Progress Texas Podcasts

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Daily Dispatch 1/12/24: Abbott Bummed He Can't Just Shoot Migrants, and More Jan 12, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The winter blast inbound for MLK weekend is thought NOT to be on par with conditions we saw during Winter Storm Uri: https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2024/01/worried-about-the-texas-power-grid-heres-what-to-expect-from-the-incoming-arctic-blast/

...Should be mostly dry, with possible exceptions in northeast Texas: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/article/how-texas-freeze-next-week-compares-february-2021-18600817.php

...A handy checklist by which to prepare for the cold: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/texas-winter-weather-checklist-how-to-prepare-ahead-of-storms-freezes/

Governor Abbott says on a radio show that the main thing keeping him from ordering the shooting of migrants is the fact that murder is illegal: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/greg-abbott-murder-charges-shooting-migrants-1234945121/

...While Operation Lone Star troopers seize a public park in Eagle Pass without permission from the city: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/migrants-eagle-pass-park-18602608.php

...Setting up a clash between federal Border Patrol agents and state officers: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-blocks-federal-border-agents-processing-migrants-eagle-pass-shelby-park/

A mass of wild animals are found to have been burned alive after being trapped against a border wall in a federally-protected area last summer: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/11/texas-border-wall-wildfire-trapped-wild-animals-dead

It's official: 2023 was the hottest year on record in Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/11/texas-2023-hottest-year/

...And it came with a record number of heat-related deaths in the state: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/12/texas-heat-deaths-2023-record-climate-change/

Ken Paxton has asked the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals to allow Texas' ban on drag shows to take effect: https://www.kxan.com/lgbtq/ken-paxton-appeals-texas-drag-performance-law-injunction/

...While a New Braunfels campsite refuses to allow a gay couple to hold their wedding on their property: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/new-braunfels-refuse-gay-marriage-18598901.php

With all that negativity today, a chance for a lift: a national blood shortage makes today and this weekend a great time to give blood: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/red-cross-declares-emergency-blood-shortage-urges-donations/

Thanks for listening! Please consider supporting our important work - multiple ways to do so at https://progresstexas.org/.

Happy Hour 140: Who Owns Your News? Twitter/X Silences Journalists Jan 12, 2024

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This week, what appeared to be a ham-fisted silencing of a large group of journalists and left-leaning activists on Elon Musk's X - the platform that we, frankly, generally still call Twitter - was shrugged off by Musk as a side effect of routine housecleaning of bots and fake accounts. Our friend and regular contributor Steven Monacelli, investigative reporter for the Texas Observer, was one of those who found themselves temporarily in Twitter jail this week; he's not accepting that lame explanation, and neither are we.

As the all-important 2024 election year spins up, will Twitter/X remain a place where the truth, and those who make it their life's work to seek out the truth, can count on an equitable playing field? Or, will it be subject to the whims of its increasingly erratic and childish billionaire owner, seemingly more interested in basking in the adoration of his right-wing conspiracist following than truly supporting "free speech" as he loves to claim?

Find Steven Monacelli's great work for the Texas Observer at https://www.texasobserver.org/author/steven-monacelli/.

Thanks for your support! Please check out our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 1/11/24: ERCOT Boss Differs With Governor As Winter Blast Approaches, and More Jan 11, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The incoming winter weather should fall short of "historic" measure: https://www.theweathernetwork.com/en/news/weather/forecasts/canadian-deep-freeze-steaming-towards-texas-is-it-historical

...While ERCOT issues a fresh weather watch: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/ercot-issues-weather-watch-ahead-of-arctic-blast/3430486/

...Homeowners are advised to prepare pipes, plants and pets: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-winter-weather-homeowners-plan

...And we're all reminded of the signs of hypothermia: https://www.newswest9.com/article/sports/outdoors/texas-outdoors/with-temperatures-expected-to-drop-in-west-texas-hypothermia-could-be-a-real-concern/513-76565658-b8bd-4f2c-9607-91c7de96b104

...And in an epic case of bad timing, ERCOT's former CEO testifies that Governor Abbott ordered that energy prices remain at the maximum during Winter Storm Uri in 2021: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/former-ercot-ceo-following-gov-abbott-order-prices-at-max-cap-feb-2021-winter-storm/269-fe79947a-8ed2-4817-b4d5-037b72c46443

A heartbreaking story of a young Luling woman who died in the midst of a difficult pregnancy - possibly exacerbated by Texas' abortion care restrictions: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/01/15/abortion-high-risk-pregnancy-yeni-glick

Special education programs at Texas public schools brace for a sudden $300 million denial of federal funding: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/special-education-funding-cut-18598018.php

Texas lawmakers in D.C. are leading the impeachment effort against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/10/texas-republicans-mayorkas-impeachment/

Ken Paxton is pleading with the Texas Supreme Court to block a lower court's order for him to testify in that ongoing whistleblower lawsuit: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/paxton-asks-texas-supreme-court-to-block-sworn-testimony-in-whistleblower-case/

...While the Texas Supreme Court declines to intervene on the behalf of a Texas secessionist group: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2024-01-10/texas-supreme-court-wont-take-up-secessionist-groups-push-to-get-texit-measure-on-gop-ball

Texas A&M president Mark Welsh addresses a crank theory that A&M has sold out its nuclear weapons research to Qatar: https://www.kagstv.com/article/news/local/texas-am-president-clears-up-misinformation/499-66e2100d-e813-45c8-a727-6a124d0950e2

Progress Texas will help host a debate between Democratic candidates for U.S. House District 32 next week: https://www.mobilize.us/richardsonareademocrats/event/597311/

Thanks for listening! Please check out the several ways in which you can help support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 1/10/24: Texas Braces For Winter Freeze, and More Jan 10, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Despite an early warning of possible operational issues, ERCOT officials remain bullish on the power staying on through the upcoming winter freeze: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/investigations/defenders/ercot-operating-condition-notice-texas-power-grid/269-ba1f0642-92fd-4f5f-ad1f-cfe45fbcca9f

...Go-to energy expert Doug Lewin thinks we'll be okay: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/ercot-watchful-ahead-of-cold-weather-energy-expert-says-no-cause-for-alarm/3430070/

...Trader Joe's stores in Denver are already seeing inventory shortages due to bad weather in Texas: https://kdvr.com/news/local/trader-joes-stores-in-colorado-low-on-inventory-due-to-texas-weather/

Regular Progress Texas podcast contributor and Texas Observer investigative reporter Steven Monacelli was among a group of journalists suspended - and then reinstated - by Twitter/X yesterday: https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d948x/x-purges-prominent-journalists-leftists-with-no-explanation

Democratic hopefuls for the nomination to face Ted Cruz comment on our junior Senator's silence on abortion: https://themessenger.com/politics/democrats-pounce-on-cruzs-silence-on-texas-abortion-law-as-2024-race-looms

...Mark your calendar for a Democratic Senate primary debate: Friday February 9.

CBS News got an inside look at the Texas end of those migrant bus trips, designed to sow chaos in Democratically-led cities: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/texas-officials-accused-of-creating-migrant-busing-chaos/

A law professor at UT Austin is preparing a new class - "Understanding Conservative Legal Thought": https://reason.com/volokh/2024/01/09/new-univ-of-texas-law-class-on-understanding-conservative-legal-thought/

Thanks for listening! See multiple ways to help Progress Texas continue our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 1/9/28: President Biden Attends Eddie Bernice Johnson's Dallas Wake, and More Jan 09, 2024

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Joe Biden made his first visit as President to Dallas last night to attend the wake of late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/president-biden-members-congressional-black-caucus-bid-farewell-late-congresswoman-eddie-bernice-johnson-monday-wake/287-1198c86e-95ba-4783-b0e6-7e7dbd26d6c1

...After a disturbance at Love Field by pro-Palestine protestors resulted in over a dozen arrests: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/01/08/pro-palestine-rally-joe-biden-dallas/

Facing impeachment, U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas visited Texas yesterday as well, to make his case at Eagle Pass: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/mayorkas-border-impeachment-18595978.php

U.S. Senate hopeful Colin Allred says abortion rights are the key issue for Democrats this year: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/in-bid-for-us-senate-democrat-colin-allred-says-he-expects-abortion-rights-issue-to-motivate-voters/287-47836750-e5d4-4008-9826-243cc89dcca9

...Allred leads polling among Democratic candidates, but all suffer from lacking name recognition with the general public: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/elections/2024/01/08/473505/congressman-colin-allred-leads-a-crowded-democratic-primary-field-seeking-to-challenge-senator-ted-cruz/

Officials at UT San Antonio continue struggling to accommodate new state laws against DEI while not abandoning their diverse student body: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/utsa-nixed-revamped-inclusion-offices-and-changes-inclusivity-statement-amid-sb-17

...While efforts are underway at historically-Black Huston Tillotson University in Austin to team up with the local school district to promote Black male teachers: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/more-black-male-teachers-program-austin-texas-hbcu/269-da341b02-045f-45f1-b494-dc3d1ddc0127

Homelessness among Texas veterans jumped an alarming 19% last year: https://www.ktsm.com/news/texas-politics/report-texas-homeless-veteran-population-rose-in-last-year/

...While winter weather approaches and grid worries resurface: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas-grid-winter-2024/285-b01c91e1-e638-4ba0-a09c-17c9ba5f2d45

This episode features the full remarks of U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee from last night's wake service for Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson - video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNhfEQoN5C4&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.wfaa.com%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjQsMjM4NTE&feature=emb_title

Thanks for listening! Check out our web store and other ways to support Progress Texas and our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 1/8/24: Forecasting a Do Or Die Election Year In Texas, and More Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Scott Braddock at Quorum Report predicts that retribution efforts by both Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, the fight to unseat Ted Cruz, the border and, most importantly, abortion rights will be central to this huge election year: https://news.yahoo.com/texas-politics-2024-biggest-stories-005524497.html

...While Governor Abbott is rebuked by the editorial board of the Houston Chronicle for his "devious plot" of busing and flying migrants into northern cities: https://www.newsweek.com/greg-abbott-accused-sowing-chaos-largest-texas-newspaper-1858450

...And Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson calls Abbott's scheme "unconscionable, reckless, raggedy and evil-spirited": https://youtu.be/D9HhPqaSp_o?si=0jIZeDUjDPLtKTZb

Abortion rights will be the most important issue for progressive candidates this year, as the experience of problem pregnancies becomes more and more horrific: https://msmagazine.com/2024/01/04/pro-life-health-mother-fetus-baby-miscarriage-crime/

Houston's new Mayor and City Controller map out their paths forward: https://abc13.com/this-week-in-texas-houston-politics-news-john-whitmire/14292760/

Texas turns down millions of dollars in federal assistance in feeding kids this summer - because we can't figure out how to manage the program: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/why-texas-turned-down-millions-for-child-hunger-assistance/

Republican candidates, accustomed to gullible voters, are having authenticity issues with Hispanic voters in Texas: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2024-01-05/mayra-flores-social-media-controversy-highlights-discord-among-south-texas-republicans

Services memorializing Texas icon Eddie Bernice Johnson begin today in Dallas: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/funeral-services-begin-for-former-congresswoman-eddie-bernice-johnson/

Thanks for listening! Please check out our web store and support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 1/5/24: Late Congresswoman's Family Alleges Neglect, and More Jan 05, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The family of longtime Texas U.S. Representative Eddie Bernice Johnson, who died at 89 on New Year's Eve, alleges that she was neglected under the care of Baylor Scott and White's rehabilitation center: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/04/texas-eddie-bernice-johnson-lawsuit/

...We also have a correction on misreported details on her memorial services, happening early next week: https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/eddie-johnson-obituary?pid=206021389

The new federal lawsuit against Texas over SB-4 is likely to eventually be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-border-lawsuit-immigration-sb-4

...While New York City sues the bus companied hired by Governor Abbott to dump migrants there for $700 million - and Abbott's response may be problematic for Republican-led counties in Texas seeking to limit interstate travel by abortion seekers: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/01/04/new-york-city-is-suing-charter-bus-companies-for-transporting-migrants-from-texas/

...And Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett counters assertions by House Speaker Mike Johnson that federal border authorities don't want the additional funding that the GOP is now blocking: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4389021-texas-democrat-crockett-blasts-johnson-border-funds/

...And Houston-area U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls confirms what we all know, which is that Republicans prioritize their own power over good policy for the country: https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/border-policies-gops-nehls-says-quiet-part-loud-rcna132223

ERCOT is underway with plans to connect to an outside power source in Mississippi, but its capacity is not especially significant: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/efforts-underway-to-connect-ercot-to-power-grids-outside-of-texas/3425919/

And a piece on the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals and its recent conservative leanings provides even more reason to mobilize against a second Donald Trump term: https://factkeepers.com/the-fifth-circuit-court-of-appeals-is-now-the-handmaids-court/

Thanks for listening! Please visit our web store and consider supporting our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 1/4/24: COVID and Flu Spike Concerns In North Texas, and More Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Health officials in the D/FW area are watching a spike in both COVID and flu-related hospitalizations - a good time to be sure vaccinations are up to date: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/flu-and-covid-19-cases-continue-to-increase-across-texas/3424962/

The Biden Department of Justice has sued the state of Texas over SB-4: https://www.reuters.com/legal/us-justice-dept-sues-texas-over-immigration-law-2024-01-03/

...While U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson leads a congressional field trip cosplay at Eagle Pass: https://apnews.com/article/congress-border-security-ukraine-migrants-texas-mexico-909cfb700eafef95196f97906dc16ae1

...And the New York Times checks the facts: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/03/us/politics/republicans-immigration-border-fact-check.html

...And that El Paso family violently targeted by DPS recently gives an interview to NPR: https://www.npr.org/2024/01/03/1222600892/u-s-citizens-have-been-accidentally-caught-up-in-the-texas-crackdown-on-migrants

Lawmakers in Washington detail pre-emptive legislation designed to resist Texas' overreach in regard to transgender patient records: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/seattle-hospital-sues-ag-paxton-re-trans-healthcare-cites-shield-law-18236553

A shameful caving to conservative threats over a New Year's Eve drag show by a Grapevine restaurant: https://www.chron.com/food/article/texas-drag-show-cancelled-18584958.php

A Washington Post op-ed on the current abortion rights fight highlights the importance of the 2024 election: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/03/abortion-texas-5th-circuit-emergency/

Texas is dead last among U.S. states in personal freedom - except for campaign finance freedom, where we're #1: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2024/01/03/states-freedom-texas-tax-marijuana-school-choice-incarceration-abortion-laws/71936221007/

Thanks for listening! Please consider making a contribution to help Progress Texas continue our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 1/3/24: Court Rules Against Federal Guidelines Allowing Emergency Abortion Care, and More Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that federal guidance does not compel doctors in Texas to provide abortion care, even if that care is the best treatment for a problematic pregnancy: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/02/us/texas-emergency-abortion-ban-appeal.html

...While the Biden administration asks the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in a 5th Circuit decision stopping federal border agents from removing razor wire placed on the border by Operation Lone Star: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-administration-asks-us-supreme-court-intervene-texas-border-row-2024-01-02/

...And New York City officials mull sending the NYPD to intercept buses of migrants sent from Texas to clandestine dropoff locations in New Jersey: https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/n-y-n-j-working-together-to-thwart-bus-operators-trying-to-circumvent-nycs-rules-on-asylum-seekers/

San Antonio school districts are preparing to go deep in to deficits in order to provide teacher and staff pay raises: https://www.kens5.com/article/news/education/texas-teacher-raises-legislature-school-districts-san-antonio/273-c660013b-28ce-4166-b508-bd055bf888db

...While San Antonio scores Gold Medal City status from CityHealth rankings: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2024/01/02/san-antonio-only-gold-medal-city-in-texas-according-to-cityhealths-rankings-of-public-health-policy/

Dallas honors former U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, a major political force in North Texas and an iconic groundbreaker for both women and Black Texans, who passed away on New Year's Eve: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/12/31/eddie-bernice-johnson-who-broke-barriers-represented-dallas-in-long-house-career-dies/

Supporters of Texas secession are threatening to sue the state GOP following the rejection of a ballot item petition: https://www.expressnews.com/news/texas/article/texit-activists-threaten-lawsuit-against-state-gop-18577064.php

Governor Abbott is taking heat over the lackluster results of his supposed "largest property tax cut in history": https://www.newsweek.com/greg-abbott-faces-rebellion-over-texas-property-taxes-1857033

Calls rise for Ted Cruz to be banned from key championship sporting events as his apparent curse helps doom the Texas Longhorns to defeat in the College Football Playoff: https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-banned-texas-sports-games-curse-longhorns-1857011

A Texas bishop takes the New York Times to task for a horrifying misunderstanding of "taco sauce": https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/01/02/texas-episcopal-bishop-schools-the-new-york-times-taco-sauce-is-not-tex-mex/3

Happy New Year and thanks for listening! Please consider making a contribution to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 12/28/23: Progress In Border Talks With Mexico, and More Dec 28, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The closed-door meeting with top Mexican officials and representatives of the Biden administration is said to have been productive: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-leader-urges-us-invest-people-not-walls-ahead-blinken-meeting-2023-12-27/

...While the mayors of several Democratically-led U.S. cities plead with the federal government with help handling migrants dumped in their metros by Governor Abbott: https://www.westhawaiitoday.com/2023/12/28/nation-world-news/democratic-mayors-renew-pleas-for-federal-help-and-coordination-with-texas-over-migrant-crisis/

A look at the current battle lines in the abortion fight, which include much more public exposure for those leading the struggle than in years past: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/12/26/1221587212/abortion-year-in-review-2023-jane-roe-kate-cox

Texas college kids on winter break will return to their campuses in a few days to find all diversity offices closed: https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2023/12/28/diversity-offices-on-college-campuses-will-soon-be-illegal-in-texas-as-30-new-laws-go-into-effect/

Other states have new laws firing up in the new year too - including Michigan's new common-sense gun safety measures: https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/a-look-at-gun-laws-set-to-take-effect-in-2024/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17037575143283&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbsnews.com%2Fdetroit%2Fnews%2Fa-look-at-gun-laws-set-to-take-effect-in-2024%2F

Also in the new year - which Democrat will face Ted Cruz? Colin Allred leads the fundraising race by a long shot: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/allred-gutierrez-ted-cruz-senate-race-18549975.php

Happy New Year and thanks for your support of Progress Texas in 2023! The Daily Dispatch returns on January 3, 2024. Please consider helping us continue our important work into '24 with a donation at https://progresstexas.org/.

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