THE KICK Podcast

THE KICK
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THE KICK Podcast is where business-minded Texans engage the issues shaping our state. Produced by THE KICK Enterprise Club, a pro-business Democratic organization based in Houston, the show brings together candidates, policy leaders, legal minds, and industry voices for substantive conversations about governance, markets, and growth. We explore how public policy impacts business, energy, healthcare, education, and economic opportunity through the lens of stability, accountability, an

Episodes

  1. 4d ago

    What Texas Stands to Lose | Gene Wu | THE KICK Podcast - EP7

    Texas is not just fighting over maps. It is fighting over what kind of state it wants to become.In this episode of THE KICK Podcast, Texas State Representative Gene Wu joins the show for a direct conversation about redistricting, political power, healthcare, education, workforce development, immigration, and the policies shaping Texas’ future.Wu argues that the stakes of the next election go far beyond party control. From voting power and public schools to healthcare access and business investment, this conversation connects the political fight in Austin to the real consequences Texans feel every day.The episode also moves into the growing tension around China, Asian communities, foreign investment, and the long term economic damage that comes when Texas sends the message that certain people, workers, investors, or businesses are no longer welcome.Key Moments Why redistricting has become one of the defining political fights in Texas How Democrats are organizing across southern states to push back on power grabs Why Wu says the core issues are still jobs, education, and healthcare How public education funding connects directly to workforce development Why immigration and labor policy are already affecting Texas business How anti-China policy could threaten investment, innovation, and high skilled jobsTimestamps0:13 - Who Gene Wu is and why this moment matters in Texas politics4:31 - Redistricting, quorum breaking, and the fight over political power11:32 - How Democrats are organizing across southern red states15:14 - Jobs, education, healthcare, and what voters actually need26:31 - School funding, workforce training, and the business consequences34:50 - Why investment may leave Texas

    1h 5m

  2. Jun 9

    The Court That Could Reshape Texas Business | The 15th Court of Appeals |THE KICK Podcast - EP6

    Texas created a new court system for business disputes. Now voters are deciding who sits on one of the most important pieces of it.In this episode of THE KICK Podcast, Jerry Zimmerer, Tom Baker, and Marc Meyer join the show to explain the 15th Court of Appeals, the Texas Business Court, and why this new judicial structure matters for companies across the state. What began as a specialized court for complex business disputes now also touches cases involving state agencies, constitutional challenges, regulations, and high impact questions affecting Texas government.The conversation explores the promise and the concern. Specialized courts may help businesses get faster, more informed decisions in complex disputes. But concentrating major business and state government cases in one statewide court also raises serious questions about politics, judicial independence, court capture, and who gets the final word when powerful interests collide.For business owners, this episode is not just about the courts. It is about predictability, fairness, contracts, regulation, and whether Texas can build a legal system that supports growth without sacrificing balance.Key Moments:Why Texas created the 15th Court of Appeals and how politics shaped its originWhat kinds of business, regulatory, and state agency cases may land before this courtWhy specialized courts could help companies resolve complex disputes more efficientlyThe concern over appointed business court judges and judicial independenceHow the court could affect small businesses, large corporations, and state regulatory challengesWhy voters should pay attention to judicial races that usually appear near the bottom of the ballotTimestamps:0:13 - What the 15th Court of Appeals is and why Texas created a business court system3:35 - The political origin of the court and why appellate races suddenly matter more9:01 - What kinds of cases this court will hear, from business disputes to state agency challenges17:16 - Appointed business court judges, elected appellate review, and why that structure matters24:44 - Whether the new court helps Texas business or creates new risks36:17 - HUB, immigration, state power, and the kinds of hot button cases that could reach the court45:48 - Court capture, big law influence, and why the 15th Court may become one of Texas’ most important courts

    1h 2m

  3. May 21

    The Lieutenant Governor and Policy | Vikki Goodwin | THE KICK Podcast EP5

    Healthcare costs. Energy demand. Workforce shortages. Infrastructure strain. Regulation. Education. Water. Housing.In this episode of The KICK Podcast, Texas State Representative and Lieutenant Governor candidate Vikki Goodwin joins us for a business-first conversation about the policies shaping the future of the Texas economy, and whether the state is making the right long-term bets.From workforce development and public education to healthcare affordability, THC regulation, energy infrastructure, and business investment, this episode explores how political decisions in Austin directly affect jobs, growth, and economic competitiveness across Texas.This is not a conversation about left vs right. It’s a conversation about whether Texas can continue to grow without pricing out workers, overwhelming infrastructure, or creating uncertainty for the businesses driving the state economy.Key Takeaways:- Why healthcare costs have become a major business issue in Texas- How education policy directly impacts workforce development and economic growth- What THC regulation could mean for jobs, businesses, and tax revenue- Why infrastructure, water, and energy demand are becoming urgent business concerns- How political instability and policy uncertainty affect long-term investment decisions- Why the “middle 80%” may decide the future direction of Texas politicsTimestamps:0:00 — Introducing Vikki Goodwin and the business stakes behind the Lieutenant Governor race6:48 — Why healthcare affordability is becoming a business crisis15:12 — Education, workforce development, and the future Texas economy25:31 — THC regulation, business growth, and jobs at stake36:45 — Energy demand, infrastructure strain, and Texas growth challenges49:08 — Why business leaders are paying closer attention to Austin politics

    59 min

  4. Apr 23

    Who Really Powers Texas? | Jon Rosenthal | THE KICK Podcast - EP4

    The agency shaping Texas energy is one most voters barely understand. In this episode, Jon Rosenthal joins THE KICK Podcast to unpack one of the most overlooked and consequential offices in Texas government: the Railroad Commission. Despite the name, this is not about trains. It is about the fuel, infrastructure, and oversight that sit underneath a huge share of the Texas economy. Fritz and Rosenthal dig into what the commission actually controls, why natural gas reliability matters so much to the power grid, and how weak enforcement can quietly create bigger risks for businesses, households, and the state itself. They also explore the practical side of energy policy, from flaring and pipeline bottlenecks to the difference between political talking points and technical reality. At the center of the conversation is a bigger business question. What does sensible oversight look like in an industry this large, this essential, and this tied to the future of Texas growth? Rosenthal makes the case that stability, competence, and technical expertise are not anti business. They are what keep the whole system running. Key Moments What the Railroad Commission actually regulates and why its name hides how powerful it really isHow natural gas reliability affects the electric grid, even though the commission does not run the grid itselfHow routine flaring wastes value, weakens efficiency, and leaves money on the tableWhy pipeline capacity and permitting matter to growth across the energy economyHow emerging technologies like geothermal can build on Houston’s existing industrial workforce Timestamps 0:14 - Who Jon Rosenthal is and why he's running for Railroad Commission 5:20 - What the Railroad Commission actually controls and why the name misleads voters 12:35 - The Texas power mix and the natural gas problem behind grid reliability 24:40 - Flaring, wasted gas, and the business case for capturing more value 33:15 - Pipelines, permitting, and why moving energy is becoming harder 47:10 - Beyond electricity: exports, petrochemicals, and the next wave of energy innovation

    54 min

  5. Mar 27

    Can Harris County Work Together Again? | Annise Parker | THE KICK Podcast - EP3

    Harris County does not need more noise. It needs leadership that can actually make government work. In this episode, Annise Parker breaks down one of the most misunderstood roles in Texas politics: the Harris County Judge. It is not a courtroom job. It is the position responsible for keeping a region of millions functioning, especially when things go wrong. From flood control and emergency response to affordability, public safety, and infrastructure, this conversation pulls back the curtain on how local government really operates. And more importantly, what happens when it stops working as a system. At the center of it all is a bigger question. In a political environment dominated by extremes, who is actually governing for the middle 80 percent? And what does it take to bring coordination, discipline, and accountability back to a county this complex? Key Takeaways Why the Harris County Judge is less about authority and more about alignment across competing power centersHow dysfunction at the top can quietly slow down everything from flood mitigation to public safetyWhat most people misunderstand about where local tax dollars actually goWhy affordability is tied to infrastructure, not just housing pricesThe hidden tradeoffs behind law enforcement spending, mental health care, and jail overcrowdingHow governing for the “middle 80%” changes decision-making in a polarized environment Timestamps 0:00 - Who Annise Parker is and what the Harris County Judge actually does4:50 - The real responsibilities: emergency management, flood control, and public systems11:30 - Why Harris County government feels dysfunctional right now16:10 - The real priorities: affordability, economy, and flood mitigation31:00 - From mayor to county judge: experience vs. authority39:40 - Law enforcement, budgets, and what’s driving costs

    1h 8m

  6. Mar 3

    The Corruption Tax on Texas | Gina Hinojosa | THE KICK Podcast - EP2

    Texas is paying a hidden price for politics without accountability. For years, emergency powers and insider contracting have quietly reshaped how taxpayer dollars move through the state. In this episode, gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa argues that Texans are footing the bill for a system that favors access over fairness.In this episode, Gina digs into what she calls the corruption tax, the idea that when competitive bidding disappears and vendor contracts multiply, money drifts away from classrooms, small businesses, and working families. They examine how that shift connects to vouchers, healthcare funding, electricity costs, and whether government is serving taxpayers or protecting insiders. This is not a conversation about party labels. It is about whether Texas still offers an even playing field, and what it would take to restore competition, accountability, and trust in how the state does business. Episode Links: https://www.citizen.org/news/public-citizen-report-abbott-donors-draw-nearly-1-billion-in-no-bid-state-contracts/ https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/08/texas-hub-program-paused-comptroller-historically-underutilized-businesses/#:~:text=Women%2C%20minority%20small%20business%20owners,to%20485%20participants%20%E2%80%94%20all%20men Key Takeaways: How emergency powers can quietly transform a competitive marketplace into an insider system.Why competitive bidding is foundational to business confidence and not a partisan issue.What happens when vendor spending begins to crowd out core public priorities.How affordability pressures can trace back to policy decisions, not just market forces.Why restoring accountability could reshape both public trust and private sector opportunity. Timestamps: 0:14 - Who Gina Hinojosa is and why she entered politics 3:18 - The corruption case: monthly emergency orders and no bid contracting 8:09 - HUB program elimination and what fairness in contracting should look like 11:22 - Zero based budgeting for schools and why vendor spending crowds out priorities 16:38 - Vouchers, accountability, and the governor’s power to block an unaccountable program 23:25 - Affordability levers: electricity bills, data centers, and holding corporations accountable 33:58 - Why 2026 is a high stakes midterm and what redistricting means for the future

    1h 2m

  7. Feb 25

    Texas Needs a Real Attorney General Again | Joe Jaworski | THE KICK Podcast - EP1

    Texas has not always felt this unsettled. There was a time when public institutions operated with balance, the Attorney General functioned as a check on power, and businesses could rely on steady and predictable rules. This episode examines what has shifted and what a different approach to leadership could look like. Fritz sits down with Joe Jaworski, former Mayor of Galveston and candidate for Texas Attorney General in 2026, to discuss what the office is meant to be. From oversight of state leadership to safeguarding fair competition in government contracting, Jaworski argues the Attorney General must answer to Texans rather than political alliances or primary pressures. The conversation makes a clear pro business case for institutional integrity. When discretion is exercised responsibly, when local authority is respected, and when the rule of law is applied consistently, stability follows. Stability creates the conditions for communities and markets to grow with confidence. Timestamps 0:00 - Welcome to THE KICK 8:16 - Can the Attorney General investigate the Governor 11:15 - The HUB program and fairness in state contracting 19:06 - ICE, local control, and what cities are allowed to do 23:25 - What private citizens can legally do during ICE actions 40:55 - Medicaid funds Texas rejected and the cost to taxpayers 44:28 - Why business should care who becomes Attorney General

    48 min
  • 7 Episodes

About

THE KICK Podcast is where business-minded Texans engage the issues shaping our state. Produced by THE KICK Enterprise Club, a pro-business Democratic organization based in Houston, the show brings together candidates, policy leaders, legal minds, and industry voices for substantive conversations about governance, markets, and growth. We explore how public policy impacts business, energy, healthcare, education, and economic opportunity through the lens of stability, accountability, an

Information

  • Creator
    THE KICK
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © THE KICK
  • Show Website
    THE KICK Podcast

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