Texas Talks

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.Celia Cole, CEO of Feeding Texas, joins Brad Swail on Texas Talks to discuss rising food insecurity, the consequences of federal changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and the difficult decisions facing Texas lawmakers ahead of the 2027 legislative session.Feeding Texas represents a network of 20 food banks serving all 254 Texas counties. Cole explains how rising food prices, transportation costs, and household expenses are putting increasing pressure on families, particularly in rural communities where grocery stores and affordable fresh food can be difficult to access.The conversation examines changes to SNAP under H.R. 1, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Cole explains how new federal cost-sharing requirements could leave Texas responsible for approximately $770 million annually if the state's SNAP payment error rate remains above the federal threshold.She also addresses a critical distinction often overlooked in the debate: SNAP payment errors are not the same as fraud.According to Cole, SNAP enrollment in Texas has declined by approximately 738,000 participants, or 20%, over the past year. She discusses expanded work requirements, administrative challenges, and the consequences for children, older adults, and working families who depend on food assistance.Brad and Celia also explore whether food banks, churches, and private charities could realistically replace declining government food assistance. Cole explains that for every meal provided by food banks, SNAP provides approximately nine, illustrating the enormous scale of the federal program.The discussion turns to the economic consequences of hunger, including its effects on health care costs, children's education, workforce productivity, and local businesses. Cole argues that maintaining access to food assistance is both a humanitarian priority and an important economic consideration for Texas.They also examine possible solutions, including reducing the state's SNAP payment error rate, improving government technology, strengthening employee training, and delaying the new federal cost-sharing requirements.Finally, Cole outlines Feeding Texas's legislative priorities, including protecting funding for surplus agricultural products, improving SNAP employment and training programs, and expanding access to summer food assistance for children.Can Texas address growing hunger while navigating new federal requirements and mounting budget pressures?Join Brad Swail and Celia Cole on Texas Talks for an in-depth conversation about food insecurity, government spending, and the future of food assistance in Texas.00:00 - Opening: Why Food Banks Cannot Replace SNAP00:23 - Introducing Celia Cole and Feeding Texas02:04 - Texas Hunger Crisis and Rising Food Costs03:45 - Rural Food Deserts and Grocery Access06:48 - How Federal SNAP Changes Could Cost Texas $770 Million09:57 - Texas Budget Cuts and SNAP Administration11:22 - Falling SNAP Enrollment and Food Bank Demand14:31 - New SNAP Work Requirements and Eligibility Changes17:24 - How Food Banks Are Responding to Growing Hunger20:12 - Can Private Charities Replace Government Food Assistance?23:58 - SNAP Payment Errors, Fraud and Potential Solutions30:06 - Technology, State Government and the 2027 Legislature37:08 - Feeding Texas Legislative Priorities Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

Texas has experienced extraordinary economic growth over the past 25 years, but are Texans actually feeling the benefits?John Hryhorchuk, Senior Vice President of Policy and Advocacy at Texas 2036, returns to Texas Talks with Brad Swail to discuss the organization's latest statewide polling, the issues motivating Texas voters, and the policy challenges facing lawmakers ahead of the 2027 legislative session.Despite decades of economic expansion, Texas 2036's polling reveals a growing disconnect between the state's economic success and how residents feel about their own lives. Only 52% of surveyed voters believe they have personally benefited from Texas's growth, while 67.7% say they are extremely or very concerned about the future.John explains what these findings reveal about affordability, economic opportunity, and voters' confidence in their ability to control their own futures. He also examines the surprising areas of agreement between Republicans and Democrats, particularly on education, health care, and infrastructure.Education emerges as one of the strongest priorities in the polling, with voters emphasizing the importance of children reading and performing math at grade level. The conversation explores why education has risen in importance, how attitudes toward border security have shifted, and what these changes could mean for the next legislative session.Health care affordability is another major concern. John discusses widespread dissatisfaction with the current system, growing support for price transparency and oversight of health care consolidation, and the rising insurance costs facing Texas teachers.The discussion then turns to water, electricity, and the rapid expansion of data centers across Texas. While data centers receive significant public attention, Texas 2036's polling suggests voters are more strongly motivated by broader concerns about affordable electricity, reliable water infrastructure, and everyday quality of life.Brad and John also explore how Texas government agencies can better coordinate their data to improve services, evaluate education and workforce outcomes, and help policymakers respond more quickly to changing economic conditions.Finally, they examine the growing influence of artificial intelligence in classrooms and the workforce, the importance of career and technical education, and the challenges of preparing students for jobs that may look very different in the years ahead.As Texas approaches its bicentennial in 2036, the conversation raises a fundamental question: Can the state translate its remarkable economic growth into a better quality of life for all Texans?Join Brad Swail and John Hryhorchuk on Texas Talks for a data-driven discussion about the future of Texas and the decisions facing its elected leaders.00:00 - Opening: What Texas Voters Think About Data Centers00:26 - Introducing John Hryhorchuk and Texas 203603:27 - The Texas Miracle: Are Texans Benefiting From Growth?06:46 - Political Divisions, Economic Confidence and Voter Priorities11:23 - Education Becomes a Top Priority for Texas Voters14:57 - Why 67.7% of Texans Are Concerned About the Future20:10 - Healthcare Affordability and Growing Support for Reform25:39 - Rising Health Insurance Costs for Texas Teachers27:07 - Data Centers, Water Infrastructure and Electricity Costs33:09 - Government Accountability and Connecting State Agency Data39:18 - Artificial Intelligence, Education and Workforce Readiness44:59 - Texas 2036's Priorities for the 2027 Legislative Session Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

Can Texas produce enough electricity to power the artificial intelligence revolution, or are the state's massive data center projections creating an infrastructure bubble?Dr. Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, nonresident fellow at Columbia University, founding partner of IdeaSmiths LLC, and host of the Energy Capital podcast, joins Brad Swail on Texas Talks to examine the future of Texas' electricity grid, the explosive growth of AI data centers, and the challenges facing ERCOT.Rhodes discusses the current state of the Texas power grid, including improvements made since Winter Storm Uri and remaining concerns about natural gas supply during extreme weather. He explains how new solar generation and battery storage helped Texas manage record electricity demand without the dramatic price spikes that have accompanied previous summer peaks.The conversation then turns to projections suggesting Texas could need approximately 400 gigawatts of electricity capacity to accommodate future demand. Rhodes argues that reaching those levels within the proposed timeframe would require an unprecedented expansion of power generation, transmission infrastructure, manufacturing capacity, and construction resources.Brad and Joshua explore whether the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers resembles an economic bubble, what happens if proposed projects never materialize, and whether excess power generation could ultimately benefit ordinary Texans through lower electricity prices.They also discuss the potential of small modular nuclear reactors and geothermal energy, the rising cost of natural gas turbines and transformers, and the question of who should pay for the infrastructure required by large technology companies.Beyond electricity demand, the discussion examines community concerns surrounding data center water consumption, cooling systems, noise pollution, local tax incentives, and the economic benefits these facilities can provide.Finally, Rhodes explains ERCOT's Batch Zero process, recent efforts to bring greater accountability to large-load connection requests, and what he hopes the 90th Texas Legislature will prioritize when developing future energy policies.From nuclear power and grid reliability to artificial intelligence, data centers, and electricity costs, this episode explores how Texas can balance economic growth, technological innovation, and affordable, reliable energy without placing unnecessary burdens on everyday Texans.Watch Texas Talks with Brad Swail for an in-depth conversation about the future of energy in the Lone Star State.00:00 — Can Texas Meet 400GW of Electricity Demand? 00:19 — Introduction to Dr. Joshua Rhodes 01:51 — Why Rhodes Studies the Texas Power Grid 03:44 — ERCOT and Lessons from Winter Storm Uri 06:16 — Texas' Record Electricity Demand 08:53 — Data Centers and the 400GW Forecast 11:54 — Why ERCOT's Demand Projections Are So High 14:15 — How Much Electricity Demand Is Realistic? 16:07 — Is the AI Data Center Boom a Bubble? 19:10 — Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and Geothermal Energy 21:14 — Could Overbuilding Power Plants Lower Electricity Prices? 25:55 — Rising Infrastructure Costs and Electric Bills 29:02 — Data Center Water Consumption and Noise 32:54 — Data Center Tax Breaks and Local Economic Benefits 36:00 — ERCOT's Batch Zero Process and SB 6 37:42 — Governor Abbott's Data Center Audit 40:40 — What Should the 90th Texas Legislature Do? 43:51 — Energy Subsidies and Market Competition 44:40 — Future Energy Policy and Closing Thoughts Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

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 Oversight.Tepper discusses the committee’s examination of district attorneys and criminal prosecution, including the scrutiny surrounding the Travis County District Attorney’s Office and possible approaches lawmakers could consider during the 90th Texas Legislature.The conversation then turns west to a highly unusual question: Could counties currently in New Mexico eventually become part of Texas? Tepper discusses interest from communities along the Texas-New Mexico border, the economic and cultural ties between those counties and West Texas, and what would have to happen for a boundary change to move forward.Finally, Tepper and Brad discuss oversight of taxpayer-funded contracts, nonprofits and local government programs, including questions surrounding homelessness spending in Austin and how governments should respond when publicly funded programs fail to meet their goals.00:00 — Introducing Rep. Carl Tepper01:08 — Texas' Governmental Oversight Hearings02:53 — Crime & Repeat Offenders04:39 — Scrutiny of District Attorneys05:12 — What Could the Legislature Do?07:22 — Could Texas Expand Into New Mexico?08:32 — Why New Mexico Counties Are Looking at Texas11:05 — How a Texas-New Mexico Boundary Change Could Work11:57 — Rural & Frontier Texas14:38 — Safeguarding Taxpayer Funds15:09 — Austin's Homelessness Spending16:51 — Accountability for Government Contracts19:10 — Closing Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

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, Vice President of Clarity Child Guidance Center in San Antonio, to examine the state of children’s mental healthcare in Texas.Bryan shares the personal experience that led her from a career in technology to becoming an advocate for children’s mental health and explains how technology and social media have changed the environment in which children grow up.The conversation explores gaps in the mental health system, including the lack of a consistent continuum of care, difficulties sharing health information, insurance and reimbursement challenges, workforce shortages and the difference between having mental health coverage and actually being able to access treatment.Bryan also reflects on nearly two decades of advocacy at the Texas Capitol, how the conversation surrounding children’s mental health has changed and what she hopes lawmakers will address during the 90th Texas Legislature.This is Part 2 of our two-part Texas Hospital Association special. Be sure to watch Part 1 with Allen Harrison on the economics and financial pressures facing Texas hospitals.00:00 — Introducing Chris Bryan01:56 — A Personal Journey Into Mental Health Advocacy04:20 — Technology Meets Healthcare06:05 — Behavioral Health vs. Mental Health07:13 — How Technology Is Changing Childhood10:21 — Gaps in the Mental Health System11:47 — The Missing Continuum of Care12:40 — Health Data & Funding Challenges15:26 — Why Mental Health Coverage Falls Short17:53 — Coverage Doesn't Mean Access20:13 — 20 Years of Mental Health Advocacy22:14 — How the Texas Conversation Has Changed23:42 — Priorities for the 90th Legislature24:22 — Closing Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

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 Harrison, President of Medical City Healthcare, HCA Healthcare’s North Texas Division, and Chair-Elect of the Texas Hospital Association Board of Trustees.Harrison shares the personal story that led him to a career in healthcare before turning to the financial pressures facing Texas hospitals and the growing debate over healthcare affordability.The conversation examines Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, uninsured patients, the role of commercial insurance, hospital pricing and the growing financial burden placed directly on patients. Harrison also discusses what Texas hospitals are watching ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature and why protecting existing Medicaid funding is a major priority.Brad and Harrison also explore Texas’ healthcare workforce, including improvements in the nursing shortage, continued demand for specialized healthcare workers and how the patient experience can be complicated by an increasingly difficult-to-understand billing system.This is Part 1 of our two-part Texas Hospital Association special. Part 2 continues tomorrow with another conversation from the THA Annual Conference.00:00 — Introducing Allen Harrison01:47 — A Personal Connection to Healthcare04:11 — How Healthcare Has Changed06:29 — Preparing to Lead the Texas Hospital Association07:45 — Healthcare Affordability & the 90th Legislature09:22 — Medicare, Medicaid & Hospital Finances12:09 — Protecting Texas Medicaid Funding13:25 — What Really Drives Healthcare Costs?14:53 — How Hospital Pricing Actually Works16:25 — Managing Financial Uncertainty18:00 — Insurance & Rising Patient Costs20:52 — Texas' Healthcare Workforce23:00 — Shortages in Specialized Healthcare Jobs24:22 — What Patients Want From Healthcare26:22 — Closing Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

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 spokesperson and chair of the House Subcommittee on Maternal Health, Menopause and Access to Evidence-Based Medicine — sits down with Brad Swail on Texas Talks to walk through her Texas Women’s Health Initiative: baseline hormone testing, HRT coverage, physician liability, iron and prenatal access, and why she says doctors now practice insurance instead of medicine.Pierson spent 14 years in healthcare, including OB-GYN. She filed a menopause-coverage bill in 2025 that never got a hearing. After the FDA lifted the HRT black-box warning, she took a larger package to the Speaker and got interim charges. In this conversation she explains:• Why she wants insurance to cover physician-prescribed perimenopause and menopause treatment — including testosterone when medically necessary • The case for baseline hormone testing before women get labeled with depression or anxiety • Prior authorization, compounding clinics, and telehealth HRT after the black box came off • Why Medicaid still requires a prescription for prenatal vitamins, and why she wants physicians able to dispense iron and basics in the office • What she heard in her subcommittee’s first hearing on prenatal nutrition and Healthy Texas Women • The gap she flagged in HTW: enrollment is up, participation is down • The next hearing (date TBD) on menopause and perimenopause, including patient testimony at the CapitolTexas Talks — policy conversations with the people shaping Texas.Subscribe for more interviews with Texas lawmakers, agency leaders, and policy experts.Chapters 0:00 If a doctor prescribes it, why can’t you get it? 0:55 Intro: Rep. Katrina Pierson 2:26 How the Women’s Health Initiative started 4:28 Baseline hormone testing 7:37 Physician liability and testosterone 8:51 The $350 pellet vs. the $86 men’s tube 10:04 Why women use testosterone 11:25 Telehealth HRT and prior authorization 13:34 Iron, folic acid, and standing orders 24:19 The black-box studies and starting HRT early 27:33 Yesterday’s subcommittee hearing 28:28 Physician dispense and rural access 31:32 What Healthy Texas Women actually is 33:04 Enrollment up, services down 35:59 How is women’s health in Texas right now? 37:22 North Texas Maternal Health Accelerator 38:42 Close#TexasTalks #KatrinaPierson #WomensHealth #HRT #Menopause #TexasLegislature #txlege Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

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 co-founder of Sidecar Health, following his testimony before the Texas House Select Committee on Health Care Affordability.Quigley explains Sidecar Health’s approach to insurance and why he believes greater price and quality transparency, fewer restrictions on where patients receive care, and stronger financial incentives for consumers could help lower healthcare costs.The conversation explores provider networks, prior authorization, prescription drug prices, clinical quality data and the high cost of delayed care. Quigley also explains how Sidecar’s model rewards members for choosing care that costs less than the plan’s benefit amount and discusses the company’s experience with primary care, mental health services and emergency room utilization.Finally, Quigley discusses Texas’ healthcare affordability debate and what he would like lawmakers to consider as the state approaches the 90th Texas Legislature.00:00 — Introducing Patrick Quigley01:05 — Sidecar Health & the Healthcare Affordability Problem04:34 — Testifying Before Texas Lawmakers06:15 — What's Wrong With Provider Networks?07:43 — Why Patients Don't Know What Healthcare Costs10:14 — Measuring the Quality of Medical Care15:58 — Networks, Insurance Companies & Patient Choice17:20 — How Much Should Healthcare Cost?20:10 — The Texas Healthcare Opportunity22:12 — Prior Authorization & Trusting Doctors23:37 — Access to Care & Emergency Room Costs26:33 — Prescription Prices & Consumer Incentives29:26 — Why Healthcare Prices Vary by Location32:11 — What Should Texas Lawmakers Do?35:00 — Closing Thoughts Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

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, host Brad Swail sits down with Ryan Patrick, the new CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, to discuss his vision for the organization and its priorities heading into the 90th Texas Legislature.Patrick draws on his career as a prosecutor, judge, U.S. Attorney and private-practice attorney to explain why he believes Texas needs to refocus on civil justice and tort reform. He discusses the impact of large verdicts and litigation on insurance premiums, businesses and consumers, as well as TLR’s concerns about medical damages, litigation surrounding commercial vehicles, and the incentives created by the current system.The conversation also looks ahead to the next legislative session, where Patrick says TLR will pursue reforms addressing medical damages, staged accidents, insurance fraud, liability involving criminal activity, and other areas of Texas civil law.Patrick also explains how he hopes to lead a new generation at TLR while building on the organization’s three decades of work in Texas.00:00 — Introducing Ryan Patrick00:50 — From Prosecutor to Judge to U.S. Attorney03:18 — Why Patrick Joined Texans for Lawsuit Reform04:59 — A New Generation at TLR07:06 — Refocusing on Tort & Civil Justice Reform09:28 — Texas Courts & the Case for Reform13:48 — Venue Shopping & Consistency in the Courts16:40 — Litigation, Insurance Premiums & Rising Costs19:26 — How Lawsuits Can Impact Small Businesses23:03 — Medical Damages & TLR’s Next Reform Push28:32 — Do Large Verdicts Make Texans Safer?30:34 — When Insurance Becomes Unaffordable33:04 — How Texas Compares with Other States40:41 — Staged Accidents & Insurance Fraud41:36 — Priorities for the 90th Legislature47:21 — TLR’s Strategy for the Next Session48:10 — Final Thoughts Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com

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, host Brad Swail welcomes back State Rep. Cody Vasut, who represents House District 25 and chairs the House Select Committee on Government Oversight. Vasut explains the committee’s mission and the wide range of issues lawmakers are examining during the interim—from Texas’ public information laws and the growing impact of AI on records requests to education foundations, taxpayer money flowing to nongovernmental organizations, and prosecutorial discretion. The conversation covers: Whether Texas' public information laws provide enough transparency How AI could transform public records requests Oversight of education foundations and public funds Taxpayer dollars flowing to NGOs and outside organizations Prosecutorial discretion and proposals for greater state oversight The unusual effort by eastern New Mexico counties interested in joining Texas Vasut also discusses how his previous experience in local government influences his approach to state oversight and what he hopes the committee can accomplish before the next legislative session. 00:00 — Introduction & Rep. Cody Vasut 03:02 — The House Government Oversight Committee 05:26 — Could New Mexico Counties Join Texas? 11:13 — Government Transparency in Texas 15:08 — AI & Public Information Requests 20:15 — Education Foundations & Public Funds 24:02 — Taxpayer Money Going to NGOs 30:05 — Prosecutorial Discretion & District Attorneys 37:23 — What Success Looks Like for the Committee 38:12 — Local Government, Transparency & Taxpayers 42:03 — Closing Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com