Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

We're proud to announce that we are endorsing Texas State Senator Roland Gutierrez to face Ted Cruz in the race for our state's junior seat in the U.S. Senate: https://rolandfortexas.com/

Republican craziness over the border includes the supposedly-moderate (and essentially hopeless) Republican Presidential candidate Nikki Haley: https://nypost.com/2024/01/31/news/nikki-haley-claims-texas-has-the-right-to-secede-from-us-thats-their-decision-to-make/

...While the more obviously crazy U.S. Rep. Chip Roy compares the recent 5-4 SCOTUS call in favor of federal immigration jurisdiction to the infamous Dred Scott decision: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/4438115-chip-roy-dred-scott-supreme-court-border-ruling/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17067202796298&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fthehill.com%2Fhomenews%2Fhouse%2F4438115-chip-roy-dred-scott-supreme-court-border-ruling%2F

...What does the law actually say about a federal takeover of state national guard troops? It's as clear as mud: https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/can-the-federal-government-take-control-of-the-texas-national-guard-governor-greg-abbott-supreme-court-razor-wire-ruling-president-biden-armed-forces-migrants-immigration-border-security

...Meanwhile, the residents of Eagle Pass just want their town back: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/01/slatest-news-politics-newsletter-eagle-pass-texas.html

...As more crazy is inbound, if that goofy truck convoy doesn't implode before it gets here: https://www.businessinsider.com/gods-army-take-our-border-back-convoy-texas-slashed-tires-2024-1

...And older conservatives calling for secession don't appear to have carefully considered their Medicare and Social Security benefits: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-secession-union-medicare-benefits-1865428

Ken Paxton is suing several Texas cities over their local ordinances deprioritizing marijuana enforcement: https://www.kut.org/austin/2024-01-31/attorney-general-ken-paxton-austin-san-marcos-marijuana-possession-ordinances

Black History Month starts today! Progress Texas has a full schedule of events to follow: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-african-american-arts-and-artisans-black-history-month

The deadline to register for the March primary is this Monday, February 5: https://govotetexas.org/

Early Giving is underway for this year's Amplify Austin non-profit and charity fundraiser, and is a great way to support Progress Texas: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute

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