Progress Texas Podcasts

Latest Episodes:

Daily Dispatch 5/24/24: Memorial Heat Wave Presents Early ERCOT Test, and More May 24, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Texas will see 100-degree temps over the Memorial Day weekend - ERCOT says they're ready: https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/texas-power-demand-break-may-record-heat-wave-friday-2024-05-23/

...Should the AC stay on, get ready to pay up - Texas power costs are through the roof: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/23/texas-electricity-bill-help/

Is Ken Paxton under Federal investigation? Nobody seems to know, or is willing to pipe up: https://www.kut.org/2024-05-23/donald-trump-fbi-investigation-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-grand-jury

A lawsuit filed by the family of Darryl George, the Barbers Hill ISD student now relegated to in-school suspension for an entire school year over his hairstyle, is now in the hands of a Galveston federal judge: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/fate-lawsuit-filed-texas-student-darryl-george-hairstyle-hands-federal-rcna153835

Governor Abbott's pardoning of Daniel Perry is a green light for extremists to target opponents of white supremacy: https://prospect.org/justice/2024-05-21-governor-texas-white-supremacist-violence-daniel-perry/

Today is the last day of early voting in the primary runoff! Get it done: https://govotetexas.org/

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

Progress Texas invites progressive candidates to share their views with us - which we'll then share with our statewide audience - via our Certified Progressive questionnaire: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-certified-progressives-2024-progressive-values-questionnaire

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

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

Happy Hour 155: Two Years Later, Is There Healing For Uvalde? With Senator Roland Gutierrez May 24, 2024

Show notes

Today - May 24, 2024 - is the second anniversary of the horrific mass shooting incident at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, an instance of mass murder shocking both in its scale, and in the still-unbelievable display of incompetence that marked the botched response of multiple law enforcement agencies that day. Over the two years since, the Republican-dominated government of Texas has not only done nothing to address gun violence - they've gone out of their way to accelerate the proliferation of firearms across our state. As we mark this solemn occasion, we've invited back to the pod San Antonio State Senator Roland Gutierrez - a singular example of a lawmaker who has stood steadfastly by his constituents in their hour of need - to review his experiences with the families left behind, to tell us their stories, and to help us try to make even the slightest bit of sense of an utterly senseless tragedy.

Learn more about Senator Gutierrez at https://senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=19.

Thank you for listening! Learn more about how to support Progress Texas and our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Daily Dispatch 5/23/24: Uvalde Families Announce City Settlement and Lawsuits, and More May 23, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The families of the Robb Elementary shooting victims have announced a $2 million settlement with the City of Uvalde, and a series of lawsuits against involved law enforcement, including Texas DPS officers: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/uvalde-school-shooting-settlement-texas-city-lawsuits/

...Progress Texas provides an update in advance of tomorrow's second anniversary of that horrible day in Uvalde: https://progresstexas.org/blog/what-has-changed-uvalde%C2%A0

The Texas Republican Party Convention begins today in San Antonio, amidst bitter internal struggles over ideology and policy: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/05/23/texas-republicans-gather-for-convention-amid-struggle-over-partys-future/

...The state GOP is moving towards closed primaries: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/republican-party-of-texas-advances-rule-to-close-primaries-convention-vote-friday

The ACLU of Texas has released a report that counters many of Governor Abbott's stated reasons for spending over $11 billion on Operation Lone Star: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/special-reports/at-the-border/texas-aclu-critcizes-operation-lone-star-governor-greg-abbott/269-00ca4525-fad4-4f9b-9bd2-24b9147ad203

A well-known anti-abortion doctor has been appointed to the state's maternal morbidity committee, where she will have an influence over information regarding crisis pregnancies and related deaths in Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/22/texas-maternal-mortality-committee-ingrid-skop-abortion-doctor/

Early voting in the primary runoff is underway NOW and continues through Friday: https://govotetexas.org/

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

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

Daily Dispatch 5/22/24: Yet Another Pregnant Texan Denied Needed Abortion Care, and More May 22, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Another pregnant Texan in a traumatic miscarraige situation is denied care by doctors, eventually fainting to her bathroom floor from blood loss: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/texas-nightmare-miscarriage-abortion-ban-b2549017.html

Ken Paxton files his 75th lawsuit against the Biden administration, this one against workplace protections for LGBTQ+ Texans: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/21/paxton-biden-eeoc-gender-identity-lawsuit/

The Dade Phelan/David Covey race to represent Beaumont in the Texas House has become a very expensive runoff main event: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/news/2024/05/21/early-voting-begins-with-future-of-texas-house-in-balance

...Gambling magnates on one side, Christian Nationalist crusaders on the other: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/21/dade-phelan-miriam-adelson-casino-runoff-primary/

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick joins the GOP clown show at the Trump trial in New York: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/dan-patrick-donald-trump-hush-money-trial/3547236/

...Claims Trump is being targeted by "the ruling class", as opposed to being a poster child for it: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dan-patrick-trump-is-not-ruling-class_n_664ce46ee4b09c97de219dbb

Ted Cruz forgets his reputation for fleeing the country in bad weather, gets roasted over Houston: https://newrepublic.com/post/181779/ted-cruz-gets-roasted-post-texas-storm

...While as of yesterday, 100,000 Houstonians were still without power: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/over-226000-customers-still-without-power-after-storms-texas-2024-05-20/

...And wild weather in Texas is driving YOUR insurance costs through the roof (until it's blown off): https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/outrageous-texans-face-insurance-spikes-amid-natural-disasters/

...While ERCOT considers "smart meter" technology to helpfully turn your AC off in a power pinch: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/ercot-first-innovation-summit-2024/269-69947dd0-a319-471a-b32d-d80c1828a492

Early voting in the primary runoff is underway NOW and continues through Friday: https://govotetexas.org/

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

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

Daily Dispatch 5/21/24: Texas Medical Board Forum On Abortion Rules Solves Nothing, and More May 21, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The anticipated public forum held by the Texas Medical Board seeking to clarify rules governing abortion access exceptions in Texas did little but increase confusion: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/20/texas-medical-board-abortion-guidance/

...Among those testifying was Kate Cox: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/kate-cox-tells-texas-medical-board-newly-proposed-rules-wont-help-clarify-abortion-law/287-4d342554-38fc-4e5c-a425-8e494289de39

...And Progress Texas staffers Tatum Owens and Reagan Stone: https://progresstexas.org/blog/lack-guidance-medical-emergencies-puts-texan-lives-line

Texas A&M's administrator of Title IX finds himself suspended for the offense of speaking in compliance with new federal guidelines, while his bosses plan to defy the feds: https://theeagle.com/news/a_m/tamu-system-title-ix-director-suspended-investigated/article_a75aa62c-146c-11ef-9617-eb4a3d655faf.html

Cypress Fairfield school board members have voted to redact science textbook content that hurts their feelings: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/19/us-public-schools-texas-book-bans

As another historically hot summer builds, so do risks of an "avoidable blackout" in Texas: https://www.forbes.com/sites/arielcohen/2024/05/19/texas-is-heading-towards-an-avoidable-blackoutagain/

Texas provides an early example of the overall erosion of American democracy: https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/texas-abbott-pardon-murderer-blm-protester-20240519.html

Early voting starts TODAY and continues through Friday in the primary runoff: https://govotetexas.org/

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

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

Daily Dispatch 5/20/24: NRA Clowns On Parade In Dallas, and More May 20, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The NRA Convention in Dallas saw heavy emphasis on voter activation among firearms enthusiasts: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/18/texas-nra-convention-trump-abbott-guns/

...In his remarks, Donald Trump toyed with the notion of becoming a three-term President: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/article/2024/may/19/trump-nra-convention-dallas

...A photo essay from the event: https://www.reuters.com/pictures/scenes-inside-annual-nra-convention-2024-05-19/

...Right on cue, Amarillo judge Matthew Kascmaryk has temporarily blocked the new federal "gun show loophole" rule: https://www.yahoo.com/news/us-judge-blocks-biden-backed-030843345.html

Let's get past the spectacle of the tangle between U.S. Reps Jasmine Crockett and Marjorie Taylor Greene, and note the purely racist nature of Greene's comments: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/05/19/jasmine-crockett-mtg-racist-house-exchange/73760251007/

Governor Abbott appears to not only approve of convicted murderer Daniel Perry shooting BLM protestor Garrett Foster, he's also okay with his sexually inappropriate messages to a 16 year old: https://www.texasobserver.org/abbott-pardon-daniel-perry-garrett-foster/

...While the doubt that Foster pointed his gun at Perry prior to the shooting sets a very loose precedent for the establishment of a lethal threat, and a lethal response to that threat: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/greg-abbott-daniel-perry-pardon-rcna152769

Early voting starts TODAY and continues through Friday in the primary runoff: https://govotetexas.org/

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

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

Daily Dispatch 5/17/24: Abbott Pardon Of Right Wing Murderer Declares Open Season On Protestors, and More May 17, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

In a stunning conservative undermining of our state's criminal justice system, Governor Abbott has issued a full pardon for Daniel Perry, convicted last year of murdering Black Lives Matter protester and U.S. Air Force veteran Garrett Foster in Austin: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-governor-pardons-uber-driver-convicted-murdering-black-lives-matter-2024-05-16/

...Multiple reactions from progressive sources: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/16/daniel-perry-greg-abbott-pardon/

Gun violence has skyrocketed 63% in Texas under Governor Abbott's watch: https://giffords.org/analysis/texas-gun-deaths-surged-63-under-greg-abbott/

No surprise that three quarters of Texans think our state government has chosen an "extreme conservative agenda" over practical matters: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4667534-texas-poll-conservative-agenda/

A public forum will be held on May 20 by the Texas Medical Board on proposed exceptions to Texas' near-total ban on abortion: https://x.com/hannahnorton89/status/1785054901661216800?s=12&t=Bt_w1MN2AlTfFkWGHJiOJg

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

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

Burning Issues: A Climate Justice Town Hall May 15, 2024

Show notes

Last week, Progress Texas hosted our first ever Climate Justice Town Hall, where we discussed liquified natural gas (LNG) operations in Texas and the major health risks, environmental damages and harms to indigenous and lower income communities that have fallen victim to Big Oil and Gas’ commitment to profits over people.

We learned a great deal from our experienced panelists: John Beard, CEO of Port Arthur Community Action Network, Elida Castillo, Texas Director of Chispa Texas, Emma Guevara, Brownsville Organizer of Sierra Club and Naomi Yoder, GIS Data Manager for The Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice, hosted by Progress Texas Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone.

Learn more:

Port Arthur Community Action Network: https://www.pa-can.com/

Chispa Texas: https://chispatx.org/

Sierra Club - Lone Star Chapter: https://www.sierraclub.org/texas

Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice: https://www.bullardcenter.org/

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

Daily Dispatch 5/15/24: Dan Patrick Preaches Christian Control Over Texas, and More May 15, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Speaking at a tax-exempt (and thus presumably politically neutral) Houston church, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick espoused his view that Christianity should underpin Texas law: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/dan-patrick-sermon-second-baptist-19455537.php

Governor Greg Abbott appears to have fallen off the VP radar of Donald Trump: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/greg-abbott-donald-trump-vp-candidate-list-discussion

Heat builds around the discovery that Texas tax dollars may have been sent to Colorado charter schools founded by state-installed Houston ISD superintendent Mike Miles: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/14/hisd-mike-miles-tea-investigation/

Pioneering civil rights leader Rev. William "Bill" Lawson of Houston has died at 95: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/rev-william-lawson-texas-civil-rights-leader-dies/3541007/

PROGRAM NOTE - Chris is attending a family memorial service on Thursday, and the Daily Dispatch will take a rare break that day. Next update will be posted on Friday morning.

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

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

Daily Dispatch 5/14/24: Abbott Unmoved As Public Schools Starve, and More May 14, 2024

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Even as school districts across Texas are forced to cut jobs and close campuses under budget shortfalls, Governor Abbott continues to hold funding hostage to vouchers: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2024/05/13/texas-must-help-struggling-schools-with-special-session-on-funding-dems-say-to-abbott/

...While Spectrum journalists discover that public school dollars have been subsidizing charter schools in Colorado - schools founded by current Houston ISD superintendent Mike Miles: https://twitter.com/HOUmanitarian/status/1790174747579318723

People who can become pregnant, should they do so, now risk second-class citizenship to their male partners AND the resulting embryo: https://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/4659427-texass-handmaids-tale-gives-everyone-but-women-reproductive-control/

...While an Alabama-style IVF crisis in Texas is threatened by a Denton divorce case: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/13/texas-supreme-court-frozen-embryos-ivf/

U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar's legal hotseat gets hotter as a third co-conspirator pleads guilty: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/05/13/henry-cuellar-irada-akhoundova-guilty-plea/

Elon Musk's SpaceX company has not been paying its bills, racking up dozens of liens filed by creditors: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/spacex-overdue-bills-texas-19454904.php

Progress Texas could use your help in funding our trip to June's Texas Democratic Convention in El Paso - thanks in advance! https://progresstexas.org/donate

It will soon be time to vote in the May 28 primary runoffs! https://www.texastribune.org/2024/04/26/texas-voting-2024-runoff-elections/

Instagram users: be sure to enable political content on that platform, which has begun opting users out: https://x.com/ProgressTX/status/1771276124498100667?s=20

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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