Progress Texas Podcasts

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Trump’s Visit to TX; Man Shot by ICE in Recovery - Daily Dispatch 10/02/26 Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Are YOU Registered to Vote? You sure? The voter registration deadline is Monday, October 5th! Check your registration status and more at our voter navigation resource GoVoteTexas.org. Other news includes: Top Executive Branch Officials in TX; Paxton Spending Increases While Poll Numbers Don’t; Man Shot by ICE in recovery

Austin American Statesman: https://www.statesman.com/news/education/article/austin-rfk-westlake-high-school-wwe-fitness-test-22456517.php

Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/article/trump-brings-economic-pitch-paxton-push-north-22457276.php

CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/01/politics/ken-paxton-trump-insult-texas

Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/01/texas-senate-gop-outside-spending-ken-paxton-thune-trump-talarico/

Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/02/texas-republican-spanish-ads-spending-paxton-talarico-senate/

Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/10/01/texas-wilber-rafael-garces-perez-ice-shooting-surgery/

Confirm your registration and make your voting plan NOW at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoVoteTexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and see a handy ballot customizable to your home address from the Texas Tribune at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-general-election-ballot-november-2026/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Texas Capitol - Which Encourages Open Carry - Targeted By Gun Threat, And More - Daily Dispatch 10/1/26 Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

The Texas State Capitol building, known for being a place where it's easy - perhaps, even encouraged - for visitors to carry in their guns, saw a credible gun threat narrowly averted by law enforcement yesterday. Texas transplant Elon Musk is named a high-level consultant in a new Trump administration effort to extend American autonomous lethal weaponry “from subterranean depths to the cislunar frontier”. Ken Paxton is busted trashing Trump's recent Dallas convention. And Common Cause is underway with a massive recruitment effort for election observers and voter support.

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/30/texas-state-capitol-austin-attack-plot

CBS 19 Tyler: https://www.cbs19.tv/video/news/local/security-heightened-at-texas-capitol-after-alleged-attack-plot-thwarted/501-b332ce57-996f-40a0-b329-00bcc59d8d5e

The Independent: https://www.the-independent.com/tech/war-elon-musk-us-project-meridian-b3059679.html

USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/state/texas/2026/09/30/donald-trump-ken-paxton-midterm-convention-texas-gop/92029723007/

Democracy Docket: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/pro-voting-group-prepares-hundreds-of-volunteers-to-monitor-texas-voting/

Common Cause Texas: https://www.commoncause.org/texas/

Confirm your registration and make your voting plan NOW at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoVoteTexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and see a handy ballot customizable to your home address from the Texas Tribune at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-general-election-ballot-november-2026/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Texas Gun Sense with State Rep. Josey Garcia - Special LIVE Pod Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

Our friends at Texas Gun Sense envision a future free of gun violence. They advocate for stronger, safer gun laws and support policies that make our communities safer—all while protecting the rights of responsible gun owners. Texas Gun Sense held their annual fall fundraiser last week - this organization is very meaningful to our Executive Director Kathleen Thompson, as a former advisory board member. Kathleen and our Communications Director Chris Mosser both attended the event, and as parents, both know all too well the terrible statistics of gun violence in Texas - especially as they impact our youngest Texans.

Texas State Representative Josey Garcia of San Antonio was the keynote speaker - Rep. Garcia is the first and only woman veteran currently serving in the Texas House, and has made it a priority to champion issues affecting veterans and military families. She fights to expand access to mental health resources and to raise awareness about suicide prevention.

You’ll also hear a touching testimonial from Ruth Moonesinghe, as she accepts Texas Gun Sense's 2026 Frances Schenkkan Advocate of the Year Award on behalf of InKind. Ruth is the mother of Rajan Moonesinghe, a technology entrepreneur and co-founder of InKind, who was killed in a police-involved shooting outside his Austin home in November 2022. Ruth has transformed her tremendous personal loss into powerful advocacy to prevent gun violence, build safer communities, and strengthen trust between law enforcement and the public. We thank her for sharing her story, and we also thank InKind for supporting this life-saving work.

Learn more about Texas Gun Sense at https://txgunsense.org/.

Learn more bout InKind at https://inkind.com/.

Learn more about State Rep. Josey Garcia at https://www.joseygarcia.com/.

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

Election Protection and Voter Mobilization - Texas Civil Rights Project Series, Part 4 Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

We are days away from the October 5 voter registration deadline - so, what’s changed for Texas voters in 2026, and who is working to protect our right to participate at the polls? All your questions answered, in our series with the Texas Civil Rights Project: today’s episode features the TCRP's Taylor Trevino and La’Dereka Sylvan, who discuss election protection and voter mobilization, what that looks like in our voter-suppressed state, and how you can join in.

Learn more about the Texas Civil Rights Project at https://www.txcivilrights.org/, and their Texas Voter Protection program at http://texasvoterprotection.org/.

Find our voter information resource at https://govotetexas.org/.

Donate to support this podcast series with the TCRP at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/tcrpseries

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

In Some Ways, James Talarico Has Already Won - Daily Dispatch 9/30/26 Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

By boldly reclaiming the actual teachings of Christianity and clearly expressing a vision of progressive success, even before the election arrives, James Talarico has reinvigorated a distinct and realistic vision for a much better Texas. While Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott continue to dodge the debate stage, Republicans in the Texas Legislature promise the same old culture war, despite the likelihood of strengthened Democratic opposition in 2027 - perhaps forgetting the immense power that Gina Hinojosa and Vikki Goodwin stand to gain.

Salon: https://www.salon.com/2026/09/21/james-talaricos-campaign-could-do-lasting-damage-to-the-gop/

TIME: https://time.com/article/2026/09/30/can-james-talarico-make-texas-competitive-again/

San Antonio Current: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/assclown-alert/dodging-debates-and-democratic-engagement-with-greg-abbott-and-ken-paxton/

Houston Chronicle on debates: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/paxton-talarico-debate-22455301.php

Houston Chronicle on recent Paxton statements: https://www.chron.com/news/article/ken-paxton-sex-abuse-sentence-22454080.php

Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/29/texas-legislature-2027-session-house-gop-midterms-mitch-little/

Houston Chronicle on Crockett endorsements: https://www.chron.com/news/article/jasmine-crockett-james-talarico-endorsement-22452629.php

Confirm your registration and make your voting plan NOW at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoVoteTexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and see a handy ballot customizable to your home address from the Texas Tribune at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-general-election-ballot-november-2026/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

From Tribfest: Texas' State Park Vision - In Progress Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

This week's In Progress roundtable discussion comes straight from the 2026 Texas Tribune Festival in Austin: a discussion of the current state and future of our state parks, with Texas Parks and Wildlife Executive Director Annie Brown, Texas State Parks Director Rodney Franklin, Texas Parks And Wildlife State Parks Advisory Committee Chair Brian Trusty, and Gulf Trust Executive Director, former Democratic nominee for Texas Land Commissioner, and acclaimed documentary filmmaker Jay Kleberg.

Learn more about Gulf Trust at https://gulftrust.org/.

Learn more about Texas State Parks at https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/.

Learn more about the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation at https://www.tpwf.org/.

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

ICE Shooter Identified As Immigration Cruelty Ramps Up - Daily Dispatch 9/29/26 Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

The ICE agent who shot and killed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston two months ago has been identified by the Texas Tribune as Gregory Feathers. A candidate for the Austin City Council was dramatically arrested on Saturday for taking part in a protest over the ICE shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in Austin - almost a week after that protest. And CNN details heartbreaking court proceedings in Harlingen, during which unaccompained immigrant children are been screened for deportation.

Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/09/28/houston-ice-lorenzo-salgado-araujo-shooter-identified/

Texas Public Radio: https://www.tpr.org/border-immigration/2026-09-28/austin-man-shot-by-ice-still-in-pain-bullet-lodged-in-his-back-ahead-of-san-antonio-hearing

Houston Public Media: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2026/09/28/562937/austin-city-council-candidate-released-after-arrest-tied-to-ice-protest/?amp=1

CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/28/politics/video/ebof-priscilla-alvarez-children-immigration-court

Confirm your registration and make your voting plan NOW at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoVoteTexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and see a handy ballot customizable to your home address from the Texas Tribune at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-general-election-ballot-november-2026/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Arrested For ICE Protest, Austin City Council Candidate Misael Ramos Speaks Out Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Misael Ramos is the DSA-endorsed candidate running for the Austin City Council's District 1 seat, and was unexpectedly arrested by a group of law enforcement officers representing at least two different agencies on Saturday in connection with his attendance at a protest the prior weekend against the ICE-related shooting of Wilber Rafael Garces Perez in north Austin. Ramos joins us to share his experience.

More on the story from the Austin Chronicle: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/misael-ramos-details-harrowing-arrest-for-protesting-ice/

Learn more about Misael Ramos and his campaign at https://misaelforaustin.com/.

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

Will Rural Republicans Actually Vote Against Paxton? Daily Dispatch 9/28/26 Sep 28, 2026

Show notes

Republican luminaries continue kvetching that in choosing Ken Paxton over John Cornyn, Texas GOP primary voters have endangered that seat for Republicans - but will lifelong rural conservatives, in the privacy of the voting booth, actually vote against him in favor of James Talarico? Karl Rove discovers that speaking up out of step with MAGA carries real-world complications. And, maybe some of those Texas Republicans - the ones who have developed an appreciation for cannabis products - will be swayed by Paxton's years and years of trying to stamp THC out of Texas.

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/27/republican-tillis-trump-paxton

Associated Press on new poll: https://apnews.com/article/rural-voters-trump-economy-midterms-healthcare-poll-8098dfa7a9534551203dfa4a8c27564c

Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/article/bo-french-jon-rosenthal-debate-22449614.php

Associated Press on Paxton record: https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2026/years-of-scandals-havent-stopped-ken-paxton-can-james-talarico-change-that/

Marijuana Moment: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/texas-gop-senate-candidate-ken-paxton-took-more-than-half-a-million-dollars-in-alcohol-industry-donations-while-opposing-cannabis-reform/

Confirm your registration and make your voting plan NOW at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoVoteTexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Sarah Eckhardt, Vikki Goodwin and Jon Rosenthal At Tribfest! Special LIVE Pod Sep 27, 2026

Show notes

Here comes another TribFest talk that, in our opinion, clearly demonstrates the overall quality of the Democratic ticket this year. When you vote all the way down your ballot in a few weeks, these are some of the Democrats you have a chance to put into statewide office after 30 years of Republican stranglehold. Democratic nominees for Lt. Governor, State Comptroller and Railroad Commission - Vikki Goodwin, Sarah Eckhardt and Jon Rosenthal, respectively - are hosted here by Lauren McGaughey of the New York Times. Can a Democrat win Texas? We're about to find out.

Learn more about Vikki Goodwin at https://www.vikkigoodwin.com/.

Learn more about Sarah Eckhardt at https://www.saraheckhardt.com/.

Learn more about Jon Rosenthal at https://jonrosenthaltx.com/.

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

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