Progress Texas Podcasts

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Words Of Wisdom From Holiday Party #1 - Live From Austin! Dec 08, 2024

Show notes

We enjoyed being back with our friends at Antone's in downtown Austin last week for the first of our two holiday parties this year! This pod features short conversations with a bunch of our guests, offering words of wisdom and encouragement for all of us as we get ready for the fight ahead. THANKS to everyone who came out!

And, we'll do it again at our second holiday party in Dallas on Monday, December 16! Sponsorships and individual tickets are available here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can join the team at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 12/6/04: Elon Musk Paid a Quarter Billion Dollars For Second Trump Term, and More Dec 06, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

New figures reveal that Texas transplant Elon Musk spent over $250 million - over a quarter-billion dollars - to help put Donald Trump back in office: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/us/politics/elon-musk-trump-rbg-election.html

...Musk's Twitter has harbored four virulent and influential literal Nazi accounts, three of which are revealed to have Texas ties - one of them is a VP for J.P. Morgan Chase in Plano: https://www.texasobserver.org/revealed-operators-neo-nazi-x-accounts/

New Democratic minority leader Rep. Gene Wu's work is cut out for him - he must unite his caucus to maximize their influence on the selection of next session's Speaker: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2024-12-06/texas-house-democrats-pick-rep-gene-wu-as-caucus-chair-what-does-this-mean-for-the-speakers-race

...Hopefully that also spells influence over the likely-radical Republican agenda next year, which may include an attempt to kill no-fault divorce: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article296585124.html

...And an ever-more-ruthless agenda aimed at erasing transgender people from public life altogether: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/texas-anti-trans-bills-19962055.php

...See a talk on the struggle looming next year for the Texas LGBTQ+ community held recently at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqjn-Qs2CMk

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 12/5/24: Houston Rep. Gene Wu Picked As New State House Minority Leader, and More Dec 05, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Congratulations to State Rep. Gene Wu, who has been chosen as the new leader of the Democratic minority in the Texas House: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/texas/article/gene-wu-texas-house-democrats-19960489.php

Not only is an extreme weather event in Texas more likely than usual this winter, but if it happens, there's an 80% chance of blackouts: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/article/texas-winter-snow-storm-blackouts-19959189.php

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is much more concerned about keeping THC products out of Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-thc-ban-dan-patrick-delta-8-9-hemp/

Trump immigration henchmen Tom Homan is pointing to Governor Abbott's Operation Lone Star as a model he wants to replicate across the country: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/us/texas-abbott-trump-border.html

...While Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar claims that buoys in the Rio Grande to stop (and drown) migrants was actually his idea: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/henry-cuellar-texas-rio-grande-border-buoys-immigration/

Deer Park Rep. Briscoe Cain's idea for a state takeover of Austin's city government is not only goofy, it also has no chance of actually passing: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/texas-legislature/state-lawmakers-bill-state-run-austin-turn-city-district-hb274-districtofaustin/269-af7bed7f-38db-4d94-95ae-4e748bb31ecc

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 12/4/24: Democrats Hold Key To State House Speaker Race, and More Dec 04, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Both the Texas House Democratic Caucus and their Republican counterparts meet late this week to discuss who the 2025 Speaker will be - the Democrats hold the key, as neither Republican candidate has a clear majority: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-house-speaker-race-19953807.php

Expect the continued and escalating assault on the rights of transgender Texans to be the central social issue of the session for Republicans, emboldened by the Trump win: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-transgender-restrictions-legislative-session/

The Texas Maternal Morbidity Committee's decision to ignore data regarding maternal deaths in the first two years of Texas' abortion ban - alongside a similar move in Georgia - is drawing national attention: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/texas-georgia-women-deaths-abortion-ban-rcna182540

...The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board is calling on Governor Abbott and the '25 Legislature, if they really believe our abortion laws are sufficient to protect pregnant people, to order a study of those first two years: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2024/12/04/texas-needs-a-study-on-how-abortion-ban-has-affected-pregnancy-care/

ERCOT's lead meteorologist says conditions this winter look favorable for a repeat of Winter Storm Uri, but energy experts don't agree with ERCOT's claim that they're ready to keep the heat on: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/ercot-extreme-cold-event-winter-outlook/269-4fb29d16-01cd-4479-a830-7ee329d2c142

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 12/3/24: Immigration, Reproductive Rights, LGBTQ+ Issues In '25 Lege Spotlight, and More Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

As the nation prepares for Trump 2.0, in Texas we're bracing for another nutty Texas Legislative session, where Republicans will be pressing the crazy on a variety of issues, including immigration: https://www.npr.org/2024/12/01/nx-s1-5203015/immigration-will-be-under-the-spotlight-in-the-upcoming-legislative-session-in-texas

...And reproductive freedom and maternity care: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/texas-bill-wants-to-make-abortion-pills-schedule-iv-drugs-21160287

...And Austin's very existence as a self-governed municipality: https://bsky.app/profile/chrismosser.bsky.social/post/3lcfivsqtic2f

...And giving Ken Paxton the power to target "election fraud", the return of the Bathroom Bill, banning any mention whatsoever to sexual orientation at public schools. Meanwhile, Democrats want to legalize cannibis for medical use, give the Legislature a chance to override vetos by the Governor, repeal the ban on DEI at our state colleges, and maintain humane temperatures inside Texas prisons: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-lawmakers-get-their-bills-in-19946648.php

Bad environmental news, as the Texas Railroad Commission is exploring the use of toxic produced water from the fracking process to irrigate food crops: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03122024/west-texas-recycled-oilfield-water-drought-solution/

..And good environmental news (we think) as Texas appears in prime position for future hydrogen production: https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-big-producer-green-hydrogen-researchers/story?id=116372254

The first of our two annual holiday fundraising parties is tonight (Tuesday 12/3) in Austin, and the second is in Dallas on December 16! There are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 12/2/24: Maternal Morbidity Committee Will Ignore First Years Of Texas Abortion Ban, and More Dec 02, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Texas Maternal Morbidity Committee has announced that they will skip the data from the first two years of Texas' near-complete abortion ban, ignoring the effect of that ban on pregnant women in Texas: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/texas-maternal-mortality-committee-to-skip-over-full-reviews-in-years-after-abortion-ban/

...Any other deaths directly attributable to the denial of emergency medical care in Texas are now likely to remain unknown: https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/worried-experts-concerned-as-texas-board-declines-to-investigate-abortion-ban-deaths/ar-AA1uMLgf

...Meanwhile, more and more OB-GYN doctors are choosing not to take the risk of practicing in Texas: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/12/02/the-texas-ob-gyn-exodus

Texas isn't the only Southern state now pushing the limits of the separation of church and state when it comes to education: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bible-in-public-schools-church-state-religion-rcna181934

...A highly conservatively biased op-ed from the chair of the Texas State Board of Education celebrates and illuminates the priority of patriotism and "values" over facts in the new Bluebonnet Learning curriculum: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/12/02/board-of-ed-chair-america-needs-the-texas-bluebonnet-learning-curriculum/

...Conroe ISD serves as a great example of what happens when progressives fail to pay attention to run for their local school boards: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/mama-bears-conroe-isd-19944683.php

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and there are sponsorship opportunities available and individual tickets are now on sale: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠.

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 11/27/24: Trump Mexico Tariffs Threaten Texas Consumers, and More Nov 27, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Donald Trump's new threat of a 25% tariff on Mexican imports have consumers and business owners in South Texas concerned for the future: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/donald-trump-tariffs-texas-border-economy/

...Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum doesn't appear ready to give in to Trump, threatening tariffs of her own: https://apnews.com/article/mexico-tariffs-trump-retaliate-sheinbaum-fac0b0c6ee8c425a928418de7332b74a

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is all in on Trump's tariffs - and on raw milk, the latest risky reaction of the right against science: https://www.chron.com/news/article/texas-raw-milk-sid-miller-19941180.php

Need a Thanksgiving weekend project? Fire up an account on BlueSky, and find Progress Texas once you're there: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/21/technology/bluesky-social-media.html

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and there are sponsorship opportunities available and individual tickets are now on sale: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at @progresstexas.bsky.social.

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 11/26/24: A Third Texas Death Due To Withheld Abortion Care, And More Nov 26, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Propublica is reporting on a third Texas woman who died needlessly after being denied abortion care in the midst of a problem miscarriage: https://www.propublica.org/article/porsha-ngumezi-miscarriage-death-texas-abortion-ban

...Domestic violence shelters are reporting an uptick in pregnant women arriving at their facilities seeking refuge from abusive partners: https://www.tpr.org/public-health/2024-11-25/domestic-violence-shelters-in-texas-see-a-surge-of-pregnant-women-after-the-dobbs-decision

...The anti-choice movement, oblivious to the suffering they are causing, is ramping up their efforts against doctors and advocates for reproductive rights: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/texas-abortion-pro-life-state-19941596.php

Governor Greg Abbott has a minor freakout over a Houston doctor reminding Texans that they do not have to answer questions about their immigration status at hospitals: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/viral-doctor-texas-hospitals-19941817.php

...Trump "border czar" Tom Homan will tour that Starr County ranch offered up by Texas to host a mass detention facility for rounded-up undocumented people: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/texas-leaders-meet-incoming-trump-border-czar/3706114/

The Texas Tribune - a non-profit news outlet - interviews U.S. House Rep. Vicente Gonzales, who recently voted in favor of a new law that would allow Donald Trump to unilaterally shut down non-profit news outlets: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/texas-vicente-gonzalez-congress-democrats-abortion-transgender/

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and there are sponsorship opportunities available and individual tickets are now on sale: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Daily Dispatch 11/25/24: Mass Deportation Threatens Texas Construction Industry, and More Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Leaders of the Texas construction industry - who are curiously mostly left out of right-wing panic over immigration - say their sector is existentially threatened by Donald Trump's mass deportation plan: https://www.tpr.org/economy-and-labor/2024-11-23/trumps-deportation-vow-alarms-texas-construction-industry

The Texas State Board of Education approved the adoption of Bluebonnet Learning, the state-crafted elementary school curriculum that makes liberal use of Bible studies: https://www.keranews.org/education/2024-11-22/texas-state-board-education-sboe-approves-bible-story-curriculum-public-schools

...What takes root in Texas will tend to spread elsewhere: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/22/us/bible-curriculum-public-schools-texas-approved.html

...See excerpts from some of the Bible stories incorporated into Bluebonnet Learning: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2024/11/21/read-excerpts-of-what-texas-lessons-may-include-about-the-bible-christianity/

Ken Paxton has targeted an advertising group that Elon Musk has sued for directing its business away from Twitter: https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/21/texas-ag-opens-investigation-into-advertising-group-that-elon-musk-sued-for-boycotting-x/

...John Cornyn becomes a founding member of the Senate Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE Caucus: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/cornyn-musk-vivek-doge-trump-19938477.php

...Musk's SpaceX faces a ramp-up of environmental activist opposition, who are presuming the company will face far less regulation and enforcement under Donald Trump: https://www.npr.org/2024/11/22/1214662580/spacex-starship-texas-environment

...Allegations surface that Musk once exposed himself to a SpaceX flight attendant and tried to bribe her into sex with an offer to buy her a horse (?!): https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-paid-250000-to-a-flight-attendant-who-accused-elon-musk-of-sexual-misconduct-2022-5

Among the giant pile of culture-war bills filed for the 2025 legislative session, a new push to reclassify abortion-inducing drugs as controlled substances: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/25/abortion-texas-pills-controlled-substance/

...Dozens of bills targeting transgender Texans: https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/republicans-file-32-anti-trans-bills

...And of course, a renewed push for private school vouchers: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-school-vouchers-choice-fight

...Which, we're reminded, will mainly help wealthy families who are already paying for private school: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/voucher-fight-texas-19936562.php

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and there are sponsorship opportunities available and individual tickets are now on sale: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Happy Hour 182 - Holiday Peacekeeping For Progressives with Lana Hansen and Austin Kaplan Nov 24, 2024

Show notes

Coming off this year's election, if you're a progressive voter who's now dreading having to interact with your MAGA relatives back home this holiday season, you're far from alone - "mixed" families such as these are probably more common in Texas than in most parts of the country. Peace and family harmony is important - but, so are the positions we believe in and advocate for year-round. So, how to manage? We've invited a couple of our favorite recurring guests for a fun exchange of strategies on navigating family during a time of great political tension: Lana Hansen is Executive Director of Texas Blue Action, and Austin Kaplan heads up the Kaplan Law Firm and is also part of the legal team supporting the plaintiffs in the Zurawski v Texas case.

No political gymnastics or jousting involved in our upcoming holiday parties, which provide a rare and needed opportunity to gather with fellow Texas progressives and start sharing ideas for the fight ahead next year. We'll be in Austin on December 3, and Dallas on December 16! Sponsorships and individual tickets are on sale now - find out more at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024.

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