Politics
Despite Self-Congratulation, Lawmakers Did Virtually Nothing about Maternal Mortality Crisis
Texas’ War on Local Control is Part of National Trend
Nearly 150 progressive officials gathered in Austin last weekend to build the fight against GOP-controlled state legislatures.
Nearly 150 progressive officials from all over the country gathered in Austin to build the fight against GOP-controlled state legislatures....Read More
Why Aren’t More Texas Democrats Running for Office at the State Level?
There are a boatload of Democrats running for Congress in Texas, but the slate for statewide offices and the Legislature is awfully barren.
The hottest new trend in Democratic politics these days is running for Congress — everybody’s doing it. So far, more than 200 Democrats have filed to challe...Read More
The Texas Legislature’s Chainsaw Massacre
In the name of “liberty,” Senate Republicans are hacking down local rules protecting trees — except when they’re making exceptions for themselves.
At least 90 cities and counties in Texas have ordinances protecting trees. San Antonio has an ordinance. Weatherford has an ordinance. Austin has an ordinance. ...Read More
Compassionate (Ab)use: Family Battles Texas over Medical Marijuana
The Zartlers have gone through a veritable pharmacy of prescription drugs, but they say medical marijuana is the only thing that stops Kara from hitting herself.
Mark Zartler measures how well his 17-year-old daughter, Kara, is doing by what he calls a “hit test” — counting the number of times she hits herself on a...Read More
Texas Police Oppose Anti-Union Bill Championed by Abbott, Patrick
“They get the teachers this time … and next time they’re coming after us,” said a police association president about the bill the Senate passed.
The Texas Senate passed a bill late Tuesday night that appears to have driven a wedge between the Texas GOP and one of its key constituencies: law enforcement. ...Read More
What a Ban on Insurance for Abortions Means for Women with High-Risk Pregnancies
UPDATE: Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 214 into law on Tuesday, August 15. The measure passed the Senate on August 13 by a vote of 20 to 10, and in the ...Read More
Trans Texans, Advocates Swarm Texas Capitol to Oppose ‘Bathroom Bills’ (Again)
On Friday, more than 250 people signed up to testify, and the overwhelming majority spoke in opposition.
Hundreds of people formed a line that snaked through the Texas Capitol’s basement early Friday, waiting to testify as lawmakers continue to push a so-called b...Read More
Dems: Dan Patrick’s Senate Speed-up is ‘Subverting’ the Democratic Process
The lieutenant governor is racing to accomplish Abbott's special session agenda, but critics say he’s trampling both the minority party and the public.
The lieutenant governor is racing to accomplish the Governor’s special session agenda, but critics say he’s trampling both the minority party and the public...Read More
Activistas Adolescentes Interpretan Quinceañeras en Protesta contra SB 4 en el Capitolio
Teenage activists gathered at the Capitol for a quinceañera-themed protest of Senate Bill 4, organized by Jolt Texas. Read more about the event here: https://w...Read More