Trump Gets a Texas Wake-Up Call as Gina Hinojosa Fights Back
Aug 8, 2026 · 27m
Summary
The episode analyzes plummeting approval ratings for Donald Trump and Greg Abbott in Texas, highlighting a competitive governor’s race between Abbott and Gina Hinojosa. Host Ben Mankiewicz discusses voter backlash against data center proliferation, high living costs, and aggressive immigration enforcement. Hinojosa joins to detail her campaign’s focus on affordability, voting rights, and a growing "break ranks" movement among former Republicans.
Topics discussed
Sponsor reads: Anthropic, San Pellegrino, Viore, Target, Instagram
Trump's plummeting approval ratings in Texas and the tight governor's race
Border wall construction in Big Bend and data center tax breaks
Trump's contradictory stance on data centers and tariff refunds
The 'Break Ranks' movement: Former Republicans turn against Abbott
ICE arrest of a Venezuelan wife turns a Trump voter against the administration
Interview with Gina Hinojosa: Why Democrats are surging in Texas
Hinojosa on Abbott's record: Uninsured rates, bankruptcies, and school closures
Data centers as 'liquid gold': Abbott's tax breaks and community backlash
Hinojosa's proposal: $1,500 payments from the rainy day fund
Populist sentiment: Texans donating plasma and rejecting billionaire influence
Voting rights and gerrymandering: The stakes for Congress
Final message from Hinojosa and book promotion
Listen ad-free on Castria