Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Congressional Democrats are railing against the abdication by the Congress of their control of federal purse strings to the unelected Elon Musk, including Austin Congressman Greg Casar:https://www.reddit.com/r/QuiverQuantitative/s/gNFR33sfZS

...And Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett:https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/02/12/first-doge-committee-hearing-showcases-partisan-divide-over-elon-musks-role/

Big money is very much running the show lately not only in D.C., but also back here in Texas, where the push to Christianize our public schools is in full swing at the Lege:https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/13/texas-speaker-race-house-tim-dunn-dustin-burrows/

...Texas Republicans have filed multiple House and Senate bills that would criminalize the teaching of basic reproductive biology via sex-ed lessons in our public schools, including the arrest of teachers:https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2025-02-14/texas-gop-gets-creative-in-crusade-against-sex-education/

...Freshman State Rep. Andy Hopper wants to eliminate the Texas Education Agency altogether:https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-lawmaker-files-bill-abolish-texas-education-agency/

The Gaines County measles outbreak has grown to 24 cases, all unvaccinated:https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/science/measles-vaccination-texas.html

...And all 100% preventable:https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2025/02/13/west-texas-measles-outbreak-spreads-among-unvaccinated-residents/

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! See a great essay on this year's celebration, happening amidst so much turmoil, and a listing of related events happening across Texas:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/black-history-month-2025-celebrating-texas-culture⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Check out a terrific essay for Black History Month by Progress Texas Institute Board Chair Louis Bedford:⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/trickle-down-diversity-doesn%E2%80%99t-work⁠⁠

The early giving period for this year's Amplify Austin Day has begun! Support Progress Texas at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Progress Texas is now ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts worldwide for listenership - thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/progress-texas-podcasts-progress-texas-pHdPjbaN-7B/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits 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 https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

In a bizarre moment, Elon Musk casually towered over Donald Trump in the Oval Office during a press conference on DOGE's federal cost-cutting efforts:https://www.irishtimes.com/world/us/2025/02/12/unelected-musk-holds-court-in-trumps-oval-office-as-he-defends-efficiency-drive/

...MSNBC's Lawrence O'Donnell analyzes this crazy, telling moment at length:https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=dZaa8zBlwP8

...Musk's awkward diatribe of techbro-speak is fact checked by the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/us/elon-musk-doge-fact-check.html

Texas research universities - and a group of 22 state Attorneys General - are pushing back in court against Trump's reckless budget cuts:https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/10/texas-universities-research-nih/

...The Association Of American Medical Colleges celebrates a restraining order against funding changes that would jeopardize important ongoing research:https://www.aamc.org/news/press-releases/aamc-lawsuit-results-nationwide-temporary-restraining-order-proposed-drastic-cuts-nih-funding

...This is the kind of pushback that was lacking as Texas universities rolled over for lawmakers attacking DEI college initiatives at the beginning of last year:https://truthout.org/articles/texas-colleges-rolled-over-for-anti-dei-bill-now-they-face-a-broader-attack/

We're watching the Senate Committee On Energy and Natural Resources, GOP members of which may be compromised by the campaign donations they've received from oil and gas lobbyists:https://www.energy.senate.gov/2025/2/heinrich-murray-merkley-klobuchar-demand-answers-from-usda-on-wildfire-mitigation-projects-firefighting-hiring-halted-by-trump-s-funding-freeze

Today at 12 noon Central, the Houston Chronicle will host and interview and Q&A with Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee:https://events.zoom.us/ev/AkYP3aeQBQDMKgLqSsKWTQjvcGGfEKLSbiVZ4e7d9nNSGnMnH0nj~AsaoGmyvnx2jfKJ-Ud9iwv2JnRnlBorxPtwMoIFf2duVwzfwQfByrTcPl6kpr-O-QlMvt9fRFtnYt_vqDrwdP6ADTQ?sid=66fb145d7332661617053154&ss=P&st_rid=null&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=news&utm_campaign=hcrn%20%7C%20hc-live

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! See a great essay on this year's celebration, happening amidst so much turmoil, and a listing of related events happening across Texas:⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/black-history-month-2025-celebrating-texas-culture⁠⁠⁠⁠

...Check out a terrific essay for Black History Month by Progress Texas Institute Board Chair Louis Bedford:⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/trickle-down-diversity-doesn%E2%80%99t-work⁠

The early giving period for this year's Amplify Austin Day has begun! Support Progress Texas at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Progress Texas is now ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts worldwide for listenership - thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/progress-texas-podcasts-progress-texas-pHdPjbaN-7B/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits 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 https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The measles outbreak in Gaines County appears to be gaining momentum, spreading concern across the state at a time when vaccination rates are down:https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/measles-outbreak-texas-20159156.php

...The problem isn't limited to rural Texas - Houston kindergarteners saw a massive drop in measles vaccinations over the pandemic period: https://www.khou.com/article/news/health/measles-outbreak-texas-vaccination-rate/285-ba5d50d9-417a-485b-b4a6-446db33d12ff

...Check the vaccination rate at your Texas public school here: https://www.dshs.texas.gov/immunizations/data/school/coverage

Ken Paxton has expanded his investigations over trans kids playing sports to two more Texas school districts: Hutto ISD and Richardson ISD: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2025-02-10/texas-ag-paxton-investigating-two-more-school-districts-over-trans-athlete-policies

...Paxton clearly views picking on trans Texans as a solid way to ramp up a potential midterm primary challenge against U.S. Senator John Cornyn: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/11/cornyn-paxton-possible-senate-primary/

A newly-proposed law would hold Texas businesses who don't allow the carrying of guns on their property liable for damage or injury that results from a crime on that property: https://www.kltv.com/2025/02/10/state-senator-east-texas-business-owner-speak-sb-82s-concealed-carry-liability/

A watchdog group is calling on the Attorney General to investigate misuse of private medical information of clients by so-called crisis pregnancy centers, which are mostly not subject to HIPAA regulations:https://www.dallasnews.com/business/2025/02/10/watchdog-calls-for-tx-others-to-do-their-jobs-as-pregnancy-centers-spark-privacy-fears/

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! See a great essay on this year's celebration, happening amidst so much turmoil, and a listing of related events happening across Texas:⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/black-history-month-2025-celebrating-texas-culture⁠⁠⁠

...Check out a terrific essay for Black History Month by Progress Texas Institute Board Chair Louis Bedford: https://progresstexas.org/blog/trickle-down-diversity-doesn%E2%80%99t-work

The early giving period for this year's Amplify Austin Day has begun! Support Progress Texas at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Progress Texas is now ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts worldwide for listenership - thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/progress-texas-podcasts-progress-texas-pHdPjbaN-7B/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits 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 https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Kanye West, as part of a long, unhinged tirade in several topical directions, cites Texas transplant Elon Musk as having stolen his "Nazi swag":https://m.economictimes.com/magazines/panache/kanye-west-says-i-love-hitler-accuses-elon-musk-of-stealing-his-nazi-swag-in-explosive-social-media-rant/articleshow/118027124.cms

Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett has been calling it like it is in regard to the Republican attack on DEI, saying "if you're confident, you're not concerned":https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jasmine-crockett-dei-mediocre-white-boys_n_67a4e6e9e4b0d1a51c62f40e

Governor Abbott has been on a tour of Christian private academies promoting his voucher program, speaking to audiences of current private school families who are eager for their taxpayer-funded rebates:https://myrgv.com/local-news/2025/02/07/abbott-touts-school-choice-at-private-academy-in-edinburg/#google_vignette

...Abbott is also warning that public school teachers who acknowledge the mere existence of transgender kids "should be fired on the spot”:https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/greg-abbott-trans-teachers-20151819.php

Rural Gaines County, near Lubbock, has seen a major outbreak of measles cases, even as GOP lawmakers file several bills aimed at limiting requirements for vaccinations:https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/08/measles-west-texas-vaccine-outbreak/

A Dallas ad agency placed that "He Gets Us" commercial on last night's Super Bowl on behalf of Come Near, a religious media concern with the IRS designation normally reserved for churches, which allows them to hide almost all of their funding and expenditure information:https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/super-bowl-ad-jesus-he-gets-us-come-near-hobby-lobby-1235256968/

...Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts is a native of Houston and played high school football at Channelview:https://www.houstonchronicle.com/sports/texans/article/super-bowl-mvp-jalen-hurts-channelview-20157788.php

Austin Chronicle writer Marc Savlov posts a great guide for the proper hassling of your elected representatives:https://www.facebook.com/502969135/posts/10162824366549136/?rdid=nO4biD1ojCPdL5W7#

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! See a great essay on this year's celebration, happening amidst so much turmoil, and a listing of related events happening across Texas:⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org/blog/black-history-month-2025-celebrating-texas-culture⁠⁠

The early giving period for this year's Amplify Austin Day has begun! Support Progress Texas at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Progress Texas is now ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts worldwide for listenership - thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/progress-texas-podcasts-progress-texas-pHdPjbaN-7B/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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

Houston State Rep. Gene Wu, Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, has long been one of our favorite fighters for progress in the Lone Star State. And Clayton Tucker, wearer of many stylish hats in Texas progressive circles is a voice we follow closely as well - for this discussion, joining us in his role as Program Associate for the Trade Justice Education Fund. How should progressive Texans be viewing the current fight against both a rising tech-bro oligarchy and the ham-fisted, demonstrative trade policies of Donald Trump that risk a trade war - one that could be devastating for border areas like Texas? Settle in for straight talk on our desperate current situation and what YOU can do about it - the main point is, you need to do it NOW.

Find Rep. Gene Wu athttps://www.genefortexas.com andhttps://house.texas.gov/members/2865.

Find the Trade Justice Education Fund athttps://tradejusticeedfund.org/.

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work athttps://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Lawsuits against technical moves made by Elon Musk and his team of hackers that have exposed sensitive data are gaining steam:https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/02/federal-workers-sue-opm-elon-musk-takeover.html

...Musk and DOGE's disruption of USAID has potentially derailed a new HIV vaccine, and has disrupted programs to mitigate malaria:https://futurism.com/neoscope/usaid-trial-hiv-vaccine

...Senior Texas U.S. Senator John Cornyn says concern about Musk's bulldozing of the federal government is "hysteria" - he's up for re-election in 2026, and we need to get started on that now:https://www.kgns.tv/2025/02/06/texas-sen-cornyn-backs-trump-nominees-defends-elon-musks-role/

...Musk's SpaceX company is becoming notorious among local South Texas contractors for failing to pay its bills:https://www.chron.com/culture/article/spacex-overdue-bills-texas-19454904.php

Ken Paxton is targeting both Dallas and Irving ISD over accusations of allowing "boys to compete in girls sports", spurred by heavily edited and now-viral videos:https://www.keranews.org/education/2025-02-06/texas-paxton-trans-athletes-dallas-irving-isd-video

January 6th rioter Andrew Taake, released after his pardon despite the Houston District Attorney wanting him held on a child sex charge, has been captured in rural Leon County after two weeks as a fugitive:https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/06/arrest-trump-pardon-insurrection/

Secular Houston and a coalition of partners are holding lobby days at the Texas Capitol on several bills related to religious freedom on Monday and Tuesday of next week:https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1oJKNq0q702KVnFVY3BOq5d4LwsVR5NSr_9e3pXPZlO0/edit?gid=0#gid=0

As Super Bowl weekend begins, former Texas Tech football coach and current Alabama U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville's claims of a close relationship with former Red Raider and current Kansas City Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes are flatly denied by Mahomes:https://athlonsports.com/college/texas-tech-red-raiders/texas-tech-red-raiders-football-patrick-mahomes-super-bowl-tommy-tuberville-recruiting-comments

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! See a great essay on this year's celebration, happening amidst so much turmoil, and a listing of related events happening across Texas:⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/black-history-month-2025-celebrating-texas-culture⁠

The early giving period for this year's Amplify Austin Day has begun! Support Progress Texas at ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Progress Texas is now ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts worldwide for listenership - thank you!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/progress-texas-podcasts-progress-texas-pHdPjbaN-7B/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

No surprise that the Texas Senate has fast-tracked approval of SB2, Governor Abbott's private school voucher scam, to approval: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/05/texas-senate-school-voucher-vote/

Austin saw hundreds turn out for Texas' share of the national protest against the Trump administration's policies organized in all 50 states yesterday: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/protesters-rally-at-texas-capitol-against-project-2025

...The ACLU of Texas is providing training materials on best practices related to public protest, how to interact with police and immigration officers, and more:

...A letter from administrators of Alice, Texas' school district warn parents that their students could face immigration raids on their school buses while traveling through South Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/05/alice-texas-buses-students-citizenship-border-patrol/

Senator John Cornyn taunts protestors in a Facebook post, complete with Indivisible and MoveOn tags, showing complete contempt for half of his constituents in Texas: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Dc2UW9aLw/

Houston U.S. Congressman Al Green plans to introduce articles of impeachment against Donald Trump over his plans for an American takeover of Gaza: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/05/al-green-trump-impeachment-articles-gaza

Minnesota Congresswoman Ilhan Omar responds to newbie DFW Congressman Brandon Gill's call for her to be deported, calling him a "dumbass" and a "nepo baby": https://www.chron.com/politics/article/texas-ilhan-omar-20148422.php

We celebrate Black History Month throughout February! See a great essay on this year's celebration, happening amidst so much turmoil, and a listing of related events happening across Texas: https://progresstexas.org/blog/black-history-month-2025-celebrating-texas-culture

The early giving period for this year's Amplify Austin Day has begun! Support Progress Texas at

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The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Dallas Rep. Jasmine Crockett was a prominent voice yesterday as lawmakers and civilian protestors rallied against Elon Musk's "hostile takeover" of the financial systems of the U.S. Department of Treasury: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/04/democrats-protest-elon-musk-treasury-washington

...Crockett notes that the Trump administration appears to have little regard for the legality or Constitutionality of their opening moves: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5125167-jasmine-crockett-donald-trump-constitution/

Dallas-area freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill has called for collegue Rep. Ilhan Omar to be deported over her advice to her constituents to know and exercise their rights if confronted by ICE officers: https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5126520-freshman-texas-lawmaker-calling-for-deportation-of-ilhan-omar/

Operation Lone Star, despite having little to show for the $11 billion that's been blown on it and an uptick from federal border enforcement, appears to remain a popular and very expensive budget goal for Republicans: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/05/texas-border-security-immigration-spending-operation-lone-star/

A new survey of Texans of both parties finds that very few Texans want to keep marijuana prohibition as it is, with the majority in both parties supporting the decriminalization of personal-use possession: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-marijuana-laws-recreation-2025-legislature/285-db2ece8c-f9cf-4b3f-9ac6-320ea6cc075e

Next door in New Orleans, NFL crews are busily removing the "End Racism" slogan from the Super Bowl field end zones - a move appearing to appease Donald Trump, who will be in attendance on Sunday: https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/nfl/nfl-will-remove-end-racism-end-zones-ahead-super-bowl-rcna190686

Protesting today? Be aware of your surroundings and keep things legal, peaceful and safe: https://apnews.com/article/50501-protests-project-2025-trump-state-capitols-ddd341171a54ba9b498cbfe7530e18ab

The early giving period for this year's Amplify Austin Day has begun! Support Progress Texas at

Progress Texas is now ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts worldwide for listenership - thank you! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/progress-texas-podcasts-progress-texas-pHdPjbaN-7B/⁠⁠⁠

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Protests against Donald Trump and Greg Abbott's immigration policies and deportation efforts have begun rising across Texas, including Houston: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/immigration/2025/02/03/512709/hundreds-march-through-west-houston-in-opposition-of-immigration-policy-changes/

...And Conroe: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/immigration-protest-arrests-conroe-texas/285-add40d0c-73a2-466a-a1b8-76358d4861e4

...And Austin: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/anti-ice-protest-north-lamar-rutland-drive-north-austin-texas

...And San Antonio: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/san-antonio-isd-students-organize-walkout-to-protest-threat-of-ice-raids-in-schools-36678048

...And Leander: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/leander-texas-glenn-high-school-students-walkout-protest-ice

...Meanwhile a national protest against Project 2025's implementation by the Trump administration is planned in all 50 states on Wednesday: https://www.newsweek.com/50-states-anti-trump-protest-nationwide-february-5-details-2025300

Governor Greg Abbott, with the blessing of the Trump administation, has given Texas National Guard troops the authority to arrest suspected undocumented immigrants: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-national-guard-arrest-migrants-new-agreement/

Elon Musk's blitzkrieg against American political norms, moving almost to fast to cover, is briefed in the New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/03/us/politics/musk-federal-government.html

...NBC News: https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/elon-musk-doge-usaid-treasury-government-rcna190450

...CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/04/politics/usaid-cuts-thousands-american-jobs/index.html

...More CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/04/politics/musk-washington-chaos/index.html

...Is Donald Trump beginning to grow weary of Musk's dramatic rampage? https://www.axios.com/2025/02/03/trump-musk-usaid-democrats

Is Donald Trump vulnerable to his growing negative polling numbers? The Republican Party sure is: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/trump-approval-rating-start-second-term.html

The early giving period for this year's Amplify Austin Day has begun! Support Progress Texas at

Progress Texas is now ranked in the top 3% of all podcasts worldwide for listenership - thank you! ⁠⁠https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/progress-texas-podcasts-progress-texas-pHdPjbaN-7B/⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Grab your goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Learn more about Ground Game Texas at https://www.groundgametexas.org/.

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