Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Texas Supreme Court has rejected a request by Attorney General Ken Paxton to force the State Fair of Texas, which opens today, to allow its patrons to bring in guns: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/state-fair/court-blocks-paxtons-appeal-guns-will-stay-banned-state-fair-of-texas-fair-park-dallas/287-1f9c3bb0-ec8d-4e17-beca-039fafb7ce13

...Still, Paxton continues his pre-election culture war agitation by hassling yet another immigrant advocacy non-profit - they're fighting back with the help of the Texas Civil Rights Project: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/26/texas-ken-paxton-las-americas-investigation-lawsuit-immigrants/

The campaign arm of the U.S. Senate Democrats has allocated a fresh multimillion dollar spend for Colin Allred in Texas: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2024/09/27/ted-cruz-colin-allred-texas-u-s-senate-race-congress-flip-race/75393377007/

Federal election authorities have ordered the Texas Republican Party to re-submit their latest financial statement, as it leaves off a list of who's drawing a paycheck: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/feds-warn-texas-republican-party-over-failure-to-disclose-whos-on-its-payroll-35673278

Hispanic voters in Texas are increasingly seen as a must-win by any candidate seeking statewide success: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/texas-election-competitive-hispanic-voters-key-role/3656096/?os=f&ref=app

See Progress Texas' guide to fun events happening across the state during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through October 15: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-texas-culture-national-hispanic-heritage-month⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The deadline to register for the November election is October 7. Are you registered? Are you sure? ALL Texas voters should confirm their registration, right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://govotetexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Please pitch in to help fund our recent expansion of that important voting resource with Hindi, Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese translation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/coming-soon-govotetexasorg-adds-commonly-spoken-languages-increase-ballot-access⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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:

Ken Paxton, after being rebuffed by two lower courts, is pressing his push to force the State Fair of Texas to allow patrons to carry guns into their event to the Texas Supreme Court: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/paxton-challenges-texas-state-fair-firearms-ban-again-after-appeals-court-decision/

Paxton is also suing the Biden Administration over federal requirements to properly accommodate LGBTQ+ kids in state foster care: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/25/paxton-biden-lgbtq-foster-youth/

A new investigation shows widespread harm to Texas families and children as state officials rushed last year to kick 2 million Texans off Medicaid when pandemic-related funding ended: https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-medicaid-unwinding-consequences

Another new investigation shows degrees of violence inflicted by Operation Lone Star personnel against migrant families and children, in potential violation of international law: https://www.childrensdefense.org/blog/new-report-reveals-the-scale-of-state-violence-inflicted-on-migrant-children-and-families-under-operation-lonestar/

See Progress Texas' guide to fun events happening across the state during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through October 15: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-texas-culture-national-hispanic-heritage-month⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The deadline to register for the November election is October 7. Are you registered? Are you sure? ALL Texas voters should confirm their registration, right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://govotetexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Please pitch in to help fund our recent expansion of that important voting resource with Hindi, Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese translation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/coming-soon-govotetexasorg-adds-commonly-spoken-languages-increase-ballot-access⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Among the opportunities for the first statewide wins for Texas Democrats in 30 years are the SIX positions on the TWO top courts in our state's judicial system, ALL of which will be on your ballot in November, no matter where in Texas you live. These courts have been dominated by Republicans for generations, and it shows - it's far past time for a change.

We welcome Holly Taylor, Democratic nominee for the Texas Criminal Court of Appeals, and DeSean Jones and Christine Weems, nominees for the Texas Supreme Court, for a discussion of those courts, how they directly impact the daily lives of all Texans, and why a changing of the guard is long overdue.

Learn more about Holly Taylor: https://www.hollytforjudge.com/

Learn more about DeSean Jones: https://www.daseanfortexas.com/#/

Learn more about Christine Weems: https://www.weemsforjudge.com/

Still time to join the Progress Texas team by becoming a regular, recurring monthly donor during our September membership drive! Join us by the end of the month, and we'll send you an exclusive ticket to one of our holiday parties in Austin and Dallas this December! Go to https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Ken Paxton tries - and fails - to get a rubber stamp from the new 15th Court of Appeals in his fight to stop the State Fair of Texas from banning guns from its event, which starts Friday: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/24/ken-paxton-state-fair-gun-ban-appeals-court/

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff is on a swing through Texas, raising $1 million in Austin alongside tour guide Beto O'Rourke: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/24/doug-emhoff-beto-orourke-whataburger-texas-austin/

A small group of right wing activists in Texas have been submitting thousands of voter registration challenges: https://www.keranews.org/government/2024-09-25/voter-registration-challenges-texas-tarrant-dallas-collin-denton

Texas House Reps John Bucy, Gina Hinojosa and Sheryl Cole joined Evan Smith for a discussion at the LBJ School at the University of Texas yesterday: https://thedailytexan.com/2024/09/24/texas-house-democrats-discuss-voter-suppression-affordability-in-lbj-conversations-series/

Willie Nelson, in a "joint" video with Margo Price, gives a hearty endorsement to Colin Allred:

...Polling continues to show a VERY tight race between Allred and Cruz: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/24/ted-cruz-collin-allred-texas-senate-race-polls/75364884007/

Progress Texas staffers appreciate the invitation to a screening in Austin last night of the new documentary Zurawski v Texas: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/abortion-documentary-telluride-awards-insider

...Co-Executive Producer Chelsea Clinton talks about the film: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2358709311157415

See Progress Texas' guide to fun events happening across the state during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through October 15: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-texas-culture-national-hispanic-heritage-month⁠⁠⁠⁠

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The deadline to register for the November election is October 7. Are you registered? Are you sure? ALL Texas voters should confirm their registration, right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://govotetexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Please pitch in to help fund our recent expansion of that important voting resource with Hindi, Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese translation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/coming-soon-govotetexasorg-adds-commonly-spoken-languages-increase-ballot-access⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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:

Four of the Republican challengers to House Speaker Dade Phelan have dropped out and pledged support for GOP Rep. David Cook of Mansfield: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/20/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dade-phelan-republicans/

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic Senatorial nominee Colin Allred have seen recent polling gains among Texas Hispanic likely voters: https://www.txhpf.org/2024/09/23/texas-hispanic-policy-foundation-survey-shows-trump-leads-harris-by-only-6-among-all-texas-likely-voters-with-44-days-left-until-election-day/

Conservative federal judge Reed O'Connor of Fort Worth blasts Biden administration moves against "judge shopping"...at a Federalist Society event: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/texas-judge-favored-by-conservatives-blasts-judge-shopping-reform-2024-09-23/

One of the six defendants in the "Trump Train" trial over that incident with a Biden campaign bus in 2020 has been found liable under the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act - the first such decision in modern times - while the other five defendants were cleared: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/courts/2024/09/23/texas-jury-trial-verdict-trump-train-organizers-wendy-davis-biden-harris-bus/75296175007/

Corey DeAngelis, a prominent anti-LGBTQ+ private school voucher proponent with frequent interactions with Texas Republican officeholders and activists, has been exposed as having once worked as a gay porn actor...not that there's anything wrong with that: https://www.advocate.com/people/corey-deangelis-gay-adult-films

See Progress Texas' guide to fun events happening across the state during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through October 15: ⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-texas-culture-national-hispanic-heritage-month⁠⁠⁠

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The deadline to register for the November election is October 7. Are you registered? Are you sure? ALL Texas voters should confirm their registration, right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://govotetexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Please pitch in to help fund our recent expansion of that important voting resource with Hindi, Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese translation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/coming-soon-govotetexasorg-adds-commonly-spoken-languages-increase-ballot-access⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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:

New research shows an even starker picture of maternal morbidity in Texas, which has spiked 56% since 2021, compared to a national rise of 11%: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/texas-abortion-ban-deaths-pregnant-women-sb8-analysis-rcna171631

Now funded primarily by oil billionaires and fearing defeat, the state GOP is planning to pour more money into South Texas races: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/16/texas-republican-party-south-texas-fundraising-outreach/

...Their advertising spokesman in South Texas is a 9/11 and COVID conspiracy theorist: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/20/south-texas-ad-election-2024-conspiracy-theorist/

Ken Paxton will appeal last week's denial of his attempt to block the State Fair of Texas' no-guns policy, in an early test of the brand new, Abbott-appointed 15th Court of Appeals: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2024/09/21/paxton-to-appeal-dallas-judges-ruling-on-state-fair-of-texas-gun-ban-policy/

A Lubbock man who helped storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 - and later ran for Congress - has received a three month federal prison sentence for his actions that day: https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/lubbock-man-gets-some-federal-prison-time-for-jan-6-capitol-breach/

The game company Cards Against Humanity is suing Elon Musk and SpaceX for $15 million over their fouling of a property near the SpaceX launch site that Cards bought to block the Trump border wall in 2017: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/21/spacex-elon-musk-cards-against-humanity-lawsuit/

See Progress Texas' guide to fun events happening across the state during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through October 15: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-texas-culture-national-hispanic-heritage-month⁠⁠

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The deadline to register for the November election is October 7. Are you registered? Are you sure? ALL Texas voters should confirm their registration, right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://govotetexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Please pitch in to help fund our recent expansion of that important voting resource with Hindi, Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese translation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/coming-soon-govotetexasorg-adds-commonly-spoken-languages-increase-ballot-access⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 Dallas judge has denied Attorney General Ken Paxton's request to block a new policy enacted by the State Fair of Texas which will ban the carrying of guns into this fall's event: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/19/texas-state-fair-gun-ban-injunction-denied/

Paxton has sued (again) Harris County over its guaranteed income program for low income residents, even after it was revised to accommodate issues raised by the Texas Supreme Court: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/guaranteed-income-harris-county-19777648.php

Investigative reporter Steven Monacelli is looking into connections between the right wing group Dallas HERO, behind the petitions that have placed three problematic items on the November ballot, and Dallas businessman Monty Barrett, involving the Texas Supreme Court: https://x.com/stevanzetti/status/1827011105224335508

Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, will swing through Texas on a fundraising run next week: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/doug-emhoff-texas-kamala-harris-19777026.php

The New Braunfels Trump Train federal trial may be nearing a conclusion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHWcKw_x9X4

...While the Dallas County Republican Party is planning a Trump Train of its own in Big D this Sunday: https://www.lonestarlive.com/news/2024/09/a-secret-trump-train-is-coming-to-dallas-this-weekend.html

See Progress Texas' guide to fun events happening across the state during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through October 15: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-texas-culture-national-hispanic-heritage-month⁠

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The deadline to register for the November election is October 7. Are you registered? Are you sure? ALL Texas voters should confirm their registration, right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://govotetexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Please pitch in to help fund our recent expansion of that important voting resource with Hindi, Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese translation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/coming-soon-govotetexasorg-adds-commonly-spoken-languages-increase-ballot-access⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 annual report from the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee shows a dramatic uptick in maternal deaths within one year of giving birth - being suffered mostly by Black and Hispanic mothers: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/18/maternal-mortality-2020-2021/

Ted Cruz has helped Republicans in the U.S. Senate avoid a vote on requiring insurance companies to pay for IVF treatments - they'd rather not be forced to say yes or no to a popular option that involves the destruction of unused embryos: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/ted-cruz-ivf-colin-allred-19772025.php

Ken Paxton has left nine of the ten real estate properties he owns off of his legally-required financial statement to the Texas Ethics Commission: https://www.kut.org/2024-09-18/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-homes-houses-property-ownership-transparency-ethics

...San Antonio Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer writes in an op-ed of his theory that Paxton's efforts against urban voter registration is out of the fear that those new voters will oppose his worldview: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/ken-paxton-texas-voting-lawsuit-19766720.php

...Paxton appears to have pressured Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson into asking federal officials for help in verifying the citizenship of people registering to vote: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/texas-asks-government-for-help-verifying-voters-immigration-status-citizenship/287-278fb63b-ae50-45ba-b1c0-787997da67da

...Paxton has also left key information out of his warnings to voters not to try to register if they're not eligible: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/article292560309.html

See Progress Texas' guide to fun events happening across the state during National Hispanic Heritage Month, which continues through October 15: https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-texas-culture-national-hispanic-heritage-month

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The deadline to register for the November election is October 7. Are you registered? Are you sure? ALL Texas voters should confirm their registration, right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://govotetexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Please pitch in to help fund our recent expansion of that important voting resource with Hindi, Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese translation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/coming-soon-govotetexasorg-adds-commonly-spoken-languages-increase-ballot-access⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan, having barely survived a well-funded and Trump-endorsed MAGA primary challenge in his Beaumont district, has been counting on near-unified support of the Democratic minority in the House to secure his position as Speaker next year. Democratic Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos of Richardson isn't so sure that supporting a Republican who has presided over some of the worst lawmaking in Texas history is a great idea for Democrats - so she's joined the race for Speaker herself! Rep. Ramos joins us to discuss her strategy - which, as you might guess, involves YOU and YOUR vote this fall.

See Rep. Ramos' awesome campaign video here: https://x.com/Ramos4Texas/status/1835690473832296677/video/1

And learn more about her here: https://www.ramos4texas.com/

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas offers ALL of our content for FREE, with no paywalls or subscriptions, because we believe our messages are important for ALL Texans to access - so, we could use your support during our September membership drive. If you become a recurring monthly supporter at the $10, $25, or $50 level before the end of September, we'll send you an exclusive ticket to join us for our upcoming holiday parties in Austin and Dallas! Hit https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Officials in Travis County have sued Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson over their efforts to stop Travis County from sending voter registration applications to eligible but non-registered voters: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/17/texas-voter-registration-ken-paxton-jane-nelson-lawsuit-travis/

Tarrant County Republicans are upset with their own representatives on that county's Commissioner's Court who backed down from plans to eliminate college campus polling locations: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/18/tarrant-county-gop-college-voting-locations-election-advantage/

A massive new Republican election advertising campaign focuses on stoking anti-LGBTQ hate: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/18/ted-cruz-republicans-texas-transgender-rights-election-2024/

New research shows that about half of Republicans will not accept the results of the November election if Trump doesn't win: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/17/half-republicans-wont-accept-trump-loss-2024/75142477007/

That pipeline fire in suburban Houston was burning into a third day as of midnight last night: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/energy-transfer-pipeline-continues-burn-la-porte-texas-2024-09-17/

...No info about the driver who ignited the fire has been released: https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/texans-on-edge-as-pipeline-fire-continues-to-burn-with-no-end-in-sight-flames-blaze-deer-park-la-porte-houston-valve-explosion-crash-driver-investigation-fbi-explosion-smoke

See Progress Texas' analysis of Project 2025, and what it will mean for Texas should it be enacted: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/project-2025-vs-progress-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a complete guide to Project 2025 from Media Matters: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.mediamatters.org/heritage-foundation/guide-project-2025-extreme-right-wing-agenda-next-republican-administration⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The deadline to register for the November election is October 7. Are you registered? Are you sure? ALL Texas voters should confirm their registration, right now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://govotetexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Please pitch in to help fund our recent expansion of that important voting resource with Hindi, Mandarin Chinese and Vietnamese translation: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/coming-soon-govotetexasorg-adds-commonly-spoken-languages-increase-ballot-access⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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