Progress Texas Podcasts

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In Progress: What Are YOUR Political New Year's Resolutions? Jan 02, 2026

Show notes

On this very first episode of our weekly roundtable session, we try to get positive for once - this time we go around the horn and talk about the ways in which all of us plan to up our political game in the all-important mid-term election year of 2026! If you've already blown your regular resolution, never fear - there's still time to rise to the political challenges we ALL face in this crucial new year.

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 12/30/25: New Laws Landing Thursday, Our Top Five 2025 Pods, And More Dec 30, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

As of New Year's Day on Thursday, SB-8 takes effect, requiring Texas sheriff's offices with jails to enter into immigration enforcement partnership agreements with ICE: https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-12-30/new-texas-laws-2026-taxes-immigration-ai

...Also Thursday, if you rent your home, your rights against your landlord have been eroded by SB-38: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/sb-38-how-new-property-rights-law-changes-game-texas-renters

...Blocked at the moment by a federal judge, SB-2420 - a law designed to require app developers to accommodate younger users - will not begin as scheduled on Thursday: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/federal-judge-texas-app-verification-law-blocked/285-f3536b2b-42c7-4a84-9bc8-e4e09d753f88

Progress Texas' five most popular podcasts of 2025: #5 was our update on the July 4 flood the following Monday (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-dispatch-7-7-25-texas-flood-death-toll-a/id1552998795?i=1000716183395), #4 was our legislative preview with State Rep. James Talarico (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-191-texas-legislative-preview-with-rep/id1552998795?i=1000683946504), #3 was our In Progress preview of the first No Kings rally in June (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-progress-no-kings-protests-the-view-from-cali-and/id1552998795?i=1000712799933), #2 was our coverage of the "People Vs. The Power Grab" rally in Austin in July (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-live-pod-austins-the-people-vs-the-power-grab-rally/id1552998795?i=1000719192502), and our top episode of 2025, a discussion with Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder on the party's HQ relocation to Dallas: (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minisode-chair-kendall-scudder-on-staff-changes-and/id1552998795?i=1000728437380).

See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 12/29: Reviewing Local Rights, Immigration And Religion As 2026 Approaches, and More Dec 29, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Chris returns from a Christmas trip to New Orleans hoping to host Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno sometime next year: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/us/new-orleans-mayor-helena-moreno.html

Last week's SCOTUS call against deploying Texas National Guard troops into Chicago is the right call - considering how Texas would likely react if the tables were turned: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/texas-troops-illinois-supreme-court-21260958.php

Both Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico have made a rare move for Democrats - openly embracing religious views in their political messaging: https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/bud-kennedy/article313929686.html

Current Republican views on immigration have devolved significantly from old-school GOP views of immigrants as an economic engine for Texas: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/immigration-emmett-bush-baker-perry-republican-21257013.php

See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In Progress: The Five Best - And Five Worst - Texans of 2025! Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

'Twas a year of high highs and low lows for Texas progressive types, and as we roll through the holidays and steel ourselves for what looks like exciting prospects in the midterm year of 2026, we look back on both the Texans that gave us hope - and the Texans who gave us heartburn - in the 2025 rundown of the five best and five worst Texans of the year.

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 12/23/25: Efforts Underway To Exclude Muslim And Chinese Schools From Voucher Program, and More Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock is asking Attorney General Ken Paxton for legal cover to exclude private schools with ties to CAIR or China from the state's new private school voucher program: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/paxton-islamic-schools-vouchers-21257343.php

The recently-unsealed divorce records between Paxton and his soon-to-be-ex-wife State Senator Angela Paxton reveal full blame for the divorce from the Senator upon the AG, and his insistence that she receive "nothing" in the settlement: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/ken-paxton-divorce-records-unsealed-21254129.php

The San Antonio Express editorial board suggests that Texas voters "flush" Ken Paxton over his "creepy" new tipline soliciting photos of alleged bathroom bill violators: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/ken-paxton-transgender-bathroom-politics-21252847.php

Ted Cruz is said to be formulating a 2028 run for President, setting up a clash with Trump VP J.D. Vance: https://azat.tv/en/ted-cruz-president-2028-vance-maga/

See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 12/22/25: Surveying The Damage Done As 2026 Approaches, And More Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

New Quinnipiac University polling paints a dismal picture for Donald Trump - but also dissatisfaction among Democrats with their own party: https://www.kvue.com/video/news/politics/texas-this-week/new-polling-shows-voters-intentions-ahead-of-2026-midterm-elections-texas-this-week/269-51e19d7c-319b-40df-8408-11c9ffdba478

...Trump's lack of discipline and expertise may be the undoing of his own efforts to establish an American authoritarian regime - but he still has three years to work on it: https://www.vox.com/politics/472346/trump-democracy-2025-haphazard-authoritarian

McClennan County Justice Of The Pease Dianne Hensley, cleared to sue the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct for calling her on denying same sex marriages in her courtroom, is now going after the SCOTUS decision that recognized those marriages in 2015: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/19/texas-judge-same-sex-marriage-supreme-court-obergefell/

Texas' near-complete ban on abortion care has impacted both new OB/GYN trainees, creating a reproductive medicine "brain drain", but has also pressured experienced veterans of the field to either leave Texas or retire early: https://www.houstonpress.com/news/abortion-ban-is-pushing-medical-students-out-of-texas/

Texas' cooperation with Trump's mass deportation efforts have undermined a growing number of criminal cases, as DA's say undocumented witnesses are increasingly reluctant to participate: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/22/texas-district-attorneys-deportation-witnesses-criminal-cases-immigrants/

Polling in the race for the Democratic nomination for Texas Attorney General shows a current virtual tie between Dallas State Senator Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/meet-the-democrats-running-for-texas-attorney-general/

See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

In Progress: The Real Lessons Of The Christmas Story, And More Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

As we wind down another wild week, we recap the news and prepare for the upcoming holiday break. In an era when conservative Christians are weaponizing Christmas into a culture war cudgel, what deeper meaning can progressive folks take away from the Nativity story? We dive in for our regular Friday hang.

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work into this crucial upcoming election year at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 12/19/25: Texas House Dems United On ACA, But Not On Protecting Trans Kids - And More Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The U.S. House of Representatives closes down for the holiday after passing a Republican healthcare bill that does not protect ACA subsidies - all Texas Republicans voted for it, and all Texas Democrats voted no: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/19/texas-republicans-congress-health-care-obamacare-subsidies-2026-midterms/

...Less unity among Texas House Democrats, however, as both Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez voted for and facilitated the passage of a bill criminalizing gender care for trans kids: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/12/democrats-should-kick-the-three-transphobes-who-voted-for-mtgs-bill-out-of-the-caucus/

Senate candidate James Talarico and congressional candidate Bobby Pulido endorsed each other at a joint rally in South Texas yesterday: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/18/texas-james-talarico-bobby-pulido-senate-congress/

Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett's comments on that strange Donald Trump speech this week: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/politics/video/rep-jasmine-crockett-on-trumps-address-to-the-nation-like-a-used-car-salesman-in-front-of-the-american-people

Donald Trump, possibly desperate to put that bizarre speech behind him, has signed an executive order relaxing restrictions on medical use and research regarding cannabis products: https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/trump-texas-marijuana-weed-medical-cannabis-industry-san-antonio/273-16dd9155-97cb-49d8-b076-262adc2c2720

Texas DPS has over doubled their fleet of surveillance drones under Operation Lone Star - it's now almost as big as the U.S. Border Patrol's federal inventory: https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-drone-fleet-doubled-in-size/

See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 12/18/25: Hinojosa In Strong Lead For Dem Nomination For Governor, and More Dec 18, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

That list of over two thousand "potential noncitizens" flagged as being possible illegally registered immigrants on Texas' voter roll includes dozens who have recently proven their citizenship to Texas DPS: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/18/texas-voter-roll-citizens-investigation/

...Austin State Rep. Gina Hinojosa holds a commanding lead for the Democratic nomination to take on Governor Greg Abbott in November, while the race for attorney general is a virtual tie between Dallas State Senator Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/67aa7aa3e284b002cd6a420e/t/694292a4ac28ed4d522f38b6/1765970596857/TXDem2026GovAG_TSU.pdf

Houston Mayor John Whitmire has been formally reprimanded by the Harris County Democratic Party for his centrist governing style - he's barred from future endorsements by the county party: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/houston-mayor-john-whitmire-harris-county-democratic-party-endorsement-withheld/

What creative use might YOU come up with for Ken Paxton's new potty police tip line? https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/texas-womens-privacy-act-complaint-form

Texas State University, citing "the current climate of our state", has rescinded their own invitation to the Black History 101 Mobile Museum to visit their San Marcos campus for Black History Month in February: https://universitystar.com/34095/news/aclu-expresses-concern-after-texas-state-revokes-approval-for-black-history-museum-visit/

A blue wave continues to build with a whopping 73% win in a three-way special election by a Democrat in Kentucky for their state senate: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5651795-democrat-gary-clemons-elected/

See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Special LIVE Pod: Our Dallas Holiday Party! Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

What a terrific time at BOTH of our 2025 holiday parties! The second, in Dallas, went down at the awesome People's Last Stand in Mockingbird Station on Monday night and, like our Austin celebration, saw a record crowd come out for a great live talk with Austin State Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, Austin State Rep. and candidate for Texas Lieutenant Governor Vikki Goodwin, Texas Attorney General candidate Joe Jaworski, and outgoing House Democratic Campaign Committee Chair and Houston State Rep. Gene Wu! Once again, THANK YOU to all the panelists, donors and attendees who made our 2025 holiday gatherings and fundraiser a terrific success.

Learn more about Rep. Gina Hinojosa at https://ginafortexas.com/.

Learn more about Rep. Vikki Goodwin at https://www.vikkigoodwin.com/.

Learn more about Joe Jaworski at https://www.jaworskifortexas.com/.

Learn more about Rep. Gene Wu at https://www.genefortexas.com/.

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work into the new year and beyond at https://progresstexas.org/.

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