The Texas Values Report

Man, what a year! From saving the Texas foster care system to protecting privacy, from the Speaker's race to the primary election, 2017 was a busy year for Texas Values and Texas Values Action. Host Jonathan Saenz reviews the highlights of the 85th Legislature and the beginning of the 2018 election cycle in this power-packed episode to cap off the year.

Just in time for Christmas, we have a gift for our listeners: Alliance Defending Freedom Senior Counsel Kevin Theiot joins host Jonathan Saenz to discuss legal victories on the religious freedom front, with a major update: the termination of Atlanta Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran was found unconstitutional, which is sure to have wide-reaching implications even here in Texas! Learn more in this week's exciting installment of "The Texas Values Report."

Kelly Shackelford, President of First Liberty, joins guest host Nicole Hudgens, Policy Analyst for Texas Values, this weekend as they discuss the Colorado Cake Baker Supreme Court case, recent Fifth Circuit Appeals Court appointments, and the impact the Trump Administration is having on the next few decades. Shackelford also gives an update on several pending religious freedom cases of which First Liberty is involved.

Fox News Commentator Todd Starnes' soul-stirring speech from the Texas Values 2017 Faith, Family, & Freedom Gala in Houston on Dec. 7! Plus: commentary on this year's successful gala and highlighted victories from this year from Texas Values Report host Jonathan Saenz and political strategist Jessica Colón!

Sen. Lois Kolkhorst is back, with some insights on the 2018 campaign season as well as what's ahead for the next Legislature.

Texas Values Action Policy Analyst Nicole Hudgens and host Jonathan Saenz discuss 2018 endorsements, as well as what they're thankful for in 2017 in this special Thanksgiving Edition of The Texas Values Report!

We talk with Rep. James Frank in this episode of "The Texas Values Report." Rep. Frank was the author of a bill to protect the religious conscience of adoption agency workers, thereby saving the foster care system in Texas. Host Jonathan Saenz gets to the bottom of why protecting faith-based foster care was a major victory during the 85th Texas Legislature.

After returning from a press conference in Sutherland Springs, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Director of Communications Gary Ledbetter shares his perspective on what's next for not only this small church in a small Texas town but also for security in churches across the nation.

Kevin Sorbo. 'Nuff said! We're excited to have the director of the new film release "Let There Be Light" as our guest. Learn more about this faith-affirming major motion picture on this week's episode of "The Texas Values Report."

Legendary Christian and political pollster George Barna, Executive Director of the American Culture and Faith Institute (a division of United in Purpose), talks about groundbreaking findings in his latest book "The Day Christians Changed America," which explains how people of faith altered the course of the 2016 elections. Host Jonathan Saenz asks George about the day several Evangelical Christian leaders approached Donald Trump during the campaign, which Barna attributes as the turning point for the presidential race. Plus, learn about George's Texas connections and hear a little World Series baseball talk in this powerful episode! Barna's newest book may be ordered at: https://christianvoterimpact.com/the-day-christians-changed-america

October is Respect Life Month, which is right in the center of the 40 Days for Life campaign (Sept. 27-Nov. 5, 2017) -- the largest internationally coordinated pro-life mobilization in the world, helping local communities end the injustice of abortion. With the story behind this life-saving effort is Heather Gardner, Executive Director of the Central Texas Coalition for Life, in-studio with host Jonathan Saenz.

We're honored to catch a moment of Franklin Graham's time on the phone between stops on the Decision Texas Tour! Franklin lays out the critical work going on with Hurricane Harvey recovery, in addition to the hope found in Jesus Christ. Host Jonathan Saenz interviews Franklin direct from Washington D.C., along with Texas Values Policy Analyst Nicole Hudgens, who gives us a report from the 2017 Voter Values Summit!

Special legislative accountability edition! John Seago of Texas Right to Life joins this week's host Andy Hogue for a rundown of one of the most significant legislative scorecards in Texas! Also: David Walls, Texas Values Action Operations Manager, announces Texas Values Action's 85th Legislature Scorecard! All this and some important announcements in what has been a very taxing week (#PrayforVegas) on this episode.

Steve Rhoads of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association gives Texas Values Report listeners the inside scoop on the upcoming "Decision Texas: The Lone Star Tour" featuring Franklin Graham in mid-sized cities across Texas! Also: Steve and Jonathan (a Houston native) discuss the transformative work Samaritan's Purse is doing to rebuild Texas coastal communities after Hurricane Harvey.

Did you know attacks on people of faith have increased by 133 percent over the last five years? You could write a book about it: And today's guest has done just that. Kelly Shackelford, President and CEO of First Liberty Institute, talks with host Jonathan Saenz of what can be done to stem the tide of religious discrimination.

Is FEMA turning away Harvey and Irma help from churches because they're too religious? And what's really going on with the San Antonio ISD and their new policy to allow boys into the girls' restroom? Tune in Saturday at noon to find out. Special guests include Attorney Daniel Blomberg of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty and San Antonio's Pastor Charles Flowers.

Mark Ramsey, Chief of Staff for Rep. Valoree Swanson, discusses his role in hurricane recovery and the 85th Texas Legislature and gives us a report from the affected area of the extent of damage in the Texas Gulf Coast region. Also, Jonathan Saenz, host and President of Texas Values, gives us a preview of Monday's San Antonio ISD board meeting in which parents and concerned taxpayers are not happy about a lack of advance notice (one person knew to show up) regarding a new policy to let boys in the girls' locker rooms, showers, and restrooms. (Wait: wasn't this the biggest issue before the Legislature last session and during the special?)

Host Jonathan Saenz, a native Houstonian, is on a mission to raise support for rescue and recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. Guests include rescue volunteers Rep. Briscoe Cain and Williamson County Assistant D.A. Brent Webster, relaying their stories of assisting victims through historic flooding in Southeast Texas. Listen to find out ways YOU can help the ongoing recovery effort.

If you're wondering about the future of the Texas Legislature after all that happened this session you won't want to miss this installment! Host Jonathan Saenz reviews some recent events in Texas politics that's sure to make for a rocky 2018 primary election season, especially opponents of the Texas Privacy Act, which directly led to San Antonio ISD passing a "gender expression" rule at their recent board meeting.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins calls out the hypocrisy of big business in opposing the Texas Privacy Act to keep men out of girls' showers, restrooms, and locker rooms.

Does a bill to protect privacy in our school showers, restrooms, and locker rooms still have a chance? Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values, gives us the rundown of the final full-week of the first special session of the Texas Legislature, and what lies ahead in the next few days for pro-family, pro-freedom, and pro-life legislation.

A double-header with in-studio guest John Jessup of CBN News, as he shares his take as a national reporter and anchor on the issues affecting Texas. And joining by phone is Vince Puente, a business success story sharing his view on the Texas Privacy Act and why it must pass ASAP!

Emily Horne of Texas Right to Life gives a rundown of quite a successful week on the pro-life front in both chambers of the Texas Legislature, along with Nicole Hudgens, policy Analyst for Texas Values.

It's a tale of two states as the two Jonathans (Jonathan Saenz, President of Texas Values, and Jonathan Keller, Executive Director of the California Family Council) discuss differences in how the two states approach challenging social issues -- particularly how California officials retaliated against the freelance videographer who exposed Planned Parenthood's trafficking of fetal body parts. What can be done to keep Texas on track ... and put the Golden State back on track? Find out in this LIVE episode.

This week's special guest is Kelsey Harkness, writer for The Daily Signal, who recently released a video for the Signal calling out "women's magazines" for only representing the views of certain women with a pro-abortion, liberal agenda. You won't want to miss this one!

Newly elected Republican Party of Texas Chairman James Dickey shares with Jonathan what will change in the special legislative session between the state GOP and the Texas Legislature in regard to actively promoting the party platform (which includes protecting privacy!).

Peter Sprigg, Senior Fellow for Policy Studies at the Family Research Council, talks with Jonathan Saenz about how to take a balanced approach toward the issue of transgenderism, especially when it comes to children and teenagers, and when approaching public policy. https://soundcloud.com/texasvalues/tvr-070117-peter-sprig?in=texasvalues/sets/the-texas-values-report

Jonathan Saenz goes one-on-one with Texas Sen. Lois Kolkhorst on what lies ahead in the special session of the 85th Texas Legislature.

Attorney General of Texas Ken Paxton is our special guest for this eye-opening installment of "The Texas Values Report."

JoAnn Fleming of Grassroots America/We the People Tea Party and Jonathan Saenz discuss what went in to keeping faith and freedom issues on the forefront of the 85th Texas Legislature and what conservative Christian activists should fight for in the special session beginning July 18. We're also joined by Nicole Hudgens, policy analyst for Texas Values, with a look at what's ahead in the special.

What's at stake for Texas if a special session of the Legislature is not called? Sen. Donna Campbell discusses the reasons why Gov. Greg Abbott should call a special session to protect privacy in addition to numerous other unfinished business from the 85th Texas Legislature, which ended May 29.

With hours to go until the end of the 85th Texas Legislature, Texas Values President Jonathan Saenz runs down the last-minute efforts to defend faith and family before the clock runs out Monday. He also shares about some of the victories had during the 85th and the prospect of a special session.

Coppell ISD quietly approved a boys-in-girls-restrooms "policy" which went virtually unknown by district parents ... until it was uncovered by this episode's special guest. Ron Hansen, a former candidate for Coppell ISD Board of Trustees, talks with Jonathan Saenz about why it's critical for parents to be consulted on important matters like these. In addition, Saenz reveals what can be done in the remainder of the 85th Texas Legislature to stop situations like these from occurring without parents' (and taxpayers') knowledge.