Biden’s ICE Director nominee could turn a new leaf for immigration reform
On Tuesday, the White House nominated Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez as director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. This position oversees day-to-day operations in ICE detention centers and facilities along the U.S. border. In Harris County,...
Religious extremism takes center stage in passage of anti-trans youth bill
This week, the Texas Senate voted in favor of a bill that would classify transgender youth healthcare as child abuse, making it illegal for parents and doctors to consent or administer transition-related care to children. When bill author Charles Perry introduced the...
Briscoe Cain succeeds on his second try to pass voter suppression bill out of committee
If at first you don’t succeed, try again. House Election Chair Briscoe Cain took that mantra to heart in his second attempt to pass the voter suppression bill Senate Bill 7 in his committee. And it worked. Last night, Cain brought SB 7 up for a vote in his committee...
Austin’s Prop B isn’t just a battle over homelessness. It’s a referendum on our society’s ability to act decisively, rationally, and compassionately
In June 2019, Austin leadership voted to roll back ordinances that prohibited camping and panhandling across town. The move, which came as a shock to many at the time, represented a key shift in the city’s desire to take on deep-seated, systemic issues with bold,...
Briscoe Cain’s attempt to pass voter suppression bill backfires
Voting rights activists and organizers kicked into high gear this afternoon after State Rep. Briscoe Cain, the Chair of the Texas House Elections Committee, tried to quickly sneak through legislation that many are calling the worst attack on voting rights in Texas...
Gina Ortiz Jones nominated for Under Secretary of the Air Force
On Tuesday, the White House announced that President Joe Biden has nominated Gina Ortiz Jones for Under Secretary of the Air Force. The position is the second highest ranking civilian leader in the Department of the Air Force, which oversees both the Air Force and the...
A year on, Vanessa Guillén’s death continues to impact Texas and the nation
Since her death last year, the name Vanessa Guillén has become a rallying cry to demand justice in a system that has failed far too many. Last weekend around the state of Texans and throughout the country, thousands of mourners gathered at vigils to commemorate the...
Anti-puppy mill bill passes Texas house
Texas House lawmakers on Tuesday voted in favor of a bill that would only allow pet stores to obtain cats and dogs from animal shelters, animal rescue organizations, or animal control agencies. The bill aims to crack down on puppy mills and prevent widespread...
Trump officially backs Susan Wright in Texas special election
On the second-to-last day of early voting, former President Trump finally weighed in on the special election in the sixth congressional district by endorsing Susan Wright, the widow of former congressman Ron Wright. The news is likely disappointing to several other...
A new round of lawsuits from Ken Paxton takes aim at immigration, environmental regulations
With the Biden Administration preparing to celebrate their first 100 days, one common theme is emerging: a persistent legal foe in the form of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The embattled AG, currently under investigation by the FBI for abuse of office and...
HillCo Partners lobbyist accused of allegedly giving a Capitol aide a “date rape” drug
On Saturday, The Texas Department of Public Safety confirmed they were investigating an allegation against Texas lobbyist group HillCo Partners after one of their lobbyists was accused of giving a Texas Capitol aide a “date rape” drug. On Monday, over 30 Texas...
A brief history of MS-13
MS-13 has been called the most dangerous gang in the world. The gang’s shocking violence and satanic influences have earned it a high level of notoriety and it’s a favorite talking point for Republicans seeking to justify stricter immigration policies, especially...
Bill criminalizing homelessness gets sent back to committee
On Monday, a Texas House bill that would have prohibited camping in public places — effectively criminalizing homelessness — was knocked back down to committee. HB 1925 was bumped back to the House State Affairs Committee shortly after Rep. Joe Deshotel...
Census results officially announce Texas to gain two congressional seats
This afternoon the United States Census Bureau debuted the first results from the 2020 census, officially announcing that Texas is gaining two congressional seats. The announcement, long delayed due to both decisions from the Trump administration and the COVID-19...
Austin’s ballot initiatives could revolutionize progressive politics across Texas
Over the past several months, Republican-controlled state legislatures have levied an onslaught of voter suppression efforts in response to 2020’s record-breaking turnout across the country. While Georgia has rightfully received the lion’s share of criticism from...