Progress Texas Podcasts

In Progress: Who's Ready For "Jasarico"?

We say this every week...but, what a week! The crew gathers for our weekly offload session at the end of the week following the 2026 filing deadline to discuss turncoat Democrats, the new plan to force Turning Point USA into ALL Texas high schools, and the upcoming Democratic primary - headlined of course by "Jasarico [https://www.facebook.com/reel/856568793762005]"! Our heads, as always on a Friday afternoon, are fully aspin. Thanks for listening! Learn how to support Progress Texas and our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/ [https://progresstexas.org/].

Daily Dispatch 12/12/25: Stylistic Contrast Between Crockett And Talarico Sets Tone For Democratic Primary, And More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Analysis of the contrast between the approaches of Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico deepens and is shaping the parameters of the primary contest between them: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/12/jasmine-crockett-james-talarico-texas-senate-primary-democrats-future.html [https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2025/12/jasmine-crockett-james-talarico-texas-senate-primary-democrats-future.html] ...Also, Crockett's strategy to mobilize and grow the Democratic base comes into contrast with the more traditional strategy of inter-party persuasion of Talarico come into contrast: https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-race-vibes-based-political-strategy.html [https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-race-vibes-based-political-strategy.html] ...Meanwhile the GOP is eager to face Crockett, claiming to have "lured" her into running for Senate: https://www.foxnews.com/video/6386303950112 [https://www.foxnews.com/video/6386303950112] Lone Star Left's Michelle Davis focuses on the woefully underqualified Julie Pickren of the State Board of Education and the Democrats seeking to rid the state of her destructive influence: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-2026-texas-democratic-primaries-976 [https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-2026-texas-democratic-primaries-976] South Texas Democratic Candidate Etienne Rosas tried to ask Governor Greg Abbott a question at a Weslaco event earlier this week, and ended up forcibly ejected from the event by a local police officer: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/abbott-event-rosas-removed-21237141.php [https://www.chron.com/politics/article/abbott-event-rosas-removed-21237141.php] Conditions for detainees at a South Texas immigrant detention center are reported to have become deplorably inhumane: https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/09/politics/migrant-families-ice-detention-facility-texas [https://www.cnn.com/2025/12/09/politics/migrant-families-ice-detention-facility-texas] See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, ⁠⁠HERE ⁠⁠ [https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/who-will-be-on-the-2026-federal-ballot]and ⁠⁠HERE⁠⁠ [https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/who-will-be-on-the-2026-state-ballot]. We had a blast at our first of two holiday parties in Austin, and are excited to see YOU at the second in Dallas! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025] Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://store.progresstexas.org/] Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.]

Daily Dispatch 12/11/25: Texas Dems Enter Primary Season With First Full Slate In 50 Years, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: For the first time in half a century, Democrats are on the ballot in every single state, federal and judicial election in 2026: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEYSRjVXZb4 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEYSRjVXZb4] ...The National Democratic Party and the House Democratic Campaign Committee are zeroing in on five potential State House seats to flip: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/10/texas-house-legislature-election-2026-national-democrats/ [https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/10/texas-house-legislature-election-2026-national-democrats/] ...Lone Star Left projects runoffs in the races for Governor and Attorney General, but a likely outright primary win for State Rep. Vikki Goodwin, who is running for Lt. Governor: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-2026-texas-democratic-primaries [https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/the-2026-texas-democratic-primaries] Anybody else find Governor Abbott's warning to Texas high school administrators not to resist the state installation of Turning Point USA clubs in every high school in the state a little...Hitler Youth-ish? https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2025/12/11/gov-abbotts-endorsement-of-turning-point-usa-doesnt-pass-smell-test/ [https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2025/12/11/gov-abbotts-endorsement-of-turning-point-usa-doesnt-pass-smell-test/] The New York Times takes a deep dive on the MAGA overrunning of UT Austin: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/us/university-of-texas-republicans-academic-freedom-faculty.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/10/us/university-of-texas-republicans-academic-freedom-faculty.html] The Texas Tribune takes a deep dive on the reasons Texas A&M ran off president Mark Welsh: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/11/mark-welsh-texas-a-m-president-takeaway/ [https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/11/mark-welsh-texas-a-m-president-takeaway/] A growing number of promising college professor candidates are choosing to skip the headaches of teaching at Texas colleges: https://www.houstonpress.com/news/university-professors-say-they-dont-want-to-teach-in-texas/ [https://www.houstonpress.com/news/university-professors-say-they-dont-want-to-teach-in-texas/] See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, ⁠HERE ⁠ [https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/who-will-be-on-the-2026-federal-ballot]and ⁠HERE⁠ [https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/who-will-be-on-the-2026-state-ballot]. We had a blast at our first of two holiday parties in Austin, and are excited to see YOU at the second in Dallas! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025] Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://store.progresstexas.org/] Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.]

Daily Dispatch 12/10/25: Did Republicans Manipulate Polling To Encourage Crockett Senate Run? And More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: The Democratic primary contest between Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico for the nomination for the U.S. Senate takes center stage in Texas following the filing deadline: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/09/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-democratic-primary-turnout-persuasion-2026/ [https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/09/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-democratic-primary-turnout-persuasion-2026/] ...A bombshell NOTUS report says that the National Republican Senatorial Committee is behind manipulative polling and covert digital information seeding meant to encourage Crockett to enter the Senate race: https://www.notus.org/senate/jasmine-crockett-nrsc-texas-senate [https://www.notus.org/senate/jasmine-crockett-nrsc-texas-senate] ...Former Democratic nominee for Railroad Commissioner Katherine Culbert, who has filed for that same race in 2026 as a Republican, is accused of misleading Lone Star Left writer Michelle Davis about her campaign intentions as late as October: https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/how-katherine-culbert-tried-to-use [https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/how-katherine-culbert-tried-to-use] Another Democratic win after a long Republican winning streak - another sign of a building blue wave - comes as Democrat Eileen Higgins is elected mayor of Miami, Florida: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/09/miami-mayor-election-winner-eileen-higgins [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/09/miami-mayor-election-winner-eileen-higgins] Governor Abbott and Lt. Governor Dan Patrick announce the state-sponsored establishment of new Turning Point USA chapters at all Texas high schools, complete with warnings against local resistance: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/08/texas-turning-point-usa-greg-abbott-high-schools/ [https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/08/texas-turning-point-usa-greg-abbott-high-schools/] A majority of the Arlington City Council, ignoring overwhelming public testimony, votes not to reinstate protections for their LGBTQ+ residents: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/09/arlington-texas-lgbtq-discrimination-protections/ [https://www.texastribune.org/2025/12/09/arlington-texas-lgbtq-discrimination-protections/] Blinn Community College in Brenham has led the charge on the bathroom bill, installing laminated paper signs designating bathrooms specifically for "biological" men and women: https://www.chron.com/culture/article/blinn-college-biological-bathroom-signs-21230334.php [https://www.chron.com/culture/article/blinn-college-biological-bathroom-signs-21230334.php] Austin techbro California transplant, Palantir and University of Austin co-founder Jon Lonsdale is calling for the return of public executions of people convicted of violent crimes: https://www.chron.com/politics/article/texas-joe-lonsdale-public-executions-21230890.php [https://www.chron.com/politics/article/texas-joe-lonsdale-public-executions-21230890.php] The U.S. Supreme Court paves the way for book banning as it declines to hear an case challenging the removal of books by local officials in Llano: https://www.axios.com/2025/12/09/texas-book-removal-case-supreme-court-llano-county [https://www.axios.com/2025/12/09/texas-book-removal-case-supreme-court-llano-county] See the full list of 2026 races and candidates, courtesy of Lone Star Left, HERE [https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/who-will-be-on-the-2026-federal-ballot]and HERE [https://www.lonestarleft.com/p/who-will-be-on-the-2026-state-ballot]. We had a blast at our first of two holiday parties in Austin, and are excited to see YOU at the second in Dallas! Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are available now: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025] Check out our web store, including our newly-expanded Humans Against Greg Abbott collection: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ [https://store.progresstexas.org/] Thanks for listening! Our monthly donors form the backbone of our funding, and if you're a regular, we'd like to invite you to join the team! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. [⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.]

Special LIVE Pod: Our Austin 2025 Holiday Party!

Terrific time on Monday night at the first of our two 2025 holiday parties - Antone's in downtown Austin has become a bit of an HQ for us and we're proud to have enjoyed the biggest crowd we've had there yet! Enjoy our talk with Austin State Senator and newly-filed Texas Comptroller candidate Sarah Eckhardt, San Antonio State Senator Roland Gutierrez, and Austin City Council Member Zo Qadri. Our second holiday party this year happens in Dallas on Monday December 15, featuring another live podcast recording with a great panel of guests - learn more and grab your tickets at https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025 [https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2025].