1 00:00:02,799 --> 00:00:06,000 Speaker 1: Today's episode of the trib Cast is sponsored by Texas 2 00:00:06,000 --> 00:00:10,800 State Technical College. 3 00:00:12,359 --> 00:00:13,480 Speaker 2: Welcome to the trib Cast. 4 00:00:13,519 --> 00:00:17,039 Speaker 1: I'm Eleanor Klibanoff, women's health reporter, joined by editor in 5 00:00:17,160 --> 00:00:19,079 chief and co host Matthew Watkins. 6 00:00:19,120 --> 00:00:21,120 Speaker 2: Hello, fresh off his spring. 7 00:00:20,920 --> 00:00:22,000 Speaker 3: Break trip, that's right. 8 00:00:22,879 --> 00:00:25,480 Speaker 1: I have budgeted ten to fifteen minutes for your review 9 00:00:25,519 --> 00:00:29,879 of Lego Land, So thoughts, I want. 10 00:00:29,640 --> 00:00:31,920 Speaker 4: To go big picture first, because we were in Lego 11 00:00:32,039 --> 00:00:34,240 Land in San Diego and then we went up to. 12 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,479 Speaker 3: The Bay Area for a few days too. 13 00:00:38,719 --> 00:00:42,520 Speaker 4: And you know, as a Texan, it is my duty 14 00:00:42,560 --> 00:00:47,880 and responsibility to view California as a failed state, a wasteland. 15 00:00:49,560 --> 00:00:51,399 Speaker 3: But damn it, it's beautiful. Were there. 16 00:00:52,079 --> 00:00:54,399 Speaker 2: Wait, you're telling me that's. 17 00:00:54,159 --> 00:00:55,960 Speaker 3: Really beautiful, really pretty. 18 00:00:56,240 --> 00:00:59,439 Speaker 1: The suburbs of Dallas and the Yeah. 19 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:05,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, I've visited to National Park sites, Mirror Woods and Alcatraz. 20 00:01:06,719 --> 00:01:10,519 Happy to report that things seemed fully under control. There's 21 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,599 been a lot of talk about like parks, people losing 22 00:01:14,640 --> 00:01:17,719 their jobs and everything. The the trash cans were still 23 00:01:17,760 --> 00:01:21,120 being empty, that the everything was working there, Prisoners were 24 00:01:21,159 --> 00:01:26,359 still no prisoners there anymore. There was a very there 25 00:01:26,439 --> 00:01:29,640 was a at the end of the Alcatraz tour, there 26 00:01:29,719 --> 00:01:34,200 was this big mass incarceration exhibit in which the sort 27 00:01:34,200 --> 00:01:38,799 of thesis was like, the US imprisons way more people 28 00:01:38,920 --> 00:01:41,640 than it should and this is a problem and it 29 00:01:43,079 --> 00:01:47,280 and it's it's disroportionately affecting black and Hispanic people and 30 00:01:47,319 --> 00:01:51,040 everything like that. I did wonder, like how long that 31 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:52,439 will still be there? 32 00:01:52,560 --> 00:01:56,920 Speaker 2: My face, Some exhibits out over time, but I will. 33 00:01:56,719 --> 00:02:02,719 Speaker 4: Say just overall, Yeah, you know California. I actually talk 34 00:02:02,799 --> 00:02:06,239 to a lot of people uber drivers and waiters and 35 00:02:06,280 --> 00:02:09,240 such in there who when they learned from Austin, they 36 00:02:09,280 --> 00:02:10,840 were like, all my friends are moving there. 37 00:02:10,879 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 3: So that did check out, but it is still very pretty. 38 00:02:15,759 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 4: Yeah. 39 00:02:15,960 --> 00:02:18,159 Speaker 1: I don't get the sense people are leaving California because 40 00:02:18,199 --> 00:02:23,639 it's horrible to look at. Yeah, because again they probably 41 00:02:23,639 --> 00:02:26,400 would not be moving to the you know, areas where 42 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:26,800 they are. 43 00:02:26,879 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 3: But yeah, Austin too, Austin. 44 00:02:30,479 --> 00:02:33,240 Speaker 2: Every part of Texas has its charms. 45 00:02:34,840 --> 00:02:37,800 Speaker 1: Well, we are very excited to have you back and 46 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:41,360 extremely excited for this week's episode. This is a topic 47 00:02:41,400 --> 00:02:43,919 we've been looking forward to discussing for a while on 48 00:02:43,960 --> 00:02:47,360 the trim cast, where we are going to travel to 49 00:02:47,599 --> 00:02:51,479 a galaxy far far away and discuss the space industry 50 00:02:51,520 --> 00:02:52,240 in Texas. 51 00:02:52,599 --> 00:02:55,719 Speaker 2: Today is Space Day at the Texas Legislature. 52 00:02:56,080 --> 00:02:59,439 Speaker 1: As Glenn has informed us, We're going to talk about 53 00:02:59,439 --> 00:03:01,719 the modern space race, you know, why so much of 54 00:03:01,759 --> 00:03:05,159 this activity is centered in Texas, what the aeronautics industry 55 00:03:05,240 --> 00:03:08,000 wants from the legislature this session, and to walk us 56 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,280 through all of this. We're joined by Glenn Hammer, the 57 00:03:10,319 --> 00:03:13,159 President and CEO of the Texas Association of Business. 58 00:03:13,439 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 2: Glenn, thanks for joining us. 59 00:03:14,680 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 5: Great to be on. 60 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,199 Speaker 2: Glad to have you. Matthew, you also have a space 61 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:18,960 related day. 62 00:03:19,680 --> 00:03:22,599 Speaker 4: Yeah, well, I was just saying that it's also opening 63 00:03:22,680 --> 00:03:25,879 day this week for the Astros, you know, famed sports team. 64 00:03:25,919 --> 00:03:30,120 I was tried to find my plastic Astros space helmet 65 00:03:30,520 --> 00:03:33,240 to wear, but it's somewhere in the attic or something. 66 00:03:33,240 --> 00:03:33,879 Speaker 3: You can't find it. 67 00:03:34,039 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 2: Well, we do like costumes on this podcast as much 68 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:36,560 as possible. 69 00:03:37,599 --> 00:03:41,879 Speaker 1: I appreciate the effort, you know, Before we get into 70 00:03:41,919 --> 00:03:43,240 the space thing, I do have to ask you. 71 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:43,599 Speaker 2: Glenn. 72 00:03:44,039 --> 00:03:47,800 Speaker 1: Your bio on the Texas Association of Business website says 73 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,240 you've made it your mission to visit more local chambers 74 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:52,840 of commerce than anyone else on the planet and I 75 00:03:52,919 --> 00:03:54,240 have to know how many you've been. 76 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 6: To God at this point in the four years I've 77 00:03:58,560 --> 00:04:02,319 been here, I've got imagine it's it's over one hundred 78 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,199 across the state and easily over that number one you 79 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:08,919 count all the chambers that come to Austin during the 80 00:04:09,000 --> 00:04:12,639 legislative session and then we host at at our office. 81 00:04:12,719 --> 00:04:16,480 But now my new mission, given that this is space Day, 82 00:04:16,639 --> 00:04:20,199 will be the first Chamber executive to visit Marsh. 83 00:04:20,600 --> 00:04:22,920 Speaker 3: Amazing that Mars have a Chamber of Commerce yet. 84 00:04:22,839 --> 00:04:25,879 Speaker 6: Not yet, although a friend of mine who runs the 85 00:04:25,920 --> 00:04:29,160 Texas Venture Alliance, she's set up the Mars Venture Alliance. 86 00:04:29,199 --> 00:04:32,279 That's CS Freeland, which is a really cool shirt. So 87 00:04:32,680 --> 00:04:34,600 we're going to set up a chamber and a venture 88 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:36,639 group in Mars as soon as we. 89 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:37,120 Speaker 5: Can get there. 90 00:04:37,600 --> 00:04:40,160 Speaker 1: Something tells me if Texas is involved, like step one, 91 00:04:40,519 --> 00:04:42,959 you know, live, let's establish life can live there. 92 00:04:43,040 --> 00:04:44,399 Speaker 2: Step two, chamber of Commerce. 93 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:46,759 Speaker 5: I think that's about the right order. 94 00:04:46,839 --> 00:04:47,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's our order. 95 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,920 Speaker 1: Yes, yeah, well, you know, before we get into the 96 00:04:50,920 --> 00:04:53,480 modern space race. You know, Texas has played such a 97 00:04:53,519 --> 00:04:56,920 huge role in the history of space exploration in the 98 00:04:57,000 --> 00:05:01,279 United States. I am am as I received in angry 99 00:05:01,319 --> 00:05:02,079 emails all the time. 100 00:05:02,120 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 2: I'm not a native Texan, but you know, I think. 101 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:07,759 Speaker 3: Those are from me, from Matthew. 102 00:05:07,759 --> 00:05:10,759 Speaker 1: It's my performance review every year. But no, I think 103 00:05:10,839 --> 00:05:13,120 like even for people who are not from Texas, like 104 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:16,720 there is this association with Texas and Space Houston. 105 00:05:17,040 --> 00:05:19,800 Speaker 2: We have a problem. Of course, somewhat famously. 106 00:05:21,519 --> 00:05:25,199 Speaker 4: Not allowed as a lead in texts tribute stories for 107 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:26,040 the record. 108 00:05:26,639 --> 00:05:30,720 Speaker 1: Yet Matthew's reign has been bumpy so far as editor 109 00:05:30,759 --> 00:05:34,160 in chief. You know, in nineteen sixty two, when John F. 110 00:05:34,240 --> 00:05:35,920 Kennedy announced that the US would try to go to 111 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,319 the moon, he addressed the nation from Rice University and said, 112 00:05:39,399 --> 00:05:41,240 we choose to go to the moon in this decade 113 00:05:41,319 --> 00:05:43,680 and do the other things not because they are easy, 114 00:05:43,879 --> 00:05:45,319 but because they are hard. 115 00:05:45,839 --> 00:05:47,720 Speaker 3: He said, why go to the moon? Why does Rice 116 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,319 play Texas and football? That was his famous line. 117 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,399 Speaker 2: Why does Rice play Texas? Oh, play Texas and football? 118 00:05:53,480 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 3: Yeah? 119 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:55,040 Speaker 2: Because it's hard, Because it's hard. 120 00:05:55,120 --> 00:05:55,759 Speaker 3: Yeah, there you go. 121 00:05:55,920 --> 00:05:56,720 Speaker 5: It's a great line. 122 00:05:58,199 --> 00:06:01,040 Speaker 1: Flash forward to today, Governor Greg It a little bit 123 00:06:01,079 --> 00:06:04,120 less pithy but still good, has said Texas is the 124 00:06:04,199 --> 00:06:08,399 launchpad for Mars, innovating the technology that will colonize humanity's 125 00:06:08,519 --> 00:06:09,519 first new planet. 126 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 3: Good big. 127 00:06:11,399 --> 00:06:14,519 Speaker 4: It's incacurring to me too that we no longer go 128 00:06:14,560 --> 00:06:17,079 to the moon and Rice no longer plays Texas and football, 129 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:18,439 so maybe there's a connection there. 130 00:06:18,519 --> 00:06:21,399 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's a new era for both. Yeah, I mean, 131 00:06:21,399 --> 00:06:23,480 this is a huge economy, Glenn. They're estimated it will 132 00:06:23,519 --> 00:06:27,240 be by some estimates, one trillion dollar industry by twenty forty. 133 00:06:27,759 --> 00:06:30,040 Speaker 2: Talks about space in Texas. 134 00:06:29,800 --> 00:06:33,399 Speaker 6: Well, you you mentioned just the rich history with President 135 00:06:33,519 --> 00:06:36,600 Kennedy and then and then President Johnson obviously you know, 136 00:06:37,040 --> 00:06:41,480 one of the all time Hall of Fame Texas political leader. 137 00:06:41,560 --> 00:06:45,600 So we've had that rich history. You know, Texas is 138 00:06:45,600 --> 00:06:48,639 a frontier state, and if you think about it, you 139 00:06:48,800 --> 00:06:52,160 said galaxy far, far and away, that might identify you 140 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:57,279 as a Star Wars fan. The next frontier, the final frontier, 141 00:06:57,480 --> 00:07:00,800 is space. And right now we're at this moment where 142 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:05,319 I would argue AI and some of the other technological 143 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:13,040 developments are making some really bold human aspirations possible. And 144 00:07:14,639 --> 00:07:18,600 what's also happened is NASA obviously has a very storied, 145 00:07:18,680 --> 00:07:23,680 impressive history, but the private sector now has jumped in 146 00:07:23,879 --> 00:07:28,079 and that's obviously SpaceX, but it's beyond SpaceX. You have Firefly, 147 00:07:28,240 --> 00:07:31,240 you have Blue Origin, you have Axiom, you have a 148 00:07:31,319 --> 00:07:33,959 number of different companies that are that are doing things 149 00:07:34,480 --> 00:07:36,879 that maybe thirty or forty years ago we would have 150 00:07:36,959 --> 00:07:40,839 just sort of assumed that the federal government would do 151 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,680 with some help from contractors. But now these are true 152 00:07:45,079 --> 00:07:48,240 public private partnerships, and I would argue as a result, 153 00:07:49,040 --> 00:07:54,240 the space economy is flourishing and as you said, is 154 00:07:54,279 --> 00:07:56,959 projected a hit a trillion dollars and. 155 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,000 Speaker 1: Texas, I mean it's playing a huge, like front row 156 00:08:00,279 --> 00:08:01,879 role in this well. 157 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:03,839 Speaker 6: And we also discussed, you know, the fact that we 158 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:07,040 have the you know, so this is part of my spiel. 159 00:08:07,120 --> 00:08:09,079 You know, we've added more jobs in any other state, 160 00:08:09,160 --> 00:08:11,319 so we've got the best economy in the country. But 161 00:08:11,399 --> 00:08:14,240 now we're a two point five trillion dollar economy and 162 00:08:14,279 --> 00:08:16,120 by the end of the year we'll probably pass France 163 00:08:16,199 --> 00:08:18,839 and be in the G seven, so arguably the strongest 164 00:08:18,879 --> 00:08:21,920 economy in the world. But now that SpaceX is headquartered 165 00:08:21,959 --> 00:08:23,800 in the state of Texas, we can say we have 166 00:08:23,879 --> 00:08:27,120 the strongest economy in the galaxy and because of that, 167 00:08:27,319 --> 00:08:27,680 or you. 168 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:30,120 Speaker 5: Can well I can't. I'm going to say it until 169 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:30,959 I'm checked on that. 170 00:08:31,079 --> 00:08:33,080 Speaker 2: No one else other things not going in leads in 171 00:08:33,120 --> 00:08:33,639 the Texas. 172 00:08:34,000 --> 00:08:38,159 Speaker 6: There have been no Martians that have correct a challenge. 173 00:08:37,960 --> 00:08:40,639 But because of that, we have a twenty three twenty 174 00:08:40,639 --> 00:08:43,919 four billion dollar surplus and it allows us to invest 175 00:08:43,960 --> 00:08:46,879 in key things. And we're investing in infrastructure and water 176 00:08:47,600 --> 00:08:51,879 and electricity and teleg and broadband and stuff like that. 177 00:08:52,200 --> 00:08:56,159 But we're also able to do massive investments in semiconductors 178 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,919 and space. And I want to give a Chairman Bonda 179 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:05,320 a ton of credit and Chairwoman Huffman for their vision 180 00:09:05,519 --> 00:09:09,960 and really pushing the state with Governor Abbott to allocate 181 00:09:09,960 --> 00:09:13,440 three hundred and fifty million dollars for the Texas Space Commission, 182 00:09:13,559 --> 00:09:17,440 which you now Norman Garza is running expertly, and we 183 00:09:17,519 --> 00:09:20,240 have something like two billion dollars worth of pent up 184 00:09:20,519 --> 00:09:23,919 potential commercial projects as a result. 185 00:09:23,519 --> 00:09:24,120 Speaker 5: Of that effort. 186 00:09:24,320 --> 00:09:28,039 Speaker 6: So Texas is clearly leading in space and I don't 187 00:09:28,039 --> 00:09:30,399 believe any other state is even coming close to us 188 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:34,200 in terms of investing state resources in this sector. 189 00:09:34,600 --> 00:09:37,559 Speaker 4: Can you give us just a quick kind of audio 190 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:40,039 tour of the space industry in Texas, Like, what are 191 00:09:40,039 --> 00:09:43,360 we talking about when we say that that it's growing 192 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:44,120 and popping up here? 193 00:09:44,320 --> 00:09:44,559 Speaker 5: Yeah. 194 00:09:44,559 --> 00:09:47,519 Speaker 6: So, I mean you have to start with with SpaceX. 195 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,759 I mean the fact that you have eighty five percent 196 00:09:49,960 --> 00:09:54,320 of I believe the commercial tonnage that winds up in 197 00:09:54,399 --> 00:09:58,120 space is coming from a SpaceX vehicle. I mean we're 198 00:09:58,159 --> 00:10:03,120 talking globally. I mean SpaceX is it's it's the eight 199 00:10:03,159 --> 00:10:05,919 hundred pound times ten Gorilla. 200 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,720 Speaker 4: Owned by Elon Musk and launching in South Texas, launching 201 00:10:09,759 --> 00:10:10,639 in rockets in South. 202 00:10:10,759 --> 00:10:13,200 Speaker 6: And South Texas, and and I think also in Florida, 203 00:10:13,200 --> 00:10:16,360 but South Texas being being the center and building these 204 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:21,039 incredible engines, and Gregor Texas and then the you know Starlink, 205 00:10:21,080 --> 00:10:25,159 which is part of SpaceX, ramping up production in bass Drop. 206 00:10:25,240 --> 00:10:27,600 So it's really been benefiting you know, a big, big 207 00:10:27,639 --> 00:10:31,399 parts of of the state. But then you have you know, great, 208 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:35,559 great companies like Firefly that you know, became the first 209 00:10:36,039 --> 00:10:40,360 commercial company to land on on the moon right here 210 00:10:40,399 --> 00:10:43,200 in Texas as well. And I would say it's you know, 211 00:10:43,279 --> 00:10:48,679 it's it's it's a result of the history of Texas 212 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:51,240 with you know, you mentioned the Astros. I was born 213 00:10:51,240 --> 00:10:53,039 in the Bronx, so you can there may be a 214 00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:54,320 little bit of bad feelings here. 215 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 2: You talk about the rockets, you know. 216 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:00,120 Speaker 6: But Houston has been has been space town. So you 217 00:11:00,519 --> 00:11:04,279 do have this rich history of all sorts of different 218 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:09,120 space companies being located in Houston and across Texas. And 219 00:11:09,120 --> 00:11:11,399 I also say on the education side, I mean, take 220 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:13,639 a look at what Texas A and M is doing 221 00:11:14,360 --> 00:11:17,960 as well on space, setting up its own space center 222 00:11:19,360 --> 00:11:22,720 which is run by a former astronaut, and I believe 223 00:11:22,759 --> 00:11:25,080 maybe being one of the first, if not the first 224 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:28,840 universities to offer some sort of space engineering degree. 225 00:11:29,080 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 2: Oh yeah, I saw it's called. 226 00:11:30,120 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: Like extraterrestrial engineering, and I was like, that is absolutely 227 00:11:33,279 --> 00:11:34,720 the kind of class I would have signed up for 228 00:11:34,799 --> 00:11:36,200 as a freshman, just thinking like. 229 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:37,440 Speaker 2: That sounds cool. 230 00:11:37,480 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: Yeah, and then realize and then you're like, this was 231 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:40,200 a mistique. 232 00:11:41,080 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 6: So what have I if I didn't stop my math 233 00:11:43,759 --> 00:11:46,080 and science learning in high school? 234 00:11:46,240 --> 00:11:47,639 Speaker 2: Yes, big same Yeah. 235 00:11:47,759 --> 00:11:51,960 Speaker 6: But so you know, you have the academic institutions and 236 00:11:52,039 --> 00:11:56,559 of course Rice University as well, you have the history, 237 00:11:56,759 --> 00:12:00,240 You have these private sector companies all over this date 238 00:12:00,320 --> 00:12:03,279 that are getting involved in space, and then I think 239 00:12:03,279 --> 00:12:08,600 you just have the business community understanding and rallying behind 240 00:12:09,399 --> 00:12:11,679 this vision. And I'll also say you have other companies like 241 00:12:12,279 --> 00:12:15,559 Boeing that are very active here. They've been investing in 242 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:20,840 a major air mobility company that to me feels like 243 00:12:20,960 --> 00:12:22,519 what the Jetsons were all about. 244 00:12:22,960 --> 00:12:25,080 Speaker 1: A lot of this feels like that. Yeah, right, Like 245 00:12:25,159 --> 00:12:26,919 you're talking about the future in so many ways. 246 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:29,240 Speaker 6: And I'll also say another really important point and an 247 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:33,600 exciting part for the state is you have our junior senator, 248 00:12:33,639 --> 00:12:38,679 Senator Ted Cruz, who now chairs the Senate Commerce and 249 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:39,519 Science Committee. 250 00:12:39,519 --> 00:12:40,679 Speaker 5: Why is that important? 251 00:12:40,720 --> 00:12:44,120 Speaker 6: Well, that committee is jurisdiction over forty percent of the economy, 252 00:12:44,600 --> 00:12:51,279 including space, including semiconductors, including AI, and he is very 253 00:12:52,039 --> 00:12:57,120 active in making sure that the interests of Texas are 254 00:12:58,320 --> 00:13:02,000 respected in DC. And I think he's also sees the 255 00:13:02,440 --> 00:13:07,559 incredible potential economically for the state if if Texas leads 256 00:13:07,559 --> 00:13:08,039 in space. 257 00:13:08,559 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 4: Yeah, it's interesting that the kind of history of Texas 258 00:13:11,519 --> 00:13:14,480 being a leader in space going back decades. A lot 259 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,600 of that is due to the power that Texas politicians 260 00:13:18,679 --> 00:13:20,879 had back in the middle of the century. You know, 261 00:13:20,960 --> 00:13:23,480 you're talking about your Sam ray Burns, your LBJs and 262 00:13:23,519 --> 00:13:26,960 things like that. Interesting to see Ted Kruz now starting. 263 00:13:26,679 --> 00:13:27,279 Speaker 2: Into those shoes. 264 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:27,600 Speaker 3: Yeah. 265 00:13:27,799 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 6: Yeah, and you know with Cruise and I should have 266 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:32,480 said just to because you asked a great question. You know, 267 00:13:33,120 --> 00:13:36,360 right now, the space industry is about eleven billion in 268 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:40,399 annual GDP for Texas, and if you include the broader 269 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,799 aerospace ecosystem, it's about one hundred and thirty five thousand jobs. 270 00:13:43,799 --> 00:13:46,000 So it's a lot of it's it's it's a lot 271 00:13:46,039 --> 00:13:48,399 of jobs. But you know I wanted to say also 272 00:13:48,399 --> 00:13:51,960 about Center Cruz is is that he has been working 273 00:13:52,159 --> 00:13:56,720 across the aisle on some important efforts that are connected 274 00:13:56,720 --> 00:14:00,639 to space, like, for example, on semiconductors to make easier 275 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:05,360 to actually cite these plants. He worked across the aisle 276 00:14:05,480 --> 00:14:08,960 with Senator Mark Kelly, an astronaut and a US Senator 277 00:14:09,000 --> 00:14:10,519 from Arizona. 278 00:14:09,879 --> 00:14:10,600 Speaker 5: To achieve that. 279 00:14:10,799 --> 00:14:16,240 Speaker 6: So on these economic areas, Center Cruz has been doing 280 00:14:16,240 --> 00:14:18,440 a very good job working across the aisle because at 281 00:14:18,440 --> 00:14:20,639 the end of the day, and it's still the case, 282 00:14:20,679 --> 00:14:23,080 to get most things through the US Senate, you need 283 00:14:23,279 --> 00:14:26,399 sixty votes, which means you need bipartisan support. 284 00:14:26,679 --> 00:14:28,840 Speaker 1: Well, and I mean speaking of bipartisan support, I mean 285 00:14:28,879 --> 00:14:31,279 last session a little closer to home here in Texas, 286 00:14:31,399 --> 00:14:34,440 the legislature passed a pretty big space bill with like 287 00:14:35,279 --> 00:14:38,960 almost unheard of scale of support from both parties. I 288 00:14:39,000 --> 00:14:44,039 mean really almost unanimous agreement on this, which is shocking 289 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:46,200 these days. Talk a little bit about it was HB 290 00:14:46,799 --> 00:14:49,519 thirty four to forty seven, you know, a big, a 291 00:14:49,559 --> 00:14:52,120 big bill for creating the Space Commission, among other things. 292 00:14:52,279 --> 00:14:55,799 Speaker 6: Well, three hundred and fifty million dollars over two years. 293 00:14:55,799 --> 00:14:57,559 And as I was saying, I mean, there's been at 294 00:14:57,679 --> 00:15:01,879 least two billion dollars worth of commercial interests, So meaning 295 00:15:01,960 --> 00:15:04,600 there it's they're just simply not able to fund all 296 00:15:04,600 --> 00:15:10,399 the projects and probably all the worthwhile uh efforts. And 297 00:15:10,600 --> 00:15:12,600 you know, and and I and I think what that 298 00:15:12,720 --> 00:15:16,080 goes to show is that and you know, for any chamber, 299 00:15:16,279 --> 00:15:19,799 we like public private partnerships. You know, it's it's useful 300 00:15:19,879 --> 00:15:23,720 when the when the government is is leveraging its resources 301 00:15:23,799 --> 00:15:27,919 with private sector. It's not just giving a grant and 302 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:30,960 saying we hope for the best. It's it's basically asking 303 00:15:31,039 --> 00:15:35,519 that private sector company to make you know, massive contributions. 304 00:15:35,919 --> 00:15:37,360 But but one of the things I did want to 305 00:15:37,360 --> 00:15:39,559 reach on that, I think as we look forward to 306 00:15:39,559 --> 00:15:41,679 making sure the Texas leads in space, yes, we have 307 00:15:41,759 --> 00:15:44,879 to make sure that the Texas Space Commission has resources 308 00:15:44,879 --> 00:15:47,840 and perhaps more resources, but we also need to make 309 00:15:47,840 --> 00:15:51,879 sure that other UH state initiatives are aligned. For example, 310 00:15:52,480 --> 00:15:55,120 UH this session, we're pushing very hard to make sure 311 00:15:55,320 --> 00:15:57,840 that an R and D tax credit that's been around 312 00:15:57,879 --> 00:16:00,200 in Texas for a while but would expire at the 313 00:16:00,279 --> 00:16:03,480 end of next year is extended because we need to 314 00:16:03,519 --> 00:16:07,600 make sure that for these companies that are innovating, they 315 00:16:07,679 --> 00:16:12,039 have we have a competitive policy ecosystem in the state 316 00:16:12,080 --> 00:16:16,639 of Texas. We're also supporting different initiatives that would match 317 00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:25,080 federal SBA funding for smaller entrepreneurial companies that are investing 318 00:16:25,279 --> 00:16:30,240 in technology. So you know, we're taking a holistic approach 319 00:16:30,480 --> 00:16:32,919 at the Texas Association of Business to make sure that 320 00:16:32,960 --> 00:16:37,399 we have a policy environment that will will put the 321 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:38,960 state on top in space. 322 00:16:39,039 --> 00:16:42,240 Speaker 5: But it's it is, it's a variety of different factors. 323 00:16:42,679 --> 00:16:44,559 Speaker 1: Right, I mean, you talked about this a little bit 324 00:16:44,600 --> 00:16:46,440 with the universities, but also like what do we need 325 00:16:46,480 --> 00:16:49,559 in terms of workforce for space. 326 00:16:49,799 --> 00:16:53,720 Speaker 6: Well, that's a very important question because it's very important 327 00:16:53,759 --> 00:16:57,480 that our Tier one universities and you know, by some metrics, 328 00:16:57,519 --> 00:17:00,639 we have more Tier one research universities than any other 329 00:17:00,720 --> 00:17:04,079 state and I'll just say what's going on at U T, Austin, Texas, 330 00:17:04,160 --> 00:17:07,440 A and M and the engineering side is sensational. I 331 00:17:07,440 --> 00:17:09,400 don't think there's a better one to two punch on 332 00:17:09,519 --> 00:17:13,880 public schools in the country than those two schools in 333 00:17:13,960 --> 00:17:17,599 terms of the equality of engineers that they're supplying. But 334 00:17:18,240 --> 00:17:20,599 we also need to make sure that our community colleges 335 00:17:20,680 --> 00:17:26,000 are producing the workers to handle a lot of the 336 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:30,759 skilled trades necessary for the space economy, and that includes 337 00:17:30,839 --> 00:17:31,480 things like. 338 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 5: Machinists and. 339 00:17:36,039 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 3: You know. 340 00:17:36,559 --> 00:17:39,440 Speaker 6: In fact, what was interesting when the federal CHIPS bill 341 00:17:39,519 --> 00:17:42,839 was signed, the big press conference of Texas leaders who 342 00:17:43,359 --> 00:17:47,000 who had pushed for that Senator Cornyn and Chairman Mike 343 00:17:47,119 --> 00:17:50,240 McCall was held at Austin Community College. So one of 344 00:17:50,279 --> 00:17:52,359 the things we're going to also push for is a 345 00:17:52,400 --> 00:17:55,920 continuation of HB eight, that was the community college effort 346 00:17:55,960 --> 00:17:58,440 to put another six hundred and fifty million dollars of 347 00:17:58,480 --> 00:18:01,839 new funding into our community colleges for credentials of value. 348 00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:04,039 And I'm going to even go one step beyond that 349 00:18:04,279 --> 00:18:07,319 is making sure that dual enrollment in high schools, that 350 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:11,400 our high schools are really geared towards these professions, where 351 00:18:11,720 --> 00:18:14,480 if kids get into them, students get into them. They 352 00:18:14,519 --> 00:18:18,119 could earn fifty sixty seventy thousand right after graduating from 353 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:24,440 high school with the right educational set of courses in 354 00:18:25,039 --> 00:18:25,559 high school. 355 00:18:26,279 --> 00:18:27,079 Speaker 2: Yeah, I mean that's amazing. 356 00:18:27,079 --> 00:18:28,559 Speaker 1: I mean it's like really not like you can't just 357 00:18:28,599 --> 00:18:30,680 put money in space and say like that's going to 358 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:31,119 be enough. 359 00:18:32,400 --> 00:18:34,759 Speaker 6: Absolutely, I mean you have to have I think the 360 00:18:34,799 --> 00:18:40,160 community college effort, the career and technical education programs and 361 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,480 a lot of the Texas high schools are very important. 362 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:46,079 And then to make sure that students understand these great 363 00:18:46,160 --> 00:18:49,680 options that are out there. And I'm going to point 364 00:18:49,720 --> 00:18:53,759 out my friend, one of another great Texan, Roy Spence. 365 00:18:54,119 --> 00:18:56,599 He's the guy that came up with don't mess with Texas. 366 00:18:56,680 --> 00:18:59,440 By the way, when I came outside of Texas, that 367 00:18:59,519 --> 00:19:01,559 to me met something else I had no idea was 368 00:19:01,559 --> 00:19:02,759 a littering campaign. 369 00:19:02,759 --> 00:19:04,000 Speaker 5: Oh yes, yeah. 370 00:19:04,119 --> 00:19:06,279 Speaker 6: But he's also done great work for Whole Foods and 371 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:10,880 Southwest Airlines, great Texas companies. But Roy's point is that, 372 00:19:11,200 --> 00:19:13,640 and he's started something called the make It Movement, is 373 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:15,799 that you have a lot of students in junior high 374 00:19:15,839 --> 00:19:18,960 school and high school that don't really know all of 375 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:21,799 these great options that are in front of them if 376 00:19:21,839 --> 00:19:25,799 they could get the right technical education. So that's a 377 00:19:25,799 --> 00:19:28,119 program that's been getting a lot of support and it's 378 00:19:28,119 --> 00:19:31,039 something we support because we want students in our junior 379 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:35,039 and Texas high schools to understand, you get the right skills, 380 00:19:35,480 --> 00:19:39,359 you're going to have opportunities in these emerging areas like space. 381 00:19:40,400 --> 00:19:42,359 Speaker 2: Right. Great, well, it's actually very good timing. 382 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:44,359 Speaker 1: We're gonna take a quick break and thank our sponsor, 383 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:48,839 Texas State Technical College. At Texas State Technical College, we 384 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:51,839 don't just train students, we provide Texas with the next 385 00:19:51,880 --> 00:19:58,160 generation of skilled workers. T TSTC Better for Texas. Learn 386 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:00,720 more at TSTC dot ed U. 387 00:20:01,759 --> 00:20:02,720 Speaker 2: Uh good timing. 388 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:03,200 Speaker 4: Uh. 389 00:20:03,720 --> 00:20:06,119 Speaker 5: That was expanse of TSTC as well. 390 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:10,000 Speaker 1: You know, we can't really talk about space, and we've 391 00:20:10,039 --> 00:20:11,640 already sort of touched on this a little bit, but 392 00:20:12,000 --> 00:20:13,000 without talking. 393 00:20:12,759 --> 00:20:14,920 Speaker 2: About the man of the moment. 394 00:20:15,039 --> 00:20:18,359 Speaker 1: Elon Musk Glenn, I know you've been down in the 395 00:20:18,440 --> 00:20:21,839 valley some talking with the leaders, and you know Brownsville 396 00:20:21,920 --> 00:20:24,359 being a real center point. They're calling it the gateway 397 00:20:24,359 --> 00:20:27,359 to Mars. You know, what are you hearing from business 398 00:20:27,440 --> 00:20:29,559 leaders and folks in the valley about SpaceX. 399 00:20:29,799 --> 00:20:32,519 Speaker 6: Oh, my god, incredible excitement. I was just in uh 400 00:20:33,400 --> 00:20:37,440 uh Monterey, Mexico at a big tech event UH that 401 00:20:37,599 --> 00:20:40,759 was in part hosted by Tech to Monterey, great great 402 00:20:40,759 --> 00:20:42,680 school that produces a lot of great engineers and is 403 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:45,839 deepening ties with Texas universities. And I spent a lot 404 00:20:45,880 --> 00:20:48,799 of time with Mayor Cowen, the great mayor of Brownsville. 405 00:20:49,319 --> 00:20:49,559 Speaker 5: UH. 406 00:20:49,799 --> 00:20:53,519 Speaker 6: The two things that are transforming Brownsville in South Texas, UH, 407 00:20:53,559 --> 00:20:58,480 SpaceX and the space economy and uh LNG liquified natural 408 00:20:58,519 --> 00:21:03,799 gas and what's going going on in SpaceX is just inspiring. 409 00:21:04,039 --> 00:21:06,039 If you think about if you're a young person in 410 00:21:06,079 --> 00:21:10,400 that area and you see what's going on, it's very exciting. 411 00:21:10,440 --> 00:21:15,319 And it's also apparently having a huge impact positive on 412 00:21:15,359 --> 00:21:19,839 the tourism economy that these launches now are becoming musty events. 413 00:21:20,759 --> 00:21:25,400 So an incredible excitement in Brownsville and South Texas. And yes, 414 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:29,079 Brownsville now bills itself as the gateway to Mars. 415 00:21:29,400 --> 00:21:30,559 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely. 416 00:21:31,359 --> 00:21:36,160 Speaker 4: It's interesting to think about Musk's role in this. You know, 417 00:21:37,480 --> 00:21:39,559 he's obviously getting a lot of attention right now with 418 00:21:39,640 --> 00:21:42,079 his relationship with the federal government and everything like that, 419 00:21:42,279 --> 00:21:45,400 but it is, of course true that SpaceX was a 420 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:49,720 massive government contractor before the Trump administration ever came into office. 421 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:52,319 I wrote down three point eight billion dollars in federal 422 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:57,640 contracts last year. Right, you know, they're talk Starlink, which 423 00:21:57,680 --> 00:22:01,240 you mentioned earlier, being a major kind of government contractor 424 00:22:01,279 --> 00:22:03,519 not just with the US government but with other governments. 425 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:07,200 Even conversations about how like Musk satellites might be able 426 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:11,960 to provide broadband access, high speed internet access to folks. 427 00:22:12,519 --> 00:22:15,599 But of course we are now in a place where 428 00:22:15,759 --> 00:22:18,079 any kind of contract that Elon Musk gets with the 429 00:22:18,079 --> 00:22:20,400 federal government is going to get a lot of scrutiny 430 00:22:20,440 --> 00:22:20,920 and attention. 431 00:22:21,559 --> 00:22:24,160 Speaker 3: Do you worry at all about the. 432 00:22:26,319 --> 00:22:29,200 Speaker 4: Because of who Elon Musk is and you know, to 433 00:22:29,279 --> 00:22:32,319 a lesser extent, Jeff Bezos and Blue Origin, But still 434 00:22:32,359 --> 00:22:36,119 to a certain extent there about this topic becoming more 435 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:39,960 politicized than it used to be. You know, given what 436 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:42,799 we just talked about with you know, a bill passing 437 00:22:42,960 --> 00:22:47,000 essentially unanimously last legislative session. 438 00:22:47,440 --> 00:22:50,400 Speaker 6: Yeah, I don't think it's going to impact that at all, 439 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:54,079 because what's going on with space X and the space 440 00:22:54,119 --> 00:23:00,960 economy is strongly bipartisan, and the jobs are being created 441 00:23:01,079 --> 00:23:06,440 by SpaceX, Starlink and a number of the other Musk companies. 442 00:23:06,720 --> 00:23:13,039 They're benefiting all Texans, regardless of their political affiliation. And 443 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:15,839 you know, and I and and I think that you know, 444 00:23:15,880 --> 00:23:17,599 you take a look, you know, let's look at the 445 00:23:17,640 --> 00:23:20,200 you know, last week or so, when you know, it 446 00:23:20,279 --> 00:23:26,759 was terrific a SpaceX vehicle really rescued two astronauts, uh 447 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,799 that were in space for a lot longer than they 448 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,559 had anticipated. That's that's a good thing. And you know, 449 00:23:33,640 --> 00:23:38,720 my my hope is that we can focus on the 450 00:23:38,759 --> 00:23:42,960 overall interests of Texans and Americans and understanding we are 451 00:23:43,039 --> 00:23:46,960 in a certainly a polarized time and and people's passions 452 00:23:47,000 --> 00:23:49,960 could get hot on different things. But let's try to separate, 453 00:23:50,400 --> 00:23:56,000 you know, uh, activities that produce great, high paying jobs 454 00:23:56,359 --> 00:24:00,680 for Texans and on things that Texas country in the 455 00:24:00,680 --> 00:24:05,279 world really needs. I mean, space X is easily, you know, 456 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:08,480 obviously right now the world's most important company when it 457 00:24:08,519 --> 00:24:09,319 comes to space. 458 00:24:10,119 --> 00:24:10,640 Speaker 5: Uh. 459 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:15,599 Speaker 6: It should be celebrated and supported by all Texans, regardless 460 00:24:15,640 --> 00:24:16,799 of political ideology. 461 00:24:17,680 --> 00:24:20,359 Speaker 1: Matthew, I think and you know, to your point, I 462 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:23,200 do think we're hearing more, you know, Elon Musk was 463 00:24:23,240 --> 00:24:26,119 already such a you know, business leader. These these companies 464 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:28,960 were already like so on their way to doing all 465 00:24:29,000 --> 00:24:32,680 of this stuff. And also Elon Musk almost separate from 466 00:24:32,720 --> 00:24:35,640 Elon Musk the Space explorer, you have Elon Musk, the 467 00:24:36,680 --> 00:24:40,400 character who is becoming, you know, increasingly visible on the 468 00:24:40,400 --> 00:24:41,079 public stage. 469 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:42,759 Speaker 2: And it, you know, it is interesting. 470 00:24:42,839 --> 00:24:44,680 Speaker 1: I think it will be interesting to see how that 471 00:24:45,359 --> 00:24:47,960 you know, right now, Like you know, over the weekend 472 00:24:47,960 --> 00:24:49,480 there's some reports with the New York Times about all 473 00:24:49,480 --> 00:24:53,559 the federal contracts and start at Elon Musk sort of 474 00:24:53,599 --> 00:24:57,240 stands to see for his companies based on his increased role, 475 00:24:57,920 --> 00:25:01,799 and it's like, you know, as we start to see 476 00:25:01,920 --> 00:25:04,640 which will win out kind of Elon Musk the political character, 477 00:25:04,759 --> 00:25:07,039 Elon Musk the space leader. 478 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:09,559 Speaker 6: If I could just say, but if you look at 479 00:25:09,599 --> 00:25:13,200 these different products, I mean Tesla, which is now the 480 00:25:13,200 --> 00:25:19,160 most valuable American auto brand, it is an incredibly elegant vehicle. 481 00:25:19,359 --> 00:25:23,079 You think about Starlink providing access to the Internet for 482 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:25,920 people all over the world that otherwise simply wouldn't have 483 00:25:26,000 --> 00:25:30,480 it again regardless of their political ideologies. Neurallink, where it's 484 00:25:30,640 --> 00:25:35,319 giving hope to paralyzed people all across the world. And 485 00:25:35,359 --> 00:25:39,680 then of course a space ax both from commercial all 486 00:25:39,720 --> 00:25:43,599 these different satellites, but also on a military basis. I mean, 487 00:25:43,960 --> 00:25:46,400 controlling space is going to be very important for the 488 00:25:46,519 --> 00:25:49,680 US to remain the world's top superpower. So I think 489 00:25:49,799 --> 00:25:52,240 on some of these things, and the boring company, you know, 490 00:25:52,319 --> 00:25:55,359 is pretty interesting. Who likes getting stuck in traffic? So 491 00:25:55,440 --> 00:25:58,720 all these different companies, regardless of what may be going 492 00:25:58,720 --> 00:26:04,200 on with DOGE or whatnot, I think, without any sort 493 00:26:04,240 --> 00:26:09,079 of argument, are advancing the quality of life and humanity 494 00:26:09,119 --> 00:26:11,480 issues that we all benefit from. 495 00:26:11,759 --> 00:26:14,559 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think there's no question right that Elon Musk. 496 00:26:14,599 --> 00:26:17,400 Speaker 4: I mean, he created Tesla, he created SpaceX, He created 497 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:19,839 a lot of these companies with like, you know, the 498 00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:24,440 future of humanity in mind. Right, it is also true 499 00:26:24,480 --> 00:26:29,480 that he is you know, a testing the boundaries or 500 00:26:29,519 --> 00:26:32,599 maybe going way past the boundaries of the relationship between 501 00:26:32,680 --> 00:26:35,480 private enterprise and government and everything like that. It's going 502 00:26:35,519 --> 00:26:38,799 to be hard, I think for folks to separate in 503 00:26:38,880 --> 00:26:42,000 the coming years. Why is he getting this contract because 504 00:26:42,880 --> 00:26:48,240 SpaceX is this you know, international you know, leader in 505 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:50,759 some of these technologies, or is he getting this contract 506 00:26:50,839 --> 00:26:53,720 with because of his relationship with Donald Trump and everything. 507 00:26:53,759 --> 00:26:58,359 I think that will be something that we will have 508 00:26:58,440 --> 00:27:00,480 to watch, and I would expect will be a lot 509 00:27:00,519 --> 00:27:03,920 of debate and conversation over between between now and you know, 510 00:27:04,200 --> 00:27:05,000 twenty twenty eight. 511 00:27:05,319 --> 00:27:07,799 Speaker 1: Right, like the cleaner way, right is like, don't get 512 00:27:07,839 --> 00:27:11,359 involved in politics, just keep doing your businesses. I think 513 00:27:11,400 --> 00:27:14,720 that's increasingly like a myth friend, you know, it's like 514 00:27:14,799 --> 00:27:18,079 everything is, but yes, everything's political. 515 00:27:18,200 --> 00:27:21,440 Speaker 6: Yeah, I mean things are certainly political today. But I 516 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,200 think you know, you take a look at Elon Musk 517 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:26,279 and say, a lot of the guys sort of connected 518 00:27:26,279 --> 00:27:30,599 some way to the PayPal mafia. David Sachs all in podcasts, 519 00:27:30,599 --> 00:27:35,319 which I'll admit I listen to religiously. I think it's 520 00:27:35,519 --> 00:27:38,000 it's it's it's really a lot of good information, a 521 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,680 lot of long form interviews, and you have these individuals 522 00:27:41,680 --> 00:27:44,799 involved in government. In my opinion, even if I disagree 523 00:27:44,839 --> 00:27:46,119 with some of the things that we you know, we 524 00:27:46,160 --> 00:27:49,920 want to talk about tariffs that might be one. This 525 00:27:50,000 --> 00:27:52,440 is an incredible concentration of people that know how to 526 00:27:52,519 --> 00:27:55,200 run businesses, no balance sheets, and they look at the 527 00:27:55,279 --> 00:27:57,759 thirty six trillion dollar debt in the United States two 528 00:27:57,839 --> 00:28:02,079 trillion dollar annual deafiest and say it has to be stopped, 529 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:05,680 and are trying to figure out creative ways to cut money, 530 00:28:05,799 --> 00:28:09,759 to cut waste as well as to raise revenue. You know, basically, 531 00:28:10,200 --> 00:28:13,400 raise a trillion and cut a trillion and there you 532 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:19,160 solve the the annual deficit. Easier said than done. But 533 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:22,240 I'm going to give the administration kudos for trying. It 534 00:28:22,319 --> 00:28:25,519 needs to be tried, in my opinion, because the debt 535 00:28:25,599 --> 00:28:31,160 and the interest payments are crowding out very important social 536 00:28:31,319 --> 00:28:34,640 and other types suspending. So you know, it's it's it's 537 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:40,799 a tough assignment. And obviously it's not necessarily being you know, bull, 538 00:28:40,920 --> 00:28:42,799 and it could be a bull in a china shop. 539 00:28:42,799 --> 00:28:44,759 Speaker 1: Of course, it's going to start pushback and yeah, at 540 00:28:44,839 --> 00:28:47,039 least so far as several legal challenges, but you know, 541 00:28:47,319 --> 00:28:50,279 it's a you know, you try. I mean this bold 542 00:28:50,319 --> 00:28:53,640 action and sort of bold action that sometimes raises eyebrows. 543 00:28:53,680 --> 00:28:57,839 I mean also brought to NASA, the you know, Trump's 544 00:28:57,839 --> 00:29:02,160 nominee or President Trump's nominee to NASA, Jared Jared Isaacman, 545 00:29:02,839 --> 00:29:07,079 you know, is a real his contracts worth tens of 546 00:29:07,079 --> 00:29:11,319 millions of dollars with SpaceX. He's twice traveled on SpaceX spacecraft, 547 00:29:11,720 --> 00:29:15,119 but he has said, you know, basically. 548 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:17,160 Speaker 2: With this is a this is a post on X. 549 00:29:17,559 --> 00:29:19,720 Speaker 1: With the support of President Trump, I can promise you this, 550 00:29:19,920 --> 00:29:22,119 we will never again lose our ability to journey to 551 00:29:22,160 --> 00:29:25,000 the stars and never settle for second place. We will 552 00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:27,680 inspire children yours and mind to look up and dream 553 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:29,759 of what is possible and talk about wanting to go 554 00:29:29,799 --> 00:29:32,680 to the moon, return to the moon, go to Mars. 555 00:29:33,039 --> 00:29:37,559 You know, that sort of federal momentum around space must 556 00:29:37,559 --> 00:29:40,480 feel pretty exciting for for you and for Texas. 557 00:29:41,359 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 6: Absolutely, and there's no I mean, and you think you 558 00:29:43,519 --> 00:29:46,680 go back. I mean, obviously President Kennedy, I'm sure I 559 00:29:46,720 --> 00:29:49,400 was in alive then and President Trump have different styles, 560 00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:52,640 but it's bold. And you know, for President Trump, I 561 00:29:52,680 --> 00:29:54,519 believe to be the first president to say we're going 562 00:29:54,559 --> 00:29:57,440 to go to Mars. That's that's that's a big deal, 563 00:29:57,519 --> 00:30:01,200 and that that to me, is is an inspired activity 564 00:30:01,440 --> 00:30:05,240 that will require all Americans to get behind Republicans and 565 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:08,960 Democrats and independents to achieve. 566 00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,440 Speaker 1: And we should say, you know, the Tribune has done 567 00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:14,440 some reporting on this, you know, going sort of circling 568 00:30:14,480 --> 00:30:16,960 us back to Brownsville and the Rio Grand Valle. You know, 569 00:30:17,119 --> 00:30:20,000 not everyone has been happy with SpaceX. You know, we've 570 00:30:20,240 --> 00:30:22,480 there's been a lot of local pushbacks, some lawsuits, some 571 00:30:22,559 --> 00:30:26,640 regulatory action over environmental damage and the company's encroachment on 572 00:30:27,200 --> 00:30:32,079 public beaches and land. The FAA and TCQ have investigated 573 00:30:32,119 --> 00:30:35,279 and cited the company at different times for violations. I mean, 574 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:38,839 what are these companies sort of obligations to Texas and 575 00:30:38,880 --> 00:30:41,680 to like be good neighbors and good stewards of the state. 576 00:30:41,880 --> 00:30:45,240 Speaker 6: Yeah, I think SpaceX has been an excellent neighbor and steward. 577 00:30:45,279 --> 00:30:47,799 And you're always like, I've been around this long enough. 578 00:30:47,880 --> 00:30:50,240 I mean I've if you'll live next to an airport, 579 00:30:50,319 --> 00:30:51,559 people get upset. 580 00:30:51,920 --> 00:30:53,279 Speaker 5: So that's that. 581 00:30:53,359 --> 00:30:55,759 Speaker 6: Comes with the territory. And we will live in a 582 00:30:55,759 --> 00:30:58,240 democracy and people have the right to voice their opinions. 583 00:30:58,759 --> 00:31:00,680 But when you have the mayor brown Phil and the 584 00:31:00,799 --> 00:31:05,880 leadership of the entire city really unifying behind Brownsville is 585 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:07,880 a gateway to March, you get a pretty good sense 586 00:31:07,960 --> 00:31:11,880 where the vast majority of the public is when it 587 00:31:11,920 --> 00:31:15,319 comes to SpaceX. So, you know, every company should be 588 00:31:15,359 --> 00:31:18,920 a good corporate citizen. But I would argue that SpaceX 589 00:31:19,000 --> 00:31:21,680 is in an outstanding one given all the great jobs 590 00:31:21,759 --> 00:31:25,480 that they provide, not just in their company, but the 591 00:31:25,599 --> 00:31:30,960 surrounding ecosystem. Ask the hotels, the restaurants, the bars how 592 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:34,160 they feel about SpaceX, and I think you would say 593 00:31:34,240 --> 00:31:36,759 they would say thank you, Elon Musk. 594 00:31:37,880 --> 00:31:41,359 Speaker 1: And really interesting that there's now this push to make 595 00:31:41,599 --> 00:31:44,240 its own city within Cameron County, which is so interesting. 596 00:31:44,240 --> 00:31:46,960 I mean really like take you know, to the residents 597 00:31:46,960 --> 00:31:49,359 of star Base, you know, wanting to sort of carve 598 00:31:49,359 --> 00:31:51,240 out a city. It's like very back to the days 599 00:31:51,279 --> 00:31:56,759 of like the company town Hehy Pennsylvania, you know, lo itt. 600 00:31:56,559 --> 00:31:59,000 Speaker 6: Town in a way, and for the record, I love Hershey, 601 00:31:59,039 --> 00:32:00,720 Pennsylvania Alcoholics. 602 00:32:00,799 --> 00:32:02,119 Speaker 5: Yeah, it's one of my favorite players. 603 00:32:02,200 --> 00:32:04,640 Speaker 1: Were soon we're gonna we'll get an amusement park for 604 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:07,359 star Base and you won't have to. 605 00:32:07,279 --> 00:32:08,440 Speaker 2: Go to California anymore. 606 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:13,480 Speaker 4: Matthew, that's I did visit the gear Delli factory and okay, yes, so. 607 00:32:13,480 --> 00:32:15,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, it's really I mean, there are in many ways 608 00:32:15,720 --> 00:32:19,039 like sort of taking you know, like you said, bold 609 00:32:19,079 --> 00:32:21,200 steps that are you know, it probably takes a long 610 00:32:21,240 --> 00:32:23,880 time to see like what the long term impacts are, 611 00:32:24,039 --> 00:32:27,359 but certainly right now, Texas seems to be like on 612 00:32:27,400 --> 00:32:31,079 that in the mix on all all this hot stuff. 613 00:32:31,880 --> 00:32:32,599 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean. 614 00:32:34,039 --> 00:32:37,480 Speaker 4: My question for you is why space, right Like, there's 615 00:32:37,519 --> 00:32:39,680 a lot of different things that the state could be 616 00:32:39,720 --> 00:32:44,920 investing in. What what makes space such a a desirable 617 00:32:45,039 --> 00:32:45,640 thing to be doing? 618 00:32:45,799 --> 00:32:45,920 Speaker 2: Well? 619 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:47,680 Speaker 5: It's a great I think it's a great question. 620 00:32:47,759 --> 00:32:50,400 Speaker 6: And and for Texas to continue to be the top 621 00:32:50,440 --> 00:32:53,559 economy out there, it is important that we invest and 622 00:32:53,599 --> 00:32:58,440 focus on those industries where we expect growth and spectacular growth. 623 00:32:58,799 --> 00:33:00,960 Speaker 5: Space is at the top of the list. 624 00:33:01,039 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 6: I'd put aiuh right right there as well, semiconductors. So 625 00:33:06,720 --> 00:33:08,400 you know, the way I would answer that is that 626 00:33:08,440 --> 00:33:12,519 we have these uh focus. We we have focused in 627 00:33:12,519 --> 00:33:17,039 a bipartisan way in Texas on these industries that provide 628 00:33:17,119 --> 00:33:19,160 a lot of jobs to Texas today and have the 629 00:33:19,200 --> 00:33:22,160 potential to provide a lot more tomorrow. I'll put energy 630 00:33:22,160 --> 00:33:23,759 in there as well. I mean, you take a look 631 00:33:23,759 --> 00:33:27,759 at what's going on in say the bipartisan support that's 632 00:33:27,759 --> 00:33:32,000 coming together for small module or reactors and nuclear and 633 00:33:32,079 --> 00:33:34,839 Texas tackles the big stuff, you know. I mean, this 634 00:33:34,880 --> 00:33:39,759 is this is if you're if you're shy in economic development, 635 00:33:39,799 --> 00:33:41,920 this probably isn't the state for you. If you if 636 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:45,880 you think bold and bigger, Texas is a state for you. 637 00:33:46,000 --> 00:33:48,000 Speaker 5: And and you know, I'm going to give. 638 00:33:49,279 --> 00:33:52,839 Speaker 6: Governor Abbott, Audrina Cruz and all the economic development corps 639 00:33:52,880 --> 00:33:55,720 across the state of Texas a ton of credit. They 640 00:33:55,759 --> 00:33:58,319 have different politics, I can tell you the economic development 641 00:33:58,319 --> 00:34:01,599 corporations and the chambers, and yet somehow Texans figure out 642 00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:05,680 how to unify around these major industries. And again when 643 00:34:05,720 --> 00:34:09,320 I do talk before, more chambers than I think anyone 644 00:34:09,519 --> 00:34:14,440 else in the country. People care about space, they care 645 00:34:14,480 --> 00:34:19,400 about AI, they care about energy, and they care about workforce. 646 00:34:19,519 --> 00:34:22,360 And you know, we've been able to focus on these 647 00:34:22,360 --> 00:34:26,440 sort of industries of tomorrow I think to help unify 648 00:34:27,679 --> 00:34:32,280 the state's economic development and chamber community around constructive proposals 649 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:33,519 at the state legislature. 650 00:34:34,159 --> 00:34:35,320 Speaker 5: At least that's what we've tried. 651 00:34:35,480 --> 00:34:38,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, I mean, I feel like my final question 652 00:34:39,039 --> 00:34:42,920 is how long would there have to be people living 653 00:34:42,920 --> 00:34:46,599 on Mars before you would go to Mars yourself? And 654 00:34:46,639 --> 00:34:49,679 I feel like your answer as well, like how early 655 00:34:49,719 --> 00:34:53,039 of an adopter are you each? As individuals? 656 00:34:53,519 --> 00:34:58,360 Speaker 6: Like I would go there. I would get on the 657 00:34:59,119 --> 00:35:05,159 first possible a bowl vessel I could to get over there, Yeah, 658 00:35:05,360 --> 00:35:08,039 I would. Now I have to navigate my family, which 659 00:35:08,079 --> 00:35:12,760 is not as perhaps supportive of of my of my goal. 660 00:35:13,039 --> 00:35:14,320 Speaker 2: But let's say you were allowed to return. You know, 661 00:35:14,360 --> 00:35:15,280 it's area. 662 00:35:15,039 --> 00:35:18,800 Speaker 6: You'd go at this point of my life, as I'm 663 00:35:18,800 --> 00:35:19,920 getting up there a little bit. 664 00:35:20,519 --> 00:35:20,880 Speaker 5: Sure. 665 00:35:22,199 --> 00:35:26,320 Speaker 4: I I saw, you know how the astronauts who SpaceX 666 00:35:26,519 --> 00:35:29,639 helped bring home last week, you know, had to be 667 00:35:29,719 --> 00:35:33,199 like carried away in streatchers and it looked a little rough. 668 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:36,239 Speaker 3: Seemed tough. It seems a little desolate up there. 669 00:35:36,880 --> 00:35:39,840 Speaker 4: I'll stick with my California trips, although I did like 670 00:35:39,920 --> 00:35:42,679 how that they had that that like group of dolphins 671 00:35:42,719 --> 00:35:44,639 swimming around them and afterwards that was pretty cool. 672 00:35:44,719 --> 00:35:44,920 Speaker 3: Yeah. 673 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:48,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, yeah, I'm not I'm not an early adopter. I'm 674 00:35:48,119 --> 00:35:52,920 not a pioneer, you know, but I it does excite me. 675 00:35:53,079 --> 00:35:55,199 But uh yeah, I think I would need like a 676 00:35:55,199 --> 00:35:58,239 whole generation of people living there, so I'm probably not 677 00:35:58,280 --> 00:35:58,719 gonna make it. 678 00:35:58,760 --> 00:36:01,159 Speaker 6: And to tie it all back to one of the 679 00:36:01,239 --> 00:36:05,280 most inspiring talks I heard ever at south By Southwest 680 00:36:05,320 --> 00:36:08,000 was a year or so ago, where William Shatner was 681 00:36:08,039 --> 00:36:12,719 talking about his journey to space on I believe a 682 00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:16,199 blue Origin vehicle, and you know, I just think it's 683 00:36:16,239 --> 00:36:18,599 it's part of the human condition to just have that 684 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:23,880 desire to see what's out there. And I completely respect respect, 685 00:36:23,920 --> 00:36:27,159 and it's it's possible that I would chicken out, as 686 00:36:27,280 --> 00:36:30,199 as anyone who's anyone who's flown with me knows, I 687 00:36:30,199 --> 00:36:38,519 get very nervous and turbulence, so domestic I can't, but 688 00:36:38,559 --> 00:36:41,159 I do hope in my lifetime that I have the 689 00:36:41,199 --> 00:36:44,239 opportunity to go to Mars. 690 00:36:44,280 --> 00:36:44,760 Speaker 2: Amazing. 691 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:48,599 Speaker 1: Well, thank you for coming to a much less uh 692 00:36:49,039 --> 00:36:52,000 fancy location in joining us on the trib Cast. 693 00:36:52,519 --> 00:36:53,440 Speaker 2: That's it for today. 694 00:36:53,719 --> 00:36:55,679 Speaker 1: You can find all episodes of the trip Cast on 695 00:36:55,719 --> 00:36:59,599 YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to like, subscribe, 696 00:36:59,639 --> 00:37:02,079 and share the podcast on all of your platforms. If 697 00:37:02,079 --> 00:37:03,599 you'd like to get in touch with the team, you 698 00:37:03,639 --> 00:37:07,519 can reach us at Tribcast at Texastribune dot org. Thank 699 00:37:07,559 --> 00:37:11,039 you to our sponsor, Texas State Technical College. Our producers 700 00:37:11,039 --> 00:37:14,760 are Robovula and Chris Sphobada. Our theme music is composed 701 00:37:14,760 --> 00:37:16,719 by Rob and we will see you next week.