Lone Star Standard

NEW EPISODE: @bradswail welcomes @cjblain10—Houston Chronicle contributor, Manhattan Institute City Journal writer, Fox 26 panelist, author of the forthcoming The Brotherhood of Facts, and founder of Local Insights. Charles shares how an accidental AI-assisted review of Houston Metro contract documents uncovered a $215k-to-$4.2M ballooning deal tied to board chair conflicts—ultimately leading to cancellation after public pushback. He explains how Local Insights aggregates Texas local government data into searchable dashboards, cross-references, trend alerts, and interrogatable interfaces—empowering everyday citizens, journalists, and activists to hold officials accountable without needing newsroom resources. They discuss AI’s role in leveling the civic playing field: parsing dense agendas, flagging anomalies, aiding open records fights, and educating users on government mechanics. Charles critiques Trump-era talk of banning institutional homebuyers and argues Texas should focus on permitting reform, standardized processes, property tax relief, and deeper transparency mandates to boost affordability. Essential for anyone tracking Texas local governance, transparency, housing policy, or AI in public accountability. Links below🔗

"We try to provide context": @TXPolResearch President @JeramyKitchen tells host @bradswail about the work his organization does and where his motivation comes from.

Three clicks away from disaster: @teainfo Commissioner Mike Morath discusses the balance between enabling students to access helpful resources online while also ensuring they don't encounter harmful content. Watch his full interview with host @bradswail here: buff.ly/jdZlng2

Jeramy Kitchen on property tax reform, government accountability, and the future of Texas policy. “Voters are paying attention." @JeramyKitchen @TXPolResearch buff.ly/2LBmGAf

A "project of continuous improvement": @teainfo Commissioner Mike Morath tells host @bradswail about the ongoing work and investments going into Texas public education. Watch the full interview here: buff.ly/jdZlng2

#txlege lawmakers can and absolutely need to get serious about tangible Property Tax Relief and addressing the problem in this upcoming session.

Watch or listen to the episode on your preferred platform. YouTube: buff.ly/WnUsnQ9 Spotify: buff.ly/z7P4iEr Apple Podcasts: buff.ly/YBez0Mn

NEW EPISODE: @bradswail welcomes @cjblain10—Houston Chronicle contributor, Manhattan Institute City Journal writer, Fox 26 panelist, author of the forthcoming The Brotherhood of Facts, and founder of Local Insights. Charles shares how an accidental AI-assisted review of Houston Metro contract documents uncovered a $215k-to-$4.2M ballooning deal tied to board chair conflicts—ultimately leading to cancellation after public pushback. He explains how Local Insights aggregates Texas local government data into searchable dashboards, cross-references, trend alerts, and interrogatable interfaces—empowering everyday citizens, journalists, and activists to hold officials accountable without needing newsroom resources. They discuss AI’s role in leveling the civic playing field: parsing dense agendas, flagging anomalies, aiding open records fights, and educating users on government mechanics. Charles critiques Trump-era talk of banning institutional homebuyers and argues Texas should focus on permitting reform, standardized processes, property tax relief, and deeper transparency mandates to boost affordability. Essential for anyone tracking Texas local governance, transparency, housing policy, or AI in public accountability. Links below🔗

Property Tax Relief: @TXPolResearch President @JeramyKitchen weighs in on various methods of lowering Texans' property tax bills with host @bradswail.

How can parents navigate their children using AI? @marylynnpruneda, the @Texas2036 Director of Education & Workforce Policy, shares her advice with host @bradswail. Watch the full episode here: buff.ly/jdZlng2

Taxpayers deserve so much better than homestead exemption gimmicks every #txlege session. They deserve lawmakers with the political courage to address the property tax disease in Texas!

The homestead exemption increases proposals are nothing more than gimmicks. They address symptoms, and not the disease of property tax itself. Enough already. Texas taxpayers deserve better! #txlege

"The homestead gimmick": @TXPolResearch President @JeramyKitchen speaks with host @bradswail about why he believes repeatedly increasing the homestead exemption is just treating a symptom, not the disease.

The Texas Department of Transportation @TxDOT is urging all Texans to prioritize safety for pedestrians and cyclists as spring brings more people outdoors across the state. buff.ly/rRKcLPi

The domino effect of taxpayer-funded lobbying: @JeramyKitchen, President of @TXPolResearch, explains to host @bradswail that it's challenging to tackle issues such as eliminating property taxes while taxpayer-funded lobbying is allowed.

Watch or listen to the episode on your preferred platform. YouTube: buff.ly/jdZlng2 Spotify: buff.ly/2oCB2GF Apple Podcasts: buff.ly/t2qN2aR

FUTURE OF TEXAS: Host @bradswail sits down with @teainfo Commissioner Mike Morath and @marylynnpruneda, @Texas2036 Director of Education & Workforce Policy, for a forward-looking conversation on the future of Texas public education. They discuss post-COVID recovery, the game-changing Teacher Incentive Allotment, the role of timeless classics vs. accelerating technology, parental guidance on AI/ChatGPT risks, Education Savings Accounts growth and school choice diversity, A-F accountability rigor increases, why leadership matters more than funding alone, extended learning time incentives, and the key metrics Texas 2036 is tracking for Texas to thrive by its 2036 bicentennial. Perfect for parents, educators, policymakers, and anyone tracking Texas schools. Links below🔗

Opinion: Finally, insurance rates are stabilizing in Texas. "Texans deserve an insurance market that is competitive, stable and ready to help families recover when disaster strikes." By Gainesville resident David Sampson, President and CEO of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association @TeamAPCIA. buff.ly/uceSJ84

"This is critical infrastructure": @MeganMauroTX, Interim President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business @txbiz, speaks with host @bradswail about the importance of data centers - and what role Texas can play in the global competition.

Retired Texas Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol Trooper Daniel Robert Shown was remembered on March 14 at the Church of the Open Door in Waco, following his death from complications related to a line-of-duty injury. buff.ly/Se1KTEy

The Texas Miracle: @MeganMauroTX, Interim President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business @txbiz, speaks with host @bradswail about the balance between attracting new businesses to Texas while also protecting the businesses that are already here.