Loading...

PODCAST

Texas Talks

Texas Talks with Brad Swail, brought to you by the Texas Dispatch, is a weekly podcast that features wide-ranging discussions with the people, organizations, and businesses that shape public policy in Texas. Texas Talks aims to provide listeners with a deeper understanding of the policy debates and reasons and insight into the personalities that shape public policy in Texas.

government politics

All Episodes

00:23:06

Texas Policy Update: Summer Camps, AI Deregulation &...

Texas Talks ·

2026/05/21

No guest this time — just host Brad Swail breaking down three major Texas public policy issues affecting families, businesses, and local governments across the state.In this episode of Texas Talks, Brad examines the fallout from Texas’ new summer camp safety rules, the state’s new AI-powered regulatory efficiency platform, and Governor Greg Abbott’s proposal to create a statewide prosecutor’s office. The episode covers: • Texas’ summer camp licensing crisis after the Heaven’s 27 Camp Safety Act •

en

00:40:39

Policies that Deliver

Texas Talks ·

2026/05/19

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores what separates effective public policy from policies that simply sound good.Through the Future of Texas podcast series, Texas 2036 brings together diverse perspectives as we explore the opportunities and challenges facing our state over the next ten years. The views expressed in this program are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Texas 2036, its staff or its Board of

en

00:39:15

Texas Schools, AI & the Future of Public Education...

Texas Talks ·

2026/05/14

What’s really driving declining enrollment in Texas public schools — and how will AI reshape classrooms in the years ahead?On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Chairman Brad Buckley, Chair of the Texas House Public Education Committee, for a wide-ranging conversation about the future of public education in Texas. Buckley discusses the major challenges facing schools across the state, from demographic shifts and declining birth rates to school funding pressures, learning

en

00:49:00

Future of Energy

Texas Talks ·

2026/05/12

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores the region powering not just Texas — but increasingly the global economy: the Permian Basin.Through the Future of Texas podcast series, Texas 2036 brings together diverse perspectives as we explore the opportunities and challenges facing our state over the next ten years. The views expressed in this program are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Texas 2036, its staff

en

00:35:35

Austin Economy, Growth Challenges & Texas Business...

Texas Talks ·

2026/05/07

What’s driving Austin’s economic boom — and can it keep up with its own success?In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Jeremy Martin, President and CEO of the Austin Chamber of Commerce, to break down the forces shaping one of the fastest-growing regional economies in the country. From explosive population growth to major infrastructure projects, Austin continues to punch above its weight — but that growth comes with real challenges for businesses, workers, and policymakers

en

00:44:26

Future of Healthcare

Texas Talks ·

2026/05/05

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode tackles one of the most urgent and personal challenges facing Texans today: the rising cost of healthcare.Through the Future of Texas podcast series, Texas 2036 brings together diverse perspectives as we explore the opportunities and challenges facing our state over the next ten years. The views expressed in this program are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Texas 2036, its

en

00:34:14

Buffalo Bayou: Inside Houston’s Waterway Cleanup &...

Texas Talks ·

2026/04/30

What’s really happening in Texas waterways — and why is so much trash ending up there? In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Robby Robinson, Field Operations Manager at the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, and Mike Garver, Chairman of Texans for Clean Water and a founding member of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, for a firsthand look at the growing challenge of waterway pollution in Texas. Recorded in Houston after a live tour of Buffalo Bayou, the conversation explores what the

en

00:44:04

The Future of Higher Ed

Texas Talks ·

2026/04/28

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores how higher education will shape the state’s workforce, economy, and long-term competitiveness.Through the Future of Texas podcast series, Texas 2036 brings together diverse perspectives as we explore the opportunities and challenges facing our state over the next ten years. The views expressed in this program are those of the individual speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views of Texas 2036, its

en

00:34:37

The “Silent Infrastructure” Protecting Texas: Public...

Texas Talks ·

2026/04/23

Most Texans don’t think about environmental health — until something goes wrong.In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Christopher Sparks, President of the Texas Environmental Health Association (TEHA), to explore the critical — but often overlooked — role environmental health professionals play in keeping communities safe every day. From restaurant inspections and water systems to disaster response and disease prevention, Sparks explains how environmental health workers

en

00:52:18

Powering the Next Texas Economy

Texas Talks ·

2026/04/21

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores one of the most critical challenges facing the state’s future: building an electric grid that can keep up with rapid growth while remaining reliable and affordable.Through the Future of Texas podcast series, Texas 2036 brings together diverse perspectives as we explore the opportunities and challenges facing our state over the next ten years. The views expressed in this program are those of the individual

en

00:44:08

Housing Affordability Crisis in Texas: Rates, Supply...

Texas Talks ·

2026/04/16

Why are homes in Texas becoming increasingly unaffordable — and what will it actually take to fix it? In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Sean Dobson, CEO of Amherst Group, to break down the real forces driving today’s housing affordability crisis — and why many popular explanations fall short. Dobson, a veteran of the mortgage and housing markets who correctly anticipated the 2008 financial crisis, explains how today’s challenges are rooted in a mix of monetary policy,

en

00:52:38

The Future of Raising a Family

Texas Talks ·

2026/04/14

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores what it really takes to raise a family in Texas today — and what must hold up over the next decade if the state wants to remain a place of opportunity.In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail is joined by Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker and A.J. Rodriguez, Executive Vice President of Texas 2036, for a wide-ranging conversation about the policies, pressures, and quality-of-life factors shaping family

en

00:46:01

AI and Public Policy: Transforming Government...

Texas Talks ·

2026/04/09

This episode kicks off the Texas Talks Special Series: AI and Public Policy, a multi-part series exploring how artificial intelligence will reshape governance at every level in the years ahead.Artificial intelligence is advancing at an unprecedented pace — but can government keep up? In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail is joined by Tanner Jones and Chris Minge, cofounders of Vulcan Technologies, to launch the series with a deep dive into how AI is already transforming the private sector

en

00:58:48

The Future of Texas' Court System

Texas Talks ·

2026/04/07

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores how Texas courts and the justice system must evolve to serve a rapidly growing state.In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail is joined by Chief Justice Wallace B. Jefferson, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, and Luis Soberon, Senior Policy Advisor and In House Counsel at Texas 2036, for a forward-looking conversation about the future of courts, access to justice, and judicial reform

en

00:47:30

Current and Future Justice Reforms in Texas w/ Marc...

Texas Talks ·

2026/04/02

In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Marc Levin, Chief Policy Counsel at the Council on Criminal Justice, for a wide-ranging conversation about where criminal justice reform stands in Texas today — and what lawmakers should be focused on next.Levin reflects on his long history in Texas criminal justice policy, from the 2007 reforms that helped the state avoid building thousands of new prison beds to the current push for a smarter, more data-driven justice system. He

en

00:59:04

The Future of Megaregions

Texas Talks ·

2026/03/31

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores how rapid population growth is reshaping the state — and what it will take to manage that growth successfully over the next decade. In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail is joined by Henry Cisneros, former U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and former mayor of San Antonio, and A.J. Rodriguez, Executive Vice President at Texas 2036, for a deep dive into the rise of Texas “mega regions” —

en

01:06:07

Future of Work in Texas: Skills, Mobility,...

Texas Talks ·

2026/03/24

As part of the Future of Texas series in partnership with Texas 2036, this episode explores a critical question: how does Texas ensure its economic growth translates into real opportunity, mobility, and purpose for its people?In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail is joined by Roy Spence, co-founder and longtime chairman of GSD&M and founder of the Make It Movement and the Purpose Institute, along with Renzo Soto, Deputy Director of Education and Workforce Policy at Texas 2036, for a

en

00:43:00

Using AI to Improve Transparency w/Charles Blain

Texas Talks ·

2026/03/19

Brad Swail welcomes Charles Blain—Houston Chronicle contributor, Manhattan Institute City Journal writer, Fox 26 panelist, author of the forthcoming The Brotherhood of Facts (Johns Hopkins Press, spring 2027), and founder of Local Insights. Charles shares how an accidental AI-assisted review of Houston Metro contract documents uncovered a $215k-to-$4.2M ballooning deal tied to board chair conflicts—ultimately leading to cancellation after public pushback. He explains how Local Insights aggregates

en

00:44:10

Educating Tomorrow’s Texas: From Classrooms to...

Texas Talks ·

2026/03/17

Brad Swail sits down with Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath and Mary Lynn Pruneda (Texas 2036 Director of Education & Workforce Policy) for a forward-looking conversation on the future of Texas public education. They discuss post-COVID recovery (literacy at all-time highs, math still climbing), the game-changing Teacher Incentive Allotment (TIA) shifting to performance-based pay and creating more six-figure teacher salaries, the role of timeless classics vs. accelerating technology (robots,

en

00:41:39

Property Taxes, the Texas Liberty Compact, and the...

Texas Talks ·

2026/03/12

After the 2026 primaries delivered a fresh wave of “new blood” in the Legislature, will property taxes finally get crushed… or will the same old insider games continue?In this hard-hitting episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Jeramy Kitchen, President of Texas Policy Research and the driving force behind the brand-new Texas Liberty Compact. Jeramy breaks down exactly what the primary results mean for the 90th Legislature, why compression beats gimmick exemptions, how to finally

en

149 results

Similar Podcasts

Good Government Show

Valley Park Productions

The Find Out Podcast

Find Out Media & Studio71

Ground Floor Government

PhoneLive.io

警廣臺南分臺FM94.7

節目豐富多元歡迎收聽分享

America At Night with McGraw Milhaven

Cumulus Podcast Network