Send us a text

When Texas State Representative Jon Rosenthal sits down for a conversation, you're instantly struck by the fascinating contradiction he embodies. "I still identify in my head as an oil field engineer," he admits, despite seven years serving in the Texas legislature. This duality—practical engineer meets progressive politician—powers his unique approach to tackling Texas's most divisive issues.

Representative Rosenthal takes us behind the political curtain, revealing how the Texas legislature actually functions beyond the headlines. The numbers alone are staggering—8,719 bills filed last session with just 1,213 passing both chambers. For minority party members like himself, success is measured differently: "I had 10 bills heard in committee of the 50 that I filed and I passed three off the House floor. One was signed by the governor."

The conversation doesn't shy away from troubling realities. "Gun violence wasn't among the top five leading causes of death for children in Texas when I was first sworn in," Rosenthal reveals, "and now it's the leading cause of death for our citizens between 0 and 18 years old." This stark statistic underscores his frustration with continued weakening of gun regulations despite mounting evidence of harm.

As Vice Chairman of the Redistricting Committee, Rosenthal offers rare insight into gerrymandering's impact on Texas politics. The current system creates increasingly polarized representatives who only worry about primary challenges, not general elections. His solution? Nonpartisan commissions using open-source software to draw districts based on constitutional principles, not preserving incumbency.

Perhaps most compelling is Rosenthal's philosophy on perseverance: "You're only defeated if you have given up." Despite setbacks—like his bill to end child marriage passing the House but dying in the Senate—he remains determined. "It's not a failure," he explains, "it's just a step in the process."

Want to follow Representative Rosenthal's work? Find him on social media at @jon_rosenthalTX or through his campaign website to learn more about his continued fight for public education, healthcare access, and combating bigotry in all its forms.

https://house.texas.gov/members/3635

Support the show

We hope you will listen often.

For more information, visit our website 22sides.com