We recap the wild week in Texas politics. Grab a coldie and hang! Learn more about us at ProgressTexas.org.
Our first Happy Hour of the crucial midterm year features our first conversation with veteran and Dallas attorney Tony Box, whose experience in the military, with the FBI during 9/11, and as a lawyer working both sides of the "vs" makes him an interesting Texan indeed. Tony was the third candidate to announce a run for Texas Attorney General, behind former Galveston mayor Joe Jaworski and Dallas State Senator Nathan Johnson.Learn more about Tony Box at https://tonyboxfortexas.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:Dr. Peter Hotez, Texas' top medical hero, recommends that parents ignore nonsensical new childhood vaccine recommendations coming from the Trump administration, and instead rely on the expertise of their kids' doctors: https://www.tpr.org/bioscience-medicine/2026-01-05/texas-expert-says-changes-to-childhood-vaccine-schedule-are-a-grave-mistakeRepublicans in both Dallas and Hays counties have abandoned plans to hand-count ballots in the upcoming March primary: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/republicans-two-texas-counties-ditch-plans-hand-count-ballots-rcna252388Gubernatorial candidate Andrew White has dropped out of the race, citing fundraising hurdles - he throws his support behind Democratic frontrunner Gina Hinojosa, who graciously accepts: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/05/andrew-white-drops-out-texas-governor-democratic-primary/Michelle Davis at Lone Star Left reminds us that, amidst the news of the move on Venezuela, Big Oil is not an actual economic necessity for Texas - it's rather a symptom of Republican corruption: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/texas-oil-american-warsOn this fifth anniversary of the January 6th uprising, we must renew the events of that day in our minds - not as a memory of a past threat, but as a reminder of what's at stake in the midterm elections: https://www.thebulwark.com/p/january-6th-and-the-never-ending-coup-trump-election-venezuela-stephen-miller-greenland?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email&utm_content=shareEarly voting in the March primary starts in mere weeks, on February 17 - the time to research your ballot is right now: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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 reactions from elected leaders regarding the plucking of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro from power predictably fall largely on party lines: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/texas-politicians-react-to-venezuela-operation-21274471.php...Dallas State Rep. Venton Jones got stuck in St. Maarten due to Venezuelan airspace restrictions: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/national-politics/texas-state-representative-stuck-caribbean-flights-canceled-after-us-military-operation-venezuela/287-28653a3e-0f49-4f66-9b1c-362dfb523a5b...It's all about oil, but just grabbing the dictator does not guarantee an easy path for American and Texan petroleum interests: https://www.ibtimes.co.uk/trumps-venezuela-oil-strategy-raises-questions-over-immediate-gains-texas-1768184...Don't miss a terrific discussion and analysis of the Venezuela situation from last night with a group of Texas candidates for office, all with military and intelligence backgrounds, organized by Richardson Area Democrats: https://www.youtube.com/live/_BDZ4Uz94K0?si=JimxQ8coTjy0R9TqSee the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
On this very first episode of our weekly roundtable session, we try to get positive for once - this time we go around the horn and talk about the ways in which all of us plan to up our political game in the all-important mid-term election year of 2026! If you've already blown your regular resolution, never fear - there's still time to rise to the political challenges we ALL face in this crucial new year.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 of New Year's Day on Thursday, SB-8 takes effect, requiring Texas sheriff's offices with jails to enter into immigration enforcement partnership agreements with ICE: https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-12-30/new-texas-laws-2026-taxes-immigration-ai...Also Thursday, if you rent your home, your rights against your landlord have been eroded by SB-38: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/sb-38-how-new-property-rights-law-changes-game-texas-renters...Blocked at the moment by a federal judge, SB-2420 - a law designed to require app developers to accommodate younger users - will not begin as scheduled on Thursday: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/federal-judge-texas-app-verification-law-blocked/285-f3536b2b-42c7-4a84-9bc8-e4e09d753f88Progress Texas' five most popular podcasts of 2025: #5 was our update on the July 4 flood the following Monday (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/daily-dispatch-7-7-25-texas-flood-death-toll-a/id1552998795?i=1000716183395), #4 was our legislative preview with State Rep. James Talarico (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-191-texas-legislative-preview-with-rep/id1552998795?i=1000683946504), #3 was our In Progress preview of the first No Kings rally in June (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/in-progress-no-kings-protests-the-view-from-cali-and/id1552998795?i=1000712799933), #2 was our coverage of the "People Vs. The Power Grab" rally in Austin in July (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-live-pod-austins-the-people-vs-the-power-grab-rally/id1552998795?i=1000719192502), and our top episode of 2025, a discussion with Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder on the party's HQ relocation to Dallas: (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/minisode-chair-kendall-scudder-on-staff-changes-and/id1552998795?i=1000728437380).See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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:Chris returns from a Christmas trip to New Orleans hoping to host Mayor-Elect Helena Moreno sometime next year: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/06/us/new-orleans-mayor-helena-moreno.htmlLast week's SCOTUS call against deploying Texas National Guard troops into Chicago is the right call - considering how Texas would likely react if the tables were turned: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/texas-troops-illinois-supreme-court-21260958.phpBoth Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico have made a rare move for Democrats - openly embracing religious views in their political messaging: https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/bud-kennedy/article313929686.htmlCurrent Republican views on immigration have devolved significantly from old-school GOP views of immigrants as an economic engine for Texas: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/immigration-emmett-bush-baker-perry-republican-21257013.phpSee the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
'Twas a year of high highs and low lows for Texas progressive types, and as we roll through the holidays and steel ourselves for what looks like exciting prospects in the midterm year of 2026, we look back on both the Texans that gave us hope - and the Texans who gave us heartburn - in the 2025 rundown of the five best and five worst Texans of the year.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:Acting Texas Comptroller Kelly Hancock is asking Attorney General Ken Paxton for legal cover to exclude private schools with ties to CAIR or China from the state's new private school voucher program: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/paxton-islamic-schools-vouchers-21257343.phpThe recently-unsealed divorce records between Paxton and his soon-to-be-ex-wife State Senator Angela Paxton reveal full blame for the divorce from the Senator upon the AG, and his insistence that she receive "nothing" in the settlement: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/ken-paxton-divorce-records-unsealed-21254129.phpThe San Antonio Express editorial board suggests that Texas voters "flush" Ken Paxton over his "creepy" new tipline soliciting photos of alleged bathroom bill violators: https://www.expressnews.com/opinion/editorial/article/ken-paxton-transgender-bathroom-politics-21252847.phpTed Cruz is said to be formulating a 2028 run for President, setting up a clash with Trump VP J.D. Vance: https://azat.tv/en/ted-cruz-president-2028-vance-maga/See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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:New Quinnipiac University polling paints a dismal picture for Donald Trump - but also dissatisfaction among Democrats with their own party: https://www.kvue.com/video/news/politics/texas-this-week/new-polling-shows-voters-intentions-ahead-of-2026-midterm-elections-texas-this-week/269-51e19d7c-319b-40df-8408-11c9ffdba478...Trump's lack of discipline and expertise may be the undoing of his own efforts to establish an American authoritarian regime - but he still has three years to work on it: https://www.vox.com/politics/472346/trump-democracy-2025-haphazard-authoritarianMcClennan County Justice Of The Pease Dianne Hensley, cleared to sue the Texas State Commission on Judicial Conduct for calling her on denying same sex marriages in her courtroom, is now going after the SCOTUS decision that recognized those marriages in 2015: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/19/texas-judge-same-sex-marriage-supreme-court-obergefell/Texas' near-complete ban on abortion care has impacted both new OB/GYN trainees, creating a reproductive medicine "brain drain", but has also pressured experienced veterans of the field to either leave Texas or retire early: https://www.houstonpress.com/news/abortion-ban-is-pushing-medical-students-out-of-texas/Texas' cooperation with Trump's mass deportation efforts have undermined a growing number of criminal cases, as DA's say undocumented witnesses are increasingly reluctant to participate: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/22/texas-district-attorneys-deportation-witnesses-criminal-cases-immigrants/Polling in the race for the Democratic nomination for Texas Attorney General shows a current virtual tie between Dallas State Senator Nathan Johnson and former Galveston Mayor Joe Jaworski: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/meet-the-democrats-running-for-texas-attorney-general/See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
As we wind down another wild week, we recap the news and prepare for the upcoming holiday break. In an era when conservative Christians are weaponizing Christmas into a culture war cudgel, what deeper meaning can progressive folks take away from the Nativity story? We dive in for our regular Friday hang.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work into this crucial upcoming election year at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The U.S. House of Representatives closes down for the holiday after passing a Republican healthcare bill that does not protect ACA subsidies - all Texas Republicans voted for it, and all Texas Democrats voted no: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/19/texas-republicans-congress-health-care-obamacare-subsidies-2026-midterms/...Less unity among Texas House Democrats, however, as both Henry Cuellar and Vicente Gonzalez voted for and facilitated the passage of a bill criminalizing gender care for trans kids: https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2025/12/democrats-should-kick-the-three-transphobes-who-voted-for-mtgs-bill-out-of-the-caucus/Senate candidate James Talarico and congressional candidate Bobby Pulido endorsed each other at a joint rally in South Texas yesterday: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/18/texas-james-talarico-bobby-pulido-senate-congress/Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett's comments on that strange Donald Trump speech this week: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/17/politics/video/rep-jasmine-crockett-on-trumps-address-to-the-nation-like-a-used-car-salesman-in-front-of-the-american-peopleDonald Trump, possibly desperate to put that bizarre speech behind him, has signed an executive order relaxing restrictions on medical use and research regarding cannabis products: https://www.kens5.com/article/news/local/texas/trump-texas-marijuana-weed-medical-cannabis-industry-san-antonio/273-16dd9155-97cb-49d8-b076-262adc2c2720Texas DPS has over doubled their fleet of surveillance drones under Operation Lone Star - it's now almost as big as the U.S. Border Patrol's federal inventory: https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-dps-drone-fleet-doubled-in-size/See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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:That list of over two thousand "potential noncitizens" flagged as being possible illegally registered immigrants on Texas' voter roll includes dozens who have recently proven their citizenship to Texas DPS: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/18/texas-voter-roll-citizens-investigation/...Austin State Rep. Gina Hinojosa holds a commanding lead for the Democratic nomination to take on Governor Greg Abbott in November, while the race for attorney general is a virtual tie between Dallas State Senator Nathan Johnson and Joe Jaworski: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/67aa7aa3e284b002cd6a420e/t/694292a4ac28ed4d522f38b6/1765970596857/TXDem2026GovAG_TSU.pdfHouston Mayor John Whitmire has been formally reprimanded by the Harris County Democratic Party for his centrist governing style - he's barred from future endorsements by the county party: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/houston-mayor-john-whitmire-harris-county-democratic-party-endorsement-withheld/What creative use might YOU come up with for Ken Paxton's new potty police tip line? https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/texas-womens-privacy-act-complaint-formTexas State University, citing "the current climate of our state", has rescinded their own invitation to the Black History 101 Mobile Museum to visit their San Marcos campus for Black History Month in February: https://universitystar.com/34095/news/aclu-expresses-concern-after-texas-state-revokes-approval-for-black-history-museum-visit/A blue wave continues to build with a whopping 73% win in a three-way special election by a Democrat in Kentucky for their state senate: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5651795-democrat-gary-clemons-elected/See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
What a terrific time at BOTH of our 2025 holiday parties! The second, in Dallas, went down at the awesome People's Last Stand in Mockingbird Station on Monday night and, like our Austin celebration, saw a record crowd come out for a great live talk with Austin State Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, Austin State Rep. and candidate for Texas Lieutenant Governor Vikki Goodwin, Texas Attorney General candidate Joe Jaworski, and outgoing House Democratic Campaign Committee Chair and Houston State Rep. Gene Wu! Once again, THANK YOU to all the panelists, donors and attendees who made our 2025 holiday gatherings and fundraiser a terrific success.Learn more about Rep. Gina Hinojosa at https://ginafortexas.com/.Learn more about Rep. Vikki Goodwin at https://www.vikkigoodwin.com/.Learn more about Joe Jaworski at https://www.jaworskifortexas.com/.Learn more about Rep. Gene Wu at https://www.genefortexas.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work into the new year and beyond at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The Texas Democratic Party's effort to fill every state and federal race on the 2026 ballot represents the very first time that either party has done so in state history: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/17/texas-democrats-down-ballot-2026/Texas DPS has continued compiling a list of transgender Texans while refusing to explain what it's for: https://www.kut.org/politics/2025-12-15/texas-trans-transgender-drivers-license-id-list-privacyThe Gaines County measles outbreak resulted in a massive decline in school attendance at Seminole ISD schools, resulting in an educational delay that will take months if not years to overcome: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/17/texas-measles-mennonite-seminole-aftermath/...Meanwhile the Mennonite community at the center of the outbreak is more vexed by health officials blaming them for the outbreak, and are now even more deeply dug in against vaccines: https://www.hoover.org/news/absences-texas-school-district-spiked-41-percent-after-measles-outbreak-says-hoover-scholarWe had a terrific time this year at both of our 2025 Holiday Parties! THANK YOU to all of our supporters and attendees: https://progresstexas.org/blog/live-podcast-lineup-progress-texas-holiday-parties-now-releasedSee the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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:Fort Worth Congressman Marc Veasey has withdrawn his run for Tarrant County Judge, leaving Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons the presumptive Democratic nominee to face Republican incumbent Tim O'Hare: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/15/marc-veasey-withdraws-from-tarrant-county-judge-race-2026/Governor Greg Abbott intends to invest over a quarter of his war chest - about $25 million - into an effort to turn Houston and Harris County "dark red": https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/greg-abbott-harris-county-flip-control-21225365.phpA new grassroots initiative to keep tabs on the ongoing efforts to ban books across Texas' school districts is underway, and YOU can join the effort: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/book-ban-information-request-21223247.phpWe had a terrific time this year at both of our 2025 Holiday Parties! THANK YOU to all of our supporters and attendees: https://progresstexas.org/blog/live-podcast-lineup-progress-texas-holiday-parties-now-releasedSee the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Former Dallas Congressman Colin Allred's pivot from a second run for the U.S. Senate is only one of the results of the late-breaking announcement of a Senate run by fellow Dallas lawmaker Jasmine Crockett last week. Allred is now in a primary contest with Congresswoman Julie Johnson, interestingly the official who replaced Allred upon his departure from the U.S. House as he challenged Senator Ted Cruz in 2024. We're glad to accommodate Congressman Allred's request to join us and share his perspective on the fast-changing primary picture in Texas.Learn more about Congressman Colin Allred's campaign at https://colinallred.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 likelihood of a major swing back away from the Donald Trump GOP in Texas, especially among Latino voters, is casting doubt on the prospects of the new congressional map benefiting Trump in the way he had intended: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/14/politics/texas-redistricting-gop-latinos?cid=external-feeds_iluminar_msn...While they're grossed out by Henry Cuellar's recent pardon by Trump, it appears likely to play to Democrats' electoral advantage next year: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/15/henry-cuellar-trump-pardon-local-gop-fallout-disappointed/?_bhlid=acec7a9626e11d6a2a5d3ce13794f1944cea35a9Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett leads State Rep. James Talarico by 8 points in the first polling comparing them in the Senate race: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/jasmine-crockett-leads-james-talarico-in-first-poll-post-announcement/The Democratic primary contest between Congresswoman Julie Johnson and former Congressman Colin Allred appears to have potential for inter-party ugliness: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/15/north-texas-congress-colin-allred-julie-johnson-dallas-33rd-district-2026/?_bhlid=562456b20cdc6ef38105bc9c837f423f13c6295dWe hope to see you TONIGHT in Dallas for the second of our two 2025 Holiday Parties! https://progresstexas.org/blog/live-podcast-lineup-progress-texas-holiday-parties-now-releasedSee the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
We say this every week...but, what a week! The crew gathers for our weekly offload session at the end of the week following the 2026 filing deadline to discuss turncoat Democrats, the new plan to force Turning Point USA into ALL Texas high schools, and the upcoming Democratic primary - headlined of course by "Jasarico"! Our heads, as always on a Friday afternoon, are fully aspin.Thanks for listening! Learn how to support Progress Texas and our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Analysis of the contrast between the approaches of Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico deepens and is shaping the parameters of the primary contest between them: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/12/jasmine-crockett-james-talarico-texas-senate-primary-democrats-future.html...Also, Crockett's strategy to mobilize and grow the Democratic base comes into contrast with the more traditional strategy of inter-party persuasion of Talarico come into contrast: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-race-vibes-based-political-strategy.html...Meanwhile the GOP is eager to face Crockett, claiming to have "lured" her into running for Senate: https://www.foxnews.com/video/6386303950112Lone Star Left's Michelle Davis focuses on the woefully underqualified Julie Pickren of the State Board of Education and the Democrats seeking to rid the state of her destructive influence: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-2026-texas-democratic-primaries-976South Texas Democratic Candidate Etienne Rosas tried to ask Governor Greg Abbott a question at a Weslaco event earlier this week, and ended up forcibly ejected from the event by a local police officer: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/abbott-event-rosas-removed-21237141.phpConditions for detainees at a South Texas immigrant detention center are reported to have become deplorably inhumane: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/09/politics/migrant-families-ice-detention-facility-texasSee the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.We had a blast at our first of two holiday parties in Austin, and are excited to see YOU at the second in Dallas! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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:For the first time in half a century, Democrats are on the ballot in every single state, federal and judicial election in 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEYSRjVXZb4...The National Democratic Party and the House Democratic Campaign Committee are zeroing in on five potential State House seats to flip: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/10/texas-house-legislature-election-2026-national-democrats/...Lone Star Left projects runoffs in the races for Governor and Attorney General, but a likely outright primary win for State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, who is running for Lt. Governor: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-2026-texas-democratic-primariesAnybody else find Governor Abbott's warning to Texas high school administrators not to resist the state installation of Turning Point USA clubs in every high school in the state a little...Hitler Youth-ish? https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2025/12/11/gov-abbotts-endorsement-of-turning-point-usa-doesnt-pass-smell-test/The New York Times takes a deep dive on the MAGA overrunning of UT Austin: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/us/university-of-texas-republicans-academic-freedom-faculty.htmlThe Texas Tribune takes a deep dive on the reasons Texas A&M ran off president Mark Welsh: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/11/mark-welsh-texas-a-m-president-takeaway/A growing number of promising college professor candidates are choosing to skip the headaches of teaching at Texas colleges: https://www.houstonpress.com/news/university-professors-say-they-dont-want-to-teach-in-texas/See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.We had a blast at our first of two holiday parties in Austin, and are excited to see YOU at the second in Dallas! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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 Democratic primary contest between Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico for the nomination for the U.S. Senate takes center stage in Texas following the filing deadline: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/09/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-democratic-primary-turnout-persuasion-2026/...A bombshell NOTUS report says that the National Republican Senatorial Committee is behind manipulative polling and covert digital information seeding meant to encourage Crockett to enter the Senate race: https://www.notus.org/senate/jasmine-crockett-nrsc-texas-senate...Former Democratic nominee for Railroad Commissioner Katherine Culbert, who has filed for that same race in 2026 as a Republican, is accused of misleading Lone Star Left writer Michelle Davis about her campaign intentions as late as October: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/how-katherine-culbert-tried-to-useAnother Democratic win after a long Republican winning streak - another sign of a building blue wave - comes as Democrat Eileen Higgins is elected mayor of Miami, Florida: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/09/miami-mayor-election-winner-eileen-higginsGovernor Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announce the state-sponsored establishment of new Turning Point USA chapters at all Texas high schools, complete with warnings against local resistance: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/08/texas-turning-point-usa-greg-abbott-high-schools/A majority of the Arlington City Council, ignoring overwhelming public testimony, votes not to reinstate protections for their LGBTQ+ residents: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/09/arlington-texas-lgbtq-discrimination-protections/Blinn Community College in Brenham has led the charge on the bathroom bill, installing laminated paper signs designating bathrooms specifically for "biological" men and women: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/blinn-college-biological-bathroom-signs-21230334.phpAustin techbro California transplant, Palantir and University of Austin co-founder Jon Lonsdale is calling for the return of public executions of people convicted of violent crimes: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/texas-joe-lonsdale-public-executions-21230890.phpThe U.S. Supreme Court paves the way for book banning as it declines to hear an case challenging the removal of books by local officials in Llano: https://www.axios.com/2025/12/09/texas-book-removal-case-supreme-court-llano-countySee the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE and HERE.We had a blast at our first of two holiday parties in Austin, and are excited to see YOU at the second in Dallas! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Terrific time on Monday night at the first of our two 2025 holiday parties - Antone's in downtown Austin has become a bit of an HQ for us and we're proud to have enjoyed the biggest crowd we've had there yet! Enjoy our talk with Austin State Senator and newly-filed Texas Comptroller candidate Sarah Eckhardt, San Antonio State Senator Roland Gutierrez, and Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri.Our second holiday party this year happens in Dallas on Monday December 15, featuring another live podcast recording with a great panel of guests - learn more and grab your tickets at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:As the filing deadline expires, the full picture of the primaries in the 2026 elections are set, including as expected, a Senate run for Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/08/us/colin-allred-senate-texas-primary.html...A battle is brewing between Colin Allred and Rep. Julie Johnson, who are now Democratic primary opponents for CD 33: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/elections/colin-allred-files-run-new-house-seat-also-sought-after-rep-julie-johnson/287-4a128864-f352-4034-b930-00083565eb84...A surprising move for Congressman Marc Veasey, who foregoes an eighth run for Congress and filed for Tarrant County Judge, setting up a Dem clash with Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons in that race: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/08/marc-veasey-tarrant-county-judge-democratic-primary-2026/Agriculture Commissioner Clayton Tucker ends up unopposed in the primary, and he notes that State Rep. Jon Rosenthal does the same in the Railroad Commissioner race - noting also that the last Democratic nominee in that race, Katherine Culbert - nominated over Progress Texas endorsee Bill Burch - filed again yesterday as a Republican: https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-145-meet-our-progress-texas-primary-endorseesWe had a blast at our first of two holiday parties in Austin, and are excited to see YOU at the second in Dallas! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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 final day of election filing, presumed Senate candidate Colin Allred has announced a pivot to a run for House District 33, in which he will be a primary challenger for Congresswoman Julie Johnson: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/08/colin-allred-drops-out-senate-democratic-primary-congress-33rd-district-dallas/...CD 33 is currently represented by Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, who is widely expected to announce a run for Senate today at 4:30: https://www.notus.org/campaigns/jasmine-crockett-senate-run-deadline...Austin State Senator Sarah Eckhardt, presumed running in CD 9, has announced a pivot to a run for Texas State Comptroller: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/embargoed-until-7-am-state-sen-sarah-eckhardt-announces-run-for-texas-comptroller/269-ae482203-ee34-4918-b951-6b8ae9176601Donald Trump is perturbed that Laredo Congressman Henry Cuellar, whom Trump pardoned of international corruption charges last week, failed to switch to the Republican Party for his re-election: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/us/politics/trump-henry-cuellar-democrat-run-criticism.htmlAn analysis of the recent SCOTUS call on the Texas congressional map reveals a complicated scenario of pretzel logic in which the high court "twisted itself around about the presumption it was applying because of its own presumptuousness”: https://verdict.justia.com/2025/12/08/a-presumptuous-supreme-court-gives-texas-legislators-an-unearned-presumption-of-good-faithWe're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Never a dull week in Texas, but we've managed to narrow yet another crazy Texas political news cycle down to three items: the 100% partisan decision by the U.S. Supreme Court to block a lower court ruling and allow the racist, Trump-demanded gerrymander of Texas to very likely be in place for next year's mid-terms, the inexplicable but somehow fitting pardon of Laredo Congressman Henry Cuellar by Trump, relieving Cuellar for accountability under suspicion of international corruption, and the impending announcement of...something, coming from Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett on Monday.Thanks to Common Cause Texas Policy Director and PT bestie Emily French for joining us! Learn more about their work at https://www.commoncause.org/texas/.And we're super stoked that this In Progress episode, and all thereafter, will be airing in Houston on Sunday morning starting at 11:30 on KPFT-FM 90.1 FM HD-2 starting this weekend! Stream at https://kpft.org/listen-live-hd2/.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 expected, the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed the 2-1 lower court decision to block the racial gerrymander of Texas, paving the way for the new map Donald Trump ordered to be in place for the midterms: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/04/texas-redistricting-map-us-supreme-court-2026-midterms/...It's time for Democrats and progressives to get familiar with the new map, both for your own voting purposes and for bringing the fight to the most advantageous places: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/04/2025-texas-redistricting-maps/Progress Texas is hitting the airwaves in Houston this weekend! Our "In Progress" weekend roundtable will be featured on KPFT-FM HD-2 each Sunday morning at 11:30, starting this weekend on December 7. Our new radio initiative will require both new equipment and manpower expenses, and this Giving Tuesday, we could use your support: https://progresstexas.org/donateWe're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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:Donald Trump's pardon of Henry Cuellar on conspiracy and bribery charges is curious in that it strengthens Cuellar's reelection chances , just as the Trump-ordered new map changes CD-18 for stronger GOP performance: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas-take/article/trump-help-texas-democrat-cuellar-2026-21221113.php...Cuellar was accused of intervening on the behalf of Azerbaijan in Congress, while living lavishly on the proceeds of the bribe: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/03/henry-cuellar-donald-trump-pardon-bribery/On the same day, a concert venue developer accused of rigging the bidding process for Austin's Moody Center was also pardoned: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-pardons-tim-leiweke-oak-view-group-charged-justice-department-rcna247307Progress Texas is hitting the airwaves in Houston! Our "In Progress" weekend roundtable will be featured on KPFT-FM HD-2 each Sunday morning at 11:30, starting this weekend on December 7. Our new radio initiative will require both new equipment and manpower expenses, and this Giving Tuesday, we could use your support: https://progresstexas.org/donateWe're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Rural Texas used to have a robust Democratic presence, and thus its fair share of Democratic officeholders - of course, that hasn't been the case for decades, since the coordinated campaign efforts of the early '90s. But there ARE still progressive people living in MAGA country, and the four courageous Texans featured on today's talk have stepped up to give ALL rural Texas voters a better option in 2026.Learn more about Diana Luna at https://www.facebook.com/61580017416028/.Learn more about Mark Nair at https://www.marknair.com/.Learn more about Kyle Rable at https://www.rableforwesttexas.com/.Learn more about Riley Rodriquez at https://www.rileyforsenate.org/.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:Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, long thought to be considering jumping into the race for the U.S. Senate, has scheduled an announcement for Monday afternoon: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/02/jasmine-crockett-senate-texas-allred-talarico/...Multiple progressive thought leaders in Texas point out the issues with a Crockett candidacy - including an overstacking of the most influential Democratic players in a single race, and the high level of MAGA "negative partisanship" directed at Crockett: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/whether-its-jasmine-mania-or-fantasyProgress Texas is hitting the airwaves in Houston! Our "In Progress" weekend roundtable will be featured on KPFT-FM HD-2 each Sunday morning at 11:30, starting this weekend on December 7. Our new radio initiative will require both new equipment and manpower expenses, and this Giving Tuesday, we could use your support: https://progresstexas.org/donateWe're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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:As the 2025 congressional map looks more likely, so does a Senate run for Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett - leading to fears of division among Texas Democrats: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/video/texas-2025-maps-hang-on-scotus-stay-as-rep-jasmine-crockett-weighs-senate-run/ ...Austin State Rep. and declared Senate candidate James Talarico continues to preach Democratic solidarity: https://www.texasobserver.org/james-talarico-big-tent-revival-primary/...On the GOP side of the Senate race, Congressman Wesley Hunt is shaping up to be an actual factor against John Cornyn and Ken Paxton: https://ballotbeacon.substack.com/p/polls-show-heated-republican-primary?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=3p63l&triedRedirect=trueThe recent wave of Republican departures from Congress is looking like a dark omen for GOP prospects in 2026: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas-take/article/gop-retirements-texas-signal-trouble-ahead-trump-21217271.php...The retirement of Houston Rep. Troy Nehls is seen as an immediate improvement, no matter who replaces him: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/troy-nehls-ike-dike-good-riddance-evan-mintz-21217088.php...California Republican Rep. Darrell Issa, with Prop 50 looming at home, is thinking about running for one of the freshly-reddened seats in Texas: https://punchbowl.news/article/house/darrell-issa-texas-major-shakeup/Progress Texas is hitting the airwaves in Houston! Our "In Progress" weekend roundtable will be featured on KPFT-FM HD-2 each Sunday morning at 11:30, starting this weekend on December 7. Our new radio initiative will require both new equipment and manpower expenses, and this Giving Tuesday, we could use your support: https://progresstexas.org/donateWe're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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:With no word from the U.S. Supreme Court coming last week on the Texas congressional map, most players are resigned to the idea that the 2025 map will be in place for the 2026 midterms: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/u-s-supreme-court-texas-redistricting-case-extend-administrative-stay/...With Democratic redistricting wins in several other states, the new map is unlikely to give Donald Trump the edge he had in mind: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/republicans-started-redistricting-war-win/story?id=127962734SB 8 - the bathroom bill - takes effect on Thursday, and the vague enforcement language in it will make abuse likely: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/01/texas-senate-bill-8-bathroom-restrictions-law/Trump lackey Troy Nehls of Fort Bend County has become the sixth Republican congressman to announce he's not running in 2026 for his current seat: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/troy-nehls-republicans-retiring-21215303.phpWe're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
It's helpful to occasionally step back and ask ourselves: what is it exactly about our morals, and values, and expectations, and hopes and dreams that makes us progressive people? The PT crew sits down to mull that thought for this Thanksgiving weekend.See the full list of priorities in our Certified Progressive Program at https://progresstexas.org/blog/certified-progressive.Thanks for listening and happy Thanksgiving! 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:Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder from Forbes Breaking News: https://youtu.be/dUxt8drC2lE?si=Rq1LZkuXv1MCqe-t...The call on the Texas map could come from the U.S. Supreme Court by the end of Thanksgiving week, as SCOTUS also wrestles with several other voting rights cases: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5622226-texas-redistricting-supreme-court/...Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act appears to be on shaky ground: https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/the-voting-rights-act-is-still-working-to-stop-racist-laws-the-supreme-court-might-not-care/...Data from a Spokane, Washington Flock camera system appears to indicate that the Johnson County sheriff's office was indeed using it in pursuit of a Texas woman on suspicion that she had had an illegal abortion: https://rangemedia.co/flock-safety-cameras-spokane-county-abortion-texas/...Johnson County Sheriff Adam King, since then, has come under multiple criminal indictments and lost his peace officer's license - but remains in office as Ken Paxton declines to intervene: https://www.keranews.org/politics/2025-11-24/adam-king-ken-paxton-opinion-indictment-harassment-retaliationTexas has dumped $5,000,000 - the first half of a planned $10,000,000 - into bitcoin: https://cryptoticker.io/en/texas-spends-dollar5-million-on-bitcoin-heres-why/...Meanwhile, worry grows that cryptocurrency mining and data centers will place an unsustainable burden on Texas' power grid, which could prove catastrophic when the next ice storm hits: https://www.govtech.com/question-of-the-day/will-all-of-texas-data-centers-lead-to-more-blackouts-this-winterWe're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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 response from the plaintiffs against the new Trump-ordered congressional map of Texas came yesterday in the form of an argument against the applicability of the Purcell doctrine, which in normal situations discourages courts from making decisions that alter impending elections: https://www.newsweek.com/samuel-alito-texas-election-map-supreme-court-challenge-11100706Governor Abbott's recent penchant for capitulation and submission to Trump is in stark contrast to Texas values - and Abbott's own recent track record with the feds: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/24/greg-abbott-trump-presidential-power-state-rights/Recent transparency moves at Twitter reveal Elon Musk's platform to be the "worthless, poisoned hall of mirrors" it has long been suspected to be: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/2025/11/x-about-this-account/685042/We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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:With SCOTUS Justice Sam Alito's stay on the El Paso court panel's decision against the Trump map, a full decision of the Supreme Court is next - and could take long enough to end the discussion for the midterms: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/22/us-supreme-court-samuel-alito-grants-stay-in-texas-redistricting-lawsuit/87412332007/...The State invoked the "Purcell principle" in its application to Alito, which discourages courts from action interfering with impending elections: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/texas-asks-scotus-to-reimpose-anti-minority-gerrymander/Texas colleges and universities are becoming nationally notorious for our slipping standards regarding free speech rights on campus: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/free-speech-ut-college-protest-trump-21198378.php...A faculty committee at Texas A&M has determined that administrators did not have a solid case in firing English professor Melissa McCoul: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/22/texas-am-professor-fired-faculty-panel-ruling/...UT Austin remains silent on the Trump compact, even as the deadline to accept or reject passed on Friday: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/17/university-of-texas-trump-policy-changes-federal-funding/We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
A guest episode here of an interview done with Progress Texas Podcasting Director Chris Mosser on the podcast The Progressive South and its leader Jesse Mayshark on what Progress Texas is, how we do what we do, and importantly WHY we do what we do. Thanks for the invitation Jesse!Learn more about The Progressive South at https://theprogressivesouth.org/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Since we recorded this episode, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sam Alito has placed a temporary stay on the El Paso ruling against the new Texas congressional map and requested that the plaintiffs respond by the end of Monday, putting the 2025 map back into play for the moment: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/21/texas-redistricting-supreme-court-temporary-stay/That Dallas Observer poll we discuss - we say dig in on both the political discussion AND the can-shaped cranberry sauce: https://www.dallasobserver.com/food-drink/most-hated-thanksgiving-dishes-and-topics-to-avoid-with-family-40618949/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 D/FW and Austin chapters of the Council On American-Islamic Relations or CAIR has sued to strike down Governor Abbott's inflammatory declaration that they are part of a terrorist organization: https://apnews.com/article/texas-muslim-group-governor-abbott-sues-terrorist-a60f8349892597d1df9131f3bddda721...Abbott has also attacked The Islamic Tribunal in Dallas, a mediation firm that serves the Muslim community, much like similar tribunals maintained by other religions and denominations: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/dallas-islamic-tribunal-targeted-by-governor-in-anti-muslim-push-40618806/...CAIR Texas says they'll continue their work in the meanwhile: https://www.houstonpress.com/news/cair-will-continue-civil-rights-work-despite-abbotts-terrorism-declaration/Abbott is hot under the collar over his former clerk and current Judge Jeff Brown, who wrote the opinion against Abbott's new map: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/greg-abbott-redistricting-judge-21198732.php...Pending a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court, county election officials in Texas have been instructed to prepare to use the old 2021 map: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/20/redistricting-order-2026-midterms-forces-election-officials-candidates-scramble/?_bhlid=623e4216f2eefc6bc4f2592a45cc1d1957f75d26...The rambling, ranting dissent opinion from Judge Jerry Smith serves as a great example of the perils of lifetime judicial appointments, while doing nothing to undermine the majority's opinion: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/11/texas-gerrymander-judge-soros-trump-crazy.html...Not only does Trump's GOP potentially lose the artificial advantage they were seeking, they also still have to face the wrath of the voters: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas-take/article/redistricting-ruling-helps-democrats-congress-21197366.phpWe're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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 national redistricting arms race that Texas Republicans helped Donald Trump start is not going their way at the moment: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/19/texas-redistricting-map-california-national-arms-race/...Prop 50 in California was proposed as contingent on Texas going through with redistricting, not a failure to pass legal muster - thus, it's still in play: https://abc7.com/post/prop-50-impacted-judges-block-texas-using-new-house-map-expert-says/18175003/...On the 2021 map, Texas Republicans were faced with sticking with their own arguments or adopting Trump's deeply flawed narrative - they went with Trump, of course: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2025/11/20/texas-republicans-own-words-backfired-on-them-in-gerrymandering-ruling/...Prop 50 doesn't have the same legal frailty as the Texas map, as their voters were asked to vote for it to oppose Trump's power grab, which is 100% political: https://prospect.org/2025/11/20/texas-said-wrong-magic-words-rigging-their-maps/...Judge Jeff Brown's call comes from a guy with deep ties to Trump, Abbott, Rick Perry and more: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/redistrict-gerrymander-texas-judge-jeff-brown-21195989.php...Brown is no liberal - his rulings on same sex marriage and reproductive rights are offensive to progressives - but in this case, he couldn't ignore the flimsy case of the GOP: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/19/texas-redistricting-ruling-judge-jeffrey-brown-republican-attacks/...Meanwhile dissenting Judge Jerry Smith is attacking Brown and the map's opponents as lackeys of George Soros and Gavin Newsom in a highly partisan and unprofessional opinion: https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/19/texas-redistricting-case-dissent-00660625?ICID=ref_fark&utm_content=link&utm_medium=website&utm_source=fark...Read Smith's rant here: https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.txwd.1150387/gov.uscourts.txwd.1150387.1439.0.pdf We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Listen up - because your healthcare costs are about to increase! ACA tax credits are set to expire by the end of 2025, and millions are at risk of becoming uninsured. Learn about how our system leaves so many behind on how we got here, from Dr. Ricardo Nuila, author of “The People's Hospital: Hope and Peril in American Medicine.” He shared with the PT team about the Texas healthcare system, Medicaid, and more on living in the state with the highest uninsured rate in the country. Dr. Nuila works as an internal medicine doctor and hospitalist in his hometown of Houston, is an associate professor of medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, and has written for Texas Monthly, VQR, The New York Times Sunday Review, The Atlantic.com, and The New England Journal of Medicine. Learn more about Dr. Ricardo Nuila at https://www.ricardonuila.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:A three-judge panel in El Paso has put the brakes on the Trump-ordered mid-decade redistricting of Texas' congressional map: https://apnews.com/article/redistricting-texas-map-blocked-lawsuit-trump-ab4dc519717c6661c63e116c9f26d899The state, as expected, has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, who now have the next move: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/what-comes-next-for-texas-blocked-gop-gerrymander/The plans of dozens of incumbents and candidates are thrown into a degree of chaos: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/18/texas-congressional-redistricting-map-ruling-2026-effect/We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
A major story as that panel of three judges - two of whom are Republican appointees - have decided that the GOP-led and Donald Trump-ordered mid-decade redistricting of Texas, designed to help Trump artificially maintain his control over the U.S. House of Representatives, is unlawful. There's lots to come here - Progress Texas board member and Fort Worth attorney Jason Smith joins us to discuss.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 Trump changes his tune on the Epstein files, Texas Republicans are suddenly also no longer opposed - showing their spineless complicity with the Dear Leader: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/jeffrey-epstein-files-texas-congress-21192934.php...Trump could just order the release of the files - but language in the discharge petition may protect him from their complete release: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/us/politics/trump-epstein-files-congress.htmlTexas' junior Senator Ted Cruz may be using his recent feud with Tucker Carlson and related hard-right loons to make himself look relatively normal ahead of a 2028 presidential run: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/11/17/trump-reacts-ted-cruz-2028-presidential-run/87325162007/83% of Texans who use the Affordable Care Act for their health insurance coverage are about to see their premiums double, at least: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/10/30/texas-aca-obamacare-health-insurance-open-enrollment/The Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. are preparing a legal and public relations challenge to the THC ban that was attached to the bill that ended the federal government shutdown: https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/texas-veterans-thc-hemp-ban-21189415.phpThe head of FEMA, after a disastrous response to the July 4 floods in Texas, is headed for the door: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/fema-david-richardson-resigned-texas-21192820.phpA Texas judge has rejected Ken Paxton's requests to ban the company that makes Tylenol from testifying that the product is safe for pregnant women, and a request to stop them from paying dividends to their shareholders: https://arstechnica.com/health/2025/11/judge-smacks-down-texas-ags-request-to-immediately-block-tylenol-ads/The embattled former CEO of Alamo Trust is suing Lt. Governor Ken Paxton and Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, who pressured her to resign over what they saw as her "woke" supervision of the Alamo: https://www.expressnews.com/news/texas/article/alamo-ceo-lawsuit-resignation-21193101.phpAfter weeks and weeks, the University of Texas at Austin remains silent on whether or not they will accept Donald Trump's "compact", which would turn burnt orange into the new MAGA red: https://www.kxan.com/news/whats-actually-happening-ut-austin-students-feel-left-in-the-dark-university-remains-silent-on-trump-compact-deal/The Houston Black American Democrats are hosting both Colin Allred and James Talarico tonight (Tuesday 11/18) at 6pm for a Texas Senate Race Spotlight at 6pm: https://maps.app.goo.gl/jbHXb62bZRXupMUo6We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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:Donald Trump's call for Republicans to stop resisting the full release of the Epstein files comes just after Ted Cruz, John Cornyn and Chip Roy all voted to keep them secret: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/texas-news/u-s-senators-ted-cruz-and-john-cornyn-of-texas-voted-against-releasing-epstein-files/Houston Mayor John Whitmire is struggling to control the narrative as criticism mounts that the Houston Police Department has been cooperating with ICE: https://cw39.com/news/local/mayor-whitmire-continues-to-defend-hpds-policy-with-ice/...No help for Whitmire that former Harris County DA and Democratic turncoat Kim Ogg has applauded Whitmire for working with ICE: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/houston/article/ogg-whitmire-ice-collaboration-21164719.php...Lots of voting ahead, and a fair amount of confusion as well, for voters in Houston's CD-18: https://www.votebeat.org/texas/2025/11/14/18th-congressional-district-houston-runoff-election/Charlotte Jones, chief brand officer for the Dallas Cowboys and daughter of owner Jerry Jones, eluded a leading question by a right wing podcaster on Bad Bunny's booking at the Super Bowl, calling it "amazing" and a celebration of America's "mixed culture": https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/maga-podcaster-katie-millers-bad-bunny-trap-question-backfires-40616710/We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
It's very difficult to keep a secret in Texas politics, so a great many of the hundreds of folks who crowded into San Antonio's Backyard On Broadway this afternoon probably already knew what former mayor Ron Nirenberg was gonna say. But that didn't stop a pretty awesome announcement party from happening! We'll save the secret for the podcast, even though you've probably already had it spoiled.Learn more about Ron Nirenberg and his new campaign at https://voteron.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how to support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
The team had a great time with our friends from the Asian Texans For Justice Action Fund at the Clay Pit in downtown Austin! Houston State Rep. Gene Wu and Houston City Councilwoman (and Harris County Judge candidate) Letitia Plummer joined us for a fun and inspiring conversation centered on our AAPI community in Texas, but applicable to ALL of us who strive for progressive change.Learn more about the Asian Texans For Justice Action Fund at https://www.atjactionfund.org/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Another wild week ends with the tantalizing release of thousands of Jeffrey Epstein's emails - for us, a reminder that the GOP is still sitting on the real goods, and are doing everything they can to keep that lid on good and tight. We're joined by Austin immigration attorney and Texas House District 50 candidate Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch to discuss that, and to give us her highly expert take on the current state of the ever-evolving dilemma that immigrant and Latino families are doing their best to endure in our state.Learn more about Kate Lincoln-Goldfinch and her run for the State House at https://www.klgfortexas.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:Several Texas ties surface amidst the trove of Jeffrey Epstein's emails dropped yesterday, including Elon Musk: https://apnews.com/article/epstein-documents-trump-andrew-emails-7bdf92fd2d742f88789b2b5d67bf9f48...And disgraced Baylor president and Monica Lewinsky scandal attorney Ken Starr: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/ken-starr-jeffrey-epstein-emails-21171020.php...The CD-18 election could be key to the release of the rest of the Epstein files, should any of the four Republicans who have sided with the Democrats be pressured away: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas-take/article/vacant-houston-congressional-seat-play-key-role-21169101.phpThe Trump DOJ has sued California over Prop 50, while issuing no complaint about Texas or any other state that has redrawn their maps for Republican advantage: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgwlze7ex2oTribfest sessions reveal deep regret among Texas House Dems for supporting Speaker Dustin Burrows during the 2025 session: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/13/texas-tribune-festival-house-speaker-dustin-burrows/Progress Texas is co-hosting a podcast taping event on Friday night at Austin's Clay Pit, walking distance from the Texas Tribune Festival! Learn more and RSVP: https://asiantexansforjustice.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=/portal/events/28253We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! 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: Our conversation yesterday with Beto O'Rourke: https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-242-beto-orourke-and-power-peopleDonald Trump has signed legislation ending the federal government shutdown - including language that more or less kills the consumable hemp industry in one year: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/hemp-thc-ban-21169676.php...Laredo Congressman Henry Cuellar was the only Texas Democrat in the U.S. House to vote for it: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/12/house-funding-deal-government-shutdown-texas-delegation-congress/Governor Greg Abbott, in his reelection announcement, says he wants to slash property taxes - what that really means is slashing funding for public schools: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/texas-abbott-public-schools-private-21168431.phpAnother election year, another rumor that Matthew McConaughey might run - but it's not looking likely this year: https://parade.com/news/mysterious-matthew-mcconaughey-for-governor-stage-in-texas-sends-fans-into-frenzy...The collision of celebrity and politics isn't new, but it does take new forms in the modern digital age: https://www.newsbreak.com/ceo-today-317560537/4344086391748-matthew-mcconaughey-s-texas-governor-ambitionsTarrant County GOP Chair Bo French has finally stepped down - not because his fellow Republicans are calling for him to quit, but to run for the Texas Railroad Commission: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/bo-french-railroad-commission-21169058.php...We think that's great news for Democratic Railroad Commission candidate and Houston State Rep. Jon Rosenthal: https://progresstexas.org/podcast/happy-hour-237-railroad-commission-candidate-and-houston-state-rep-jon-rosenthalMike Collier announces a run for Lieutenant Governor - his third try, but his first as an independent: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/mike-collier-ditches-both-parties-new-bid-to-become-texas-lt-governor/287-545d1694-78d1-41c8-a1e4-72cc332e4e1eLubbock city officials are preparing to rip out several crosswalks painted to commemorate Buddy Holly - no surprise considering that town's purely commercial regard for their most famous son: https://www.lubbockonline.com/story/news/2025/11/12/lubbock-removing-buddy-holly-glasses-other-road-art-for-state-feds/87219016007/Progress Texas is co-hosting a podcast taping event on Friday night at Austin's Clay Pit, walking distance from the Texas Tribune Festival! Learn more and RSVP: https://asiantexansforjustice.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=/portal/events/28253We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
You'd be hard pressed to name an individual Texan who has provided more inspiration, guts and drive to the progressive side of Texas politics over the last two decades than El Paso's Beto O'Rourke, whose grassroots voter activation operation Powered By People has just emerged victorious from a legal scrape with Ken Paxton, stronger than ever as the crucial midterm election year approaches. We talked about the recent highs and lows of the Democrats, and what they mean for the future when coupled with the determination we're ALL bringing to the table in 2026.Learn more about Powered By People and see their upcoming schedule of events 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:After a protracted battle in Texas over this year, in the language of the bill returning the federal government to operation lurks language that will ban consumable hemp products across the nation: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/thc-ban-congress-21162625.php...The hemp ban further establishes the federal government shutdown as a win for Democrats, as Trump's GOP continues to ignore the wishes and well-being of Americans: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/11/us/politics/democrats-shutdown.html...Republicans have just held SNAP recipients hostage to make sure ACA premiums spike dramatically at the end of the year - people in their 50's are especially vulnerable to massive cost hikes: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/11/12/texas-aca-health-insurance-obamacare-older-texans/Jolt Initiative has countersued Ken Paxton, who is attempting to dissolve their nonprofit charter, charging that his facts are anything but factual: https://www.votebeat.org/texas/2025/11/11/jolt-initiative-sues-attorney-general-ken-paxton-voter-registration-drive/Progress Texas is co-hosting a podcast taping event on Friday night at Austin's Clay Pit, walking distance from the Texas Tribune Festival! Learn more and RSVP: https://asiantexansforjustice.app.neoncrm.com/nx/portal/neonevents/events?path=/portal/events/28253We're excited to see YOU at one (or both!) of our 2025 Holiday Parties this December in Austin and Dallas - for the first time, featuring live podcast tapings! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
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