Day 46: Daily Democracy Challenge (0 Days 'til Election)

We play "Spin the Bottle" with the 87th Texas legislature (& Diana Gómez of Progress Texas & Mike Kanin of the Texas Observer)

The 87th Texas legislature has yee'd its last haw, so we decided it was time for a slumber party game now that we can all actually sleep again. We invited Diana Gómez of Progress Texas and Mike Kanin of the Texas Observer to put on their jammies and join us for a (very chaste) game of Spin the Bottle. We determine which bills we'd like to make out with and which bills we wish got shoved in a locker or thrown in a dumpster or given an atomic wedgie. Also, mark your calendar for THIS Thursday, June 10 at 6:30pm when we will be hosting the Molly Awards for the Texas Observer! It will be virtual (yet waywayway better than Zoom), so you can join us from anywhere. Get your ticket here: http://mollyawards.com/ [http://mollyawards.com/] FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST: * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbleTX/ [https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbleTX/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therabbletx [https://www.instagram.com/therabbletx] * Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRabbleTX [https://twitter.com/TheRabbleTX] * Subscribe to our newsletter, T-GIF: https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/ [https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/] LINKS WE MENTIONED: Please join us at the Molly Awards THIS THURSDAY NIGHT at 6:30pm! - mollyawards.com [http://mollyawards.com/]   If you want the FULL rundown of how the Texas legislature works, listen to this episode: https://www.rousertx.com/the-rabble-pod/2021/1/13/how-bills-get-passed-or-dont-in-the-texas-legislature [https://www.rousertx.com/the-rabble-pod/2021/1/13/how-bills-get-passed-or-dont-in-the-texas-legislature]   Take easy action to push for Medicaid expansion in Texas here: https://sickofittx.com/medicaid-hearings/ [https://sickofittx.com/medicaid-hearings/]   From the Texas Observer: Here is a link  [https://www.texasobserver.org/midwife-west-texas/]to Sophie Novack's incredible portrayal of reproductive health care in West Texas. And here's a link [https://www.texasobserver.org/covid-19-racial-disparities-texas-legislature/] to Sophie Novack and Michael Barajas reminding us that Texas used to have an office dedicated to analyzing disparate health outcomes. And *here* is a link [https://twitter.com/SophieNovack/status/1251229168983031808] to the lawmaker that committed to getting the office of minority health refunded.   Becky has a highlight on her Instagram on the Texas grid if you need a refresher on why it is so fucked up: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17956783732386320/ [https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17956783732386320/]   Rep James Talarico POOing on the bill that tried to prevent teachers from being able to discuss white supremacy in Texas schools: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPb6vf8JDUQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link [https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPb6vf8JDUQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link]   Find Diana Gómez here: https://twitter.com/missgomez [https://twitter.com/missgomez]   Find Progress Texas here: https://progresstexas.org/ [https://progresstexas.org/]   Find Mike Kanin here: https://twitter.com/MKanin [https://twitter.com/MKanin]   Find the Texas Observer here:  https://www.texasobserver.org/ [https://www.texasobserver.org/]

How bills get passed (or don't) in the Texas legislature

Tuesday was opening day of the 87th Texas Legislature (also known as "nerd prom," according to state Capitol insiders). We revisit a conversation from our third episode ever (!) about the bills and the bees (aka how laws are made here in Texas) with friend and shero Stephanie Chiarello, founder of the Over the Lege comedy series. We also reflect on how much is different from the last Texas legislative session 2 years ago. FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST: * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbleTX/ [https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbleTX/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therabbletx [https://www.instagram.com/therabbletx] * Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRabbleTX [https://twitter.com/TheRabbleTX] * Subscribe to our newsletter, T-GIF: https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/ [https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/] LINKS WE MENTIONED: Links about the Texas Legislature ("TX lege" for short): * ttps://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/11/texas-legislature-2021/ [https://www.texastribune.org/2021/01/11/texas-legislature-2021/] * https://www.kut.org/politics/2019-01-08/a-beginners-guide-to-the-texas-legislature [https://www.kut.org/politics/2019-01-08/a-beginners-guide-to-the-texas-legislature] * https://www.kut.org/politics/2017-04-03/five-ways-you-can-influence-texas-lawmakers [https://www.kut.org/politics/2017-04-03/five-ways-you-can-influence-texas-lawmakers] * https://www.kut.org/texas/2017-03-27/if-the-texas-legislature-were-a-symphony-this-is-what-it-would-sound-like [https://www.kut.org/texas/2017-03-27/if-the-texas-legislature-were-a-symphony-this-is-what-it-would-sound-like] * Texas legislature online (My TLO): https://capitol.texas.gov/MnuMyTLO.aspx [https://capitol.texas.gov/MnuMyTLO.aspx] * How to track bills using the TLO site: http://txlege.indivisible.blue/2017/03/16/how-to-track-bills-in-the-texas-legislature/ [http://txlege.indivisible.blue/2017/03/16/how-to-track-bills-in-the-texas-legislature/]   Austin Woman Magazine article about us:  https://atxwoman.com/rouser-politics-texas-women/ [https://atxwoman.com/rouser-politics-texas-women/]   Stephanie Chiarello and Over the Lege (their live podcast season 2 debut is happening this Friday at 7:30pm CT on the Over The Lege Facebook page!): https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxs6T8bQR4D7uB7BwgqGkw [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxs6T8bQR4D7uB7BwgqGkw] https://www.facebook.com/overthelege [https://www.facebook.com/overthelege]    Also if you are new to Rouser and The Rabble podcast, here is Stephanie explaining why she nominated us to win the Women Communicators of Austin “Creative Initiative Award”:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EevWimF8CoA&list=PL3JK8kbyG_bVsR_9g5FFSIRI2t71kYCXD&index=6 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EevWimF8CoA&list=PL3JK8kbyG_bVsR_9g5FFSIRI2t71kYCXD&index=6]   Stop the tampon tax! https://actionnetwork.org/letters/email-your-legislators-to-co-sponsor-and-support-hb-321-to-end-the-texas-tampon-tax/ [https://actionnetwork.org/letters/email-your-legislators-to-co-sponsor-and-support-hb-321-to-end-the-texas-tampon-tax/]   A great tool to see how a bill becomes a law; make sure to allow adobe flash to work (you click on each square and it gives more information): https://tlc.texas.gov/BillToLaw [https://tlc.texas.gov/BillToLaw?fbclid=IwAR1OtnzSqoAy81ny-soHqzv6VdlsZHXveMpUGVrhEcV2uR7fq90xni_1pOw]     Dawnna Dukes advocating for smoking: http://tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=38&clip_id=9606 [http://tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=38&clip_id=9606&fbclid=IwAR0QfyE5BXAf_w6FAJUCh1cHXjGiGb0L8OnPYB2ClVgKvxqO3MjVmMPH8WA].   (It's at 3hrs 32 minutes in; amendment 27 is the amendment prohibiting smoking, her amendment is 28 saying no alcohol, etc.)   Rep. James Talarico’s 2019 Jesus Vibes Sermon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLoC90kbLlg [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLoC90kbLlg]   Use the Texas Freedom Network’s tool to tell your state rep to allow virtual testimony from the public this session: http://bit.ly/lege-action [http://bit.ly/lege-action]   Emgage’s Running for Office 101 Sunday, January 31st at 4:30 PM  bit.ly/rfo101 [https://click.everyaction.com/k/23672320/268301793/-1845121414?nvep=ew0KICAiVGVuYW50VXJpIjogIm5ncHZhbjovL3Zhbi9FQS9FQTAwMS8xLzU5NTc2IiwNCiAgIkRpc3RyaWJ1dGlvblVuaXF1ZUlkIjogIjZjMzkzOGM2LTM2NTQtZWIxMS1hNjA3LTAwMTU1ZDQzYzk5MiIsDQogICJFbWFpbEFkZHJlc3MiOiAiQWpkdXJyYW5pQGFvbC5jb20iDQp9&hmac=lsWBqCOQU9hfxFEjOcVAl9nzYg6v4n982o_OEXrjcBQ=&emci=e4be3814-2854-eb11-a607-00155d43c992&emdi=6c3938c6-3654-eb11-a607-00155d43c992&ceid=9145381]   Do our survey! Pretty please! Cuz if we’re not giving you what you want we’re just wasting our time! https://bit.ly/38NJVXB [https://bit.ly/38NJVXB]   Come to our virtual pizza party! Friday, January 22 at 12pm CT: https://bit.ly/2JuTphQ [https://bit.ly/2JuTphQ]

The Rabble's 2020 End-of-Year Extravaganza!

We're kickin' it old-school style to close out 2020... political f*ck, marry, kill is back! And so is Kristen! We talk about the things we loved and hated in 2020 and drop some hints about what we're gonna get up to in 2021. RA News (formerly Reform Austin) is the presenting sponsor of this episode -- go check out their excellent, Texas-specific journalism: https://www.reformaustin.org/ [https://www.reformaustin.org/]  (& their great memes on Instagram @ranewstx [https://www.instagram.com/ranewstx/]) FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST: * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbleTX/ [https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbleTX/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therabbletx [https://www.instagram.com/therabbletx] * Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRabbleTX [https://twitter.com/TheRabbleTX] * Subscribe to our newsletter, T-GIF: https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/ [https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/] LINKS WE MENTIONED: Pretty pretty please take our survey to help shape The Rabble's content in 2021! We REALLY want to make sure we're focusing on the stuff you want to learn more about & talking to the voices who aren't being heard: https://bit.ly/38NJVXB [https://bit.ly/38NJVXB] Come to our virtual pizza party on Friday, 1/22 from 12-1pm CT! It's gonna be super laid back; we're gonna chat over lunch and you don't have to look pretty or sound smart, you just gotta show up here: https://bit.ly/2JuTphQ [https://bit.ly/2JuTphQ] Buy the book Kristen wrote with Casey Chapman-Ross! It's called Boss Texas Women and it's SO GOOD. Buy one for every kid in your life: https://www.bosswomenoftheworld.com/ [https://www.bosswomenoftheworld.com/] Asian Democrats of Central Texas [https://www.asiandemsctx.org/] The CHANI app [https://chaninicholas.com/chani-app/] The You're Wrong About podcast episode [https://www.buzzsprout.com/1112270/6725503-losing-relatives-to-fox-news] Becky mentioned

Day 46: Daily Democracy Challenge (0 Days 'til Election)

The moment we've been waiting FOUR FRICKING YEARS FOR is HERE!!! It's Election Day 2020! We're all a little anxious, so we wanted to offer up some calming ASMR at the end of today's episode. You're welcome... ? TODAY'S ACTION: We know voter suppression is real, plus there are a lot of first-time voters and first-time poll workers out there, so even in the most innocent cases there are gonna be some serious questions arising this Election Day.  Your mission today is easy: share share share the voter protection hotline numbers! We made a graphic that we posted to our social accounts @therabbletx, so you can re-share that. Or just share these numbers wherever you see a voting question arise: * If you have questions or would like to report a problem, please call 844-TX-VOTES for assistance in English or Spanish. * Non-partisan organizations also provide assistance in other languages: * For Asian Languages, call 888-API-VOTE. * For Arabic, call 844-YALLA-US. * For American Sign Language (video call), call 301-818-VOTE Found a friend in TX who hasn't voted yet? Send 'em our voter guide, which has a description of each elected office in addition to our endorsements: https://www.rousertx.com/2020-ballot-shortcut [https://www.rousertx.com/2020-ballot-shortcut]   FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST: * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbleTX/ [https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbleTX/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therabbletx [https://www.instagram.com/therabbletx] * Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRabbleTX [https://twitter.com/TheRabbleTX] * Subscribe to our Friday newsletter, T-GIF: https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/ [https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/]

Day 45: Daily Democracy Challenge (1 Day 'til Election)

Election Day is tomorrow! What the... how the... ??? We are having so many feelings. This episode is sponsored by Reform Austin - a local, non-partisan newsroom keeping us up to date on the latest in the Lone Star State: https://www.reformaustin.org/ [https://www.reformaustin.org/] TODAY'S ACTION: Okay, y'all. After 44 episodes of the Daily Democracy Challenge, we decided to make today a choose-your-own-democracy-adventure. Hopefully you've tried at least one thing out of the previous 44 that you enjoyed. So, do that thing again! We're gonna be lit dropping, signing up to be poll greeters, texting neighbors and friends, dropping our printed ballot guide on doorsteps... like, all the things. Found a friend in TX who hasn't voted yet? Send 'em our voter guide, which has a description of each elected office in addition to our endorsements: https://www.rousertx.com/2020-ballot-shortcut [https://www.rousertx.com/2020-ballot-shortcut]   FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST: * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbleTX/ [https://www.facebook.com/TheRabbleTX/] * Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therabbletx [https://www.instagram.com/therabbletx] * Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheRabbleTX [https://twitter.com/TheRabbleTX] * Subscribe to our Friday newsletter, T-GIF: https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/ [https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/]