Texas in Transition: Health, Economy, and Culture

Morag McAllister

So, here’s something that’s been eating away at me. Did you see how ProPublica reported a 55% spike in sepsis hospitalizations right after Texas put the Senate Bill 8 abortion ban in place? That is not a wee problem. It’s massive—it’s life-threatening. We’re talking about women having no choice but to bleed out for days or risk serious infections because hospitals won’t act.

Vivian Carter

It’s deeply alarming, Morag. What stands out to me is how this goes beyond just the immediate medical crisis. When you dig into the ProPublica numbers, you see gaps—large gaps. Texas hasn’t studied how these abortion bans impact pregnant women with complications, and it’s, uh… it’s leaving marginalized communities, especially women of color, dangerously exposed.

Morag McAllister

Exactly. And it’s not as if this is all accidental negligence. It feels... strategic. Like, the state’s just not interested in knowing? Oh, and let's not forget, they haven’t updated maternal mortality data from 2022. How can you supposedly address health crises without current numbers?

Vivian Carter

Right, and the criticism has been loud for that exact reason. We’ve got advocates pointing out how crucial 2021 through 2024 have been for reproductive health in America. Those skipped reviews on maternal deaths? Those are the—oh, they are the years where lives literally hung in the balance due to policy changes. Critics rightly call this a blind spot—or maybe willful blindness.

Morag McAllister

Willful? You bet. And think about this—those lawsuits filed by women because hospitals denied them care? That’s a bloody indictment of outdated laws impacting modern healthcare. We’re forcing people into corners where their own system abandons them.

Vivian Carter

It’s, um, it’s a heartbreaking ripple effect. Consider, for example, the laws allowing treatment only when the patient’s life is imminently at risk. How many women have come forward saying they weren’t “risked enough” yet to get help? By the time their states step in, the danger is mortally real.

Morag McAllister

It makes your stomach turn—these policies need urgent revision. But do you see any movement on that? No. And it’s the most vulnerable—impoverished women, women of color—who are paying the price first.

Vivian Carter

And the thing is, those outdated policies keep compounding in how they affect care. Patients who’d likely survive complications earlier are now falling into life-threatening situations. It’s a vicious cycle.

Morag McAllister

Aye, and it’s bloody time we start seeing accountability. Lives shouldn’t be collateral for legislative negligence.

Morag McAllister

And speaking of the ripple effects of policy decisions, have you seen the grim numbers for the Texas economy? A $47 billion wallop just from potential tariffs, and most of it hitting industries like automotive. It’s like watching a slow-motion trainwreck, except the train’s carrying jobs and livelihoods.

Vivian Carter

Right, not to mention how deeply Texas is tied to global supply chains. Look at Arlington. The GM plant there—it’s huge—not just for cars, but for local jobs and community stability. If these supply chains get tangled up with tariffs, it’s gonna cost people more than just cars becoming pricier. We’re talking layoffs, longer wait times for parts—the domino effect is real.

Morag McAllister

Aye, Vivian, and do you know what really gets to me? Tariffs are supposed to “protect,” but what’s there to protect if the economic scaffolding crumbles under the weight of higher production costs? It’s like putting a plaster on a broken leg and saying, “There, fixed!”

Vivian Carter

Exactly. And it’s not just the big-ticket items like cars. Everyday goods—beer, groceries, even oats might become more expensive. It’s the kind of increase that hits regular folks the hardest, not to mention those already struggling to make ends meet.

Morag McAllister

Oh, you mean the "luxury" items like food and, uh, paying rent? Honestly, it’s ridiculous. And car maintenance too! I mean, I had to replace brakes on my bike last week—can you imagine shelling out extra for components just because of import costs?

Vivian Carter

Well, funny you bring that up. It is comparable. Tariffs push companies to either eat the cost themselves or pass it on. Spoiler alert: they pass it on to consumers. And when manufacturers face higher costs, their product prices balloon, just like those brake prices you’re cursing.

Morag McAllister

Don’t remind me! But it drives home the reality—pun not intended—that these tariffs act like stealth taxes on the people who can least afford them. How’s that for a cautionary tale?

Vivian Carter

And because Texas’s economy is so tangled with cross-border trade—especially with Mexico and Canada—we bear the brunt of it. It’s, um, it’s like making Texas the poster child for how painful bad policy can get when trade goes south.

Morag McAllister

Yup. And the irony? It’s the industries we proudly associate with Texas—manufacturing, agriculture—that take the hardest hits. Protecting domestic industries? Sure doesn’t feel like that when the tools to keep ‘em running start evaporating.

Morag McAllister

Speaking of resilience and how industries adapt to change, here’s one for you—a Silicon Valley engineer turned pitmaster, creating halal Texas BBQ with Iraqi flavors. I mean, Salahodeen Abdul-Kafi’s story is just fantastic, isn’t it?

Vivian Carter

It really is. And it's not just his story—it’s what he’s bringing to the Texas barbecue tradition, right? Mixing the smoky brisket we all know with, uh, something like sumac spice? That’s just… well, it’s genius.

Morag McAllister

Aye, and the house-made Iraqi sausages! It’s not just food; it feels cultural, personal. There’s a sense of home in every bite, but it’s woven into Texas. That sums up Dallas right now, don’t you think? This crazy mix of old and new, pulled together by immigrants shaping what’s next.

Vivian Carter

Absolutely. And what I love about the Kafi BBQ story is that it’s part of this whole movement. Muslim diners are getting options now that go beyond the, uh, expected South Asian or Middle Eastern staples. We’re seeing halal versions of Texas classics. It’s diversity reflecting what North Texas dining is becoming.

Morag McAllister

Kinda like a culinary rebel with a cause. Honestly, when you think about it, food like this is, uh, protest but also celebration. A bold way of saying “we belong.” Dallas has been shifting culturally, just like the rest of Texas, yeah?

Vivian Carter

Totally. And you know, it reminds me of some of the hybrid restaurants in New York. You know, those halal smokehouses in Brooklyn or the Pakistani-Texan diners mixing regional BBQ with South Asian flavors. The big cities have embraced this, but seeing it rooted in places like Irving? It’s… inspiring.

Morag McAllister

And what a journey Abdul-Kafi’s had, too. Left engineering—an entirely different world—to build something from a tiny passion. That’s not just guts. That’s giving back to his community. And, well, his wagyu brisket sounds like something I need to try yesterday.

Vivian Carter

It’s art, really—culinary art. And I think when you get all these influences—childhood flavors, barbecue techniques, local ingredients—it’s not fusion so much as evolution. It’s where our food culture is going, driven by people like Abdul-Kafi who have all these layers of identity and experience to bring to the table.

Morag McAllister

Exactly. And that’s what makes Dallas so fascinating. It’s a snapshot—no, a feast of how cultures collide and bloom together. It’s bloody brilliant, and the food says it all.

Vivian Carter

It does. And if this is where Texas dining is heading, I’m all for it. Here’s to the bold flavors and even bolder stories. And that’s all for today. It’s been a treat, as always, Morag.

Morag McAllister

Aye, a pleasure, Vivian. Until next time—stay curious, folks, and venture into the unknown, even if it’s just your local BBQ joint. Slàinte!