Party Politics

Latest Episodes:

Who will win the Houston mayor’s race? Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpvANSpzsms

This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the hostage deal brokered between Israel and Hamas, the lawsuit brought by Texas women over abortion rights, and the outlook for the Houston mayoral runoff election, among other stories.

NATIONAL TOPICS

Deal brokered for hostages

Can Haley gain ground?

Vote to remove Santos

TEXAS TOPICS

VP Harris visits Houston

Texas women sue the state

A tiny tree for Texas

DEEP

Houston mayor runoff election

In addition to the YouTube version, you can also enjoy Party Politics on television every Friday night at 8:00pm on Houston Public Media TV-8 (PBS), or listen to the radio broadcast every Friday at 7:30pm on News 88.7. As always, you can subscribe to the audio podcast on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you get your podcasts). Join the conversation: Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email partypoliticspod@houstonpublicmedia.org.

Johnson avoids shutdown while tensions escalate in Congress Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHBwmqq-9IY

This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss how Congress avoided a government shutdown, the suspension of Tim Scott's campaign for President, and whether the Democratic Party will make a move to unseat Ted Cruz, among other stories.

NATIONAL TOPICS

Tim Scott suspends campaign for President

Joe Manchin not running for reelection

SCOTUS under scrutiny

Congressional confrontations

TEXAS TOPICS

Can Dems unseat Ted Cruz?

Michael Burgess bows out

Lina Hidalgo dismisses allegations

DEEP

Shutdown avoided

Houston Mayor’s race in runoff Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTlHyybZI7Q

This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the role abortion rights played in the recent election, the censure of Rep. Rashida Tlaib by Congress, and the Houston mayoral runoff election, among other stories.

NATIONAL TOPICS

Abortion rights fuel Democrat election wins

Trump defiant in fraud lawsuit

Rashida Tlaib censured by Congress

TEXAS TOPICS

Uvalde mother loses mayor's race

Abbott calls legislature back

DEEP

Houston Mayor's race in runoff

Special session unlikely to end in Abbott’s favor Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaYXGkF7qAs

This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss Mike Pence's exit from the 2024 presidential race, the mounting challenges facing U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, and Governor Abbott's expansion of the current special session of the Texas legislature, among other stories.

NATIONAL TOPICS

Auto workers' strike ends

Nikki Haley surges in polls

Pence drops out

DeSantis wears lifts?

Challenges mount for Mike Johnson

Kay Granger won't seek reelection

TEXAS TOPICS

Abbott expands special session

The challenges facing the U.S. House Speaker-elect Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJcrjs3-LUs

This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss President Biden's response to the Israel-Hamas war, the challenges facing the U.S. House Speaker-elect, and the Texas constitutional amendments on the ballot this November, among other stories.

NATIONAL TOPICS

Astros cursed by Cruz?

Middle East turmoil

Speaker-Quest

TEXAS TOPICS

Texas race for U.S. Senate

Sheila Jackson-Lee leaked-audio scandal

DEEP

Texas amendments on the ballot

Preview: 2023 Houston Mayor Election Oct 23, 2023

Show notes

This week, on an audio-only version of Party Politics, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the 2023 Houston mayoral election, following a debate presented by the University of Houston Hobby School for Public Affairs, Houston Public Media, and Univision.

Early voting starts Monday, October 23. Election Day is Tuesday, November 7.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TAAZKqH-Hm0

Special session underway in Texas legislature Oct 13, 2023

Show notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YkPJu8s7hg

This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the U.S. House's quest for a new speaker, the current special session in the Texas legislature, and the political implications of a new war in the Middle East, among other stories.

NATIONAL TOPICS

Trump raises big money

Speaker update

TEXAS TOPICS

Special Session Update

Far-right GOP activist Jonathan Stickland hosted white supremacist

DEEP

Israel at war with Hamas

U.S. House in limbo after McCarthy ousted Oct 06, 2023

Show notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QS0fD00-R30

This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss how Congress averted a government shutdown, the vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as House speaker, and the coming special session of the Texas legislature, among other stories.

NATIONAL TOPICS

Shutdown averted

McCarthy ousted

Dianne Feinstein dies at age 90

Biden inquiry continues

TEXAS TOPICS

Special session called

Paxton whistleblower case continues

Menendez in hot water while shutdown looms Sep 29, 2023

Show notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p04IHuO7D5o

This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the most recent GOP presidential debate, the pressure on Senator Bob Menendez to resign amid scandalous allegations, and the potential for a government shutdown, among other stories.

NATIONAL TOPICS

Trump skips another GOP debate; Gavin Newsom crashes it

Menendez under pressure to resign

Fetterman dress code fail

TEXAS TOPICS

Dallas mayor Eric Johnson is now a Republican

Rosie Cuellar running for Texas house

Paxton impeachment trial fallout

DEEP

Headed for shutdown?

Post-Paxton impeachment trial analysis Sep 21, 2023

Show notes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvB7dVF65uc

This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss Mitt Romney's retirement and legacy, the reignition of political tension between Alexandra Mealer and Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, and the fallout from the Ken Paxton impeachment trial, among other stories.

NATIONAL TOPICS

Romney retires

DeSantis in Texas

Hunter Biden indicted

Boebert kicked out of 'Beetlejuice'

TEXAS TOPICS

Mealer v. Hildalgo, Round 2

DEEP

Ken Paxton acquitted