You awake in the Texas Capitol annex. It is early August. You have 48 hours before the maps reach the House floor. 

A guard approaches.  

“The Gerrymages have created a new scroll,” he says grimly. “The Great Orange One wants them to finish their work posthaste.” 

As foretold in prophecy, the new map would deal your party a critical hit.  

Do you: 

• Flee to the North? A band of House Democrats already has, but a warring party is on their trail. 
• Sound the horn? Dems are casting their quest in national terms. So are a pair of their foes as they each seek to curry favor with the amber elder.  
• Cave in and vote? The clock is ticking, and all action has crawled to a halt.  

The quest for control of Texas continues. Choose wisely – gerrymanders can last a decade. 

Our dungeon master Laura Rice has more below.  

The campaign continues … fare thee well, New. 

Republicans go to war over Dem quorum break

Listen, we get it: What happens in Texas often sets the tone for national – heck, even global – politics. But what’s going on with Texas Democrats right now? It feels like more than just another headline in the summer news cycle. 

Since a bloc of House Democrats left the state Sunday, things have escalated fast. Attorney General Ken Paxton says they’ve “abandoned office” and wants the courts to remove them. Gov. Greg Abbott is targeting Democratic Caucus Chair Gene Wu, asking the Texas Supreme Court to oust him. And now, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and President Trump are suggesting the FBI could get involved. 

Is this all political theater, or could lawmakers actually be removed – or even arrested? 

Today on the show, we’ve got constitutional law expert Charles “Rocky” Rhodes and investigative reporter Lauren McGaughy breaking it all down: What charges, if any, could these Democrats face? Could the courts really toss them out? And what’s behind the push to make an example of Rep. Wu? 

It’s a moment that could define not just the session, but the future of political protest in Texas. We hope you’ll listen. 

• Feast your eyes on this still life of cut fruit acquired by Kimbell Museum (KERA News)
• Texas lawmakers revive plan to replace STAAR test for public schools (The Texas Newsroom)
• Whitmire signals support for $100 million for housing from disaster recovery funds (Houston Public Media)
• A month into the flooding disaster, how is Kerrville coping? (Texas Public Radio)

Dry spell: Back in 2018, Martin County ended its long-standing dry status, joining most Texas counties in allowing alcohol sales. Still, the legacy of being one of the state’s last dry counties shapes local culture and community conversations.  

Dry counties persist, offering a fascinating glimpse into Texas’ complex history with alcohol regulation and regional values – despite their numbers having decidedly dwindled.

Tapping the Permian: Martin County sits deep in the Permian Basin, the heart of Texas oil country. Unsurprisingly, it features prominently in “Untapped: The New West Texas,” the Standard’s exploration of this vast energy landscape. The series offers an in-depth look at how oil shapes the economy, environment and daily life out west. Check it out! 

One last thing: Continuing Texas’ tradition of awesome place names, give it up for the unincorporated community of Tarzan, Texas.