Joel Montfort
@montfort.me
#TX politics. Political Scientist. Democrat. #ODAT #texasdemocrat, #txlege
Pinned
Joel Montfort
@montfort.me
· Nov 19
Firing up a TX politics starter pack covering politicians and news reporters. Please post other people you see here on bluesky so I can add them.
go.bsky.app/88DCTg1
go.bsky.app/88DCTg1
Texas's booming economy has come to a screeching halt and started contracting, according to the Fed. Manufacturing has now declined for two consecutive months.
seekingalpha.com/news/4535706...
seekingalpha.com/news/4535706...
Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index stays in the red in December
Get the latest Dallas Fed Manufacturing Index update for December with key insights on production, shipments, and outlook.
seekingalpha.com
December 30, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Texas's booming economy has come to a screeching halt and started contracting, according to the Fed. Manufacturing has now declined for two consecutive months.
seekingalpha.com/news/4535706...
seekingalpha.com/news/4535706...
Spoke with The Hill, along with a lot of other Texans, about Crockett's chances of winning in Texas and whether her divisiveness will work in her favor. thehill.com/homenews/cam...
thehill.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Spoke with The Hill, along with a lot of other Texans, about Crockett's chances of winning in Texas and whether her divisiveness will work in her favor. thehill.com/homenews/cam...
Well, well, if it ain't the repercussions of bad decisions by the Texas GOP. Our grid is at risk of collapse this winter because of....drum roll please.....AI data centers. #fixthedamngrid
www.audacy.com/krld/news/st...
www.audacy.com/krld/news/st...
ERCOT warns Texas grid faces elevated winter risk amid population growth and data center demand
The Electric Reliability Council of Texas says the state’s power grid faces elevated risk this winter as rapid population growth and expanding electricity demand from new tech data centers put added p...
www.audacy.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Well, well, if it ain't the repercussions of bad decisions by the Texas GOP. Our grid is at risk of collapse this winter because of....drum roll please.....AI data centers. #fixthedamngrid
www.audacy.com/krld/news/st...
www.audacy.com/krld/news/st...
Engineered stone countertops release silica dust during the fabrication process, which can be fatal to fabricators who are exposed to it. Drs are petitioning CA to ban it. www.kqed.org/news/1206716...
Doctors Petition California to Ban Countertop Material Linked to Deadly Disease | KQED
Health advocates urged the state to follow Australia's lead, after the country banned artificial stone, popular in the production of kitchen surfaces, to prevent silicosis among stoneworkers.
www.kqed.org
December 16, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Engineered stone countertops release silica dust during the fabrication process, which can be fatal to fabricators who are exposed to it. Drs are petitioning CA to ban it. www.kqed.org/news/1206716...
When our grid collapses again here in Texas the GOP and AI data centers will be to blame.
"The second quarter alone saw 78 applications totaling 70,000 megawatts."
www.chron.com/news/article...
"The second quarter alone saw 78 applications totaling 70,000 megawatts."
www.chron.com/news/article...
ERCOT flooded with record energy demands as data centers devour Texas
AI-driven mega-projects pushed power requests past 230 gigawatts,
www.chron.com
December 11, 2025 at 1:46 PM
When our grid collapses again here in Texas the GOP and AI data centers will be to blame.
"The second quarter alone saw 78 applications totaling 70,000 megawatts."
www.chron.com/news/article...
"The second quarter alone saw 78 applications totaling 70,000 megawatts."
www.chron.com/news/article...
Collin Allred has dropped out of the Senate race and will run for Congress again against Julie Johnson in #TX33. I bet that means Crockett is definitely in.
www.wfaa.com/article/news...
www.wfaa.com/article/news...
Colin Allred drops out of U.S. Senate race, will challenge Julie Johnson for Congress
Allred is out just hours before Jasmine Crockett is expected to announce her own run for Senate. Allred said he is leaving to avoid a costly runoff.
www.wfaa.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Collin Allred has dropped out of the Senate race and will run for Congress again against Julie Johnson in #TX33. I bet that means Crockett is definitely in.
www.wfaa.com/article/news...
www.wfaa.com/article/news...
The Democratic Rep Cuellar pardon just got more interesting. Trump blasted him over the weekend for not switching parties, saying he had "a lack of loyalty." The conman got conned.
www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/t...
www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/t...
Trump suggests Rep. Cuellar, pardoned Democratic congressman, should have switched parties after clemency grant
President Trump took aim at Rep. Henry Cuellar, a Democratic congressman from Texas whom he recently pardoned, in a Truth Social post.
www.cbsnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:03 PM
The Democratic Rep Cuellar pardon just got more interesting. Trump blasted him over the weekend for not switching parties, saying he had "a lack of loyalty." The conman got conned.
www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/t...
www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/t...
If Texas congressional races see the same 13-point swing that #TN07 did, Democrats would likely flip #TX28, #TX34,#TX35, and #TX23. #TX15, #TX09, #TX24,#TX32, #TX23 would all be tight races.
thehill.com/newsletters/...
thehill.com/newsletters/...
thehill.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:20 PM
If Texas congressional races see the same 13-point swing that #TN07 did, Democrats would likely flip #TX28, #TX34,#TX35, and #TX23. #TX15, #TX09, #TX24,#TX32, #TX23 would all be tight races.
thehill.com/newsletters/...
thehill.com/newsletters/...
ICE snatches a college freshman heading home for Thanksgiving in Texas and deports her to Honduras in violation of an emergency court order prohibiting her deportation.
www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/t...
www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/t...
Freshman deported despite emergency court order
A freshman headed home to Texas for Thanksgiving was deported, defying a court order. Her college dreams now hang in balance.
www.nbcdfw.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:07 PM
ICE snatches a college freshman heading home for Thanksgiving in Texas and deports her to Honduras in violation of an emergency court order prohibiting her deportation.
www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/t...
www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/t...
How many years away are we from the first robot murdering a human? 5? 10?
gizmodo.com/you-must-rea...
gizmodo.com/you-must-rea...
You Must Read This Riveting Whistleblower Lawsuit About Allegedly Dangerous Robots
A safety technician was fired as a company allegedly rushed ahead in commercializing a powerful humanoid robot with bone-crunching capabilities.
gizmodo.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:01 PM
How many years away are we from the first robot murdering a human? 5? 10?
gizmodo.com/you-must-rea...
gizmodo.com/you-must-rea...
There is so much to unpack here. DJT giving the thumbs up with Mamdani, in front of the Roosevelt portrait with Lincoln looking on. Then there is the representation of horseshoe politics, and they are in front of an arch. 🤯
November 22, 2025 at 2:14 PM
There is so much to unpack here. DJT giving the thumbs up with Mamdani, in front of the Roosevelt portrait with Lincoln looking on. Then there is the representation of horseshoe politics, and they are in front of an arch. 🤯
Border Patrol is spying on citizens who drive in the US and pulling over anyone they deem suspicious. They are desperately trying to hide it from the public. apnews.com/article/immi...
Border Patrol is monitoring US drivers and detaining those with 'suspicious' travel patterns
The U.S. Border Patrol is monitoring millions of American drivers nationwide in a secretive program to identify and detain people whose travel patterns it deems suspicious.
apnews.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Border Patrol is spying on citizens who drive in the US and pulling over anyone they deem suspicious. They are desperately trying to hide it from the public. apnews.com/article/immi...
A pedofile and a murderer walk into a guilded bar... and the joke is on us.
If this nation had moral standards, a pedophile would not be allowed to host a murderer in the Oval Office.
November 19, 2025 at 6:01 PM
A pedofile and a murderer walk into a guilded bar... and the joke is on us.
Here we go again with Halligan's folly. She never presented all of Comey's indictments to the grand jury that are now part of the charges brought against him in court.
abcnews.go.com/US/comey-see...
abcnews.go.com/US/comey-see...
Judge grills government over apparent lapses in Comey indictment
Lindsey Halligan, the U.S. attorney who brought charges against James Comey, told a judge that the full grand jury that indicted Comey did not see the indictment.
abcnews.go.com
November 19, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Here we go again with Halligan's folly. She never presented all of Comey's indictments to the grand jury that are now part of the charges brought against him in court.
abcnews.go.com/US/comey-see...
abcnews.go.com/US/comey-see...
As @hcrichardson.bsky.social points out in her email today, it is the 162nd anniversary of Lincoln's famous speech at the location of the Battle of Gettysburg.
November 19, 2025 at 1:14 PM
As @hcrichardson.bsky.social points out in her email today, it is the 162nd anniversary of Lincoln's famous speech at the location of the Battle of Gettysburg.
While the state of Illinois and the Feds battle out deployment of troops in the state, TX has wasted $5M deploying its National Guard troops who have done nothing, waiting for the court's approval. When will we tire of Abbott's wasteful spending in this state?
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/29/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/29/t...
Texans oppose National Guard deployment to cities out of state
At President Trump’s direction, Gov. Greg Abbott authorized the deployment of hundreds of troops to Illinois to “safeguard” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
www.texastribune.org
November 18, 2025 at 2:22 PM
While the state of Illinois and the Feds battle out deployment of troops in the state, TX has wasted $5M deploying its National Guard troops who have done nothing, waiting for the court's approval. When will we tire of Abbott's wasteful spending in this state?
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/29/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/10/29/t...
Sylvester Turner's Congressional seat #TX18, which has been without representation for 11 months, finally has a runoff date of January 31st.
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/17/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/17/t...
Abbott sets Jan. 31 runoff for 18th Congressional District
The Houston-based seat will have been without representation for about 11 months.
www.texastribune.org
November 17, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Sylvester Turner's Congressional seat #TX18, which has been without representation for 11 months, finally has a runoff date of January 31st.
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/17/t...
www.texastribune.org/2025/11/17/t...
In a highly unusual move, the magistrate looking over the grand jury indictment of James Comey has asked the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, to share her indictment materials with the defense because she may have committed misconduct
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
Judge Says Justice Dept. May Have Committed Misconduct in Comey Case
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 8:29 PM
In a highly unusual move, the magistrate looking over the grand jury indictment of James Comey has asked the prosecutor, Lindsey Halligan, to share her indictment materials with the defense because she may have committed misconduct
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/u...
So, Trump's Liberation Day in April not working out? Things actually did get more expensive? The consumer actually does pay for tariffs? Nothing like economics to get in the way of a bad plan.
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
www.reuters.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:41 PM
So, Trump's Liberation Day in April not working out? Things actually did get more expensive? The consumer actually does pay for tariffs? Nothing like economics to get in the way of a bad plan.
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
www.reuters.com/business/tru...
Beto was right in 2022. Abbott is the single greatest driver of inflation in Texas. He has no real solutions, only platitudes. Here we are again with him making the same promises from 4 years ago.
www.texastribune.org/2022/04/22/t...
www.texastribune.org/2022/04/22/t...
Why cutting Texans’ property taxes is so financially and politically hard
Texas school districts, cities and counties rely heavily on property taxes to pay for roads, libraries, police, firefighters and public schools. But lowering tax bills has long been a difficult endeav...
www.texastribune.org
November 14, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Beto was right in 2022. Abbott is the single greatest driver of inflation in Texas. He has no real solutions, only platitudes. Here we are again with him making the same promises from 4 years ago.
www.texastribune.org/2022/04/22/t...
www.texastribune.org/2022/04/22/t...
Drug Wars Part Deux is coming to a TV near you. We lost the first Drug War in the '80s, but as DJT becomes more desperate to distract from his failed domestic policies, Venezuela will be our sacrificial lamb. Is America Great Again? www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-v...
Top officials present Trump with military options for Venezuela in the coming days
The potential operations for Venezuela presented to Trump included options for strikes on land, multiple sources said.
www.cbsnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Drug Wars Part Deux is coming to a TV near you. We lost the first Drug War in the '80s, but as DJT becomes more desperate to distract from his failed domestic policies, Venezuela will be our sacrificial lamb. Is America Great Again? www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-v...
A PA sheriff signed up to have his agency cooperate with ICE. His opponent criticized him for the decision, and he lost his reelection. Honeymoon is over.
abcnews.go.com/US/pennsylva...
abcnews.go.com/US/pennsylva...
A Pennsylvania sheriff struck a deal with ICE. Months later, he was voted out.
A Philadelphia-area sheriff was ousted last week after facing criticism over a partnership he forged with federal immigration authorities.
abcnews.go.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:12 PM
A PA sheriff signed up to have his agency cooperate with ICE. His opponent criticized him for the decision, and he lost his reelection. Honeymoon is over.
abcnews.go.com/US/pennsylva...
abcnews.go.com/US/pennsylva...
The two Texas families that relocated to Russia to escape LGBTQ indoctrination are finding it hard to adjust to life there. Shocking! www.chron.com/culture/arti...
They left Texas for Russia to escape 'LGBT indoctrination.' Turns out, it sucks.
Their Texas towns had too much "DEI" and "LGBT indoctrination." So they moved to Russia and became influencers.
www.chron.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The two Texas families that relocated to Russia to escape LGBTQ indoctrination are finding it hard to adjust to life there. Shocking! www.chron.com/culture/arti...
AG Ken Paxton has sued the non-profit voter registration org 'Jolt'. Paxton claims Jolt's efforts to register people at TX DMV locations are an effort to register undocumented immigrants so they can vote. This suit likely stems from a tweet from Bartiromo last summer.
www.kvue.com/article/news...
www.kvue.com/article/news...
November 11, 2025 at 1:37 PM
AG Ken Paxton has sued the non-profit voter registration org 'Jolt'. Paxton claims Jolt's efforts to register people at TX DMV locations are an effort to register undocumented immigrants so they can vote. This suit likely stems from a tweet from Bartiromo last summer.
www.kvue.com/article/news...
www.kvue.com/article/news...