Second Reading Podcast

So much Texas 2026 polling, so little time!

Jim Henson and Joshua Blank talk about the ins and outs of all the polling data being generated in the Texas 2026 election, how to read it, and what it’s telling us so fa

What we can and can’t know about the 2026 election today

Spurred on by two new statewide polls, James Henson and Josh Blank look at the knowns and unknowns in the Texas election environment.  Call it an exercise in epistemologi

Will Trumpapalooza help Texas Republicans?

James Henson and Joshua Blank look at Texas public opinion (and vibes) to assess the possible impact of the 2026 National Convention in Dallas on elections in Texas. This

Data Centers Aren’t Reigning Over Texas Public Opinion

While the latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll found very mixed expectations among Texas voters about the expected impact of data centers in different domains, James Hen

What the Latest UT/Texas Politics Project Poll Tells Us About the 2026 Election in Texas

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 th

How big a problem is rural discontent for Texas Republicans in the election?

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

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

Big SCOTUS Cases and the Emergence of Stronger Parties in the U.S. and Texas

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 th

Increased Partisan Intensity, a Close Senate Race, and Data Center Backlash in the New Texas Politics Project Poll

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

Gov. Abbott Sends Strong Signals on Texas Data Centers

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

Both parties gear up for Texas legislative races + the long shadow of 2018

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

The Texas Republican Base Has Spoken: What’s Next?

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

Texas GOP Worries About Base Turnout Continue as Immigration Agenda Shifts

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

Views of Donald Trump and Other Election Atmospherics in Texas

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 indicator

Undercurrents in the U.S. Senate Race in Texas and Other Reveals in the Latest Texas Politics Project Poll

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  sh

Abbott squeezes Texas cities, Congressional campaign groups spend in Texas, and the Texas Lyceum Poll.

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 pa

Bayliss Wagner on Reporting the Fall of Tony Gonzales

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 Gonza

A Look at the U.S. War with Iran with Professor Rob Moser

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 confli

A Texas Vibe Check During the Transitional Election Season

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 in

The U.S. War in Iran and the Election Climate in Texas

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 ab