Texas Take

Texas Republicans were at each other's throats this week fighting over whether the government can retroactively change prices in the electricity market during the state's winter storm disaster. Gov. Greg Abbott in the meantime was doing his best to talk about anything other than the fallout from the ice storm, so he tried changing the subject to immigration and "election integrity." Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Without consulting with his own top medical professionals, Gov. Greg Abbott this week dropped the mask mandate and said businesses can open 100 percent despite the fact the pandemic is still unfolding all around us. President Joe Biden called it "neanderthal thinking." Meantime, Texas lawmakers are rolling up their sleeves and getting down to work on the state's policy response to the ice storm that left millions without power or water. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite their political differences, Gov. Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden are together in Houston to survey damage and talk about ways to respond to the ice storm that knocked out power and put water supplies at risk for millions of Texans. Meantime, legislative hearings have begun into what went wrong with the state's power grid. And Sen. Ted Cruz cannot stop talking about his trip to Cancun during the big freeze. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gov. Greg Abbott this week didn't wait for the lights to come back on or for Texans to stop dying in the freezing cold before he lashed out at the proponents of the Green New Deal. But after that went over like a lead balloon, Abbott did move in the direction of substantive policy changes to address the winter weather crisis gripping this state. And yes, it's true: Sen. Ted Cruz did travel to Cancun to escape the blizzard. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faced blistering questions this week from some of his fellow Republicans after unilaterally moving $40 million in tax dollars to give out pay raises in his office. Meantime the impeachment trial in Washington drew to a close and Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick poured cold water on proposals to expand gambling in the state. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his State of the State Address this week, Gov. Greg Abbott argues "normalcy" is coming back to Texas. But the COVID-19 statistics suggest otherwise. Plus lawmakers in Washington continue to haggle over a new COVID relief package and Ted Cruz can't help but paint himself into a corner with his pop culture references. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the anger builds among Republicans against the second impeachment of former President Trump, a small group in the Texas GOP wants to start a conversation about secession. Yes, that again. Plus Beto O'Rourke floats the possibility of running against Gov. Greg Abbott in 2022. Hope springs eternal for Texas Democrats. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

He's just been sworn in this week and Democratic President Joe Biden is already at odds with Texas Republican leaders on a host of issues from immigration to energy. Plus Sen. Ted Cruz faces the wrath of the Lincoln Project and Gov. Greg Abbott snubs Houston's political leadership when hosting a roundtable on COVID vaccine in Houston. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

President Trump was impeached for a second time right as he visited the Texas border for a subdued victory lap for an uncompleted border wall. Meantime, Sen. Ted Cruz faces questions about his role in inciting riots at the Capitol and the Texas Legislature convened under the cloud of the pandemic. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As riots unfolded at the US Capitol in Washington, Sen. Ted Cruz and his former top aide Rep. Chip Roy were on opposite sides of the argument fueling the violence. Meantime, Rep. Dan Crenshaw told Jeremy that some of his GOP colleagues who incited the rioters later behaved like "cowards." Plus, a top Texas health official is caught on tape saying the state government has reached the limits of what it can do in the battle against COVID-19. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Now that the dust has settled from the elections and even Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is admitting President Trump won't be in office come January, it's time to take stock of 2020. We reflect on the year that was. Plus, is there any real shot for casinos in Texas along with legalized pot? Maybe. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, embroiled in his own personal legal troubles, is now rushing to the defense of President Donald Trump in trying to overturn the election results. That's sparked some speculation that Paxton is trying to get a presidential pardon for his alleged crimes. Plus Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick looks to change the rules in the Texas Senate once again so that the number of votes it takes to advance legislation equals the number of GOP senators in the chamber. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Businesses across DFW are now under new restrictions as COVID-19 cases spike, the mayor of Austin is under the gun after traveling to Mexico while telling people to "stay home," and Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, is reloading for a campaign in Georgia. But this time it's his fellow Republicans angry with him for trying to elect GOP senators. Yes, you read that right. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Despite rising numbers in cases of coronavirus, Gov. Greg Abbott insists we're now in the "ninth inning" of the pandemic because therapeutics will be distributed soon in Texas in addition to vaccines that may be available in the near future. Plus, Sen. Ted Cruz absolutely refuses to mask up depending on the situation and Matthew McConaughey toys with running for governor of Texas. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Republicans are very slowly coming to grips with President Trump's loss to President-Elect Joe Biden while Texas Democrats are grieving the fact they weren't able to make much progress at all after a much-hyped campaign season. But the GOP takes some solace in Trump's ongoing legal challenges while Democrats here can take pride in an ever-growing Blue Spine of Texas as first reported by Jeremy. Connect with Scott Braddock, editor of The Quorum Report and Houston Chronicle political writer Jeremy Wallace. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As the vote counting battle rages on in the battleground states, the national election returns leave us with more questions than answers, especially in the presidential contest. But, Texas has spoken and voters have delivered some answers — President Trump took Texas by a big-enough margin and the GOP remains in control of all statewide offices and both houses of the legislature. Scott Braddock of The Quorum Report hosts this morning-after discussion with Houston Chronicle staffers: political writer Jeremy Wallace, Managing Editor for Content Maria Reeve, Editor of Opinion Lisa Falkenberg and editorial writer Luis Carrasco. Support the show: https://offers.houstonchronicle.com/?offerid=125&origin=newsroom&ipid=podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices