@jhenson.bsky.social
Director of the Texas Politics Project at UT Austin. (Profile image is detail from a painting by Harry Underwood.)
In the wake of SCOTUS ruling on Trump tariff actions: different aspects of Texas attitudes on #tariffs. Overall examples below, x PID to follow. Link goes to dozens of archival Texas Politics Project poll results on the issue. texaspolitics.utexas.edu/polling/sear... #txlege #tx2026
20.02.2026 19:38 — 👍 0 🔁 2 💬 0 📌 0
Ken Paxton Is No Stranger to Controversy. Here’s a Timeline of Nearly 20 Years of Scandals & Headlines. thebarbedwire.com/2026/02/17/k...
20.02.2026 17:56 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
NEW: With immigration losing its edge, Republicans find a new boogeyman: 'Radical Islam'
In Texas, in particular, candidates have fastened on a growing Muslim population as they seek a new political scapegoat.
Top elected officials have led the charge.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
In this week's Second Reading podcast, I talk with Texas Bullpen co-founder and reporter Brad Johnson about the launch of the new Texas politics-focused outlet, and interesting races in the Texas primary. texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/second-...
12.02.2026 21:48 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
A few #SuperBowlLX halftime looks at Texas approval of @realDonaldTrump's handling of Immigration, from December 2025 Texas Politics Project Poll. texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/donald-t...
09.02.2026 01:29 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Trend in favorability ratings of Donald Trump in Texas, overall and by party ID, via Texas Politics Project polling data archive. texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/donald-t...
09.02.2026 00:46 — 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
A look at what Texas polling data might suggest about the potential primary audience for Senate candidate James Talarico's emphasis on his faith. Some data tables below, more discussion at the link. texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/the-aud... #tx2026
09.02.2026 00:30 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 0
New Second Reading pod: A Hot Week in Texas Election Politics
Josh Blank & I talk about the Democratic win in SD 9, hostilities in the Dem US Senate primary, & President Trump dangling an endorsement in the GOP Senate primary. youtu.be/MTcLn_siqfk?... #tx2026 #txlege
‘Melania’ Arrives With Strong Box Office Showing for a Documentary www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/b...
01.02.2026 20:31 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
Trend in Texas agreement with: "Undocumented immigrants currently living in the United States should be deported immediately." Recent trend should inform expectations abt GOP response to MN shooting via @TxPolProject polling data. texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/support-... [*edit] #tx2026 #tx2026
26.01.2026 03:15 — 👍 2 🔁 1 💬 0 📌 1Thanks, wrong graphic, will repost
26.01.2026 03:10 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Hilarious. I meant you.
25.01.2026 01:16 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Yeah, that's very thoughtful.
25.01.2026 01:05 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0
Texas approval of Trump handling of immigration policy, from Dec '25 UT/Texas Politics Project Poll.
Approve: All 47%; D 8%; Ind 36%; R 84%
Disapprove: All 43%; D86%; Ind 43%; R 7% texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/donald-t...
Texas views of federal immigration enforcement by party ID: Texas views of Trump adm. immigration enforcement by party ID.
Gone too far: D 87%, Ind 48%, R 9%
Not far enough: D 3%, Ind 14%, R 45%
Abt right: D 8%, Ind 16%, R 42%
Graphic below, more: texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/views-on... #txlege
"Has the Trump adm gone too far in enforcing federal immigration laws, has it been about right or has it not gone far enough?" #Texas responses in Dec 2025 UT/Tx Politics Project Poll (prior to MN ICE shootings)
Too far: 45%
Not far enough: 23%
Abt right: 25% texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/views-on...
About those lines at the HEB...
Skepticism About Texas Efforts to Improve Grid Resilience Adds to Winter Weather Worries
texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/skeptic...
New Second Reading Podcast: A Weather Report on Issues in the 2026 Primaries texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/second-... #tx2026
23.01.2026 01:51 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Yes, please, I'll have some Greenland sauce on that TACO. Thanks.
21.01.2026 21:10 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
The Second Reading Podcast returns for 2026: Joshua Blank & I look at results on health care, immigration, and the 2026 U.S. Senate race in the final UT/Texas Politics Poll of 2025 and what they portend for the 2026 election year. youtu.be/6ufrMkY_dKU?... #txlege
13.01.2026 14:22 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Supreme Leader Vows to ‘Not Back Down’ as Protests Swell www.nytimes.com/2026/01/09/w...
09.01.2026 17:38 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0If you are a government (including legislative), political, or legal office or organization looking for interns, I invite you to post openings at the Texas Politics Project internship bulletin board. It easy to use, gets tons of users, & is free. texaspolitics.utexas.edu/internship
07.01.2026 20:40 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0Here's the clip of Tony Dokoupil ending tonight's broadcast by absolutely gushing over "ultimate Florida Man" Marco Rubio.
07.01.2026 01:13 — 👍 1927 🔁 374 💬 716 📌 807
Texas approval of Pres. Trump handling of foreign policy, from October 2025 UT/Texas Politics Project Poll. texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/donald-t...
03.01.2026 17:51 — 👍 2 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
A few looks at Texas views of Venezuela, from December 2024 UT/Texas Politics Project Poll. texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/venezuel... #tx2026
03.01.2026 17:49 — 👍 4 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0
Trend in Texas agreement with statement (overall & by party ID): "This country would be better off if we just stayed home and did not concern ourselves with problems in other parts of the world." Via UT/Texas Politics Project polling.
texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/trend-co... #txlege #Tx2026
Banksy Gives Britain Another Bittersweet Christmas Gift www.nytimes.com/2025/12/22/w...
25.12.2025 07:28 — 👍 1 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
First show in Texas, my first teip to Austin: Joe Ely at Gruene Hall. A highlight: youtu.be/ut8aVCvXohY?...
16.12.2025 03:00 — 👍 5 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
In the last Second Reading podcast for the year, Joshua Blank & I mine 2025 UT/Texas Politics Project polling for tests that speak to the past year and what’s coming in 2026.
youtu.be/oSQoN0B8xDg?...
Texas approval of Donald Trump handling of healthcare, from Oct 2025 UT/Texas Politics Project Poll:
All: 31% approve/51% disapprove
Dems: 5% approve / 89% disapprove
Reps: 58% approve / 14% disapprove (25% neutral/3%DK)
Inds: 13% approve/64% disapprove
More: texaspolitics.utexas.edu/set/donald-t...
