Puro Politics

Episode 83: A Visit with Tony Gonzales, Republican candidate for the U.S. House

Tony Gonzales is following the Will Hurd blueprint. The 20-year Navy veteran from San Antonio sat down with the Puro Politics team to discuss his campaign. Read more: https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Podcast-Gonzales-follows-Hurd-s-blueprint-in-14972372.php

Episode 82: A Visit with Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate.

Episode 82: A Visit with Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate

Episode 81: 2020 Texas primary preview

From the San Antonio Express-News, Gilbert Garcia and Greg Jefferson break down some local races to watch. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/

Episode 80: Councilwoman Shirley Gonzales looks for answers on paid sick leave

The West Side councilwoman goes on the record with Gilbert Garcia and the Express-News political reporters. She says she was disappointed by last week’s injunction from District Judge Peter Sakai. Read more: https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics/

Episode 79: Broadway bike lanes debate is winding down in San Antonio

After months of drama and discord, City Council appears to have put the brakes on Broadway bike lanes. https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics/

Episode 77: Remembering San Antonio’s best perennial candidate

Gilbert Garcia and a team of Express-News political writers discuss the Castro/Buttigieg feud, the police-union politics behind a local car crash and the passing of Bert Cecconi. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/

Episode 78: Remembering San Antonio’s best perennial candidate

Gilbert Garcia and a team of Express-News political writers discuss the Castro/Buttigieg feud, the police-union politics behind a local car crash and the passing of Bert Cecconi. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/

Episode 77: Texas Rep. Roland Gutierrez’s two campaigns

San Antonio lawmaker talks about Senate bid and crusade for cannabis legalization. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/

Controversy over Chick-fil-A won’t go away

San Antonio’s Chick-fil-A controversy is like Tom Brady’s football career or Led Zeppelin’s live version of “Dazed and Confused.” It just goes on and on, with no end in sight. Read more: https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics/

Episode 76: Controversy over Chick-fil-A won’t go away

San Antonio’s Chick-fil-A controversy is like Tom Brady’s football career or Led Zeppelin’s live version of “Dazed and Confused.” It just goes on and on, with no end in sight. Read more: https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics/

A voter's guide to Texas' 10 ballot propositions

From the Editorial Board, Josh Brodesky and Brian Chasnoff break down the state’s 10 ballot propositions. Follow our full election coverage at https://www.expressnews.com/election

Front-runner emerges for Bexar County commissioner seat

Public relations executive Trish DeBerry should be a formidable contender. Read more: https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/politics/article/Podcast-Front-runner-emerges-for-Bexar-County-14535519.php 

Former mayor Henry Cisneros on San Antonio’s transportation future (and paragliding)

Over the past several months, as Henry Cisneros has delivered presentations to various community groups about San Antonio’s transportation future, one question has consistently popped up: How are we going to connect San Antonio to Austin?

Where There’s a Will

Express-News reporters discuss impeachment and the political future of Will Hurd. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/

Bikes on Broadway

Express-News political reporters discuss bike lanes, gun buybacks and the raid of a constable's office. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/

The Debate Over Castro's Debate Performance

Express-News political reporters discuss last week's Democratic debate controversy and the city's newly approved budget. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/

An interview with Texas state representative Ray Lopez

The freshman state representative said the gun violence epidemic is a crisis that can’t wait for the 2021 legislative session. Read more:  https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Podcast-Lopez-makes-the-case-for-a-special-14426361.php

The Maya Rupert interview

Julián Castro’s campaign manager Maya Rupert talks about what makes his presidential candidacy special and why she’s not worried about the polls. Background reading: Puro Politics

Commissioner Kevin Wolff on his surprising retirement from politics

Last Thursday, Kevin Wolff stunned local political watchers by announcing that he will not seek reelection next year. He talks about his decision and what it was like to break the news to his father. “My opinion is, more often than not, we elect a bunch of people that are good at running for the office, but don’t have a damn clue how to do the office when they get elected.”

Should city government be involved in climate change policy? Councilwoman Ana Sandoval weighs in.

Councilwoman Ana Sandoval, a Stanford-trained environmental engineer who got into politics largely because she wanted to change the way we approach the issue of sustainability, has a distinctive take on that debate. Read more:  https://www.expressnews.com/news/local/article/Podcast-San-Antonio-leaders-get-ready-to-create-14366725.php

Manny Peláez on El Paso, Castro's tweet, COSA budget, paid sick leave and more

The San Antonio councilman talks about his upcoming gun-violence forums, the city budget and the legal challenges for paid sick leave. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

A Visit from Juany Torres

The San Antonio activist and campaign manager joins the podcast and breaks down the latest political news. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

Sick Time Schism

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News reporters dissect a week’s worth of drama at City Hall. Background reading: Municipal chaos rules in San Antonio suburb San Antonio’s paid sick leave lawsuit exposes rift between elected leaders, city staff CPS Energy CEO leaves chamber post amid legal battle over San Antonio paid sick leave ordinance   Theme music by Mea Culpa.                   Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/...

Shake(s) up at City Hall

Puro Politics panelists Greg Jefferson, Dylan McGuinness and Joshua Fechter discuss who’s out at City Hall, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s courtroom loss to the city of San Antonio and the fate of mandatory paid sick leave.  

A Visit From Ina Minjarez

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News reporters talk with the San Antonio state rep about the 2019 legislative session. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics/.

A Massive Fraud

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News reporters talk with San Antonio attorney T.J. Mayes about Bexar County's legal fight against opioid manufacturers. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/

Military Plaza Shake-up

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News reporters talk about mayoral staff changes, property tax machinations and Greg Brockhouse’s big TV interview. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

Judgment Calls

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News reporters talk with District Court Judge Monique Diaz about her first six months on the bench. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

Summer Re-Ron

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters assess Ron Nirenberg’s mayoral runoff win. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

Municipal Runoff Election Preview

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters discuss early voting turnout, the mayoral race, and how people may be getting turned away at the polls. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

The Gina Ortiz Jones Interview

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk with the San Antonio Democrat about her newly launched congressional campaign in U.S. District 23. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

A Visit From Ana Sandoval

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk with the West Side council member about her goals for her second term. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

A Visit From Rey Saldaña

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk with Rey Saldaña about his eight years on the City Council and why the mayoral election is headed for a runoff. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

A Visit From Rey Saldaña | May 7, 2019

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk with Rey Saldaña about his eight years on the City Council and why the mayoral election is headed for a runoff. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

Election Day Countdown

Gilbert Garcia and Dylan McGuinness talk about the chippy final stretch of the 2019 municipal election. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

School Daze

  Education reporter Alia Malik joins the podcast to break down San Antonio’s school-board elections. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

State of the City

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk about Ron Nirenberg’s pitch for a second term and Julián Castro’s effort to separate himself from the rest of the 2020 Democratic field. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

A collective bargaining soap opera takes a positive turn

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News reporters talk about political action committee spending in the mayor’s race, mediation for fire-union talks and Gordon Hartman’s latest project. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

Game of Chicken

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk about the city’s climate plan, the fallout from the Chick-fil-A vote and the race to succeed Joaquin Castro. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

Open for Business

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk to restaurateur Louis Barrios about the intersection of entrepreneurship and government. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

A Visit From Justin Rodriguez

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News reporters talk to Bexar County’s newest commissioner about San Pedro Creek Culture Park, the county jail and what it’s like filling Paul Elizondo’s shoes. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

The Debate Over Mayoral Debates

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters discuss Greg Brockhouse’s assertion that Ron Nirenberg is ducking him. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

Bargain-basement Bargaining

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News reporters welcome Iris Dimmick of the Rivard Report for a discussion on the city’s talks with the fire union and the political impact of S.A’s climate plan. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

Court in Session

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk with District Court Judge Velia Meza about criminal justice reform, this state’s partisan judicial elections and her experiences growing up in El Paso. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

The Joe Gonzales Interview

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk with Bexar County’s new district attorney about criminal justice reform, the Genene Jones case and his efforts to change the culture of the DA’s office. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/podcasts/puro-politics-podcast/.

A Visit From Greg Brockhouse

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk with the District 6 councilman about his mayoral campaign and his vision for S.A. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/politics/.

Dockless in San Antonio

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk with Casey Whittington, the national director of government affairs for Blue Duck, about the future of e-scooters in S.A. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/politics/.

Here Comes the Walsh Era

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk about the imminent appointment of Erik Walsh as city manager, the 2019 City Council races and the felony conviction that could make a Texas House hopeful ineligible to run. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/politics/.

A Visit From Laura Barberena

Host Gilbert Garcia and a team of San Antonio Express-News political reporters talk to the San Antonio consultant about her work in the 2018 DA race, the changing state of political messaging and Erik Walsh’s rise to the city manager’s office. Read more at https://www.expressnews.com/politics/.