Progress Texas Podcasts

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Amidst a disastrous election cycle for progressives, it turns out that most of the candidates running for school board seats on book-banning platforms lost: https://www.lonestarlive.com/news/2024/11/most-texas-school-board-candidates-who-support-book-bans-lost-their-elections.html

...Not that MAGA types are giving up on their war on Texas' LGBTQ+ communities: https://www.advocate.com/politics/republican-gloats-lgbtq-studies-texas-ended

Regretting your vote for Donald Trump after this crazy week? No, you can't take it back: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article295561044.html

Messages on abortion rights, for whatever reason, did not connect with or influence voters in Texas significantly: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/14/abortion-fails-to-turn-texas-voters/

...While Amarillo provides a case study on communities that voted both in favor of abortion rights, AND to return Trump to office: https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/amarillo-texas-abortion-election/

Progressives now face the challenge of connecting to and persuading fans of the "manosphere" - Trump appears to have done a much better job than Harris did: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/13/us/politics/trump-gen-z-influencers-democrats.html

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

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:

Senator John Cornyn, betrayed by Ted Cruz, after a half-million dollar campaign contribution, came in second in the race for Senate Majority Leader, with Scott coming in dead last: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/john-cornyn-senate-majority-texas-19912686.php

Elon Musk backed Scott as well, who was cut on the first vote - perhaps undermining Musk's perception of extensive influence over the Senate or over Trump: https://www.msnbc.com/the-last-word/watch/lawrence-trump-humiliates-elon-musk-by-telling-house-gop-elon-won-t-go-home-224415813970

...Musk's toothless assignment from Trump, were it given teeth, would immediately put him into violation of multiple ethics laws: https://apnews.com/article/trump-elon-musk-doge-tesla-spacex-80fa8b213b46460b1a0e369dc07a6404

...Ken Paxton's on the loser's list too, having been beaten out for Attorney General by none other than Matt Gaetz: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/cornyn-paxton-skipped-for-leadership-in-trumps-washington/

...Alex Jones' conspiracist Infowars network has been bought at auction by the satirical news outlet The Onion, with help from the families of the Sandy Hook school shooting victims: https://politicalwire.com/2024/11/14/the-onion-acquires-infowars/

Multiple bills attacking and attempting to shield the Texas LGBTQ+ community have been filed for next year's session: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/first-lgbtq-related-bills-of-2025-session/

...Pride activists in fast-growing Princeton, Texas are in building conflict with that former small town's leadership: https://www.texasobserver.org/pride-and-prejudice-in-princeton/

Progress Texas extends our heartfelt thanks to the ten Texas Democrats in the U.S. House who voted to protect political non-profits this week:

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

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:

Harsh facts face families with undocumented members in Texas as preparations begin for Donald Trump's promised deportation of millions: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/11/13/trumps-mass-deportation-plan-fact-vs-fiction-whats-next-for-texas/

Advocacy organizations like the ACLU and RAICES are up against a relentless and uncaring opponent with limitless resources: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/texas-trump-anti-immigrant-policies-pave-rocky-path-for-advocates-21045574

Elon Musk will share the leadership of a new Department Of Government Efficiency (or "DOGE"), tasked with slashing the operations and staffing of the federal government: https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/12/politics/elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-department-of-government-efficiency-trump/index.html

Over 1,000 bills were filed yesterday by Texas lawmakers on the first day they could do so: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/12/texas-legislature-bills-filing/

...One bill is designed to strike antiquated restrictions on LGBTQ+ freedom from the Texas books: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4987265-texas-democrats-revive-effort-to-repeal-states-ban-on-gay-sex/

A bill in the U.S. House that would have given Trump the power to single-handedly crush non-profit organizations died yesterday after an effort by the ACLU: https://www.aclu.org/press-releases/aclu-urges-house-to-kill-bill-that-could-give-trump-admin-power-to-crush-dissent-and-go-after-political-enemies

...But not without the support of 52 Democrats, including Colin Allred: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2024458?RollCallNum=458&BillNum=H.R.9495

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

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:

Tom Homan, an associate of Governor Abbott and a fellow at the Heritage Foundation, has been picked by Donald Trump to head up his promised mass roundup of immigrants once he takes office: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/trump-tom-homan-texas-border-deportation-19906670.php

...While urgency builds among Texas immigrants, especially women who have been victims of crime and abuse: https://www.keranews.org/immigration/2024-11-12/north-texas-immigrants-immigration-attorneys-trump-mass-deportations

Texas U.S. Senator John Cornyn is one of three possibilities to become Senate Majority Leader, with the results of a secret vote to be released Wednesday - while Elon Musk backs one of his competitors: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/government/2024/11/12/us-senate-majority-leader-vote-race-texas-john-cornyn-john-thune-rick-scott/76200123007/

...Musk may be wearing his welcome out at Mar-A-Lago, after just one week: https://www.thedailybeast.com/elon-musk-turning-himself-into-the-guest-who-wouldnt-leave-at-mar-a-lago/

...History is littered with rich men who tried - and failed - to similarly buy their way into the White House: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/11/opinion/elon-musk-trump-election.html

...As Molly Ivins said, and millions of Trump voters have failed to notice, the real struggle is not between the left and the right, but between the top and the bottom: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/11/billionaires-elon-musk-hate-us-ultra-wealthy-climate-crisis

Multiple miscues from the Colin Allred campaign and the Democratic structure at large led to a disastrous election for progressives: https://newrepublic.com/article/188260/allred-cruz-democrats-texas-blue

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

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

As expected, Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa resigned: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/texas-democrat-party-resigns-gilberto-hinojosa/

Texas will be the epicenter of Donald Trump's promised massive deportation operation, with the complicity of conservatives in Texas: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/texas/trump-immigration-crackdown-deportation-texas-plans-border-president-elect-mexico-remain/269-b3a25000-f68b-476a-81e5-cb8638d277d9

Both the Jewish community and the Muslim community in Texas found reasons stemming from the conflict in Gaza to gravitate away from Democrats in last week's election: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/2024/11/10/how-oct-7-attack-and-war-in-gaza-shaped-north-texas-jewish-and-muslim-votes/

Texas transplant Elon Musk continues using Twitter to amplify hard-right wackadoodle theories about the dominance of "high status males": https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/elon-musk-trump-harris-high-status-males-4chan-b2606617.html

...He's also borrowing a page from the Ken Paxton playbook, dictating that lawsuits against Twitter be heard in the heavily-Republican Northern District of Texas: https://techcrunch.com/2024/11/10/elon-musks-x-is-moving-its-legal-disputes-to-northern-texas/

Surprising nobody, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick has named private school vouchers his top priority in next year's legislative session: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/dan-patrick-texas-senate-school-choice-vouchers/

...While the Texas Senate Higher Education Committee meets today to discuss ways to even further amp up Republican efforts against anything remotely resembling DEI at Texas colleges: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/2024/11/11/sb17-texas-senate-higher-education-subcommittee-examine-dei-universities/76048145007/

A New Yorker interview with Willie Nelson on his new cannabis cookbook finds his wife Annie D'Angelo sporting a stylish Humans Against Ted Cruz t-shirt! They're available in our web store at ProgressTexas.org: https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2024/11/11/willie-nelsons-latest-is-a-cannabis-cookbook

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

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:

Gilberto Hinojosa, Chair of the Texas Democratic Party since 2012, is reported to be set to announce his resignation today: https://quorumreport.com/quorum_report_daily_buzz_2024/texas_democratic_party_chairman_hinojosa_to_announ_buzziid32336.html

...This follows uproar over comments Hinojosa made using the TDP's defense of trans Texans as an example of a reason for the historic election loss this week: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/democratic-party-chair-texas-19898371.php

...Texas LGBTQ+ advocacy orgs were especially incensed: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/texas-democratic-party-chair-on-defensive-after-blaming-losses-on-support-of-trans-rights-36010763

...At the same time, Ted Cruz's multi-million-dollar smear of Texas' transgender community paid huge dividends for him at the ballot box: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/08/transgender-ads-motivate-texas-republicans/

The Progress Texas staff gathered yesterday for an opening conversation on the Democratic disaster, why it happened, and how to move forward: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-180-understanding-the-trump-win-and/id1552998795?i=1000676159392

Republican success reaching older Hispanic voters along the Texas border may come back to haunt those voters who have children protected by DACA: https://www.tpr.org/border-immigration/2024-11-07/texas-daca-recipients-say-theyre-scared-of-their-future-under-trump

Black Texans are being affected right away as well, with a barrage of racist texts targeting students at our historically Black colleges: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/black-americans-targeted-racist-texts-texas-us/

There IS good news today - the failure of an "abortion travel ban" ballot initiative in Amarillo may provide evidence of some room for reasonable conversation with abortion opponents: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2024/11/07/voters-in-a-conservative-texas-city-reject-abortion-travel-ban/

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

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

At this early stage, understanding how and why America chose to re-elect Donald Trump is beyond anyone's reach - it will take years to analyze both the prelude and the eventual aftermath. For now, at Progress Texas we are preparing for the next step: the 2025 Texas Legislature will feature an even more entrenched and power-drunk Republican majority. We gathered most of the crew for this one to share our thoughts on the situation, what needs to be addressed in Texas, and what the immediate path forward may hold.

One thing's certain: our work is impossible without YOUR help. If you find yourself motivated to elevate your activism and resistance as the second Trump term looms, we'd love to meet you - please consider supporting us by grabbing a ticket for one of our upcoming holiday parties in Austin and Dallas! Learn more at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Multiple Texas news outlets are pointing to the Texas Democratic Party, led by Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa since 2012, which must own a major part of this historic defeat. Reform Austin: https://www.reformaustin.org/elections/after-three-decades-of-defeat-will-texas-democrats-finally-demand-change/

...The Texas Observer: https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-house-dems-defeat-2024/

...The Texas Tribune: https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-house-dems-defeat-2024/

...The Dallas Morning News: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/11/07/texas-republicans-rewrote-states-political-playbook/

What the battle is likely to look like in Texas under the second Trump administration: https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/11/06/trump-election-texas-impact

Why NOW is the time to renew our commitment and stand up for our values: https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/11/trump-victory-democracy/680549/

We salute the Texas State University students who stood down a Christian Nationalist demonstration on their San Marcos campus yesterday: https://universitystar.com/28322/multimedia/photo-gallery-demonstrators-spark-counter-protest-of-hundreds-at-txst/

Our annual holiday fundraising parties approach! We'll be gathering both in Dallas and Austin this December, and there are sponsorship opportunities available: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠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

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

We are just like you in our dismay at the results of yesterday's election. Today is a day to absorb the shock and process our emotions. But tuning out and staying home in future political battles is not an option. We must continue to fight fascism and the erasure of our rights, together. Campaigns come and go, but our progressive movement is forever. An authoritarian extremist ruling party deserves a strong, united opposition. Stay with us.

Learn more about how to support Progress Texas, where our work has never been more important than it has become this morning: https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

It's Election Day! Any questions? Hit https://govotetexas.org/.

Our endorsed candidates: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-november-general-election-endorsement-list

While our early voting totals are technically down from 2020, that year was unusual due to extended early voting and massive mail-in voting due to the pandemic: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/04/texas-early-voting-turnout-rate-down/

...Still, more people have voted early in Texas in 2024 than voted in the entire 2016 election - unfortunately, so far, Democrats appear to be underperforming: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/analyzing-early-voting-data-low-voter-turnout-before-election-day/

...Things to watch tonight and this week: Trump's likely winning margin in Texas, the Allred/Cruz margin, competitive South Texas races, candidates hand-picked by Abbott for private school vouchers, and the court races: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/

...Conflict is hot over whether or not to allow federal monitors to watch the process in Texas, as they have for years: https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/elections/texas-federal-election-monitors/285-ea3d242b-1953-4ddd-a16c-44e06201239c

...Ken Paxton has filed a last-second lawsuit to keep them out: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ken-paxton-election-monitors-doj-19887480.php

...While sending out his own phalanx of poll watchers, which he calls his "Election Day Rapid Response Legal Team": https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4970979-texas-attorney-general-paxton-election-rapid-response/

...The Ted Cruz re-election campaign has been flagged by the Federal Election Commission for over $1 million in potential illegal contributions: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/feds-demand-ted-cruzs-campaign-explain-1-million-in-potentially-illegal-donations-35984664

...Dallas voters: don't forget to vote NO on Props S, T, and U: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/results-2024-dallas-hero-amendments-texas/

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

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

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