This year’s festival featured conversations about the 2026 elections, AI, immigration, water and much more. Catch up now in podcast form.
The 2026 Texas Tribune Festival
John Fetterman pushes back against allegations he’s a lazy senator, bad Democrat
The Pennsylvania senator has regularly criticized his party, sparking speculation he could caucus with Republicans after the 2026 midterms. At the Texas Tribune Festival, he called on Democrats to embrace a diversity of views.
Watch: Joaquin Castro, Sigrid Gonzalez and Rochelle Garza discuss Texas’ ICE detention centers
People who have been inside Texas’ ICE detention centers describe what’s happening, who’s being held and what it means for communities, families and the rule of law at 2:15 p.m. Saturday.
Karl Rove says John Cornyn, not Paxton, could beat Talarico
Karl Rove speaks at the 2026 Texas Tribune Festival, focusing on the comments made by Bo French and the U.S. Senate race.
Texas Democrat who championed A-F trigger law says he’s trying to fix schools
Advocates say takeovers help students in underperforming schools, while opponents argue communities lose control of their children’s education.
Republicans expect to retain control of Texas House, lawmaker says
Rep. Mitch Little, R-Lewisville, made the remark during a conversation at the Texas Tribune Festival. Another lawmaker urged Paxton to debate Talarico in their race for U.S. Senate.
Corpus Christi’s water crisis serves as a warning and a roadmap for others
Experts at a Texas Tribune Festival panel discussed how close the city and region came to disaster and how the experience exposed the need for long-term planning, diversification and groundwater reform.
Bobby Pulido thanks rival Rep. Monica De La Cruz for campaign “advice”
A poll categorized the race for the 15th Congressional District, which the GOP flipped in 2022, as a toss-up on Friday.
Democratic statewide candidates offer careful optimism for November
The candidates argued that frustrations with decades of Republican control will lead to better results for Democrats in November.
Watch: Raphael Warnock speaks at the 2026 Texas Tribune Festival
The Georgia senator sits down with Texas Tribune co-founder Evan Smith at 12:30 p.m. Friday.


