A democracy test in Texas

A democracy test in Texas and the future of voting rights in America. Why it’s time for government to “go big” again. Plus Bill Press with Joe Trippi on what it will take to defeat Trumpism.



Texas State Representative Richard Peña Raymond on why he had to leave the state to protect democracy. An extended conversation with Jim Hightower on protecting the vote, building a wall, going big on infrastructure, and the folly of rich people taking joy rides into space. Plus Bill Press with Democratic strategist Joe Trippi on why he is teaming up with Republicans to stop an authoritarian movement fueled by Donald Trump.



Richard Peña Raymond The dramatic exodus of Democratic Texas lawmakers to Washington this month denies Texas Republicans the two-thirds quorum they need to pass new voting restrictions. Among the lawmakers who left is State Representative Richard Peña Raymond. He says this battle to protect democracy is much bigger than Texas.



Jim Hightower Jim Hightower's website states that he “has spent four decades battling the Powers That Be on behalf of the Powers That Ought To Be”. In this extended conversation, he explains why the battle over the future of Texas is about more than stopping Republicans from suppressing voters. It’s about reaching out to all Texans with a progressive populist message.



Joe Trippi Bill Press with Democratic strategist Joe Trippi on how close we are to losing our democracy and why he is working across party lines to save it. If you'd like to hear the entire episode, visit BillPresPods.com.



Jim Hightower There’s Rich, Ugly Rich, and Jeff Bezos



I cheered recently when the richest man on Earth had himself rocketed into space. But then he came back down.



There’s nothing irredeemably wrong about being rich – indeed, one good role model for handling wealth, rather than letting it handle you, is music superstar Dolly Parton. She donated a cool million bucks to the Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2020 to help finance its development of the “Moderna” vaccine that’s now preventing millions of people from dying with COVID-19.