Texas Bullpen Podcast
Listen to the weekly Texas Bullpen podcast to stay up to date on all things Texas politics with hosts Brad Johnson, Jonathan Richie, and Cassi Schredder, along with special guests.
They're Transitioning Texas - Episode 63
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The guys recap a week of transitions, caucus jockeying, and a slow drip of the remaining legislative races that haven't been called yet.
Regime Change in Texas and Into the Wilderness - Episode 62
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The guys recap the wildest week of all as Democrats nearly sweep the state and Republicans see their 30-year reign evaporate in an instant.
The Home Stretch and Other Inglorious Things – Episode 61
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The guys dive into the imperfect picture provided by early voting numbers, the last finance reports, and the final jockeying of the campaign.
Carolyn Lee of the Manufacturing Institute - Episode 60
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Carolyn Lee of the Manufacturing Institute joins the program to discuss workforce development and the emerging concerns about the issue in Texas.
Early Voting Begins and Home Stretch Hail Marys - Episode 57
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The guys run through the early Early Voting numbers with one week to go before the election and dive into the last-ditch ploys of the campaign.
Doubling Down on Wrong Information and Nov. 4 Can't Come Soon Enough - Episode 56
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Richie is back in town in time for the guys to recap the week of campaign stunts, debate ratf***ing, and the absurdity of an election's home stretch.
Silly Season Hits the Senate Race and Millions Pour Into Campaign Coffers - Episode 55
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Brad and Cassi discuss the most recent campaign finance reports and the absurdity that has become the Texas Senate race.
The Home Stretch and Other Inglorious Things - Episode 61
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The guys dive into the imperfect picture provided by early voting numbers, the last finance reports, and the final jockeying of the campaign.
Moving Chess Pieces and the Committee Stockades - Episode 54
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The guys discuss this week's campaign happenings, dueling ads in the gubernatorial race, and the tongue-lashing delivered in committee.
Money Monsoon and the Fog of War - Episode 53
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The guys provide stellar analysis about how nobody knows anything and that it's all coming down to turnout.
Where Really Lies the Upper Hand and French Affair Fallout - Episode 52
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The guys recap a busy week on the campaign trail and break down the weekend fallout that stemmed from Railroad Commission candidate Bo French. They also review a busy week of legislative interim hearings.
Kalshi Rep Discusses Prediction Markets and the Legal Fight to Come - Episode 51
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Robert DeNault, head of enforcement for Kalshi, joins the program to discuss his time in front of two Texas Legislative committees this week, along with the state of play in the fiery debate over prediction markets.
RNC Takes Dallas and the Floodgates Open - Episode 50
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The guys recap the two-day GOP rally in Dallas and a week chock-full of campaign slapping and spending as the post-Labor Day rush begins.
Senate Race Sauntering, Homestead Handwringing, and SCOTUS Watch - Episode 49
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The guys dive into the ad spending in the Texas Senate race, foreshadow a policy fight to come, and read the litigation tea leaves on prediction markets.
Power Politics and the Politics of Power - Episode 48
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The guys rant about electricity, power lines, and concrete shells that house servers. Also, the new wedge issue in the midterm election and a look ahead to 2028.
Pensions, Pennies, and Pornography - Episode 47
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The guys discuss a busy week in Texas politics that included MAGA Inc. showing its hand, Lt. Gov. Patrick giving Richie porn, and two weedy-but-important topics discussed in committee hearings.
Produced Water Predicament, College Sports Conundrum, Election Law Enigmas - Episode 46
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Just ahead of the 2026 MALC Golf Classic, the guys dig deep on a potential solution to Texas' water crisis and the latest development in the college sports crisis of its own.
Summiting San Angelo and It's The Economy Stupid - Episode 45
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The guys recap their trip to San Angelo for the West Texas Legislative Summit, the news made at it, and the developing themes of the statewide elections.
AECT President Mark Bell Talks Transmission Lines, Data Centers, and the ERCOT Grid - Episode 44
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Mark Bell, president of the Association of Electric Companies of Texas joins the program to discuss the industry side of the raging debates over transmission lines and data centers. He also discusses the future of the ERCOT power grid.
Electric Boogaloo Acid Test and Republicans Try to Make Kumbaya Happen - Episode 43
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The guys discuss a marathon committee hearing on all things electricity and the GOP's desperate effort to unify and mobilize rural Texas.
The Devil's in the Data Centers and the Senate Candidates Claw at Each Other - Episode 42
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The fellas discuss a data center-dominant week in Texas politics, an increasingly spicy U.S. Senate race, and the best of the rest.
Rep. Buckley Talks Electricity, Education, and the November Election - Episode 41
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State Rep. Brad Buckley joins the program to discuss 765-kV transmission lines, data centers, education, and the all-important election this fall.
Around the Horn and a Whole Lot About Finance Reports - Episode 40
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The guys discuss all of the top stories this week, including a new Secretary of State, developments on the Houston shooting incident, and a deep dive into the latest finance reports. Also, Richie gets his boat fix.
State Rep. David Spiller Talks Data Centers, Border Policy, and the House Speakership - Episode 39
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State Rep. David Spiller joins Brad Johnson for a stint in Waffle House to discuss top issues of the day, including data centers, transmission lines, and the next steps on border policy.
Maine-lining the Texas Senate Race and Closing Time - Episode 38
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The guys discuss developments in the U.S. Senate race in Texas, including gaudy fundraising numbers and the Platner implications, along with the rip-roaring debate over closed primaries.
Appointment Musical Chairs and SCOTUS Makes Everyone Mad - Episode 37
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The guys discuss a week of drama-filled musical chairs in two state offices and the landmark rulings issued by the U.S. Supreme Court at the end of its term. Happy Independence Day from all of us at Texas Bullpen.
Democrats Party on the Corpus Christi Bay - Episode 36
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Brad and Cassi recap the themes of, and fights during the 2026 Texas Democratic Party convention, and touch on some of the other Legislature-related happenings last week.
Justice James Sullivan Talks His Time on the Bench and Path to Office - Episode 35
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Texas Supreme Court Justice James "Sully" Sullivan joins the program to discuss his path to the bench, the campaign to retain his seat, and his judicial philosophy.
Good Lord More Screwworm, An Electric Slide, and Seeming Resolution on Camp Mystic - Episode 34
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The fellas run the gamut of happenings this week, including more screwworm, a final report on last year's floods, and a Libertarian announces himself.
Fear and Loathing in Houston - Episode 33
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Ragged and tattered, the guys check in from the 2026 Texas GOP Convention in Houston. They recap the biennial event, the result of the chair's race, and the elephant in the room (literally).
Screwed by the Worm, A Not-So-Secret GOP Summit, and Jane Bids Adieu - Episode 32
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The fellas wax poetic about the Great Screwworm Invasion of 2026, a not-so-super-secret GOP summit planning for November, and the abrupt resignation by Texas' Secretary of State.
One Election Ends, New Ones Begin - Episode 31
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The guys recount the biggest takeaways and surprises of the primary runoff, scratch the surface on the newly set general election matchups, and preview the Texas GOP chairman's race.
Texas Runoff Preview and What Comes Next - Episode 30
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Brad and Cassi preview next week's runoffs and the late-developing events of this week, including President Trump making his pick in the Senate race and Gov. Abbott's stern warning to donors.
Show Me The Warranto, Chip on the Shoulder, Committee Chaos - Episode 29
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The guys run through the Texas Supreme Court's decision not to eject state Rep. Gene Wu from his seat, a leaked recording of Ken Paxton about the attorney general race, and the bevy of committee hearings that played out in the Legislature.
Jerome Greener, Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office - Episode 28
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The newly created Texas Regulatory Efficiency Office, colloquially known as Texas DOGE, is launching its first project mandated by the 2025 Legislature. Director Jerome Greener details the agency, its purpose, and its new tool designed to more easily navigate the 20 million words in Texas code.
Roadtripping Roy, Rump Railroading, and BlackRock and Roll - Episode 27
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The guys run through a jam-packed slate of topics, including the Railroad Commission brawl, Chip Roy on the trail, BlackRock's redemption with Texas Republicans, and a half-resolution on the summer camp quandary.
Mystic Madness, Pot Potpourri, and Put on the Red Lines - Episode 26
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The guys go around the horn on the topics of the week, including the rumble over redistricting, THC legal developments, and the hearings on the tragic July 2025 floods.
Cold as ICE, Robotic Illusions, and Money (Sort of) Talks - Episode 25
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The guys review the ICEy kerfuffle in Texas' biggest cities, Michael Dell's big gift to UT, congressional leadership PACs showing the money, and more.
Big Scandal, Big Money, and Big City ICE Showdowns - Episode 24
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With Brad being on the road, Cassi joins Richie this week to talk about U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales' resignation, U.S. Senate fundraising numbers, and the big dogs going after the big cities for their ICE policies.
Country Roads Take Us Home and Who Owns the House? - Episode 23
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Broadcasting from the oldest town in Texas, the guys wax poetic on their travels this week, a lengthy committee hearing on data centers, and a warning from the lieutenant governor.
