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.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Texas Maternal Morbidity Committee has announced that they will skip the data from the first two years of Texas' near-complete abortion ban, ignoring the effect of that ban on pregnant women in Texas: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/texas-maternal-mortality-committee-to-skip-over-full-reviews-in-years-after-abortion-ban/

...Any other deaths directly attributable to the denial of emergency medical care in Texas are now likely to remain unknown: https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/worried-experts-concerned-as-texas-board-declines-to-investigate-abortion-ban-deaths/ar-AA1uMLgf

...Meanwhile, more and more OB-GYN doctors are choosing not to take the risk of practicing in Texas: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/12/02/the-texas-ob-gyn-exodus

Texas isn't the only Southern state now pushing the limits of the separation of church and state when it comes to education: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/bible-in-public-schools-church-state-religion-rcna181934

...A highly conservatively biased op-ed from the chair of the Texas State Board of Education celebrates and illuminates the priority of patriotism and "values" over facts in the new Bluebonnet Learning curriculum: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/12/02/board-of-ed-chair-america-needs-the-texas-bluebonnet-learning-curriculum/

...Conroe ISD serves as a great example of what happens when progressives fail to pay attention to run for their local school boards: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/mama-bears-conroe-isd-19944683.php

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and 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.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Propublica is reporting on a third Texas woman who died needlessly after being denied abortion care in the midst of a problem miscarriage: https://www.propublica.org/article/porsha-ngumezi-miscarriage-death-texas-abortion-ban

...Domestic violence shelters are reporting an uptick in pregnant women arriving at their facilities seeking refuge from abusive partners: https://www.tpr.org/public-health/2024-11-25/domestic-violence-shelters-in-texas-see-a-surge-of-pregnant-women-after-the-dobbs-decision

...The anti-choice movement, oblivious to the suffering they are causing, is ramping up their efforts against doctors and advocates for reproductive rights: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/texas-abortion-pro-life-state-19941596.php

Governor Greg Abbott has a minor freakout over a Houston doctor reminding Texans that they do not have to answer questions about their immigration status at hospitals: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/viral-doctor-texas-hospitals-19941817.php

...Trump "border czar" Tom Homan will tour that Starr County ranch offered up by Texas to host a mass detention facility for rounded-up undocumented people: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/texas-leaders-meet-incoming-trump-border-czar/3706114/

The Texas Tribune - a non-profit news outlet - interviews U.S. House Rep. Vicente Gonzales, who recently voted in favor of a new law that would allow Donald Trump to unilaterally shut down non-profit news outlets: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/texas-vicente-gonzalez-congress-democrats-abortion-transgender/

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and 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.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Leaders of the Texas construction industry - who are curiously mostly left out of right-wing panic over immigration - say their sector is existentially threatened by Donald Trump's mass deportation plan: https://www.tpr.org/economy-and-labor/2024-11-23/trumps-deportation-vow-alarms-texas-construction-industry

The Texas State Board of Education approved the adoption of Bluebonnet Learning, the state-crafted elementary school curriculum that makes liberal use of Bible studies: https://www.keranews.org/education/2024-11-22/texas-state-board-education-sboe-approves-bible-story-curriculum-public-schools

...What takes root in Texas will tend to spread elsewhere: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/22/us/bible-curriculum-public-schools-texas-approved.html

...See excerpts from some of the Bible stories incorporated into Bluebonnet Learning: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2024/11/21/read-excerpts-of-what-texas-lessons-may-include-about-the-bible-christianity/

Ken Paxton has targeted an advertising group that Elon Musk has sued for directing its business away from Twitter: https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/21/texas-ag-opens-investigation-into-advertising-group-that-elon-musk-sued-for-boycotting-x/

...John Cornyn becomes a founding member of the Senate Department of Government Efficiency or DOGE Caucus: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/cornyn-musk-vivek-doge-trump-19938477.php

...Musk's SpaceX faces a ramp-up of environmental activist opposition, who are presuming the company will face far less regulation and enforcement under Donald Trump: https://www.npr.org/2024/11/22/1214662580/spacex-starship-texas-environment

...Allegations surface that Musk once exposed himself to a SpaceX flight attendant and tried to bribe her into sex with an offer to buy her a horse (?!): https://www.businessinsider.com/spacex-paid-250000-to-a-flight-attendant-who-accused-elon-musk-of-sexual-misconduct-2022-5

Among the giant pile of culture-war bills filed for the 2025 legislative session, a new push to reclassify abortion-inducing drugs as controlled substances: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/25/abortion-texas-pills-controlled-substance/

...Dozens of bills targeting transgender Texans: https://www.erininthemorning.com/p/republicans-file-32-anti-trans-bills

...And of course, a renewed push for private school vouchers: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-school-vouchers-choice-fight

...Which, we're reminded, will mainly help wealthy families who are already paying for private school: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/voucher-fight-texas-19936562.php

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and there are sponsorship opportunities available and individual tickets are now on sale: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Project 2025 is no longer a warning: it's now the playbook of the next American administration: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.

Coming off this year's election, if you're a progressive voter who's now dreading having to interact with your MAGA relatives back home this holiday season, you're far from alone - "mixed" families such as these are probably more common in Texas than in most parts of the country. Peace and family harmony is important - but, so are the positions we believe in and advocate for year-round. So, how to manage? We've invited a couple of our favorite recurring guests for a fun exchange of strategies on navigating family during a time of great political tension: Lana Hansen is Executive Director of Texas Blue Action, and Austin Kaplan heads up the Kaplan Law Firm and is also part of the legal team supporting the plaintiffs in the Zurawski v Texas case.

No political gymnastics or jousting involved in our upcoming holiday parties, which provide a rare and needed opportunity to gather with fellow Texas progressives and start sharing ideas for the fight ahead next year. We'll be in Austin on December 3, and Dallas on December 16! Sponsorships and individual tickets are on sale now - find out more at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

H.R. 9495, narrowly defeated in the U.S. House last week, passed in that body on a second try yesterday largely on partisan lines: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2024/11/21/treasury-secretary-house-bill-nonprofit-organization/76468156007/

...Crossing the partisan line to support the undermining of non-profits like Progress Texas were once again three Texas House Reps: Colin Allred, Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar: https://newrepublic.com/post/188693/15-democrats-give-trump-powers

Ken Paxton, hoping Donald Trump might hear him on Steve Bannon's show, campaigned hard but unsuccessfully for the Dear Leader's favor - he was passed over yet again for the U.S. Attorney General nomination by the younger and prettier Pam Bondi of Florida: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4695344-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-fbi-gestapo-steve-bannon/

...Paxton did find time to add Dallas to the growing list of Texas cities he's sued over their local marijuana decriminalization measures: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5003589-texas-ag-suing-dallas-over-marijuana-ballot-measure/

Austin U.S. Reps Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar outline the battlefield ahead for Trump 2.0: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2024-11-22/as-austins-democratic-congressmen-return-to-washington-theyre-ringing-alarm-bells/

The exodus from X, which we will always call Twitter, continues as alternative platforms like BlueSky and Threads continue to report huge user gains: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/x-sees-largest-user-exodus-musk-takeover-rcna179793

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and there are sponsorship opportunities available and individual tickets are now on sale: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Project 2025 is no longer a warning: it's now the playbook of the next American administration: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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:

Trump's "border czar" Tom Homan expresses glee that he'll have over a thousand acres in Texas upon which to crowd the detainees he plans to round up in the "biggest mass deportation in history": https://thehill.com/regulation/national-security/5001566-tom-homan-says-trump-admin-will-absolutely-use-gifted-texas-land-for-deportation-program/

...The resistance of Democratically-led states and cities to Trump's roundup may lead to the "concentration" of these arrestees in red states like Texas: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c87xqwd71wzo

...Let's recall Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham's past experience serving on the board of a bogus college known for ripping off veterans and leaving them buried in debt with useless degrees: https://www.texasgopvote.com/education/dawn-buckingham-candidate-resume-fraud-file-008818

Several bills have been filed for next year's legislative session by Republicans looking to limit the development of renewable energy facilities, including battery storage: https://bsky.app/profile/philjankowski.bsky.social/post/3lbfetozqus24

We join President Biden in saluting Texas heroine Cecile Richards, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House yesterday: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/biden-awards-medal-freedom-former-planned-parenthood-president/story?id=116067740

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and there are sponsorship opportunities available and individual tickets are now on sale: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Project 2025 is no longer a warning: it's now the playbook of the next American administration: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.

David Pepper is a renowned political writer and the former Chair of the Ohio Democratic Party. He's written several books that are highly instructive for the current political moment as we prepare for Trump 2.0 - and Ohio has a lot in common with Texas when it comes to being overrun by opportunistic Republicans. How both of our states have fallen victim to GOP gerrymandering, how Donald Trump will try to use the same tactics to entrench his power and enrich his friends, and what we can do about it - for now, all in this great talk.

David's video on how removing the accountability of elections via gerrymandering paves the way for corruption: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDiQQHbYhHg

David's latest book: https://a.co/d/19av1wV

Thanks for listening - and please join us for one of our two upcoming holiday parties in Dallas and Austin! They're a great way to shake off the post-election funk, find your people, plug in and get active - now's the perfect time. Tickets and sponsorships: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Texas General Land Office has offered up a 1,400 acre Starr County ranch to the Trump administration for the building of a huge detention facility for undocumented immigrants rounded up in the planned "largest mass deportation in American history": https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/19/texas-border-starr-county-ranch-trump-deportation/

...Will this facility match the formal definition of a "concentration camp"? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concentration_camp

The Texas State Board of Education, after a delay caused by hours of public testimony, voted 8 to 7 to advance the approval of Bluebonnet Learning, new state-crafted elementary school teaching materials riddled with Bible stories, to a final vote for approval on Friday: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/texas-board-advances-plan-bible-material-elemetary-school-116023638

...School districts won't be required to use it, but will be offered a financial incentive to do so - possibly an irresistable funding lifeline for districts on the verge of financial ruin: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/19/texas-sboe-bible-christianity-curriculum/

Propublica provides background on their reporting on those two young Texas women who died after being denied miscarriage care, which has led to a new push for change at the Legislature: https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-abortion-ban-exceptions-deaths

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and there are sponsorship opportunities available and individual tickets are now on sale: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Project 2025 is no longer a warning: it's now the playbook of the next American administration: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.