Odessa’s municipal elections in 2020 and 2022 swept a new faction into power in city hall: a group of politicians, nicknamed the Squad, whose campaigns centered the sort of right-wing social issues common in state and national elections. Their time in power, though, was marked by an exodus of top city staff and problems with basic city services. Last fall, Odessa voters swept three members of the Squad back out of office.

Texas Monthly writer Michael Hardy has followed this story as it unfolded—first for a piece he wrote in 2023 , then most recently for the October issue of the magazine. This week on TM Out Loud , Michael joins host Katy Vine in the studio to talk about the town’s sharp political shifts. TM Audio subscribers can listen to this article. Subscribe today for

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