The Politics and Issues of the Moment - Fall 2025

The fall 2025 semester of this course focused on the politics and issues driving the moment we were in —the election cycle and the run-up to the next sessions of the Texas Legislature and the U.S. Congress and the next biennial election cycle. Speakers discussed the election results, the legislative session, and issues impacting Texans. 

Fall 2025 Speakers

Colin Allred

Colin Allred official portrait

Former U.S. Representative

John Bucy

John Bucy

State Representative

Greg Casar

Congressman Greg Casar

U.S. Congressman

Henry Cuellar

Henry Cuellar

U.S. Representative

Lisa Davis

Lisa Davis headshot

Austin Police Chief

Drew Darby

Drew Darby

State Representative

Sarah Eckhardt

Sarah_Eckhardt

Texas State Senator

Noah Hawley

Noah Hawley Headshot.jpg

Writer, Director, Novelist

Gina Hinojosa

Gina Hinojosa

State Representative

Donna Howard

Donna Howard

State Representative

Nathan Johnson

Nathan Johnson

Texas State Senator

Jeff Leach

Jeff Leach

State Representative

Brian McCall

Brian McCall Headshot

Former State Representative and Texas State University System Chancellor

Mike Morath

Mike Morath

Texas Commissioner of Education

Beto O'Rourke

Beto O'Rourke

Former U.S. Congressman

Tyler Pager

Tyler Pager Headshot.png

White House Coorespondent for the New York Times

Aaron Reitz

Aaron Reitz

Republican Candidate for Attorney General

Karl Rove

Karl Rove

Former White House Deputy Chief of Staff

Wynn Rosser

Wynn Rosser

Texas Higher Education Commissioner

James Talarico

James Talarico Headshot.png

State Representative (D-Austin)

Kirk Watson

Kirk Watson

Mayor of Austin