TribCast: Democrats defeat the Texas voting bill — for now
On this week's episode, Matthew speaks with James, Patrick and Alexa about the wild end to the legislative session and the future of proposed voting restrictions in Texas. Full Story
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Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. Matthew is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended public schools and graduated from Texas A&M University. He’s spent nearly two decades in Texas journalism, and previously worked at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined the Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. As a managing editor, Matthew has guided the Tribune’s award-winning journalism and other reporting of statewide significance, including coverage of elections and legislative sessions to major breaking news and ambitious storytelling about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas-Mexico border, the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, the impeachment of Texas attorney general and battles over public education. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
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![State Rep. Jessica González, D-Dallas, speaks at a press conference at Mt. Zion Baptist Church near the state Capitol in Austin after Democrats broke quorum in opposition to Senate Bill 7, a sweeping GOP voting bill. May 30, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Will Dan Patrick force a special session of the Texas Legislature?
In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Patrick and James about the politics and the policy surrounding the lieutenant governor's push to reconvene the Legislature in June. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to reporters at a press conference from the State Capitol on Thursday, March 18, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Texas schools will no longer require masks
In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Patrick, Karen and James about Gov. Greg Abbott's latest mask order and where the big bills stand in the final weeks of the legislative session. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott meets with local leaders in El Paso on August 13, 2020.]()
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Prospects for many Texas House bills dim if they’re not passed today. Here’s what you need to know.
By midnight Friday, House members have to grant preliminary approval to many bills originated in the lower chamber. There's likely not enough time to get to them all. But there are ways to revive measures so they still become law. Full Story
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![The House Floor on May 5, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: A Texas legislative session dominated by conservative issues
On this week’s TribCast, Matthew talks to Alexa, Cassi and Patrick about proposals in the Legislature to add new restrictions on voting and to allow the permitless carry of handguns. Full Story
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![State Rep, Briscoe Cain, R-Deer Park, speaks in support on Senate Bill 7 on the House floor on May 7, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Weighing whether the Legislature will expand Medicaid and if voters would elect Matthew McConaughey
On this week’s TribCast, Matthew talks to Cassi, Karen and Patrick about efforts to expand Medicaid in Texas, the state of permitless carry in the Senate and what a recent poll had to say about Matthew McConaughey's chances of becoming governor. Full Story
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![Representatives discuss budget amendments from their desks on the House floor on Thursday, April 22, 2021.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune -
TribCast: ERCOT still struggles to meet electricity demand nearly two months after catastrophic outages
On this week's Tribcast, Matthew talks to Cassi, Jolie and Mitchell about the condition of the Texas power grid and legislation related to policing. Full Story
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![Snow surrounds an Austin Energy station in Austin on Feb. 18, 2021. Many Texas residents are still without power and many don't have clean drinking water or working water at all.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Texas rushes to get more residents vaccinated
On this week's Tribcast, Matthew talks to Karen, Patrick and Ross about the race to reach herd immunity in Texas and the early maneuverings in the 2022 election cycle. Full Story
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![Dr. Annamaria Macaluso Davidson holds a COVID-19 vaccine registration card at Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center in Houston on Dec. 15, 2020.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Texas Legislature considers voting restrictions
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Alexa, Patrick and Kate about proposed new restrictions on voting being considered in the Texas Legislature and more news on “The Eyes of Texas.” Full Story
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![The Travis County Tax Office in Austin was the only drive-thru location open for hand delivery of mail ballots in the county during early voting in the fall of 2020.]()
Credit: Amna Ijaz/The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Texas to expand vaccine eligibility to all adults
On this week’s TribCast, Matthew talks to Karen and Julián about the state’s plan to expand vaccine eligibility starting Monday and the increase in apprehensions at the border. Full Story
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![Maria Diaz received her Coronavirus vaccine at a 24 hour vaccination event at Kelly Reeves Athletics Complex in Austin on March 6, 2021.]()
Credit: Sergio Flores for The Texas Tribune