The highest court in the U.S. state of Texas (for civil appeals)
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Some states in our nation are "coming apart at the seams" as they've capitulated to an agenda that's contrary to biblical authority and morality. Texas, however, is fighting this trend. Providing details was Jonathan Saenz. He's president and attorney for Texas Values, a nonprofit group dedicated to preserving and advancing a culture of family values in the state of Texas. Prior to leading Texas Values, Jonathan headed the First Liberty Institute offices in Austin where he served as Director of Legislative Affairs as well as Attorney for First Liberty Institute. He's been involved in numerous court cases including those before the Texas Supreme Court as well as the United States Supreme Court. Jim had Jonathan comment on numerous issues including: The Texas heartbeat law, Men invading women's sports (The Save Women's Sports Act and the Texas Women's Privacy Act), chemical abortion drugs, prayer in public schools, and more. Find out how Texas is handling these issues, learn about the Texas Faith Fest, and how you can make a difference in your state, on this edition of Crosstalk.
Some states in our nation are "coming apart at the seams" as they've capitulated to an agenda that's contrary to biblical authority and morality. Texas, however, is fighting this trend. Providing details was Jonathan Saenz. He's president and attorney for Texas Values, a nonprofit group dedicated to preserving and advancing a culture of family values in the state of Texas. Prior to leading Texas Values, Jonathan headed the First Liberty Institute offices in Austin where he served as Director of Legislative Affairs as well as Attorney for First Liberty Institute. He's been involved in numerous court cases including those before the Texas Supreme Court as well as the United States Supreme Court. Jim had Jonathan comment on numerous issues including: The Texas heartbeat law, Men invading women's sports (The Save Women's Sports Act and the Texas Women's Privacy Act), chemical abortion drugs, prayer in public schools, and more. Find out how Texas is handling these issues, learn about the Texas Faith Fest, and how you can make a difference in your state, on this edition of Crosstalk.
Five years after the Texas Supreme Court's landmark decision in In re C.J.C., the Texas legislature has made some big changes when it comes to parent vs. non-parent cases. Find out what every family law practitioner and parent needs to know about the changes to the law that took effect on September 1, 2025.In this episode, Holly Draper, CEO and Managing Partner of The Draper Law Firm, unpacks sweeping legislative updates and landmark standards that are turning parent vs. non-parent custody litigation on its head in Texas.You'll discover…The subtle statutory word change that could bar non-parents from ever filing suit.Why affidavits will make or break non-parent custody cases—and what must be in them.How the new “clear and convincing evidence” requirement raises the bar for non-parents seeking access.What the fit parent presumption really means after this legislative session.The strategy risks—and new hope—for parents and non-parents when agreeing to custody orders.
A lawsuit filed against the city of Austin because of misleading ballot language is expected to head to the Texas Supreme Court, a Capital Metro bus driver is being sued by the family of a man that was stabbed while riding on a Cap Metro bus and multiple business owners are pleading with Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick for help in regards to newly passed legislation that would withhold state licensing for cabins located in the 100-year floodplain. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:HB 25 - a bill allowing ivermectin to be bought at Texas pharmacies without prescriptions - has blazed through the second special session and is headed for Governor Greg Abbott's desk: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/ivermectin-bill-clears-texas-house-angry-pushback-21016700.php...The Texas Medical Association testified against the bill, but the Texas Board of Pharmacy declined to get involved: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/27/texas-legislature-ivermectin-otc-prescription/...All while RFK Jr., 30 minutes late to a press conference with Governor Abbott, freely spouts conspiracy about autism and more in Austin: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/rfk-jr-plays-fast-and-loose-with-autism-statistics-during-rambling-press-conference-with-texas-governor-38381693Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has announced a seventh massive waiving of environmental and health regulations to allow five miles of border wall to bulldoze a section of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge: https://www.borderreport.com/immigration/the-border-wall/dhs-waives-environmental-rules-to-build-more-border-wall-in-south-texas-through-wildlife-refugees/About 25% of Texas school districts and charter schools have signed up for the Christianity-infused Bluebonnet Learning curriculum, narrowly allowed last year by the State Board of Education: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/28/texas-schools-bluebonnet-bible-curriculum/Ken Paxton, upon the Texas Supreme Court backing the 15th Court of Appeals blocking of his efforts to stop Beto O'Rourke's Powered By People from helping Texas House Democratic quorum brakers with funding, accuses those very Republican judges of colluding with O'Rourke: https://www.rawstory.com/beto-orourke-ken-paxton/Austin friends: tickets are on sale now for our live podcast taping with legendary Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver on September 15 at Hopsquad Brewing in Austin! Tickets are limited and are available here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/allstaractivism_2025Help Progress Texas avoid going on a permanent vacation this summer by becoming a sustaining member: https://progresstexas.org/join-pt-summer-vacation-membership-driveThanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org
Send us a textWelcome to Season Six of Behind the Lines! The first episode of this season focuses on Houston people, service, and collaboration, in honor of HBA President Daniella Landers's goals for the new bar year. Listeners will hear from Houston lawyers (People) about legal trends in Houston's biggest industries, learn about how Houston lawyers can support those impacted by the Hill Country Flood (Service), find out how one Houston lawyer and his team helped clarify Texas family law in a pro bono case (Service), and explore two important ways lawyers in Houston are collaborating with those outside of the law to really make an impact (Collaboration). Part One: Houston ServiceHow to Help: Ways Houston Lawyers Can Support Those Impacted by the Hill Country Flood. Brittanny Gomez (Disaster Benefits Team Manager at Texas RioGrande Legal Aid), Jessie Campbell (Supervising Attorney for Private Attorney Involvement/Pro Bono at Lone Star Legal Aid), and Jillian Marullo (Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman), discuss ways attorneys in Houston can help those who were impacted by the Hill Country Flood. They talk about the legal issues presented by disasters like this, training and mentoring that is available, the importance of pro bono service, and vicarious trauma. (16 min.)Pro Bono Spotlight: Clarifying Texas Family Law and Making a Difference. Tony Lucisano (Baker Botts) discusses the legal issues presented and the Court's holding in a pro bono family law case he and his team took to the Texas Supreme Court. They secured a precedent-setting victory, which clarified evidentiary requirements for spousal maintenance awards in Texas. He also addresses the importance of pro bono service. (15 min.)Part Two: Houston People in Houston IndustriesEnergy Law Update. Jana Grauberger (co-leader of the Energy Practice Group at Liskow & Lewis) discusses issues impacting Houston energy lawyers, such as the impact of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act on oil and gas leasing in the Gulf and legal concerns related to the endangered Rice's whale. She also provides tips for young lawyers and students who are interested in the energy industry. (25 min.)Health Law Update. Megan Neel (DumasNeel) provides an update on what is happening in health care law in Houston, including the new non-compete law and updates to Texas law governing medical spas. She also provides tips for other lawyers and law students who are interested in this area of the law. (31 min.)Part Three: Houston CollaborationHVL's Medical Legal Partnerships: Collaborating to Care for the Whole Person. Susan Soto and Iris Onasis discuss Houston Volunteer Lawyers' Medical Legal Partnerships with Texas Children's Hospital and AccessHealth, including the types of legal issues they encounter, how Houston lawyers can volunteer to take cases, and how they support and mentor volunteer attorneys. (23 min.)Communities in Schools Houston: Collaborating for Confidence. Keiara Jones (partnership manager with Communities in Schools Houston (CIS)) describes how CIS, the HBA CIS Committee, and local legal employers collaborate to build confidence in local high school students by working together to provide them wiFor full speaker bios, visit The Houston Lawyer (hba.org/thehoustonlawyer). To read The Houston Lawyer magazine, visit The Houston Lawyer_home. For more information about the Houston Bar Association, visit Houston Bar Association (hba.org).*The views expressed in this episode do not necessarily reflect the views of The Houston Lawyer Editorial Board or the Houston Bar Association.
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: The Texas House blew up the property tax reform bill [more] and now has to reconcile with the Senate. And, the House appears to be leaning toward Texas becoming a pothead legal drug state. Plus, the House voted to reform the public school STAAR test but Odessa's state Rep. Landgraf makes clear his goal is to end testing all together – the great goal of the Leftist teacher unions that want zero accountability for the results achieved with taxpayers' money.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.SpaceX: The most powerful rocket ever, built and financed by a private company, has a near perfect tenth test flight. Freedom!!!Texas' solicitor general ask the Texas Supreme Court to stop an illogical act of the 15th Court of Appeals in the Beto Pancho O'Rouke case.Campaign updates: DC Swamp make sure memo leaks to POLITICO trying to shore up Cornyn's ability to raise money. Former Amarillo City Council member announces candidacy for Texas District 13 as Democrat Mayra Flores to challenge Vicente Gonzalez again for TX-34 Old cane stomper Al Green to Wait Until CD 18 Special Election to Declare Candidacy, After Texas Redistricting Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com
Trucking defense attorney Doug Marcello joins Bill Kanasky, Jr., Ph.D. to discuss the latest in trucking litigation. Doug provides a “state of the union” update on where the industry has been, where it is now, and where it needs to go. They address recent tort reform efforts in states like Georgia, Louisiana, and South Carolina, and the importance of leveraging those reforms effectively. An important point that Doug and Bill highlight is the continued lack of collaboration among defense attorneys compared to the highly coordinated plaintiff's bar, which continues to share strategies nationwide. Doug and Bill emphasize the need for defense teams to be more proactive, from filing first to secure favorable jurisdictions, to preparing witnesses early, and by using focus groups early to test case themes, witness credibility, and damages strategies before mediation. They highlight the benefits of repeated testing and retesting to refine approaches, rather than relying on gut instincts or past case experience. The discussion also covers the importance of simple, compelling storytelling in openings and closings, counter-anchoring damages with reasonable and well-justified numbers, and making strategic concessions to build credibility with jurors. Doug and Bill stress that winning doesn't always mean a defense verdict — reasonable settlements and mitigation of liability and damages can be victories when approached the right way. Finally, they analyze the Texas Supreme Court's Warner decision, which reaffirmed the necessity of proximate cause in negligence cases and rejected the idea that simply being present at the scene is enough for liability. Both agree that the ruling provides clarity and is a positive outcome for the trucking industry.
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked a district court to hold Beto Pancho O'Rourke in contempt, fine him, and detain himuntil he obeys the Temporary Restraining Order the state alleges he has violated over raising money for Democrats who fled the state to break legislative quorum.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Speaker and Lt. Governor say they will gavel the 1st called session sine die on Friday if a quorum has not been obtained in the House. Governor Abbott will then call another special session, the 2nd called session, to begin immediately.Texas Supreme Court sets and “expedited briefing schedule” over the case of whether the quorum busting equals an abandonment of office by Democrat legislators. Its expedited schedule is actually about a month long and seems to aid Dems in their run out the clock, again and again, strategy.Lubbock city officials tell you not to worry, they are setting the property tax increase proposal at the maximum allowed without voter approval but it's just to hold the public hearings – they may set a lower rate. This is a trick. By setting it at the maximum and having the hearings, then they can come back with a bit of lesser tax increase and not have to endure public hearings.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com
Tuesdays usually are slow compared to the other days: not so much this Tuesday! Let's take a look at what we covered on today's show:President Trump announced his call-up of the National Guard to assist in Washington, D.C., with law enforcement issues that continue to grow into more egregious crimes. Of course, the Left is going nuts at the move!Those Texas Democrat lawmakers are still absent from the state and NOT doing their jobs. The Texas Supreme Court has given dates for arguments and documents for the case against the lawmakers filed by Texas Governor Abbot.A L.A. Times reporter has called for Los Angeles to cancel their hosting of the 2028 Olympics. Why? Because of Donald Trump! You won't believe his reasoning.We go into great detail about the latest damning news about Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA). Classified documents show he -- when he chaired the House Judiciary Committee -- "urged" those who worked for him to leak classified information and even documents to the media! Why? To get Trump indicted!
Attorney General Ken Paxton has asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove 13 of the more than 50 House Democrats who fled the state to break quorum and effectively halt the special session to prevent a mid-decade redistricting plan, the Austin American-Statesman reported. “These cowards deliberately sabotaged the constitutional process and violated the oath they swore to uphold,” Paxton said in a statement. “Their out-of-state rebellion cannot go unchecked, and the business of Texas must go on.” Gov. Greg Abbott took a similar action against state Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, who is chair of the House Democratic Caucus. Paxton is...Article Link
August 9, 2025; 9am: Texas Democrats are facing a full-blown retaliation campaign after leaving the state to block the GOP's redistricting campaign. Governor Greg Abbott is asking the Texas Supreme Court to expel the House Democratic leader from office. Plus, Attorney General Ken Paxton has filed a lawsuit demanding that 13 House Democrats be declared vacant from their seats. One of those Democrats, State Representative Ron Reynolds, joins “The Weekend” to discuss the latest.For more, follow us on social media:Bluesky: @theweekendmsnbc.bsky.socialInstagram: @theweekendmsnbcTikTok: @theweekendmsnbcTo listen to this show and other MSNBC podcasts without ads, sign up for MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:Republicans in the Texas House plan to convene today at 1pm to try to advance Trump's congressional map - unless there are at least six quorum breakers planning to show up, they will not be able to establish quorum: https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/08/politics/texas-redistricting-friday-updatesGovernor Abbott is promising years of special sessions to wait out the quorum breakers - who really just have to hold out long enough to stop the new map from being used for the 2026 midterms: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/texas-gov-greg-abbott-moves-amp-pressure-democrats-fled-redistricting-rcna223581Senator John Cornyn's boasts that Kash Patel's FBI will be "hunting down" the Texas Democrats is met with ridicule from Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/08/07/fbi-to-help-find-texas-democrats-illinois/...The FBI, in fact, has little jurisdiction to arrest anyone in Illinois, as no charges have been filed against any of those Texas lawmakers: https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/senator-cornyn-says-fbi-will-help-track-down-texas-democrats-who-fled-over-2025-08-07/...Such federal assistance would also fly in the face of longstanding tradition in Texas related to taking care of our own business and resisting federal bailouts: https://www.vox.com/politics/442491/texas-gerrymandering-republicans-democrats-redistricting-midterms...Today also sees Governor Abbott's 5pm deadline for the Texas Supreme Court to remove House Minority Leader Gene Wu from office - it's not likely to happen, and if it does, isn't going to fix Abbott's problem: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-redistricting-gene-wu-lawsuit-fbi-investigation/285-155a9378-836b-4167-b853-42ea6bd125ee...Ken Paxton has been judge shopping in Illinois, asking the Eighth Judicial Circuit Court in rural Trump country to enforce Texas' civil arrest warrants against the quorum breakers: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/07/paxton-texas-democrats-illinois-enforce-arrest-warrants/...Beyond the goal of stopping Trump's Texas map, is the bigger goal of inspiring the country to resist the growing authoritarianism of the Trump regime: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/08/texas-democrats-legislature-redistricting-congressional-maps/Tickets are on sale now for our live podcast taping with legendary Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver on September 15 at Hopsquad Brewing in Austin! Tickets are limited and are available here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/allstaractivism_2025...The Brad Stuver interview will be co-hosted by Landon Cotham of the Austin FC podcast Moontower Soccer: https://www.moontowersoccer.com/Progress Texas' financial reserves have dropped to about 3 months worth of funding. Help us avoid going on a permanent vacation this summer by becoming a sustaining member: https://progresstexas.org/join-pt-summer-vacation-membership-driveThanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Nearly 60 Texas Democrat state representatives have fled the Lone Star state, abandoning their legislative offices, their districts, and their constituents, all to prevent the legislature from having the quorum to carry on business.The reason? The majority Republicans intend to vote for a redistricting plan that would cost the states Democrat representatives to the US House several seats—perhaps as many as five—and in particular would likely drive Progressive idols Jasmine Crockett and Al Green out of office. Governor Greg Abbott isn't taking any of this laying down, however, and he's using every legal means at his disposal to hold these run-away, feckless and cowardly Democrat representatives accountable for having fled their responsibilities and their constituents, and for locking up the entire Texas legislature from also voting out desperately needed aid for the victims of the terrible recent floods. Abbott has now turned to the Texas Supreme Court with a demand that they find these representatives have abandoned their legislative seats—with particular specificity for the Chair of the Texas House Democratic Caucus, Representative Gene Wu, who fled the state with other Democrats. Having these runaway Democrat reps declared absent would create an instant quorum of the remaining representatives present in the state house. The Supreme Court, in turn, has demanded a substantive response from Representative Wu by 5PM tomorrow—OR ELSE. The #1 guide for understanding when using force to protect yourself is legal. Now yours for FREE! Just pay the S&H for us to get it to you.➡️ Carry with confidence, knowing you are protected from predators AND predatory prosecutors➡️ Correct the common myths you may think are true but get people in trouble➡️ Know you're getting the best with this abridged version of our best-selling 5-star Amazon-rated book that has been praised by many (including self-defense legends!) for its easy, entertaining, and informative style.➡️ Many interesting, if sometimes heart-wrenching, true-life examplesGet Your Free Book: https://lawofselfdefense.com/getthebook
One of our favorites is back, Jim Bradbury! We're diving into some major updates straight from the Texas Supreme Court. Listen in as we break down two pivotal cases making waves in rural and regulatory circles—Myers-Woodward and Cactus Water Services. These decisions could have far-reaching implications for landowners, water rights, and regulatory authority in the Lone Star State. If you're involved in agriculture, land use, or Texas water law—you won't want to miss this one. Contact Info for Jim Bradbury (Email) jim@bradburycounsel.com (Website) http://bradburycounsel.com/ (Twitter) @jimbluewind Links to Topics Mentioned on the Show American Agricultural Law Association Blog Post - Myers-Woodward, LLC v. Underground Services Markham, LLC Myers-Woodward, LLC v. Underground Services Markham, LLC Blog Post - Cactus Water Services, LLC v. COG Operating, LLC. Cactus Water Services, LLC v. COG Operating, LLC. Angelo's BBQ - Fort Worth Podcast Sponsors Capital Farm Credit, AgTrust Farm Credit, Texas Corn Producers, Braun & Gresham, Plains Land Bank, Plateau Land & Wildlife Management, and AgTexas
Apple on Wednesday revealed more details about a multibillion-dollar U.S. manufacturing commitment the tech giant promised earlier this year — including new plans that involve North Texas. In other news, The FBI responded to U.S. Sen. John Cornyn's request to help locate the Texas House Democrats who left the state to prevent the Legislature from passing a new congressional map; Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says he's investigating Powered by People over reports the group founded by former El Paso congressman Beto O'Rourke has been raising money to support Texas House Democrats who left the state amid an ongoing battle over redistricting; and Gov. Greg Abbott asked the Texas Supreme Court on Tuesday to remove House Democratic Caucus chair Rep. Gene Wu of Houston. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Plus the Texas AG's office is launching an investigation into Beto O'Rourke who is financially backing a group of Texas democrats, school starts next week for most of the larger districts in North Texas, a Dallas businessman was killed Sunday in South Africa after being gored by a buffalo during a big game hunt, and more!
Wednesday, August 6th, 2025Today, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell file letters with the court over the possible release of grand jury transcripts; ICE floated the idea of paying bounties for deportations but rescinded the idea after journalists reached out for comment; FEMA floated the idea of denying emergency preparedness grants to states that boycott Israeli companies but quickly rescinded that as well; the White House is preparing an order to punish banks that refuse to work with fascist;, Texas Republicans fail again to move forward with redistricting after Democrats protest by denying them a quorum; Trump caves on requiring Rupert Murdoch to be deposed early in his lawsuit against the WSJ; Jim Comer has issued subpoenas in the Epstein files case; the DOJ has a recording of the two day witness tampering session between Ghislaine Maxwell and Todd Blanche; for the first time in the Culinary Union's 90-year history, all major casinos on the Las Vegas Strip are unionized; and Allison and Dana deliver the good news.Thank You, Helix Sleep20% Off Sitewide, when you go to HelixSleep.com/dailybeans.Guest: Samantha MichaelsA Revolutionary Way to End the Incarceration of Girls | Mother JonesMother JonesSamantha Michaels (@samanthamichaels.bsky.social) | BlueskyStoriesVictim in Epstein case decries ‘political warfare' in effort to release grand jury transcripts | CNNTop Trump officials will discuss Epstein strategy at Wednesday dinner hosted by Vance | CNN PoliticsRupert Murdoch and Trump Agree to Postpone Deposition | The New York TimesWhite House Preps Order to Punish Banks That Discriminate Against Conservatives | Wall Street JournalIn Reversal, FEMA Won't Deny Grants to Cities That Boycott Israeli Firms | The New York TimesICE Offers, Then Quickly Withdraws, Cash Bonuses for Swiftly Deporting Immigrants | The New York TimesLive updates: Abbott asks Texas Supreme Court to remove key Democrat from office in showdown over redistricting | CNN PoliticsGood Trouble Lara Loomer wants tips to find out who is disloyal inside the Trump administration so I think we should help her out. Your name and email are required so make sure to create one of those proton mail accounts for anonymity and let her rip. - Tip Line - Loomered(Proton Mail: Get a free email account with privacy and encryption)From The Good NewsAnimal Encounters & Guided Tours | Cape May County, NJ - Official WebsiteA somber vigil for the "disappeared" - ChicoSol NewsVigil for those Disappeared by I.C.E. - YouTubeThe Liberal Gun ClubAbout Us — The Forward InitiativeReminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Our Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - DonateMSW Media, Blue Wave California Victory Fund | ActBlueWhistleblowerAid.org/beans Federal workers - feel free to email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen. Find Upcoming Actions 50501 Movement, No Kings.org, Indivisible.orgDr. Allison Gill - Substack, BlueSky , TikTok, IG, TwitterDana Goldberg - BlueSky, Twitter, IG, facebook, danagoldberg.comCheck out more from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | SubstackShare your Good News or Good TroubleMSW Good News and Good TroubleHave some good news; a confession; or a correction to share?Good News & Confessions - The Daily Beanshttps://www.dailybeanspod.com/confessional/ Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:The Daily Beans on Apple PodcastsWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?The Daily Beans | SupercastThe Daily Beans & Mueller, She Wrote | PatreonThe Daily Beans | Apple Podcasts
Gov. Abbott asks Texas Supreme Court to expel House Democratic leader who left state
Texas Governor Greg Abbott filed a lawsuit Tuesday night with the Texas Supreme Court seeking to begin the process for the removal of House Democrat Caucus Chairman. Plus, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is committed to rooting out woke. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Worst in History! Jasmine Crockett Slams Trump's Cabinet | RFK Jr.'s Big Vaccine AnnouncementLive Show Monday-Thursday, 3pm est.SOCIALS: https://linktr.ee/drewberquist NEWS: https://DrewBerquist.com MERCH: https://RedBeachNation.com#DrewBerquist #ThisIsMyShow #TIMSTop 100 Political News Podcast with https://www.millionpodcasts.com/political-news-podcasts/#1 Counterterrorism Podcast on Feedspot: https://podcast.feedspot.com/counter_terrorism_podcasts/Show Notes/Links:President Trump has signed an executive order creating a task force to oversee the 2028 Los Angeles Olympicshttps://x.com/nicksortor/status/1952835067308281985President Trump on the future of MAGAhttps://x.com/Breaking911/status/1952838710493626832 Jasmine Crockett's new character says not to mess with a black woman and latina womanhttps://x.com/EndWokeness/status/1952756680111935581Jasmine Crockett says President Trump has a people of color problemhttps://x.com/EricLDaugh/status/1952907211698782216Gov.Abbot officially files with Texas Supreme Court to remove Democrat ringleader who fledhttps://x.com/nicksortor/status/1952856522695802931CNN's Kasie Hunt asks is Governor Greg Abbott has a leg to stand onhttps://x.com/Bubblebathgirl/status/1952933244976152633FBI directed to assist in arresting Texas representatives that fledhttps://x.com/rawsalerts/status/1952770734079590518Jeffrey Epstein was reportedly an FBI informant, according to unconfirmed documents obtained by SUPPLIED via FOIA court filingshttps://x.com/LeadingReport/status/1952839385206145369RFK Jr. cancels funding for 22 mRNA vaccineshttps://x.com/SecKennedy/status/1952851097019633766https://x.com/JanJekielek/status/1952852454070264042See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
The Texas Supreme Court is now involved in a political showdown. Gov. Greg Abbott wants more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who fled the state hauled back and arrested. Now, one legislator has been singled out as the “ringleader.” Plus, President DonaldTrump insists his deputy attorney general's recent interview with Ghislaine Maxwell was “totally above board.” But why was she moved to a lower-security prison just days later, and where's the transcript? And a major vaccine shake-up. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pulls $500 million in government funding for mRNA vaccine research, stopping projects with Pfizer, Moderna and others in their tracks. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:In developments leading into the third day of the Texas House quorum break, Senator John Cornyn has requested that the FBI intervene, capture and transport the Democratic lawmakers avoiding the special session back to the Capitol: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/cornyn-fbi-arrest-texas-democrats_n_68925f14e4b0d3424bc402f3...Next, Attorney General Ken Paxton declared he'll ask that the seats of any Democrats still absent on Friday be declared vacant by the courts: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/08/05/texas-ag-ken-paxton-will-ask-state-courts-to-declare-absent-house-democratic-seats-vacant/...Then, Governor Greg Abbott asked the Texas Supreme Court to remove Democratic State House Minority Leader Gene Wu from office by 5pm on Thursday: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2025/08/05/gov-greg-abbott-asks-texas-supreme-court-to-remove-house-democratic-chair-gene-wu/...Then, Paxton piped up that Abbott doesn't have the authority to make that move, and the Governor took to social media to counter that he does: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/05/texas-democrats-ken-paxton-court-vacate-seats-quorum-break/...Meanwhile, Cornyn has been badmouthing Paxton, ahead of their likely GOP primary faceoff, for doing all of this from vacation: https://www.rawstory.com/cornyn-paxton/...And Houston State Senator Mayes Middleton, who's running to replace Paxton at Attorney General, issued a blatantly racist tweet against Rep. Wu, which remains up this morning: https://x.com/mayes_middleton/status/1952430829587829074All of this Republican crazy provides a unique opportunity for national Democrats to display some backbone ahead of the 2028 presidential election: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/abbott-texas-redistricting-newsom-pritzker-b2802534.htmlPlease help Progress Texas continue our important work as the 60th anniversary of LBJ's signing of the federal Voting Rights Act arrives today: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/60th_vraAustin friends and soccer fans! Mark your calendar for Monday September 15, when we will gather for a live podcast taping with legendary Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver! Sponsorship opportunities are available now, and individual tickets will go on sale soon: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/allstaractivism_2025...The Brad Stuver interview will be co-hosted by Landon Cotham of the terrific Austin FC podcast Moontower Soccer: https://www.moontowersoccer.com/Progress Texas' financial reserves have dropped to about 3 months worth of funding. Help us avoid going on a permanent vacation this summer by becoming a sustaining member: https://progresstexas.org/join-pt-summer-vacation-membership-driveThanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Sometimes, a courtroom decision quietly rewrites the rules for thousands of Texas families—until a landmark case rips the lid off the status quo.What does it mean for parental rights and protective orders when the Texas Supreme Court steps in?In this episode, Holly Draper dives deep into Stary v. Ethridge—her recent Texas Supreme Court case that shakes up the standards for long-term protective orders and constitutional parental rights.You'll discover…Why “care, custody, and control” are three words every family lawyer—and parent—should know.How fast-tracked protective order hearings can short-circuit due process, and why that matters.The surprising burden of proof shift that changes the game for protective orders lasting over two years.Masterful behind-the-scenes strategy and suspenseful moments from the Supreme Court oral argument.Practical steps lawyers (and parents) must take now if they're impacted by this bombshell ruling.
The Texas Supreme Court is now involved in a political showdown. Gov. Greg Abbott wants more than 50 Democratic lawmakers who fled the state hauled back and arrested. Now, one legislator has been singled out as the “ringleader.” Plus, President DonaldTrump insists his deputy attorney general's recent interview with Ghislaine Maxwell was “totally above board.” But why was she moved to a lower-security prison just days later, and where's the transcript? And a major vaccine shake-up. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pulls $500 million in government funding for mRNA vaccine research, stopping projects with Pfizer, Moderna and others in their tracks. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025.
Austin City Council members appear to be split on how much to propose for a property tax rate hike, Travis County Commissioner Brigid Shea is claiming a county tax rate hike is inevitable after the July 4 floods and Governor Greg Abbott has filed a lawsuit with the Texas Supreme Court to remove state representative Gene Wu from office.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
WTH is happening in the Texas Congress?! As we speak, 38 Democratic lawmakers in Texas have fled the state in a bold move to block a GOP redistricting plan that could shift the balance of power in Congress. By breaking quorum, they've stalled the legislative session—and triggered a fierce response from Governor Greg Abbott, who has issued civil arrest warrants and daily fines in an effort to force them back. Episode 191 breaks down the truth behind this Texas voting rights battle, driven by partisan gerrymandering and an aggressive push to redraw political maps. In this episode asks a question that hits close to home: Could this kind of redistricting fight ever happen in Canada?Bill compares the quorum break in the Texas legislature to Canada's own electoral process, explaining why our system may be more resistant to partisan map-drawing—and what we should still be watching out for. From Texas Democrats fleeing to block a GOP map, to Greg Abbott's arrest threats, this story is more than American politics—it's a lesson in democracy, power, and what's at stake when redistricting becomes a political weapon.Don't forget to like, follow and subscribe across our channels! Thank you.This episode was recorded on: August 6, 2025Become a YouTube channel member or paid SubStack subscriber to hear Bill's stories and life lessons from 50+ years as a broadcast journalist in his members-only series, MORAL OF THE STORY: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeUbzckOLocFzNeY1D72iCA/joinListen to The Bill Kelly Podcast everywhere: https://kite.link/the-bill-kelly-podcastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheBillKellyPodcast/featuredBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thisisbillkelly.bsky.socialFacebook: https://facebook.com/TheBillKellyPodcastInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisbillkelly/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thisisbillkelly/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebillkellypodcastSubStack: billkelly.substack.com/*Comment ‘likes' on behalf of this channel are an acknowledgment of your comment, not necessarily an endorsement of its contents. Thanks for joining these critical discussions in critical times!CHAPTERS00:00 The Texas Electoral Controversy04:51 Comparing Electoral Systems: Canada vs. USA10:26 Safeguards in Canadian PoliticsFURTHER READINGAugust 5, 2025: Abbott asks Texas Supreme Court to remove key Democrat from office in showdown over redistrictinghttps://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/texas-democrats-redistricting-house-quorum-08-05-25Ken Paxton and Greg Abbott's dubious threat against Texas Democratshttps://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/texas-democrats-threats-redistricting-ken-paxton-greg-abbot-rcna223351Texas Democrats could be fined nearly $400,000 for fleeing the statehttps://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/06/texas-democrats-fines-fleeing-00494877Denying quorum has been a Texas political strategy since 1870https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/texas-quorum-breaks-history/HASHTAGS#News#Politics#BreakingNews#PoliticalNews#PoliticalCommentary#NewsToday#NewsUpdates#NewsCommentary#PoliticalCommentary#CanadaNews#TodayNews This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit billkelly.substack.com/subscribe
On today's program, conservative leader Jason Yates, who was the former CEO of My Faith Votes, has pleaded guilty to the possession of child sexual abuse material. We'll have details. President Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill…school choice advocates welcome a provision in the bill that includes a private school tax credit…but the impact on Christian education remains uncertain. We'll take a look. Plus, The King's College in New York City. After years of financial woes and false restarts, the school has shut down—for good, this time. First, a Texas court says a lawsuit against Bill Gothard and the Institute for Basic Life Principles can move forward. The Texas Supreme Court ruled on June 27 that a lawsuit against the Institute for Basic Life Principles (IBLP) and its founder Bill Gothard could continue, despite the defendants' petition to dismiss the lawsuit under the First Amendment and the Ecclesiastical Abstention Doctrine. The producer for today's program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today's program include Isaac Wood, Kim Roberts, Daniel Ritchie, Tony Mator, Kathryn Post, Clemente Lisi, and Christina Darnell. A special thanks to the Religion UnPlugged for contributing material for this week's podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.
This IMS Insights Podcast episode explores Texas Rule of Evidence 702 and the high-stakes world of expert witness admissibility with veteran trial attorney Larry Cotten of Cotten Schmidt. As the first Texas litigator to successfully challenge an expert under the landmark Daubert/Robinson standard, Larry provides strategic insights on effectively preparing, defending, or challenging expert witnesses, including tips for using visuals to strengthen your argument. Hosted by IMS Senior Jury Consulting Advisor Chris Dominic, this conversation provides practical guidance for plaintiff and defense attorneys, drawn from the landmark Texas Supreme Court case DuPont v. Robinson. Larry and Chris unpack the crucial role judges, juries, and venues play in Daubert hearings, making this a must-listen for litigators looking to sharpen their trial strategy. Find the original LinkedIn Live recording here. Read about Larry's expertise: Larry E. Cotten | Cotten Schmidt Meet our host, Chris Dominic: https://imslegal.com/team/chris-dominic Explore our litigation consulting services: https://imslegal.com/services/litigation-consulting Contact IMS today: https://imslegal.com/contact IMS has delivered strategic litigation consulting and expert witness services to leading global law firms and Fortune 500 companies for more than 30 years, in more than 45,000 cases. IMS consultants become an extension of your legal team from pre-suit investigation services to discovery and then on to arbitration and trial. Learn more at imslegal.com.
In the next episode of Stop the Stigma, we sit down with Kristi Taylor, executive director of the Texas Judicial Commission on Mental Health (JCMH). Formed by a joint order of the Texas Supreme Court and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals in 2018, the commission's mission is to develop, implement, and coordinate policies to improve courts' interactions with individuals with mental health needs, substance use disorders, and intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD).There are 30 adult mental health courts and nine juvenile mental health courts in Texas: https://www.texasjcmh.gov/programs-and-initiatives/mental-health-courts/Please check out these important tools and resources from the commission:JCMH Bench Books - https://www.texasjcmh.gov/publications/bench-books-code-book/JCMH Summit - https://www.texasjcmh.gov/programs-and-initiatives/conferences-meetings/summit/2025-jcmh-summit/JCMH Treatment Courts Collaborative - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_g4xkl42v3gTBRI - https://child.tcu.edu/about-us/tbri/#sthash.sWJPGGbM.dpbsHandle with Care Program - https://minaretfoundation.com/handle-with-care-texas-toolkit/Yolanda Lewis/Dr. Jule Kaplow presentation - https://youtu.be/Bq7AD20V7ckChristi Center - https://youtu.be/Bq7AD20V7ckWatch and subscribe on YouTube: https://youtu.be/zbQ7QHiDFwI
Mark and Melynda discuss a Texas Supreme Court involving a pick-up accident being settled, and the hosts have a conversation with Lori Brown, the mother of UT stabbing victim Harrison Brown, whose murderer's hearing has been postponed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
This Day in Legal History: 14th Amendment RatifiedOn July 9, 1868, the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified—one of the most sweeping and hotly contested legal transformations in American history. Drafted during Reconstruction, its promise was bold: birthright citizenship, due process, and equal protection under the law. In theory, it was the legal nail in the coffin for Dred Scott v. Sandford, the 1857 decision that declared Black people could never be citizens. In practice? A more complicated story.The amendment aimed to redefine American citizenship in the wake of emancipation—but its language proved a double-edged sword. While Section 1 is the cornerstone of modern civil rights litigation, it was also the platform for corporate personhood and Lochner-era judicial activism. The same equal protection clause used to dismantle segregation in Brown v. Board (1954) was first deployed to protect railroad companies from state taxes. So the question isn't whether the Fourteenth Amendment mattered—it's whether it served the people it was meant to protect.Southern states ratified the amendment under duress, often as a condition for rejoining the Union. The Supreme Court, for decades, narrowed its reach, refusing to apply most of the Bill of Rights to the states and sidestepping racial injustice entirely. Only in the 20th century—through selective incorporation and the civil rights movement—did its full potential begin to manifest.Today, the Fourteenth Amendment remains a constitutional battleground: cited in cases on abortion, marriage equality, affirmative action, and beyond. But the fight over its meaning is far from settled. July 9 isn't just a date on the calendar—it's a reminder that even the most powerful legal language is hostage to interpretation, and that equality under the law has always been a work in progress.Retired NBA star Charles Oakley is seeking sanctions against Madison Square Garden (MSG) and Randy Mastro, a top NYC official and MSG attorney, alleging they made false statements in a long-running legal battle over Oakley's 2017 ejection from a Knicks game. In a recent court filing, Oakley accused Mastro of repeatedly lying to the court about MSG owner James Dolan's involvement, despite Dolan admitting under oath that he played a role. Oakley wants the judge to award attorney fees, censure Mastro, and require him to attend an ethics class.This move follows MSG's own motion last month asking the court to sanction Oakley and his lawyers for allegedly promoting a "false narrative" and to dismiss the case. The dueling motions are part of an eight-year legal dispute that began after Oakley was forcibly removed from MSG. Oakley, a Knicks fan favorite from 1988–1998, has claimed excessive force was used during the incident and has recently amended his lawsuit to focus on assault and battery.Ex-NBA player seeks sanctions against Madison Square Garden, lawyer Mastro | ReutersLaw school deans across Texas are pushing back against a proposal to eliminate the requirement that attorneys graduate from American Bar Association (ABA)-accredited schools. In a letter to the Texas Supreme Court, deans from eight of the state's ten ABA-accredited law schools argue that scrapping the rule—which has been in place since 1983—would hinder graduates' ability to practice in other states and reduce transparency for students and consumers.The court's review of the ABA requirement follows a similar move by Florida, where justices cited the ABA's paused diversity mandate and political activity as reasons for reconsideration. Critics of the proposal warn that removing ABA accreditation could isolate Texas law schools, make legal education less portable, and ultimately increase costs for students.Notably, the dean of the University of Texas School of Law, Robert Chesney, did not join the group letter. Instead, he suggested the court explore alternative or supplementary accreditation pathways. Texas A&M's law dean, Robert Ahdieh, also withheld endorsement but emphasized the importance of maintaining national recognition for Texas law degrees. The state's high court, composed entirely of Republican-elected judges, has not indicated when it will issue a decision.Eliminating ABA accreditation for Texas law schools is flawed proposal, some deans say | ReutersA U.S. district judge temporarily halted the bankruptcy sale of genetic testing company 23andMe, giving California three days to argue that the deal violates its genetic privacy law. California had earlier failed to convince a bankruptcy judge to block the $305 million sale to TTAM Research, a nonprofit founded by 23andMe co-founder Anne Wojcicki.The state contends that transferring genetic data to TTAM without explicit consumer consent breaches California's Genetic Information Privacy Act. With roughly 1.8 million California residents among 23andMe's 10 million users, the state argues the sale could lead to unauthorized data transfers.Bankruptcy Judge Brian Walsh previously ruled that consumers could delete their data post-sale, minimizing potential harm. TTAM has promised to honor 23andMe's existing privacy policies. A federal court hearing on whether to extend the pause is scheduled for Thursday. The bankruptcy follows declining demand and a major 2023 data breach at 23andMe.Judge briefly pauses 23andMe bankruptcy sale amid California's appeal | ReutersThe IRS has agreed—at least for now—not to penalize churches for discussing political candidates or campaigns during religious services, provided that such speech is framed as a matter of faith. This move comes as part of a proposed consent decree intended to resolve a constitutional challenge to the Johnson Amendment, a 1954 law barring 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations—including churches—from participating in political campaigns.The settlement, filed in a Texas federal court, reinterprets the Johnson Amendment narrowly: religious speech about politics during worship services is not “political intervention” if it occurs through traditional, faith-based communication. The IRS now claims enforcing the Johnson Amendment against such speech could raise serious First Amendment concerns, especially if it treats politically silent religious organizations more favorably than outspoken ones.Critics warn this reinterpretation risks turning churches into tax-sheltered political operations. Diane Yentel of the Council of Nonprofits argues it opens the door to tax-deductible donations for de facto political activity—effectively subsidized by taxpayers who may disagree.While the lawsuit originally sought to strike down the Johnson Amendment entirely, this settlement attempts to sidestep the constitutional minefield through interpretation, not invalidation. But here's the legal paradox: the IRS is effectively rewriting statutory law without legislative input, relying on what it calls "constitutional avoidance." That raises real questions—can an executive agency unilaterally redefine the scope of a congressional statute to avoid a constitutional fight? Or is this a policy pivot masquerading as judicial restraint?For now, the constitutional showdown is paused. But if this consent decree is approved, it will mark a major shift in the legal boundaries between church, state, and campaign finance—without any actual change to the law's text. Whether that holds up under future scrutiny remains very much an open question.IRS Says Religious Groups Can Discuss Politics During Services (1) This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.minimumcomp.com/subscribe
The Texas Supreme Court just tossed out a $100 million nuclear verdict against Werner. Also, perhaps the most famous role soldier-truckers ever played was the “Red Ball Express.” Then, the “Code Talkers Flag,” which honors Navajos who used their language to help the U.S. in World War II, was lost until a trucker found it. And in 13 states this year, fuel taxes will change, and most will go up. 0:00 – Nuclear verdict tossed out by Texas Supreme Court 09:55 – Truckers of the Red Ball Express played key role in WWII victory 24:15 – Trucker's action saved flag that honors the Code Talkers 38:43 – Fuel taxes to increase in 13 states today
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Big U.S. Supreme Court and Texas Supreme Court ruling, as well as from other courts that involve Texas cases or affect Texas greatly. Supreme Court sides with Trump administration on nationwide injunctions in birthright citizenship case -good ruling Court decides against Planned Parenthood in Medicaid case – good ruling Supreme Court Rules on Parents' Religious Freedom in LGBTQ School Book Opt-Out Case – good ruling Court rules in favor of Texas death row inmate – bad ruling US Supreme Court Preserves Key Element of Obamacare Preventive Care – bad ruling Texas' age verification law for porn upheld by U.S. Supreme Court, more – good ruling Texas Can Use Blocked Investigation Tool, Fifth Circuit Finds – probably a good ruling Texas Supreme Court allows church to challenge SMU split – good ruling Texas governor, AG exempt from mandamus writs – good ruling Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Oil and gas rig countsteady this week.Boeing's big problems in San Antonio continue but new leadership is coming in for the Air Force One project. Meanwhile in Fort Worth: Aircraft maintenance company to invest $120M, add 1,200 jobs at Alliance.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates. www.PrattonTexas.com
*The Texas Supreme Court recently issued an important ruling that clarifies who owns the pore space beneath land.*Senate Ag Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar expresses concern with reductions-in-staff at USDA and proposed SNAP cuts.*Despite tariff uncertainty, red meat exports are on-par with last year.*It was a rainy spring in the Texas Panhandle. What's the forecast for this summer?*Summer is the time to watch out for blue-green algae. *The Central Texas Sheep and Goat Conference was recently held in McGregor.
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: Today endeth the 89th Texas Legislature as the 140 days have come to an end. Three big bills that were thought to be likely to pass did not. One of them puts election integrity in Texas in peril and is a handout to the “community organizers” of the Left; another is a big surprise to the public school folks as the effort to end the STAAR test failed at the last moment, and; the third is that a much needed judicial pay raise bill failed all because the old problem of legislators having linked their substantial pensions (yeah, I know you thought they didn't really get paid) to that of the state's judges.But, they did manage to spend a bunch of money and provide a meaningful property tax relief package (it could have been much larger.)Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.Bad news: U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear GOP activist's lawsuit challenging Texas Ethics Commission's lobbying fine.Attorney General Ken Paxton Secures Major Victory Against Border NGO Allegedly Harboring Illegal Aliens. The ruling from the Texas Supreme Court is very interesting, read it here.Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com
On Thursday's show: We learn about a $150 million donation that will create the Kinder Children's Cancer Center, a new initiative to fight childhood cancer at MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children's Hospital. The gift is one of the largest such donations in the history of the Texas Medical Center and one of the largest ever given to a pediatric hospital in the country.Also this hour: Comedian Ramy Youssef performs Friday night at House of Blues, and he has a new animated series on Amazon Prime called #1 Happy Family USA! We revisit a 2019 conversation with him about how he got into comedy and about how much of his standup material and work on television has revolved around the experience of growing up Muslim in America.Then, a Houston mother lost her parental rights to her children for life because of allegations her ex-husband made in court. We learn why the Texas Supreme Court unanimously overturned that ruling and what it means for how protective orders are issued here.And Laura Walker visits a farm run by the Socialites Riding Network, a Black-owned nonprofit that teaches sustainable agriculture and an appreciation for animals.
The news of Texas covered today includes:Our Lone Star story of the day: A Texas Supreme Court ruling last week is important in reminding local governments that the Legislature is in control of what they can and cannot do. It is also an important private property rights ruling: Texas Supreme Court Overturns Rulings in College Station Extra Territorial Jurisdiction Case.Our Lone Star story of the day is sponsored by Allied Compliance Services providing the best service in DOT, business and personal drug and alcohol testing since 1995.From the 89th Texas Legislature: Will $2.5B in new film incentives make Texas a conservative Hollywood? Texas allows certain children to get married. Lawmakers may close that loophole. – Dems are leading this and it is an almost complete contradiction of most all their positions on teenagers on other issues – the non-contradiction is their long held dislike of the nuclear family. Restrictions on minors' access to sexually explicit library books advances in Texas House. Texas House OKs excluding trans people from state records – the headline and parts of the story are blatant lies. Texas legislature passes bill addressing concrete batch plant regulation. Texas legislators target zoo trespassing with new bills – waste of time. Senate Leaderhip Fund poll shows Cornyn getting creamed by Paxton – as all other polls has shown. And, a far-Left union Democrat says he is running in TX19 to ultimately challenge Rep. Jody Arrington.Secretary Rollins Suspends Live Animal Imports Through Ports of Entry Along Southern Border, Effective Immediately. Sheinbaum calls US halt on Mexican cattle imports unfair. Listen on the radio, or station stream, at 5pm Central. Click for our radio and streaming affiliates.www.PrattonTexas.com
“Operating in the world of what really is possible. What do I really think I can achieve? But then, once he had set his mind on it, yes, this is something doable. This is something I firmly believe I can do, then obviously, unexpected obstacles always arise. But he refused to be defeated by one.” Talmage Boston Top Five Tips For World Leaders1. Integrity/credibility 2. Consensus building to effectuate successful diplomacy3. Principled pragmatism/recognition of necessity for compromise to make a deal 4. Magnanimity needed for the long haul – stay above the fray by not taking antagonistic bait 5. Make promises carefully TIME STAMP SUMMARY01:06 Operating with integrity and truth is a core principle all leaders should have07:05 The current turmoil in the world leaders13:20 Often compromising is important21:40 Keep your promises but be careful when making them Where to find Talmage?Website www.talmageboston.com. LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/talmageboston/ Talmage Boston Bio Talmage Boston is a recognized figure among leading historians, with endorsements from David McCullough, Jon Meacham, and others. His diverse background as a lawyer and historian uniquely qualifies him to explore the intersection of history, leadership, and contemporary relevance. Talmage Boston has practiced law as a commercial trial and appellate litigator in Dallas, Texas since 1978. He is now a partner at Shackelford, Bowen, McKinley & Norton, LLP. He has been board certified in civil trial law since 1988, as well as board certified in civil appellate law since 1990, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Talmage has been recognized in Texas Monthly as a “Texas Super Lawyer” in Business Litigation since inception in 2003. Talmage has successfully represented clients in state and federal court lawsuits and arbitrations involving oil and gas, real estate, banking, intellectual property and partnership disputes. During his 40-year career, he has successfully tried jury trials throughout Texas and prevailed in appellate courts across the state, including the Texas Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.A leader of both the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association, Talmage has served as a State Bar of Texas director, as well as chair of the State Bar Litigation Section, Council of Chairs, and Annual Meeting planning committee. He has also served as the Dallas Bar Association advisory director and chair of the Dallas Bar's Business Litigation Section. For his service, he received Presidential Citations from State Bar of Texas presidents every year from 2005 to 2011 and 2018, and also from the Dallas Bar Association president in 2009.In addition to maintaining his full-time law practice, Talmage is the author of four books: (1) Cross-Examining History: A Lawyer Gets Answers From the Experts About Our Presidents (Bright Sky Press 2016, Foreword by Ken Burns); (2) Raising the Bar: The Crucial Role of the Lawyer in Society (TexasBarBooks 2012, Foreword by former U.S. Attorney General Dick Thornburgh); (3) Baseball and the Baby Boomer (Bright Sky Press 2009, Foreword by Frank Deford); (4) 1939: Baseball's Tipping Point (Bright Sky Press 2005, Foreword by John Grisham).
Milo Bobbitt built an appellate practice from scratch at his firm. After an internship with then-Justice Willett at the Texas Supreme Court, he successfully defended a significant oil and gas contract victory on appeal, complete with a quote from the movie “Armageddon” in the opinion. "I was writing a new brief about every month for eight months straight," Milo recalls to hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders. Tune in as he offers practical strategies, such as volunteering for pro bono appeals and dispositive motions, for attorneys looking to develop appellate skills. As someone who has faced challenges – including being born partially deaf – Milo also stresses the importance of mentors and encourages new lawyers to take advantage of Texas's collegial appellate bar.Connect and Learn More☑️ Milo Bobbitt | LinkedIn☑️ Patel | Gaines, Attorneys at Law on LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook | X | YouTube☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X ☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X ☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC ☑️ Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP | LinkedIn☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced and Powered by
Hosts Todd Smith and Jody Sanders welcome Adam Shniderman of Alexander Dubose & Jefferson to discuss his unique journey through academia, clerkships, and private practice. Adam shares how his academic background in criminology and forensic evidence provided a solid foundation for his legal career. He compares clerking at the Texas Supreme Court and the Ninth Circuit, and he suggests that young lawyers should consider clerking as a way to enhance their skills. “It is a bit of drinking from a fire hose and learning a lot that you wouldn't necessarily learn as a first-year associate,” he says.Adam's insights about Texas appellate law are available on his Substack, named “14th & Colorado” after the intersection where the Supreme Court of Texas is located. Click here to subscribe.Connect and Learn More☑️ Adam Shniderman | LinkedIn | X | 14th & Colorado ☑️ Alexander Dubose & Jefferson | LinkedIn☑️ Todd Smith | LinkedIn | X ☑️ Jody Sanders | LinkedIn | X ☑️ Texas Appellate Law Podcast on LinkedIn | X | Instagram☑️ Texas Appellate Counsel PLLC ☑️ Kelly Hart & Hallman, LLP | LinkedIn☑️ Subscribe Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon MusicProduced
Whenever a trial is notable enough to make the headlines, the initial verdict is often the only one that sticks in the public-consciousness. But when it comes to appeals, unless it's a particularly heinous criminal case, the process is rarely deemed newsworthy. I suspect there's a litany of reasons for this lack of coverage, though at the end of the day I think it comes down to the appeals process being both nuanced and - using the metrics of 24-hour news - excruciatingly slow. And while it's not always granted, the ability to appeal a verdict is still fundamental to our legal system because ultimately it allows the space for humility. A space to say, “I never considered _____”. A space to grow.In my estimation, being an appellate attorney is more akin to being a craftsman or artisan than any other field of practice. It also takes a level of patience and flexibility that many attorneys (myself included) don't revel in.My guest this week is one of these craftsmen.Todd Smith is the Founder and Principal of the Texas Appellate Counsel, which helps attorneys implement the tools of emerging technology thoughtfully, effectively, and ethically.Todd has devoted his career to appellate practice, starting more than 3 decades ago with a two-year judicial clerkship at the Texas Supreme Court, moving to private and solo practice throughout his career.Todd and I discuss his journey towards discoing a passion for appellate work, the lessons he's learned being on both sides of the leadership role, and how technology does and doesn't impact the ways law will be practiced in the years to come. Enjoy the show! Listen to Legal Grounds wherever you get your Podcasts.
The 27th Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas, the Honorable Nathan L. Hecht retired from the bench at the end of 2024 as the longest-serving member in the history of the Texas Supreme Court. In this conversation, Hecht reflects on how his time on the bench shaped his perspective on access to justice. He describes the current challenges that civil courts face and shares what recent innovations he finds most exciting. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
On Thursday's show: Houston city officials are facing a looming budget crisis and will need to slash spending or dramatically raise revenue over the next year following a Texas Supreme Court decision on the city's infrastructure spending. The city is grappling with a $100 million price tag for required spending on streets and drainage and now faces a $330 million deficit in 2026. We learn how we got here, and City Controller Chris Hollins joins us to explain his proposed emergency task force to address the situation.Also this hour: Late last month, Houston-based midstream energy giant Kinder Morgan announced plans to move ahead with a liquefied natural gas pipeline project extending more than 200 miles from Katy to Port Arthur. The company says the Trident Intrastate Pipeline could help power millions of homes and businesses. But not everyone is thrilled about it. We discuss the pipeline, projects like it, and the environmental and legal concerns they often raise.Then, we visit the Eternal Gandhi Museum in southwest Houston. It's the first museum in the Americas dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi's legacy of nonviolent conflict resolution.And we visit a weekly Mexican wrestling event in East Houston.
Show off your Lone Star spirit with a free "Remember the Alamo" hat with an annual subscription to The Texan: https://thetexan.news/subscribe/The Texan's Weekly Roundup brings you the latest news in Texas politics, breaking down the top stories of the week with our team of reporters who give you the facts so you can form your own opinion.Enjoy what you hear? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review! Got questions for the reporting team? Email editor@thetexan.news — they just might be answered on a future podcast.This week on The Texan's “Weekly Roundup,” the team discusses:Congress Certifies Donald Trump's Electoral College VictoryRepublican Caucus Rifts Mark the Texas House Speaker Race‘Cook or Calamity': Paxton, Texas GOP Embark on Crusade Against Pro-Burrows RepublicansAbbott Appoints James Sullivan to Texas Supreme Court, Elevates Jimmy Blacklock to Chief Justice15th Court of Appeals investitureCanyon ISD Returns Bible to School Libraries After BacklashTexas Congressman Files Legislation to Move CBP Headquarters to TexasCorporate Transparency ActTexas Legislature Joint Committee Hear About Affects of Social Media on ChildrenHouston Police Officers Immune From Liability After Crashing in Pursuit, Texas Supreme Court RulesPresident Biden Issues Parting Ban of New Offshore Oil Drilling on Federal Lands
Patreon supporters who give $5 a month will get an ad-free version of the show!Join our private Facebook group and Discord server!Jessica and I spoke about several stories from the past week involving religion and politics.— Why did an Ohio Catholic school get $5 million intended for water infrastructure in West Virginia? (0:45)— One new member of Congress is openly agnostic. Another's religion? "None." (18:04)— Oklahoma lawmaker's "covenant marriage" bill would make it harder to get divorced. (32:32)— Texas Supreme Court to decide if Southern Methodist U. can break from the United Methodist Church. (50:18)— Orthodox Christian confesses to vandalizing Satanic statue in Concord, NH. (1:02:25)— Texas Republicans file bill to install state-sponsored Nativity scene in Capitol. (1:10:15)— Christian Nationalist: Not having chaplains in schools "creates mental disease." (1:14:20)This content is CAN credentialed, which means you can report instances of harassment, abuse, or other harm on their hotline at (617) 249-4255, or on their website at creatoraccountabilitynetwork.org.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
With his execution halted, will Robert Roberson finally have a chance at justice as new evidence, legislative allies, and a growing public outcry push for a retrial? Robert Roberson, who was set to be executed on October 17, 2024, for the 2002 death of his 2-year-old daughter Nikki, was granted a last-minute stay by the Texas Supreme Court. This unexpected reprieve followed a subpoena from Texas lawmakers requesting Roberson's testimony before the House Criminal Justice Committee. Roberson's conviction heavily relied on the now-disputed "shaken baby syndrome" diagnosis, but new evidence suggests Nikki's death may have resulted from natural causes, like pneumonia. Both the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals previously declined to intervene, and the Supreme Court's decision has sparked debate over the balance of power between Texas's legislative and judicial branches. The case has drawn national attention, bolstered by support from Dr. Phil, who testified before the Texas Legislature on Roberson's behalf. The debate has also reignited scrutiny of forensic evidence standards and Texas's 2013 "junk science" law as lawmakers and courts reconsider Roberson's fate. Dr. Phil speaks with Terre, a 2003 juror from Roberson's trial who now believes in his innocence, stating she wasn't presented with all the evidence. Roberson's attorney, Gretchen Sween, insists that, despite opposition from the Attorney General's office, he deserves a new trial. In support, Representatives Joe Moody (D), Lacey Hull (R), and Brian Harrison (R) have joined forces in a bipartisan coalition advocating for clemency and a retrial. Former Los Angeles prosecutor and news anchor Loni Coombs argues that if the Attorney General is confident in Roberson's guilt, they should welcome a retrial to resolve lingering doubts once and for all.
In a dramatic last-minute intervention, Texas lawmakers have delayed the execution of Robert Roberson, convicted of killing his 2-year-old daughter in 2002. At the heart of this case lies the controversial diagnosis of "shaken baby syndrome," which initially led to Roberson's conviction but has since faced widespread scrutiny in the scientific community. With just hours to spare, the Texas Supreme Court issued a rare stay, allowing Roberson's legal team to challenge the evidence under Texas's “junk science” law. This unprecedented legal battle raises complex questions about the intersection of justice and forensic science, while Roberson's life hangs in the balance.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crimecast--4106013/support.
We open this week with a discussion about the matchmaking service It's Just Lunch and, following the news of Elon's upcoming Optimus humanoid army, why we'd rather have a twinkish C3PO-style robot. Bryan tells us about Grindr's newest AI "wingman" development to help users improve interactions on the app, suggest conversation starters, and even make dinner reservations. Erin updates us on former Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones' new Find Out PAC which is working to unseat anti-choice Texas Supreme Court Justices. Join us on Thursday at 5pm PT for this week's Dateline Watch Party: https://discord.gg/dFzSKGqJ?event=1296070595129380865 If you're in LA on November 13th, go to Dynasty Typewriter to see Bryan's one man show A Black Tie Affair! Tickets here: https://www.dynastytypewriter.com/calendar-squad-up For this week's bonus Dateline Recap visit www.patreon.com/attitudes Join us on Discord for episode discussions and Watch Parties! https://discord.gg/gK2eZHCSM7See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.