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    "My mom and I aren't talking." Pro tips on conversation w/o polarization from Karen Gross of Citizen Discourse | HBD Ann Richards! | U Visas are an FU to the El Paso shooter | Rs are up to some dirty tricks

    enAugust 30, 2019
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    About this Episode

    How do we have productive conversations about politics with people who disagree with us? Especially with the people closest to us? We invited founder of Citizen Discourse, Karen Gross, to give us some tips. Plus, happy birthday to the matron saint of The Rabble, Ann Richards! And we learn about some dirty tricks Texas Republicans are pulling to try and hang onto power.

    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 (pills/rings/patches) or UTI treatments straight to your door or your nearest pharmacy. Plus, your meds come in a discreet white envelope so your Baylor sorority sisters or super Baptist parents will have no idea what's coming in your mailbox... cuz what comes in your box is your own biz.

    The Planned Parenthood Direct (R) app is available for free in the iOS and Android 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:

    Karen Gross, founder of Citizen Discourse

    https://citizendiscourse.org/

    Twitter: https://twitter.com/CtznDiscourse

    Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/citizendiscourse/

    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:

    The TX Lege is hosting public hearings on redistricting in Austin on Sept 10 and San Antonio on Sept 12. Commit to either showing up or writing your House rep before these meetings!

    Does that sound horrifying? Don’t worry. The League of Women Voters hosted a community forum and training to get folks ready to testify.

    League of Women Voters Community Forum recording/training: https://mobile.twitter.com/NOWCastSA/status/1165290701527093248?fbclid=IwAR32PCES87nMsjx1gxbBr4ALuz80A2_CfaSIghyoxigDjEZXMdAYcg0aZA0

    Next week, the ACLU of Texas and the Texas Civil Rights Project are also hosting a digital meet-up to go over Redistricting 101 and how you can make your voice heard.

    WHAT: One Person, One Vote: Redistricting 101
    WHEN: Wednesday, September 4th – 6:30PM-7:15PM
    WHERE: Link will be sent on registration
    REGISTER: https://action.aclu.org/webform/redistrict-webinar

    LINKS WE MENTIONED:

    Because we know that if you’re listening to this pod you love voting, we want you to know that we need your vote! The Austin Chronicle’s Best of Austin 2019 Poll is out. Will you exercise your right to vote by finding your ballot at austinchronicle.com, filling out your info, jumping to the “politics & media” section and nominating The Rabble for Best Local Podcast?
    https://www.austinchronicle.com/vote-best-of-austin/

    Brass knuckles are legal now: https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/28/brass-knuckles-now-legal-texas/

    Go see ANN at Zach Scott Theater: https://tickets.zachtheatre.org/single/PSDetail.aspx?psn=8071

    Recommended reading - Ann Richards autobiography, “Straight From the Heart”: https://www.amazon.com/Straight-Heart-Ann-Richards/dp/1476750580

    El Paso shooting victims might get special visas:
    https://www.texastribune.org/2019/08/27/el-paso-shooting-victims-might-get-special-visas/

    More about the Las Americas “Crime Victims Program” helping El Paso shooting victims from Mexico secure U visas: https://las-americas.org/crime-victims

    Dems slam Engage Texas PAC for setting up at driver's license offices
    https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article234425742.html

    https://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-legislature/2019/08/27/texas-democrat-cries-foul-gop-registering-voters-drivers-license-offices

    https://www.texastribune.org/2019/07/31/engage-texas-raises-nearly-10-million-register-new-republican-voters/

    Jolt’s Voter Deputy Registrar class (Tacos!): Sat. Sept. 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m. and 12-12:30: strategy + best practices workshop http://bit.ly/2zcSlX6

    The 2018 Texas Civic Health Index:
    https://moody.utexas.edu/sites/default/files/2018-Texas_Civic_Health_Index.pdf

    Citizen Discourse:
    https://citizendiscourse.org/

    The Kindness Contract: https://citizendiscourse.org/kindness-contract/

    Reformed White Nationalist Christian Picciolini’s TED Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VM6HZqQKhok

    Atlantic interview with reformed White Nationalist Christian Picciolini: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2019/08/conversation-christian-picciolini/595543/

    On isolation as the driving factor in addiction: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-real-cause-of-addicti_b_6506936?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADKtFvmK_zfHR0Wq2gTSWNDLXT7nawW0avQkryhTbaGaOpUc_40sATFck3bonNiV6JVap_wkHpYU7pTh9efpNuBLIu13mhnU66W0ClhY_QhKToFDfYkCImtp4AenTh8LQBTNwlFW6CSGb0zdlACHc8Qo0j_1HycDezuehhw5nqSo

    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: