TribCast: The rise of renewable energy in Texas
In this week’s episode, energy expert Doug Lewin discusses how wind and solar power are supplying an increasing amount of power in Texas whether state leaders like it or not. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e6fa162e4b3d7355801a17c41e5e4dfd/TribCast June 23.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e6fa162e4b3d7355801a17c41e5e4dfd/TribCast%20June%2023.jpg)
Matthew Watkins
Managing Editor of News and Politics
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/profiles/Matthew_Watkins_EG_TT_01.jpg)
Matthew Watkins is managing editor of news and politics, overseeing the day-to-day planning for news coverage. He began working at the Tribune in 2015 and previously served as a reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. He also worked as a reporter at The Dallas Morning News and The Eagle in Bryan-College Station. He graduated from Texas A&M University and lives in Austin, where he grew up.
Latest Contributions
-
![Crews build a solar panel farm outside of El Campo on Monday, April 3, 2023.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Why can’t Texas Republicans get along?
In this week’s episode we check in with radio host Mark Davis and politics reporter Patrick Svitek about the GOP intraparty fighting over property taxes and Ken Paxton’s impeachment. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0b61a84effc6569bb8ed41f5132efd72/TribCast-June 16.jpg)
![Flanked by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan, Gov. Greg Abbott held a press conference at the Capitol on June 16, 2021 to provide more details on his plan for Texas to build its own border wall.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: How does Nate Paul’s arrest affect Ken Paxton?
In this week’s episode, we discuss the arrest of Austin developer Nate Paul, what it might say about Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial and whether it makes Paxton more vulnerable to criminal prosecution. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e6c662b7df5ede1002beee9f9529eb14/TribCast June 9.jpg)
![The electronic board during the vote to impeach Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, on the House floor of the state Capitol on May 27, 2023 .]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The conservative plan to eliminate school property taxes in Texas
On this week’s episode, we speak to the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s James Quintero, who has been at the center of the debate over property taxes this week. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08c44de64dfdc06abc030c55ba20cf51/TribCast June 2.jpg)
![Gov. Greg Abbott speaks about the recent 88th Legislative Session to an audience at the Texas Public Policy Foundation offices in Austin, on June 2, 2023. Abbott recounted policy victories in regards to fentanyl and the border crisis, as well as limiting gender-affirming care and banning DEI practices in higher education. Abbott ended the event by promising to call a special session for school choice, after the current special session for property tax resolves.]()
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
The regular Texas legislative session started with a record budget surplus and ended with an impeached attorney general
The 2023 legislative session started with a $32.7 billion surplus. It was mired in Republican infighting and multiple scandals. Then, the House impeached the state’s attorney general. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d4c08c13e90c5925463b45ceeb613b21/0529 Sine Die BD TT 04.jpg)
![House Speaker Dade Phelan gavels out the 88th session Sine Die on May 29, 2023.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Disarray in the Texas GOP
In this week’s episode, we discuss the first impeachment proceedings against a sitting attorney general in Texas history. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eb56198ee9fabe318ab783e7f88753f3/TribCast May 26.jpg)
![Attorney General Ken Paxton recites the pledge of allegiance at a Trump Rally in Conroe on January 29, 2022.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Is a special session of the Texas Legislature inevitable?
In this week’s episode, we discuss the long odds facing the school choice bill and the possibility of Gov. Greg Abbott calling lawmakers back for a special session. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/67db6487932cb4a52f94d1a211f50e8a/TribCast-May19.jpg)
![People walk into the House gallery at the Capitol in Austin on April 06, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
Texas senator tries new path in bid to revise Texas free-speech law
In a last-minute hearing Wednesday, Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, opened another avenue to get the bill passed, raising alarm among free-speech advocates. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a21bb28ee518e52cd6bbee814d8a25de/Dan Patrick Presser SP TT 03.jpg)
![State Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, attends a press conference regarding Democrats breaking quorum and voting legislature at the Texas Capitol on July 21, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The scene in Texas as Title 42 lifts
On this week’s episode, we discuss the situation at the Texas-Mexico border and the failed effort to raise the age at which Texans can buy semi-automatic rifles. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d4837e3f7b355ab2120e36b7bed31fd/0512 TribCast Title42.jpg)
![Two men walk on the banks of the Rio Grande River as several hundred migrants wait on the U.S. side to be picked up and processed by CBP on May 8, 2023 in Juarez, Chihuahua.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Can Texas’ political leaders stop their bickering for the legislative homestretch?
In this week’s episode, we discuss the final three weeks of the Legislature and Colin Allred’s bid for U.S. Senate. Full Story
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f40912208d581fd4a164cbc6475753dc/TribCast-May 5.jpg)
![Representatives recite the Pledge of Allegiance on the House floor in Austin on April 18, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/0b61a84effc6569bb8ed41f5132efd72/TribCast-June%2016.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/e6c662b7df5ede1002beee9f9529eb14/TribCast%20June%209.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/08c44de64dfdc06abc030c55ba20cf51/TribCast%20June%202.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/d4c08c13e90c5925463b45ceeb613b21/0529%20Sine%20Die%20BD%20TT%2004.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/eb56198ee9fabe318ab783e7f88753f3/TribCast%20May%2026.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/a21bb28ee518e52cd6bbee814d8a25de/Dan%20Patrick%20Presser%20SP%20TT%2003.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/5d4837e3f7b355ab2120e36b7bed31fd/0512%20TribCast%20Title42.jpg)
/https://static.texastribune.org/media/files/f40912208d581fd4a164cbc6475753dc/TribCast-May%205.jpg)