Texas progressives talk Alamo and more

Not a heavy week on the Roundup, but it's summertime. Relax!

Texas

Chris Tomlinson discusses his co-authored book, "Forget the Alamo," and what he sees as a possible longer-term playout of preservation of Alamo grounds and adjacent areas.

Strangeabbott is lying about border wall donations. Shock me.

The Observer notes that oilfield lighting in the Permian is a growing problem for the folks at McDonald Observatory. It doesn't mention flaring, but the author notes that's because of time limitations on it originally being a radio piece.

Off the Kuff notes a possible Abbott-induced hitch in Republican plans to dominate redistricting.

Stace tells us about Greg Abbott's ploy to charge immigrants with state charges in order to house them in a state prison.

Charles Miller calls for bipartisan conversations about legislative staff salaries, given Austin’s rising cost of living. 

Grits for Breakfast wonders why we're not talking more about the sharp increase in overdose deaths, which has outstripped the increase in murders. 

Emily Eby presents "Marvel Heroes Who'd Lose The Right to Vote Under HB3". 

John Coby reviews the Republican AG candidates' July finance reports.

Pee Bush didn't pee hard enough for Trump, who has endorsed Kenny Boy Paxton.

THE University of Texas

UT paid a consultant to rehab the image around "The Eyes of Texas." Sorry, but with NIL money now on the table, just "rehabbing" probably won't work. Black athletes can tell UT booster to go fuck themselves. And, given what you'll read, they can tell the consultant and UT to fuck themselves, too.

Speaking of NIL money et al? Now GOP House legiscritters have filed a bill to block its move to the SEC. As noted, since there's no quorum AND it's not on Abbott's call, it's purely symbolic. Even if both of these issues were addressed, it's questionable how much power such a bill would have.

National

Swanson Tucker Carlson got his answer from the NSA. He was NOT targeted by them and any unmasking was by third parties. The wingnuts were trying to spin this one hot and heavy when it broke, and their lies by omission were countered.

National-global

SocraticGadfly talks about last week’s leaked Kremlin documents, noting that the leak was almost certainly deliberate and, if anything, further disproves Trump-Putin collusion claims.