Texas Delivers a Dramatic Primary Election

More from Second Reading Podcast All episodes →

1. 

   23 Apr 2026 · 1 hr

   Abbott squeezes Texas cities, Congressional campaign groups spend in Texas, and the Texas Lyceum Poll.

   James Henson and Joshua Blank check in on Gov. Abbott’s pressure on Houston, Dallas, and Austin to change immigration enforcement politics and planned spending by both parties on Texas Congressional races, then go deep on the Texas Lyceum Poll’s look at Texans’ views of the quality of life in Texas. This episode was recorded and […]

2. 

   16 Apr 2026 · 42 min

   Bayliss Wagner on Reporting the Fall of Tony Gonzales

   James Henson talks with Bayliss Wagner of the Austin American-Statesman and Hearst Newspapers about her reporting on the scandals that led to Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales’ exit from the U.S. House, including the role of non-traditional and social media in the emergence of the story in mainstream media.

3. 

   9 Apr 2026 · 49 min

   A Look at the U.S. War with Iran with Professor Rob Moser

   James Henson talks with Professor Robert D. Moser of The University of Texas at Austin Government Department about U.S. interest in Iran, how the escalation of the conflict with Iran intersect those interests, and the consequences of the war for national and international politics.

4. 

   26 Mar 2026 · 56 min

   A Texas Vibe Check During the Transitional Election Season

   James Henson and Joshua Blank survey the early signs of the developing general election campaign in Texas as well as lingering primary dynamics in both parties. Topics include the early Republican attacks on James Talarico, the rock throwing between Acting Comptroller Hancock and AG Paxton, and efforts to test the issue environment in the general […]

5. 

   12 Mar 2026 · 50 min

   The U.S. War in Iran and the Election Climate in Texas

   James Henson and Joshua Blank check into the latest twist the GOP run-off election for the U.S. Senate, then turn to what public opinion polling in Texas might tell us about the impact of the U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran given the current path of the conflict.

6. 

   26 Feb 2026 · 53 min

   New UT/Texas Politics Project Poll U.S. Senate Primaries in Texas

   James Henson and Joshua Blank look at recent poll results for the Texas primary races between Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico on the Democratic side, and in the GOP contest between incumbent John Cornyn, Ken Paxton, and Wesley Hunt.

7. 

   12 Feb 2026 · 1 hr 12 min

   A Chat with Brad Johnson about The Texas Bullpen, and Races and Election Vibes in Texas

   James Henson talks with Brad Johnson about the newly launched Texas Bullpen, then checks in on Johnson’s read of vibes in the Texas Primaries, in including congressional and legislative races and, of course, the U.S. Senate primaries.

8. 

   5 Feb 2026 · 52 min

   A Hot Week in Texas Election Politics

   James Henson and Joshua Blank look at three big stories in Texas generating national attention as election season heats up in the state: the special election for Senate District 9, Colin Allred’s surprising re-emergence in the Democratic Senate nomination race, and Donald Trump’s public musings about endorsing in the Republican Senate primary.

9. 

   29 Jan 2026 · 50 min

   Public Opinion on Immigration, Gun Rights, and the First Amendment in the Politics of the Latest Minneapolis Shooting

   James Henson and Joshua Blank look at how the shooting deaths of protesters by federal immigration authorities in Minneapolis activate a complex interplay among attitudes on immigration, gun rights, and the First Amendment. The discussion starts with a look at national polling in the immediate aftermath of the killing of Alex Pretti, who was legally […]

10. 

    22 Jan 2026 · 53 min

    A Weather Report on Issues in the 2026 Primaries

    James Henson and Josh Blank use Texas polling to compare and contrast the issues at play in the Republican and Democratic primaries in Texas. Plus, some brief discussion of the latest NYT/Sienna national poll and the coverage of polling conducted by campaigns.