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Progress Texas Podcasts

Progress Texas Podcasts

By Progress Texas

The Progress Texas Daily Dispatch delivers the biggest news stories progressives need to know to start their day, plus stories you shouldn’t miss in just minutes. Chris Mosser breaks down Texas-sized stories in new episodes M-F, keeping Texas progressives up to speed on the ongoing fight for progressive change.

Daily Dispatch augments the Progress Texas Happy Hour, our longer-form conversation and interview podcast, which hosts a variety of diverse voices and newsmakers who are pushing progress forward in the Lone Star State. We recap the wild week in Texas politics. Grab a coldie and hang!
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Daily Dispatch 3/15/24: Texas Medical Board To Clarify Abortion Exceptions, and More

Progress Texas PodcastsMar 15, 2024

00:00
08:50
Daily Dispatch 3/15/24: Texas Medical Board To Clarify Abortion Exceptions, and More

Daily Dispatch 3/15/24: Texas Medical Board To Clarify Abortion Exceptions, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

At the behest of two Texas attorneys, the Texas Medical Board is set to discuss clarification for medical exceptions to the near-complete ban on abortion care in Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/14/texas-medical-board-doctors-abortion-guidance/

Ken Paxton escalates his assault on Frisco ISD, whose social media posts about funding he sees as illegal electioneering: https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/frisco/education/2024/03/14/texas-attorney-general-claims-frisco-isd-violated-restraining-order-files-contempt-motion/

A shadowy Texas company that paid an FBI informant now under indictment for lying to his handlers about Hunter Biden has been connected to Donald Trump: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/14/company-paying-fbi-informant-trump-connections

...While Republicans freak out at the suggestion by U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez that Trump is kinda like Hitler: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/14/vicente-gonzalez-trump-jews-for-hitler/

Good and bad news for the Texas grid as a major fossil fuel-fired power plant will go offline next March: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-03-14/texas-s-strained-power-grid-is-poised-to-lose-a-big-gas-plant

...While a Spanish renewable energy company prepares to build a huge renewable generation and battery storage facility in Texas: https://www.yahoo.com/news/battery-storage-facility-texas-continues-040000054.html

March is Women's History Month! See a new analysis of what that month really means in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/inspire-inclusion-celebrating-international-womens-day-2024-texas

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend! All about all we do, and several fun ways to support our work, can be found at https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 15, 202408:50
Daily Dispatch 3/14/23: Paxton "Judge Shopping" Strategy Hits A Snag, and More

Daily Dispatch 3/14/23: Paxton "Judge Shopping" Strategy Hits A Snag, and More

A new federal courts rule is aimed at preventing "judge shopping" - filing lawsuits in districts with single judges of sympathetic sensibilities - a favorite tactic of Ken Paxton's: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ken-paxton-court-rule-18971181.php

More artists, and now panel speakers, have been bailing on SXSW over its ties to the military and defense tech industries: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesfarrell/2024/03/13/dozens-of-bands-and-panelists-pull-out-of-sxsw-festival-in-texas-heres-why/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17103752871384&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.forbes.com%2Fsites%2Fjamesfarrell%2F2024%2F03%2F13%2Fdozens-of-bands-and-panelists-pull-out-of-sxsw-festival-in-texas-heres-why%2F

The 2021 Fair Access Law, which forbids state government from doing business with companies with environmental, social and governance policies, has made financing big ticket projects in Texas much more expensive: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/03/13/texas-anti-esg-law-costs-losses-of-millions-of-dollars/72947344007/

Millions also burned - literally - in recent Panhandle wildfires: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/texas-wildfire-damages-could-exceed-1b-lawyer-says/

...While methane emissions by petroleum producers appears much more out of control than recently thought: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/mar/13/us-gas-leaks-report-climate-change#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17104058588972&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fbusiness%2F2024%2Fmar%2F13%2Fus-gas-leaks-report-climate-change

70 percent of Texas teachers are ready to quit: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2024/03/14/nearly-70-of-texas-educators-say-theyre-ready-to-leave-profession-survey-shows/

...How can Texas support our teachers? https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/03/14/six-ways-texas-can-support-teachers/

...The word from one GOP State House Rep. drummed out over his resistance to Abbott's voucher scam: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/travis-clardy-school-voucher-crusade/

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem is in trouble over her online shilling for a Texas dentist: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/kristi-noem-faces-lawsuit-promoting-texas-dentist-social-media-rcna143325

Will Texas ever turn blue? One crunch of the data says it's inevitable: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/will-texas-ever-turn-blue-heres-what

March is Women's History Month! See a new analysis of what that month really means in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/inspire-inclusion-celebrating-international-womens-day-2024-texas

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend! All about all we do, and several fun ways to support our work, can be found at https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 14, 202410:32
Daily Dispatch 3/13/24: SB-4 Delayed Again At SCOTUS, and More

Daily Dispatch 3/13/24: SB-4 Delayed Again At SCOTUS, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The U.S. Supreme Court has delayed the enactment of Texas' new immigration law SB-4 until at least Monday afternoon, while a new legal challenge is launched: https://apnews.com/article/texas-immigration-law-sb4-7b74b6637dd39320dfdb447a189e745f

...While Laredo U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar spearheads a new Democratic action group on immigration: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/12/henry-cuellar-democrats-senate-border-bill/

SXSW distances itself from Governor Greg Abbott following his criticism of artists leaving the festival over its sponsorship ties to the defense industry: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sxsw-texas-greg-abbott-military-sponsorship-1234986219/

...While SXSW threatens legal action against a pro-Palestinian activist group over use of its logo: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/sxsw-protests-18926378.php

Texas is doing its best to silence an advocate raising the alarm about growing maternal mortality rates: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2024-03-15/the-texas-task-force-that-reviews-pregnancy-related-deaths-is-losing-its-sole-advocate-position/

...While the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals upholds a Texas law eliminating confidential contraception for minors: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/12/texas-parental-consent-birth-control-fifth-circuit-title-x/

Texas, the Energy Capitol of America, suffers more power outages than any other state: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/texas-leads-nation-power-outages-18887152.php

...While the Panhandle will see perfect conditions for more wildfires today: https://www.ktsa.com/texans-should-stay-prepared-as-extreme-wildfire-danger-increases/

Ted Cruz is warning his donors that he's in for a tough fight with Colin Allred: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ted-cruz-allred-fundraising-18894530.php

Sherman ISD has suspended its Superintendent over the call to remove a trans student from a high school play last year: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-superintendent-suspended-trans-students-removal-oklahoma-rcna143017

A former Hays County Republican operative has been given a massive prison sentence for child sex abuse and pornography: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/bo-michael-dresner-sentencing/269-17fad9be-ddb4-4304-b956-fb3ba7bb7344

A new documentary on the Alex Jones Sandy Hook trial is coming to HBO: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/truth-vs-alex-jones-trailer-hbo-1235846888/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17103146639967&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hollywoodreporter.com%2Fmovies%2Fmovie-news%2Ftruth-vs-alex-jones-trailer-hbo-1235846888%2F

March is Women's History Month! See a new analysis of what that month really means in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/inspire-inclusion-celebrating-international-womens-day-2024-texas

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend! All about all we do, and several fun ways to support our work, can be found at https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 13, 202412:51
Daily Dispatch 3/12/24: Judge Rules Against Paxton In Attack On Border Charity, and More

Daily Dispatch 3/12/24: Judge Rules Against Paxton In Attack On Border Charity, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A judge in El Paso has backed Annunciation House, a large migrant shelter near the border, in refusing to turn its records over to Ken Paxton: https://elpasomatters.org/2024/03/11/el-paso-annunciation-house-ken-paxton-court-ruling/

Ted Cruz complains of regular Saturday pro-Palestinian protests in his front yard: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/ted-cruz-palestine-protests-18881832.php

The Texas Health and Human Services appears to have leaked the private information of thousands of East Texas: https://www.ketk.com/news/local-news/more-than-3000-east-texans-data-leaked-in-texas-health-and-human-services-commission-breach/

Worries mount that Texas' notoriously underfunded specialized health care and special education services will collapse under increased demand as more babies are born under our abortion ban: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/11/Texas-disability-services-abortion/

Good environmental news: we're now adding solar capacity faster than sunny California: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/03/11/solar-power-is-now-bigger-in-texas-not-california/

...And bad environmental news, as Texas sues the EPA over new limits on methane emissions by petroleum producers: https://heatmap.news/climate/texas-epa-methane

U.S. Rep Ronny Jackson of Amarillo, a retired Navy doctor, has been lying about his rank and hiding a demotion for two years: https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2024/03/07/lawmaker-who-claims-to-be-a-retired-rear-admiral-was-actually-demoted/

Former Republican candidate Daniel Rodimer has been arrested on suspicion of homicide in Nevada: https://apnews.com/article/homicide-retired-wrestler-sought-55b6c44fde97429fab5cbe6d37e67cfe

Christian Nationalism a Go Go: watch for news on SACR, an exclusive group of wealthy and influential white Christian men who seek to establish an American theocracy: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/inside-a-secret-society-of-prominent-right-wing-christian-men-prepping-for-a-national-divorce

...Why Texas is such a hotbed for Christian Nationalist activity: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-christian-nationalism-epicenter/

...East Texas State Rep. Matt Schaefer says the quiet part out loud: https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/texas-state-rep-matt-schaefer-provides-a-case-study-in-christian-nationalism/

...And even the student paper at Baylor is alarmed about Christian Nationalism: https://baylorlariat.com/2024/03/11/beware-of-christian-nationalism-god-and-texas-should-not-mix/

March is Women's History Month! See a new analysis of what that month really means in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/inspire-inclusion-celebrating-international-womens-day-2024-texas

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend! All about all we do, and several fun ways to support our work, can be found at https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 12, 202411:39
Daily Dispatch 3/11/24: Will SB-4 Be Enforced? And More

Daily Dispatch 3/11/24: Will SB-4 Be Enforced? And More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A helicopter crash Friday at the border killed three service members: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/2-soldiers-border-patrol-agent-dead-helicopter-crash-texas-mexico-bord-rcna142589

A lawsuit filed by Texas against a federal program for immigrants from Haiti, Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela has been thrown out: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/judge-rejects-texas-lawsuit-against-immigration-policy-biden-border-strategy/

Hundreds protested SB-4, set to take effect this week, at the Capitol over the weekend: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/protesters-rally-against-sb4-at-texas-capitol/

A judge has decided against the National Labor Relations Board, who wanted to improve conditions for franchise employees to unionize: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/federal-judge-texas-blocks-us-labor-board-rule-107998334

Colin Allred sees disarray within the Texas GOP as a good sign for his chances to beat Ted Cruz: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4522776-colin-allred-says-texas-republican-party-is-seeing-an-internal-civil-war/

...While Cruz says he's courting...Democrats? https://www.statesman.com/story/news/columns/2024/03/10/texas-elections-senate-race-ted-cruz-colin-allred-win-support-of-democrats/72880265007/

Julie Johnson credits the women of her district for securing her win and prioritizes abortion rights in her first term: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/lgbtq-advocate-gives-women-credit-helping-her-win-congressional-race-outright-avoid-runoff/287-7cfa7124-2fce-4f6e-969d-908fafe06049

The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has developed a reputation for defying the U.S. Supreme Court: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/11/us/supreme-court-texas-death-penalty.html

Voting success for Abbott and Paxton's revenge tours represent a further empowerment of the radical right fringe in Texas: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-primary-election-far-right-victory/

...While out of state money, misinformation and Donald Trump were more influential on voters than vouchers or the impeachment: https://texasruralreporter.substack.com/p/zero-zilch-nada-the-border-trump?r=2dg05g&utm_medium=web

...And Democrats in safe blue districts need to renew efforts to back the statewide progressive cause: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/an-open-letter-to-the-democrats-in

March is Women's History Month! See a new analysis of what that month really means in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/inspire-inclusion-celebrating-international-womens-day-2024-texas

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend! All about all we do, and several fun ways to support our work, can be found at https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 11, 202409:37
Daily Dispatch 3/8/24: Biden Kicks Ass At SOTU, and More

Daily Dispatch 3/8/24: Biden Kicks Ass At SOTU, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

President Joe Biden's performance last night at the State Of The Union was stellar: https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/08/politics/cnn-poll-biden-sotu-speech-reaction/index.html

...But not perfect, with a gaffe involving language about undocumented people: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/07/state-of-the-union-joe-biden/

Pro-Palestinian protestors at Garland munitions manufacturer end up in jail: https://www.keranews.org/news/2024-03-07/garland-police-arrest-23-people-protesting-weapons-manufacturer-over-israel-gaza-conflict

...Several musicians have cancelled appearances at this year's SXSW Music Festival in Austin for similar reasons: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/sxsw-2024-music-protest-18705591.php

The expected rightward lurch in the Republican-dominated Texas House next year will be "disastrous": https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/texas-house-gop-18707525.php

The State Board of Education is also being yanked to the right: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/06/texas-sboe-board-education-election-votes/

The "battle for Texas' soul" appears to have gone badly: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2024/03/06/if-2024-primary-was-a-battle-for-texas-soul-then-were-in-trouble/

Uvalde parents erupt in grief and anger as local police are exonerated of wrongdoing by a new investigation: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/uvalde-parents-lash-out-after-new-report-clears-city-police-of-wrongdoing-during-2022-mass-shooting

Republican resistance to Austin Rep. Greg Casar's Connect The Grid Act is expected today: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-ercot-national-grid-18709390.php

Thanks to all of our Amplify Austin Day donors! We can't do it without you: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

March is Women's History Month! See a new analysis of what that month really means in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/inspire-inclusion-celebrating-international-womens-day-2024-texas

Thanks for listening and have a great weekend! All about all we do, and several fun ways to support our work, can be found at https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 08, 202411:47
Daily Dispatch 3/7/24: Runoffs Spin Up, Amplify Austin Day, SOTU, and More

Daily Dispatch 3/7/24: Runoffs Spin Up, Amplify Austin Day, SOTU, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Amplify Austin Day 2024 is on through 6pm Thursday night! Most solid news is behind paywalls, while misinformation and propaganda are usually free. Help us keep our solid reporting accessible with a donation of ANY amount - thank you! https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Progress Texas endorsee Julie Johnson is set to make history by becoming the first openly LGBTQ member of the U.S. Congress, not only from Texas but from the entire South: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4510622-julie-johnson-poised-for-victory-in-texas-primary-set-to-be-first-lgbtq-congress-member-from-the-south/

Lauren Ashley Simmons goes to a runoff against embattled HD-146 Rep. Shawn Thierry - we look forward to pushing her to victory: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/shawn-thierry-houston-democrat-primary-legislature-simmons/

Congrats and thanks to all of our primary endorsees: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progressive-wins-and-losses-texas-super-tuesday-primary

Many other Democratic runoff elections set for May 28: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/primary-election-results-2024/

Many more GOP runoffs, main event being Dade Phelan vs David Covey: https://apnews.com/article/paxton-texas-primary-revenge-abbott-phelan-3d991ae09585726f98c515455b015a3e

Ted Cruz learns lessons from his near-miss with Beto O'Rourke and will come out swinging early against Colin Allred: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/03/06/colin-allred-ted-cruz/

Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine barely avoids a runoff and now faces Democrat Christine Weems: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/05/john-devine-brian-walker-texas-supreme-court-primary/

Mineral Wells GOP Rep. Glenn Rogers, run out of a job by Governor Abbott's voucher crusade, rails against Republican corruption: https://mwareanews.com/2024/03/06/glenn-rogers-pens-response-to-election-loss/

Republican turncoat Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson is super proud to announce he voted for Donald Trump on Tuesday: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/03/06/dallas-mayor-eric-johnson-says-he-voted-for-donald-trump-for-president/

The State Of The Union Address is tonight at 8 - and you can play along with our SOTU Bingo Cards! Grab 'em here: https://progresstexas.org/blog/bingo-win-big-biden%E2%80%99s-state-union

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Women's History Month, hit our web store, and help us continue our important election year work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 07, 202411:23
Daily Dispatch 3/6/23: Super Tuesday Texas Results, Amplify Austin Day, and More

Daily Dispatch 3/6/23: Super Tuesday Texas Results, Amplify Austin Day, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Complete election results coverage by the Texas Tribune: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/primary-election-results-2024/

The campaigns of retribution against members of their own party by Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton pay dividends: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/06/texas-primaries-gop-incumbents-defeated/

Incumbent GOP Houston Rep. Lacey Hull survives a primary challenge by Jared Woodfill, backed by Paxton and other GOP biggies in spite of his current involvement with an ongoing sex abuse scandal and lawsuit: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/06/texas-primaries-gop-incumbents-defeated/

Travis County D.A. Jose Garza cruises to victory over a challenger enjoying billionaire support, Republican crossover voting and a dark money smear campaign: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2024-03-06/jose-garza-wins-democratic-primary-in-contentious-district-attorney-race/

Embattled Harris County D.A. Kim Ogg goes down in flames: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/kim-ogg-harris-county-district-attorney-18702783.php

...Dramatically: https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/05/politics/texas-voter-id-kim-ogg-houston/index.html

Progress Texas Executive Director weighs in on the GOP civil war: "The R stands for revenge": https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/what-republicans-primary-civil-war-means-for-the-future-of-texas-18754975

Progress Texas sends our condolences to the family and friends of Zeb Smith, the Fritch, Texas volunteer fire chief who died in the line of duty yesterday: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/06/us/texas-panhandle-fires.html

Amplify Austin Day for this year starts at 6pm tonight and continues thru the same time Thursday night! No donation is too small: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Women's History Month and hit our web store: https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 06, 202413:45
Daily Dispatch 3/5/24: It's Super Tuesday, Y'all! And More

Daily Dispatch 3/5/24: It's Super Tuesday, Y'all! And More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Last chance for YOUR voice to be heard in the 2024 primary! Polls are open across the state until 7pm: https://progresstexas.org/

...Our Democratic primary endorsees: https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-145-meet-our-progress-texas-primary-endorsees

...Wednesday at 9am, see the Texas Tribune's "Breaking Down The 2024 Texas Primary Results": https://breakingdownthe2024txprimary.splashthat.com/mar-com-email

...Which fish are YOU gonna be? Be one of the big ones: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2024/fraction-of-texans-vote-in-primaries/

...Texas Democrats have been particularly disinterested in the primary, for several reasons: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-primary-elections-2024-turnout-low/

...Meanwhile the Republicans have more of a sideshow to keep them interested: https://www.kut.org/politics/2024-03-04/texas-house-election-abbott-paxton-races-republican-primary-endorsements-campaign-contributions

Ted Cruz is trying to maneuver himself into a "kingmaker" role at the U.S. Senate as Mitch McConnell steps down: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4502179-senate-conservatives-seek-to-expand-power-post-mcconnell/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17096117474272&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fhomenews%2Fsenate%2F4502179-senate-conservatives-seek-to-expand-power-post-mcconnell%2F

SCOTUS places a temporary pause on SB-4, Texas' controversial new immigration law, until next Wednesday the 13th: https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/04/politics/texas-immigration-law-supreme-court-appeal/index.html

Texas-based anti-abortion activists have been meddling in local ordinances in New Mexico, drawing the ire of that state's Attorney General: https://sourcenm.com/2024/03/04/texas-activists-pushed-abortion-restrictions-in-nm-cities-and-counties-records-show/

A cause of the historic Panhandle wildfires may have been pinpointed: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/courts/2024/03/04/texas-wildfire-panhandle-lawsuit/

...While California Governor Gavin Newsom mobilizes his state's firefighting forces to help in Texas: https://www.gov.ca.gov/2024/03/04/texas-wildfire-deployment/

The 2024 Amplify Austin Day charity and non-profit fundraiser starts tomorrow night at 6! Support Progress Texas here: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Women's History Month is here and there's lots to do to celebrate across Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/trailblazing-texan-women

Thanks for listening! Learn all about what we do and how to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 05, 202411:02
Daily Dispatch 3/4/24: Dismal Democratic Early Voting Turnout, and More

Daily Dispatch 3/4/24: Dismal Democratic Early Voting Turnout, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Poor turnout by Democrats in the early voting phase of the 2024 primary causes the overall turnout to fall well short of 2020: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/03/early-voting-turnout-2024-primaries/

...Republicans outpaced Democrats in early voting turnout three to one: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

...One high-profile Democratic item, the Travis County District Attorney's race, features a shadowy PAC smearing incumbent D.A. Jose Garza: https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/03/04/jose-garza-jeremy-sylestine-travis-county

Texas lawmakers in D.C. are scrambling to claim support for in-vitro fertilization, while supporting an extreme bill that would largely outlaw it nationally as written: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/03/04/texas-republicans-face-questions-about-life-at-conception-bill-after-alabama-ivf-decision/

One Texas State lawmaker - a Republican who voted against school vouchers - now wants to abolish the Texas Education Agency: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/2024/03/03/texas-schools-lawmaker-says-abolish-tea-education-experts-weigh-in/72499627007/

Still no word from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on the state appeal of a federal judge's blocking of SB-4, which was set to take effect tomorrow: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2024/03/04/texas-sb-4-immigration-law-predictably-fails-its-first-legal-test/

...That same ruling says that the recent wave of migrants cannot be considered by Texas an "invasion": https://reason.com/volokh/2024/03/01/federal-court-rejects-texass-argument-that-illegal-migration-qualifies-as-invasion/

Ken Paxton's office's attempts to force a trans-friendly non-profit to hand over records of young trans kids it has supported has also been blocked: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/03/us/texas-paxton-transgender-records.html

Governor Abbott draws online fire for hanging out at the border with Donald Trump while historically-destructive wildfires burn in the Panhandle: https://www.newsweek.com/greg-abbotts-priorities-questioned-record-wildfires-intensify-texas-1875388

...Those fires rage on, with very little containment: https://apnews.com/article/texas-wildfire-panhandle-hutchinson-united-way-donations-d61f26c6686ae62e855bd2075453651b

Women's History Month is here and there's lots to do to celebrate across Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/trailblazing-texan-women

The annual Amplify Austin charity and non-profit fundraiser happens Wednesday thru Thursday: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Thanks for listening! Learn all about what we do and how to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 04, 202411:37
Special Weekend Pod: GOP Dark Money Targeting Travis County D.A.

Special Weekend Pod: GOP Dark Money Targeting Travis County D.A.

Lawyers for Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza have issued a cease-and-desist order against a shadowy group that has financed an egregious and foul hit campaign against Garza, apparently without proper legal arrangement as a political action committee - all to benefit his opponent, who is known to be backed by benefactors who typically fund Republican candidates. We've invited District Attorney Garza on to tell us what he's learned.

Learn more about District Attorney Jose Garza at https://www.joseforda.com/.

Mar 02, 202409:02
Daily Dispatch 3/1/24: Biden In Brownsville, SB-4 Blocked, and More

Daily Dispatch 3/1/24: Biden In Brownsville, SB-4 Blocked, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Upwards of 1.2 million Texans have voted so far in the primary, with only today and Super Tuesday remaining: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

New polling from UT Tyler shows Ted Cruz and Colin Allred tied at 41%: https://t.co/4LBcQuPneA

President Biden spoke in Brownsville yesterday: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2024/03/01/san-antonio-mayor-ron-nirenberg-joins-president-biden-other-south-texas-mayors-in-brownsville/

Donald Trump's simultaneous event in Eagle Pass, meanwhile, may have seen a violation of military uniform code: https://x.com/AdamKinzinger/status/1763351232574296525?t=jhQRSFzH2g9SMCxd6IXdoQ&s=03

...Trump says Governor Abbott is on his "short list" of VP candidates: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/29/greg-abbott-donald-trump-vice-president/

...While a Trump win will mean billions in losses for Texas: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-will-lose-billions-investment-donald-trump-elected-2024-1874806

...As the Governor muses on building a wall around "Liberal Austin": https://www.newsweek.com/greg-abbott-discusses-building-border-wall-around-liberal-austin-1874711

A federal judge blocks Tuesday's implementation of SB-4, but the state immediately appeals to the 5th Circuit: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/federal-judge-issues-preliminary-injunction-on-senate-bill-4

Amanda Zurawski is honored by USA Today: https://www.statesman.com/picture-gallery/news/2024/02/29/amanda-zurawski-usa-today-texas-women-of-the-year/72165054007/

...As Starr County's DA is penalized by the State Bar of Texas for allowing a murder charge to be filed against a woman for a self-managed abortion: https://www.yahoo.com/news/texas-prosecutor-fined-allowing-murder-220351899.html

That massive wildfire - the biggest in state history - is looking likely to keep growing over the weekend: https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-panhandle-wildfires-weather-forecast/story?id=107667285

Ken Paxton is suing the State Fair of Texas and two Dallas-area live music venues for refusing to allow off-duty cops inside with their guns: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-sues-state-fair-factory-deep-ellum-texas-trust-cu-theatre-grand-prairie/287-65b07f32-49a1-48ca-92e9-5511c9038ba2

...While a trove of insider details on the Paxton impeachment is dumped by the Texas Senate: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/28/ken-paxton-impeachment-witness-testimony/

Charles Butt of H.E.B. fame is donating heavily to seven of the anti-voucher lawmakers being targeted by Governor Abbott: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/heb-school-voucher-pac-18696002.php

Saturday is Texas Independence Day! Learn the REAL story of the Texas Revolution with the terrific book Forget The Alamo: https://a.co/d/f0CkIcS

And, today is the first day of Women's History Month: https://progresstexas.org/blog/trailblazing-texan-women

Early giving is underway for this year's Amplify Austin fundraising push: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Thanks for listening! Hit our web store and other ways to support our work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Mar 01, 202426:17
Daily Dispatch 2/29/24: Biden At The Border, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/29/24: Biden At The Border, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Only today, tomorrow and Tuesday remain to vote in the 2024 primary: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

...Crossover voting is not the clever idea you might think it is, for several reasons: https://progresstexas.org/blog/elephant-room-crossover-voting

...While U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez may have done some meddling with his GOP opposition: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/vicente-gonzalez-mayra-flores-primary-election/

President Biden speaks in Brownsville today, as Donald Trump visits the stage set in Eagle Pass: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/vicente-gonzalez-mayra-flores-primary-election/

...While SB-4 is set to take effect on Tuesday: https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2024/0228/Tough-Texas-immigration-law-nears.-Residents-have-questions

Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw testified before a Uvalde grand jury yesterday on potential charges against police officers who botched the Robb Elementary response: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/28/texas-uvalde-shooting-grand-jury-steve-mccraw/

With Mitch McConnell stepping down as U.S. Senate GOP Leader, John Cornyn appears set to try for the post: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/28/texas-john-cornyn-mitch-mcconnell/

The wildfires in the Panhandle have ballooned into the second-worst in Texas history: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/29/us/texas-panhandle-smokehouse-creek-fire-thursday/index.html

As Texas executes a man whose guilt was in doubt, capital punishment supporters must consider that they either have 100% faith in our justice system, or they're okay with the State occasionally killing innocent people: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/convicted-murderer-ivan-cantu-executed-in-texas/

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 29, 202410:57
Daily Dispatch 2/28/24: Christian Nationalists Prepare To Pounce With Trump Win, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/28/24: Christian Nationalists Prepare To Pounce With Trump Win, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Republicans continue to outdistance Democrats in primary early voting turnout: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

Progressives need to understand the threat posed by "Project 25": https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/feb/27/trump-second-term-cpac-democracy-threat-extremism

...While Dallas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett points out that Christian Nationalism is inconsistent with traditional Christianity: https://x.com/RepJasmine/status/1762540717140779152?t=660LLiAZJXPZv6pGh-l2wA&s=03

...And a Houston megachurch pastor goes on an anti-migrant tear: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/ed-young-anti-immigration-sermon-18692233.php

...And while most Americans reject Christian Nationalism, those numbers are weaker in Red states: https://www.axios.com/2024/02/28/poll-christian-nationalism-americans-reject

At Ken Paxton's bidding, a federal judge in Lubbock undermines new protections for pregnant workers: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/federal-judge-texas-rules-congressional-passage-2022-spending-bill-unc-rcna140829

The policies leading to Darryl George's plight at Barbers Hill ISD are based on the marginalization of non-white students: https://theconversation.com/a-texas-court-ruling-on-a-black-student-wearing-hair-in-long-locs-reflects-history-of-racism-in-schools-223250

A new produced water processing site has been approved by the Texas Railroad Commission - right next to a church camp: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/26/texas-permian-basin-oilfield-waste-ponds-baptist-camp/

The Pantex facility - the country's primary development and maintenance location for nuclear weapons - is threatened by Panhandle wildfires: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2024/02/28/key-nuclear-weapons-plant-forced-to-pause-operations-due-to-texas-wildfires/

Three Texas filmmakers contribute to a new HBO documentary series on Huntsville, Houston and El Paso: https://slate.com/culture/2024/02/god-save-texas-hbo-documentary-hometown-prison-richard-linklater.html

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 28, 202410:35
Happy Hour 146 - Dark Water: How The Texas Railroad Commission Threatens Our Future

Happy Hour 146 - Dark Water: How The Texas Railroad Commission Threatens Our Future

In the Crane County oil patch, a recent catastrophic spill of produced water, a toxic byproduct of the petroleum extraction process, has brought to the forefront the threat this stuff poses to groundwater across Texas. In this election year, it also highlights the worsening of that threat resulting from the chronic mismanagement and public obfuscation regarding produced water by the Texas Railroad Commission, the elected, three-member body supposedly in charge of keeping Texas' environment safe in the midst of our all-time high petroleum production, but in reality known as largely a rubber stamp for whatever policy and procedure our state's energy sector finds most expedient and profitable.

On this episode, we talk to Bill Burch, petroleum expert and Progress Texas-endorsed candidate for the Texas Railroad Commission, as well as Alex Ortiz, Water Resources Chair of the Sierra Club's Lone Star Chapter on the Crane County produced water spill, the ramifications this gross stuff and its management have for our environmental future, and how the Commission should be held accountable.

Learn more about Bill Burch and his campaign at https://burch4trrc.com/, and learn more about the Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club at https://www.sierraclub.org/texas.

Find the Houston Chronicle's editorial endorsement of President Biden's pause of new LNG approvals at https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/biden-lng-export-trump-election-18680419.php.

Thanks for listening! Please consider becoming one of our 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive at https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Feb 27, 202452:49
Daily Dispatch 2/27/24: Major Houston Paper Endorses Biden LNG Call, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/27/24: Major Houston Paper Endorses Biden LNG Call, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Primary early voting turnout continues to trickle, with Republican turnout still doubling that of Texas Democrats: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

...Republicans are voting for or against notorious anti-abortion activist judge John Devine of the Texas Supreme Court: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/john-devine-texas-supreme-court-conservatives/

President Biden and Donald Trump will stage competing Texas border appearances on Thursday: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/26/donald-trump-joe-biden-texas-border-eagle-pass/

...While the border fiasco can largely be attributed to Governor Greg Abbott's ego and ambition: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/human-toll-greg-abbott-border-war-eagle-pass-1234975140/

The Houston Chronicle's editorial board endorses President Biden's pause on LNG approvals: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/biden-lng-export-trump-election-18680419.php

...While on Sunday, over 80% of the electricity on the Texas grid came from non-carbon-emitting sources: https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2024-02-26/more-than-80-of-electricity-on-the-texas-grid-was-carbon-free-at-one-point-sunday

...And our friends at Environment Texas are hiring: https://jobs.publicinterestnetwork.org/en/postings/0fca1554-3310-4154-945b-ea334b3de46b

The U.S. Supreme Court seems likely to send a lawsuit over supposed censorship of conservative propaganda by social media platforms back to lower courts: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/26/us/politics/supreme-court-social-media-takeaways.html

U.S. Rep Colin Allred has invited Dallas OB/GYN Dr. Austin Dennard, a Texas mother forced to flee the state for vital abortion care, to attend the State Of The Union address as his guest: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/02/25/rep-colin-allred-invites-dallas-doctor-who-fled-state-for-abortion-to-state-of-the-union/

On the cusp of Women's History Month in March, Texas ranks very low on a new ranking of quality of life for women: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-among-top-5-worst-states-for-women-in-2024-report-finds/3471845/

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 27, 202409:49
Daily Dispatch 2/26/24: Paxton Meddling With Court That May Decide His Fate, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/26/24: Paxton Meddling With Court That May Decide His Fate, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Early voting primary turnout still skews 2-1 Republican - and over 80% voters over 50 on both sides: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/columns/2024/02/25/texas-primary-election-young-voters-voices-older-the-voter-the-louder-the-voice/72684410007/

Ken Paxton's crusade against three Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges isn't just about his desire to prosecute election fraud cases - it's also about the court that's likely to finally decide his own felony securities fraud case: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/podcasts/texas-take/

...Meanwhile, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is bullish that Governor Abbott's crusade against anti-voucher GOP lawmakers will be successful: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/texas-school-voucher-dan-patrick-lieutenant-governor-thinks-pro-voucher-republicans-will-win-texas/287-622cd1df-ad72-4cc7-8a69-b0def2a004a5

...And State Board of Education races threaten to drag that body further to the right, just in time for important social studies decisions: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/elections/state/2024/02/25/texas-primary-election-state-board-of-education-races-to-watch-district-10-11-12/72682107007/

Governor Abbott admits he knows little about in-vitro fertilization, even as that procedure is threatened by his own abortion bans: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/abbott-texas-ivf-1234975280/

...The Governor also won't pledge to protect IVF in Texas: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/25/politics/texas-ivf-alabama-law-abbott/index.html

...While GOP candidates are doing all they can to avoid talking about abortion: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/abortion-republicans-primaries-18651768.php

...And Jim Hightower draws a parallel between anti-abortion "extraterritoriality" in Texas to laws designed to protect slavery: https://www.juancole.com/2024/02/abortion-extremists-slavery.html

Progress for renewable energy in Texas as huge amounts of battery storage are set to come online this year: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/energy-storage/texas-will-add-more-grid-batteries-than-any-other-state-in-2024

We congratulate Salem United Methodist Church in Orange, one of the largest Black churches in Southeast Texas, as they mark their 159th anniversary: https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/one-of-southeast-texas-oldest-black-churches-celebrates-159-anniversary/502-88e0f240-dbb1-4095-b9a7-d0e4168a98fb

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 26, 202411:39
Daily Dispatch 2/23/24: Texas Dems Need A Big Early Primary Voting Weekend, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/23/24: Texas Dems Need A Big Early Primary Voting Weekend, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Democratic turnout in early primary voting continues to lag, especially in Harris and Bexar counties: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

Alabama's Supreme Court ruling that embryos are to be considered children has hopeful moms like Amanda Zurawski taking pre-emptive action with their frozen embryos: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/woman-suing-texas-abortion-ban-plans-move-embryos-state-rcna140134

A Republican judge sides with Barbers Hill ISD, allowing it to continue punishing student Darryl George over his traditional hairstyle, in spite of the CROWN Act: https://newrepublic.com/post/179217/texas-judge-school-punish-black-student-hair-race

Several law enforcement officers who failed to react quickly during the Robb Elementary mass shooting in Uvalde have been called before a grand jury next week: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/22/us/uvalde-school-shooting-texas-police/index.html

Citing a packed schedule, the Texas Department of Health and Human Services has passed on $450 million in federal aid to help feed kids at risk of hunger during the summer: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/22/texas-federal-summer-lunch-program/

The U.S. Supreme Court will take up a fight between the major social media platforms and the AG's of Texas and Florida over the platforms' right to remove misinformation: https://www.npr.org/2024/02/22/1197962135/first-amendment-scotus-social-media

The hard-hitting Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel has blasted Governor Abbott over his "lies and half-truths" in his campaign to replace House GOP members refusing his school voucher efforts: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-newspaper-turns-greg-abbott-spewing-lies-1872430

Dallas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett has invited to the upcoming State Of The Union Address the widow of a Dallas mail carrier who died on the job during last summer's heat wave: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/02/22/widow-of-dallas-postal-worker-who-died-in-2023-heat-wave-to-attend-state-of-the-union/

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 23, 202412:50
Daily Dispatch 2/22/24: Democratic Turnout Trails GOP On Primary Day 1, And More

Daily Dispatch 2/22/24: Democratic Turnout Trails GOP On Primary Day 1, And More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Republican turnout doubled that of Democrats in Texas on the first day of early primary voting: https://www.kxan.com/news/your-local-election-hq/march-2024-turnout-tracker/

...While officials in Tarrant County end a years-long program providing free rides to the polls on Election Day: https://www.fox4news.com/news/tarrant-county-free-bus-rides-election-day

Governor Abbott and AG Paxton's campaign against GOP incumbents continues inflaming vitriol within the party: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/21/glenn-rogers-texas-gop-primary/

...Donald Trump continues meddling as well: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/trumps-join-paxtons-push-to-defeat-some-of-texas-top-conservative-judges/

A trial on the school suspension of Darryl George over his cultural hairstyle, seemingly in defiance of the CROWN Act, is scheduled for today: https://apnews.com/article/hair-discrimination-school-locs-texas-trial-4a1c3ec2ff85da27ffb2118f9fc55007

...Protestors demonstrated in favor of George near the home of Barbers Hill ISD's superintendent in Baytown yesterday: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/protesters-gather-texas-superintendent-darryl-george-hair-trial-rcna139640

Another gun incident in a Texas school sees police fire off 19 rounds, but luckily no deaths: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2024/02/20/officers-fired-19-shots-at-student-who-brought-gun-to-mesquite-school-student-didnt-fire/?sailthru_id=62680c814f757f64bada988b&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BreakingAlert_02202024&utm_term=Breaking%20News

Austin Congressman Greg Casar was in Austin yesterday touting his Connect The Grid Act: https://progresstexas.org/blog/power-people-connecting-texas-grid

Bell County declares an emergency in advance of huge crowds expected for April's eclipse: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-county-issues-state-of-emergency-over-solar-eclipse/

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 22, 202410:28
Daily Dispatch 2/21/23: Texas Dems Face Long Slog On Gun Safety, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/21/23: Texas Dems Face Long Slog On Gun Safety, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

As primary voting begins, a review for progressives of why gun safety reform is so bogged down in Texas: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/mass-shootings-in-texas-have-shaped-the-democratic-primaries-18642421

In the Republican primary, Collin County will serve as a test of Ken Paxton's ability to sway voters: https://www.nbcdfw.com/decision-2024/collin-county-is-frontline-for-emotional-texas-house-primary-elections/3467634/

...That said, Governor Abbott is backing incumbents Paxton has targeted: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/in-n-texas-governor-abbott-ag-paxton-back-different-candidates-in-gop-primaries/

...And Donald Trump has his greasy hands in the soup too: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/02/20/trump-throws-weight-behind-rivals-of-four-texas-republicans-who-crossed-abbott-and-paxton/

...The picture of an even-more-radical GOP House majority is none too pretty: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-house-radical-republican/

...While a majority of Texas voters expect a violent election outcome this fall: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-02-20/most-texas-voters-think-violence-will-erupt-after-2024-election

Ken Paxton has targeted an NGO that has operated migrant shelters in El Paso for decades: https://kvia.com/news/border/2024/02/20/texas-attorney-general-sues-el-pasos-annunciation-house-for-efforts-to-facilitate-illegal-immigration/

...While the private prison industry is booming amidst a new crackdown on migrants: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-border-immigration-surge-geo-group-profits-detention-ethics-reform-bill-opposition-1871731

Texas anti-abortion activists, apparently bored, are targeting a new art installation at the University of Houston: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/university-houston-satanic-statue-18677691.php

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 21, 202410:55
Daily Dispatch 2/20/24: Primary Early Voting Begins Today, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/20/24: Primary Early Voting Begins Today, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

New polling results as primary voting opens from UT Austin: https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/new-uttexas-politics-project-poll-primary-voting-begins-texans-see-crisis-border

A pro-voucher campaign stop in Cleburne by Governor Greg Abbott is under-attended compared to an event the same day for the anti-voucher incumbent: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/state/texas-news/gov-greg-abbott-north-texas-campaign-against-fellow-republican-voted-no-voucher-proposal/287-ae6a0aa9-0915-4f75-8643-55c1eda032bf

The Houston Chronicle endorses President Biden for re-election, somehow surprising MAGA types: https://www.newsweek.com/houston-chronicle-endorse-biden-texas-trump-maga-1871423

Public school supporters are reminded of the importance of primary voting: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/education-public-voting-ballot-primaries-18667618.php

Moderate San Antonio Republican Tony Gonzales is beset this primary round from his right: https://sanantonioreport.org/tony-gonzales-texas-gop-primary/

Also important in the primary, a vote for Bill Burch for Texas Railroad Commission: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/texas-railroad-commission-election-2024-18676066.php

Heartbreaking video covers a Texas woman's forced trip out of state to locate vitally-needed abortion care: https://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/video/pregnant-texas-woman-travels-cross-country-abortion-care-107357968

A coalition of civil rights groups are spreading the word and organizing protests in regard to SB-4, the new immigration law set to take effect next month: https://www.ktep.org/ktep-news/2024-02-16/civil-rights-organizations-launch-statewide-know-your-rights-campaign-to-prepare-for-texas-immigration-law-sb4

A political veteran who has worked with both George W. Bush and Ann Richards writes on the Texas GOP's descent into the "MAGA abyss": https://www.vanityfair.com/news/how-did-texas-slip-into-the-maga-abyss

Texas secessionist blowhards see attempts to connect the Texas power grid to national grids as an attack on their independence efforts: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-nationalists-rage-power-grid-plans-1871202

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 20, 202411:54
Daily Dispatch 2/19/24: Heated Democratic Primaries As Early Voting Looms, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/19/24: Heated Democratic Primaries As Early Voting Looms, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

New interviews with U.S. Representative Colin Allred and State Senator Roland Gutierrez, plus the guy both want to take on, Ted Cruz: https://www.kxan.com/state-of-texas/state-of-texas-questions-for-candidates-hoping-to-challenge-cruz/

South Houston Democratic State House Rep. Shawn Thierry, under fire for her votes inconsistent with Democratic priorities, drops a homophobic bomb on her chances for an endorsement from the Houston Chronicle: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/houston-thierry-simmons-endorsement-18672516.php

Another hot Democratic primary in the race for Harris County District Attorney: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/16/harris-county-district-attorney-primary-2024/

Ken Paxton fails to delay or derail his felony securities trial - it will begin in Houston on April 15: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/16/attorney-general-ken-paxton-securities-fraud-indictment-trial/

...While Paxton targets three Texas Court of Criminal Appeals judges who dared oppose his plan to single-handedly challenge Texas election results: https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2024-02-15/attorney-general-ken-paxton-texas-court-of-criminal-appeals

Governor Abbott is laying plans for a permanent 80-acre Texas National Guard base near Eagle Pass: https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2024/02/18/texas-gov-abbott-eagle-pass-base-ctmwknd-vpx.cnn

...While a Democratic win in suburban NYC may indicate that the border may not be the slam-dunk issue that Republicans are banking on: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/02/18/us-mexico-border-will-be-democrats-death-knell-in-2024-right-perhaps-not/72632584007/

A series of earthquakes southeast of San Antonio appears to be strengthening: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/17/texas-earthquake-san-antonio

A Carrolton high school chemistry teacher sees a positive public rally of support after his school district removed him from the classroom over videos of him wearing women's clothing: https://nypost.com/2024/02/17/us-news/texas-teacher-on-leave-after-cross-dressing-video-goes-viral/

A new state law, designed to ensure professional credentials on the bench, is being weaponized against two Black female judge candidates: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/seo-new-texas-law-brings-new-hurdles-black-women-18667868.php

Texas' DEI bans at state university campuses is being seen as a preview of what's to come nationally, should Republicans do well in November: https://apnews.com/article/texas-university-diversity-ban-dei-46e4b6193abe27b6abbdffcd1945cf38

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 19, 202412:51
Happy Hour 145: Meet Our Progress Texas Primary Endorsees!

Happy Hour 145: Meet Our Progress Texas Primary Endorsees!

Early voting in the Democratic primary starts on Tuesday February 20th, and Progress Texas has selected FIVE more terrific candidates whom we think deserve your vote!

In addition to Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez, whom we have endorsed in his run for the Democratic nomination to face Ted Cruz for Texas' junior U.S. Senate seat...

(2:00) We endorse State Representative Julie Johnson (HD 115) for Texas’ 32nd Congressional District. In the highly contested race for Colin Allred’s seat, with several strong candidates, Johnson’s record as a lawyer and lawmaker stands out, championing women, workers, and LGBTQ+ Texans. Johnson turned HD 115 red to blue back in 2018, and has the experience to turn the tables in Washington D.C., to make the government work for us on reproductive justice, gun violence protection, and affordable healthcare. https://juliejohnson.com/

(10:25) Michelle Vallejo is a small business owner and fierce community advocate from South Texas. In a rematch for TX-15, she will take back her historically blue district running on bringing down healthcare costs, securing good-paying jobs and a thriving economy, and protecting reproductive rights. This is a personal fight for her. Her mother, who passed away several years ago, was forced to travel to Mexico for healthcare due to lack of options here in Texas. https://www.michellefortx15.com/

(18:46) Sam Eppler is our choice for Texas Congressional District 24 in North Texas. The former math teacher and high school principal is the pro-democracy, economic growth, and public education champion his district needs to beat a MAGA extremist incumbent in November.  A top priority of his is to provide a good education in a safe school to build a brighter future for everyone, in every zip code. https://sameppler.com/

(25:27) Bill Burch is a career engineer running for the Texas Railroad Commission. He will bring 23 years of energy industry experience—including time as an emergency responder for the Deepwater Horizon spill—expertise of sustainable energy practices, and a sense of integrity and accountability the agency is critically missing. https://burch4trrc.com/

(36:08) Lauren Ashley Simmons, a challenger running for Texas HD 146, is a mom and union organizer whose platform centers public education, universal and affordable healthcare, workers rights, and defending democracy. Her opponent, the current state representative, Rep. Shawn Thierry, votes with Gov. Abbott to destroy our public schools. She’s also faced public scandals for voting with extremists to attack LGBTQ+ Texans, and creating “abusive” work environments. In contrast, Simmons is a black, queer woman, who will fight for those who are tired, frustrated, and who feel unheard by the people who are supposed to be serving them. https://www.laurenashleysimmons.com/

Thanks for listening! Throughout February, Progress Texas is seeking to add a total of 29 new recurring donors to our lineup - one per day this leap month! Learn more at https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Feb 17, 202455:27
Daily Dispatch 2/16/24: Saluting U.S. House Democrats Backing Biden's LNG Pause, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/16/24: Saluting U.S. House Democrats Backing Biden's LNG Pause, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

We salute the Texas U.S. House Representatives who voted against GOP efforts to overturn President Biden's pause on new liquid natural gas approvals: ⁠https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-vote-bill-reverse-bidens-lng-pause-2024-02-15/⁠

A federal judge in Austin, hearing the State's argument for the new migrant crackdown law SB-4, expresses skepticism: ⁠https://www.kut.org/politics/2024-02-15/texas-senate-bill-4-invasion-claim-immigration-law-hearing⁠

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles, under Governor Abbott's direction, are considering a pardon for Daniel Perry, convicted last year of murder in the death of Black Lives Matter protestor Garrett Foster: ⁠https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2024/02/15/daniel-perry-pardon-review-murder-black-lives-matter-protester-garrett-foster-austin-texas/72611557007/⁠

Democrat-turned-Republican Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson's wife, amidst their divorce, alleges an affair by Johnson with a Dallas City staffer: ⁠https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-mayor-eric-johnson-confirms-divorce-amid-affair-allegations-report/287-f9dcb725-1ce0-4523-b3a4-eb637e7063c6⁠

Progress Texas endorses Lauren Ashley Simmons in her primary challenge to sitting Democratic Texas House Rep. Shawn Thierry, and here's why: ⁠https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/15/shawn-thierry-houston-democratic-primary-lgbtq-vote/⁠

Progress Texas endorses Sam Eppler in his run to take on MAGA darling U.S. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, and here's a small part of why: ⁠https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4469939-texas-republican-says-cnn-anchor-wanted-to-lecture-her/⁠

Houston's homeless outreach Food Not Bombs gets permission to keep operating on public property, but now faces steep sanitation bonds - Houston progressives, learn how to help here: ⁠https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/houston-texas-feeding-homeless-food-not-bombs-ruling/285-94152347-2de8-43ac-8100-407be7b4c379#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17080842588652&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.khou.com%2Farticle%2Fnews%2Flocal%2Fhouston-texas-feeding-homeless-food-not-bombs-ruling%2F285-94152347-2de8-43ac-8100-407be7b4c379⁠

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 16, 202411:33
Daily Dispatch 2/15/24: More PT Primary Endorsements As Early Voting Approaches, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/15/24: More PT Primary Endorsements As Early Voting Approaches, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Two more Democratic primary endorsements have been added to our list: Michelle Vallejo in the run for Congressional District 15, and Bill Burch for the Texas Railroad Commission: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-endorsements-march-primaries

Austin U.S. Rep. Greg Casar takes the lead on a new bill requiring Texas to connect our power grid to neighboring grids: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/democrats-introduce-bill-connect-texas-to-national-grids/287-ceba36b1-508a-4b2c-8f82-a090fbf1a63f

...While Texas continues to shatter renewable energy records: https://cleantechnica.com/2024/02/14/texas-shatters-own-solar-power-record-weird-political-situation-or-not/

A huge court hearing today regarding Texas' new immigration law SB-4, and whether to allow it to take effect next month: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/15/us/texas-border-law-challenge-explainer.html

...While even our soldiers at the border see through Governor Abbott's cosplay: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texas-operation-lone-star-border-national-guard-soldiers_n_65c4f0dce4b093b2e782abd8

As over a million Texas kids from low income families are booted from Medicaid coverage, a massive backlog of benefits applications has built up: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2024-02-16/after-a-million-texas-kids-were-kicked-off-medicaid-thousands-more-are-still-in-limbo/

Republicans who held the line on school vouchers find themselves in the crosshairs of misinformation twisting their votes: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/republicans-voucher-ads-18666959.php

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠

Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 15, 202411:03
Daily Dispatch 2/14/24: PT Loves (And Endorses) Three More Texas Candidates, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/14/24: PT Loves (And Endorses) Three More Texas Candidates, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas this Valentine's Day:

Less than a week from early voting, we're shoveling our love onto three more Texas progressive primary candidates, the support of whom we consider vital for continued progress in our state: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-endorsements-march-primaries

...While we're all warm and fuzzy, have a look and Join The Movement with a great rundown of our favorite Texas civic organizations: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progressive-organizations-working-make-texas-better-place-2024

House Speaker Dade Phelan's wife was accosted by his political opponents at the Phelan home in Beaumont this week: https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/crime/men-accused-of-accosting-dade-phelan-wife-beaumont-home/502-dbb22413-4b6f-4d80-9d45-ce4b3b705ac5

A North Texas couple, convicted of various crimes connected to Jan. 6, think Trump should be charged as well (and we agree): https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/national/capitol-riots/texas-couple-who-said-they-shouldnt-be-prosecuted-if-trump-wasnt-convicted-of-assaulting-police-on-jan-6-mark-jalise-middleton/65-f2895db3-2b6f-4cad-8088-e313e6ae9d05

John Cornyn and Ken Paxton are having a public tiff over Cornyn's support for America's following through with our commitments to our allies abroad: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/4465233-cornyn-blasts-texas-ag-paxton/

How Sunday's Houston church shooter, having documented mental health issues and an extensive criminal record, was able to arm herself for the attack remains a mystery: https://apnews.com/article/church-shooting-joel-osteen-texas-firearms-89c8b72d00c5a1f924907e0d5a85a8ea

...While right-wing crazies - including Elon Musk - attempt to frame the shooting as "trans terrorism": https://www.vice.com/en/article/v7bnna/lakewood-church-shooting-houston-far-right-misinformation-claiming-suspect-transgender

...Throughout her criminal documentation, she's identified as a cisgender female, never as transgender: https://apnews.com/article/fact-check-houston-texas-church-shooter-transgender-641478749917

We've been talking about Jimmy, John and Jane recently - John Devine, turns out, inappropriately failed to recuse himself from a high-profile sex abuse case involving prior employers: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/13/texas-supreme-court-john-devine-paul-pressler-jared-woodfill/

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠

Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 14, 202410:46
Daily Dispatch 2/13/24: Houston Shooter's Neighbors Sought Police Help, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/13/24: Houston Shooter's Neighbors Sought Police Help, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Neighbors of the woman who fired shots inside Joel Osteen's Houston megachurch this weekend have been pleading for help from Conroe police regarding her aggressive behavior with guns for months: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-neighbors-said-tried-sound-alarm-houston-church-shooter-months-rcna138516

A Jewish Dallas City Council Member's home is attacked by vandals using pro-Palestinian symbols: https://www.wfaa.com/video/news/nation-world/israel-hamas-conflict/287-776472b9-75bb-41e2-bd15-65422e5ebb17

Coverage of the ongoing race to face Ted Cruz between U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and State Senator Roland Gutierrez: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/allred-gutierrez-spar-over-border-security-bipartisanship-in-democratic-primary-for-u-s-senate/

...While Cruz's new bill calling for additional security for politicians in airports makes its way through the Senate: https://newrepublic.com/post/178927/ted-cruz-bill-private-security-travel-airports-cancun

...And an even more "bruising" primary race between State Senator Nathan Johnson and State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/elections/2024/02/13/2-dallas-democrats-in-bruising-primary-for-texas-senate-seat/⁠

Backlash continues over those "He Gets Us" Super Bowl ads, tied to a Dallas ad agency: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/super-bowl-he-gets-us-18662897.php

...While Texas Monthly highlights oil billionaire Tim Dunn, who has also shoved Texas to the right via his checkbook: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/billionaire-tim-dunn-runs-texas/

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month⁠

Check out our Valentine to our fellow Texas progressive political organizations, who deserve your attention and support: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/progressive-organizations-working-make-texas-better-place-2024⁠

Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 13, 202411:26
Happy Hour 144: Find Out PAC Targets Texas Supreme Court's Jimmy, John and Jane
Feb 12, 202446:43
Daily Dispatch 2/12/24: Rising Texas Teen Pregnancies Could Go National With GOP Wins, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/12/24: Rising Texas Teen Pregnancies Could Go National With GOP Wins, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

An increase in teen pregnancies that followed Texas' abortion restrictions could become a national problem if Republicans are triumphant this fall: https://www.salon.com/2024/02/12/a-rise-in-texas-teen-pregnancies-could-foreshadow-national-trends-experts-warn/

...Progressives need to get familiar with the legal concept of "extraterritoriality" - the GOP push to enforce Texas culture-war laws outside our borders: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/09/texas-abortion-transgender-care-outside-state-borders/

...The direct connection between our state's stamping out of reproductive freedom and Donald Trump exists in attorney Jonathan Mitchell: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/08/us/elections/jonathan-mitchell-trump-ballot-case.html

A UT law professor says conditions at the border don't constitute an "invasion", but that Governor Abbott will continue arguing that they do: https://www.npr.org/2024/02/12/1230835881/texas-law-professor-says-influx-of-migrants-doesnt-meet-the-definition-of-invasi

...While Abbott's frequent border visits continue disrupting the peace of Eagle Pass: https://www.kxan.com/state-of-texas/state-of-texas-border-visits-fuel-frustrations-over-policy-failures/

...And Mexico "categorically rejects" SB-4, set to take effect next month: https://www.ketk.com/news/texas/mexican-government-says-it-rejects-texas-immigration-enforcement-bill/

...And SB-4, even before enactment, is already causing problems for Hispanic and Black Texans: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/02/12/how-sb-4-threatens-the-well-being-of-immigrant-families-in-texas/

...And there's shareable video on the current border situation on the border situation: https://twitter.com/ProjectLincoln/status/1756151249626701968?t=sovlW-I7P1kHIqw9EUuMbw&s=03

Last night's Super Bowl saw an ad for Robert F. Kennedy Jr that plagiarized his family's political legacy and was paid for by major Trump backers: https://x.com/SawyerHackett/status/1756858017268584684?t=zqL_kSEC-ZUHZPdIRdQ2KA&s=03

...And the Super Bowl ads for the "He Gets Us" Christian campaign were also bankrolled by nefarious Christian groups, including those backed by the founder of Hobby Lobby: https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/11/us/he-gets-us-super-bowl-commercials-cec/index.html

Texas Monthly highlights seven terrible candidates (yes, one is a Democrat) on ballots across Texas: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-elections-2024-primary-fringe-candidates/

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month

Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 12, 202413:36
Daily Dispatch 2/9/24: Despite Dropping Migrant Numbers, Abbott Border Show Continues, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/9/24: Despite Dropping Migrant Numbers, Abbott Border Show Continues, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Despite a big reduction in migrant numbers, Governor Abbott vows to expand Operation Lone Star: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/immigration-texas-border-arizona-california-migrants/

...While, given the longtime cooperation of state and federal border patrols, recent conflicts between them are pure political theater: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/border-patrol-and-texas-troopers-got-along-once-what-happened/

Have your property taxes dropped? Ours neither: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-residents-blame-abbott-property-tax-increases-1867242

Former State Rep. Kyle Biedermann thinks former State Rep. Bryan Slaton's drunken, adulterous dalliance with a teenaged intern, which got him kicked out of the House, was no big deal: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/08/kyle-biedermann-bryan-slaton-texas-house/

Trump's lawyer at that U.S. Supreme Court sham yesterday was Jonathan Mitchell, architect of Texas' abortion "vigilante law": https://newrepublic.com/post/178869/trump-lawyer-mitchell-supreme-court-texas-anti-abortion-law

The non-profit Texas Exes graduate group is stepping in to host cultural graduation studies that were nixed by UT over new DEI bans: https://thedailytexan.com/2024/02/09/texas-exes-to-host-cultural-graduation-celebrations/

...While Texas A&M Regents vote to close their controversial Qatar campus: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/quick-takes/2024/02/09/texas-am-shutter-controversial-qatar-campus

Our own Progress Texas Advocacy Fellow Tatum Owens highlights two critical threats to voting this year in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/keep-our-elections-open-and-accessible

Black History Month is underway! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month

Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 09, 202411:34
Daily Dispatch 2/8/24: Senate GOP Trump Bootlickers Derail Border Deal, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/8/24: Senate GOP Trump Bootlickers Derail Border Deal, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Senate Republicans including Ted Cruz and John Cornyn cave to pressure from Donald Trump, backing out of a deal to end their so-called "invasion" at the border: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/cruz-cornyn-border-bill-18653781.php

The deal, to be fair, was not universally loved by Democrats: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/07/politics/senate-border-ukraine-israel-aid-vote/index.html

All this echoes failure in the U.S. House in their attempted Alejandro Mayorkas impeachment, derailed in part by South Houston's Rep. Al Green: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/07/us/politics/johnson-impeachment-israel-aid.html

From Fox News, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries' comments on Al Green's vote: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/jefferies-defend-surprise-appearance-texas-democrat-failed-mayorkas-impeachment-vote

Yet another tough guy photo op and press conference today with Governor Greg Abbott in Eagle Pass today: https://www.kcbd.com/video/2024/02/08/gov-abbott-host-texas-house-representatives-border-security-news-conference-eagle-pass-2/

Eagle Pass residents are fed up and fearful of political and racial violence: https://www.tpr.org/border-immigration/2024-02-07/right-wing-border-convoy-leaves-eagle-pass-residents-on-edge

The stabbing attack on a Palestinian man in Austin has been determined by the Austin Police Department to likely have been a hate crime: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/stabbing-palestinian-american-man-texas-motivated-bias-police-say-rcna137783

Ken Paxton, whose legal team have helped delay his securities fraud trial for eight years, is now complaining that he's not been given a speedy trial: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/paxton-looks-to-dismiss-securities-fraud-charges-says-right-to-speedy-trial-was-violated/

Paxton-backed Texas House hopeful Jared Woodfill of Houston is under renewed scrutiny over allegations he misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars from his clients: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/07/jared-woodfill-kim-ogg-fraud-investigation/

While an Amarillo House candidate is dogged by allegations that her rich father is trying to buy her election: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/fairly-texas-legislature-vouchers-18651969.php

Black History Month is underway! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month

Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 08, 202411:19
Daily Dispatch 2/7/24: Texas GOP U.S. Reps Fail To Impeach Mayorkas, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/7/24: Texas GOP U.S. Reps Fail To Impeach Mayorkas, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Despite the full support of Texas Representatives, the Republican majority in the U.S. House falls short of impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/06/mayorkas-impeachment-vote-fail/

...Partly thanks to a heroic vote by Texas Rep. Al Green, who had escaped his hospital bed to cast a decisive vote establishing a 215-215 tie: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/06/us/politics/al-green-mayorkas-impeachment.html

...While Republicans flail over the border, dangerous elements are heeding their calls for violence: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/where-things-stand/texas-gopers-border-cosplay-becomes-target-for-violent-extremists-and-grifters

...And that "God's Army" thing turned out little more than a lame Trump merch market: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2024/02/05/take-back-border-convoy-texas-republican-immigration-invasion-act/72451333007/

...Still, Texas Republicans are fully bought in on Trump's con job: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/06/texas-republicans-donald-trump-endorse/

...A new state law increasing minimum prison sentences for human trafficking is unlikely to make a difference: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/06/texas-human-smuggling-law-minimum-sentence/

Two Texas companies are found at the root of AI-constructed robocalls featuring a cloned Joe Biden voice: https://www.axios.com/2024/02/07/new-hampshire-fake-robocall-ai-biden-voice-texas

Actual charges related to law enforcement failures in Uvalde appear unlikely: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/07/uvalde-shooting-grand-jury/

Two studies cited by an Amarillo judge in his attacks on the abortion drug mifepristone have been found unsound and pulled by their publisher: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-publisher-retracts-studies-cited-by-texas-judge-suspending-abortion-pills-2024-02-06/

That disgusting produced water spill in Crane County has been plugged after a month-long, over-two-million-dollar effort: https://www.marfapublicradio.org/environment/2024-02-05/state-spends-millions-to-plug-massive-well-leak-in-the-oil-fields-of-crane-county

A great three-part documentary series on Black non-profit leaders in Texas to check out for Black History Month: https://www.nbcdfw.com/discover-black-heritage/for-oak-cliff-founder-featured-in-documentary-series-highlighting-black-ceos-in-dallas/3453820/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17072784338930&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcdfw.com%2Fdiscover-black-heritage%2Ffor-oak-cliff-founder-featured-in-documentary-series-highlighting-black-ceos-in-dallas%2F3453820%2F

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 07, 202412:14
Daily Dispatch 2/6/24: Climate Advocates Urge Texas Congressional Support On LNG Limits, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/6/24: Climate Advocates Urge Texas Congressional Support On LNG Limits, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A diverse group of environmental advocates and frontline communities have signed on to an open letter urging Texas progressives in the U.S. House to oppose a resolution allowing for liquid natural gas expansion: https://progresstexas.org/blog/good-step-pausing-lng-export-approvals-next-step-combat-climate-crisis-texas

A new deal on federal border policy finds Democrats running to face Ted Cruz in the fall election divided: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/05/texas-reaction-border-deal-ukraine-israel/

Governor Abbott is limiting his filter for endorsements in Texas House races to the single issue of school vouchers: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article285090707.html

...While deep-red South Dakota sees a voucher scheme go down in flames: https://www.keloland.com/news/capitol-news-bureau/house-panel-blocks-plan-for-7400-education-vouchers/

...And Texas public schools slide ever further behind in funding: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/2024/02/05/education-texas-public-school-funding-lowest-inflation-adjusted-state-local-since-2020/72154083007/

...And student orgs at UT face financial problems due to the closure of DEI offices: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/university-of-texas/dei-backlash-texas-student-organizations-asking-for-funding/269-f231ff3c-613e-4784-b62f-bac5b5bd5914

A Republican lawmaker thinks Ken Paxton, facing building legal challenges, may be a flight risk: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/yall-itics/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-flight-risk-says-gop-republican-lawmaker/287-023487d1-3836-48df-8ec2-c8638dc265a2

Black History Month is underway! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month

Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 06, 202409:44
Daily Dispatch 2/5/22: Religious Zealotry And Racial Hate On Display At Texas Border, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/5/22: Religious Zealotry And Racial Hate On Display At Texas Border, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Today is the last day to register to vote in the March primary! Get it done: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/02/05/monday-is-last-day-to-register-to-vote-in-march-5-texas-primary-election/

All about voting in Texas: https://govotetexas.org/

Governor Abbott, gathered at Eagle Pass with 13 other Republican governors, pledges to expand the border territory his Operation Lone Star is excluding from access by federal Border Patrol personnel: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/04/us/texas-border-abbott-governors.html

...While U.S. House Democrats from Texas respond to Abbott's obvious theatrics and warn of the dangers of stirring racial angst: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4447607-texas-democrats-accuse-abbott-of-inciting-potential-border-violence/

...On Friday, Eagle Pass community leaders demanded that visitors respect the cultural diversity of their region: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-border-convoy-slammed-eagle-pass-community-leaders-ahead-rally-1866598

...Demands largely ignored by the "Take Our Border Back" rally nearby on Saturday, which devolved into a racist Trump rally complete with religious zealotry and anti-Semitic conspiracy speeches: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-looms-over-texas-border-rally-targeting-illegal-immigration-2024-02-03/

...By the way, turns out Shelby Park was named for a Confederate general who fled to Mexico at the end of the Civil War: https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/01/us/shelby-park-texas-border-history-cec/index.html

Texas secessionist groups are denying their obvious parroting of Russian rhetoric: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-independence-group-denies-russian-support-1866798

...While misinformation about the Texas border standoff is circulating in China: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-68185317

We look forward to a talk this week with Gina Ortiz Jones, heading up the Find Out PAC dedicated to opposing three Texas Supreme Court justices up for re-election: https://youtu.be/08ihlSOEmMU?si=bOjAHZ6hKN6Z-cv2

...Pregnant women trapped in abusive relationships are uniquely imperiled by Texas' abortion ban: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/sewing-texas-abortion-ban-heightens-danger-women-18637853.php

The Democrats running to replace Colin Allred in the U.S. House are mostly in consensus on key progressive issues: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/02/02/north-texas-candidates-for-congress-differ-on-best-approach-for-democrats/

Black History Month is underway! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month

Progress Texas is seeking to add 29 new recurring donors during our February membership drive - we'd appreciate the support: https://progresstexas.org/donate

Feb 05, 202412:19
Daily Dispatch 2/2/24: On Border, GOP Wants Cake - And To Eat It Too, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/2/24: On Border, GOP Wants Cake - And To Eat It Too, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Houston Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw is confused at his party's blocking of the very border reforms they claim to want: https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2024/02/01/dan-crenshaw-potential-border-reform-bill-sot-raju-ip-vpx.cnn

That "God's Army" gathering in Dripping Springs was nowhere near "massive": https://nypost.com/2024/02/01/news/patriots-gather-for-massive-rally-at-texas-border/

...Experts say this convoy has already been overrun by "Great Replacement" conspiracy theorists: https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/extremism-disinformation/2024/02/01/proud-boys-other-far-right-groups-use-texas-convoy-as-rallying-cry/

...Nikki Haley walks back her obviously ignorant position on Texas secession: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/02/opinion/haley-abbott-secession-texas.html

...Even the ultra-conservative and unpredictable U.S. Supreme Court is unlikely to go along with secession: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-secession-movement-abbott-border-security/

Is Ted Cruz really winning with Texas millennials? https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-winning-texas-millennials-1866176

...U.S. Rep. Colin Allred continues dominating fundraising: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/01/colin-allred-ted-crus-roland-gutierrez/

That produced water spill in Crane County continues to flow - an update is coming on the Progress Texas Happy Hour: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/west-texas-water-leak-oil-field-railroad-commission-no-fly-zone/

We send out condolences to beloved volunteer and activist Ernest Walker of Dallas: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/longtime-dallas-activist-dies-leaves-legacy-of-service/287-aad9658f-b54d-487d-9f95-27436bb86a27

Black History Month starts today! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month

The deadline to register for the March primary is this Monday, February 5: https://govotetexas.org/

Early Giving is underway for this year's Amplify Austin non-profit and charity fundraiser, and is a great way to support Progress Texas: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Feb 02, 202412:09
Daily Dispatch 2/1/24: Progress Texas Endorses Roland Gutierrez for U.S. Senate, and More

Daily Dispatch 2/1/24: Progress Texas Endorses Roland Gutierrez for U.S. Senate, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

We're proud to announce that we are endorsing Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez to face Ted Cruz in the race for our state's junior seat in the U.S. Senate: https://rolandfortexas.com/

Republican craziness over the border includes the supposedly-moderate (and essentially hopeless) Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley: https://nypost.com/2024/01/31/news/nikki-haley-claims-texas-has-the-right-to-secede-from-us-thats-their-decision-to-make/

...While the more obviously crazy U.S. Rep. Chip Roy compares the recent 5-4 SCOTUS call in favor of federal immigration jurisdiction to the infamous Dred Scott decision: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4438115-chip-roy-dred-scott-supreme-court-border-ruling/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17067202796298&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fhomenews%2Fhouse%2F4438115-chip-roy-dred-scott-supreme-court-border-ruling%2F

...What does the law actually say about a federal takeover of state national guard troops? It's as clear as mud: https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/can-the-federal-government-take-control-of-the-texas-national-guard-governor-greg-abbott-supreme-court-razor-wire-ruling-president-biden-armed-forces-migrants-immigration-border-security

...Meanwhile, the residents of Eagle Pass just want their town back: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/01/slatest-news-politics-newsletter-eagle-pass-texas.html

...As more crazy is inbound, if that goofy truck convoy doesn't implode before it gets here: https://www.businessinsider.com/gods-army-take-our-border-back-convoy-texas-slashed-tires-2024-1

...And older conservatives calling for secession don't appear to have carefully considered their Medicare and Social Security benefits: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-secession-union-medicare-benefits-1865428

Ken Paxton is suing several Texas cities over their local ordinances deprioritizing marijuana enforcement: https://www.kut.org/austin/2024-01-31/attorney-general-ken-paxton-austin-san-marcos-marijuana-possession-ordinances

Black History Month starts today! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month

The deadline to register for the March primary is this Monday, February 5: https://govotetexas.org/

Early Giving is underway for this year's Amplify Austin non-profit and charity fundraiser, and is a great way to support Progress Texas: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Feb 01, 202412:10
Daily Dispatch 1/31/24: Despair, Death and Disinformation at the Texas Border, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/31/24: Despair, Death and Disinformation at the Texas Border, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

No progress reported on the standoff between Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden on federal access to the border: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/texas-refuses-budge-in-border-standoff-with-biden

Eagle Pass firefighters talk about the trauma of recovering so many drowned migrants from the Rio Grande lately: https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2024/01/30/eagle-pass-texas-migrant-surge-border-immigration-contd-orig-lr-ag-ak.cnn

Christian voters, in particular, should be wary of stunts like the "God's Army" truck convoy: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/gods-army-texas-border-christian-nationalism-rcna136279

Ken Paxton gets a pass - for now - on being deposed tomorrow in the whistleblower case against him: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/texas-supreme-court-pauses-depositions-in-paxton-whistleblower-case/

...Donald Trump appears to have persuaded the Texas Supreme Court to stay the deposition order: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/30/ken-paxton-texas-supreme-court-whistleblowers/

...Trump has also joined Paxton in backing a hard-right primary challenger to House Speaker Dade Phelan: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-endorsement-texas-house-speaker-rcna136440

...While an Abbott-backed candidate in the special election to fill the House seat for District 2 is narrowly defeated by an opponent backed by more moderate GOP types: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/jill-dutton-wins-race-to-fill-seat-vacated-by-expelled-member/3448714/

The Democratic judge who will preside over Ken Paxton's felony securities fraud trial in Houston this spring is relatively inexperienced: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/second-year-texas-judge-takes-on-long-awaited-ken-paxton-trial

The Texas Supreme Court hears arguments that the PUC overstepped its bounds during the 2021 Winter Storm Uri disaster in ordering ERCOT to hold energy prices at maximum: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-power-2021-winter-storm-supreme-court/269-83efc0b3-72af-48b8-93f0-a131bc4a8662

...And also arguments against SB-14, the new state law outlawing gender-affirming care for trans youth: https://www.fox4news.com/news/senate-bill-14-texas-supreme-court-hearing

Studies show that liberal Twitter users are willing to back down from disproven positions, while conservative users will double down on debunked ideas: https://www.psypost.org/2022/11/liberals-produce-more-tweets-about-important-events-conservatives-are-more-likely-to-share-rumors-64245

...Speaking of which, recently-circulating video of tanks rolling across a desert highway are NOT in fact Texas troops after a federal surrender: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-tanks-border-biden-abbott-video-1865325

The deadline to register for the March primary is this Monday, February 5: https://www.fox26houston.com/news/texas-2024-primary-deadline-approaching-to-register-to-vote-in-march-primary

Early Giving is underway for this year's Amplify Austin non-profit and charity fundraiser, and is a great way to support Progress Texas: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 31, 202412:35
Daily Dispatch 1/30/24: America Awaits Biden Move In Texas Dispute, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/30/24: America Awaits Biden Move In Texas Dispute, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The standoff between Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden continues: https://www.kens5.com/video/news/special-reports/at-the-border/273-ded0a575-7d5c-4ec3-8465-7d701b45e7f3

...Historic parallels to the situation include Eisenhower '57 and Kennedy '63: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/29/immigration-border-texas-trump/

...Should legal solutions in the Congress not work out, Biden faces a difficult call: https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/if-border-bill-fails-time-for-biden-to-take-control-of-texas-border-says-writer-203146309828

...U.S. Reps Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar implore Biden to act: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-governor-reveals-plan-counter-biden-taking-over-national-guard-1865108

...The Supreme Court itself is complicit in Abbott's defiance: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/01/greg-abbott-texas-border-stunt-supreme-court/677267/

...The solvency of the U.S. Constitution itself may be at risk: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-01-29/opinion-heres-whats-at-stake-in-texas-dispute-with-the-federal-government-over-the-border

...Convoys of Abbott supporters promise "peaceful demonstration", but bad actors abound: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/29/texas-border-supreme-court-migrants-abbott/

...LULAC issues a statement of warning to its members to be vigilant for racist violence: https://thehill.com/latino/4436050-texas-abbott-border-latino-immigration/

...Not even Republican Dade Phelan is immune from the effects of reckless rhetoric from the right: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/29/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan-threat/

And in some GOOD news - Texas set a new record for solar power last weekend: https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2024-01-29/texas-just-broke-a-record-for-how-much-power-it-got-from-the-sun

Early Giving is underway for this year's Amplify Austin non-profit and charity fundraiser, and is a great way to support Progress Texas: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 30, 202408:48
Daily Dispatch 1/29/24: Trump, Russia Celebrate Abbott's Border Crisis, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/29/24: Trump, Russia Celebrate Abbott's Border Crisis, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The standoff between Texas and the Biden Administration is verging on unprecedented - outside of the leadup to the American Civil War: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-refuses-federal-agents-access-shelby-park-eagle-pass-border/

...Governor Abbott's legal position parallels those asserted by Confederate states as they left the Union, all thoroughly debunked: https://www.thedailybeast.com/texas-border-stunt-is-based-on-a-confederate-legal-theory

...It also relies on the patently absurd equivalency comparing migrants seeking work to an invading foreign army: https://www.cato.org/blog/explaining-border-standoff-between-texas-federal-government

...Houston State Rep. Gene Wu suggests that Abbott follow the law, just as he asks pregnant rape victims to do: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/gene-wu-texas-us-mexico-border-razor-wire-supreme-court-scotus-ruling/287-bcbf2a26-52a6-4933-8cde-6a795952f767

...While Donald Trump claps with glee and eggs Abbott on: https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-immigration-texas-border-mexico-f2c1f03d902734521ab6e23f02ed9fa3

...And Russia looks on with interest, hoping the Texas border crisis will end American interest in and aid for Ukraine: https://www.newsweek.com/russia-state-tv-texas-border-control-greg-abbott-joe-biden-donald-trump-1864605

...While an Indian source points out that footage covering the "Army Of God" truck convoy is actually that of a COVID convoy from 2022: https://www.indiatoday.in/fact-check/story/fact-check-convoy-heading-towards-texas-for-border-control-no-this-video-is-from-2022-2494924-2024-01-29

What may end up the only debate between Democratic hopefuls to challenge Ted Cruz in November was held yesterday: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/28/texas-senate-democratic-debate/

...Listen in its entirety here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-143-the-u-s-senate-texas-democratic/id1552998795?i=1000643297735

Ken Paxton hassles another out-of-state clinic for the private medical records of trans kids, this one in Georgia: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/26/texas-attorney-general-trans-documents-georgia-ken-paxton/

Snopes finds that yes - Norwegians really do use the word "Texas" as slang for insane, chaotic situations: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/texas-slang-crazy-norway/

Thanks for listening! Discover our web store and other ways to support our ongoing mission at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 29, 202410:56
Happy Hour 143: The U.S. Senate Texas Democratic Primary Debate
Jan 28, 202401:11:13
Daily Dispatch 1/26/24: Trump Calls For Civil War In Texas, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/26/24: Trump Calls For Civil War In Texas, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Former President and presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump has issued a call for "all willing states" to send their national guards to Texas to confront federal personnel alongside Operation Lone Star: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-calls-for-all-willing-states-to-deploy-national-guard-troops-to-texas

...While 25 Republican Governors - representing half the states - weigh in in favor of Abbott and Trump: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13009037/governors-Texas-border-dispute-security.html

...And Republicans, sensing a favorable election angle, have no intention of actually trying to solve the border problem: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/immoral-republicans-rebuke-efforts-kill-immigration-deal-help-trump-rcna135732

The Biden Administration delights environmental advocates with a delay for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) approvals: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-new-natural-gas-export-terminals-pause-consideration/

...Statement from the White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/26/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-decision-to-pause-pending-approvals-of-liquefied-natural-gas-exports/

...While Texas industry admits to releasing tons of extra pollution in "upset emissions" during the recent cold snap: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/26/texas-pollution-emissions-cold-weather-upsets/

A sharp uptick in rape-related pregnancies has occurred since the near-total ban on abortion in Texas began: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/texas-sees-estimated-26k-pregnancies-rape-18625692.php

A retiring Texas Senator who voted to acquit Ken Paxton in last year's impeachment trial thinks that impeachment deserves a second look: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/ken-paxton-second-impeachment-trial-called-for-by-republican-who-voted-to-acquit/269-2c712e20-e21c-41a3-9312-09c10da51769

A popular scholarship for undocumented students at UT has unexpectedly fallen to the new DEI ban: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2024/01/25/ut-eliminates-scholarship-program-for-undocumented-students-following-texas-dei-ban/

Most Texans no longer have to have their cars inspected annually, except for those in high-population counties - and we're all still paying for inspections anyway: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/watchdog/2024/01/24/the-ins-and-outs-of-the-confusing-texas-car-inspection-law-with-the-help-of-readers/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17062495253053&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fnews%2Fwatchdog%2F2024%2F01%2F24%2Fthe-ins-and-outs-of-the-confusing-texas-car-inspection-law-with-the-help-of-readers%2F

Share with your less-wonky friends - Why Are Texas Primaries Important? https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/simplified/article/why-texas-primaries-are-important-18605476.php

This weekend, a debate in the Dallas area between Texas Democrats seeking office in the U.S. House and Texas Senate: https://www.mobilize.us/richardsonareademocrats/event/598402/

...And the Dems looking to face Ted Cruz in the U.S. Senate race: https://texasaflcio.org/news/cope-convention-host-first-us-senate-debate

Early Giving is underway for this year's Amplify Austin non-profit and charity fundraiser, and is a great way to support Progress Texas: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 26, 202413:20
Daily Dispatch 1/25/24: Federal Deadline For Abbott Is Tomorrow, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/25/24: Federal Deadline For Abbott Is Tomorrow, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

That deadline imposed by the federal government to allow full Border Patrol access to Shelby Park arrives tomorrow: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/texas-continues-block-federal-officials-border-park/

...While Governor Greg Abbott reiterates Texas' "right to defend itself against invasion": https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-self-defense-border-battle/285-7a1131cc-e1a1-47f2-acd5-5df1f648d9be

Kate Cox has been invited to be First Lady Jill Biden's guest at the State Of The Union address in March: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/24/texas-kate-cox-biden-state-of-the-union/

The Christian Nationalist oil billionaires who brought you Defend Texas Liberty have started a new ultraconservative PAC: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/24/tim-dunn-farris-wilks-defend-texas-liberty-nick-fuentes/

The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club succeeds in delaying a vote on a massive property trade with Elon Musk's SpaceX: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/texas-parks-and-wildlife-spacex-land-swap-18626039.php

A trial is scheduled for next month to determine whether Barbers Hill ISD is in the right in punishing junior Darryl George over his traditional hairstyle: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/texas-schools-punishment-black-student-wears-dreadlocks-going-trial-rcna135545

May graduates at UT Austin learn of the impacts on their ceremonies by the ending of DEI offices by state law: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/university-of-texas/dei-backlash-texas-schools-ut-austin/269-b5f397df-c8b9-4151-9b19-cc006629a038

A Gainesville legal fight could hold major implications for the right to protest: https://www.kxii.com/2024/01/25/gainesville-protestors-arrested-2020-appealing-texas-highest-criminal-court/

The staff of the Texas Tribune have announced that they are unionizing: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2024-01-24/the-texas-tribune-is-unionizing/

Join us Saturday as we co-host candidate forums for races for seats in both the U.S. House and Texas Senate: https://www.mobilize.us/richardsonareademocrats/event/598402/

And watch for our posting of a podcast featuring Sunday's debate between Democratic primary candidates seeking to face Ted Cruz: https://texasaflcio.org/news/cope-convention-host-first-us-senate-debate

Early Giving is underway for this year's Amplify Austin non-profit and charity fundraiser, and is a great way to support Progress Texas: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 25, 202412:46
Daily Dispatch 1/24/24: Supreme Court Call On Border Defied By Texas, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/24/24: Supreme Court Call On Border Defied By Texas, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

So far, the order issued by the U.S. Supreme Court to allow Border Patrol full access has been defied by Governor Abbott, as the feds issue a new Friday deadline: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/23/us/us-mexico-border-texas-migrants/index.html

...Conservatives recklessly encouraging Abbott's defiance: Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn: https://themessenger.com/politics/gop-texas-sen-cruz-slams-scotus-razor-wire-border-ruling-disgraceful

...Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: https://www.newsweek.com/supreme-court-texas-war-marjorie-taylor-greene-warning-1863296

...Texas U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and right-wing think-tankers: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/gop-border-wire-supreme-court-18623608.php

...And Louisiana U.S. Rep Clay Higgins and wingnut hero Tucker Carlson: https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9agn/texas-vowing-resistance-supreme-court-ruling-razor-wire-us-mexico-border

...Meanwhile, Operation Lone Star has thus far cost YOU, the Texas taxpayer, 10 billion dollars and counting: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/governor-abbotts-operation-lone-star-touts-thousands-of-arrests-10-billion-cost/

Ken Paxton-backed Republican State House candidate Jared Woodfill is connected to a notorious sexual predator: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/23/jared-woodfill-paul-pressler-southern-baptist-state-legislature/

...While Abbott-backed Texas Senate candidate Brent Hagenbuch can't seem to shake questions about his residency-based eligibility: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/23/denton-county-election-brent-hagenbuch/

State health officials worry that Texas Republicans' war on COVID vaccines may undermine our future ability to respond to emerging health crises: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/hotez-covid-vaccine-rules-18610932.php

A new anti-Christian Nationalist group has hired its first field director, and she's based in North Texas: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2024/01/23/christian-nationalism-is-a-large-threat-in-north-texas-says-local-organizer/

A debate between the Democratic candidates to face Ted Cruz - the only one, to our knowledge, that U.S. Rep. Colin Allred has agreed to attend - will happen Saturday in Austin: https://texasaflcio.org/news/cope-convention-host-first-us-senate-debate

And at the same time, Progress Texas is hosting a forum for candidates for both the U.S. House and the Texas Senate: https://www.mobilize.us/richardsonareademocrats/event/598402/

Thanks for listening! Please explore the various fun ways to support Progress Texas and our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 24, 202409:58
Happy Hour 142: Abortion Is On The Ballot! With The Texas Democratic Party
Jan 23, 202424:58
Daily Dispatch 1/23/24: SCOTUS (Barely) Sides With Federal Border Patrol, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/23/24: SCOTUS (Barely) Sides With Federal Border Patrol, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed federal Border Patrol agents to cut or move razor wire placed on the Texas border by Operation Lone Star: https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-immigration-texas-razor-wire-9daef6bd316211b6633ece718e505187

...Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton vow to keep on fighting: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2024/01/22/supreme-court-ruling-razor-wire-border-texas-greg-abbott-ken-paxton-attorney-general/72318043007/

...While we note that four SCOTUS Justices, including two of the three picked by Donald Trump, just decided AGAINST federal supremacy: https://www.vox.com/scotus/2024/1/22/24047314/supreme-court-texas-homeland-security-razor-wire-eagle-pass-biden

New studies show that teen fertility rates have jumped for the first time in years since new bans on abortion went into effect in Texas: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/texas-teen-birth-rate-sees-first-rise-15-years-18621083.php

...While President Biden blasts Texas for our abortion laws: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12993375/Biden-calls-outrageous-Texas-doctors-life-sentence-performing-abortions-rips-extreme-Supreme-Court-50th-anniversary-Roe-v-Wade.html

A coalition of LGBTQIA+ advocacy groups have petitioned the United Nations to look into the violation of international treaty by seven Texas' anti-LGBTQ laws: https://thehill.com/homenews/lgbtq/4422306-texas-petitioned-at-united-nations-over-laws-targeting-lgbtq-communities/

...All considering that treaties ratified by the U.S. are considered federal law: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lgbtq-advocates-letter-united-nations-texas_n_65aed552e4b0f55c6e30740c

Dallas and Lockhart see new marijuana decriminalization efforts that have seen success in several other Texas cities: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/texas-activists-launch-signature-drive-for-local-marijuana-decriminalization-ballot-measures-in-dallas-and-lockhart/

Join Progress Texas on Saturday (1/27) for a debate series featuring candidates for the U.S. House and the Texas Senate: https://www.mobilize.us/richardsonareademocrats/event/598402/

Thanks for listening! Learn more about how to support Progress Texas' ongoing mission at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 23, 202408:56
Daily Dispatch 1/22/23: New Polling Shows Cruz Vulnerable, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/22/23: New Polling Shows Cruz Vulnerable, and More

A new poll shows that U.S. Senator Ted Cruz is in a dead heat with BOTH Dallas U.S. Representative Colin Allred and San Antonio State Senator Roland Gutierrez: https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-poll-raises-alarm-bells-texas-election-1862204

...That same poll finds Allred well ahead of all Democratic challengers, but with a plurality of Texas Democratic primary voters still undecided: https://emersoncollegepolling.com/texas-2024-poll-allred-leads-democratic-senate-primary-plurality-are-undecided/

...While Cruz swallows his own considerable pride to endorse Donald Trump for a third time: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/ted-cruz-donald-trump-endorsement-2024

...And his own political future hangs on a U.S. Supreme Court decision on whether the Colorado Supreme Court can find Trump ineligible for that state's ballot: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-supreme-court-14th-amendment-republicans-congress-rcna134736

...And the Houston Chronicle rebukes Cruz for his "betrayal" in Winter Storm Uri and recent jokes about it: https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-rebuked-largest-texas-newspaper-betrayal-1862503

A new Biden campaign ad features a Dallas OB/GYN who found herself without needed abortion care: https://x.com/JoeBiden/status/1749161319519912355?t=zNL10Ckqsp8zvWX5gP8iHA&s=03

...While a Texas A&M professor who also found her life threatened by Texas' abortion ban relates her horrific experience in Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/i-miscarried-texas-doctors-abortion-law-1861677

A Salon op-ed accuses Governor Abbott of taking Texas to a dangerous brink over the border: https://www.salon.com/2024/01/22/greg-abbott-is-pushing-texas-to-the-brink/

Water supplies are at dangerously low levels heading towards the summer of '24 in multiple sections of Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/22/texas-water-supply-reservoirs-drought/

...While the Texas Water Development Board predicts that growth will far exceed water availability in Texas by 2070: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-population-is-projected-to-surpass-50m-by-2070-do-we-have-enough-water/3439855/

ERCOT made it through the MLK freeze, but our grid remains vulnerable: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/01/22/the-texas-grid-did-its-job-during-the-freeze-but-the-jobs-not-done/

...While ERCOT's governing board, the PUC, has voted down their proposed system of fines and penalties for battery storage operators: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/battery-ercot-contested-regulations-1186-18614035.php

And Tex-Mex ascends to the top of the most popular cultural culinary motifs in America: https://www.axios.com/2023/04/14/food-trends-us-restaurant-menu-tacos

Thanks for listening! Find out how to support Progress Texas in our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 22, 202413:30
Daily Dispatch 1/19/24: DOJ Drops Damning Report On Uvalde Massacre, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/19/24: DOJ Drops Damning Report On Uvalde Massacre, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A U.S. Department of Justice report on the May 2022 mass shooting at Robb Elementary calls law enforcement response a series of "cascading failures": https://apnews.com/article/uvalde-school-shooting-justice-department-report-police-16b59efa5c5015d685d917c3f0f26256

...Other findings include a lack of courageous leadership and a failure to properly contain the crime scene afterwards: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/18/us/takeaways-doj-uvalde-report/index.html

...Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke in Uvalde, calling on law enforcement nationwide to step up active shooter training: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/18/uvalde-school-shooting-federal-investigation-police-response/

...While the Uvalde families continue seeking consequences for the officers who failed their kids: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/18/uvalde-shooting-federal-investigation-families-waiting/

Tensions grow in Eagle Pass as Operation Lone Star begin SB-4 styled arrests of migrants while the standoff with federal Border Patrol agents continues: https://nypost.com/2024/01/18/news/texas-begins-arresting-illegal-migrants-in-eagle-pass/

...Abbott's defiance of the Biden administration is reminiscent of civil rights movement-era segregationist governors: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-01-18/texas-governor-greg-abbott-border-patrol-mexico-supreme-court-harry-litman

...While the U.S. Supreme Court makes things worse by slow-walking any intervention: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/01/supreme-court-texas-border-patrol-standoff.html

Backlash continues over a vote by Dallas U.S. Rep. Colin Allred in support of a Republican rebuke of President Biden over his border management: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/18/colin-allred-biden-border-roland-gutierrez/

...While the Stonewall Democrats of Dallas endorse State Senator Roland Gutierrez for the Democratic nomination to face Ted Cruz: https://www.facebook.com/DallasStonewall/?locale=fi_FI&paipv=0&eav=AfYSRYcybq7zTUF1HX_N3U5e5-qhfTctcksYrc0oMs9YxFcQ7I3Bz2B9NIWDgDJtmBA&_rdr

Two Texas U.S. Representatives attended a December 2020 meeting at the White House to discuss pressuring then-Vice President Mike Pence into helping overturn the Biden election: https://www.axios.com/2022/07/12/house-republicans-jan6-white-house

Thanks for listening! Hit our web store and find other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 19, 202409:49
Daily Dispatch 1/18/24: Allred Votes With Republicans To Rebuke Biden, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/18/24: Allred Votes With Republicans To Rebuke Biden, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

U.S. Representative Colin Allred voted along with over a dozen other House Democrats in support of a Republican rebuke of President Biden over border policy: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4414955-democrats-gop-resolution-denouncing-biden-open-border-policies/

...While hitting another huge fundraising benchmark: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/17/colin-allred-us-senate-campaign/

Texas has defied a federal deadline to turn over control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-border-us-mexico-ken-paxton-attorney-general/

...While the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals reverses itself and vacates its own ruling requiring the moving of that notorious river barrier: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/court-rules-in-reversal-texas-floating-barrier-between-us-and-mexico-can-stay-for-now/

The 3rd Court of Appeals in Austin rules that Greg Abbott and Ken Paxton must turn over e-mails related to the January 6 insurrection: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2024-01-17/lawsuit-seeking-texas-attorney-generals-jan-6-emails-can-move-forward-appeals-court-rules

That over-six-million-dollar pro-voucher donation to Governor Abbott is just part of a rising tide of fundraising on both sides of that issue: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/01/18/fight-over-school-choice-puts-fundraising-for-texas-gop-primary-on-steroids/

The Texas Railroad Commission is suspected of covering up a toxic "produced water" spill in Crane County via an FAA no-fly-zone order: https://bigbendsentinel.com/2024/01/10/railroad-commission-claims-gas-leak-to-hide-produced-water-destruction/

Join us tonight in Richardson for a debate featuring candidates for U.S. Congressional District 32: https://www.mobilize.us/richardsonareademocrats/event/597311/

And - Progress Texas is seeking an Advocacy Manager and a Communications Intern! Join the team, and hit the web store at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 18, 202409:25
Daily Dispatch 1/17/24: ERCOT Survives A Mild Texas Winter Test, and More

Daily Dispatch 1/17/24: ERCOT Survives A Mild Texas Winter Test, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Record low temperatures have been recorded across Texas: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/article/texas-cold-front-18611255.php

...Including in normally-balmy Houston - but this was no Uri: https://www.chron.com/weather/article/houston-freeze-texas-18610377.php

Two attorneys have sought clarification on abortion restriction exceptions from the Texas Medical Board: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/16/texas-medical-board-abortion/

Governor Abbott has accepted an enormous $6 million donation from a Pennsylvania billionaire who backs private school vouchers: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/16/greg-abbott-jeff-yass-camapaign-donation/

Texas has until the end of the day to turn Shelby Park in Eagle Pass back over to federal Border Patrol: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/state-of-texas-battles-federal-government-over-control-of-border-with-mexico-immigration-crisis-at-the-border

...The three drowning victims from MLK weekend are remembered: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12971181/migrant-children-drown-border-Eagle-Pass-Texas.html

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg will be deposed in an ongoing lawsuit filed by Ken Paxton against his company: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/01/16/meta-ceo-zuckerberg-to-be-deposed-in-texas-facial-recognition-case.html

...While Paxton himself will be required to testify under oath in the ongoing whistleblower lawsuit against him: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2024-01-16/texas-supreme-court-rules-against-ag-ken-paxton-greenlights-his-deposition-in-whistleblower-case

...And Paxton's lawsuit against Pfizer will be moved to federal court: https://www.kcbd.com/2024/01/17/ag-paxtons-lawsuit-against-pfizer-moved-federal-court/

Reminder about tomorrow's District 32 debate, co-hosted by Progress Texas: https://www.mobilize.us/richardsonareademocrats/event/597311/

And, Progress Texas is hiring! We're looking for an Advocacy Manager: https://progresstexas.org/blog/advocacy-manager-progress-texas-jobs

...and a Communications Intern: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-internships

Thanks for listening! Hit our web store and other ways to support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Jan 17, 202409:58
Happy Hour 141: Unseating Ted Cruz - With Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez
Jan 16, 202401:04:29