The Texas Tribune Festival, held from September 5-7, brought together more than 300 speakers for three days of engaging discussions on politics, culture, and current affairs.
Featuring a diverse lineup that included Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, Liz Cheney, filmmaker Richard Linklater, and others, the festival offered an in-depth exploration of some of today’s most pressing issues. Now that it’s wrapped up, we’ll highlight what we thought were the best moments from the event.
Rep. Tony Gonzales Predicts GOP House Loss in 2024
Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican from San Antonio known for speaking out against his party, delivered a stark warning during a 1:1 with Punchbowl News.
Gonzales expressed frustration with the GOP’s current direction, suggesting that the party’s internal failures could cost them the House in the upcoming election.
“We’re going to lose the majority,” Gonzales said. “House Republicans continue to get in their own way.” He noted that the GOP is being outraised and outspent, while Democratic messaging is far more effective.
“Texas Democrats are stuck in all or nothing. And what are they getting? Nothing.” Gonzales concluded.
The Big Reveal: Dick Cheney Endorsing Kamala Harris
Just days after expressing her support for Vice President Kamala Harris in the upcoming election, former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney made another unexpected revelation: her father, former Vice President Dick Cheney, will also be voting for Harris. Cheney, who served under President George W. Bush, believes Donald Trump poses an unprecedented threat to American democracy.
“Dick Cheney will be voting for Kamala Harris,” Liz Cheney said. “Given the gravity of the moment we’re in, my dad firmly believes there has never been a greater danger to our democracy than Donald Trump.”
In addition to endorsing Harris, Liz Cheney threw her support behind Democratic candidate Colin Allred, who is running to unseat Sen. Ted Cruz in Texas.
Crenshaw Claps Back on The Cheneys Endorsement
During a 1:1 with Punchbowl News, Dan Crenshaw, U.S. Representative, commented on the endorsement the Cheneys gave Kamala Harris. Claiming it was a “very personal” matter for the Cheneys since Trump had personally attacked them.
“They’re putting those feelings above, I think, basic conservative policy,” Crenshaw stated.
When asked about his party’s difficulty in staying on message since Kamala Harris entered the presidential race, Rep. Dan Crenshaw said, “He (Trump) was doing pretty well.” His remark drew laughter from both him and the audience.
Michigan Governor Whitmer Calls for an End to Political Violence
During her appearance at The Texas Tribune Festival, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer condemned political violence, pointing to both parties’ responsibility to call out such acts. Reflecting on her own kidnapping plot in 2020 and the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, Whitmer stressed that it’s crucial for leaders across the political spectrum to denounce violence against their opponents, as first reported by The Texas Tribune.
“It’s not okay all of a sudden to take on political violence and claim that it’s your opponent that’s stoking it. This has been fomenting in this country for too long, and it’s on every one of us to hold one another accountable,” Whitmire said.
She also discussed her new book, “True Gretch: What I’ve Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between,” and addressed speculation about her political future, including a potential presidential run.
Major Slippage
During the festival, various panels touched the topic of how the political landscape for the presidential race had taken a drastic turn and how it is now a very different race from July when President Joe Biden dropped out and Kamala Harris stepped up.
Jake Sherman, Co-Founder of Punchbowl News, discussed the reasons Biden dropped out from the race.
“Incumbents were uneasy with running alongside Biden. And then you have the leadership. If Biden hadn’t dropped out that Sunday I would bet everything that Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Hakeem Jeffries were going to say that he needed to drop out. They had difficult conversations with him privately,” Sherman said.
He also added that multiple reporters were saying Biden wasn’t being told the full picture by his advisers: “He was not being shown major slippage in public polling and he was running behind where all models show a democratic president should be.”
Colin Allred Defends Campaign Amid Concerns from Progressives
Democratic Senate candidate Colin Allred was greeted with a standing ovation at the TribFest.
Responding to Liz Cheney’s endorsement, Colin Allred expressed deep respect for the former congresswoman: “Liz is a patriot, she is a friend of mine and I respect her. She is a person who is willing to put her country before her policies.”
When addressing his opponent, Ted Cruz, Allred criticized Cruz’s focus on self-interest over the needs of Texans.
“You don’t just need to point out problems, be a part of the solution,” Allred remarked.
He also emphasized his commitment to the campaign, noting his extensive travel across the state. “We’ve made 50 stops in 22 cities last month alone,” Allred said, highlighting the challenge of reaching Texas’ vast and often isolated regions.
Nancy Pelosi Questions Trump’s Courage
During an interview with journalist Kara Swisher, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi cast doubt on whether Donald Trump will participate in the upcoming presidential debates. “Do you think he’s going to show up?” she asked, later adding, “I know cowardice when I see it.”
