How a segment works
The structure is symmetric by design, which is what makes it fair and what makes it easy for a station to clear.
- The candidate picks five. From the statewide list of ten line items, the candidate chooses the five that matter most to them, and ranks them in their own order of importance.
- Five uninterrupted minutes each. The candidate speaks for five minutes per issue on what they intend to bring to the table. No moderator interruption, no cross talk, no timer games.
- The recording airs in full. The station broadcasts it unedited, start to finish. Nothing is trimmed for time, tone, or content.
- The opponent answers the same five. The opposing candidate is given time to respond to those same five topics, on policy and position only. Rebuttal against the person is out of bounds.
- One direct question, on the record. Every candidate is asked the same closing question: do you support the Trust Texans Initiative, yes or no.
This is not a debate. Nobody is being cross examined and nobody is being set up. It is a structured, honest look at where each candidate stands, in their own words, at a length that makes hiding behind a slogan difficult.
Why this belongs on your airwaves
Local radio has always been where Texans go to hear their own community talk about what matters to it.
This project is built to fit that role, and to cost your newsroom almost nothing to run.
- No production burden. We supply the structure and the candidates supply the content. Your newsroom does not have to build a format, write questions, or staff a moderator panel.
- Real public interest programming. Substantive, unedited candidate coverage counts toward localism and public interest goals in a way a thirty second soundbite never will.
- Straightforward equal time review. Because the format is symmetric by design, with the same length and structure offered to every candidate in the race, your compliance review is short. We provide the language for it in the kit.
- A fallback if one side declines. If only one candidate accepts, the segment still airs with a clear on air notice that the other was invited on equal terms. One candidate cannot quietly veto the format by refusing.
- Ready to read disclaimer. An on air disclaimer, written and cleared, making plain that airtime is not an endorsement and that the statements belong to the candidate.
- Founding partner listing. Stations that host a segment are listed publicly as founding broadcast partners, on this site and in every press release we issue.
One segment. One race. One market at a time.
We are asking each participating station to host one Line Item Radio Debate per contested state race in its market. That is the whole ask.
What your compliance team will want to see
- Equal time. Under Section 315 of the Communications Act, a station that airs one candidate generally has to offer equivalent time to opponents. This format satisfies that on its face: same structure, same length, both candidates invited on the same terms. State it explicitly and a compliance team can clear it quickly.
- Asymmetric participation. If one candidate declines, the session still airs, with an on air notice that the other candidate was invited on equal terms and may respond in a future segment.
- Chain of custody. The kit states plainly how the audio is recorded, who holds the master file, and how it reaches the station, so any later dispute over authenticity has a paper trail to settle it.
On air disclaimer, read at the top and bottom of every segment:
"This broadcast is presented in full and without editing. Airtime does not constitute an endorsement by this station or by Texas Stands Together. Statements made are the candidate's own."
What is in the Broadcast Kit
- Segment structure and clock breakdown, including the candidate monologue block and the defined response window.
- The official ten line item list, so every candidate in every market answers the same set.
- Equal time and disclaimer language, ready to read and cleared for air.
- A sample press release your station can use to announce the broadcast.
Ask and we send it straight back by email. Fill this in and we write the message for you, then you send it from your own email.
Candidate answers are due October 10. That is what gives stations time to schedule the segments before early voting starts on October 19.
Candidates: accept the challenge
If you are running for a Texas House or Senate seat, you can take the format as it stands. Send us your name, your district, the race you are in, and the station or market you would prefer. We will handle the rest and publish that you accepted.
Declining is also on the record. We will note that an invitation went out on equal terms.
Want to put your position on the four bills on the record at the same time? Sign your positions does both in one go.