Texas Politics & News
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- News
As Supreme Court Hears Challenges to Abortion Law, Texas Senator Tells Why He Wrote Heartbeat Act
Texas state Sen. Bryan Hughes, author of one of the most controversial pieces of abortion legislation in decades, insisted Monday that his law is focused on protecting every “little baby” with a heartbeat. The Texas Republican stood steps away from the Supreme Court building as the nine justices heard oral arguments in challenges to Texas’…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- Opinion
Supreme Court Hears Oral Arguments in 2 Texas Heartbeat Act Cases. Here Are the Top Takeaways.
We are only a month into the Supreme Court’s 2021-22 term and abortion already appears to be this season’s defining topic. The court heard arguments in two cases on Monday related to the Texas Heartbeat Act, which bans most abortions after the fetal heartbeat is detected (which is usually about six weeks after conception). And…Thomas Jipping -
- Opinion
Texas Heartbeat Act Again Before Supreme Court. Here’s What You Need to Know.
The Texas Heartbeat Act, known as SB 8, is once again up for consideration before the Supreme Court as a result of two consolidated cases. Whole Woman’s Health v. Jackson and United States v. Texas—scheduled for oral arguments on Monday—will require the court to consider whether the federal government can sue to enforce the right…Sarah Parshall Perry -
- News
Over 94,000 Illegal Immigrants in Southern Texas Released Into US With Notices to Report, Documents Show
Just over 94,500 migrants who entered the U.S. illegally were encountered by border officials in southern Texas and released into the country with notices to report, according to data obtained by Fox News on Wednesday. The migrants were encountered in Texas’ Rio Grande Valley and Del Rio sectors since March 20, according to Fox News. Notices to…Kaylee Greenlee -
- News
Thousands of Migrants, Most From Haiti, Overwhelm Border Officials in Texas
Thousands of Haitian migrants are overwhelming border officials in Del Rio, Texas, according to The New York Times. Border officials said that over 9,000 illegal immigrants, mostly from Haiti, were waiting to be processed under the Del Rio International Bridge, the Times reported Thursday. A few hundred of them crossed the shallow section of the…Kaylee Greenlee -
- News
Justice Department Asks Judge to Block Texas Abortion Law
The Department of Justice asked a federal judge late Tuesday night to block Texas’ Heartbeat Act, which prohibits abortions after the baby’s heartbeat can be detected. The DOJ called for a temporary restraining order or injunction against the new law, arguing that the Heartbeat Act intends “to prevent women from exercising their constitutional rights.” “When…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- News
Texas Governor Signs Bill Barring Social Media Companies From Censoring Views
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, signed a law Thursday preventing social media companies from banning users for their political views. The law, known as HB 20, prohibits social media platforms from banning or suspending users and removing or suppressing their content based on political viewpoint. The bill was introduced by state Sen. Bryan Hughes partly…Ailan Evans -
- News
Justice Department Sues Texas Over ‘Heartbeat’ Abortion Law
President Joe Biden’s administration is suing Texas over the state’s new Heartbeat Act, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday. “The Department of Justice has a duty to defend the Constitution of the United States and to uphold the rule of law,” Garland said. “Today we fulfill that duty by filing the lawsuit I have just…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- Opinion
Don’t Fall for Biden’s Rhetoric on Texas. He Is Not the Advocate of Women He Claims to Be.
President Joe Biden recently called the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to allow Texas’ six-week abortion ban to remain in effect “an unprecedented assault on women’s constitutional rights.” Biden went on to say that he is prepared to react to “assaults on women’s rights” during his presidency. Unfortunately, the president’s track record makes it abundantly clear…Mary Szoch -
- News
How These Tech Companies Resist Texas’ New Abortion Law
Several major tech companies have taken action against Texas's new pro-life law by taking down pro-life websites and funding out-of-state abortions. The Texas Heartbeat Act, which went into effect Sept. 1 and also is known as SB 8, prohibits abortions after the unborn baby’s heartbeat is detectable, with exceptions for medical emergencies. The new Texas law includes…Ailan Evans -
- Opinion
Fight Over Texas Abortion Ban Reflects Semantics, Societal Decline
In the matter of a new Texas law banning abortions six weeks after gestation, when a fetal heartbeat can usually be detected by vaginal ultrasound, suppose the headlines had been different? Instead of words like “most restrictive in nation” (The Wall Street Journal) and “Supreme Court refuses to block Texas law” (The Washington Post), along…Cal Thomas -
- News
Texas Governor Signs Election Reforms Into Law Over Liberals’ Objections
Gov. Greg Abbott Tuesday signed Texas’ election reform bill into law, ending a monthslong political fight over the controversial legislation. Abbott, a Republican, traveled to Tyler, Texas, to sign SB 1, which repeals many of the voting measures that large cities in the state implemented amid the pandemic and overhauls the state’s mail-in voting and…Andrew Trunsky -
- News
Video Game CEO Ousted After Expressing Support for Texas Heartbeat Law
The head of a video game studio stepped down Monday evening after speaking out in support of the Texas Heartbeat Act on Saturday. John Gibson left his position as chief executive of Tripwire Interactive following a Saturday tweet in which he voiced his approval of the Texas Heartbeat Act, a law banning abortions after the unborn baby’s heartbeat…Ailan Evans -
- Opinion
Texas Gets Election Reform Right, ‘Mainstream’ Media Gets It Wrong
The Texas Legislature passed the state’s election reform package, SB 1, designed to protect voters by fixing vulnerabilities in the registration and election system. This happened only when Democrats finally returned to the state after fleeing to the nation’s capital in May to avoid the special session called by Gov. Greg Abbott. This bill’s biased…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
Texas Heartbeat Law Is Now in Effect. Here’s What You Need to Know.
Americans in many states support significant restrictions on abortion. Accordingly, policymakers are working across the country to enact policies that reflect this consensus, rooted in the understanding that life is our most basic human freedom and should be protected in public policy. A recently enacted Texas law that restricts most abortions after a fetal heartbeat…Melanie Israel -
- News
Biden Vows ‘Whole of Government’ Response to Texas Pro-Life Law
President Joe Biden condemned a ruling by the Supreme Court on Texas’ Heartbeat Act on Thursday, saying the court’s decision “insults the rule of law.” The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 late Wednesday night to deny abortion providers’ requests for injunctive relief against Texas’ new law banning abortion after six weeks. The president weighed in on the ruling Thursday morning,…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- News
Texas Targets Social Media Titans Over Viewpoint Censorship
The Texas state Senate passed a bill Tuesday that aims to curb perceived political censorship by social media companies. The bill, introduced by state Sen. Bryan Hughes, would prohibit social media platforms from “censoring” users based on their viewpoints. “Censoring” includes actions such as removing content, banning users, demonetizing users, and suppressing posts, according to the bill. Users…Ailan Evans -
- News
Supreme Court Takes No Action, Texas Abortion Ban Goes Into Effect
Texas’ highly disputed abortion ban went into effect early Wednesday morning, uninhibited by any action from the U.S. Supreme Court. Abortion providers had filed emergency requests to block the enforcement of the Heartbeat Act (SB 8), which bans abortions after the unborn baby's heartbeat can be detected. The Supreme Court did not intervene, though it still may do so. “It’s…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- Opinion
A Court Victory in Texas Against Obamacare’s Transgender Mandate
The long march of gender ideology through our laws and government institutions lately seems more like a mad dash. But that advance hit a high hurdle last week in Texas. A federal district court judge blocked an Obama-era measure that forced medical professionals to participate in gender transition surgery and similar measures, even against their…Jay Richards -
- News
Texas Supreme Court Rules That Democrats in Legislature Can Be Arrested to Compel Attendance
The Texas Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that the Texas Constitution authorizes the state’s House of Representatives to arrest members who flee in order to break the quorum required to vote. The opinion states that “just as” Texas’ Constitution enables “‘quorum-breaking’ by a minority faction of the legislature, it likewise authorizes ‘quorum-forcing’ by the remaining members,” including by…Andrew Trunsky