The Lost Rider Podcast with Herman Brune

The Texas 2026 March primary season is heating up. But, State Representative Stan Kitzman is adamant that Austin is not Washington D. C. While many issues are decided down party lines, Kitzman says that without bipartisanship amendments and many issues high on constituents' radar would not be resolved. He also goes on to relate that "water issues" are looming larger than ever on the horizon. It is probable that precedents, such as the rule of capture, will be discussed in the next session. He also says that the burgeoning budget is due to the ever-growing population. Kitzman assures us that removing the MO school funding will provide more property tax relief while efforts are in place to "raise the bar" on public education. 

Chris Hall explains "fusion". It started, in the 1980's, with President Reagan and Premier Gorbachev at the end of the Cold War. in 2026, scientists feel that they may be within eight or nine years of producing cost effective energy from fusion. Nevertheless, don't expect to see it generating electricity until after 2039. When you hear the term think about hydrogen. Also, Hall injects the idea that what we've always known about solids, liquids, and gases didn't include plasma. Now, we're talking about lightening and fire. That's what scientists are striving to harness. Checkout Inter.org for more info. 

Another candidate for the Texas Rail Road Commission is Hawk Dunlap. He has no hard feelings towards current commissioners but feels it's time to fix a few problems. Dunlap explains more about abandoned wells and how reinjection wells may effect groundwater. He says that not all reinjection wells are 10,000 feet or deeper. His view is to awaken the public to the technology available to recycle industrial water. This is a widely accepted concept amongst water planners, engineers, and scientists. It is not so fondly viewed  by the public that has become totally acclimated to their own personal "toilet to tap" water usage; but can't seem to accept that idea for industrial recycling. 

The Texas Rail Road Commission's main job is permitting drilling and pipelines in the oil patch. This election cycle a host of challengers are vying for Jim Wright's seat on the commission. One point of contention that  draws attention is also the permitting of "flares". This is when excess natural gas is burned because there is no place for storage. Candidate James Matlock discusses this conundrum, as well as, defines "orphan wells"  and the problem with continually putting frack water down reinjection wells.  

Social Media director, Justin Morissey, for the National Shooting Sports Foundation gives us a preview of the upcoming 2026 SHOT Show in Las Vegas. It is the hunting and shooting industry's trade show. It is an international show expecting more than 50,000 people and 2800 vendors. The booths cover approximately 18 acres with in the Venetian, Palazio, and Caesar's conference and exhibition space. Morrisey also elaborates on the NSSF's involvement in wildlife conservation, as well as, the foundation's programs such as the  "Child Safe Program". 

#shotshow2026

#hunting

#outdoors

#ShootingSports

In an effort to untangle a hairball of information, Brune goes back for another interview with Nueces River Authority  Executive Director John Byrum. While folks are satisfied that the discharge from a seawater desal plant will go offshore into deep water, they're not as happy about brackish aquifer desal plants putting the discharge back into creeks. The hairball starts when CCA's Shane Bonnet says that the runoff would be too "fresh" for Baffin Bay. Guides in  that area fear that the runoff would be too salty. Which is correct? Cpt. Jay Nichols points out areas of dead sea grass. Ex. Dir. Byrum tells us that nitrogen and other nutrients are harming the bay. However, there are efforts to rectify those problems and in other interviews researchers from the Harte Research Institute at TAMU Corpus Christi have documents progress and improvement.