Second Reading Podcast

Second Reading Podcast · la.utexas.edu

Analysis of Texas Politics by Jim and Josh from the Texas Politics Project.Texas Podcast Network is brought to you by The University of Texas at Austin. Podcasts are produced by faculty members and staffers at UT Austin who work with University Communications to craft content that adheres to journalistic best practices. The University of Texas at Austin offers these podcasts at no charge. Podcasts appearing on the network and this webpage represent the views of the hosts, not of The University of Texas at Austin.

259 episodes

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Episodes 260

What the Latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll Tells Us About the 2026 Election in Texas
3d ago · 49:29
With new polling data from the August poll, James Henson and Joshua Blank talk over what the trial ballots and other election-related items can and can’t tell us about the state of Texas races as summer winds down.
How big a problem is rural discontent for Texas Republicans in the election?
9d ago · 43:09
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at public opinion data from rural Texas to assess how big a problem Republicans have among rural voters.
Interpreting Tightening Polling in U.S. Senate Race in Texas
23d ago · 1:03:38
James Henson and Joshua Blank return from a July podcasting hiatus to catch up on Texas polling in the Senate and gubernatorial races, and consider the influences on the election environment in Texas. This episode was recorded by Xayda Garza and mixed by Astrid Alvarez and Julie Rios
Big SCOTUS Cases and the Emergence of Stronger Parties in the U.S. and Texas
1mo ago · 1:11:31
James Henson & Joshua Blank look at Texas intersections with this week’s big Supreme Court decisions, and ponder the seeming emergence of stronger political parties in the U.S. and Texas. This episode was recorded by Astrid Alvarez and mixed by Uriel Murillo
Increased Partisan Intensity, a Close Senate Race, and Data Center Backlash in the New Texas Politics Project Poll
2mo ago · 1:02:25
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at 2026 Texas trial ballots and strikingly negative views of data centers and AI in the June Texas Politics Project Poll. This episode was engineered and mixed by Uriel Murillo.
Gov. Abbott Sends Strong Signals on Texas Data Centers
2mo ago · 1:14:45
In the wake of Gov. Greg Abbott’s signal-rich letter to Texas utility regulators on data centers in Texas, James Henson and Joshua Blank assess the public opinion on the issue and wade into the thicket of politics and policy as attention to the issue among policymakers and stakeholders grows. This episode was recorded and edited […]
Both parties gear up for Texas legislative races + the long shadow of 2018
2mo ago · 59:38
After a week in which Texas Republicans circled the wagons for legislative elections and national Democrats announced #txlege targets, James Henson and Joshua Blank look at the landscape for legislative races, and compare differences and similarities in public opinion in 2018 and 2026. This episode was engineered by Els Brady, and mixed by Uriel Murillo.
The Texas Republican Base Has Spoken: What’s Next?
3mo ago · 1:14:05
In the wake of run-off wins by GOP candidates like Ken Paxton, Mayes Middleton, and Bo French, James Henson and Joshua Blank talk about dynamics in both parties, and what’s comes next in the general election and governing circles in Texas.
Texas GOP Worries About Base Turnout Continue as Immigration Agenda Shifts
3mo ago · 46:31
James Henson and Joshua Blank join the response to the much-discussed memo from Ragnar Research’s Chris Perkins on signs of sagging participation among Republican primary voters in Texas, and make some connections with the shifting politics of immigration and border security in the Texas GOP. This episode was engineered by Lucas Toussaint and mixed by […]
Views of Donald Trump and Other Election Atmospherics in Texas
3mo ago · 50:24
James Henson and Josh Blank look at the quasi-normal looking polling on the general election matchups for Texas Governor and Lt. Governor, and assess macrolevel indicators of the political mood in Texas. This episode was recorded and edited by Nathan Crews at LAITS Studios.
Undercurrents in the U.S. Senate Race in Texas and Other Reveals in the Latest Texas Politics Project Poll
4mo ago · 52:30
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at highlights from the just-released UT/Texas Politics Project poll, including resurgent concerns about prices and the economy, the sharp partisan differences fueling overall opposition to the U.S. war with Iran, and some interesting underlying numbers in the U.S. Senate race and the Cornyn/Paxton/Talarico triangle.
Abbott squeezes Texas cities, Congressional campaign groups spend in Texas, and the Texas Lyceum Poll.
4mo ago · 59:32
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 […]
Bayliss Wagner on Reporting the Fall of Tony Gonzales
4mo ago · 42:20
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.
A Look at the U.S. War with Iran with Professor Rob Moser
4mo ago · 48:37
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.
A Texas Vibe Check During the Transitional Election Season
5mo ago · 56:04
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 […]
The U.S. War in Iran and the Election Climate in Texas
5mo ago · 50:27
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.
Texas Delivers a Dramatic Primary Election
5mo ago · 1:02:54
After months of anticipation, James Henson and Joshua Blank look at the results of the Texas primary election.
New UT/Texas Politics Project Poll U.S. Senate Primaries in Texas
6mo ago · 52:44
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.
A Chat with Brad Johnson about The Texas Bullpen, and Races and Election Vibes in Texas
6mo ago · 1:11:58
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.
A Hot Week in Texas Election Politics
6mo ago · 51:41
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.
Public Opinion on Immigration, Gun Rights, and the First Amendment in the Politics of the Latest Minneapolis Shooting
7mo ago · 50:17
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 […]
A Weather Report on Issues in the 2026 Primaries
7mo ago · 52:47
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.
Texas views on health care and immigration enforcement plus a check in on the 2026 U.S. Senate race
7mo ago · 53:26
James Henson & Joshua Blank look at results on health care, immigration, and the 2026 U.S. Senate race in the final UT/Texas Politics Poll of 2025 and what they portend for the 2026 election year.
Digging Up Public Opinion Nuggets from 2025 Texas Politics Project Polling
8mo ago · 54:05
James Henson and Joshua Blank dig up some highlights from UT/Texas Politics Project polling in 2025 on subjects including property taxes, speech rights, views of the legislature, healthcare, vaccines, and more.
Crockett and Cuellar Add New Twists to 2026
8mo ago · 52:28
James Henson and Joshua Blank look at how Donald Trump’s pardon of Henry Cuellar, and Jasmine Crockett’s likely entrance in the race to replace John Cornyn, have complicated the 2026 election in Texas – and maybe the U.S.