Email esmith@texastribune.org
@evanasmith
Evan Smith is the CEO and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, a pioneering nonprofit, nonpartisan digital news organization whose deep coverage of Texas politics and public policy can be found at its website, texastribune.org, and in newspapers and on TV and radio stations across the state. Since its launch in 2009, the Tribune has won international acclaim and numerous honors, including a Peabody Award, sixteen national Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association and three general excellence awards from the Online News Association. Evan is also the host of "Overheard with Evan Smith," a weekly half-hour interview program that airs on PBS stations around the country.
Point of Order: Roll credits
by Evan Smith and Michael Rey de Leon May 30, 2019
In the last episode of our podcast about the 86th Texas Legislature, Evan Smith talks to House Speaker Pro Tem Joe Moody and Senate President Pro Tem Kirk Watson about what state lawmakers did for us and to us this session — and what they'll do next.
Point of Order: Kum-bye-a
by Evan Smith and Todd Wiseman May 23, 2019
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Reps. Ina Minjarez and Matt Krause about the issues that have divided an otherwise unified House in the last weeks of the session, including abortion and religious liberty.
Point of Order: This is us
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state demographer Lloyd Potter about coming changes to our population that will have profound public policy implications: explosive growth, rapid urbanization and demographic inevitability.
Point of Order: Over the rainbow
by Evan Smith and Michael Rey de Leon May 9, 2019
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Rep. Celia Israel, a founding member of the Texas House LGBTQ Caucus, about sexual orientation, nondiscrimination and public policy — how far we've come and how far we have to go.
Point of Order: Appraising the House
by Evan Smith, Todd Wiseman and Woojae Julia Song May 2, 2019
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Reps. Dade Phelan and Donna Howard about the work done and not done in the lower chamber so far this session — and what's likely to happen on the last stretch of road to Sine Die.
T-Squared: Ready, set, #tribfest19
by Evan Smith May 1, 2019
Registration for the 2019 Texas Tribune Festival is open now. Our ninth annual convening of big names and brains talking big ideas is absolutely going to be the best yet.
T-Squared: Join our people-powered newsroom
by Evan Smith April 23, 2019
It's our mission to create a more engaged and informed Texas. Is that not a cause worthy of your support?
Point of Order: Crude awakening
by Evan Smith and Michael Rey de Leon April 18, 2019
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Rep. Chris Paddie, who chairs the House Energy Resources Committee, about the impact of oil and gas activity on the Texas economy, the downside of the upside, and what the future holds.
Point of Order: The Rollback Pushback
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Austin Mayor Steve Adler about House Bill 2 — a property tax bill the chamber is expected to tackle Thursday — and his strong objections to the precise plans for property tax reform favored by state leaders.
Point of Order: The news about the news
by Evan Smith and Michael Rey de Leon April 4, 2019
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Mike Wilson, editor of The Dallas Morning News, and Debbie Hiott, general manager of Austin public radio station KUT, about the romantic ideal and precarious reality of the Capitol press corps.
Point of Order: Will Texas Finally Go to Pot?
by Evan Smith and Michael Rey de Leon March 28, 2019
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Sen. Jose Menéndez about marijuana's bipartisan moment — how the politics of legalization, decriminalization, medical cannabis and CBD oil make for strange budfellows.
Point of Order: Texas and the sexes
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to House members Mary Gonzalez, Sarah Davis and Toni Rose about gender, politics and public policy in a state where the population is majority female but elected officials are overwhelmingly male.
Point of Order: Rural Texas at a crossroads
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Rep. Four Price about the public policy challenges and opportunities in communities that may be losing population but remain critical to our history and heritage.
Point of Order: High hopes for higher ed
by Evan Smith and Michael Rey de Leon March 7, 2019
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to Renu Khator, the chancellor of the University of Houston System, about access, affordability, excellence, graduation rates and the importance of educating a diverse student population.
Point of Order: The man of the House
by Evan Smith and Michael Rey de Leon Feb. 28, 2019
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to former Speaker Tom Craddick, the longest-serving lawmaker in state history, about how life and work under the pink dome has changed since he was first elected half a century ago.
Knowles/Schlegel for The Texas Tribune
T-Squared: Texas Tribune, SXSW collaborating on Conversations About America's Future
by Evan Smith Feb. 25, 2019
The two-day event — a subset of the South by Southwest festival — will feature Democrats and Republicans with an eye on the 2020 presidential race plus the Trump-supporting top Republican in the U.S. House.
Point of Order: The battle over the Texas border
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks to state Rep. Poncho Nevárez, chair of the House Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee, about the president's emergency declaration — and how the Texas Legislature should address the issue of unauthorized immigration.
Point of Order: Investing in the future of Texas
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith asks state Rep. John Zerwas, the chief budget writer in the Texas House, whether we have enough money to fund today's priorities and tomorrow's — and which hard choices we have to make.
Point of Order: Everybody hates property taxes
by Evan Smith and Michael Rey de Leon Feb. 7, 2019
In the latest episode of our podcast about the 86th Legislature, Evan Smith talks with state Sen. Paul Bettencourt, R-Houston, the chairman of the Senate Property Tax Committee, about off-the-charts appraisals and off-the-leash local officials — and whether his reform plan has the votes to pass.
T-Squared: The 2019 Texas Tribune Festival is Sept. 26-28 in downtown Austin
by Evan Smith Jan. 23, 2019
Tickets for #tribfest19 go on sale May 1 — with deep discounts for members, students and educators. We can't wait to see you in September.
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