This is a word, a podcast from Slate. I'm your host, Jason Johnson. Whether it's abortion,

voting rights or immigration, Texas is the state where the nation's toughest political

battles are being fought right now. For rising Democratic stars Joaquin and Julien Castro,

it's critical for their party, and it's home.

Texas has always been a land of opportunity. Today it represents America's tomorrow. It's

young, it's diverse, it's growing.

Coming up on a word with me, Jason Johnson, stay with us.

I'm your host, Jason Johnson. Texas politics is a rough business, and recent headlines

prove that. The state has recently passed a highly restrictive voting law, and an abortion

law that invites citizens to spy, report, and sue others who are seeking the procedure.

But despite a Republican lock on political power, Texas boasts an increasingly diverse population,

and many progressive leaders who are making an impact on the state and the nation. That

includes twins Julien and Joaquin Castro. Julien served as mayor of San Antonio and HUD

secretary before running for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020. And Joaquin

Castro currently represents the 20th district of Texas and the U.S. Congress after many,

many years as a state legislator. He's the chair of the Texas Democratic Caucus. The

Castro brothers recently joined me as part of the Texas Tribune Festival to talk about

the state and national politics and their political futures, and we'll be featuring that conversation

on this week's episode.

Julien, you ran for president in 2020. You really, really championed issues like prisons

and housing. And so here we are. We're eight months into the Biden administration. Where

would you grade them on how they've addressed some of the things that you were passionate

...