Are the Democrats ready to win in Texas?
Americast
BBC
4.3 • 3.1K Ratings
🗓️ 27 May 2026
⏱️ 26 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The Senate race for Texas could decide which party controls Congress in November’s midterm elections, and some Democrats think the state could be theirs for the first time since 1988.
It follows Tuesday’s Republican primary in Texas that ousted the state’s long-serving senator, John Cornyn, in favour of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a controversial figure who was backed by Donald Trump after the president accused Cornyn of disloyalty.
In today’s episode, Sarah and Anthony assess whether Trump’s backing for Ken Paxton reflects a growing disconnect between the president and his base, and why some Republicans are worried about his chances when facing up against the Democrat’s James Talarico in November.
HOSTS: • Sarah Smith, North America Editor • Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent
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This episode was made by Tom Gillett with Grace Reeve and Oscar Pearson. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is George Dabby. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music radio podcasts. |
| 0:07.0 | On Newscast, we are not in the business of telling you how to think. |
| 0:11.5 | We get the brightest minds from across the BBC to chat through the biggest stories. |
| 0:16.1 | You should leave feeling smarter about all the bonkers things in the news. |
| 0:19.7 | Listen to newscast every day on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:23.1 | We have just witnessed one of the fiercest and the most expensive primary races in US state history. |
| 0:30.7 | The battle to decide who's going to be Texas's Republican candidate for senator. |
| 0:36.5 | Donald Trump had turned his back on the long-serving senator |
| 0:40.3 | from Texas and backed a really controversial outsider instead. That sets up a midterm election |
| 0:46.2 | that could actually be competitive for the Democrats. Did Donald Trump just put Texas in play? |
| 0:53.0 | Welcome to AmeriCast. |
| 0:59.2 | AmeriCast from BBC News. |
| 1:00.4 | You hear that sound? |
| 1:04.2 | Oh, I think when I hear that sound, it reminds me of money. |
| 1:08.6 | We didn't start this war, but under President Trump, we are finishing it. |
| 1:11.9 | This is a big cover up, and this administration is engaged in it. |
| 1:13.9 | This guy has Trump Arrangement Syndrome. |
| 1:17.1 | I have four words for you. |
| 1:19.5 | Turn the volume up. |
| 1:25.7 | Hello, it's Sarah in the BBC's Bureau in Washington. |
| 1:28.2 | And it's Anthony right here with Sarah in Washington, D.C. |
| 1:35.8 | Just you and me, Anthony, running the show from Washington instead of what the others insist on wrongly calling the worldwide headquarters of America. |
... |
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