Progress Texas Podcasts

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Daily Dispatch 7/8/25: As Kerr County Reels, Local Officials Dodge Questions, and More Jul 08, 2025

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Day five of the recovery effort in Kerr County begins as the July 4 floods become the deadliest rain-related flood in the U.S. in almost 50 years: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/texas-flooding-camp-mystic-map-death-toll-victims-latest-news-b2784433.html

Local officials in Kerrville have continued to deflect questions about their response to the flood: https://apnews.com/article/texas-floods-kerr-county-warnings-31c4e493e9f1b6d0406df310e74d3f98⁠⁠

...Records show an effort by Kerr County commissioners to keep an antiquated word-of-mouth system in place for river flooding events, while expressing reluctance to accept grants from the Obama administration for infrastructure improvements: https://abcnews.go.com/US/former-texas-county-officials-thought-informal-phone-calls/story?id=123552333

...Some of those officials are likely more fond of Donald Trump, whose cuts to the National Weather Service may have adversely affected the forecast, and has proposed eliminating FEMA, who are now working alongside volunteers in Kerr County: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/07/us/politics/texas-floods-trump-administration.html

...Governor Abbott has indicated that flood safety will be addressed in an upcoming special legislative session, but has not specifically said that will happen during the one already called to begin July 21: https://www.kxan.com/investigations/abbott-special-session-may-address-warnings-after-deadly-texas-floods/

...Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has gone a bit further, promising that the state will install a flood siren system in the Guadalupe River Valley by next summer: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/state/texas-news/texas-flood/lt-gov-dan-patrick-state-will-pay-put-sirens-along-guadalupe-river-before-next-summer/287-2d253a6e-2c1d-40b4-9a04-4f1198314b9f

...Other towns with rivers to manage nearby do have flood sirens installed, including nearby Comfort: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/deadly-texas-floods-one-town-warning-siren-rcna217202

...Kerrville Pets Alive expect to have dozens of cats and dogs, displaced from their homes in the storm, up for adoption in coming weeks: https://kerrvillepetsalive.com/

Daily Dispatch 7/7/25: Texas Flood Death Toll A Result Of Long Term Infrastructure And Policy Failures Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The latest on the July 4th floods in Kerr County and across Central Texas, where the death toll has surpassed 80 and over 40 remain missing: https://abcnews.go.com/US/live-updates/texas-flooding-updates-13-dead-20-campers-unaccounted/?id=123488468

...County and state leaders immediatly attempted to shift blame to weather forecasters - did they get it wrong? https://www.npr.org/2025/07/06/nx-s1-5458512/texas-flash-flood-weather-forecast

...Those same leaders themselves acknowledge cell coverage and public flood warning infrastructure shortfalls that might have made a difference: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c0rvp24wvrqo

...Kerr County has passed on building outdoor flood siren warning systems for years, finding them too expensive: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/06/us/texas-flood-warnings-sirens.html

...State Rep. Wes Virdell, one of only 14 House members to vote against HB 13, which would have established new emergency infrastructure funding had it not died in the house, says events of this weekend have made him reconsider that vote: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/06/texas-disaster-warning-emergency-communication-bill-kerrville-floods/

...The flood itself is considered by many climate experts as a prime example of the type of weather behavior we can expect to see more frequently due to human-influenced climate degradation: https://www.axios.com/2025/07/06/climate-texas-tragedy-future

...Legendary Austin meteorologist Jim Spencer responds to Facebook trolls accusing him of "politicizing the situation": https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1aoZ5DZ5ov/?mibextid=wwXIfr

The Future is NOW: Conversations from the TYD + TCD 2025 Joint Convention in Austin Jul 05, 2025

Show notes

Last weekend, Progress Texas Digital Associate Haley Smith visited the welcome social for the Texas Young Democrats and Texas College Democrats Joint Convention in downtown Austin to talk with young, passionate leaders from across the state. Tune in for candid conversations, a pulse check on the grassroots movement, and inspiration from the young people leading the charge toward a more just and inclusive Texas.Thanks for listening! You can learn more about Progress Texas and support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org.

In Progress: This July 4th, What Does Patriotism REALLY Mean? Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

The news moves fast, y'all - between the time we recorded this on Thursday afternoon and posting time a couple of hours later, the U.S. House has passed what we've come to correctly call Donald Trump's Big Bullshit Bill - a truly historic heist of working class America for the richest in our country. As the elections of 2026 approach, it will be all-important not to let our fellow Texans who will be impacted - a great many of whom are Trump voters themselves - forget this moment. All the more important and appropriate, as we all prepare to celebrate Independence Day, to remind ourselves of what REAL patriotism is, and to spread that message as well.

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

Happy Hour 222 - Clean Energy Cuts Are Deeper Than You Might Expect, With German Ibanez Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

For a time that isn’t typical, we’re not bringing you the typical talking points. German Ibanez has 40 plus years of experience in clean energy. From developing green solutions for municipalities to multinational companies, we like to list him as a consultant on the good side of the revolving door. Either way you look at it, he has boundless knowledge surrounding ERCOT, energy regulation and investments, nuclear research, and federal spending.This week, we chatted about Trump's big horrid spending bill, wrongfully budgeted priorities expected to add trillions to our national debt. This bill definitely won’t help you. Your electric bill is going to keep going up, jobs will be lost, and we will further fall into the Trump Recession.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 7/3/25: On Verge Of 4th Of July, Trump's Big B.S. Bill On Verge Of Passing House, and More Jul 03, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The U.S. House appears preparing to vote on Donald Trump's Big Bullshit Bill: https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-7-3-2025

...As of last night, Austin Democratic Congressman Lloyd Doggett was holding out hope that the bill could be stopped: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/doggett-holding-out-hope-that-trumps-one-big-beautiful-bill-could-fail-in-house

...Austin Republican Congressman Chip Roy, seemingly holding out over the massive impact to the national debt, seems likely pliable over additional benefit cuts: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/02/us/politics/trump-conservatives-bill.html

...Massive impacts on Texas, especially those in rural, Republican areas, appear to be landing on deaf GOP ears: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2025-07-02/texas-trump-tax-big-beautiful-bill-congress-snap-medicaid

...The Texas clean energy sector, which just dodged a bullet with the end of the state legislative session, could be devastated by the bill: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/trump-budget-bill-wind-solar-ira-credits-20415094.php

Rumors are growing that recently-former San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg is planning to run for Governor: https://quorumreport.com/quorum_report_daily_buzz_2025/chatter_growing_louder_out_of_san_antonio_that_for_buzziid32725.html

...Our recent talk in San Antonio with Mayor Ron and newly-elected Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones: https://progresstexas.org/podcast/special-live-pod-san-antonio-party-progress-mayor-ron-nirenberg-and-mayoral-candidate-gina

We should pay attention to lesser-known, upstart candidates too, including former astronaut Terry Virts of Houston, running for Senate: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/human-spaceflight/former-astronaut-terry-virts-talks-about-his-senate-run-trump-and-the-nasa-budget-in-exclusive-space-com-interview-video

...And East Texas farmer and firefighter Bobby Cole, running for Governor: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/greg-abbott-reelection-20415198.php

The upcoming special session appears likely to be characterized by growing tension between Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick over "Dan's Ban": https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-special-session-2025-thc-ban-greg-abbott-dan-patrick/285-982791df-6705-49fd-9d88-5ae09939b2ca

That expected lawsuit over the new law requiring the displaying of the Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms from the ACLU has arrived: https://www.kxan.com/video/aclu-files-suit-against-texas-ten-commandments-law-kxan-news-at-6-p-m/10859214/

Heading into the 4th of July weekend, Texas ranks terribly on a ranking of states based on patriotism: https://austin.culturemap.com/news/city-life/least-patriotic-states-texas-2025/

As the Progress Texas Summer Vacation series focuses on the Big Bend region, we learn that Donald Trump's undercutting of the National Park system is both politically and fiscally stupid: https://www.tpr.org/2025-06-23/as-visitors-flock-to-parks-deep-cuts-leave-rangers-and-wildlife-at-risk

Happy Hour 221 - Only YOU Can Save Our National Parks, with Cristóbal López Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

As part of our larger “Progress Texas Summer Vacation" series, we reviewed the threats to our national parks with Cristóbal López, the National Parks Conservation Association’s Texas Field Representative. Our talk ranges from exacerbated staff shortages, to how Trump’s budget bill could create the largest public lands sale in modern history - so billionaires can cut you out of “America’s best idea” and keep the views to themselves.

Learn more about this ongoing work at https://www.npca.org/articles/9320-senate-committee-abandons-national-park-staff-in-reckless-budget-proposal, and at https://www.npca.org/articles/8858-new-order-threatens-park-service-s-efforts-to-protect-and-explore-american.

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

Daily Dispatch 7/2/25: OBBB Heads For House, Where Chip Roy Wants Even Deeper Cuts, and More Jul 02, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Trump's Big Bullshit Bill, passed by the Senate, now heads for the House, where part of the opposition is Texas Congressman Chip Roy - whose concerns about impacts to the national debt will likely lead to even deeper cuts for vulnerable Americans: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2025-07-02/why-texas-rep-chip-roy-broke-with-trump-on-the-gops-mega-bill

...Rural, red, Republican Texas is about to feel the full impact of the bill as the healthcare desert they already live in gets even worse: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/budget-bill-trump-medicaid-rural-hospitals-20402463.php

Senator John Cornyn - in major trouble in polling against Ken Paxton - has lost none of his fundraising prowess as he'll have at least $12 million to fend off his primary challenger: https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/07/01/congress/john-cornyn-fundraising-texas-senate-primary-ken-paxton-00434713

Progress Texas Executive Director Kathleen Thompson weighs in on what Zohran Mamadani's success in NYC means for Texas: "young people are motivated if they’re turned on by a candidate": https://thebarbedwire.com/2025/07/01/politicians-texans-can-learn-zohran-mamdani/

...And we review that time in 2008 when Kathleen bested recently-declared Texas Senate candidate Leigh Wamsganss, who wanted Texans to ignore bad polling on then-VP candidate Sarah Palin: https://vimeo.com/27319160

Advocacy and Development Coordinator Tatum Owens has been travels in the Pacific Northwest, where she's experiencing firsthand the impact of Trump's budget cuts on our national parks: https://www.commoncause.org/fr/actes/tell-congress-stop-trumps-cuts-to-national-parks/

Daily Dispatch 7/1/25: Cornyn, Cruz And Senate GOP Fighting Hard For Trump's B.S. Bill, and More Jul 01, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Texas Senators John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, naturally, are all in for Donald Trump's deeply unpopular Big Bullshit Bill: https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-7-1-2025

...It will have massive effects in Texas, both for SNAP recipients and the 15% of Texans who rely on Medicaid: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/how-could-changes-to-snap-and-medicaid-in-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-impact-texas/

...Elon Musk is up in arms about the cuts to electric vehicle subsidies in the bill, and Tesla stock took a dive this morning when Trump suggested DOGE have a look at Musk's federal take: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/07/01/tesla-shares-tumble-after-trump-says-doge-should-look-at-elon-musks-subsidies.html

...Don't cry for Elon though - the loss of USAID is projected to result in 14 million needless deaths globally by 2030: https://www.ft.com/content/945a0301-2bf5-4e0f-bdc4-f07f82891cb1

As expected, former Dallas Congressman Colin Allred has formally launched a run for the U.S. Senate: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/01/colin-allred-texas-us-senate-democrat-2026-cornyn-paxton/

A host of Texas GOP establishment biggies are calling for Tarrant County Republican Party Chair Bo French to resign over a recent bigoted tweet - but figures in the hard right lunatic fringe are rallying in support: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-republicans-tarrant-county-bo-french-social-media-poll-jews-muslims/

Progress Texas Summer Vacation! Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone paid a visit to the Alamo over the weekend: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/unesco-san-antonio-missions-nps-layoffs-20202390.php

...And Advocacy and Development Coordinator Tatum Owens has been traveling in the Pacific Northwest: https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/research-restrooms-summer-staffing-crunch-hits-national-parks-after-trump-cuts-2025-06-08/

Daily Dispatch 6/30/25: GOP Attacks On Working Class Give Texas Dems Hope For '26, and More Jun 30, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Donald Trump's continued press to establish an authoritarian regime, supported by his stacked Supreme Court, gives progressives all the more reason to rise and resist: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/28/us/supreme-court-trump-victories.html

...The Trump tax bill, on the verge of passing the Senate, provide even more reason for working Americans to make their opposition known: https://apnews.com/article/senate-bill-trump-tax-breaks-spending-cuts-549c2fdd47c1965007282b8461687bc9

...Seeing that opposing Trump is a fatal mistake for Senate Republicans, and living in fatal fear of a Ken Paxton primary, John Cornyn is now sucking up to the President with whom he has up till now maintained distance: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/30/john-cornyn-senate-texas-primary-republicans-trump-paxton/

...Who will the Democrats put up for Senate? Beto O'Rourke, James Talarico, Joaquin Castro and more gathered Friday night in San Antonio: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2025-06-29/who-will-texas-democrats-pick-to-be-their-nominee-to-run-for-u-s-senator...GOP toxicity in both D.C. and Texas are giving Dems hope for '26: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/30/why-democrats-are-excited-about-texas-real-this-time/

...Governor Greg Abbott and Senator Ted Cruz find themselves in an endorsement battle in the race for Texas Comptroller: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/06/30/hard-fought-2026-gop-primaries-could-reshuffle-texas-politics/

...Fort Worth State Rep. Nate Schatzline, just days after declaring a run for the Texas Senate, chickens out when a Patriot Mobile executive declares for the same seat: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article309578670.html

A capital murder charge brought against a North Texas man accused of slipping abortion-inducing drugs to his pregnant girlfriend represents a new move by anti-abortion activists to establish fetal personhood: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/30/texas-abortion-pill-capital-murder-charge-fetal-personhood/

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