Progress Texas Podcasts

There’s one week left until the early voting starts for the November 5 general election, and there’s still lots of work to do to make sure that every Texan is informed and ready to vote! We’re doing our part to increase turnout, including expanding our voter navigation website, GoVoteTexas.org, to Texas’ top, vote-deciding languages now available in Vietnamese, Mandarin, Hindi, English, and Spanish!

Progress Texas has built the largest online community of progressives from across the state — Texans who share and stand up for bold progressive values. Together, we can build a statewide movement to fight for our future. That starts with electing progressives at every level of government. Yet, when most races do not get major media attention, we’re here to help put the spotlight on your neighbors who are standing up to serve your community.

Here’s a rundown of those who applied and passed muster on top issues like voting and civil rights, abortion and reproductive freedoms, pledging environmental protections, strengthening public education, gun safety, and more. But before you get started, be sure to search which candidates are running to represent you by state house and senate district (HD/SD), along with other statewide seats. We further encourage you to share important resources with your family, friends, and network on getting out the vote and supporting these candidates through November!

Stories we're following this morning:

A lawsuit filed by a Texas man against three women who helped his ex-wife acquire abortion medication, backed by notorious anti-abortion activist attorney Jonathan Mitchell, has been dropped: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/12/us/texas-lawsuit-friends-abortion-pills.html

A longstanding effort by an Andrews County nuclear waste storage facility to ship even more highly toxic waste into Texas from long distances has made it to the U.S. Supreme Court: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/09/us-supreme-court-west-texas-nuclear-waste-plan/

At the behest of Governor Abbott, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has removed a federal judge from a class action lawsuit that the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services has failed to abide for almost a decade: https://lawandcrime.com/judiciary/must-be-removed-fifth-circuit-bounces-clinton-appointed-judge-from-long-running-texas-foster-care-system-abuse-case-after-greg-abbott-asks-for-her-removal/

Thomas Saenz, president of MALDEF, compares Ken Paxton's voter suppression tactics in South Texas to similar moves made by foreign authoritarian dictators: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2024/10/14/paxtons-tactics-in-texas-undermine-our-electoral-democracy/

...Even right-leaning experts agree that non-citizen voting, the latest boogeyman of the Trump Party, is a largely non-existent problem: https://abcnews.go.com/US/protecting-vote-south-texas-myth-noncitizen-voting-takes/story?id=114729639

The documentary Zurawski V Texas has won the inaugural Artemis Rising Foundation Award for Social Impact at the Hamptons Film Festival: https://variety.com/2024/film/news/zurawski-v-texas-abortion-documentary-artemis-rising-foundation-award-hamptons-film-festival-1236175574/

The Ted Cruz/Colin Allred debate on Tuesday night will be carried by TEGNA-owned TV stations across Texas, and also via the WFAA app: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/ted-cruz-colin-allred-debate-texas-us-senate-election-tv-wfaa/287-7e425e4a-0ccb-49b8-a817-8e9205960212

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

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

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:

Republicans are pouring money into three South Texas State House races - lately significantly outraising their Democratic opponents: https://www.latintimes.com/republicans-investing-south-texas-district-campaigns-561769

Like Progress Texas, the Dallas Morning News has endorsed Christine Weems over Texas Supreme Court Justice John Devine, and spells out very clearly why: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2024/10/11/we-recommend-for-texas-supreme-court-place-4/

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller has been subpoenaed to testify in the criminal trial of one of his closest advisors: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/10/texas-sid-miller-ag-commissioner-todd-smith-hemp-indicted/

The class-action lawsuit filed against Gateway Church in Southlake by members who want their tithes refunded keeps growing as more dissatisfied congregants sign on: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/gateway-church-class-action-lawsuit-updates/

...Gateway pastor Robert Morris' victim has detailed the story of her childhood and recovery: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/north-texas-pastor-sexual-abuse-19830341.php

...Megachurch abuse is not a new trend, but churchgoers finding the courage to stand up against it is: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/texas-megachurch-pastors-19731331.php

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

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

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

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

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

With progressives being some of the most diverse voters in the big tent party, and with hope to unite get out the vote efforts, we invited leadership and members of the Texas Democratic Party’s Progressive Caucus to talk specifics on their platform and work uniting our movement. As young Texans decide whether to sit this election out, vote third party, or make history by showing up to the polls in force, we give time to the biggest topics on their minds, including the call for peace in the Middle East.

Progress Texas Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone hosts Texas Progressive Caucus President Clayton Tucker, Vice President Emad Salem, Treasurer Angel Viator Smith, and Joshua Garcia, TPC Advisory Board member. Enjoy, and learn more about the Texas Progressive Caucus at https://www.texasprogressivecaucus.org.

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and the many ways you can support our ongoing mission at https://progresstexas.org/.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Republican candidates statewide, including Ted Cruz, have centered their closing messages for the election on anti-trans and anti-LGBTQ hate: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/ted-cruz-transgender-ads-19826315.php

The Afiya Center in Dallas is pointing out that the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision not to force Texas hospitals to save pregnant patients from deadly pregnancies with abortion care will disproportionately affect Black women: https://www.keranews.org/texas-news/2024-10-10/supreme-court-texas-emergency-abortions-black-women-afiya-center

Texas Trump types are also continuing to push false theories of voter fraud - the Tarrant County GOP Chair has been outright lying about "duplicate voter lists": https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/article293718734.html

Keller ISD has announced that kids with lunchroom balances over $25 will be downgraded to cheaper, inferior meals - a policy that will certainly lead to shaming and division for its lower-income students: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/education/keller-isd-students-with-lunch-debt-to-be-served-alternative-meals-district-says/287-acb3489c-9fc3-428d-ac1e-ad42c21e16ac

That $1 million donation from Elon Musk to Texans For Lawsuit Reform? Makes perfect sense that a risk-prone billionaire industrialist would like to limit your ability to sue him: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/elon-musk-lawsuit-reform-donation-19824336.php

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

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

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

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

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A new survey finds that about 2 in 3 OB/GYN's practicing in Texas have been negatively impacted by our state's extensive abortion ban, and many are thinking of leaving the state altogether: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2024/10/08/texas-abortion-bans-prompt-some-ob-gyns-to-mull-leaving-survey-finds/75558421007/

Elon Musk, following his impressive Trump rally dance moves, has cut a $1 million check to a Trump-backing PAC: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/elon-musk-texas-election-campaign-donation-19823703.php

Colin Allred continues outpacing Ted Cruz in fundraising - though we recall that Beto O'Rourke did too: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/08/texas-senate-colin-allred-ted-cruz-fundraising/

...Allred and Cruz are set to face off in a debate next Tuesday October 15, hosted by WFAA in Dallas - you'll need their app to watch outside of D/FW, and it's free: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/texas-debate/texas-debate-ground-rules-for-debate-on-wfaa-between-ted-cruz-colin-allred/287-13742383-b09f-4d76-ae9a-eccd0cc69f56

...While Ted Cruz is found on a newly-circulating list of lawmakers who voted to defund FEMA, alongside several Texas U.S. House members: https://meidasnews.com/news/ted-cruz-rick-scott-other-senate-republicans-voted-to-defund-fema-in-2021

Ken Paxton wants the feds to look into 450,000 Texans who registered to vote without a state driver's license or ID - documents that are not required to be eligible: https://www.kut.org/politics/2024-10-07/texas-ag-paxton-asks-feds-to-check-citizenship-status-of-nearly-a-half-million-registered-voters

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

The U.S. Supreme Court, surprising nobody, voted on party lines 6-3 not to intervene on behalf of Texans facing death amidst traumatic pregnancies, leaving our state's almost complete ban on abortion intact: https://newrepublic.com/post/186858/supreme-court-texas-emergency-abortion-ban

...Our skyrocketing maternal and infant mortality numbers were apparently not a compelling factor: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/texas-abortion-supreme-court-emergecy-room-1235127792/

...The three seats up for re-election on the Texas Supreme Court are a great place to start turning this terrible tide: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/texas-supreme-court-elections-2024/

The average age of the members of the Texas Legislature has continued to rise and is now well above the average age of Texans at large: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/08/texas-legislature-gerontocracy-young-voters/

This election, watch out for rogue, right wing partisan poll watchers, who now enjoy more legal protections as they hover over polling stations: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/10/07/texas-new-poll-watcher-protections-will-be-put-to-the-test-in-2024-election/

Republicans continue setting the stage to challenge their losses as they continue sowing doubt about voting machines and software: https://thebarbedwire.com/2024/10/07/everything-about-our-elections-has-been-politicized-by-the-right/

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

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

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

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

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 register and to confirm your existing registration for the November election! All you need for that at https://govotetexas.org/.

A Travis County judge has blocked a Texas Health And Human Services plan that would have disrupted the care of almost two million low-income Texans: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2024/10/04/texas-judge-halts-116-billion-medicaid-proposal-that-could-affect-18-million/

Ted Cruz, after decades of active anti-choice activism, suddenly has nothing to say about reproductive freedom: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/07/ted-cruz-texas-abortion-colin-allred/

...While longtime Republican and former Tarrant County judge Glenn Whitley pledges his vote to Colin Allred: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article293541534.html

A Flower Mound bakery is undeterred by MAGA threats over their Tim Walz cookies: https://www.chron.com/food/article/hive-bakery-cookies-death-threats-19816407.php

...Order up some goodies here: https://www.hivebakerytx.com/

That early-morning Blue Alert that woke up millions of Texans hundreds of miles from a Panhandle police shooting on Friday was sent outside of normal DPS policy: https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2024-10-07/millions-of-texans-woke-up-to-a-blue-alert-dps-didnt-appear-to-follow-its-own-guidelines

...Thousands of Texans have filed complaints with the FCC: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/blue-alert-texas-fcc-complaints-19817724.php

...The police officer who was shot is stable, and the suspect remains on the run: https://www.newschannel10.com/2024/10/07/search-man-wanted-memphis-police-chief-shooting-continues/

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

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

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

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

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

A win for working folks and the Biden Administration as the International Longshoreman's Association strike ends, for now: https://www.salon.com/2024/10/04/dockworkers-union-scores-big-labor-victory-after-three-day-strike/

...The Port of Houston is thus back in business this morning: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/longshoreman-strike-suspended-houston-19814460.php

Could it be true? ERCOT is planning to connect the shaky Texas power grid to the national grid with a massive Biden/Harris administration investment: https://www.chron.com/news/article/texas-ercot-power-grid-energy-19814295.php

...Just in time for new massive demands on energy in Texas on the part of AI data centers: https://www.theregister.com/2024/10/04/texas_dc_power/

More news outlets are referring to Texas as a "battleground" with massive national Dem spends and narrowing numbers between Colin Allred and Ted Cruz: https://newrepublic.com/post/186728/republicans-ted-cruz-texas-battleground

...Cruz dodges questions about notorious anti-choice activist Troy Newman's role in his re-election campaign: https://newrepublic.com/article/186572/ted-cruz-troy-newman-antisemitism

A new law being considered in Texas would make it easier for both journalists and private citizens to be sued for things they say or write: https://www.kcbd.com/2023/05/18/free-speech-advocates-oppose-new-bill-texas-senate-deadline-nears/

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Ken Paxton is pressuring Secretary of State Jane Nelson to give him a list of Texas voters who don't have state driver's licenses or ID cards, in a continued, demonstrative "search" for illegal voters: https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2024-10-02/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-makes-another-attempt-to-find-illegal-voters

A reporter at KERA in Dallas who has been busy reporting on voters sent to Texas' "voter suspense" list checks her own status - and finds she's on the list herself: https://www.keranews.org/news/2024-10-03/texas-voters-are-in-suspense-and-a-kera-reporter-discovered-she-was-one

Former Illinois Congressman and current Houston-area resident Adam Kinzinger is leading a new charge for moderate Republicans and independents to defect and voter for Colin Allred: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/02/adam-kinzinger-republicans-colin-allred-texas/

The Texas Tribune is out with a solid new summary of the issues at play and the results at stake in next month's election: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/03/texas-2024-election-issues-to-watch/

...Reform Austin zeroes in on how the election will impact health care access in Texas: https://www.reformaustin.org/elections/2024-presidential-election-impact-on-texas-medicaid/

Little old Olney, Texas provides a stark example of the differences of opinion on immigration between Democrats and Republicans: https://www.olneyenterprise.com/news/texas-house-candidates-talk-immigration

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

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

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

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

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

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