Ben Philpott
Ben Philpott covers politics and policy for KUT 90.5 FM. He has been covering state politics and dozens of other topics for the station since 2002. He's been recognized for outstanding radio journalism by the Radio and Television News Directors Association, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated, the Texas Associated Press Broadcasters and twice by the Houston Press Club as Radio Journalist of the Year. Before moving to Texas, he worked in public radio in Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Ala., and at several television stations in Alabama and Tennessee. Born in New York City and raised in Chattanooga, Tenn., Philpott graduated from the University of Alabama with a degree in broadcast journalism.
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Texans cast their votes in primaries Tuesday. Democrats turned out in numbers not seen in more than a decade — though far more GOP voters showed up at the polls across the deep red state.
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Texas is holding the first primaries of the 2018 midterm season Tuesday, and both sides are looking to the results for signs of what's to come in November.
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Texas land commissioner George P. Bush has received President Trump's endorsement in his reelection bid, two years after Trump labeled his father "low energy Jeb" during the 2016 presidential race. -
The only member of the Bush political dynasty still in office is Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush. Although President Trump vanquished Bush's father, Jeb, and has criticized former presidents George H.W. and W. Bush, Trump has endorsed George P.'s re-election bid.
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Hurricane Harvey has been downgraded to a tropical storm but it is still dumping a lot of rain on Texas. In the capital Austin, thousands of people are without power.
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In Texas, every statewide elected official is Republican and the GOP controls the legislature. But efforts to restrict bathroom access for transgender people show a party that's far from united. -
The Texas governor and lieutenant governor are leading efforts to pass several Republican red meat bills – like a ban on transgender bathroom access. But one Republican lawmaker is pushing back.
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The arch-conservative Freedom Caucus has stymied congressional Republicans over the past several years. A copycat group in Texas and other places is forcing the state legislative agenda to the right.
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GOP presidential candidates may be spending most of their time in Iowa and New Hampshire right now, but delegate-rich Texas will be the far more consequential state in the Republican primary. -
Republican Rick Perry's presidential campaign has stopped paying its staff. It's a sign that the former Texas governor's second White House bid is struggling to gain support.
