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:That explosion at a Valero oil refinery in Port Arthur comes just as much of the world's supply has been choked off by the bumbling of Donald Trump: https://x.com/jon_rosenthaltx/status/2036266795569459210?s=46...Meanwhile, as natural gas shortages and price spikes are hitting Europe and Asia, West Texas oil companies are burning it off as a price-negative nuisance byproduct: https://fortune.com/2026/03/22/natural-gas-prices-negative-west-texas-permian-basin-burn-off-europe-asia-shortages-iran-war/Corpus Christi residents see their lives turned upside down by water conservation measures, while the energy sector continues consuming water unabated: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/23/corpus-christi-water-crisis-residents-precautions/We're reminded why supporting non-profit, independent media like Progress Texas as a coalition of eight Democratic state attorneys general attempt to block the Nexstar/Tegna merger, which would create a huge TV company piping content into 80% of American homes: https://prospect.org/2026/03/23/democratic-states-seek-to-block-massive-tv-station-merger-nexstar-tegna/The number of families detained at the notorious Dilley ICE lockup has dropped dramatically: https://www.propublica.org/article/families-detained-at-dilley-plummets...Part of that pressure came from San Antonio-based children's YouTuber Ms. Rachel: https://consequence.net/2026/03/ms-rachel-fighting-to-close-texas-ice-facility-thats-detaining-children/The recent book The Myth Of Red Texas explores the real history of Texas which is peppered with populist progressivism - and the neglectful treatment of rural Texans by Donald Trump: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/bad-takes/bad-takes-the-gops-professed-love-of-rural-texans-is-all-hat-and-no-cattle/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
We had a blast in Houston over the weekend as media partners of the Harris County Democratic Party Convention! Later this week, watch for a recording of all the speeches given in the convention hall - but we start with all of the interviews with lawmakers, thought leaders, candidates and more that we gathered over the course of the day! These are presented in the order we recorded them, between 9am and about 4pm on Saturday March 21.00:40 - Ann Johnson, Houston State Representative, District 13409:53 - Annise Parker, former Houston mayor and candidate for Harris County Judge15:59 - Gene Wu, Houston State Representative for District 137 and Texas House Minority Leader23:49 - Dr. Wil Jeudy, Secular Houston co-founder and Progress Texas board member30:35 - Alejandra Salinas, Houston City Council Member At-Large35:28 - Stephanie Bord, State House District 126 Democratic Nominee40:52 - Tyler Smith, State House District 138 Democratic Nominee45:54 - Josh Wallenstein, State House District 133 Democratic Nominee49:28 - Sara McGee, State House District 132 Democratic Nominee55:46 - Odus Evbagharu, State House District 135 Democratic Nominee1:00:40 - Lauren Ashley Simmons, State Representative for District 1461:07:11 - Lesley Briones, Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 41:10:24 - Beto O'Rourke, former U.S. Congressman and founder of Powered By People1:19:20 - Marquette Greene-Scott, State House District 22 Democratic Nominee1:26:39 - Melissa McDonough, U.S. Congressional District 38 Democratic Nominee1:31:00 - Benjamin Flores, Texas Land Commissioner Democratic NomineeThanks 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:In an escalation against Democratically-led cities, the Trump administration is deploying ICE agents into those cities' airports - supposedly to help with long security lines, but really as a means to intimidate travelers: https://viewfromthewing.com/ice-is-showing-up-at-airport-checkpoints-your-rights-are-different-than-with-tsa/...Meanwhile Dallas Congressman Marc Veasey is demanding clarity on whether or not an ICE prosecuter nailed for running a racist Twitter account is still on the job: https://www.texasobserver.org/congressman-veasey-ice-response-racist-x-account/Vice President J.D. Vance is the reason traffic sucks worse than normal in Austin early this week - he's in for an RNC fundraiser being thrown by Palantir and University of Austin co-founder Joe Lonsdale: https://www.ft.com/content/43eb6903-0c8d-43f8-a0e6-8c8e81d1c8d2?syn-25a6b1a6=1New polling shows Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate James Talarico with slight leads over both Senator John Cornyn and Attorney General Ken Paxton, both of whom are drowning in massive unfavorability numbers: https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/03/20/congress/texas-senate-talarico-cornyn-paxton-poll-00837336...Donald Trump is noticing the threat James Talarico poses to GOP control and is off on ever more unhinged online attacks against him: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/trump-talarico-texas-senate-22090449.phpProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
All of us at Progress Texas are looking forward to seeing a bunch of great friends and making a bunch of brand new ones this weekend at the Harris and Collin County Democratic Party conventions, in Houston and McKinney respectively. These events are open and FREE with registration to the public and can be considered a terrific gateway into higher levels of involvement at this critical time - we hope to see YOU there.And, the news regarding Cesar Chavez's abuse of women is difficult to deal with - but it must be dealt with, and unlike those who would protect Donald Trump from his past as indicated in the Epstein files, we're proud to see progressives tackling the Chavez revelations head-on.This episode will air on KPFT 90.1 FM in Houston at 10am this Friday morning, and again on KPFT's HD-2 channel at 11am on Sunday - learn more at https://kpft.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:Energy producers around Corpus Christi already consume over half of the area's water - and as supplies dwindle, they're taking steps to greedily keep theirs flowing: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/20/texas-corpus-christi-water-shortage-oil-gas-refineries/With another round of No Kings protests coming next weekend, progressive activists warily consider the Fort Worth "Antifa" verdict, which paves the way for more aggressive persecution of left-leaning protestors: https://www.texasobserver.org/prairieland-antifa-verdict-threatens-anti-trump-resistance/The "Texas Drag Ban" is now in effect - and while it doesn't ban drag itself outright, it does provide a chilling of the form via over-compliance out of fear: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/texas-drag-ban-takes-effect-after-appeals-court-decision/Five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, whose incarceration at Dilley helped spotlight the terrible conditions inside that immigrant detention lockup, have been denied American asylum: https://www.chron.com/news/article/asylum-denied-liam-ramos-dilley-22085951.php...Meanwhile video calls from kids inside the Dilley facility have been severely curtailed after their stories have gone viral: https://www.chron.com/news/article/dilley-ice-children-videos-22083880.php...And also meanwhile, a wide range of Texas companies and cities are profiting handsomely from that misery: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/investigations/article/trump-deportation-texas-dilley-csi-gothams-21343570.php...And also meanwhile, the adminstration of a mostly-Hispanic San Antonio high school thought it would be a good idea to invite a crew of uniformed Border Patrol agents on campus for a recent job fair: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/politics-and-elections/border-patrol-appearance-at-san-antonio-high-school-sparks-student-outrage/This weekend sees county-level Democratic Party conventions across the state - "the most important political event you're ignoring": https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-most-important-political-event...Find your county convention, RSVP and submit resolution ideas here: https://texasdemocraticconvention.com/Progress Texas is the official media partner of the Harris County Democratic Convention this weekend! Come see us on Saturday to say hi, grab some merch, and take part in our day-long podcast recording session: https://www.harrisdemconvention.com/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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 achieves new heights of hypocrisy in his attempt to use sexual abuse revelations about Cesar Chavez to smear all progressives and unions, while continuing to turn a blind eye to Donald Trump's copious appearances in the Epstein files: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/18/cesar-chavez-day-texas-fallout-sexual-abuse-allegations/Twisting logic to claim a victory from the chaos of the March 3 primary, Dallas County Republican Party Chair Allen West announces that his party will return to countywide voting for the May 26 runoff: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2026-election/county-gop-texas-will-switch-voting-rules-runoff-primary-day-chaos-rcna264075...Republican attempts to undermine voter confidence failed spectacularly in the primary - notably there was bigger Democratic turnout than that for the GOP in four of the five newly-gerrymandered districts from Trump's mid-term redistricting scam: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/post-gop-gerrymandering-heres-what-voter-turnout-looked-like-in-the-texas-primaries/...All of this is part of a broad, system-wide phase of incompetence, including the strange press for the SAVE America Act and Trump's failure pick between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton for endorsement: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5787536-tillis-frustrated-republican-strategy/This weekend sees county-level Democratic Party conventions across the state - "the most important political event you're ignoring": https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-most-important-political-event...Find your county convention, RSVP and submit resolution ideas here: https://texasdemocraticconvention.com/Progress Texas is the official media partner of the Harris County Democratic Convention this weekend! Come see us on Saturday to say hi, grab some merch, and take part in our day-long podcast recording session: https://www.harrisdemconvention.com/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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:Arguing in favor of the SAVE America Act as Senate debate began yesterday, Ted Cruz repeated the standard GOP lie that Democrats are systematically encouraging undocumented people to vote in the U.S. - it's simply and demonstrably false: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/ted-cruz-democrats-want-illegal-aliens-to-cast-votes/The Republican primary runoff ballot is now set, as the deadline to drop out passed yesterday - with no Trump endorsement, both Senator John Cornyn and Ken Paxton will be on the May 26 ballot: https://www.fox26houston.com/news/trump-misses-deadline-nominate-texas-republican-nominee-us-senate...Both are now "trying to drown each other in AI slop": https://www.chron.com/culture/article/cornyn-paxton-texas-senate-ai-22082110.phpDemocratic congressional nominee and Tejano singer Bobby Pulido followed through with a promise to perform at several South Texas quinceañeras last weekend: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/bobby-pulido-first-quinceanera-invite-22081332.phpThe South Texas home construction industry has been battered by thinned workforces and slowed sales as relentless ICE raids on their workers impact production: https://www.nytimes.com/video/us/politics/100000010742128/trump-ice-raids-texas-economy-immigration.htmlIt's time to start making a plan to vote in the upcoming primary runoff: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/18/texas-primary-runoff-elections-2026/This weekend sees county-level Democratic Party conventions across the state - "the most important political event you're ignoring": https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-most-important-political-event...Find your county convention, RSVP and submit resolution ideas here: https://texasdemocraticconvention.com/Progress Texas is the official media partner of the Harris County Democratic Convention this weekend! Come see us on Saturday to say hi, grab some merch, and take part in our day-long podcast recording session: https://www.harrisdemconvention.com/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
All across Texas this weekend - Friday March 20 thru Sunday March 21 - county-level conventions are being held by the Texas Democratic Party. It's a terrific (and free!) way to dive into progressive politics, and an especially fun way as a bright blue wave appears to be building across the Lone Star State. Joining us to talk about their individual events and all the reasons that YOU should attend YOUR county event are Mary Higbe, Vice Chair of the Collin County Democratic Party, and Jeff Hilton, Executive Director of the Harris County Democratic Convention - Progress Texas will be tabling, recording for our podcast, and slingin' awesome PT merch at BOTH the Harris and Collin events on Saturday March 21.Learn more about the Collin County Democratic Convention at https://www.mobilize.us/collindemocrats/event/893043/.Learn more about the Harris County Democratic Convention at https://www.harrisdemconvention.com/.Thanks for listening and we hope to see you this weekend! 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:5pm today is the deadline for primary runoff candidates to remove their names from the May ballot, establishing a deadline of for either John Cornyn or Ken Paxton to drop on on the orders of Donald Trump: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/trump-endorsement-texas-senate-runoff-22079256.php...Cornyn attempted to soothe the irritation of Austin TSA workers yesterday with cold hamburgers: https://www.chron.com/news/article/tsa-cornyn-casar-austin-22079843.phpThe water crisis in Corpus Christi appears worse than initially reported - actual shortages are weeks away, and total depletion is possible as soon as next year: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/17032026/corpus-christi-water-shortage/This weekend sees county-level Democratic Party conventions across the state - "the most important political event you're ignoring": https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-most-important-political-event...Find your county convention, RSVP and submit resolution ideas here: https://texasdemocraticconvention.com/Progress Texas is the official media partner of the Harris County Democratic Convention this weekend! Come see us on Saturday to say hi, grab some merch, and take part in our day-long podcast recording session: https://www.harrisdemconvention.com/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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 trial of nine "Antifa" defendants in a federal trial held in Fort Worth were largely found guilty of charges against them on Friday, except for a charge of attempted murder, of which only one was convicted: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/13/us/antifa-protesters-terrorism.htmlA marathon debate session is set in the U.S. Senate for discussion and an eventual floor vote on the SAVE America Act - legislation that Donald Trump has characterized as the Republicans' only hope to hold the House next year: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5783688-senate-floor-takeover-save-america-act/...Former Senator Joe Manchin blasts Texas Senator John Cornyn for flip-flopping on the filibuster in order to pass it: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5780991-manchin-criticizes-cornyn-filibuster-change/An Afghan man living in Richardson who worked on behalf of the U.S. military in Afghanisatn for years has died - less than 24 hours after being arrested by ICE: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/06/06/texas-afghan-refugees-visa-asylum/...Texas CAIR and others are calling for an independent and transparent investigation: https://8am.media/eng/cair-texas-demands-investigation-into-nazeer-paktiawals-death/The Trump administration is clogging the federal court system with flimsy cases against migrants for trespassing on military property: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/16/immigration-military-trespassing-texas/The NPR Politics Podcast took a deep dive on the Texas primary and its huge Democratic turnout numbers on Friday: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1mcvwcI5oZ6XJ6VDTezEvd?si=7b5168420ea24ac2California Governor Gavin Newsom gave a talk at SXSW in Austin yesterday, during which he discussed a possible presidential run in 2028: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/gavin-newsom-hints-at-presidential-run-at-sxsw/"Mr. Nobody Against Putin", a documentary using Russia as an example of authoritarian takeover, won the Academy Award for Best Documentary at last night's Oscars: https://www.theguardian.com/film/2026/mar/16/mr-nobody-against-putin-wins-the-best-documentary-oscarProgress Texas is the official media partner of the Harris County Democratic Convention this weekend! Come see us on Saturday to say hi, grab some merch, and take part in our day-long podcast recording session: https://www.harrisdemconvention.com/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Texas is an anti-worker state, and working Texans are tired of being trampled by billionaire-bought politicians and interests. You can see it in support of a more affordable Texas: public education that sets our children up for success, quality jobs that pay a living wage, environmental protections that shield us all from pollution, and justice for our citizen and immigrant neighbors under attack.It's clear that tides are changing, and with it, union membership is at the highest it's been in 25 years, with major growth in the South, plus major victories from union leaders like Taylor Rehmet, who will deliver on people-first policies fighting for Texas workers. We can't think of a better leader to talk about labor than the new president of the Texas AFL-CIO, Leonard Aguilar.Learn more about the Texas AFL/CIO at https://texasaflcio.org/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
A theme has emerged this week: as the Dallas County Democratic Party throws in the towel on a lawsuit over denied voting access on primary Election Night, judging the Republican-dominated Texas Supreme Court a hostile venue for that complaint - while our senior Senator John Cornyn reverses himself on the filibuster out of pressure from Donald Trump and Ken Paxton to pass the SAVE America Act, which will allow the GOP to disenfranchise untold millions of American voters - the very foundation of our democracy is now under slow, steady, determined attack.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The Texas Tribune collects a lineup of Talarico-isms currently being distorted and twisted by Republicans, who clearly see their reign over Texas under dire threat by the Democratic nominee for Senate: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/12/james-talarico-texas-senate-republicans-attacks-god-is-nonbinary/...They've also conjured a super-creepy and uncanny Talarico doppelganger via AI to deliver these supposedly-controversial lines: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/ai-ads-texas-21957736.phpSenator John Cornyn, who has reversed himself on the Senate filibuster in an attempt to deliver the SAVE America Act to Donald Trump, is seen in a video failing to understand what it will do if passed: https://newrepublic.com/post/207707/republican-senator-cornyn-learns-save-act-badProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Among the midterm races that in cycles of yore might have seemed without hope for Democrats - but considering the massive outpouring of primary interest this year, suddenly seem possible - is Texas House District 112 in the northeast Dallas area, where widespread dissatisfaction with longtime Republican incumbent Angie Chen Button couples with that Democratic momentum to give nominee Zach Herbert a fair shot. Zach is an attorney, an entrepreneur, a veteran and a community leader - we enjoyed meeting him for this podcast.Learn more about Zach Herbert and his run for the Texas House at https://zach4texas.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:Under pressure from both Donald Trump and Ken Paxton - after years of defending the filibuster in the U.S. Senate - Senator John Cornyn, desperate for Trump's endorsement, has changed his position on a primary safeguard for the minority party in that body: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/11/john-cornyn-filibuster-save-america-act-texas-senate-runoff-voter-id/...For now, the actual end of the filibuster seems unlikely - but Donald Trump is frantic and determined: https://www.axios.com/2026/03/11/save-act-talking-filibuster-senate-thune-republicansGovernor Greg Abbott is threatening a state takeover of Corpus Christi's water system as they plunge into a deep supply crisis - though it's unclear what the state would be able to do about it: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/greg-abbott-corpus-christi-water-crisis-22070712.php...Meanwhile, a huge chunk of Texas between San Antonio and south Austin is under a similar threat as the Edwards Aquifer nears its most severe warning level ever: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/edwards-aquifer-nears-emergency-drought-conditions/A group of reporters at the New York Times analyzes the video of the ICE-involved shooting of Ruben Ray Martinez in South Padre Island - and reveals the name of the agent who pulled the trigger: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/12/us/texas-ice-shooting-south-padre-video.htmlProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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 polling from Texas Public Opinion Research shows Senator John Corynyn eight points behind Ken Paxton in the Republican primary runoff in May - a deficit too wide to be overcome by a Trump endorsement. Cornyn now faces a choice: eliminate Paxton from the race by helping kill the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act in the Senate, or head into a runoff he's likely to lose: https://www.fox4news.com/news/texas-senate-runoff-cornyn-paxton-trumpTrump's war on Iran is spiking profits for Texas oil companies and investors - while also spiking gas prices for the rest of us: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/11/texas-oil-iran-war-gas-prices/Recent Texas GOP smears against our Muslim neighbors makes more sense in the context of a new war in the Middle East - they've already begun discriminating against Muslim schools in our new private school voucher scam: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2026/03/11/texas-vouchers-islamic-schools/The "Antifa" trial in Fort Worth continues, featuring Trump federal prosecutors mining the defendants' personal lives for evidence of "material support of terrorism" - by criminalizing First Amendment-protected expression and association: https://slate.com/podcasts/what-next/2026/03/antifas-reality-is-on-trial-in-texasThe nearly 2,000 primary Election Night votes in Dallas County sidelined by Ken Paxton and the Republican Texas Supreme Court continue to be counted, while their eventual legal validity remains uncertain: https://www.keranews.org/news/2026-03-10/votes-cast-after-judge-ordered-polls-to-stay-open-checked-by-dallas-county-ballot-auditorsProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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 Gámez-Cuéllar family, including their two sons who are members of the acclaimed McAllen High School mariachi troupe, were released by ICE yesterday after a significant public outcry: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/09/texas-antonio-gamez-cuellar-monica-de-la-cruz-ice/Laredo Congressman Henry Cuellar was one of four Congressional Democrats to vote against a blocking of Donald Trump's Iran war funding last week - that resolution would have passed with the party solidarity of those four: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/south-texas-democrat-henry-cuellar-helps-kill-resolution-to-end-u-s-involvement-in-iran/Donald Trump, irked at media anticipation of his endorsement of John Cornyn and goaded by Ken Paxton's pledge to step down should the Senate pass the SAVE America Act, is now again withholding this endorsement as a bargaining tool for a legal tool he could use to neutralize millions of American voters ahead of the midterm election: https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/09/trump-is-delaying-texas-senate-endorsement-to-pressure-gop-senators-on-save-america-act-00819991An official search of the former Zorro Ranch - formerly owned by Jeffrey Epstein but never searched despite his crimes, and now owned by Texas Republican Comptroller candidate Don Huffines - has begun in New Mexico: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/epstein/new-mexico-department-of-justice-begins-search-of-epsteins-zorro-ranch/article_697b6470-861c-4c33-b8e4-1d0c308c006f.htmlWhile Democrats and progressives have celebrated record turnout in the primary, their polar opposites in the House Freedom Caucus appear poised to add a new group of extremist right-wingers to the Texas delegation: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/10/steve-toth-brandon-herrera-house-freedom-caucus-texas-republican-primaries-2026/...One of them is Brandon "The AK Guy" Herrera, who once demonstrated on his YouTube channel the rifle used to kill Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by shooting at a target resembling Dr. King: https://meidasnews.com/news/texas-gop-candidate-recreated-mlk-assassination-reviewed-shooters-rifleProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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 we reported Friday morning, Texas DPS released footage related to the federal border officer-involved killing of 23 year old Ruben Ray Martinez last year in South Padre Island, and it does not appear to justify lethal force: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/06/south-padre-immigration-officer-shooting/...Meanwhile outrage is building over the ICE detention of a family including two celebrated teenaged mariachi musicians who have recently performed on Capitol Hill on the invitation of Republican Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz, after the case was exposed by her Democratic challenger, Bobby Pulido: https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2026/03/08/mcallen-isd-family-detained-by-ice-high-school-mariachi-student-separated-from-family/...Meanwhile, at the Camp East Montana ICE lockup at El Paso, federal guards are alleged to have been betting amongst themselves as to which of their detainees will be next to commit suicide: https://apnews.com/article/suicide-ice-detention-centers-b2d1cb0e4b579e0d89caabd00aa04e34The expected endorsement of Donald Trump in the Texas GOP Senate race, intended to circumvent an ugly and expensive fight between John Cornyn and Ken Paxton, has thus far failed to arrive: https://www.semafor.com/article/03/09/2026/delay-in-trumps-texas-endorsement-raises-gop-anxiety...Trump has, however, declared that he'll refuse to sign ANY legislation until the Senate kills the filibuster and passes the SAVE America Act: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/09/g-s1-112966/up-first-newsletter-iran-israel-us-mojtaba-khamenei-trump-voting-openaiProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Every week, we marvel at the insanity of the week prior in Texas politics, and the primary election - especially Tuesday's Election Night, complete with Republican-orchestrated voter suppression in a major Texas city - certainly did not disappoint in that regard. We once again gather to self-therapize, celebrate a bit, and steel ourselves for the long, uphill fight to come.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:At the behest of Donald Trump, Ken Paxton is mulling dropping out of the race for the U.S. Senate - on condition that Senate Republicans kill the filibuster and pass the SAVE America Act, which would help Trump suppress voters ahead of the midterm election: https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/elections/ken-paxton-texas-senate-race-drop-out-trump-endorsement/285-de54f29c-0c5b-41f9-a687-617aa373c535West Texas Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales has finally admitted having an affair with a staffer who later committed suicide, and has stepped aside in his run for re-election, making the GOP nominee Brandon "The AK Guy" Herrera, a gun enthusiast YouTuber known for Nazi and Confederate leanings: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/05/tony-gonzales-drops-out-republican-primary-texas-23rd-district-congress/A connection between Elon Musk and the mass shooter in Austin last weekend emerges - the shooter was a former Tesla employee who assaulted another employee in 2024; that victim is now suing the company: https://www.statesman.com/business/article/austin-shooting-suspect-tesla-lawsuit-texas-21957429.phpWe expect a release of investigative data from state officials soon on the killing of Ruben Ray Martinez last year at the hands of a federal immigration agent: https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/2026/03/05/texas-dhs-shooting-citizen-killed/?Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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:Following a second night of celebration in Austin for James Talarico, his story, well known in Texas, is permeating nationally: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/04/us/politics/james-talarico-texas-senate.html...Talarico's win suggests a shift among the Texas electorate away from partisan vitriol to political pragmatism: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/04/texas-primaries-democrats-texas...The Talarico's campaign strategy targeting Latino-majority parts of Texas paid off huge - and combined with his home base success around Austin, was enough to overcome Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett's impressive dominance in both Dallas and Houston: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas-take/article/james-talarico-democratic-nominee-latino-voters-21955597.php...The GOP is, shall we say, perhaps a wee bit unnerved by Talarico's win: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5767763-cornyn-paxton-runoff-trump-pressure/...Rural lockstep for Republicans in Texas appears to be softening, as loyal GOP voters begin to notice that their lives are crumbling after decades of Republican rule: https://substack.com/home/post/p-189817946...The Talarico win signals strength in the growing progressive movement across Texas: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/as-the-dust-settles...James Talarico's victory speech in Austin last night: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOwbs7DwDV0&t=51sProgress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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 an election night that saw chaos unfold in both Dallas and Williamson Counties due to Republican hijinks, including late interference by Attorney General Ken Paxton and the Republican Texas Supreme Court, Austin State Rep. James Talarico has officially won the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/03/texas-jasmine-crockett-james-talarico-us-senate-democratic-primary/...Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett has graciously conceded, saying "Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person": https://www.politico.com/news/2026/03/04/james-talarico-wins-texas-senate-primary-00811090...Many other races are decided - including Gina Hinojosa in the race for governor - but many others, including the races for AG and Lieutenant Governor - go to runoffs, to be decided in May: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/primary-election-results-2026/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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:Election Day arrives amidst a variety of strong indicators for a strong Democratic performance in the midterm: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/03/texas-march-primary-election-day-senate-attorney-general-abbott-5-things/...The outcome of the contest between Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico for the Democratic Senate nomination serves as a test of national Democratic campaign doctrine: https://www.salon.com/2026/03/03/how-the-texas-primary-could-rewrite-the-democrats-campaign-playbook/...Record-setting early voting turnout has been largely a Democratic story - including a Dem turnout in the RGV topping the GOP by over 400%: https://www.statesman.com/news/politics/state/article/texas-democrats-set-new-turnout-record-heated-21950425.php...On the Republican side, a bitter and very expensive fight appears certain to head to a runoff: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/03/texas-senate-republicans-primary-whos-the-favorite.html?pay=1772544339891&support_journalism=please...Paxton's personal and legal baggage has not only not hurt his prospects - he's using those "victories" to bolster his image as a fighter: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2026/03/texas-senate-republicans-primary-whos-the-favorite.html?pay=1772544339891&support_journalism=pleaseResearch your primary ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Monday March 2 marks the 190th anniversary of the signing of the Texas Declaration of Independence from Mexico, which kicked off in earnest the Texas Revolution - a chunk of history that has been manipulated and whitewashed over time as a major component of what has become the "Texas Myth", which is the central theme of the groundbreaking 2021 book Forget The Alamo. Jason Stanford is one of that book's three authors, and he joins us to talk about the real story of Texas' origins, and how Texans in 2026 can benefit from a better understanding of what really went down in 1836.Check out Jason's Substack The Experiment at https://jasonstanford.substack.com/.Thanks for listening and Happy Texas Independence Day! 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 host of Texas U.S. Representatives, including Jasmine Crockett, Lloyd Doggett and Julie Johnson, are calling for the Congress to place limits on Donald Trump's ability to unilaterally wage war - but the partisan divide is likely to place its own limits on that possibility: https://www.npr.org/2026/03/02/g-s1-112092/iran-war-powers-congress-trumpThe mass shooting at an Austin bar over the weekend may have been motivated by U.S. military action against Iran: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/03/01/austin-texas-shooting-three-dead-bufords-bar-sixth-street/...One thing we can learn from a shooting with this many wounded is, it doesn't happen without easy access to extraordinarily lethal firearms: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DxxbHbE9g/Pollster Adam Carlson details the places in Texas where Democratic primary turnout has surged, and demographic breakdowns between multiple polls in the Democratic primary for Senate: https://x.com/admcrlsn/status/2028301247741063253?s=20...Emerson College has released likely the last major poll before Election Day, showing James Talarico ahead, but with Jasmine Crockett holding an edge among likely voters who haven't hit the polls yet: https://emersoncollegepolling.com/texas-2026-primary-poll-talarico-paxton-with-narrow-edges-in-senate-primaries/Today is Texas Independence Day, which provides an extra layer of motivation to be politically active this year: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2026/03/02/texas-independence-day-and-the-power-of-your-vote/Election Day in the March primary is tomorrow! Research your ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
State House District 138 in the northwest Houston area has been under GOP control for over 20 years - but in a 2026 seeing very high Democratic confidence, that race is interesting for sure. And, even as the primary silly season rages on, HD 138 already has a Dem nominee in Tyler Smith, a local community leader and gun safety advocate with extensive experience in politics from his Houston area home all the way to Washington D.C.Learn more about Tyler Smith and his campaign at https://tylerfortx.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how to support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Early voting is over - so, only Election Day, Tuesday March 3, remains for Texas progressives to make their voice heard in the 2026 primary (runoffs notwithstanding)! And the day AFTER that, on Wednesday March 4th, the Texas Democratic Party is set to launch the “Texas Together Campaign” - a historic, coordinated statewide effort to turn Texas blue - and YOUR help is needed. To tell us all about it, we welcome back TDP Chair Kendall Scudder, and for the first time, Texas Majority PAC's Executive Director, Katherine Fischer.Learn more about the Texas Together Campaign at https://www.texasdemocrats.org/ccrfp2026.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Legendary in Dallas, the Brewer Storefront is the community-service and pro bono arm of the national law firm Brewer, Attorneys & Counselors, established in 1995 to provide high-level legal advocacy to individuals and organizations who would otherwise likely be unable to access the "big law" resources they provide. Attorneys Ian Shaw and Josh Harris join us to tell the story of the Storefront, the amazing impacts they've achieved, and their plans to continue making a tremendous difference in Texas and beyond.Learn more about the Brewer Storefront at https://www.brewerattorneys.com/pro-bono.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
We always say, it's been a wild week in Texas politics - but between the high of unbelievable Democratic turnout in the primary, and the low of a potential sweeping away of justice for Ruben Ray Martinez, this one's been extra wild. We welcome Progress Texas board member Dick Lavine for this weekend's roundtable.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:You're not experiencing deja vu - the U.S. military has again recklessly deployed their new laser technology without coordinating properly with the FAA, who have again imposed an airspace shutdown near El Paso: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/26/texas-el-paso-border-drone-laser-airspace-closure/...We hope some courageous reporter asks Donald Trump about that, and the Epstein files, and our tariff refunds, during his visit to Corpus Christi today: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/trump-visit-corpus-christi-texas-21943671.phpToday is the last day to vote early in a Texas primary that has already seen historic turnout, especially among Democrats: https://votehub.com/early-vote-tracker-tx-primary-26As the primary wraps up on Tuesday, we're hoping the bickering between the camps of Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico wraps up as well - but we don't expect Cardi B and Nicki Minaj to mend fences: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-primary-race-between-jasmine-crockett-james-talarico-heat-upAvoiding enriching Elon Musk is apparently harder than just avoiding Tesla and Twitter - he's built a clandestine network of dozens of companies doing his bidding across Texas: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/technology/elon-musk-companies-texas.htmlTurns out that many of the live music venues listed as "members" of the Music Venue Alliance of Texas, which recently endorsed Governor Greg Abbott, not only had no knowledge of a potential endorsement - many didn't know they were members at all: https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/music-venue-alliance-endorses-greg-abbott-for-governor-without-consulting-music-venues/Early voting in the March primary is underway! Research your ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Texas is at the center of the battle for equal voting rights in America today. As the March primaries continue for the 2026 Midterm elections,we're here to discuss a pending Supreme Court case that you might not have heard about yet, but will be crucial for the future of voting rights for Black and Brown voters in the South. PTI Board Chair, Louis Bedford, joins the podcast to discuss Louisiana v. Callais and how to protect your right to vote in Texas.You can find more information at https://www.naacpldf.org/case-issue/louisiana-v-callais/.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:Dueling polls late in the 2026 primary season fail to clearly identify a leader in the race for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/texas-primary-conflicting-polls-show-how-several-key-races-too-close-call...The new poll from the UT Politics Project: https://texaspolitics.utexas.edu/blog/competition-remains-fierce-in-both-u-s-senate-primaries-in-texas-according-to-latest-ut-texas-politics-project-poll-2...Besides, runoff elections are very likely in a bunch of races: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/new-polling-suggests-runoff-likely-in-texas-gop-senate-primary...The historically massive Democratic turnout we've seen this time also undermines the reliability of any poll: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/25/texas-early-voting-turnout-democrats-midterm-election/...The latest turnout numbers: https://votehub.com/early-vote-tracker-tx-primary-26Just a week since a federal border agent's involvement in the shooting death of Ruben Ray Martinez last March, a Cameron County grand jury has already declined to indict that agent: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/25/texas-ice-shooting-death-grand-jury-no-bill/A California doctor becomes the first target of HB 7, the new anti-abortion law allowing private citizens to sue providers of abortion medication mailed into the state: https://msmagazine.com/2026/02/25/texas-abortion-pills-ban-bounty-hunter-california-doctor-remy-coeytaux/The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a rehearing petition in a case challenging SB 12, the Drag Ban bill - it will now go into effect on March 18: https://www.aclutx.org/press-releases/fifth-circuit-denies-motion-to-rehear-texas-drag-ban-argument/Early voting in the March primary is underway! Research your ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
MeidasTouch and MoveOn hosted an alternative to the Donald Trump State Of The Union address last night on the National Mall, featuring a lineup of lawmakers, activists, and just regular folks whose lives have been upended by Trump and his reckless, racist policies. Austin Congressman Greg Casar was one of the speakers, and we bring you his remarks from the People's State Of The Union event here.Watch the entire event at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oArKZutSbF0.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:Establishing a new tradition, Houston Congressman Al Green was booted from the Trump State Of The Union address last night in response to his protests for the second consecutive year: https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2026/02/24/trump-state-of-the-union-address-2026/al-green-escorted-out-00797132...Texas Reps Veronica Escobar and Greg Casar both skipped the SOTU, opting instead to appear at the "People's State Of The Union" event on the National Mall: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-live-democratic-lawmakers-join-peoples-state-of-the-union-rally-during-trumps-addressMired in an adulterous scandal involving the suicide of his married mistress, Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales says he'll not step down or quit his run for reelection: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/24/tony-gonzales-resign-texas-staffer-suicide-texts/Shocker! Attorney General Ken Paxton appears to have been less than truthful in his refusal to defend the Texas Medical Board, who are in a legal battle with a doctor they reprimanded for prescribing ivermectin to a patient at a Texas hospital at which she didn't have privileges: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/health/article/texas-medical-board-ken-paxton-bowden-21906911.phpNew San Antonio Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones is facing a rare censure vote on Friday by her City Council over a scrape with Council Member Sukh Kaur, in which an independent investigator has found the mayor violated codes of conduct: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/san-antonio-news/san-antonio-city-hall-source-mayor-jones-threatened-councilwoman-during-confrontation/Early voting in the March primary is underway! Research your ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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: Joshua Orta - the passenger in the car of Ruben Ray Martinez when he was allegedly shot by a federal border officer last March and the key witness in the case - himself died in a car crash in San Antonio last weekend: https://apnews.com/article/texas-ice-shooting-martinez-orta-death-eef234709ecea98a9fabaafefb656c07Texts asking for "sexy pics" and suggesting sexual acts sent by Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales to staffer Regina Santos-Aviles, who later committed suicide, have been revealed - and members of his own party are now demanding his resignation: https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news/video/texas-congressman-faces-new-calls-to-resign-after-texts-revealed-258164805519...We featured four Democrats seeking nomination in Gonzales' CD 23 recently: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-live-pod-the-democrats-running-for-cd-23/id1552998795?i=1000749334936Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett has introduced "The Payback Act", which would compel the Secretary of the Treasury to refund American consumers who have been overcharged as a result of illegal Trump tariffs: https://crockett.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-crockett-introduces-payback-act-refund-americans-trumps-illegal-tariff...Perhaps some intrepid reporter will ask Donald Trump about Rep. Crockett's proposal when he appears in Corpus Christi on Friday: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas-take/article/donald-trump-texas-visit-primary-election-21937687.phpDr. Peter Attia, who lives in Austin, has stepped down from a contributor role at CBS News as a result of his extensive implication in the Epstein files: https://www.statesman.com/news/article/cbs-peter-attia-epstein-files-21904396.phpA Bastrop county commissioner who had proposed renaming a local highway for Charlie Kirk has withdrawn his idea, which was met with fierce public opposition: https://www.statesman.com/news/local/article/bastrop-fm969-charlie-kirk-name-debate-21516197.phpEarly voting in the March primary is underway! Research your ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Marcos Vélez of the Houston area is a longtime union leader and Texas AFL/CIO endorsed candidate for Texas Lieutenant Governor - our enlightening talk with Marcos with highlights a broad range of important aspects of the changing world in which working Texans find ourselves. Early primary voting is underway now through Friday February 27th, and Election Day is Tuesday March 3.Learn more about Marcos Vélez and his campaign at https://velezfortexas.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:With only six voting days remaining, Democratic early voting primary turnout continues far outpacing that of the Republicans: https://votehub.com/early-vote-tracker-tx-primary-26?state=tx-sen-26-dem...All of this is great fun for Dems, but there are reasons to maintain objectivity and focus: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/is-something-happening-in-texas...Tarrant County Democratic Party Chair Dr. Allison Campolo credits new Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder for meeting the moment: https://x.com/AllisonCampolo/status/2025669257993081275...Union involvement, including the opening victory of Taylor Rehmet in SD 9, is apparent this cycle: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/union-members-democrats-election-21358617.phpDemocratic leaders Gina Hinojosa, Joaquin Castro and Gina Ortiz Jones have all called for investigations of the ICE-involved shooting death of Ruben Ray Martinez last March - and the coverup that appears to have persisted since: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/20/texas-ice-fatal-shooting-south-padre-island/As the trial of protesters under terrorism charges framed as "Antifa" restarts today, Judge Mark Pittman is involving himself unusually in the jury selection process, possibly affecting the trial's eventual outcome: https://www.keranews.org/criminal-justice/2026-02-23/prairieland-detention-center-shooting-trial-antifa-jury-selection-judge-mark-pittman-fort-worth-texas?_amp=true...Trump DOJ prosecutors are highlighting black clothing, first aid kits, and encrypted Signal messaging as hallmarks of "Antifa" involvement, attempting to criminalize a decentralized ideology: https://www.texasobserver.org/antifa-scare-prairieland-19-trial-ice-detention/Early voting in the March primary is underway! Research your ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Texas Democrats have put up a bumper crop of quality statewide candidates in the 2026 midterm, and among them, Houston's Savant Moore stands out - Army veteran, Howard graduate, Houston ISD trustee (and classroom teacher!) - this is a guy who has contributed to his country and community at a truly exemplary level, and seeks to continue that service as Texas Comptroller.Learn more about Savant Moore and his campaign at https://www.savantmoore.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and our continuing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Almost a year ago, a 23 year old U.S. citizen from San Antonio was killed by ICE agent in south Texas - and it took investigative work from Newsweek to uncover that federal involvement: https://www.newsweek.com/ice-agent-fatally-shot-us-citizen-texas-dhs-records-11544225The Trump administration is set to sidestep 28 federal regulations in order to build over 100 miles of "smart wall" along the border areas in Big Bend National Park: https://www.thetravel.com/us-customs-and-border-protection-break-laws-in-big-bend-national-park-to-build-massive-border-wall/...Democratic Congressmen Vicente Gonzalez and Henry Cuellar appear to have been less than effective in fighting for that state treasure: https://www.texasobserver.org/trump-new-wall-rio-grande-valley-protected-sites/Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales, embroiled in an adultery scandal involving a staffer who later committed suicide, is accusing the staffer' s husband of blackmail: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/rep-tony-gonzales-now-claims-hes-being-blackmailed-by-husband-of-alleged-mistress/...The co-worker who blew the whistle to journalists says he raised concerns about Regina Santos-Aviles' mental health to his supervisor before her death, but was not consulted by investigators looking into her suicide: https://www.statesman.com/news/article/texas-congressman-tony-gonzales-allegations-21367439.phpUT Austin regents, on the heels of consolidating several gender and ethnic studies departments, have issued rules allowing students to bypass "unnecessary controversial subjects": https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/19/texas-university-ut-regents-unnecessarily-controversial-subjects/Dozens upon dozens of Texas ISD's are passing on the dedicated prayer time that Senate Bill 11 offers them to implement: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/education/central-texas-school-districts-weigh-adopt-voluntary-prayer-policy/269-80f7ee10-e9f2-48d7-9be4-29afd20e0016Early voting in the March primary is underway! Research your ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Chris managed not to get kicked out of the Senate Gallery at the Texas State Capitol long enough to see Taylor Rehmet become the first Democrat sworn in to represent Tarrant County's 9th Senate district since shoulder pads were hot. Early voting has shown Democratic voters in Texas fired up to hit the polls - but it's still gonna be an uphill battle. Lots more to talk about, and we do, on this week's weekly weekend roundup.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
As early voting in the primary gets underway, another Texas candidate running for the Texas State House, in this case for the seat representing HD 50 - the space made by James Talarico as he runs for the U.S. Senate. Samantha Lopez Resendez is an RGV native and longtime staffer at the Capitol, notably in the office of State Rep. Donna Howard.Learn more about Samantha Lopez Resendez at https://www.samanthafortexas.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 first two days of early voting have seen a near-doubling of the 2022 pace of Democratic primary voter turnout in Texas - but, with only a 20% jump, Republicans still lead in total ballots cast: https://votehub.com/early-vote-tracker-tx-primary-26?state=tx-sen-26-demKeeping it real and local appears to have been the secret sauce for "normie" Tarrant County candidate Taylor Rehmet, providing a potential winning strategy statewide for Democrats: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/opinion/texas-election-rehmet-politics.htmlDemocratic enthusiasm shouldn't be taken as an endorsement by established Democratic leadership - voters are partly fired up out of disappointment in their resistance to Trump 2.0: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-the-texas-primaries-could-reveal-about-the-midtermsRepublicans in Gillespie County have given up on hand-counting early primary votes, though they still insist they'll hand-count on Election Day: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/18/gillespie-county-republicans-scale-back-hand-count-amid-staffing-shortage/...Dallas County GOP Chair Allen West, after months of efforts to make voting party-specific and thus more difficult, ended up voting himself at a joint polling location in Garland: https://www.keranews.org/news/2026-02-18/a-dallas-county-republican-leader-wanted-voting-locations-separated-by-party-but-when-he-voted...Important reminder that if you live in either Dallas or Williamson County, if you wait until Election Day (March 3) to vote, you will have to do so at your specific precinct location: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/happy-hour-252-dallas-and-williamson-county-primary/id1552998795?i=1000746930358The suicide-by-fire of a staffer of Republican Congressman Tony Gonzales, as has been theorized for months, appears to have been connected to an affair she had with the married lawmaker: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/us/politics/texas-gonzales-suicide-affair.html...There are four Democrats running for the nomination in CD 23, and Progress Texas associate Reagan Stone conducted a panel with them recently: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/special-live-pod-the-democrats-running-for-cd-23/id1552998795?i=1000749334936Early voting in the March primary is underway! Research your ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
On Presidents' Day in Dallas, Next Generation Action Network kicked off Social Justice Week 2026 with with a powerful conversation on what democracy truly means and who it is supposed to serve, at the John Lewis Social Justice Academy. In a time when rights are under attack, truth is being distorted, and power is being challenged, the community came together to have a real conversation about reclaiming power and democracy.This is a great panel featuring Progress Texas Institute Board Chair and Attorney Louis Bedford IV, Dallas area community organizer Tiara Cooper, and Dallas County Democratic Party Chair Kardal Coleman, moderated by Black Women On A Mission founder Camille McCallum. Find the full video of the discussion at https://www.youtube.com/live/8efaOhdcJ5s.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:Last night's debate between Republicans seeking to replace Ken Paxton as attorney general was an unbridled hate-fest, targeting Muslim Texans, Black Texans, and liberal Texans: https://republicanags.com/news/texas-attorney-general-the-2026-republican-primary-debate/Right-leaning fear and hate have risen in Frisco, where Indian immigrants have become a popular target for conservatives: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/17/texas-attorney-general-republican-debate-huffman-middleton-reitz-roy/The horror for children imprisoned at Dilley's ICE detention facility has continued beyond the release of Liam Conejo Ramos: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/lisa-falkenberg/article/dilley-detention-ice-kids-crisis-21344477.php...A minor victory in Hutchins, as the company that owns the warehouse where a massive detention center had been planned is no longer interested: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/hutchins-texas-ice-facility-warehouse/287-11ce4a39-65f4-41c5-bb8c-cf5afca83168The trial in Fort Worth of a group of accused "Antifa" members on terrorism charges has been delayed by a mistrial declared by the Trump-appointed judge over a defense attorney's shirt featuring depictions of civil rights leaders: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/17/judge-texas-mistrial-antifa-iceEarly voting in the March primary is underway! Research your ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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:TV host Stephen Colbert defies CBS orders not to discuss their orders to pull an interview with James Talarico, citing the Trump FCC's modification of "equal time" rules for talk shows: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/02/17/colbert-says-cbs-refused-to-air-his-interview-with-democrat-candidate-fearing-fcc-blowback/...The Talarico interview has been posted to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiTJ7Pz_59AOver the weekend, investigative reporting revealed that Republican candidate for Texas Comptroller Don Huffines' family are the new owners of Jeffery Epstein's notorious Zorro Ranch in New Mexico: https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/us-politics/epstein-ranch-new-mexico-don-huffines-b2921162.html...Huffines has rushed to announce that the property is to be converted into a "Christian retreat": https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/texas-gop-politician-don-huffines-plans-christian-retreat-at-zorro-ranch/article_2418e5c4-b30f-499d-a1c6-e2c81995f829.html...The New Mexico legislature has unanimously authorized an investigation: https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/legislature/new-mexicos-bipartisan-epstein-truth-commission-passes-kicking-off-investigation/article_a111d177-9460-4af9-bc83-38ec1b9b44f1.htmlA Dallas County JP is being scrutinized for leaning towards landlords in eviction cases - and may have falsified a case in which paperwork was not properly filed: https://lonestarproject.net/2026/02/11/the-eviction-judge/Today is the first day of early voting - and Fat Tuesday! Progress Texas will be celebrating both on Tuesday evening from 5 to 7 in Austin, and Sustaining monthly supporters who show up and find us will have their first drink on PT! Become a sustaining monthly supporter NOW at https://progresstexas.org/donate and come see us.Research your primary ballot here: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
We're taking President's Day off this Monday, but we take a moment to remind you to think about the importance of ALL our hard work this midterm election year in doing all we can to put a stop to the daily insanity from the current occupant of the White House.We also remind you that your support is huge to us - so instead of picking up a new mattress, pick up the merch to match your progressive values! Use the code word RESIST at https://store.progresstexas.org/ for a 10% discount this week!AND - don't forget our first day of early voting and Fat Tuesday hang on Tuesday night in Austin! Sustaining monthly supporters who show up and find Chris will have their first drink on us - become a sustaining monthly supporter NOW at https://progresstexas.org/donate and come see us.The time to research your ballot is right now: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Sara McGee is running unopposed as a Democrat in the swingy 132nd Texas House District, inspired by a rude experience with incumbent Republican Mike Schofield, one of our most do-nothing and boot-licking lawmakers. A former school librarian and community advocate, Sara is focused on protecting Texans' reproductive rights, increasing public education funding, and expanding healthcare access.Learn more about Sara McGee and her campaign at https://mcgeefortx.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
The Progress Texas board has begun announcing their endorsements in the 2026 election, and if you don't live in North Texas, one you might be less familiar with is Kevin Burge - a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and cybersecurity specialist currently running for the U.S. House in Texas' 24th Congressional District, which has significant overlap with Texas State Senate District 9- the site of that massive blue flip with Taylor Rehmet's win, and a race featuring a particularly distasteful incumbent in Republican Congresswoman and MAGA darling Beth Van Duyne. With over 20 years of leadership experience, Kevin Burge's background includes combat service in both Iraq and Afghanistan, and cybersecurity service in the White House - we find him an exemplary candidate with a great story and terrific potential to win and serve with distinction.Learn more about Kevin and his campaign at https://www.burgeforcongress.com/.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Yet another week in the blender to unpack, as Austin State Rep. and new Progress Texas endorsee Vikki Goodwin joins us to announce an initiative to limit the encroachment of ICE into our neighborhoods, and give us an update on her campaign for Lieutenant Governor. Plus a discussion of Trump's new all-out assault on the environment, the ridiculous airspace lockdown of El Paso, and the needlessly-difficult death of actor and Austin resident James Van Der Beek. Lots to unpack - thanks for the hang.Learn more about our board's endorsement of Rep. Vikki Goodwin at https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-endorsements-march-primaries-0.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can help support our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The board at Progress Texas has issued its endorsement of Austin State Rep. Vikki Goodwin in her run for Texas Lieutenant Governor: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-endorsements-march-primaries-0...Texas labor unions, somewhat inexplicably, have been split in their endorsements in the race for Governor: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/11/texas-labor-unions-abbott-endorsement-teamsters-gina-hinojosa/...Also a bit strange, Music Venue Alliance Texas, which represents over 800 music venues across the state, has endorsed Abbott - definitely in conflict with the sensibilities of a great number of the musicians and patrons involved: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2026/02/12/texas-music-venues-endorse-gov-greg-abbott-for-reelection/...Might peruse their roster of venues, and ask about this next time you hit a show: https://www.musicvenuealliancetexas.com/membersNew GBAO polling shows Governor Abbott and Rep. Gina Hinojosa in a virtual tie: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HcKBWzElxg9AUOzaOXitYKVMwyc1M4sB/viewAn important analysis of "reptile theory" - our tendency to react to political overload with outrage, then obsession, then exhaustion - as a deliberate right-wing psychological tactic that can be escaped if it is recognized: https://www.instagram.com/p/DUiptM7AuJU/?igsh=MWJzZjl2NmF1OGZtbQ%3D%3D&img_index=1We have a treat for our monthly supporters on Tuesday 2/17 as we celebrate both Fat Tuesday and the first day of early voting in the primary! Join our community of supporters NOW to get involved: https://progresstexas.org/donateThe time to research your ballot is right now: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.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:Once again voting against the party that put him in power, Laredo Congressman Henry Cuellar was the only Democrat in the U.S. House to vote in favor of a strict new voter identification law based upon Donald Trump's unfounded claims of rampant voter fraud: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/us/politics/house-passes-voter-id-bill.htmlWhat the hell happened in El Paso yesterday? PBS's account: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-caused-the-sudden-and-confusing-closure-of-el-pasos-airspace...The Texas Tribune's version: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/11/el-paso-air-space-closed-faa/The death in Austin of actor James Van Der Beek, in which his family has been left in financial ruin, underscores the deep problems inherent to the current American healthcare system: https://www.newsweek.com/entertainment/james-van-der-beek-raises-important-question-healthcare-11510330We have a treat for our monthly supporters on Tuesday 2/17 as we celebrate both Fat Tuesday and the first day of early voting in the primary! Join our community of supporters NOW to get involved: https://progresstexas.org/donateThe time to research your ballot is right now: https://apps.texastribune.org/features/2026/texas-march-2026-primary-ballot/?_bhlid=7d8eca3d2a16adc7c9b44185414443fa32be6d84All about voting in Texas can be found at GoVoteTexas.org. Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: https://store.progresstexas.org/Progress Texas is expanding into both broadcast radio - including a new partnership with KPFT-FM in Houston - and into Spanish language media! Make a tax-deductible contribution to our radio initiative HERE, and to our Spanish expansion HERE.Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
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