Progress Texas Podcasts

The Dallas Observer's primer on what it will take to recall Johnson: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/how-to-recall-dallas-mayor-eric-johnson-17553987

Thanks for listening! Now more than ever, in tough times for independent progressive media, Progress Texas could use your help to continue our important work. Please consider joining forces with us at https://progresstexas.org/donate.

Former Ken Paxton AG's Office employees turned whistleblower will press their case forward: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/whistleblowers-paxton-lawsuit-18387875.php

...While their former boss is also seeking back pay from the impeachment period: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/09/25/texas-ag-ken-paxton-seeking-back-pay-for-time-suspended-while-under-impeachment/

...And a look at the rare Texas state provision that grants the AG power to upend the orders of state court decisions: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/25/texas-attorney-general-state-court-appeal/

The Biden Administration - and the environment - score a win from an unlikely source: https://www.newsweek.com/joe-biden-unlikely-legal-win-texas-judge-1829535

A 16th busload of migrants from Texas arrives in Los Angeles: https://www.dailynews.com/2023/09/25/sixteenth-bus-of-migrants-from-texas-arrives-in-los-angeles/

...While still more head for beleaguered New York City: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4219830-texas-sends-another-wave-of-migrants-to-new-york-city/

Texas ranks highest in the U.S. in the percentage of mass shootings that involve assault weapons and high capacity magazines: https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2023/09/25/assault-weapons-mass-shootings-texas

...We also rank in the top 3 of U.S. states affected by expensive natural disasters: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/texas-ranks-among-states-most-impacted-by-natural-disasters-study-says/

...While a toxic red tide algae bloom arrives at the Texas coast for the first time in four years: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/25/red-tide-algae-texas-coast/

With all that, need a drink? Texas craft brewers brought home 19 medals from last weekend's Great American Beer Festival in Denver: https://www.statesman.com/story/entertainment/local/2023/09/25/austin-breweries-lazarus-brewing-company-vacancy-win-19-medals-2023-great-american-beer-festival/70964940007/

El Paso's mayor says his city is nearing a "breaking point" with the continued heavy stream of migrants: https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/el-paso-texas-at-breaking-point-migrants-flood-border-mayor-says-2023-09-23/

Infighting within the Texas GOP appears to have passed a point of no return: https://www.khou.com/article/news/politics/texas-republican-fighting/285-eb96a95a-caaf-4a71-b20c-a4b67e314ef2

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson switches parties to become a Republican: https://www.tpr.org/government-politics/2023-09-24/dallas-mayor-eric-johnson-announces-he-will-leave-office-as-a-republican-in-2027

The family of a Barbers Hill ISD student suspended over his cultural hairstyle sues Governor Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton for allowing the district to break the CROWN Act: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/24/us/darryl-george-texas-lawsuit-crown-act.html

An Amarillo judge known for anti-choice rulings on reproductive freedom has now ruled against the rights of drag perfomers: https://apnews.com/article/texas-drag-show-ban-f78d60eed0a55fb81ec924f78ad0b6d4

TribFest coverage from the weekend:

State Reps disagree (shocker) on school vouchers: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/23/texas-school-choice-special-session-education/

Paxton prosecutors thought conviction was in the bag, now think they may have been naive: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/23/texas-ken-paxton-impeachment-prosecutors/

The two primary hopefuls for the chance to depose Ted Cruz differ in their views on bipartisan compromise: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/23/texas-democrats-allred-gutierrez-cruz-senate/

With GOP in conflict, Texas Dems don't appear exactly aligned either: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/23/house-democrats-special-session-school-vouchers/

And Texas U.S. Reps discuss the looming threat of a federal shutdown: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/23/texas-house-democrats-describe-government-chaos/

...Which one Texas Republican U.S. Representative essentially guarantees will happen: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/north-texas-republican-federal-government-shutdown/287-e86c693d-5813-444e-bf5a-751c2bde699c

Required Reading Part 1 - Texas is on the brink of executing a man convicted on junk science and garbage evidence: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/24/texas-death-row-robert-roberson-supreme-court-shaken-baby-syndrome

Required Reading Part 2 - American democracy is threatened by three rich Texas men pushing a theocratic agenda: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/dunn-wilks-paxton-texas-theocracy-democracy-18380689.php

And a chunk of an asteroid, collected by a NASA space probe, is Texas-bound: https://www.space.com/nasa-osiris-rex-asteroid-sample-return-next-stop-texas

An unusual surge in migrant crossings at the U.S./Mexico border continues and remains without a pinpointed cause: https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/21/us/migrant-crossings-eagle-pass-state-of-emergency/index.html

...The effects of the surge are being felt in San Antonio: https://www.expressnews.com/news/article/migrants-surge-resource-center-18380326.php

Ken Paxton, exonerated (pardoned?) by fellow Republicans, goes on the attack against...his fellow Republicans: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2023/09/20/ken-paxtontucker-carlsontexasjohn-cornynimpeachment/

...While Lt. Governor Dan Patrick finds suspicion over his $3 million donation from a pro-Paxton growth silly: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/21/dan-patrick-donation-ken-paxton-pac-impeachment/

An Anti-Defamation League report on extremism in Texas is an alarming read: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/extremists-in-texas-2023/285-f71d6f03-bf1f-4136-84b9-a9c3867ec674

ERCOT CEO Pablo Vegas gives his organization an "A" grade for its performance over the summer: https://abc13.com/ercot-electric-reliability-council-of-texas-summer-tested-power-grid-will-hold-in-winter/13811292/

...While Texas tops rankings of both energy production AND energy consumption: https://www.kxan.com/investigations/texas-produces-and-consumes-the-most-electricity-in-the-us/

Texans who've been ticketed by officers from the recently-disbanded Coffee City Police Department want their tickets dismissed: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/coffee-city-police-18380508.php

Former El Paso County Commissioner Vince Perez is running for the House: https://kfoxtv.com/renderer/kfoxtv/amp/news/local/former-el-paso-county-commissioner-vince-perez-announces-run-for-texas-house-district-77-politics-el-paso-lina-ortega

As complaints mount about driverless cars in Austin, even more are on the way: https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/complaints-continue-to-mount-as-austin-finds-itself-unable-to-regulate-driverless-rideshares

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An unusually large wave of migrants has crossed into and is now crowding Eagle Pass: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/20/us/texas-border-eagle-pass-migrants.html

...While escalated inspections of incoming cars and trucks have again caused major backups of international shipping traffic: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2023/09/20/texasbordereagle-passimmigrationgreg-abbott/

Several GOP Senators were primed to vote to convict Ken Paxton in his recent impeachment, but were spooked into switching their votes over worries of backlash from the right: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/20/ken-paxton-senators-dan-patrick-vote-impeachment/

...And the phrase "there are no coincidences in Austin" has an interesting history: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/are-there-coincidences-in-austin/

Barbers Hill ISD officials seek a court's insight into whether they have violated the CROWN Act in suspending a student over his cultural hairstyle: https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/20/us/darryl-george-barbers-hill-court-lawsuit/index.html

...While an East Texas high school principal is arrested after paddling a female student: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/19/texas-principal-corporal-punishment/

...And Katy ISD adds "nudity" as a book banning criterion, adding 14 titles to its blacklist: https://www.axios.com/local/houston/2023/09/20/katy-isd-bans-books-texas

U.S. News and World Report adjusts its college ranking methodology, resulting in upgrades for several Texas universities: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article279527189.html

...While "McCarthyism Rides Again" on Texas campuses: https://www.texasobserver.org/mccarthyism-texas-am-journalism-freedom/

A "brain drain" is gaining momentum in Texas over excessive conservative policies: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/commentary/2023/09/20/brain-drain-in-texas-is-real-and-it-can-endanger-our-prosperity/

...While Dr. Peter Hotez releases a new book on the dangers of the anti-science movement: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/peter-hotez-book-antiscience-deadly/

...And new COVID vaccines drop: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/20/free-covid-19-tests-updated-vaccine/

New studies show the continued rise of extremist groups in Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/21/texas-hate-crimes-extremists/

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Education in the spotlight, as Governor Greg Abbott promises special session after special session - and threatens primary challenges for Republican resistors - in his quest for school vouchers: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/2023/09/19/texas-gov-abbott-threatens-special-sessions-even-primary-battles-to-pass-school-choice/

...While school districts across the state are already struggling to survive: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/19/texas-san-antonio-plano-school-districts-closures/

...Fort Worth and Plano ISD's join a growing number of districts joining a lawsuit over rating metrics against TEA: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/education/growing-number-texas-school-districts-suing-tea-heres-why/287-db7a905d-cd88-4b5f-a6a9-2cc274a4d877

...A federal judge issues a formal written order undermining the new "Reader Act" law: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/judge-ruling-texas-book-rating-law-18376394.php

...And Texas Senator Borris Miles weighs in on a Houston-area high school junior's ongoing suspension over his hairstyle, an apparent violation of the new CROWN Act: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/barbers-hill-isd-student-suspended-hair/285-6d1cd9b0-8959-443e-b1ec-917018fefb6c

CROWN Act co-author Rep. Rhetta Bowers has announced a run to replace Colin Allred in the U.S. House: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/09/19/texas-rep-rhetta-bowers-changes-course-launches-congressional-bid-to-replace-colin-allred/

Texas National Guard troops may have violated U.S. law yesterday by ordering migrants to cross back into Mexico through the Rio Grande: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/2023/09/19/texas-national-guard-order-asylum-seekers-at-border-back-into-mexico/70903227007/

A 14th busload of migrants from Texas arrives in Los Angeles: https://abc7.com/texas-migrants-los-angeles-asylum-seekers/13803043/

And apparently, even in the cooler fall weather, ERCOT cannot fully guarantee reliable electricity for Texas: https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/ercot-report-rotating-power-outage-scenarios-2023/285-7dc74070-318e-434a-91d4-623444670bac

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Following his acquittal from impeachment, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton faces even more serious state and federal charges: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/18/us/texas-ken-paxton-legal-problems.html

...While Republicans who voted to convict him face problems from within their own party: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/16/ken-paxton-impeachment-kelly-hancock-robert-nichols/

...Former President Trump takes credit (of course) for Paxton's acquittal: https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/4210367-trump-says-he-saved-paxton-from-being-convicted-in-texas-impeachment-push/

...And Senator Angela Paxton spins the affair (no pun intended) into an opportunity for anti-feminist religious manipulation: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/angela-paxton-ken-impeachment-biblical-womanhood/

Governor Greg Abbott spews Epoch Times falsehoods about a Texas public school district in advance of the special session on vouchers: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2023-09-18/greg-abbott-casually-spreads-misinformation-about-leander-isd/

A North Texas sheriff, previously connected to the Oath Keepers, is convicted of unlawfully detaining two citizens in his jail: https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/oath-keeper-sheriff-convicted-violating-inmate-rights-1234827432/

...While Texas DPS head Steve McCraw gets a raise that puts his salary at several times that of the typical Texas LEO: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/dps-mccraw-raise-operation-lone-star-18329377.php

A Barber Hills High junior is suspended from school over his hairstyle for a second time, in spite of the new CROWN Act: https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-school-suspend-black-student-locs-hair-lawyer-2023-9

A list of the books that have been banned by Texas schools (so far) makes a handy shopping list for parents: https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/list-of-texas-banned-books-shows-state-has-most-in-us-17480532

Colorado U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert is off the schedule for the conservative Texas Youth Summit following hanky-panky in a Denver theater: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/lauren-boebert-beetlejuice-texas-youth-summit/285-92fbdc2f-9e82-4b1e-a8b9-5f026e5873e3

And not only driverless cars, but driverless TRUCKS will soon be a feature of Texas roadways: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-13/driverless-trucks-leave-california-for-texas-over-new-laws

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The acquittal of Ken Paxton is anything but a surprise to progressives in Texas: https://www.star-telegram.com/opinion/nicole-russell/article279427534.html

...More entertaining is the escalation of GOP infighting: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/09/18/texas-legislature-senate-house-split-deepens-attorney-general-ken-paxton-acquittal/70885735007/

...Lt. Governer Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan are at severe odds over the impeachment: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/16/ken-paxton-impeachment-dan-patrick/

...The GOP civil war is not going well at present for the moderate side: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/17/us/texas-republicans-paxton-impeachment.html

...But, the disarray could work in favor of opponents of school vouchers: https://www.reformaustin.org/texas-legislature/texas-lawmakers-hold-their-ground-voucher-deals-face-skepticism/

...And Paxton still faces serious legal peril beyond mere political theater: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/16/texas-ken-paxton-attorney-general-legal-cases-securities-fbi/

Dallas ISD's Superintendent believes controversial school ratings changes at TEA are designed to help the argument for vouchers: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/carter-in-the-classroom/dallas-isd-superintendent-says-new-grading-method-for-texas-schools-is-connected-to-school-voucher-debate/3339554/

...While hundreds of thousands of Texas school kids are suddenly without health coverage: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/texas-schools-and-families-struggle-as-hundreds-of-thousands-of-kids-lose-medicaid-amid-unwinding

Cooler weather notwithstanding, we mustn't forget that Texas is in the midst of an existential climate crisis: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/07/texas-hottest-summer-2023/

...As a cotton farming advocacy group continues to doubt climate change, while worrying about threats to their government subsidies: https://www.bigcountryhomepage.com/news/climate-change-the-future-of-cotton-production-in-west-texas/

Ken Paxton defense lead Tony Buzbee calls four friendly witnesses - all current Texas AG Office employees - before resting: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/09/14/texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-live-updates-coverage-day-eight/70836056007/

Donald Trump weighs in - while admitting he doesn't think President Biden is too old to server: https://www.axios.com/2023/09/14/trump-biden-age-2024-election

Senator John Cornyn voices support for the Biden impeachment inquiry, contradicting his own prior views: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/14/john-cornyn-biden-impeachment-inquiry/

Near-hopeless Republican Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis will be in Midland on Wednesday: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-14/desantis-to-detail-energy-policy-during-texas-visit-next-week

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo will depart in-patient care for clinical depression and plans to return to duty on October 2: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/14/harris-county-lina-hidalgo-mental-health-leave/

Mitchell and Goliad Counties have implemented local ordinances that allow vigilantes to sue people they suspect of driving through those counties on their way to out-of-state abortion care: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas-abortion-trafficking/285-31f15a6c-dcf1-4711-a02b-2686ce9f7552

Dallas ISD joins several other districts in a lawsuit against the Texas Education Agency over a new school rating system they say will artificially degrade scores: https://thehub.dallasisd.org/2023/09/14/dallas-isd-joins-other-texas-districts-in-tea-lawsuit/

In a Democrat vs. Democrat conflict, Hays County sees the first test of a new state law allowing for the removal of county DA's who refuse to prosecute select state laws: https://www.kxan.com/news/local/hays/hays-county-district-clerk-files-petition-to-remove-da-citing-new-texas-law/

Rosie Cuellar announces a run for the open House seat representing District 80, including Uvalde: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/14/henry-rosie-cuellar-texas-house-uvalde/

Coffee City, which made the news for its oversized police department largely staffed with officers who had been fired from other departments due to misconduct, fires its police chief and disbands its PD: https://www.kltv.com/2023/09/11/coffee-city-council-fires-police-chief-deactivates-police-department-wake-investigation/

And you're not exaggerating - Texas officially has the worst drivers in the country: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2023/09/14/texas-has-worst-drivers-in-the-country-report-says/

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Anticipation that Ken Paxton's alleged mistress might testify in the ongoing impeachment trial is for naught: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article279286904.html

...As former Paxton aide Drew Wicker is grilled over that infamous kitchen remodel: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/13/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-drew-wicker/

...And House managers commit an unforced (and almost catastrophic) error: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/13/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-laura-olson-drew-wicker/

Republicans maneuver to block the Biden administration's plans for immigrants to "remain in Texas": https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-09-13/republicans-biden-families-remain-in-texas

...While the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services re-opens a troubled housing facility for migrant teens at Pecos: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/migrant-children-housing-facility-reopens-pecos-texas-spike-border-arrivals/

The new Texas law designed to criminalize drag performances is blocked for another two weeks: https://www.kxan.com/lgbtq/texas-drag-performance-law-blocked-from-taking-effect-again/

Ted Cruz gets crosswise with the U.S. Secretary of Education over a masking plan for a kindergarten class in Maryland fighting a COVID outbreak: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/09/13/education-sec-cardona-ted-cruz-wrong-to-oppose-masking-in-classroom-with-covid-outbreak/

San Antonio's local energy boss says ERCOT has not prepared the Texas grid for the oncoming winter: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/ercot-grid-gas-supply-ready-winter-cps-energy-18362209.php

...While battery storage is hailed as a possible solution to Texas' power grid woes: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/ercot-grid-battery-solar-enel-texas-18350609.php

...And a Chinese solar panel company moves forward with a $200 million new production plant near Dallas: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/real-estate/2023/09/11/chinese-company-plans-200-million-solar-panel-manufacturing-plant-in-wilmer/

Continued population growth remains a the core of continued economic growth in Texas: https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-population-state-economic-growth-housing-2023-9

And for the second day in a row, a female police officer in Texas is recognized: https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/vidor-officer-named-officer-of-the-year-by-texas-law-enforcement-association/502-584740d8-6ffa-4d12-8420-7d69ad75d565

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Find Justin Miller and all his great work for the Texas Observer at https://www.texasobserver.org/author/justin-miller/.

Thanks as always for listening! We're looking for about 21 more new regular, reliable supporting members to help Progress Texas continue our work into what's shaping up to be a monumental election year. Please consider joining the team at https://progresstexas.org/.

Impeachment Day 6: Outside lawyer Brandon Cammack, central to Ken Paxton's questionable relationship with Nate Paul, appears to have ended up a victim himself: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/09/12/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-takeaways-day-6/

...While former Travis County DA Margaret Moore testifies that she found Nate Paul's claims of law enforcement persecution "ridiculous": https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article279239704.html

Texas lawmakers involved in the two Trump impeachments find no parallel in new impeachment inquiry targeting President Joe Biden: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/12/texas-congress-biden-impeach-trump/

A trial is underway over Texas voting laws that could have monumental implications in the 2024 election: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/texas-politics/trial-begins-over-texas-voter-laws-that-sparked-38-day-walkout-by-democrats-in-2021/3335152/

A police shooting amidst a mental health emergency in McKinney draws the scrutiny of both the Texas Rangers and the local NAACP: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-dps-investigating-officer-involved-shooting-that-left-mckinney-man-dead/3336590/

Law enforcement officials in San Antonio say the permitless carrying of guns in Texas has increased crime and made law enforcement more dangerous: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2023/09/12/texas-constitutional-carry-law-impacts-highlighted-during-district-4-public-safety-town-hall/

The Texas Education Agency is delaying its annual rating of Texas schools, which could affect the upcoming special session on school vouchers: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/12/texas-education-accountability-ratings/

Texas DPS and the Texas Rangers promote a woman to the rank of Texas Ranger Major for the first time: https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2023/09/12/unbelievable-honor-dps-selects-first-woman-to-serve-as-texas-ranger-major/

The oysters that recently killed a 30-something man came from a Galveson restaurant: https://nypost.com/2023/09/12/texas-man-dies-after-eating-raw-oysters-over-labor-day-weekend/

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Day 5 of the Ken Paxton impeachment sees the most extensive discussion yet of his extramarital affair: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/11/ken-paxton-affair-impeachment-trial/

...While a former deputy reveals the AG's general mistrust of law enforcement: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/11/ken-paxton-mark-penley-impeachment-trial/

...And a former Travis County assistant DA reveals prior investigations of Paxton's involvement with Nate Paul: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/09/11/ken-paxtonimpeachmenttexastrial/

Famed novelist John Grisham weighs in on the faulty science that has kept a Texas father on death row for two decades: https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/john-grisham-on-robert-roberson-texas-may-execute-an-innocent-man

A Houston-area school district continues disciplining Black students over their hairstyles, in defiance of the CROWN Act: https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/11/us/barbers-hill-student-hair-suspension/index.html

The University of Alabama condemns racist and homophobic slurs directed by its football team's fans at visiting Texas Longhorns players: https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2023/09/11/alabama-condemns-racist-homophobic-taunts-by-fans-loss-texas/

A North Austin church is set to become the first to hear an AI-generated sermon this Sunday: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/chatgpt-ai-sermon-austin-18360010.php

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Friday saw testimony from legendary Texas Ranger David Maxwell: https://news.yahoo.com/former-texas-lawman-says-warned-210156665.html

...While prominent voices on the right continue to support the justification for the proceedings - some more surprising than others: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/texas-republicans-weigh-in-on-paxton-impeachment-after-week-one-of-trial/

...And the Texas Tribune has a good first-week summary, and a livestream to watch as the impeachment continues: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/09/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-main-themes/

A major power outage in North Texas - but don't blame ERCOT this time: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/texas/tens-of-thousands-across-north-texas-without-power-following-friday-storms/287-72e702e1-f376-4d25-a2bc-e017094ff047

...While the Feds weigh in on Texas' energy struggles, though not in the way many progressives have hoped: https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/08/energy/texas-power-emergency-heat-wave/index.html

...And somebody out there is making a LOT of money on all this power trouble: https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/commodities/texas-power-prices-20000-percent-heat-wave-ercot-grid-emergency-2023-9

...And let's not forget our mounting water woes: https://www.wired.com/story/a-summer-of-record-heat-deals-costly-damage-to-texas-water-systems/

Another solid Democrat has announced a run against Ted Cruz: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/09/carl-sherman-2024-senate-democrat/

And Texas loses a beloved musical icon - Charlie Robison - far too young, at 59: https://www.savingcountrymusic.com/texas-country-royalty-charlie-robison-had-died/

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Paxton aides say they turned him in to the FBI when it became clear he had been compromised: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/09/07/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-takeaways-day-3/

...While Senator John Cornyn finds the whole mess "very deeply disturbing": https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/09/07/john-cornyn-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-disturbing/

...And deeper rifts within the GOP are laid bare, with possible 2024 implications: https://www.politico.com/newsletters/politico-nightly/2023/09/07/the-battle-thats-tearing-the-texas-gop-apart-00114616

Yet another power conservation plea from ERCOT on Thursday night: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/ercot-calls-for-conservation-thursday-after-energy-emergency-alert-wednesday/3332195/

...While transmission lines present yet another weak link for the Texas grid: https://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/2023/09/07/texas-power-emergency-hinged-on-stranded-wind-farm-supplies/

...And outrage spreads over news that Bitcoin companies are profiting from Texas' power woes: https://decrypt.co/155460/how-bitcoin-miners-in-texas-are-making-millions-without-mining-at-all

Texas can keep its deathtrap buoy barrier in the Rio Grande for now, on appeal: https://www.cnn.com/2023/09/07/politics/texas-water-barriers-migrants-appeal/index.html

...While the death of a 3 year old on a migrant bus appears to have been preventable: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/investigations/2023/09/07/texas-migrant-bus-death-coroners-report/70786395007/

...And the migrant buses themselves are not having the impact on "sanctuary cities" that Governor Abbott has aimed for: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/07/us/migrant-buses-texas-nyc-los-angeles.html

...And the Biden administration considers forcing migrants to stay in Texas: https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2023-09-07/biden-migrant-families-border

A vanishingly small number of legal abortions in Texas so far this year is likely an undercount due to fear of state reprisal: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/07/texas-abortion-emergency-data

Austin has been over-run by rogue robot cars - and the city is powerless to stop them: https://www.kut.org/transportation/2023-09-07/austin-driverless-vehicles-cruise-complaints-rules

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Former second-in-command Jeff Mateer recounts Paxton's erratic push for Nate Paul: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/09/06/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-takeaways-day-2/

...Bringing up Paxton's adulterous affair for the first time, in front of Senator Angela Paxton: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/06/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-mateer/

...NPR's Politics Podcast brings in Texas reporters to talk about national implications of the Paxton impeachment: https://www.npr.org/2023/09/06/1197846176/the-national-implications-of-impeaching-texas-attorney-general

ERCOT suffers its closest shave yet this summer with rolling blackouts: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-07/texas-declares-grid-emergency-as-heat-stokes-power-demand

...With 77 minutes of white knuckles in the control room: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/06/texas-ercot-power-grid-rolling-blackouts/

...While a Bitcoin operator is now surviving on ERCOT energy credits: https://www.cnbc.com/2023/09/06/texas-paid-bitcoin-miner-riot-31point7-million-to-shut-down-in-august.html

Texas immediately appeals a judge's order to move Greg Abbott's floating Rio Grande deathtrap: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/judge-orders-texas-to-move-large-floating-barrier-to-riverbank-of-rio-grande-by-sept-15/3331452/

Texas abortion advocates celebrate a decision by Mexico's Supreme Court to decriminalize the procedure: https://www.tpr.org/bioscience-medicine/2023-09-06/texas-abortion-advocates-celebrate-mexicos-decriminalization

...While worries mount about new small-town experiments against "abortion trafficking": https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/09/texas-abortion-ban-trafficking-laws.html

Oklahoma's State Department of Education announces a new partnership with Prager U: https://kfor.com/news/local/osde-announces-partnership-with-prageru/

...While Texas State Board of Education members argue to downplay human-caused climate change in Texas schools: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/09/06/texas-climate-change-textbooks/

A trial over the Texas voter suppression law SB-1 is set to begin on Monday: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2023-08-18/texas-voter-suppression-law-violates-civil-rights-judge-rules/

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The impeachment of Ken Paxton rolls into Day 2, after a dramatic launch yesterday: https://www.npr.org/2023/09/05/1197811021/paxton-impeachment-trial-texas-attorney-general-ag-conspiracy-bribery

...While the state's well-funded far-right's campaign to pressure Senators to dismiss fails: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/4188298-texas-gop-ken-paxton-impeachment-critics-primary-threats/

...Paxton himself couldn't be bothered to stick around: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/09/05/three-things-to-know-about-texas-ag-ken-paxtons-impeachment-trial-today/

...Some hope the trial represents a revival of bipartisanship in Texas: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-09-06/ken-paxton-impeachment-texas-republicans-democrats-bipartisan

...And others note it's a sign of a widening split within the GOP: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66722742

...Watch the proceedings of Day Two here: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/06/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-live-updates/

Governor Greg Abbott brags online about the thousands of migrants he's trafficked out of Texas: https://nypost.com/2023/09/06/texas-gov-greg-abbot-says-the-state-has-bused-35k-migrants-to-sanctuary-cities/

...While his razor wire-laden buoy deathtrap in the Rio Grande is a complete (and expensive) failure: https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/texas-floating-border-wall-fails-to-deter-migrants-75ebfcae

State attorneys want to implement parts of the new book rating law, currently blocked by a federal judge: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/93109-texas-argues-parts-of-new-book-rating-law-should-be-allowed-to-take-effect.html

A new contender for the Democratic nomination to face Ted Cruz next year announces candidacy: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/05/us/politics/ted-cruz-mark-gonzalez-senate.html

A new explainer on right wing oil moguls the Wilks brothers and their threat to democracy: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/05/texas-fracking-billionaire-brothers-prageru-daily-wire

...While similar oil players have abandoned wells all along the Texas coast, which are now leaking: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/abandoned-oil-wells-coast-bays/

The Eastern District of Texas is one of 25 federal court districts that have neve had a non-white judge, in spite of a 30% non-white population: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/color-of-justice-all-white-benches-persist-in-us-district-courts

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The historic impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is underway this morning at the Texas State Capitol: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-texas-attorney-general/

...With big conservative money doing all it can to prevent his removal: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/04/us/ken-paxton-impeachment-conservative-lobbying.html

...And voters split on opinion, largely along party lines: https://www.hppr.org/hppr-news/2023-09-05/about-half-of-texas-voters-think-ken-paxtons-actions-justify-removing-him-as-attorney-general

...While the Texas Tribune provides an outline of the procedure AND a handy livestream: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/04/ken-paxton-impeachment-trial-operate/

...And finally, a whole new scandal comes to light with Senator Angela Paxton at its center: https://www.texasobserver.org/angela-ken-paxton-frinzi-multiband/

In other news - the new ban on drag performances in the presence of minors remains blocked: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/litigation/texas-barred-from-enforcing-newly-minted-anti-drag-show-law

...While the "Death Star" law is on the books under appeal, against the protests of Democratic AND Republican city leaders: https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/republican-and-democratic-cities-band-together-to-blow-up-the-death-star-bill/

More details on ERCOT plans to limit the affordability and reliability of emergency battery storage power: https://www.expressnews.com/business/article/batteries-buoyed-texas-grid-operators-wary-new-18342962.php

...While a great idea - paying Texas power consumers to conserve in emergency crunches - is floated: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/editorials/article/texas-energy-grid-demand-response-18340732.php

An Austin hotel is set to host a Nazi-inspired eugenics conference in December: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/sep/04/natal-conference-austin-texas-eugenics

Tech professionals who migrated to Texas from California are having second thoughts in droves: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/california-texas-tech-workers-18346616.php

...While Texas comes in at the bottom of this year's Oxfam ranking of the best U.S. states for workers: https://www.oxfamamerica.org/explore/countries/united-states/poverty-in-the-us/best-states-to-work-2023/

Thanks as always for listening! Learn how you can help Progress Texas produce our acclaimed podcasts and more at https://progresstexas.org/.

Find the RuPublicans' great work at https://www.instagram.com/rupublicans/?hl=en, Equality Texas at https://www.equalitytexas.org/, and Out Youth at https://www.outyouth.org/.

A judge temporarily blocks a new Texas law limiting drag shows: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/31/us/drag-show-ruling-texas.html

The Texas Supreme Court allows a new law banning gender-affirming care for minors in Texas to take effect while it's under consideration: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/texas-top-court-lets-ban-gender-treatments-minors-take-effect-2023-08-31/

A judge has blocked enforcement of a new law requiring publishers to rate books based on sexual content: https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/bookselling/article/93089-judge-blocks-texas-book-ban-law.html

A judge has blocked new teacher evaluation procedures introduced under the state takeover of Houston ISD: https://news.yahoo.com/union-sues-over-changes-teacher-192157908.html

A new law forbids Texas HOA's from discriminating against Texans who rely on housing vouchers: https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2023-hoa-texas-homes-dallas-renters/

A new law does away with Texas' "pink tax" on menstrual and infant care products: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/09/01/texas-bans-menstrual-product-tax/70720766007/

A national LGBTQ+ college organization excludes public universities in Texas from its annual best-of rankings due to new laws banning campus outreach offices: https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out/out-news/texas-florida-schools-excluded-lgbtq-friendly-college-list-new-state-l-rcna102516

...While a student group at Rice University, a private college unaffected by the law, reaches out to LGBTQ+ students statewide: https://abc13.com/sb-17-senate-bil-rice-university-lgbtq-college-services/13722810/

The Texas National Guard soldier accused of shooting a man across the border in Juarez has reportedly been suspended as investigations continue: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/texas-guardsman-suspended-after-wounding-man-cross-border-104272333

Texas power consumers are growing weary of continuous conservation pleas from ERCOT: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/31/texas-ercot-grid-energy-conservation-fatigue/

...While Austin U.S. Representative Greg Casar begins work on a federal requirement for Texas to connect to national grids: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas-politics/texas-congressman-drafts-legislation-to-connect-texas-to-national-grids/

Texas figures into the developing corruption scandals surrounding U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/31/clarence-thomas-trips-harlan-crow-supreme-court-abortion-roe-wade-texas-ice-storm/70728514007/

A Texas man accused of threatening Georgia officials over the 2020 election has entered a guilty plea: https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/31/politics/guilty-plea-election-officials-threat/index.html

Be warned about poo-poo if you're spending this Labor Day weekend at a Texas beach: https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/texas-beach-fecal-contamination-investigation/285-50f6dd01-586a-4f66-988c-82cf4a24a332

And, while it almost feels de rigueur these days - another shooting in a public place in Texas takes two lives: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/08/31/austin-texas-shooting-arboretum-mall-victims/70732766007/

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The "Death Star" law, designed for state pre-emption of a wide range of local ordinances in Texas cities and set to take effect tomorrow, has been ruled unconsitutional by a judge in Austin: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2023-08-30/texas-death-star-law-ruled-unconstitutional-two-days-before-taking-effect/

New details of Ken Paxton's lavish lifestyle as Texas Attorney General come to light in advance of his impeachment: https://apnews.com/article/texas-ken-paxton-impeachment-perks-travel-cake-97f8ef6ab925785977ff54b796f6c4f9

Dozens of migrants have been treated for razor wire injuries at the border in the last two months: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/texas/article/border-wire-injuries-18336354.php

...While the Los Angeles City Council considers criminal charges against Governor Greg Abbott over continued busing of migrants into that city: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-08-30/migrant-bus-abbott-city-council-motion

Studies find that Black babies in Harris County are twice as likely to die before age 1 than those of other racial groups: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/29/texas-maternal-mortality-black-women/

ERCOT releases yet another public plea for conservation - and it wasn't even that hot yesterday: https://abc13.com/texas-power-grid-energy-saving-tips-houston-heat-weather/13719257/

...While ERCOT officials consider measures that would make battery storage more expensive and less effective. What the hell? https://www.douglewin.com/p/is-ercot-attempting-to-eighty-six

Almost 800 new laws will take effect in Texas tomorrow, and it was hard work isolating the three most ridiculous to pick on: https://progresstexas.org/nearly-800-laws-take-effect-sept-1-here-are-most-misguided

Ted Cruz decries non-existent medical recommendations on beer consumption (though he might consider cutting back himself): https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ted-cruz-beer-awkward_n_64f00663e4b0ca54cc6be9d7

And the Ru-Publicans billboard is up in Austin: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/2023/08/30/drag-show-gov-greg-abbott-texas-law-austin-billboard-rupublicans-ai-republicans/70717759007/

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A whistleblower report accuses intelligence officers with Operation Lone Star of conducting illegal spying operations: ⁠https://www.businessinsider.com/texas-national-guard-whatsapp-spying-border-iraq-watchdog-2023-8⁠

Texas Senators were at the Capitol yesterday in closed-door preparation for next week's impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton: ⁠https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/08/29/senate-prepping-for-texas-attorney-general-ken-paxtons-impeachment-trial/⁠

...While new details of Austin real estate developer Nate Paul's inappropriate access to the AG's office are revealed: ⁠https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/29/ken-paxton-nate-paul-brandon-cammack-impeachment/⁠

ERCOT pleads with Texas energy consumers to scale back out of desperation for a seventh time since mid-August: ⁠https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/2023/08/29/ercot-announcement-conserve-energy-texas-heat-wave-hot-weather-temperatures/70710636007/⁠

...While new offshore wind power opportunities are passed over by potential lessees due to Texas' hostile political environment: ⁠https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/after-blistering-summer-texas-voters-to-decide-if-billions-should-go-to-power-plants/3325604/⁠

...And while the state will ask Texas voters to commit billions to the building of new fossil fuel-burning power plants: ⁠https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/after-blistering-summer-texas-voters-to-decide-if-billions-should-go-to-power-plants/3325604/⁠

Democratic members of the State Board of Education say PragerU materials are NOT approved for Texas classrooms....at least not yet: ⁠https://www.kut.org/education/2023-08-29/democrats-on-the-state-board-of-education-pledge-to-fight-efforts-to-introduce-prageru-in-texas⁠

Legal challenges by Williamson County against the City of Austin's plans for a supportive housing project for the homeless are dismissed by a judge: ⁠https://communityimpact.com/austin/north-northwest-austin/government/2023/08/29/judge-rejects-williamson-county-challenge-over-austin-homeless-housing-project/⁠

And, either due to pride or poverty, Texas remains the top state for retaining its native-born citizens: ⁠https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/29/texas-native-born-stay/⁠

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Governor Greg Abbott makes highly arguable statements about Texas' "sovereignty" in a national op-ed: https://nypost.com/2023/08/28/texas-gov-abbott-we-will-take-biden-to-supreme-court-to-protect-border/

...While an Operation Lone Star soldier shoots a man across the border on the other side of the Rio Grande in Juarez: https://www.nydailynews.com/news/world/ny-texas-national-guard-soldier-shot-man-juarez-from-el-paso-across-rio-grande-20230829-mu7rzysgrnf4xnnfmvzvcqkg54-story.html

...And a Christian group gains thousands of petition signatures protesting Abbott's family separation tactics at the border: https://www.newsweek.com/thousands-christians-condemn-greg-abbotts-migrant-mistreatment-1822635

Ken Paxton says he will not resign ahead of next week's impeachment proceedings: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/politics/lone-star-politics/wrong-texas-republican-attorney-general-ken-paxton-says-he-wont-resign-ahead-of-impeachment-trial/3325333/

...While Lt. Governor Dan Patrick picks a second judge to be his assistant during the trial: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/28/ken-paxton-impeachment-presiding-officer-texas/

We apparently came closer to a serious statewide energy crisis last week than most of us thought: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/energy/article/texas-narrowly-avoided-power-emergency-last-week-18334289.php

LGBTQ+ groups testified yesterday in a Houston courtroom against the new Texas drag ban law: https://abc13.com/drag-shows-senate-bill-12-show-ban-equality-texas/13713193/

Coffee City, in East Texas, has become "a magnet for troubled cops": https://www.khou.com/article/news/investigations/coffee-city-texas-police-officers/285-4220e73c-90d4-474e-b59e-2033270cd8e9

Officials in Anchorage, Alaska are taking cues from Houston on homelessness strategy: https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/2023/08/29/seeking-shelterseeking-solutions-is-houston-texas-model-ending-homelessness-anchorage/

Thanks for listening! Please consider helping us continue our important work by joining our summer member drive - find out more at https://progresstexas.org/donate.

A new law will provide very narrow exceptions allowing doctors to provide abortion care to Texans with problematic pregnancies: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/28/texas-limited-access-abortion-law

A judge finds new transgender care bans unconstitutional - and once again, the Texas AG immediately appeals: https://www.metroweekly.com/2023/08/texas-law-banning-transgender-health-care-to-take-effect/

A San Antonio drag company holds its last show following a ban on public drag performances beginning Friday: https://www.npr.org/2023/08/27/1196219618/a-texas-restaurant-holds-its-last-family-friendly-drag-show-before-new-law-goes-

The financial connections between Lt. Governor Dan Patrick and soon-to-be-impeached AG Ken Paxton raise questions of impartiality: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/politics/state/2023/08/27/texas-impeachment-dan-patrick-ken-paxton-political-money-connection/70682969007/

Parents are worried as Houston ISD's return to school today, for the first time after the state takeover: https://apnews.com/article/houston-school-takeover-texas-libraries-discipline-44afa1a8d85d09cdcfd19879989d5379

Texas now leads all U.S. states in the department of school book banning: https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/27/us/school-library-book-ban-increase-dg/index.html

A tenth migrant bus from Texas arrives in Los Angeles: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-08-26/a-10th-bus-of-asylum-seekers-arrives-in-l-a-from-texas

ERCOT calls for power conservation for a fourth consecutive day (over a weekend?) as cold front-associated winds knock out power for thousands in Austin: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/local/sunday-power-outages-cold-front/269-fbc8ae7b-a859-4c25-8738-d2a6ca0aed4e

Mall Of Abilene management abandons rescue plans of area wildlife conservationists and kills most of a colony of Mexican freetail bats roosting in its building: https://www.chron.com/life/wildlife/article/texas-bats-killed-abilene-mall-18331169.php

...While H.E.B. teams with wildlife filmmakers to produce a terrific new five-film series: https://www.texasmonthly.com/travel/our-texas-our-future-review-wildlife-conservation/

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Find all of Steven Monacelli's work for the Texas Observer at https://www.texasobserver.org/author/steven-monacelli/.

Thanks for listening! If you've become a regular, please consider joining forces with Progress Texas via our ongoing member drive! Learn more at https://progresstexas.org/donate.

ERCOT and the Texas power grid narrowly avoided rolling blackouts last night - what's in store for this hot weekend? https://www.tpr.org/environment/2023-08-24/strong-possibility-of-power-outages-thursday-evening-san-antonio-asks-residents-to-conserve

...Follow along with ERCOT's supply and demand dashboard, showing a thin margin of error during Friday night football games tonight: https://www.ercot.com/gridmktinfo/dashboards/supplyanddemand

...While space telescope data may finger Permian methane emissions as a major contributor to this horribly hot summer: https://oilprice.com/Energy/Energy-General/Permian-Methane-Flares-Could-Be-Linked-to-Texas-Heatwave.html

Conservative activists are putting huge pressure on GOP Senators to stick with Ken Paxton during the upcoming impeachment trial: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/24/texas-senators-ken-paxton-trial/

...While none other that former Texas Governor Rick Perry laments his party's recent lawlessness: https://www.wsj.com/articles/ken-paxton-and-the-texas-constitution-ag-rule-of-law-impeachment-4da7792c

Denton joins in support of Houston's lawsuit against the new Death Star law: https://www.keranews.org/government/2023-08-24/denton-joins-arlington-plano-waco-in-opposing-texas-death-star-bill-calling-it-unconstitutional

A Granbury school board trustee is censured for sneaking into a high school library to inspect books in the dark: https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/08/25/granbury-texas-trustee-censure-library/

...While a San Antonio parent successully faces down a Judson ISD campus for requiring NDA signatures to enter the building: https://nypost.com/2023/08/24/texas-school-tried-to-force-mom-to-sign-nda-to-get-on-campus/

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A Trump-appointed judge in Victoria will hear arguments over the Biden administration's humanitarian parole program, starting today: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/biden-immigration-policy-giving-temporary-legal-status-thousands-faces-rcna101383

Whistleblowers at Texas Health and Human Services allege errors and bad management have led to thousands of pregnant Texans and children losing Medicaid health coverage: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/help-us-state-employees-blow-whistle-on-errors-they-say-are-kicking-thousands-off-medicaid/

Prager U's backfiring announcement of Texas approval develops - they now say their nonsensical garbage is an "option" for Texas schools: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-schools-prageru-18325731.php

...While San Antonio ISD becomes the latest district to claim exemption from the new SRO law, citing funding and staffing limitations: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/san-antonio-isd-exemption-texas-law-18324841.php

...And a new school chaplain law is pooh-poohed by...wait for it...a group of chaplains: https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2023/08/23/texas-school-chaplains-letter/

...And a throwback to the pandemic as an entire Texas school district shuts down over COVID cases: https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2023/08/23/school-district-in-south-texas-temporarily-closes-due-to-uptick-in-covid-19-cases/

Good environmental news as battery storage is credited for keeping the Texas power grid stable this summer: https://subscriber.politicopro.com/article/eenews/2023/08/22/batteries-keep-texas-grid-humming-in-heat-waves-00112136

...But bad environmental news as a hotly-contested lignite coal mining operation's expansion plans are approved by state regulators: https://insideclimatenews.org/news/23082023/texas-mine-expansion-water-worries/

Thanks for listening! Please consider helping Progress Texas continue our important work - learn how to join the fun at https://progresstexas.org/.

Texas journalists seeking access to an encrypted e-mail account owned by Attorney General Ken Paxton are denied by his office, claiming "attorney-client privilege": https://twitter.com/lmcgaughy/status/1694031900988317710?t=w1jWJMjxUIoAEmVUHthoQA&s=03

A federal judge in Austin rejects Governor Abbott's claims of an "invasion" at the border with Mexico: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/08/22/federal-judge-rejects-texas-migrant-invasion-defense-in-doj-lawsuit-over-border-buoys/

...While the Texas Supreme Court rules that a state law abolishing Harris County's elections administrator will be allowed to take effect on Sept. 1: https://abc13.com/senate-bill-1750-harris-county-politics-houston-elections-area-politicians/13685768/

Prager U CEO and wackjob Texas State Board of Education member announce that Texas has approved the use of right-wing propaganda in Texas public school classrooms: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/prageru-among-educational-lesson-plans-allowed-in-texas-schools-under-new-law/

...While TEA and SBOE scratch heads in confusion, claiming no such approval has been granted: https://abc13.com/prageru-kids-slavery-video-educational-videos-for-controversial-material-texas-education/13687315/⁠ A Lewisville ISD backtracks on policy after harshly punishing an 8th grader for talking to friends about fears of a shooting threat: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2023/08/10/student-discipline-oversight-bolstered-in-lewisville-isd-after-teens-punishment/

...While Houston ISD's new state-appointed superintendent backtracks on cutting recess for elementary school kids: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/education/article/hisd-s-mike-miles-increases-recess-nes-schools-18310918.php

The Texas power grid gets a mixed report card from a state watchdog: https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/infrastructure/ercot/2023/08/18/459988/texas-power-grid-has-held-up-well-for-summer-but-still-inefficient-energy-experts-say/

And, an important read on Texas' new "Death Star" law, set to take effect next Friday, and what it means for our city governments: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2023/08/greg-abbott-texas-attacks-austin-with-death-star.html

Thanks for listening, and for supporting Progress Texas! Join the fun at https://progresstexas.org/.

The Biden administration and the government of Mexico face off against Texas in federal court today over Governor Abbott's buoys barrier: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/judge-texas-oversize-buoy-barrier-us-mexico-river-102442113

...While a ninth busload of migrants, including 16 children, are sent by Texas into the path of Tropical Storm Hilary: https://abc7.com/los-angeles-migrants-texas-tropical-storm-hilary/13683042/

A growing number of Texans are aware of the charges against Ken Paxton and support his impeachment: https://abc13.com/why-ken-paxton-impeached-impeachment-trial-texas-voters-attorney-general-legal-issues/13680969/

...While Paxton attorney Tony Buzbee has decided he wants to serve on the Houston City Council: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/21/tony-buzbee-houston-city-council-paxton/

A special session on education looms - a House committee has reported its recommendations, which are likely to be ignored by GOP lawmakers: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/tx/south-texas-el-paso/politics/2023/08/21/texas-house-members-gear-up-for-expected-education-focused-special-session

ERCOT has issued a "weather watch", anticipating high heat and low reserves starting tomorrow: https://www.kxan.com/news/texas/ercot-issues-weather-watch-for-texas/

...While U.S. House Democrats call for an investigation into deadly heat in Texas prisons: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/21/texas-prison-heat-deaths/

And, South Texas is set for a brief break from hot, dry Texas conditions, but there is a storm to endure: https://weather.com/storms/hurricane/video/first-look-at-harolds-wind-and-rain-in-texas

Thanks for listening! Please help Progress Texas continue our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

A Second Amendment group is waging a legal battle to allow the sale of a gun modification device that enables machine gun-style rapid fire: https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/forced-reset-triggers-illegal-machine-guns-atf-gun-102402318

A former judge who donated to a recent Ken Paxton opponent declines an invitation to participate in the upcoming impeachment trial: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/19/dan-patrick-marc-brown-paxton-impeachment-adviser-counsel/

U.S. Senate hopeful Colin Allred reports from a week-long listening tour of Texas: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/inside-politics/texas-politics/democrat-colin-allred-travels-texas-listening-tour-us-senate-campaign/287-52952df5-eea1-4ea9-a310-6aab87c09c33

GOP governors from a bunch of flyover states will join Governor Greg Abbott at the border today for a press conference about....something: https://www.keloland.com/news/local-news/governor-kristi-noem-to-join-other-republican-governors-at-texas-border/

New HISD superintendent subjects teacher and students to a musical play about...himself: https://www.texasobserver.org/houston-isd-takeover-the-musical/

Our new heroes, The Ru-Publicans, are on a quest to buy a billboard in Austin mocking our state's new drag show ban: https://www.texasobserver.org/houston-isd-takeover-the-musical/

Texas A&M University Police say they will no longer make small-possession pot busts: https://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/texas-a-m-marijuana-18303293.php

...While a cannabis decriminalization push gets going in Lubbock - proving that conservatives enjoy a tasty buzz too: https://www.marijuanamoment.net/activists-in-another-texas-city-kick-off-effort-to-decriminalize-marijuana-with-signature-gathering-underway-in-lubbock/

A scary piece on scary televangelist Kenneth Copeland and the "Prosperity Gospel" movement in Texas: https://www.texasobserver.org/these-christians-think-god-needs-you-rich-and-to-rule-the-world/

ERCOT implores Texans to cut back the AC for a second time in four days: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/20/texas-ercot-conservation-request/

...While an all-too-brief rain spell and temperature drop appears to be headed for South Texas on Tuesday: https://www.ksat.com/weather/2023/08/16/tropical-wave-expected-in-the-gulf-of-mexico-next-week-heres-what-were-monitoring/

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Parts of SB-1, the 2021 GOP voter suppression law, have been struck down by a federal judge: https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/federal-judge-strikes-down-portions-of-texas-voter-suppression-law-s-b-1/

ERCOT pleads for conservation, but keeps the AC on - while energy prices spike 6,000%: https://www.reuters.com/business/energy/ercot-issues-voluntary-power-conservation-call-texas-heat-wave-2023-08-17/

Tesla stock price continues to slide despite Texas requiring its tech to be used in new charging stations: https://www.barrons.com/amp/articles/tesla-stock-ev-charging-texas-9555ff9

...While state lawmakers gouge electric vehicle owners with "punitive" fees: https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/17/punitive-texas-other-states-roadblocks-ev-transition-00110125

Biden administration brushes off Abbott hysteria about an "invasion" at the border: https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2023/08/17/doj-scoffs-at-texas-invasion-defense-says-buoys-violate-treaty-of-guadalupe-hidalgo/

...While an eighth busload of mostly Venezuelan migrants arrives in Los Angeles, sent there from Brownsville: https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/texas-sends-eighth-bus-with-migrants-to-los-angeles/3208012/

Terrific Andrea Grimes op-ed on the hypocrisy of "pro-life" Texas: https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/amp/rcna100475

And, Progress Texas is hiring! https://t.co/2kwlpEQGRp

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can help us continue our mission at https://progresstexas.org/.

Links discussed today: https://gunsensevoter.org/, https://www.thetrace.org/, and learn more about Moms Demand Action at https://momsdemandaction.org/. Liz invites you to text READY to 64433 to join the effort, and to download the Moms Demand Action app.

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can help us continue our important work at https://progresstexas.org/.

Texas House impeachment managers respond to Paxton attempts to dismiss with more tawdry details: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/16/ken-paxton-impeachment-evidence-senate/

A ruling to limit the use of a safe and effective abortion medication has mostly been reversed - same judge will preside over upcoming Planned Parenthood lawsuit: https://arstechnica.com/health/2023/08/appeals-court-rules-on-abortion-pill-case-but-it-changes-nothing-for-now/

U.S. Rep Greg Casar fights for federal solution as mandated water breaks for outdoor workers in Texas are set to end Sept. 1: https://www.npr.org/2023/08/16/1194279276/texas-workers-are-speaking-up-before-the-ban-on-guaranteed-water-breaks-starts

A Texas woman is arrested after phoning in a death threat against a judge overseeing one of Donald Trump's several indictments: https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2023/08/17/texas-woman-arrested-abigail-shry-threaten-judge/

Not surprising - but Texas teachers are leaving the profession in droves as lawmakers ignore obvious solutions: https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/texas-news/report-many-texas-teachers-are-underqualified-and-leave-within-five-year/3318297/

As the worst days of the heat wave approaches, economists estimate over $9B in losses to Texas businesses due to the heat: https://abc13.com/houston-economy-heat-impact-on-business-texas-landscaping/13658579/

...While Franklin County residents fight AGAINST the development of solar farms: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/16/texas-solar-farm-ban-counties-attorney-general/

Since our restaurants need business, pick one from Yelp's Top 100 Restaurants in Texas List and go to town: https://www.yelp.com/collection/vDbu1mpLEKomVmXmXNWG0Q/Top-100-Places-to-Eat-in-Texas-2023

Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can join the fun here: https://progresstexas.org/

A closer look at the Planned Parenthood lawsuit shows that an anonymous whistleblower working with Ken Paxton stands to take home 20% of any judgement: https://www.forbes.com/sites/darreonnadavis/2023/08/15/what-to-know-about-texas-lawsuit-that-could-cost-planned-parenthood-18-billion/?sh=67fec23f4ae3

...And that Amarillo, where the case is being heard, itself has no Planned Parenthood clinics: https://apnews.com/article/planned-parenthood-texas-medicaid-6c016b80c0cf76e3b8f9577ad6ea8e69

A lawsuit to block Texas' ban on care for transgender youth has its first day in court: https://www.kut.org/health/2023-08-15/lawsuit-to-block-texas-ban-on-care-for-transgender-youth-has-its-first-day-in-court

...While a school board meeting in deep East Texas over a trans elementary school teacher goes as one might expect: https://www.12newsnow.com/article/news/local/teacher-gender-controversy-divides-kirbyville/502-5d6a01e8-4b5b-40f5-a43d-b4ac2e23444b

On the Border: whoda thunk that Greg Abbott would put his deadly border barrier up on the Mexican side? https://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-floating-border-barrier-technically-in-mexico-survey-finds/

...While Operation Lone Star-related high-speed DPS chases and crashes are WAY up in El Paso: https://www.ktep.org/ktep-news/2023-08-14/operation-lone-star-leads-to-more-dps-troopers-in-high-speed-pursuits-resulting-in-collisions-in-el-paso

...and Hispanic U.S. Congressmen rally the Biden Administration to stop the separation of migrant fathers from their families: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/hispanic-democrats-send-letter-urging-biden-administration-to-investigate-texas-separation-of-migrant-fathers

A new state law interfering in Harris County elections is found unconstitutional - and is immediately appealed: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/judge-calls-new-texas-election-law-unconstitutional-state-102296644

A recent Miss Texas winner is running for the Texas House: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/article/miss-texas-house-campaign-18296949.php

Dallas attorney Sidney Powell is up on RICO charges in Georgia - but continues hawking her merch: https://www.businessinsider.com/sidney-powell-indictment-georgia-election-conspiracy-theories-defiant-2023-8

Illinois carpetbagger and unconvicted double murderer Kyle Rittenhouse has a new gun-nut org based in Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/16/kyle-rittenhouse-texas-foundation/

And there's a fundraiser this weekend for victims of the wildfires in Maui in Bedford: https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/native-hawaiians-north-texas-fundraiser-maui-residents-hawaii-wildfires/

Thanks as always for listening! Learn more about what we do at Progress Texas and how you can help at https://progresstexas.org/.