The Default of Democracy
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Episode 14 – Surprise! It’s Almost Election Day!
Did you know that next month you will be electing board members to the Harris County Appraisal District? Don’t feel bad, we almost missed this one, too. But this is the board that sets your property taxes, so whether you own or rent, you have a stake in this election. Nancy and Christion also talk…
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Episode 13 – Post-Primary Wrapup
Nancy and Christion break down what happened on primary night in Texas: an incumbent DA loses in a landslide, but an incumbent Congresswoman cruises to victory. Yet turnout was anemic. How do we turn out the vote?
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Episode 12 – Welcome To 2024
We’re back after a little COVID hiatus and ready to break down the upcoming election year. How do you get excited about voting when you’re not excited about the top of the ticket? Well, the Texas primary is coming in March, and thanks to gerrymandering this is really the only competitive election in the state.…
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Episode 11 – 2023 Wrapup
We end the year with a new mayor, a more diverse city council – and yet another election on the horizon. The primary is merely a few months away, and thanks to the gerrymandering in our fair state, these are the only really competitive races. Abbott is out for revenge, setting up candidates to take…
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Episode 10 – Houston, We Have A Runoff
Forgive us for using a hack phrase, but we have a runoff election on Saturday December 9th, with Sheila Jackson-Lee and John Whitmire squaring off in the mayor’s race and a handful of council districts and at large seats at stake. Meanwhile, this election had some of the lowest turnout in years. How do we…
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Episode 9 – Israel at War, The GOP at War With Itself, Countdown to Early Voting
From the macro view there’s a lot going on this week: Israel is at war with Hezbollah, the Republican Party is fighting itself both in Congress (Kevin McCarthy) and locally (Ken Paxton). Meanwhile we want to keep our focus on our neighborhood with the mayoral and council elections. Average turnout is 200,000 out of a…
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Episode 8 – 4 weeks until Early Voting begins in Houston. Here’s why it matters that you vote.
Nancy and Christion discuss why it’s easy to get discouraged about politics, and why it’s important to tune out the noise and tune into the Houston city election. We’re electing a mayor, 16 city council positions, and two ballot propositions. The deadline to register to vote is October 10th. Are you registered? Learn about how…
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Episode 7 – GOP Debate, the state removes Harris County’s election administrator, Tony Buzbee runs for council, HISD’s state-controlled boss brings recess back, More reasons to vote.
So there was a GOP debate. But aren’t you more concerned with the water coming out of your tap than that? (Did you hear about watering restrictions this week? That’s a thing.) The state successfully outlawed Harris County from having an elections administrator (but other counties can have them because they’re not Harris County, apparently).…
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Episode 6 – Trump Indicted (again), HISD Takeover, Mayor’s Race
Pro Tip: If you care about Houston’s roads and schools, pay more attention to the mayor’s race and state government than the presidential horse race.
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Episode 5 – A Long Hot Summer
Trump’s federal indictment. Paxton impeached by his own party. Lina Hidalgo drops a F bomb on Commissioner’s Court. The Houston Mayor’s race is getting going – John Whitmire officially enters the fray against SJL. Nancy & Christion scope out their websites and sign up to learn about the candidates – how responsive are the campaigns?…