In this week’s episode of The Ticket, a co-production of the Tribune and KUT, Jay and Ben break down the presidential campaign announcement speech of Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and talk with Mathew Dowd, who directed George W. Bush’s 2004 re-election campaign.
Ben Philpott
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, Tennessee, Philpott graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in broadcast journalism.
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The Ticket
The Ticket: A Presidential Podcast
On the first-ever episode of The Ticket, our presidential podcast, Jay Root and Ben Philpott talk with former Texas GOP Chairman Steve Munisteri, who’s now working for Rand Paul, and dissect Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential announcement speech at Liberty University.
Posted inState Government
Little Movement So Far on Abbott’s Ethics Wish List
Gov. Greg Abbott declared ethics reform a legislative “emergency” earlier this session, but his wish list of legislation has so far seen little momentum.
Posted inState Government
Bill Would Put Agency Budgets Under Closer Scrutiny
The Texas Legislature has spent much of the current session scrutinizing state agency budgets. A bill up in the House on Tuesday would add an additional layer of review to make sure state revenue is being spent correctly.
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Politics
Cruz Courts Young Voters in Iowa
U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz this week began his first swing through Iowa as a declared presidential candidate. He started out at a college in Sioux City, hoping to attract young people to his fledgling campaign.
Posted inState Government
Proposal to Downsize Texas School for Deaf Stirs Anger
A proposal from state lawmakers to sell off part or all of the Texas School for the Deaf, a 150-year-old facility in Austin located on prime real estate, has stirred anger and anxiety among alumni and supporters.
Posted inState Government
A Deeper Look Inside the State Budget
Keeping up with the ins and outs of the state budgeting process can be tricky. Here’s a look at where Texas gets its money and how exactly it’s spent.
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Politics
What Do Candidates Do With All That Leftover Campaign Cash?
With less than six weeks before Election Day, candidates are burning through campaign cash in their final push to sway voters. But when the race ends, many will still have money in the bank. So what do they do with it?
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Politics
In Texas, Some Political Ground Games Go Digital
When most Texas voters think of traditional political campaigns, they envision blockwalking and yard signs. In many races, however, the modern-day “ground game” has gone digital.
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Bypassed by the Miracle
In Red Texas, Local Governments Face Trickle-Down Taxes
The Republican battle cry in Texas? Lowering taxes and cutting government costs. But sometimes, belt-tightening at the state level translates into trickle-down costs for local governments.
