Josephine Lee

This is what a “compromise” on vouchers could look like- AZ started with a limited voucher for vulnerable students that ballooned to an unrestricted program leaving the state budget, schools, and parents in shambles: texasobserver.org/voucher-progra…

Just wow! Can we appreciate the fact that a team from Mexico is in Texas helping with the search and rescue. 👏🏽

“The whole system is premised on commodifying human beings.” From Sandy West in our magazine: In the aftermath of Roe v. Wade, adoptions are on the rise in Texas. But some private foster care and adoption agencies may have crossed serious ethical lines. texasobserver.org/private-adopti…

Over 100 people are dead—including dozens of children—and the governor is using a football analogy. Texans are not that stupid. We aren’t dogs you distract by tossing a stick. We believe in accountability. THAT is the language of leaders.

Redistricting, flood preparedness and recovery, STAAR test and taxpayer funded lobbying among other new items added to the special session agenda. Also anti-abortion and anti-trans items. #txlege gov.texas.gov/uploads/files/…

“lack of access to water, inadequate food, denial of religious rights, no water to take a bath, maggots in the food…” cbsnews.com/miami/news/all…

Abbott: You ask, I'm going to use your words: Who's to blame? Know this. That's the word choice of losers. Let me explain one thing about Texas. Every square inch of our state cares about football. Every football team makes mistakes. The losing teams are the ones who try to…

Kerr county officials have said they asked the state government for flood sirens THREE SEPARATE TIMES since 2016.

In 2023, the United States budgeted $12.8 billion to build new affordable housing. We’re about to spend nearly four times on detention centers what we spend on housing. trib.al/3KOnTas

NEW: In his first presser after the deadly floods, the Kerr County Judge said they do not have an emergency alert system. But we've learned that not only does the county have such a system, but first responders asked that it be triggered very early Friday AM. Some residents…

They haven't rescued anyone alive since Friday, officials said. dallasnews.com/news/2025/07/0…

Asked who is to blame for the catastrophe in the Texas Hill Country, @GregAbbott_TX just now responds: “That’s the word choice of losers.” Then talks about winning high school football teams. “The way winners talk is not to point fingers.”

I.R.S. Says Churches Can Endorse Candidates From the Pulpit upending a 70-year interpretation of the U.S. tax code, whose Johnson Amendment has barring certain nonprofit groups, including churches, from endorsing political candidates. nytimes.com/2025/07/07/us/… via @NYTimes

Texas officials have long worried about the dangers to children who packed into camps each summer along the flood-prone Guadalupe River. They knew that warning systems were inadequate. So why was nothing done? We have reviewed documents spanning a decade to find answers. 🧵 1/9

“Majority of Houston police calls to ICE have come on traffic stops.” @DegroodMatt houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-t…

Questions about the warning Hill Country residents received before the Friday morning flood are swirling. Here's my latest with everything we know about what was forecast, when warnings were issued and how officials responded: texastribune.org/2025/07/05/tex… @TexasTribune

Because of a statutory requirement to automatically impose budget cuts when legislation increases the deficit … Medicare is one of the programs that will face the axe, and the damage sums to $490 billion over the next ten years. @ddayen prospect.org/politics/2025-…

For everyone, one of these legislators sharing their "thoughts and prayers" -- Texans should be asking them why they VOTED NO on a "no-brainer" bill that would have provided grants to local governments for emergency warning systems. @BriscoeCain @brianeharrison @AndyHopperTX…

State-appointed HISD superintendent Mike Miles has been boasting about higher test scores under state takeover of the district. @mkerrhardy reveals, the higher scores are partly due to holding students back from less rigorous math and science courses. texasmonthly.com/news-politics/…

Here is how to support the families and communities of Kerr County Texas. #floodingtexas #texas #kerrcounty texastribune.org/2025/07/05/tex…