Texas Politics & News
The Daily Signal highlights Texas as a leader in conservative policy and governance, covering Lone Star State legislation, elections, border enforcement, and energy dominance.
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- News
Texas Governor Announces Investigation Into Case of Mom’s Transitioning Child Against Dad’s Wishes
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced an investigation into the case of a 7-year-old boy whose mother plans to transition him to a girl against his father’s wishes. Abbott, a Republican, tweeted that the Texas Attorney General’s Office and the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services is looking into details of James Younger’s case. A judge was expected…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- Opinion
Texas Shooting Death Shows the High Cost of Police Negligence
Over the last several days, many journalists and commentators have reported on the tragic death of Atatiana Jefferson, a Fort Worth, Texas, pre-med student who was shot through a window by a police officer conducting a check on her property. If witness statements and body camera footage are anything to go by, Jefferson’s death is…Amy Swearer -
- News
Texas Officer Aaron Dean Charged With Murder After Killing Black Woman in Her Home
A Fort Worth, Texas, police officer resigned and now faces charges after shooting a woman in her own home, Fort Worth Police Chief Edwin Kraus told reporters Monday. Officer Aaron Dean, who is white, shot and killed 28-year-old Atatiana Jefferson, who is black, at 2:30 a.m. on Saturday while she was looking after her 8-year-old…Audrey Conklin -
- News
A Texas Town Votes to End ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’
A city council in Texas has voted to stop renting out space at the local library to public organizations, essentially canceling the town’s ability to have a “Drag Queen Story Time” for children, a move hailed by pro-family advocates. “These are people who are actually employed at adult nightclubs,” Mary Elizabeth Castle, a policy adviser…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
Texas Governor Announces Domestic Terrorism Task Force After El Paso Shooting
Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday he is forming a counter-domestic terrorism task force in the aftermath of the shooting at a Walmart in El Paso. He also instructed the Texas Department of Public Safety to assist in preventing domestic terrorism by having agents cooperate with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and bolstering…Matt M. Miller -
- Opinion
Is Texas Democrat Exploiting Loophole by Coaching Migrants to Lie?
Are Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, and her staff violating federal immigration law? If the information reported in the Washington Examiner is correct, then the answer could be “yes.” The National Border Patrol Council’s El Paso chapter and Customs and Border Protection staff told the Examiner that Escobar has been sending members of her staff to the Mexican…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
Podcast: Her Think Tank Helped Forge the Texas Miracle
In the last 15 years, Texas has led the way among red states showing how small government is the path to prosperity. But the Texas economic miracle can’t be told without mentioning the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the leading conservative think tank in the Lone Star State. Brooke Rollins built that foundation up to become…Katrina Trinko -
- News
In 2 Months, Texas Law Will Protect Survivors of Abortion
Texas law soon will protect the rights of newborns who survive abortion attempts and will impose a fine of at least $100,000 on health care providers who don’t give proper care to abortion survivors. “I was proud to sign HB 16 into law, and I am grateful for Representative Leach’s leadership to help protect the…Kaylee Greenlee -
- News
19 Arrests Later, a Texas Town Is Torn Apart Over Voter Fraud
EDINBURG, Texas—The story that thrust a Rio Grande Valley city into the national spotlight is hardly a new anomaly, say residents such as Richard Monte. “Down here, voter fraud is not all that unusual,” says Monte, a city planning consultant in a brown suit jacket, sitting with other activists at a table in Coffee Zone…Fred Lucas -
- News
Texas Town Outlaws Abortion, Declares Sanctuary City for the Unborn
A city council in Waskom, Texas, outlawed abortion procedures Wednesday and declared the city a sanctuary for the unborn. The move was pushed by Right to Life of East Texas and precedes another bill Texas lawmakers are pushing, which would require doctors to care for babies born alive following botched abortions. Abortions are not permitted in the state of…Mary Margaret Olohan -
- News
Texas Governor Signs Bill Defending Chick-Fil-A
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law Monday state legislation to protect the fast-food chain Chick-fil-A from discrimination. The legislation—Senate Bill 1978, dubbed the “Save Chick-fil-A” bill—specifically prohibits local governments in the state “from retaliating against anyone based on their affiliation or support of a religious organization,” according to KEYE-TV, the CBS affiliate in Austin,…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
We Hear You: Visiting the Border Patrol in Laredo, Texas
Editor’s note: The Daily Signal’s audience responded to the reporting our Fred Lucas did from the U.S.-Mexico border at Laredo, Texas. Here’s a sampling. Write us at [email protected].—Ken McIntyre Dear Daily Signal: I live on Social Security and do not have funds to donate, but I read and appreciate the information The Daily Signal publishes….Ken McIntyre -
- News
Border Patrol Catches 116 Africans at Texas Border
The Border Patrol is seeing an increase in migrants from African countries who are blending in with the large numbers crossing the southern border illegally through Central America. Agents assigned to at the Del Rio, Texas, sector apprehended 116 individuals last week from African countries as they crossed the border from Mexico. Those caught around…Fred Lucas -
- News
No Border Wall, but This Will Have to Do for 1 Texas City
LAREDO, Texas—Pulling up in an SUV outside the 10-foot-tall fence at Laredo College, Narcizo Ramos recalls the problems the school used to have with unwanted visitors. “I actually came to this college as a student,” Ramos, a special operations supervisor for the U.S. Border Patrol, told The Daily Signal. “I can tell you, this little…Fred Lucas -
- News
I Toured the Texas-Mexico Border. Here Are 8 Things I Learned.
LAREDO, Texas—Guarding this sector of the southern border involves a set of challenges that is quite different than nearby stations in the Lone Star State. I learned this during a tour of the border last week that included this city of about 250,000 across from Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, just a few hours away across the…Fred Lucas -
- News
Texas Lawmakers Pass ‘Save Chick-Fil-A’ Bill
Texas’ Republican-controlled House voted Monday to pass a “Save Chick-fil-A” bill. The “Save Chick-fil-A” bill does not allow the government to take “any adverse action” against any contractor, individual, or business because of their religious beliefs. “It strengthens and reaffirms Texas’ First Amendment rights,” Republican state Rep. Matt Krause said to The Daily Caller News Foundation….Shelby Talcott -
- News
Voter Fraud Charges Endanger Texas Mayor, Topple Another in NJ
In a tale of two city mayors arrested last week on voter fraud charges, one resigned while the other says a jury will decide. Edinburg, Texas, Mayor Richard Molina doesn’t plan to go anywhere. Molina won the mayor’s race in November 2017 by 1,240 votes. But on April 25, Texas Rangers arrested the mayor and…Fred Lucas -
- Opinion
Texas Lawmaker Weighs in on Border Crisis: ‘No Doubt It’s a National Emergency’
Rep. Michael Cloud, R-Texas, joins the podcast to chat about how Republicans are trying to protect the lives of babies born alive after an attempted abortion, and how in his South Texas district, the border crisis is affecting people. Read the transcript, posted below, or listen to the podcast: We also cover these stories: As…Daniel Davis -
- News
Cartels Are ‘Abusing’ Asylum Laws, Causing a Human Trafficking ‘Crisis,’ Texas Lawmaker Says
A Texas lawmaker says the situation on the southern border is “a real crisis” because human traffickers are exploiting our asylum laws, which he says are “broken.” “We have a sophisticated enterprise where cartels are profiting by moving people across the border,” Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, said on the fourth installment of the House Freedom…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Texas Lawmaker: Border Wall Is ‘Absolutely Critical’
Rep. Michael Burgess, R-Texas, joins us to share his thoughts on border security. He’s also the senior physician in the House, and he’ll give us his take on the so-called Medicare for All proposal. Listen to the interview in the podcast or read the transcript below. Plus: If you’ve ever wondered which states are the…Daniel Davis