texas.nd the republican primary is essentially the election that matters here. come november in the general election, whoever the republican is that comes out of the primaries will very likely win whatever seat they're running for here in sherman. >> i thought i need to run because the people that are running here claim to be conservative but aren't as conservative as they should be. >> i am not comfortable with the transgenders, the kids that they brought in my classroom when they said that this kid is transgendering into a different sex, that i couldn't have kids laugh at them. >> people outside of texas who look and say texas is one of the most conservative states in the country. you're trying to make it even more conservative. >> we still have kids that, you know, can have gender mutilation. we just want to make sure that we keep our conservative values. >> welcome to another exciting night of texas high school football. >> your experience as a school board member seems to have opened up

texas.eople can now carry handguns in public without any kind of license or training. >> do you think texas can get more conservative that has it is right now? >> texas could very much get more conservative. but i don't think regular texans are as conservative as their elected officials. i don't think people realize that there are only a handful of millionaires who really control a large number of the members of the texas house. >> who are the people that you think have the biggest sway and control of the republican party in texas? >> tim dunn in midland. >> i'm going to talk a little bit about my background. i grew up in big spring. i worked at koz den refinery in the surveillancmmers. >> he has been the leader of this midland oil team. >> i've ended up making more money than i ever thought possible. sfwr the >> and then you have the wilks brothers. >> this is where i lived the first six years of my life. >> you've come a long way. >> yeah, we have. >> they used to be in the fracking busine

biden did not carry texas.ing into this election cycle, i think we have learned to redefine what winning looks like. whether or not they are everything we set out to do. so last year, joe biden in texas picked up more votes in texas than any other state. we have continued to close the gap in texas state wide every election cycle, regardless of what we do or do not win statewide. i think if we look at what is happening locally, we are still able to elect champions, progressive leaders and further the progressive cause. we are getting ready for november, it may not be the most optimistic year, but it is still a year where we can continue to close the gap and continue building upon the foundation folks are creating on the ground. the way we are doing at -- that at the texas future project is supporting organizations that will continue to do the work. the organizers who have been around for decades in texas still fighting in the face of voting rights being stripped, the abortion ban and everything else that is happ

izations in texas. think we have done our job of saying it is and for canada and infrastructure. >> i would agree. i think there are a lot of funders who are now interested in infrastructure and understand what is needed. i was in a briefing late last year right after the election in virginia, where a lot of folks were like cannot have this happen in other states. the outcome of virginia was not ideal. but all of these funders were like, tell me about communications hubs in your state or how i can support data infrastructure in your state. tell me what groups are acting that can keep them in coalition to make sure we are doing long-term work. i think they are starting to understand that. i think are groups that we represent on the stage are also preaching the gospel. we need to fund candidates, fund organizations. we also need to fund projects that are going to support the larger ecosystem and movement. >> part of it, too, is related to my opening comment about the end goal being policy change that comm

and a lot of time in the other texas cities. then when i became secretary of housing and traveled to 200 different american cities and every one of the 50 states you begin to pick up patterns and trends and one of those that jumped out at me was that there is emerging in texas in these places dallas, fort worth and the north houston galveston in the southeast and austin san antonio in the southwest of this triangle. a mega complex of cities that can hold their own in the country and indeed our gravitating to that kind of pinnacle role that great metros play in the world. the singapore's in tokyo's and frankforts and milan's in london's etc and in this this triplex of metropolitan and economic strength. is a coming reality that we in texas haven't fully appreciated. nor have we interpreted in the sense of what does this mean for the future of texas? we'll talk about that in a moment. i had worked a long time with david hendricks who covered city hall in my time then later went to the business section of the express news. he was b

texas house lgbtq caucus. i'm excited to tell you all, we had to out members in 2017. five out members in 2019. we are looking at having eight in 22 83. [applause] >> ok, great. the first question is for all of our panelists. one thing that we run into a lot with a run for something, a lot of passionate people running for office. we ask and encourage them so these issues that you are passionate about -- are they congruent, what difference can you make in the office that you seek based on the issues that you champion? so, based on problems in your communities that you have observed and solutions that you thought would help, how does that play in your decision to run for office? >> i can go first. i love the run for something arena as asking me questions first. i often times feel like people who are running for office jump straight to how i fundraiser come how to get stuff together, what is my number. they forget to do the self work necessary. and figuring out what office is in line with that. i get a sense in p

but we have seen in texas since last september has been a health crisis as texas restriction access toabortion ban. in the last month, it has been eliminated following the decision of dogs. both the trigger laws and the claim that the existing in 1925 statute on the books in texas now governs abortion care, which has led to utter chaos and confusion among patients, among providers. what we know is since september, about 1400 texans have been traveling out of state. as the graphic you just showed, they are going much further. they were gonna go to oklahoma, they've been going to new mexico, they've been going to arkansas as more states outlaw and portion. texas residents are having to travel farther, as are the residents in those states. now what we're seeing in our home state's lawmakers and others threatening people who are leaving the state with criminal prosecution, and threatening the people that helped them. whether it is their employers that have policies to cover their travel expenses, or if it is their health care providers. so there is just chaos and confusion on the ground. i

and it is not just texas. and all we think 26 states in the country are likely to partially or completely ban abortion. which is going to create complete chaos for anyone seeking care. and just like the attacks we are seeing in texas and around the country, on voting rights on transgender people, these laws are going to especially impact folks in rural areas, young people, people of color the same people who already face the biggest challenges to accessing affordable reliable healthcare. and i just have to point out the hypocrisy of the people who are doing this to us. politicians who claim to care about children. okay i'm going to use mississippi as an example but texas is a good example two. soap mississippi is a state other any mississippi folk in the room? okay go thank you. welcome, welcome i'm so glad you're here. so you know the story too, right? mississippi the case for the abortion ban is before the supreme court poor state in the country the maternal mortality rate is twice the national average. and

in texas?nk we have done our jobs of saying it's wolf and your candidate and infrastructure. i don't know, i was going to say -- i retrieving? but i would agree with tory. >> i think there are a lot of funders who are now interested in infrastructure and understand that's what's needed. i was actually on a briefing late last year, right after the election in virginia, where a lot of folks were like, we can't have this happen in other states. the outcome of virginia wasn't ideal. but all these funders or like so, tell me about communications hub in your state. tell me about how i can support data infrastructure in your states, and tell me how groups are asking for that could keep them in coalition, to make sure we are giving this long term work. so, i think they are starting to understand path. i think that our groups that we represent on the stage are preaching that gospel. yes, we need to fund candidates. yes, we need to fund organizations. we need to fund projects that are going to support th

that includes the people of the state of texas. okay? i was just pulling up the texas poll again.wo thirds of people in this country overwhelmingly, this is overwhelming, they believe the people who are pregnant should make decisions about pregnancy that includes republicans, that includes independents, men and women. and it includes texans. here's the good news, if you are running for office or you are working on a campaign knows this. it is not only the right thing to do but it is the politically smart thing to do to stand up for the right of people to make their own decisions about their pregnancy. period, end of sentence, got that? let's go. which brings me to the organizer part. it is overwhelming, it is overwhelming. here are some ideas. number one, support people who are helping people get access to abortion that main financial support, jim's due process, lulls fund, funds checks texas choice there are so many here in the state of texas and around the country support abortion providers here. planned parenthood. whole -- health. others. i just sent free pizza to all the abor

due process, fun texas choice, there are so many in texas and around the country. support abortion providers here. planned parenthood whole women's health, i just sent pizzas to planned parenthood. send them letters, let them know we see them and appreciate them and the hard work they are doing. it is not easy to sit in a room and have a patient to come to -- patient come to you and say i , cannot provide you care not because i don't have a medical expertise but because politicians have gotten in the way of you and your health care. number two, tell your own story, if you have one and if you can. i was on a podcast this week with a minister in dallas and their church takes people to new mexico who need access to abortion. so, that was one of the reasons i was interested in learning. he told his own abortion story about being part of an unintended pregnancy. when he was in college. every time we stand up and say when you talk about abortion, you are talking about me, reduces the stigma and shame that have existed for our entire lifetime. i had an abortion, just so y

sanitizado es mejor. ♪♪ texas heat limpio es bueno. sanitizado es mejor.¿gigillonaria? tiene at&t fiber con velocidades hyper-gig... su internet es tan rápido que nos la pasamos viendo series en 8k, sin parar. pero verlas no es lo mismo que hacerlas. mija, sabías que patty... sí, sí... gigillonaria. soy la nueva celebridad de la familia. vive como gigillonario. obtén at&t fiber - ahora con velocidades de hasta 5-gigas. disponibilidad limitada. (♪ música ♪) (♪ música ♪) (♪ música ♪) (♪ música ♪) (♪ música ♪) dos latinos fueron reconocidos con el máximo honor civil en estados unidos, la doctora julieta garcía y raúl recibieron la medalla de la libertad de mano del presidente joe biden con otros estadounidenses destacados, tenemos la información . >> son lo mejor de estados unidos y llenaron de orgullo la casa blanca . >> (aplausos) el presidente joe biden entregó 16 medallas de la libertad , los hispanos estuvieron en primera fila, empiezando con julieta garcía, la primera latina en dirigir una universidad en el país . >> usé la voz para hablar por mucha gen

of the texas house of represent. before she was old enough even to vote. in the early 1930s. she barely lost an election to serve as a texas including that houston. and she was actively involved in support of several other political campaigns in texas including that of us senator tom connelly. will an oviedo quickly forged an intimate personal and professional relationship that led to their ownership of the houston post and they became pioneers of the broadcast industry in texas will help create one of the first radio stations in texas kprc radio and he and oviedo together eventually started another television. i television station. i should say kprc tv, which is was one of the earliest television stations in texas after oviedo worked with will during the 1930s to bank to houston post one of the most influential newspapers in texas. she took her place on the national stage as the founding commander of the women's army corps during world war two now, i'll say more about that in a moment. after the war however oveda re

we have three bad bills who went into effect in texas. one, yellow probably heard about, the six-week abortion ban. that currently is in effect in texas, where someone could be sued for $10,000 for aiding or abetting and abortion. right now in texas, we do not have the protection of roe v. wade. regardless of what happens in that decision with a supreme court, we already don't have the protection. but then, we also have a bill in place that eliminates all abortion access, including in cases of severe fetal abnormality or rape or incest. the moment roe v. wade is overturned. the reason i'm emphasizing that is y'all, if the supreme court does what we think it is going to do, all of the fight is in state and local. every single bit of it. that is where i, if this is your issue, i need you laser focused on state and local, because the majority is with us. 56% of texans support legal abortion access, and yet we have a majority that passed bills banning it. we have to tell that story and connect people to that work, because state and local is w

gonzales of texas and mr. hern of oklahoma, i inform the house that they will vote aye on the motion to recommit. >> as the member designated by mr. wilson, i inform the house that mr. wilson will be voting yea on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from utah seek recognition? >> mr. speaker, as the member designated by mr. stewart, ms. letlow, mrs. mcmorris rodgers, owens, conaway, herrera beutler, curtis, i inform the house that they will all vote yea on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentleman from california seek recognition? mr. takano: mr. speaker, as the member designated by representatives lloyd doggett and ilhan omar, i inform the house that these members will vote no on the motion to recommit. the speaker pro tempore: for what purpose does the gentlelady from california seek recognition? ms. matsui: as the member designated by ms. -- >> as the member designated by mrs. steel of california, i inform the house

due process, fun texas choice, there are so many in texas and around the country. support abortion providers here. planned parenthood and other false. based -- things and send letters and let them know that we appreciate them. it is not easy to sit in a room and have a patient to come to you and say i cannot provide you care not because i don't have a medical expertise but because politicians have gotten in the way. tell their own story if you have one and if you can. i was on a podcast with this -- this week in -- what a minister in dallas. that was one of the reasons i was interested in learning. he told his own abortion story about being part of an unintended pregnancy. every time we stand up and say when you talk about abortion, you talk about me, it reduces the stigma and staying -- shame that has existed. i had an abortion and i talk about it all the time. number three, get close to -- dixson. represent you and if they are not speaking about the issue, poke them and if they don't, run against him -- them. get on the streets. this will happen if people get on

texas governor greg abbott., sir. >>> quick break, the world reacts to the assassination of former japanese prime minister shinzo abe. senator marsha blackburn is here on his legacy as the china communist-controlled state media mocks the man who was pushing for taiwan's independence. plus, why is joe biden selling america's strategic oil reserves to china? a closer look at how biden's china policy is hurting his own country, next. country, next. age is just a number. and mine's unlisted. try boost® high protein with 20 grams of protein for muscle health. versus 16 grams in ensure high protein. boost® high protein also has key nutrients for immune support. boost® high protein. mission control, we are go for launch. ♪ um, she's eating the rocket. ♪ lunchables! built to be eaten. ♪ your record label is taking off. but so is your sound engineer. you need to hire. i need indeed. indeed you do. indeed instant match instantly delivers quality candidates matching your job description. visit indeed.com/hire this is the s

texas governor greg abbott.ou, sir. >>> quick break, the world reacts to the assassination of former japanese prime minister shinzo abe. senator marsha blackburn is here on his legacy as the china communist-controlled state media mocks the man who was pushing for taiwan's independence. plus, why is joe biden selling america's strategic oil reserves to china? a closer look at how biden's china policy is hurting his own country, next. country, next. ♪ this thing, it's making me get an ice bath again. what do you mean? these straps are mind-blowing! they collect hundreds of data points like hrv and rem sleep, so you know all you need for recovery. and you are? i'm an investor...in invesco qqq, a fund that gives me access to... nasdaq 100 innovations like... wearable training optimization tech. uh, how long are you... i'm done. i'm okay. dad, when is the future? um, oh wow. um, the future is, uh, what's ahead of us. i don't get it. yeah. maybe this will help. so now we're in the present. and now... we're in the futu

a law requiring a 2023 referendum for the people of texas to determine whether the state of texas should reclaim its status. dependent state we have seen in recent months a candidate who repeated these false allegations of an election be elected or nomination in the party for positions in which they can potentially exercise oversight of the election results, a majority of the 5,000 delegates. they said in the resolution, without citing any evidence, that they don't think president joe biden won the citation. we reject the results of the 2020 elections. we believe that incumbent president joseph robinette biden jr. was elected illegitimately as chairman of the republican party. texas said that quote we do not believe in the results of the 2020 elections. and we do n't care how many times the elites tell us that we should do it. we don't believe you either. perhaps it's time to act. or maybe we need to wait a little longer and biden, with the help of his wonderful, will completely destroy the united states himself. america, please, the meeting in tehran is an element of big geopolitics, an

the majority of texas is with us. we need political leadership that will reflect that, that's why we are running in this race. >> we have to squeeze in a break here, stay with us, if the power grid holds up in texas after this break, we will be back with beto o'rourke. we will be right back. be back with beto o'rourke we will be right back. we will be right back. try nervivenerve relief. i don't hydrate like everyone else. because i'm not everyone else. they drinkcause it work. and so do i. ♪♪ hydration beyond the hype. ♪♪ i have moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. w, there's skyrizi. ♪things are getting clearer♪ ♪i feel free to bare my skin♪ ♪yeah, that's all me♪ ♪nothing and me go hand in hand♪ ♪nothing on my skin♪ ♪that's my new plan♪ ♪nothing is everything♪ achieve clearer skin with skyrizi. 3 out of 4 people achieved 90% clearer skin at 4 months. in another study, most people had 90% clearer skin, even at 4 years. and skyrizi is just 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses. ♪it's my moment, so i just gotta say♪ ♪n

the majority of texas is with us.cal leadership that will reflect that, that's why we are running in this race. >> we have to squeeze in a break here, stay with us, if the power grid holds up in texas after this break, we will be back with beto o'rourke. we will be right back. l be right back. [eerie shrinking sounds] (brad) congratulations! you're having an out-of-apartment experience- 'cause these cramped confines aren't going to fit your rapidly expanding family. but with more rental listings than anybody else, apartments-dot-com can help you trade this love nest for... (woman) ...an actual nest. (brad) baby names! for a boy, brad. for a girl, brad. apartments-dot-com. the place to find a place. ♪ you ain't seen nothin' yet ♪ ♪ b-b-baby, you just ain't seen n-n-nothin' yet ♪ ♪ here's something, ♪ ♪ here's something you're never gonna fff-forget, baby ♪ get a dozen shrimp for only one dollar with any steak entrée. only at applebee's. (fisher investments) it's easy to think that all money managers with any steak entr

texas governor greg abbott.ou, sir. >>> quick break, the world reacts to the assassination of former japanese prime minister shinzo abe. senator marsha blackburn is here on his legacy as the china communist-controlled state media mocks the man who was pushing for taiwan's independence. plus, why is joe biden selling america's strategic oil reserves to china? a closer look at how biden's china policy is hurting his own country, next. ♪ ♪ every once in a while, my heart can feel a little off. and even when it doesn't, i like to feel good about my heart health. that's why i have kardia mobile. kardia mobile is the only smart device in the world that is fda cleared to detect the three most common heart conditions in just 30 seconds. and having one in your pocket not only gives you peace of mind, the doctor will thank you now. kardia mobile is proven to detect atrial fibrillation, one of the leading causes of stroke. it also detects bradycardia, tachycardia, and tells you when your heart rhythm is normal. you can use

he [applause] in texas today we are facing such a difficult landscape. it has been that way for a long time i. remember when i was elected to the texas senate in 2008, and by the way, talk about a long shot race, i was running against a 16 year republican incumbent. i know representative donna howard is here and she remembers my opponent, senator kim brian, or six foot four, shock of white hair, so you are jumping, classes texas politician. and when we decided that we were going to take this race on and try to beat this republican incumbent in a republican district, no one thought it could be done but us. and sometimes that power of believing and suspending how difficult things are in your belief is an important part of this work. we worked so hard to win that race. unbelievably, by a very nctc small margin, we did. and so to show up in the texas senate felt like an incredible privilege to me, carrying on the work at the local level level and try to be a fighter for people who needed a fighter in their corner. back then difficult things were, how differe

texas, which produced jane roe of roe v.pon an all male supreme court to make abortion legal 49 years ago. that's the state that has outlawed abortion completely, beginning at conception with no exception for rape or incest and the same with gay marriage. you would have thought again, this issue was settled. texas leadership is trying to turn back the clock. now, that is not us. i want the people in america outside of texas to know this. it is not who we are. it's not democrats, republicans or independents in the state. it is those who hold power today. the best way to challenge this, check this and overcome it is to win political power on november 8th. that's why we're in this race to get texas back to a place where we can all be proud of it. ( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: we have to take a quick break. back with more beto o'rourke, everybody, stick around. ( cheers and applause ) ( band playing ) oh! you're doing it wrong, man. what's wrong with action figures? nothing. capital one shopping instantly searches for avai

we are joined now from uvalde, texas. this is the first we're hearing now in this report that in this fact-finding report that the committee believes that most of those 18 children and two teachers killed were killed before the first responders got there even though in the surveillance video you can hear rounds of gunfire. so help us understand the report. >> reporter: well, some of this is, sadly, they're basing this on the injuries of the children. i don't want to repeat, but basically based on some of the horrific, horrific injuries that's kids suffered probably that's what they're basing it on. they talk about that in the report and just how horrific and basically they would not have been able to survive those injuries. however, there are some students, and there are others in the classroom who suffered and they say could have likely died because they were in that room for so long. so while, yes, many of the kids died, almost probably in the end they're saying 100 rounds were fired even before police got inside that r

classic texas politician.hen we decided that we were going to take this race on and try to beat this republican incumbent in a republican district, no one thought it could be done. but us, and sometimes that power of believing and suspending how difficult things are in your belief is a very important part of this work. we worked so hard to win that race. unbelievably, by a very small margin we did. and so. to show up in the texas senate felt like such an incredible privilege carrying on the work we have been doing at the local level, try to be a fighter for people who needed a fighter in the corner back then i remember thinking how difficult things were, how different it was to serve in a state partisan body, versus a local body, where we did not wear partisan hats on our heads. little could i have known that we would look back now at that time as being the glory days in texas politics. because we were still able to work together. we still had a two thirds role in the texas senate that required us to work toge

we hear from democrats from the arena summit in austin, texas. wendy davis heads the words not deeds political organization. and cecile richards is the former president of planned parenthood. >> thank you and good morning. good morning. i am so happy to be here with all of you. thank you so much for that wonderful introduction. thank you all for showing up with your energy and your desire to do good in the world this morning. i was asked to begin by talking with you about why i got into politics and how i got into politics. i thought it might be better to start with the answer to the question, who was i when i showed up to do that and it is a question i hope you ask yourself today on this journey ahead. why am i showing up? who am i? what are the values i am bringing forward that are creating my desire to get involved? whether it is to run for office or support a candidate for work in an issue that you care about. regardless of what it is, you are showing up for a reason. you are showing up because something in your own personal background has mo

>> our grid problem is a national problem, not just texas and california texas and california have gotten there first. >> reporter: families hoping it's addressed soon with so much on the line >> sam, you walked us through the numbers. beyond the current heat wave, why does texas consume so much more energy than everyone else? >> reporter: texas has a lot of people, 30 million people, california 40 million. texas, in addition to to the hottest temperatures in the country, it has a massiv industrial footprint, petrochemicals and refineries that drain energy combine the two things, that puts texas at the top of the list. >>> right to dylan dreyer for the forecast when does this end >> i wish i had an answer, this is going to continue. heat advisories coast-to-coast and record-breaking temperatures expected through the weekend from coast to coast. through the weekend, high temperatures up around 100 degrees or higher feels like index around 108 little rock will feel like 108 tomorrow. northeast, feels like 105 in d.c., 103 in new york city, and through the weekend, st. louis stays above 100

the call this the texas miracle?e fact is, texas is in crisis of neglect, of infinite proportions. greg abbott is doing nothing about it except for the same old smoke and mirrors show that we have grown accustomed to from his side of the aisle. i am hoping that we can do better in time and i'm hoping that texas can get back on track. amy: texas state senator roland gutierrez represents uvalde, speaking to us. thank you. coming up, thing that why aipac has spent nearly $6 million in an attempt to defeat former democratic congressmember donna edwards and other races around the country. stay with us. ♪♪ [music break] amy: "donde voy" by tish hinojosa. this is democracy now!, democracynow.org, the war and peace report. i'm amy goodman with juan gonzalez. today is primary day in maryland. in one closely watched race, former congressmember donna edwards is seeking to win back her old seat in maryland's 4th congressional district, outside washington, d.c. she is facing the corporate attorney glenn ivey, who has raised seven

part of this report includes request from the texas dps. we know now that abbott has released an executive order just yesterday authorizing guard and dps to take migrants to the border. how is cbp responding to that? well, in response to your first question, although again i'm not going to get into too many details of the discipline. the report highlights several areas that i've just covered, including some of the comments, some of the actions that were made by some of the individual agents on horseback. that will be ultimately the basis for discipline. as i said, the process is still going on. there will be a deciding official who gets the recommendations from the discipline review board and they will ultimately make the decision about what the discipline is. and then of course, the agents will have the opportunity to appeal if they so choose to whatever the disciplinary findings are. um, your second question was about the texas governor's announcement to return migrants to the border, is that correct? look, we we follow the law to secure

of four new fabs in sherman, texas, about an hour north of dallas. this is part of a $30 billion investment expected to create some 3,000 more jobs. the mayor of sherman, where this is located, in northeast texas, described it as a watershed day, noting that it's hard to have a frame of reference for a $30 billion investment in a town of 50,000 people. and sherman isn't the only town in texas preparing for a major chips boom. last fall i joined leaders from samsung, a south korean company with a large facility already in austin, texas, when they announced a $17 billion additional investment in a new chip fab in taylor, texas, just outside of austin. that facility is expected to create 2,000 high-tech jobs and other jobs once operational, because these fabs, or manufacturing facilities, are not standalone, they are part of what ultimately will become an ecosystem of suppliers and other affiliated industries that will be built up around them, creating thousands of more jobs. but we also learned from samsung that they're not likely to stop there, if we

next we hear from democrats at the arena summit in austin, texas. wendy davis has the words not deeds of political organization. ♪ ♪ ♪ thank you, good morning. good morning, good morning, good morning. i'm so to be here with you. thank you so much for that wonderful introduction. thank you all so much for showingd up with your energy, ad your desire to do good in the world this morning. i was asked by our friends at arena to begin byth talking with you a little bit about why i got into politics. how i got into politics. but i thought it might be better to start the question really are the answer to the question, who was i when i showed up to do that? it is a question i hope you ask yourself today and on this journey ahead, why am i showing up? who am i? what are the values bringing forward to creating what my desire to get involved in some way. whether it is to run for office others to work in the nonprofit world on an issue that you care very much about. regardless of what it is showing up for reason. showing up for something in your own personal b