817 Podcast - Fort Worth's Monday Morning Show

Ann and EJ are back from a big weekend of events to give you three short stories, one BIG story, and wins and losses for the city of Fort Worth. Our big story is an interview with Dr. Mia Hall, who is running for City Council District 6 [https://www.drmiahall.com/]. Our three short stories are a collection of articles that analyze who gets the money in council races, why Tim O'Hare's National Day of Prayer is a cesspool for Christian Nationalism ideology, and what the new state performance ratings mean to Fort Worth ISD. SHORT STORY #1: Texas Municipal Elections Are May 3rd! [https://www.tarrantcountytx.gov/content/dam/main/elections/2025/0525/locations/0525_EV_Sched.pdf] - Analyzing who got the money in city council races [https://christackett.substack.com/p/texas-municipal-elections-are-may?r=157w7&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true] SHORT STORY #2: Tarrant County National Day of Prayer Luncheon [https://www.tcnationaldayofprayer.com/] - Mansfield Mayoral Race is Textbook Christian Nationalism [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article303860211.html] SHORT STORY #3: 1 in 5 Texas schools got a D or F rating under new performance standards [https://www.texastribune.org/2025/04/24/texas-schools-accountability-ratings/] - Start Telegram story on the update [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/education/article304958376.html] BIG STORY: Interview with Dr. Mia Hall, Candidate for City Council District 6 [https://www.drmiahall.com/] WINS AND LOSSES Ann: 👎 Land Use dollars are not a waste [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article303789016.html] 👍 Open Streets EJ: 👎 Texas state lawmakers are threatening Independent Bookstores [https://www.txftrp.org/two_tx_book_bills_you_can_act_on_today] 👍 Thousands rally against Trump [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/article304521696.html] COMMUNITY ACTION: Join the Discord server to share stories and comments [https://discord.gg/mdcATqDr] Come to the next 817 Gather at 10 am on May 18th [https://forms.gle/7QAUKA4vTPwJSCDy7]

Ann and EJ sit down with Daryl Davis II, a candidate for City Council District 6, this week for the big story. We also discuss how anti-DEI is impacting TCU and TCC. We give you updates on redistricting talks at the county level as Tim O'Hare's voter fraud law firm gets approved for tens of thousands of our tax dollars. SHORT STORY #1: Anti-DEI impacts TCU and TCC: - TCU cuts Diversity & Inclusion office amid funding cut threats, higher-ed politicization [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/fort-worth/article303928231.html] - Tarrant GOP attacks TCU [https://x.com/BoFrenchTX/status/1908503731689447713] - Texas DEI ban leads to NAACP event abruptly moving from Tarrant County College [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/10/texas-dei-ban-leads-to-naacp-event-abruptly-moving-from-tarrant-county-college/] SHORT STORY #2: Updates on Redistricting - Tarrant County Republicans’ plan to redraw commissioners’ precincts worries Democrats [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/10/texas-dei-ban-leads-to-naacp-event-abruptly-moving-from-tarrant-county-college/] - Tarrant County takes steps to redraw commissioners’ precincts [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article303346671.html] SHORT STORY #3: State vs. Local Control - Legislation could overturn downtown Fort Worth district’s authority [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/06/state-vs-local-control-legislation-could-overturn-downtown-fort-worth-districts-authority/] BIG STORY: Interview with Daryl Davis II City Council Candidate for District 6 [https://www.votedaryldavis.com/] WINS AND LOSSES Ann: 👍 5th Graders Advocating for Vaccines [https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/texas-measles-outbreak-spurs-north-texas-fifth-graders-to-champion-vaccination-awareness/vi-AA1CLSlN?ocid=socialshare&pc=ASTS&cvid=0bf014e2d8ea4aec9f900df9d5ae12bd&ei=54#details] 👎 DART in State Legislation EJ: 👍 Peaceful Protest on the 19th [https://www.facebook.com/events/1363903484947924/?acontext=%7B%22action_history%22%3A%22null%22%7D&ref_source=newsfeed&ref_mechanism=feed_attachment&_rdr] 👎 Crazies in Council Races [https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/fort-worth-city-council-candidate-event-disrupted-scuffle-candidates/3815149/]

Ann and EJ present three short stories and an interview with Cowtown Democrats President Geoffrey Hyder, who will host the new Texas Democrat Party Chair, Kendall Scudder, on April 15th [https://www.instagram.com/p/DH6O3JHhjrf/]! Enjoy the episode, and we apologize for the audio, as we had to move into an outdated studio. We will be better in the future! SHORT STORY #1: Measles Exposure in Tarrant County - RFK Jr. Heads to Texas Kid's Funeral Who Dies from Measles [https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/second-measles-death-texas-child-kennedy-rcna199882] - Tarrant health officials issue warning about possible measles exposure in Grapevine  [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/04/tarrant-health-officials-issue-warning-about-possible-measles-exposure-in-grapevine/] - Tarrant County Public Health lays off staff amid nationwide federal funding cuts [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/02/tarrant-county-lays-off-63-public-health-staff-due-to-federal-cuts-that-number-could-grow/] SHORT STORY #2: Fort Worth Way Obsessed with Literacy Feels Sketchy - This new Fort Worth advocacy group wants every elected leader focused on literacy [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/04/this-new-fort-worth-advocacy-group-wants-every-elected-leader-focused-on-literacy/] - Fort Worth ISD shifts $22.7M to support renewed literacy focus. Here’s how [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/25/these-new-teachers-to-lead-fort-worth-isds-student-first-strategy-if-trustees-approve/] SHORT STORY #3: Fort Worth Council Candidates Financing Reports Are In: What do we see? - Fort Worth City Council candidates raise $1M ahead of May 3 election [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/04/fort-worth-city-council-candidates-raise-1m-ahead-of-may-3-election/] BIG STORY: Interview with Geoffrey Hyder [https://cowtowndemocrats.org/] WINS AND LOSSES Ann: 👍 Community Design April Schedule [https://www.instagram.com/p/DICHMFLxgiY/?igsh=MW1lcHdkNGI5bGUwcw%3D%3D] 👎 Going to State Legislature to fight for crumbs EJ: 👍 Bills that support freedom of religon [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/04/05/euless-lawmaker-seeks-to-expand-recognition-of-islamic-holidays-rites-in-texas/] 👎 HB44 [https://www.instagram.com/p/DIFVZP5S4L2/?img_index=1]

Democrats have been making gains across the country in special elections, but what does that mean for Tarrant County, where our GOP Judge is looking to rezone the county in his favor and the Tarrant Democratic Party can barely afford rent? Ann and EJ analyze the city, county, and state situation and believe hope exists. Be a part of the hope and attend a Gather [https://forms.gle/nEKFxpLVKLLTKzQ59]. Join our Discord [https://discord.gg/x5tQpmnBFU]. SHORT STORY 1: Legacy Downtown Wells Fargo Bank Moves to Clearfork [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/business/fort-worth/article302930494.html] SHORT STORY 2: Parents sue Trinity Valley School, allege sexual abuse cover-up involving at least 16 girls [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/27/parents-sue-trinity-valley-school-allege-sexual-abuse-cover-up-involving-at-least-16-girls/] - Keller ISD [https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/keller-isd-could-be-split-into-two-districts-amid-community-protest-21736350] - Mercy Culture Prepatory [https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/tarrant-county/texas-school-vaccination-rates-measles-outbreak-mercy-culture-church-prep-school-landon-schott/287-26756b75-973d-422c-a01a-4b480d3cdf02] - FWISD apologizes to students [https://www.keranews.org/education/2025-03-27/fort-worth-isd-apologizes-to-north-side-cheerleaders-following-fall-racist-incident] SHORT STORY 3: URGENT: The Texas 'Exceptions' Bill is a Trojan Horse [https://jessica.substack.com/p/urgent-the-texas-exceptions-bill?r=157w7&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true] - The "Life of the Mother" Trojan Horse [https://christackett.substack.com/p/the-life-of-the-mother-trojan-horse?r=157w7&utm_medium=ios&triedRedirect=true] BIG STORY: Where Do Fort Worth Democrats Go From Here? - Democrats are winning special elections like it's 2018 [https://gelliottmorris.substack.com/p/democrats-are-winning-special-elections?source=queue] - FWR panels [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/17/heres-where-you-can-hear-from-fort-worth-city-council-candidates-before-may-3-election/] are inequitable for rising young candidates - Who is getting endorsed or supported by Texas True Project and Patriot Mobile? [https://www.instagram.com/p/DHwS5MNMY4D/] - Tarranty County Judge Trying to Use Redistricting to takeout Dem Commissioners [https://www.instagram.com/p/DH1tkYNx-40/] - Kendall Scudder Elected Chair of Texas Democratic Party [https://www.texasdemocrats.org/media/kendall-scudder-elected-chair-of-texas-democratic-party] - Texas Democrats select Kendall Scudder as state party chair [https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/29/texas-democrats-party-chair/] - Democrats no longer benefit from voter turnout [https://news.gallup.com/poll/548459/independent-party-tied-high-democratic-new-low.aspx] WINS AND LOSSES Ann 👍 Art Fort Worth [https://fortworth.culturalyst.com/explore] 👎 DART Funding [https://www.instagram.com/p/DHmvPaZuBZe/] EJ 👍 Arlington [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/28/black-on-the-block-turns-arlington-into-a-black-owned-bazaar/] 👎 Cary Moon is making a fake difference [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/27/heritage-hoa-demands-removal-of-keller-isd-trustees-over-alleged-open-meetings-violations/]

Today, we sit down with the president and a lead organizer of the César Chávez & Dolores Huerta Committee of Tarrant County [https://www.instagram.com/ccdhc_tc/], Maricela Jimenez and Maria Morales, to discuss the upcoming March for Justice [https://actionnetwork.org/events/2025-cesar-chavez-and-dolores-huerta-march-parade/?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAabzvUuJpsdcoCc11EULqkk43RBrAcRQFcRpI5skAX4tAa0zQe_IDoFiVwc_aem_5zYpd6TWDE_fAaeEcs5bQw]. If you want to join us, we will gather at 9:30 am at the JFK Memorial on March 29th. If you cannot make the walk, they also have a link to donate [https://givebutter.com/tzXyPm]. SHORT STORY #1: Fort Worth-based Texas refugee office receives $47M in paused funds after legal battle [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/17/fort-worth-based-texas-refugee-office-receives-47m-in-paused-funds-after-legal-battle/] - The government is actually spending more money [https://x.com/SpencerHakimian/status/1899557273493536834?t=_JZ7-SentYzkZJPJKhN_WQ&s=19] - US government spending has not slowed under Trump so far, data shows [https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-government-spending-has-not-slowed-under-trump-so-far-data-shows-2025-02-26/] SHORT STORY #2: Texas might make it easier to build smaller homes. Tarrant leaders are speaking out [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article302304384.html] SHORT STORY #3: What to know about attending a protest in Texas? [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/state/texas/article301673079.html] BIG STORY: Interview with César Chávez & Dolores Huerta Committee of Tarrant County [https://www.instagram.com/ccdhc_tc/] Leader WINS AND LOSSES: Ann: 👎 Funky Town Fridge Nees Our Support [https://www.funkytownfridge.org/] 👍 Arts Forward Summit this Saturday [https://www.artsfortworth.org/summit] EJ: 👎 Another Death Under Waybourn's Leadership [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article302359909.html] 👍 Council Panels Across Fort Worth are Coming Up! [https://fortworthreport.org/2025/03/17/heres-where-you-can-hear-from-fort-worth-city-council-candidates-before-may-3-election/] COMMUNITY: Join the next 817 Gather [https://forms.gle/xGoHS5U4iQTsS2wt9] on April 13th Join our Discord Server [https://discord.gg/AXyChFcv]