In this episode of Dirty Verdict, hosts Peter Taaffe, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert sit down with returning guest Marty Lancton, president of the Houston firefighters’ union and now an announced 2026 candidate for Harris County Judge.

Marty opens up about why he’s running, what he’s learned from decades of front-line public service, and how his experience leading Houston’s firefighters has shaped his vision for Harris County’s future. The conversation covers everything from public safety, disaster response, and infrastructure to transparency, county budgets, and rebuilding public trust.

With a firefighter’s candor and a mediator’s mindset, Marty explains why leadership starts with listening—and why local government should focus less on politics and more on solving real problems. Of course, this wouldn’t be Dirty Verdict without humor, sidebars about the Astrodome, Harris County Toll Road Authority, and Taylor Swift, and a few good-natured lawyer jabs along the way.

• Marty’s Big Announcement – Houston Firefighters Union President Marty Lancton officially announces his 2026 run for Harris County Judge.

• Why He’s Running – Marty shares what inspired his decision to enter the race, focusing on leadership, accountability, and rebuilding trust in county government.

• Inside Harris County Government – A clear explanation of how the county judge and commissioners court operate—and why that structure matters for taxpayers.

• Public Safety First – Marty outlines his top priorities: emergency response, disaster preparedness, flood mitigation, and infrastructure.

• Fixing the Budget Mess – A deep dive into deficits, hidden funds, and the lack of transparency in Harris County’s multibillion-dollar budget.

• Fighting Corruption and Waste – Marty discusses how small lapses in oversight can snowball into serious integrity problems—and how he plans to restore accountability.

• Crossing Party Lines – Why local leadership shouldn’t be partisan, and how collaboration leads to better results for residents.

• Lessons from the Firehouse – How decades of firefighting shaped Marty’s leadership style: stay calm, adapt quickly, and always put people first.

• Disaster Management Reality Check – How emergency agencies really coordinate in a crisis, and why trust and teamwork save lives.

• The Astrodome Debate – The hosts pitch tongue-in-cheek ideas for repurposing Houston’s landmark—from a Rainforest Café to a football showdown on concrete.

• Government Red Tape – How lawsuits, politics, and delay tactics keep Harris County from solving real problems efficiently.

• The Dirty Verdict Banter – Plenty of laughs as Peter Taaff, Bill Ogden, and Kyle Herbert keep things lively with jokes about waivers, Taylor Swift, smoking bans, and local politics.

• Closing Thoughts – Marty ends on a note of service, transparency, and trust: “If you can’t tell the truth, you can’t lead.”

It’s an episode packed with insight, laughs, and a genuine look at one of the most consequential local races ahead.

https://Martyforharriscountyjudge.com

Houston PI attorney Anthony Pusch joins Peter Taaffe, Kyle Herbert, and Bill Ogden for a wild, wide-open conversation about building a law brand that actually cuts through the noise—plus boxing gyms, tasers, and… cobras. Anthony traces the path from seven high schools and a hot-headed teen to launching Pusch & Nguyen, shares the hard lessons behind PPC, TV, radio, and those viral billboards (including the infamous Step Brothers and “Brokeback” creatives), and gets candid about ethics complaints, attribution, and why authentic social content beats canned “10 things after an accident” posts every time. We also detour into tort reform, San Antonio expansion, trial wins, and the surprising stress relief of… a tortoise sanctuary.

Highlights

• Growing up in Houston, seven high schools and a near-fight with a drill instructor
• Parents, aunts, uncles all lawyers—swore he’d never practice, then found his lane
• Early years grinding cases, learning PPC vs. brand the hard way
• The origin of “Pusch & Nguyen,” why the name became the brand, and billboard repetition that works
• Step Brothers shoot, the “Brokeback” billboard, going viral, and handling Pushback without crossing the line
• Bar/ethics dust-ups over the word “win,” and how they navigated it
• Tracking ROI: billboard + radio/TV + referrals = top-of-mind math
• Why most lawyer content flops and what genuine, useful posts could look like (dash-cam breakdowns, real rehab tips)
• Boxing/Jiu-Jitsu at the office, the COVID gym era, and a (hilarious) taser story
• Snakes & tortoises: from gaboon vipers and cobras to a calmer sanctuary
• On tort reform and why capping liability makes roads less safe
• Trial talk: recent seven-figure verdicts, hiring hungry lawyers, and avoiding predatory financing

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Guest: Anthony Pusch — Pusch & Nguyen.

Defense trial lawyer Jeff Davis joins Peter, Kyle, and Bill for a fast-moving hour that hops from a wild “mosh pit” case at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion to the nuts and bolts of catastrophic oilfield litigation. Jeff shares early-career war stories with Peter, breaks down indemnity and Chapter 95 fights, and explains why stipulating to liability can defang a jury’s anger. You’ll hear candid takes on focus groups, witness prep disasters, New Mexico’s hedonic damages, and how juries “send a message” without blowing up numbers. We wrap on golf: Bandon trips, Pebble magic, Muirfield Village perfection, Big Cedar surprises—and a Houston muni tale you won’t forget.

Highlights

• Throwback trial: The Pavilion “mosh pit” case, early use of responsible third party, and a conservative jury’s $20k punitive “message.”
• Oilfield 101: Catastrophic injury (≈80%) vs. commercial down-hole disputes; indemnity/knock-for-knock dynamics; Chapter 95 control issues.
• From rig to courtroom: Day-one callouts, OSHA interactions, Permian & New Mexico venues, and why site visits matter.
• Strategy that moves numbers: How stipulating liability and smart focus groups cool juror anger—and when plaintiffs’ detailed demand letters help resolution.
• Witness prep—good, bad, ugly: The peril of over-coaching, “I don’t know” discipline, and the depo pause heard ’round the mediation.
• Venue quirks: New Mexico wrongful-death hedonic damages and RTP practice to get all actors on the form.
• Verdicts & lessons: A seven-figure Oklahoma verdict, why “ask” matters, and the anti-reptile effect of accountability.
• Golf cooldown: Bandon plans, Pebble as #1 played, Muirfield Village conditions, Big Cedar/Payne’s Valley cabins, and the Lions/Hermann Park debate.

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