The Texas Tribune Festival, running from September 5-7, brings together more than 300 speakers for three days of insightful discussions on politics, culture, and current affairs. With a diverse lineup that includes Stacey Abrams, Liz Cheney, filmmaker Richard Linklater, and others, the festival offers a deep dive into the most pressing issues of the day.
Today, RA News attended several panels at The Texas Tribune Festival, here are some of our highlights that offered fresh perspectives on politics, history, and the media.
The day began with a one-on-one interview with South Texas Congressman Tony Gonzales, presented by Punchbowl News.
U.S. House Representative from Texas’s 23rd district, Gonzales, shared his thoughts on hot issues like abortion, border security, and gun control.
When the topic of abortion came up, Congressman Gonzales initially received applause from the audience for his stance, but just seconds later, the mood shifted dramatically, and the applause turned into loud boos.
“This is certainly a topic that republicans struggle with,” continued Gonzales. “I have been blessed with six children. I like to joke that I’m a prolific pro-lifer. I have the mindset that abortion is a very personal topic, that should be between her doctor and her god.” (cue the applause)
“I’m also of the mindset that innocent children that aren’t yet born should be protected, who are their advocates? These late-term abortions are pure evil.” (cue the booing)
On border security, Gonzales also remarked that: “Illegal immigration is bad. Legal immigration is good.”
Following this, a compelling conversation between New York Times White House correspondent Katie Rogers and Luci Baines Johnson, daughter of President Lyndon B. Johnson offered a blend of historical insight and personal anecdotes.
Rogers, who recently authored a book on first ladies, explored the evolving role of these women in shaping American politics. Johnson, meanwhile, shared intimate stories from her time in the White House, reflecting on her mother, Lady Bird Johnson’s, contributions and the unique pressures that come with being part of a presidential family.
“The world thinks he left because of the war in Vietnam, but I believe that like President Biden, my father loved the job with all his heart and soul, but loved the country more,” Luci Baines recalls on why her father didn’t run for reelection in 1968 due to health concerns, and not so much due to anguish over Vietnam and anti-war protests. No male member of his family had lived past 65.
“My country first. My country now. My country always,” Luci says of her father.
The day concluded with a lively discussion titled “The Brown Bag,” where Punchbowl News journalists reflected on the whirlwind of events that have defined this year’s political landscape.
The panelists shared their views on the 2024 Presidential race which took a dramatic turn in July when President Joe Biden dropped out and Kamala Harris stepped up.
Jake Sherman, Co-Founder of Punchbowl News, discussed Biden dropping 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.”
Day one of The Texas Tribune Festival set the stage for what promises to be an exciting and thought-provoking weekend.
RA News looks forward to covering the rest of the festival. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter for more coverage.
