Texas Progressives round up to start 2021, insurrection free

Let's see if 2021 is better than 2020. So far, it's off to a nutty enough start of its own, and that was even before the invasion of the U.S. Capitol, which is going to get a special header.

With that, let's dig into the first Roundup of the new year, starting with yesterday's nuttery.

Insurrection

Start with my post yesterday about Ashli Babbit, who will surely soon be made into a martyr. Then look at what I said about Jonathan Turley, a kinder, gentler Matt Taibbi in his whataboutism. I started the day with looking at Ted Cruz, 2024 Pander Bear.

Texas

The Trib gives a redistricting overview, and reminds that this will be the first since the Supreme Court and alleged librul umpire John Roberts junked Voting Rights Act preclearance.

Grits looks at rot in the Austin police academy. 

Dos Centavos is proud to unveil DC'sTop 10 Posts of 2020.

Reform Austin looks ahead to education-related bills in the Legislature.  

Michael Conklin studies the question of whether Dan Patrick owes someone a million bucks for his "voter fraud" reward. 

Eric Berger and Matt Lanza look back at the year in hurricanes.

Texana

The Monthly offers up its favorite 2020 photos.

Daniel Vaughn tries the Cornyn brisket recipe so you don't have to.

The Observer offers up its favorite 2020 strange but true.

Texas metro areas

Jeff Balke describes the clash between neighborhood activists and TxDOT over their I-45 expansion plans.

Heywood Sanders advises the city of San Antonio to give up its delusions.

National

Here's the latest on the Russian hacks and how bad they may be. One note: With the Russians allegedly using servers inside the US, many national security hawks may again raise the cry to let the NSA do more inside the US. There's also the possibility that some of the hacking was by people, not computer networks.

Latinos for Trump was a real thing. Will it last beyond Trump? The New Yorker takes a deep look, and it's one that Democrats (and parties of the actual left) should not ignore.

Just how bad is Facebook for democracy? The New Republic takes a look.

David Bruce Collins wants left civility on Twitter. 

Finally, for fans of old-school blogging, Vagabond Scholar presents the Jon Swift Roundup for 2020.

Global

A mix of Brexit and COVID snarled the New Year's travel plans of many Brits trying to either return home or go back to the Continent. 

Tesla has plans to open a German factory with dreams of kicking German carmakers' butt. Turns out, they've been hard at work on e-cars and are instead ready to kick Tesla's butt.

Martin Luther was officially excommunicated 500 years ago, Jan. 3. My thoughts.