Texas Progressives look at Texodus and more

This corner of the Texas Progressives world reminds readers that nothing is settled on the Trump-Ukraine issue, that Hunter Biden does have his own sleaze factor, and that he surely didn't fall any further as an acorn from the familial oak tree than Ivanka, Don Jr. or Eric Trump.

That said, this corner of the world also reminds you that there's real smoke there, and that there's no need for some alleged outside the box journalists to treat this with an unhealthy does of twosiderism, as several are doing.

With that, let's dive in.


Big picture — thought motivations

SocraticGadfly dips into academia and says that conspiracy thinking is a new form of Gnosticism, an ancient religious movement that crossed Jewish, early Christian and pagan boundaries. He suggests keeping that in mind with many of the things social media bombards us with.

Dallas

The Amber Guyger case has wrapped with her being convicted of murder. My thoughts here, along with broader thoughts on justice in the case and issues of what justice is, or is not. essentially wrapped Friday with her own tearful testimony after the presiding judge refused to allow defense experts to make state of mind statements about what she might have been thinking when she shot Botham Jean. What DID become admissible was her affair with her fellow patrol officer, which might itself influence the jury. Surprisingly, Jim Schutze did not pen Part 5 of his Amber Guyger bromance. The judge in the case allowed defense to lean on the castle doctrine while allowing jurors to consider manslaughter as well as murder.

A new African-American art exhibit hits Fair Park for the State Fair.

The largest U.S. strike in a dozen years continues against GM, including its Arlington plant in the heart of anti-union Texas, documented in detail at that link. That's even as hopes for a quick settlement fade more and more, with GM looking to institutionalize temp workers, sell more plants — many into GM-run combined ventures — and otherwise swing a mean chainsaw.


Houston

Jeff Balke proposes five rules for employers for the next time it floods.

John Coby reports from a protest outside State Rep. Briscoe "Little Baby" Cain's office.

Grits notes multiple mental health and other red flags related to gun ownership, in the case of the man suspected in shooting a Harris County deputy.

Texas politics

Off the Kuff discussed the motives behind multiple counties' plans to raise property tax rates.

NBC writes a half-assed story about HB 2504, not mentioning the onerous filing fee requirements, about which I have blogged, including the lawsuit. Kuff pats himself and other content Dems on the back over the piece.

Gov. Greg Abbott is (perhaps by design) making an underfunded, understaffed, quasi-Deep State within the Department of Public Safety a key element in his gun semi-control efforts. At least DPS head Steve McCraw (with free time from chasing down Snoop Dogg loving troopers) admitted that the racist "replacement" theory is driving a lot of domestic terrorism.

The Snooze's Todd Gilman notes the suburbs and inner exurbs shifting Democrat, and focuses on Montgomery and Denton counties.

Mac Thornberry, despite being from the reddest of red districts, is the latest GOP Congresscritter to join the #Texodus. My take is here.

The DCCC is bringing out the battleships to run flak for embattled, primaried ConservaDem Henry Cisneros.


Texana

In a blistering column, Chris Tomlinson notes that Texas' poverty rate is worse than in Louisiana or New Mexico.

The Observer profiles anti-LGBTQ bigot Tracy Shannon.

A state district judge apologizes for telling the truth about Greg Abbott and trees.

A group of photojournalists is suing the state over its law on drone photography on First Amendment grounds. I'd say they have a case, and are you shocked that Texas Legiscritters and Gov. Strangeabbott have once again been demonstrated to have only passing familiarity with the First Amendment?


National

In his weekly 2020 Roundup, Brains finally throws in the towel on Tulsi, with her single-payer schwaffle being the last straw. He can't resist trying to throw shade at me. Oh well. His problem. He does link to interviews with Green candidate Ian Schlackman, one of three who is in my "preferred" circle.

Nearly a month after a federal appeals court revived the lawsuit of Seth Rich's parents against his clients, wingnut ex-Texas lawyer Ty Clevenger had yet to say anything about that on his blog.

Juanita has read the transcript of Donald Trump's call to Ukraine. And probably gossiped that this meant "we" should write in Hillary, or at least that Liz Warren should call her.

The TSTA Blog reminds us that the voters will have the last word on Trump's fate.

Sanford Nowlin examines the effects of impeachment on San Antonio-area Congressional races.

Paradise in Hell once again channels Donald Trump.