DALLAS — NEWSMAKER
Inside Texas Politics began with the 2020 U.S. presidential election. Democratic U.S. Representative Marc Veasey (TX-Dist. 33) predicted a Democratic landslide regardless of who is the Democratic nominee for president. He joined host Jason Whitely and Bud Kennedy, from the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, to discuss why the Democrats will beat President Trump. Congressman Veasey also talked about his effort to get a new veterans hospital in North Texas.
STATEWIDE
"The Texodus" continues. Republican U.S. Representative Bill Flores, from Waco, is the latest Texan to leave D.C. He is not running for re-election. Congressman Flores is now the fifth Texas Republican leaving Congress. Ross Ramsey, the co-founder and executive editor of the Texas Tribune, joined host Jason Whitely to discuss why Flores could be retiring. Jason and Ross also talked about the Texas Tribune’s report on State Senator Royce West’s representation of school districts and other organizations as a private attorney.
MY VOICE, MY OPINION
Many have heard of emotional support animals – people sitting on airplanes with horses and pigs. In this week’s My Voice, My Opinion, Cydney Walker, from Coffee and Politics 101, talks about another similar phrase that’s going around.
NEWSMAKER 2
Over the next few weeks, host Jason Whitely will interview each of the Democrats running for U.S. Senate in 2020. This week he sat down with Cristina Tzntzun Ramirez. Ramirez was recruited to run for the Senate by several of former congressman and 2020 presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke’s top organizers.
FLASHPOINT
Texas Governor Greg Abbott has talked about the failures that led, in part, to the massacre in Odessa, Texas. Democrats want Gov. Abbott to call a special session and do something about it. Two takes in Flashpoint. From the right, Wade Emmert, former chairman of Dallas County's Republican Party. And from the left, LULAC's National President Domingo Garcia.
ROUNDTABLE
Reporters Roundtable puts the headlines in perspective each week. Ross Ramsey and Bud Kennedy returned along with Berna Dean Steptoe, WFAA’s political producer. Ross, Bud and Berna Dean joined host Jason Whitely to discuss whether Texas Governor Greg Abbott will call a special legislative session on gun control. Last week, Gov. Abbott issued executive orders to stop gun violence. And Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick named a select committee to address the issue. The four journalists also offered perspective on The Hill’s story that Tarrant County will be one of ten counties to decide the 2020 presidential election.
More on WFAA:
- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick breaks with NRA and advocates for strengthening background checks
- Texas leaders urge changes in gun safety measures after multiple mass shootings
- Will common ground on gun safety be easier to find after multiple mass shootings in Texas?
- Odessa shooting shows how fast false political connections spread online
- Authorities search home of man thought to have sold weapon to West Texas shooter
- NRA fires back at Walmart's decision to stop selling certain ammunition
