Seeing Red: A Texas Politics Podcast

Latest Episodes:

He Built a Honey Empire. Now He Wants to Rebrand Texas Ag — Interview with Nate Sheets Jul 14, 2026

Show notes

e built the #1 honey brand in America — then knocked off a three-term, Trump-endorsed incumbent without ever holding office. Nate Sheets, the Republican nominee for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, joins Garrett to break down the fight over data centers eating up rural Texas land, and why Texas farmers are going broke.
Garrett and Nate go deep on the data center wars — dueling newspaper op-eds, who should pay for water and power infrastructure, and whether counties should get zoning power over these projects. Plus: Nate's path from the Navy to 12 years in Christian ministry to running Nature Nate's Honey, and a preview of what's coming later in the show — the Paxton-Talarico Senate race, the fallout from the Houston ICE shooting, Camp Mystic's bankruptcy filing, and the looming deadline for Texas school choice families.
*Topics discussed:*

How Nate Sheets built Nature Nate's into the top-selling honey brand in America
His path from the Navy to 12 years in Christian ministry to the CEO's chair
Beating three-term, Trump-endorsed incumbent Sid Miller without ever holding office
The conversation with Rick Santorum that convinced him to run for Ag Commissioner
Dueling Houston Chronicle op-eds on data centers — Garrett's take vs. his opponent's
Why Texas farms are going under, and how that's fueling the rural land rush for data centers
The GoTexan program and other tools Sheets says he'd use to help farmers and ranchers
Google's $40 billion bet on Stamford, Texas, and what it means for rural communities
Preview: the Paxton-Talarico Senate race, the Houston ICE shooting, Camp Mystic's bankruptcy, and the school choice (TEFA) deadline

*Guest:* Nate Sheets, Republican nominee for Texas Agriculture Commissioner; founder of Nature Nate's Honey, where he served as CEO until November 2024. (Social handle not stated in transcript — producer to fill in.)
*Sources:*

The Texas Tribune — By Kate McGee and Jess Huff — March 4, 2026 — [Nate Sheets defeats Sid Miller in Texas ag commissioner race](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/...)
Houston Chronicle — [Opinion: Clayton Tucker, the Democratic candidate for agriculture commissioner, calls on Texas to put a moratorium on building new data centers]( / 1436698931807574 )
The Texas Tribune — November 14, 2025 — [Google data centers totaling $40 billion coming to Texas](https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/...)
The Texas Tribune — July 8, 2026 — [Houston mayor questions city's authority to probe ICE shooting amid calls for independent investigation](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/...)
CBS Texas — [Camp Mystic files for bankruptcy nearly a year after deadly Texas floods](https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/ca...)
The Texas Tribune — By Kayla Guo — July 8, 2026 — [Talarico more than triples Paxton's Q2 haul in Texas Senate race](https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/...)
Community Impact — [More than 100K students have been awarded Texas Education Freedom Accounts. Here are the next steps.](https://communityimpact.com/austin/ce...)

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Texas Curriculum Wars: Bible, Islam and the SBOE Jul 07, 2026

Show notes

Texas schools made international news after the State Board of Education approved a statewide literary works list that includes Bible passages.

So what actually happened?

This week, Garrett Fulce sits down with Brandon Hall, State Board of Education member for District 11, to talk through the SBOE’s new literary canon, why the Bible made the list, how the fight over Islam showed up in the social studies TEKS debate and what the board actually controls.

They also get into the Revolutionary War almost getting stripped from the draft standards, local school board authority, convention strategy, campaign bracketing, Dan Patrick’s new podcast and the fight over closed primaries in Texas.

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

The Data Center Panic Is Missing the Point Jul 01, 2026

Show notes

This week on Seeing Red, Garrett Fulce talks with Doug Kelly, CEO of the American Edge Project, about what data centers actually are, why they matter in the U.S.-China AI race, what communities get out of them and why the panic over power and water may be aimed at the wrong target.
Doug makes the case that data centers are not the villain — they are infrastructure. AI exposed the weakness in America’s grid. Now the question is whether Texas builds for the next boom or lets somebody else do it.
Later in the episode, Garrett breaks down the State Board of Education’s debate over Bible references in Texas curriculum and reflects on the one-year anniversary of the Camp Mystic floods — what Texas learned, what it still has not fixed and why disaster preparedness cannot be a press-release exercise.
Subscribe for weekly Texas politics, policy and campaign analysis.
Follow Garrett:
X: @gwfulce
Substack: seeingredpod.substack.com
Guest:
Doug Kelly, CEO of the American Edge Project
American Edge Project: americanedgeproject.org
X: @dougkelly
American Edge on X: @americanedge
Chapters:
0:00 Why data centers matter in the U.S.-China AI race
5:47 Jobs, tax revenue and local benefits
13:28 Energy, water and the Texas grid
20:18 AI, automation and the future of work
26:15 SBOE, Bible references and Texas curriculum
34:10 Camp Mystic floods and disaster preparedness

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

What Republicans Are Missing About 2026 (w/ Konni Burton) Jun 17, 2026

Show notes

Texas Republicans left Houston with a new party chair, new priorities and a familiar challenge: can the party stay united long enough to win in November?
In this episode of Seeing Red, Garrett Fulce breaks down the Republican Party of Texas convention before sitting down with former State Senator and The Texan founder Konni Burton.
Garrett's Op-ed: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/data-center-texas-execeptionalism-garrett-fulce-22298369.php
They discuss:
• Dorinda Randall's election as Texas GOP Chair
• The calls for party unity from Abbott, Patrick and Burrows
• Why 2018 still haunts Republicans
• Coalition shifts among suburban voters, Latinos and union households
• The future of conservative media
• Why Konni launched The Texan
• The growing problem of activist journalism
• Texas' opportunity to become America's data center capital
Whether you're a grassroots activist, political junkie or simply trying to understand where Texas politics is headed, this conversation provides a candid look at the challenges facing both parties.
Subscribe for weekly Texas political analysis, interviews and commentary.
00:00 Texas GOP convention recap
01:45 Dorinda Randall elected chair
02:15 Burrows boos and party unity
04:20 Why Republicans are worried
05:26 Konni Burton joins the show
06:19 Lessons from the 2018 election
08:43 How Beto changed Texas politics
11:27 Why down-ballot races matter
13:26 The danger for Republicans in 2026
17:07 Matt Talarico and candidate quality
19:24 Coalition shifts in both parties
23:05 Why data centers matter
30:34 Konni Burton's political journey
37:00 Founding The Texan
44:16 Journalism versus activism
53:09 The future of media in Texas
Connect With Our Guest
Konni Burton
The Texan:
https://thetexan.news
X:
https://x.com/KonniBurton
The Texan on X:
https://x.com/TheTexanNews
Subscribe
YouTube:
https://youtube.com/@SeeingRedPodcast
Substack:
https://seeingredpod.substack.com
X:
https://x.com/GWFulce
Email:
hosts@seeingredpodcast.com

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

What Actually Matters at the Texas GOP Convention (2026) Jun 09, 2026

Show notes

Texas Republicans are gathering in Houston for the Republican Party of Texas Convention—and while most coverage focuses on speeches and personalities, the real action happens in the committees.
This week, Garrett Fulce sits down with Texas Voice publisher Mark McCaig to break down how the party platform is built, how legislative priorities are selected, why those priorities matter to lawmakers, and what delegates can expect as convention business gets underway.
Garrett and Mark also discuss the race for party chair, the role of the Texas Secretary of State, the debate over open versus closed primaries, and how convention decisions can shape the political fights heading into the next legislative session.
00:00 Welcome to Houston & Convention Week
05:41 RPT Chair Race
10:10 How the Party Platform Works
19:36 Secretary of State & Election Administration
28:47 Legislative Priorities Explained
35:44 Convention Culture & Networking
41:12 School Closures & Demographic Change
49:58 Convention Prep & Final Thoughts
Topics include:
• How the Texas GOP platform is created
• Why legislative priorities matter
• The race for the Republican Party Chair
• Secretary of State speculation
• Open vs. closed primaries
• Election integrity debates
• School closures and demographic shifts in Texas
• What delegates should expect in Houston
Follow Mark McCaig and Texas Voice:
Texas Voice: https://Thetexasvoice.com
X: https://x.com/TheTXVoice
Follow Seeing Red:
Substack: https://seeingredpodcast.substack.com
X: https://x.com/GWFulce
Subscribe for weekly conversations on Texas politics, elections, campaigns, public policy and the people shaping the future of the Lone Star State.

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Texas Republicans Are Walking Into a General Election Buzzsaw Jun 04, 2026

Show notes

The 2026 election cycle is already taking shape.
In this episode of Seeing Red, Garrett Fulce examines new warnings emerging from Republican strategists about vulnerable legislative districts, turnout challenges, and the impact of the Paxton-Cornyn Senate race on down-ballot Republicans.
Later, Mark McCaig joins the show to explain the Republican Party of Texas convention, delegate selection, party leadership elections, the State Republican Executive Committee (SREC), legislative priorities, and how grassroots activists influence the future direction of the Texas GOP.
Topics include:
• Texas House battleground districts
• Republican turnout challenges
• General election strategy
• The Republican Party of Texas convention
• SREC and party governance
• Delegate selection
• Legislative priorities
• Grassroots organizing
• Door-knocking and voter outreach
Subscribe to Seeing Red for weekly analysis of Texas politics, elections, campaigns, and public policy.
00:00 Texas Senate Race & Down-Ballot Fallout
01:12 Why R+12 Districts Are Suddenly Vulnerable
03:05 Texas House Seats Republicans Could Lose
05:35 Why Paxton Changes Every Race on the Ballot
07:55 Winning Primaries vs. Winning General Elections
10:38 What Is the Republican Party of Texas Convention?
12:40 How Delegates Actually Get Chosen
16:20 The Race for Texas GOP Chairman
18:25 What Does the State Party Chair Actually Do?
20:59 Should Republicans Close Their Primaries?
22:21 Credentials, Rules & Convention Fights
25:36 Can Republicans Stay Unified in 2026?
30:29 How Campaigns Identify Persuadable Voters
32:56 What Is the SREC?
40:44 Inside an SREC Meeting
43:43 How the Texas GOP Has Changed
51:18 Republicans Need a New Message
53:39 The Most Effective Door-Knocking Strategy
1:01:53 What's Next for Seeing Red?
Guest Information
Mark McCaig
Publisher, The Texas Voice
Former State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) member
Attorney and longtime Texas political activist
Follow Mark
X/Twitter: @MarkMcCaig // @TheTXVoice
Website: TheTexasVoice.com
Mark McCaig is the publisher of The Texas Voice, a Texas political news and analysis outlet focused on state government, elections, and conservative politics. A former member of the State Republican Executive Committee, McCaig brings years of experience in party politics and grassroots organizing to discussions about the Republican Party of Texas and the broader Texas political landscape.

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Paxton, Trump, and GOP Strategy To Keep Texas RED May 28, 2026

Show notes

In this episode of Seeing Red in Texas Politics, Garrett Fulce delves into the recent political dynamics in Texas, exploring the outcomes of the Senate race where Ken Paxton emerged as a notable figure against John Cornyn. Fulce provides a thorough analysis of Paxton's political journey, including the implications of his past controversies and how they might influence his credibility going forward. The discussion extends to analyze the factors that will shape the upcoming elections, focusing on voter behavior and strategic moves by the Republican Party. As Paxton navigates a landscape littered with past grievances, Fulce breaks down the electoral mechanisms at play, offering a roadmap for what the party needs to retain voter allegiance.
Timestamp Summary
0:00 Ken Paxton's Political Journey and Republican Implications
1:57 Republican Strategies to Win Over Disenchanted Voters
5:39 Paxton and Talarico's Political Race Dynamics and Challenges
9:45 The Challenges of Campaigning in Competitive Texas Regions
11:46 Revamping Show Format for Enhanced Engagement and Quality

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Bots, Ballots, and the #TxLEGE Grind: An Interview w/ Brad Johnson Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

Brad Johnson—co-founder and reporter at Texas Bullpen—joins Seeing Red to talk about the real mechanics of Texas politics: how information moves, how power consolidates, and why Twitter matters far more than most people want to admit.

Brad walks through the launch of the Texas Bullpen, his path from Ohio to the Texas Capitol, and why he thinks Texas politics is entering a more “traditional” election cycle after years of chaos. We dig into the comptroller’s race, Abbott’s quiet hand in key primaries, and why Ken Paxton continues to survive scandals that would’ve ended other careers.

The conversation also pulls back the curtain on the Paxton impeachment trial—what went wrong for prosecutors, how outside pressure shaped the outcome, and why bots and online noise now play a measurable role in legislative behavior. If you want to understand how Texas politics actually functions—not how it’s sold—this episode is required listening.

Key Moments & Timestamps

0:00 – Why Texas lawmakers obsess over Twitter replies
0:47 – Launching the Texas Bullpen (and running on adrenaline)
2:31 – Leaving the Texan and betting on independent media
3:06 – “Punchbowl meets old Texas Monthly”: defining the Bullpen lane
9:44 – How redistricting reshaped Texas elections
12:25 – The comptroller’s race and Abbott’s personal stakes
16:42 – Don Huffines, name ID, and why competence suddenly matters
24:31 – Ken Paxton’s political durability—why nothing sticks
31:24 – From tracker to reporter: learning Texas politics the hard way
36:45 – Following Hillary Clinton and the life of a political tracker
40:33 – Twitter bots, fake engagement, and legislative pressure
49:00 – What really happened in the Paxton impeachment trial
54:20 – The Speaker’s race and calendar control as raw power
1:03:18 – What Texas Bullpen is building next

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

A Conservative Asks a Democrat to Explain Her Platform — She Didn’t Hold Back Dec 16, 2025

Show notes

Garrett Fulce returns to “Seeing Red” after a brief hiatus, discussing local politics with Sara McGee, a Democratic candidate for Texas House District 132. Sara shares her origin story in politics, sparked by a challenging encounter with current representative Mike Schofield, and her advocacy for issues like reproductive rights, public education, and health. The episode explores nuanced views on abortion, the implications of school choice, and Sara’s experiences with social media activism.

0:00 — Cold open
0:42 — Intro + explaining the hiatus
4:00 — McGee’s origin story
8:20 — Abortion: lived experience vs. legislative text
13:00 — Cases of miscarriage, preeclampsia, and medical liability fears
16:30 — Garrett’s rebuttal: moral hierarchy, exceptions, and conservative tensions
20:00 — Fringe bills vs. mainstream Republican thinking
23:00 — Why the abortion debate breaks political messaging
24:00 — Transition to education funding and vouchers

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

The Battle to Lead Texas’s Legal Front Line: A Conversation with Aaron Reitz Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of Seeing Red, Garrett Fulce sits down with Aaron Reitz, candidate for Texas Attorney General. Reitz draws on his background as a Marine Corps officer, senior attorney under Ken Paxton, and Trump-era DOJ official to outline why he believes he’s the most qualified contender for Texas’s top legal job.

They dig into:

His time leading 46 lawsuits against the Biden administration
His plan to go on legal offense against federal overreach and urban corruption.
Why he sees the AG’s office as “a combat post, not a stepping-stone.”
How military discipline and faith shape his leadership style.

It’s an insider’s look at a pivotal race in 2026 Texas politics—one that could define the next decade of conservatism.

0:00 “Legal Combat”: What It Takes to Be Texas Attorney General

5:09 From Marine Officer to Statewide Candidate

8:28 Reitz’s Vision for Texas and the Rule of Law

21:23 Crime, Corruption, and Big-City DAs

22:41 Going on Offense: The AG as Legal Warrior

28:34 Border Security, Election Integrity, and Federal Overreach

34:51 Leaving DOJ and Returning to Texas

41:28 Leading 4,000 Employees and 700 Attorneys

53:23 Child-Support Enforcement and Everyday Justice

1:02:09 Recruiting Conservative Legal Talent

1:04:26 Final Thoughts: “The Tip of the Spear for Liberty”

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

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