Latest news with #RUDYKOSKI
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Texas bail reform, tariff turmoil, and possible THC ban: TWITP
The Brief Greg Abbott's bail reform plan, Trump's tariffs, and a possible THC ban These are some of the hot topics in This Week in Texas Politics AUSTIN, Texas - Members of the Texas House held a rare Friday session on May 2 in order to push out more bills before the session ends June 2. The frantic activity at the Texas Capitol is one of the many stories in This Week in Texas Politics. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discussed the big stories from This Week in Texas Politics. What they're saying RUDY KOSKI: It has been a barn burner of a week this week in Texas politics. Let's get the headlines from our panel, and we'll start first with Patrick Svitek with the Washington Post. Patrick, what's your headline for the week? PATRICK SVITEK: School vouchers, or school choice, as supporters call it has finally come into Texas after a very long political battle. RUDY KOSKI: Brad Johnson with the Texan News. Brad, what's your headline for the week? BRAD JOHNSON: It's crunch time in the Texas Legislature. RUDY KOSKI: And business analyst, Annie Spilman, what is your headline of the week. ANNIE SPILMAN: One month in legislative session. RUDY KOSKI: Governor Greg Abbott spent much of the week, teeing up, trying to free up his bail reform idea. House Democrats reportedly have it all locked down for the time being as payback for the passage of school choice. Brad, could a deal be hatched in the back room? Do you feel something's happening? BRAD JOHNSON: There are definitely negotiations going on. You know, there are Democratic members that are whipping votes, trying to get enough support for this, contingent upon them getting some sort of deal in exchange for something else or deal on the bail amendment itself. RUDY KOSKI: The new Lyceum poll came out this week with the top three issues being immigration, the rising problem with prices, inflation and border security. The poll showed an improvement in how people view their economic situation. Annie, I think that that has a lot to do with the lower gas prices right now. ANNIE SPILMAN: Listen, for small businesses in particular, uncertainty is so crippling. It's the enemy of entrepreneurship. It's a scary time right now. RUDY KOSKI: Well, the online verbal boxing match continued this week between Senator John Cornyn and his party rival, Ken Paxton. Meanwhile, fellow Republican Congressman Wesley Hunt continues to flirt with the idea of running for Cornyn's seat. What's going on with Wesley Hunt? PATRICK SVITEK: Yeah, Hunt and his allies politically are definitely trying to keep his options open in the context of this current Senate race. I think to them, they look at him as a solution to this kind of complex political puzzle you have here. RUDY KOSKI: Election reform certainly is a hot topic under the Capitol Dome. A bill by former Speaker Dade Phelan that cracks down on deep fake political ads move forward. Brad, his detractors, tried to claim that this bill was all about squelching free speech, going after nasty memes. BRAD JOHNSON: Now there is a question about how the bill's current makeup and how broad it is and if it would encompass anyone who posted a meme and then spent money to boost it on social media. I think that's a fair question. RUDY KOSKI: Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick was in Washington D.C. On Thursday. President Trump has picked him to head up a commission on religious liberty. This comes after the House had a marathon hearing here in Austin that included a bill allowing the posting of the Ten Commandments in classrooms. ANNIE SPILMAN: Unfortunately, these issues have now sort of taken over a lot of the time. It's burning up the clock and some of the real policy issues that we need to get done we might not get done and in Texas we have to wait another two years. RUDY KOSKI: An interesting compromise in the works at the state capital regarding THC products. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick wants to ban most of those products. Business groups want to say hang on, there are some ways, let's just regulate them. BRAD JOHNSON: Lot of wrinkles to that, questions about whether it can even survive on the House floor with parliamentary rules and points of order. ANNIE SPILMAN: From what I've been told, this is sort of a workaround ban. We're not completely done. There's still language that could be worked on the House floor. They still potentially could go to a conference committee. PATRICK SVITEK: Big picture politically. I do think it is this debate over THC in Texas is a little bit of a re-emergence of that social conservatism. Social conservatist has kind of been, I would argue, a little on the decline in the Trump era, just given that Trump, if not in his policies, in his style, isn't exactly a moral crusader. RUDY KOSKI: You can watch this full discussion on the Fox 7 YouTube page, but let's wrap up this discussion with one word for the week, and Patrick, we'll begin with you. What's your word for this week? PATRICK SVITEK: Tariffs, because it was top of mind from the last conversation. BRAD JOHNSON: Well, it's two, but one month. ANNIE SPILMAN: It wouldn't describe this week, but I'd be hopeful for, Compromise. RUDY KOSKI: And that is This Week in Texas Politics. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas school choice bill heads to Abbott's desk: TWITP
AUSTIN, Texas - In This Week in Texas Politics, it was the end of the line for several big issues like school choice. But, we also saw a new partisan battle line being drawn at the state capitol. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discussed the hot political topics this week. What they're saying RUDY KOSKI: This week in Texas politics, we saw a lot of verbal fistfights, some chemtrail turmoil, and some laws literally going up in smoke. Let's get the headlines from our panel, and we'll begin first with Brian Smith from St. Edward's University. Brian, what's your headline? BRIAN SMITH: What seems like a lifetime of legislative sessions, school choice becomes a reality. RUDY KOSKI: Karina Kling, what's your headline for the week? KARINA KLING:I think I'm sticking with that same theme. Governor Abbott finally gets his private school vouchers win. RUDY KOSKI: And Philip Jankowski from the Dallas Morning News. Give me a headline. PHILIOP JANKOWSKI: Yeah, same deal, school choice wins. RUDY KOSKI: And we'll start off with that. Governor Greg Abbott got his school choice bill sent to his desk. Brian, there's a lot of political blood on that bill. BRIAN SMITH: Yeah, the governor outright threatened Republicans with vetoes. They brought in the President of the United States, and now it's up to the governor to make it work. PHILIOP JANKOWSKI: My sources are really talking about a sort of power shift with the governor, kind of looking more powerful than ever within the Capitol. RUDY KOSKI: What's in a name? Well, a few political actions under the Capitol Dome tried to answer that this week. We had votes on legislation to rebrand the New York strip steak to the Texas strip and Texas jumped in on flipping the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. KARINA KLING: I think it's kind of a fun back and forth on some of these issues, as we see with bets on games among governors and various things like that, but probably some more pressing issues we need to be focused on here in the state. RUDY KOSKI: Legislation creating a special dementia research initiative group passed this week. That's the good news. The bad news, it's funding bill involving legislation for a constitutional amendment may fall victim to some school choice payback by Democrats. This tactic may also deep six some bail bond reform. Philip, you know, this is a strange political hill to fight and die on for Democrats. PHILIOP JANKOWSKI: Yeah, don't forget homestead exemptions too. I mean, there are a lot of really popular things that could be held up by this tactic. And Monday, which is where a bunch of them got delayed to is where you could really see a standoff. RUDY KOSKI: Earlier this week, the Senate gave initial approval to a bill to track costs incurred by undocumented migrants on Texas. Democrats argued that the study should also document the annual benefits of migration. BRIAN SMITH: Now this is a real partisan issue. Everybody knows it's short-sighted just to look at the costs. And also, we don't know how many people are in Texas who are unauthorized. So, any report's going to be partisan to the core and expect this document to show that immigrants are a huge drain on Texas because we're only looking at one side of the issue and through one lens. RUDY KOSKI: The House pushed out a school cell phone bill. It even includes restricting smartwatches. You know, I've seen support for this idea, but I also think it could be a paper tiger. KARINA KLING: I think that one of the key arguments that has also been raised, aside from policing it and enforcing it, is just the ability for students to have a device on them to be able to contact them very quickly at school. So maybe some communications and some issues that may need to be worked out there with schools as well in terms of being able to get a hold of your student. RUDY KOSKI: State lawmakers took up some climate and energy-related bills pushing natural gas. No surprise there. Restricting renewables, no surprise there with the exception of nuclear power, they love nuclear power, apparently. We also had a hearing on a bill that would ban seeding the atmosphere with reflective particles to address climate change. Philip, you did a series of articles on this topic. PHILIOP JANKOWSKI: You have like one wing of the leadership saying we need an all of the above, we need all the power that we can get, especially in light of these concerning demand projections coming from ERCOT. Then at the same time, they really only want one kind of power generation, that's natural gas. RUDY KOSKI: Along with the energy issues, this was a moving week for a lot of bills. Karina, are there any other items that really caught your attention this week? KARINA KLING: Yes, legislature-related, not necessarily a bill they're working on, but A through F school ratings finally released after a 19-month legal battle showed one in five schools getting a D or F rating. BRIAN SMITH: Well, it looks like destination casinos are not going to pass again this year, but I'm still really confused about the DOGE bill considering that we have a pretty lean state that doesn't spend a lot of money. RUDY KOSKI: You can see this full discussion on the Fox 7 YouTube page, but let's wrap everything up now with one word for the week, and we'll start off with Karina. Karina, what's your word for week? KARINA KLING: Yeah, with the month of May just around the corner, things starting to move more quickly, I'm going to say, accelerated. BRIAN SMITH: I didn't think I would ever say this, but measles. PHILIOP JANKOWSKI: Yeah, and in the same vein as Karina, I'll say, Coffee. RUDY KOSKI: And that is This Week in Texas Politics. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas school choice plan, education funding approved: TWITP
The Brief Big topics in "This Week in Texas Politics" included the school choice plan and education funding legislation FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discussed that and other hot topics this week. AUSTIN, Texas - In "This Week in Texas Politics," the big story was the passage of Gov. Abbott's school choice plan and education funding legislation. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discussed that and other hot topics this week. The full discussion by the panel is on the FOX 7 YouTube page. That discussion includes the upcoming 2026 political primaries. What they're saying RUDY KOSKI: "This Week in Texas Politics closed out with a lot of fireworks underneath the Capitol dome. Let's get the headlines from our panel and we'll begin first with Harvey Kronberg from the Quorum Report. Harvey, what's your headline for the week?" HARVEY KRONBERG: "Intimidation works." RUDY KOSKI: "Brad Johnson with The Texan News. What's your headline?" BRAD JOHNSON: "Abbott's long-awaited win finally realized." RUDY KOSKI: "And business analyst, Annie Spilman. What's your headline for the week?" ANNIE SPILMAN: "Property tax relief measures progress through the legislature." RUDY KOSKI: "The big news of the week, of course, being that on Thursday, Team Abbott getting the win with his school choice plan finally clearing the Texas House. Harvey, you know the fix was in long before this session even began. Do you think that the Democrats just missed an opportunity by digging in?" HARVEY KRONBERG: "I think once the President weighed in, whatever Republican support they had evaporated, the only question for the Speaker was how to navigate a way to let them at least get their votes on record. But there was no room left for negotiation." RUDY KOSKI: "The other big vote of the week was HB 2, the education funding plan passing with little opposition. Public education supporters say the amount is good, but not good enough to keep pace with inflation. Brad, Robin Hood is still alive. You know, what reforms caught your eye that you think really may make a difference? BRAD JOHNSON: "The one that caught my eye, whether anything else though, is we may have talked about this before, but the classroom discipline bill." ANNIE SPILMAN: "From a business perspective, I think many don't realize that this legislation also addressed workforce development." RUDY KOSKI: "Next topic. The Trump administration pulled a big grant that was to help build the Houston to Dallas bullet train. Those against the project celebrated that move, but Thursday, the new owners of Texas Central told the House Transportation Committee, the project is still alive. Brad, this fight has always been about somewhat of a property rights fight, right?" BRAD JOHNSON: "I think it's, there's two sides of it. There's the property rights and then there's just paying for the dang thing. You know, it's so expensive. That's why they needed federal funding. And you look all across the country and massive transit plans like this are running into problems because they're so expensive, it's just difficult to do." RUDY KOSKI: "Annie, why do Republicans hate trains?" ANNIE SPILMAN: "You know, Texas and land and eminent domain and people coming to take their land and you've got especially in rural areas, that's a line in the sand." HARVEY KRONBERG: "Rural representation was always able to block any kind of high-speed rail, but their numbers are dwindling, and a lot of these rural districts are turning suburban. And so, I think the writing is ultimately on the wall, but the funding is going to be the critical thing." RUDY KOSKI: "Lights, camera, action. The Senate this week sent to the House a $500 million bill to help attract film and TV productions to Texas. Annie, you were at the committee hearing in the Senate a couple of weeks ago when Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson testified. But some so-called conservatives are against it. What's your read on SB 22's fate next week in the House hearing?" ANNIE SPILMAN: "Listen, this helps support small businesses and local communities like our local florists, restaurants, caterers, print shops, and so on. So, I think anyone that would oppose this seems to have sort of a microscopic view on this and not really looking at ultimately the trickle-down effect on what this could do for Texas communities. RUDY KOSKI: "An ugly floor fight broke out at the State House Thursday before the school reform votes took place and involved a memorial resolution for the late Cecile Richards, who once led Planned Parenthood. That abortion debate really wasn't on my bingo card, but there are some pending bills, action in committee on some abortion issues. Brad, does Thursday floor fight kind of foreshadow some problems with those bills?" BRAD JOHNSON: "I think it shows two things. First of all, it's a retribution for a couple of things that happened on budget night, or back on the rules. But then I think there is actually a coordinated opposition to the Speaker on certain things." ANNIE SPILMAN: "This sets a really bad precedent. You know, these Memorial Bills are sacred resolutions that memorialize lives. They are really things that were untouchable as far as partisan issues." HARVEY KRONBERG: "We've essentially got two weeks left for Bills to be set and heard in committee and we're approaching a choke point here right now and we just went to DEF CON 3, if not DEFCON 4." RUDY KOSKI: "Think that this was the fight of the session there, Brad, and that everything else is going to be kind of maybe smooth sailing?" BRAD JOHNSON: "No, I don't think so, but I will say this this does provide an interesting test of the Speaker's metal." RUDY KOSKI: In the battle for Senator John Cornyn's U.S. Senate seat, on Friday Ken Paxton posted on social media a list of people endorsing him. That list includes Austin defense attorney Adam Loewy. While Loewy's name is eye-catching, state Senator Joan Huffman's name also came up Friday. She may become a possible contender to replace Paxton as Attorney General. BRAD JOHNSON: "I think the most interesting thing to me is the attorney general's race. That is going to be fascinating to watch. Mays Middleton obviously jumped in, announced with $10 million of his own commitment. John Bash is already in." HARVEY KRONBERG: "I can toss in a name that just surfaced the last couple of days for attorney general. That's Joan Huffman. She is Senate Finance chair, and it would be a free ride for her. BRAD JOHNSON: "Harvey, I just talked to her on the phone this morning, and she said she was seriously considering it." ANNIE SPILMAN: "Some other ones that I've heard that might drop; George P. Bush. Eva Guzman. Brandon Creighton, his name has been thrown out there. Chip Roy and one that you kind of are hearing up and down, Mitch Little. He is a new state Rep and he was involved in the Paxton and impeachment trial (on the Defense Team)." RUDY KOSKI: "Brad, I think last week you had mentioned that this is going to be possibly a reshuffling period for the Republicans here in Texas. You still thinking that?" BRAD JOHNSON: "Well, yeah, I mean, there's been pent-up energy for three cycles for three terms at the statewide level because nobody's left. Well, now some people are leaving. Paxton running for Senate. (former Texas Comptroller) Hager going to A&M." ANNIE SPILMAN: "You know, I think right now, the minute you start hearing rumors about statewide and then who might throw their name in the hat there, you start seeing movement in the state Senate, and then there's rumors about who from the House is in that Senate district and who's going to move up there." HARVEY KRONBERG: "The candidate most people want to see is Brian Harrison, decide to run for Congress and leave the House of Representatives. That would have near universal support. " RUDY KOSKI: "Let's wrap things up with one final word. Can you believe it? One final word for this week. All right, guys, let's try it. Harvey, what's your one word?" HARVEY KRONBERG: "I'm going to go back to tariffs." ANNIE SPILMAN: "Reflective." BRAD JOHNSON: "Abbott." RUDY KOSKI: "And with that, we're wrapping up another Week in Texas Politics." The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ken Paxton's Senate run, state budget, and Texas DOGE: TWITP
The Brief Big topics this week: Ken Paxton's Senate run, a new state budget, and Texas DOGE FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discuss the big stories from This Week in Texas Politics AUSTIN, Texas - Texas House members worked into the early morning hours to finalize their version of a new state budget. The marathon debate capped off an intense week. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discuss the big stories from This Week in Texas Politics. Local perspective RUDY KOSKI: Big votes and some big decisions dominating This Week in Texas Politics. Let's get the headlines from our panel, and we'll start with Philip Jankowski with the Dallas Morning News. Philip, what's your headline for the week? PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Yeah, Paxton's Senate run sets off party battles. RUDY KOSKI: Political analyst Karina Kling, what's your headline for the week? KARINA KLING: I'll stick to that same theme. Get ready for a nasty Senate primary between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton. RUDY KOSKI: Brian Smith with St. Edward's University. Give me a headline. BRIAN SMITH: Not going to change much. Attorney General Ken Paxton wants to be your next senator. RUDY KOSKI: Early Friday morning, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick announced that he doesn't plan on changing jobs he's running for reelection. But another high-profile Republican is trying to change jobs, Attorney General Ken Paxton, as expected, announcing that he will challenge Senator John Cornyn for the GOP nomination for chair. Philip, no surprise, this one, as everyone's mentioned, has gotten ugly fast. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Obviously, no love lost between these two. I can remember a tweet, I think we all can remember this one that John Cornyn put out when Ken Paxton was needling him and Cornyn said, essentially, hard to run for Senate from prison, Ken. RELATED:Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick announces Trump-endorsed re-election campaign BRIAN SMITH: I think the key to the race though is, who does Donald Trump support? RELATED:Ken Paxton announced bid for Senate; John Cornyn responds KARINA KLING: I think that it's interesting because Trump needs him. Cornyn's trying to get his agenda over the finish line there in the Senate and moving that agenda. He's got the support of national Republicans coming out in support of him early on for Cornyn. And I think when Trump does endorse, it's not going to be until late in this primary. RUDY KOSKI: The Texas House worked into the early morning of Friday, plowing through its big budget bill. There were a lot of amendments, more than 400, and a lot ended up in a trash can called Article 11. There was talk about defunding the lottery, taking money away from the economic development and tourism office in the governor's office. Brian, was there anything in the debate that surprised you? BRIAN SMITH: I think the commitment to fund border security is something that I was surprised survived because I thought Texas was going to try to move that to the federal level and get reimbursed for the money. RUDY KOSKI: Ah, but we did have a little political drama before that budget debate began and a little political nose tweaking. It involved Representative Brian Harrison. He put up a motion to unseat Speaker Burrows and he only got two votes. Philip, certainly an embarrassment for Harrison, but does this solidify the position for Burrows? PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Yeah, I think it does solidify his position, or at the least shows that everybody's moved on past this. An embarrassment. Maybe in the Chamber, people think Brian Harrison is an embarrassment. But Brian Harrison pretty much got what he wanted. RUDY KOSKI: Well, it looks like legislation to create a new Texas Regulation Oversight Agency will be the first major bill that's going to be sent to the governor's desk for his signature in this session. But, Karina, the Republicans have been in control of state government for a very long time. Is this just an indictment against them that they've blown management? KARINA KLING: I noticed, you know, we were talking about Brian Harrison and speaking of him, he was the only Republican to vote with Democrats against this. And he was saying just what you're mentioning there, that it's a power grab and expands government. So it's going to be an interesting kind of the give and take on this moving forward. RUDY KOSKI: Let's circle back now to Ken Paxton's bid for the Senate. His decision means that he's not going to seek reelection as Attorney General. Republican John Bash is the first Republican to jump in. Karina, this creates an open seat, open opportunity for the Democrats. KARINA KLING: Yeah, I mean, this is going to be a competitive primary in Texas for sure. It could really reset Republican politics here in Texas. RELATED:Former U.S. Attorney John Bash announced bid for Texas Attorney General PHILIP JANKOWSKI: They are teeing up, what could be a pretty, you know a pretty contested election with a Trump, you know Mid-Term election coming up. BRIAN SMITH: There's going to be a lot of pressure for the Democrats to put their best top candidates at the top of the ticket. But I think if they really focus on the AG position, this is how they could get their foot in the door. RUDY KOSKI: You can see the full discussion on the FOX 7 YouTube page and also on FOX Local, but let's wrap things up with one word for the week, and we'll start with Karina. What's your word for the week? KARINA KLING:Sleep. RUDY KOSKI:Brian, what's your word for the week? BRIAN SMITH: Budget. RUDY KOSKI: Philip, give me your word for the week. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Oh man, I think I said Tariffs last week, so this week I'll say Terrified. RUDY KOSKI:And that is This Week in Texas Politics. The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski and previous coverage
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump tariffs and Hollywood stars testifying in Austin: TWITP
The Brief Hollywood stars testify in Austin, Trump's war on tariffs, and a Ken Paxton prosecution update These are some of the big stories in This Week in Texas Politics AUSTIN, Texas - Hollywood stars under the Capitol dome and budget trouble with tariffs. These are some of the big stories in This Week in Texas Politics. FOX 7 Austin's chief political reporter Rudy Koski and our panel of analysts discuss the big stories from This Week in Texas Politics. Local perspective RUDY KOSKI: Another busy week in Texas politics. Let's get the headlines from our panel and we'll start first with Dallas Morning News reporter, Philip Jankowski. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: Trump's tariff trade war turns to turmoil. RUDY KOSKI: Harvey Kronberg, with the Quorum Report. What's your headline? HARVEY KRONBERG: With likely vacancies at Comptroller and AG, 2026, Musical Chairs begins in earnest. RUDY KOSKI: Patrick Svitek with the Washington Post, give me a headline for the week. PARTICK SVITEK: Trump goes all out on tariffs. RUDY KOSKI: Possibly the biggest story of the week is the AP report that the Biden administration, Department of Justice, declined to prosecute Attorney General Ken Paxton. Harvey, what's your take on this? It's somewhat of a surprise, isn't it? HARVEY KRONBERG: Well, it certainly takes off what could have been a primary obstacle. It certainly opens the door and the Attorney General certainly sounds like he's ready to take action. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: I think the scrapping of the Department of Justice investigation into him is actually something that he can definitely use to his advantage. PARTICK SVITEK: I don't know if it was the end that I was expecting, but just to play off of what everyone else said, I mean, this gives Paxton a pretty powerful political talking point, at least in the context of Republican primary. RUDY KOSKI: On Thursday, the House Public Education Committee moved forward school funding and school choice legislation. Philip, you wrote an article about this, but more from a homeschooler's perspective. Do they feel like their backs are being pushed against the wall? PHILIP JANKOWSKI: I don't know about backs pushed against the wall. If, under the current version, they decide to take an education savings account to the tune of roughly about $2,000, they'd have to take standardized tests for the first time. How much money will they take to be subjected to Norm-Referenced Assessments? RUDY KOSKI: Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick made a state of the session briefing on Thursday, saying that he and Speaker Burrows were singing from the same songbook, but he still expressed that he had some concerns about how things are going on the house side a little slow. Harvey, are you seeing any signs that there's a breakup happening with the Big 3? HARVEY KRONBERG: Well, let's start with the proposition that the Speaker was actively campaigned against by the Lieutenant Governor, Dan Patrick. He has a long history of trying to undermine Speakers, trying to stampede the House, and this is going to be a test for Dustin Burrows coming up shortly. RUDY KOSKI: Hollywood stars came out under the Capitol Dome this week. Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, and the producer of the TV series, The Chosen, appeared before a Senate hearing endorsing a $500 million plan to attract moviemakers to Texas. Harvey, this is interesting because it's being endorsed by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, who is known for being a small government kind of guy. HARVEY KRONBERG: This is an about face for him. It's kind of a surprising about face because he's always resisted that. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: I think it's worth pointing out that Taylor Sheridan was not at the hearing, were actually a couple of folks, Donna Campbell and Paul Bettencourt, senators took aim at the F-bombs and taking the Lord's name in his show and particularly the show Landman. RUDY KOSKI: Tuesday was election day in Florida and Wisconsin. Patrick, you wrote an analysis on those elections. You know, how could what happened there apply in Texas. PARTICK SVITEK: In the Wisconsin Supreme Court race in particular, you saw the role of Elon Musk really backfire there. And so, if you're looking forward, you know, to the race in Texas, I think all candidates are probably thinking about how much to embrace Elon Musk and to embrace the Doge efforts. RUDY KOSKI: President Trump's tariff war certainly has a lot of people on Wall Street shaking in their Gucci shoes. Harvey, you're concerned that this could have a ripple effect on the Texas Budget. HARVEY KRONBERG: Well, I've been singing this song since the election. If 50% of, I wrote originally, if 50% percent of what Trump was proposing passed, it would be devastating to the Texas revenue streams. 53% of our revenue stream comes from sales tax and sales year-over-year growth is essentially flatlined, before the tariffs. The bottom line is that I think 2026, any way you look at it, is going to be a severe budget-cutting session. RUDY KOSKI: You can catch our full discussion on the Fox 7 Austin YouTube page and also on Fox local. But let's wrap up things with one final word for the week. And we'll begin with Harvey. What's your word? HARVEY KRONBERG: Overwhelmingly, it is Tariffs. RUDY KOSKI: Patrick, give me your word. PARTICK SVITEK: You know, I'll say penguins, because I'm thinking of those penguins on the island that got subjected to the Trump terror, even though they're in a very remote location. RUDY KOSKI: And Philip, what's your work. PHILIP JANKOWSKI: I can't beat that, but I'll say Retaliation. RUDY KOSKI: And that is This Week in Texas Politics The Source Information from interviews conducted by FOX 7 Austin's Rudy Koski
