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Special Pod: VP Kamala Harris LIVE From Houston Jul 25, 2024

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In case you missed it - here's a full, unedited capture of remarks given this morning in Houston at the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers by Vice President Kamala Harris. Enjoy!

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

Daily Dispatch 7/25/24: Fired Up Around Harris and Allred, Texas Dems Coordinate - and More Jul 25, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The voter registration site Vote.org reports a massive spike in registrations since President Biden stepped out of the race: https://x.com/RpsAgainstTrump/status/1816088296583209122?t=sv_uB_VvIGtnW5Zh2AkL7w&s=03

...While we're also hearing about mysterious suspensions of registration here in Texas - we must ALL confirm we're good to go in November: https://govotetexas.org/

Vice President Harris speaks this morning at 10 in Houston at the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers - stream to watch: https://www.aft.org/

Once the target of consternation from some of his fellow Texas progressives, Austin Rep. Lloyd Doggett's public call for President Biden to stand down now seems prescient and courageous: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/25/lloyd-doggett-joe-biden-kamala-harris-texas/

The Texas Democratic Party, nominee for Senate Colin Allred, VP Harris and other progressive leaders are launching a new coordinated campaign on Sunday: https://www.newsweek.com/democrats-launch-major-coordinated-attack-strategy-texas-1929695

Several Texas Democrats sat out of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's controversial address to Congress yesterday: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/07/24/several-texas-democrats-skip-israeli-pm-benjamin-netanyahus-address-to-congress/

...While Governor Greg Abbott draws parallels between the Hamas terrorist attack on October 7, 2023 and Texas' immigration issues before a crowd of law enforcement officers: https://www.texasobserver.org/abbott-hamas-sheriffs-border/

The Lubbock City Council has voted to strip funding from a popular monthly arts walk over false accusations of promoting "sexualized content" to kids - yes, they're worked up about a drag show: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/24/lubbock-texas-drag-show-arts-trail-funding/

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration

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

Daily Dispatch 7/24/24: Progress Texas Endorses VP Kamala Harris, and More Jul 24, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

After a unanimous decision by our board, all of us at Progress Texas are very proud to endorse Vice President Kamala Harris in her bid for the presidency: https://progresstexas.org/blog/statement-progress-texas-endorses-kamala-harris-president

...VP Harris is scheduled to speak in Houston tomorrow: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2024/07/23/kamala-harris-houston-texas-visit-national-convention-american-federation-of-teachers-union/74518494007/

...While President Joe Biden has rescheduled his visit to UT Austin's LBJ Library to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Civil Rights Act for Monday: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/07/23/joe-biden-heads-to-texas-on-monday-for-event-commemorating-civil-rights-act/

A study of air quality across the country's national parks finds ozone impacts at New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns National Park, likely due to petroleum extraction activity in Texas' Permian Basin upwind: https://phys.org/news/2024-07-oil-gas-permian-basin-source.html#google_vignette

...While Monday night's 4.9 magnitude earthquake centered around Hermleigh is the strongest ever recorded with direct links to petroleum extraction: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/07/23/texas-earthquakes-blamed-on-oil-production/74517191007/

...And parts of the Houston metro are now dramatically sinking due to groundwater and petroleum draws: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/groundwater-crisis-katy-subsidence-rule-of-capture/

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration

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

Daily Dispatch 7/23/24: Texas DNC Delegation Backs VP Harris, Bigly - and More Jul 23, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Texas' delegation to the Democratic National Convention - the nation's 3rd-largest - voted overwhelmingly to support Vice President Kamala Harris in a call last night: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/21/joe-biden-texas-delegates-nomination-process/

...Meanwhile Team Harris is raising record-setting amounts of campaign donations: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kamala-harris-fundraising-81-million-biden-drops-out/

...An ActBlue heat map shows D/FW as a major source of Harris' funding: https://www.reddit.com/r/Destiny/comments/1e9lr23/actblue_small_dollar_donation_heat_map/

...Local Metroplex Democratic leaders helped get that done: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/north-texas-politicians-part-of-massive-fundraising-bump-vice-president-kamala-harris/287-fd305e87-e09c-4188-a07c-3e61b73033a3

...105 days to go - NOW is the time to confirm your voter registration: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-lawmakers-endorse-kamala-harris/269-30b43a76-c1cd-47f6-a1ca-7fa34dba50dd

...A handy guide to confirming you're good to vote in Texas in November: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/register-to-vote-texas-19589516.php

...Meanwhile, Ken Paxton's office has shown almost no interest in enforcing campaign ethics violations fines: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/23/texas-ethics-campaign-finance-attorney-general/

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration

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

Daily Dispatch 7/22/24: Enthusiasm For Kamala Harris Leads To Fundraising Tsunami, and More Jul 22, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

In mere hours, following the announcement of President Joe Biden that he was standing down from the election and endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris to run in his place, the fundraising platform ActBlue reported over $50 million in donations: https://x.com/mattmfm/status/1815199349737205860?s=46

President Biden's under-appreciated administration will be remembered well by history: https://apnews.com/article/biden-political-legacy-presidential-election-5aee4f47ecb317d4f6ef2a2148eba1d8

Progress Texas celebrates both the accomplishments of the Biden/Harris team: https://progresstexas.org/blog/statement-biden-taps-vp-harris-%E2%80%9Cfinish-job%E2%80%9D-most-progressive-presidency-american-history

...And the potential for a new administration led by Kamala Harris: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/07/21/texas-democrats-worried-about-down-ballot-races-feeling-better-after-bidens-decision/

Progress Texas sends our condolences to the family of legendary progressive fighter and leader Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sheila-jackson-lee-dies-age-74/

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration

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

Daily Dispatch 7/19/24: RNC Ends In Trashy Boredom, and More Jul 19, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The 2024 Republican National Convention wrapped with a fiery celebration of our country's cultural lowest common denominator and an endless, snoozy Trump diatribe: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/19/takeaways-rnc-day-4-trump-speech

...While a speech featuring VP pick J.D. Vance extolling the virtues of Alex Jones surfaces: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/vance-alex-jones-oligarchs-speech-report-1235061811/

...And most of the major players in Texas' conservative circus seem primed for sweet Trump gigs should he win in November: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/07/18/texas-republicans-not-in-2024-spotlight-could-thrive-under-a-trump-second-term/

An Austin-based network of shelters for immigrant children is the target of a federal lawsuit alleging systemic sexual abuse of the kids under its care: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/national/2024/07/18/doj-texas-company-staff-sexually-abused-migrant-children-in-their-care-at-shelter/

...While Ken Paxton seeks the approval of the Texas Supreme Court to continue his efforts to shut down the Catholic immigrant shelter network Annunciation House: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-revives-effort-close-annunciation-house-el-paso/

Dallas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett thumbs her nose at the state-level GOP lawmakers who want her to step down over her support of a bill denying former Presidents convicted of felonies their traditional lifetime Secret Service privileges: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dallas-texas-jasmine-crockett-trump-secret-service-bill-congresswoman/287-b4db9260-858e-40c8-9e9f-1b4be667923f

See Progress Texas' new analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration

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

Daily Dispatch 7/18/24: Abbott Feeds Border Hate To Eager Audience at RNC, and More Jul 18, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Governor Abbott left Texas amidst hurricane recovery for a second time to speak at the Republican National Convention's third night: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/greg-abbott-rnc-speech-takeaways-19580598.php

...Badly-needed fact checking of Abbott's RNC remarks: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/fact-checking-texas-gov-abbotts-immigration-claims-in-rnc-speech/

The Pennsylvania billionaire who gave Abbott $6 million to push for vouchers has kicked in another $4 million: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/17/greg-abbott-jeff-yass-campaign-donation/

Repeated weather-related mass power outages in Texas are due to poor stormproofing of infrastructure: https://www.click2houston.com/news/texas/2024/07/18/why-texas-mass-power-outages-continue-to-happen/

...A Senate committee will look into our state's power problems - think they'll find themselves responsible? Right: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-weather/hurricanes/article/texas-senate-beryl-power-outages-committee-19580158.php

Texas has been ranked only behind Mississippi in negative women's health outcomes: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/public-health/2024/07/17/texas-ranks-almost-dead-last-in-the-nation-for-womens-health-care-research-shows/

See Progress Texas' new analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration

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

Happy Hour 161 - Congressman Greg Casar: Fighting The Good Fight Jul 17, 2024

Show notes

Since he was first elected to the Austin City Council ten years ago in 2014, Houston native Greg Casar has emerged as one of our state's most respected progressive leaders, and since 2022 has been pushing hard for progress in Texas in the U.S. House, where he's currently the second-youngest member of that entire esteemed body. Join us for a great conversation on his experience so far in D.C., how it has inspired him to keep fighting for his folks back home, and how Texas progressives should both buckle down and buck up about the work at hand, even when the battles seem tough - let's play the long game and win the war.

Learn more about Congressman Greg Casar at https://casar.house.gov/.

Thanks for listening! Your donations and your purchases from our web store help Progress Texas continue our important work, and we appreciate it very much. Come see us at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 7/17/24: Abbott Deflects As Houston Sweats, and More Jul 17, 2024

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Governor Abbott remains defiant in the face of criticism over his abandoning Texas during Hurricane Beryl: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/16/greg-abbott-asia-hurricane-beryl/

...Abbott's attacks notwithstanding, Centerpoint Energy has donated heavily to Republicans for years - thus the lack of regulation, likely leading to Houston's vulnerability: https://www.kxan.com/news/centerpoint-has-contributed-at-least-1-4m-to-texas-lawmakers-since-2022/

...Beryl's death toll in Southeast Texas has risen to 18: https://abc13.com/post/hurricane-beryl-death-toll-hyperthermia-heat-illness-power-outages/15063218/

...And an already challenging hunger crisis in Houston has gotten a lot worse: https://grist.org/food-and-agriculture/hunger-was-already-bad-enough-then-beryl-hit/

Ted Cruz returned to a Republican National Convention stage for the first time since 2016 last night - this time, not defiant to Trump, but groveling: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/16/ted-cruz-trump-republican-national-convention/

...RNC calls for "unity" and attempting to disavow political violence ring hollow, as several of their speakers, including Cruz, are known for stoking the violent tendencies of their audiences: https://www.mediamatters.org/donald-trump/republican-convention-features-speakers-who-have-called-and-downplayed-political

Trump VP pick J.D. Vance once clerked for Senator John Cornyn: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/16/jd-vance-john-cornyn-texas-vice-president/

...And has publicly supported Texas' abortion ban: https://www.thedailybeast.com/jd-vance-defends-texas-abortion-ban-calls-rape-inconvenient

...Leading to fears that his presence on the ticket makes a national abortion ban more likely should Trump win: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/jul/16/jd-vance-abortion-rights-groups

A new ranking of U.S. states by quality of life finds Texas the worst in the country, largely due to the by-products of Republican rule: https://www.expressnews.com/news/texas/article/texas-worst-quality-of-life-in-america-ranking-19576834.php

See Progress Texas' new analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration

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

Daily Dispatch 7/16/24: Texas a Prominent Act In RNC Circus, and More Jul 16, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Texas formed a visible component of the garish display that was Monday night's Republican National Convention: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/trump-rnc-cruz-biden-19575121.php

Colin Allred has outraised Ted Cruz in the second quarter of 2024: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/15/colin-allred-ted-cruz-senate-race-texas/

A Texas YouTuber, whose channel has generated billions of views of videos glorifying guns and military weapons, expresses surprise that his content inspired the 20 year old who tried to kill Donald Trump: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/shocked-and-confused-texas-youtuber-speaks-after-trump-rally-gunman-wore-channel-merch-shirt/

A group of Texas Republican lawmakers and candidates have signed a petition calling for Dallas U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett to step down over her support of a move to strip Trump of his Secret Service detail: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/trump-assassination-attempt-secret-service-bill-jasmine-crockett-texas-republicans/287-e0353733-1673-435d-b5ee-5cd7e64273be

Local school and law enforcement officials in Uvalde have been ordered by a judge to turn over video, audio and records related to the Robb Elementary shooting: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/07/15/uvalde-school-shooting-records-sheriff-district/

...While another judge has approved the demolition of the old church building where 26 died in a mass shooting in 2017 in Sutherland Springs: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-clears-demolition-texas-church-26-people-killed-111972090

ALL progressives should learn all they can about Project 2025, in order to resist its becoming actual U.S. policy: https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration

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

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