Seeing Red: A Texas Politics Podcast

Forget Paxton vs. Talarico for a minute — Garrett says the race that could actually decide who runs Texas is happening three rows down the ballot, in state Senate and House districts nobody's covering. In this solo breakdown, he walks through every competitive Texas Senate and House seat, why Tarrant County is on track to turn blue for the first time ever, and which Republicans are one bad night away from losing their seats.

Using early-vote data, fundraising reports, and insider survey numbers, Garrett grades out the real toss-up map: the Texas Senate seats Dan Patrick is quietly wo...

A top Republican pollster just told us the quiet part out loud: Texas Republicans have a real "under-response" problem, and candidate quality — not MAGA versus traditional GOP — is what's deciding close races right now. Nick Weinstein of Cygnal, one of the biggest GOP polling firms in the country, joins Garrett to break down how real campaign polling actually works, why the industry is still recovering from the 2016 miss, and what a 10-day Marist poll in the field right now might be getting wrong about Texas. Then Garrett runs the numbers himself: a brand-new poll showing Ken Paxton's lead over Jame...

A Texas Railroad Commissioner candidate looked at a photo of Indian American students celebrating a UT football win and said it proved "the problem" was "far worse than anyone imagined" — and Hindu American Foundation communications director Mat McDermott joins Garrett Fulce to explain exactly what that fight is about and why it matters far beyond one tweet. McDermott recently wrote about the controversy for the Houston Chronicle, and he and Garrett dig into the surge in anti-Hindu rhetoric, why Hindu voters are quietly drifting away from Democrats, and why McDermott thinks the far left — not the far right — may be the...

Texas just had, by one measure, its best legislative session for housing reform in the country, and almost nobody outside the Capitol knows the job that makes bills like that actually work. Legislative lawyer Sam Hooper, aka "the Lege Lawyer," joins Garrett to pull back the curtain on how a policy idea becomes real statute, why Texas's new starter-home and mixed-use laws are already putting thousands of units online, and why AI-drafted bills could be the next headache at the Capitol. Then Garrett breaks down the Angela Paxton ad running in markets nationwide and the growing Republican fight over...

Texas just quietly sat on one of the largest rare earth mineral deposits outside of China's control — and the state's Land Commissioner is the one turning it into cash for schools. Dawn Buckingham joins Garrett to explain how the General Land Office manages 13 million acres of Texas land, why that makes Texas the "tip of the spear" on energy, minerals, and border security, and what's really happening with the $450 million Alamo overhaul. Then Garrett runs the solo rundown: a $7.5 billion border security reimbursement finally landing at the Comptroller's Office, a voter registration glitch affecting thousands of Texans, and where th...

Want a job in Republican politics? Dustin Tropp, the headhunter who runs republicanjobs.gop, has placed more than 3,500 people in GOP jobs and says entry-level D.C. staffers are now starting at $70,000 — a number that didn't exist for Garrett's generation. Garrett sits down with Tropp to break down exactly how to get in the door, move up the ladder, and avoid torching your career before it starts.

Dustin built Republican Jobs from a headhunting side project into the GOP's largest political staffing operation, working with nearly 500 organizations and running the party's biggest virtual career fair. He and Ga...

A pickup truck crashed through State Rep. Charles Cunningham's living room at 4 a.m.—and it's the reason he's now fighting bail reform battles in Austin. Rep. Cunningham (House District 127, Humble) joins Garrett Fulce to break down Texas's $51 billion in property tax relief, why school districts are "underfunded" rather than "unfunded," and how his district turned a flood-control headache into a funding fix by selling sand out of Lake Houston. Then Garrett runs through the week's fights back home: a Texas GOP statewide candidate's racist meltdown over University of Texas students, a flood of Republican outside money rushing in to...

Ryan Patrick, runs the group that's been the single biggest force behind Texas tort reform for 30 years. And right now, trial lawyer money is quietly flowing into Republican primaries to take him down. Ryan Patrick, CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform (TLR), joins Garrett to break down "nuclear verdicts," the medical billing fraud scheme inflating your insurance bill, and the shadowy Delaware-incorporated group of Republicans fighting his organization from the inside.

The former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Texas under President Trump, a former Harris County state district judge, and now the CEO of...

Garrett spent this week at the Texas Young Republican Federation's 69th Annual Convention in San Marcos, and the mood among the campaign staffers, volunteers, and college Republicans he talked to wasn't confidence. It was worry. Back in Austin, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick wants to fail entire school districts a letter grade over library books (including a Holocaust memoir), Governor Abbott just yanked state money out of Flock surveillance cameras, and Texas public schools are quietly losing more students than anyone in the Capitol is talking about.

This week Garrett brings you convention interviews with Texas Young Republican...

State Rep. Jeff Barry (R-Pearland) sits on the two committees at the center of next session's biggest fight: the governor, lieutenant governor, and House Speaker all want agencies to cut spending 3% across the board — and Barry breaks down why you can't cut property taxes without cutting state spending first. As a freshman on Appropriations, he walks through how a budget bill actually becomes law, why "Robin Hood" school funding is about to collide with the push to eliminate local school taxes, and the insurance reform bill he says already stopped a rate hike for coastal homeowners.

Then Ga...

Governor Abbott just ordered Texas regulators to freeze new data center hookups to the power grid until they pass an audit, and former Republican Party of Texas chair James Dickey joins Garrett Fulce to explain exactly why, plus what it means for the fight over massive new 765-kilovolt transmission lines cutting across the state. Dickey, who now runs JD Key Consulting and publishes Hyperscale News, breaks down the difference between a real policy fight over eminent domain and water use versus manufactured outrage, plus what he's seeing on the 2026 campaign trail. Then Garrett goes solo to break down the...

Garrett Fulce sits down with Peyton Hornberger of the Alliance for Secure AI for a genuinely spirited debate on how (or whether) government should regulate artificial intelligence.

Garrett and Peyton go back and forth on AI policy, data centers, age verification, and what it means that AI agents from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta have all recently "escaped" test environments and hacked into other companies. Then Garrett dives into the Paxton-Talarico Senate race and what shifting prediction markets actually tell us, two major Second Amendment rulings out of Texas courts, and a new legal fight over the state's...

Texas just shattered its all-time power demand record during a brutal heat wave — and for the first time in years, ERCOT didn't ask anyone to turn down their AC. Former State Senator Drew Springer joins Garrett to break down exactly why, and what's coming next as data centers and AI reshape the Texas grid.

Drew Springer was in the Texas Senate for Winter Storm Uri and helped write the reforms that followed. Now running Springer Financial Services, he comes back on Seeing Red to explain the post-Uri grid overhaul, the Texas Energy Fund, the fight over massive ne...

Want to know how a 20-something op-ed writer ends up on Fox News and in your local paper? Garrett sits down with Sam Raus, the David Boaz Resident Writing Fellow at Young Voices, to break down exactly how young center-right writers turn one op-ed into TV hits, radio spots, and a media career — plus a wild pitch to let Gen Z opt out of Social Security entirely.

Then Garrett runs down the week in Texas politics: the razor-close Paxton-Talarico Senate race, big Hill Country flood relief for Corpus Christi's water crisis, a court loss (and a Discord wi...

Houston Chronicle opinion editor Evan Mintz joins Garrett Fulce to break down the fatal ICE shooting rocking Houston — and why the paper's own editorial board said flatly you can't trust the federal government's story. This is a rare inside look at how a major Texas newsroom decides what to publish when a story turns into a national flashpoint.

Evan explains why he leads with "biased for Houston" instead of left vs. right, walks through the shifting federal accounts of the Lorenzo Salgado Araujo shooting, and makes the business case Houston's business community has made for decades on im...

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 pr...

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, co...

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...

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
•...

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 pr...

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 strate...

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...

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 end...

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 medi...

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:

Garrett Fulce talks with Texas Monthly reporter Robert Downen about covering the intersection of faith and politics in Texas. The conversation ranges from Downen’s early work exposing abuse in the Southern Baptist Convention to the current tensions inside the Texas GOP between establishment figures and grassroots activists. They discuss the rise of Christian nationalism, how extremism seeps into policymaking, and what it means to report truthfully in a hyper-polarized environment. Downen also reflects on journalism’s future in the digital era and the ethical tightrope reporters walk when sources see coverage itself as a badge of honor.

0...

In this episode of Seeing Red, Garrett Fulce sits down with Charlie Kolean, Texas State Director for Americans for Citizen Voting, to discuss Proposition 16, a proposed constitutional amendment that would guarantee only U.S. citizens can vote in all Texas elections. Kolean breaks down how this measure came to be, why it took three legislative sessions to reach the ballot, and what it means for Texas and the broader national movement toward citizen-only voting.

Together, Garrett and Charlie unpack the legislative mechanics, opposition talking points, and what Kolean calls “a common-sense sa...

Tony Ortiz, the controversial founder of Current Revolt, joins Garrett Fulce to pull back the curtain on how Texas political media really works. From breaking Capitol scandals to exposing paid influencers, Ortiz has built a reputation for publishing stories mainstream outlets won’t touch — and for being unapologetically honest about his biases.

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ortiz explains how Current Revolt began during the COVID lockdowns, why he leaned into the “trash gossip rag” label, and what it’s like to run a far-right outlet while maintaining credibility across political lines. He and Garrett dive deep into the ethics...

Watch the full conversation on Substack: https://seeingredpodcast.substack.com

📌 Summary:
Former Southlake Mayor John Huffman joins Garrett Fulce to talk about his campaign for Texas Senate District 9. From property tax reform to school choice, border security, and infrastructure, Huffman shares his vision for Texas—and how faith and family ground his approach to politics.

⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 – John Huffman’s Political Journey and Senate Candidacy
3:53 – From College Station to Capitol Hill
6:16 – Entrepreneur to Mayor: Small Business & Public Service
12:52 – Why Kill the Property Tax System?
18:03 – School Choice & Funding Texas Schools
28:02 – S...

🔴 Watch more at our Substack: https://seeingredpodcast.substack.com

Timestamps:
0:00 – Texas Politics and Twitter Spats with Mitch Little
3:43 – Navigating Politics and Legal Expertise
10:32 – Challenges and Delays in the Legislative Session
15:34 – HB4623: Ending School Immunity in Sexual Abuse Cases
22:10 – Legislative Amendments & Procedural Battles
26:38 – School Choice Showdown
32:30 – Using TLO to Track Bills
36:40 – Greed, Bots & Campaign Pressure
40:50 – The Absurdity of Local Campaigns
48:20 – Rookie Lawmakers Outmaneuvered
54:19 – Strategy & Tactics in Session
59:11 – Replacing Briscoe’s Procedural Expertise
1:01:36 – Speaker Burroughs & House Politics
1:08:29 – Gary Frankel on A&M’s Culture War
1:12:46 – Academic Freedom & So...

Watch the full, extended interview on Substack: https://seeingredpodcast.substack.com/

Timestamps
0:00 – Welcome back & podcast update
6:54 – Controversy over Texas bill targeting illegal abortion pills (HB7)
12:45 – Pro-life legislation and court challenges in Texas
20:00 – Texas abortion laws after Roe v. Wade was overturned
24:52 – How abortion politics affect elections
28:16 – Pro-life advocacy and resources for women in Texas
(In the Extended cut)
38:07 – Coalition-building and legislative challenges
42:43 – Out-of-state abortion pill distribution & enforcement
45:39 – Why Texas laws face enforcement problems
51:14 – The legislative journey of the pro-life movement in Texas
58:10 – Winning over the undecided middle on ab...