Progress Texas Podcasts

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Daily Dispatch 11/30/23: Border High Speed Chases Killing Dozens Of Innocent Texans, and More Nov 30, 2023

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A new report from Human Rights Watch highlights the deadly hazards Operation Lone Star high-speed chases are creating among our border communities: https://abc13.com/texas-dps-chase-human-rights-watch-report-operation-lone-star-reports-troopers-involved-in-chases/14119628/

The confusion surrounding abortion care for troubled pregnancies in Texas is receiving more national attention following the Zurawski hearing: https://prospect.org/health/2023-11-30-abortion-confusion-texas/

Are school vouchers inevitable in Texas? We say, hell no: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/11/30/are-school-vouchers-inevitably-going-to-pass-in-once-resistant-texas-house/

The conservative 5th Circuit Court of Appeals is considering new review requirements for Texas school book sellers: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/29/texas-hb-900-book-rating-lawsuit-appeal/

A national professor's fellowship at UT has been dismantled under SB-17, which outlaws DEI initiatives at Texas public universities: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2023/11/29/public-voices-fellowship-university-of-texas-austin-op-ed-project-underrepresented-opinion-closes/71733167007/

Your homeowner's insurance bill is indeed rising - and it's because of climate change: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/30/texas-homeowner-insurance-climate-change-costs/

Thanks for listening! Let us know your opinion on the Best And Worst of our state lawmakers at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQw0grUZt65heKNP3p5zPPqc-mxloQHfYr4eqJ6eyM-o-cWw/viewform, and grab your tickets to our upcoming holiday parties tomorrow and Wednesday at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 11/29/23: Zurawski Case Reverberates, Abbott Switches Gears on Vouchers, and More Nov 29, 2023

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Much discussion of yesterday's Texas Supreme Court hearing of the Zurawksi vs. State Of Texas case: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2023/11/29/texas-supreme-court-hears-case-challenging-texas-abortion-bans-health-risks-pregnancy-women/71727577007/

...Amanda Zurawski appeared after the hearing on MSNBC's The Reid Out show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRZM63wun-Y

Governor Abbott, in lieu of announcing a fifth special session, has begun endorsing pro-voucher primary challengers to sitting Republican House members who voted against vouchers: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/28/new-article-greg-abbott-school-vouchers-hugh-shine-endorse/

The international bridge at Eagle Pass has been closed to incoming traffic from Mexico until further notice: https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/bridge-in-eagle-pass-shutting-down-to-vehicles-border-patrol-eagle-pass-mexico-texas-immigration-migrants-illegal-undocumented/273-405e5169-bf7d-4351-8f52-640765a5612d

A new twist in the Galveston voting maps case could threaten the Voting Rights Act: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/28/galveston-texas-voter-map-case-appeals-court

Four "emerging" Texas public universities stand to improve their national standing with new voter-approved state funding: https://www.insidehighered.com/news/government/state-policy/2023/11/27/game-changer-research-ranking-texas-universities

...While a "red state brain drain" is well underway: https://newrepublic.com/article/176854/republican-red-states-brain-drain

Battery operators, seen as a possible solution to Texas power grid woes, are facing difficulties of ERCOT's creation: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/texas-battery-operators-worry-new-ercot-regs-18517667.php

Legendary Texas progressive Jim Hightower talks about the history of progress in the Lone Star State in a new episode of the Marc Steiner podcast: https://youtu.be/TmBI9HpEolY?si=nXtfln-3ZKxSWzAo

Thanks for listening! Grab your tickets for our upcoming Austin and Dallas holiday parties now - https://progresstexas.org/.

Happy Hour 136: "Cautious Optimism" As Texas Supreme Court Hears Zurawski Case Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

Abortion rights activists across the country were glued to this morning's hearing at the Texas Supreme Court of the State appeal of a lawsuit brought by 20 Texas women and two doctors whose lives have been upended by our state's poorly-written and carelessly-implemented abortion bans since the fall of Roe v Wade. We convened an expert panel as the hearing closed late this morning: State Representative and longtime reproductive freedom advocate Donna Howard, veteran Texas civil rights attorney Jason Smith and attorney Austin Kaplan, who is directly involved representing the plaintiffs, all share their views on today's event and what's next as the Court considers the case. Plus, in case you missed it, the full Court hearing of the Zurawski case is included here, beginning at the 32-minute mark.

Find Rep. Donna Howard at https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/?district=48.

Find Austin Kaplan at https://kaplanlawatx.com/.

And find Jason Smith at https://letsgotocourt.com/.

Thanks for listening! There's still time to grab your tickets for our upcoming Holiday Parties, in Austin on Friday 12/1 and in Dallas on Wednesday 12/6. Hope to see you! More at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 11/28/23: Texas Supreme Court Hears Zurawski Case Today, and More Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Zurawski vs State Of Texas case will be the subject of a hearing at the Texas Supreme Court this morning: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/11/28/1215463289/texas-abortion-lawsuit-texas-supreme-court

...Livestream link: https://www.texasbarcle.com/CLE/sc.asp

Will there be a fifth special session? No word yet from the Governor: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/texas-legislature-recesses-with-school-choice-legislation-still-in-limbo-will-governor-abbott-call-a-fifth-special-session

We're also watching for Governor Abbott to sign SB4, and the legal backlash certain to follow: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/yall-itics/yall-itics-texas-border-to-become-the-show-me-state-when-sb-4-signed-into-law/287-87be0e16-ee85-4a2b-88e9-5d3ba40977d8

...And which would come as deadly high speed police chases of suspected unlawful migrants are at an all-time high: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/24/us/texas-border-police-chases.html

...A new Human Rights Watch report illuminates the high-speed chase problem: https://www.ktep.org/2023-11-26/human-rights-watch-challenges-texas-dps-high-speed-pursuit-policy

...And while economic numbers regarding immigrant-led families show them to be a vital part of the Texas economy: https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/columns/your-voice/2023/11/20/opinion-immigrants-contribute-and-embody-the-texas-spirit-so-why-does-the-gop-vilify-them/71594664007/

...And while Vice President Kamala Harris spoke in Houston yesterday, touting the Biden administration's support of minority-owned businesses: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/27/kamala-harris-vice-president-houston/

Texas is now leading the nation in dropping children from Medicaid coverage by all measures: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2023/11/23/more-than-810000-texas-children-booted-from-medicaid-coverage/

...While demand on our state's food banks has not dropped back to pre-pandemic levels: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/28/texas-food-banks-high-demand-snap/

Progress Texas is looking for your input on our annual Best And Worst Of Texas rundown: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeQw0grUZt65heKNP3p5zPPqc-mxloQHfYr4eqJ6eyM-o-cWw/viewform

And this Giving Tuesday, we'd appreciate your support via a donation - or better yet, by joining us for one of our upcoming Holiday Parties! Details at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 11/27/23: Texas Supreme Court Set For Abortion Rights Case, and More Nov 27, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Zurawski v State Of Texas case is set to be heard by the all-Republican Texas Supreme Court tomorrow: https://www.npr.org/2023/11/26/1215227706/texas-supreme-court-to-hear-case-on-state-abortion-laws-and-pregnancy-complicati

...Watch via this livestream link: https://www.texasbarcle.com/CLE/sc.asp

Ted Cruz is ignoring criticism for incorrectly characterizing the auto crash near the Canadian border on Wednesday as a "terrorist attack: https://www.indy100.com/politics/ted-cruz-rainbow-bridge-explosion

...While Texas progressives continue sizing up Democratic contenders to challenge Cruz next year: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/11/22/contrasting-styles-emerge-in-democratic-primary-to-face-sen-ted-cruz/

...Including a snapshot from KXAN in Austin: https://youtu.be/CHTpngo0ogs?si=CmJjVweGKjdA22Pv

Vice President Kamala Harris will visit Houston today to press the Biden campaign's outreach to Latino voters: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/24/kamala-harris-houston-visit-hispanic/

ERCOT is now predicting about a one in six chance of rolling blackouts this winter - if conditions are normal: https://www.chron.com/weather/article/ercot-texas-rolling-blackout-winter-18514358.php

Texas comes in dead last in a ranking of U.S. states based on personal freedoms: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-least-free-state-personal-freedom-index-1846236

Thanks for listening - our Progress Texas Holiday Parties are coming up this Friday and next Wednesday! Grab your tickets at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 11/21/23: Is Abbott Aiming For Trump's V.P. Pick? and More Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Several factors paint a picture of strategy for Governor Greg Abbott in vying to be Donald Trump's running mate: https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2023/11/20/greg-abbott-vice-president-2024-texas-gov

...While Abbott endorses 58 Texas House members who voted his way on vouchers last week: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/as-promised-gov-greg-abbott-endorses-republicans-who-supported-school-vouchers-and-excludes-incumbent-opponents/

...And prominent Paxton impeachment leader and voucher opponent Rep. Andrew Murr has decided he's had enough: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/20/andrew-murr-reelection/

Ahead of next week's Texas Supreme Court hearing of the Zurawksi case, a group of Texas business leaders weighs in against our state's draconian abortion policies: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/texas-businesses-say-abortion-ban-costs-state-nearly-15-billion-a-year/

...While Democratic Senator Nathan Johnson files a bill opposing local abortion travel bans: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4319236-texas-bill-would-block-local-abortion-travel-bans/

Ken Paxton's office targets Media Matters on the heels of Elon Musk's defamation lawsuit against the non-profit watchdog: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/20/texas-ken-paxton-elon-musk-media-matters/

Texas State University will make history as the site of the first-ever Presidential debate to be held in Texas: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/county/2023/11/20/texas-state-to-host-first-2024-presidential-debate/71656238007/

Austin's Mobile Loaves and Fishes celebrates 25 years of service: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/austin/25-years-local-non-profit-is-national-model-for-tackling-homelessness/

New demographic data shows new Texas transplants as a significant factor in our economic growth: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/20/texas-2023-population-growth-demographics/

Thanks for listening! The Daily Dispatch is off for the holiday and will return on Monday November 27th - meanwhile, grab your tickets for our Austin and/or Dallas Holiday Parties at https://progresstexas.org/! Hae a great and safe holiday.

Daily Dispatch 11/20/23: Abbott Vows Continued Voucher Push, and More Nov 20, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

As vouchers crashed and burned in the House on Friday, Governor Abbott promises to keep pushing: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/11/19/abbotts-next-move-unclear-after-school-choice-defeat-in-texas-house/71585560007/

Abbott hung out with Donald Trump and endorsed his run for President on the border this weekend: https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/19/politics/trump-us-mexico-border-abbott/index.html

The Texas State Board of Education followed through on a threat to reject science books including the connection between fossil fuels and climate change: https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/msnbc/texas-science-textbooks-climate-change-rcna125841

ERCOT has scrapped plans to revive old, outdated power plants: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/ercot-cancels-program-to-boost-power-reserves-ahead-of-potentially-precarious-winter/3390785/

...While summer heat is confirmed to have damaged Texas economically: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2023/11/20/texas-heat-isnt-just-an-inconvenience-its-an-economic-drag-too/

The U.S. Senate's Democratic campaign chairman takes aim at Ted Cruz: https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/19/politics/senate-democratic-campaign-chairman-seeks-to-defy-odds-amid-manchin-retirement-and-sets-sights-on-cruz-and-scott/index.html

A journalism series at KXAN TV in Austin focuses on attacks on the LGBTQ+ community by Texas lawmakers in 2023: https://www.kxan.com/state-of-texas/state-of-texas-special-edition-explores-record-lgbtq-legislative-proposals/

A CNN op-ed explores the lasting emotional damage that survivors of mass shootings suffer, including kids who made it through the Uvalde shooting: https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/19/opinions/gun-violence-uvalde-child-survivors-campoamor/index.html

The D/FW metroplex exceeds 8 million residents for the first time as our urban centers now contain a full 2/3 of Texas' population overall: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2023/11/20/with-8-million-residents-d-fw-is-largest-texas-metro-texas-demographic-center-estimates/

Thanks for listening - and we'd love to meet you in person at one of our two upcoming holiday parties! Details and tickets at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 11/17/23: Texas House Set For Voucher Vote, and More Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A school funding bill including vouchers is up for a full House debate and vote today: https://www.kut.org/politics/2023-11-16/the-texas-house-will-vote-on-school-vouchers-friday-heres-what-to-expect

...Odds of it passing are slim, but crazier things have happened: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/will-school-choice-pass-in-the-texas-house-tomorrow

A poll of his constituents conducted by U.S. House Rep. Greg Casar indicates heavy Democratic support for a cease-fire in the Israel/Hamas conflict: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/greg-casar-gaza-ceasefire-poll/

The Washington Post has published a photo essay including the most graphic images seen publicly of the aftermaths of both the Uvalde and Sutherland Springs mass shootings: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/interactive/2023/ar-15-force-mass-shootings/

The nation is noticing - with some bewilderment - that a new Texas immigration bill, set to be signed into law, would usurp Federal immigration authority: https://prospect.org/blogs-and-newsletters/tap/2023-11-16-texas-republicans-maniacs-megalomaniacs/

...While experts find Republican notions of a "terrorist highway" across the Mexican border preposterous: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/texas-border-terror-watchlist-18496025.php

The Texas State Board of Education, having voiced opposition to accurate climate change and evolutionary information in new science books, is set to vote on them today: https://www.austinmonitor.com/stories/2023/11/will-new-science-textbooks-in-texas-accurately-depict-climate-change-some-worry-they-wont/

The launch of SpaceX's Starship rocket has been delayed and is now set for tomorrow - Saturday November 18 - at 7am Central: https://www.space.com/spacex-starship-second-space-launch-attempt-webcast

Thanks for listening! Join us for one of our upcoming Holiday Parties - information on tickets and sponsorships, and other ways to support Progress Texas in our important work, at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 11/16/23: Abortion Lawsuit Grows To 20 Plaintiffs, and More Nov 16, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Six more plaintiffs have joined the lawsuit, spearheaded by Amanda Zurawski, over Texas abortion laws that led to life-threatening medical situations for them: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/11/15/1213188342/20-women-sue-texas-over-abortion-laws

Officials in Mexico push back against new, unconstitutional immigration legislation in Texas: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/mexico-deportation-law-18494150.php

...One Houston immigration attorney thinks SB4 is entirely unworkable in reality: https://news.yahoo.com/houston-area-officials-texas-bill-025800209.html

Enormous amounts of public school funding are a bait-and-switch for vouchers: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/11/16/house-education-chief-tries-to-pass-texas-school-choice-bill-with-shrinking-wad-of-cash/

Donald Trump will be in Texas this weekend, and Governor Abbott is expected to endorse Trump's run for re-election: https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/15/politics/abbott-expected-endorse-donald-trump/index.html

A convention of Texas secessionists envisions an independent Nation of Texas with "no liberals or poor people": https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/15/texas-secession-texit/

Officials at UT Austin are hurriedly dismantling any trace of DEI in advance of a new law taking effect January 1: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/university-of-texas/ut-austin-dei-law-changes/269-57d6e995-c80b-46a7-b5fb-5dcb11f96579#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17001257422314&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.kvue.com%2Farticle%2Fnews%2Feducation%2Funiversity-of-texas%2Fut-austin-dei-law-changes%2F269-57d6e995-c80b-46a7-b5fb-5dcb11f96579

...While a federal judge expresses skepticism about motivations behind a Texas ban of the use of TikTok on state college campuses: https://www.expressnews.com/news/education/article/tiktok-ban-texas-universities-federal-lawsuit-18495277.php

U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro wants a federal investigation over the Warner Bros. shelving of Coyote Vs. Acme: https://thehill.com/business/4309998-joaquin-castro-federal-probe-warner-bros/

Elon Musk's SpaceX has been cleared by the FAA to launch its Starship rocket from Boca Chica Friday morning at 7am: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/spacex-federal-approval-second-starship-launch-18490997.php

Thanks for listening! Grab your tickets for our 2023 Holiday Parties, and consider pitching in to support our important work, at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 11/15/23: House GOP Passes Unconstitutional Border Bill, and More Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Texas House GOP passed the highly demonstrative and unconstitutional immigration bill SB4 last night - it's headed for the Governor's desk under threat of legal challenge: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/11/14/texas-approves-bill-arrest-deport-people-suspected-illegal-immigration/71579308007/

Over half of the Texas GOP delegation in the U.S. House voted against their own party's efforts to avoid a government shutdown yesterday: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/14/government-shutdown-continuing-resolution/

The Republican-dominated Texas State Board of Education is opposing information in proposed science textbooks regarding climate change and evolution: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/climate-change-textbooks-18491484.php

Additional context into the Sherman ISD theater gender policy situation: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/14/us/trans-actor-oklahoma-sherman-texas.html

A lawsuit filed against Ken Paxton's office by whistleblowers he fired in 2021 can proceed in Travis County: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/14/ken-paxton-whistleblower-lawsuit/

Lubbock's petition-forced marijuana decriminalization measure will go before voters in May after being voted down by the Lubbock City Council: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/14/texas-marijuana-vote-lubbock/

The Central Texas Food Bank is in dire need of volunteers ahead of the holiday rush: https://www.kut.org/austin/2023-11-14/central-texas-food-bank-faces-a-critical-need-for-volunteers-this-holiday-season

Thanks for listening! Grab your tickets for our Austin and Dallas Holiday Parties, and consider making a donation to help us continue our important work, at https://progresstexas.org/.

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