Ben Philpott Reporter

Ben Philpott is a senior reporter for KUT-FM, Austin's National Public Radio affiliate. He has been covering state politics and dozens of other topics for the station since 2002, during which time he has been recognized for outstanding radio journalism by the Radio and Television News Directors Association, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, the Houston Press Club and the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters. Before moving to Texas, he worked in public radio in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and at several television stations in Alabama and Tennessee. Born in New York City and raised in Chattanooga, Tenn., Philpott graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in broadcast journalism.

bphilpott@texastribune.org
512-716-8685

Recent Contributions

Linda Chavez-Thompson Joins Dem Lt. Governor Race

San Antonio’s Linda Chavez-Thompson has filed to run for the Democratic nomination for Lieutenant Governor. The former state and national labor leader is one of the few Hispanic Democrats to run for state-wide office in 2010. Ben Philpott, who's covering the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, has this profile.

Democrat Linda Chavez-Thompson Joins Lt. Gov Race

Democrat Linda Chavez-Thompson on January 4, 2010
Enlarge credit: Elise Hu
Democrat Linda Chavez-Thompson on January 4, 2010

She was born into a family of eight children near Lubbock, worked on cotton fields in her teens and later became a Hispanic labor leader. Now she's running for lieutenant governor. We've packaged resources (in various media platforms) on the latest entrant to the race.

How Much Money Will Be Spent on 2010 Govs Race?

The four major gubernatorial campaigns will spend big bucks — maybe as much as $60 million — between now and the March 2 primary. What is that deluge of cash and advertising going to look like? Ben Philpott, who's covering the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report.

Record Amount Spent in 2010 Texas Governor's Race

Enlarge credit: flickr.com/photos/dborman2

The four major gubernatorial campaigns will spend big bucks — maybe as much as $60 million — between now and the March 2 primary. What is that deluge of cash and advertising going to look like? Ben Philpott, who's covering the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report.

Rick Perry & Kay Bailey Hutchison Debate Strategy

The race for Texas governor started months ago, but the battles between the best-funded candidates will really take off in the next couple of weeks. One high point: Governor Rick Perry and U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison are expected to debate at least once, and maybe twice, in January. So how will those joint apperances figure into the overall campaign? Ben Philpott, who's covering the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report.

Sen Leticia Van de Putte on Democrats Embezzlement

It's been a rough few days for Bexar County Democrats: Party officials announced last week that a former official had embezzled more than $200,000 from the party. Just about every elected Democrat in the county held a press conference today to say that the party has a plan to pay it back — and that none of this will affect the March primary — or their candidates' chances in next November's general election. Ben Philpott, who is reporting on the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, talked with State Senator Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, about the scandal, about her party's prospects, and her own.

TX Governor's Race Takes a Break at Christmas

The Texas governor's race has already taken off. Three of the four best-funded candidates have already splashed TV and/or radio ads across the state. Some people estimate $1 million a day could get spent on the primary campaigns between the first of the year and the March 2 primary. But you'll likely see nothing right around Christmas. Ben Philpott, covering the 2010 elections for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report.

Should lawyers judges and journalists use facebook

A Florida judicial ethics panel ruled that judges and lawyers who might appear before them in court may not ethically "friend" each other on social networking sites like Facebook. Texas has no such recommendations — and there's no real consensus here on how social networking should or should not be used. Ben Philpott, who covers politics for KUT News and the Tribune, filed this report.

Kinky Friedman Drops Out of TX Governors Race

After announcing he'll drop his bid for governor and run for agriculture commissioner, Kinky Friedman talked with Ben Philpott (reporting for KUT News and the Tribune) about his decision to change races — and his unsuccessful attempt to get rival candidate Farouk Shami to seek a different office as well.

Will The TX Economy Help Shape the Governor's Race

Texas budget writers are hoping December will ring in stronger retail sales — after getting the news Friday that sales tax collections were down 14 percent from this November to last. The state’s economy is always a hot topic in the governor’s race. Ben Philpott is covering the Texas governor's race for KUT News and the Texas Tribune. He takes a look at how the economy's playing so far.

Ben’s Blog Posts

Speaker's Race Redistricting Threats Can't Be Proved
Sights and Sounds of Austin Sanity Rally
The 2010 Texas Republican Convention
TX Budget Committee Chair Predicts $18 Bil Hole
UT-Austin Democrats Head to D.C. For Higher Ed