Progress Texas Podcasts
By Progress Texas
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!
Progress Texas PodcastsMay 20, 2022
Daily Dispatch 5/23/24: Uvalde Families Announce City Settlement and Lawsuits, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The families of the Robb Elementary shooting victims have announced a $2 million settlement with the City of Uvalde, and a series of lawsuits against involved law enforcement, including Texas DPS officers: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uvalde-school-shooting-settlement-texas-city-lawsuits/
...Progress Texas provides an update in advance of tomorrow's second anniversary of that horrible day in Uvalde: https://progresstexas.org/blog/what-has-changed-uvalde%C2%A0
The Texas Republican Party Convention begins today in San Antonio, amidst bitter internal struggles over ideology and policy: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/23/texas-republicans-gather-for-convention-amid-struggle-over-partys-future/
...The state GOP is moving towards closed primaries: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/republican-party-of-texas-advances-rule-to-close-primaries-convention-vote-friday
The ACLU of Texas has released a report that counters many of Governor Abbott's stated reasons for spending over $11 billion on Operation Lone Star: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/special-reports/at-the-border/texas-aclu-critcizes-operation-lone-star-governor-greg-abbott/269-00ca4525-fad4-4f9b-9bd2-24b9147ad203
A well-known anti-abortion doctor has been appointed to the state's maternal morbidity committee, where she will have an influence over information regarding crisis pregnancies and related deaths in Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/22/texas-maternal-mortality-committee-ingrid-skop-abortion-doctor/
Early voting in the primary runoff is underway NOW and continues through Friday: https://govotetexas.org/
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/22/24: Yet Another Pregnant Texan Denied Needed Abortion Care, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Another pregnant Texan in a traumatic miscarraige situation is denied care by doctors, eventually fainting to her bathroom floor from blood loss: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/texas-nightmare-miscarriage-abortion-ban-b2549017.html
Ken Paxton files his 75th lawsuit against the Biden administration, this one against workplace protections for LGBTQ+ Texans: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/21/paxton-biden-eeoc-gender-identity-lawsuit/
The Dade Phelan/David Covey race to represent Beaumont in the Texas House has become a very expensive runoff main event: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2024/05/21/early-voting-begins-with-future-of-texas-house-in-balance
...Gambling magnates on one side, Christian Nationalist crusaders on the other: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/21/dade-phelan-miriam-adelson-casino-runoff-primary/
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick joins the GOP clown show at the Trump trial in New York: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/dan-patrick-donald-trump-hush-money-trial/3547236/
...Claims Trump is being targeted by "the ruling class", as opposed to being a poster child for it: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dan-patrick-trump-is-not-ruling-class_n_664ce46ee4b09c97de219dbb
Ted Cruz forgets his reputation for fleeing the country in bad weather, gets roasted over Houston: https://newrepublic.com/post/181779/ted-cruz-gets-roasted-post-texas-storm
...While as of yesterday, 100,000 Houstonians were still without power: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/over-226000-customers-still-without-power-after-storms-texas-2024-05-20/
...And wild weather in Texas is driving YOUR insurance costs through the roof (until it's blown off): https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/outrageous-texans-face-insurance-spikes-amid-natural-disasters/
...While ERCOT considers "smart meter" technology to helpfully turn your AC off in a power pinch: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/ercot-first-innovation-summit-2024/269-69947dd0-a319-471a-b32d-d80c1828a492
Early voting in the primary runoff is underway NOW and continues through Friday: https://govotetexas.org/
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/21/24: Texas Medical Board Forum On Abortion Rules Solves Nothing, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The anticipated public forum held by the Texas Medical Board seeking to clarify rules governing abortion access exceptions in Texas did little but increase confusion: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/20/texas-medical-board-abortion-guidance/
...Among those testifying was Kate Cox: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/kate-cox-tells-texas-medical-board-newly-proposed-rules-wont-help-clarify-abortion-law/287-4d342554-38fc-4e5c-a425-8e494289de39
...And Progress Texas staffers Tatum Owens and Reagan Stone: https://progresstexas.org/blog/lack-guidance-medical-emergencies-puts-texan-lives-line
Texas A&M's administrator of Title IX finds himself suspended for the offense of speaking in compliance with new federal guidelines, while his bosses plan to defy the feds: https://theeagle.com/news/a_m/tamu-system-title-ix-director-suspended-investigated/article_a75aa62c-146c-11ef-9617-eb4a3d655faf.html
Cypress Fairfield school board members have voted to redact science textbook content that hurts their feelings: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/19/us-public-schools-texas-book-bans
As another historically hot summer builds, so do risks of an "avoidable blackout" in Texas: https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2024/05/19/texas-is-heading-towards-an-avoidable-blackoutagain/
Texas provides an early example of the overall erosion of American democracy: https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/texas-abbott-pardon-murderer-blm-protester-20240519.html
Early voting starts TODAY and continues through Friday in the primary runoff: https://govotetexas.org/
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/20/24: NRA Clowns On Parade In Dallas, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The NRA Convention in Dallas saw heavy emphasis on voter activation among firearms enthusiasts: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/18/texas-nra-convention-trump-abbott-guns/
...In his remarks, Donald Trump toyed with the notion of becoming a three-term President: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/19/trump-nra-convention-dallas
...A photo essay from the event: https://www.reuters.com/pictures/scenes-inside-annual-nra-convention-2024-05-19/
...Right on cue, Amarillo judge Matthew Kascmaryk has temporarily blocked the new federal "gun show loophole" rule: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-judge-blocks-biden-backed-030843345.html
Let's get past the spectacle of the tangle between U.S. Reps Jasmine Crockett and Marjorie Taylor Greene, and note the purely racist nature of Greene's comments: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/05/19/jasmine-crockett-mtg-racist-house-exchange/73760251007/
Governor Abbott appears to not only approve of convicted murderer Daniel Perry shooting BLM protestor Garrett Foster, he's also okay with his sexually inappropriate messages to a 16 year old: https://www.texasobserver.org/abbott-pardon-daniel-perry-garrett-foster/
...While the doubt that Foster pointed his gun at Perry prior to the shooting sets a very loose precedent for the establishment of a lethal threat, and a lethal response to that threat: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/greg-abbott-daniel-perry-pardon-rcna152769
Early voting starts TODAY and continues through Friday in the primary runoff: https://govotetexas.org/
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/17/24: Abbott Pardon Of Right Wing Murderer Declares Open Season On Protestors, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
In a stunning conservative undermining of our state's criminal justice system, Governor Abbott has issued a full pardon for Daniel Perry, convicted last year of murdering Black Lives Matter protester and U.S. Air Force veteran Garrett Foster in Austin: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-governor-pardons-uber-driver-convicted-murdering-black-lives-matter-2024-05-16/
...Multiple reactions from progressive sources: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/16/daniel-perry-greg-abbott-pardon/
Gun violence has skyrocketed 63% in Texas under Governor Abbott's watch: https://giffords.org/analysis/texas-gun-deaths-surged-63-under-greg-abbott/
No surprise that three quarters of Texans think our state government has chosen an "extreme conservative agenda" over practical matters: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4667534-texas-poll-conservative-agenda/
A public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Burning Issues: A Climate Justice Town Hall
Last week, Progress Texas hosted our first ever Climate Justice Town Hall, where we discussed liquified natural gas (LNG) operations in Texas and the major health risks, environmental damages and harms to indigenous and lower income communities that have fallen victim to Big Oil and Gas’ commitment to profits over people.
We learned a great deal from our experienced panelists: John Beard, CEO of Port Arthur Community Action Network, Elida Castillo, Texas Director of Chispa Texas, Emma Guevara, Brownsville Organizer of Sierra Club and Naomi Yoder, GIS Data Manager for The Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, hosted by Progress Texas Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone.
Learn more:
Port Arthur Community Action Network: https://www.pa-can.com/
Chispa Texas: https://chispatx.org/
Sierra Club - Lone Star Chapter: https://www.sierraclub.org/texas
Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice: https://www.bullardcenter.org/
Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and support our ongoing mission at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/15/24: Dan Patrick Preaches Christian Control Over Texas, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Speaking at a tax-exempt (and thus presumably politically neutral) Houston church, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick espoused his view that Christianity should underpin Texas law: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/dan-patrick-sermon-second-baptist-19455537.php
Governor Greg Abbott appears to have fallen off the VP radar of Donald Trump: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/greg-abbott-donald-trump-vp-candidate-list-discussion
Heat builds around the discovery that Texas tax dollars may have been sent to Colorado charter schools founded by state-installed Houston ISD superintendent Mike Miles: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/14/hisd-mike-miles-tea-investigation/
Pioneering civil rights leader Rev. William "Bill" Lawson of Houston has died at 95: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/rev-william-lawson-texas-civil-rights-leader-dies/3541007/
PROGRAM NOTE - Chris is attending a family memorial service on Thursday, and the Daily Dispatch will take a rare break that day. Next update will be posted on Friday morning.
A public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/14/24: Abbott Unmoved As Public Schools Starve, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Even as school districts across Texas are forced to cut jobs and close campuses under budget shortfalls, Governor Abbott continues to hold funding hostage to vouchers: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2024/05/13/texas-must-help-struggling-schools-with-special-session-on-funding-dems-say-to-abbott/
...While Spectrum journalists discover that public school dollars have been subsidizing charter schools in Colorado - schools founded by current Houston ISD superintendent Mike Miles: https://twitter.com/HOUmanitarian/status/1790174747579318723
People who can become pregnant, should they do so, now risk second-class citizenship to their male partners AND the resulting embryo: https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/4659427-texass-handmaids-tale-gives-everyone-but-women-reproductive-control/
...While an Alabama-style IVF crisis in Texas is threatened by a Denton divorce case: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/13/texas-supreme-court-frozen-embryos-ivf/
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar's legal hotseat gets hotter as a third co-conspirator pleads guilty: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/13/henry-cuellar-irada-akhoundova-guilty-plea/
Elon Musk's SpaceX company has not been paying its bills, racking up dozens of liens filed by creditors: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/spacex-overdue-bills-texas-19454904.php
A public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/13/24: Dan Patrick Wants Theocracy In Texas, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick told a Christian talk show this weekend that he thinks Christian theology should provide the basis of government in Texas: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/13/lt-gov-dan-patrick-says-christianity-is-needed-more-than-ever-in-texas-politics/
Houston-area U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls is under investigation by the U.S. House Ethics Committee for apparantly paying himself rent from his campaign funds: https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/rep-troy-nehls-ethics-campaign-funds/285-f04829af-59d1-4635-80b2-5b0a9160f409
An 18-year UT Austin instructor has been arrested and fired over his participation in pro-Palestinian protests on that campus last month: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/10/texas-ut-lecturer-arrested-fired-palestinian-demonstration/
...Another protest followed Saturday night's commencement exercise at UT: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/graduation/2024/05/12/university-of-texas-graduation-ceremony-followed-by-pro-palestine-protest-calling-for-ut-divestment/73611801007/
Steven Monacelli exposes a scheme by a Collin County school district to establish its own voucher program: https://x.com/stevanzetti/status/1788021731434623001?t=9V-Y0Wfp-8B3NyBMwGXpkg&s=03
...The elaborate details: https://christackett.substack.com/p/the-complex-voucher-scheme
The tiny Panhandle town of Clarendon's City Council has unanimously rejected a proposed abortion travel ban: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/10/texas-panhandle-abortion-travel/
For the second year running, Texas leads Forbes' ranking of the worst states in the U.S. for mental health care: https://www.forbes.com/advisor/health-insurance/worst-states-for-mental-health-care/
A public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/10/24: Hot Seat For Cuellar Gets Hotter, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Two former consultants for Laredo U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar appear ready to testify against him and his wife on federal corruption charges: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/09/henry-cuellar-political-consultants-plea-deal-guilty/
Republican U.S. Reps Ronny Jackson of Amarillo and Wesley Hunt of Houston are both under investigation by the House Ethics Committee: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/09/ethics-committee-investigating-us-reps-ronny-jackson-wesley-hunt-from-texas/
The law does not appear to back new efforts by anti-abortion crusading lawyer Jonathan Mitchell's new targeting of women who have terminated pregnancies out of state - for now: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/10/texas-courts-abortion-jonathan-mitchell/
The Texas Senate Subcommittee on Higher Education is set to discuss campus free speech, DEI and alleged anti-Semitism during recent pro-Palestinian protests on Tuesday: https://cbsaustin.com/news/alexa/texas-senate-panel-to-discuss-campus-free-speech-following-ut-protests
ERCOT predicts that new power demands will require a doubling of the capacity of the already-stressed Texas power grid over the next decade: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/texas-needs-energy-for-evs-crypto-datamining/3536718/
A public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/9/24: Abbott Orders Texas Universities To Break Federal Law, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Governor Greg Abbott has extended his orders to the TEA to defy new Federal guidelines on Title IX protecting LGBTQ students to administrators of state universities: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/greg-abbott-texas-universities-ignore-title-ix-revisions/3536397/
...As Carroll ISD is asked by the U.S. Department of Education to address four claims by students about racial and homophobic harrassment endured in its schools: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/southlake-texas-carroll-isd-civil-rights-investigation-rcna151009
That "weather watch" from ERCOT yesterday helped spur a massive spike in power prices last night: https://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2024-05-08/summer-power-prices-seen-surging-for-texas-falling-in-california
The GOP runoff between incumbent U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales and his primary challenger "The A.K. Guy" presents possible headaches for Republican leadership: https://www.politico.com/news/2024/05/07/tony-gonzales-inter-gop-fight-texas-00156073
Steven Monacelli at the Texas Observer writes on the "Remnant Alliance", a new effort by Christian Nationalist groups to take over Texas school boards: https://www.texasobserver.org/christian-schoolboards-education-k12/
Joe Jaworski writes in the Dallas Morning News on the near-complete takeover of Texas' state government by a small group of billionaires: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/05/09/billionaires-are-running-texas-now/
TODAY! Thursday May 9 at 12 noon, join us for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-hosts-climate-justice-town-hall
Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/8/24: New Anti-Abortion Tactics Increase Legal Risks Of Consensual Sex, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
New legal tactics allowing people who have sought abortion care out of state to be dragged into court increase the risks of engaging in sexual activity: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/5/7/2239233/-Texas-finds-new-way-to-punish-and-humiliate-anyone-who-tries-to-get-an-abortion
ERCOT issues a "weather watch" due to hot weather and their own apparant failure to plan for ever hotter springs and summers: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/ercot-issues-weather-watch-for-wednesday-expects-unseasonably-high-temperatures/
...While renewable energy passes 30% of global electricity generation for the first time: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/may/08/renewable-energy-passes-30-of-worlds-electricity-supply
A new federal investigation of Katy ISD over their transgender policies has been announced: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/08/katy-isd-lgbtq-policy-investigation/
...While Ken Paxton threatens Austin over a new City policy deprioritizing pursuit of cases involving transgender care for young Austinites: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2024/05/07/texas-attorney-general-threatens-legal-action-against-city-of-austin
UT Dallas professor Ben Wright writes on his experience after being arrested during a pro-Palestinian protest on that campus last week: https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2024/05/what-my-students-and-i-learned-in-jail-after-protesting-on-the-ut-dallas-campus/
Tomorrow! Thursday May 9 at 12 noon, join us for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-hosts-climate-justice-town-hall
Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/7/24: New Anti-Abortion Scare Tactics In Texas, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
A new attempt to legally target a Texas woman who sought abortion care in Colorado represents a new effort by abortion rights opponents to frighten Texans away from exercising their reproductive rights: https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/05/us/texas-abortion-collin-davis-colorado/index.html
...It remains LEGAL to seek abortion care out of state: https://www.jezebel.com/texas-man-is-trying-to-sue-ex-partner-for-wrongful-death-over-alleged-abortion
...Colorado in particular has its own shield law protecting people who seek reproductive care there: https://www.cpr.org/2024/05/07/texas-woman-abortion-in-colorado-ex-legal-battle-state-shield-might-stand-in-way/
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar's current legal troubles frustrate progressives who've opposed him for years: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/03/henry-cuellar-indictment-political-impact/
...Donald Trump sees a common cause in Cuellar's dilemma: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13388247/Trump-Texas-Henry-Cuellar-bribes-FBI.html
The current oil and gas boom has proven a windfall for GOP officeholders friendly to polluters: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/07/texas-oil-gas-political-donations-august-pfluger/
Renewable sources, in contrast, tend to support Democrats - and a major new solar installation has just come online near Del Rio: https://solarquarter.com/2024/05/07/cypress-creek-renewables-completes-texas-largest-hybrid-solar-facility/
Congratulations to the Texas Tribune, who have been named a Pulitzer finalist for the first time: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/06/texas-tribune-pulitzer-prize-finalist/
Mark your calendar for May 9 at 12 noon for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-hosts-climate-justice-town-hall
Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/6/24: Progressives Come Through In Tax Appraisal Elections, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Democratically-backed candidates for newly-created oversight positions with county tax appraisal did well in Saturday's election in Dallas County: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/texas-voters-elect-appraisal-board-members-denton-dallas-tarrant/3533277/
...And in Travis County: https://www.kut.org/politics/2024-05-05/austin-travis-county-property-taxes-tcad-may-4-2024-election-results
...Molly Cook, featured on our podcast recorded at March's Unified Jam in Austin, won Saturday's special election to serve out the rest of John Whitmire's term, becoming the first openly LGBTQ Texas Senator: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/houston-whitmire-senate-seat-19437490.php
Another pro-Palestinian protest at UT Austin on Sunday sees a heavy police presence but no arrests: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/ut-austin-palestine-protest-19432066.php
...While at the Texas State Capitol, the Central Texas Jewish community rallied for Jewish college students nationwide: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2024/05/05/shalom-austin-iac-walk-texas-capitol-jewish-israel-palestine-conflict-protest/73579217007/
Fort Worth's Opal Lee, the 97-year-old "Grandmother of Juneteenth", received the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Friday: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/biden-opal-lee-presidential-medal-of-freedom-ceremony-grandmother-of-juneteenth/
Mark your calendar for May 9 at 12 noon for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/townhall_24
Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/3/24: Property Taxes And Pot On Municipal Ballots - VOTE Saturday! And More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Tomorrow, Saturday May 4, is Election Day for important municipal ballot items:
Our bigger cities and counties have new oversight positions over tax appraisal districts to vote on: https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
...In Lubbock, local cannabis decriminalization is on the ballot: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/02/lubbock-texas-marijuana-election/
A UT Arlington lecturer was arrested yesterday after testing the rules against tents: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/pro-palestinian-protestors-set-up-encampment-university-of-texas-arlington/287-72249ae5-2b52-45a2-bbae-7b74ad5aad95
...At UT Austin, claims by administrators of weapons and violence on the part of protestors is found highly doubtful by Travis County Judge Delia Garza: https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2024-05-02/ut-says-pro-palestinian-demonstrators-carried-guns-and-assaulted-people-prosecutors-beg-to-differ
...Over 600 UT Austin faculty members have signed a letter expressing no confidence in president Jay Hartzell: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/university-of-texas/ut-no-confidence-president-hartzell/269-b1b50674-33ad-4db7-ab85-6ef47322aa59
Mark your calendar for May 9 at 12 noon for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/townhall_24
Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
Early voting in the May 4 municipal elections ends today! https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
...And it will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/2/24: Paxton Challenges New ATF Gun Show Loophole Rule, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
That new ATF rule requiring more background checks for gun purchases has been targeted by the state in a lawsuit: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-ken-paxton-sue-rule-background-check-private-gun-sale/3529691/
Police arrested 21 pro-Palestinian protestors at UT Dallas yesterday in what's become a familiar scene across the country: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/gaza-protest-encampment-university-texas-dallas/
...The companies that protestors are demanding the UT System to divest from represent only about 1% of its total holdings: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/university-texas-system-investments-several-companies-with-ties-israel/287-dec3727c-d93a-4bda-8ae1-558c3682675f
...UT professor Jeremy Suri notes that conservative aggression towards college culture has exacerbated tensions during the recent protests: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/29/opinions/campus-protests-university-of-texas-israel-gaza-suri/index.html
A sitting member of the Federal Elections Commission, in charge of the complaint against Ted Cruz that his campaign is improperly profiting from his podcast, has a Ted Cruz campaign sign in his front yard: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/federal-elections-regulator-from-texas-has-ted-cruz-campaign-sign-in-front-yard/ar-AA1nZWTT?ocid=BingNews
Bitcoin company Riot Platforms says they're set to make a bundle again this summer selling power back to the Texas power grid at a profit: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-01/bitcoin-miner-riot-riot-eyes-selling-power-in-texas-as-summer-nears
Elon Musk "borrows" the phrase "Don't Mess With Texas" for a cheesy Tesla belt buckle: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/elon-musk-dont-mess-texas-19429328.php
Mark your calendar for May 9 at 12 noon for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/townhall_24
Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
Early voting in the May 4 municipal elections ends today! https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
...And it will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Happy Hour 154 - Abortion On The Ballot In Texas, Part 1
Welcome to the first of a monthly series of six discussions of reproductive freedom in Texas - the Republican trampling of that freedom, the dire threat that denial of basic human rights poses to women and pregnant people across our state, where the GOP is likely to go next should they gain power in November - and what YOU can do to stop them.
Dallas State Rep. Julie Johnson - a Progress Texas endorsee in her outright primary win in her run for the U.S. House, can be found at https://juliejohnson.com/.
Second-term Austin City Council Member Paige Ellis can be found at https://www.austintexas.gov/department/district-8.
Democratic nominee for U.S. House District 8 Laura Jones can be found at https://www.laura4tx.com/.
There are many ways to join the fight to restore reproductive justice in Texas! Learn more at http://roevolution.org/.
Daily Dispatch 5/1/24: Biggest Protests Yet At UT Expected Today, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
15 pro-Palestinian organizations have called for another protest today at UT Austin - could be the biggest crowd yet: https://youtu.be/9esCRGZWNJg?si=fxsazmgTnaDRgp6s
...Travis County DA Delia Garza pipes up that protest arrests are clogging the County's criminal justice system - and that the crackdowns are likely inviting more unrest: https://www.aol.com/news/ut-austin-palestine-protest-travis-182653693.html
The DEA is moving to reduce the criminality of marijuana - what's that mean in Texas? https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dea-to-reclassify-marijuana-what-it-means-for-dallas-texas-19254961
...Texas seems likely to move to keep pot as illegal as possible: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/texas-governor-condemns-local-marijuana-decriminalization-efforts-as-lubbock-voters-decide-on-reform-at-the-ballot/
ERCOT and the PUC are threatening energy reliability in Texas via their foot-dragging on infrastructure development: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2024/05/01/the-power-grid-puts-texas-growth-at-risk-again/
...All while battery tech costs are at an all-time low: https://www.techspot.com/news/102786-battery-cost-plunge-turbocharge-renewable-energy-shift-iea.html
Ken Paxton, rather than doing his job, has been hanging around Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/donald-trump-trial-ken-paxton-19430568.php
Ted Cruz's idea to provide unpopular politicians like himself taxpayer-funded airport security has been kicked to the curb: https://thehill.com/policy/transportation/4628183-cruz-amendmentfaa-reauthorization-special-security/
...And Ted's got a new idea: making it harder to get your money back from an airline after they've cancelled your flight: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/ted-cruz-airlines-automatic-refunds-faa-reauthorization-1235012248/
Owing to Texas' proliferation of guns, Houston ranks as the top American city for road rage deaths in the country, by a long shot: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/transportation/article/houston-road-rage-incidents-19428481.php
Mark your calendar for May 9 at 12 noon for our "Burning Issues" town hall on liquid natural gas (LNG) pollution in Texas: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/townhall_24
Also for your calendar: a public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
Early voting in the May 4 municipal elections ends today! https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
...And it will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/30/24: Police Violence Escalates In Second Day Of UT Protest Arrests, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Law enforcement ratcheted up the rough treatment of protestors being arrested at UT Austin on Monday: https://www.kut.org/education/2024-04-29/ut-austin-protest-israel-hamas-war-palestinians
...Students harangued law enforcement about their failure at Uvalde: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texas-students-protesting-war-gaza-question-troopers-failed-uvalde-response_n_662ffbe9e4b0eb5fda512ea5
...A Slate writer provides a first-person account of Monday's melee: https://slate.com/human-interest/2024/04/protests-columbia-ut-texas-austin-student-arrest.html
...Meanwhile administrators at Texas State University in San Marcos showed restraint, and thus its similar protest remained peaceful: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/student-protests-at-texas-state-and-ut-austin-differed-greatly-from-one-another
...All of this lays bare the hypocrisy Republican leaders and UT administrators are displaying in choosing which free speech to tolerate, and which to crush: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/29/ut-austin-pro-palestinian-demonstrations-free-speech/
Meanwhile, Governor Abbott and AG Ken Paxton are taking steps to resist new federal orders that LGBTQ students should be protected under Title IX from sexual discrimination: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/04/29/gov-greg-abbott-orders-texas-schools-to-defy-federal-nondiscrimination-rules/
A brave op-ed in the Nacogdoches County Daily Sentinel points out Governor Abbott's duplicity regarding a male teacher in Lewisville targeted for wearing a dress to school as a joke: https://www.dailysentinel.com/opinion/columns/greg-abbott-redefines-bully-pulpit/article_55ffd681-cfc7-51cf-89e1-686fe27c6b1d.html
Democratic Texas Railroad Commission nominee Katherine Culbert responds to reports of new permits being granted for oil producers to dump toxic produced water into Texas rivers and streams: https://www.facebook.com/Katherine4Texas
A public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg
Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate
Early voting in the May 4 municipal elections ends today! https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
...And it will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/29/24: Toxic Produced Water To Be Dumped In Texas Rivers, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Austin Rep. Gina Hinojosa on WFAA's Inside Texas Politics: https://youtu.be/S471DfitaQk?si=70WK-VmY5gW4Ccen
The state is now issuing permits for oil producers to dump millions of gallons of toxic "produced water" into Texas rivers and streams: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/29/texas-treated-produced-water-disposal-discharge-rivers/
...New satellite studies show the ground itself in the Permian Basin sinking and rising with oil extraction and wastewater injection: https://www.wsj.com/business/energy-oil/in-americas-biggest-oil-field-the-ground-is-swelling-and-buckling-9d66eb42
...And ERCOT renews its argument against renewable energy: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/ercot-grid-failure-renewable-19416583.php
A federal judge has once again rejected the claim of Texas that our immigration situation at the border constitutes an "invasion": https://reason.com/volokh/2024/04/28/federal-court-again-rules-against-texas-claim-that-illegal-migration-qualifies-as-invasion/
Texas DPS is considering a criminal investigation of that news cameraman they arrested during last week's police crackdown on protestors at UT Austin: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/ut-austin-arrest-fox-7-photojournalist/
A letter to the editor of the Houston Chronicle reminds those thinking of sitting out the November election in protest over Gaza of the dire potential results: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/letters/article/gaza-palestine-protest-university-students-ut-19422782.php
West Texas oil billionaire and Christian Nationalist activist Tim Dunn argues that he shouldn't be considered a Christian Nationalist: https://midlandtimes.com/stories/658009552-opinion-the-christian-nationalist-label-will-not-stick
Hard-right Republican lawmakers are putting forth a 12-point plan to neutralize Democratic influence in the House and consolidate control for themselves: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/contract-with-texas-house-republicans/
Early voting in the May 4 municipal elections ends tomorrow! https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
...And it will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/26/24: Abbott Seeks To Cast Anti-War Protest As Anti-Semitism, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Travis County Attorney Delia Garza's office will not prosecute any of the 46 trespassing cases resulting from Wednesday's police crackdown at UT Austin: https://thehill.com/homenews/4622384-texas-prosecutor-appeals-ruling-that-tossed-crystal-masons-voting-fraud-conviction/
...UT president Jay Hartzell releases a second statement: https://www.reddit.com/r/UTAustin/s/dbZOyovi3n
...Similar scenes have unfolded at college campuses across the country: https://www.npr.org/2024/04/25/1247091785/campus-protests-gaza-israel-arrests-usc-emerson-texas
...Progress Texas' statement: https://progresstexas.org/blog/abbott-tramples-our-american-freedoms-speech-and-assembly
...FIRE's statement: https://www.thefire.org/research-learn/fire-letter-university-texas-austin-april-25-2024
Governor Abbott has chosen the relatively-moderate U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez over his primary runoff challenger, "the A.K. Guy": https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4620838-texas-governor-abbott-backlash-mass-arrest-ut-austin-pro-palestine-protest/
Outgoing (thankfully) Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg has teamed up with Ken Paxton to allow his office to pursue an investigation against three staffers of Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/hidalgo-staffers-elevate-strategies-paxton-ogg-19422060.php
Not outgoing (unfortunately) Tarrant County District Attorney Phil Sorrells wants to reverse the recent acquittal of Crystal Mason on voter fraud charges from the 2016 election: https://thehill.com/homenews/4622384-texas-prosecutor-appeals-ruling-that-tossed-crystal-masons-voting-fraud-conviction/
Don't forget to vote! Early voting for new oversight positions over local tax apprasal districts started yesterday: https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Happy Hour 153 - What A Week! Campus Clashes And GOP Attacks On Local Control
The week started badly enough - with small-town Republicans taking advantage of a newly-modified state law that allowed them to threaten to replace popular Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza with a stooge of their choosing. Then it got worse, with a dramatic overplay of police force as administrators at UT Austin called in militarized DPS troopers to crush a pro-Palestinian protest. What do these attacks on small-D democracy by Greg Abbott's regime mean, both individually and as two parts of a growing trend of authoritarianism in Texas? We're joined by three of our favorite thinkers in this area: State Senator Sarah Eckhardt of Austin, renowned civil rights attorney Austin Kaplan, and MOVE Texas Senior Advocacy Reform Manager Amber Mills - what's REALLY going on behind the GOP curtain will shock and anger you - and hopefully, reinvigorate your passion for the fight ahead.
Learn more about State Senator Sarah Eckhardt at https://www.saraheckhardt.com/.
Learn more about Austin Kaplan at https://kaplanlawatx.com/team/austin-kaplan/.
Learn more about Amber Mills and MOVE Texas at https://movetexas.org/staff/amber-mills/.
Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and support our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/25/24: Abbott Orders Violent Police Crackdown On UT Protest, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Developments continue in the aftermath of the violent police stampout of a pro-Palestinian protest at UT Austin: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2024/04/24/ut-austin-campus-student-protest-arrest-pro-palestine-protests-walk-out/73425149007/
...Governor Abbott stands by the crackdown: https://www.chron.com/news/article/greg-abbott-ut-protests-19420650.php
...Reactions abound: https://twitter.com/ProgressTX
An on-campus shooting in Arlington yesterday: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2024/04/25/arlington-school-shooting-bowie/
Don't forget to vote! Early voting for new oversight positions over local tax apprasal districts started yesterday: https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/24/24: All Texas DA's Vulnerable Under New State Law, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The new law that has allowed an attempt by rural Republicans to oust Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza makes ALL DA's across the state vulnerable in the same way: https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2024/04/why-is-someone-suing-to-get-travis-county-da-jose-garza-out-of-office-and-what-comes-next/
Ted Cruz stuck with a small minority in the U.S. Senate voting against foreign aid for Israel, Taiwan and Ukraine: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/23/politics/senate-vote-israel-ukraine-aid-dg/index.html
...While the kerfluffle over Cruz's podcast proceeds smells of tax problems: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ted-cruz-iheart-podcast-taxes-19416633.php
Hardline GOP types appear to like the idea of targeting transgender teachers in the 2025 legislative session: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/greg-abbott-texas-drag-teachers-19418755.php
Other hardline GOP types in the U.S. House are criticizing House Speaker Mike Johnson for campaigning with Rep. Tony Gonzalez, who recently referred to his MAGA colleagues as "real scumbags": https://nypost.com/2024/04/23/us-news/republicans-fume-over-house-speakers-fundraiser-for-turncoat-texas-rep-who-called-far-right-lawmakers-scumbags/
Researchers at the notoriously liberal Texas A&M have released dire climate predictions for Texas: https://www.kvue.com/article/tech/science/climate-science/texas-hotter-wildfires-climatology-report/269-483d3038-e623-406b-b0e3-b322c0766d35
Has ERCOT seen the light? They suggest it's time for Texas to "adapt and plan differently": https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/ercot-says-texas-needs-to-adapt-and-plan-differently-to-meet-future-energy-demand
Don't forget to vote! Early voting for new oversight positions over local tax apprasal districts started yesterday: https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/23/24: Texas Dems Rally To DA Garza's Side, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Elected Democratic leaders are decrying Republican efforts to remove Travis County DA Jose Garza: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2024/04/22/lloyd-doggett-rogue-prosecutor-travis-county-district-attorney-da-jose-garza-texas-democrats/73412765007/?utm_source=statesman-newsalert-strada&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsalert&utm_term=Hero&utm_content=naas-austin-nletter01
Ken Paxton calls off his quest against Seattle Children's Hospital over its care for transgender youth - but succeeds in driving them from Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/22/texas-trans-health-care-investigation-seattle/
A vandalism attack on the office of Republican Rep. John Carter in Georgetown is providing lots of online ammo AGAINST the cause of Gaza peace: https://www.fox7austin.com/video/1445040
Volkswagen auto workers in Chattanooga become the first Southern group to win their union - despite the opposition of Governor Greg Abbott: https://thehill.com/business/4599535-southern-governors-joining-uaw-would-threaten-jobs-values/amp/
The president of the Grapevine Colleyville School Board, attempting to hide her past QAnon posts, called in a false police report, later retracting it: https://x.com/stevanzetti/status/1782410513785160157
Don't forget to vote! Early voting for new oversight positions over local tax apprasal districts started yesterday: https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/22/24: Travis County DA Under Threat Of Removal By Small Town Republicans, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Texas mom and reproductive rights activist Amanda Zurawski is on the trail with the Biden/Harris campaign: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdBwynnn9HE
Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza has been targeted for removal under a new state law by Comal and Bell County Republicans: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/20/texas-rogue-prosecutors-law-jose-garza-removal-attempt/
...All as Ken Paxton is seeking to assert state prosecutorial authority into local matters: https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/editorials/2024/04/17/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-proposal-plan-extend-reach-local-government-editorial/73338806007/
...And as Paxton has failed (so far) to escape a misconduct lawsuit related to his work on behalf of Donald Trump to overturn the 2020 election: https://www.reuters.com/legal/legalindustry/texas-attorney-general-paxton-must-face-attorney-ethics-case-appeals-court-rules-2024-04-19/
Greg Abbott has taken to bashing on transgender teachers: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/greg-abbott-trans-teachers-texas-1235008156/
...But seems oblivious that Texas is now hiring thousands of presumably non-trans teachers who are unqualified for the job: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-public-schools-uncertified-teachers-on-the-rise
A 10 year old Nixon boy has admitted murdering a neighbor when he was 7 - using a gun stored loaded in a truck glove compartment by his grandfather: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2024/04/19/texas-10-year-old-confessed-to-shooting-to-death-man-2-years-ago-authorities-say/
Early voting in the first of two May elections - for oversight positions with municipal tax appraisal districts - starts today! https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/19/24: Happy 4-20 Weekend To Dan Patrick, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
This 4-20, we recognize that while over half of the United States now enjoys either legal recreational cannabis or at least generous medical allowances, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick wants to take away even the inferior weed alternatives we have to settle for in Texas: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2024/04/18/texas-lt--gov-prioritizes-delta-8-ban-ahead-of-legislation-session
Texas Representatives in the U.S. House are divided on Ukraine aid, between traitors and non-traitors: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/18/texas-republicans-ukraine-aid-chip-roy/
Is Ken Paxton playing four-dimensional chess with his claim that that huge SCOTUS loss for Texas was actually a win? Our sources say, hell no: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/ken-paxton-texas-court-loss-19410575.php
Democratic U.S. Rep Vicente Gonzalez was outraised two to one in the first quarter by GOP backers of challenger Mayra Flores: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/18/mayra-flores-outraises-vicente-gonzalez/
South Texas farmers are in big trouble as water supplies dwindle before summer even arrives: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/18/south-texas-drought-agriculture/
...While an affluent community in the San Antonio area, Fair Oaks Ranch, has apparently been stealing water for 20 years from an improperly registered well: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/illegal-water-pumping-fair-oaks-19408218.php
Today's date, April 19, is one of importance to militant white supremacist types - but pales in comparison to April 20, Adolf Hitler's birthday: https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/oklahoma-city-bombing-timothy-mcveigh-extremism-rcna148465
Don't forget about the Texas Gun Sense community picnic on Saturday, April 20 in central Austin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tx-gun-sense_texas-gun-sense-invites-all-of-our-supporters-activity-7183153558412750850-cS-U
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/18/24: Ken Paxton Calls SCOTUS Loss a Win, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
After a 9-0 unanimous loss at SCOTUS in a property rights dispute for Texas, Ken Paxton curiously claims it was actually a win: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4600506-lawyers-for-texas-rancher-blast-paxtons-claim-of-supreme-court-win/
Recent Biden administration expansion of debt cancellation will benefit almost 217,000 Texans to the tune of $9.5 billion (with a B): https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Texas-4.12.pdf
...While Harris County officials announce a multi-million dollar investment in new job apprenticeships in a win for local and state unions: https://progresstexas.org/blog/harris-county-follows-biden%E2%80%99s-bold-investment-union-apprenticeships
49 Texas water utilities have been found short of new standards for "forever chemicals" from the EPA: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/16/texas-pfas-forever-chemicals-public-water-systems-epa-limit/
...While little old Muleshoe, Texas comes under suspected Russian cyber attack upon its water system: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/17/politics/russia-hacking-group-suspected-texas-water-cyberattack/index.html
Don't forget about the Texas Gun Sense community picnic on Saturday, April 20 in central Austin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tx-gun-sense_texas-gun-sense-invites-all-of-our-supporters-activity-7183153558412750850-cS-U
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/17/24: New Poll Shows Texas Senate Race a Toss-Up, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
A new poll shows Ted Cruz leading Colin Allred by less than the percentage of undecided voters: https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/elections/texas-poll-cruz-allred-trump-biden-race/285-bcc3a200-0d18-448d-ba7a-90e8fa4996dd
Texas Republican Congressmen Michael McCaul and August Pfluger are among the GOP gang who delivered the futile and stupid impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate yesterday: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/16/michael-mccaul-august-pfluger-mayorkas-impeachment/
Republican Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare told Commissioner Alisa Simmons, a Black woman, to "sit there and be quiet" during a partisan exchange at the Tarrant County Commissioners Court yesterday: https://www.keranews.org/government/2024-04-16/you-sit-there-and-be-quiet-tarrant-commissioners-argue-over-county-judges-contract-employee
Increasing heat is coupling with ever-building energy demand to erase the springtime power draw lulls that ERCOT still unrealistically wants to use for grid maintenence: https://www.marketplace.org/2024/04/16/texas-electric-grid-is-feeling-the-strain-and-its-not-even-all-that-hot-yet/
Freeport LNG is levied an embarrassingly small fine for years of emissions violations at its Quintana plant: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/texas-regulators-fine-freeport-lng-environmental-breaches-2024-04-17/
Early voting in the municipal elections of new oversight positions with county tax apprasial districts starts Monday! https://progresstexas.org/blog/why-you-should-care-about-may-appraisal-district-elections
Don't forget about the Texas Gun Sense community picnic NEXT Saturday, April 20 in central Austin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tx-gun-sense_texas-gun-sense-invites-all-of-our-supporters-activity-7183153558412750850-cS-U
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/16/24: SCOTUS Fails To Protect 1A in Texas, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review a 5th Circuit Court of Appeals decision that protest organizers are liable for the actions of attendees, undermining the First Amendment right of gathering and demonstration: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/texas-right-to-protest-19403818.php
...While video of the death of another unarmed Black man while being restrained by police in Texas is released: https://www.expressnews.com/news/texas/article/kenneth-knotts-body-cam-footage-19395426.php
The Texas Health And Human Services Commission is found to be in contempt of federal court over its failure to follow up on claims of abuse and neglect by children in our foster care system: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/15/texas-foster-care-federal-judge-fine-contempt/
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is hoping the Republican "Contract On Texas" will pave the way for the elimination of property taxes (and the destruction of public schools) in Texas: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/texas-property-tax-elimination-schools-19399995.php
Colin Allred is now outpacing even Beto O'Rourke's impressive fundraising numbers from 2018: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/15/colin-allred-beto-orourke-ted-cruz-fundraising/
Those billions of federal dollars coming to Texas via a massive investment in Samsung, explained: https://thehill.com/business/4594523-biden-administration-samsung-texas-chips-act/?email=467cb6399cb7df64551775e431052b43a775c749&emaila=12a6d4d069cd56cfddaa391c24eb7042&emailb=054528e7403871c79f668e49dd3c44b1ec00c7f611bf9388f76bb2324d6ca5f3&utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=04.15.24%20Tech
Don't forget about the Texas Gun Sense community picnic NEXT Saturday, April 20 in central Austin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tx-gun-sense_texas-gun-sense-invites-all-of-our-supporters-activity-7183153558412750850-cS-U
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/15/24: ERCOT Power Warnings...In April? And More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Not only is it Tax Day here in mid-April, but we've also already started getting warnings of power failures from ERCOT: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-12/texas-warns-of-possible-power-emergency-next-week
Hard right GOP Texas House lawmakers have written up a Contract On Texas, which would allow them to push through their most radical agenda items with little resistance: https://www.kxan.com/state-of-texas/state-of-texas-contract-with-texas-aims-to-push-house-further-right/
...Part of which is threatening people who seek abortion care with the death penalty: https://www.yahoo.com/news/texas-gop-preach-morals-abortion-142543561.html
Red states across America are hard at work putting together copycat anti-migrant laws based upon SB-4: https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/14/us/texas-immigration-law-iowa-other-us-states-cec/index.html
...Could the collective harrassment threatened by SB-4 build voting unity among Texas Latinos? https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/04/texas-immigration-law-latino-voters/678063/
...Louisiana soldiers sent in to help with Operation Lone Star have largely been sitting around doing nothing: https://www.nola.com/news/politics/national_politics/louisiana-soldiers-on-mexico-border/article_a0122d24-f930-11ee-86dd-47dfc542a907.html
Ken Paxton's effort to crack down on Media Matters for negative reporting on Elon Musk's X has been defeated in court: https://www.thedailybeast.com/judge-deals-blow-to-texas-ags-retaliatory-probe-of-media-matters-for-america
GOP slimeballs Jonathan Stickland and Matt Rinaldi have formed a new right-wing action group called "Ratmaster Holdings LLC": https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/12/jonathan-stickland-matt-rinaldi-white-supremacy-scandal/
Don't forget about the Texas Gun Sense community picnic NEXT Saturday, April 20 in central Austin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tx-gun-sense_texas-gun-sense-invites-all-of-our-supporters-activity-7183153558412750850-cS-U
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Happy Hour 152: Texas Gun Sense and the New Federal Firearms Background Check Rule
Late last week, the Biden administration and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives announced a new rule designed to close the infamous "gun show loophole" - gaps in background check requirements that allowed basically anyone, regardless of criminal background or mental state, to buy a gun from a dealer outside of a brick-and-mortar shop. And - right on cue - our senior Senator John Cornyn has announced a fight to block it. We've invited our good friend Nicole Golden, Executive Director of Texas Gun Sense, back to the Happy Hour to tell us what this new rule means, what chances its opposition might have of undermining it, and what's next in the fight for common-sense gun safety regulations that's been central for their hard-working organization for a lotta years now - we are fans.
Learn more about this new rule here: https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/04/13/bidens-bulls-eye-on-gun-loophole-background-checks-are-needed-on-every-weapon-sale/
Learn more about Texas Gun Sense (and RSVP for the April 20th picnic in Austin!): https://txgunsense.org/
Thanks for listening! Learn more about what Progress Texas does, and how you can join the fight too, at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/12/24: Adoption Misinformation Pushed By State Officials, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Those "I'm In Control" pro-adoption billboards are not only misleading about the realities of adoption as an abortion alternative - they're also being paid for by YOUR tax dollars: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/misleading-ads-no-remedy-cruelty-texas-abortion-19324750.php
...While San Antonio officials argue over whether to use their Reproductive Justice Fund to pay for out-of-state travel for abortion care seekers: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2024-04-11/majority-of-san-antonio-city-council-supports-using-tax-dollars-for-out-of-state-abortion-travel
...And the Black reproductive health non-profit the Afiya Center highlights Colorado as its top choice for abortion care travel, due to that state's high standards of safety: https://www.9news.com/article/news/health/texas-nonprofit-calls-colorados-abortion-access-lifesaving/73-427eac86-3103-495f-8e93-ba260aa64ca0
So, is Ted Cruz's clandestine payoff from his podcast illegal? https://www.texasobserver.org/ted-cruz-podcast-payoff-fec-complaint/
...Don't count on the Federal Elections Commission to be much of a problem for Cruz, as its current Trump-appointed chair is a MAGA diehard: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/head-of-commission-hearing-complaint-against-ted-cruz-once-worked-for-the-senator-34271983
Senator John Cornyn, having learned his lesson after crossing Texas gun nuts after the Uvalde shooting, is pledging to block new Biden admistration regulations on the "gun show loophole": https://www.chron.com/politics/article/john-cornyn-gun-reform-texas-19397377.php
Don't forget about the Texas Gun Sense community picnic NEXT Saturday, April 20 in central Austin: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/tx-gun-sense_texas-gun-sense-invites-all-of-our-supporters-activity-7183153558412750850-cS-U
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Happy Hour 151: The May Tax Appraisal Elections Are Actually Important!
Any time a bright idea comes springing from the Republican-led Texas Legislature, alarm bells should go off for Texas progressives - and newly-created elected positions of oversight for county appraisal districts are certainly no exception. Should the GOP succeed in their plans to monkey-wrench the tax apprasal processes of large (and generally Democratically-run) cities, you can count on them to create as much havoc for us, and as much profit for themselves, as humanly possible. Which is why we've invited two Democrats and longtime PT partners running for these important seats to explain what all of this means, and why it's so important to vote in EVERY election - even the ones that seem vague and unimportant (there's no such thing)! Dick Lavine is endorsed by Progress Texas in his race for one of these newly-created positions in Travis County, and Progress Texas Certified Progressive Kendall Scudder is running in Dallas County - we're proud to welcome both of them back for an important and informative conversation.
Learn more about Dick Lavine at https://www.dicklavinefortcad.com/, and learn more about Kendall Scudder at https://www.kendallscudder.com/.
Thanks for listening! Learn about all the groovy ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org/donate.
Daily Dispatch 4/11/24: Ted Cruz Podcast Income Skirts Campaign Finance Law, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Two advocacy groups have asked the Federal Election Commission to look into Ted Cruz's podcast income, which may have been sent to a PAC supporting his re-election illegally: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/ted-cruz-podcast-campaign-finance-complaint/
The Texas Education Agency is planning to replace up to $20 million in human labor in STAAR Test scoring with AI: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/09/staar-artificial-intelligence-computer-grading-texas/
TODAY AT 11AM - Join Progress Texas and the Trade Justice Education Fund to rally against an oil polluter who is challenging a decision made in Quebec, Canada against a new LNG terminal: https://tradejusticeedfund.org/events/texas-rally-against-ruby-rivers-isds-attack-on-climate-action/
A lawsuit by three Black Texas DPS troopers, accusing the agency of racial discrimination, can move forward this summer: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/black-troopers-discrimination-lawsuit-19396537.php
A Louisiana gun company, hired by multiple North Texas law enforcement agencies to destroy unwanted guns, has instead been stripping them for parts, which are then sold online: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/i-team-guns-sent-off-by-texas-police-departments-to-be-destroyed-were-stripped-of-parts-and-sold-online/
Solar energy deployment in Texas continues to lead the nation and is now closing in on natural gas as the most sensible source and solution: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2024/04/09/solar-is-beginning-to-sunset-natural-gas-use-in-texas/
...It's already a major component of the overall electical supply during daylight hours: https://cleantechnica.com/2024/04/09/texas-solar-power-growth-changing-the-shape-of-daily-electricity-supply-in-ercot/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
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Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/10/24: Arizona Abortion Decision Highlights Urgency Of Issue For Texans, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
With new developments in Arizona against reproductive freedom, now's the time for Texas abortion rights advocates to redouble our efforts: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/04/immigration-abortion-texas-greg-abbott-migrant-border-crisis-stunts.html
H-E-B stores are stocking a new over-the-counter birth control medication: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/opill-birth-control-heb-19381763.php
Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is calling for more pastors to run for elected office in Texas: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/dan-patrick-ed-young-19392259.php
A new book examines the outsized political influence of angry White rural voters: https://www.alternet.org/angry-white-rage/
Younger Texans are still not being engaged to vote: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/10/texas-high-school-voter-registration/
Progress Texas joins the Texas Muslim community in celebrating Eid al-fitr: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-unity-embracing-eid
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/9/24: Texas Solar Power Now Eclipse-Proof, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Yesterday's historic eclipse reminds us how far solar power infrastructure has come in Texas: https://www.reuters.com/breakingviews/eclipse-overshadows-texas-solar-power-strength-2024-04-08/
A group of nine Houston-area state lawmakers are calling for a public hearing about potential violations of state law by Houstpn ISD, still under TEA control: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/texas-hisd-violations-19391789.php
Hundreds of Texas seniors have recently been overcharged on their Social Security checks by a Texas Health and Human Services Commission clerical error: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-seniors-error-medicare-coverage-benefits-1888195
Texas mom Amanda Zurawski, who nearly died due to the denial of essential abortion care by state law, is featured in a new Biden campaign ad: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4582134-new-biden-campaign-ad-blames-trump-for-near-death-of-texas-woman-who-was-denied-abortion/
...While the Biden administration dedicates another $6 billion to Samsung for microchip plant development in Taylor, Texas: https://www.reuters.com/technology/samsung-get-6-7-billion-chip-subsidy-next-week-texas-expansion-sources-say-2024-04-08/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
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Daily Dispatch 4/8/24: Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine Pushes Election Misinformation, and More
Stories we're following thi s morning at Progress Texas:
Happy Eclipse Day! Careful with your glasses and good luck with the weather.
Eagle Pass is missing out on a huge, rare windfall with Operation Lone Star occupying Shelby Park, where a big eclipse festival had been planned: https://www.thedailybeast.com/texas-gov-greg-abbott-already-managed-to-screw-up-the-eclipse
A video of Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine went viral over the weekend in which he pushes election fraud misinformation: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/05/texas-supreme-court-justice-john-devine-2024-election/
...A great moment to revisit Find Out PAC, who are looking to unseat Devine and two other justices this fall: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/abortion-texas-supreme-court-19385442.php
...We featured Find Out PAC on the Progress Texas Happy Hour earlier this year: https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-144-find-out-pac-targets-texas-supreme-courts-jimmy-john-and-jane
A university professors association has protested the firing of 60 University of Texas employees who had worked for UT's DEI programs: https://apnews.com/article/university-texas-diversity-equity-inclusion-ban-6535e157c65555c8fca08a878566c151
A Republican group backing American support of Ukraine has published a scorecard that reveals a large group of Texas lawmakers who score an F in opposing Vladimir Putin: https://gopforukraine.com/ukraine-report-card/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/5/24: Former Speaker Straus Confirms Anti-Semitism Of Billionaire Tim Dunn, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
At a speaking event at the University of Texas yesterday, Republican and former House Speaker Joe Straus confirms that oil billionaire Tim Dunn told him during a 2010 meeting of his opinion that only Christians should hold positions of leadership in the Texas Legislature: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/04/tim-dunn-joe-straus-christian-texas/
...New details of UT's mass-firing of former DEI employees this week: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/05/dei-ban-university-of-texas-sb-17/73206765007/
...Signs of discontent among the UT student body are literally popping up: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/not-our-texas-notes-placed-near-ut-campus-appear-to-protest-dei-law-firings/
...Link to the "Not Our Texas" Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/notourtexas/?img_index=1
Ken Paxton insists that the press got Texas Solicitor General Aaron Nielsen's view that Texas may have "gone too far" on SB-4: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/ken-paxton-sb4-immigration-19385168.php
The conservative Texas Public Policy Foundation has dodged paying property taxes on its luxury Capitol-area digs for the last decade: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-public-policy-foundation-property-taxes/
Austin listeners: mark April 20th for the first Advocate Spring Picnic to be hosted by Texas Gun Sense in central Austin: https://tinyurl.com/yc6jsacj
Central Texas listeners: please help Progress Texas by nominating our ever-popular Humans Against Ted Cruz campaign in the Austin Chronicle's Best OF Austin Readers Poll: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/oxds6t7aDnQXKwkL/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Direct to the page: https://vote.austinchronicle.com/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
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Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Happy Hour 150: Lauren Ashley Simmons Returns!
Progress Texas proudly endorsed Houston progressive activist and organizer Lauren Ashley Simmons in her race to replace fellow Democrat Shawn Thierry in the Texas House - and she came within half a point of unseating one of the least-reliable Democrats in that body in the primary last month. The runoff election is coming up on May 4 - one month from the publishing of this episode - and we're proud to bring Lauren back for an update.
Follow the adventures of Lauren Ashley Simmons at https://www.laurenashleysimmons.com/.
Thanks for listening! Learn more about all the great stuff Progress Texas does and how to support our work in this all-important election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/4/24: SB-4 Back On The Shelf, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Colin Allred on The Daily Show this week: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtnYzqWtIKE
After yesterday's hearing at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, SB-4 remains blocked for now: https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/crime/texas-controversial-immigration-law-remains-on-hold-shelved-by-3-judge-panel/ar-BB1l1WlU
...Meanwhile a Texas National Guard soldier has been arrested on human trafficking charges: https://abc13.com/texas-national-guard-soldier-arrested-savion-johnson-human-smuggling-us-mexico-border/14613422/
A pair of Denton ISD administrators have been indicted on charges of illegal electioneering: https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/texas-school-district-employees-indicted-in-alleged-illegal-electioneering-scheme-denton-isd-attorney-general-ken-paxton-jesus-and-lindsay-lujan-republican-primary-gop-voting-elections-crisis-in-the-classroom
Uvalde's brand new mayor has quit, just ahead of a planned City Council vote on a new report clearing the officers who responded to the Robb Elementary shooting of wrongdoing: https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/uvalde-mayor-cody-smith-resigns-rcna146088
...The author of that report, a former Austin Police Department detective, himself has no active shooter training: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/lead-investigator-in-uvalde-police-probe-had-no-active-shooter-training-report_n_660d68dfe4b083254eaa817c
GOP subcommitte chairs have announced a "field hearing" in Port Arthur next week that will likely amount to a MAGA rally for oil and gas interests: https://energycommerce.house.gov/posts/chairs-rodgers-and-duncan-announce-field-hearing-in-port-arthur-on-biden-s-lng-export-ban
Central Texas listeners: please help Progress Texas by nominating our ever-popular Humans Against Ted Cruz campaign in the Austin Chronicle's Best OF Austin Readers Poll: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/oxds6t7aDnQXKwkL/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Direct to the page: https://vote.austinchronicle.com/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/3/24: SB-4 Back In Court, Abbott Handing Migrants Over To Hate Groups, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
SB-4 will see a hearing at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals today, with a focus on its constitutionality: https://www.npr.org/2024/04/03/1242451969/a-controversial-immigration-law-will-be-back-in-court-in-texas
...While the Southern Poverty Law Center discovers that Operation Lone Star has been paying a Texas hate group millions of dollars to bus migrants northward in terrible conditions: https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2024/04/02/texas-company-paid-extremist-group-20-million-operation-lone-star-busing
...A Dallas education reformer (and Republican primary voter) points out inconsistencies between conservative hate for migrants and the vital role they play in our economy: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/04/03/we-need-texas-republicans-to-rescue-our-workforce/
...Bloomberg has published a solid video essay on the Texas border drama and where it's headed next: https://youtu.be/S7ewfWcFHpU?si=JCRjaXhvxCj9lMfE
The University of Texas at Austin has drastically stepped up its DEI dismantling efforts, suddenly firing about 60 related employees: https://www.kut.org/education/2024-04-02/ut-austin-dei-diversity-law-sb-17
...UT students are pissed and organizing: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/texas-employees-fired-dei-ban-at-ut-austin/269-fc37c6cc-79fe-43d2-81fd-5daab6baa27f
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg will be in the Dallas area tomorrow to celebrate infrastructure improvements designed to erase prior cultural and community barriers: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/pete-buttigieg-visit-dallas-thursday-highlight-north-texas-highway-projects/287-20e721ec-51da-4ea8-93ea-9ab849cae674
Central Texas listeners: please help Progress Texas by nominating our ever-popular Humans Against Ted Cruz campaign in the Austin Chronicle's Best OF Austin Readers Poll: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/oxds6t7aDnQXKwkL/?mibextid=WC7FNe
Direct to the page: https://vote.austinchronicle.com/
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 4/2/24: Colin Allred Blasts Ted Cruz On Reproductive Rights Record, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Colin Allred trails Ted Cruz in some polls, but has beaten the odds against established Republicans before: https://www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/2024/03/qa-senate-hopeful-colin-allred-says-november-election-is-larger-than-our-own-problems/
...Allred highlights Ted Cruz's lockstep support for Texas' abortion ban and the potential for a national ban: https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/-that-s-not-freedom-allred-hits-ted-cruz-s-extreme-abortion-record-208121413883
...Watchdog groups are noticing a potentially over-cozy relationship with iHeartMedia, a registered lobbyist: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/ted-cruz-podcast-payment/
PT's Hiba Faruqi writes on the current and future state of Texas' intense climate crisis: https://progresstexas.org/texas-climate-crisis-rising-temperatures-threaten-homes-and-health
..While future monster hurricanes are already driving homeowner insurance rates skyward: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/hurricane-texas-climate-economy-insurance-19371487.php
That bird flu case in Texas? There's good news and bad news: https://www.vox.com/health/24118152/explain-it-to-me-bird-flu-human-case-texas-chickens-cows-animal-agriculture
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
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Daily Dispatch 4/1/24: Texas Court Defies New Rules Against "Judge Shopping", and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The chief judge of the Northern District of Texas says his court will not follow new rules from the Judicial Conference designed to curb "judge shopping": https://www.commondreams.org/news/judge-shopping-texas
A Starr County woman has sued the Starr County prosecutor's office over false murder charges they pressed upon her over a self-induced abortion in 2022: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/30/us/texas-abortion-murder-charge-lawsuit.html
Severe emotional trauma for an East Texas family whose matriarch was forced to carry a baby with a fatal brain anomaly to term by Texas' draconian abortion limits: https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2024/03/health/texas-abortion-law-mother-cnnphotos/
A Rockwall Southern Baptist Convention pastor is under fire over a misogynistic joke he told at Lakepointe Church recently: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/texas-sbc-pastor-marriage-joke-19376274.php
Our state's own data shows that immigrants are less likely to commit homicide than citizens: https://www.latintimes.com/how-us-media-coverage-contributes-polarization-immigration-debate-across-country-552552
Seeking to solidify gains among Latino voters in Texas, a group of Hispanic GOP lawmakers has founded a new caucus: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/texas-hispanic-republicans-19375625.php
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 3/29/24: Holiday Weekend Invites Reflection On Capital Punishment, Trans Rights, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
On Good Friday, we join reminders to President Biden of his campaign pledge to end capital punishment in America: https://www.newsweek.com/president-biden-should-follow-through-ending-death-penalty-opinion-1883271
On Easter Sunday, we also observe this year's Trans Day Of Visibility, and encourage a renewal of kindness and protection for that valued segment of our Texas family: https://glaad.org/tdov/
Fort Worth grandmother Crystal Mason, sentenced to five years for voting in the 2016 election while banned from doing so, has had her five-year prison sentence thrown out: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/28/crystal-mason-texas-woman-acquitted
...The ACLU of Texas has been in Mason's corner all along: https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/texas-second-court-of-appeals-reverses-crystal-masons-conviction-in-major-voting-rights-victory
...While Ken Paxton is targenting several school districts across the state for daring to encourage people to vote: https://progresstexas.org/blog/ag-ken-paxton-sues-isds-encouraged-voting
A California urologist points out the danger pregnant people in Texas face every day by refusing to travel here while pregnant: https://www.tpr.org/news/2024-03-28/urologist-refuses-to-come-to-san-antonio-for-annual-conference-because-of-texas-abortion-laws
H-E-B Chairman Charles Butt is the latest relatively-conservative but also generally normal public figure targeted by Texas Republicans for being insufficiently nutty: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-gop-heb-chairman-charles-butt/
Dallas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett is featured on the latest episode of Pod Save America: https://crooked.com/podcast/a-tale-of-two-campaigns/
Temps are expected to hit 100 about two weeks ahead of "normal" along the Rio Grande Valley over the holiday weekend: https://www.expressnews.com/san-antonio-weather/forecast/article/triple-digit-texas-early-next-week-19373899.php
Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire
Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out. https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 3/28/24: Activists Want Murder Charges For Abortion, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
A Christian Nationalist group, with support from current elected officials, calls for women who have sought abortion care to be charged with murder: https://twitter.com/MrsAMartini/status/1773160427981070620?t=KYb98_RSF5BTJKpKpBe0pw&s=19
Rep, James Talarico's talk on Christian Nationalism: https://youtu.be/Blph_2RSBno?feature=shared
Governor Abbott has issued an executive order equating pro-Palestinian protest with anti-semitism, ordering Texas universities to crack down: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/abbott-antisemitism-texas-colleges-19371821.php
...While students at UT find the new lack of DEI support discouraging: https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/28/us/university-of-texas-austin-anti-dei-law/index.html
...And in incredible timing, a new right-wing institute has opened at UT: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2024-03-27/right-wing-funded-civitas-institute-is-almost-up-and-running-at-ut-austin/
In a small win for capital punishment opponents, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals has re-sentenced an intellectually-disabled death row inmate to life in prison: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/03/27/randall-mays-death-penalty-intellectual-disability/
As Women's History Month winds down, check out a great talk with the longest-standing members of both the Texas Senate and the Texas House, both of whom are women: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-149-womens-history-month-with-sen-judith/id1552998795?i=1000650551946
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 3/27/24: Ken Paxton Gets Off...For Now, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
As expected, felony securities fraud charges delayed by a decade for Ken Paxton were dropped in a deal with prosecutors yesterday - but why? https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ken-paxton-fraud-deal-19369122.php
...But our AG's legal troubles are far from over: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/ken-paxton-legal-battles/269-ceefcfd0-3ebb-4cff-8bf5-b7e5b7030ce7
...Still, we learn yet again that justice is not equal in Texas: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2024/03/27/this-is-ken-paxtons-texas/
...PT Advocacy Fellow Tatum Owens weighs in: https://progresstexas.org/blog/statement-paxton-deal-joke%E2%80%99s-texas
SCOTUS judges considering the Texas case against mifepristone seemed pretty skeptical of the argument against the abortion medication yesterday: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2024-03-26/supreme-court-argument-abortion-pills-justices-skeptical
...While the nation's highest court may consider a case challenging a Texas law that only allows older voters full access to voting by mail: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/03/supreme-court-texas-mail-in-voting-case.html
Republican U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls of the southern Houston suburbs is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4557719-texas-republican-under-investigation-by-house-ethics-committee/
As Women's History Month winds down, check out a great talk with the longest-standing members of both the Texas Senate and the Texas House, both of whom are women: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-149-womens-history-month-with-sen-judith/id1552998795?i=1000650551946
Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Happy Hour 149: Women's History Month with Sen. Judith Zaffirini and Rep. Senfronia Thompson
As we continue observing Women's History Month this March, it may come as a surprise - and considering over-arching political circumstances in Texas, perhaps ironic - that the senior members of BOTH the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives are women. We are honored to be joined by State Representative Senfronia Thompson - known to her colleagues, constituents and fans as "Ms. T" - and Senator Judith Zaffirini, a trailblazer both for women and Hispanic Texans, for a deep dive into their experiences as actual participants in women's history in Texas. Have a look at the good old boys' club they've had to confront (and dominate) as women have taken their rightful place in the leadership of the Texas Democratic delegation - much experience and wisdom to be gained in this terrific conversation.
Find Senator Judith Zaffirini at https://judithzaffirini.com/.
Find Representative Senfronia Thompson at https://senfroniathompson.com/.
Thanks for listening! Find our awesome web store and all the great stuff we do - and ways to help us keep doing it - at https://progresstexas.org/.
Daily Dispatch 3/26/24: Make YOUR Voice Heard On Abortion Exceptions, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
The public comment period has begun on the Texas Medical Board and their timidity on specifics regarding abortion ban exceptions in Texas - make your voice heard here: https://progresstexas.org/blog/protect-abortion-rights-provide-public-comment-texas-medical-board
More from the Center for Reproductive Rights: https://twitter.com/ReproRights/status/1771262245562945696
Ken Paxon appears set to sign a deal allowing him to escape prosecution on nine-year-old felony securities fraud charges today: https://abc13.com/ken-paxton-securities-fraud-texas-attorney-general-to-reach-deal-dismissing-charges/14570216/
Paxton's attempts to gain the records of PFLAG National on how they've helped transgender kids with medical care have hit a legal block, for now: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/03/25/texas-judge-blocks-ag-paxton-demands-gender-affirming-care-records-transgender-minors-privacy/73095581007/
President Biden is shattering fundraising records in Texas, while his opponent's support from the donor class appears to be wilting: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/biden-fundraising-haul-19367682.php
Natural water springs across Texas are going dry at an alarming rate: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/hays/study-shows-that-texas-has-nearly-3-times-more-dry-springs-than-50-years-ago/
The Texas State Board of Education's divestment from Blackrock is dumb on multiple levels: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/texas-schools-oil-banks-esg-law-19367323.php
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/.
Daily Dispatch 3/25/24: Paxton Set To Slither Out Of Felony Charges, and More
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
Attorneys for Ken Paxton appear close to cutting a deal with prosecutors that would bring the nine-year-long felony securities fraud charges against him to an end: https://abc13.com/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxtons-fraud-charges-could-be-dismissed-security-case-communnity-service-tribune/14559450/
There's a hearing on all of this set for tomorrow: https://www.fox26houston.com/video/1430473
A large march featuring dozens of social justice organizations was held in downtown Dallas yesterday: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2024/03/24/hundreds-march-through-downtown-dallas-sunday-in-protest-of-texas-senate-bill-4/
Are all those billions of dollars Governor Abbott has spent on Operation Lone Star making any difference? https://www.nytimes.com/2024/03/23/us/texas-abbott-border.html
Could Democrats in Texas end up winning over SB-4? https://thehill.com/latino/4550696-texas-democrats-see-political-opportunity-in-hardline-immigration-law/
Will Biden stand up to Abbott - with investigators and lawyers? https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/22/opinions/biden-texas-border-immigration-law-downes/index.html
ERCOT admits underestimating San Antonio's growth - and has left the grid exposed to failures as a result: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/ercot-admits-texas-grid-faces-risk-cascading-19363129.php
...While a new solar and battery storage facility is underway near Dallas: https://electrek.co/2024/03/22/texas-installs-another-big-solar-battery-storage-project/
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/.