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 Boy Says Adults Called Him ‘Little Hitler’ When He Started Raising Money for the Wall
A young Texas boy faced both praise and ridicule from adults after he opened a hot chocolate stand to raise money for President Donald Trumps’ border wall. Benton Stevens—a 7-year-old from Austin, Texas—wanted to help raise funds for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border after watching Trump deliver the State of the Union address earlier…Jason Hopkins -
- Opinion
On Occupational Licensing, Texas Is Again the ‘Lodestar State’ for Legal Reforms
Texas has been at the forefront of state prison and criminal justice reform since 2007, but it isn’t resting on its laurels. By reforming its criminal justice system, Texas has sensibly and carefully reduced its prison population, cut state spending, and expanded prisoners’ access to drug and mental health treatment and to education programs—all of…Jonathan Zalewski -
- Opinion
What a Registration Surprise in Texas Tells Us About Voter Fraud
The man in charge of elections in Texas made a surprise announcement last week: As many as 95,000 noncitizens had registered to vote, and 58,000 of them may have voted in at least one election between 1996 and 2018. The finding announced by Texas Secretary of State David Whitley is serious, and almost immediately the…Jason Snead -
- News
This Organization is Preparing a New Generation of Conservative Activists Across Texas
A Texas nonprofit whose missions is to “promote and defend liberty, personal responsibility, and free enterprise” in the state and nation held a two-day public policy conference in November to train young conservatives to be effective leaders in their communities. The Liberty Leadership Council, a project of the Austin-based conservative think tank Texas Public Policy Foundation,…Tristan Justice -
- News
Texas City Featured in Al Gore’s ‘Inconvenient Sequel’ Lost Millions in Its Green Energy Gamble
Former Vice President Al Gore hailed the city of Georgetown, Texas, for powering itself with only solar and wind energy, but now the city is losing millions on its green energy gamble. Georgetown’s bet against fossil fuel prices cost the city-owned utility nearly $7 million this year, and prompted officials to look for a way out of…Michael Bastasch -
- News
Evidence of Crimes Irrelevant to Impeaching Trump, a Texas Democrat Insists
High crimes and misdemeanors are irrelevant to whether President Donald Trump should be impeached by the House, despite the Constitution, a Texas lawmaker said. “The people who say, ‘What law did he break? What rule did he break?,’ they are perpetrating upon you a belief that is totally inaccurate,” Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, said Thursday…Rachel del Guidice -
- Opinion
Problematic Women: The Forgotten Voices of Santa Fe, Texas
On today’s “Problematic Women,” we cover our mini-documentary about the May school shooting in Santa Fe, Texas, produced by our very own Kelsey Harkness and Lauren Evans. Unlike the shooting in Parkland, Florida, this community was not given a voice and largely has been forgotten. Two students now bravely tell their story. We also discuss…Ginny Montalbano -
- Opinion
Podcast: Austin, Texas Discovers Its Own Name Is Problematic
In a quest to uproot Confederate names and statues, Austin, Texas, discovered the problematic legacy of Stephen F. Austin, who died before the Civil War. Jarrett Stepman joins us to discuss the latest push to eradicate history. Plus: There’s an uproar at the University of Virginia over hiring a Trump aide to be a one-year…Katrina Trinko -
- News
In Surprise Visit to Texas, First Lady Looks After Children at Border
After media fallout and heightened emotions over the Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy at the southern border, first lady Melania Trump decided to see for herself. The first lady touched down Thursday morning in the border town of McAllen, Texas, pulling off an impressive surprise visit that was not leaked beforehand. “I’m here to learn…Ginny Montalbano -
- News
Ted Cruz Says Media Is Avoiding Santa Fe School Shooting Because Texas Students Don’t Want Gun Control
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, says students from the high school near Houston where the deadly shooting occurred told him they don’t believe more gun control is the way to make schools safer. In an interview in his Senate office Tuesday with The Daily Signal, Cruz said support for the Second Amendment in Texas is why…Genevieve Wood -
- Opinion
Texas A&M Shuts Down 2 Chinese Learning Institutes Deemed National Security Threats
Tensions between the U.S. and China just reached two college campuses in Texas. On April 9, the Texas A&M University system announced its intention to close two Confucius Institutes located at its College Station and Prairie View campuses, respectively. The Chinese government-funded institutes offer language and cultural programming for students, but a recent letter from Reps. Henry…Helle Dale -
- News
Soros Chalks Up Another DA Win After Dropping Nearly $1 Million in Texas Race
George Soros has effectively purchased another district attorney’s seat. The left-wing billionaire pumped almost $1 million into a Texas district attorney’s race against a Democratic DA who opposes sanctuary cities, according to campaign filings reviewed by The Daily Caller News Foundation. Soros’ preferred candidate, Joe Gonzales, upset incumbent Bexar County DA Nico LaHood in the…Peter Hasson -
- News
Texas Committee Votes to Keep Confederate Statue, but Add Anti-Slavery Plaque and Kiosks
A Texas committee voted to keep a Confederate statue, but will add an anti-slavery plaque and kiosks to it, according to a Thursday report. The monument advisory committee in Denton, Texas, voted 12-3 to preserve a Confederate soldier statue but add a plaque and audiovisual interviews bashing slavery and segregation, reported the Denton Record-Chronicle. “I felt…Rob Shimshock -
- Opinion
University of Texas at Austin Nixes Beijing-Funded Propaganda Institute
The University of Texas at Austin has become the latest North American institution of higher learning to reject the idea of a Chinese Confucius Institute on its campus. Confucius Institutes are major elements in the Chinese global propaganda offensive, being offered with millions of dollars in funding to universities and colleges around the world by the…Helle Dale -
- News
New Freedom Caucus in the Texas Legislature Seeks to ‘Amplify the Voice of the Grassroots’
Republicans in the Texas Statehouse say they dedicated a Freedom Caucus within the Legislature to advancing grassroots conservative values, and they hope the caucus will be a significant influence in the selection of the next speaker of the state House. “Texas is a bright red state, a Republican stronghold, but it has been frustrating to…Rachel del Guidice -
- News
Texas Budget to Include $20 Million for Pro-Life Options
Texas has allocated $20 million in its 2018-2019 budget to go to a pro-life program that offers alternatives to abortion and provides services to new parents. “If they’re self-sufficient through the process of childbirth and afterward, that saves the state money and makes for much happier women and children and families,” Texas Alliance for Life…Grace Carr -
- News
CNN Fails to Include Unborn Baby in Texas Church Shooting Victim Tally
CNN rejected the official government tally of 26 victims in last week’s Texas church shooting, insisting the victims included “25 people and an unborn child.” Texas is one of 38 states with fetal homicide laws that treat unborn children as individual entities when it comes to criminal law, according to The New York Times. CNN tweeted the…Anders Hagstrom -
- News
Here’s Why an Unborn Baby Was Counted as a Person in the Texas Massacre
The sheriff deputies who assessed the fatalities at the bloody crime scene at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas, counted the death toll as 26 because one of the victims was a mother carrying an unborn child inside of her. The federal Unborn Victims of Violence Act of 2004 recognizes unborn children as separate victims for…Grace Carr -
- Opinion
After Texas Shooting, the Secular Left’s Gospel of Condescension Continues
Adversity does not build character, James Lee Allen wrote, it reveals it. That’s become painfully clear in the last 24 hours, as many liberals seem intent on showing the country just how little they’ve learned about Americans since last year’s election. The party that thought calling voters “deplorable” was a winning strategy is back at…Tony Perkins -
- Opinion
How to Respond to Those Who Want to ‘Do Something’ After Texas Shooting
The world reacted in horror when news came Sunday of the massacre of Christians at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. They gathered—and Jesus was among them, as He promised believers—but somehow evil penetrated their worship. The shooter, Devin Kelley, killed Pastor Frank Pomeroy’s 14-year-old daughter Annabelle. He killed eight members of the…Emily Miller