Progress Texas Podcasts

As we continue our focus on the fight ahead beyond the ripping away of reproductive autonomy with the overturning of Roe v Wade - which is likely only the beginning - it becomes clear that the upcoming mid-term election this November is of potentially existential importance for our democracy. Texas has proven to be the origin point for the draconian conservative agenda that is now coming to fruition, and it's up to us in Texas to put a stop to it. Part 2 of our three-part series features Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke's address to his Rally For Reproductive Freedom in East Austin last Sunday. 

This is our most desperate hour - it's time for ACTION.

Austin, Texas - and cities across the United States - erupted in protest this weekend following Friday's announcement of the overturning of Roe v Wade. In a three-part podcast series, Progress Texas takes stock of the damage, in order to assess the path forward - but for now, we're ANGRY, and so are you. Part One is an audio tour through the announcement, and the outrage that followed.

MY BODY - MY CHOICE.

A terrific time earlier this week at Antone's in downtown Austin, as a great bunch of like-minded Texas progressive rabble-rousers gathered to celebrate 12 years of Progress Texas! While the good times were rolling, we worked the room and collected quick interviews from a couple-dozen party-goers to survey what they like most about our efforts, and what they consider the most important agenda items as we move forward - we were surprised at the variety of great answers they provided, and those make up this minisode. THANK YOU to everyone who came, and to all of you who have supported us over our first twelve years - including those of you who have subscribed to our podcasts. Here's to another 12!

And by the way: the Espinoza Mimosa is comprised of Espolon Tequila, Agave Nectar, Lime Juice, and Orange Juice.

An honor to host two distinguished guests from the LGBTQ+ activist community for a deep dive into Pride Month: its origins, its meaning today, and what the fight ahead may bring. Ricardo Martinez is the Executive Director of Equality Texas, and Gin Pham is the Communications and Outreach Manager for the Transgender Education Network of Texas (also known as TENT). Progress Texas takes great Pride in our partnership with these orgs, who are working on the ground everyday to fight for LGBTQ+ equality.

All about Pride Month from Progress Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/pride-month-celebrations-across-texas-2022

Following Uvalde, it's not a stretch to predict that in the end, Governor Greg Abbott and the rest of Texas' GOP regime will end up doing nothing meaningful to prevent the next mass killing in our state. After all, following El Paso, Santa Fe, Sutherland Springs, Fort Hood, and far too many other preventable tragedies in Texas, Abbott has done worse than nothing: guns have proliferated as they've increased in firepower, and can now be legally found in almost every corner of our lives. We thought an examination of our Governor's complete failure to protect Texans from gun violence deserved a conversation, and we've brought in Austin gun policy activist Ed Scruggs to join the team this week. 

At this point, the only way out of this madness is to VOTE our way out.

We’re continuing to focus on crucial issues facing progressive Texans this election year. With the likely fall of Roe v Wade, we've designed an effort to fight back and it's called a Roevolution! To help illuminate the struggle for abortion rights, we're proud to welcome a trio of the toughest women in Texas: State Senator Carol Alvarado from Houston, and State Legislators Donna Howard and Vikki Goodwin from Austin. All have been in the trenches opposite Texas Republicans for years, and in this mini-sode they share their experiences, their insights, and their advice as we prepare for what's shaping up to be a monumentally consequential fight.

It's been a heavy week, and all of us at Progress Texas are as heartbroken and angry as you are. This week we upend the right-wing talking points, we look at how various leaders have responded to the tragedy, and what actions you can take. We also consider what a future looks like without these tragedies, freedom from fear, and how to renew our resolve to fight back. We skipped the beers and brought in a larger team this week - join us for a frank conversation.

We mourn with Uvalde today - and we recommit to restoring the safety of ALL Texas children, starting now.

It was our honor to help organize and host the recent Bans Off Our Bodies Rally for Austin - one of dozens that happened across the country on Saturday May 14 - at the Texas State Capitol. This week we're reviewing a few of the tremendous lineup of impassioned speakers, ranging from elected officials to motivated advocates, and all co-emceed by our own Diana Gomez! Join us in getting fired up all over again with former State Senator Wendy Davis (05:45), Lilith Fund activist Paige Alexandria (15:08), State Senator Carol Alvarado (24:40), State Representative Donna Howard (28:09), U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett (36:40), and Democratic nominee and presumptive new U.S. Representative Greg Casar (40:15). 

THANK YOU to all who attended. Join the Roevolution today!

You're not having deja vu - it IS, indeed, time to VOTE once again. Why do we have so darn many elections this year? That's part of our discussion today, along with an analysis of the offices and issues in question.

A quick guide to our major endorsements:

Lieutenant Governor (index to 13:32): Mike Collier (whom we talked to recently in our April 9 minisode)

Attorney General (16:38): Rochelle Garza (our guest for our February 10th minisode)

Land Commissioner (20:00): Jay Kleberg (listen to Episode 54, from April 22)

State Comptroller (24:05): Janet Dudding (a proud proponent of marijuana legalization!)

U.S. House - Texas District 28 (28.33): Jessica Cisneros (over highly problematic longtime incumbent Henry Cuellar, whose very presence in a runoff speaks volumes)

Texas Senate - District 27 (33:26): Sara Stapleton Barrera (to replace outgoing, and also highly problematic incumbent Eddie Lucio Jr.)

Early voting is on NOW through May 20, and Election Day is Tuesday May 24. Any details you need about voting are easily found at GoVoteTexas.org. There ARE NO MINOR ELECTIONS - see you at the polls.

Also - if you'll be in the Austin area on Saturday May 14, we'd appreciate your presence at the Texas State Capitol for our Bans Off Our Bodies rally in support of Roe v Wade and abortion rights, with our own Diana Gomez as co-emcee! The event starts at 11am.

We discovered that last week's Supreme Court development, being the cataclysmic event that it is, was too big to contain to one conversation - so we're presenting this second phase of our talk on what seems to be the impending end of Roe v Wade with a discussion of what comes next - specifically, how progressives in Texas and beyond can rally and activate in advance of the November mid-terms. Basic American freedoms hang in the balance in a few short months - will we rise to the challenge? This episode features the valuable input of Dyana Limon-Mercado of Planned Parenthood Texas Votes, whom we appreciate.