Off the Trail
Five Things I’m Watching and Reading Right Now
I’ve always thought one of the best ways to truly get to know someone is to learn about what they spend their free time on.
Between traveling across the district and meeting folks on the campaign trail, finding a few quiet moments to unwind is tough – but essential.
That’s why today, I wanted to take a short break from the campaign trail to give you the chance to learn a little more about me, my interests, and what’s currently on my nightstand and TV screen.
The Summer Sports Block
As a former NFL player, sports have always been a foundational part of my life. Lately, they have absolutely dominated my free time. Between the World Cup matches, the incredible matches at Wimbledon, and the grueling stages of the Tour de France, it’s been an unbelievable summer for sports.
There is something that has always been so personally compelling to me about watching the best athletes in the world compete on the biggest stage in their sport. The sheer discipline, the pressure of the moment, and the years of unseen hard work coming down to a single play or a fraction of a second are feelings I think any athlete connects deeply with.
“Big Mistakes” on Netflix
When there isn’t a live game to catch (which is rare these days), I’ve been spending my downtime watching “Big Mistakes” on Netflix. It’s a new crime comedy series co-created by Dan Levy and Rachel Sennott about two wildly inept siblings who accidentally get blackmailed into a massive organized crime ring.
It is completely irreverent, incredibly fast-paced, and genuinely hilarious. If you need a dark comedy that lets you switch your brain off for 30 minutes and just laugh, I can’t recommend it enough.
Robert Caro’s Lyndon B. Johnson Biographies
OK, I know I promised to stay away from politics, but as a Texan, I couldn’t help myself on this one. I’ve spent a lot of my quiet evening hours rereading the famous biographer Robert Caro’s wonderful – and honestly, intimidatingly large – biographies on President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Caro’s deep dive into LBJ’s life is a master class on understanding how power actually works in America, from the Texas Hill Country all the way to the halls of the Senate and the White House. It’s a profound look at our state’s history and a reminder of how leadership can be used to forge monumental changes like the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act.
What about you? What are you reading, watching, or listening to this summer?
Drop your recommendations in the comments below!
– Colin
I appreciate you taking the time to read this mostly nonpolitical post about what I’ve been reading and watching lately. But while I’m taking a brief breather, the fight to win this House race in November is moving faster than ever.
If you want to help me out in our campaign to win Texas’ 33rd Congressional District and flip the House blue this November to give Texans the representation they deserve, I’d be incredibly grateful if you chipped in to my campaign today.Paid for by Allred for Texas
I enjoy reading your emails. You express yourself so well. I truly appreciate the quality person you seem to be. Sorry I cannot make a donation at this time. Best of luck. I know how important this time is in our history and wish you the best.
Although I have several books I am currently interested in, I would recommend that you take a look at "The Hellhound of Wall Street". An examination of Ferdinand Pecora's investigation/trial held on the floor of Congress, looking for the cause and responsible individuals for the1929 crash on Wall Street.
Possibly you recall more recently, when the Democratic Speaker of the House threatened to initiate "Pecora Hearings" in an effort to get to the essential facts of the 2008 financial crash. The threat turned out to be too little too late, but it was a good idea that somehow was sidetracked.
Much success to you