Progress Texas Podcasts

Latest Episodes:

Ep. 20 - Abbott Mask Madness, and Texas: Our Diverse Texas: August 19th, 2021 Aug 19, 2021

Show notes

Saatvik is back! And we welcome Progress Texas Development Associate Brett Isaacs to the Happy Hour for the first time as well. As the whole country watches, Governor Greg Abbott's ban on masking mandates - and the Texas Supreme Court's support of his orders - have met a wall of opposition by Texas families and urban school districts. Turns out, treating children as political pawns isn't especially appealing to most Texans - listen for a way to help Progress Texas fight back. Plus, new U.S. Census data shows an ever greater increase in diversity across America and Texas, which is important to note as redistricting approaches, and good reason for Democratic strategists to renew their efforts to connect with this growing range of Texas voters effectively. And finally, the fall of Afghanistan is bringing refugees to our shores, many of whom are seeking safety in our state - listen to find out how you can help make them welcome.

Over 300 Afghans are coming to Texas and it's beautiful to see. Volunteer: https://www.rstx.org/make-an-impact/volunteer.html

Ep. 19 - The Abbott Virus: Who Will Save Texas From COVID?: August 6th, 2021 Aug 06, 2021

Show notes

Producer Chris Mosser sits in for Saatvik again with Ed, Diana and Wesley as we dedicate most of this week's Happy Hour to an unhappy subject: the return of high COVID-19 numbers in Texas, compounded by Governor Abbott's apparent plan to make it as deadly as possible - not only for his own voters, but for the children of Texas, many of whom still cannot be vaccinated. What should Texas parents do? What should the mayors of Texas cities do? We're in the midst of a crisis of our own making, it seems - join the Progress Texas crew as we try to make sense of it all.

Ep. 18 - Texas Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos: July 22nd, 2021 Jul 22, 2021

Show notes

State Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos joins us this week live from Washington, D.C. as Texas House Dems advocate for voting rights legislation at the federal level. Ed, Wesley and pinch host Chris Mosser ask for an update on how the D.C. Dems are holding up, her take on the national press, the attention from the U.S. Congress they've gained, what's at stake - and what's coming next.

Ep. 17 - The Texas Democratic Fly-Out!: July 15th, 2021 Jul 16, 2021

Show notes

We're joined from D.C. by Texas State Reps Erin Zwiener and Gene Wu, who are among the Democrats who have once again broken quorum in the House to hold the line against GOP voting rights suppression - a brave move that is not without personal sacrifice and peril, and is also part of the defense of much more than just Texas voters - voting rights across our country are at stake. This is all a very big deal - we get down to what the real battle is all about.

Ep. 16 - "We're basically governed by a child": July 8th, 2021 Jul 08, 2021

Show notes

As Governor Abbott's special session kicks off, the Happy Hour crew assembles to discuss the agenda - to start, what's NOT on the list: energy reform, COVID vaccinations, and expansion of Medicaid are nowhere to be found. And, what IS on it: Abbott's hostage-taking via his defunding of the Legislature's employees, new restrictions on abortion rights, and reacting to the Democratic walkout with another push for wholesale voter suppression. Once again, Texas progressives are called to action and encouraged to take inspiration from this challenge - listen for details on how to join us!

Ep. 15 - Pretty Petty: June 10th, 2021 Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

Our last Happy Hour for awhile - Saatvik is back! - as we continue our celebration of Pride Month through June, with a brief history of the celebration, and a recap of how LGBTQ issues shook out in the recently-concluded Lege session. We also go over what Texas lawmakers did (and didn't do) to prepare for our state's next energy emergency, possibly as early as this summer. And, even in one of the worst sessions ever, there were positive moments too - including the Democratic walkout to undermine SB7. And what's next? Glenn gives us the skinny on special sessions and how they work - they're almost certainly coming this year. Plus, what happens with Governor Abbott's petty threat to defund the legislature, including members of his own party?

Pride Across Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/pride-celebrations-across-texas-2021

Best and Worst of the TX Lege: https://progresstexas.org/blog/10-best-worst-moments-2021-texas-legislative-session

Republican State Legislatures are winning the war on American Democracy: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/republican-voting-rights-democracy_n_60ba544ee4b04b216be68ce6

The Texas Legislature hits the dimmer switch on real electric grid reform: https://progresstexas.org/blog/texas-legislature-hits-dimmer-switch-real-electric-grid-reform

Ep. 14 - The Walkout!: June 4th, 2021 Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

Texas Democrats staged a walkout at the Texas Legislature on Sunday, killing voter suppression bill SB7 on what was effectively the last day of session. They showed some real fight! And along the way sent a message to the nation: we will not back down. We revisit this story and more as Diana Gomez moderates a special edition of the Progress Texas Happy Hour with two of our favorite Texas lawmakers: Representative Rafael Anchia of House District 103 (Dallas), and Senator Jose Menendez of District 26 (San Antonio). We'll hear their impressions of the just-completed regular Lege session, as well as important issues like abortion rights, marijuana policy reform, why they think it was the most contentious ever, and what to expect in future special sessions.

Ep. 13 - Human Hamster Wheels: May 28th, 2021 May 28, 2021

Show notes

In the closing days before Sine Die - but not before a busy working holiday weekend - Senior Strategist Glenn Smith joins the regular Happy Hour crew as we reflect on what's been the most contentious and divisive Legislative session that any of us can remember. Also, one of the least productive sessions ever on important business for Texans, in particular putting Texas taxpayers on the hook for making energy companies whole, while doing nothing to prevent future energy disasters - the next of which may arrive as soon as this summer. We cover details on Progress Texas' efforts against dark money having a hand in writing Texas law, and the (very) thinly-veiled racism at the heart of both voter suppression and education censorship attempts by the GOP - the meanest, cruelest session in memory appears to be directly tied to The Big Lie.

Where is the Legislature on fixing our energy grid? https://progresstexas.org/blog/keep-lights-texas-we-need-change-power

Conservative org with ties to Trump & the Big Lie: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-files-ethics-complaint-against-heritage-action-involvement-voter-suppression

Dark money group admits it had a hand in Texas voter suppression bills: https://progresstexas.org/blog/dark-money-group-admits-it-had-hand-texas-voter-suppression-bills

Ep. 12 - Texas v Roe v Wade: May 21st, 2021 May 21, 2021

Show notes

Texas made national news this week with Governor Abbott's unconstitutional six-week abortion ban. The Progress Texas team made our own national news with our statements fighting back, reminding people that Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land and that this law will lose in court. What happens next? Organizers are planning a Don't Mess With Texans' Abortions rally for Saturday May 29 - listen to hear how you can participate in person or online.

Speaking of the Governor, he has a challenger in Don Huffines - who doesn't think Abbott is conservative enough - plus new conflicts between House and Senate Republicans potentially give the more unified Democrats a competitive edge.

Texas Legislature’s proposed six-week abortion ban is unconstitutional: https://progresstexas.org/blog/texas-legislature%E2%80%99s-proposed-six-week-abortion-ban-unconstitutional

House bill to punish lobbyists accused of harassment gutted in Senate committee: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2021/05/20/house-bill-to-punish-lobbyists-accused-of-harassment-gutted-in-senate-committee/

Don't Mess With Texans' Abortion Rights Rally:https://fb.me/e/2pKYEPot9

Ep. 11 - Rub-A-Dub Chub: May 14th, 2021 May 14, 2021

Show notes

Welcome back to the Happy Hour! It was yet another insane week at the Capitol, as important deadlines arrived on Thursday night. Some bad bills were "chubbed" to death, while others bills - good and bad - squeaked across the deadline. We run it all down for ya.

We've also got an update on some of this session's most extreme proposals such as court-appointed lawyers for fetuses, permitless carry, and voter suppression. And we finish it off with some good news: marijuana decriminalization. DO IT FOR WILLIE!

Rep. Harold Dutton uses trans kids as political pawn: https://progresstexas.org/blog/rep-harold-dutton-uses-trans-kids-political-pawn

Voter Suppression Bill SB 7: Where it’s been, where it’s at, and where it’s going: https://progresstexas.org/blog/voter-suppression-bill-sb-7-where-it%E2%80%99s-been-where-it%E2%80%99s-and-where-it%E2%80%99s-going

Broken promises: Texas Republicans abandon gun safety, pander to far-right: https://progresstexas.org/blog/broken-promises-texas-republicans-abandon-gun-safety-pander-far-right

Texas Marijuana Bills: Have they passed or gone up in smoke? https://progresstexas.org/blog/texas-marijuana-bills-have-they-passed-or-gone-smoke

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