Newsletter

Well, that was a week

And the "transgender industry in the state of Texas"

A space of my own.

I have a really good plan. I’m going to spend all weekend away from politics, as much time as I can away from my screens, maybe watch some of my favorite movies, maybe read the book of poetry I just bought, maybe go visit my favorite goats. I need to touch grass. I need to organize my garden tools. I need to pare down my beauty supplies.

Anyway, I hope you have a similar plan.

I clipped a few things from random hearings this week, so please enjoy:

First, there’s the “transgender industry in the state of Texas” guy:

I’m starting to recognize the same people testifying over and over again, like the lady on the left there. We need more whack-a-doodle lefties who will show up as often as she does to match her ridiculous vibes.

And here’s a guy complaining about the “transgender world we live in” and refers to bathrooms as “women’s spaces,” which is definitely how I think of them. Oh yeah, I put him in a toilet for fun.

I want to point out this testimony about bathrooms and trans people by Kathryn Silver because it’s very compelling and her resignation at feeling unsafe all the time really hit me.

I’m just really sorry this is happening.

In a hearing about creating a Religious Freedom Commission, a handful of old people got up to yell about Muslims and how they shouldn’t be allowed on the commission (excuse my sick foster dog hacking on the audio):

Fun stuff.

Not going to go too deep into next week’s schedules, but here are a few hearings that stand out for Monday:

9 a.m. Senate State Affairs:

SB 1410 Campbell
Relating to renaming the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America.

SB 1717 Middleton
Relating to the terminology used in statute to refer to the partially landlocked body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North American continent.

SJR 63 Middleton
Proposing a constitutional amendment regarding the terminology used in the Texas Constitution to refer to the partially landlocked body of water on the southeastern periphery of the North American continent.

Mmmmm bet that boot tastes good.

Elsewhere in this hearing will be some election bills that will surely be just terrible.

12 p.m. Senate Economic Development:

SB 1718 Sparks
Relating to the eligibility of the National Rifle Association's Annual Meetings and Exhibits or another annual event of the National Rifle Association for funding under the major events reimbursement program.

Would you like your tax dollars to go to NRA events in Texas? Well, here’s a bill for you!

8 a.m. House Public Health:

HB 44 Geren | et al.
Relating to exceptions to otherwise prohibited abortions based on a physician's reasonable medical judgment. — This is a bad bill. Will be a doozy.

HB 1431 Gerdes
Relating to the prohibited manufacture, processing, possession, distribution, offer for sale, and sale of cell-cultured protein. — I might be reading this wrong, but I think it’s trying to outlaw the sale of Impossible Burgers????

8 a.m. House State Affairs

The House version of the THC ban bills:

HB 28 King
Relating to the regulation of consumable hemp products and providing for the transfer of regulatory functions; requiring a registration; imposing fees; creating criminal offenses; providing an administrative penalty.

SB 3 Perry | et al.
Relating to the regulation of consumable hemp products and the hemp-derived cannabinoids contained in those products; requiring a registration; imposing fees; creating criminal offenses; providing an administrative penalty.

One last thing. Today, Greg Abbott said he hasn’t held a special election for Sylvester Turner’s U.S. House seat because “That election is in Harris County, and Harris County is a repeat failure as it concerns operating elections,” Abbott said. “Had I called that very quickly, it could’ve led to a failure in that election just like Harris County has failed in other elections.”

Bull. Shit.

Three. Good. Things.