Texas Progressives talk border, smog and more

Ill Eagles are generally grateful for Strangeabbott's free bus ride to DC. And, it's based on lies (of course) about Biden being some sort of border sugar daddy. So, too, is Strange's border blockade. Speaking of ...

Abbott has officially caved on that shutdown. His deals with three of four Mexican border-state governors require nothing new of them. And, Nuevo Leon, which did agree to such, will likely quietly backtrack in the future. Strangeabbott has left himself the normal legalist opt-out of threatening to renew them if warranted. Look out this summer, after a lot of Mexican crop season is over and he figures that he can get away with blocking maquiladora manufacturing. I expect Mexican manufacturers are already preparing their Plan B of shipping more through Arizona and California, or maybe even by ship to New Orleans, should he try that. It's also disgusting that DPS chief Steve McCraw is becoming ever more of an Abbott flunky.

Here's how Strangeabbott's border shutdown is affecting the Valley and beyond. 

Meanwhile, even before the border blockage, inflation was challenging food banks.

The EPA is likely to designate Helltown and the Metromess as having "severe" smog problems, which would lead to it requiring additional pollution control requirements. TCEQ, goosed by Strangeabbott and Kenny Boy Paxton, would surely resist, but without any legal grounds.

Can a county DA undo a death penalty warrant signed by the county's district clerk? I think the Court of Criminal Appeals will almost certainly reject that. And, federal courts probably would refuse appeals out of the state system.

Congresscritter Chip Roy tried to have his cake and eat it too on #StartTheSteal.

At the Monthly, Mimi Swartz documents (long read) the political, and personal, history of Strangeabbott. (Per one picture, he may have run a lot in high school, but he didn't know how to properly take a relay baton.) One of the keys, of course, is Abbott's paralysis, how it happened, and the lawsuit. Swartz notes that, rather than leading to some degree of sympathy for him to people in need or trouble, it only increases his willingness to punch down. She also notes that he likely was NOT going to make partner at Binion, the Houston law firm, and that's why he entered politics by running for a judgeship. And, from there, started his nefariousness with mansplaining. And pettiness. And more.

The Observer notes there's still plenty of unanswered questions about Lizelle Herrera's arrest and murder charge.

SocraticGadfly offers some thoughts about the Texas Democratic Party leadership battle. 

Off the Kuff highlights another bad, bizarre ruling from an activist Trump judge, who threw out the 2001 Texas Dream Act that granted in-state tuition to some undocumented students.

Stace provides some insight after Beto O'Rourke calls out the Biden administration on the repeal of Title 42.

Texas 2036 presents some actual data about crime in Texas.