Progress Texas Podcasts

Latest Episodes:

Daily Dispatch 1/25/24: Federal Deadline For Abbott Is Tomorrow, and More Jan 25, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Dispatch 1/24/24: Supreme Court Call On Border Defied By Texas, and More Jan 24, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Hour 142: Abortion Is On The Ballot! With The Texas Democratic Party Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Opportunities abound for progressive Texans this election year. From the chance to send Ted Cruz packing, to the possibility of virtually guaranteeing a second Joe Biden term with our 40 electoral votes, a massive show of force in the Lone Star State would be a truly historic moment - and it's up to US to bring that moment into reality. Top of mind nationally for progressive folks is abortion rights - and specifically the national implications for reproductive freedom should Republicans gain too much power in November.

Joining us to talk about this all-important election year are representatives of the Texas Democratic Party: Executive Director Monique Alcala and Convention Director Emma Pickering give us the rundown on how abortion rights form the spearhead of Democratic messaging strategy in 2024 - and a preview of the Texas Democratic Convention, happening in El Paso this June! Hope to see YOU there.

Learn more about the Texas Democratic Party at https://www.texasdemocrats.org/, and make plans to attend the Convention at https://texasdemocraticconvention.com/.

Thanks for listening! Please check out our web store and more ways to support Progress Texas in our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 1/23/24: SCOTUS (Barely) Sides With Federal Border Patrol, and More Jan 23, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Dispatch 1/22/23: New Polling Shows Cruz Vulnerable, and More Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Dispatch 1/19/24: DOJ Drops Damning Report On Uvalde Massacre, and More Jan 19, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Dispatch 1/18/24: Allred Votes With Republicans To Rebuke Biden, and More Jan 18, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Daily Dispatch 1/17/24: ERCOT Survives A Mild Texas Winter Test, and More Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Happy Hour 141: Unseating Ted Cruz - With Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Over the last few years, San Antonio State Senator Roland Gutierrez has become a familiar voice to Progress Texas podcast listeners, mostly related to his steadfast support of and advocacy for the families of the victims of the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, which is in his district. This time, as he's running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Ted Cruz for Texas' junior seat in that chamber, we've invited Senator Gutierrez on for a wide-ranging talk covering the issues most important to Texas progressives, to the continued prosperity of our country, and to the very survival of American democracy.

Find out more about Senator Roland Gutierrez and his campaign at https://rolandfortexas.com/.

An important note for our listeners: we have extended a similar invitation to U.S. Representative Colin Allred of Dallas, who is also running for the Democratic nomination to challenge Ted Cruz. As of publishing time, we have not heard back, but are hopeful that he'll accept and join us. Stay tuned!

Daily Dispatch 1/16/24: The Power Stays On In Texas - For Now, and More Jan 16, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Shamefully, it's of national note that the Texas power grid has mostly stayed functional amidst the current winter blast: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/good-news-texas-power-grid-holding-up/

...ERCOT's most recent plea to conserve power is in effect as we publish this morning: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-winter-weather-ercot-power-conservation-appeal-jan-16

...The cold snap arrived as inspections of power facilities remained incomplete: https://www.nbcdfw.com/investigations/hundreds-of-ercot-power-facility-inspections-were-not-completed-before-winter-blast/3434953/

...It's even colder in Chicago, where Governor Abbott continues sending migrants into lacking shelter: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/15/us/chicago-migrants-cold-weather/index.html

As the MLK weekend began, three Mexican migrants drowned in the Rio Grande in a section of Eagle Pass that "Texas Military Department" personnel have blocked from access by federal Border Patrol agents: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/15/us/what-we-know-about-the-drownings-of-3-migrants-in-eagle-pass-texas/index.html

...Texas officials deny neglect in these drownings: https://nypost.com/2024/01/15/news/texas-military-deny-stopping-cbp-saving-drowning-migrants/

...The Biden Administration has given Texas authorities until tomorrow to stop blocking federal access to Shelby Park: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/13/henry-cuellar-texas-border-eagle-pass/

A notorious Amarillo anti-abortion activist judge has allowed three other states to join a lawsuit alleging that mifepristone is unsafe: https://www.ktvb.com/article/news/nation-world/abortion-pill-texas-judge-grants-motion-allowing-idaho-join-lawsuit-against-fda-over-mifepristone/277-c2de6586-b4d8-4f8f-be46-bd3d161d9032

...While our Tatum Owens writes on an apparently unnecessary death of a pregnant woman in Luling: https://progresstexas.org/baby-shower-turned-funeral

Texas Republican Party Chair Matt Rinaldi is found to be on the payroll of Defend Texas Liberty founder Farris Wilks: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/12/farris-wilks-matt-rinaldi-defend-texas-liberty/

National Democrats' confidence in wins in Texas and Florida is growing: https://www.wvua23.com/democrats-target-gop-strongholds-texas-and-florida-with-senate-majority-on-the-line/

Ted Cruz invites freezing Texans to join him in Cancun, and curses the Dallas Cowboys to another ugly playoff loss: https://klaq.com/?p=828976

And Thursday's debate among candidates for House District 32 has been moved, and will also feature more candidates: https://www.mobilize.us/richardsonareademocrats/event/597311/

Thanks for listening! Please check out our web store and more ways to help Progress Texas continue our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

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