Dan Diorio, Data Center Coalition, and Senator Hinojosa discuss data centers, construction jobs, and tax revenue

Senate Finance Committee
July 28, 2026

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Dan Diorio, Data Center Coalition, and Senator Alvarado discuss data centers, public information, and accountability

Senate Finance Committee
July 28, 2026

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Legislators discuss the expectation of invited testimony to remain present during public hearings

Senate Finance Committee
July 28, 2026

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Donna Howard (Matagorda County) provides prepared public testimony about data center development in her area

Senate Finance Committee
July 28, 2026

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This week, Scott is joined by Rev. Jim Harrington, the legendary Texas civil rights attorney turned Episcopal priest. Jim spent decades as a leader in fighting for civil and human rights as founder of the Texas Civil Rights Project, after previously working with Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. After his retirement, Jim returned to justice work in a new role—that of an Episcopal priest.

Scott and Jim reflect on his journey from the courtroom to the clergy collar and experiences ranging from representing farm workers to advocating for immigration justice from the pulpit—and the role faith communities have in shaping a more just community.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite a friend to listen along. If you share it in your social media, make sure to tag us!

To learn more or get involved, check out Texas Impact’s Action Center at texasimpact.org.


Don’t care for video? Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts


Weekly Witness is hosted by Scott Atnip and engineered and produced by David Vassallo. Our executive producer is Bee Moorhead. Theme music by Kimberly Zielnicki, Hayden Havard and Andres Garcia-Bonilla. The opinions expressed on Weekly Witness are those of Texas Impact and our guests, and they do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors. Weekly Witness is a product of Texas Impact. Visit us online at texasimpact.org.

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This week, Scott is joined by Rabbi Eleanor Steinman, senior rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom in Austin. They discuss the new Texas public education curriculum, as well as LGBTQ+ advocacy through the lens of confronting Christian Nationalism, which is a particularly hot topic in Jewish congregations. Rabbi Steinman emphasizes the importance of making the world more fair for all and the work we all have to do in our current context.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite a friend to listen along. If you share it in your social media, make sure to tag us!

To learn more or get involved, check out Texas Impact’s Action Center at texasimpact.org.


Don’t care for video? Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

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This week, Scott is joined by former colleague Ilka Vega, who has traveled the world serving in various mission, justice, and advocacy roles and is currently serving as the Executive for Economic and Environmental Justice at United Women in Faith. The Texas Impact team first met Ilka when she was a high school student at the Lydia Patterson Institute in El Paso, a United Methodist affiliated school in El Paso primarily serving students who walk across the border from Mexico, when Ilka attended her first United Women in Faith Legislative Event. Scott and Ilka talk about her journey from Lydia Patterson, her work in climate and immigration advocacy and her current work with United Women in Faith.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite a friend to listen along. If you share it in your social media, make sure to tag us!

To learn more or get involved, check out Texas Impact’s Action Center at texasimpact.org.

Don’t care for video? Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

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This week, Scott was joined by Rev. Matt Gaventa, senior pastor at University Presbyterian Church in Austin. Matt is a Texas Impact Board Member, and our executive director’s pastor, and Bee has been very excited about his sermon series leading up to the nation’s 250th anniversary. After listening to Scott’s conversation with Matt, we hope it gives you something to think about during this historic year. Rev. Gaventa is completing a sermon series highlighting some foundational historical texts which challenge us to think in new ways about the 250th anniversary celebrations and the work we still have to do to create a more perfect union.

We hope you enjoy this episode and invite a friend to listen along. If you share it in your social media, make sure to tag us!

To learn more or get involved, check out Texas Impact’s Action Center at texasimpact.org.

Don't care for video? Listen to the podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts

Weekly Witness is hosted by Scott Atnip and engineered and produced by David Vassallo. Our executive producer is Bee Moorhead. Theme music by Kimberly Zielnicki, Hayden Havard and
Andres Garcia-Bonilla. The opinions expressed on Weekly Witness are those of Texas Impact and our guests, and they do not necessarily reflect the views of our sponsors. Weekly Witness is a product of Texas Impact. Visit us online at texasimpact.org.

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Getting Started with BallotReady with Kyle Riley

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What Is BallotReady? with Kyle Riley

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Why Use BallotReady? with Kyle Riley

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Your BallotReady Dashboard with Kyle Riley

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In anticipation of Texas Impact’s Houston Faith Votes Kick-off Events on 8/20, 8/26, and 8/27 (register at txfaith.org/HFVevents ), I am speaking with several faith leaders across Houston. Through these dialogues, faith leaders explore why voting is vital for their community, and why it’s a matter of faith.

Each week I’ll share how different leaders understand the connection between their faith and participation in democracy and why they feel called to mobilize their communities to engage in civic processes.

This week, I spoke with Kim Mabry, a United Methodist and the program manager for Interfaith Relations at Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston. Kim shared her thoughts on the importance of voting and how her faith has shaped her view of civic engagement.

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In anticipation of Texas Impact’s Houston Faith Votes Kick-off Events on 8/20, 8/26, and 8/27 (register at txfaith.org/HFVevents ), I am speaking with several faith leaders across Houston. Through these dialogues, faith leaders explore why voting is vital for their community, and why it’s a matter of faith.

Each week I’ll share how different leaders understand the connection between their faith and participation in democracy and why they feel called to mobilize their communities to engage in civic processes.

This week I spoke with Rabbi Josh Fixler from Congregation Emanu El in Houston.

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In anticipation of Texas Impact’s Houston Faith Votes Kick-off Events on 8/20, 8/26, and 8/27 (register here), I am speaking with several faith leaders across Houston. Through these dialogues, faith leaders explore why voting is vital for their community, and why it’s a matter of faith.

Each week I’ll share how different leaders understand the connection between their faith and participation in democracy and why they feel called to mobilize their communities to engage in civic processes.

This week I spoke with Rev. Dr. Angela Ravin-Anderson, a leader in the Social Justice Ministry at Wheeler Avenue Baptist Church, situated across from the University of Houston in Third Ward. Rev. Dr. Ravin-Anderson shared her thoughts about the deep connection between the justice ministry of Christ and the need to actively pursue those values in our communities.

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In anticipation of Texas Impact’s Houston Faith Votes Kick-off Events, which start this weekend, Sunday, August 20th, 8/26, and 8/27 ( register at houstonfaithvotes.org ), We are speaking with several faith leaders across Houston. Through these dialogues, faith leaders explore why voting is vital for their community, and why it’s a matter of faith.

Each week we’ll share how different leaders understand the connection between their faith and participation in democracy and why they feel called to mobilize their communities to engage in civic processes.

This week we spoke with Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel, an Ordained Minister in the United Church of Christ and a long-time Houstonian. Rev. Dr. Brown Daniel shared about the evolution of her perspective on how her faith and civic engagement are intertwined.

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