Y'all-itics

Election security? Or voter suppression? The rhetoric is heating up in Texas as the battle over election reform begins in earnest this week. While there is a spate of bills lawmakers will consider, Senate Bill 7 is the granddaddy of them all. Among other things, it would eliminate drive-thru voting, limit voting hours, make it much harder to vote by mail. In this week’s episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons are joined by the Executive Director of Progress Texas, an organization that amplifies progressive causes. Edward Espinoza says if election uniformity is the true goal, why not expand access for voters, instead of making it harder for some to participate. And the Jasons speak to Republican state Senator Paul Bettencourt, who calls the proposals common sense reform, not some grandiose scheme to turn back what was very successful election… for Republicans. We’d like to know what you think about Y’all-itics! So, please take the survey the Jasons mentioned: https://bit.ly/3qPjJDO

A Republican leader along the Texas-Mexico border calls the latest migrant surge a repetition of a crisis, the result of “duct tape immigration policy.” The Democrat leading the oldest Hispanic civil rights organization in the U.S. calls it “Biden’s political pinata,” as the 2021 surge includes thousands of unaccompanied minors. And experts on both sides of the political aisle believe the situation is about to get much, much worse. The Jasons drill down into what’s driving this latest surge and what the Biden administration should be doing in this episode of Y’all-itics and learn why it could start with waves of social workers. We’d like to know what you think about Y’all-itics! So, please take the survey the Jasons mentioned: https://bit.ly/3qPjJDO

On the day Texas returned to 100% occupancy and eliminated the mask mandate, Dr. Anthony Fauci sat down with WFAA reporter William Joy to provide his report card for the state. And William joined a Jason for this bonus podcast to discuss that discussion. The nation’s leading infectious disease expert warns that getting back to “normal” isn’t like turning a switch on and off. And he says Texas is taking a risk. But in this episode, Dr. Fauci will also tell you why Texans shouldn’t be discouraged and when we can head back to a game or eat inside a restaurant without worry.

Fatigue from COVID-19 and last month’s polar vortex are expected to drive millions of people to Texas beaches as spring break begins this week. Even though Governor Abbott is lifting the mask mandate and allowing businesses to return to 100-percent capacity, many businesses are still adhering to CDC health safety guidelines and still expecting huge crowds. The Jasons called up a couple of Texans along the coast to see what to expect before they put their feet in the sand. Along part of the Texas coast, they also learned to be on the lookout for fainting sea turtles. We’d like to know what you think about Y’all-itics! So, please take our survey. Cheers!

Call it the Texas restaurant massacre. The industry has taken a beating during our year of pandemic lockdown. In human terms, it amounts to 150,000 Texans who have lost their jobs. And those restaurants that did survive took another hit during the historic winter weather and power catastrophe. That event wiped out the often-lucrative Valentine’s Day dining. If this sounds like a horror story… it is. So why then does the president of the Texas Restaurant Association think this story will have a happy ending? For one, Texans apparently miss their restaurants more than anything else during the lockdown. And she talks about the dramatic changes born out of the pandemic that will help the industry thrive on the other side. We’d like to know what you think about Y’all-itics! So, please take the survey the Jasons mentioned: https://bit.ly/3qPjJDO Cheers!

In our last episode, a former state lawmaker told the Jasons that Texas missed a golden opportunity six years ago to start planning for extreme weather events. Current Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson explained how he thinks his bill would have helped prevent the near failure of the Texas electric grid but was killed in the final moments. One of Johnson’s friends, a former state lawmaker himself on the other side of the aisle, says he remembers the episode too, but with a few different details. Ron Simmons says while the legislation wouldn’t have hurt, it likely wouldn’t have helped either. And the Republican says lawmakers likely could have done more all along the way. We’d like to know what you think about Y’all-itics! So, please take our survey. Cheers!

Texas lawmakers are meeting on Thursday in Austin – pledging to get to the bottom of the massive statewide power outages last week. But a former state lawmaker tells the Jasons that Texas missed an opportunity six years ago to start planning for something like this. Eric Johnson, the current Mayor of Dallas, was a state representative in 2015 and introduced a bill that might have helped prevent the near-failure of the Texas electric grid last week. Johnson explained what his bill would have done and how it was killed in the final moments before it was to have been passed. We’d like to know what you think about Y’all-itics! So, please take the survey the Jasons mentioned: Cheers! As promised, here’s how to find out who represents you. https://wrm.capitol.texas.gov/home

ERCOT called the Jasons super early on Tuesday to offer the first interview with CEO Bill Magness. He’s probably the most sought after newsmaker of the week in our state. Magness manages ERCOT, which is the Texas power grid. And millions of Texans are in the dark right now in below freezing temperatures. We asked Magness many of the same questions you’ve been asking us. When will this be over? Will it get worse before it gets better? Come to find out, Magness’ wife and his child are among the millions of Texans without electricity. Here’s our uncut interview with him.

We knew what was coming, so why were Texas electric utilities not ready for the severe winter weather? The widespread electric outages did not surprise energy experts in the state. In fact, history is repeating itself here. The issue that caused the widespread electric outages this week was the same thing that caused a similar failure in 2011. And one before that in 1989. A state lawmaker also told the Jasons that Texans deserve answers.

It’s hard to believe hair remains an excuse for discrimination in 2021, much of it rooted in racism. Do a quick internet search and it won’t be hard for you to find the stories. And this isn’t a one-size-fits-all problem as you can find victims all across the spectrum, from women in the workplace to teenage boys in High School. In this episode of Y’all-itics, we join the project “Rooted” being shared across Tegna Texas that explores black hair in America. The Jasons are joined by WFAA anchor Tashara Parker whose commentary helped sparked a movement of natural hair and KVUE anchor Ashley Goudeau who speaks to a woman’s basic right to natural hair and being one’s true self in the workplace. We also explore the politics as Texas lawmakers are considering several versions of the CROWN Act that would ban discrimination based on hair. More on “Rooted” project: 'Rooted': The natural hair movement, hair discrimination and The Crown Act | wfaa.com

It’s one of the most diverse counties in Texas. So, why then did it take 150 years for Fort Bend County to elect its second Black sheriff? And as Texas lawmakers begin to debate police reform, Sheriff Eric Fagan has his own ideas for it and wants the public to hear his perspective. Just don’t use the word “defund” around him. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the man making – and following – history in Fort Bend County answers the call from the Jasons and discusses everything from the pressure and pride that comes from his position, to his own experience dealing with racial profiling and how that shapes his view of law enforcement. Oh, and let’s not forget that time he was protecting that king…

Contact Tracing. The very phrase has been somewhat poisoned in the United States, where many of us tend to think of “big brother,” that the government is watching. A company out of New Zealand says we have it all wrong and we should instead consider it to be contact “logging.” That company helped New Zealand essentially eliminate the virus. And now, SaferMe has set up shop in Austin, Texas. Does that mean we’re now well on our way to eliminating it here in the Lone Star State? SaferMe’s CEO tells the Jasons it all depends on the politics. But businesses are sure ready and if you tell folks we might be able to re-open the entire economy much quicker, well then, you have their attention. And what attracted SaferMe to Texas? Think farms and barbeque. The Award-Winning Contact Tracing System For Business (safer.me)

There are nearly 29-million Texans. But as of January 25, 2021, after a month of distribution, fewer than 1.5 Million of those Texans have received a single dose of the vaccine. Only 266,000 Texans have received both doses. At that rate, it would take nearly two years for Texans just to get one dose and nearly five years for all Texans to be fully vaccinated. If the vaccine was developed in record time, one Texas lawmaker wants to know why the state’s distribution plan wasn’t ready. And he tells the Jasons why he thinks we’re out of time. But in the middle of a situation that is only seemingly getting worse, there is some hope… a bright spot in the Texas panhandle after a call that surprised the Jasons.

**WARNING: THIS PODCAST CONTAINS STRONG LANGUAGE Let the warning above be your preview as to what the Lincoln Project now thinks about Senator Ted Cruz. In this episode of Y’all-itics, co-founder Rick Wilson joins the Jasons to talk about how the group is now actively working against the Texas Republican. The group says Sen. Cruz is part of the “sedition caucus” and his words and actions helped contribute to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. And Wilson thinks a third party will be born out of the schism inside the GOP. If you normally listen to our podcast with your children, we warn again, there are R-rated words. **Sen. Ted Cruz declined to join this episode of Y’all-itics but has a standing invitation to respond

Even though this will be the pandemic session, other business will be on the table during the 87th Texas Legislature. And is there a bigger complaint here in Texas than ridiculously high property taxes? But what if we told you there might be a way to cut those bills in half? Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley says it’s not going to be easy, but it can be done if lawmakers have the will. In this episode of Y’all-itics, he presents his plan to the Jasons, who were certainly left smiling, thinking about the possibilities. And state Senator Nathan Johnson talks about the other legislative priorities over the next 140-days. But about those property taxes… Who Represents me?

That escalated quickly. Following the insurrection at the Capitol, calls are growing for President Trump to possibly be removed from office by the 25th Amendment, an action unthinkable as recently as 48-hours ago. But what is the 25th and how does it work? In this emergency episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons go to law school with Stephen Vladeck from the University of Texas School of Law, a nationally recognized expert on constitutional law. And as it turns out, the 25th isn’t the only mechanism lawmakers could use to remove a sitting President. Steve Vladeck Bio: Stephen I Vladeck | Faculty | Texas Law (utexas.edu)

On January 6, 2021, members of the Senate and House will meet to formally count the Electoral College votes for President. While there have been some objections in years past, 2021 will be different. Senator Ted Cruz, R-Texas, wants an independent commission appointed to audit the results of the election. The political gambit by some Republican Senators and Representatives to object to the certification of Biden’s win has further divided the GOP. One of the Republican Party’s most prolific fundraisers says it all makes her want to just crawl into a hole. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons talk to Nancy Bocskor who’s been called a “Democracy Coach” around the world and has fundraising figures with many, many zeroes for Republicans over the years. And James Dickey, the former Chair of the Republican Party of Texas, explains why he thinks the GOP will thrive in the future. The Nancy Bocskor Company

Coming from a family that is one of the most well-known real estate developers in the state, Trammell S. Crow set out to build something of his own. Crow founded EarthX which the organization bills as “The largest annual exposition and forum showcasing initiatives, research, innovations, policies and corporate practices serving the environment”. Crow has been labeled a “Green Republican” for his advocacy for environmental and conservation causes. And he is not shy about chiding and cajoling members of his political party when their positions on environmental and conservation issues don’t align with his. Crow joins the Jasons for a candid conversation about the intersection of the environment and politics…and his unvarnished message to his party. EarthX

The statistic was startling. Twenty percent of all banks in Dallas County exclude all or parts of Southern Dallas. That means mortgages, business loans and access remain out of reach for many families and businesses south of Interstate 30. Problem is, this simply perpetuates the racial wealth gap. In this episode, the Jasons speak with two of the WFAA journalists who worked on this investigation and get a U.S. congressman on the line to explain what he thinks Washington needs to do next. Watch Banking Below 30

The long, dark COVID winter experts have warned about is upon us. But there’s also some light at the end of the tunnel, albeit faint and distant. One drug manufacturer has already applied to the FDA for approval for its COVID-19 vaccine. Another company is close behind. And the U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary says both could be available to some Americans before Christmas. That got the Jasons thinking… can your boss force you to get a COVID-19 Vaccine? So they turned to Sarah Mitchell Montgomery, a partner at Jackson Walker law firm who specializes in employment law. She says there’s a short answer, with some caveats. And she’ll tell you why she foresees a coming spike in COVID-related litigation. Sarah Mitchell Montgomery

Have you started your holiday shopping yet? An executive in shipping says he and his family are done because he’s worried the supply chain is too stressed and some gifts simply might not make it to you in time if you don’t buy soon. But the stressed supply chain is creating opportunity for thousands of Texans. Insiders give the Jasons a revealing look at how this already unusual year continues to live up to its reputation.

As Y’all-itics prepares to celebrate its one-year anniversary, the Jasons go back to the beginning in an effort to see what a Biden-Harris administration might mean for the black community. In our 3rd episode, we asked the founder and CEO of Black Women’s PAC why politicians ignore black women. Now, one-year and 61 episodes later, Tracy Scott is back, and she says she’s more determined than ever. Black women helped put the Biden-Harris Ticket over-the-top. But now, they’re expecting results. The Jasons are also joined by WFAA Political Producer Berna Dean Steptoe. And both guests say the black community in general, and black women in particular, will not be ignored any more. Editor’s Note: ZIP code 76104 near downtown Fort Worth is an historically Black area where life expectancy is 66.7 years – 12 years below the national average — not 55 years as stated in this episode

Two out of three Latinos voted for Joe Biden last week. But counties along the Texas-Mexico border exposed a growing weakness for Democrats. Biden did not win as many votes there as Hillary Clinton did four years earlier. Just two years ago, Beto O’Rourke had trouble earning support in the Rio Grande Valley. Joining the Jasons this week are political scientists James McCann from Purdue University and Michael Jones-Correa from the University of Pennsylvania discussing the emerging Latino vote and their book Holding Fast: Resilience and Civic Engagement Among Latino Immigrants. Plus, Antonio Arellano, the Interim Executive Director of Jolt Initiative, tells the Jasons where work remains for Democrats and opportunities potentially lie for Republicans.

Now that the dust has mostly settled in Texas, it’s time for the soul-searching. Democrats thought they were in strong position to finally win a statewide office, even possibly taking the Texas House. Not only did that not happen, in most races it wasn’t even close. While they still see progress, party leaders are already trying to map out a new game plan for 2022. At the same time, Republicans also turned out en masse, keeping Texas solidly red. And they think their strong ground game and face-to-face contact worked beautifully. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons perform a post-election autopsy on politics in Texas.

Just like everything else in 2020, the political landscape in Texas has turned upside down. And many national election experts say forget states like Florida and Pennsylvania, the national bellwether this year could actually be Texas. And that’s why the Lone Star State has become a national obsession. But those same expert are also warning everyone to proceed with caution with any predictions before the final numbers are counted because of our “unstable” political world. In this edition of Y’all-itics, the Jasons not only take a 30,000-foot view of the election, but they also break down specific races that could not only have a big impact in Texas, but also across the nation.

The lines have snaked through parking lots, around buildings, and don the block. Texans (and Americans generally) are voting…possibly in numbers never before seen. But participation isn’t just limited to casting ballots. Millions of dollars have been wagered on this presidential contest. Oddschecker.com and PredictIt.org show how much money is being wagered on this election and who bettors are picking. On top of that, companies are capitalizing on an engaged, politicized electorate—creating products with election or campaign branding for citizens who are willing to part with some Washingtons and even Benjamins to show their support for Trump or Biden. More Info https://www.electionvodka.com/ (Election Vodka) Must be 21 to enter https://www.jonessoda.com/ Jones Soda Co. https://www.oddschecker.com/us/insight/specials/politics/20201028-us-presidential-election-odds-$260m-staked-on-trump-vs-biden-as-us-election-becomes-most-wagered-on-event-in-betting-history https://www.predictit.org/markets/13/Prez-Election

Guns are on back-order. Ammo is sold out. What are so many Texans preparing for? This run on guns started during some of the protests that swept the state and the country this summer. But it hasn’t slowed down since and continues to build as we approach the election. A gun store owner and a firearms trainersay what makes this year different is the fact that the surge is being driven by first-time gun buyers. They told the Jasons why ammo is in such short supply, why people who have never owned a gun before are changing their minds and what next week’s election has to do with it all.

You’ve seen their commercials. They are brutal. And effective. If you needed more proof Texas is a battleground state, The Lincoln Project is ready to spend millions of dollars here during the final days of the campaign. Imagine that for a moment. A group of Republicans trying to defeat a Republican incumbent in a deeply red state. And not only that, but The Lincoln Project is also expecting some support from what a co-founder calls “deep MAGA country.” In this episode of Y’all-itics, Mike Madrid talks about their strategy in Texas, whether he thinks there is a permanent split in the Republican party and how they make those commercials so darn fast.

Perhaps nowhere in the country symbolizes voter enthusiasm more than Harris County, Texas. 100,000+ voters in one day for four straight days. Up to 9,000 votes an hour on average. Records there are falling left and right. And the blistering pace shows no sign of letting up. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons are joined by Harris County Clerk Chris Hollins. He talks about what might be behind this surge of voters, why lines are moving faster than expected, what happens if there are symptoms at a site. Lessons learned there can even help at your polling location. And if you haven’t cast your ballot yet, listen to this episode while heading to vote!

Many artists say they’re ready to get back to work but can’t without an audience. In many cases, their backup jobs have been eliminated as well. And that’s why some say voters should view the arts not only as a battle for the soul of our nation, but also as an integral part of the economic recovery. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the Jasons are joined by a two-time Grammy and Tony award winner as well as the man who’s thinking about the arts for the Joe Biden campaign. And after all this time, the Jasons finally get their first “y’all.”

He coins phrases like no one else and has covered politics and elections for 70 years. Native Texan and former network newsman Dan Rather shares concerns about the 2020 election, talks about the serious challenges facing current-day media, and explains his latest passion project: Offering a $10,000 prize for the best idea to improve public education in Texas. Dan Rather is not done. Approaching his 89th birthday later this month, the longtime newsman and former anchor of the CBS Evening News, is still active on TV, radio, social media, and podcasts. He joins the Jasons on the Y’all-itics podcast for a wide-ranging conversation. Rather says he is long past missing the anchor chair but admits he does still pine for that hot seat on election nights. He is not in the main chair these days, but he does plan to still be working on the airwaves on the night of November 3rd. Rather talks about what concerns him the most in the lead-up to this historic race. He also talks about regrets from his own broadcasting career and his real worries that constant deadlines are speeding up the news cycle and degrading the quality of reporting at many news outlets these days. Rather also brings his grandson Martin Rather into the conversation. Since 2015, the two have collaborated on the “Rather Prize”: A $10,000 annual award for the best innovative idea to improve public education in the state of Texas. They are accepting submissions now for the next prize, which will be awarded in Spring 2021. So much has changed with education during the pandemic, so this year’s crop of innovative ideas may be more extraordinary than ever before. Like a close election, the contest for this Rather Prize could end up being hotter than a Laredo parking lot in the summer…or perhaps you could say the race for this prize will be as tight as a too-small bathing suit on a too-hot car ride back from the beach. Both of those memorable lines were coined by Rather during ad-lib-a-thons on previous election nights…so yes, the Jasons had to ask how he has come up with all those “Ratherisms” over the years. His answer about that is fascinating. https://ratherprize.org/ https://danratherjournalist.org/about-dan/biography https://twitter.com/danrather https://twitter.com/martinrather?lang=en

It is the political story in Texas right now. And talk about an October surprise: Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton accused of bribery, abuse of office and other potential crimes. And the allegations are coming from fellow Republicans within the AG’s office. In a statement, Paxton called them “rogue employees” and said he will not be resigning. But is the damage already done, if not to the AG, then how about the party? In this edition of Y’all-itics, the Jasons speak to Scott Braddock, the editor of Quorum Report, to take a deep dive into the allegations. And then they talk to Matt Mackowiak and Konni Burton, about whether Paxton – and the party – can survive the serious allegations.

You’ve heard on Y’all-itics recently that the Holy Trinity for Democrats in Texas this election will be winning President, U.S. Senate and flipping the Texas House. On this episode, the Executive Director of the Texas Democratic Party says while all three are realistic, only one is their strategic imperative. Manny Garcia also discusses the numerous election lawsuits still unfolding in courts a mere five weeks from the election. Confused about them? He shares some knowledge. And like many of our other guests, Garcia says Texas is definitely the biggest battleground state in the country. So why should voters be prepared to be annoyed?!?

Wait, what just happened in D.C.? Democrats and Republicans completely swapped sides on a major contentious issue – whether the U.S. Senate should vote on a Supreme Court nominee this close to a presidential election. Four years ago, under Obama, Republicans didn’t want to consider a judicial nominee and Democrats did. Today, under President Trump, it’s exactly the opposite. Hypocrisy? Senator Ted Cruz says it’s just politics. He joins the Jasons for this early release of Y’all-itics. Plus, six weeks away from the election, Cruz also told us that “Texas is a battleground.”

Hard to imagine that both political parties can find any common ground these days but reforming criminal justice reform is shared by Republicans and Democrats. Thirty years ago with rising crime across this state and the country, there was a general sense that offenders should be locked up and the key thrown away. Three strikes, you’re out. Remember that? Today, 30 years later, both parties are working to reform what is seen as a broken criminal justice system – from bail reform to offenders returning to society. Next week, Unlocking Doors, a Texas-based reentry program for ex-offenders, hosts its annual symposium with lawmakers, offenders, and criminal justice experts. On this episode, Christina Melton Crain from Unlocking Doors discusses her legislative wish list and filmmaker Cynthia Salzman Mondell speaks about a documentary she produced with 64-women inmates incarcerated at the Dallas County Jail. The film will be previewed in the virtual symposium. MORE: https://www.unlockingdoors.org/

The chairman of the Texas Republican Party joins the Jasons on this week’s Y’all-itics and he didn’t hold back. The conservative firebrand wants the party to win suburban women and black voters in November and he has a plan to do it. But he also made clear he isn’t happy with how the republican Governor of Texas has handled the state’s coronavirus response calling Greg Abbott’s response heavy-handed.

The Jasons have a candid conversation with Beto O’Rourke as he looks back on his career and ahead at his own political future. Democrats have three main goals in Texas in November and O’Rourke talks about which one is most realistic. Plus, he shares the one thing he stopped doing in the last six months and the one thing he still hasn’t given up. More about the Texas Tribune Festival

The educator. The Author. The Politician. The reporter. They’re all back three months after joining the Jasons for the podcast “My Skin is not a Weapon.” It’s not lost on anyone that the shooting of another black man in police custody frames the conversation… again. While there is a great deal of discouragement and frustration, this panel of African-Americans does think some change, no matter how small, has taken root in the three months since. But in another powerful conversation, they make clear we still have a long way to go.

Republicans formally nominated Donald Trump for a second term as president this week. Traditionally, national political conventions are tasked with two fundamental priorities every four years: nominate a president and vice president and establish a platform – a set of ideas that the party members believe in. But the RNC is skipping the process of creating a platform this year. That’s a mistake says Texas state Rep. Matt Krause (R-Fort Worth). “Parties should revolve around principles, not personalities,” Krause said. “It’s always a good exercise to flesh out those principles every four years.”

The race is on now! The Democratic National Convention (2020 virtual edition) is underway, and will be immediately followed next week by the Republican National Convention (also virtual in this pandemic). The Jasons are virtual, too---Dr. Carla Brailey, Vice Chair of the Texas Democratic Party Joins us. She tells Y'all-itics that even though she is a delegate to this year's convention, she's not completely sure what that's even going to look like, since she is joining the important nominating event...by Zoom. Dr. Brailey is excited by Democratic enthusiasm she sees in Texas, and believes Joe Biden and Kamala Harris can do what no Democratis presidential ticket has done in more than 40 years: Win Texas and it's cache of 38 electoral votes. Without giving away all the secrets, Dr. Brailey lays out how Democrats are already on the ground in Texas---working to increase their turnout from 2016 levels, which will be necessary to flip this traditionally safe state for Republicans. Also, Austin Mayor Steve Adler joins us. He doesn't think it will be hard to get the electorate excited without the big nominating hall filled with party faithful and balloons. Adler shares why he thinks going remote might be a good thing for the convention. Biden has been leading Trump by significant margins, but a few polls have tightened in recent days. Adler admits he's nervous about that---and he would've liked to see more Texans in big speaking roles at the get-together. But while some observers have suggested that the Democratic ticket should focus its resources in Democratic strongholds and traditional battleground states Adler is having none of that. Biden has made this a race in Texas and Adler thinks the Democratic ticket needs to double down on what could be the largest 2020 battleground: Texas.

That’s the message one north Texas superintendent would deliver to state leaders. His district returned to class August 4th and they’ve already learned a lot. He says one development shocked him. And after the first week, many teachers had a common concern. In fact, this superintendent says he’s fielding several calls a day from other superintendents across the state of Texas looking for advice before they return to class. In this episode of Y’all-itics, the two Jasons discover what’s working in the Keene ISD… and what needs to change. They also find out why Texas’ largest teachers’ union fears some teachers may go to work, even if they feel sick. Keene ISD Return to School Plan TSTA

That’s exactly what the founder of Minnie’s Food Pantry in Plano would tell politicians right now. And Cheryl Jackson says if they came out and saw the problem first hand, it would be the only motivation they’d need to get a deal done to help. As it stands, a federal $600/week unemployment benefit has now expired. So Jackson says a terrible situation is about to get worse. Still, “Action” Jackson, as she’s known, delivers her message with energy… and hope. And if you want to take action yourself, find out how you can in this episode of Y’all-itics. Minnie’s Food Pantry: Minnie’s Wish List:

It may not feel like it, but the election will be here in the blink of an eye. And if you’re a Texan, you should brace yourself for an onslaught of political advertising. The most recent campaign finance reports are out, and they tell quite a story in the Lone Star state, where some political observers wonder if a political realignment is underway. In this week’s episode of Y’all-itics, the two Jasons sit down with Texas Tribune D.C. Bureau Chief Abby Livingston for a quick 20-minute dissection of the fundraising haul for Democrats and whether the green could be helping to turn Texas blue. Texas Tribune Story

Pencils, Pens and chalk? ✅ Binders, school books and backpacks? ✅ Wills in case you die while teaching in class? ✅ This is the reality of preparing for school this year in Texas, where students are just weeks away from returning to class – whether that be physical or virtual. And many teachers are terrified they’ll be exposed to Covid-19. As the two Jasons discovered in this week’s episode of Y’all-itics, that’s leading many of them to think about end-of-life preparation… in addition to school supplies. Alliance AFT

Covid19 cut a major hole in the Texas economy – as businesses operate at a fraction of capacity or close permanently. But the virus has also sparked a huge demand for some products and their companies are struggling to keep up with demand. In this episode of Y'alli-tics, the Jasons talk to small businesses across the state – from a bike shop in Richardson that had to hire on extra help because of the demand for bicycles to a plexiglass distributor in Houston that is now supplying restaurants and businesses across the country with the material to make safe spaces. There’s even a puzzle maker in Wimberley that is now shipping his puzzles around the world as so many people stay inside these days. https://www.acplasticsinc.com/ https://www.bikemart.com/ https://wimberleypuzzlecompany.com/

When the virus first hit in March, the Jasons knocked back a green beer at a popular Dallas pizzeria as the city announced it would cancel the St. Patrick’s Day block party. A lot has changed since then. That pizza joint is still open but has been outfitted with a maze of plexi-glass dividers. Jason and Jason follow up with the owner about the difficulty of adjusting to the challenges posed by the pandemic…including the question this restaurateur had to confront: What do you do when one of your restaurant employees tests positive for Covid-19? The Texas Restaurant Association is asking the governor to implement a survival plan for the industry. On this episode of Y’all-itics, the TRA shares a staggering projection for how many eateries will likely shutter permanently. And they offer some suggestions for how Texans can save their favorite restaurants---including a tip to buy gift cards and wait to use them. The association warns that the pain restaurants are feeling will be borne out in the state’s budget. The huge sums of money that once flowed into state coffers from food and drink sales has been tremendously diminished by the shutdown followed by the slowdown. LINKS: https://www.txrestaurant.org/ https://gapc.co/

This week, Yall-itics makes its first stop all the way up in Philadelphia, PA. The Jasons talk with the man heading up a renowned research team there. The scientists have been modeling how the pandemic will affect different metros across the country. And when they ran the numbers for Harris County recently, they were ‘alarmed’. The potential case-count nearly went off the chart as they took a look out four weeks into the future. The trajectory is definitely going in the wrong direction, but the research team there says recent reopening rollbacks and some simple, but critical changes in our individual behaviors may prevent their worst-case scenario graph from becoming reality. June brought a swell of Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations in Texas, particularly in some of the larger metro areas, like Harris County. From Pennsylvania, Yall-itics makes its way into the heart of the Texas Medical Center, often referred to as the largest complex of medical facilities in the world. One expert there explains why medical professionals are calmer than they were when they first encountered the virus this spring. The headlines from the medical center have been dire lately, but this well-positioned expert says there is still plenty of capacity to take care of new patients. But he warns against complacency, noting how easily this virus can exploit our failure to stay vigilant…saying that we will only be able to keep the economy open by getting better at maintaining safety precautions. Policy Lab Covid-19 mapping Texas Medical Center Bed Capacity

Are Republicans nervous about winning Texas in November? Vice President Mike Pence is coming to Dallas on Sunday. President Trump just visited 10 days ago. Why is the Trump campaign spending time, money and resources in a state that has been a GOP lock for them for decades? Joining the Jasons this week are two of the smartest minds in Texas politics: Abby Livingston, D.C. Bureau Chief for the Texas Tribune, and Vinny Minchillo, Principal at Glass House Strategies. The podcast discusses how big of a flop Trump’s Tulsa rally was, who Biden might pick as a running mate, and why history cannot predict what will happen in November.

In a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling, the justices ruled 6 to 3 that employers cannot discriminate against LGBTQ employees because of sex. And one of the court’s most conservative justices wrote the ruling. In fact, Justice Neil Gorsuch said, “the answer is clear.” The ruling is important to a great many Texans, who have long been denied this protection. In this edition of “Y’all-itics,” the two Jasons sit down with Stacy Bailey, a Mansfield ISD teacher who was suspended after showing a picture of her partner, the woman who would become her wife, to students in her elementary classroom. And they’re also joined by Katie Hays, the lead evangelist at Galileo Church in Fort Worth – a church with a large LGBTQ community https://www.galileochurch.org/ Katie Hays on WFAA

It’s been two weeks since the death of George Floyd in police custody. And America has witnessed days and days of protests in cities all across the country. So what now? In this week’s episode of Y’all-itics, the two Jasons take an in-depth look at police reform and some of the concrete ideas on the table. Here in Texas, for instance, there is already discussion about “See Something, Say Something” legislation. And law enforcement experts tell the Jasons the incident – and the days that followed – are unlike anything the country has ever seen… and could lead to meaningful reform. Harvard Implicit Bias Test