Former Illinois Congressman Adam Kinzinger has become an influential player in Texas politics since moving his family to the Houston area after leaving the U.S. House in 2022. His vocal rejection of Donald Trump and the MAGA movement, including his active involvement in Trump's second impeachment, has brought him into natural alliance with progressives across the country. Congressman Kinzinger recently took part in a forum with several recent Democratic winners of North Texas elections, organize...
Jun 25, 2025•52 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The primary win of young Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamadani in the New York City mayoral election is being seen by some as a bellwether for the national Democratic party: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/25/nyregion/cuomo-mamdani-mayor-primary-nyc.html ...Also representing that wave, Austin Congressman Greg Casar has been sticking to economic messages over cultural issues on his recent tour with Bernie Sanders: https://www.texastribune.org...
Jun 25, 2025•8 min
Today marks the beginning of a three day conference of the Texas State Board of Education in Austin. The quarterly meet ups set policies and standards for Texas public schools. That includes curriculum, adopting instructional materials, establishing graduation requirements, and managing the permanent school fund. As the SBOE is one of our lesser known state elected bodies, we brought you District 3 State Board of Education Member, Marisa Perez-Diaz, the most senior Democrat, who represents San A...
Jun 24, 2025•45 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: In the only budget item from the 89th Legislature he vetoed, Governor Abbott has nixed Texas' participation in the federal Summer EBT program, designed to keep lower-income kids fed during summer months: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/texas-gov-greg-abbott-vetoes-summer-lunch-program-for-low-income-kids-37817843 Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is fully hysterical over Abbott's ban of Dan's Ban - he's accusing the hemp industry of connections to ca...
Jun 24, 2025•9 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Latest on Donald Trump's attack on nuclear facilities in Iran: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/22/us/politics/trump-iran-decision-strikes.html ...Responses from Texas Democratic U.S. Reps Lloyd Doggett, Greg Casar, Lizzie Fletcher, and Sylvia Garcia: https://www.khou.com/article/news/local/texas/texas-lawmakers-leaders-trump-iran/285-32881e5e-89ce-49ef-bd91-2795e3151ad6 ...Rep. Joaquin Castro: https://x.com/JoaquinCastrotx/status/1936625247...
Jun 23, 2025•9 min
Hard to believe that our 15th Anniversary shindig in Dallas was just under two weeks ago - so much is happening, and so quickly, that time is really flying by. Podcasting Director Chris Mosser works the room when we gather our friends together to check in on how they feel about our work at Progress Texas, and this pod presents a bunch of our favorite Texans - whom we thank with all of our hearts for their dedication to progress, and their support of our organization. Thanks for listening! Learn ...
Jun 22, 2025•14 min
We’re excited to be one of the first to bring to you a discussion with newly-announced Democratic candidate for Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Clayton Tucker. He’s a rancher, president of the Texas Progressive Caucus, and works as a fair trade organizer, fighting corporations that use international trade policy to rig the rules against working people and ship jobs overseas. You might already know him as one of Texas’ architects in framing policy around working families and quality services that...
Jun 21, 2025•24 min
Our weekly blowing off of the proverbial steam covers the afterglow of the glorious No Kings weekend, Governor Abbott's deadline to sign legislation or get off the pot on Sunday, our worst fears about exactly WHO these masked ICE agents actually are, and more. Have a great weekend and thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas at https://progresstexas.org/ .
Jun 20, 2025•40 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Despite the risks, opposition within his party, and terrible optics, it's looking like Governor Greg Abbott may cave to Donald Trump and call a special legislative session for a rare mid-decade redistricting session: https://www.cnn.com/2025/06/20/politics/redistricting-texas-ohio-republicans-house Sunday marks the deadline for Governor Greg Abbott to sign bills into law. On the THC ban, will he choose personal freedom - or a nanny state in...
Jun 20, 2025•8 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: This Juneteenth, we renew our commitment to the liberation of and equity for our neighbors, regardless of their race, who they love, or where they came from: https://progresstexas.org/blog/protest-pride-and-progress-where-and-how-show-summer ...We honor Texas icon Opal Lee, who was instrumental in establishing Juneteenth as a federal holiday: https://www.statesman.com/story/news/state/2025/06/19/opal-lee-grandmother-of-juneteenth-2025-fort-...
Jun 19, 2025•11 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Tucker Carlson appears to goad Senator Ted Cruz into prematurely revealing Trump administration military cooperation with Israel against Iran: https://x.com/allenanalysis/status/1935143824340160884?s=46 Both Elon Musk and Alex Jones have posted lies online about the murderer of Minnesota State Senator Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark: https://www.wired.com/story/psyop-far-right-conspiracy-theories-minnesota-shooting/ ...That murderer co...
Jun 18, 2025•9 min
Happy Pride Month! Digital Associate Haley Smith is joined by Avery Belyeu of the Montrose Center and Miriam Laeky of Equality Texas for a Pride Month conversation that centers hope, solidarity, and the power of community. As queer and trans Texans face unprecedented legislative attacks, this episode shifts the spotlight to the people leading the fight for equality across the state. From unpacking the latest legal challenges to sharing real-world strategies for community-building and sustainabil...
Jun 17, 2025•42 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Amid the business and population boom of Texas, it now takes $90k per year for individual workers and $200k per year for families of four to live here comfortably - way up from just one year ago: https://ktrh.iheart.com/featured/houston-texas-news/content/2025-06-16-the-cost-of-living-comfortably-in-texas-is-on-the-rise/ ...At the same time, Texas now leads the nation in workplace deaths - also a function of the "Texas Miracle" as frenzied ...
Jun 17, 2025•8 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: After great worry about how the No Kings events would go on Saturday, there's relief and celebration on Monday as generally, things went quite peacefully and productively indeed: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/14/texas-protests-anti-trump-immigration-no-kings/?_bhlid=5ac4797cc26960c9770e89ecd115fa763f69b1c3 There was a very low degree of violence or law enforcement friction at all of the dozens of No Kings events across the state: htt...
Jun 16, 2025•9 min
What a week - and what a weekend it's likely to be. Everyone be safe if you're attending protests - again, keep it safe and legal. We're gonna have a lot to unpack on Monday. Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/ .
Jun 13, 2025•31 min
We enjoyed a visit with one of our favorite regulars, Austin State Senator Sarah Eckhardt, to talk about the good, the bad, and the ugly (not necessarily in that order) of the recently-concluded 89th Texas Legislature. There was plenty to lament and plenty to commit to repairing later - but there were also tactical wins for Democrats, and some good legislation passed as well. Learn more about Senator Eckhardt at https://www.saraheckhardt.com/. Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texa...
Jun 13, 2025•33 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Over 5,000 Texas National Guard troops and 2,000 Texas DPS officers, including special agents and Texas Rangers, have been deployed across the state by Governor Greg Abbott in advance of Saturday's "No Kings" rallies: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/11/greg-abbott-texas-national-guard-immigration-raid-protests/ ...Austin Mayor Kirk Watson decries that Governor Abbott would choose to unnecessarily "militarize the streets of the capitol ...
Jun 13, 2025•8 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Governor Abbott promises a militaristic response to protests in Texas, including those on Saturday coinciding with Donald Trump's military birthday parade: https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/abbott-puts-texas-national-guard-dps-troopers-in-place-for-planned-protests-we-are-not-intimidated-no-kings-group-says/ ...National Guard troops, deployed to San Antonio by Governor Abbott to confront protestors, ended up playing Uno instead: https://ww...
Jun 12, 2025•8 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Governor Greg Abbott has activated the National Guard to establish a presence countering the anti-ICE protests that have been happening this week in our major cities, in particular targeting one expected today in San Antonio: https://www.nytimes.com/live/2025/06/10/us/la-protests-marines-ice-trump ...The reaction from Trump is more about his birthday than public safety or immigration: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-pol...
Jun 11, 2025•17 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Much like the recent GOP power grab at the Tarrant County Commissioners Court, the Texas Republican congressional delegation has begun discussing plans to redraw Texas' electoral maps to stave off defeat in the 2026 midterms: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/09/texas-redistricting-congress-house-republicans-midterms/ Civic unrest over ICE tactics and Trump's crackdown on protests continued last night in Dallas: https://www.cbsnews.com/t...
Jun 10, 2025•7 min
The Trump regime cracks down on anti-ICE protestors in Los Angeles: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj93d3r0zz0o ...California Governor Gavin Newsome: "This is about authoritarian tendencies. This about command and control. This is about power": https://t.co/uuAiHzYiIo ( https://x.com/Acyn/status/1931914095382683742?t=0lQ3pMrV8fm2BgTsRdCUfw&s=03 ...Houston Congressman Al Green: https://x.com/RepAlGreen/status/1931854998792483178?t=Hch52bcXItXUxhnB663h5Q&s=03 ...Dallas Congresswoman Jas...
Jun 09, 2025•11 min
We're joined on our weekly airing of the grievances by Progress Texas board member Jason Smith, who's also a Fort Worth civil rights attorney who has had a front row seat to the blatant, racist power grab being executed by the Republican-dominated Tarrant County Commissioners Court, via which a premature redistricting effort is on the verge of successfully drawing one of the two Democrats on that court out of the picture - a game plan to which Republicans nationwide, as they watch their populari...
Jun 06, 2025•31 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The very public breakup of Donald Trump and Elon Musk is a great example of the dangers our country faces when big decisions are made by impulsive, egotistical billionaires: https://www.wsj.com/politics/elon-musk-trump-fight-gop-bill-c2e0be66?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_1 State Rep. Jolanda Jones has announced a run for the U.S. House seat representing Houston's 18th Congressional District: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/jolanda-...
Jun 06, 2025•10 min
We were invited to join newly-elected Texas Democratic Party Chairman Kendall Scudder earlier this week in beautiful Kerrville for a town hall with the Kerr County Democrats - it was a well-attended, productive and enjoyable meeting, in which we all learned about the common needs and goals of rural and urban progressive folks across the Lone Star State, and how those two worlds can come together in advantageous ways as we lead up to the 2025 and 2026 elections. Learn more about the Kerr County D...
Jun 05, 2025•45 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Governor Abbott signs HB2, the public school funding bill, into law - but it falls well short of really getting our schools square with their expenses: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/04/texas-public-education-schools-funding-bill-explained/ ...Insufficient funding is part of the broader GOP game plan lately, as the Trump adminstration slashes all kinds of federal funding for Texas: https://www.austinchronicle.com/news/2025-06-06/the-t...
Jun 05, 2025•10 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: On the heels of the Johnson County Sheriff's Department's abuse of ALPR license plate tracking systems to follow a Texas woman who had self-managed an abortion, the Austin Police Department has also been taking liberties with the new technology: https://www.austinchronicle.com/daily/news/2025-06-03/emails-reveal-improper-use-by-apd-of-license-plate-reader-program/ Two months after ICE arrested almost 50 people at a Hays County rental house ...
Jun 04, 2025•9 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The end of the 89th Texas Legislature represents the beginning of the analysis of the damage done. From the Texas Tribune: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/02/texas-legislature-ends-session-republican-agenda/?_bhlid=f3bc5066045403914b35bcc5884d32ca437e86bf ...From WFAA in Dallas: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/politics/look-at-bills-abbott-will-consider-signing-as-89th-texas-legislative-session-ends/287-e1651721-06f3-40df-b388-1b978d...
Jun 03, 2025•8 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: An impressive takedown of Texas GOP Senators goes viral: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/texan-goes-viral-for-calling-out-legislators-over-anti-trans-bill_n_68388fa8e4b06ff5140d4a4b As Sine Die arrives - along with the beginning of Pride Month - Texas Republicans have sent Senate Bill 12, a bill outlawing LGBTQ+ clubs in Texas schools, to the Governor: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/05/31/texas-house-tempers-flare-gay-club-ban/ ...Fort Wo...
Jun 02, 2025•11 min
The 134 PAC, an organized group of progressives and Democrats from the vast expanse of rural, Republican-dominated Texas, has a plan to convert those folks into the unified, activated voting bloc that they should be through unity with their urban compatriots and mobilization of a proper, statewide resistance to MAGA rule in Texas. Both Progress Texas Podcasting Director Chris Mosser and Advocacy Manager Reagan Stone will be participating in the 134 PAC's upcoming Rural Texas Summit in Bastrop, w...
Jun 01, 2025•37 min
The weekly kvetching session comes as the last days of the 89th session play out like a slow-motion train wreck. Dan Patrick makes massive ass at a truly bizarre (and entirely unnecessary) press conference, Elon Musk bows out in disgrace in D.C., and Texas Republicans make sure wild-eyed whackjobs can keep their guns. Thanks for listening and have a great weekend! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our work at https://progresstexas.org/ ....
May 30, 2025•25 min
