>> THE GLORY OF TEXAS IS IN THE SPIRIT OF THE PEOPLE.
THEIR DETERMINATION TO BE FREE. THEIR WILL TO ADVANCE.
THEIR VIEWS WHICH LOOK FORWARD AND NOT BACKWARD.
>> TODAY WE HAVE A VISION OF A TEXAS WHERE OPPORTUNITY KNOWS NO
RACE, NO GENDER, NO COLOR. NOW TOMORROW, WE HAVE TO BUILD
THAT TEXAS.
>> OUR DIVERSITY GIVES TEXAS NEW LIFE, NEW ENERGY, NEW BLOOD, WE
SHOULD NOT FEAR IT BUT WELCOME IT.
>> ALL CANDIDATES ARE FURTHER TO THE RIGHT.
>> REPUBLICANS IN TEXAS ARE LURCHING FURTHER AND FURTHER TO
THE RIGHT.
>> TEXAS HAS BEEN FORCED TO TAKE THE LEAD ROLE IN FIGHTING BACK
AGAINST ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS.
>> HUMAN LIFE IS A GIFT FROM GOD.
>> TEXAS LAW TRIGGERS WHEN THE UNBORN CHILD HAS A HEARTBEAT.
>> THERE IS A REASON TO CRACK DOWN ON MAIL-IN BALLOT FRAUD.
>> ELECTION INTEGRITY IS NOW LAW.
>> TEXAS SEEMS TO HAVE PUT ITSELF SCARILY IN THE
ITSELF SCARILY INE LY SQUARELY F NATIONAL CONTROVERSY.
>> WE ARE MORE RESISTANT THAN EVER.
WE HAVE VOTING RIGHTS IN THIS NATION.
>> IMMIGRATION ADVOCATES ARE FIGHTING BACK AGAINST
ANTI-IMMIGRATION POLICY.
>> MY RIGHT!
>> THOUSANDS OF WOMEN ARE PROTESTING TEXAS' RESTRICTIVE
ANTI-ABORTION LAW.
>> TEXAS HAS TURNED THE CLOCK BACK 50 YEARS.
THE SUPREME COURT ALLOWED THEM TO GET AWAY WITH IT.
>> IT'S NOT JUST HAPPENING IN TEXAS, IT'S HAPPENING ACROSS THE
COUNTRY.
>> WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS!
>> YOU'RE ON THE LEFT, YOU'RE ON THE RIGHT, KEEP YOUR EYES ON
TEXAS.
>> HEY, Y'ALL.
>> OH, MY GOD, Y'ALL.
>> BIG TEXAS-SIZED HELLO TO ALL OF Y'ALL.
>> LITERALLY FALLING OFF THE BONE.
>> WHERE ARE YOU?
>> I'M AT BLACK'S BARBECUE IN LOCKHART, TEXAS.
THE O.G. OF ALL TIME OF BARBECUE.
>> WOW.
>> IT'S MECCA.
>> LOOK AT YOUR PHONES NOW AND LOOK AT MY BREAKFAST.
>> SHUT THE FUCK UP.
>> THIS IS MY DRONE SHOT OF THE TABLE.
>> HOLY SHIT, JOHN. ARE YOU IN "GAME OF THRONES"
MEXICO?
>> I WAS LIKE GIVE ME THE USUAL.
>> GUYS -- ALL FOUR OF US ARE IN DIFFERENT CORNERS OF THIS STATE.
THE POLARIZATION WE SEE IN NATIONAL POLITICS IS JUST HERE
TO THE ENth TO THE ENTH LIKE ON STEROIDS.
>> IT'S REALLY SAD TO SEE. I WAS HERE DURING AN ERA WHERE
PEOPLE DID WORK ACROSS PARTY LINES.
GEORGE W. BUSH WAS GOVERNOR WHEN THERE WAS A STRONG LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR, THEY GOT SO MUCH DONE TOGETHER, THEY DIDN'T CARE WHO
GOT THE CREDIT. TODAY YOU'RE ON ONE SIDE OR THE
OTHER. TO BE A SQUISH LIKE ME THESE
DAYS, REPUBLICANS SEE ME COMING, THEY DO THE SIGN OF THE CROSS.
AWAY, SATIN. AWAY, SA
AWAY AWAY, SATAN.
>> IT'S NOT JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT THE POPULATION OF TEXAS HAS
EXPLODED IN THE LAST DECADE, AND9
ANAND 90% OF THAT GROWTH IS OF PEOPLE
OF COLOR AND THE DEMOGRAPHIC CHANGE IS TERRIFYING TO A LOT OF
PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY. THEY USED THAT CHANGE TO DRAG
THE PARTY FURTHER TO THE RIGHT AND PURSUE POLICIES THAT
SPECIFICALLY TARGET THE PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO HAVE COME TO THIS
STATE.
>> TOTALLY. AND WHAT'S AMAZING IS HOW MANY
OF THE HOTTEST HOT BUTTON ISSUES IN OUR POLITICS ARE NOT JUST
PRESENT HERE, BUT ARE ON FIRE HERE.
AND ONE OF THEM IS ABORTION RIGHTS.
>> YEAH. THERE'S THIS TEXAS LAW THAT WAS
PASSED HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE AND IT PREVENTS A WOMAN FROM
GETTING AN ABORTION ONCE A SONOGRAM CAN DETECT CARDIAC
ACTIVITY. THAT'S USUALLY AROUND FIVE OR
SIX WEEKS INTO A PREGNANCY, WHICH IS BEFORE MOST WOMEN EVEN
KNOW THEY'RE PREGNANT. WHAT'S PARTICULARLY INGENIOUS OR
NEFARIOUS ABOUT THE LAW IS THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE FETAL
HEARTBEAT LAW IS NOT AT THE HANDS OF THE STATE BUT AT THE
HANDS OF CITIZENS WHO WILL BE ALLOWED TO SUE ANYBODY INVOLVED
IN AN ABORTION PROCEDURE.
>> THE TEXAS LAW AND THE WAY IT'S STRUCTURED IS LIKE WAY
BEYOND WORSE BEYOND WORST-CASE SCENARIO.
A BIG MAJORITY OF AMERICA DOESN'T WANT ROE V. WADE
OVERTURNED, BUT A BIG MAJORITY OF AMERICA DOESN'T UNDERSTAND
THAT IN TEXAS IT ALREADY HAPPENED.
>> ANOTHER EXAMPLE THAT GOT ATTENTION WAS THE VOTING RIGHTS
LEGISLATION.
>> YEAH.
>> HERE'S WHAT S.B. 1, IN TERMS OF RESTRICTIONS.
IT BANS DRIVE-THROUGH VOTING AND OVERNIGHT VOTING.
IT ADDS VOTER I.D. REQUIREMENTS FOR ABSENTEE VOTING, GENERALLY
THOSE KINDS OF REQUIREMENTS DO AND ARE GEARED TO HURT VOTERS OF
COLOR. THIS "VOTER INTEGRITY" EFFORTS
THAT ARE REALLY VOTER SUPPRESSION EFFORTS CALLED BY
ANOTHER NAME. THIS IS ALL MOTIVATED AND
BROUGHT TO YOU BY DONALD TRUMP AND PER PETRATION OF
AND PER PETRATIOPETUATION OF TH.
>> MOST STATES IN THE COUNTRY DON'T HAVE A BORDER WITH MEXICO.
TEXAS HAS A LARGE BORDER WITH MEXICO.
IT'S A REALITY THAT THE NUMBER OF MIGRANTS WHO ARE GETTING
STOPPED TRYING TO CROSS THE BORDER HIT A 21-YEAR HIGH THIS
SUMMER.
>> YEAH. IMMIGRATION IS A GREAT EXAMPLE
HOW MUCH REPUBLICAN POLITICS HAVE CHANGED.
PART OF GEORGIA W. BUSH'S COMPASSIONATE POLICY INCLUDED
IMMIGRANTS. FLASH FORWARD TO DONALD TRUMP
COMING DOWN THE ESCALATOR TALKING ABOUT MEXICAN RAPISTS
COMING ACROSS THE BORDER, THAT SHOWS HOW MUCH THE DYNAMIC HAS
CHANGED.
>> THE SONG I LOVE ABOUT THIS STATE IS DEEP IN THE HEART OF
TEXAS. THAT'S WHERE WE ALL FOUR ARE,
DEEP IN THE HEART OF TEXAS, BUT IT'S GOING TO BE A DEEP,
TWISTED, SAVAGE JOURNEY.
>> BLACK HEARTS, A BURNED OUT HOLE.
>> I LIVED HERE ALMOST 40 YEARS, I LOVE ALL OF IT.
BUT I'M SINGING THE LONE STAR BLUES.
>> MATTHEW DOWD WHO WAS A STRATEGIST FOR FORMER PRESIDENT
GEORGE W. BUSH ANNOUNCED HIS BID TO RUN AGAINST DAN PATRICK.
>> THE CRUELTY OF THE GOP.
>> HE'S TAKING ON TEXAS REPUBLICANS AND THE CURRENT
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
>> WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO SEE MATTHEW DOWD, FORMER BUSH
STRATEGIST, CABLE PUNDIT, NOW CANDIDATE FOR LIEUTENANT
GOVERNOR, RUNNING AS A DEMOCRAT. PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT MATTHEW
DOWD AND PEOPLE LOOK AT TEXAS AND SAY THINGS ARE FUCKED UP
NOW, NOW THIS GUY IS A NATIONAL PROFILE IS RUNNING FOR
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR. I DON'T THINK THERE'S BEEN A
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR RACE IN THE COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN A COUNTRY
RACE. THIS MIGHT BE THAT.
>> IS THE LEADERSHIP TODAY WHO WE ARE?
IS THE SOUL OF TEXAS BEING REFLECTED IN AUSTIN BY DAN
PATRICK AND GREG ABBOTT?
>> NO.
>> THE FIRST THING I WANT TO DO IS REPUT IN THE OFFICE THE
VALUES WE WERE ALL RAISED ON AS CHILDREN.
NK THE NK
>> THE FIRST TIME I CAME AND MET GEORGE W. BUSH WAS IN 1994.
THERE WAS A PARK WITH KIDS PLAYING SOCCER.
HALF OF THEM WERE NOT AMERICAN. GEORGE W. BUSH WENT AROUND,
SPOKE SPANISH, AND HE WON THE GOVERNORSHIP.
THAT IS WHAT IT WAS LIKE IN 1990.
SO MUCH CHANGED IN THE LAST 20 YEARS.
WHAT HAPPENED?
>> WHEN YOU LOSE POLITICAL POWER, WHAT IT TENDS TO BREED IS
DECAY, CORRUPTION OR INCOMPETENCE.
BECAUSE THAT HAS NOW TAKEN HOLD, WE'RE DIMINISHED TO THE WORST
POSSIBLE OF THE WORST. REPUBLICANS DON'T FEEL LIKE
THEY'LL LOSE IN A GENERAL ELECTION.
THEY DON'T CARE ABOUT TALKING TO GENERAL ELECTION VOTERS.
GEORGE BUSH KNEW HE HAD TO TALK TO GENERAL ELECTION VOTERS AND
WENT OVER TO SWING VOTERS. THAT'S GONE.
>> YOU WOULD AGREE WITH ME, RIGHT NOW, IF GREG ABBOTT GOT
RUN OVER BY A BUS AND WE HAD AN OPEN PRIMARY, AND GEORGE BUSH --
>> HE WOULDN'T GET 20% OF THE VOTE.
HE WOULD GET CRUSHED.
>> GOVERNOR ABBOTT AND THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, I HEARD YOU
CRITICIZE THEM IN THE NATIONAL MEDIA, WHAT'S YOUR ARGUMENT FOR
WHY THEY ARE UNIQUELY TERRIBLE?
>> THEY'VE BEEN POPULAR UNTIL NOW.
>> YEAH.
>> THEY HAVE TAKEN THAT AND THEY DON'T CARE WHAT THEY'RE DOING,
THE MAJORITY OF TEXANS DESPISE IT.
THEY DON'T CARE WHO THEY HARM IN THE PROCESS, WHETHER IT'S THEIR
REACTION TO COVID, THE REACTION TO THE ELECTRIC GRID FAILURE,
THE ROLLOVER OF CHOICE AND VOTER RIGHTS, THEY DON'T CARE
>> I HAVE BEEN HEARING TEXAS WILL GO BLUE FOR MY ENTIRE LIFE
OF POLITICS. ALL THOSE HISPANIC VOTERS.
ALL OF THESE HISPANIC VOTERS HAVE BEEN POURING IN HERE FOR
YEARS, THE STATE KEEPS GETTING READER
REDDER AND REDDER.
>> I WOULDN'T SAY IT'S GETTING REDDER AND REDDER.
>> THE GOVERNOR KEEPS ON WINNING.
>> AT WHAT POINT DO THEY PUSH SUCH AWFUL POLICIES AND TREAT
THE ELECTORATE WITH SUCH CRUELTY THAT IT CATCHES UP TO THEM IN A
GENERAL ELECTION. THAT'S ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS
I'M RUNNING IS SO IT CATCHES UP TO THEM SOONER RATHER THAN
LATER.
>> YOU LIVED HERE FOR 30 YEARS?
>> 38 YEARS.
>> DO YOU SENSE THERE'S A PALATABLE AWARENESS OF HOW BAD
SHIT HAS BEEN HERE THE LAST YEAR?
>> I TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING DISAFFECTED
VOTERS, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, REPUBLICANS WHO
THINK THEY CAN FIX THE PARTY BUT DON'T LIKE
WHAT'S HAPPENING, I TALK TO INDEPENDENTS AND ALL OF THEM.
MOST CONSISTENT WAY THEY SAY IT IS I LOVE MY STATE, I'M PROUD OF
MY STATE, BUT WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS EMBARRASSING.
DEMOCRATS MAY SAY IT IN A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT WAY.
REPUBLICANS WHO ARE DISAFFECTED SAY THE SAME THING, THIS IS
EMBARRASSING.
>> THE SUPREME COURT HAS ALLOWED A NEW TECHS LAWSUIT, IT
RESTRICTS ABORTIONS TO GO INTO EFFECT.
>> EVEN THOUGH IT VIOLATES THE ROE V. WADE WARNING THAT WENT
INTO EFFECT NATIONWIDE.
>> THE STATES ARE COPYING THE LANGUAGE IN THAT LEGISLATION.
>> IT COULD AFFECT MILLIONS OF WOMEN ALL ACROSS THE UNITED
STATES.
>> WE'RE AT A PLANNED PARENTHOOD CLINIC, WHICH IS ONE OF A
HANDFUL OF CLINICS THAT REMAIN IN THE STATE OF
TEXAS. PLACES THAT ONCE USED TO BE BUSY
ARE LARGELY EMPTY BECAUSE 85% TO 90% OF THE ABORTIONS THAT WOULD
HAVE ONCE TAKEN PLACE IN THE STATE OF TEXAS ARE NOW BANNED
BECAUSE OF S.B. 8. THAT DOESN'T MEAN THE DEMAND FOR
THINGS LIKE ABORTION HAVE DIMINISHED.
>> THIS IS OUR LAB WHERE WE DO BLOOD DRAWS, WEIGH PATIENTS, DO
ANY LAB WORK THAT MAY BE NECESSARY FOR THEM.
THIS IS ONE OF OUR EXAM ROOMS WHERE WE DO OUR PATIENT'S
ULTRASOUND TO DETERMINE HOW FAR THEY ARE ALONG IN THE PREGNANCY.
WHETHER OR NOT THEY'RE ELIGIBLE.
>> THAT'S A BIG ROOM.
>> IT'S A BIG ROOM. THERE'S A LOT THAT HAPPENS IN
THAT ROOM. IT'S AN EMOTIONAL ROOM.
>> WHAT WAS DEMAND LIKE BEFORE S.B. 8?
>> BEFORE, I MIGHT IN A DAY OF DOING CONSULCONSULTATIONS, I MI
SCHEDULE 45 PATIENTS. NOW I'M SCHEDULING 15.
>> WOW.
>> YEAH.
>> IT WASN'T EASY TO ACCESS ABORTION SERVICES IN TEXAS EVEN
BEFORE S.B. 8.
>> I'VE BEEN IN TEXAS EIGHT YEARS, IT'S NEVER BEEN EASY TO
HAVE AN ABORTION HERE. THERE'S THE 24-HOUR WAITING
PERIOD. THE RULES ON WHO CAN DO AN
ULTRASOUND. IT HAS TO BE DONE BY THE SAME
PHYSICIAN WHO IS DOING YOUR ABORTION.
IF YOU CAN'T COME BACK ON A DAY THAT THAT PHYSICIAN IS THERE,
YOU SEE ANOTHER PHYSICIAN, YOU HAVE TO HAVE ANOTHER ULTULTRASO,
YOUR 24-HOUR WAITING PERIOD BEGINS ALL OVER AGAIN.
>> I DON'T THINK PEOPLE REALIZE THAT ALL THOSE PROVISIONS STILL
APPLY, NOW YOU HAVE TO MEET ALL OF THEM AFTER YOU REALIZE YOU'RE
PREGNANT AND BEFORE A HEARTBEAT SHOWS UP ON THE ULTRASOUND?
>> YEAH. IT'S BURDEN ON TOP OF BURDEN.
THAT IMPACTS THE MOST VULNERABLE PEOPLE.
IT'S WOMEN OF COLOR, PEOPLE WHO ARE UNDEREMPLOYED, WHO DON'T
HAVE ACCESS TO MONEY, ADEQUATE TIME OFF.
>> DO YOU REMEMBER THOSE EARLY CONVERSATIONS WHERE YOU HAD TO
TELL PATIENTS YOU NO LONGER CAN HAVE AN ABORTION BECAUSE OF A
NEW LAW THAT JUST PASSED THE TEXAS LUJ
TEXAS LEGISLATURE THAT WAS UPHELD EFFECTIVELY BY THE
SUPREME COURT?
>> YEAH. THE FIRST PATIENT WHO I SAW
AFTER THE LAW WENT INTO EFFECT, WHEN I TOLD HER WE COULD SEE
CARDIAC ACTIVITY, SHE CURLED UP INTO A BALL ON THE TABLE AND
JUST STARTED SOBBING.
AND SHE ASKED IF SHE COULD HOLD
MY HAND.
>> YEAH.
>> AND THAT WAS ALL I COULD DO FOR HER IN THAT MOMENT.
>> DO YOU REMEMBER WHAT HER STORY WAS?
>> YOU KNOW, SHE WAS A COLLEGE STUDENT, HAD A BIRTH CONTROL
FAILURE. YOU KNOW, SHE WAS A PERSON WHO
WASN'T IN A SITUATION WHERE SHE COULD BE PREGNANT.
WOMEN IN TEXAS HAVE BEEN PUNISHED LEGISLATIVE SESSION
AFTER LEGISLATIVE SESSION. THESE ARE PEOPLE YOU KNOW WHO
ARE GETTING TURNED AWAY. AND THIS COULD BE YOU NEXT.
>> LINES OF MIGRANTS ON TEXAS TRAILS, A SIGN AMERICA'S
IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS OVERWHELMED.
>> GOVERNOR ABBOTT ISSUING A DISASTER DECLARATION AT THE
SOUTHERN BORDER.
>> WHAT ABBOTT CALLS OPERATION LONE STAR.
>> THAT DEPLOYED ABOUT 1,000 STATE TROOPERS TO THE SOUTHERN
BORDER.
>> ROUGHLY 1,000 BORDER ARRESTS PER MONTH.
>> ABBOTT BLAMES THE WHITE HOUSE FOR THE MIGRANT CRISIS.
>> THE GOVERNOR SAYS HE IS READY TO TAKE THE SITUATION INTO HIS
OWN HANDS.
>> WE'RE ON THE SOUTH TEXAS BORDER WHERE GOVERNOR ABBOTT IS
HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE. HE'S BEING JOINED BY NINE OTHER
REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO SAY THE BIDEN POLICY
IS FAILING MISERABLY AND THEY HAVE A PLAN TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT. ABBOTT IS TRYING TO BE AS TOUGH
ON THE BORDER AS POSSIBLE, WHAT BETTER WAY THAN TO CREATE A SET
THAT LOOKS LIKE APOCALYPSE NOW.
>> PRESENT ARMS!
>> LET ME START OFF BY MAKING A CLEAR POINT AND THAT IS THAT
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN HAS CAUSED A HUMANITARIAN CRISIS AND CHAOS ON
OUR BORDER. I WANT TO MAKE CLEAR THAT WHILE
BIDEN CONTINUES TO DITHER, TEXAS AND OTHER STATES ARE TAKING
ACTION TO DO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S JOB.
>> IT'S NOT JUST THE PEOPLE CROSSING THE BORDER, IT'S THE
LETHAL DRUGS. JUST THINK ABOUT HOW MANY DRUGS
ARE SLIPPING THROUGH THE CRACKS AND SLIPPING INTO THE
BLOODSTREAMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> THEY'RE SECRETLY TRANSPORTING THEM INTO OUR STATES ACROSS THIS
COUNTRY. IOWA IS ONE OF THOSE STATES.
>> THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION MAY HAVE PLACED UP TO 40,000
COVID-POSITIVE PEOPLE INTO OUR CITIES HERE IN THE UNITED
STATES. IT'S TIME FOR THE BIDEN
ADMINISTRATION TO WAKE UP AND GET ON THE JOB AND DO ITS JOB TO
PROTECT THE SOVEREIGNTY AND SAFETY OF THE UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA.
>> GOVERNOR, CRITICS SAY THE OPERATION LONE STAR IS
UNCONSTITUTIONAL. HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
>> WE THINK THAT THE PERSON WHO IS ACTING INCONSISTENT WITH THE
CONSTITUTION IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
EAST COMPLETELY ABDICATED HIS CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES.
THAT'S WHY IT'S NECESSARY FOR THE STATES TO TAKE ACTION.
OUR JOB IS TO SECURE THE HEALTH AND SAFETY AND SECURITY OF OUR
CONSTITUENTS. IF JOE BIDEN IS NOT GOING TO DO
IT, THE GOVERNORS OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA WILL DO IT.
>> THE TEXAS LEGISLATURE IS SEEN AS HAVING THE MOST AGGRESSIVE
CONSERVATIVE AGENDA IN ALL OF THE UNITED STATES.
SENATOR BRIAN HUGHES HAS BEEN THE CENTER OF ALL OF IT.
AUTHORED THE ABORTION BILL. AUTHORED THE ELECTIONS OVERALL
BILL. GOVERNOR ABBOTT LAUDED HUGHES
FOR HAVING THE CORNERSTONE OF THE CONSERVATIVE AGENDA.
>> HI.
>> HOW IS IT GOING?
>> I'M JENNIFER.
>> HEY. BRIAN HUGHES.
>> I TALKED TO A LOT OF YOUR DEMOCRATIC COLLEAGUES.
SOMEONE SAID HE'S THE TED LASSO OF THE SENATE.
THEY MEANT THAT AS A COMPLIMENT. THE ELECTIONS OVERALL BILL THAT
YOU WERE A SPONSOR OF. WHAT PROBLEM WERE YOU TRYING TO
SOLVE HERE?
>> MOST SECURITY MEASURES ARE NOT AIMED AT THE INDIVIDUAL
VOTERS, THEY'RE AIMED AT THE CHEATERS, THE PAID POLITICAL
OFFICERS THAT ARE TRYING TO MISLEAD THE VOTERS.
>> 11 MILLION VOTERS IN TEXAS AND THERE WERE 44
INVESTIGATIONS. AND THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR
APPOINTED A SECRETARY OF STATE WHO SAID THAT THESE ELECTIONS
WERE SMOOTH AND SECURE.
>> YOU BET.
>> YOU CALLED THIS AN ELECTION INTEGRITY BILL WHICH SUGGESTS
THAT THERE'S A LACK OF INTEGRITY IN THE PROCESS.
>> MOST OF THESE TEND TO BE IN PRIME AREAS OR IN CITY OR SCHOOL
BOARD ELECTIONS WHERE THE NUMBER OF VOTERS IS SMALLER.
THAT'S WHAT THIS SWORN TESTIMONY WE'VE HEARD IS ABOUT.
I KNOW THERE'S A BIG NATIONAL DISCUSSION.
WE COME HERE AND WE HEAR FROM OUR CONSTITUENTS AND TRY TO MAKE
THE BILL BETTER.
>> THE FETAL HEARTBEAT BILL REPUBLICANS HAVE TRYING TO
PURSUE FOR A LONG TIME. IS YOUR GOAL TO BAN ABORTION
ALTOGETHER?
>> 85% OF ABORTIONS IN TEXAS ARE AFFECTED BY THE BILL.
THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT. MANY STATES PASSED HEARTBEAT
BILLS, THE DIFFERENCE WAS THIS ONE TOOK EFFECT.
>> THERE'S A CLEVER CONSTRUCTION OF THE BILL.
NOT EVERYONE WOULD AGREE IT WAS CLEVER, I GUESS.
LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT GOING TO COME AFTER THE WOMAN.
WHAT HAPPENS IS NOT OTHER PEOPLE INVOLVED COULD BE SUED.
WHY NOT JUST DO THIS STRAIGHT UP AS A BAN AT SIX WEEKS ENFORCED
BY LAW ENFORCEMENT?
>> CITIZEN ENFORCEMENT IS A TOOL THAT'S BEEN THERE.
>> CITIZEN ENFORCEMENT. THAT'S TOUGH.
IT'S TOUGH FOR PEOPLE TO HEAR THAT.
>> IT'S BEEN AROUND FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS.
IT'S IN CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS.
IN TEXAS, OUR MEDICATE FRAUD STATUTE SAYS ANY PERSON CAN
BRING A CLAIM. WE PATTERNED THIS BILL AFTER THE
MEDICAID FRAUD STATUTES.
>> THERE'S NO EXEMPTION FOR RAPE OR INCEST.
>> RIGHT.
>> WHY NOT?
>> THE WAY I CAN IMAGINE THAT SITUATION, I CAN'T THINK OF
ANYTHING MORE HORRIBLE. A MOTHER IN A SITUATION LIKE
THAT IS IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION. LET'S HELP HER, COME ALONGSIDE
HER, LET'S NOT MAKE IT WORSE BY TAKING THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN
CHILD.
>> I'VE ALSO HEARD FROM RAPE VICTIMS WHO HAVE VERY MUCH THE
OPPOSITE VIEW.
>> SURE.
>> TO HAVE TO BRING THAT K450I8D
>> TO HAVE TO BRING THAT K45CHI TO TERM AND BE RESPONSIBLE FOR
RAISING THAT CHILD.
>> TEXAS STRONGLY ENFORCES CHILD SUPPORT.
WE AGGRESSIVELY GO AFTER THOSE CASES.
>> THE MOTHER HAS TO RAISE THE CHILD.
UP FOR ADOPTION. SHE'S IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION.
WE CAN PROTECT THE LIFE OF THAT LITTLE BABY AND LOVE AND SUPPORT
THEM. WE HAVE TO DO BOTH.
WE DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN THE TWO.
WE CAN DO BOTH.
>> IT'S NOT EASY.
>> NO, IT'S NOT EASY. THERE'S NOT A MORE DIFFICULT
DECISION.
>> BREAKING NEWS TO CLOSE OUT THE PROGRAM.
COULD BE DEEPLY SIGNIFICANT. A FEDERAL JUDGE IN TEXAS ISSUED
AN ORDER BLOCKING THE STATE'S SIX-WEEK ABORTION BAN.
>> THE U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE CALLED THE LAW AN OFFENSIVE
DEPRIVATION OF A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.
>> THE STATE OF TEXAS ALREADY FILED ITS NOTICE TO APPEAL.
>> THERE WAS BIG BREAKING NEWS LAST NIGHT.
A FEDERAL JUDGE IN TEXAS STOPPED THE ENFORCEMENT OF THE TEXAS
ABORTION LAW. SO FOR DEMOCRATS AND ABORTION
RIGHTS ADVOCATES IN TEXAS, THIS IS A HUGE RELIEF.
BUT THE REPUBLICANS ARE GETTING THE FIGHT THAT THEY WANT.
TODAY WE'LL TALK TO TWO DEMOCRATS FROM THE TEXAS STATE
LEGISLATURE, REPRESENTATIVE HINOJOSA FROM AUSTIN AND
REPRESENTATIVE COLLIER FROM FT. WORTH.
BOTH OF THEM ARE PART OF THE GROUP THAT DREW NATIONAL
ATTENTION THIS SUMMER WHEN THEY BROKE QUORUM TO LEAVE AUSTIN AND
GO TO D.C. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ELECTIONS OVERHAUL BILL FROM
COMING TO A VOTE ON THE FLOOR. IF THEY LEAVE THE CHAMBER, IT
MEANS THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH REPRESENTATIVES ON THE FLOOR.
THE REPUBLICANS CANNOT BRING THE VOTE UP.
>> IT'S JUST BEEN THE MOST DIVISIVE SESSION EVER.
JUST COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS SOME OF THE LEGISLATION THAT DOESN'T
REFLECT THE VALUES AND OPINIONS OF THE MAJORITY OF TEXANS.
>> SO WHAT WAS IT ABOUT THE BILL THAT MADE YOU SAY THIS IS A
THING THAT WE HAVE TO RIP CORD, NUKE OPTION, LIKE WHAT WAS AT
STAKE?
>> THEY'RE MAKING IT HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE LIMITING ACCESS
TO THE POLLS AND BLOCKING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.
WE SAW WHAT HAPPENED ON JANUARY 6th.
WE KNOW THE INTENT OF THE FAR RIGHT.
THE FAR RIGHT IS WHO CONTROLS POLITICS IN TEXAS.
WHAT THEY DIDN'T DO ON JANUARY 6th THEY'RE TRYING TO DO WITH
THESE LAWS.
>> WHEN YOU STEP BACK FROM EVERYTHING THAT YOU ALL HAVE
SEEN HAPPEN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION, FETAL HEARTBEAT
ABORTION BILL, THE ELECTIONS OVERHAUL, BANS ON TRANSGENDER
ATHLETES, CRITICAL RACE THEORY, PERM
PERMITLESS CARRY IN TEXAS WITHOUT ANY KIND OF PERMIT.
WHAT IS THE SHIFT IN THAT PARTY ABOUT?
>> POWER. WE ARE A MINORITY/MAJORITY
STATE. THEY WILL DO WHATEVER THEY CAN
TO RETAIN THAT POWER.
>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE THERE'S A BACKLASH COMING TO WHAT HAPPENED
IN THIS LEGISLATIVE SESSION?
>> WILL IT MATTER WHEN THEY GERRYMANDER OUR DISTRICTS?
WE CANNOT OUT-MOBILIZE RACIST GERRYMANDERING.
I WISH WE COULD JUST PRIORITY VOTING RIGHTS IN THE LEGISLATION
ABOVE ALL OTHER THINGS. THIS IS NOT JUST A TEXAS
PROBLEM. THIS IS COMING TO A STATE NEAR
YOU.
>> EVERYBODY WANTS TO BE LIKE TEXAS.
NO, YOU DON'T. THE
[ LAUGHTER ]
>> WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO SEE JUDGE STRAUSS.
STRAUSS IS THE FORMER REPUBLICAN SPEAKER OF THE TEXAS HOUSE AT
THE STATE LEVEL, RIGHT UP THERE IN THAT BUILDING.
IN 2009TO 2019, ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL REPUBLICANS IN THE
STATE WHO FOUND HIMSELF AT ODDS WITH THE MORE EXTREME ELEMENTS
OF THE PARTY THAT WERE COMING TO POWER IN THAT TIME.
WAS PARTICULARLY SOMEONE WHO DID A LOT OF BATTLE WITH DAN
PATRICK, THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WHO IN A LOT OF WAYS
IS THE MOST POWERFUL REPUBLICAN IN THE STATE BECAUSE HE'S NOT
JUST THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BUT ALSO PRESIDES OVER THE STATE'S
SENATE. STRAUSS KEPT TRYING TO MODERATE
THE PARTY, PATRICK WAS TRYING TO PUSH IT TO THE RIGHT.
THE WHOLE THING CAME TO HEAD IN 2017 WHEN PATRICK PUT FORWARD A
TRANSGENDER BATHROOM BILL.
>> THE SO-CALLED TEXAS BATHROOM BILL.
IF MADE LAW THIS BILL WOULD REQUIRE TRANSGENDER MEN, WOMEN
AND CHILDREN BASED ON THE GENDER ON THEIR BIRTH SIRTE
ON THEIR BIRTH SIRCERTIFICATE.
>> STRAUSS KILLED THAT BALL. HE WAS LIKE I CAN'T LEAD THIS
PARTY ANYMORE. I HAVE TO GET OUT OF HERE AND
QUIT. IN '17, BATHROOM BILL CAMS UP,
YOU WERE AGAINST IT. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE THAT YOU
WERE GOING TO STEP AWAY?
>> HAVING TO WRESTLE THAT TO THE GROUND, REMARKABLY THAT WAS THE
NUMBER ONE GOAL OF OUR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR THAT YEAR.
>> YES.
>> GIVE ME A BREAK. WITH ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE
FACING A GROWING STATE AND REALLY IT SHOOK ME UP IN A WAY
THAT THAT COULD TAKE UP SO MUCH OXYGEN.
>> YEAH. CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO ME THE
PATRICK AND ABBOTT OF IT ALL? HOW MUCH IS WHAT'S HAPPENED WITH
THE TEXAS REPUBLICAN PARTY IN THE LAST DECADE THE RESULT OF
THOSE TWO GUYS AND THEIR PRIORITIES AND POLITICS?
>> A LOT OF IT, BUT I THINK MORE SO OF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.
I THINK DAN PATRICK HAS HAD MORE TO DO WITH DRIVING THE AGENDA OF
TEXAS POLITICS THAN ANYBODY OVER THE LAST TEN YEARS WITH LESS AND
LESS INPUT FROM OTHER THE AND WITH
WI OTHERS AND WITH LESS AND LESS
HUMIDITY. HE'S GOOD AT THE GAME BUT I
DON'T THINK IT'S GREAT FOR THE STATE.
SO MANY PEOPLE ARE TRAINED OR ENGRAINED INTO VOTING IN
NOVEMBER FOR THE PERSON WITH THE "R" BY THEIR NAME, NONE OF THE
REST MATTERS. THAT MAY BE CHANGING.
IF YOU SEE PHOTOGRAPHS OF POLITICAL EVENTS, REPUBLICAN
POLITICAL EVENTS AROUND THE STATE, YOU SEE A LOT OF WHITE
SKIN AND GRAY HAIR. THIS STATE IS BECOMING MORE
DIVERSE AND BECOMING YOUNGER. SO IF REPUBLICANS ARE NOT REALLY
CAREFUL AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN CAREFUL --
>> RIGHT.
>> -- THIS CAN BECOME COMPETITIVE IN A HURRY.
>> AND IF THE PARTY CONTINUES DOWN THE PATH IT'S ON RIGHT NOW,
IS THAT THE ROAD TO RUIN?
>> AN OLD POLITICAL HAND TOLD ME NOT LONG AGO THAT NOTHING IN
TEXAS POLITICS CHANGES UNTIL IT DOES.
>> BREAKING NEWS. FEDERAL APPEALS COURT RULED THAT
TEXAS CAN TEMPORARILY RESUME ITS NEW ABORTION LAW.
>> THE WOMEN OF TEXAS HAD THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS FOR ABOUT
THREE DAYS.
>> WHAT HAPPENS NOW?
TAKE ME BACK TO TEXAS TAKE ME BACK TO TEXAS