This week on The Ticket: The Tribune’s Jay Root and KUT’s Ben Philpott dive into the billions of dollars flowing through our campaign finance system.
Jay Root
Jay Root is an award-winning journalist who reported for the Tribune from 2011 to 2020. He covered the dramatic collapse of Gov. Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign and went on to write an ebook about it called “Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail.” Root also broke the story that put the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, on the path toward criminal indictment, co-wrote an exposé that brought an end to privately funded prosecutions in Travis County, and authored a series of watchdog articles that prompted a wave of firings and resignations at two major state agencies.
In 2017, Root co-directed “Beyond The Wall,” a film exploring border politics in the age of Trump, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Root’s latest film, “Border Hustle,” was released in early 2019 and reveals how desperate migrants have become cash cows on both sides of the border.
Previously, for a dozen years, Root was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he chronicled the rise of then-Gov. George W. Bush, wrote about cartel violence in Mexico and covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. During a three-year stint at the Associated Press, Root was twice named AP Staff Reporter of the Year for his watchdog reporting, including a story that sparked felony charges against a sitting state representative.
Posted in
31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Employee Outsourcing Firms Get Tax Break
A politically connected group of businesses will soon be getting a tax break, but all the other employers in Texas will have to pay for it through slightly higher unemployment insurance tax rates. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
Posted in
Politics
Abbott Shields Records with Paxton’s Blessing
Is Gov. Greg Abbott a “member of the public,” even when he’s discussing government business? That’s what he’s arguing in order to keep his email address private. Those and other arguments in favor of government secrecy are leaving the public less and less informed, transparency experts say.
Posted inState Government
The Ticket: From Caucuses to Corn Dogs – A Tour of Iowa
This week on The Ticket: Jay Root and Ben Philpott tell you everything you wanted to know about the Iowa caucuses, but were afraid to ask. That includes a look at the state’s sense of humor and a trip to the state fair.
Posted in
31 Days, 31 Ways (2015)
Five Changes to How Politicians Are Prosecuted
Greg Abbott called on the 2015 Legislature to reform itself with new ethics laws, and reform it did: It created one set of procedures for politicians and another for everybody else. This story is part of our 31 Days, 31 Ways series.
Posted inState Government
The Ticket: Debate Prep
This week on The Ticket: Jay Root and Ben Philpott take us back in time for a review of classic presidential debate moments. And they interview GOP consultant Deirdre Delisi about what the candidates are doing to get ready for the first GOP debate.
Posted inState Government
Paxton No Stranger to Controversial Deals
Even before Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton admitted he violated civil securities laws — or faced a subsequent criminal investigation — his private business dealings had been under fire from watchdogs and political opponents.
Posted inState Government
The Ticket: John Kasich Joins the Race
This week on The Ticket: Jay Root and Ben Philpott break down the campaign announcement speech of Ohio Gov. John Kasich and talk to Harry Enten, senior writer and analyst for FiveThirtyEight.
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The Ticket
The Ticket: Donald Trump vs. the GOP
This week on The Ticket: Jay Root and Ben Philpott break down the campaign of Donald Trump and talk to Josh Hafner, who’s reporting on the Trump campaign in Iowa for the Des Moines Register.
Posted inState Government
The Ticket: Scott Walker and Craig Gilbert
This week on The Ticket: Jay Root and Ben Philpott break down the campaign announcement speech of Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and talk to Craig Gilbert, the Washington, D.C., bureau chief for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
