The horror stories that were predicted by Texas Democrats - and ignored by Texas Republicans - have become reality. A growing number of Texas women have been left at death's doorstep as doctors in our state shy away from the threat of punishment for administering lifesaving medical care related to pregnancy. The first lawsuit representing plaintiffs who have been denied essential care due to Texas' cruel and vaguely-written new laws regarding abortion has been filed. Joining us this week to celebrate the brave plaintiffs, discuss the case, and evaluate what the future holds for the ongoing fight for reproductive freedom in Texas are former State Senator and abortion rights icon Wendy Davis - now Senior Advisor for Planned Parenthood Texas Votes - and Austin Kaplan, an Austin-based attorney and progressive activist, who is working on behalf of the plaintiffs. A heartbreaking listen this time, but one that needs to be heard - we cannot give up on the essential personal rights of Texans. Watch the presser from the Texas State Capitol here: https://fb.watch/jaTIfZmVrV/ Learn more about Planned Parenthood Texas Votes' Lobby Day (Friday April 14) here: https://www.weareplannedparenthoodaction.org/a/lobby-day2023 Learn more about the Center for Reproductive Rights here: https://reproductiverights.org/maps/state/texas/ And if you're enjoying the podcast, please consider helping us continue to produce it here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/donate

If you're like us, you may not have believed your eyes when you first read of a new bill that seeks to ban voting locations on college campuses in Texas. HB-2390 was authored by Texas Rep. Carrie Isaac (who herself recently got her clock cleaned via massive turnout at Texas State University) and continues to be considered by the Republican-dominated House. Joining us for a tour of the dozens of reasons this is a terrible idea are three esteemed allies, all directly involved in the fight to protect voting rights in Texas: freshly-elected Travis County Clerk Dyana Limon-Mercado, MOVE Texas Advocacy Organizer Amber Mills, and Texas Civil Rights Project Senior Election Protection Attorney and Policy Counsel Emily Eby French - if you will, a bit of a voting rights super-group! Learn more about: The Travis County Clerk's Office: https://countyclerk.traviscountytx.gov/ MOVE Texas' Lege Agenda: getshitdoneagenda.com Register for Texas Civil Rights Project Bill Tracking Updates: http://bit.ly/TCRPLege Progress Texas' own voting info initiative, Go Vote Texas: https://govotetexas.org/ And, if you're enjoying our podcast, please help us keep producing it, ad-free with a donation (Thank You!): https://act.progresstexas.org/a/donate

We wanted to take a moment to tell our listeners a bit about ourselves as this year's Amplify Austin Day arrives! It's Central Texas' biggest day of giving for a wide variety of worthy charities and nonprofits. On this short bonus episode, we hope you'll take a moment to learn a bit more about what Progress Texas does and what your support helps accomplish (in short, a lot!). We're proud to be joined by Dick Lavine, a founding Progress Texas board member, who takes us through the early days and gives his viewpoint on why Progress Texas is worthy of a donation on this Amplify Austin Day, which begins at 6pm TODAY (Wednesday March 1) and continues through 6pm on March 2. Direct link to our Amplify Austin page: https://www.amplifyatx.org/organizations/progress-texas-institute Thanks for your support!

The Republican assault on the reproductive rights of Texans continues, with a lawsuit in Federal court in Amarillo poised to strike a blow against medication abortion access not only here in the Lone Star State, but across the entire country. Meanwhile, the current legislative session, thus far, indicates no relief in sight - but we're joined this week by representatives of two Texas advocacy organizations who continue to give us hope. Delma Catalina Limones is Communications Director for AVOW, and Eleanor Grano is Director of Advocacy and Partnerships for Jane's Due Process. Latest as of this posting on the mifepristone court case: https://gothamist.com/news/abortion-medication-mifepristone-ny-threatened-texas-court-what-case-could-mean-for-your-access Article by Chase Strangio on the connection between abortion rights and trans rights: https://hammerandhope.org/article/issue-1-article-10 Article on the dangerous spread of abortion misinformation via social media platforms amongst LatinX communities: https://www.axios.com/2022/08/30/latinos-abortion-misinformation-roe-maternal-health Thanks as always for supporting Progress Texas! If you'd like to make a contribution, please click here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/donate

The filing deadline for Texas' May elections is coming up at the end of the day this Friday, February 17 - and this episode is directed at Texas progressives who have considered running for local office but have hesitated, thinking the fight in a "red state" will be too difficult. Using as an onramp recent controversies involving the current Mayor of the otherwise-sleepy D/FW suburb of Colleyville, investigative journalist Steven Monacelli guides us through a deep dive into how troubled George Santos-style MAGA candidates, emboldened by right-wing funding, have pressed forward a takeover of small Texas cities at the school board level - and why potential progressive candidates like you, simply by embracing common Texan and American values (which, as we've said, are progressive values) would likely stand a good chance of undermining the ongoing MAGA agenda. Thanks as always for supporting Progress Texas! Follow Steven Monacelli's work: https://linktr.ee/Stevanzetti Find out more about running for office in Texas: https://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/candidates/guide/2022/local.shtml And, if you're enjoying the Progress Texas Happy Hour, please consider supporting our efforts: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/donate

In the second of two episodes focused on police reform in Texas, we're glad to meet and get to know Jalen McKee-Rodriguez of the San Antonio City Council, who happens to hold the historic distinction of being the first Black and openly-LGBTQ elected official in Texas! Not only does he share his views on police reforms and police unions, but also his unique take on being an elected official - how his background as a high school math teacher brings new perspective and benefits to the job, but also some of the darker aspects of holding public office that don't frequently get discussed. We think his future in Texas politics is very promising. Thanks for your support of Progress Texas! If you're enjoying the podcast and would like to help us keep it ad-free, please consider making a donation here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/donate

The nation, once again, reels in the aftermath of an unjustified and tragic young Black death at the hands of law enforcement in the case of Tyre Nichols. Over two episodes, Progress Texas seeks to learn: what's the status of police reform in Texas, and nationwide? What are the factors that lead to what seems to be an ever-escalating epidemic of lethal police violence against unarmed Black citizens? And - most importantly - what can WE do to end this disgraceful trend? In the first part of a two-part conversation on this pivotal topic, we welcome John Fullinwider of Dallas-based Mothers Against Police Brutality, who brings us perhaps our most sobering view yet on a national plague that against all reason - and in spite of repeated national protest - appears to be steadily increasing. Thanks for listening, and for supporting Progress Texas.

What will become of the historic surplus currently at the fingertips of the Texas Legislature? Given the state of public education, you'd think a big spend on our schools and students would be a no-brainer - but after all, we're talking about the Texas GOP here. We talk education and more this week with a pair of young Democratic officeholders: Jeff Casper of the Mesquite City Council (a high school government teacher himself), and Venton Jones, freshman Representative for storied District 100 of Dallas, who both express support for new legislation introduced by Representative James Talarico that would earmark a large portion of the surplus for our public schools. Make a donation to Progress Texas HERE. Thanks for your support! And, see the Texas Observer for a headline that will make your head spin - and then, consider running for office yourself!

Our first episode of the year features two Texans we plan to follow closely as the Texas Legislature begins another session. First, Tarrant County's State Representative Salman Bhojani, who alongside freshman Rep. Suleman Lalani of Fort Bend County is one of the two first Muslim and South Asian lawmakers in state history! And Nicole Golden, Executive Director of Texas Gun Sense joins us with details on her organization's strategy to keep the pressure on legislators to enact common sense laws in regard to gun safety. Buckle up, y'all - the session has just begun. Thanks as always for your support of Progress Texas! Learn more about how to advocate during the 2023 Lege: https://progresstexas.org/advocating-2023-texas-legislature Thinking about running for office yourself? We encourage you! Learn more here: https://progresstexas.org/blog/new-year-new-movements-making-progress-locally And, make a donation to Progress Texas here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/donate

Our annual holiday party was a blast last night at Antone's in downtown Austin, and as has become tradition, we took the time to interrogate our guests in between sips of sweet beverage. This time: As Texas progressives, what do we most want for the holidays - politically speaking of course? We got a bunch of terrific answers from a bunch of terrific people, with whom we were happy to reconnect after a bruising mid-term, and with whom we are proud to carry the fight forward into 2023 and beyond. Thanks as always for your support of Progress Texas - and Happy Holidays!