G&R Episode 72: Texas Freezes Over, Cowboy Capitalism and A Failed State w/ Debbie Russell and Clayton Lust

We're rejoined by repeat Green and Red repeat-offenders Debbie Russell (@debmocracy) and Clayton Lust (@claytonlust), in Austin and Houston, respectively, to discuss the "Katrina-scale" crisis happening throughout Texas at the moment. We talked about conditions on the ground in Austin and Houston, especially the loss of heat and water, and the human misery--homeless people dying, the elderly having no access to medical care, millions without heat. We discussed mutual aid efforts in Austin and below we list a number of mutual link where you can get support, give support or donate.  And we talked about the larger political conditions that led to it--Texas-style "Cowboy Capitalism" that believes in deregulation and markets controlled by their cronies to coordinate energy markets.   And what would a show like this be without talking about Rafael Cruz's vacation photos?    Debbie is an organizer, activist, and anti-police brutality advocate in Austin, TX. (If you want to see Debbie's visual aids from the episode, check us out on YouTube.) Clayton is a historian, activist, teacher, conqueror, warper of minds. He has taught at Houston Community College since 2003. Texas mutual aid efforts// TEXAS MUTUAL AID RESOURCES  (http://bit.ly/3serWS6) Donate to Mutual Aid Houston: https://www.gofundme.com/f/mutualaidhou Rio Grande Valley Mutual Aid: https://linktr.ee/Rgvmutualaid Austin Mutual Aid: https://linktr.ee/austinmutualaid Mutual Aid in North Texas (including Dallas-Ft. Worth): https://bit.ly/3drVZSo DFW Mutual Aid:https://linktr.ee/dfwmutualaid  San Antonia Support and Shelter: https://twitter.com/dox_gay/status/1362464855601594369 Read more// Afflict the Comfortable: Texas Energy Corporations make billions, but weatherization was too expensive….. (http://bit.ly/3s9sGYJ) It's Going Down: Autonomous Mutual Aid Groups Mobilize in Texas as Death Toll Rises (http://bit.ly/3bkuXtz) Guardian: Winter storm amplifies power grid inequalities for disadvantaged Texans (http://bit.ly/37uRwuv) Follow us on any of these social media channels// Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/GreenRedPodcast Twitter:  https://twitter.com/PodcastGreenRed Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenredpodcast YouTube: https://bit.ly/GreenAndRedOnYouTube Please follow us on Medium! (https://medium.com/green-and-red-media). Donate to Green and Red Podcast// Become a recurring donor at  https://www.patreon.com/greenredpodcast Or make a one time donation here: https://bit.ly/DonateGandR This is a Green and Red Podcast production. Produced by Bob (@bobbuzzanco) and Scott (@sparki1969). “Green and Red Blues" by Moody. Editing by Scott.