Texas Tribune TribCast

Members of the 84th Legislature rode off into the sunset on June 1 leaving plenty of memorable moments in their trails. Listen to our recap of some of those moments as part of a special episode of Texas Standard.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Matthew, Alana and Patrick about Rick Perry's campaign swing through Iowa, Ted Cruz's fundraising visit to the border and House Speaker Joe Straus' recap on the legislative session that was.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Patrick about the drama — or lack thereof — in the 84th Texas Legislature, Dan Patrick's political future and Rick Perry's big announcement.

In this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Morgan about Tuesday's mega-night in the Texas House, from parliamentary tricks and brokered deals to ethics, campus carry and abortion insurance.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Ross, Aman and Jim about negotiations on a massive legislative deal, Gov. Greg Abbott's first veto and former Gov. Rick Perry's forthcoming presidential announcement.

In this episode of Budgetline, Aman and Ross explore riders — descriptive items in the state budget meant to direct agencies how to spend state money. Often, they're a place where budget writers sneak policy and legislative instructions into state law.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Jim about the ongoing drama over hidden cameras in the Lege, negotiations on a tax cut deal, and the ag commissioner's effort to return deep fryers and soda machines to public schools.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Patrick about a group secretly recording lawmakers in the Capitol, the flap over Gov. Greg Abbott's response to a U.S. military exercise and this profile of state Rep. Jonathan Stickland.

In this episode of Budgetline, an occasional TribCast series on the Texas budget, Aman and Ross explore the place at the end of the budget where unfunded items go. While it's charitably referred to as "the wish list," budget watchers say it more often serves as "the cemetery," or "where dreams go to die."

In this week's episode of The Ticket, a co-production of the Tribune and KUT, Jay and Ben break down the presidential campaign announcement speech of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and talk with Mathew Dowd, who directed George W. Bush's 2004 re-election campaign.

On this week's TribCast, Emily chats with Ross, Aman and Alexa about a resurgence of anti-abortion legislation, the House-Senate fight over tax cuts and the voter ID courtroom battle.

In this episode of Budgetline, an occasional TribCast series on the Texas budget, Aman and Ross sit down with Senate Finance Chairwoman Jane Nelson, R-Flower Mound, who voted against her first state budget in 1993 as a freshman senator and is now in charge of writing that most essential piece of legislation.

Welcome to the first-ever episode of The Ticket, a co-production of the Tribune and KUT, focused on the 2016 presidential election. This week, the Trib's Jay Root and KUT's Ben Philpott talk with former Texas GOP Chairman Steve Munisteri, who's now working for Rand Paul, and dissect Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential announcement speech at Liberty University.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Jay about pre-K reform drama, the House's resident dissenter, inter-chamber squabbles and Gov. Greg Abbott's role in all of it.

In this week's TribCast, Emily talks to Evan, Ross and Morgan about the gun battle that wasn't, the budget negotiations to come, a "non-voucher" school choice pitch and the reasons why Hillary Clinton needs Texas.

In this week's TribCast Emily talks with Evan, Julian and Alexa about the fight over in-state tuition for kids of undocumented immigrants, the San Antonio mayoral race and bills aimed at transgender Texans' use of public bathrooms.

In this episode of Budgetline, an occasional TribCast series on the Texas Budget, Aman and Ross explore the state's fuzzy limits on how fast the state budget can grow, what counts and what doesn't, and how the politics work.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Matthew about the abstinence fight in the House's overnight budget debate, a grand jury's opinions on UT Regent Wallace Hall and whether the state's health commissioner will keep his job. | Texas TribuneBe sure to follow the Tribune on Twitter.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Jay and Aman about Ted Cruz's presidential announcement, the differences between the House and Senate budget and the Trib's major collaboration with the Houston Chronicle, "Blood Lessons."

In this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Jay about the presidential ambitions of Jeb Bush and Rand Paul, the gun bills moving in the Legislature and the fiscal needs of former lawmakers now at the helm of state agencies.

In the inaugural episode of Budgetline, Ross and Aman start where state officials started — with the revenue estimate that predicts how much money they'll have to spend. It sounds like a simple idea, but it's a complicated stew of economics, politics and risky forecasting.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Ross, Neena and Patrick about Rep. Jonathan Stickland's "Former Fetus" sign, Gov. Rick Perry's presidential ambitions and the Trib's Undrinkable water quality project.

On this week's TribCast, Emily talks with Evan, Ross and Jay about crumbling infrastructure at state agencies, the candidates to be the next UT-Austin president, and — what else — state Rep. David Simpson's stance on legalizing weed.

On this week's TribCast — the first sans Reeve! — Emily talks with Ross, Julian and Jim about the UT/TT Poll, the border security battle in the Legislature and tax cut proposals facing state lawmakers.

On Reeve's final TribCast, he talks with Evan, Emily and Ross about the most recent election results, Gov. Greg Abbott's first State of the State address, and a report on how political influence on admissions at the University of Texas at Austin.

Reeve, Terri, Emily and Evan dive into the ongoing scandals at the state's Health and Human Services Commission, including the purchase of $2,800 executive chairs and roughly 300 high-dollar badges. And they also discuss the politics of vaccines.

Reeve, Ross, Neena and Emily discuss the backlash over comments made by a state representative on Texas Muslim Capitol Day, lawmakers' response to a controversial blog post, and the future of the state's economic incentive programs.

Reeve, Emily, Evan and Terri discuss a recent ruling allowing the case against former Gov. Rick Perry to proceed, the reactions to open carry advocates at the Texas Capitol, and Gov. Greg Abbott's appointees to university system boards.

Reeve, Ross, Emily and John recount the inauguration day festivities, look ahead to the first days of the state's new leadership and discuss the investigations that were canceled because of a veto by outgoing Gov. Rick Perry, who is embarking on a new adventure.

Reeve, Evan, Emily and Ross discuss the first day of session, the results of the speaker's race, the tactics of some open carry advocates, the biennial revenue estimate, and what happens when lawmakers mention Hitler on Twitter.

Reeve, Evan, Ross and Morgan discuss the results of the latest round of elections, the fate of gubernatorial appointees in the new administration, plans to print guns at the Capitol, and what a record vote in the speaker's race might reveal.

Reeve is joined by a number of Tribune reporters who provide some insight about what issues are likely to become hot topics during the legislative session in 2015.

In a special edition of the TribCast, we revisit some of the best moments from this year's live shows, with appearances by members of the Slate Political Gabfest, state Reps. Jason Villalba and Donna Howard, and the Jason Roberts Band.

Reeve, Evan, Emily and Ross talk about Texas Monthly's selection of Sen. Wendy Davis as its "Bum Steer of the Year," Texas A&M's plans to name a building after Gov. Rick Perry, and what the governor might say in his farewell speech.

Reeve, Alexa, Ross and Evan discuss the seats in the Legislature that still have yet to be filled, Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's policy priorities, and an effort to re-regulate tuition at the state's colleges and universities.

Reeve, Evan, Terri and Ross discuss the case of a schizophrenic man on death row, the spending cap for the next budget, Gov. Rick Perry's presidential prep work, and Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's latest lawsuit against President Obama.

Reeve, Emily, Ross and Morgan talk about Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's plans to sue the federal government again, squabbles over social studies textbooks at the State Board of Education and disagreements over who in the Legislature qualifies as "pro-life."

Reeve, Ross, Emily and Aman discuss the status of the race to be Texas House speaker, the latest on Gov. Rick Perry's indictment, concerns about economic incentive programs and a coming cascade of elections.

Reeve, Aman, Emily and Evan discuss the latest drama in the search for the next House Speaker, review the first bills filed for the upcoming legislative session, and check in on Gov.-elect Greg Abbott's transition to his new post.

Reeve, Ross, Evan and Emily are joined by Jay and Jim for a special live taping of the TribCast on the morning after the 2014 general election. Topics covered include everything from the plight of Texas Democrats to the state's future under new leadership.

Reeve, Jay, Emily and Ross gab about the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll, an unexpected apology in a race for a seat in the Texas House, and the release of the Trib's Shale Life Project.

Reeve, Ross, Emily and Jim discuss the political landscape now that early voting has begun, the latest in the state's fight against ebola, the significance of falling oil prices, and a story about embezzlement.

Reeve, Morgan, Ross and Evan discuss the confusion caused by court decisions on voter ID and abortion restrictions, the controversy over the latest ad from the Wendy Davis campaign, and issues with standardized testing in Texas schools.

Alexa, Terri and Ross provide Reeve with updates on ebola, abortion laws, same-sex marriage bans, a voter ID lawsuit, and the latest in campaign fundraising.

Reeve, Emily, Evan and Ross review the recent debates between the candidates for governor and lieutenant governor, talk about the numbers in a new statewide poll, and discuss the findings of an audit of the Texas Enterprise Fund.

Reeve and Ben are joined be a slew of special guests, including Maggie Haberman, Dave Weigel, Donna Howard and Jason Villalba, at The Texas Tribune Festival's live TribCast taping. There was also live music from the Jason Roberts Band!

Reeve, Alexa, Evan and Emily talk about the number of uninsured Texans, the politics of health care, continued drama surrounding the University of Texas System board, and the upcoming Texas Tribune Festival.

Emily, Evan, Ross and Jay discuss the big reveals in Wendy Davis' recently released memoir, Joe Allbaugh's marijuana-related venture and Tuesday night's state Senate election.

Reeve, Emily, Ross and Morgan discuss Gov. Rick Perry's Twitter account, the battle over the gubernatorial debates, and the recent court rulings on school finance and the state's abortion restrictions.

Reeve, Emily, Evan and Ross discuss the latest developments regarding the indictment of Gov. Rick Perry, the latest policy proposals from the 2014 gubernatorial candidates, and the Trib's latest explorer on local debt.