Plus: Those hated toll roads and a wild political filing season
Editor's note: Mike Ward, who appeared on this podcast, was a reporter for the Houston Chronicle whose reporting was called into question in August, 2018. Although the podcasts were primarily analysis of current events, in the interest of disclosure, we thought it wise to include this information.
The Houston Chronicle retracted eight reports and issued corrections in multiple others, saying they were based on fabricated information, after an outside investigation revealed 44 percent of people quoted in Ward’s stories did not appear to exist. Ward resigned earlier this year while the investigation was underway.
Amid continuing revelations about lurid details from his last, and demands from fellow Republicans to step aside, U.S. Rep. Joe Bartondecides not to seek another term. He becomes the first casualty of the national uproar over sexual harassment.
Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick push back on plans by the Texas Department of Transportation to add more toll roads to Texas' transportation future.
And oft-controversial Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller picks up a GOP primary opponent who hopes that Texans have had their fill of the colorful Sid, who fires an opening salvo at challenger Trey Blocker by calling him out for supporting liberal Democrats in the past.
Miller, if you recall, is the guy who flew to Oklahoma at taxpayer expense for a cure-all "Jesus Shot."
As Texas politics continue to jerk from the anatomical to the serious, this is the place where you can find out what's really going on behind all the government-speak and partisan bluster.
With Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, and Scott Braddock, editor of the Quorum Report, it's Texas' leading online podcast about Lone Star politics -- now coming to you in collaboration with Texas Public Radio.
