Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: TV host Stephen Colbert defies CBS orders not to discuss their orders to pull an interview with James Talarico, citing the Trump FCC's modification of "equal time" rules for talk shows: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2026/02/17/colbert-says-cbs-refused-to-air-his-interview-with-democrat-candidate-fearing-fcc-blowback/ ...The Talarico interview has been posted to YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiTJ7Pz_59A Over the weeken...
Feb 17, 2026•10 min
We're taking Presidents' Day off this Monday, but we take a moment to remind you to think about the importance of ALL our hard work this midterm election year in doing all we can to put a stop to the daily insanity from the current occupant of the White House. We also remind you that your support is huge to us - so instead of picking up a new mattress, pick up the merch to match your progressive values! Use the code word RESIST at https://store.progresstexas.org/ for a 10% discount this week! AN...
Feb 16, 2026•3 min
Sara McGee is running unopposed as a Democrat in the swingy 132nd Texas House District, inspired by a rude experience with incumbent Republican Mike Schofield, one of our most do-nothing and boot-licking lawmakers. A former school librarian and community advocate, Sara is focused on protecting Texans' reproductive rights, increasing public education funding, and expanding healthcare access. Learn more about Sara McGee and her campaign at https://mcgeefortx.com/ . Thanks for listening! Learn more...
Feb 14, 2026•37 min
The Progress Texas board has begun announcing their endorsements in the 2026 election, and if you don't live in North Texas, one you might be less familiar with is Kevin Burge - a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and cybersecurity specialist currently running for the U.S. House in Texas' 24th Congressional District, which has significant overlap with Texas State Senate District 9- the site of that massive blue flip with Taylor Rehmet's win, and a race featuring a particularly distasteful incumbent in R...
Feb 14, 2026•24 min
Yet another week in the blender to unpack, as Austin State Rep. and new Progress Texas endorsee Vikki Goodwin joins us to announce an initiative to limit the encroachment of ICE into our neighborhoods, and give us an update on her campaign for Lieutenant Governor. Plus a discussion of Trump's new all-out assault on the environment, the ridiculous airspace lockdown of El Paso, and the needlessly-difficult death of actor and Austin resident James Van Der Beek . Lots to unpack - thanks for the hang...
Feb 13, 2026•37 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The board at Progress Texas has issued its endorsement of Austin State Rep. Vikki Goodwin in her run for Texas Lieutenant Governor: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-endorsements-march-primaries-0 ...Texas labor unions, somewhat inexplicably, have been split in their endorsements in the race for Governor: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/11/texas-labor-unions-abbott-endorsement-teamsters-gina-hinojosa/ ...Also a bit strange,...
Feb 13, 2026•11 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Once again voting against the party that put him in power, Laredo Congressman Henry Cuellar was the only Democrat in the U.S. House to vote in favor of a strict new voter identification law based upon Donald Trump's unfounded claims of rampant voter fraud: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/11/us/politics/house-passes-voter-id-bill.html What the hell happened in El Paso yesterday? PBS's account: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/what-caused-th...
Feb 12, 2026•9 min
In this live pod captured at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, former PT staffer Reagan Stone moderates a panel of Democrats seeking their party's nomination to challenge Republican Congressman Tony Gonzalez, a lawmaker whose reputation as a moderate does not resolve his failure to address the poverty and healthcare crisis that plagues one of the largest political districts in the nation. Learn more about Gretel Enck at https://www.gretelforcongress.com/ . Learn more about Santos Limon at htt...
Feb 11, 2026•50 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The Progress Texas board has issued an endorsement for freshly-elected Congressman Christian Menefee in Houston's 18th Congressional District: https://progresstexas.org/blog/progress-texas-endorsements-march-primaries-0 Tarrant County Judge Tim O'Hare was at it again last night - kicking citizens out for questioning the county's cooperation with ICE and gaveling silent Commissioner (and County Judge candidate) Alisa Simmons: https://www.sta...
Feb 11, 2026•9 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett's comments after Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislane Maxwell pled the Fifth yesterday: https://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2026/02/09/rep_jasmine_crockett_the_united_states_is_falling_apart_right_now_its_time_to_take_off_the_blinders.html New University of Houston polling shows significant leads for both Crockett and Republican candidate Ken Paxton: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/elections/new-...
Feb 10, 2026•11 min
Thanks for finding Progress Texas Podcasts! How do we make progress in 2026? Progress Texas is the permanent home for nonprofit, progressive media and action in the Lone Star State. Our team of communications pros is meeting the moment of the podcasting boom with the largest progressive audience in Texas, reaching millions online monthly. As of the beginning of 2026 we enjoy user ratings of 4.9 out of 5 stars, and we’re ranked in the top 2.5% of pods globally, more and more Texans who care about...
Feb 09, 2026•2 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Our board at Progress Texas announces the following endorsements in the 2026 midterm elections: Gina Hinojosa for Texas Governor Sarah Eckhardt for Texas Comptroller Alisa Simmons for Tarrant County Judge Terry Virts for Houston's Congressional District 9 Bobby Pulido for South Texas' Congressional District 15 Kevin Burge for North Texas' Congressional District 24 Texas school districts are beginning to react to pressure from Governor Greg ...
Feb 09, 2026•10 min
Secular Houston founder and new Progress Texas Institute board member Wil Jeudy returns for a deep dive on an even more nutty week than usual in Texas politics, as we unpack the drama this week between former Congressman Colin Allred, State Rep. James Talarico, and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett as the hopes of a friendly primary in the Senate race, held by most Texas Democrats, proved perhaps a tad bit naive. Can't we all just get along? We also discuss the recent trend of our high school (and ...
Feb 06, 2026•32 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The Trump DOJ's move to "nationalize" and "clean" voter rolls via massive purges is being resisted by two dozen U.S. states - but not Texas, which has already handed over our full voter roll information: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/article/trump-nationalize-texas-voter-rolls-21331488.php ...Meanwhile Texas officials are failing to keep up with election schedule benchmarks, citing problems related to the recent redrawing of our...
Feb 06, 2026•11 min
We know what keeps our communities safe. Public safety comes in the form of strong communities and trusted leaders—not masked goons enabled by an authoritarian regime. Katharine Pichardo, CEO and President of Latino Victory, joins us to discuss how they’re building lasting political power to protect and represent Latino communities across the nation and in Texas. Learn more about Latino Victory at https://latinovictory.org/ . Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how to suppo...
Feb 05, 2026•24 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: ICE is making its presence known in cities across Texas - in El Paso, officials at Camp East Montana have begun sending the bodies of detained immigrants who have died on their watch to an internal military hospital - not the local county medical examiner, where one recent such death was deemed a homicide: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/texas-ice-detention-deaths-autopsy-el-paso/ ...In Houston, the local ICE field office has issued...
Feb 05, 2026•9 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett weighs in on the racial turmoil that has erupted between her competitor Rep. James Talarico and former Congressman Colin Allred: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article314552282.html ...Racial tensions have undercut recent enthusiasm among Texas Democrats spurred by Taylor Rehmet's SD 9 win and Christian Menefee's win for the U.S. House in CD 18: https://www.nytimes.com/20...
Feb 04, 2026•10 min
We welcome back Congresswoman Julie Johnson, whom as you may know is in the midst of the second year of her first term representing Dallas' CD 32, while also running for the newly drawn CD 33 as a result of the recent Donald Trump-ordered and Greg Abbott-delivered carving up of Texas' congressional map. We got an update on the hard work she's doing both in D.C., and on the campaign trail in Texas. Learn more about Rep. Julie Johnson and her campaign at https://juliejohnson.com/ . Thanks for list...
Feb 03, 2026•26 min
Stories we're following at Progress Texas: Throwing cold water on the enthusiasm Texas progressives were enjoying early Monday after the Taylor Rehmet win in SD 9 and the regaining of representation for CD 18 with Christian Menefee's swearing in, former Congressman Colin Allred, citing an online influencer, has publicly accused U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico of racism: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/02/texas-us-senate-democratic-primary-colin-allred-james-talarico-mediocre-black-man-...
Feb 03, 2026•12 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: A resounding win by Democrat Taylor Rehmet over Republican Leigh Wambsganss in Tarrant County's SD 9 proves that hard work pays off, and that voters even in reliably Republican territory are souring on the disaster of Donald Trump: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/02/02/texas-senate-district-9-special-election-taylor-rehmet-upset-latino-suburban-backlash/ Houston's runoff in CD 18 ends with Christian Menefee the next Texan to join the U.S....
Feb 02, 2026•11 min
Here's a full run of the Stop Ice rally on Saturday afternoon - one of hundreds of such events that happened across the nation this weekend as America stirs from its slumber to begin addressing the real nightmare our country now faces. Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri emceed a lineup of great speeches today, from: The Reverend Dr. Daryl Horton of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Austin (04:58) Fort Worth State Rep. and Chair of the Texas Mexican American Legislative Caucus Ramon Romero (08:04) Im...
Feb 01, 2026•1 hr 6 min
Democratic Congressman Vicente Gonzales - along with fellow South Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar - has become known for breaking ranks with his party and supporting the initiatives of Trump's GOP. Is the notion that "the Valley is different" - that intrinsic social conservatism in South Texas justifies these two Democrats' frequent undermining of their party's goals - one based in fact, or is it just an excuse? Dr. Etienne Rosas, who is challenging Congressman Gonzalez in South Texas' 34th cong...
Jan 31, 2026•28 min
Starting today with Friday's national shutdown day and continuing through a weekend of rallies and protests scheduled across the country - again - America and Texas appear to be awakening to the fact that the nightmare of authoritarianism is no longer a dream - it's the real deal. We're joined this week by Richardson City Council Member and CD 32 congressional candidate Dan Barrios to discuss the events of yet another week that felt like a year. Learn more about Dan and his campaign at https://w...
Jan 30, 2026•40 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: As a weekend of protest dawns, reports emerge of a Texas DPS crackdown on a group of peaceful protestors outside the ICE detention facility at Dilley on Wednesday: https://www.sacurrent.com/news/eveything-we-saw-at-dilley-protest/ A national shutdown of work, school and spending has been called by a coalition of activist groups: https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/immigration/2026/01/30/ice-out-jan-30-anti-ice-protests-planned-across-us-...
Jan 30, 2026•8 min
The Texas Secretary of State just turned over every registered voter in Texas’ private voter information (like your birthdate and the last digits of your Social Security number) to the Donald Trump Department of Justice. So, what happens now? Voting rights experts Matt Cohen, a reporter with Democracy Docket delivering national coverage on this story, and Ashley Harris, a Staff Attorney with ACLU Texas joined us to break down why Trump and the DOJ have a mandate out to every US state, how Texas ...
Jan 29, 2026•26 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Texas U.S. Reps Joaquin Castro and Jasmine Crockett toured the ICE immigration detention facility at Dilley yesterday, and are now demanding the release of five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos: https://www.fox7austin.com/news/ice-texas-democrats-release-liam-conejo-ramos-dilley-facility ...A St. Edward's University social work professor says that Trump and Texas are inflicting permanent harm upon children and families with their current incarcer...
Jan 29, 2026•10 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: A federal judge has ordered that five-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos, grabbed with his father in Minneapolis last week and rushed to a Texas detention lockup, not be deported until his case can be reviewed: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/judge-blocks-transfer-of-5-year-old-liam-ramos-father-from-texas-detention-facility/ ...Immigration attorneys in Minnesota are decrying ICE's "conveyor belt" system, designed to swiftly relocate children...
Jan 28, 2026•10 min
An important note: this discussion involves the March primary, NOT the ongoing special election runoffs in Houston's CD 18 and Tarrant County's State Senate District 9 - it is specific to the March primary's Election Day on Tuesday March 3, and specific to voters in Dallas and Williamson Counties. The county Republican Parties of Williamson and Dallas Counties have chosen to eliminate countywide voting sites on Election Day of the primary, Tuesday March 3 - which means that voters in those count...
Jan 27, 2026•30 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Donald Trump, Greg Abbott, Ted Cruz and other MAGA leaders are backtracking on their commitment to the ICE occupation of Minneapolis - but not all are discovering their latent humanity: https://www.texastribune.org/2026/01/26/minneapolis-shooting-federal-agents-texas-republicans-respond-mccaul-investigation/ ...The deliberate mirroring of 1930's Nazi imagery in ICE recruitment and the style of Gregory Bovino is noteworthy as a strategy of a...
Jan 27, 2026•10 min
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The horrifying murder of Alex Pretti in Minneapolis has lent a sense of dread to the iced-in situation most of Texas is enduring, and has proven that ICE holds zero regard for the safety of either their supposed undocumented targets, or that of the citizens in their midst: https://en.newsner.com/news/body-language-expert-tells-people-pay-very-close-attention-to-man-in-gray-jacket-after-alex-pretti-shooting/ ...GOP Texas Congressman Michael ...
Jan 26, 2026•10 min
