We're joined by our friend Mike Collier, a familiar face for most Texas Democrats, who is in a runoff election on May 24th for the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Lt. Governor Dan Patrick in November. We ask Mike: what's the most important function of this office, arguably the most powerful in Texas, and what are the most prominent of the hundreds of things he'd do differently than the current guy? And with all of the miles he's put on his truck - what has he learned about running - and himself - on the campaign trail?

Wow, 50 Happy Hours on the books! Two polls this week show Beto O'Rourke gaining on Greg Abbott in the race for Texas Governor - one of them showing the race down to two points.We also address a new push from Lt. Governor Dan Patrick to emulate Florida's ridiculous "Don't Say Gay" bill here in the Lone Star State - not to mention the surreal war that the Texas GOP has declared on Mickey Mouse. Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Mike Collier joins us - and he's got some opinions to share.

Cornbread in the shape of Texas: impractical, or worth the hassle? This week we talk about keeping the progressive light burning in Texas, the evolution of our signature program Humans Against Ted Cruz, and ponder the usefulness of Texas-shaped things. Also in this heartfelt minisode we bid adieu to our longtime anchor and spirit squad leader Saatvik Ahluwalia, who's off to Massachusetts - a much colder state but with a much more reliable energy grid. And we introduce our new Digital Manager and Happy Hour Host Sam Gonzalez - a veteran Texas podcaster and dedicated progressive rabble-rouser.

Vote for our own Diana Gomez in TWO categories in the Austin Chronicle's Best Of Austin poll:

And, get your sweet Humans Against Ted Cruz gear here: https://store.progresstexas.org/

Trans Day of Visibility seeks to celebrate the accomplishments and resiliency of the trans community, and this year it comes while Republicans have launched attacks on trans kids. We're proud to welcome two of our favorite advocates and activists for trans rights, as Adri Perez of ACLU of Texas joins us, and LGTBQ+ policy consultant Ash Hall returns to the podcast. We discuss defiance in the face of cheap political attacks, the lies being told, and why in spite of it all, we can remain hopeful for the future.

Our fab panel of Texas women from this week's Happy Hour podcast returns for a sharper focus on abortion rights, which are now under active attack in multiple U.S. states. These are "copycat laws" modeled after Texas' own notorious SB8 and its reliance on vigilante action for enforcement. For this special Women's History Month mini-sode, Progress Texas Development Manager Brett Isaacs hosts, along with Shellie Hayes-McMahon from Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, attorney and voting rights expert Emily Eby, and Carrie Collier-Brown of the Texas Blue Action Democrats.

As we approach the closing days of March and Women's History Month, real history is being made in Washington D.C., and we've convened a special group of our favorite Texas ladies for a deep dive on the ongoing Supreme Court confirmation hearings of Ketanji Brown Jackson - who is proving to be up to the task of facing down the extraordinarily lame Republican attacks and "jackassery" she's had to tolerate. Progress Texas Development Manager Brett Isaacs hosts, along with Shellie Hayes-McMahon from Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, attorney and voting rights expert Emily Eby, and Carrie Collier-Brown of the Texas Blue Action Democrats.

Programming note: This Saturday, watch for a special mini-sode as this same great panel of women takes stock of what's happening in the ongoing abortion rights fight.

For many Texans, especially Austinites, the moment when the COVID-19 pandemic got really, really real came on March 6, 2020: the day that SXSW was officially cancelled. At the time it seemed unthinkable, as did much of what was still to come over the next two harrowing and surreal years. But now, SXSW returns to Austin in fully live form, and it's not a stretch to consider this moment one of victory, renewal and promise for ALL of us. We discuss what SXSW means to Austin, Texas and the world as one of the great intersections of art, communication, technology, innovation - and of course, BBQ, tacos and beer. We're back baby! Thanks so much for your support.

Senior strategist Glenn W. Smith and Content Production Specialist Chris Mosser had the pleasure of talking with renowned Texas energy attorney and former Democratic nominee for Texas Railroad Commissioner Chrysta Castaneda on the big topic at hand: the new American sanctions on Russian oil, the possible strategic maneuvers and consequences ahead - and specifically, what all of this means for Texans, and why it's important for progressives to stand strong and speak the truth in what could be a trying and pivotal moment for all of us. PLEASE SHARE this insightful and important conversation with your friends, and thanks as always for your support.

Glenn's terrific piece on this topic: https://progresstexas.org/blog/facts-about-biden-oil-and-ukraine-contradict-republican-lies

It's our first anniversary! And what a year it's been. Way WAY too many Lege sessions, the Democratic quorum break, unprecedented and unlimited ugly from the Texas GOP. And, a LOT of Truly down the hatch. Reviewing our first year, it's pretty amazing what we've endured - and it's also starkly clear that we've still got a long way to go - so, THANK YOU for being part of the family.

Meanwhile - we have a primary election to unpack. What were we surprised about, what are we excited about, and what are the challenges ahead in May and November? We're lucky to have Cliff Walker of progressive, Black and Brown-owned communications and advocacy firm Seeker Strategies to contribute his take - including the fact that Republican voter suppression appears to be working just as designed in Texas, contrasted with the huge and growing buzz for Beto O'Rourke!

This evening (Wednesday March 2) at 6pm, the annual Amplify Austin Day begins - a full 24 hour celebration of giving and support of worthy Austin-based charities and non-profits, and Progress Texas is once again a proud participant! Seems like a great time to pause, reflect on the first year of our podcast, thank YOU for making that first year such a huge success, and explain how supporting Progress Texas is such an easy and important way to help Texas move forward into a better, brighter future.

Either directly (at https://progresstexas.org/), or via Amplify Austin (at https://www.amplifyatx.org/campaigns/progress-texas), we can't thank you enough for being part of the ongoing and building progressive movement in Texas.