AUSTIN, Texas — A panel at SXSW where Texas lawmakers and artists spoke on the current state of U.S. and Texas politics ended with one key takeaway: get out there and vote.

What You Need To Know

  • SXSW panel “State Of Being: How To Care in 2024” highlighted the importance of voting and civic engagement during a critical election year 

  • Actor and comedian Ilana Glazer moderated the keynote discussion with Jessica Weitz, director of artist engagement at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
  • Glazer in 2016 co-founded Generator Collective, a political activism group that encourages Gen Z and millennials to discuss and get engaged in politics. Musician and fellow panelist Danny Brown worked with Glazer through Generator Collective in 2020, an election year during which he voted for the first time

  • Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, a former San Antonio teacher who became the youngest state representative in the Texas Legislature when appointed at 29 years old, discussed his experience as a Democratic leader in a red state. Austin City Council member Vanessa Fuentes discussed the power of voting and youth-driven political organization movements

It’s a sentiment most people can agree on, like actor and comedian Ilana Glazer, who moderated the keynote discussion on Friday titled “State Of Being: How To Care in 2024” with Jessica Weitz, director of artist engagement at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU).

Glazer is well known for their stand-up comedy and antics as Ilana Wexler on “Broad City,” a show that follows two twentysomethings on wacky adventures throughout New York City. Even on the show, which aired its final episode in 2019, Glazer and fellow showrunner Abbi Jacobson never shied away from weaving political statements in; some episodes included the two participating as Planned Parenthood volunteer clinic escorts, using marijuana recreationally and voicing their disdain of then-President Donald Trump.

Now, Glazer has put herself at the forefront of U.S. politics in real life. In 2016, she co-founded Generator Collective, a political activism group that encourages Gen Z and millennials to discuss and get engaged in politics.

Musician and fellow panelist Danny Brown worked with Glazer through Generator Collective in 2020, an election year during which he voted for the first time.

Speaking to the idea of engagement in politics were panelists Rep. James Talarico, D-Austin, and Austin City Council member Vanessa Fuentes, two progressive elected officials in Texas.

Talarico, a former San Antonio teacher who became the youngest state representative in the Texas Legislature when appointed at 29 years old, discussed his experience as a Democratic leader in a red state.

“Right-wing extremists have taken over our state and they’re giving Texas a bad name,” he said.

Referencing Senate Bill 1515, which would have required the Ten Commandments to be displayed in public school classrooms, and Senate Bill 763, a bill that would replace school counselors with unlicensed religious chaplains, Talarico denounced the idea of blurring church and state.

“There is nothing Christian about Christian nationalism. What it’s doing is it’s trying to control people, control what they read, control where they travel, control who they marry, control when they have children. It’s masked behind Christian faith,” Talarico said.

Fuentes echoed Talarico’s concerns, speaking to the power of local politics in order to make change. She cited the effort in Austin to decriminalize abortion and provide a workaround in response to the Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade in 2022.

“That’s where the power is, it’s in the people. It’s in the everyday Austinite, everyday Texan, everyday American organizing their communities, showing up at city halls and state capitols and saying, ‘This is not enough. We demand more, we deserve better and we need to do something about it,’” Fuentes said.

The idea of hope in an election year — where voters will likely see another matchup between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump — was referenced throughout the panel.

Fuentes also discussed the power of voting and youth-driven organization movements.

“Just know, the most important thing that we can do, our generation, what we can do, is to vote each and every single time like our life depends on it. Because it does,” Fuentes said. “Organize around an issue that you are passionate about, get involved, get your friends involved, get your family. Ensure you’re holding the system accountable.”

After working with Glazer in 2020, Brown echoed the importance of participating in politics, even if you're not sure where to start.

“I think people are more socially conscious, being more aware of the ‘every vote counts’ kind of thing. You have to know for yourself and for your kids, for everybody else that’s coming up, that everything counts. So I always try to get people excited about getting out there and trying to do the right thing,” Brown said.

Talarico gave some insight into public education in Texas politics, citing Texas' controversial book ban that targets books that include LGBTQ+ themes and themes of race. The ban even led to a formal Central Texas school librarian being fired after she refused to remove books targeted by the ban. She is now suing Llano County.

“Public education is under attack at every level. These are existential threats to the project of public education, and therefore to the project of democracy. You don’t have a democracy if you don’t have public schools,” Talarico said. “Christian nationalism is part of it. The billionaire mega donors who are funding a lot of these attacks are part of it. Book bans are a part of it. But once you connect all the dots, you realize that they’re going after our public schools…I never thought I’d see the day where our school librarians are enemy number one.”

Glazer, providing comedic relief throughout the panel, chimed in.

“It’s like, you’re such a tough guy, you’re going after sweet, nerdy librarians? Oh my God, fight each other, like at MMA. Leave librarians alone!” she said.