Texas Progressives look at US House history and more

The Republicans may not hold the same degree of advantage in the House in the Newt and post-Newt era as Democrats did from the Depression to Newt, but they do have an advantage. A new book by a Larry Sabato staffer, excerpted here, explains why. For Democrats, among other things, it means moving beyond ConservaDems and Rahmbo strategies. It also looks at how Poppy Bush's DOJ and flunkies including people now on the Supreme Court, enabled race-based redistricting, which looked like it was great for Black Democrats at the time but was an overall ding for the party — and by extension, for both some Black Democrats and even more for the nation.

The Biden 2020 campaign's Texas allies, such as Wendy Davis, who filed a lawsuit against the city of San Marcos et al last summer has now expanded that suit after it's been shown on recording that the city's deputy police chief and a ranking corporal, among others, heard about a Biden campaign bus' call for help after being repeatedly buzzed by Trump Train drivers, with at least one collision involved, and laughing at the dispatch calls while refusing to provide an escort or accept an escort handoff from the city of New Braunfels.

Wingnut legiscritter Matt Kruse seems to be on a mix of fishing trip and intimidation with his "investigation" of school district textbooks re the state's new law banning critical race theory in schools, which of course recently and infamously led Southlake to talk about "alternatives to the Holocaust."

Off the Kuff takes note of the second lawsuit filed over redistricting, filed by the National Redistricting Action Fund to challenge the Congressional map on behalf of Voto Latino.

SocraticGadfly discusses several climate change related issues in the news, including a realistic long-term look at nuclear power as part of a post-fossil fuel mix.

DosCentavos tells us about a protest at the local Dem HQ, and the outcome locally and in DC.

The Texas Signal asks if the new Congressional and legislative maps can be "out-organized" by Democrats. 

Grits for Breakfast notes that violent crime was actually down last year.

Texas Monthly celebrates a 1981 slasher movie set in Austin that was a shiming example of our state's contribution to the horror genre.  

Mean Green Cougar Red analyzes the latest conference-hopping moves among the AAC, C-USA, and the Sun Belt.

As with Jade Helm, there are wingnut Texans guzzling the Strangeabbott Kool-Aid on Operation Lone Star. 

Dan Patrick and Tim Dunn et al got their redistricting wish, not only squeezing Dems but getting wingnut but non-wingut squared GOP state Sen. Kel Seliger to retire.

Fake Indians in Texas? The Observer investigates.