We recap the wild week in Texas politics. Grab a coldie and hang! Learn more about us at ProgressTexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:This Juneteenth, we renew our commitment to the liberation of and equity for our neighbors, regardless of their race, who they love, or where they came from: https://progresstexas.org/blog/protest-pride-and-progress-where-and-how-show-summer...We honor Texas icon Opal Lee, who was instrumental in establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2025/06/19/opal-lee-grandmother-of-juneteenth-2025-fort-worth-texas-native/84252660007/...A new documentary on Dallas' Pan African Connection Bookstore makes a great watch in celebration of Juneteenth - there's a screening in Dallas on Sunday, see the link for tickets: https://www.keranews.org/arts-culture/2025-06-19/for-juneteenth-this-new-doc-honors-the-legacy-of-dallas-pan-african-connection-bookstore...An Arlington man has filed a lawsuit against Ace Hardware, claiming that on Juneteenth of 2023, a manager of a store where he was employed hung a noose in the business - and that he was fired when he complained about it to HR: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/arlington/article308874235.htmlA massive explosion at the SpaceX launch facility last night during a test of the Starship vehicle sheds even more doubt on that rocket's reliability: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/06/19/spacexs-starship-explodes-during-routine-test-in-texas.html...Texas Democratic state lawmakers have asked Tesla to delay its planned launch of robotaxi service in Austin until September, when a new state law governing autonomous vehicles will take effect: https://electrek.co/2025/06/18/tesla-asked-delay-robotaxi-launch-in-austin-texas-lawmakers/Texas Democrats in the U.S. House weigh in on the escalating situation in the Middle East, including El Paso's Rep. Veronica Escobar: https://x.com/RepEscobar/status/1935096698805923940...Dallas' Rep. Julie Johnson: https://x.com/juliejohnsonTX/status/1933668457838751976...San Antonio's Rep. Joaquin Castro: https://x.com/JoaquinCastrotx/status/1935496879271252250...Harris County's Rep. Sylvia Garcia: https://x.com/RepSylviaGarcia/status/1935448751323132089...Austin's Rep. Greg Casar: https://x.com/RepCasar/status/1933334585376715266...Austin's. Rep. Lloyd Doggett: https://x.com/RepLloydDoggett/status/1935176565710623107The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Tucker Carlson appears to goad Senator Ted Cruz into prematurely revealing Trump administration military cooperation with Israel against Iran: https://x.com/allenanalysis/status/1935143824340160884?s=46Both Elon Musk and Alex Jones have posted lies online about the murderer of Minnesota State Senator Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark: https://www.wired.com/story/psyop-far-right-conspiracy-theories-minnesota-shooting/...That murderer completed a two-year degree in Practical Theology at Christ For The Nations Institute in Dallas in 1990: https://www.chron.com/culture/religion/article/vance-boelter-texas-bible-college-alum-20381262.phpAnother of those over 230 Venezualan migrants deemed to be gang members and sent to a death prison in El Salvador appears to have been railroaded with no evidence: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/18/texas-dps-venezuelan-el-salvador-tren-de-aragua-deportation/?_bhlid=087a12052bedb182c313704a8a2748627734c725Texas officials have quietly given up on their border wall project, having built only about 8% of it at a cost of over 3 billion taxpayer dollars: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/17/texas-border-wall-funding-ends-abbott-trump/The Travis County Commissioners Court has unanimously passed a resolution calling for the humane and just treatment of immigrants by federal forces: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/travis-county/travis-county-passes-resolution-for-constitutional-humane-treatment-of-immigrants/Multiple James Beard Award winners from Texas tell their own immigration stories during their acceptance speeches: https://www.texasmonthly.com/food/james-beard-awards-winners-2025/Austin FC fans became the second fanbase in MLS to unfurl a banner condemning aggressive ICE tactics at a home match on Saturday night, as manager Nico Estevez calls for a more reasonable approach: https://mlsmultiplex.com/what-austin-fc-s-nico-estevez-said-about-ice-immigration-enforcement-01jxt307acznThe No Kings protests across the country have been confirmed as the largest in American history: https://www.thedailybeast.com/data-guru-g-elliott-morris-says-up-to-6-million-people-attended-no-kings-anti-donald-trump-protests/Progress Texas sends our best wishes to the iconic "Grandmother Of Juneteenth" Opal Lee, who is recovering at home from a medical issue and will not take part in the Walk Of Freedom event this year: https://www.cbs19.tv/article/news/local/opal-lee-wont-lead-annual-juneteenth-march-this-year-due-to-health-issues/501-201dbbc5-c13a-4340-a584-425b537dd659The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Happy Pride Month! Digital Associate Haley Smith is joined by Avery Belyeu of the Montrose Center and Miriam Laeky of Equality Texas for a Pride Month conversation that centers hope, solidarity, and the power of community. As queer and trans Texans face unprecedented legislative attacks, this episode shifts the spotlight to the people leading the fight for equality across the state. From unpacking the latest legal challenges to sharing real-world strategies for community-building and sustainability, this episode is a reminder that joy is resistance — and that coming together is about more than just surviving, it's about creating something worth fighting for.Learn more about the Montrose Center: https://montrosecenter.org/.Learn more about Equality Texas: https://equalitytexas.org/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Amid the business and population boom of Texas, it now takes $90k per year for individual workers and $200k per year for families of four to live here comfortably - way up from just one year ago: https://ktrh.iheart.com/featured/houston-texas-news/content/2025-06-16-the-cost-of-living-comfortably-in-texas-is-on-the-rise/...At the same time, Texas now leads the nation in workplace deaths - also a function of the "Texas Miracle" as frenzied competition leads to neglect of workplace safety standards: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2025/06/16/workplace-fatalities-safety-texas-fatal-work-injuries-deaths-most-us-states-osha-2024/84185938007/...It's a bad time to get hurt at work - the Trump administration is clawing back another $119 million in unspent COVID funding for public health from Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/12/texas-dshs-public-health-funding-cuts/...The restaurant industry is hurting as well, as employment challenges and the flow of diners have both been negatively impacted by the spread of ICE raids: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/texas-restaurants-face-labor-shortages-amid-immigration-crackdown-industry-praises-trumps-pause-on-1/...The desert north and west of El Paso, over the time since that city began cooperating with Operation Lone Star, has become a deathtrap for migrants: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/16/texas-operation-lone-star-border-el-paso-deaths-migrants-new-mexico/Tarrant County Judge and staunch, longtime LGBTQ+ rights opponent Tim O'Hare has blocked the placement of a historical marker commemorating a queer hangout in Fort Worth that was unjustly raided in 2009: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/fort-worth-texas-lgbtq-history-marker-20379741.phpThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:After great worry about how the No Kings events would go on Saturday, there's relief and celebration on Monday as generally, things went quite peacefully and productively indeed: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-protests-anti-trump-immigration-no-kings/?_bhlid=5ac4797cc26960c9770e89ecd115fa763f69b1c3There was a very low degree of violence or law enforcement friction at all of the dozens of No Kings events across the state: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/article/no-kings-protest-20376197.phpHow much did Governor Abbott spend activating an estimated 7,000 Texas National Guard members and extra DPS officers? Compared to Trump's activation in California, it could approach $200 million: https://www.boston.com/news/politics/2025/06/10/pentagon-says-deploying-marines-and-national-guard-to-la-will-cost-134-million/With No Kings and the 89th Legislature (hopefully) in the rear view mirror, it's time to start focusing on the upcoming elections in Texas over the next two Novembers: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/16/texas-democrats-candidates-2026-midterms-senate-governor/Happening tomorrow, Tuesday June 17: an online seminar on the state of the gun violence crisis in Texas hosted by Texas Gun Sense: https://txgunsense.org/calendar/?fbclid=PAAaYtK2VIS9GAOrM5k7dO3b40IebC4WxhEU6eHLviGVqWBA8oDLmmnWOMlbk&mibextid=Zxz2cZThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
What a week - and what a weekend it's likely to be. Everyone be safe if you're attending protests - again, keep it safe and legal. We're gonna have a lot to unpack on Monday.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
We enjoyed a visit with one of our favorite regulars, Austin State Senator Sarah Eckhardt, to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly (not necessarily in that order) of the recently-concluded 89th Texas Legislature. There was plenty to lament and plenty to commit to repairing later - but there were also tactical wins for Democrats, and some good legislation passed as well.Learn more about Senator Eckhardt at https://www.saraheckhardt.com/.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:Over 5,000 Texas National Guard troops and 2,000 Texas DPS officers, including special agents and Texas Rangers, have been deployed across the state by Governor Greg Abbott in advance of Saturday's "No Kings" rallies: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/greg-abbott-texas-national-guard-immigration-raid-protests/...Austin Mayor Kirk Watson decries that Governor Abbott would choose to unnecessarily "militarize the streets of the capitol city of the state of Texas": https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2025/06/12/abbott-to-surge-dps-troopers-national-guard-soldiers-across-texas/84170911007/...D/FW will see rallies and protests in Dallas, Frisco, McKinney, Denton, Arlington, Fort Worth, Flower Mound and more: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2025/06/12/more-than-5000-texas-national-guard-2000-dps-troopers-deployed-ahead-of-protests/...The Houston area will also see several No Kings events on Saturday, including Conroe, Katy, Sugar Land, League City, Kingwood and more: https://www.khou.com/article/newhttps://www.khou.com/article/news/local/lulac-activist-weekend-protest-gov-abbott-national-guard-dps-rangers-no-kings/285-d7817d8b-96af-4014-a7fb-ce12126e84cfs/local/lulac-activist-weekend-protest-gov-abbott-national-guard-dps-rangers-no-kings/285-d7817d8b-96af-4014-a7fb-ce12126e84cf...Houston Mayor John Whitmire dismisses a letter from Republican Congressman Wesley Hunt worrying about planned riots, calling it "just not relevant to our city and our society": https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/06/11/523752/mayor-whitmire-rebuffs-republican-congressmans-letter-claiming-riots-are-planned-in-houston/...San Antonio's tendency towards peaceful civic gatherings is emphasized in an op-ed as National Guard troops move in: https://www.expressnews.com/columnist/elaine-ayala/article/ayala-san-antonio-ice-protests-texas-guardsmen-20373889.php...Why support independent media? CBS News, covering building ICE-related unrest in Texas, includes a soundbite from yesterday's Kristi Noem press conference - but omits the part where California Senator Alex Padilla is assaulted by Noem's security officers: https://www.cbsnews.com/video/growing-protests-against-ice-operations-in-texas-and-other-states/...On the very same day, the U.S. House voted to claw back $1.1 billion in public media funding, overriding a united Democrated delegation who remain down three votes due to vacancies, including the former seat of Houston's Sylvester Turner: https://www.npr.org/2025/06/12/g-s1-72223/public-media-funding-up-in-the-air-as-house-prepares-to-vote-on-claw-backs...U.S. Congressman Vicente Gonzales of south Texas is one of the 74 Democrats taking heat for voting in favor of a House resolution expressing gratitude for ICE's recent work: https://www.axios.com/2025/06/10/dems-splinter-on-ice-hill-leadersThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Governor Abbott promises a militaristic response to protests in Texas, including those on Saturday coinciding with Donald Trump's military birthday parade: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/abbott-puts-texas-national-guard-dps-troopers-in-place-for-planned-protests-we-are-not-intimidated-no-kings-group-says/...National Guard troops, deployed to San Antonio by Governor Abbott to confront protestors, ended up playing Uno instead: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/live-blog/ice-protests-la-trump-deportation-policy-live-updates-rcna211981...Interesting timing as Governor Abbott signs into law a bill granting broad leeway to law enforcement officers to use "less lethal" weapons like rubber bullets and tear gas, if they "reasonably believe" they are warranted: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/state/texas-news/texas-gov-greg-abbott-signs-bill-law-officers-use-less-lethal-weapons/287-1206098d-3578-4594-9912-2c644efd8a5aA veto from Governor Abbott on SB 3, the sweeping ban on THC-based products in Texas, appears to remain a possibility: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/greg-abbott-thc-ban-veto-20372298.phpThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Governor Greg Abbott has activated the National Guard to establish a presence countering the anti-ICE protests that have been happening this week in our major cities, in particular targeting one expected today in San Antonio: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/10/us/la-protests-marines-ice-trump...The reaction from Trump is more about his birthday than public safety or immigration: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-birthday-military-parade-protest-threat-b2767425.html...Sending troops against protestors is a sign of the inherent weakness of Trump's position, and will do nothing to slow protests down: https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/trump-los-angeles-protests-no-kings-day-resistance-rcna212080Calling a special session to redraw Texas' congressional district map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections could be awkward for Governor Abbott, considering there's an ongoing court battle over the LAST time they did this happening in El Paso right now: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas-take/article/trump-white-house-congressional-districts-20370864.php...There is also apparently considerable hesitation among the Texas congressional delegation about the scheme, amid fear that GOP strength could be over-extended: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/texas-congress-midcycle-redistricting-trump-republicans/?_bhlid=4f23c6982f6d92d560aa7198cda0ebfb18f5f87fThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Much like the recent GOP power grab at the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, the Texas Republican congressional delegation has begun discussing plans to redraw Texas' electoral maps to stave off defeat in the 2026 midterms: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/texas-redistricting-congress-house-republicans-midterms/Civic unrest over ICE tactics and Trump's crackdown on protests continued last night in Dallas: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/dallas-immigration-advocates-rally-ongoing-raids/...And also in Austin, where tear gas canisters were fired: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/austin-protest-immigration-customs-enforcement/...Austin Police Department Chief Lisa Davis says that tear gas was deployed by Texas DPS troopers: https://www.statesman.com/picture-gallery/news/2025/06/09/austin-protest-ice-immigration-raids-los-angeles-la-riots-photos/84122861007/More ICE ambushes of immigrants leaving court hearings yesterday, in Houston: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/crime/article/houston-immigration-court-arrests-ice-agents-20368949.phpThe Collin County Democratic Party is organizing a protest at State Senator Angela Paxton's office later this month: https://www.mobilize.us/collindemocrats/event/798800/The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
The Trump regime cracks down on anti-ICE protestors in Los Angeles: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj93d3r0zz0o...California Governor Gavin Newsome: "This is about authoritarian tendencies. This about command and control. This is about power": https://t.co/uuAiHzYiIo(https://x.com/Acyn/status/1931914095382683742?t=0lQ3pMrV8fm2BgTsRdCUfw&s=03...Houston Congressman Al Green: https://x.com/RepAlGreen/status/1931854998792483178?t=Hch52bcXItXUxhnB663h5Q&s=03...Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett: https://x.com/RepJasmine/status/1931765398464278764?t=uecU2-aFLGLqskq7CdNCuw&s=03...San Antonio Congresman Joaquin Castro: https://x.com/JoaquinCastrotx/status/1931850211707818119?t=pgmCz58LyIIHwUNnm5TSjw&s=03...Robert Reich writes that "we are witnessing the first stages of a Trump police state": https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/jun/09/trump-police-state-robert-reich...While Texas normally resists federal control, the current state government is in close lockstep with Trump: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/texas-doj-undocumented-tuition-courts-friendly-lawsuit-paxton/?_bhlid=903e7fc1680827506b8a6fbc8da6f56a70ef7d2f...As Governor Abbott prepares to sign a law that will force all Texas sheriff's departments to enter collaborative agreements with ICE: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/gov-abbott-to-sign-bill-into-law-requiring-county-jails-to-work-with-ice/...More on those agreements with Francesca D'Annunzio of the Texas Observer: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-212-a-giant-ice-army-how-local-police-in/id1552998795?i=1000705993353...All of this leads into Saturday's No Kings Day rallies and protests, dozens of which dot the entire range of Texas: https://www.nokings.org/Runoff elections across Texas this weekend confirm a progressive resurgence, including Gina Ortiz Jones' win for San Antonio mayor: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/07/san-antonio-mayor-gina-ortiz-jones/...Other wins confirm that Republicans in Texas "don't own the cities anymore": https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/texas-runoff-results-prove-the-tide?utm_source=post-email-title&publication_id=1220969&post_id=165491676&utm_campaign=email-post-title&isFreemail=true&r=33j12m&triedRedirect=true&utm_medium=emailWe're celebrating our 15th anniversary in Dallas Tonight! Join us: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
We're joined on our weekly airing of the grievances by Progress Texas board member Jason Smith, who's also a Fort Worth civil rights attorney who has had a front row seat to the blatant, racist power grab being executed by the Republican-dominated Tarrant County Commissioners Court, via which a premature redistricting effort is on the verge of successfully drawing one of the two Democrats on that court out of the picture - a game plan to which Republicans nationwide, as they watch their popularity among the electorate fade, are lately more commonly resorting. Fort Worth and Tarrant County are considered political belweathers for the rest of Texas, and this situation is no different.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:The very public breakup of Donald Trump and Elon Musk is a great example of the dangers our country faces when big decisions are made by impulsive, egotistical billionaires: https://www.wsj.com/politics/elon-musk-trump-fight-gop-bill-c2e0be66?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_1State Rep. Jolanda Jones has announced a run for the U.S. House seat representing Houston's 18th Congressional District: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/jolanda-jones-sylvester-turner-congress-texas-legislature/In spite of billions spend in a militarized effort to repel and round up undocumented migrants, Texas will once again pass on requiring businesses to verify the citizenship of their new hires: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/texas-e-verify-requirements-immigration/...A migrant woman charged with a Trump-trumped-up charge of trespassing on a military zone has been acquitted of that charge, in its first courtroom trial: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/texas-el-paso-trial-immigration-military-zone/We're continuing to follow the Tarrant County redistricting story, including a deep dive later today on our In Progress podcast: https://progresstexas.org/blog/racist-republicans-can%E2%80%99t-win-without-changing-rulesWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
We were invited to join newly-elected Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder earlier this week in beautiful Kerrville for a town hall with the Kerr County Democrats - it was a well-attended, productive and enjoyable meeting, in which we all learned about the common needs and goals of rural and urban progressive folks across the Lone Star State, and how those two worlds can come together in advantageous ways as we lead up to the 2025 and 2026 elections.Learn more about the Kerr County Democratic Party at https://kerrcountydemocrats.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:Governor Abbott signs HB2, the public school funding bill, into law - but it falls well short of really getting our schools square with their expenses: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-public-education-schools-funding-bill-explained/...Insufficient funding is part of the broader GOP game plan lately, as the Trump adminstration slashes all kinds of federal funding for Texas: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2025-06-06/the-texas-legislative-session-is-over-heres-the-elephant-in-the-room/As Pride Month begins, so begins the unpacking of an unprecedented amount of anti-LGBTQ+ legislation from the 89th session: https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-lege-2025-anti-lgbtq-bills-passed/...The mayor of Taylor has angered his constituents by withholding a proclamation of Pride Month, upsetting an established tradition: https://www.chron.com/news/article/taylor-texas-pride-month-20358869.php...And D/FW wonders, why haven't the Texas Rangers gotten with the program as all 29 other MLB teams have, and set a home game in June for Pride Night? https://www.statesman.com/story/sports/mlb/2025/06/04/texas-rangers-pride-night-2025-mlb-pride-month/84009747007/As expected, the first lawsuit against the new, heavily-gerrymandered district map adopted by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court earlier this week has arrived: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article307903175.htmlWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:On the heels of the Johnson County Sheriff's Department's abuse of ALPR license plate tracking systems to follow a Texas woman who had self-managed an abortion, the Austin Police Department has also been taking liberties with the new technology: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2025-06-03/emails-reveal-improper-use-by-apd-of-license-plate-reader-program/Two months after ICE arrested almost 50 people at a Hays County rental house on suspicion of Venezuelan gang affiliation, none have been formally charged, while their identities and whereabouts remain secret - they've effectively been disappeared: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-immigration-raid-hays-county-austin-venezuelan-gang/...Meanwhile the effects of both Donald Trump's immigration policies and his reckless slinging about of tariffs are impacting the restaurant and hospitality sectors in Texas, among others: https://www.keranews.org/business-economy/2025-06-04/tariffs-immigration-policy-texas-restaurantsThe Tarrant County Commissioners Court voted on party lines yesterday to make one of its voting precints - the only represented by a Black commissioner - more Republican-friendly, as MAGA State Rep Tony Tinderholt announces a run for that seat: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/06/03/tarrant-county-commissioners-vote-3-2-to-redistrict-adopting-more-republican-friendly-map/..."This wasn't a coincidence. It was a coordinated political hit job, plain and simple": https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-conservation-of-white-supremacyWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The end of the 89th Texas Legislature represents the beginning of the analysis of the damage done. From the Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/texas-legislature-ends-session-republican-agenda/?_bhlid=f3bc5066045403914b35bcc5884d32ca437e86bf...From WFAA in Dallas: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/look-at-bills-abbott-will-consider-signing-as-89th-texas-legislative-session-ends/287-e1651721-06f3-40df-b388-1b978d7785fb...From Axios Texas: https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/06/02/texas-legislature-vouchers-thc-ban-school-finance...Rep. Gene Wu's appearance on CBS Texas: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/democratic-texas-lawmaker-criticizes-bills-passed-as-legislative-session-ends-democrats-are-enraged/Texas' status as a renewable energy leader is safe for now as three bills that sought to undercut that industry failed to survive the session: https://www.canarymedia.com/articles/politics/the-quiet-demise-of-texas-anti-renewables-legislationWe will have 17 constitutional amendments to vote on this November: https://ballotpedia.org/Texas_2025_ballot_measuresWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:An impressive takedown of Texas GOP Senators goes viral: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texan-goes-viral-for-calling-out-legislators-over-anti-trans-bill_n_68388fa8e4b06ff5140d4a4bAs Sine Die arrives - along with the beginning of Pride Month - Texas Republicans have sent Senate Bill 12, a bill outlawing LGBTQ+ clubs in Texas schools, to the Governor: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/31/texas-house-tempers-flare-gay-club-ban/...Fort Worth Rep. Nicole Collier wonders if they'll come for Black and Latino groups next: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article307626896.htmlA great many bills die with the end of Sine Die, including a bunch that progressives are glad to see go away, for now: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/texas-legislature-bills-killed-20349702.phpThe Trump administration announced the cancellation of over $1 billion in federal clean energy initiatives in Texas on Friday: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/energy-environment/2025/05/30/522760/federal-government-cancels-over-1-billion-in-texas-clean-energy-projects/Worries build about the use of license plate reading technology to track and harrass people leaving Texas to acquire abortion care: https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/may/31/a-dystopian-surveillance-fear-has-become-reality-in-texasWorry is also building that CEO's at financial and tech companies have not been forthcoming about the decimation of entry-level jobs by AI - and politicians have been sleepwalking into this disaster as well: https://www.axios.com/2025/05/28/ai-jobs-white-collar-unemployment-anthropicWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
The 134 PAC, an organized group of progressives and Democrats from the vast expanse of rural, Republican-dominated Texas, has a plan to convert those folks into the unified, activated voting bloc that they should be through unity with their urban compatriots and mobilization of a proper, statewide resistance to MAGA rule in Texas.Both Progress Texas Podcasting Director Chris Mosser and Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone will be participating in the 134 PAC's upcoming Rural Texas Summit in Bastrop, where a terrific lineup of speakers and panels will address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead in our continued push to turn Texas blue. We're joined for a preview by Carla Schoonover Porter and Steve Bridges of the organization, and our good friend Nancy Thompson of Mothers Against Greg Abbott, who will participate on Saturday.Learn more about 134 PAC and their upcoming event at https://www.the134pac.org/.Learn more about Mothers Against Greg Abbott at https://mothersagainstgregabbott.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
The weekly kvetching session comes as the last days of the 89th session play out like a slow-motion train wreck. Dan Patrick makes massive ass at a truly bizarre (and entirely unnecessary) press conference, Elon Musk bows out in disgrace in D.C., and Texas Republicans make sure wild-eyed whackjobs can keep their guns.Thanks for listening and have a great weekend! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:A Texas Tribune/Propublica investigation reveals that the Trump administration lied repeatedly about the criminal backgrounds of the 238 Venezuelan migrants they sent to a prison in El Salvador from Texas last March: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/30/trump-el-salvador-deportees-criminal-convictions-cecot-venezuela/...While pictures of children in zip-tie handcuffs emerge from a San Antonio immigration court: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/migrant-kids-zip-tied-20351707.phpA North Texas sheriff has been caught using a national license plate database to try to track the location of a Texas woman who had self-managed an abortion: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/texas-abortion-license-plate-camera-b2760411.htmlAs Elon Musk does all he can to rehab his ruinous public image, the new city administrator of Starbase in South Texas is warning property owners that they may soon no longer control what they do with their property: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/musk-s-spacex-town-in-texas-warns-residents-they-may-lose-right-to-continue-using-their-property/ar-AA1FJsdyInternational attention for Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, which concludes that Dan's Ban on THC while Patrick accepts thousands from alcohol lobbyists officially makes him a "hypocrite": https://www.irishstar.com/news/us-news/hypocritical-texas-leader-lauds-thc-35309266The Founding Fathers were fascinated by the emerging technology of vaccines - and would likely be confused as Texas supports anti-vax views while also fighting a measles outbreak: https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a64919440/texas-measles-oklahoma-schools-montana-lab/The ACLU and other orgs advocating for the separation of church and state have announced plans for a lawsuit they'll drop when Governor Abbott signs the new "Ten Commandments" bill into law: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/civil-rights-groups-to-sue-texas-over-ten-commandments-bill/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
A pattern emerged this May Election season for D/FW, Houston, Austin, and more: voters turned out for progressive candidates and issues, to stomp out bigotry and book bans. For this episode, we're featuring several candidates from across the state who want to ride that wave through the Runoff Elections, with early voting from May 27 to June 3, and Election Day on June 7: we're joined for this talk by San Antonio City Council Member Dr. Sukh Kaur, runoff candidates Ric Galvan and Kelly Ann Gonzalez, and Rowlett City Council candidate John P. Bowers. Don't forget to show up for these high-impact, but low-turnout elections!Learn more about the incumbent candidate for San Antonio City Council—District 1, Dr. Sukh Kaur: https://www.vote4sukh.com/Learn more about one of two progressive candidates for San Antonio City Council—District 6, Ric Galvan: https://www.votericford6.com/...and the other, Kelly Ann Gonzalez: https://www.votekellyann.com/Learn more about candidate for Rowlett City Council—Place 6, John P. Bowers: https://bowersforrowlett.com/Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Governor Abbott weighs in on a tragic accidental death at Grapevine Lake, calling for the death penalty against the Venezuelan national alleged to have caused it: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/ava-moore-daikerlyn-alejandra-gonzalez-grapevine-20349012.phpElon Musk is apparently out of the Trump cadre, after critizicing the "big beautiful bill" and its certain massive bloating of the national debt: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/elon-musk-leaving-trump-administration-white-house-official-confirms-2025-05-29/...Which, by the way, represents a very direct $1.1 trillion transfer from the poorest Americans to the richest Americans: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/23/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-catherine-rampell.htmlLt. Gov. Dan Patrick's press conference on THC products - in which he claimed they cause insanity, lied about their THC content, and then tossed them into the crowd - was a complete clown show: https://www.austinchronicle.com/columns/2025-05-30/thc-ban-imminent-as-texas-house-approves-prohibition-amendment/...Much more sane, but still quite stingy, are the proposed expansions to the Texas Compassionate Use Program: https://themarijuanaherald.com/2025/05/texas-governor-to-sign-major-medical-marijuana-expansion-bill-into-law/Legislation to undercut renewable energy expansion appears to be dead in the water: https://electrek.co/2025/05/28/texas-just-shot-its-wind-solar-boom-in-the-foot-on-purpose/...While a bill allowing expedited approval for home solar gear is headed for the Governor: https://pv-magazine-usa.com/2025/05/28/texas-legislature-passes-bill-to-expedite-solar-energy-storage-permitting/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Dallas U.S. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett promises a counter to Donald Trump should Democrats retake the House in 2026: https://www.latintimes.com/rep-jasmine-crockett-says-dems-will-investigate-trump-if-they-reclaim-house-midterms-well-do-583793...Meanwhile, Austin U.S. Congressman Greg Casar is talking about an investigation into connection between Trump's international tariff negotiations and Elon Musk's companies: https://bsky.app/profile/calltoactivism.bsky.social/post/3lpshelshks2mTwo new laws expanding the investigatory powers of the Texas Attorney General may give Ken Paxton an opportunity to disrupt elections and target nonprofits assisting migrants in the year leading up to his primary challenge to John Cornyn: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/5320455-texas-attorney-general-electoral-powers/A new law that would restrict political protests on Texas college campuses curiously follows 2019 legislation Republicans insisted upon to allow conservative political events in every corner of those same campuses: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/texas-universities-protests-free-speech/Another new law would forbid "red flag laws" in Texas, preventing law enforcement from taking guns away from people who have made threats against others or are otherwise a danger to themselves or others: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/27/texas-anti-red-flag-law-senate-bill-1362/Another new law would give insurance companies and lawsuit defendants new opportunities to avoid compensating people injured due to negligence: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/injury-medical-lawsuits-texas-senate-bill-30/285-80288d6f-d5ce-45c3-80e3-0f3f1509894bAnother new law seeks to define men and women by their reproductive organs - it's really just another step in the continued marginalization of trans people in Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/28/texas-trans-biological-sex-state-documents-bill/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Austin Rep. James Talarico scored the viral moment of the holiday weekend at the Lege, with a gotcha on Republican Rep. Candy Noble regarding her violation of the Sabbath in order to force the Ten Commandments into Texas classrooms: https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/05/26/ten-commandments-bill-texas-tiktok/Hemp industry advocates are pleading with Governor Abbott to veto the THC ban bill, which will undercut an $8 billion business in one fell swoop: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/25/texas-thc-hemp-ban-abbott-dan-patrick/...Medical cannabis advocates are also up in arms as the scope of our already-stingy Texas Compassionate Use Program or TCUP is further narrowed by Republicans: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/thc-ban-medical-marijuana-20344051.phpGovernor Abbott is also poised to sign a new law that, in the midst of a measles outbreak, will make it easier for Texas parents to opt their kids out of vaccinations: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/25/texas-vaccine-form-download/In a session relatively quiet on guns, Texas Republicans have identified city and county gun buyback programs as something they can't tolerate: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/26/texas-gun-buyback-program-ban/Apple CEO Tim Cook is imploring Governor Abbott to veto HB 186, the ban on minors from using social media, citing privacy concerns for all of us: https://digitalmarketreports.com/news/39676/apple-ceo-urged-texas-governor-to-drop-online-child-safety-bill/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone reviews two bills that threaten your voting rights: the Texas version of the SAVE Act and the “Use it or lose it” bills! Joined by Vote Riders' Vicente Martinez to discuss SB 16, Texas' SAVE Act introduces new, incessant barriers to register to vote—requiring proof of citizenship to register. And from the National Coalition for Voting Rights, Robin Lederer and Dr. Andrea Barreiro discuss the “Use it or lose it bills,” or SB 396/HB 4253—as well as the soon to be published study on these bills' actions and their correlation to disproportionately disenfranchising marginalized Texans.Learn more about Vote Riders: https://www.voteriders.org/Learn more about the National Coalition for Voting Rights: https://www.ncvr.org/Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Our weekly decompression session comes in the closing days of the Texas Legislature - when all the bad stuff we've fought against for months tends to happen anyway. Looked for a minute there like we might make a sensible move on cannabis - but noooo. And Sam has an idea that might make us all feel better about Republicans refusing once again to give Texas public schools and teachers what they need to get their jobs done.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 the line against the Trump agenda falls in the U.S. House, do Democrats have an age problem? https://newrepublic.com/post/195617/republicans-pass-tax-bill-democrat-deaths...Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder issues a statement on the Trump tax bill: https://www.texasdemocrats.org/media/breaking-house-republicans-pass-trumps-billionaire-benefitting-bill-that-screws-the-working-classHB 2, after a compromise between the Senate's stingy $55 increase in the basic allotment and an additional $500 million in funding to appease the House, tentatively passed the Senate yesterday: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/05/23/texas-senate-tentatively-approves-sweeping-school-finance-teacher-pay-bill/...This overdue increase in funding is welcome, but not all Democratic lawmakers are impressed, including House Minority Leader Gene Wu: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-house-senate-public-school-finance-deal/...Nor is everyone impressed with the now-successful GOP effort to pass prayer periods in Texas public schools, which was helped to the finish line by several Democrats: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/22/texas-school-prayer-period-house-approval/Dan's Ban - the determined effort towards a blanket ban on THC products in Texas by Lt. Governor Dan Patrick - spells disaster for a great many Texas hemp businesses: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/22/texas-hemp-products-00366346...There's still hope for an expansion of Texas' Compassionate Use Program, or TCUP, in HB 46: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/12/texas-marijunia-medical-chronic-pain-crohns-cancer-glaucoma-ptsd/The much-discussed "anti-squatting" bill, SB 38 - which in effect would allow Texas landlords to evict tenants with little due process in many cases - is set to be heard on the House floor today: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/2025/squatting-bill-evictions/This Memorial Day weekend, let's all refocus on celebrating the Americans who gave their lives in the battle against fascism and authoritarianism - and recommit ourselves to stopping them today: https://www.dispatch.com/story/opinion/columns/guest/2025/05/22/trump-bone-spurs-military-service-heroes-memorial-day/83743104007/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:After a contentious all-night fight, Republicans in the U.S. House have passed Donald Trump's "big beautiful bill" - a truly historic fleecing of working-class Americans for the benefit of the rich: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-house-republicans-set-pre-dawn-votes-get-trump-tax-bill-over-finish-line-2025-05-22/...It was made much easier by Governor Greg Abbott's delay in allowing Harris County voters to replace the late Congressman Sylvester Turner: https://nypost.com/2025/05/21/us-news/last-8-congressional-deaths-were-all-dems-boosting-gops-razor-thin-vote-margins/The Texas House gave initial approval to two abortion-related bills, SB 31 or the "Life Of The Mother Act", and SB 33, which would prohibit Texas cities from spending public money on abortion travel funds: https://communityimpact.com/austin/south-central-austin/texas-legislature/2025/05/21/texas-house-greenlights-bipartisan-bill-clarifying-when-doctors-can-perform-life-saving-abortions/A House debate that began as a discussion of how to regulate and tax THC products ended up back where it started, with Dan Patrick's goal of a full THC ban: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/texas/2025/05/22/522028/texas-house-passes-total-ban-on-thc/The Texas House passed HB 186, which will bans Texans under 18 from having or using social media accounts: https://www.ksla.com/2025/05/21/texas-house-passes-bill-banning-minors-using-social-media-platforms/A bill that will require Texas schools to teach on the dangers of communism - but notably, not the dangers of fascism - passed with broad bipartisan support: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-communism-dangers-schools-fascism/Bills regarding a "Texas Bitcoin Reserve", recognizing interstate gun licenses, and cracking down on AI-generated child porn all passed yesterday as well: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/05/22/texas-lawmakers-ok-bills-on-handgun-licenses-cryptocurrency-ai-abuses/83768249007/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Former Congressman Beto O'Rourke has lately been staging live town hall events in cities and towns across Texas, in both blue and red counties, raising funds and volunteers for his voter activation PAC Powered By People, and - some might theorize - perhaps testing the waters for a run against John Cornyn in 2026. We caught the full audio of Beto's event in Garland on Monday night, which we present here in full.Learn more about Powered By People at https://poweredxpeople.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:Latest on the Trump bill Rep. Julie Johnson commented on this morning: https://www.reuters.com/business/us-stock-futures-dip-bond-yields-climb-trumps-tax-bill-standoff-unfolds-2025-05-21/El Paso is seeing more adult measles infections than those affecting children - due possibly to high vaccination rates in kids, and older Texans who may be more vulnerable than they thought: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-el-paso-measles/SB 2880, the bill ramping up penalties surrounding abortion medication and against people who seek abortion care outside of Texas, is seen as a model that other Republican-dominated states will follow: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/05/new-texas-abortion-ban-pill-sb-2880.html...Meanwhile SB 31 - the "Life Of The Mother Act" - which was suspected of allowing by technicality the additional restrictions that SB 2880 proposes outright, is set for a House vote today: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/21/texas-abortion-exception-save-mothers/Environment Texas provides a rundown of the current status of the remaining environmental and energy related legislation still active in the closing days of the session: https://environmentamerica.org/texas/articles/17-days-to-go-where-things-stand-in-the-texas-legislature/Democrats have a real shot at taking the U.S. Senate in 2026, and John Cornyn's longtime seat is seen as central to the opportunity: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/democrats-have-a-real-shot-at-retaking-the-senate-in-2026.htmlWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
We're super proud to be the first to bring you a talk with freshly-announced Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor, Austin State Rep. Vikki Goodwin!Dan Patrick, in almost a decade in that very powerful office, has been central to all manner of conservative malfeasance in Texas - thumbing the scales for the wealthy at the expense of the working class, undermining faith in science and our medical community, destroying the reproductive freedom of Texas women, allowing the unfettered proliferation of guns through our society - the list is endless. Change in this important position is needed, and we're proud that Rep. Goodwin accepted our invitation to announce her candidacy with us. We wish her good luck and happy campaigning!Learn more about Rep. Goodwin's campaign at https://vikkigoodwin.com/.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:Donald Trump's fixation on celebrity rejection has drawn his attention to Kamala Harris' October 2024 rally in Houston: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/trump-harris-houston-rally-beyonce-20334757.phpJohn Cornyn's polling numbers are vastly outpaced by challenger Ken Paxton's - leading to GOP fears of a toxic candidate in the general election: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/tensions-grow-new-poll-shows-senator-cornyn-trailing-attorney-general-paxton-republican-primary-u-s-senate/Texas school districts are dismayed at the prospect of HB 2, having been worked over by the Senate, providing funds insufficient to help with their growing operational deficits: https://www.texasobserver.org/school-districts-senate-finance-plan/After the fears surrounding the "Life Of The Mother Act" that it might surreptitiously resurrect old laws criminalizing women for seeking abortions, a pair of current bills would much more directly do so: https://couriertexas.com/dfw/2025/05/16/texas-abortion-trap/Republicans are proposing that Texas history students continue using the outdated "B.C." and "A.D." timeline designations because, you know, religion: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/19/texas-bc-ad-christianity/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:President Joe Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis should be seen as a reminder of the importance of continued medical research investment: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/texas-lawmakers-joe-biden-20333919.phpHB 49, in the rush to completion at the end of the 89th Legislature, would protect oil companies from legal liability for damage caused by the use of produced water, which they wish to sell to farmers and dump in rivers: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/19/texas-legislature-produced-water-legal-protections-oil-gas/?_bhlid=dd62e22f81d6a0713ef8d55fe4b382ab41846318...See our podcast on produced water and why it's not a good option to shore up dwindling water supply in Texas: https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-146-dark-water-how-texas-railroad-commission-threatens-our-futureTo clarify on Friday's Daily Dispatch: while the "anti-squatter" bill HB 32 did die with the House deadline's arrival on Friday, its identical companion bill SB 38 is still in play - thus the rights of Texas renters are still in jeopardy: https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BoDTqhf11/School financing, the Texas Lottery, Dan Patrick's hemp ban and Greg Abbott's bail reform are all still on the table as Sine Die approaches in two weeks: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/05/19/5-things-to-watch-as-texas-legislative-session-nears-end/ICE detention of suspected undocumented immigrants in El Paso has prompted a scathing report from Amnesty International: https://elpasomatters.org/2025/05/14/el-paso-ice-detention-center-human-rights-violations-amnesty-international/Notorious right-wing crusading federal judge Matthew Kascmaryk has ruled that LGBTQ+ people are not protected from workplace harassment by the Civil Rights Act: https://truthout.org/articles/federal-judge-strikes-down-lgbtq-protections-against-workplace-discrimination/Attorney General Ken Paxton has been hit with two lawsuits from five Texas district attorneys over new rules he wishes to use to pry into their prosecutorial records: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/16/texas-attorney-general-district-attorneys-lawsuits/In a harbinger of things to come in Texas, Oklahoma schools see a new wave of conservative disinformation incorporated into lesson plans, including the study of "discrepancies" in the 2020 election: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/may/17/oklahoma-high-schools-election-conspiracy-theoriesWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Our weekly airing of the grievances is perhaps a little spicy this time because frankly, we're sweating our butts off. Lucky for Texas, renewable energy has carried the load keeping the AC on, but Republicans still hate it. A curious child marriage bill gets a curious House vote, which we'll explain. Ted Cruz wants to give babies a grand (thanks Ted!). And, the nerds of PT are fired up over Andor and the important political lessons it carries for progressive types these days. Have a great weekend, and may the schwartz be with you.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:The deadline for the Texas House to act on bills filed by its own members arrived at midnight last night - bills allowing landlords to more easily evict tenants, and improving conditions for kids in our juvenile justice system, are both DOA for this session: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/texas-house-deadline-winners-losers/...Rep. John Bucy's consistent effort to establish online voter registration also didn't make the deadline, but it did get more attention than it has since he started pressing for it in 2019 - better luck next session: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/15/texas-online-voter-registration-bill/...Rep. Terry Canales' bill to force Texas' prison system to install air conditioning remains in play: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/05/15/required-air-conditioning-for-state-run-prisons-advances-in-texas-house/The Senate continues hearings on its version of HB 2, the public school funding bill, which by most measures falls even further short than the original did: https://communityimpact.com/houston/conroe-montgomery/texas-legislature/2025/05/15/texas-senate-panel-unveils-amended-version-of-8b-school-finance-proposal/The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the mother of a Black Texas man killed by a police officer in 2016, rejecting the "moment of the threat doctrine" used by lower courts to limit the factors considered in excessive force cases: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-revives-excessive-force-claim-deadly-houston-police-shoo-rcna199171Despite dwindling water supplies, oil companies continue sucking up billions of gallons for their private use - and they're supported by current Texas law: https://www.fastcompany.com/91334609/texas-is-in-an-extreme-drought-and-oil-companies-are-using-billions-of-gallons-of-water...Extreme heat also poses a serious threat to expectant mothers: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/texas-rising-temperatures-climate-change-pregnancy/3841533/There's a big gun buyback session happening in El Paso on Saturday morning: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2025/05/13/el-paso-gun-buy-back-event-is-giving-up-to-200-to-turn-in-firearms/83595649007/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Progress Texas Executive Director Kathleen Thompson took part in a terrific celebration and fundraising event for the Texas Democratic Party hosted by the Funky East Dallas Democrats club - better known as The FEDDs - as they celebrated the rise of one of their founding members, Kendall Scudder, to the position of party chair! Kathleen asked important questions regarding recent progressive wins, how to keep the momentum going, and the plan to lead Texas Democrats out of the wilderness in 2026.Learn more about The FEDDs at https://funkyeastdallasdemocrats.com/.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:The long-languishing HB 2, the promised "historic" public school finance proposal purported to offset concerns about the impact to public schools by private school vouchers, will be heard at the Capitol today after massive cuts by Senate Republicans - the increase to the basic allotment goes from about $500 to a paltry $55: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/texas-school-funding-teacher-raise-20327616.php...Watch for a fiery debate over the gutting of HB 2, just as hundreds of bills are crowding towards the finish line: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/14/texas-public-school-funding-legislature/Bail reform, a priority of sufficient importance to Governor Abbott to come with the threat of special sessions, advances in the Senate: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/texas-legislature/texas-senate-constitutional-amendment-require-judges-deny-bond-felony-offenses-repeat-offenders/269-6c5c7ac8-e686-4fb7-a917-3299dad341e1Corporate fat cats like Elon Musk get a break in a newly-signed law that will limit the ability for shareholders to sue those companies: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/greg-abbott-elon-musk-20327468.phpBooksellers, including Half Price Books, are warning that a new obscenity law will upend their businesses: https://www.chron.com/news/article/texas-bookstores-obscene-bill-20327441.phpWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The ERCOT dashboard shows that solar power was the primary source for Texas energy throughout the first day of this historic heat wave yesterday: https://www.ercot.com/gridmktinfo/dashboards...Ironic that at the very same time, Republicans in Austin are doing all they can to undermine future renewable energy development: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/us/politics/renewable-energy-republicans.htmlA great number of bills - some good, others not so good - are in danger of dying as the 89th Legislature winds down: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/05/13/texas-public-schools-dems-worry-time-running-out-as-finance-bill-languishing-in-senate/...Including HB 2, having languished in committee for three weeks, and looking likely to be the victim of massive Senate cuts: https://x.com/scottbraddock/status/1922471412029079729?t=S3jx3uElUvMjYqSmbVpSHQ&s=03...And a great many MAGA bills we'd just as soon see die, including abortion medication restrictions, book and DEI bans, the Ten Commandments in classrooms, and on and on: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/14/texas-legislature-agenda-items-taxes-water-abortion/?_bhlid=12ea18a3d1b222f39cdd67563d86ca6f2783f5edLubbock ISD stands to be gutted by the new voucher program, as many of its church-affiliated private schools are within range of the voucher amount: https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/education/2025/05/14/cost-of-lubbock-area-private-schools-with-texas-school-voucher-education-savings-account-program/83432786007/The incoming bloody primary battle between Senator John Cornyn and Ken Paxton presents a rare opportunity for a steal, if the Democrats can elevate the right candidate: https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/05/14/cornyn-paxton-texas-gop-primary-infighting-00346390We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:All-time temperature records look likely to fall for both San Antonio and Austin as a dangerous and alarmingly early heat wave arrives: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/article/dangerous-extreme-heat-texas-20323488.php...Even those who are bullish about ERCOT's prospects with this heat wave are concerned about the many fossil fuel-powered plants that are offline for "normal" May maintenance: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/texas-grid-ercot-spring-heat-wave-thermal-outages-20323306.php...This kind of heat is no joke - it's important to take extra care and to check in on the elderly or otherwise vulnerable: https://www.statesman.com/story/weather/severe/2025/05/12/texas-heat-wave-extreme-temperatures-texas-weather-austin-san-antonio-houston-dallas/83578591007/Crunch time arrives for bills in the 89th Legislature, as the drop dead moment arrives this week: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/05/12/520648/its-crunch-time-for-texas-house-bills-as-three-key-deadlines-hit-this-week/The National Council of Nonprofits has issued a warning that draft tax legislation released by the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee contains provisions that would allow Donald Trump to arbitrarily shut down non-profit media orgs including NPR, PBS...and Progress Texas: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/articles/nonprofits-under-threat-whats-house-tax-bill-and-how-you-can-helpWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:This week's mid-May heat wave is expected to shatter daily high temperature records - parts of Texas will be hotter than parts of the Sahara Desert between Tuesday and Thursday: https://www.expressnews.com/san-antonio-weather/forecast/article/heat-wave-south-texas-historic-temperatures-20320730.php...ERCOT expects to keep up with power demand, which experts credit to expanded solar generation and battery storage capacity: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas-power-grid-demand-heat-wave-may-2025/285-c06738f9-374d-4b31-9416-4286467c0bceTexas Republicans continue to up their game when it comes to hating on transgender Texans - a new bill will, in effect, erase them when it comes to state documents: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/10/texas-house-trans-bills-advance/That bill outlawing the distribution of abortion drugs in Texas includes unprecedented legal language that would protect itself from being challenged in state courts: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/12/texas-abortion-pill-bill-state-court/House Republicans' solution to threats of violence against election workers in Texas? Add more guns to the mix: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/05/09/texas-house-votes-to-allow-election-judges-armed-voting-sites/83501483007/Democrats, once again, in disarry as the SDEC is set to vote on whether to remove Fort Bend County's party chair over allegations of irregular spending - as he himself investigates similar allegations against the prior chair: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/fort-bend/2025/05/09/520985/texas-democrats-to-consider-removal-of-fort-bend-county-party-chair-precinct-chairs-say/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
We are proud to have been invited to host a terrific panel of Texas-based enviromental activists and advocates during the recent EarthX conference in Dallas! Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone welcomed representatives of Environment Texas, the Sunrise Movement, Public Citizen and the Environmental Defense Fund for a wide-ranging and enlightening discussion. Enjoy!Thanks for listening! Learn more about how you can support Progress Texas and our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
We gather for our weekly roundtable and group gripe - this week, a postgame of our terrific Party For Progress in San Antonio, the hugely important runoff election for Mayor in that city (June 7 Alamo City folks!), great engagement on social media as we celebrate Democratic and progressive municipal election wins in the May elections, and as we celebrate Mother's Day this weekend, how Texas makes being a Mom in the Lone Star State so much harder than it needs to be.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our mission at https://progresstexas.org/.
Thumbnail credit to live-action artist Amitai Plasse: https://www.instagram.com/amirocks73/Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:SB 37, which would allow politically-appointed regents to direct the content that Texas college professors teach, is progressing through the Lege: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/texas-university-censorship-patrick-legislature-20313847.php...Meanwhile, UT Austin has announced a $100 million spend on a permanent building for its School Of Civic Leadership, a conservative-leaning division that houses the right wing think tank the Civitas Institute: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/university-texas-civic-leadership-school-100-million-investment/...Meanwhile, international students across Texas are so frightened by Trump's deportation push that they're deleting their social media accounts and fearful to leave their homes: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/09/texas-international-students-immigration-fears/...Meanwhile, HB 2, the primary funding bill for Texas public schools that has languished in committee for over two weeks, appears headed for a hearing next week: https://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/payteachersfundschools/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:"Vote harvesting" - voter assistance practices long in place in many Black and Latino communities, but outlawed by the Texas GOP in 2021 - is the crime several Frio County officials have been charged with committing, resulting in their arrests: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/05/07/texas-ken-paxton-vote-harvesting/Donald Trump's polling approval on the economy has hit a new all-time low in Texas, at only 40%: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/donald-trump-economy-approval-rating-20311330.php...More in the latest Second Reading podcast from UT Austin's Texas Politics Project: https://podcasts.la.utexas.edu/second-reading-podcast/podcast/new-texas-politics-project-poll-finds-the-economy-and-shifting-immigration-views-shaping-views-of-trump-and-of-legislative-priorities/Trump's bullying of Mexico has inflamed anti-American sentiment south of the border, particularly unfortunate for Texas, where our cultural ties with Mexico are strong: https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/story/2025-04-25/the-united-states-is-the-villain-of-our-story-nationalism-surges-in-mexico-amid-trump-threatsRising conservative megadonor Alex Fairly has soured on the hard-right apparatus put into place by his fellow fat cats - perhaps further indication that more Republicans are tiring of their lunatic fringe: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/08/alex-fairly-texas-republican-donor-tim-dunn-texas-house/Congressman Henry Cuellar, threatened with sanction by the Texas Democratic Party, insists he'll continue his "bipartisan" voting pattern, and that he intends to remain a Democrat: https://www.krgv.com/news/congressman-cuellar-responds-to-efforts-from-the-texas-democratic-party-to-sanction-him/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
A terrific time, and far overdue, at our Party For Progress on Tuesday night in San Antonio! We recorded conversations with Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who is in the final weeks of his eight-year, four-term tenure as mayor of San Antonio, as well as the Democrat running to replace him, Gina Ortiz Jones, who is now locked in battle against a Republican challenger who is a longtime ally of Governor Greg Abbott.Learn more about Mayor Ron Nirenberg at https://www.sa.gov/Directory/Departments/Mayor-Council/Mayor/Biography.Learn more about Gina Ortiz Jones at https://ginaortizjones.com/.Thanks for listening - and if YOU'D like to join us for a live event, we have another coming up in Dallas as we celebrate our 15th anniversary, on June 9! Learn more here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversary
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Could Texas Republicans be feeling the heat from recent losses in the May municipal elections? A bill amounting to a GOP intellectual takeover of state universities may be scaled back: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/06/texas-house-higher-education-diversity-equity-teaching-bill/...On the same track, Ken Paxton has dropped his lawsuit against Coppell ISD, which he had accused of teaching "critical race theory": https://www.keranews.org/news/2025-05-06/texas-attorney-general-paxton-drops-critical-race-theory-lawsuit-coppell-isdOtherwise, it's business as usual for Republicans at the Capitol - while the public school funding bill HB 2 marks two weeks in committee limbo, SB 412 will be signed by Governor Abbott soon - it will allow for teachers in Texas to be targeted for presenting "obscene" materials in class, whatever that means: https://kfoxtv.com/news/local/texas-bill-removing-educator-protections-heads-to-governors-deskAudio from body cameras at the UT Austin pro-Palestinian protest crackdown shows that some of the officers deployed to that action were questioning its legality: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/texas-students-arrested-pro-palestine-protest-sue-abbott-1235332777/The Texas Democratic Party is set to vote on a resolution censuing Laredo Congressman Henry Cuellar: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/06/henry-cuellar-texas-democratic-party-condemnation/We look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Progressives continue savoring wins in the May municipal elections across the state, while one major piece of business remains unfinished - the San Antonio mayoral race: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/05/texas-school-board-races/...What an interesting moment to visit San Antonio! Hope to see y'all at our Party For Progress tonight: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixer...Our guest tonight is outgoing Mayor Ron Nirenberg, who has plans (for now) to return to teaching in Trinity University's communications department: https://www.tpr.org/education/2025-05-05/san-antonio-mayor-ron-nirenberg-joins-trinity-university-in-august-as-communications-professor#Echobox=1746482110-2House Bill 2 - funding for public schools, and the second of the "Texas Two Step" of legislation supposedly paired with private school vouchers - continues to languish in a Senate committee after 13 days: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/this-is-how-you-kill-a-public-school...Democratic House Minority Leader Gene Wu highlights a major imbalance between bills passed by the House and those by the Senate, including the stonewalling on HB 2: https://x.com/scottbraddock/status/1919438003711234249?t=aJM-kp2u8-XcYudoyxoMdA&s=03...The Texas chapter of the American Federation of Teachers worries that the Senate is turning away from "the pressing needs of the 5.4 million students in Texas public schools": https://www.texasaft.org/features/texas-senate-stalls-on-public-school-funding-while-fast-tracking-vouchers/Elon Musk is in a battle with his neighbors in West Lake Hills, who have complaints about construction he's done without permits, constant traffic of Teslas, and heavily armed security guards: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/05/technology/elon-musk-texas-neighbors.htmlWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Democrats and progressive candidates won widespread victories across Texas, seen by some as a backlash against MAGA extremism: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/magas-very-bad-night-in-texasTarrant County saw a complete shutout of county GOP and Patriot Mobile-backed candidates: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/gop-endorsed-candidates-lose-ground-tarrant-county-texas-nonpartisan-elections/287-818039b4-cec6-460c-8259-774a9895aa46MAGA Grapevine-Colleyville ISD board member Tammy Nakamura was ousted by Matt Foust: https://communityimpact.com/dallas-fort-worth/grapevine-colleyville-southlake/election/2025/05/03/may-3-election-foust-ousts-nakamura-for-grapevine-colleyville-isd-place-3-shope-wins-grapevine-city-council-place-4/MAGA wannabe Julie Short fell...short of her goal of unseating Mansfield mayor Michael Evans: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/elections/2025/05/03/incumbent-michael-evans-leading-race-for-mansfield-mayor/As expected, the San Antonio mayoral race ends up in a runoff between Democrat Gina Ortiz Jones and Republican Rolando Pablos: https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2025/05/04/san-antonio-mayor-election-results-liveLongtime Katy educator James Cross ousted Katy ISD board president, book-banner and trans-outer Victor Perez: https://coveringkaty.com/news/katy/katy-isd-early-vote-results/The Lake Travis ISD board adds 2 Democrats, making a total of 4 for the first time in a quarter-century: https://communityimpact.com/austin/lake-travis-westlake/election/2025/05/03/unofficial-polling-data-shows-archer-bove-woodcock-win-ltisd-board-election/Richardson mayor Bob Dubey was unseated by Democratic challenger Amir Omar: https://www.fox4news.com/news/amir-omar-defeats-incumbent-bob-dubey-become-mayor-richardsonWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio tomorrow night, on Tuesday May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives at our Party For Progress - tickets are here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixerWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary this summer! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversaryThe merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Reviving a program that was discontinued under the Obama Administration due to widespread abuse including racial profiling, the Trump administration has begun entering into agreements with local law enforcement agencies that essentially convert their officers into ICE agents, tasked with seeking out and arresting people whom they suspect are undocumented. More and more Texas police and sheriff's departments are signing up to work for ICE - which sidetracks time normally spent keeping their communities safe - on YOUR taxpayer dime. Investigative reporter Francesca D'Annunzio's excellent work on this story for the Texas Observer prompted us to invite her to join us for the first time.Read "Texas Police Are Slowly Joining What Could Be A Giant ICE Army": https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-police-287g-ice-army/?goal=0_975e2d1fa1-6ccb7927f5-34916602&mc_cid=6ccb7927f5&mc_eid=0c4d5631c2Learn more about Francesca D'Annunzio at https://www.texasobserver.org/author/francesca-dannunzio/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
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