Brad Johnson—co-founder and reporter at Texas Bullpen—joins Seeing Red to talk about the real mechanics of Texas politics: how information moves, how power consolidates, and why Twitter matters far more than most people want to admit.

Brad walks through the launch of the Texas Bullpen, his path from Ohio to the Texas Capitol, and why he thinks Texas politics is entering a more “traditional” election cycle after years of chaos. We dig into the comptroller’s race, Abbott’s quiet hand in key primaries, and why Ken Paxton continues to survive scandals that would’ve ended other careers.

The conversation also pulls back the curtain on the Paxton impeachment trial—what went wrong for prosecutors, how outside pressure shaped the outcome, and why bots and online noise now play a measurable role in legislative behavior. If you want to understand how Texas politics actually functions—not how it’s sold—this episode is required listening.

Key Moments & Timestamps

0:00 – Why Texas lawmakers obsess over Twitter replies
0:47 – Launching the Texas Bullpen (and running on adrenaline)
2:31 – Leaving the Texan and betting on independent media
3:06 – “Punchbowl meets old Texas Monthly”: defining the Bullpen lane
9:44 – How redistricting reshaped Texas elections
12:25 – The comptroller’s race and Abbott’s personal stakes
16:42 – Don Huffines, name ID, and why competence suddenly matters
24:31 – Ken Paxton’s political durability—why nothing sticks
31:24 – From tracker to reporter: learning Texas politics the hard way
36:45 – Following Hillary Clinton and the life of a political tracker
40:33 – Twitter bots, fake engagement, and legislative pressure
49:00 – What really happened in the Paxton impeachment trial
54:20 – The Speaker’s race and calendar control as raw power
1:03:18 – What Texas Bullpen is building next

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

Garrett Fulce returns to “Seeing Red” after a brief hiatus, discussing local politics with Sara McGee, a Democratic candidate for Texas House District 132. Sara shares her origin story in politics, sparked by a challenging encounter with current representative Mike Schofield, and her advocacy for issues like reproductive rights, public education, and health. The episode explores nuanced views on abortion, the implications of school choice, and Sara’s experiences with social media activism.

0:00 — Cold open
0:42 — Intro + explaining the hiatus
4:00 — McGee’s origin story
8:20 — Abortion: lived experience vs. legislative text
13:00 — Cases of miscarriage, preeclampsia, and medical liability fears
16:30 — Garrett’s rebuttal: moral hierarchy, exceptions, and conservative tensions
20:00 — Fringe bills vs. mainstream Republican thinking
23:00 — Why the abortion debate breaks political messaging
24:00 — Transition to education funding and vouchers

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce

In this episode of Seeing Red, Garrett Fulce sits down with Aaron Reitz, candidate for Texas Attorney General. Reitz draws on his background as a Marine Corps officer, senior attorney under Ken Paxton, and Trump-era DOJ official to outline why he believes he’s the most qualified contender for Texas’s top legal job.

They dig into:

• His time leading 46 lawsuits against the Biden administration
• His plan to go on legal offense against federal overreach and urban corruption.
• Why he sees the AG’s office as “a combat post, not a stepping-stone.”
• How military discipline and faith shape his leadership style.

It’s an insider’s look at a pivotal race in 2026 Texas politics—one that could define the next decade of conservatism.

0:00 “Legal Combat”: What It Takes to Be Texas Attorney General

5:09 From Marine Officer to Statewide Candidate

8:28 Reitz’s Vision for Texas and the Rule of Law

21:23 Crime, Corruption, and Big-City DAs

22:41 Going on Offense: The AG as Legal Warrior

28:34 Border Security, Election Integrity, and Federal Overreach

34:51 Leaving DOJ and Returning to Texas

41:28 Leading 4,000 Employees and 700 Attorneys

53:23 Child-Support Enforcement and Everyday Justice

1:02:09 Recruiting Conservative Legal Talent

1:04:26 Final Thoughts: “The Tip of the Spear for Liberty”

Find us at seeingredpodcast.substack.com for full episodes. Follow us on all socials at @theseeingredpod and online at our website Seeing Red Podcast. x.com/gwfulce