Josh, Diane, and Joe discuss local (Texas) politics, early/primary voting, the State of the Union address, Joe's campaign, and more.

Vote in our poll: Crockett or Talarico?

With Joel out to sea, Charlie awash in a sea of homework, and Jon lost in sea of diapers, Josh, Mama D, and Joe take on the local election scene in north Texas.

In a spicy, sometimes contentious discussion, the trio calls out the mistakes of the Democratic party, acknowledges the effectiveness of the GOP election machine, and try to find the best path forward for moving the nation forward.

Josh is a Denton County Democratic Precinct Chair (Precinct 3134, District 63) and Joe is the Democratic candidate for Texas State House District 106. Both are on the front lines, on different flanks, of the local election world.

Aside from breaking down the process and structures of the local election systems, the crew discusses the importance of safety during winter storms, as well as the most effective way of clearing armadillos from the road.

For the record, armadillos are not indigenous to Vermont. Just like ice and snow are not indigenous to Texas.

Charlie, Joel, Josh, Mama D, and Joe kick off 2026 by taking a deep dive --- including a few side trips and tin-foil hat moments --- on Venezuela, the game of global Risk that seems to be going on, and the killing of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis.

Joe shouts out Haley and the crew at Hive Bakery and a group of Moose shalle henceforth be known as a "flock of Meesen," thanks to Joel.