Progress Texas Podcasts

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 50 - Beto O'Rourke's Polling-Palooza! And: What Did Mickey Do?: April 7th, 2022 Apr 07, 2022

Show notes

Wow, 50 Happy Hours on the books! Two polls this week show Beto O'Rourke gaining on Greg Abbott in the race for Texas Governor - one of them showing the race down to two points.We also address a new push from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to emulate Florida's ridiculous "Don't Say Gay" bill here in the Lone Star State - not to mention the surreal war that the Texas GOP has declared on Mickey Mouse. Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Mike Collier joins us - and he's got some opinions to share.

Minisode: Fueling The Progressive Fire: April 2nd, 2022 Apr 02, 2022

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Cornbread in the shape of Texas: impractical, or worth the hassle? This week we talk about keeping the progressive light burning in Texas, the evolution of our signature program Humans Against Ted Cruz, and ponder the usefulness of Texas-shaped things. Also in this heartfelt minisode we bid adieu to our longtime anchor and spirit squad leader Saatvik Ahluwalia, who's off to Massachusetts - a much colder state but with a much more reliable energy grid. And we introduce our new Digital Manager and Happy Hour Host Sam Gonzalez - a veteran Texas podcaster and dedicated progressive rabble-rouser.

Vote for our own Diana Gomez in TWO categories in the Austin Chronicle's Best Of Austin poll:
https://vote.austinchronicle.com/politics-and-media/activist
https://vote.austinchronicle.com/politics-and-media/politics-and-media-wild-card

And, get your sweet Humans Against Ted Cruz gear here: https://store.progresstexas.org/

Ep. 49 - Trans People Are Magical: March 31st, 2022 Mar 31, 2022

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Trans Day of Visibility seeks to celebrate the accomplishments and resiliency of the trans community, and this year it comes while Republicans have launched attacks on trans kids. We're proud to welcome two of our favorite advocates and activists for trans rights, as Adri Perez of ACLU of Texas joins us, and LGTBQ+ policy consultant Ash Hall returns to the podcast. We discuss defiance in the face of cheap political attacks, the lies being told, and why in spite of it all, we can remain hopeful for the future.

Minisode: Update - The Texas Abortion Fight: March 26th, 2022 Mar 26, 2022

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Our fab panel of Texas women from this week's Happy Hour podcast returns for a sharper focus on abortion rights, which are now under active attack in multiple U.S. states. These are "copycat laws" modeled after Texas' own notorious SB8 and its reliance on vigilante action for enforcement. For this special Women's History Month mini-sode, Progress Texas Development Manager Brett Isaacs hosts, along with Shellie Hayes-McMahon from Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, attorney and voting rights expert Emily Eby, and Carrie Collier-Brown of the Texas Blue Action Democrats.

Ep. 48 - SCOTUS: Ketanji Brown Jackson Hearings: March 24th, 2022 Mar 24, 2022

Show notes

As we approach the closing days of March and Women's History Month, real history is being made in Washington D.C., and we've convened a special group of our favorite Texas ladies for a deep dive on the ongoing Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Ketanji Brown Jackson - who is proving to be up to the task of facing down the extraordinarily lame Republican attacks and "jackassery" she's had to tolerate. Progress Texas Development Manager Brett Isaacs hosts, along with Shellie Hayes-McMahon from Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, attorney and voting rights expert Emily Eby, and Carrie Collier-Brown of the Texas Blue Action Democrats.

Programming note: This Saturday, watch for a special mini-sode as this same great panel of women takes stock of what's happening in the ongoing abortion rights fight.

Ep. 47 - After Three Long Years...SXSW Is Back!: March 10th, 2022 Mar 11, 2022

Show notes

For many Texans, especially Austinites, the moment when the COVID-19 pandemic got really, really real came on March 6, 2020: the day that SXSW was officially cancelled. At the time it seemed unthinkable, as did much of what was still to come over the next two harrowing and surreal years. But now, SXSW returns to Austin in fully live form, and it's not a stretch to consider this moment one of victory, renewal and promise for ALL of us. We discuss what SXSW means to Austin, Texas and the world as one of the great intersections of art, communication, technology, innovation - and of course, BBQ, tacos and beer. We're back baby! Thanks so much for your support.

Ep. 46 - Oil Politics: How Russia and Ukraine Affect Texas: March 9th, 2022 Mar 10, 2022

Show notes

Senior strategist Glenn W. Smith and Content Production Specialist Chris Mosser had the pleasure of talking with renowned Texas energy attorney and former Democratic nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner Chrysta Castaneda on the big topic at hand: the new American sanctions on Russian oil, the possible strategic maneuvers and consequences ahead - and specifically, what all of this means for Texans, and why it's important for progressives to stand strong and speak the truth in what could be a trying and pivotal moment for all of us. PLEASE SHARE this insightful and important conversation with your friends, and thanks as always for your support.

Glenn's terrific piece on this topic: https://progresstexas.org/blog/facts-about-biden-oil-and-ukraine-contradict-republican-lies

Ep. 45 - First Anniversary Episode! Unpacking The Primary: March 3rd, 2022 Mar 03, 2022

Show notes

It's our first anniversary! And what a year it's been. Way WAY too many Lege sessions, the Democratic quorum break, unprecedented and unlimited ugly from the Texas GOP. And, a LOT of Truly down the hatch. Reviewing our first year, it's pretty amazing what we've endured - and it's also starkly clear that we've still got a long way to go - so, THANK YOU for being part of the family.

Meanwhile - we have a primary election to unpack. What were we surprised about, what are we excited about, and what are the challenges ahead in May and November? We're lucky to have Cliff Walker of progressive, Black and Brown-owned communications and advocacy firm Seeker Strategies to contribute his take - including the fact that Republican voter suppression appears to be working just as designed in Texas, contrasted with the huge and growing buzz for Beto O'Rourke!

Ep. 44 - How YOU Can Amplify Progress: March 2nd, 2022 Mar 02, 2022

Show notes

This evening (Wednesday March 2) at 6pm, the annual Amplify Austin Day begins - a full 24 hour celebration of giving and support of worthy Austin-based charities and non-profits, and Progress Texas is once again a proud participant! Seems like a great time to pause, reflect on the first year of our podcast, thank YOU for making that first year such a huge success, and explain how supporting Progress Texas is such an easy and important way to help Texas move forward into a better, brighter future.

Either directly (at https://progresstexas.org/), or via Amplify Austin (at https://www.amplifyatx.org/campaigns/progress-texas), we can't thank you enough for being part of the ongoing and building progressive movement in Texas.

Minisode: The Russian Attack on Ukraine - and the View from Texas: February 25th, 2022 Feb 25, 2022

Show notes

Even with weeks of buildup, the invasion of Ukraine by Vladimir Putin's Russia has still been a complete shock to most Texans. What will be the immediate and long-term impacts in Texas, what can we do to help, and what's coming next? Dr. Jody Ferguson is an Austin-based author and expert on Russian political thought and strategy, and we're honored to have spent some time listening to his insight - his hosts for this special bonus podcast are Progress Texas Development Manager Brett Isaacs and Content Creation Specialist Chris Mosser.

There are many ways YOU can help: we found a good collection of Ukraine-focused aid organizations that was posted by KSAT television in San Antonio.

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