Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

So far, the order issued by the U.S. Supreme Court to allow Border Patrol full access has been defied by Governor Abbott, as the feds issue a new Friday deadline: https://www.cnn.com/2024/01/23/us/us-mexico-border-texas-migrants/index.html

...Conservatives recklessly encouraging Abbott's defiance: Senators Ted Cruz and John Cornyn: https://themessenger.com/politics/gop-texas-sen-cruz-slams-scotus-razor-wire-border-ruling-disgraceful

...Georgia U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene: https://www.newsweek.com/supreme-court-texas-war-marjorie-taylor-greene-warning-1863296

...Texas U.S. Rep. Chip Roy and right-wing think-tankers: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/gop-border-wire-supreme-court-18623608.php

...And Louisiana U.S. Rep Clay Higgins and wingnut hero Tucker Carlson: https://www.vice.com/en/article/5d9agn/texas-vowing-resistance-supreme-court-ruling-razor-wire-us-mexico-border

...Meanwhile, Operation Lone Star has thus far cost YOU, the Texas taxpayer, 10 billion dollars and counting: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/governor-abbotts-operation-lone-star-touts-thousands-of-arrests-10-billion-cost/

Ken Paxton-backed Republican State House candidate Jared Woodfill is connected to a notorious sexual predator: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/23/jared-woodfill-paul-pressler-southern-baptist-state-legislature/

...While Abbott-backed Texas Senate candidate Brent Hagenbuch can't seem to shake questions about his residency-based eligibility: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/23/denton-county-election-brent-hagenbuch/

State health officials worry that Texas Republicans' war on COVID vaccines may undermine our future ability to respond to emerging health crises: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/hotez-covid-vaccine-rules-18610932.php

A new anti-Christian Nationalist group has hired its first field director, and she's based in North Texas: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2024/01/23/christian-nationalism-is-a-large-threat-in-north-texas-says-local-organizer/

A debate between the Democratic candidates to face Ted Cruz - the only one, to our knowledge, that U.S. Rep. Colin Allred has agreed to attend - will happen Saturday in Austin: https://texasaflcio.org/news/cope-convention-host-first-us-senate-debate

And at the same time, Progress Texas is hosting a forum for candidates for both the U.S. House and the Texas Senate:

Thanks for listening! Please explore the various fun ways to support Progress Texas and our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.