Party Politics

Party Politics

Overwhelmed by the political news cycle every week? We get it — that’s why we’re ‘keeping the fun but losing all the drama’ of politics! Party Politics podcast is hosted by Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina, two smart and sassy University of Houston political science professors, who deliver a friendly, funny, and casually informative recap of the week's biggest political news stories. Join the conversation on Twitter @HPMPolitics; use #PartyPoliticsPod to ask Brandon and Jeronimo questions; or email us at Party Politics.

Episodes

The Voting Puzzle: Registration, Access, and Apathy in Texas

June 20, 2025 • 26 mins

Texas consistently ranks near the bottom when it comes to voter turnout — but why?

In this episode of Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina dig into the numbers behind Texas’ low voter turnout and explore the many factors that shape how, when, and whether people cast a ballot.

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The Changing Face of Texas: Growth, Grit, and Growing Pains

June 13, 2025 • 26 mins
This week on Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina explore the growing pains and political pressures shaping Texas as it marches toward its bicentennial in 2036. From population explosions and housing crises to water shortages and shifting demographics, the Lone Star State is facing some big questions about its future.TOPICS:Population growth challenges.Why affordable housing is slipping out of reachWate...
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Big Decisions Ahead: Bills, Budget Battles, SCOTUS Cases & What’s Next in U.S. Politics This Summer

June 6, 2025 • 26 mins

It’s shaping up to be a busy — and politically loaded — summer.

On this episode of Party Politics, co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina dig into the big headlines and behind-the-scenes dynamics shaping U.S. politics this season.

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The 89th Texas Legislature: GOP Goals, Democratic Dilemmas, and Power Plays

May 30, 2025 • 26 mins

This week in politics on Party Politics, hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss  the dynamics shaping the 89th Texas Legislature, if the state’s top Republican leaders—Governor Greg Abbott, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick, and House Speaker Dustin Burrow— are working together, or working around each other, the overlap—and tensions—between Texas’ executive and legislative branches, the cor...

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Biden Fights Cancer, Trump Gets a Jet, SCOTUS Tackles Immigration, and Congress Eyes the ‘Big Beautiful Bill'

May 23, 2025 • 26 mins

This week in politics on Party Politics, hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss how President Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis has reignited questions about his legacy and the 2024 race, the Supreme Court tackling major immigration cases that could reshape national policy. They also discuss Donald Trump re-entering the spotlight—fresh off receiving a $400 million private jet—and h...

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Is America’s Balance of Power Broken? How the Presidency, Congress, and Courts Are Colliding

May 16, 2025 • 26 mins
On this week's episode of Party Politics, hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina break down the balance of power in American government — then and now. Are checks and balances still doing their job? Is the judiciary truly independent, or too partisan? And just how far can presidential power go? A conversation about the shifting dynamics at the heart of our political system.TOPICS:Separation of powers then and nowThe modern ...
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100 Days of Trump: Did He Deliver? The Good, The Bad, and the Executive Orders.

May 9, 2025 • 26 mins
On this week’s episode of Party Politics, hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss why the first 100 days of a presidency are important, the grade President Trump should receive for the first 100 days, why Trump has chosen to use so many executive orders to govern, if Trump can continue to govern using social media as one of his biggest tools, how effective has the implementation of DOGE been for the Trump administrat...
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Make America...Hats Again? Trump 2028 Merch & Economic Reality Check

May 2, 2025 • 26 mins

On this week's episode of Party Politics, hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss a decline in economic growth under President Trump, trade in the United States amid Canadian election results, democrat Senator Dick Durbin retiring,  Trump 2028 hats appearing online, Trump backing Texas GOP members who back the school vouche...

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Pete Hegseth's Signal Chat Leak 2: Back to Spill the Tea—The Return of the Text Messages That Shouldn’t Exist

April 24, 2025 • 26 mins
On this week’s episode of Party Politics, hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the fluctuating market amid tariffs, United States Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has texts leaked from the Signal App for a second time, if the Freedom Caucus has been successful,  the impact of Governor Greg Abbott’s school voucher bill, Texas Senate passing the film incentive bill with a stipulation that would require films to be ...
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Fumbles and Fights: JD Vance's NCAA Misstep and the White House Deportation Battle

April 18, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the White House Deportation Fight, President Joe Biden is back with a speech about social security, Vice President JD Vance breaks Ohio State's NCAA Football Championship trophy, the stakes for Governor Greg Abbott's voucher bill, who President Trump will endorse in the John Cornyn and Ken Paxton U.S. Senate race and other state and local politics.NATIONAL TOPICS:...
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Tariffs and Turmoil: How Trump's Trade Wars Are Triggering an

April 11, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the significant spiral of the economy following the announcement of President Trump's newest tariffs, if Congress will pass the budget or go into a shutdown, Attorney General Ken Paxton announces his campaign against Senator John Cornyn, Don Huffines and Christi Craddick announce their campaign for Texas Comptroller, Governor setting Congressional District 18 elec...
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Trump Tariffs: Distraction or Strategy? His Pursuit of a 3rd Term & the Constitutional Implications

April 4, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss new tariffs implemented by President Trump of at least 10 percent or higher to for certain countries, the impact of special elections in Wisconsin and Florida, Trump's pursuit of a third term, the possibility of Christian Menefee suing Texas Governor Greg Abbott due to the delay in a special election to fill the late congressman Sylvester Turner's congressional di...
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Oops! Did We Just 'Signal' Our War Plans? Pete Hegseth, JD Vance, and Michael Waltz's Group Chat Goes Viral

March 28, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the implications of a war plan leak occurring from the Editor and Chief of the Atlantic Jeffrey Goldberg being added to a 'Signal' group chat which included Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Vice President JD Vance, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz. Our hosts also discuss if the the Department of Education dismantled, Senator Ted Cruz funding school vouche...
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Governor Greg Abbott's Controversial New Bill Takes Aim at Furries: What's Behind the Furor?

March 21, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's Continuing Resolution vote upsetting democrats, President Trump resurfacing an 18th c. immigration policy, the potential for a Constitutional crisis, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Congressman Wesley Hunt prepare to run against Senator John Cornyn in 2026, the growing opposition to gaming in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott...
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Political Scandals: Are They Just Noise or Do They Matter?

March 14, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss political scandals, if scandals still shape the opinion of voters, their impact on the careers of politicians, and how they can be used to mobilize political bases.TOPICS:Does scandals still matter?Do politicians still have shame?Do voters think about scandals?How scandals mobilize the political base.Implications of scandals.Should we bring back shame for politica...
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Remembering Sylvester Turner: Celebrating the Legacy of Houston's Beloved Mayor and Congressman

March 7, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the passing of Former Houston Mayor and Congressman Sylvester Turner, President Trump's first address to a joint session of Congress, ramifications of Trump Tariffs, and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick desire to change the name of the New York Strip steak to the Texas strip Steak and other national and state politics.NATIONAL TOPICS:President Trump makes his first addres...
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Texas on the Brink: Will school vouchers transform education or create chaos, and a lottery scandal.

February 28, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss the Texas Lottery scandal, the possibility of the school voucher bill passing, destination gaming coming to Texas, President Trump's upcoming address to the joint session of Congress, and other national and state political news.NATIONAL TOPICSThe House of representatives passes the budget resolution.President Donald Trump to address at joint session of Congress.Fe...
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Pathways to Peace: The U.S. Moves Towards Reconciliation with Russia

February 21, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss President Trump seeking to restore relations with Russia, Vice President JD Vance's comments at a recent AI Summit, the state of United States and Europe relations, budget wars at the capitol, 17 Department of Justice who resigned over an order to drop New York City Mayor Eric Adams' corruption case, the potential 2026 race between Attorney General Ken Paxton and ...
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Elon & X Visit Trump for Oval Office Conference. Trump SNUBS Vance?! Steel Tariffs and DOGE vs CFPB.

February 13, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss Elon Musk and his son X holding a press conference in the Oval Office alongside President Trump, Trump's implementation of a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) targeting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Trump's refusal to acknowledge Vance as the next presidential candidate, Government Gregg Abbott seek...
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Trump’s Trade Wars & Big Texas Budgets: School Vouchers & Abbott’s State Address

February 7, 2025 • 26 mins
This week, Co-hosts Brandon Rottinghaus and Jeronimo Cortina discuss Trump's newest trade wars, how democrats are effecting change, big budgets in the Texas House of Representatives and Senate, an update on school vouchers and Governor Greg Abbott's State of the State Address.NATIONAL TOPICSThe trade wars continue.How are democrats effecting change?TEXAS TOPICSMajor Texas House of Representatives and Senate Budgets.School voucher u...
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