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: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/.
Our weekly venting session features Digital Director Sam Gonzalez, Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone, Advocacy and Development Coordinator Tatum Owens, and Digital Associate Haley Smith - we figure you're probably pissed about the same stuff we are, so we now include you in our weekly airing of the grievances...enjoy and happy weekend!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 is set to sign private school vouchers into law this weekend - how did we get here? https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/02/texas-school-vouchers-greg-abbott/...Meanwhile, HB 2 - the bill Republicans have called an "historic" increase in public school funding - appears to be languishing in committee: https://x.com/scottbraddock/status/1917740286148764002?t=kD7Hd9E4z2-JDF8SuEVz9A&s=03Texas Republicans have apparently placed higher priority on other items, like banning Texans under 18 from owning social media accounts - which carries privacy implications for ALL Texans: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/texas-legislature/texas-house-bill-banning-texans-under-18-social-media-accounts/269-fffe4db5-4e63-4fa3-b84a-f0efcd7f2d18...And, even in the midst of an historic measles outbreak, legislation that will make it easier for Texans to opt themselves and their children out of vaccinations: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/01/texas-vaccine-exemption-form/In a decision with national implications, a federal judge in South Texas - a Trump appointee - has ruled permanently that Donald Trump's invoking of the 18th century Alien Enemies Act is illegal, as it is not applicable during peacetime: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/01/us/texas-judge-trump-alien-enemies-act.htmlDon't forget to VOTE on Saturday May 3! See your local county website for a sample ballot to study beforehand, and get your questions about voting answered at GoVoteTexas.org.Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on 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_mixerThe 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 is threatening to pull state funding from the city of San Marcos in retaliation for a largely symbolic Gaza ceasefire resolution placed on its city council's agenda: https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-04-30/san-marcos-tx-city-council-resolution-ceasefire-gaza-genocide-israel-governor-greg-abbott-funding-antisemitism...Meanwhile, Abbott and UT Austin Jay Hartzell have been sued by a group of UT students who contend that their First Amendment rights were violated in the crackdown on pro-Palestinian protests on UT's campus last August: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/students-sue-texas-university-governor-over-gaza-protest-arrests-2025-05-01/Smithville Republican State Rep. Stan Gerdes' anti-"furries" bill was ridiculed Democrats when it was heard earlier this week, but both Governor Abbott and House Speaker Dustin Burrows have endorsed it: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/furries-bill-greg-abbott-20294538.phpMay Day rallies and protests are happening across Texas today - we remind you to keep things safe and legal. May Day Fort Worth: https://www.mobilize.us/mayday/event/775678/May Day San Antonio: https://deceleration.news/event/may-day-caravan-san-antonio/May Day Houston: https://www.mobilize.us/50501houston/event/782048/May Day Austin: https://www.mobilize.us/publiccitizeninitiative/event/777726/Don't forget to VOTE on Saturday May 3! See your local county website for a sample ballot to study beforehand, and get your questions about voting answered at GoVoteTexas.org.Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on 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_mixerThe 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:SB-31, the abortion clarification bill, unanimously passes the Texas Senate: https://apnews.com/article/texas-abortion-ban-medical-exceptions-b54173653ce04a7ba434dae899624374...Meanwhile, SB-2880, a bill that will crack down on abortion medication and does not include language declaring neutrality on old abortion laws still on the books in Texas - the feared "Trojan Horse" - passes on party lines and is headed for the House: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/texas-senate-abortion-pill-bill/Trump U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. visited Texas this week, where he continued to downplay and lie about the ongoing measles outbreak: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/29/texas-measles-robert-kennedy-autism/?_bhlid=311b7e593c5d168c91bc6b330fccaf85ca94026d...RFK claims the spread is slowing, but it is clearly not: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/apr/29/texas-measles-cases...RFK also dodged a question about whether the Trump regime would enforce a Biden directive for cities to remove PFAS "forever chemicals" from their drinking water supplies: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/investigates/robert-f-kennedy-jr-raises-doubts-over-pfas-forever-chemicals-in-north-texas/287-84c87030-5cc4-47de-af2b-83141d2b8276Experts have strong doubts about data released about Texas hospital expenditures related to undocumented people, but that didn't stop Fox News from reporting it as fact: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/25/texas-hospitals-undocumented-immigrants-cost/May Day rallies and protests are happening across Texas on Thursday May 1 - we remind you to keep things safe and legal. May Day Fort Worth: https://www.mobilize.us/mayday/event/775678/May Day San Antonio: https://deceleration.news/event/may-day-caravan-san-antonio/May Day Houston: https://www.mobilize.us/50501houston/event/782048/May Day Austin: https://www.mobilize.us/publiccitizeninitiative/event/777726/Early voting ends - don't forget to VOTE on Saturday May 3! See your local county website for a sample ballot to study beforehand, and get your questions about voting answered at GoVoteTexas.org.Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on 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_mixerThe 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.
Aside from the daily drama at the Capitol, the race to succeed Ron Nirenberg as the next mayor of San Antonio is one of the top political stories in Texas, as the leadership of the Lone Star State's second-biggest city for next four years hangs in the balance.Attorney and San Antonio City Council Member Melissa Cabello Havrda has thrown her hat into the ring. Now in her third Council term, she has chaired San Antonio's Public Safety and Municipal Courts Advisory Committees and is the current Vice Chair of the Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization. Cabello Havrda has been recognized for her socially progressive values, which in combination with pro-business and law enforcement stances, have contributed to her consistent re-election in the Alamo City's politically diverse District 6.Learn more about Melissa Cabello Havrda at https://melissaforsa.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how to help support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
The "list of 50" Democrats dug in to oppose Republican legislation in response to the forcing through of private school vouchers fell apart yesterday, as at least 8 Dems voted in favor of GOP items: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/25/republicans-texas-house-calendar-democrats/The "Uvalde Strong Act" - passed by the House yesterday to establish uniform and coordinated school shooter response protocols for law enforcement and school districts - does nothing to address the continued proliferation of guns in Texas: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/uvalde-strong-act-passes-texas-house-requires-statewide-active-shooter-protocol/As May Day rallies and protests approach on Thursday, two arrests at a Dallas protest on Sunday remind us of the importance of keeping things safe and legal: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2025/04/28/2-arrested-in-connection-with-may-day-protest-on-sunday/May Day Fort Worth: https://www.mobilize.us/mayday/event/775678/May Day San Antonio: https://deceleration.news/event/may-day-caravan-san-antonio/May Day Houston: https://www.mobilize.us/50501houston/event/782048/May Day Austin: https://www.mobilize.us/publiccitizeninitiative/event/777726/TODAY is the last day of early voting in the May 3 election - see your local county website for a sample ballot to study beforehand, and get your questions about voting answered at GoVoteTexas.org.Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on 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_mixerThe 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 idea of "due process" as a privilege or an option, given to some but denied others, has become a cornerstone of the policies of the second Donald Trump administration - and the right-wing disinformation machine appears all too willing to go along. What is due process, and what risks do each of us assume for ourselves in standing by as it's taken away from others, for any reason? We're fortunate to have two respected North Texas attorneys, Louis Bedford and Jason Smith, on the Progress Institute board, and are proud to share with you their perspectives and warnings about the recent attempts by MAGA to erode this fundamental aspect of American freedom and justice, and why it's imperative that ALL Americans fight back.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can help support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Watch for a deep dive on Donald Trump's attack on due process here later today, even as suspicions of the deportation of a young U.S. citizen arise: https://www.npr.org/2025/04/26/nx-s1-5378077/honduras-deported-girl-citizen...While a growing number of Texas law enforcement agencies sign force multiplier agreements with ICE: https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-police-287g-ice-army/...While Texas GOP lawmakers are set to approve legislation limiting the prosecution of Texas police officers for using excessive force: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/28/texas-police-deadly-conduct-exempt/?_bhlid=55d8f14f79254434d538c240d49bed84ac77a9d5Beto O'Rourke makes news for simply stopping short of saying he won't run in the 2026 election cycle: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/will-beto-orourke-run-again-heres-what-he-said-at-town-hall-in-north-texas/287-1dee1fbd-4afb-4b05-95b5-6f3118e042d8Early voting is underway in the May 3 election - see your local county website for a sample ballot to study beforehand, and get your questions about voting answered at GoVoteTexas.org.Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on 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_mixerThe 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.
In Progress is out weekly venting session, in which we unload a bit on the issues we've been tackling lately - at PT we find group therapy intellectually stimulating, occasionally cathartic, and always fun - so we're letting YOU join in. We're always all ears for your input at ProgressTexas.org.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Rising demand and dwindling supplies of water in Texas are placing major pressure on the business-friendly and environmentally-indifferent Texas GOP: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/the-impossibly-expensive-plan-to-save-texass-water-supply-texas-monthly/Trump crazy is beginning to wear on his MAGA faithful - will they be able to find common cause with progressives to fix the problem? https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/trump-uncertainty-texas-layoffs-20290420.phpAs he backs away from the DOGE chainsaw - with which he's destroyed his own reputation and that of Tesla - look for Elon Musk to spend more time in Texas on his still-rapidly-growing interests here: https://www.businessinsider.com/satellite-photos-show-elon-musk-growing-texas-empire-spacex-tesla-2025-4The Texas Senate has passed a bill that will prevent juries considering injury claims related to truck crashes from hearing important information about the truck driver - a leg up for businesses looking to avoid paying for those claims: https://news4sanantonio.com/news/local/critics-argue-texas-bill-could-reduce-trucking-accountability-and-road-safety-lawsuit-senate-big-rigs-truck-drivers-cdl...The Senate also has passed a bill that will require that Texas state government officially recognize the laughable change of name to the "Gulf Of America": https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/24/texas-gulf-of-america-name-change/Early voting is underway in the May 3 election - see your local county website for a sample ballot to study beforehand, and get your questions about voting answered at GoVoteTexas.org.Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on 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_mixerThe 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 future of transportation infrastructure in Texas faces challenges both from our historic past - now starting a fourth decade under Republican control - and the uphill battles presented by the present day under Donald Trump and Governor Abbott's dubious priorities. We're proud to welcome a long-overdue visit with State Rep. John Bucy of Austin, and UT professor Miriam Schoenfield with the Texas Streets Coalition and Rethink 35, a group dedicated to managing and mitigating the adverse impacts of major highways on urban centers, in particular IH-35 in Austin.Learn more about Rep. John Bucy at https://bucyfortexas.com/.Learn more about the Texas Streets Coalition at https://texasstreetscoalition.org/, and Rethink 35 at https://rethink35.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:What appears to be a win for Texas Republicans in their push for unpopular private school vouchers appears likely to be a burden in the 2026 mid-term elections: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2025-04-25/the-vouchers-battle-is-decided-but-what-about-the-future-of-texas-politics/...Add to the draining of funds to subsize private school families, a likely dwindling of federal school funding in Trump's "DOGE" era: https://www.keranews.org/education/2025-04-24/department-of-education-closure-texas-schools-impact...Speaking of "DOGE", we now have our own version in Texas as Governor Abbott signs his first bill of the 89th Lege into law: https://www.kxii.com/2025/04/24/texas-governor-greg-abbott-signs-bill-creates-texas-doge/The Texas Senate passed a bill that would forbid local Texas cities from putting controlled substance decriminalization bills up for public vote - with the help of three Democrats: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/texas-senate-passes-bill-to-ban-cities-from-putting-marijuana-decriminalization-initiatives-on-local-ballots/Taking school library book bans to a frightening new level, new legislation seeks to police "obscene" content at retail bookstores as well: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/texas-bookstores-obscene-books-20290932.phpProgress Texas Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone is moderating a panel this afternoon at the EarthX2025 conference in Dallas: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ENq1kXGmg/Early voting is underway in the May 3 election - see your local county website for a sample ballot to study beforehand, and get your questions about voting answered at GoVoteTexas.org.Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on 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_mixerThe 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've published select episodes from other podcasts on the Progress Texas feed before, but we believe this is the first time we've run a radio show! Galveston attorney, former Mayor and 2022 candidate for Texas Attorney General Joe Jaworski hosts "Midterms", a half-hour talk show on the upcoming 2026 elections, on the legendary KPFT-FM in Houston every Tuesday morning. This week, his guest was Kendall Scudder, the newly-elected Chairman of the Texas Democratic Party.Learn more about KPFT and Joe's show at https://kpft.org/schedule-hd1/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can help support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Austin State Rep. Gina Hinojosa from the intro: https://x.com/GinaForAustin/status/1913646263075062273?t=5d0u-Di48t87m0NE8l1aTA&s=03Will that reported threat by Texas House Democrats to undermine all of the Republican majority's constitutional amendments for the rest of the session for refusing to let the voters decide on private school vouchers materialize? House Speaker Dustin Burrows may have blinked yesterday: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/texas-speaker-pulls-constitutional-amendments-after-reported-democratic-threat/SB 31 - the abortion clarification bill - has passed out of a Senate committee after undergoing amendments to address concerns about its potential to revive harsh, ancient abortion laws and to criminalize people seeking abortions for themselves: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/22/texas-abortion-bill-clarification/Houston U.S. Congressman Al Green was the target of racist commentary on a Christian podcast this week by Tennessee Republican Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/diana-harshbarger-al-green-racism-b2737024.htmlElon Musk, weary of criticism for his assault on American governmental institutions, says he's stepping away from DOGE next month to refocus on Tesla - which has seen a 71%, $2 billion drop in revenue over the last year: https://www.axios.com/2025/04/22/elon-musk-doge-tesla-earnings-callEarly voting starts today in the May 3 election - see your local county website for a sample ballot to study beforehand, and get your questions about voting answered at GoVoteTexas.org.Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on 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_mixerThe 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:Early voting starts today in the May 3 election - see your local county website for a sample ballot to study beforehand, and get your questions about voting answered at GoVoteTexas.org....Two Republican bills on their way through the Legislature this week, similar to the federal SAVE Act, will make voter registration harder for lower-income Texans and those who have changed their names: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/01/texas-proof-of-citizenship-voting-senate-bill-16/Texas lawmakers are considering legislation that would exempt transactions on the new Texas Securities Exchange from taxes - great news for majority owner and notorious right-wing billionaire Kelcy Warren: https://www.dmagazine.com/business-economy/2025/04/kelcy-warren-revealed-as-majority-owner-of-texas-stock-exchange/Ken Paxton appears to have violated Texas ethics laws by including images of Collin County law enforcement officers in his first ads from his primary challenge to Senator John Cornyn: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/campaigns/congressional/3384518/ken-paxton-texas-ethics-laws-senate-campaign-launch/Brady House Rep. Wes Virdell deletes a tweet - too slowly, however - in which he disparages his own consitutents as they complain about his votes on public schools last week: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/texas-school-vouchers-virdell-20286629.phpOur condolences and best wishes to Denton County Commissioner Bobbie Mitchell, who was badly injured in a stabbing attack that her husband Fred did not survive on Monday morning: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/lewisville-stabbing-bobbie-mitchell-grandson-arrested/Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on 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_mixerThe 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:A weekend SCOTUS ruling has stopped the Trump regime from deporting a group of ICE detainees being held north of Abilene to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-temporarily-blocks-new-deportations-under-alien-enemies-act/Public skepticism, perhaps a bit too late, is growing in response to Governor Greg Abbott's ramming through of private school vouchers without a public vote: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/21/texas-school-vouchers-reactions/A right-wing protest, intended to inflame racial divisions by exploiting the April 2 stabbing incident in Frisco, was a complete and totally lame flop: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/frisco-protest-about-deadly-track-meet-stabbing-ends-with-two-arrests/3821017/...The father of the Frisco teen who lost his life in the April 2 stabbing, Jeff Metcalf, has condemned the use of his son's story and image in the production of racist disinformation: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2025/04/19/protect-white-americans-protest-frisco/Lubbock - which most of us consider a "small" city, but actually is the home of about a quarter-million people - has officially been designated as part of the measles outbreak zone: https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/local/2025/04/21/lubbock-health-officials-urge-mmr-vaccination-recommendation-amid-texas-measles-outbreak/83159130007/San Marcos has been stopped - again - from enforcing the marijuana decriminalization ordinance it voted for in 2022 by 81% by a lawsuit from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/hays-county/san-marcos-marijuana-decriminalization-ruling/269-4c4f022c-676b-417f-9be4-aa8ba435ad51Willie Nelson is calling on Texas farmers to organize against the Trump tariff war, and the slow-walking of emergency farm benefits, that are hurting their livelihoods: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/willie-nelsen-farmers-tariffs-20281319.phpProgress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on 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_mixerThe 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.
In a world awash in passionate politics and widespread, nefarious disinformation, independent and ethically-sound journalism has never been more important, and has also never been under such threat. Countering disinformation is a major part of our mission at Progress Texas, and among the media sources in our state, we judge the Texas Tribune as one of the most impeccable, and source its high-quality and fast-breaking information on the regular. We're proud to welcome editor in chief Matthew Watkins and women's health reporter Eleanor Klibanoff for an inside look at the mechanics and the mission of the Texas Tribune, and a discussion of the vital role independent media plays in our turbulent current moment - and why those sources need your direct support, and deserve your direct defense.Learn more about Eleanor and Matthew, and the rest of the Texas Tribune crew, at https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/.And, hear both of them regularly on the Texas Tribune's weekly TribCast at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/texas-tribune-tribcast/id338118901.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can help support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Governor Abbott relied on intimidation of wavering State House Republicans to keep his spineless minions from putting private school vouchers to a public vote: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/greg-abbott-school-vouchers-republicans-hardball/...Abbott also called in Donald Trump to keep the troops in line: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/education/2025/04/18/texas-house-approves-school-vouchers-secures-greg-abbott-priority-bill/83140873007/...The example of Arizona - a still-ballooning budget disaster due to its voucher program - will likely be surpassed by Texas, as our public schools are already in a dire state of neglect: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/advocates-from-other-school-choice-states-paint-grim-future-for-texasTexas Republican lawmakers, basking in the glow of their voucher scam win, had time to try to sully a memorial for Cecile Richards yesterday - but instead, confirmed her progressive legacy: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/texas-house-cecile-richards-republicans-planned-parenthood/Fired up? Blow off some of that frustration and make new friends at one of dozens of 50501 protests happening across Texas on Saturday 4/19: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BgrGQrT5F/Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives at our Party For Progress - RSVP here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixerThe 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.
Welcome to the first edition of In Progress, our new weekly group session in which the Progress Texas staff gathers to discuss, process and attempt to make sense of the latest developments in the crazy world of Texas politics.And, what a way to start. After 30 years of trying - against the members of their own party, and certainly in spite of public opinion - the Republican dream of taxpayer-funded kickbacks to wealthy Texas families to subsidize their private schools is on the edge of becoming reality. How have our public schools gone from being seen as the backbone of many Texas communities, to being a scrap heap to be dismantled and sold off? What's the next move for Texas Democrats? And, how should Texas voters respond? The PT staff gathers to try our best to make sense of a tragically nonsensical situation.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:After a 30-year struggle, Governor Greg Abbott has all but accomplished the goal of his billionaire benefactors as Texas House Republicans pass Senate Bill 2, which allocates $1 billion (for starters) of your tax dollars to subsidize private school tuition: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/17/texas-house-school-vouchers-public-education-funding/...Will the Democratic minority follow through with their threat to tank state constitutional amendments? We're interested in seeing the declaration: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-legislature-democrats-school-vouchers-constitutional-amendments/Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives at our Party For Progress - RSVP here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixerThe 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 position of precinct chair is generally the party job closest to the actual action: meeting, motivating, and mobilizing the voters themselves, who happen to be your neighbors and friends! If you're a regular Progress Texas listener, you already know most of what you need to know to effectively fill this position. Many districts, in just about every corner of Texas, have vacancies in this vital grassroots role - leaving those voters without anyone to personally guide and inspire them. If you're fired up, and looking to step up and really make a difference, this is the perfect opportunity at a crucial political moment.Learn more about becoming a precinct chair for the Texas Democratic Party at https://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/precinctchair.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how to support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:After 30 years of trying, Texas Republicans are confident they can push private school vouchers on an unwilling Texas today: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-house-vouchers-public-school-funding-vote/?_bhlid=787b18ce3a9535dfb634483e2ca01fd2c02ecc6e...But the Democratic minority has a plan to send that issue to the voters, where it's likely to die: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/15/texas-legislature-democrats-school-vouchers-constitutional-amendments/ The Texas Senate has passed SB 37, which would give Republican officeholders control over the curriculum taught about history, inequality and race at Texas colleges: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/texas-senate-approves-bill-that-could-reshape-how-history-race-are-taught-in-universitiesRepublicans are lining up to unseat Laredo Congressman Henry Cuellar, who despite his lack of loyalty, Democrats desperately need to keep in place: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/mayra-flores-henry-cuellar-20277181.php...MAGA types are also lining up for a chance to out-Paxton Ken Paxton at Attorney General: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2025/04/16/ken-paxton-senate-texas-attorney-general-2026-election-race/83049997007/A Houston law firm is fighting back against a presidential executive order in a battle that could set precedent for the risks undertaken by attorneys in standing up to the Trump regime: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/politics/2025/04/14/518705/houston-based-law-firm-files-lawsuit-against-trump-administration-following-executive-order/Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives at our Party For Progress - RSVP here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixerThe 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:A stunning and surreal scene at the White House yesterday saw Donald Trump and El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, in defiance of U.S. courts, refuse to return a wrongly-deported Maryland man - and muse on sending American citizens away next: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzgQT__Az4oReactions from Texas lawmakers including Austin Congressman Greg Casar: https://x.com/RepCasar/status/1911871636292202834?t=IfJmo_wHPrrvhoD3kFMWDw&s=03...El Paso Congresswoman Veronica Escobar: https://x.com/RepEscobar/status/1911828673755488484?t=U3Ac1nkEx-ihBLL6cWVBrA&s=03...and Houston Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia: https://x.com/RepSylviaGarcia/status/1911922043081142496?t=8t-OJfw1dv_ISQukmLYO7w&s=03Could private school vouchers, after three decades of trying, finally be made reality by Texas Republicans? We'll likely find out this week: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/texas-house-taking-up-education-savings-account-bill-senate-school-vouchers-legislature/...The Texas Freedom Network requests your attendance at the Capitol on Wednesday morning: https://act.tfn.org/a/vouchervoteTexas Republicans, amidst ongoing outcry from gun safety advocates to raise age limits for gun ownership, are seeking to lower them instead: https://www.kut.org/2025-04-15/texas-statehouse-senate-loosen-firearm-restrictions...Uvalde moms testified against the lowering of handgun age restrictions from 21 to 18 yesterday: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2025/04/15/mothers-of-uvalde-victims-argue-against-texas-bill-that-would-allow-18-year-olds-to-carry-handguns/Progress Texas is proud to join several of our esteemed advocacy allies in supporting the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act: https://progresstexas.org/release-voting-rights-advocates-cheer-barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-actWe're proud to welcome Mayor Ron Nirenberg as our guest for a live podcast taping in San Antonio on May 6! Please join us for a fun fundraising gathering of progressives at our Party For Progress - RSVP here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/sanantonio_mixerThe 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 Barbara Jordan Texas Voting Rights Act, or TXVRA (which includes HB 5258 and HB 2082) will protect Texas voters from voting discrimination, provide powerful tools to combat voter intimidation, expand language access, and more — to ensure free and fair elections for every Texas voter.We reviewed with Counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Christina M. Das, the Texas Civil Rights Project's Voting Rights Policy Attorney, Veronikah Warms, and Policy Director for Common Cause Texas, Emily Eby French, J.D. on why Texas can and should lead the nation in protecting the right to vote and promoting inclusive democracy by adopting the Texas VRA.Learn more about the Barbara Jordan Voting Rights Act at https://www.naacpldf.org/case-issue/barbara-jordan-texas-voting-rights-act/.Learn more about the Texas Civil Rights Project at https://www.txcivilrights.org/.Learn more about Common Cause Texas at https://www.commoncause.org/texas/Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
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