Texas Talks

Ep. 136 - Texas Could Owe $770M for SNAP — And Food Banks Can’t Fill the Gap | Celia Cole

Texas could face a $770 million annual obligation to fund SNAP benefits under new federal rules, even as food banks across the state struggle to meet growing demand. Cel

Ep. 135 - “Your Texas Miracle Has Become My Texas Nightmare” | Texas 2036 | John Hryhorchuk

Texas has experienced extraordinary economic growth over the past 25 years, but are Texans actually feeling the benefits? John Hryhorchuk, Senior Vice President of Polic

Ep. 134 - AI Data Center Boom Is a Bubble — Texas Can’t Build Power Fast Enough | Dr. Joshua Rhodes

Can Texas produce enough electricity to power the artificial intelligence revolution, or are the state's massive data center projections creating an infrastructure bubble

Ep. 133 - Should Texas Build a Statewide Prosecutor for One County? | Rep. Carl Tepper

Texas State Representative Carl Tepper joins Brad Swail on Texas Talks to discuss some of the major issues being examined by the House Select Committee on Governmental Ov

Ep. 132 - The State of Children's Mental Health with Chris Bryan | Live | Part 2

In Part 2 of our special Texas Talks series recorded live at the Texas Hospital Association Annual Conference in Fort Worth, host Brad Swail sits down with Chris Bryan, V

Ep. 131 - The Real Economics of Texas Hospitals with Allen Harrison | Live | Part 1

In Part 1 of a special two-part Texas Talks series recorded live at the Texas Hospital Association Annual Conference in Fort Worth, host Brad Swail sits down with Allen H

Ep. 130 - Women Pay $350 for a Hormone Men Get for $86 | Katrina Pierson

Women are paying $350 for a testosterone pellet. The same hormone, in a men’s tube, can last a year for $86. Texas Rep. Katrina Pierson (HD 33) — former Trump national s

Ep. 129 - Why We Pay for Health Insurance - Then Avoid Using It | Patrick Quigley

Why is it so difficult to know what healthcare will cost before you receive it? On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Patrick Quigley, CEO and c

Ep. 128 - Why Your Insurance Bill Keeps Going Up in Texas | Ryan Patrick

What is driving rising litigation and insurance costs in Texas—and what does Texans for Lawsuit Reform want lawmakers to do about it? On this episode of Texas Talks, hos

Ep. 127 - Government Transparency, Oversight & Accountability in Texas w/Rep. Cody Vasut

Texas lawmakers are taking a closer look at government transparency, taxpayer spending and accountability at the state and local levels. On this episode of Texas Talks,

Ep. 126 - Texas Community Colleges Did Too Well — Then the State Ran Out of Money | Rep. Vince Perez

How should Texas prepare its colleges, workforce, tax system, and infrastructure for the state's continued growth? On Episode 126 of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits do

Ep. 125 - Texas General Aviation: Funding, Workforce & Disaster Response | Armando Martinez

Pilot. Flight paramedic. Firefighter. State Representative. Rep. Armando Martinez (HD 39) joins Texas Talks to break down why Texas general aviation airports are more im

Ep. 124 - Can Texas Become America’s Regenerative Medicine Capital? | Jack Collier

What would it take for Texas to become the national leader in health, wellness, and regenerative medicine? On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with

Ep. 123 - Texas Tech, Higher Education Reform, & the Future of AI w/Chancellor Brandon Creighton

What will higher education look like in an age of artificial intelligence, and how can Texas universities make sure their degrees continue to deliver value? On this epis

Ep. 122 - Texas Healthcare, Education Funding, & Property Taxes w/Rep. Donna Howard

How can Texas improve healthcare access, strengthen public education, and prepare its workforce while balancing competing budget priorities? On this episode of Texas Tal

Ep. 121 - Texas Housing Affordability & the Next Legislative Session w/Chairman Gary Gates

Texas Talks host Brad Swail sits down with State Representative Gary Gates, Chairman of the House Land and Resource Management Committee and longtime Fort Bend County rep

Ep. 120 - Texas THC Ban, the Housing Fight & MUDs — What's Coming in 2027

"The Municipal Utility Districts hearing discussed in this episode is before the House Committee on Land & Resource Management, chaired by Rep. Gary Gates - not the Inter

Ep. 119 - Will Data Centers Quadruple Texas Power Demand? Mark Bell, AECT CEO Explains

Can Texas' electric grid keep up with the explosive growth of AI, data centers, and a rapidly expanding population? On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits

Ep. 118 - Data Centers Are Coming to Texas — But Who Pays for the Water & Power? | Sen. Sarah Eckhardt

How should Texas prepare for rapid growth, extreme weather, and increasing demands on its infrastructure? On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with

Ep. 117 - AI, Transparency & Taxpayer Savings: Lessons from Virginia

Can artificial intelligence help make government more efficient while saving taxpayers and businesses billions of dollars? On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swai