Texas Talks

Veteran Texas politics reporter Brad Johnson joins the Texas Talks Podcast to break down the biggest policy fights shaping Texas in 2026. From water shortages and data centers to property tax relief, school vouchers, nuclear energy, and artificial intelligence, this wide-ranging conversation explains what actually passed in 2025—and what still lies ahead. The episode closes with a sharp analysis of the Texas U.S. Senate race, including Cornyn vs. Paxton, Democratic strategy, and what primary voters are really signaling about the future of Texas politics. Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks

Texas Christmas trees are more than a holiday tradition—they’re a growing agricultural industry reshaping rural economies across the state. In this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Stan Reed, Executive Secretary of the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association, to explore how Texas farmers are expanding from traditional crops into Christmas tree farming, agritourism, and year-round family experiences.The conversation covers how Christmas trees are grown in Texas, why demand for real trees is rising, how water rights and land use affect growers, and why locally grown trees are better for both communities and the environment. From seedling to six-foot tree, Reed explains the four-year process behind a Texas Christmas tree—and why this old-school tradition is finding new life in a changing economy. Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks

Texas Hospital Association CEO John Hawkins joins Brad Swail to break down the toughest challenges facing health care in Texas — from rural hospital closures and workforce shortages to Medicare policy, uninsured rates, and the future of federal funding. Hawkins explains how geography, payer mix, population growth, and administrative burdens are reshaping the system, and outlines the state and federal solutions that could stabilize care for millions of Texans. A must-listen for anyone tracking Texas policy, health care access, or the future of hospitals in fast-growing states. Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks

Texas housing is shifting fast — and in this in-depth interview, Texas Realtors Vice President of Governmental Affairs Tray Bates breaks down the real forces driving prices, affordability, and policy debates across the state. We cover the post-COVID market cooldown, interest-rate shocks, short-term rentals, global capital flowing into Texas development, and the growing “missing middle” problem affecting first-time buyers.Bates also explains the legislative fights ahead: property-tax reform, permitting delays, lot-size requirements, infrastructure bottlenecks, and the strategic plan Texas Realtors will take into the 90th Legislature. If you want a clear, candid, insider look at Texas real estate from someone who lives it every day, this conversation lays out exactly what’s happening and what comes next. Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks

Texas Talks host Brad Swail sits down with Peyton Schumann — the Interim Executive Director of Government Relations for the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association — for a deep dive into the challenges and future of cattle ranching in Texas. They cover everything from rising beef prices and drought-driven herd declines to the complexities of beef imports, federal trade policy, and the threat posed by the New World screwworm. Peyton also breaks down the high costs ranchers face, processing bottlenecks, truth-in-labeling laws, water shortages, and what the Texas Legislature may tackle next. If you want a clear, inside look at the realities of ranching in 2025 and what it means for consumers, landowners, and the state’s economy, this conversation delivers it. Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks