Progress Texas Podcasts

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Texan John Ratcliffe is at the center of what's becoming known as "Signalgate" - and also "the dumbest fascist timeline ever": https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/signalgate-fallout-hegseth-gabbard/

Amid the West Texas measles outbreak, kids are now showing up with Vitamin A poisoning as their parents opt for "alternative" measles prevention over vaccines: https://futurism.com/neoscope/measles-patients-vitamin-overuse-rfk-jr

...While Elon Musk and DOGE yank funding that Lubbock's health department depends on to fight the outbreak: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/26/texas-measles-public-health-funding-cut/

Propublica's investigations into needless maternal deaths connected to Texas' abortion bans have been instrumental in new bills to clarify those policies for doctors (stay tuned for a talk with Austin State Rep. Donna Howard on that legislation): https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-gop-lawmakers-propose-amending-abortion-ban

Deer Park Republican Rep. Briscoe Cain's bill to convert the city of Austin into a state-controlled district was laughed out of the House Committee On State Affairs on a unanimous 11-0 rejection: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/texas-legislature/texas-house-district-of-austin-laughed-down/269-0d1e48dd-ddba-43b1-90ec-4d7ce65f5d26

Colin Allred is expressing interest in running for Senate again, against John Cornyn next year - considering what happened last time, we think there are far more helpful options: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/colin-allred-senate-cornyn-20242509.php

Watch out for weirdoes around the UT Austin campus this weekend - the Natalist Conference, a gathering of enthusiasts of eugenics, genetic manipulation, race dominance theory and more starts tomorrow: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2025-03-21/eugenics-controversy-looms-over-natal-conference-at-uts-atat-center/

Get tickets for Draggieland, which after a legal win by Texas A&M's Queer Empowerment Council and FIRE, is happening in College Station tonight at 7:30: ⁠⁠https://boxoffice.tamu.edu/online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=8C3D300E-E6B8-4952-9B39-27A91F9CCDC1&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=A6B1EF1D-CE46-4EED-BAEB-9FFED77A5A87⁠⁠

We're proud to welcome Mayor Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives at our Party For Progress - RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Republican Texas U.S. Congressman Pat Fallon told a town hall crowd that today's young people won't have Social Security - he recommends they "get a second job": https://www.reddit.com/r/texas/comments/1jk1dxc/the_way_we_can_fix_social_security_is_to_tell/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button

The Signal group chat scandal continues, with longtime Texas Republican elected official and current Trump CIA director John Ratcliffe on the hot seat before House Democrats again today: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2025/03/25/the-sloppy-texan-in-the-trump-group-chat-that-texted-war-plans-to-a-reporter/

This morning, HB-139 is being heard at the Capitol - this is the bill that would allow Texas employers to offer their workers insurance packages that omit federal coverage mandates including child coverage and mental health options: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2025/03/20/employer-health-insurance-texas-house-bill-139-reduce-coverage-mandates-requirements/82516916007/

OPINION: Dallas Rep. Jasmine Crockett should apologize for remarks made about Governor Abbott's disability - but in an all-out political battle, mistakes will be made, and should be considered in proper context against the cruelty Republicans display on a daily basis: https://www.notesfromthecircus.com/p/governor-hot-wheels

...Disability rights groups similarly express disappointment in Rep. Crockett, but also recognize her value as a long-term ally: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/25/jasmine-crockett-greg-abbott-reaction-027823

...Perceptions of ineffectual resistance by mainstream Democrats is likely fueling the surge of popularity that progressives like Crockett, Greg Casar, AOC and Bernie Sanders are seeing lately: https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/democrats-reaching-trump-tipping-point?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Get tickets for Draggieland, which after a legal win by Texas A&M's Queer Empowerment Council and FIRE, is happening in College Station on Thursday: ⁠https://boxoffice.tamu.edu/online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=8C3D300E-E6B8-4952-9B39-27A91F9CCDC1&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=A6B1EF1D-CE46-4EED-BAEB-9FFED77A5A87⁠

We're proud to welcome Mayor Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives at our Party For Progress - RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! 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:

Senator John Cornyn was a big cheerleader for Trump Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who now finds himself at the center of the Yemen group chat scandal: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5211309-cornyn-calls-war-plan-group-chat-a-huge-screw-up/

...El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar calls Donald Trump's claim yesterday that he didn't know anything about the security breach "astounding ignorance and profound incompetence": https://x.com/RepEscobar/status/1904254728923398355

A wave of anti-Elon Musk vandalism against Tesla cars, charging stations and dealerships now includes a live bomb threat at an Austin Tesla location: https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/crime/tesla-owners-on-edge-wave-threats-vandalism-across-us/500-8ea26273-ffc9-46ee-996e-3361b0364772

...Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi are escalating rhetoric that they consider attacks against Tesla "domestic terrorism": https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/24/tesla-austin-bomb-squad

...Bondi has demanded apologies and retractions from Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who has been vocal with her criticism of Elon Musk: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/pam-bondi-jasmine-crockett-tesla-b2720908.html

...A bill at the Texas Legislature would grant Musk's SpaceX the authority to close the public Boca Chica Beach for its launches: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/spacex-elon-musk-beach-control-20237154.php

The "Life Of The Mother Act", ostensibly designed to grant more clarity and guidance for Texas doctors in treating pregnant women undergoing difficult pregancies, may also carry aims to entrench our ban on abortion: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/03/abortion-exceptions-republicans-kentucky-texas-fetal-personhood.html

A federal judge has blocked the Texas A&M Board of Regents' ban on this year's Draggieland drag show: https://thebatt.com/news/federal-judge-blocks-drag-show-ban-allows-draggieland-to-proceed/

...Get tickets for Draggieland, happening on Thursday: https://boxoffice.tamu.edu/online/default.asp?doWork::WScontent::loadArticle=Load&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::article_id=8C3D300E-E6B8-4952-9B39-27A91F9CCDC1&BOparam::WScontent::loadArticle::context_id=A6B1EF1D-CE46-4EED-BAEB-9FFED77A5A87

San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg celebrates his city's new friendship agreement with Quebec City: https://x.com/Ron_Nirenberg/status/1904262055944695984

...And we're proud to welcome Mayor Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives at our Party For Progress - RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The Texas Senate has approved SB-12, a bill that will expand its ban on DEI efforts to our K-12 public schools: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/24/texas-dei-public-schools-k12/

Also in the Senate, SB-37 would establish an additional layer of bureaucracy over state universities, for the purpose of ensuring that “courses do not endorse specific public policies, ideologies or legislation”...vague language that would let them crush any view with which they disagree: https://www.statesman.com/story/opinion/columns/your-voice/2025/03/24/texas-senate-bill-37-sb37-weaken-public-universities-opinion/82556335007/

And SB-31, which would clarify what doctors can do to intervene in problematic pregancies amidst Texas' near-complete abortion ban, sees support from doctors, but less enthusiasm from advocates for the broader restoration of reproductive freedom: https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-03-24/texas-legislation-life-of-the-mother-senate-bill-31-abortion-ban-doctors

Water is a key topic in the Legislature, and while a major investment is widely seen as necessary, exactly how to spend that money remains troublingly unclear: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/24/texas-legislature-water-supply-infrastructure-repair-perry-harris/

Two bills designed to limit the impact of bots and digital fraud will either help alleviate those problems - or will show which party feels they actually benefit from disinformation on social media: https://www.nathanfortexas.com/posts/release-senator-johnson-files-sjr-82-wg77p

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about⁠⁠⁠⁠

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

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Our 200th Happy Hour! Elon Musk is everyone’s problem—from Brownsville, Texas, to the Caribbean, to the White House. As his SpaceX operations continue to fail upwards while wreaking havoc on nearby communities and ecosystems, Dr. Christopher Basaldú with the South Texas Environmental Justice Network shares his expertise and insights on the inter-connected fight for protecting Rio Grande Valley residents from pollution and exploitation: with focuses on SpaceX and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).

Learn more about the Dr. Christopher Basaldú and the South Texas Environmental Justice Network at https://sotxejn.org/.

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick and Ken Paxton were all present and cheering yesterday at the White House as Donald Trump signed an executive order dismantling the federal Department of Education: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-greg-abbott-trump-education-department/

...Despite an intake of $12 billion in annual federal education funding, Texas ranks 29th among U.S. states for education quality: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/2025/03/21/trump-highlights-texas-in-dismantling-department-of-education/82579774007/

Texas now faces the possibility of being the epicenter of an eventual national - or maybe even global - measles epidemic: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/21/texas-measles-vaccine-new-mexico-oklahoma-us/

...Demonstrating how deep down the rabbit hole some anti-vaxxers have dug, the parents of the Gaines County child who died amidst the outbreak are still advocating against vaccines: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/20/texas-measles-family-gaines-county-death/

...Texas Congressional Democrats are demanding answers from the CDC on what they're doing about the outbreak, and why they're not doing more: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2025/03/20/lloyd-doggett-cdc-measles-outbreak-texas-symptoms-vaccine/82551785007/

The Tesla Cybertruck, built at the Austin Gigafactory, has seen its full line recalled over weak glue holding an exterior stainless steel panel in place - ALL of them have been recalled: https://www.the-independent.com/tech/tesla-cybertruck-recall-glue-panels-musk-b2719222.html

...The reliance on electric power for the doors of Tesla cars may have turned them into deathtraps in certain accident situations: https://oaklandside.org/2025/03/18/cybertruck-crash-report-says-witness-could-not-open-door-to-save-victims/

RSVP's are required for Monday's All In For Equality Advocacy Day at the Texas State Capitol, including bus transportation from San Antonio, Houston and Dallas, training on legislative visits, a noon rally, and lunch! https://secure.everyaction.com/-BQtCcqCQEGykR0ohWT3tQ2

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: ⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about⁠⁠⁠

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

An anonymous tip in January led to a weeks-long investigation of the clinics in the Houston area, resulting in the arrests of midwife Maria Margarita Rojas and two of her colleagues: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/houston-texas-midwife-arrested-abortions-clinics/285-b028b728-0db8-4e4f-9255-7f6f11c77f47

Rare bipartisan cooperation on clarifying medical exceptions to Texas' abortion ban is in play at the Capitol: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/abortion-ban-emergency-access-20228656.php

The Texas Senate has passed "the toughest THC ban in the nation", and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is advising retailers to close up shop ahead of its eventual signing into law: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/03/19/texas-thc-retailers-should-close-as-proposed-ban-looms-lt-gov-patrick-warns/

In addition to bills designed to give landlords more leeway in evicting their tenants, two more Republican bills would allow tenants to be kicked out while their eviction proceedings are under appeal: https://legiscan.com/TX/bill/SB1904/2025

And another Republican bill would allow Texas employers to provide their employees with benefits packages that exclude basic, state mandated services like cancer screenings and coverage for children: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/healthcare/2025/03/20/employer-health-insurance-texas-house-bill-139-reduce-coverage-mandates-requirements/82516916007/

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: ⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about⁠⁠

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

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Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A third arrest, that of a nurse practitioner, has been reported in the case of Houston-area clinics run by midwife Maria Rojas, who has been accused by Ken Paxton of conducting abortions illegally: https://abc13.com/post/texas-attorney-general-announces-third-arrest-illegal-abortion-case-involving-houston-area-midwife/16044651/

...A patient cited in the affadavit says she was referred to Rojas' clinic by her doctor after it was determined that her pregancy had a low likelihood of success and a high risk of medical complications: https://www.thecut.com/article/texas-abortion-arrest-maria-margarita-rojas-midwife.html

...These arrests are seen as only the beginning of aggressive law enforcement action related to abortion, with patients who leave the state for care likely on the target list: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/03/texas-midwife-first-abortion-prosecution-maria-rojas.html

20 new Texas measles cases reported yesterday bring our state total in the current outbreak to 279 - all but two in unvaccinated people: https://www.fox4news.com/news/texas-measles-cases-outbreak-2025-march-18-update

...If the outbreak takes over a year to contain, the United States will lose its status as a nation where measles has been eliminated - a status we've enjoyed for 25 years: https://www.statnews.com/2025/03/18/measles-outbreak-could-last-a-year-texas-public-health-official-predicts/

Texas officials have been documenting the personal data of people who request changes to the sex listed on their state documents - and those who even inquire about it - all while remaining silent on why: https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-03-19/texas-transgender-drivers-license-data-collection

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: ⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about⁠

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

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Study of the McCarthy period during the Cold War provides essential historical perspective for those of us struggling to chart the path forward through Trump 2.0 - a time in which paranoia, threats to civil liberties, censorship and more are, once again, all too real. Author Clay Risen, whose new book "Red Scare: Blacklists, McCarthyism and The Making of Modern America" joins us to discuss how it can help today's progressive properly conceptualize the perils of the current political reality, and continue to push forward with confidence and conviction.

Learn more about Clay Risen and his book at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Red-Scare/Clay-Risen/9781982141806.

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

In a first under Texas' abortion ban, and what's believed to be a first nationally since the overturning of Roe v Wade, two Houston-area maternity care professionals have been arrested under suspicion of performing illegal abortions: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-abortion-midwife-arrested/

...The two Houston defendants face life in prison - despite widespread public opinion that abortion should not be so heavily restricted: https://newrepublic.com/post/192839/texas-arrests-abortion-provider-terrifying-sign

Two South Texas detention facilities are being readied to hold thousands of immigrant detainees - including entire families being incarcerated together: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/us/family-detention-immigrants-trump.html

HB-2, a public school funding bill featuring a $9 billion increase that its GOP backers call "historic", is actually less than half of what education advocates say our schools need: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/texas-house-republicans-call-school-funding-plan-historic-but-advocates-say-it-falls-short/

HB-4806, designed to limit payouts in injury lawsuits, would hit lower-income Texans hardest, as they generally tend to use those payouts to settle medical debts: https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/texas-house-bill-could-cap-injury-claims-sparking-outcry-from-legal-experts

A lawsuit on behalf of the Texas A&M Queer Empowerment Council is challenging that institution's new ban on drag performances: https://www.kcentv.com/article/news/state/texas-am-queer-empowerment-council-files-federal-lawsuit-board-regents-drag-ban/500-00e242ae-070f-45a1-b1e1-1d82046ef509

On March 29th, the State Democratic Executive Committee will choose a new chair for the Texas Democratic Party - while you don't get to vote in this very important election, you have a representative on that committee, and you should let them know your preferences: https://progresstexas.org/blog/most-important-election-you-don%E2%80%99t-know-about

Women's History Month, being observed throughout March across Texas, serves both as a celebration of the history of breakthroughs for women, and a reminder that Texas is the worst state for them: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/celebrating-women%E2%80%99s-history-month-worst-state-women⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

San Antonio listeners! Progress Texas will visit the Alamo City for the first time in far too long on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives and a LIVE podcast taping. RSVP here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! 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.