Progress Texas Podcasts

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Daily Dispatch 12/13/23: National Outrage Over Texas Abortion Policy, and More Dec 13, 2023

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The entire country is stunned over recent developments regarding abortion care for women with problematic pregnancies in Texas: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/what-does-texas-supreme-court-ruling-emergency-abortions-mean-patients-2023-12-12/

...The Texas Supreme Court regards Cox's legal plea as evidence she doesn't qualify for exception to the ban: https://x.com/AliceOllstein/status/1734372711332274677?s=20

...The reassuring language from the Court is a "trap" for Texas healthcare providers: https://www.vox.com/2023/12/12/23998301/kate-cox-texas-supreme-court-abortion-ken-paxton

...Legal experts interpret Ken Paxton's "extraordinary" threats against Texas doctors as his continued "enforcement through fear": https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/12/texas-abortion-ken-paxton-kate-cox

...One especially anti-choice Texas Supreme Court Justice, John Phillip Devine, is up for re-election in 2024: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/12/kate-cox-nonviable-pregnancy-judicial-control-abortion-texas.html

...Both Ted Cruz and John Cornyn dodge the issue altogether: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/ted-cruz-john-cornyn-avoid-questions-kate-cox-abortion-case-rcna129407#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17024320640662&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcnews.com%2Fpolitics%2Fcongress%2Fted-cruz-john-cornyn-avoid-questions-kate-cox-abortion-case-rcna129407

The U.S. Supreme Court clears the use of a Galveston voting map a lower court had found drawn on racist lines - a threat to the national Voting Rights Act: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/12/12/galveston-texas-voting-map-supreme-court/

ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas warns of impending power problems related to a lack of "investment in infrastructure": https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/ercot-blackout-pablo-vegas-18547148.php

Media Matters has sued Ken Paxton over his investigation into their coverage of X/Twitter: https://www.thedailybeast.com/media-matters-sues-texas-ag-ken-paxton-over-retaliatory-investigation

Craig Watkins, Dallas' first Black district attorney, has died at 56: https://www.keranews.org/news/2023-12-12/craig-watkins-dallas-countys-first-black-district-attorney-has-died

The Texas Democratic Party will host a virtual conversation today (Wed 12/13) at 12:30 PM with Emily's List and Planned Parenthood Texas Votes on recent abortion developments and their implication for next year's election: https://www.instagram.com/texasdemocrats/?hl=en

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

Daily Dispatch 12/12/23: Texas Mom Forced To Flee For Emergency Abortion Care, and More Dec 12, 2023

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Texas Supreme Court ruled against Dallas-area mother Kate Cox, denying her emergency emergency care, forcing Cox to leave Texas to receive it: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2023/12/11/kate-cox-flees-state-to-get-abortion-after-supreme-court-decision/

...Proving that the "exceptions" Texas law provides are really not intended to help Texas mothers: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/11/opinion/texas-abortion-ban.html

...And serves as the ironic "pro-life" protection of a doomed pregnancy at the cost of future children for Cox: https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/09/opinions/texas-abortion-laws-kate-cox-ziegler/index.html

The filing deadline for the 2024 election yesterday finds U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee squaring off with former Houston City Council member Amanda Edwards for the U.S. House: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/sheila-jackson-lee-reelection-house/

...And State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado challenging State Senator Nathan Johnson: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/12/11/texas-rep-victoria-neave-criado-to-challenge-state-sen-nathan-johnson-in-march-primary/

...And a crowded field to face Ted Cruz, still dominated by U.S. Rep. Colin Allred and State Senator Roland Gutierrez: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/12/11/in-march-5-texas-primaries-down-ballot-contests-have-more-lone-star-spice/

Meanwhile, both Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton attack members of their own party out of retribution: https://www.kltv.com/2023/12/12/gov-abbott-endorses-opponents-east-texas-lawmakers-who-voted-against-school-vouchers/

MOVE Texas unveils a $4 million effort to mobilize young voters of color in Texas: https://themessenger.com/politics/move-texas-to-invest-4-million-to-mobilize-young-texas-voters-for-2024-exclusive

A new study finds the deterioration of Texas weather accelerating: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/weather/2023/12/11/its-not-your-imagination-texas-weather-is-getting-hotter-and-more-extreme-study-finds/

Thanks for listening! Please consider supporting Progress Texas with a donation, at https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Daily Dispatch 12/11/23: Texas Supreme Court Sides Against Texas Mom, and More Dec 11, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

On Friday, the Texas Supreme Court stayed a lower court order that would have allowed Dallas mother Kate Cox to terminate a doomed pregnancy that threatens her health: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-abortion-ban-supreme-court-hold-kate-cox/

...Drawing national attention to the contrast of approaches to reproductive freedom between Democrats and Republicans: https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4351771-five-things-to-know-texas-abortion-fight/

...Setting the stage for one of the primary issues that will decide next year's election: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/democrats-biden-campaign-condemn-blocking-emergency-abortion-texas-woman-2023-12-09/

...And providing a preview of what will happen if Trump and the Republicans prevail: https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2023/12/10/texas-abortion-case-judge-permission-healthcare-decisions/71851981007/

Longtime Democratic Texas State Senator John Whitmire wins the race for Houston Mayor, raising important decisions for U.S. Representative Sheila Jackson Lee: https://rollcall.com/2023/12/10/after-loss-in-mayors-race-jackson-lee-faces-decision/

...While Chris Hollins wins his run for Houston City Controller: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/houston-controller-runoff-results-18534780.php

...And Ken Paxton impeachment attorney Tony Buzbee's run for Houston City Council ends in defeat: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/09/tony-buzbee-houston-city-council-attorney-mary-nan-huffman/

While Ted Cruz and John Cornyn hold U.S. aid to Ukraine hostage, a top Russian lawmaker suggests that by his country's recent example, Texas should be returned to Mexico: https://www.newsweek.com/russia-guyana-venezuelan-mironov-alaska-texas-1851004

A black eye for Texas as Elon Musk reinstates Alex Jones to Twitter: https://apnews.com/article/alex-jones-x-account-elon-musk-90cfc990631dec5e8f337167fbe16372

Filmmaker Rob Reiner will release a new documentary on Christian Nationalism in February: https://www.al.com/life/2023/12/rob-reiner-drops-trailer-for-documentary-on-christian-nationalism.html

Thanks for listening! Please consider supporting our important work at Progress Texas at https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Daily Dispatch 12/8/23: Judge Grants Abortion While Paxton Threatens Doctors, and More Dec 08, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Dallas-area mother of two Kate Cox is granted a temporary restraining order allowing her to terminate a dangerous and hopeless pregnancy: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-abortion-ban-kate-cox-emergency-fetus-trisomy-18-judge-maya-guerra-gamble/

...While Attorney General Ken Paxton threatens legal action against any doctor who provides abortion services in Texas: https://www.reuters.com/legal/texas-judge-allows-woman-get-emergency-abortion-despite-state-ban-2023-12-07/

...Which we agree, is "ghoulish": https://newrepublic.com/post/177398/texass-attorney-general-ghoulish-new-abortion-stance

Meanwhile, Paxton is failing to fully disclose his extensive real estate holdings in financial disclosure reports: https://www.kut.org/politics/2023-12-07/ken-paxton-texas-attorney-general-personal-finance-reports

Texas DPS's own inspector general concludes that while troopers did indeed mistreat migrants at the border as reported, those incidents didn't violate the law or agency policy: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/dps-migrant-report-18539662.php

Pale Horse Strategies, the consulting firm that started the Texas GOP's Nazi scandal, is undergoing a rebranding: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/07/pale-horse-strategies-west-fort-worth-management-nick-fuentes/

ERCOT says they're ready for winter - experts aren't so sure: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2023-12-08/how-ercot-and-the-city-are-preparing-for-the-next-winter-storm/

Let's Get Busy Houston! The runoff election for mayor, city controller, and several at-large City Council seats is Saturday: https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/12/08/election-runoff-jackson-lee-whitmire

Our annual Ten Best And Worst Texans ranking is up - and THANKS for your input: https://progresstexas.org/blog/top-10-best-and-worst-texans-2023

Thanks for listening! Please consider helping Progress Texas continue our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Happy Hour 137 - PT Endorsee for Houston Mayor Sheila Jackson Lee Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

Progress Texas has endorsed longtime U.S. Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee in her run for mayor of Houston, which will be decided on Saturday in that city's very important runoff election, which will also determine Houston's next city controller (a race in which we've endorsed Chris Hollins) and several at-large City Council seats. Congresswoman Jackson Lee took a few minutes during a busy campaign day on the last day of early voting on Tuesday to tell us about her vision of the future Houston and how she plans to make that vision reality.

Find Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee at https://www.sheilaforhouston.com/.

Thanks for listening! Please consider supporting our ongoing work with a donation at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 12/7/23: Abortion Case Restraining Order Hearing Today, and More Dec 07, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Abortion rights plaintiff Kate Cox's case will receive a temporary restraining order hearing this morning at 9am in the Austin court of judge Maya Guerra Gamble: https://www.youtube.com/live/0oCALdrAefY?si=HnOo90di5qICHhI0

...ABC News provides a good summary of the Cox case: https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-suing-texas-abortion-bans-mother/story?id=105420503

Ken Paxton follows the right wing conspiracist narrative into a new lawsuit against the U.S. State Department: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/texas-claims-us-state-department-funds-tech-that-censors-conservative-news-2023-12-06/

State officials think they may have found a way around ludicrous election fraud lawsuits that threaten to delay the enactment of voter-approved constitutional amendments, including pension raises for retired teachers: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/06/greg-abbott-constitutional-amendments/

Both Ted Cruz and John Cornyn have voted down support for Ukraine, Taiwan and Israel as the GOP holds those commitments hostage over border concessions: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/06/ted-cruz-john-cornyn-texas-ukraine-israel-border/

An active-duty U.S. Air Force Reserve officer has been arrested in Dallas over his participation in the January 6 insurrection: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article282753693.html

An alarming wave of live music venue closures strikes D/FW: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/music-venues-across-dfw-announce-abrupt-closures-over-the-last-week/287-ed2fe45e-0ab3-4257-a761-aba3b6eeb0cc

Which Texas lawmakers were the best pushing for progress, and which were the worst in holding it back? Share your opinion: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQw0grUZt65heKNP3p5zPPqc-mxloQHfYr4eqJ6eyM-o-cWw/viewform Thanks for listening! Please consider supporting our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 12/6/23: A New Lawsuit Challenges Texas Abortion Ban, and More Dec 06, 2023

Show notes

Kate Cox, a Dallas mother of two, is calling for a court order to allow her to receive abortion care amidst a dangerous pregnancy: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/05/us/texas-abortion-lawsuit.html

...Every day that passes increases the danger to Ms. Cox: https://progresstexas.org/woman-sues-texas-allow-abortion

SB-4, the blatantly unconstitutional immigration bill, could be signed into law by Governor Greg Abbott any day now: https://www.click2houston.com/news/investigates/2023/12/06/texas-on-the-cusp-of-enacting-new-immigration-enforcement-law/

...While lawmakers and advocates ask the Biden administration to step in: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/advocates-want-biden-reign-texas-immigration-crackdown-rcna128187

The fourth special session ends, taking school vouchers AND school funding with it: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/05/texas-house-adjourns-special-legislative-session/

...While a situation reminiscent of George Santos brews for a McKinney GOP House member: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/05/frederick-frazier-plea-deal-impersonating-public-servant-texas/

The Fort Worth Star Telegram's editorial board calls for the Texas Republican Party to reconsider its embrace of Nazism: https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/editorials/article282706988.html

...While Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa calls for them to clean house: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/nazi-debate-prompts-texas-democrats-call-for-republican-chair-to-resign-18033609

The plight of high school student Darryl George continues as his fight to keep his traditional hairstyle meets unrelenting resistance from Barbers Hill ISD: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/05/us/darryl-george-hair-locs-texas.html

We're still seeking your feedback on the Best And Worst of Texas for 2023! Share your opinion: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQw0grUZt65heKNP3p5zPPqc-mxloQHfYr4eqJ6eyM-o-cWw/viewform

Thanks for listening, and we hope to see you TONIGHT in Dallas for our second Progress Texas holiday party! Tickets at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 12/5/23: National Press On Texas GOP Extremism, and More Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The mindblowing news that Texas' Republican Party has chosen not to disavow Nazis continues to reverberate nationally: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/04/texas-republican-party-vote-antisemitism

...Representing the continued embrace of extremism on the political right in Texas: https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-gop-extremism-nazi-ban-policy-language/

...While the still-Nazi-free half of the Texas GOP at least pretends to recoil in horror: https://theweek.com/politics/texas-republicans-neo-nazis-resolution

An in-depth analysis of the Uvalde mass shooting police response debuts tonight on PBS: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/04/inside-the-uvalde-response-documentary-investigation/

...PBS explains their goals: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/article/uvalde-school-shooting-investigation-details-publishing-decision/

Texas continues sending hundreds of busloads of migrants into Denver, dropped without winter clothing and staged for dramatic effect: https://www.denverpost.com/2023/12/04/colorado-capitol-migrants-texas-denver/

Ken Paxton's lawsuit against Pfizer over their COVID-19 vaccine is backed by embarrassingly flawed and thoroughly debunked math: https://arstechnica.com/health/2023/12/texas-sues-pfizer-with-covid-anti-vax-argument-that-is-pure-stupid/

Who are the best and worst Texans of 2023? Share your opinion here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQw0grUZt65heKNP3p5zPPqc-mxloQHfYr4eqJ6eyM-o-cWw/viewform

Thanks for listening - and if you're doing so in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, we'd love to see you tomorrow (Wednesday December 6) at our second Progress Texas holiday party! Details at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 12/4/23: Conflicting Resolutions From Dems And GOP Speak Volumes, and More Dec 04, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Texas Democratic Party has issued a resolution calling for peace in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict: https://www.texasdemocrats.org/media/texas-state-democratic-executive-committee-unanimously-passes-israeli-palestinian-resolution-calls-for-a-humanitarian-ceasefire-and-release-of-hostages

Meanwhile - over the same weekend - the Texas Republican Party struck from their pro-Israel resolution language condemning associations with Nazi sympathizers and Holocaust deniers: https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-gop-votes-against-ban-association-nazi-sympathizers-holocaust-deniers-2023-12

Also on that topic, controversy at UT Austin over the removal of two teaching assistants resulting from their support of Palestinian and Muslim students: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2023/12/01/message-about-gaza-leads-to-removal-of-ut-teaching-assistants/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17015727091418&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fnews%2Feducation%2F2023%2F12%2F01%2Fmessage-about-gaza-leads-to-removal-of-ut-teaching-assistants%2F

Tomorrow's close of the 4th special session keeps vouchers at bay, but also may allow delays in voter-approved teacher pension raises: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/01/2023-election-challenge-teacher-pay-tax-cuts/

Ted...ahem, Rafael Cruz introduces legislation that would prevent employers from requiring employees to respect each other's chosen pronouns: https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/ted-cruz-preferred-name-pronouns-trans-bill-18524085.php

Houston's runoff election looms as early voting ends tomorrow and Election Day is next Saturday - Mayoral candidates Sheila Jackson Lee and John Whitmire will square off in a debate tonight: https://abc13.com/houston-mayor-runoff-election-mayoral-debate-sheila-jackson-lee/14128371/

Thanks for listening! Thanks to all who came out for Friday's Progress Texas Holiday Party in Austin - and we look forward to seeing you at Wednesday's party in Dallas! Tickets and more info at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 12/1/23: DPS Ordered To Hand Over Uvalde Records, and More Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

DPS officials have been ordered by a district judge to (finally) hand over its records regarding the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/30/uvalde-shooting-investigation-records/

Ken Paxton's AG's office has sued Pfizer, claiming they inflated claims regarding their COVID-19 vaccine in order to maximize profits: https://www.reuters.com/legal/pfizer-is-sued-by-texas-over-covid-19-vaccine-claims-2023-11-30/

A judge has denied state requests to stop federal authorities from removing razor wire they've placed at the border with Mexico: https://www.axios.com/2023/12/01/texas-border-razor-wire-judge-ruling-immigration

ERCOT has been asked to rework their simulation process, after their own simulations show a high likelihood of blackouts in extreme weather conditions: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/investigations/defenders/texas-power-grid-blackouts-simulation-ercot-winter/269-01140c85-a9a3-43b1-be71-9f93f40b30b8

As the standoff over vouchers continues, Texas public school teachers continue to struggle with low pay: https://www.kut.org/education/2023-11-30/texas-teacher-salary-raise-school-voucher

Older Texans are struggling too, as increasing numbers of them are now spending over 30% of their income on housing: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/30/texas-seniors-housing-costs/

State authorities remain unprepared, and uninterested, in the huge population boom inbound for the Austin/San Antonio joint metro area: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/09/san-antonio-austin-growth-development/

Rice University moves the remains and a statue of its namesake founder, who was a slave owner: https://www.universityherald.com/articles/78194/20231130/rice-university-amends-history-slavery-relocating-founders-remains.htm

Thanks for listening! We hope to see you tonight in Austin, or Wednesday in Dallas, for this year's Progress Texas Holiday Parties! Tickets are available now at https://progresstexas.org/.

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