Sign in

Joel Montfort

@montfort.me
49K followers 44K following 818 posts

#TX politics. Political Scientist. Democrat. #ODAT #texasdemocrat, #txlege

PostsRepliesMedia
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 15/09/2026
Trumpflation is destroying the GOP's chances in November. Voters now prefer a Democrat by 8% in a generic poll. Blue wave imminent. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/15/u...
nytimes.com
Democrats Gain Midterms Edge as Trump Drags Down Republicans, Per Times/Siena Poll
Even some Republicans are losing faith in Trump’s economy, a New York Times/Siena poll found, and Democrats were favored on the top issues as the sprint to the midterms gets underway.
1275
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 26/08/2026
Even Bill Gates believes AI is a huge threat to humanity and could cause massive job losses and potentially catastrophic consequences if left unchecked. AI companies won't admit that reality because too much $$ is on the line. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/t...
nytimes.com
Bill Gates Is Warning That A.I. Is More Dangerous Than Big Tech Will Admit
In an hourlong interview, he said his industry was downplaying the risks, which he believes include mass unemployment and bioterrorism.
2320495
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 14/08/2026
The Texas voucher scam smells more and more like rotten fish. Of the 122K vouchers initially issued, 21K were returned. Of those 21K students, 70% would have come from public schools, and 12K would have been low-income. www.audacy.com/krld/news/lo...
audacy.com
More than 20,700 Texas students give up school vouchers after awards
Over 20,700 Texas students returned or opted out of school vouchers. Discover why securing private school seats remains a challenge for many families. | NewsRadio 1080 KRLD
11911
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 12/08/2026
General Dynamics received a contract of $530M from the Pentagon and opened a state-of-the-artillery factory near Dallas to make shells for the Ukraine war. Robots regularly caught fire, conveyors broke, autonomous carts got lost, and there was a dumpster fire. www.propublica.org/article/gene...
propublica.org
Fiasco in the Factory: Taxpayers Funded a $533 Million Artillery Plant That Made Nothing
General Dynamics opened a Texas factory to churn out artillery shells for Ukraine, but the machines kept breaking. Robot arms smashed into things. Hunks of metal crashed to the floor. There was even a...
33316
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 10/08/2026
Reading a flock story from NYT and thought I would look at Flock cameras on deflock in my area. Holy hell. Hundreds of cameras in the North Dallas/Plano area. I had no idea how pervasive these were. maps.deflock.org?lat=32.9607&...
maps.deflock.org
DeFlock Maps | ALPR Camera Map & Privacy Routes
Explore ALPR camera locations and plan privacy-optimized routes across the United States.
83715
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 09/08/2026
Amazon is planning a massive data center in West Texas that will have its own natural gas power plant. The plant is permitted to emit 33M tons of carbon dioxide per year, more than double the next largest plant, and will be the largest polluter IN THE US www.the-independent.com/tech/amazon-...
the-independent.com
Amazon data center plant in Texas could become America’s biggest polluter
The data center’s on-site natural gas power plant could emit more than double the carbon dioxide released each year by the current record-holder
54445303
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 06/08/2026
Insane ICE Cost to deport migrants in Texas Cities. Dallas: $2.8B Tarrant: $1.6B Travis: $2.4B Harris: $4.1B Bexar: $1.1B We could have given every teacher in Texas a $5K raise just from the money wasted in Dallas. www.newsweek.com/map-shows-ic...
newsweek.com
Map shows ICE deportation costs in every US county
The analysis also explored how the money could potentially be spent elsewhere, on education, healthcare, and benefits.
75937
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 05/08/2026
Last night at Paxton's event in Allen, TX. One lady with a Talarico sign. They made her leave. All heroes don't wear capes.
2433
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 04/08/2026
Gov Abbott is feigning interest in stopping data centers in Texas by requesting full audits. With Hinojosa in striking distance, I expect his interest to stop once the elections are over. www.texastribune.org/2026/08/03/t...
texastribune.org
New Texas data center projects frozen until state audits them
On Monday, the governor ordered the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas to audit all data centers wanting to connect to the state’s power grid.
23214
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 31/07/2026
School shooter Colt Gray's father, who purchased the AR-15 he used to kill four students, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for buying the weapon for the troubled teen. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
reuters.com
Father of Georgia school shooter sentenced to 15 years in prison
A man who gave his troubled son the rifle he used to kill four people at a Georgia high school was sentenced on Thursday to 15 years in prison, ​the culmination of the state's first case in which a pa...
1466
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 31/07/2026
Senator Cornyn has suddenly grown a spine. He will not agree to Todd Blanche as AG unless the Justice Dept modifies its Trump- IRS immunity agreement. The GOP is full of fascist-enabling cowards, just insane. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/30/u...
nytimes.com
Defying Trump, Cornyn Uses His Lame-Duck Power
In standing in the way of Todd Blanche, President Trump’s choice for attorney general, a liberated Senator John Cornyn is wielding his leverage.
4211
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 30/07/2026
Historic Dallas Market Hall is about to close and will likely be converted into a massive 245MW data center. I'm starting to think these things are going to be like a Starbucks on every corner. www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/d...
nbcdfw.com
Crow Holdings data center may spell the end for Dallas' Market Hall building
An exhibition hall has stopped booking events, and a 40-acre data center campus is proposed on the site. See what’s known so far.
2113
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 30/07/2026
ERCOT is forecasting that Texas's aging grid needs to double in capacity to 175GW in just 6 years. Oof. www.texastribune.org/2026/07/29/t...
texastribune.org
ERCOT forecasts energy demand to double in six years
Solar and battery power generations have helped bolster ERCOT’s grid, but data center, population and economic growth is slated to surge demand.
265
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 25/07/2026
The Cybertruck is the Edsel of the 21st century, selling a meager 7.1K units so far this year. futurism.com/advanced-tra...
futurism.com
It's Looking Like the Cybertruck Is the Biggest Flop in Automotive History
Bloomberg argues that the Cybertruck is an even bigger let down than the Ford Edsel, which is widely seen as the industry's biggest flop.
8368
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 20/07/2026
Stock market may be soaring, but 1 in 5 student loan borrowers in Texas are in default. www.sacurrent.com/news/texas-n...
sacurrent.com
1 in 5 Texas student-loan borrowers are now in default
One in five student-loan borrowers nationwide is in default, meaning they have missed nine or more months of payments. About 22.3% of people with student
2164
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 18/07/2026
All of those boondoggle multi-million-dollar border buoys that @GovHotWheels_TX wasted taxpayer money on are floating down the Rio Grande after the rain. How many billions will we waste chasing red meat politics in this state? www.tpr.org/border-immig...
tpr.org
More than 100 federal border buoys break loose in flooded Rio Grande
Controversial buoys installed in the Rio Grande by the federal government have broken free and are floating downstream. The buoys could cause damage to international bridges and other infrastruture al...
23115
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 16/07/2026
The Nazis are arresting Native Americans. Let that sink in.
04116
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 14/07/2026
Texas comes in second for the worst places to live, receiving an "F". 17% of Texans have no healthcare, more than double the national average. www.cnbc.com/2026/07/11/w...
cnbc.com
These are America’s 10 worst states to live in for 2026
Some states may have low costs and light regulation, but high crime and lack of healthcare are among important factors when people choose where to live.
1941722747
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 15/06/2026
The reflecting pool is now green, the color of all the money wasted on it. Painting the bottom has apparently heated the water and accelerated algae growth. Pure Genius. people.com/reflecting-p...
people.com
Trump's 'American Flag Blue' Reflecting Pool Renovation Is Already Bright Green with Algae After $14M 'Beautification' (Photos)
The Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool is already blooming with new algae just days after President Donald Trump's $14 million beautification project attempted to turn it 'American Flag Blue.' See the m...
66426
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 10/06/2026
Racist Jake Lang was arrested and handcuffed on a plane while trying to leave Dallas after making terroristic threats in Collin County. Bond has been set at $1M. 🤣 www.dallasobserver.com/news/white-n...
dallasobserver.com
White nationalist influencer in Dallas County Jail, bond set at $1 million for a 'terroristic threat'
Jake Lang has been causing racial trouble across the country since being pardoned by the president for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
45317
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 08/06/2026
An article on data centers making people sick with symptoms such as headaches, insomnia, nausea, and anxiety. Folks report noise levels approaching 100dB, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The rural data centers powered by natural gas are the worst. www.techradar.com/pro/dizzines...
techradar.com
‘Dizziness, nausea, vertigo, and sleep disruption’: The undetectable hum of AI data centers is making local residents sick – imperceptible noise from cooling systems, backup generators, and gas turbin...
The noise emitted by data centers is causing local residents to fall sick, and the science backs up their claims.
23521
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 06/06/2026
4 large new data centers coming online in Texas this month failed their voltage test, which ensures that when they disconnect from the grid, they don't unbalance the power and cause more disruptions and outages. www.reuters.com/business/ene...
reuters.com
Texas grid flags risks as data centers, crypto sites fail voltage tests
Several ​large data centers and crypto facilities planning to connect to the Texas power grid ahead of ‌peak summer demand have failed key reliability tests, raising the risk of power outages just as ...
48337
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 06/06/2026
A second case of screwworm has been identified in Texas 6 miles from the first. I think we are at the beginning of a real catastrophe if we don't get on top of this. www.reuters.com/business/hea...
reuters.com
Second Texas screwworm case confirmed as outbreak fears grow
The USDA found the parasite on a one-month-old calf.
53815
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 03/06/2026
Local activist Jesse Ringness captured this racist White Nationalist digital billboard running at city hall in Frisco, TX, during the redneck rally.
6167
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 03/06/2026
Pardoned #J6 Jake Lang was arrested in Frisco after he ranted at City Hall last week. Unlike Ken Paxton, he had to wear a cover over his clothes. www.fox4news.com/news/jake-la...
fox4news.com
Pardoned Jan. 6 rioter Jake Lang arrested for criminal trespassing in Frisco, jail records show
Pardoned Jan. 6 rioter and far-right influencer Jake Lang has been booked into the Collin County Jail on a criminal trespass warrant.
0171
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 02/06/2026
Nepoboy Bill Pulte, who inherited a home-building empire, will now run our intelligence agency as our government continues to go further and further off the rails. www.nytimes.com/live/2026/06...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Live Updates: President Names Bill Pulte as Acting Director of National Intelligence
2175
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 02/06/2026
Whaling Wall Painter Robert Wyland is suing FIFA for $25M after they painted over his mural without his approval. Glad he's holding these people accountable. www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/w...
nbcdfw.com
Artist sues for $25 million over destruction of Dallas whale mural
Artist Robert Wyland filed a federal lawsuit over the destruction of his iconic Dallas whale mural and is seeking at least $25 million.
23713
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 01/06/2026
In a highly unusual move, SoD Hegseth has blocked two women and two Black men from promotions to continue his drive to make our armed forces whiter and manlier. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/u...
nytimes.com
Hegseth Strikes Female and Black Navy Officers From Promotion List
52710
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 28/05/2026
Texas has more police departments patrolling its schools than all the other states combined. The accusations of unnecessarily brutal force are piling up as cops are called in to deal with minor problems like vaping. The kids pay the price. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Texas School Police Pepper-Sprayed, Tackled and Tasered Students
School officers across the state turned to heavy-handed tactics on children, often in response to minor misbehavior, our investigation shows.
3237
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 21/05/2026
When the diminished head of the Executive branch sues an arm of the Executive branch and is then awarded a slush fund by another arm of the Executive branch, our civilization is crumbling. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/19/a...
nytimes.com
The I.R.S. Thought It Could Fight Trump’s Lawsuit, but It Struck a Deal Anyway
3448
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 18/05/2026
Latest poll out of Texas Southern U has Paxton and Talarico tied for Senate. n=1223 data.ddhq.io/polls/2026/0...
3134
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 18/05/2026
Early voting for run-off elections in Texas starts today through Friday. Hours vary by county. Democrats have several runoff elections, including LT. Gov, AG, and Congressional seats. Your vote counts! To find out where you can vote: www.votetexas.gov/voting/where...
votetexas.gov
Find Your Polling Place in Texas | VoteTexas.gov
Locate your polling place in Texas. Use our tools to find where to vote on Election Day and during early voting periods.
0106
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 14/05/2026
I am always complaining about Dallas's complete lack of interest in preserving history. The Wyland Whale wall, completed in '99 in downtown Dallas, is being painted over for a FIFA ad. The ghouls who are destroying this city should be tarred and feathered.
44710
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 14/05/2026
A citizens group with some heavy-hitting lawyers is ready to sue the Mayor and City Council to stop the demolition of Dallas City Hall, an iconic building designed by I.M. Pei. www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/...
dmagazine.com
Save Dallas City Hall Says It’s Ready to Sue the City
A nonprofit aimed at preserving Dallas City Hall has put city officials on notice: Take care of the building, or face the consequences.
1184
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 08/05/2026
The electricity and water guzzling AI boom that is consuming Texas is almost entirely driven by the Texas GOP and encouraged by trump. We are going to destroy this state for what? A handful of jobs and a little tax revenue? www.texastribune.org/2026/05/07/t...
texastribune.org
Texas Republicans have a data center problem
Data center construction is unpopular among locals, and a majority of the facilities are being proposed in red, rural counties. That puts Texas Republicans in a tough spot, as the White House has enco...
35219
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 03/05/2026
The Blue wave in Texas local races continues. 👉Arlington, TX, flipped a city Council seat ( Brittney Garcia-Dumas) 👉Pearland, TX flipped the Mayor's seat (Quentin Wiltz) 👉NEISD flipped 2 seats on the board (Michael Adam Wulczyn, Caprice Garcia)
35911
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 01/05/2026
The GOP-controlled Congress refused to extend Obamacare subsidies, resulting in millions of people dropping coverage. We need a public option. www.nytimes.com/2026/05/01/b...
nytimes.com
Since Congress Let Obamacare Subsidies Expire, Millions Are Dropping Coverage
3347
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 29/04/2026
New polling shows James Talarico besting either GOP candidate by 7-8 points in November. Compare that to polling in May 2018, when Beto was 11 pts behind Cruz. We have ourselves a competitive race. www.texastribune.org/2026/04/28/t...
texastribune.org
Talarico leads both Cornyn, Paxton in new Texas Senate polls
The Austin Democrat, who won his party’s nomination in March, led Cornyn and Paxton in two successive polls, though he did not crack 50%.
2532
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 27/04/2026
4545151
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 22/04/2026
The CEO of Uber says other CEOs are minimizing the carnage AI will create. He anticipates 70%- 80% of jobs to be eliminated. finance.yahoo.com/sectors/tech...
finance.yahoo.com
Uber CEO says other execs are lying about AI: 'They say it'll be fine' but privately admit millions of jobs are gone
Dara Khosrowshahi says AI will be able to replace 70-80% of the work humans can do.
72011
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 22/04/2026
Kash Patel's defamation lawsuit against Figliuzzi, who claimed on air that Patel had been seen in nightclubs more than in his office, has been thrown out. These Alpha males sure are snowflakes. www.cnbc.com/2026/04/21/k...
cnbc.com
Judge dismisses Kash Patel's defamation lawsuit over claim he frequented 'nightclubs'
The lawsuit against Frank Figliuzzi was dismissed a day after FBI Director Kash Patel sued The Atlantic magazine over claims he abused alcohol.
34613
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 17/04/2026
Finally, we know who the downed pilot was.
5436
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 13/04/2026
Remember when Obama posted a meme of himself as Jesus? Me neither. He's truly an insane narcissist with his finger on the Nukes. What could go wrong?
2312
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 13/04/2026
16 years. That is how long it took to push Putin-loving Orban out of office. The good news is that if it can happen in an Eastern Bloc country, it can happen here. www.cnn.com/2026/04/12/e...
cnn.com
In Hungary, Orbán’s loss shows how populism can run out of road | CNN
The defeat of Viktor Orbán means Hungary will have a change in government for the first time since 2010.
2415
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 11/04/2026
Trump has promised his staff he will “pardon everyone who has come within 200 feet of the Oval” to allay fears of criminal charges for their illegal activities once he leaves office. States had better be ready with charges to circumvent his efforts. www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...
the-independent.com
Trump promised mass pardons for his top aides before he leaves office: report
The White House has characterized his remarks as having been made in jest
42511
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 11/04/2026
Now we know why Melania held a press conference about having no involvement with Epstein. Amanda Ungaro, a Brazilian model, was picked up by ICE and deported b/c her ex-husband notified them she had an expired visa. She's salty. www.newsweek.com/who-is-amand...
newsweek.com
Who is Amanda Ungaro? What we know as Melania Trump speaks out on Epstein
The ex-girlfriend of a modeling agent is threatening Melania Trump with legal action while vowing to expose her "corrupt system."
24024
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 10/04/2026
In 1921, 10,000 aggrieved coal miners in West Virginia wanted more pay and attempted to unionize. The owners sent in 3000 armed goons and the law to put down the insurrection. The ensuing Battle of Blair Mountain killed dozens of Americans and only ceased when 30,000 US soldiers arrived.
23113
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 03/04/2026
The Intercept is claiming that upwards of 750 casualties have occurred in the Iran war, and the Pentagon is covering it up. theintercept.com/2026/04/01/i....
theintercept.com
“Casualty Cover-Up”: The Pentagon Is Hiding U.S. Losses Under Trump in the Middle East
The Pentagon has sent outdated statements on the number of U.S. troops killed or wounded during the Iran War, resulting in undercounts.
918653
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 03/04/2026
nO, nO, VoUcHeRs wIlL lEt pOOr kIDs gEt A gOoD EdUcAtIoN. www.kut.org/texas/2026-0...
kut.org
White Texans, students previously in private school or homeschool make up bulk of voucher applicants
The demographic breakdown of applicants shows Texas’ voucher program will likely not reflect the diversity of Texas public school students.
1245
Joel Montfort @montfort.me · 03/04/2026
The GOP decries how awful the cities are in our state. They claim they are crime-infested, homeless folks everywhere, crowded, and controlled by Democrats... But the map shows the conservative rural half of Texas is declining in population, and the cities are booming.
0166