Progress Texas Podcasts

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.

The draconian abortion ban that has stripped away the reproductive freedom of ALL Texans and endangered - and in at least two cases, ended - the lives of ALL pregnant people in Texas remains in place. No single election will fix this issue - only steady, sustained advocacy for our basic rights will get the job done. A group of talented musicians has put together a terrific way for people who are frustrated with the situation to express themselves in a way that will help spread understanding and activism as the fight continues. We're joined by the folks putting on the Roe Was The Floor event in Austin on Thursday November 7 at Radio East in Austin: Walker Lukens (who happens to supply our sweet theme music!), A.J. Haynes (perhaps best known as a member of Louisiana's Seratones), and Song Confessional co-founder Zac Catanzaro give us the skinny on this innovative and meaningful event, and provide details on how YOU can join in, from anywhere you might be.

Tickets for the Austin event on November 7: https://tinyurl.com/3kxk8xyk

Learn more about Song Confessional: https://linktr.ee/songconfessional.official?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZf35KZ3MEWWcOT0RWWV-Gjy6CueOGOT9fFPDu-F7tKsq-5jikGy7YNkLA_aem_vDZo_KrIMO9mMJCNrvrlug

Learn more about Walker Lukens: https://www.walkerlukens.com/

Learn more about A.J. Haynes: https://culturalyst.com/ajhaynes

Learn more about Zac Catanzaro: https://www.instagram.com/zaclopedia/?hl=en

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our continued work towards progressive change in Texas at https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Early voting totals turn out below 2020 overall, with encouraging stats for both sides - for Dems, heavy early turnout for women could be key: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/columns/2024/11/03/who-has-voted-early-in-texas-2024-elections-trump-harris/75989548007/

...Almost half of the total of registered voters in Texas have showed up early: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/almost-half-of-texas-registered-voters-early-voting-numbers/287-7ea7dd66-f0b2-4767-883a-86d8da3ed561

...Ted Cruz is part of a national Republican push to falsely raise fears of widespread election fraud: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4966426-texas-republicans-election-fraud-claims/

...Strangely, Lt. Governor Dan Patrick disagrees, sticking up for the elections process in Tarrant County: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/lt-gov-responds-trump-campaign-sharing-false-claims-of-tarrant-county-vote-flipping/3687137/

...Meanwhile, Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson refuses to allow federal elections monitors access to polling and counting locations in several Texas counties they have flagged: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texas-justice-department-election-monitors/

National outrage over the second needless death of a pregnant Texas woman - Neveah Crain of Vidor was only 18 years old: https://www.propublica.org/article/nevaeh-crain-death-texas-abortion-ban-emtala

Over 100 Texas OB/GYN's have signed a letter to Texas lawmakers pleading for them to wake up to the living nightmare they have created: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/03/texas-ob-gyn-letter-abortion-laws/

Progress Texas has announced our endorsements for the 2024 election! See a full rundown here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas%E2%80%99-november-general-election-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a podcast on WHY we've chosen to back these great candidates: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-174-our-2024-candidate-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Today is the last day to vote early in the 2024 election - after today, only Election Day on Tuesday remains: GoVoteTexas.org

In spite of huge urban turnout, the vast expanse of rural Texas continues outpacing the cities: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/suburban-texas-counties-see-surge-in-voter-turnout-as-early-voting-nears-end

The Texas Tribune releases a highly unsettling list of prominent Republicans who are primed to spread the damage they've already done to Texas across the nation should Trump win next week: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texans-trump-administration/

Not on the list is Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French, whose immature online insult comedy has drawn condemnation from his own party: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/texas-tarrant-county-republican-chair-social-media-bo-french/

Texas provides a warning for the future of contraception access nationwide should Trump get a second term: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/10/what-would-the-future-of-birth-control-be-under-trump-ask-texas/

Donald Trump follows Ken Paxton's lead and picks Amarillo judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's court to file his $10 billion lawsuit against CBS News over their interview with Kamala Harris: https://www.salon.com/2024/10/31/sues-cbs-for-10-billion-over-harris-60-minutes-interview/

The Fayette County Democratic Party put up a Harris/Walz billboard in their rural, Trumpy stretch of Texas - and it lasted about a week: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/kamala-harris-billboard-texas-19874673.php

Today is the first day that Texas hospitals are required by executive order from Governor Abbott to ask incoming patients about their immigration status: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/texas-order-hospitals-citizenship-status-requirement-november-1/3685564/

Progress Texas has announced our endorsements for the 2024 election! See a full rundown here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas%E2%80%99-november-general-election-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a podcast on WHY we've chosen to back these great candidates: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-174-our-2024-candidate-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Urban turnout remains strong, but statewide, Republican turnout appears to be comfortably outpacing Democratic voting: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/texas-republicans-lead-early-turnout-by-more-than-a-million-early-vote-data-suggests/

Elon Musk has sunk $2 million into a PAC dedicated to supporting Republican challengers to Democratic judges in Texas: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2024-10-30/elon-musk-makes-2-million-donation-to-fund-texas-pac-backing-gop-judicial-candidates

Are California transplants having an effect on Texas politics? A new study says no: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/2024/california-texas-politics/

When should we expect to see final election results? There's a lot that has to happen on Tuesday night before they arrive: https://www.votebeat.org/texas/2024/10/31/when-will-2024-presidential-election-results-arrive-report-totals/

At least half of an advisory board for the TEA, appointed by Commissioner Mike Morath, is currently made up of people with backgrounds in religious advocacy: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/texas-curriculum-board-christian-advocacy/

Progress Texas has announced our endorsements for the 2024 election! See a full rundown here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas%E2%80%99-november-general-election-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a podcast on WHY we've chosen to back these great candidates: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-174-our-2024-candidate-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.

In a case that has been winding through the courts for seven years, Laredo citizen journalist Priscilla Villareal has won a major battle in what's become a long war over the basic constitutional freedom of the press: her case, in which Laredo police charged her under a law that had never before been applied over her reporting of local, factual, non-biased news, has been sent by the U.S. Supreme Court back to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals for reconsideration. Priscilla joins us to tell her story along with J.T. Morris, Senior Attorney with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Experession or FIRE, who has been representing Priscilla in her fight for justice.

The basics of the story: https://www.thefire.org/news/breaking-supreme-court-revives-lawsuit-citizen-journalist-arrested-asking-question

Learn more about FIRE: https://www.thefire.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:

As early voting continues, Harris County closes in on one million early votes cast, while the top 5 most populous Texas counties remain under 40% turnout, and some Hill Country counties top 50%: https://www.sos.texas.gov/elections/historical/index.shtml

NBC News still shows very few Texans under 40 showing up so far - less than 10% have been under 30: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-results

Following the lead of Dallas County, Travis County has extended the operating hours of several polling locations for the last couple of early voting days: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/extended-early-voting-hours-locations-travis-county-austin-texas-locations/269-10b2abd1-dbaa-4365-b287-276def12e0ab

Harris County has done the same: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/election-2024/2024/10/29/504482/harris-county-official-answers-voters-questions-halloween-early-voting-hours-extended/

A Bush family endorsement for Kamala Harris comes from George W. Bush's daughter Barbara Pierce Bush: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4958962-barbara-pierce-bush-endorses-harris/

One Texan booted from our voter rolls under suspicion of being undocumented is a hardcore Trump backer from Montgomery County: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/29/texas-noncitizen-voter-roll-removal-mary-howard-elley/

Propublica highlights the tragic and needless death of Josseli Barnica, who was allowed by her doctors to contract a fatal infection as a result of a failed pregnancy in 2021: https://www.propublica.org/article/josseli-barnica-death-miscarriage-texas-abortion-ban

Progress Texas has announced our endorsements for the 2024 election! See a full rundown here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas%E2%80%99-november-general-election-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a podcast on WHY we've chosen to back these great candidates: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-174-our-2024-candidate-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Massive turnout in Texas' urban counties continues, as the early percentage performance of rural counties appears to be stalling: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/index.shtml

An NBC early voting interface shows a striking lack of younger turnout: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/texas-results

An Axios voter registration percentage map shows Texas among the 7 states with the lowest levels of eligible voters in the game: https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/10/28/mapped-texas-low-voter-registration

Dallas County shows a notable low percentage of early voters, but also long lines - prompting officials to extend polling station hours for the last three days of early voting: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dallas-county-extending-early-voting-hours-next-week/

The Texas Standard and Houston Public Media shine a spotlight on our GoVoteTexas.org website for its expansion of language translations: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/voting/2024/10/24/503997/voting-guide-now-available-in-vietnamese-mandarin-chinese-hindi/

Turns out that comedian whose racist "jokes" have overshadowed Donald Trump's Madison Square Garden rally lives in Austin - and has two major events booked in late December at Cedar Park's H.E.B. Center: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/tony-hinchcliffe-puerto-rico-remark-19868255.php

The documentary Zurawski v Texas has won two major awards at the 33rd annual Hot Springs Documentary Film Festival: https://deadline.com/2024/10/2024-hot-springs-documentary-film-festival-awards-zurawski-v-texas-no-other-land-porcelain-war-1236160345/

Progress Texas has announced our endorsements for the 2024 election! See a full rundown here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas%E2%80%99-november-general-election-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a podcast on WHY we've chosen to back these great candidates: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-174-our-2024-candidate-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

In-person turnout has been massive in the first half of the 2024 early voting period, with higher percentages in rural counties than urban: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/historical/index.shtml

...However, overall turnout is actually down at this stage compared to 2020, when mail-in ballots saw a giant spike due to the pandemic: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/early-voting-trends-texas-19863618.php

...Paper registration forms, turned both by mail and in person, are increasingly failing to result in a successful registration: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/28/texas-voter-registration-issues/

...A San Antonio man faces third degree felony assault charges after punching an elderly election volunteer who asked him to remove his red MAGA hat in a Southwest San Antonio polling station: https://www.ksat.com/news/ksat-investigates/2024/10/26/man-bonds-out-of-jail-after-charged-with-punching-poll-worker-69-who-told-him-to-remove-maga-hat/

The Kamala Harris rally in Houston on Friday night saw attendance over 30 thousand: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/kamala-harris-rallies-beyonce-willie-nelson-texas-rcna177407

...Link to watch the full event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8kYjy6FvHk

Trump's rally Sunday at Madison Square Garden - reminiscent of the 1939 Nazi rally held in that same space - fell short of the Harris event, with an attendance of 19 thousand: https://apnews.com/article/trump-madison-square-garden-new-york-election-fcfe75be7f8281fde7bffa3adb3bba5d

...For comparison, a link to "A Night At The Garden", a documentary on that 1939 rally, the largest Nazi event ever held in the U.S.: https://anightatthegarden.com/

Progress Texas has announced our endorsements for the 2024 election! See a full rundown here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas%E2%80%99-november-general-election-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

...And a podcast on WHY we've chosen to back these great candidates: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-174-our-2024-candidate-endorsements⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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.

This weekend, we all have an opportunity to catch one of the most important documentary films involving reproductive freedom to have yet been produced. The film Zurawski v Texas is a stunningly-intimate inside and real-time view of the highly personal dilemmas that faced Amanda Zurawski and the other eventual plaintiffs in her groundbreaking case for basic essential healthcare for pregnant people in Texas, and is a must-see for not only people concerned with that issue, but for ALL Texans, as we are ALL eventually affected by this denial of basic rights.

This weekend sees a special stream of the film and a chance to support the filmmakers, Abbie Perrault and Maisie Crow. Learn more at https://watch.eventive.org/togetherfilms/play/670db1d13a247100e803df13/670db1dc3f8905002cc42691.

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