Yes, most are from affluent families. That's what's happened in Arizona, where there's been a 10-fold increase in participants since the program started three years ago, and taxpayer costs have ballooned along with it. Vouchers are taking up a much bigger share of the Education budget.
Interesting story that explores a surprising twist to the new school vouchers in Texas: Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/u...
Free article.
This is a remarkable essay by a medical doctor, an immunologist, who grew up unvaccinated. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/27/o...
In large part because that's the tale of our geography. It's too big a state to suddenly turn blue in a statewide elections. You have to organize from the ground up.
Totally agree. From the ground up should be the mantra.
As an organizer, you must find common ground. That's how I helped unite diverse (in age, race, gender) workplaces. I look for candidates to do the same, without pandering. Beto had a chance, but he let himself be defined as an out of touch left-wing radical. His record showed he clearly wasn't.
I grew up in Pittsburgh and have lived in Texas for 33 years (married a Texan.) I talk about Pgh sports so much that friends started calling me Pittsburgh Dave.
They're generally not interested in identity politics -- "the first <fill in the blank> to be elected" does nothing for them. Biden had the correct policies but he was totally inept at the bully-pulpit part of his job. Man could barely talk above a whisper at the end.
Sorry -- I meant to expand on that. I've been a union organizer in recent years. The working class is not one, united group. Lots of anti-immigrant feelings. Anger at international trade deals that undercut income here. They don't trust Republicans -- but they don't trust Ds either.
I'm a union organizer.
The RGV is experiencing strong growth, yes. And the anti-immigrant rhetoric might not affect this area as much because much of the population has deep roots in the area -- though the new growth is likely attracting some new, undocumented residents -- though the border has been effectively closed.
Still, the primaries aren't the problems. The question is always will the Ds unite around a candidate in the fall. I won't hold my breath because I've seen the party splinter for 25 years because of the pragmatic D vs the pure D split.
We've gone from talking about progressives' sitting out elections where their candidate isn't pure enough to Ds in general. For a lot of reasons, this year looks like one where the Ds will outperform their usual results. But yes, the "good" economy is a headwind for Ds in Texas. (1-2)
The election of Democratic Gov. Abigail Spanberger is a good comp for Texas. She's got a record as a moderate, pragmatic but capable of big swings on certain issues. Virginia's electorate is similar to Texas -- large Democratic urban areas and ruby red rural. The key is to win the suburbs.
I'd argue the petulant progressive always finds a reason to stay home. They did purity tests on Harris, who was far left of the average U.S. voter. Same with anti-war candidate John Kerry. Gore, who would've been the first complete environmentalist, was not progressive enough. Always something.
They are the 5 million voters who voted for Kamala Harris, more than the entire population of 25 states. Unfortunately, not enough to win statewide elections. Cornyn won his last Senate race with almost 6 million votes.
"Some of the extreme progressives" might stay home. Seems like I've been hearing that since the Gore v Bush race. No amount of appeal to logic is going to change the petulant progressive.
Talarico
Strong commentary, on deadline, with an equally strong kicker. Tom you're a first-class journalis--er, enemy of the people.
I saw the Ramones in concert in 1980 outside D.C. I'm now 70, so.... That said, I loved seeing Tom quote the Ramones.
ICE has now spent over half a BILLION dollars just on purchasing warehouses around the country to convert into detention camps.
If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
Too many Americans misunderstand “liberal democracy,” assuming it means left-wing politics. It actually refers to a system of government that protects individual rights and limits power through the rule of law. I know social media isn't set up for definitions, but they do help clarify things.
I’m about the same age as your dad (and yes, I love The Righteous Brothers). But I loved the Bad Bunny show, too — the melodies were beautiful, and the themes celebrated love, marriage, farming, small business, music, and community. In other words, all the things we say we value in this country.
When I got the contract to write a history of concentration camps in 2014, I hoped to keep the US from ending up here. That didn't work out! But now it's critical to understand how much is already in process and the enormity of what's coming. The sooner we act to stop it, the more people we'll save.
Time to take a break from this place. Peace out.
Now I really believe he’s trying to kill it off.
I responded to another take about this that suggested Texans were awful people for letting things like this happen. And I overreacted. Yes, state policies are terrible, but there are millions of Texans trying to change things. (I’ll step down from the soapbox now.)
I’ll admit I overreacted. But it genuinely bothers me when someone with a large platform exploits a horrific tragedy for… what, likes? Cheap Texas snark? Millions here are actively trying to change the state from within. Make fun of Texans all you want—but don’t use a tragedy to do it.
