Given the way our long-indicted current Attorney General Ken Paxton has run the top law enforcement office in Texas, Texans may have forgotten what that office is supposed to be about: enforcing the law and ensuring justice, not just protecting the Republican regime. It also might seem that correcting this issue is beyond our reach, but it's not. We enjoyed meeting one Democrat who's stepping up to challenge what has become the status quo at AG: Rochelle Garza of the Rio Grande Valley.
Feb 10, 2022•20 min
As we record the podcast this week, Texas is bracing for another February Arctic blast. Governor Abbott - who shared in the financial windfall from last year's freeze in which millions of Texans lost power, and hundreds did not survive - has been promising for months that the power will stay on this time, but just yesterday our Governor walked back that promise. Democrat Beto O'Rourke is on a "keep the lights on tour" and drawing attention to the #AbbottTax where consumers are footing the bill t...
Feb 02, 2022•31 min
Brett Isaacs joins the Happy Hour crew as we cover this week's big news that U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer has announced his impending retirement. Do we expect Republicans to play nice with President Biden's replacement wishes? And a big announcement, as we present a new initiative to protect abortion rights in Texas and across the nation: it's time for a Roevolution ! Lots to cover, and important ways YOU can join the fight - join us to learn more, and thanks as always for your supp...
Jan 28, 2022•35 min
Chris Mosser fills for Saatvik this week as we try to make sense (and it's not easy) of recent developments in voter access: at the federal level conservatives remain opposed to voting rights legislation, and at the local level vote-by-mail applications are getting rejected en masse due to Texas voter suppression laws. Also there's a shortage of voter registration forms in the state, and the Texas Secretary of State is making the ludicrous claim that "supply chain issues" are the reason why (if ...
Jan 21, 2022•39 min
Our good pal Joe Deshotel of the terrific Texas Signal group joins us this week as we take a deep dive into Operation Lone Star - Governor Abbott's politically-motivated, poorly-executed and ill-advised mobilization of the Texas National Guard troops to the Mexican border, which has resulted in all-time-low morale and a pattern of suicides among our troops. We also take the temperature of the current efforts of Beto O'Rourke to replace our deeply unpopular Governor - how do we think he's doing s...
Jan 13, 2022•31 min
Happy New Year y'all! We're back for our first show of 2022 and the first anniversary of the January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol - unbelievable that it's been a full year since that insane day. We start with everyone's favorite punching bag, Ted Cruz, who led the sedition caucus in the U.S. Senate that day, attempting to overturn the election for Donald Trump - a guy who literally hates him. And now, as Ted Cruz tries to distance himself from that day's events, he's getting twitter-dunk...
Jan 06, 2022•27 min
Diana Gomez serves up a hot list of the ten most popular and useful gifts for Texas progressives preparing for the worst as Greg Abbott's efforts to keep the heat and lights on this winter appear to be dismal indeed. And then, to bring back the holiday cheer, we reflect on our favorite moments of a long and hard but worthwhile year pushing forward the cause of progress in the Lone Star State. Our last edition of the year! Thanks for your support - all the best to you and yours, along with our wi...
Dec 19, 2021•27 min
Nice list, meet naughty list. It's not a stretch to say it's been one hell of a year in Texas in '21 - with some Texans creating the hellish landscape, and other Texans bravely standing against them for what's right. Producer Chris Mosser (and a SUPER surprise guest from our nice list!) join us for a summary of five that fought the good fight, against five we'd like to see go down in flames in 2022. Based upon the summary you'll find at our website , complete with honorable mentions....
Dec 16, 2021•44 min
The March 1 primary elections will be upon us before we know it. Glenn Smith joins us this week to provide some historical background and the reasons Texas is particularly weird in this department, and why primaries in Texas tend to favor incumbents. Brett Isaacs joins us as well, as we run thru the races and candidates as they stand today, including the race for Governor: is Beto O'Rourke off to a good start, or is there more he could do? What do we know about new Democratic contenders Joy Diaz...
Dec 11, 2021•51 min
We come to you, beverages in hand, at a moment when the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to do away with the Roe v Wade precedent that has protected abortion rights for women in our country since 1973. Proud to welcome special guest Marva Sadler of Whole Woman's Health, an eminent expert on reproductive rights. Our hats are off (and our glasses are up) to Justice Sonia Sotomayor for her courageous and correct view on the matter...we are enormous fans. How will American women react? What does al...
Dec 04, 2021•35 min
What a GREAT time at Toller Patio in downtown Dallas as we gathered with a group of friends and allies for a terrific conversation with State Reps Rafael Anchia and Jessica Gonzales on their experiences during this tough year at the Lege, why they're hopeful that things are about to get a lot better, and how we can all join in that fight. What a pleasure to be in Dallas, and we hope to do many more live tapings in coming months - stay tuned for your chance to join us!
Nov 17, 2021•39 min
Glenn Smith joins us this week as we conduct a post-mortem of election results across the country, and find that, while there are definite lessons to be learned, the negative takes from national media and hand-wringing from Democrats everywhere over results in New Jersey and Virginia might be just a little over-wrought, as there were actually many progressive wins to savor - in Austin, including the overwhelming defeat of Prop A. We also consider the very curious legislative career of Bexar Coun...
Nov 05, 2021•37 min
It's our first (and maybe...our last) Halloween Spooky Special! And believe us, there's plenty haunting us this year, but there's also hopeful news: the new GOP electoral maps threaten to make life frightening for the next decade, but there are challenges advancing. And the U.S. Supreme Court is set to consider the new Texas abortion restrictions, maybe as soon as in the next few days. Speaking of frightening, we share our spookiest stories: why did Mitt Romney and Kyrsten Sinema have to go and ...
Oct 29, 2021•23 min
The November 2 election is upon us - with early voting happening now - including eight proposed state constitutional amendments: we summarize each of them, get reactions from Brett Isaacs and give recommendations on how to vote. Other important items are on the ballot too, depending on where you live. Smart voters are the best voters - go get it done! We've also got updates on Governor Abbott's new appointee as Secretary of State - a veteran of Donald Trump's war on democracy - and an update on ...
Oct 22, 2021•35 min
A LOT to cover again this week. Right under all of our noses - and in the middle of the night - Republicans at the Texas Legislature are drawing and approving district maps that will unfairly solidify their power, at the expense of the Texans of color who now comprise the majority in the Lone Star State, FOR THE NEXT DECADE. Also, we discuss Governor Abbott's new wholesale ban on vaccine mandates: what exactly is the strategy in aiding and abetting a deadly pathogen? On that note, we welcome Pro...
Oct 15, 2021•34 min
To exactly nobody's surprise, Texas Republicans are exceeding expectations when it comes to redistricting - drawing themselves into undeserved power while drawing non-white and urban Texans out of the representation they are due. How does this change the game for Democrats? Also: to help recap last weekend's Women's Marches and the ever-shifting legal status of the pernicious new Texas abortion ban, we welcome special guest and famed civil rights attorney Austin Kaplan, while Diana and Wesley fi...
Oct 07, 2021•32 min
Lots to cover this week in Texas politics! The Legislature is in the middle of taking up redistricting. It's all about the distinction between partisan gerrymandering (which is allowed), and racial gerrymandering (which is not) and Republicans aren't typically good at drawing the distinction. Also the pandemic, the grid? Nah, the next big issue for Republicans has been attacking transgender student athletes. A bill just passed the Senate and is on its way to the House - quite literally a solutio...
Sep 23, 2021•34 min
Who’s running for Governor? We're entering the orbit of our next election cycle, still without a big-name Democrat declared. Considering the stakes, this is concerning for sure. We expect some word from Beto O'Rourke on whether he'll run - and notably, we still lack any women candidates in major races, which is surprising considering the terrific talent among Texas Democratic women. And at the start of Hispanic Heritage Month, we'd also love to see our Latinx powerhouse players jump in, especial...
Sep 16, 2021•35 min
Proud to present, as a special edition of the Happy Hour, a panel of some of the most incredible women representing the progressive movement in Texas for a discussion of the draconian new abortion restriction enacted last week in Texas: SB8. Texas Blue Action Executive Director Lana Hansen moderates a truly amazing group: State Senator Wendy Davis, Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas, Democratic nominee and Register@Vote founder Julie Oliver, Blue Action Founder and President Carrie Collier Brown, B...
Sep 06, 2021•52 min
What a week. Texas makes national news in perhaps the worst possible way - with the enacting of the most repressive restriction upon abortion since Roe v Wade, effectively suspending that almost 50-year precedent in Texas. The new law is confusing - because it is DESIGNED to confuse us, intimidate us, and further divide us. Meanwhile, get ready to see a lot more guns on a lot more hips across Texas as permitless carry also goes into effect this week. And, Texas teachers are now forbidden from di...
Sep 03, 2021•30 min
Joining the crew this week, our good friend and Planned Parenthood Texas Votes Executive Director Dyana Limon-Mercado, who's the perfect authority at a moment when Senate Bill 8 is set to essentially outlaw most abortions in the state as of September 1. What's in the new law, what's still legal, what's not, and what's next? Also - Texas House Democrats score at least a partial walkout victory as the U.S. House passes the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. How might it upend the plans of the Texas GOP...
Aug 26, 2021•36 min
Saatvik is back! And we welcome Progress Texas Development Associate Brett Isaacs to the Happy Hour for the first time as well. As the whole country watches, Governor Greg Abbott's ban on masking mandates - and the Texas Supreme Court's support of his orders - have met a wall of opposition by Texas families and urban school districts. Turns out, treating children as political pawns isn't especially appealing to most Texans - listen for a way to help Progress Texas fight back. Plus, new U.S. Cens...
Aug 19, 2021•30 min
Producer Chris Mosser sits in for Saatvik again with Ed, Diana and Wesley as we dedicate most of this week's Happy Hour to an unhappy subject: the return of high COVID-19 numbers in Texas, compounded by Governor Abbott's apparent plan to make it as deadly as possible - not only for his own voters, but for the children of Texas, many of whom still cannot be vaccinated. What should Texas parents do? What should the mayors of Texas cities do? We're in the midst of a crisis of our own making, it see...
Aug 06, 2021•34 min
State Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos joins us this week live from Washington, D.C. as Texas House Dems advocate for voting rights legislation at the federal level. Ed, Wesley and pinch host Chris Mosser ask for an update on how the D.C. Dems are holding up, her take on the national press, the attention from the U.S. Congress they've gained, what's at stake - and what's coming next.
Jul 22, 2021•33 min
We're joined from D.C. by Texas State Reps Erin Zwiener and Gene Wu, who are among the Democrats who have once again broken quorum in the House to hold the line against GOP voting rights suppression - a brave move that is not without personal sacrifice and peril, and is also part of the defense of much more than just Texas voters - voting rights across our country are at stake. This is all a very big deal - we get down to what the real battle is all about.
Jul 16, 2021•48 min
As Governor Abbott's special session kicks off, the Happy Hour crew assembles to discuss the agenda - to start, what's NOT on the list: energy reform, COVID vaccinations, and expansion of Medicaid are nowhere to be found. And, what IS on it: Abbott's hostage-taking via his defunding of the Legislature's employees, new restrictions on abortion rights, and reacting to the Democratic walkout with another push for wholesale voter suppression. Once again, Texas progressives are called to action and e...
Jul 08, 2021•26 min
Our last Happy Hour for awhile - Saatvik is back! - as we continue our celebration of Pride Month through June, with a brief history of the celebration, and a recap of how LGBTQ issues shook out in the recently-concluded Lege session. We also go over what Texas lawmakers did (and didn't do) to prepare for our state's next energy emergency, possibly as early as this summer. And, even in one of the worst sessions ever, there were positive moments too - including the Democratic walkout to undermine...
Jun 10, 2021•27 min
Texas Democrats staged a walkout at the Texas Legislature on Sunday, killing voter suppression bill SB7 on what was effectively the last day of session. They showed some real fight! And along the way sent a message to the nation: we will not back down. We revisit this story and more as Diana Gomez moderates a special edition of the Progress Texas Happy Hour with two of our favorite Texas lawmakers: Representative Rafael Anchia of House District 103 (Dallas), and Senator Jose Menendez of District...
Jun 04, 2021•54 min
In the closing days before Sine Die - but not before a busy working holiday weekend - Senior Strategist Glenn Smith joins the regular Happy Hour crew as we reflect on what's been the most contentious and divisive Legislative session that any of us can remember. Also, one of the least productive sessions ever on important business for Texans, in particular putting Texas taxpayers on the hook for making energy companies whole, while doing nothing to prevent future energy disasters - the next of wh...
May 28, 2021•32 min
Texas made national news this week with Governor Abbott's unconstitutional six-week abortion ban. The Progress Texas team made our own national news with our statements fighting back, reminding people that Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land and that this law will lose in court. What happens next? Organizers are planning a Don't Mess With Texans' Abortions rally for Saturday May 29 - listen to hear how you can participate in person or online. Speaking of the Governor, he has a challenger in...
May 21, 2021•28 min
