Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Texas Democratic Party has issued a resolution calling for peace in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict: https://www.texasdemocrats.org/media/texas-state-democratic-executive-committee-unanimously-passes-israeli-palestinian-resolution-calls-for-a-humanitarian-ceasefire-and-release-of-hostages

Meanwhile - over the same weekend - the Texas Republican Party struck from their pro-Israel resolution language condemning associations with Nazi sympathizers and Holocaust deniers: https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-gop-votes-against-ban-association-nazi-sympathizers-holocaust-deniers-2023-12

Also on that topic, controversy at UT Austin over the removal of two teaching assistants resulting from their support of Palestinian and Muslim students: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2023/12/01/message-about-gaza-leads-to-removal-of-ut-teaching-assistants/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17015727091418&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fnews%2Feducation%2F2023%2F12%2F01%2Fmessage-about-gaza-leads-to-removal-of-ut-teaching-assistants%2F

Tomorrow's close of the 4th special session keeps vouchers at bay, but also may allow delays in voter-approved teacher pension raises: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/01/2023-election-challenge-teacher-pay-tax-cuts/

Ted...ahem, Rafael Cruz introduces legislation that would prevent employers from requiring employees to respect each other's chosen pronouns: https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/ted-cruz-preferred-name-pronouns-trans-bill-18524085.php

Houston's runoff election looms as early voting ends tomorrow and Election Day is next Saturday - Mayoral candidates Sheila Jackson Lee and John Whitmire will square off in a debate tonight: https://abc13.com/houston-mayor-runoff-election-mayoral-debate-sheila-jackson-lee/14128371/

Thanks for listening! Thanks to all who came out for Friday's Progress Texas Holiday Party in Austin - and we look forward to seeing you at Wednesday's party in Dallas! Tickets and more info at https://progresstexas.org/.