Progress Texas Podcasts

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Four of the Republican challengers to House Speaker Dade Phelan have dropped out and pledged support for GOP Rep. David Cook of Mansfield: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/20/texas-house-speaker-david-cook-dade-phelan-republicans/

Both Vice President Kamala Harris and Democratic Senatorial nominee Colin Allred have seen recent polling gains among Texas Hispanic likely voters: https://www.txhpf.org/2024/09/23/texas-hispanic-policy-foundation-survey-shows-trump-leads-harris-by-only-6-among-all-texas-likely-voters-with-44-days-left-until-election-day/

Conservative federal judge Reed O'Connor of Fort Worth blasts Biden administration moves against "judge shopping"...at a Federalist Society event: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/texas-judge-favored-by-conservatives-blasts-judge-shopping-reform-2024-09-23/

One of the six defendants in the "Trump Train" trial over that incident with a Biden campaign bus in 2020 has been found liable under the 1871 Ku Klux Klan Act - the first such decision in modern times - while the other five defendants were cleared: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/courts/2024/09/23/texas-jury-trial-verdict-trump-train-organizers-wendy-davis-biden-harris-bus/75296175007/

Corey DeAngelis, a prominent anti-LGBTQ+ private school voucher proponent with frequent interactions with Texas Republican officeholders and activists, has been exposed as having once worked as a gay porn actor...not that there's anything wrong with that: https://www.advocate.com/people/corey-deangelis-gay-adult-films

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

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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:

New research shows an even starker picture of maternal morbidity in Texas, which has spiked 56% since 2021, compared to a national rise of 11%: https://www.nbcnews.com/health/womens-health/texas-abortion-ban-deaths-pregnant-women-sb8-analysis-rcna171631

Now funded primarily by oil billionaires and fearing defeat, the state GOP is planning to pour more money into South Texas races: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/16/texas-republican-party-south-texas-fundraising-outreach/

...Their advertising spokesman in South Texas is a 9/11 and COVID conspiracy theorist: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/20/south-texas-ad-election-2024-conspiracy-theorist/

Ken Paxton will appeal last week's denial of his attempt to block the State Fair of Texas' no-guns policy, in an early test of the brand new, Abbott-appointed 15th Court of Appeals: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas/2024/09/21/paxton-to-appeal-dallas-judges-ruling-on-state-fair-of-texas-gun-ban-policy/

A Lubbock man who helped storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 - and later ran for Congress - has received a three month federal prison sentence for his actions that day: https://www.everythinglubbock.com/news/local-news/lubbock-man-gets-some-federal-prison-time-for-jan-6-capitol-breach/

The game company Cards Against Humanity is suing Elon Musk and SpaceX for $15 million over their fouling of a property near the SpaceX launch site that Cards bought to block the Trump border wall in 2017: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/21/spacex-elon-musk-cards-against-humanity-lawsuit/

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

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 Dallas judge has denied Attorney General Ken Paxton's request to block a new policy enacted by the State Fair of Texas which will ban the carrying of guns into this fall's event: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/19/texas-state-fair-gun-ban-injunction-denied/

Paxton has sued (again) Harris County over its guaranteed income program for low income residents, even after it was revised to accommodate issues raised by the Texas Supreme Court: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/guaranteed-income-harris-county-19777648.php

Investigative reporter Steven Monacelli is looking into connections between the right wing group Dallas HERO, behind the petitions that have placed three problematic items on the November ballot, and Dallas businessman Monty Barrett, involving the Texas Supreme Court: https://x.com/stevanzetti/status/1827011105224335508

Doug Emhoff, husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, will swing through Texas on a fundraising run next week: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/doug-emhoff-texas-kamala-harris-19777026.php

The New Braunfels Trump Train federal trial may be nearing a conclusion: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nHWcKw_x9X4

...While the Dallas County Republican Party is planning a Trump Train of its own in Big D this Sunday: https://www.lonestarlive.com/news/2024/09/a-secret-trump-train-is-coming-to-dallas-this-weekend.html

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

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 annual report from the Texas Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee shows a dramatic uptick in maternal deaths within one year of giving birth - being suffered mostly by Black and Hispanic mothers: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/18/maternal-mortality-2020-2021/

Ted Cruz has helped Republicans in the U.S. Senate avoid a vote on requiring insurance companies to pay for IVF treatments - they'd rather not be forced to say yes or no to a popular option that involves the destruction of unused embryos: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/election/2024/article/ted-cruz-ivf-colin-allred-19772025.php

Ken Paxton has left nine of the ten real estate properties he owns off of his legally-required financial statement to the Texas Ethics Commission: https://www.kut.org/2024-09-18/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-homes-houses-property-ownership-transparency-ethics

...San Antonio Rep. Trey Martinez-Fischer writes in an op-ed of his theory that Paxton's efforts against urban voter registration is out of the fear that those new voters will oppose his worldview: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/commentary/article/ken-paxton-texas-voting-lawsuit-19766720.php

...Paxton appears to have pressured Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson into asking federal officials for help in verifying the citizenship of people registering to vote: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/texas-asks-government-for-help-verifying-voters-immigration-status-citizenship/287-278fb63b-ae50-45ba-b1c0-787997da67da

...Paxton has also left key information out of his warnings to voters not to try to register if they're not eligible: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/article292560309.html

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

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Republican House Speaker Dade Phelan, having barely survived a well-funded and Trump-endorsed MAGA primary challenge in his Beaumont district, has been counting on near-unified support of the Democratic minority in the House to secure his position as Speaker next year. Democratic Rep. Ana-María Rodríguez Ramos of Richardson isn't so sure that supporting a Republican who has presided over some of the worst lawmaking in Texas history is a great idea for Democrats - so she's joined the race for Speaker herself! Rep. Ramos joins us to discuss her strategy - which, as you might guess, involves YOU and YOUR vote this fall.

See Rep. Ramos' awesome campaign video here: https://x.com/Ramos4Texas/status/1835690473832296677/video/1

And learn more about her here: https://www.ramos4texas.com/

Thanks for listening! Progress Texas offers ALL of our content for FREE, with no paywalls or subscriptions, because we believe our messages are important for ALL Texans to access - so, we could use your support during our September membership drive. If you become a recurring monthly supporter at the $10, $25, or $50 level before the end of September, we'll send you an exclusive ticket to join us for our upcoming holiday parties in Austin and Dallas! Hit https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Officials in Travis County have sued Attorney General Ken Paxton and Texas Secretary of State Jane Nelson over their efforts to stop Travis County from sending voter registration applications to eligible but non-registered voters: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/17/texas-voter-registration-ken-paxton-jane-nelson-lawsuit-travis/

Tarrant County Republicans are upset with their own representatives on that county's Commissioner's Court who backed down from plans to eliminate college campus polling locations: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/18/tarrant-county-gop-college-voting-locations-election-advantage/

A massive new Republican election advertising campaign focuses on stoking anti-LGBTQ hate: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/18/ted-cruz-republicans-texas-transgender-rights-election-2024/

New research shows that about half of Republicans will not accept the results of the November election if Trump doesn't win: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/09/17/half-republicans-wont-accept-trump-loss-2024/75142477007/

That pipeline fire in suburban Houston was burning into a third day as of midnight last night: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/energy-transfer-pipeline-continues-burn-la-porte-texas-2024-09-17/

...No info about the driver who ignited the fire has been released: https://komonews.com/news/nation-world/texans-on-edge-as-pipeline-fire-continues-to-burn-with-no-end-in-sight-flames-blaze-deer-park-la-porte-houston-valve-explosion-crash-driver-investigation-fbi-explosion-smoke

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

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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 minor car crash caused that massive petrochemical pipeline fire in the eastern Houston suburbs yesterday: https://apnews.com/article/pipeline-fire-texas-659141b9f88ed2b324c36fce2735746f

...The pipeline is owned by Energy Transfer, led by oil billionaire Kelcy Warren: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/pipeline-fire-erupts-la-porte-texas-prompting-evacuations-2024-09-16/

...Houston area Representative Gene Wu says we might know what chemicals are being burned into East Houston's air, had Republicans not voted against that rule:

...Dramatic aerial footage of the flames from the BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cdxrr7dz412o

...We talked to petrochemical engineer Chuck Crews, Democratic opponent to Republican Texas House incumbent Briscoe Cain of Deer Park, about all of this yesterday: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/breaking-news-minipod-la-porte-texas-pipeline-explosion/id1552998795?i=1000669739509

Ken Paxton's legal maneuvers to stop Bexar County officials from sending out unsolicited voter registration applications have been shut down by a San Antonio judge: https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/16/politics/ken-paxton-bexar-county-texas-voter-registration/index.html

Liz Cheney was campaigning against Ted Cruz in Dallas with U.S. Rep. Colin Allred yesterday: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2024/09/16/liz-cheney-is-not-a-fan-of-ted-cruz-the-junior-senator-from-texas/

...Cruz does have his backers, though - including one of the country's most notorious anti-abortion crusaders: https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/09/ted-cruz-touted-the-endorsement-troy-newman-executing-abortion-providers/

TODAY is National Voter Registration Day, and our friends at MOVE Texas are activated across the state: ⁠https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-170-gearing-up-for-national-voter-registration/id1552998795?i=1000669634900⁠

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

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

Harris County residents are coping with evacuations, road closures, and shelter in place orders today after a pipeline fire exploded in La Porte. The local ABC news affiliate is reporting nearby homes catching fire. The Democratic (and Progress Texas endorsed) candidate running to serve La Porte and unseat election denier and MAGA incumbent Briscoe Cain, is Chuck Crews, a petro-chemical engineer. Chuck spoke with Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone after seeing what looks like a fire tornado with a near 100-foot plume about why these events can’t be normalized and what climate voters and everyday Texans can do to ensure existing protections aren’t rolled back in the next Texas Legislative session.

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:

Republican efforts to legitimize their false narrative over illegal voting by migrants - a problem that doesn't actually exist - now threatens a government shutdown on October 1: https://www.kxan.com/state-of-texas/house-facing-shutdown-deadline/

...Republican-led states across the country have hit new records for "anti-immigrant" bills and resolutions, according to LULAC - with Texas leading the way: https://thehill.com/latino/4877006-anti-immigrant-laws-southern-border-texas-abbott-lulac/

...Florida, meanwhile, leads the way in scaring Latino away from hospitals by asking about immigration status, but Texas will follow suit as of November 1: https://apnews.com/article/immigration-hospitals-florida-texas-desantis-abbott-21faed1d4d1b984ea3557d09f22dab9d

...Arlington Rep. Chris Turner calls this new hospital policy an "immigration stunt" on the part of Governor Abbott: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/state-representative-calls-texas-governors-executive-order-an-immigration-stunt/287-b9a2b926-8b0b-4077-8e24-e9b850a39592

Donald Trump's senior campaign advisor trolled Ted Cruz on social media this weekend over Cruz's tight race against Colin Allred - all while Trump has still not endorsed Cruz: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-adviser-chris-lacivita-ted-cruz-real-professionals_n_66e663c1e4b0e9e4c582c698

Democratic House Rep. Ana-Maria Rodriguez Ramos has thrown her hat in the ring for the House Speakership - possibly complicating things for current Speaker Dade Phelan, who will need big Democratic support to fend off his Republican challengers: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/09/15/ana-maria-ramos-texas-house-speaker-democrat/

Turns out Elon Musk largely bankrolled that expensive and shady smear campaign during the primary against Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza: https://www.kut.org/politics/2024-09-13/elon-musk-travis-county-district-attorney-jose-garza-2024-democratic-primary-election-wall-street-journal

Tomorrow is National Voter Registration Day, and our friends at MOVE Texas are activated across the state: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-170-gearing-up-for-national-voter-registration/id1552998795?i=1000669634900

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

And, our September membership drive is underway! We want to add 50 new members to the Progress Texas family in the form of regular monthly supporters at the $10, $25 or $50 level - if you join the team before the end of September, we'll hook you up with an exclusive invitation to our Holiday Party this December! ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org/donate⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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

This Tuesday, September 17, is National Voter Registration Day - and in light of recent events, including Ken Paxton's harrassment of Latino voting rights activists in South Texas, as well as moves by elected Republicans to curtail early voting locations on North Texas college campuses, this year's NVRD is hugely important. And so, we're proud to welcome two representatives of MOVE Texas, one of the Lone Star State's premiere organizations dedicated to bringing the joy of voting to as many Texans as possible. Thanks to MOVE Texas Political Director Stephanie Gomez, and Communications Manager Tori Falcon for joining us!

Learn more about MOVE Texas at https://movetexas.org/.

Learn more about National Voter Registration Day at https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org/.

Thanks for listening - and please consider joining our team in a more meaningful way by becoming one of our montly sustaining supporters, a group that forms the backbone of our ongoing funding! If you sign up before the end of September, you'll get a ticket for one of our upcoming December holiday parties in Dallas and Austin! Go to https://progresstexas.org/donate.