Progress Texas Podcasts

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Houston Republican Rep. Dan Crenshaw is confused at his party's blocking of the very border reforms they claim to want: https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2024/02/01/dan-crenshaw-potential-border-reform-bill-sot-raju-ip-vpx.cnn

That "God's Army" gathering in Dripping Springs was nowhere near "massive": https://nypost.com/2024/02/01/news/patriots-gather-for-massive-rally-at-texas-border/

...Experts say this convoy has already been overrun by "Great Replacement" conspiracy theorists: https://www.militarytimes.com/flashpoints/extremism-disinformation/2024/02/01/proud-boys-other-far-right-groups-use-texas-convoy-as-rallying-cry/

...Nikki Haley walks back her obviously ignorant position on Texas secession: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/02/opinion/haley-abbott-secession-texas.html

...Even the ultra-conservative and unpredictable U.S. Supreme Court is unlikely to go along with secession: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-secession-movement-abbott-border-security/

Is Ted Cruz really winning with Texas millennials? https://www.newsweek.com/ted-cruz-winning-texas-millennials-1866176

...U.S. Rep. Colin Allred continues dominating fundraising: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/01/colin-allred-ted-crus-roland-gutierrez/

That produced water spill in Crane County continues to flow - an update is coming on the Progress Texas Happy Hour: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/west-texas-water-leak-oil-field-railroad-commission-no-fly-zone/

We send out condolences to beloved volunteer and activist Ernest Walker of Dallas: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/longtime-dallas-activist-dies-leaves-legacy-of-service/287-aad9658f-b54d-487d-9f95-27436bb86a27

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/.

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/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

No progress reported on the standoff between Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden on federal access to the border: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/texas-refuses-budge-in-border-standoff-with-biden

Eagle Pass firefighters talk about the trauma of recovering so many drowned migrants from the Rio Grande lately: https://www.cnn.com/videos/us/2024/01/30/eagle-pass-texas-migrant-surge-border-immigration-contd-orig-lr-ag-ak.cnn

Christian voters, in particular, should be wary of stunts like the "God's Army" truck convoy: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/gods-army-texas-border-christian-nationalism-rcna136279

Ken Paxton gets a pass - for now - on being deposed tomorrow in the whistleblower case against him: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/texas-supreme-court-pauses-depositions-in-paxton-whistleblower-case/

...Donald Trump appears to have persuaded the Texas Supreme Court to stay the deposition order: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/30/ken-paxton-texas-supreme-court-whistleblowers/

...Trump has also joined Paxton in backing a hard-right primary challenger to House Speaker Dade Phelan: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/trump-endorsement-texas-house-speaker-rcna136440

...While an Abbott-backed candidate in the special election to fill the House seat for District 2 is narrowly defeated by an opponent backed by more moderate GOP types: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/jill-dutton-wins-race-to-fill-seat-vacated-by-expelled-member/3448714/

The Democratic judge who will preside over Ken Paxton's felony securities fraud trial in Houston this spring is relatively inexperienced: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/second-year-texas-judge-takes-on-long-awaited-ken-paxton-trial

The Texas Supreme Court hears arguments that the PUC overstepped its bounds during the 2021 Winter Storm Uri disaster in ordering ERCOT to hold energy prices at maximum: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-power-2021-winter-storm-supreme-court/269-83efc0b3-72af-48b8-93f0-a131bc4a8662

...And also arguments against SB-14, the new state law outlawing gender-affirming care for trans youth: https://www.fox4news.com/news/senate-bill-14-texas-supreme-court-hearing

Studies show that liberal Twitter users are willing to back down from disproven positions, while conservative users will double down on debunked ideas: https://www.psypost.org/2022/11/liberals-produce-more-tweets-about-important-events-conservatives-are-more-likely-to-share-rumors-64245

...Speaking of which, recently-circulating video of tanks rolling across a desert highway are NOT in fact Texas troops after a federal surrender: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-tanks-border-biden-abbott-video-1865325

The deadline to register for the March primary is this Monday, February 5: https://www.fox26houston.com/news/texas-2024-primary-deadline-approaching-to-register-to-vote-in-march-primary

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/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The standoff between Governor Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden continues: https://www.kens5.com/video/news/special-reports/at-the-border/273-ded0a575-7d5c-4ec3-8465-7d701b45e7f3

...Historic parallels to the situation include Eisenhower '57 and Kennedy '63: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/29/immigration-border-texas-trump/

...Should legal solutions in the Congress not work out, Biden faces a difficult call: https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/if-border-bill-fails-time-for-biden-to-take-control-of-texas-border-says-writer-203146309828

...U.S. Reps Joaquin Castro and Greg Casar implore Biden to act: https://www.newsweek.com/texas-governor-reveals-plan-counter-biden-taking-over-national-guard-1865108

...The Supreme Court itself is complicit in Abbott's defiance: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/01/greg-abbott-texas-border-stunt-supreme-court/677267/

...The solvency of the U.S. Constitution itself may be at risk: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-01-29/opinion-heres-whats-at-stake-in-texas-dispute-with-the-federal-government-over-the-border

...Convoys of Abbott supporters promise "peaceful demonstration", but bad actors abound: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2024/01/29/texas-border-supreme-court-migrants-abbott/

...LULAC issues a statement of warning to its members to be vigilant for racist violence: https://thehill.com/latino/4436050-texas-abbott-border-latino-immigration/

...Not even Republican Dade Phelan is immune from the effects of reckless rhetoric from the right: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/29/texas-house-speaker-dade-phelan-threat/

And in some GOOD news - Texas set a new record for solar power last weekend: https://www.kut.org/energy-environment/2024-01-29/texas-just-broke-a-record-for-how-much-power-it-got-from-the-sun

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/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The standoff between Texas and the Biden Administration is verging on unprecedented - outside of the leadup to the American Civil War: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-refuses-federal-agents-access-shelby-park-eagle-pass-border/

...Governor Abbott's legal position parallels those asserted by Confederate states as they left the Union, all thoroughly debunked: https://www.thedailybeast.com/texas-border-stunt-is-based-on-a-confederate-legal-theory

...It also relies on the patently absurd equivalency comparing migrants seeking work to an invading foreign army: https://www.cato.org/blog/explaining-border-standoff-between-texas-federal-government

...Houston State Rep. Gene Wu suggests that Abbott follow the law, just as he asks pregnant rape victims to do: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/gene-wu-texas-us-mexico-border-razor-wire-supreme-court-scotus-ruling/287-bcbf2a26-52a6-4933-8cde-6a795952f767

...While Donald Trump claps with glee and eggs Abbott on: https://apnews.com/article/trump-biden-immigration-texas-border-mexico-f2c1f03d902734521ab6e23f02ed9fa3

...And Russia looks on with interest, hoping the Texas border crisis will end American interest in and aid for Ukraine: https://www.newsweek.com/russia-state-tv-texas-border-control-greg-abbott-joe-biden-donald-trump-1864605

...While an Indian source points out that footage covering the "Army Of God" truck convoy is actually that of a COVID convoy from 2022: https://www.indiatoday.in/fact-check/story/fact-check-convoy-heading-towards-texas-for-border-control-no-this-video-is-from-2022-2494924-2024-01-29

What may end up the only debate between Democratic hopefuls to challenge Ted Cruz in November was held yesterday: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/28/texas-senate-democratic-debate/

...Listen in its entirety here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-143-the-u-s-senate-texas-democratic/id1552998795?i=1000643297735

Ken Paxton hassles another out-of-state clinic for the private medical records of trans kids, this one in Georgia: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/26/texas-attorney-general-trans-documents-georgia-ken-paxton/

Snopes finds that yes - Norwegians really do use the word "Texas" as slang for insane, chaotic situations: https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/texas-slang-crazy-norway/

Thanks for listening! Discover our web store and other ways to support our ongoing mission at https://progresstexas.org/.

Just hours ago, in what may end up the only full debate featuring the top contenders, the Democratic hopefuls to face Ted Cruz for Texas' junior U.S. Senate seat in November faced off in a live debate. Thanks to the Texas AFL/CIO for allowing us to capture this very important conversation during their annual COPE Convention in Austin, which is presented here in its entirety.

Learn more about the Texas AFL/CIO and all the incredible work they do for hardworking Texans statewide at https://texasaflcio.org/.

Thanks for listening! Hit our web store and learn about other ways to support our ongoing mission at Progress Texas at https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Former President and presumptive GOP nominee Donald Trump has issued a call for "all willing states" to send their national guards to Texas to confront federal personnel alongside Operation Lone Star: https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-calls-for-all-willing-states-to-deploy-national-guard-troops-to-texas

...While 25 Republican Governors - representing half the states - weigh in in favor of Abbott and Trump: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13009037/governors-Texas-border-dispute-security.html

...And Republicans, sensing a favorable election angle, have no intention of actually trying to solve the border problem: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/immoral-republicans-rebuke-efforts-kill-immigration-deal-help-trump-rcna135732

The Biden Administration delights environmental advocates with a delay for new liquefied natural gas (LNG) approvals: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-new-natural-gas-export-terminals-pause-consideration/

...Statement from the White House: https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2024/01/26/statement-from-president-joe-biden-on-decision-to-pause-pending-approvals-of-liquefied-natural-gas-exports/

...While Texas industry admits to releasing tons of extra pollution in "upset emissions" during the recent cold snap: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/26/texas-pollution-emissions-cold-weather-upsets/

A sharp uptick in rape-related pregnancies has occurred since the near-total ban on abortion in Texas began: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/health/article/texas-sees-estimated-26k-pregnancies-rape-18625692.php

A retiring Texas Senator who voted to acquit Ken Paxton in last year's impeachment trial thinks that impeachment deserves a second look: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/ken-paxton-second-impeachment-trial-called-for-by-republican-who-voted-to-acquit/269-2c712e20-e21c-41a3-9312-09c10da51769

A popular scholarship for undocumented students at UT has unexpectedly fallen to the new DEI ban: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2024/01/25/ut-eliminates-scholarship-program-for-undocumented-students-following-texas-dei-ban/

Most Texans no longer have to have their cars inspected annually, except for those in high-population counties - and we're all still paying for inspections anyway: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/watchdog/2024/01/24/the-ins-and-outs-of-the-confusing-texas-car-inspection-law-with-the-help-of-readers/#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17062495253053&csi=0&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dallasnews.com%2Fnews%2Fwatchdog%2F2024%2F01%2F24%2Fthe-ins-and-outs-of-the-confusing-texas-car-inspection-law-with-the-help-of-readers%2F

Share with your less-wonky friends - Why Are Texas Primaries Important? https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/simplified/article/why-texas-primaries-are-important-18605476.php

This weekend, a debate in the Dallas area between Texas Democrats seeking office in the U.S. House and Texas Senate:

...And the Dems looking to face Ted Cruz in the U.S. Senate race:

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/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

That deadline imposed by the federal government to allow full Border Patrol access to Shelby Park arrives tomorrow: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/texas-continues-block-federal-officials-border-park/

...While Governor Greg Abbott reiterates Texas' "right to defend itself against invasion": https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-self-defense-border-battle/285-7a1131cc-e1a1-47f2-acd5-5df1f648d9be

Kate Cox has been invited to be First Lady Jill Biden's guest at the State Of The Union address in March: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/24/texas-kate-cox-biden-state-of-the-union/

The Christian Nationalist oil billionaires who brought you Defend Texas Liberty have started a new ultraconservative PAC: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/24/tim-dunn-farris-wilks-defend-texas-liberty-nick-fuentes/

The Lone Star Chapter of the Sierra Club succeeds in delaying a vote on a massive property trade with Elon Musk's SpaceX: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/space/article/texas-parks-and-wildlife-spacex-land-swap-18626039.php

A trial is scheduled for next month to determine whether Barbers Hill ISD is in the right in punishing junior Darryl George over his traditional hairstyle: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/texas-schools-punishment-black-student-wears-dreadlocks-going-trial-rcna135545

May graduates at UT Austin learn of the impacts on their ceremonies by the ending of DEI offices by state law: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/university-of-texas/dei-backlash-texas-schools-ut-austin/269-b5f397df-c8b9-4151-9b19-cc006629a038

A Gainesville legal fight could hold major implications for the right to protest: https://www.kxii.com/2024/01/25/gainesville-protestors-arrested-2020-appealing-texas-highest-criminal-court/

The staff of the Texas Tribune have announced that they are unionizing: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2024-01-24/the-texas-tribune-is-unionizing/

Join us Saturday as we co-host candidate forums for races for seats in both the U.S. House and Texas Senate:

And watch for our posting of a podcast featuring Sunday's debate between Democratic primary candidates seeking to face Ted Cruz:

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/.

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/.

Opportunities abound for progressive Texans this election year. From the chance to send Ted Cruz packing, to the possibility of virtually guaranteeing a second Joe Biden term with our 40 electoral votes, a massive show of force in the Lone Star State would be a truly historic moment - and it's up to US to bring that moment into reality. Top of mind nationally for progressive folks is abortion rights - and specifically the national implications for reproductive freedom should Republicans gain too much power in November.

Joining us to talk about this all-important election year are representatives of the Texas Democratic Party: Executive Director Monique Alcala and Convention Director Emma Pickering give us the rundown on how abortion rights form the spearhead of Democratic messaging strategy in 2024 - and a preview of the Texas Democratic Convention, happening in El Paso this June! Hope to see YOU there.

Learn more about the Texas Democratic Party at https://www.texasdemocrats.org/, and make plans to attend the Convention at https://texasdemocraticconvention.com/.

Thanks for listening! Please check out our web store and more ways to support Progress Texas in our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.