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Despite reports from social media influencers, as of this morning, the Ken Paxton campaign has still not accepted times or terms for a debate with James Talarico. Texas has joined 11 other Republican-controlled states in a SCOTUS appeal for them to allow Donald Trump to place harsh new limits on mail-in voting. John Cornyn has helped stymie the confirmation of Todd Blanche, Trump's choice for U.S. Attorney General. A sweeping new ban on hemp products will take effect across Texas tomorrow. And, the Texas Tribune is strangely celebrating a new potential milestone for Republican women to be elected to Congress - representing a party that has done immense harm to American women in recent years.
USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2026/07/29/texas-senate-debates-take-shape-as-talarico-paxton-trade-positions/91088811007/
WFAA: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/dates-times-announced-debate-paxton-talarico/287-3f31b225-e83a-4f1b-9276-e09223ae1d09
MS Now: https://www.ms.now/the-last-word/watch/texans-deserve-answers-about-ken-paxton-dem-senate-nominee-james-talarico-says-demanding-debates-2508970051676
Democracy Docket: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/gop-states-join-doj-in-asking-supreme-court-to-let-trump-block-some-mail-ballots/
The Hill: https://thehill.com/newsletters/morning-report/5998751-todd-blanche-confirmation-delay-cornyn-tillis-gop-scorn/
CNBC: https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/29/todd-blanche-attorney-general-trump-irs-audit-cornyn.html
Austin Chronicle: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/where-the-texas-hemp-market-currently-stands/
KERA: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2026-07-30/thc-businesses?_amp=true
Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/30/texas-republican-women-congress-house-record-steinmann-mealer-2026/
This election year, you can support the real free press by investing in pro-democracy, pro-justice, pro-gressive storytelling. Become a monthly donor or increase your giving TODAY for our Summer Sustaining Donor Drive today, and we’ll thank you with "perks for progress" - plus you'll get a shoutout on the Daily Dispatch: huge thanks to new monthly supporter Carolyn Frawley! Join Carolyn and the rest of the Progress Texas family now at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/summersustainers26.
Check out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexas
Progress Texas is now part of the lineups at KPFT-FM in Houston, Empower House Radio in San Antonio, and KZSM True Community Radio in San Marcos! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE.
Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
New polling has Democrat James Talarico ahead of Republican Ken Paxton in the race for the U.S. Senate by five percentage points, and shows Talarico performing well among independent and moderate voters. Renewable energy has been pulling Texas' fat out of the fire this summer - but will that continue under the strain of hundreds of data centers? Governor Abbott is under building pressure to call a special session on data centers - and in Texas, that's not just about natural resources - religion has a lot to say about Big Tech as well.
Texas Tribune on polling: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/28/texas-senate-poll-james-talarico-ken-paxton-july-2026/
Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/article/solar-wind-power-renewable-texas-heat-22363504.php
San Antonio Express-News: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/texas/article/greg-abbott-data-centers-22359062.php?utm_source=reddit
Texas Tribune/Religion News Service: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/29/texas-data-centers-religion-opposition/
This election year, you can support the real free press by investing in pro-democracy, pro-justice, pro-gressive storytelling. Become a monthly donor or increase your giving TODAY for our Summer Sustaining Donor Drive today, and we’ll thank you with "perks for progress" - plus you'll get a shoutout on the Daily Dispatch: huge thanks to new monthly supporter Carolyn Frawley! Join Carolyn and the rest of the Progress Texas family now at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/summersustainers26.
Check out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexas
Progress Texas is now part of the lineups at KPFT-FM in Houston, Empower House Radio in San Antonio, and KZSM True Community Radio in San Marcos! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE.
Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
A strange moment indeed in Texas, as our top two elected officials - Governor Greg Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick - have both openly declared war on the U.S. Constitution: Patrick in his assault on the separation of church and state, and Abbott in his zealous quest against birthright citizenship via "birth tourism" - a harmless, statistically insignificant non-issue.
Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/27/texas-dan-patrick-religious-liberty-interim-charges-religion-public-life-legislature/
Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/article/greg-abbott-texas-order-birth-tourism-citizenship-22361795.php
NPR: https://www.npr.org/2026/07/28/nx-s1-5869808/family-trump-profit-corruption-voters-ethics-democrats?unified=true&renderPlatform=nprone_ios
This election year, you can support the real free press by investing in pro-democracy, pro-justice, pro-gressive storytelling. Become a monthly donor or increase your giving TODAY for our Summer Sustaining Donor Drive today, and we’ll thank you with "perks for progress" - plus you'll get a shoutout on the Daily Dispatch: huge thanks to new monthly supporter Carolyn Frawley! Join Carolyn and the rest of the Progress Texas family now at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/summersustainers26.
Check out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexas
Progress Texas is now part of the lineups at KPFT-FM in Houston, Empower House Radio in San Antonio, and KZSM True Community Radio in San Marcos! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE.
Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
The Texas Water Development Board doesn't have enough information about data center demand to include it in our resource projections, and they seem okay with that. A new college admissions test that emphasizes ideology over academics is approved for Texas' public universities. South Texas appears primed for a seismic shift away from Trump and the GOP, while Democratic nominee Bobby Pulido's chances to unseat his Republican opponent appear strong. And, James Talarico has officially "arrived" as Donald Trump includes him in his list of national enemies.
Community Impact: https://communityimpact.com/central-austin/texas-legislature/texas-includes-minimal-data-center-info-in-state-water-plan-citing-limited-data/
Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/27/conservative-college-entrance-exam-texas-universty-admissions/
Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/the-texas-counties-that-could-decide-whether-democrats-flip-senate-seat-12223307
Texas Observer: https://www.texasobserver.org/bobby-pulido-monica-de-la-cruz-south-texas/
Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/article/trump-jabs-james-talarico-at-correspondents-dinner-22360074.php
This election year, you can support the real free press by investing in pro-democracy, pro-justice, pro-gressive storytelling. Become a monthly donor or increase your giving TODAY for our Summer Sustaining Donor Drive today, and we’ll thank you with "perks for progress" - plus you'll get a shoutout on the Daily Dispatch: huge thanks to new monthly supporter Carolyn Frawley! Join Carolyn and the rest of the Progress Texas family now at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/summersustainers26.
Check out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexas
Progress Texas is now part of the lineups at KPFT-FM in Houston, Empower House Radio in San Antonio, and KZSM True Community Radio in San Marcos! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE.
Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Governor Greg Abbott has pivoted his campaign rhetoric to a call for limits on data centers - but he fails to use the power he has right now to do anything to slow their explosive spread. Meanwhile, Ken Paxton is desperately fundraising outside the state as James Talarico out-raises him 3 to 1 at home - Paxton is apparently doing all he can to avoid a live debate.
KXAN Austin: https://www.kxan.com/news/data-center-debate-grows-across-texas-as-leaders-push-for-more-oversight/
Tom's Hardware: https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/data-centers/bnef-nearly-doubles-its-us-data-center-power-forecast-to-194gw
San Antonio Current: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/san-antonio-news/ken-paxton-receives-unwelcome-surprise-at-washington-d-c-fundraiser/
Texas Standard: https://texasstandard.org/stories/cornyn-donors-paxton-senate-race-talarico-fundraising/
This election year, you can support the real free press by investing in pro-democracy, pro-justice, pro-gressive storytelling. Become a monthly donor or increase your giving TODAY for our Summer Sustaining Donor Drive today, and we’ll thank you with "perks for progress" - plus you'll get a shoutout on the Daily Dispatch: huge thanks to new monthly supporter Carolyn Frawley! Join Carolyn and the rest of the Progress Texas family now at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/summersustainers26.
Check out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexas
Progress Texas is now part of the lineups at KPFT-FM in Houston, Empower House Radio in San Antonio, and KZSM True Community Radio in San Marcos! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE.
Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
After Tuesday's disastrous press conference, from which Ken Paxton fled even basic questions from the press amidst the skirts of his handler - how on Earth does he expect to face equally insistent moderators, across a stage from James Talarico, before a huge live and televised audience, at a Senatorial debate? On our weekly roundtable this week, we dive deep into this important and extremely amusing question.
Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
An analysis of the personal wealth of 15 first-time congressional candidates from Texas shows that only the rich can easily run for office, while Elon Musk dumps billions into GOP candidates and right wing PACs - and boorish billionaire behavior is fueling a growing populist backlash.
Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/22/texas-congress-delegation-net-worth-millionaires-2026-midterms/
San Antonio Express-News: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/elon-musk-campaign-donations-texas-gop-abbott-22352250.php?utm_source=reddit
Paul Krugman: https://substack.com/home/post/p-208095884
This election year, you can support the real free press by investing in pro-democracy, pro-justice, pro-gressive storytelling. Become a monthly donor or increase your giving TODAY for our Summer Sustaining Donor Drive today, and we’ll thank you with "perks for progress" - plus you'll get a shoutout on the Daily Dispatch! Join the Progress Texas family at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/summersustainers26.
Check out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexas
Progress Texas is part of the lineup at KPFT-FM in Houston! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE. Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
The full collapse of a press conference featuring Ken Paxton and a large group of Texas county sheriffs is a must-watch. After reading a lengthy statement smearing James Talarico, Paxton's handler abruptly canceled the presser after just two questions from the press didn't follow his chosen law enforcement narrative. The two questions concerned Paxton's recent real estate acquisitions, and accusations that he has been voting illegally using a Collin County address at which he does not reside.
Full presser video: https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/full-video-paxton-holds-campaign-202047514.html
From The New Republic: https://newrepublic.com/post/213343/ken-paxton-flees-press-conference-scandals-voter-fraud
From the San Antonio Current: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/politics-and-elections/ken-paxton-ends-press-conference-after-reporters-press-him-on-real-estate-transactions-alleged-voter-fraud/
This election year, you can support the real free press by investing in pro-democracy, pro-justice, pro-gressive storytelling. Become a monthly donor or increase your giving TODAY for our Summer Sustaining Donor Drive today, and we’ll thank you with "perks for progress" - plus you'll get a shoutout on the Daily Dispatch! Our good friend Brian Marrs has bumped up his support! Join Brian and the rest of the Progress Texas family at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/summersustainers26.
Check out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexas
Progress Texas is part of the lineup at KPFT-FM in Houston! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE. Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
James Talarico's outreach event for Black voters in Houston on Sunday featured a pledge to spend $25 million on a continued embrace of that community - and the majority of the tension present was provided by a single political influencer who has based her online persona largely on her personal disdain for the nominee: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/20/texas-james-talarico-black-voters-town-hall-houston-2026-senate/
...Polling from the UT Austin/Texas Politics Project indicates that Talarico is significantly outperforming both Beto O'Rourke and Colin Allred at this stage in the campaign with Black voters across Texas: https://www.facebook.com/reel/1025348793795610
Ken Paxton, meanwhile, can't get anyone to pay attention in McAllen - and has taken to lying about his attendance numbers: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/texas-news/ken-paxton-accused-of-lying-about-attendance-at-his-first-campaign-rally-of-the-general-election/
This election year, you can support the real free press by investing in pro-democracy, pro-justice, pro-gressive storytelling. Become a monthly donor or increase your giving TODAY for our Summer Sustaining Donor Drive today, and we’ll thank you with "perks for progress" - plus you'll get a shoutout on the Daily Dispatch: our good friend Darbi Lockridge has bumped up her support! Join her and the rest of the Progress Texas family at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/summersustainers26.
Check out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexas
Progress Texas is part of the lineup at KPFT-FM in Houston! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE. Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:
James Talarico has accepted three invitations from TV operators to engage in debate with Ken Paxton, while the Paxton camp agrees that debates "should" happen, but has not confirmed any of those dates: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/james-talarico-challenges-ken-paxton-3-televised-texas-senate-debates
...Texas Senate debates have not favored challengers or underdogs in the last few cycles, as evidenced by Beto O'Rourke and Colin Allred against Ted Cruz: https://www.statesman.com/news/columns/article/ken-paxton-james-talarico-texas-senate-debate-22349865.php
Governor Abbott has bypassed Nate Schatzline for Secretary of State, appointing instead longtime aide Robert Howden - Schatzline remains as a "special advisor on elections": https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/texas-appoints-new-secretary-of-state-ahead-of-2026-midterm-elections/
...Williamson County elections officials, dominated by Republicans, have begun accusing voters of being felons and threatening to kick them off the voter rolls if they can't prove otherwise within 30 days: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/texas-republicans-latest-attempt
Houston saw a major demonstration for accountability in the death of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo yesterday: https://www.fox26houston.com/news/houston-rallies-demand-justice-lorenzo-salgado-araujo
...Just as the FBI has been told not to investigate public confrontations with ICE, and to allow the Department of Homeland Security to investigate itself instead: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/19/us/politics/fbi-ice-agents-investigations-shootings.html
This election year, you can support the real free press by investing in pro-democracy, pro-justice, pro-gressive storytelling. Become a monthly donor or increase your giving TODAY for our Summer Sustaining Donor Drive today, and we’ll thank you with "perks for progress" - plus you'll get a shoutout on the Daily Dispatch! Our good friend Elizabeth McNair has bumped up her support! Join her and the rest of the Progress Texas family at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/summersustainers26.
Check out the Substack version of the Daily Dispatch, which delivers each pod to your inbox and frequently includes extra video goodies: https://substack.com/@progresstexas
Progress Texas is part of the lineup at KPFT-FM in Houston! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE. Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
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