Texas Tidbits: As Greg Casar Charts A New Path, Greg Abbott Loses The Plot

Texas progressives are building. Texas Republicans are breaking.

Texas Tidbits is a collection of quick snapshots of the most interesting, outrageous, and important political stories unfolding across the Lone Star State. Each edition will feature several short but significant stories highlighting the issues shaping Texas today.

---

Greg Casar Steps Into the Spotlight: Can Progressives Take The Democratic Party In A New Direction?

Texas Congressman Greg Casar is on the rise. At just 35 years old, the second-term representative from Austin has been elected chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, making history as the first chair from a red state and the first Latinx representative of the Austin area. Now, he’s leading a nearly 100-member coalition determined to reshape the Democratic Party into one that fights harder for working-class people, takes on corporate power, and stops playing defense against right-wing narratives.

In a recent interview with The Progressive Magazine, Casar laid out his vision:

• Economic Populism First.

• Stop Caving to Republicans.

• Breaking Free from Corporate PACs.

• A Stronger, More United Progressive Caucus.

Casar has made it clear: If Democrats want to win, they have to stop being afraid to fight. He’s calling for a party that takes on corporate greed, raises wages, and makes life easier for the working class.

Will the Democratic establishment listen? That remains to be seen. But one thing is certain. Greg Casar isn’t backing down.

---

Ellen Troxclair’s Latest Attack On Trans Kids Is Cruelty Disguised As Politics

Texas State Rep. Ellen Troxclair (R-HD19) took to Facebook this week to claim that “there is no such thing as a trans kid.” She went further, accusing parents of being “attention-seeking” and suggesting that affirming their children’s gender identity is “permanently damaging” them.

This is dangerous rhetoric that puts vulnerable children at risk. Trans kids exist. Their identities are real, and their struggles are well-documented by decades of medical research, psychological studies, and lived experiences. Every major medical organization supports gender-affirming care as the standard of care for trans youth.

But instead of addressing real issues facing Texans, like rising healthcare costs, failing infrastructure, or education underfunding, Troxclair and her fellow Texas Republicans are choosing to bully children for political gain.

It’s all part of a larger push to weaponize trans lives to distract from their failures in governance.

---

Brad Buckley’s No Good, Very Bad, Boo-Filled Week

It’s been a rough week for Rep. Brad Buckley (R-HD54), and by rough, I mean he’s been booed. Twice.

The Texas House Public Education Chair and author of the House voucher bill has been on a voucher-peddling tour, trying to sell Texans on a policy they overwhelmingly oppose. And let’s say they’re not buying it.

The first round of boos came earlier this week when Buckley showed up at an event in Austin pushing Governor Greg Abbott’s private school voucher scheme. Texans let him have it.

Then, last night, it happened again in East Texas. This time, Buckley wasn’t alone. Rep. Cody Harris (R-HD08) joined him. The crowd was loud and sustained booing until the two Republicans stormed off stage.

Why? Because even deep-red Texas knows a scam when they see one. Vouchers would siphon funding from rural public schools, leaving students with fewer resources while giving taxpayer money to private and religious institutions. It’s a grift, and rural Texans aren’t afraid to say so.

So, what does Buckley do now? Double down on an unpopular policy? Pretend the boos didn’t happen? Either way, this week has proven that Texans are not on board with destroying their public schools for Abbott’s political ambitions.

---

Abbott’s Islamophobic Fearmongering Over’ EPIC City’

Governor Abbott is back at it, using fear and misinformation to rile up his base. This time, it was over a planned community near Josephine, Texas, called EPIC City, spearheaded by the East Plano Islamic Center.

The development, which includes over 1,000 homes, a mosque, a faith-based school, and retail spaces, has been described by organizers as a “Muslim neighborhood” that will be “well integrated” into the broader community. But Abbott, taking his cues from right-wing conspiracy theories, framed the project as something far more sinister, falsely implying that it would operate under Sharia law and serve as a so-called “no-go zone.”

What’s actually happening? EPIC City’s developers have explicitly stated they will follow all US laws, including the Fair Housing Act. There is no evidence that this project is anything other than a religious community center with housing, which is something Christian churches and institutions have been doing for decades without issue. But Abbott, eager to distract from real issues like Texas’ crumbling infrastructure and underfunded schools, has seized on this as his latest manufactured crisis.

Meanwhile, actual Texans, Muslim or otherwise, are just trying to build communities, not the conspiracies Abbott dreams up.

---

Greg Abbott: All Twitter Fingers, No Spine

For the second week, Governor Greg Abbott has been going after Rep. James Talarico on Twitter, lobbing insults and dodging actual policy discussions like his life depends on it. The latest? Abbott called Democrats “the only minority destroying America” because he thinks funding public education is a radical conspiracy.

Unfazed, Talarico clapped back: “Governor, you keep tweeting at me. I already offered to debate vouchers in person, on your terms.”

He called out Abbott for trying to make the voucher fight partisan when, in reality, plenty of Republicans also oppose the scheme. And then, the challenge: “If you truly think this is right for Texas, put down your phone and debate.”

And yet… silence.

Abbott will tweet all day about how Democrats are the downfall of civilization, but when it comes to actually defending his policy in a real debate? Nowhere to be found. This is what weak leadership looks like. Hiding behind social media instead of facing the people his policies will hurt.

Talarico isn’t letting up, and the longer Abbott dodges, the more it’s clear: he doesn’t have the facts on his side. Just tweets, deflections, and a whole lot of bad-faith nonsense.

---

Some stories you need to see:

• Texas Tribune: New study finds elevated cancer rates near toxic San Jacinto River waste pits

• Texas Public Radio: What’s up with the Texas Lottery – and what exactly is a lotto courier service?

---

Texas Republicans are out here doing what they do best. Distracting, fearmongering, and picking fights they have no intention of finishing. Meanwhile, progressives like Greg Casar are pushing the Democratic Party to fight harder for working people, Texas Dems are still battling against the national party’s reputation, and Abbott is busy stoking Islamophobia and ducking debates. The bottom line? The real fight for Texas isn’t just against Republicans. It’s against apathy, misinformation, and a political system that too often rewards bad-faith actors. But the resistance is loud, relentless, and growing.

• March 14: The last day Legislators can file bills.

• June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.

• Click here to find out what Legislative districts you’re in.

LoneStarLeft is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Follow me on Facebook, TikTok, Threads, YouTube, and Instagram.