Progress Texas Podcasts

Latest Episodes:

Happy Hour 200: SpaceX and Privatized Pollution in the Rio Grande Valley, with Dr. Christopher Basaldú Mar 22, 2025

Show notes

Our 200th Happy Hour! Elon Musk is everyone’s problem—from Brownsville, Texas, to the Caribbean, to the White House. As his SpaceX operations continue to fail upwards while wreaking havoc on nearby communities and ecosystems, Dr. Christopher Basaldú with the South Texas Environmental Justice Network shares his expertise and insights on the inter-connected fight for protecting Rio Grande Valley residents from pollution and exploitation: with focuses on SpaceX and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).

Learn more about the Dr. Christopher Basaldú and the South Texas Environmental Justice Network at https://sotxejn.org/.

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

Daily Dispatch 3/21/25: Texas Republicans Cheer As Trump Destroys Department of Education, and More Mar 21, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick and Ken Paxton were all present and cheering yesterday at the White House as Donald Trump signed an executive order dismantling the federal Department of Education: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-greg-abbott-trump-education-department/

...Despite an intake of $12 billion in annual federal education funding, Texas ranks 29th among U.S. states for education quality: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/2025/03/21/trump-highlights-texas-in-dismantling-department-of-education/82579774007/

Texas now faces the possibility of being the epicenter of an eventual national - or maybe even global - measles epidemic: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/21/texas-measles-vaccine-new-mexico-oklahoma-us/

...Demonstrating how deep down the rabbit hole some anti-vaxxers have dug, the parents of the Gaines County child who died amidst the outbreak are still advocating against vaccines: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-measles-family-gaines-county-death/

...Texas Congressional Democrats are demanding answers from the CDC on what they're doing about the outbreak, and why they're not doing more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2025/03/20/lloyd-doggett-cdc-measles-outbreak-texas-symptoms-vaccine/82551785007/

The Tesla Cybertruck, built at the Austin Gigafactory, has seen its full line recalled over weak glue holding an exterior stainless steel panel in place - ALL of them have been recalled: https://www.the-independent.com/tech/tesla-cybertruck-recall-glue-panels-musk-b2719222.html

...The reliance on electric power for the doors of Tesla cars may have turned them into deathtraps in certain accident situations: https://oaklandside.org/2025/03/18/cybertruck-crash-report-says-witness-could-not-open-door-to-save-victims/

RSVP's are required for Monday's All In For Equality Advocacy Day at the Texas State Capitol, including bus transportation from San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, training on legislative visits, a noon rally, and lunch! https://secure.everyaction.com/-BQtCcqCQEGykR0ohWT3tQ2

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: ⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about⁠⁠⁠

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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Daily Dispatch 3/20/25: Bills To Clarify Texas Abortion Ban Exceptions In Play At The Lege, and More Mar 20, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

An anonymous tip in January led to a weeks-long investigation of the clinics in the Houston area, resulting in the arrests of midwife Maria Margarita Rojas and two of her colleagues: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/houston-texas-midwife-arrested-abortions-clinics/285-b028b728-0db8-4e4f-9255-7f6f11c77f47

Rare bipartisan cooperation on clarifying medical exceptions to Texas' abortion ban is in play at the Capitol: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/abortion-ban-emergency-access-20228656.php

The Texas Senate has passed "the toughest THC ban in the nation", and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is advising retailers to close up shop ahead of its eventual signing into law: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/03/19/texas-thc-retailers-should-close-as-proposed-ban-looms-lt-gov-patrick-warns/

In addition to bills designed to give landlords more leeway in evicting their tenants, two more Republican bills would allow tenants to be kicked out while their eviction proceedings are under appeal: https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB1904/2025

And another Republican bill would allow Texas employers to provide their employees with benefits packages that exclude basic, state mandated services like cancer screenings and coverage for children: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2025/03/20/employer-health-insurance-texas-house-bill-139-reduce-coverage-mandates-requirements/82516916007/

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about⁠⁠

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 3/19/25: A Third Arrest In Houston Abortion Case, and More Mar 19, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A third arrest, that of a nurse practitioner, has been reported in the case of Houston-area clinics run by midwife Maria Rojas, who has been accused by Ken Paxton of conducting abortions illegally: https://abc13.com/post/texas-attorney-general-announces-third-arrest-illegal-abortion-case-involving-houston-area-midwife/16044651/

...A patient cited in the affadavit says she was referred to Rojas' clinic by her doctor after it was determined that her pregancy had a low likelihood of success and a high risk of medical complications: https://www.thecut.com/article/texas-abortion-arrest-maria-margarita-rojas-midwife.html

...These arrests are seen as only the beginning of aggressive law enforcement action related to abortion, with patients who leave the state for care likely on the target list: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/03/texas-midwife-first-abortion-prosecution-maria-rojas.html

20 new Texas measles cases reported yesterday bring our state total in the current outbreak to 279 - all but two in unvaccinated people: https://www.fox4news.com/news/texas-measles-cases-outbreak-2025-march-18-update

...If the outbreak takes over a year to contain, the United States will lose its status as a nation where measles has been eliminated - a status we've enjoyed for 25 years: https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/18/measles-outbreak-could-last-a-year-texas-public-health-official-predicts/

Texas officials have been documenting the personal data of people who request changes to the sex listed on their state documents - and those who even inquire about it - all while remaining silent on why: https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-03-19/texas-transgender-drivers-license-data-collection

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about⁠

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Happy Hour 199: Lessons For The Trump Era From The Red Scare, With Clay Risen Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

Study of the McCarthy period during the Cold War provides essential historical perspective for those of us struggling to chart the path forward through Trump 2.0 - a time in which paranoia, threats to civil liberties, censorship and more are, once again, all too real. Author Clay Risen, whose new book "Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism and The Making of Modern America" joins us to discuss how it can help today's progressive properly conceptualize the perils of the current political reality, and continue to push forward with confidence and conviction.

Learn more about Clay Risen and his book at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Red-Scare/Clay-Risen/9781982141806.

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

Daily Dispatch 3/18/25: Houston Sees First Provider Arrests Under Abortion Ban, and More Mar 18, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

In a first under Texas' abortion ban, and what's believed to be a first nationally since the overturning of Roe v Wade, two Houston-area maternity care professionals have been arrested under suspicion of performing illegal abortions: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-abortion-midwife-arrested/

...The two Houston defendants face life in prison - despite widespread public opinion that abortion should not be so heavily restricted: https://newrepublic.com/post/192839/texas-arrests-abortion-provider-terrifying-sign

Two South Texas detention facilities are being readied to hold thousands of immigrant detainees - including entire families being incarcerated together: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/us/family-detention-immigrants-trump.html

HB-2, a public school funding bill featuring a $9 billion increase that its GOP backers call "historic", is actually less than half of what education advocates say our schools need: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-house-republicans-call-school-funding-plan-historic-but-advocates-say-it-falls-short/

HB-4806, designed to limit payouts in injury lawsuits, would hit lower-income Texans hardest, as they generally tend to use those payouts to settle medical debts: https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/texas-house-bill-could-cap-injury-claims-sparking-outcry-from-legal-experts

A lawsuit on behalf of the Texas A&M Queer Empowerment Council is challenging that institution's new ban on drag performances: https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/state/texas-am-queer-empowerment-council-files-federal-lawsuit-board-regents-drag-ban/500-00e242ae-070f-45a1-b1e1-1d82046ef509

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Daily Dispatch 3/17/25: Abbott Backs Bogus "Furries" Bill In Voucher Push, And More Mar 17, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Governor Abbott backs that bill to ban "furries" from public schools in his push for private school vouchers, even though he knows it targets a fictitious problem: https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-03-14/furries-texas-school-choice-vouchers

...Meanwhile lobbyists for "voucher vendors" - private companies that profit handsomely from managing voucher program money - are also pushing hard for a landfall: https://www.texasobserver.org/school-vouchers-vendors-millions-legislature/

...A great new rundown of the endgame of the 2025 voucher fight in the latest Texas Take podcast: https://megaphone.link/SFO3084352092

A Lubbock hospital has experienced a major measles exposure as an infected woman was admitted to its maternity ward, potentially re-igniting the outbreak: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/texas-measles-outbreak-hospital-newborn-babies-exposed-rcna196519

Over 1,000 mourners attended the funeral service for Congressman and former Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner on Saturday: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/15/texas-sylvester-turner-funeral-houston/

...Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee has declared his intent to run for the resulting vacancy in D.C.: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/16/christian-menefee-congress-sylvester-turner/

Battery discharge, solar power and wind power have all set new records for providing power to the Texas grid this month: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/clean-energy/texas-broke-its-solar-wind-and-battery-records-in-one-spring-week

With fire danger up today (and maybe from now on) in Texas, grab the Watch Duty app to monitor: https://app.watchduty.org/

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 3/14/24: Texas Could Run Out Of Water In Five Years, and More Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

New reporting by the Texas Tribune shows that a severe shortage of cooking, cleaning and drinking water for Texas towns and cities could arrive as soon as 2030: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/13/texas-water-explained-supply-demand/

...Of obvious equal importance, at least to Smithville GOP Rep. Stan Gerdes: keeping kids from being "furries" - pretending to be animals - in Texas classrooms: https://www.chron.com/news/article/texas-rep-s-new-bill-ban-non-human-behavior-20220138.php

Big Labor has a bone to pick with Elon Musk, who has retweeted a statement blaming public sector workers for the genocides of Hitler, Stalin, and Mao: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/musk-hitler-murder-public-workers-x-b2714911.html

...Polling shows a majority of Americans having severe doubts about Musk's qualifications and judgement in his new role as Trump's hatchet man: https://thehill.com/homenews/5190503-elon-musk-experience-judgement-cnn-poll/

All Texans - and all Americans - who have continued to express opposition to the Trump and Republican regime should heed the case of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian rights protestor who was "disappeared" on Saturday: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/14/why-was-mahmoud-khalil-arrested

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Happy Hour 198: The San Antonio Mayoral Race with Gina Ortiz Jones Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

Aside from the daily drama at the Capitol, the race to succeed Ron Nirenberg as the next mayor of San Antonio is one of the top political stories in Texas, as the leadership of the Lone Star State's second-biggest city for next four years hangs in the balance.

Candidate Gina Ortiz Jones is well-known to followers of progressive politics in Texas - she has distinguished herself via an impressive military career, and serving as Under Secretary of the Air Force from 2021 to 2023 under the Biden Administration.

Learn more about Gina Ortiz Jones' run for mayor of San Antonio at ⁠https://ginaortizjones.com/⁠.

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠

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

Daily Dispatch 3/13/25: Texas Grants Millions To SpaceX, While Musk And DOGE Gut Food Banks, and More Mar 13, 2025

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Governor Abbott has announced a grant of over $17 million to SpaceX for semiconductor research and development in Bastrop: https://www.kxan.com/news/spacex-to-receive-17m-from-the-texas-semiconductor-innovation-fund-grant/

...While Elon Musk's slashing of federal spending has resulted in billions in funding cut from food banks, including those across Texas: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/north-texas-food-bank-usda-cuts/3791020/

...Meanwhile Tesla's stock and public profile has taken massive damage: https://www.theverge.com/tesla/627894/tesla-stock-sales-protest-musk-trump-doge

...But whether that will matter to a guy who, after losing $100 billion of his net worth, is still the world's richest man, remains to be seen: https://www.vox.com/politics/403371/tesla-boycott-trump-elon-musk-doge

Robert Morris, former Gateway Church leader and Donald Trump spiritual adviser, may not get away with sexually abusing a child back in the '80s after all - he's been indicted in Oklahoma: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/robert-morris-texas-megachurch-indicted-sexual-abuse/

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠

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