Texas progressives: more winter storm nuttery, vote suppression

More kabuki theater over the Abbott Blackout. The Lege wanting to constrict voting even though the majority of Republicans as well as Dems liking more options. AND .... could medical pot be coming to Texas after all? Read on.

We jump into statewide stuff first, then various local-level items, then national and global in a jam-paced Roundup.

1. I eventually pulled the last week's worth of winter storm kabuki theater by the Lege et al into a separate blog post, it got to be so much. 

2. As the Lege looks at tightening voter rules, theoretically to restrict non-White non-Rethuglicans, this: Eighty-six percent of Texans believe the 2020 elections in Texas went well, and 97% reported a good personal experience voting, according to a new statewide poll released last Friday by Secure Democracy. Leading Republican pollster Chris Perkins of Ragnar Research Partners also found strong bipartisan support for policies and legislation that increase accessibility and accountability within the Texas election system. A majority of Rethuglicans as well as Democraps (and surely we third party types — there is an "independent" line) support some big things, including more voting sites and an extra week of early voting, like COVID gave us last year.

2A. In his own further take, Off the Kuff finds some hope in that poll that shows broad support for voting convenience over voting restrictions.

3. The Lege, along with those of other oil and gas states, think they can force the clock backward on renewables by blocking state agencies from investing in environmentally responsible investment funds, etc. The Texas-specific angle here. R.G. Ratcliffe notes the Texas bill has (shock me) a loophole. If the manager of a state investment fund says it would cause fiscal harm to withdraw from an environmentally or socially responsible investment fund, they just need put that in writing as a "finding" and they don't have to withdraw.

4. A related matter on the Texas level here. The Lege wants to block cities from mandating electricity for heat and cooking in new homes.

5. Here's my take on Oklahoma possibly undercutting the Lege and saying "Drive north for real medical marijuana."

6. Also posted to his weekly COVID roundup, SocraticGadfly has a group of COVID-related posts. First "Galveston Karen" went on to make herself "Texas City Karen" last week. Second, his weekly coronavirus news roundup from the previous week talked about the one-year anniversary of COVID awareness first really spiking in the US. Related to that, he addressed the NBA as capitalist COVID hypocrites. Finally, on hypocritical PR, he looked at masklessness at a Kroger and corporate response.

7. John Coby lays into Rep. Chip Roy for his anti-Asian racism. 

7A. William Kim calls on everyone to fight back against anti-Asian hate.

8. Luis Acuña explores what the Biden stimulus means for Texas broadband expansion. 

9. Lilli Hime discusses the current legislative session with LGBTQIA advocates.

Texana

Selena would have been 50 next month. The Monthly has a retrospective.

Helltown

Art Acevado is gone as top cop. But why, for a much smaller cop shop? Is it because he sees no chance of replacing Sly Turner as mayor in 2024? Will his successor be better? Will Sly Turner push through police reforms before his mayoral tenure ends? The Chronic's editorial board weighs in.

Stace also reacts to the imminent departure of HPD's Chief.

Alamo City

An Elizabeth Warren-type American Indian identity (or false identity) issue has popped up with a City Council candidate. In a separate piece, the reporter notes she's not a "tribal identity cop" or anything like that, but it seems clear to me she has big doubts about Crabb, as do I. (The reporter is from Gallup, and per her various feeds, though not stipulating it, appears to be an enrolled Navajo.)

Metromess

The Collin County Jail "did a George Floyd."

 

National

 

1. James Livingston has a good discussion about basic income.

2. "Democracy Pledge" aims to nail companies down in not supporting candidates who supported election lies.

3. Andrew Yang is back to telling lies about BDS.

4. If you've heard of Clearview AI, here's why to be very wary.

Global

The French focus on laïcité is a contributor to rising Islamo-leftism there.

Counterpunch has a hard hitter on Biden's anti-Russia, anti-China hawks at State and NSC, and  how Blinken and Biden themselves are making a hash.