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    Abortion AF! with Lizz Winstead, co-creator of The Daily Show | Arnold Schwarzenegger & Eric Holder awkwardly hold hands against gerrymandering | RIP Texas polling locations

    enSeptember 13, 2019
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    About this Episode

    Abortion rights activist and comedy goddess Lizz Winstead (co-creator and original head writer of The Daily Show!) fangirls with us over Molly Ivins and stresses humor as an important tool of the revolution. We marry all you beautiful souls who showed up to speak out against gerrymandering this week, but we mourn the loss of far too many polling locations in Texas. Also, something weird is going on with Arnold Schwarzenegger & Eric Holder...

    PRESENTING SPONSOR - PLANNED PARENTHOOD DIRECT

    Do you live in a part of Texas where there's no Planned Parenthood? Well, noooo worries! From Abilene to Zavalla, Lubbock to Laredo, The Planned Parenthood Direct (R) app will send birth control (just pills/rings/patches -- you can't DIY an IUD) or UTI treatments straight to your door or your nearest pharmacy. Plus, your meds come in a discreet package so no one has to know what you're up to.

    The Planned Parenthood Direct (R) app is available for free in the iOS and Android app stores. Visit https://www.ppgreatertx.org/pp-direct for more info.

    SUPPORT ROUSER'S NEW PATREON PAGE!

    Want to make sure The Rabble pod keeps coming? Help us pay for it! (We are making zero dollars on the pod and need your help to keep going.) ALSO, you get super fun perks when you pitch in to help us cover our costs (secret parties, GIF chats, even a prayer candle with your face on it!).

    Go to https://www.patreon.com/rousertx NOW NOW NOW NOW!

    Also, spread the joy of Ann Richards and The Rabble all across Texas on T-shirts, stickers, mugs, or whatevs: https://rouser.threadless.com/

    THIS WEEK’S GUEST:

    Lizz Winstead, co-creator and original head writer of The Daily Show, co-founder of Air America Radio, and founder of Abortion Access Front

    Lizz Winstead on Twitter: https://twitter.com/lizzwinstead

    Abortion Access Front on Twitter: https://twitter.com/AbortionFront

    Abortion Access Front on the web: https://www.aafront.org/

    Abortion AF’s Do Re #MeToo events:

    Join us in Austin on September 17: https://www.aafront.org/event/do-re-metoo-austin-a-night-of-sexist-songs-sung-by-righteous-feminists/

    Austin show: https://www.facebook.com/events/469357400313136/

    Austin activism opportunity: https://www.facebook.com/events/2304706419859813/

    Houston show happening September 21:
    https://www.aafront.org/event/abortion-af-the-tour-in-houston/

    “Lizz Free or Die” - Lizz Winstead’s memoir: https://www.amazon.com/Lizz-Free-Die-Essays-Winstead/dp/1594631425

    FOLLOW ROUSER:

    • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RouserTX

    • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rousertx/

    • Twitter: https://twitter.com/RouserTX?lang=en

    • Subscribe to our Friday newsletter, T-GIF: https://www.rousertx.com/tgif/

    SH*T TO DO:

    Take the Common Cause End Gerrymandering Pledge (with Eric Holder and Arnold Schwarzenegger)
    https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/take-the-end-gerrymandering-pledge/?source=takeactionpanel&_ga=2.10617396.1029334617.1568220729-399485775.1568220729

    Tell Your Reps to End Gerrymandering
    https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/fair-maps-for-texas

    Citizen Training on Redistricting (Tarrant County) with Texas Redistricting and the Black Women’s PAC on Sept. 28
    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/citizen-training-on-redistricting-tickets-71682489255?fbclid=IwAR1psfaPS1i_-PSs4j98Sv2WoITXFjA9S3iU5oq_4RbHPkhYnBk0mqnmVEk

    LINKS WE MENTIONED:

    Join us at the Anne McAfee Awards Sunday, September 22 at Hotel Ella in Austin! We're being honored as one of the Travis County Democratic Party's three "organizations of the year." (Cue waterfall tears emojis.) Brunch followed by mimosas next to the pool? Yes please! https://www.traviscountydemocrats.org/2019-anne-mcafee-awards/

    The Highwomen: https://thehighwomen.com/

    Poll showing Warren moving up in Texas:
    https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/2019/09/11/joe-biden-leads-democratic-presidential-race-in-two-new-texas-polls-as-beto-o-rourke-lags/

    2016 presidential election results in Texas:
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_United_States_presidential_election_in_Texas

    Texas is no longer safe for Trump:
    https://www.univision.com/univision-news/politics/univision-news-poll-democrats-surge-in-texas-no-longer-a-safe-state-for-trump-in-2020

    Texas Tribune article by Alexa Ura, “How a decade of voting rights fights led to fewer redistricting safeguards for Texas voters of color”: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/09/10/texas-enters-2021-redistricting-fewer-safeguards-voters-color/
    The first chance we have to flip a Republican seat in the Texas House is SOON - in November there is a special election to fill retiring republican John Zerwas’s seat in district 28. There is only one Democrat running and she by all accounts is awesome -- Eliz Markowitz: https://www.eliz4tx.com/

    The League of Women Voters has a great primer on redistricting and how you can get involved, including advice for preparing testimony: https://my.lwv.org/texas/public-input-hearings

    Mapmaker: They Gerrymandering Board Game: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/this-family-created-a-gerrymandering-board-game-arnold-schwarzenegger-was-pumped/2019/05/03/c102c6bc-651d-11e9-a1b6-b29b90efa879_story.html?noredirect=on

    Leadership Conference Education Fund Report on Polling Place Closures:
    https://civilrights.org/democracy-diverted/

    Texas Leads in Polling Place Closures Since 2013:
    https://www.texasobserver.org/texas-polling-place-closures/

    More about Shelby v. Holder:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shelby_County_v._Holder

    Get Involved with Texas Civil Rights Project:
    https://texascivilrightsproject.org/get-involved/

    "Raise Hell: The Life and Times of Molly Ivins": https://www.mollyivinsfilm.com/

    Heart cells beating in a petri dish: https://www.newsweek.com/scientists-grow-beating-human-heart-tissue-stem-cells-1207100

    Recent Episodes from The Rabble | Texas Politics for the Unruly Mob

    We play "Spin the Bottle" with the 87th Texas legislature (& Diana Gómez of Progress Texas & Mike Kanin of the Texas Observer)

    We play "Spin the Bottle" with the 87th Texas legislature (& Diana Gómez of Progress Texas & Mike Kanin of the Texas Observer)

    The 87th Texas legislature has yee'd its last haw, so we decided it was time for a slumber party game now that we can all actually sleep again. We invited Diana Gómez of Progress Texas and Mike Kanin of the Texas Observer to put on their jammies and join us for a (very chaste) game of Spin the Bottle. We determine which bills we'd like to make out with and which bills we wish got shoved in a locker or thrown in a dumpster or given an atomic wedgie. Also, mark your calendar for THIS Thursday, June 10 at 6:30pm when we will be hosting the Molly Awards for the Texas Observer! It will be virtual (yet waywayway better than Zoom), so you can join us from anywhere. Get your ticket here: http://mollyawards.com/

    FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST:

    LINKS WE MENTIONED:

    Please join us at the Molly Awards THIS THURSDAY NIGHT at 6:30pm! - mollyawards.com

     

    If you want the FULL rundown of how the Texas legislature works, listen to this episode: https://www.rousertx.com/the-rabble-pod/2021/1/13/how-bills-get-passed-or-dont-in-the-texas-legislature

     

    Take easy action to push for Medicaid expansion in Texas here: https://sickofittx.com/medicaid-hearings/
     

    From the Texas Observer: Here is a link to Sophie Novack's incredible portrayal of reproductive health care in West Texas. And here's a link to Sophie Novack and Michael Barajas reminding us that Texas used to have an office dedicated to analyzing disparate health outcomes. And *here* is a link to the lawmaker that committed to getting the office of minority health refunded.

     

    Becky has a highlight on her Instagram on the Texas grid if you need a refresher on why it is so fucked up: https://www.instagram.com/stories/highlights/17956783732386320/

     

    Rep James Talarico POOing on the bill that tried to prevent teachers from being able to discuss white supremacy in Texas schools: https://www.instagram.com/tv/CPb6vf8JDUQ/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

     

    Find Diana Gómez here: https://twitter.com/missgomez

     

    Find Progress Texas here: https://progresstexas.org/

     

    Find Mike Kanin here: https://twitter.com/MKanin

     

    Find the Texas Observer here:  https://www.texasobserver.org/

    How bills get passed (or don't) in the Texas legislature

    How bills get passed (or don't) in the Texas legislature

    Tuesday was opening day of the 87th Texas Legislature (also known as "nerd prom," according to state Capitol insiders). We revisit a conversation from our third episode ever (!) about the bills and the bees (aka how laws are made here in Texas) with friend and shero Stephanie Chiarello, founder of the Over the Lege comedy series. We also reflect on how much is different from the last Texas legislative session 2 years ago.

    FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST:

    LINKS WE MENTIONED:

    Links about the Texas Legislature ("TX lege" for short):

     

    Austin Woman Magazine article about us: 
    https://atxwoman.com/rouser-politics-texas-women/

     

    Stephanie Chiarello and Over the Lege (their live podcast season 2 debut is happening this Friday at 7:30pm CT on the Over The Lege Facebook page!):

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCjxs6T8bQR4D7uB7BwgqGkw

    https://www.facebook.com/overthelege 
     


    Also if you are new to Rouser and The Rabble podcast, here is Stephanie explaining why she nominated us to win the Women Communicators of Austin “Creative Initiative Award”: 
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EevWimF8CoA&list=PL3JK8kbyG_bVsR_9g5FFSIRI2t71kYCXD&index=6

     

    Stop the tampon tax!

    https://actionnetwork.org/letters/email-your-legislators-to-co-sponsor-and-support-hb-321-to-end-the-texas-tampon-tax/

     

    A great tool to see how a bill becomes a law; make sure to allow adobe flash to work (you click on each square and it gives more information):

    https://tlc.texas.gov/BillToLaw
     

     

    Dawnna Dukes advocating for smoking:

    http://tlchouse.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=38&clip_id=9606.  

    (It's at 3hrs 32 minutes in; amendment 27 is the amendment prohibiting smoking, her amendment is 28 saying no alcohol, etc.)

     

    Rep. James Talarico’s 2019 Jesus Vibes Sermon

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLoC90kbLlg

     

    Use the Texas Freedom Network’s tool to tell your state rep to allow virtual testimony from the public this session:

    http://bit.ly/lege-action

     

    Emgage’s Running for Office 101

    Sunday, January 31st at 4:30 PM 

    bit.ly/rfo101

     

    Do our survey! Pretty please! Cuz if we’re not giving you what you want we’re just wasting our time!

    https://bit.ly/38NJVXB

     

    Come to our virtual pizza party! Friday, January 22 at 12pm CT:

    https://bit.ly/2JuTphQ

    The Rabble's 2020 End-of-Year Extravaganza!

    The Rabble's 2020 End-of-Year Extravaganza!

    We're kickin' it old-school style to close out 2020... political f*ck, marry, kill is back! And so is Kristen! We talk about the things we loved and hated in 2020 and drop some hints about what we're gonna get up to in 2021.

    RA News (formerly Reform Austin) is the presenting sponsor of this episode -- go check out their excellent, Texas-specific journalism: https://www.reformaustin.org/  (& their great memes on Instagram @ranewstx)

    FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST:

    LINKS WE MENTIONED:

    Pretty pretty please take our survey to help shape The Rabble's content in 2021! We REALLY want to make sure we're focusing on the stuff you want to learn more about & talking to the voices who aren't being heard: https://bit.ly/38NJVXB

    Come to our virtual pizza party on Friday, 1/22 from 12-1pm CT! It's gonna be super laid back; we're gonna chat over lunch and you don't have to look pretty or sound smart, you just gotta show up here: https://bit.ly/2JuTphQ

    Buy the book Kristen wrote with Casey Chapman-Ross! It's called Boss Texas Women and it's SO GOOD. Buy one for every kid in your life: https://www.bosswomenoftheworld.com/

    Asian Democrats of Central Texas

    The CHANI app

    The You're Wrong About podcast episode Becky mentioned

     

    Day 46: Daily Democracy Challenge (0 Days 'til Election)

    Day 46: Daily Democracy Challenge (0 Days 'til Election)

    The moment we've been waiting FOUR FRICKING YEARS FOR is HERE!!! It's Election Day 2020! We're all a little anxious, so we wanted to offer up some calming ASMR at the end of today's episode. You're welcome... ?

    TODAY'S ACTION:

    We know voter suppression is real, plus there are a lot of first-time voters and first-time poll workers out there, so even in the most innocent cases there are gonna be some serious questions arising this Election Day. 

    Your mission today is easy: share share share the voter protection hotline numbers! We made a graphic that we posted to our social accounts @therabbletx, so you can re-share that. Or just share these numbers wherever you see a voting question arise:

    • If you have questions or would like to report a problem, please call 844-TX-VOTES for assistance in English or Spanish.
    • Non-partisan organizations also provide assistance in other languages:
      • For Asian Languages, call 888-API-VOTE.
      • For Arabic, call 844-YALLA-US.
      • For American Sign Language (video call), call 301-818-VOTE

    Found a friend in TX who hasn't voted yet? Send 'em our voter guide, which has a description of each elected office in addition to our endorsements: https://www.rousertx.com/2020-ballot-shortcut
     

    FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST:

    Day 45: Daily Democracy Challenge (1 Day 'til Election)

    Day 45: Daily Democracy Challenge (1 Day 'til Election)

    Election Day is tomorrow! What the... how the... ??? We are having so many feelings.

    This episode is sponsored by Reform Austin - a local, non-partisan newsroom keeping us up to date on the latest in the Lone Star State: https://www.reformaustin.org/

    TODAY'S ACTION:

    Okay, y'all. After 44 episodes of the Daily Democracy Challenge, we decided to make today a choose-your-own-democracy-adventure. Hopefully you've tried at least one thing out of the previous 44 that you enjoyed. So, do that thing again!

    We're gonna be lit dropping, signing up to be poll greeters, texting neighbors and friends, dropping our printed ballot guide on doorsteps... like, all the things.

    Found a friend in TX who hasn't voted yet? Send 'em our voter guide, which has a description of each elected office in addition to our endorsements: https://www.rousertx.com/2020-ballot-shortcut
     

    FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST:

    Day 44: Daily Democracy Challenge (2 Days 'til Election)

    Day 44: Daily Democracy Challenge (2 Days 'til Election)

    Last two days to turn out the vote!!! AGHHHHH! We can do it!  

    TODAY'S ACTION:

    Sign up by 5pm today (Sunday) if you want to be a poll monitor on Election Day! You just watch a polling location and report to the pros at the Texas Civil Rights Project if you see any funny business: https://www.mobilize.us/tvp/event/338947
     

    Follow up with your friends who haven't voted yet! How to know? There are a couple different tools we've been using to check if our friends have submitted a ballot:

    txballot.org

    and

    The Blue Squad app 

    Found a friend in TX who hasn't voted yet? Send 'em our voter guide, which has a description of each elected office in addition to our endorsements: https://www.rousertx.com/2020-ballot-shortcut
     

    FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST:

    "In the House": Series finale with Swing Left

    "In the House": Series finale with Swing Left

    In our "In the House" series, we explore Texas-specific tidbits about a timely topic + how we can have a flipping good time while flipping this state. In our series finale of "In the House," we get a four-fer: we support FOUR amazing women running to flip seats in the Texas House. This episode was recorded 10/21.

    Reform Austin is the presenting sponsor of this episode -- go check out their excellent, Texas-specific journalism: https://www.reformaustin.org/

    THIS WEEK’S GUESTS:

    Akilah Bacy in Texas House District 138: https://www.akilahbacy.com/

    Joanna Cattanach in Texas House District 108: https://joannafortexas.com/

    Brandy Chambers in Texas House District 112: https://brandykchambers.com/

    Jennifer Skidonenko in Texas House District 106: https://skidonenkofortx.com/

    DONATE TO ALL FOUR! There is a $500 match to EACH campaign from Texas Blue Action Dems and Flip the TX House: http://secure.actblue.com/donate/finalinthehouse

    BLUE SQUAD MISSION OF THE EPISODE:

    Download the Blue Squad App & follow The Rabble podcast to find this week's mission. https://bluesquad.page.link/XSCR

    Also, Blue Squad has an amazing new feature where you can text friends to make sure they've voted. Make sure your app is up to date: the missions will appear on the homescreen once you've loaded your contacts.

    FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST:

    THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS:

    Texas Blue Action Democrats and Flip the Texas House!

    Also Swing Left was SO KIND to let us crash their Texas House Party.

    Reform Austin is the presenting sponsor of this episode -- go check out their excellent, Texas-specific journalism: https://www.reformaustin.org/

     

    Day 43: Daily Democracy Challenge (3 Days 'til Election)

    Day 43: Daily Democracy Challenge (3 Days 'til Election)

    Happy Halloween! Only 3 more days until Election Day, whoa! Early voting is DONE. What are your Halloween costumes? Are you wearing a costume while you drop election info all over town?? We wanna see! Tag us @therabbletx 

    TODAY'S ACTION:

    The Texas Democrats are doing a Halloween Spooktacular phone bank with FOUR different time options today. Make sure no one ghosts on voting -- get everyone out to the polls!

    https://www.mobilize.us/mobilize/event/350239/

    Know anyone in TX who hasn't voted yet? Send 'em our voter guide, which has a description of each elected office in addition to our endorsements: https://www.rousertx.com/2020-ballot-shortcut
     

    FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST:

    Day 42: Daily Democracy Challenge (4 Days 'til Election)

    Day 42: Daily Democracy Challenge (4 Days 'til Election)

    Only 4 more days until Election Day and one more day until Halloween! What are your politically themed Halloween costumes? We wanna see 'em! Tag us @therabbletx 

    TODAY'S ACTION:

    We've started to get nervous about losing some of the 12 seats Democrats picked up in the Texas House in 2018, so today we're finding ways to support them. Becky is kicking each of these folks $5 -- we will also link to each of their campaign websites so you can donate to or find a way to volunteer for at least one of them.

    Julie Johnson (in Dallas County) 
    Michelle Beckley (part of Denton County) 
    Terry Meza (part of Irving and Grand Prairie)
    Ana-Maria Ramos (part of Richardson and Addison) 
    Rhetta Bowers (eastern outskirts of Dallas) 
    John Turner (north Dallas) 
    John Bucy III (Northwest Austin, Cedar Park, Leander) 
    Erin Zwiener (Dripping Springs, Johnson City, Blanco, part of San Marcos)
    James Talarico (Round Rock, Hutto, Taylor) 
    Vikki Goodwin (West Austin) 
    Gina Calanni (Western Harris County) 
    Jon Rosenthal (northwest Houston)

    Know anyone in TX who hasn't voted yet? Send 'em our voter guide, which has a description of each elected office in addition to our endorsements: https://www.rousertx.com/2020-ballot-shortcut
     

    FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST:

    Day 41: Daily Democracy Challenge (5 Days 'til Election)

    Day 41: Daily Democracy Challenge (5 Days 'til Election)

    Only 5 more days until Election Day! Because we really, really want to make every day count, we're talking about the tactics that have been most successful for us and how we plan to spend our time these next few days. 

    TODAY'S ACTION:

    Call your neighbors, call your friends! Becky shares her new strategy for getting the people she calls to actually listen and respond.

    Tonight, JVN and Wendy Davis, can you even???! RSVP for this 6pm event here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/1029outandproud

    Know anyone in TX who hasn't voted yet? Send 'em our voter guide: https://www.rousertx.com/2020-ballot-shortcut
     

    FOLLOW THE RABBLE PODCAST: