Part 1: We speak with Scott Braddock, Editor of the Quorum Report.
– Republican former Texas House Speaker Joe Straus says the GOP should relent on mail ballots, expand vote by mail for the 2020 election.
– The Texas Senate may grind nearly to a halt if pandemic still rages in January. Nothing is set in stone, but multiple sources confirm Lt. Gov. Patrick convened a call of committee chairs in which worst case scenarios were discussed. One of those included locking out the public and others during deliberations and votes.
– The Biden team announces another round of new staff in Texas including some familiar names around the Texas Capitol.
– The latest polls have MJ Hegar within 4 points of Sen. John Cornyn, and now it’s not possible to say “there’s a long way to go” anymore.
– GOP candidates for congress in suburban Texas are suddenly all running as moderates, who are “effective” and “bipartisan”. Many are not identifying as Republicans in their advertising.
– In general, Republicans incumbents are not doing well in the polls.
Part 2: Steffen Schmidt, Professor Emeritus, Iowa State University, “Dr. Politics” discusses what is happening in Iowa.
The White House has recommended masks, but there are no penalties for not obeying this mandate. In Iowa, although the Iowa State University has ordered social distancing on campus and in class. There is no penalty for noncompliance. No acknowledgement of the effectiveness of masks, the cheapest form of vaccine.
Barr has been disseminating bad information, with no consequences. The Republicans are silent. If Trump wins the election, this lawlessness and ‘craziness’ will continue. Many unfounded accusations have been made around the election process.
We discussed the likelihood of general insurrection after the election, and the disasterous outcomes. In addition, discussion about what could happen if Trump refused to leave if defeated.
The west coast fires continue to burn, and appears apocalyptic. There seems to have been no preparation for this kind of event, though it is predictable. The technology of fire fighting and prevention has not changed. Climate change is not accounted for.
