THE KICK Podcast

The Lieutenant Governor and Policy | Vikki Goodwin | THE KICK Podcast EP5

Healthcare costs. Energy demand. Workforce shortages. Infrastructure strain. Regulation. Education. Water. Housing.In this episode of The KICK Podcast, Texas State Representative and Lieutenant Governor candidate Vikki Goodwin joins us for a business-first conversation about the policies shaping the future of the Texas economy, and whether the state is making the right long-term bets.From workforce development and public education to healthcare affordability, THC regulation, energy infrastructure, and business investment, this episode explores how political decisions in Austin directly affect jobs, growth, and economic competitiveness across Texas.This is not a conversation about left vs right. It’s a conversation about whether Texas can continue to grow without pricing out workers, overwhelming infrastructure, or creating uncertainty for the businesses driving the state economy.Key Takeaways:- Why healthcare costs have become a major business issue in Texas- How education policy directly impacts workforce development and economic growth- What THC regulation could mean for jobs, businesses, and tax revenue- Why infrastructure, water, and energy demand are becoming urgent business concerns- How political instability and policy uncertainty affect long-term investment decisions- Why the “middle 80%” may decide the future direction of Texas politicsTimestamps:0:00 — Introducing Vikki Goodwin and the business stakes behind the Lieutenant Governor race6:48 — Why healthcare affordability is becoming a business crisis15:12 — Education, workforce development, and the future Texas economy25:31 — THC regulation, business growth, and jobs at stake36:45 — Energy demand, infrastructure strain, and Texas growth challenges49:08 — Why business leaders are paying closer attention to Austin politics

Who Really Powers Texas? | Jon Rosenthal | THE KICK Podcast - EP4

The agency shaping Texas energy is one most voters barely understand. In this episode, Jon Rosenthal joins THE KICK Podcast to unpack one of the most overlooked and consequential offices in Texas government: the Railroad Commission. Despite the name, this is not about trains. It is about the fuel, infrastructure, and oversight that sit underneath a huge share of the Texas economy. Fritz and Rosenthal dig into what the commission actually controls, why natural gas reliability matters so much to the power grid, and how weak enforcement can quietly create bigger risks for businesses, households, and the state itself. They also explore the practical side of energy policy, from flaring and pipeline bottlenecks to the difference between political talking points and technical reality. At the center of the conversation is a bigger business question. What does sensible oversight look like in an industry this large, this essential, and this tied to the future of Texas growth? Rosenthal makes the case that stability, competence, and technical expertise are not anti business. They are what keep the whole system running. Key Moments * What the Railroad Commission actually regulates and why its name hides how powerful it really is * How natural gas reliability affects the electric grid, even though the commission does not run the grid itself * How routine flaring wastes value, weakens efficiency, and leaves money on the table * Why pipeline capacity and permitting matter to growth across the energy economy * How emerging technologies like geothermal can build on Houston’s existing industrial workforce Timestamps 0:14 - Who Jon Rosenthal is and why he's running for Railroad Commission 5:20 - What the Railroad Commission actually controls and why the name misleads voters 12:35 - The Texas power mix and the natural gas problem behind grid reliability 24:40 - Flaring, wasted gas, and the business case for capturing more value 33:15 - Pipelines, permitting, and why moving energy is becoming harder 47:10 - Beyond electricity: exports, petrochemicals, and the next wave of energy innovation

Can Harris County Work Together Again? | Annise Parker | THE KICK Podcast - EP3

Harris County does not need more noise. It needs leadership that can actually make government work. In this episode, Annise Parker breaks down one of the most misunderstood roles in Texas politics: the Harris County Judge. It is not a courtroom job. It is the position responsible for keeping a region of millions functioning, especially when things go wrong. From flood control and emergency response to affordability, public safety, and infrastructure, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how local government really operates. And more importantly, what happens when it stops working as a system. At the center of it all is a bigger question. In a political environment dominated by extremes, who is actually governing for the middle 80 percent? And what does it take to bring coordination, discipline, and accountability back to a county this complex? Key Takeaways * Why the Harris County Judge is less about authority and more about alignment across competing power centers * How dysfunction at the top can quietly slow down everything from flood mitigation to public safety * What most people misunderstand about where local tax dollars actually go * Why affordability is tied to infrastructure, not just housing prices * The hidden tradeoffs behind law enforcement spending, mental health care, and jail overcrowding * How governing for the “middle 80%” changes decision-making in a polarized environment Timestamps * 0:00 - Who Annise Parker is and what the Harris County Judge actually does * 4:50 - The real responsibilities: emergency management, flood control, and public systems * 11:30 - Why Harris County government feels dysfunctional right now * 16:10 - The real priorities: affordability, economy, and flood mitigation * 31:00 - From mayor to county judge: experience vs. authority * 39:40 - Law enforcement, budgets, and what’s driving costs

The Corruption Tax on Texas | Gina Hinojosa | THE KICK Podcast - EP2

Texas is paying a hidden price for politics without accountability. For years, emergency powers and insider contracting have quietly reshaped how taxpayer dollars move through the state. In this episode, gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa argues that Texans are footing the bill for a system that favors access over fairness.In this episode, Gina digs into what she calls the corruption tax, the idea that when competitive bidding disappears and vendor contracts multiply, money drifts away from classrooms, small businesses, and working families. They examine how that shift connects to vouchers, healthcare funding, electricity costs, and whether government is serving taxpayers or protecting insiders. This is not a conversation about party labels. It is about whether Texas still offers an even playing field, and what it would take to restore competition, accountability, and trust in how the state does business. Episode Links: https://www.citizen.org/news/public-citizen-report-abbott-donors-draw-nearly-1-billion-in-no-bid-state-contracts/ https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/08/texas-hub-program-paused-comptroller-historically-underutilized-businesses/#:~:text=Women%2C%20minority%20small%20business%20owners,to%20485%20participants%20%E2%80%94%20all%20men Key Takeaways: * How emergency powers can quietly transform a competitive marketplace into an insider system. * Why competitive bidding is foundational to business confidence and not a partisan issue. * What happens when vendor spending begins to crowd out core public priorities. * How affordability pressures can trace back to policy decisions, not just market forces. * Why restoring accountability could reshape both public trust and private sector opportunity. Timestamps: 0:14 - Who Gina Hinojosa is and why she entered politics 3:18 - The corruption case: monthly emergency orders and no bid contracting 8:09 - HUB program elimination and what fairness in contracting should look like 11:22 - Zero based budgeting for schools and why vendor spending crowds out priorities 16:38 - Vouchers, accountability, and the governor’s power to block an unaccountable program 23:25 - Affordability levers: electricity bills, data centers, and holding corporations accountable 33:58 - Why 2026 is a high stakes midterm and what redistricting means for the future

Texas Needs a Real Attorney General Again | Joe Jaworski | THE KICK Podcast - EP1

Texas has not always felt this unsettled. There was a time when public institutions operated with balance, the Attorney General functioned as a check on power, and businesses could rely on steady and predictable rules. This episode examines what has shifted and what a different approach to leadership could look like. Fritz sits down with Joe Jaworski, former Mayor of Galveston and candidate for Texas Attorney General in 2026, to discuss what the office is meant to be. From oversight of state leadership to safeguarding fair competition in government contracting, Jaworski argues the Attorney General must answer to Texans rather than political alliances or primary pressures. The conversation makes a clear pro business case for institutional integrity. When discretion is exercised responsibly, when local authority is respected, and when the rule of law is applied consistently, stability follows. Stability creates the conditions for communities and markets to grow with confidence. Timestamps 0:00 - Welcome to THE KICK 8:16 - Can the Attorney General investigate the Governor 11:15 - The HUB program and fairness in state contracting 19:06 - ICE, local control, and what cities are allowed to do 23:25 - What private citizens can legally do during ICE actions 40:55 - Medicaid funds Texas rejected and the cost to taxpayers 44:28 - Why business should care who becomes Attorney General