Texas Republican launches investigation over books in schools
“Black Lives Matter: From Hashtag to the Streets.” “The Indian Removal Act and the Trail of Tears.” “Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag.” What these books all have in common is that they are on an investigation list by a Texas Republican who wants to...
Can the new GOP-drawn maps be ‘out-organized’?
“I wish I had more than three minutes,” Ashley Cheng told lawmakers in Austin while describing how the new GOP-drawn congressional districts would cut, splice, and carve out Asian American communities across the state. Neighborhoods like Avery Ranch in Austin or...
Harris County redrawing battle continues
Tensions between Harris County officials continue to grow after Precinct 1 Commissioner Rodney Ellis introduced a redistricting map that would alter the shapes of the two conservative leading precincts in the county. The proposed map by Ellis draws a U-shaped...
Texas House and Congressional Leaders to the Senate: Pass Voting Rights Legislation
At a press conference this afternoon, several Texas congressional and state Democrats called upon the U.S. Senate to pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. The Texas lawmakers noted the urgency of the moment: Greg Abbott has already signed a sweeping voter suppression...
Report: Louie Gohmert helped plan Jan. 6
Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tyler) was one of several Republican members of Congress who helped plan the January 6 pro-Trump rally that led to an insurrection, according to a bombshell report by Rolling Stone. The report cited two anonymous sources, one of whom was referred...
Paxton pledges to sue on behalf of any state agency refusing COVID-19 vaccine mandates
After the Biden administration announced COVID-19 vaccine mandates for large businesses and federal contractors, Attorney General Ken Paxton vowed to take legal action. Now he’s doubling down and telling agencies around Texas he’s willing to sue the federal government...
Texas isn’t your campaign slogan
On Friday, a video went viral on Twitter of Vice President Kamala Harris campaigning for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe. Democrats campaigning for one another is common in the dynamics of politics because, like the familiar phrase, it's not...
Kinney County approves deputizing citizens to police migrants
The small rural area of Kinney County, population of 3,129, which sits on the edge of the Texas-Mexico border approved a plan on Tuesday to deputize private citizens to work with local law enforcement to track down migrants crossing state-lines. The plan, which...
Greg Casar wants to undo Abbott’s worst laws
The Signal recently spoke with Greg Casar, a progressive Austin city councilman considering a run for Congress in Texas’ 35th congressional district. A former labor organizer with the Workers Defense Project and the youngest person ever elected to Austin City...
Racism, excessive force, and resignations: Will Austin Police get millions more despite its troubled legacy?
Right now, Austin voters are weighing in on one of the most consequential local elections in recent Texas memory. The byproduct of Back the Blue–inspired efforts by Save Austin Now — a right-wing group infamous for fear-mongering and spreading misinformation — Prop A...
Senate Republicans block voting rights legislation (again)
On Wednesday, Senate Republicans blocked the Freedom to Vote Act, refusing to even allow debate on the bill. This marks the third time this year that Senate Republicans have stonewalled voting rights legislation. The bill failed in a 51-49 vote, with all...
The new Texas Secretary of State has a big Trump connection
On Thursday morning, Greg Abbott announced he was appointing attorney John Scott to be the Texas Secretary of State, the Chief Election Officer for Texas. The move was notable for Scott’s connection to former President Trump and his attempt to overturn Joe Biden’s...
The Chinese business interests behind Trump’s social media site
Last night, news broke that former President Donald Trump was launching a new company with the goal of creating a new social network, ironically called TRUTH Social. The new company, called Trump Media and Technology Group, will oversee TRUTH Social operations, and...
The children’s book author targeted by Texas Republicans
Anastasia Higginbotham is the best-selling author of several children’s books, including Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness. That book was specifically mentioned by Republican State Rep. Steve Toth as he was encouraging fellow legislators to support House Bill 3979,...
Allred leads House Democrats in urging for voting rights legislation
On Monday, Rep. Colin Allred (D-32) led a group of his colleagues urging the Senate to pass the Freedom to Vote Act. The group consisted of 39 House Democrats, all of whom are from states where Republican-controlled legislatures are trying to use voter suppression and...