For Friday, Nov. 1, 2019
The program consists of two parts:
1. Arnie interviews Scott Braddock about the status of the Texas political scene. A special election will be held in the Houston suburbs, which is likely to have the outcome of a Democratic victory. In Fort Bend county, the former appropriation budget chair, who controls approximately $250 M, will not be running again. Because this is a special election, there is no primary. Several Republicans are running, and one Democrat, Louise Markowitz, who may win. His will also be a bellwether for Texas in 2020. Nine seats in the Texas House may flip. The larger cities and their suburbs are becoming increasingly Democratic. Part of this is attributable to influx from California, though Texas Republicans are courting California Republicans to relocate. However with the natural disasters (fires, etc) in California, other Californians, less affluent, Democratic, are likely to come. The Texas “Republican Refuge” may no longer hold. The Texas Republican party is also becoming leery of dark money groups, who are not necessarily completely Republican, but only interested in specific issues, and have no transparency. In Texas, the topics now are increased gun control issues and state income tax. Currently, no state income tax exists, and any changes would require changes to the Texas constitution.
2. Linda Feldman was the second guest. She is a staff writer for the Christian Science monitor, who has written an article, “Rudy Giuliani’s Evolution from America’s mayor to Trump Proxy.” She traced Giuliani’s history from his beginnings, and his relationships with Nixon, Congressman King, Clinton, and others. His change from Democrat to Independent, to Moderate Republican, to Trump Republican. In the meantime, he became the prosecuter for the state of New York, who made himself famous by ‘perp-walking’ Goldman Sachs suspects. Then, mayor of New York when the Towers were destroyed. He has been married and divorced three times, with some scandals attached. Now, he has been so associated with Trump that this is his persona.
