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by Texas Talks
Texas Talks with Brad Swail, brought to you by the Texas Dispatch, is a weekly podcast that features wide-ranging discussions with the people, organizations, and businesses that shape public policy in Texas. Texas Talks aims to provide listeners with a deeper understanding of the policy debates and reasons and insight into the personalities that shape public policy in Texas.
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- 1 weeks ago47 min
Ep. 134 - AI Data Center Boom Is a Bubble — Texas Can’t Build Power Fast Enough | Dr. Joshua Rhodes
Can Texas produce enough electricity to power the artificial intelligence revolution, or are the state's massive data center projections creating an infrastructure bubble?Dr. Joshua Rhodes, a research scientist at the University of Texas at Austin, nonresident fellow at Columbia University, founding partner of IdeaSmiths LLC, and host of the Energy Capital podcast, joins Brad Swail on Texas Talks to examine the future of Texas' electricity grid, the explosive growth of AI data centers, and the challenges facing ERCOT.Rhodes discusses the current state of the Texas power grid, including improvements made since Winter Storm Uri and remaining concerns about natural gas supply during extreme weather. He explains how new solar generation and battery storage helped Texas manage record electricity demand without the dramatic price spikes that have accompanied previous summer peaks.The conversation then turns to projections suggesting Texas could need approximately 400 gigawatts of electricity capacity to accommodate future demand. Rhodes argues that reaching those levels within the proposed timeframe would require an unprecedented expansion of power generation, transmission infrastructure, manufacturing capacity, and construction resources.Brad and Joshua explore whether the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure and data centers resembles an economic bubble, what happens if proposed projects never materialize, and whether excess power generation could ultimately benefit ordinary Texans through lower electricity prices.They also discuss the potential of small modular nuclear reactors and geothermal energy, the rising cost of natural gas turbines and transformers, and the question of who should pay for the infrastructure required by large technology companies.Beyond electricity demand, the discussion examines community concerns surrounding data center water consumption, cooling systems, noise pollution, local tax incentives, and the economic benefits these facilities can provide.Finally, Rhodes explains ERCOT's Batch Zero process, recent efforts to bring greater accountability to large-load connection requests, and what he hopes the 90th Texas Legislature will prioritize when developing future energy policies.From nuclear power and grid reliability to artificial intelligence, data centers, and electricity costs, this episode explores how Texas can balance economic growth, technological innovation, and affordable, reliable energy without placing unnecessary burdens on everyday Texans.Watch Texas Talks with Brad Swail for an in-depth conversation about the future of energy in the Lone Star State.00:00 — Can Texas Meet 400GW of Electricity Demand? 00:19 — Introduction to Dr. Joshua Rhodes 01:51 — Why Rhodes Studies the Texas Power Grid 03:44 — ERCOT and Lessons from Winter Storm Uri 06:16 — Texas' Record Electricity Demand 08:53 — Data Centers and the 400GW Forecast 11:54 — Why ERCOT's Demand Projections Are So High 14:15 — How Much Electricity Demand Is Realistic? 16:07 — Is the AI Data Center Boom a Bubble? 19:10 — Small Modular Nuclear Reactors and Geothermal Energy 21:14 — Could Overbuilding Power Plants Lower Electricity Prices? 25:55 — Rising Infrastructure Costs and Electric Bills 29:02 — Data Center Water Consumption and Noise 32:54 — Data Center Tax Breaks and Local Economic Benefits 36:00 — ERCOT's Batch Zero Process and SB 6 37:42 — Governor Abbott's Data Center Audit 40:40 — What Should the 90th Texas Legislature Do? 43:51 — Energy Subsidies and Market Competition 44:40 — Future Energy Policy and Closing Thoughts Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com
- 3 weeks ago19 min
Ep. 133 - Should Texas Build a Statewide Prosecutor for One County? | Rep. Carl Tepper
Texas State Representative Carl Tepper joins Brad Swail on Texas Talks to discuss some of the major issues being examined by the House Select Committee on Governmental Oversight.Tepper discusses the committee’s examination of district attorneys and criminal prosecution, including the scrutiny surrounding the Travis County District Attorney’s Office and possible approaches lawmakers could consider during the 90th Texas Legislature.The conversation then turns west to a highly unusual question: Could counties currently in New Mexico eventually become part of Texas? Tepper discusses interest from communities along the Texas-New Mexico border, the economic and cultural ties between those counties and West Texas, and what would have to happen for a boundary change to move forward.Finally, Tepper and Brad discuss oversight of taxpayer-funded contracts, nonprofits and local government programs, including questions surrounding homelessness spending in Austin and how governments should respond when publicly funded programs fail to meet their goals.00:00 — Introducing Rep. Carl Tepper01:08 — Texas' Governmental Oversight Hearings02:53 — Crime & Repeat Offenders04:39 — Scrutiny of District Attorneys05:12 — What Could the Legislature Do?07:22 — Could Texas Expand Into New Mexico?08:32 — Why New Mexico Counties Are Looking at Texas11:05 — How a Texas-New Mexico Boundary Change Could Work11:57 — Rural & Frontier Texas14:38 — Safeguarding Taxpayer Funds15:09 — Austin's Homelessness Spending16:51 — Accountability for Government Contracts19:10 — Closing Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com
- 3 weeks ago24 min
Ep. 130 - The State of Children's Mental Health with Chris Bryan | Live | Part 2
In Part 2 of our special Texas Talks series recorded live at the Texas Hospital Association Annual Conference in Fort Worth, host Brad Swail sits down with Chris Bryan, Vice President of Clarity Child Guidance Center in San Antonio, to examine the state of children’s mental healthcare in Texas.Bryan shares the personal experience that led her from a career in technology to becoming an advocate for children’s mental health and explains how technology and social media have changed the environment in which children grow up.The conversation explores gaps in the mental health system, including the lack of a consistent continuum of care, difficulties sharing health information, insurance and reimbursement challenges, workforce shortages and the difference between having mental health coverage and actually being able to access treatment.Bryan also reflects on nearly two decades of advocacy at the Texas Capitol, how the conversation surrounding children’s mental health has changed and what she hopes lawmakers will address during the 90th Texas Legislature.This is Part 2 of our two-part Texas Hospital Association special. Be sure to watch Part 1 with Allen Harrison on the economics and financial pressures facing Texas hospitals.00:00 — Introducing Chris Bryan01:56 — A Personal Journey Into Mental Health Advocacy04:20 — Technology Meets Healthcare06:05 — Behavioral Health vs. Mental Health07:13 — How Technology Is Changing Childhood10:21 — Gaps in the Mental Health System11:47 — The Missing Continuum of Care12:40 — Health Data & Funding Challenges15:26 — Why Mental Health Coverage Falls Short17:53 — Coverage Doesn't Mean Access20:13 — 20 Years of Mental Health Advocacy22:14 — How the Texas Conversation Has Changed23:42 — Priorities for the 90th Legislature24:22 — Closing Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com
- 4 weeks ago26 min
Ep. 130 - The Real Economics of Texas Hospitals with Allen Harrison | Part 1
In Part 1 of a special two-part Texas Talks series recorded live at the Texas Hospital Association Annual Conference in Fort Worth, host Brad Swail sits down with Allen Harrison, President of Medical City Healthcare, HCA Healthcare’s North Texas Division, and Chair-Elect of the Texas Hospital Association Board of Trustees.Harrison shares the personal story that led him to a career in healthcare before turning to the financial pressures facing Texas hospitals and the growing debate over healthcare affordability.The conversation examines Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement, uninsured patients, the role of commercial insurance, hospital pricing and the growing financial burden placed directly on patients. Harrison also discusses what Texas hospitals are watching ahead of the 90th Texas Legislature and why protecting existing Medicaid funding is a major priority.Brad and Harrison also explore Texas’ healthcare workforce, including improvements in the nursing shortage, continued demand for specialized healthcare workers and how the patient experience can be complicated by an increasingly difficult-to-understand billing system.This is Part 1 of our two-part Texas Hospital Association special. Part 2 continues tomorrow with another conversation from the THA Annual Conference.00:00 — Introducing Allen Harrison01:47 — A Personal Connection to Healthcare04:11 — How Healthcare Has Changed06:29 — Preparing to Lead the Texas Hospital Association07:45 — Healthcare Affordability & the 90th Legislature09:22 — Medicare, Medicaid & Hospital Finances12:09 — Protecting Texas Medicaid Funding13:25 — What Really Drives Healthcare Costs?14:53 — How Hospital Pricing Actually Works16:25 — Managing Financial Uncertainty18:00 — Insurance & Rising Patient Costs20:52 — Texas' Healthcare Workforce23:00 — Shortages in Specialized Healthcare Jobs24:22 — What Patients Want From Healthcare26:22 — Closing Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com
- Sep 24, 202638 min
Ep. 130 - Women Pay $350 for a Hormone Men Get for $86 | Katrina Pierson
Women are paying $350 for a testosterone pellet. The same hormone, in a men’s tube, can last a year for $86.Texas Rep. Katrina Pierson (HD 33) — former Trump national spokesperson and chair of the House Subcommittee on Maternal Health, Menopause and Access to Evidence-Based Medicine — sits down with Brad Swail on Texas Talks to walk through her Texas Women’s Health Initiative: baseline hormone testing, HRT coverage, physician liability, iron and prenatal access, and why she says doctors now practice insurance instead of medicine.Pierson spent 14 years in healthcare, including OB-GYN. She filed a menopause-coverage bill in 2025 that never got a hearing. After the FDA lifted the HRT black-box warning, she took a larger package to the Speaker and got interim charges. In this conversation she explains:• Why she wants insurance to cover physician-prescribed perimenopause and menopause treatment — including testosterone when medically necessary • The case for baseline hormone testing before women get labeled with depression or anxiety • Prior authorization, compounding clinics, and telehealth HRT after the black box came off • Why Medicaid still requires a prescription for prenatal vitamins, and why she wants physicians able to dispense iron and basics in the office • What she heard in her subcommittee’s first hearing on prenatal nutrition and Healthy Texas Women • The gap she flagged in HTW: enrollment is up, participation is down • The next hearing (date TBD) on menopause and perimenopause, including patient testimony at the CapitolTexas Talks — policy conversations with the people shaping Texas.Subscribe for more interviews with Texas lawmakers, agency leaders, and policy experts.Chapters 0:00 If a doctor prescribes it, why can’t you get it? 0:55 Intro: Rep. Katrina Pierson 2:26 How the Women’s Health Initiative started 4:28 Baseline hormone testing 7:37 Physician liability and testosterone 8:51 The $350 pellet vs. the $86 men’s tube 10:04 Why women use testosterone 11:25 Telehealth HRT and prior authorization 13:34 Iron, folic acid, and standing orders 24:19 The black-box studies and starting HRT early 27:33 Yesterday’s subcommittee hearing 28:28 Physician dispense and rural access 31:32 What Healthy Texas Women actually is 33:04 Enrollment up, services down 35:59 How is women’s health in Texas right now? 37:22 North Texas Maternal Health Accelerator 38:42 Close#TexasTalks #KatrinaPierson #WomensHealth #HRT #Menopause #TexasLegislature #txlege Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com
- Sep 17, 202635 min
Ep. 129 - Why We Pay for Health Insurance - Then Avoid Using It | Patrick Quigley
Why is it so difficult to know what healthcare will cost before you receive it?On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Patrick Quigley, CEO and co-founder of Sidecar Health, following his testimony before the Texas House Select Committee on Health Care Affordability.Quigley explains Sidecar Health’s approach to insurance and why he believes greater price and quality transparency, fewer restrictions on where patients receive care, and stronger financial incentives for consumers could help lower healthcare costs.The conversation explores provider networks, prior authorization, prescription drug prices, clinical quality data and the high cost of delayed care. Quigley also explains how Sidecar’s model rewards members for choosing care that costs less than the plan’s benefit amount and discusses the company’s experience with primary care, mental health services and emergency room utilization.Finally, Quigley discusses Texas’ healthcare affordability debate and what he would like lawmakers to consider as the state approaches the 90th Texas Legislature.00:00 — Introducing Patrick Quigley01:05 — Sidecar Health & the Healthcare Affordability Problem04:34 — Testifying Before Texas Lawmakers06:15 — What's Wrong With Provider Networks?07:43 — Why Patients Don't Know What Healthcare Costs10:14 — Measuring the Quality of Medical Care15:58 — Networks, Insurance Companies & Patient Choice17:20 — How Much Should Healthcare Cost?20:10 — The Texas Healthcare Opportunity22:12 — Prior Authorization & Trusting Doctors23:37 — Access to Care & Emergency Room Costs26:33 — Prescription Prices & Consumer Incentives29:26 — Why Healthcare Prices Vary by Location32:11 — What Should Texas Lawmakers Do?35:00 — Closing Thoughts Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com
- Sep 10, 202648 min
Ep. 128 - Why Your Insurance Bill Keeps Going Up in Texas | Ryan Patrick
What is driving rising litigation and insurance costs in Texas—and what does Texans for Lawsuit Reform want lawmakers to do about it?On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail sits down with Ryan Patrick, the new CEO of Texans for Lawsuit Reform, to discuss his vision for the organization and its priorities heading into the 90th Texas Legislature.Patrick draws on his career as a prosecutor, judge, U.S. Attorney and private-practice attorney to explain why he believes Texas needs to refocus on civil justice and tort reform. He discusses the impact of large verdicts and litigation on insurance premiums, businesses and consumers, as well as TLR’s concerns about medical damages, litigation surrounding commercial vehicles, and the incentives created by the current system.The conversation also looks ahead to the next legislative session, where Patrick says TLR will pursue reforms addressing medical damages, staged accidents, insurance fraud, liability involving criminal activity, and other areas of Texas civil law.Patrick also explains how he hopes to lead a new generation at TLR while building on the organization’s three decades of work in Texas.00:00 — Introducing Ryan Patrick00:50 — From Prosecutor to Judge to U.S. Attorney03:18 — Why Patrick Joined Texans for Lawsuit Reform04:59 — A New Generation at TLR07:06 — Refocusing on Tort & Civil Justice Reform09:28 — Texas Courts & the Case for Reform13:48 — Venue Shopping & Consistency in the Courts16:40 — Litigation, Insurance Premiums & Rising Costs19:26 — How Lawsuits Can Impact Small Businesses23:03 — Medical Damages & TLR’s Next Reform Push28:32 — Do Large Verdicts Make Texans Safer?30:34 — When Insurance Becomes Unaffordable33:04 — How Texas Compares with Other States40:41 — Staged Accidents & Insurance Fraud41:36 — Priorities for the 90th Legislature47:21 — TLR’s Strategy for the Next Session48:10 — Final Thoughts Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com
- Sep 3, 202642 min
Ep. 127 - Government Transparency, Oversight & Accountability in Texas w/Rep. Cody Vasut
Texas lawmakers are taking a closer look at government transparency, taxpayer spending and accountability at the state and local levels. On this episode of Texas Talks, host Brad Swail welcomes back State Rep. Cody Vasut, who represents House District 25 and chairs the House Select Committee on Government Oversight. Vasut explains the committee’s mission and the wide range of issues lawmakers are examining during the interim—from Texas’ public information laws and the growing impact of AI on records requests to education foundations, taxpayer money flowing to nongovernmental organizations, and prosecutorial discretion. The conversation covers: Whether Texas' public information laws provide enough transparency How AI could transform public records requests Oversight of education foundations and public funds Taxpayer dollars flowing to NGOs and outside organizations Prosecutorial discretion and proposals for greater state oversight The unusual effort by eastern New Mexico counties interested in joining Texas Vasut also discusses how his previous experience in local government influences his approach to state oversight and what he hopes the committee can accomplish before the next legislative session. 00:00 — Introduction & Rep. Cody Vasut 03:02 — The House Government Oversight Committee 05:26 — Could New Mexico Counties Join Texas? 11:13 — Government Transparency in Texas 15:08 — AI & Public Information Requests 20:15 — Education Foundations & Public Funds 24:02 — Taxpayer Money Going to NGOs 30:05 — Prosecutorial Discretion & District Attorneys 37:23 — What Success Looks Like for the Committee 38:12 — Local Government, Transparency & Taxpayers 42:03 — Closing Watch Full-Length Interviews: https://www.youtube.com/@TexasTalks Follow us on social mediaX: @Texas_DispatchInstagram: thetexasdispatchLinkedIn: The Texas DispatchTikTok: texas_talks_podcast Find more at The Texas DispatchYour source for state news, policy, and investigative journalism.https://thetexasdispatch.com
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About Texas Talks
Texas Talks with Brad Swail, brought to you by the Texas Dispatch, is a weekly podcast that features wide-ranging discussions with the people, organizations, and businesses that shape public policy in Texas. Texas Talks aims to provide listeners with a deeper understanding of the policy debates and reasons and insight into the personalities that shape public policy in Texas.
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