Party Politics

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Party Politics 84: Beto For President? Nov 30, 2018

Show notes

Despite a losing bid for the U.S. Senate in Texas, Betomania hasn’t cooled off as many in the Democratic Party are hoping he’ll run for higher office. Although Beto O’Rourke said during the campaign he would not be a candidate for president in 2020, he suggested this week that he might be open to the idea. We are a long way from a decision from Team Beto and the 2020 election is two years away, but “Party Politics” co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer break down what this might mean for Texas, the Democratic Party, and American politics.

NATIONAL TOPICS
-Ivanka Trump use of private email for government business has drawn scrutiny
-Paul Manafort breaches plea deal; Mueller not happy
-Climate change report buried
-Trump lashes out at Federal Reserve Chair over policies
-Melania’s “spooky” holiday decorations

TEXAS TOPICS
-Prosecutors of Ken Paxton criminal case lose court battle – will this end the prosecution of the state’s Attorney General?
-Texas Attorney General advises on confederate plaque in Capitol
-Texas spent less money this year than last for kids with autism
-Elections aren’t over! Update on race for Senate District 6 and recount starting in House District 108
-Bill introduced to mandate UT Austin and Texas A&M play each other in football

“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.”

Party Politics 83: Speaker Dennis Bonnen Nov 15, 2018

Show notes

After several contentious legislative sessions and a widening ideological divide within the Republican Party, Texas House Speaker Joe Straus stepped down leaving the chamber without a leader. Representative Dennis Bonnen, of Angleton --- which is 50 miles south of Houston --- announced this week he has the votes to win the position. Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus discuss the importance of this change in leadership for the parties, politics, and policy in the upcoming legislative session.

NATIONAL TOPICS
-Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized
-Nancy Pelosi’s leadership fight
-CNN sues White House
-White House turnovers – First Lady Melania v. Deputy National Security Adviser Mira Ricardel
-Florida electoral recounts – what is the political impact?
-Trump refuses to visit WWI veterans memorial in France due to rain

TEXAS TOPICS
-State Board of Education curriculum leaves in Hillary Clinton and Helen Keller
-Senator John Cornyn announces he will run for reelection in 2020
-Texas Supreme Court Justice Phil Johnson retiring – who might Governor Abbott select to replace?
-Asylum policy change’s impact on Texas border
-State Senator Sylvia Garcia resigns– the upcoming race for Senate District 6
-Pre-File mania! Texas legislators rush to file bills in advance of the session

Party Politics 82: Midterm-mania Nov 09, 2018

Show notes

The midterms are behind us and the political shock waves are being felt nationally and across Texas. “Party Politics” co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus look at how successful the blue wave was for the Democrats and what it means to our national politics. Here in Texas: did Betomania deliver the state for the Democrats, and was the success the start of something bigger, or a one-time occurrence?

NATIONAL TOPICS

Another mass shooting tragedy--this time in California
Trump fires Jeff Sessions--what does this mean to the Mueller investigation?
CNN reporter credentials are revoked from the White House

TEXAS TOPICS

Analysis of the midterm elections

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.

Party Politics 81: Final Predictions! Nov 01, 2018

Show notes

We’re entering the home stretch of the 2018 midterm elections and it promises to be a wild finish. Last-minute campaign ads pulse in the background as a record number of people in Texas are voting. Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus make final predictions about what to expect on Election Day in the state and in the rest of the nation.

NATIONAL TOPICS

-Pittsburgh mass shooting tragedy
-Trump floats idea of ending birthright citizenship
-White House prepares to send 5,000 troops, or more, to the southern border
-Trump tweets pitching advice during World Series

TEXAS TOPICS

-Race for Texas House Speaker heats up – who’s in and who’s out?
-Aid to U.S. Representative Henry Cuellar says she was fired over pregnancy
-Voter fraud in Harris County? Several Republicans think so
-Eight day fundraising reports – who’s up, who’s down?

Party Politics 80: Early Voting Bonanza! Oct 26, 2018

Show notes

Early voting is underway and voters are participating all over Texas in big numbers! Early voting numbers in the midterm election are approaching presidential year levels and are breaking all kinds of records. Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus break down the impact of the swell of voters and discuss what this means for races up and down the ballot.

NATIONAL TOPICS:

-Mail bombs draw attention to the coarseness of political discourse
-Sandra Day O’Connor diagnosed with dementia
-Trump Administration considers redefining rules on transgender individuals
-SCOTUS sides with Trump Administration by blocking questioning of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross about census citizenship inquiry
-New migrant caravans forming in Central America – what are the political implications less than two weeks until the election?

TEXAS TOPICS:

-Houston Trump rally recap – did it move or motivate Texas voters?
-Prairie View A & M University students sue Waller County for not providing enough voting locations
-Austin: Boil water notice due to floodwaters
-Child foster care system court ruling – what does this mean for Texas’ broken foster care system?
-Justin Nelson kicked out of parking lot for “mugshot mobile”

Party Politics 79: Midterm Mania! Oct 19, 2018

Show notes

With less than three weeks from Election Day, the nation’s most watched Senate race is going down to the wire and the gloves were off in the second debate between Congressman Beto O’Rourke and Senator Ted Cruz. Party Politics co-hosts Jay Aiyer and Brandon Rottinghaus give us the blow-by-blow, analyzing the impact this debate will have on the race. What does O’Rourke need to do to score an upset? Can Cruz hold on to his lead?

NATIONAL TOPICS:
-President Trump, fresh after a victory in court, goes against his accuser Stormy Daniels using controversial and charged language
-Senator Elizabeth Warren all but declared for a 2020 presidential campaign by releasing a DNA test confirming her ethnic ancestry, while sparking more controversy
-A gruesome alleged murder in the Saudi consulate sparks a global crisis
-Despite a strong economy, the U.S. deficit jumps 17 percent

TEXAS TOPICS:
-Stormy Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti comes to Houston, raising money for Democrats
-MAGA comes to Texas — Trump rallies for Cruz
-Texas State Representative Pat Fallon mocks Texas State Representative Mary González’s sexuality
-Beto O’Rourke shatters fundraising record — Does it matter?-Julián Castro running for President?

**Party Politics 78: Money, Money, Money!** Oct 11, 2018
Show notes

With Election Day less than a month away, campaign finance reports are due. Some candidates are raking in big money and others are flat broke. “Party Politics” podcast hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer comb the finance reports to see who is up and who is down, and talk about what these reports might mean for the electoral chances of the candidates.
NATIONAL TOPICS:
-Kavanaugh confirmed – What impact will the confirmation process have on the election?
-Haley resigns – What does it mean and who’s next?
-Trump pens Op-Ed in USA Today on immigration – Will it shape the debate?
-Taylor Swift breaks political science by endorsing Tennessee gubernatorial candidate
TEXAS TOPICS:
-Jackson Lee intern identified as leaker in “doxing” case
-Abbott backs decriminalizing marijuana – Is the tide turning on legal marijuana in Texas?
-Sid Miller backs Confederate plate redesign
-Richard Linklater directs anti-Cruz web ad
-Sir Paul McCartney waives Chilean flag (thinking it a Texas flag) on stage in Texas
“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.”

Party Politics 76: The Heat Is On: Kavanaugh Hearings And HPD-HFD Pay Parity Debate Sep 28, 2018

Show notes

Note: This episode was recorded Thursday morning during Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony and before Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s testimony.

Brett Kavanaugh is under fire during confirmation hearings for an alleged sexual assault that took place while he was in high school.

Meanwhile, in Houston, the firefighters union and Mayor Sylvester Turner are locked in a years-long political struggle over pay parity linking police pay to firefighter pay that will come to a ballot box near you in November.

Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer talk about the impact of the Senate hearings for Kavanaugh and the financial and political implications of Proposition B in Houston.

NATIONAL TOPICS:

-Rod Rosenstein – is he fired or not? What are the implications if he gets the ax?

-Trump’s speech at the United Nations speech draws international laughter –what happened?

-Kavanaugh hearings rebooted – will controversy over his past upend his confirmation?

TEXAS TOPICS:

-Sid Gotta Sid – Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller complains about meatless Monday, vegetarian opponent

-Governor Greg Abbott debates Lupe Valdez this week in gubernatorial debate – what is at stake?

-Dallas County Sheriff’s Association backs Greg Abbott over former Sheriff Lupe Valdez – what does this mean for her campaign?

-Investigation of State Senator Charles Schwertner for inappropriate text messages to graduate student.

-Attorney General Ken Paxton defends requirement that Texas students stand for pledge of allegiance – why?

-Cruz vs. O’Rourke debate, Round 2 – will the second debate have as many fireworks as the first?

-Texas Mayor shoots/kills 600 pound alligator.

Photo of Cruz: J. Scott Applewhite/AP / Photo of O'Rourke: Al Ortiz/Houston Public Media — **Party Politics 75: Beto vs. Ted—It’s Debate Time for The U.S. Senate** Sep 20, 2018
Show notes

With three debates in 2 weeks, the U.S. Senate race is going to be front and center in everyone’s mind. Podcast hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jay Aiyer give you a 6-minute primer on what to listen for in the debates between Republican Senator Ted Cruz and his Democratic opponent, Congressman Beto O’Rourke.
NATIONAL TOPICS
-Paul Manafort takes a plea! — What are the implications for President Trump?
-President Trump orders immediate declassification of Russia docs — Security experts are worried.
-FEMA Director Brock Long is being investigated for using funds for personal travel. What’s the impact?
-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh accused of sexual misconduct — How does it affect confirmation?
TEXAS TOPICS
-Republican Jerry Patterson endorses Democrat Miguel Suazo for Land Commissioner over former rival George P. Bush.
-Trump weighs in on another Texas Congressional race by endorsing Congressman Pete Sessions.
-Willie Nelson faces backlash for backing Beto!
-Senate District 19 shocker! Republican Pete Flores wins in a big upset over Democrat Pete Gallego.
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 Al Ortiz.

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