On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Emma and Patrick about the Texas House’s resident bomb-thrower, the most controversial bills still moving in the Legislature and Beto O’Rourke’s attempted presidential reboot.
Todd Wiseman
Todd Wiseman was the senior editor for video and multimedia at The Texas Tribune, where he worked from 2010 to 2023. Todd previously worked at the Austin School of Film and Synthetic Pictures and interned for director Richard Linklater. At The Texas Tribune, Todd helped develop the “Stump Interrupted” series, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award. He also co-produced the award-winning documentary “Beyond The Wall.” A Fort Worth native, he graduated from the University of Southern California with a dual degree in film and English and is based in Austin.
“I’m honestly still stunned that I work here”: Meet the staffers who keep Texas lawmakers in check under the dome
Behind the 181 members of the Texas Legislature, thousands of people work to keep the Capitol humming during legislative sessions. The work isn’t always glamorous, but many view their small roles in helping state government function as an honor.
Point of Order: Appraising the House
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Reps. Dade Phelan and Donna Howard about the work done and not done in the lower chamber so far this session — and what’s likely to happen on the last stretch of road to Sine Die.
TribCast: Tax night in the Texas Lege; state ends its voter citizenship review
On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ayan, Aman and Matthew about the Legislature’s progress on property taxes and school finance reform, the state’s decision to end a botched voter citizenship review and the fate of marijuana decriminalization in the Texas Senate.
It’s crunch time: Texas bills are going to start dying
Is paid sick leave on life support? Did “constitutional carry” advocates shoot themselves in the foot? With just weeks to go in the session, lawmakers are handling the pressure to get their bills across the finish line in different ways.
Hurricane Harvey destroyed every apartment in Rockport, Texas. Some residents are still waiting for help from lawmakers.
This is the first legislative session since the storm devastated the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017. Several measures are afoot to aid in recovery and mitigate the effects of future disasters.
“We’re all afraid to go to school”: After Santa Fe, Texas seeks to make students safer
Almost a year after the massacre at Santa Fe High School, state lawmakers are considering ways to make students and teachers feel safe in the classroom again.
Meet the advocates lobbying Texas lawmakers for more money and support this session
During the Texas legislative session, the Capitol sees a rush of advocates. Our latest “Under the Dome” episode features two people lobbying on issues they are all too familiar with.
What the “wave of women” elected in 2018 looks like in the 2019 Texas Legislature
This freshman class of female legislators is young, diverse and — thanks to the women who came before them — treated as equals in the traditionally male-dominated chambers.
The top places Texas lawmakers go to wine, dine and deal during legislative session
Not everyone in the Texas Legislature gets deals done under the dome. Some lawmakers are drawn to bars, clubs and restaurants around the state Capitol for the quiet or the queso.


