The freshman congressman will lead the influential progressive caucus next year with plans to focus on working class and economic issues instead of culture wars.

Joining Sanders as he campaigns up and down the I-35 corridor are Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Greg Casar, and former El Paso congressman Beto O’Rourke.

MSNBC host Katie Phang will moderate a conversation with three leading progressives: U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison. The conversation starts at 1:15 p.m. Saturday.

The proposal comes a year after a new state law ended mandatory water breaks in Austin and Dallas. Last year was the hottest on record in Texas.

Some Texans called on Sen. Bob Menendez and former Rep. George Santos to resign amid their own scandals, but have been silent about the Laredo Democrat.

If the bill passes, here’s the timeline how the transition would take place.

A federal shutdown would put thousands of Texans in financial precarity. Congress has less than a week left until the end of the fiscal year on Oct. 1, and a shutdown appears imminent.

U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says in Chile that it is imperative for the United States to declassify documents that could shed light on its involvement in the South American country’s 1973 coup.

There are no federal or state requirements that people who work outside receive paid water breaks. Casar, an Austin Democrat, wants to change that.

A requirement to work 80 hours a month, starting in September, could affect 44,000 Texans over age 49. Meanwhile, attention in Congress shifts to the farm bill’s significant impact on food stamp policy.

The high-stakes confrontation could have an impact on retirements accounts, corporations and much more.

Amanda Zurawski developed a life-threatening infection last year after her water broke when she was only 18 weeks pregnant. Citing the state’s abortion ban, her doctors refused to intervene to induce labor even though there was no way her baby would survive.

The spectrum of ideas on immigration could throw cold water on hope that there will be a breakthrough in Congress.

In November, The Texas Tribune reported that Beto O’Rourke had given back a $1 million donation that Bankman-Fried had donated to his campaign.

The request for a public health emergency declaration was part of a set of recommendations to allow abortion access to Texans who might not be able to travel out of state.

Casar won the Democratic primary for Texas’ 35th Congressional District in a landslide victory last month and is expected to win the general election in November.

Casar will be among the most progressive members of Congress ever to serve from Texas. During his tenure on the Austin City Council, he was best known for supporting cuts to the police department and his fight against encampment bans.

National progressive groups and their allies in Congress are looking to the Texas primary to send a new class of stars to Congress.

Casar has impressive progressive endorsements, from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders. But he also is tied to some of Austin’s most progressive policies, which have attracted powerful enemies and turned off some moderate Democrats.

Many of these calls have coalesced into a “defund the police” movement in cities across the country, including in Houston. “We’re talking about making sure there’s money in programs where it’s needed,” said Ashton Woods, the head of Black Lives Matter Houston. Dr. James Douglas, President of the Houston NAACP, wants to see HPD spend its money differently. “Just arresting people alone is not going to reduce crime,” he said. When we asked Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner for his thoughts, he said he believes the budget is in line with the city’s needs.

Austin Police Chief Brian Manley speaks during a news conference near the scene where a woman was injured in a package bomb explosion, in Austin on March 12, 2018. REUTERS/Sergio FloresMultiple Austin City Council members said they lost faith in Police Chief Brian Manley on Friday and some asked him to resign following his handling of the ongoing protests against police brutality spurred by the death of George Floyd. Countless protesters had called in to the virtual city council meeting on Thursday, which Manley and City Manager Spencer Cronk also attended, to demand the police chief resign or be fired. Despite protesters' demands, the City Council doesn't have the authority to outright fire Manley, and neither does the city manager. Cronk can only demote Manley to his rank before he became department head.