVE Solar* — [ERCOT Breaks Demand Record July 2026](https://nativesolar.com/ercot-breaks-demand-record-july-2026/) - *Houston Public Media* — [ERCOT prepares for record demand during Texas heat wave](https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/2026/07/22/557719/texas-heat-wave-ercot-power-grid-demand/) — July 22, 2026 - *The Texas Tribune* — [ERCOT forecasts energy demand to double in six years](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/29/texas-ercot-power-grid-record-data-center/) — July 29, 2026 - *KXAN Austin* — [Tanya Tucker testifies, sings at Texas Senate committee hearing on massive power line project](https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/tanya-tucker-testifies-sings-at-texas-senate-committee-hearing-on-massive-power-line-project/) - *The Texas Tribune* — [Texas must rethink massive transmission lines, lawmakers say](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/31/texas-transmission-lines-dan-patrick/) — July 31, 2026 - *KERA News* — [Gov. Greg Abbott rolls out initiatives to limit growth in home, car insurance costs](https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2026-07-16/gov-greg-abbott-rolls-out-initiatives-to-limit-growth-in-home-car-insurance-costs) — July 16, 2026 - *The Federalist* — By Matt Kittle — July 28, 2026 — [Mama's Boy Talarico Appears To Have Broken Texas Election Law](https://thefederalist.com/2026/07/28/exclusive-mamas-boy-talarico-appears-to-have-broken-texas-election-law/) - *The Texas Tribune* — By Gabby Birenbaum — July 28, 2026 — [Talarico leads Paxton by 5 points in new Texas Senate poll](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/28/texas-senate-poll-james-talarico-ken-paxton-july-2026/) Chapters 0:00 Cold open & episode tease 4:36 Welcoming back Drew Springer 6:14 What really caused Uri's grid failure 8:07 Renewables, gas & the new energy mix 9:18 The Texas Energy Fund, explained 11:58 What's an "interim charge"? 13:06 Tanya Tucker sings at the Capitol 14:37 Data centers: Wild West to guardrails 16:52 AI, opportunity & winning the future 18:55 AI is more than chatbots 20:47 The 765-kV lines & the Permian power crunch 21:58 Eminent domain: routes, fairness & the cost of delay 24:34 ERCOT's warning & the severance tax 25:55 Energy Fund + Water Fund: catching up on infrastructure 27:36 Data centers as neighbors: the Childress property tax cut 29:29 The $6 billion incentive math 31:21 Repealing the data center sales tax exemption 32:58 Grayson County: cement plant vs. semiconductors 36:05 Local control & the Death Star Bill 38:37 Life after the lege ($600 a month) 40:07 "Show up at a town hall" 41:45 Solo: Abbott's 5-point property tax plan 49:00 Housing, millennials & why spending cuts matter 52:37 Talarico's residency problem 56:10 Border wall fight in Big Bend 59:55 Reservoirs refill: Corpus Christi's reprieve Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Want to know how a 20-something op-ed writer ends up on Fox News and in your local paper? Garrett sits down with Sam Raus, the David Boaz Resident Writing Fellow at Young Voices, to break down exactly how young center-right writers turn one op-ed into TV hits, radio spots, and a media career — plus a wild pitch to let Gen Z opt out of Social Security entirely. Then Garrett runs down the week in Texas politics: the razor-close Paxton-Talarico Senate race, big Hill Country flood relief for Corpus Christi's water crisis, a court loss (and a Discord win) for Ken Paxton's AG office, and another data center fight brewing in East Texas. Topics discussed: - What Young Voices is and how the fellowship/contributor pipeline works - How to pitch op-eds differently in red states vs. blue states - Sam's viral pitch: let Gen Z opt out of Social Security - Intergenerational "economic injustice" — boomers vs. Gen Z/millennials on taxes and benefits - Preview of 2027 Texas legislative fights: data centers, kratom/marijuana regulation, property taxes - How to apply to Young Voices (joinyv.org) - Paxton vs. Talarico Senate race: ad spending, polling, and turnout strategy - The Sherman "Red River Roll Call" GOP rally and statewide turnout push - Hill Country floodwaters easing Corpus Christi's water crisis - A Texas appeals court ruling against Paxton's office in an abortion-clinic case - Paxton's win forcing Discord to add child-safety protections for Texas users - A rejected East Texas data center project and the corporate welfare debate Guest: Sam Raus, David Boaz Resident Writing Fellow, Young Voices (Twitter/X: @samraus1). Young Voices: joinyv.org, @JoinYoungVoices. Chapters: 0:00 Welcome & episode preview 0:34 Meet Sam Raus, Young Voices 2:52 Center-right media's big tent 6:02 Pitching red states vs. blue states 8:42 Let Gen Z opt out of Social Security 16:07 2027 legislative preview: data centers, THC, taxes 23:56 How to join Young Voices 27:18 Paxton vs. Talarico: money & polls 35:42 Flood update: Corpus Christi's water win 37:25 Paxton's court loss on abortion clinic case 40:28 Discord forced into child-safety fix Sources: - Texas Tribune — By Alejandra Martinez — July 27, 2026, 10:49 a.m. Central — Floods delay Corpus Christi's water emergency until 2028 — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/27/corpus-christi-water-texas-floodwater-emergency/ - KLIF 570 — July 21, 2026 — Fort Worth: Paxton Surrounded By Law Enforcement, Blasts Talarico Over Defund Police Ties — https://www.klif.com/2026/07/21/fort-worth-paxton-surrounded-by-law-enforcement-blasts-talarico-over-defund-police-ties/ - Houston Public Media — July 23, 2026 — Appeals court overturns order closing Houston-area midwife clinics accused of illegal abortions — https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/court/2026/07/23/557809/texas-midwife-ken-paxton-appeals-court-ruling/ - Office of the Texas Attorney General — July 24, 2026 — Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Historic Legal Victory Forcing Discord to Protect Texas Children — https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/news/releases/attorney-general-ken-paxton-secures-historic-legal-victory-forcing-discord-protect-texas-children - Texas Tribune — June 30, 2026 — Abbott calls for ban on data center development in rural Texas — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/06/30/texas-abbott-data-center-development-ban-rural-communities/ - KTEN — Texas politicians meet one-on-one with Grayson County taxpayers for Republican rally — https://www.kten.com/news/kten_news/texas-politicians-meet-one-on-one-with-grayson-county-taxpayers-for-republican-rally/article_a83a0e8f-5ed5-480a-acb9-2a4dfbbcfce7.html - ProPublica (co-published with The Texas Tribune) — July 7, 2026 — Ken Paxton's Voter Registration May Violate Texas Election Law — https://www.propublica.org/article/ken-paxton-voter-registration-election-law Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Houston Chronicle opinion editor Evan Mintz joins Garrett Fulce to break down the fatal ICE shooting rocking Houston — and why the paper's own editorial board said flatly you can't trust the federal government's story. This is a rare inside look at how a major Texas newsroom decides what to publish when a story turns into a national flashpoint. Evan explains why he leads with "biased for Houston" instead of left vs. right, walks through the shifting federal accounts of the Lorenzo Salgado Araujo shooting, and makes the business case Houston's business community has made for decades on immigration reform. Garrett and Evan also dig into why data centers have become a bizarre partisan football, and Evan makes his 15-year case for building the "Ike Dike." Topics discussed: - Evan Mintz's return to the Houston Chronicle and what "biased for Houston" really means - How the Chronicle's editorial board decides which op-eds to run — left, right, and everywhere between - The Houston ICE shooting: what changed between ICE's first statement and U.S. Attorney Aaron Reitz's account - Comparing the ICE shooting to a separate HPD officer-involved shooting the same morning - Why Houston's business community, not progressives, historically led the push for immigration reform - Trump, Tom Homan, Susan Collins, John Whitmire, and Greg Abbott's competing reactions to the ICE vehicle-stop pause - Why political "absolutists" end up driving policy on immigration - Being "biased" for a city vs. being partisan — and why John Whitmire hates the word "politicize" - Data centers as a new, oddly bipartisan flashpoint - Evan's 15-year campaign for the "Ike Dike" coastal barrier Guest: Evan Mintz, Opinion Editor, Houston Chronicle. Contact/social handle: Not stated in transcript — producer to fill in. Chapters: 0:00 Welcome & Episode Preview  0:46 Meet Evan Mintz, Houston Chronicle 8:24 Inside the ICE Shooting Ed Board Debate 16:53 Enforcement's Political Trap for the GOP 21:44 Why Absolutists Drive the Immigration Fight 24:04 Biased for Houston vs. Being Partisan 28:21 Data Centers Become a Partisan Football 31:17 The Ike Dike, Explained Sources: - Houston Public Media — By Michael Adkison, Andrew Schneider — July 15, 2026 — Texas Rangers will investigate ICE shooting in Houston. Here's what that means — https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2026/07/15/557147/ice-shooting-houston-texas-rangers-investigation-request/ - Click2Houston (KPRC) — July 16, 2026 — US Attorney Aaron Reitz speaks publicly for first time on fatal ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado in Houston — https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/07/16/us-attorney-aaron-reitz-speaks-publicly-for-first-time-on-fatal-ice-shooting-of-lorenzo-salgado-in-houston/ - The Texas Tribune — By Eleanor Klibanoff — July 9, 2026 — Aaron Reitz, former Texas AG candidate, picked as U.S. attorney — https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/09/texas-aaron-reitz-us-attorney-southern-district/ - CBS News — July 14, 2026 — ICE halts most vehicle stops after Maine, Texas shootings, sources say — https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-agents-halt-vehicle-stops-after-shootings-maine-texas/ - KHOU 11 — By Jaime E. Galvan — Houston mayor calls for 90-day ICE moratorium after Trump backs traffic stops — https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/deadly-ice-shooting/trump-ice-traffic-stops-policy-pause/285-e8f9fa4b-ea64-4f54-9694-356ccb53fdd6 - Click2Houston (KPRC) — July 15, 2026 — Gov. Greg Abbott confirms Texas Rangers investigation into ICE shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo — https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2026/07/15/gov-greg-abbott-confirms-texas-rangers-investigation-into-ice-shooting-of-lorenzo-salgado-araujo/ - Office of the Texas Governor — July 17, 2026 — Governor Abbott Appoints Howden As Texas Secretary Of State — https://gov.texas.gov/news/post/governor-abbott-appoints-howden-as-texas-secretary-of-state - FOX 26 Houston — Officer-involved shooting in Highland Village, suspect taken to hospital — https://www.fox26houston.com/news/highland-village-shooting-officer-involved-shooting-reported-westheimer-road Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce