Party Politics

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94: National emergency Feb 22, 2019

Show notes

President Trump won the battle over his proposed border wall, but the war rages on. Despite Congress passing and the President signing a budget full of border security funds, including some for physical barriers, Trump declared a national emergency to tap into additional funds to build the wall his way.

Party Politics co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer discuss the implications of this order, the political blowback and legislative relations following this executive action.

NATIONAL TOPICS
-2020 Roundup! (Feel the Bern, Bill Weld enters Republican fray, Obamas not endorsing)
-New Jersey Attorney General looking into Trump’s inauguration
-SCOTUS and the Census’ question on citizenship
-Heather Nauert withdraws from UN ambassadorship
-Trump talks Venezuela
-Nobel Peace Prize for Trump? Japanese PM mum on his nomination

TEXAS TOPICS
-Senate poll has Beto O’Rourke close
-Angela Paxton files legislation to help her husband
-Kim Ogg is denied more prosecutors
-Butterfly habitat saved from wall by Congress

You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email partypoliticspod@houstonpublicmedia.org. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.

93: Funding bill Feb 14, 2019

Show notes

Against the backdrop of a potential second shutdown, House and Senate leaders came up with a compromise funding bill to keep the government open. The White House said President Trump will sign the bill, but will also declare a national emergency to stop what the administration categorizes as a “national security and humanitarian crisis at the border.”

Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus break down what happened and what happens next in the wall debate. Also, a look at the current 2020 roundup of presidential candidates, from Senator Amy Klobuchar’s snowy debut to Senator Kamala Harris’ pot smoking story.

Plus, the Democrats’ Green New Deal, the president’s physical, Dan Patrick and the Freedom Caucus on the border wall, and military veteran MJ Hegar looks to take on Senator John Cornyn. All that and more on this episode of Party Politics.

National Topics
-2020 roundup — Klobuchar makes a snowy debut, Kamala talks about pot
-Green New Deal — A viable plan or a progressive fantasy?
-Jeff Bezos v. David Pecker
-Trump is fit as a fiddle!
-The President comes to El Paso, Beto O’Rourke was waiting

Local Topics
-MJ Hegar looks to take on Cornyn
-SB2 — Property tax bill heads to Senate floor
-Is Texas Secretary of State nominee David Whitley in trouble?
-Texas Freedom Caucus proposes using Rainy Day Fund for wall
-Dan Patrick says border wall prevents beheadings!
-Harris County DA loses bid to add more prosecutors

Episode 92: State of the Union Feb 07, 2019

Show notes

An embattled President Donald Trump delivered his postponed State of the Union address this week and Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus highlight the top issues and controversies.

Did Trump reset his policy agenda? Did he deliver on his promises of bipartisanship and make overtures to wavering Republicans? Did the President double-down on funding for the border wall? Did he make a surprise announcement on a long-planned summit with North Korea?

This week’s episode answers these questions and more!

NATIONAL
-Cory Booker is running for President
-Virginia Governor Ralph Northam’s blackface scandal
-New Interior Secretary
-Trump and “Executive Time”
-The mystery of Trump’s tan

TEXAS
-Senator John Cornyn’s impressive fundraising numbers – Is he vulnerable in a changing political climate?
-Attorney General Ken Paxton asks for more $$
-David Whitley, nominee for Secretary of State, faces a tough hearing
-Governor Greg Abbott delivers State of the State address – What emergency items did he pick?

91: Voter fraud Feb 01, 2019

Show notes

The office of the Texas Secretary of State David Whitley recently flagged about 95,000 registered voters for citizenship checks. However, in Harris County, the number of people on that initial list has since dropped by thousands.

The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), a historic civil and voting rights group, is crying foul and has filed litigation against the state of Texas.

Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus separate fact from fiction, discuss the politics of voter fraud and what this newest claim may mean for the Legislative session.

NATIONAL
-Shutdown ends...for now!
-Venezuelan crisis
-Roger Stone's indictment
-Trump and spy bosses disagree
-Howard Schultz for President
-Sarah Palin calls Stacey Abrams a loser! Irony much?

TEXAS
-Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee targets 5 Texas GOP seats in 2020
-Empower Texans get a seat at the (media) table
-Harvey aid still trickling for Texas
-Special elections: HD 79 and 145
-BLAKE Act
-End of Texas Blue Laws
-Voter fraud

Episode 90: Shutdown continues Jan 24, 2019

Show notes

It’s high noon in Washington, D.C. and President Donald Trump and the Democrats in Congress are still facing off over the government partial shutdown, now the longest in U.S. history.

The President has made policy overtures, but House Democrats have rejected the offer over funding for Trump’s proposed border wall. Senate leaders have gotten involved, but prospects for an immediate solution are slim.

Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus discuss prospects for the end (or not) of the shutdown.

NATIONAL TOPICS
-U.S. Supreme Court rules for Trump on transgender military ban
-Presidential roundup: Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg join the field – Howard Shultz might join too
-Pelosi offers progressives to serve on oversight committee
-Native Americans vs. school teens

TEXAS TOPICS
-State Senator Kel Seliger stripped of Chair position
-Mayoral roundup – Dallas and Houston fields shaping up
-Harris County settles misdemeanor bail lawsuit
-Vouchers DOA this session
-Fox News visits the ‘border’ town of San Antonio

Episode 89: Texas inauguration Jan 16, 2019

Show notes

Texas Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick were sworn in to office this week and it was a far cry from the last legislative session. Gone are the divisive social issues of the past—replaced by more funding for schools and property tax reform.

Is this move to bread and butter issues going to hold? Party Politics co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer break down the speeches and highlight the politics of funding schools and cutting taxes.

NATIONAL
-Congressman Steve King is racist — And everyone is condemning him
-Shutdown drama continues
-Judge orders citizenship question removed from 2020 Census
-William Barr confirmation to become AG
-Trump unleashes fast food feast for Clemson football team

TEXAS
-Texas House proposed budget increases school funding by $7 billion!
-Julián Castro presidential run in 2020 is official — What are his chances?
-Tarrant County GOP rejects attempts to remove vice chairman Shahid Shafi
-AOC linked group ‘Justice Democrats’ goes after Henry Cuellar

In this image from video, President Donald Trump speaks during a televised address from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019. (Pool Photo via AP) — **Episode 88: Shutdown continues** Jan 11, 2019
Show notes

In this image from video, President Donald Trump speaks during a televised address from the Oval Office of the White House in Washington on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019.
As the government shutdown nears a record-setting length, President Donald Trump and the Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives continue to jockey over the construction of a billion-dollar border wall.
Following the dueling prime time addresses by Trump and the Democratic leaders, Party Politics co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer highlight the politics of the biggest legislative skirmish of the President’s two years in office.
You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Tweet us using #PartyPoliticsPod or email partypoliticspod@houstonpublicmedia.org. Party Politics is produced by Don Geraci, the audio engineer is Todd Hulslander and our digital editor is Alvaro ‘Al’ Ortiz.
NATIONAL TOPICS
-White House walks back Syria withdrawal
-Manafort shared polling information with Russians
-Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib calls Trump MF in discussion about impeachment
-Supreme Court takes gerrymandering case
-Rod Rosenstein leaving DOJ – Was he forced out?
-Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dances her way into prime time
TEXAS TOPICS
-Texas State Senator Charles Schwertner bows out of Chair role due to harassment allegations
-Texas State Representative Ron Reynolds released from jail in time for session
-Revenue estimate from Comptroller Glenn Hegar – does Texas have enough money for all three priorities?
-Texas 86th Legislative Session opening week
-Beto O’Rourke grows beard and the Internet freaks out

Episode 87: Government Shutdown Jan 03, 2019

Show notes

President Trump’s promise to build a "big" and "beautiful" wall along the southern border of the United States has run into political trouble in the form of a partial government shutdown since the branches have yet to agree on a short or long term budget.

The new Democratic majority in the U.S. House of Representatives makes it harder to get a deal and the White House is digging in. With all this bickering, how long will the government be shut down?

"Party Politics" co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer bring some context to the politics of the shutdown and discuss what the conflict means going forward.

NATIONAL TOPICS
She’s running – Elizabeth Warren announces White House bid
White House Chief of Staff out – John Kelly’s parting shots
Trump threatens to close southern border while two immigrant children die
Romney Vs. Trump – Round 2
Stock market down for the year

TEXAS TOPICS
County officers sworn in – Big changes in Harris, Fort Bend Counties
Julián Castro Vs. Beto for… President?
School Finance Plan is out – Will we see big changes?
Texas Legislature 86^th Session starts next week – What to expect

85: 116th Congress preview Dec 06, 2018

Show notes

A new Democratic House? Check. A narrowly-held Republican Senate? Check. A wildcard Republican President? Check. In 2019, the 116^th session of Congress promises to be politically consequential with several new policy directions.

This week’s “Party Politics” podcast focuses on what can happen on Capitol Hill with the new year and a new composition of Congress, which –among other factors— will be marked by the record number of women serving.

Hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus preview the upcoming Congressional session, discuss the policy items on the agenda, the resulting political friction, and the implications for the 2020 presidential elections.

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