Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Texas transplant Elon Musk, hard at work trying to slash federal jobs and your Social Security benefits, is also keeping hundreds of millions of dollars that his Musk Foundation is required by law to convert to charitable donations: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/12/us/politics/musk-foundation-taxes-donations.html

...Musk's efforts at DOGE jeopardize the careers of hundreds of thousands of federal workers in Texas, a great many of whom certainly voted for Donald Trump: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/elon-musk-trump-doge-19974216.php

...Fellow billionaire (and supposed Trump oppenent) Jeff Bezos is set to give $1 million to the President-elect's inaugural fund - further demonstrating the struggle lines not between left and right, but between top and bottom: https://www.wsj.com/politics/elections/jeff-bezos-amazon-plans-to-donate-1-million-to-trumps-inauguration-dc3705ac

Advocacy orgs supporting migrant across Texas have begun advising them to prepare their children and assets for their eventual deportation: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-mass-deportation-plan-immigrants/

...While right-wing militia groups have begun volunteering their services in Trump's roundup of undocumented workers and families: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/11/us/politics/far-right-militias-border-trump.html

Texas is at the top of a new ranking of states with the most to gain in revenue from legalizing marijuana - we're leaving almost $500 million on the table, every year: https://cannabis.net/blog/news/how-much-money-could-your-state-make-by-legalizing-weed-5-billion-in-tax-revenue-up-for-grabs-i

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A new academic study shows that Republicans are much more likely to spread information that they know to be false than Democrats are: https://www.ama.org/2024/12/09/study-republicans-respond-to-political-polarization-by-spreading-misinformation-democrats-dont/

A judgement of over $14 million against ExxonMobil for violations of the federal Clean Air Act at their Baytown facilities is upheld: https://environmentamerica.org/texas/media-center/release-fifth-circuit-court-of-appeals-rules-against-exxon-for-fourth-time-affirms-record-clean-air-act-penalty/

A medical student at UT Austin - a first generation immigrant herself - writes on the dilemma that new doctors face in taking the Hippocratic Oath to do no harm under Texas' requirement for hospitals to interrogate patients on their immigration status: https://www.statnews.com/2024/12/12/texas-hospitals-are-you-a-citizen-medical-school-physicians/

...While Texas hospitals are part of a national trend of new mothers being reported to authorities when the drugs used to control pain during childbirth are found in the bloodstreams of their babies: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2024/12/11/pregnant-hospital-drug-test-medicine

Submit your nominations for our annual rundown of The Best And Worst Texans of the year! Deadline is the end of the day Friday: https://progresstexas.org/blog/best-worst-texans-2024-help-us-decide

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Texas GOP machine choice David Cook and establishment-defying Dustin Burrows both claim to have enough votes to become Speaker of the Texas House - Burrows in particular is flirting with disaster: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-19971639.php

...Burrows has started calling himself "Speaker-elect", drawing legal scrutiny from his opponents: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/12/11/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-republican-state-election-code-house-speaker-elect/76889871007/

Much to review in advance of the 2025 Lege - our Advocacy department has gotten that look ahead going: https://progresstexas.org/preview-2025-texas-maga-legislative-session

...The Texas Health and Human Services Commission, known for their incompetence bordering on cruelty towards lower-income Texans, is seeking hundreds of millions of additional dollars next year: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/11/texas-medicaid-food-stamps-application-legislature/

...Statewide electeds (yes, Republicans) have joined cannabis advocates and businesses in pushing back against Lt. Governor Dan Patrick's promised push to ban all THC products: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/thc-ban-texas-19964213.php

...One Republican lawmaker wants to deploy drones armed with pepper spray in the hallways of Texas schools: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/texas-bill-drones-pepper-spray-school-security-19963801.php

...And another Republican lawmaker wants to stop the sale of sex toys by mainstream retailers like Wal-Mart and CVS: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/sex-toy-sales-texas-illegal-19971679.php

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The struggle within the Texas Republican Party has become a contest of "Trumpier than thou": https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5030621-texas-house-speaker-race-republican-divisions/

The 2025 Legislature is certain to face a renewed push for book-banning by pearl-clutching Republicans: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/texas-book-review-bill-19969058.php

Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett puts on yet another masterclass in destroying MAGA narratives, this time taking on the gerrymandering that allowed the GOP to exploit the mostly non-white population explosion in Texas: https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/jasmine-crockett-census-2030-redistricting-rcna183247

Given their sky-high prediction of an 80% chance of blackouts this winter should we experience another Uri-style event, ERCOT and Texas Republicans have presided over a massive degradation in our state's energy reliability: https://www.forbes.com/sites/edhirs/2024/12/09/after-four-years-and-billions-of-dollars-the-texas-grid-is-not-fixed/

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Lubbock State Rep. Dustin Burrows has defied the House GOP Caucus, announcing that he has enough votes from both parties to win the race for Speaker - despite the Republicans officially nominating Mansfield Rep. David Cook: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/07/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dustin-burrows/

Austin U.S. Rep. Greg Casar has been elected to lead the Congressional Progressive Caucus: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/u-s-rep-greg-casar-to-lead-progressive-caucus-says-dems-must-recenter-workers/ar-AA1vlTsW

Texas is already a shambles when it comes to healthcare coverage, and expected Medicaid cuts under Donald Trump are likely to make the suffering of low-income Texans even worse: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/trump-medicaid-cuts-texas-residents/

Travis County Constable Stacy Suits demonstrates the true nature of Christian teachings, stepping up to defend an Austin homeless service center under attack by Ken Paxton: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/homeless/austin-constable-sunrise-homeless-navigation-center-fundraiser/269-f015c4ae-fdb9-4eeb-a2fc-06e298539c41

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

We enjoyed being back with our friends at Antone's in downtown Austin last week for the first of our two holiday parties this year! This pod features short conversations with a bunch of our guests, offering words of wisdom and encouragement for all of us as we get ready for the fight ahead. THANKS to everyone who came out!

And, we'll do it again at our second holiday party in Dallas on Monday, December 16! Sponsorships and individual tickets are available here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can join the team at https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

New figures reveal that Texas transplant Elon Musk spent over $250 million - over a quarter-billion dollars - to help put Donald Trump back in office: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/05/us/politics/elon-musk-trump-rbg-election.html

...Musk's Twitter has harbored four virulent and influential literal Nazi accounts, three of which are revealed to have Texas ties - one of them is a VP for J.P. Morgan Chase in Plano: https://www.texasobserver.org/revealed-operators-neo-nazi-x-accounts/

New Democratic minority leader Rep. Gene Wu's work is cut out for him - he must unite his caucus to maximize their influence on the selection of next session's Speaker: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2024-12-06/texas-house-democrats-pick-rep-gene-wu-as-caucus-chair-what-does-this-mean-for-the-speakers-race

...Hopefully that also spells influence over the likely-radical Republican agenda next year, which may include an attempt to kill no-fault divorce: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article296585124.html

...And an ever-more-ruthless agenda aimed at erasing transgender people from public life altogether: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/texas-anti-trans-bills-19962055.php

...See a talk on the struggle looming next year for the Texas LGBTQ+ community held recently at the Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqjn-Qs2CMk

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Congratulations to State Rep. Gene Wu, who has been chosen as the new leader of the Democratic minority in the Texas House: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/texas/article/gene-wu-texas-house-democrats-19960489.php

Not only is an extreme weather event in Texas more likely than usual this winter, but if it happens, there's an 80% chance of blackouts: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/article/texas-winter-snow-storm-blackouts-19959189.php

Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is much more concerned about keeping THC products out of Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-thc-ban-dan-patrick-delta-8-9-hemp/

Trump immigration henchmen Tom Homan is pointing to Governor Abbott's Operation Lone Star as a model he wants to replicate across the country: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/us/texas-abbott-trump-border.html

...While Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar claims that buoys in the Rio Grande to stop (and drown) migrants was actually his idea: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/henry-cuellar-texas-rio-grande-border-buoys-immigration/

Deer Park Rep. Briscoe Cain's idea for a state takeover of Austin's city government is not only goofy, it also has no chance of actually passing: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/texas-legislature/state-lawmakers-bill-state-run-austin-turn-city-district-hb274-districtofaustin/269-af7bed7f-38db-4d94-95ae-4e748bb31ecc

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Both the Texas House Democratic Caucus and their Republican counterparts meet late this week to discuss who the 2025 Speaker will be - the Democrats hold the key, as neither Republican candidate has a clear majority: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-house-speaker-race-19953807.php

Expect the continued and escalating assault on the rights of transgender Texans to be the central social issue of the session for Republicans, emboldened by the Trump win: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-transgender-restrictions-legislative-session/

The Texas Maternal Morbidity Committee's decision to ignore data regarding maternal deaths in the first two years of Texas' abortion ban - alongside a similar move in Georgia - is drawing national attention: https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/texas-georgia-women-deaths-abortion-ban-rcna182540

...The Dallas Morning News Editorial Board is calling on Governor Abbott and the '25 Legislature, if they really believe our abortion laws are sufficient to protect pregnant people, to order a study of those first two years: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2024/12/04/texas-needs-a-study-on-how-abortion-ban-has-affected-pregnancy-care/

ERCOT's lead meteorologist says conditions this winter look favorable for a repeat of Winter Storm Uri, but energy experts don't agree with ERCOT's claim that they're ready to keep the heat on: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/ercot-extreme-cold-event-winter-outlook/269-4fb29d16-01cd-4479-a830-7ee329d2c142

Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠.

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

As the nation prepares for Trump 2.0, in Texas we're bracing for another nutty Texas Legislative session, where Republicans will be pressing the crazy on a variety of issues, including immigration: https://www.npr.org/2024/12/01/nx-s1-5203015/immigration-will-be-under-the-spotlight-in-the-upcoming-legislative-session-in-texas

...And reproductive freedom and maternity care: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/texas-bill-wants-to-make-abortion-pills-schedule-iv-drugs-21160287

...And Austin's very existence as a self-governed municipality: https://bsky.app/profile/chrismosser.bsky.social/post/3lcfivsqtic2f

...And giving Ken Paxton the power to target "election fraud", the return of the Bathroom Bill, banning any mention whatsoever to sexual orientation at public schools. Meanwhile, Democrats want to legalize cannibis for medical use, give the Legislature a chance to override vetos by the Governor, repeal the ban on DEI at our state colleges, and maintain humane temperatures inside Texas prisons: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-lawmakers-get-their-bills-in-19946648.php

Bad environmental news, as the Texas Railroad Commission is exploring the use of toxic produced water from the fracking process to irrigate food crops: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/03122024/west-texas-recycled-oilfield-water-drought-solution/

..And good environmental news (we think) as Texas appears in prime position for future hydrogen production: https://abcnews.go.com/US/texas-big-producer-green-hydrogen-researchers/story?id=116372254

The first of our two annual holiday fundraising parties is tonight (Tuesday 12/3) in Austin, and the second is in Dallas on December 16! There are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠.

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