Daily Dispatch 12/5/24: Houston Rep. Gene Wu Picked As New State House Minority Leader, and More

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas: Congratulations to State Rep. Gene Wu, who has been chosen as the new leader of the Democratic minority in the Texas House: https://www.expressnews.com/politics/texas/article/gene-wu-texas-house-democrats-19960489.php Not only is an extreme weather event in Texas more likely than usual this winter, but if it happens, there's an 80% chance of blackouts: https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/weather/article/texas-winter-snow-storm-blackouts-19959189.php Lt. Governor Dan Patrick is much more concerned about keeping THC products out of Texas: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/texas-thc-ban-dan-patrick-delta-8-9-hemp/ Trump immigration henchmen Tom Homan is pointing to Governor Abbott's Operation Lone Star as a model he wants to replicate across the country: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/04/us/texas-abbott-trump-border.html ...While Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar claims that buoys in the Rio Grande to stop (and drown) migrants was actually his idea: https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/04/henry-cuellar-texas-rio-grande-border-buoys-immigration/ Deer Park Rep. Briscoe Cain's idea for a state takeover of Austin's city government is not only goofy, it also has no chance of actually passing: https://www.kvue.com/article/news/politics/texas-legislature/state-lawmakers-bill-state-run-austin-turn-city-district-hb274-districtofaustin/269-af7bed7f-38db-4d94-95ae-4e748bb31ecc Great to see everyone at our first holiday gathering in Austin! The second is in Dallas on December 16 - there are sponsorship opportunities available, and individual tickets are now on sale here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/progress-texas-holiday-parties-2024⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Holiday shopping for your progressive pals is easy and fun at our web store! Grab your goodies at https://store.progresstexas.org/. We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at ⁠⁠⁠⁠@progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠. Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work this election year at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.