"Can Beto O'Rourke Turn Texas Blue?" So goes the headline for the latest edition of The New York Times podcast "Sway." It's not exactly a novel thesis, but one that the national news media cannot seem to get enough of. (And the former El Paso congressman doesn't exactly seem to spurn the national spotlight). The tougher question, both for Texas and O'Rourke's own political calculations, is whether next year's gubernatorial contest could serve as that test. It does, however, seem curious (if not coy) that O'Rourke hasn’t yet announced whether he intends to run against Gov. Greg Abbott next year. But at least Texas Democrats can claim a couple challengers in the Lieutenant Governor's race. There's Mike Collier, who fell 5 points shy in 2018, and former George W. Bush strategist Matthew Dowd. This morning, Dowd announced his plans to take on Dan Patrick next year, taking aim at what Dowd characterizes as the incumbent's "cruel and craven" use of culture war issues to divide Texans. With Beto still on the sidelines, apparently making careful calculations about what the possibility of another high profile candidacy (and potential loss) could mean for his own political career, Dowd's candidacy is intriguing on two important levels. First, there's the prospect that Texas Democrats could begin 2022 without a high-profile figure on top of the ticket, but a rather well-known figure in the No. 2 race – as Dowd is instantly recognizable to anyone who saw him on TV during his long run as an ABC news political analyst. Second, there's Dowd's intriguing positioning of himself as a "Bob Bullock/Ann Richards" style candidate. In this era of hyper-polarized politics, do Texas Democrats really want a politician who is dedicated to working with the other side of the aisle? Or has Texas politics reached a point where only politicians at the extremes stand a chance of getting elected? (Gov. Abbott and Lt. Gov. Patrick appear to believe the latter, with both actively courting the far-right.) The answer to this question may not only determine the outcome in 2022, but potentially the future of Texas politics for the foreseeable future. Check out our conversation with Dowd on TexasStandard.org later today. And while you're there, listen to our own Jill Ament's excellent story on the Lege's transgender sports bill, also on-air and online later today. Until next Wednesday, we'll see you on the radio.

- David Brown

Work safe, Texas. Texas Work Comp Insurance

The Haitian Migrant Situation Shows What Hasn’t Changed Since Biden Took Office

An expert says the president doesn’t want to appear soft on migration – even as Haiti is experiencing a humanitarian crisis.

Katharine Hayhoe’s New Book Says Focusing On What We Have In Common Is The Best Way To Talk About Climate Change

"If we can focus on what we agree on rather than what we disagree on, what else might we fix along the way?"

Long Haul COVID Is Real. A New Program Works With Patients To Understand It

Doctors at Dell Medical School hope to learn who is most likely to have extended symptoms and how they can best be treated.

Texas And The Art Of Understatement

Understatement is oblique, our commentator W.F. Strong writes. It arrives unexpectedly, glancing off the unobserved side of things. It provides you with less so you feel more.

Report Alleges Conflicts Of Interest Among Texas Oil And Gas Regulators (KUT)
Constables, Police Officer Sue Tesla Over ‘Autopilot’ Crash (Houston Public Media)
As Nation Gets Hotter, Efforts To Prevent Worker Heat Deaths Accelerate, But Fixes Aren’t As Simple As They Seem (Public Health Watch)
Dallas Says 'Lights Out' To Help Birds Migrate Through Texas (KERA North Texas)

I’m Doug Mitchell, founder and director of NPR’s Next Generation Radio Project . While I don’t live in Texas, through my work, in 2019, I spent 42 days in Texas. And in 2021, it will total 30 days. (Yes, I counted.) To that end, “Next Gen” is an intensive digital journalism project focused on non-narrated, audio storytelling. We’re always looking for rising journalists and creating pathways for them into public media. This past week, we worked with the Texas Newsroom and professional journalists from Texas Standard, KUT Austin, and KERA in North Texas, as well as other digital journalists from across the country. Six participants who are starting in their careers were selected and they were paired 1:1 for the week. Because of the pandemic, we’ve been operating mostly remotely. That allowed us to have participants from all over the state. We asked each participant to find one person and have them answer the question: “What does it mean to be an American?” In the coming weeks on Texas Standard, you’ll hear how six Texans answered that question. If you just can’t wait, you can find the projects here. We hold more than a dozen programs each year in different parts of the country. So if you know someone who might be interested in participating, keep an eye out!

- Doug Mitchell
@nextgenradio

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