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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One Texas Jail Tells the Story of America’s Illegal Immigration Crisis
Mexican cartel members are “running scared” and fearful of President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration, according to the sheriff of Tarrant County, Texas. Like many local law enforcement officials, Sheriff Bill Waybourn has witnessed the sharp spike in illegal immigration over the past four years. He welcomed the increased enforcement from the federal government. …R.E. Wermus -
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Too Many Drugs, Not Enough Prosecution, Texas Border Sheriff Says
HUDSPETH COUNTY, Texas—The courts are “failing” in West Texas, Hudspeth County Sheriff Arvin West says. Law enforcement is apprehending drugs every day in his county, which borders Mexico, but West says his deputies are tired of repeatedly arresting the same people. “When I get on the deputies about, ‘Y'all need to stop this…Virginia Allen -
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West Texas Sheriffs: Oil Theft Is a Major Crime Issue
HUDSPETH COUNTY, Texas—Law enforcement in West Texas say they don’t have enough manpower to deal with the rise of oil theft. “Everybody's shorthanded,” Sheriff Art Granado of Reeves County told The Daily Signal at the March Big Bend Area Law Enforcement Officers Association meeting while explaining the oil theft issue in his community. “There is…Virginia Allen -
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Texas Bill Would Ban ‘Furry Culture’ in Public Schools
THE CENTER SQUARE—State Rep. Stan Gerdes, R-Smithville, introduced the FURRIES Act, known as the Forbidden Unlawful Representation of Roleplaying in Education, on Thursday to prohibit Texas public schools from allowing furry subculture behavior in classrooms and on campuses. The furry subculture involves individuals adopting anthropomorphic animal identities who often dress in costumes and attempt to mimic…Bethany Blankley -
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‘He Needed to Be Censured,’ House Freedom Caucus Members Say of Texas Democrat
Americans witnessed an unprecedented display of incivility during President Donald Trump’s address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday night when Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, had to be physically removed from the House chamber after disrupting the president’s speech. Now, the Houston-area congressman has been censured by his colleagues, on a vote of 224-to-198….Jacob Adams -
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Texas Lawmaker’s Bill Would Require DHS to Report to Congress Crimes Illegal Aliens Commit
New legislation would require the Department of Homeland Security to notify Congress of crimes committed by illegal aliens that the Biden administration paroled in the country. Rep. Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas, introduced the Criminal Illegal Alien Report Act on Thursday. The bill, if passed and signed into law, would require DHS to “to report to…Virginia Allen -
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Ethics Complaint Filed Against Texas Republican for ‘Hot Mic’ Moment
A conservative nonprofit government oversight group filed an ethics complaint against Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, on Tuesday, arguing that his recent “hot microphone” comment about wanting to “kill” journalist Tucker Carlson violates congressional decorum rules. “[We are writing] today to request that you immediately open an investigation of Representative Dan Crenshaw for violation of the…George Caldwell -
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IED Kills Texas Rancher. Cartels Expected to Be Responsible, Official Says.
An improvised explosive device killed a Texas rancher last month, Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller says. “This shocking act of violence highlights the growing threat posed by cartel activity along our southern border,” Miller said in a statement Tuesday. Antonio Céspedes Saldierna, 74, was killed at the end of January when his vehicle detonated an…Virginia Allen -
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Books Banned in Prisons, but Allowed in Schools? Texas Mom Wants Them Out
A Texas mother is looking to pass several bills through the state legislature this session after discovering what she calls “vulgar,” “profane,” and “indecent” books in public school libraries across the state. Bonnie Wallace, a member of the Llano County Library Advisory Board and mother to a former Llano County Independent School District student, began…R.E. Wermus -
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Hidden Camera Video Shows Texas DEI Director Discussing Transgender Sports ‘Workarounds’
A Texas school district’s DEI director resigned after being recorded on hidden camera discussing ways to circumvent state law regarding transgender student athletes. In the recording from Accuracy in Media, Hutto Independent School District Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Keyawna Glaze told an undercover journalist there were “workarounds” to Texas law requiring student…R.E. Wermus -
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Texas School Faces Fallout Over Hidden Camera Footage on Transgender Sports Ban
A day after Texas Gov. Greg Abbott demanded criminal and civil investigations into the Irving Independent School District, an administrator resigned Wednesday amid the uproar over his comments about circumventing a state law regarding transgender athletes. “This Irving ISD Administrator should be fired on the spot,” Abbott wrote on X after an undercover video appeared…R.E. Wermus -
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Texas A&M’s Partisan General Counsel Puts University in Legal Jeopardy Over DEI
Texas A&M University is in legal and political trouble. It faces threats of civil rights liability, the loss of federal funding, and the firing of its president, Mark Welsh III, all because its general counsel, Ray Bonilla, gave the university legal advice that he should have known was unsound. Journalist-activist Chris Rufo revealed on X…GianCarlo Canaparo -
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Freshman Texas Lawmaker Fights to Enshrine ‘Remain in Mexico’ Migrant Policy Into Law
Freshman Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas., introduced his first bill in Congress on Thursday, legislation intended to reinstate President-elect Donald Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” policy regarding would-be immigrants. The bill would restore a policy from Trump’s first term that required all asylum-seekers coming through Mexico to remain there until their asylum hearing in an American court….George Caldwell -
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FBI Identifies Texas Man as Bourbon Street Attacker
THE CENTER SQUARE—The FBI has identified the driver of a truck that plowed into a crowd of people celebrating New Year's on Bourbon Street early Wednesday, killing at least 15 people and injuring 35. Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42, a U.S. citizen and U.S. Army veteran from Houston, rented the F-150 Lightning truck, the FBI said. Alethea…Steve Wilson -
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Appeals Court Rules in Favor of Texas in Razor Wire Case
THE CENTER SQUARE—A panel of three judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled in favor of Texas in a lawsuit filed over its concertina wire barriers. The court ruled 2-1 on Monday in a case that may set the tone for two other cases before the court related to Texas’ border…Bethany Blankley -
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Texas Lawmaker Urges GOP to ‘Get the Nerve’ to Repeal Law That Biden Weaponized Against Pro-Lifers
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Rep. Chip Roy said Congress should vote by the end of the year to repeal the law used by the Biden Department of Justice to throw pro-lifers in prison. “Obviously, we need to move the bill forward, and it would be critical because of what we’re seeing with respect to the…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell -
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Texas Democrat Resigns After Criticizing Left’s Trans Policies
THE CENTER SQUARE—After Republicans won races statewide, especially in South Texas, the chair of the Texas Democratic Party, Gilberto Hinojosa, said he plans to resign next year after serving 12 years in the role. Hinojosa and Texas Democrats have criticized Republican policies, including border security measures implemented by Gov. Greg Abbott. After Nov. 5, Hispanic…Bethany Blankley -
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3 Reasons Texas Border Counties Went Red
In 1892, Starr County, Texas, voted to reelect Republican President Benjamin Harrison. The president lost, and Starr County turned blue for over 130 years, until the 2024 presidential election. On Tuesday, Donald Trump earned 9,443 votes in the county, which is 97% Hispanic or Latino, and Kamala Harris received 6,845 votes, according to the Texas…Virginia Allen -
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After Being Sued, DOJ Agrees Not To Interfere in Texas Election
THE CENTER SQUARE—Within a few hours of being sued, the U.S. Department of Justice agreed not to interfere in Tuesday’s election process and a federal judge issued a temporary restraining order to ensure it didn’t. On Friday, the DOJ announced its plan “to monitor compliance with federal voting rights laws in 86 jurisdictions in 27…Bethany Blankley -
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Texas Attorney General Charges Doctor With Violating Law Against Irreversible Transgender Procedures for Kids
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing a doctor for allegedly providing irreversible transgender medical procedures to 21 minors. A Texas law, which took effect in September 2023, prohibits experimental transgender medical interventions for children, including such as surgeries, puberty blockers, and hormone replacement therapy. The Office of the Attorney General of Texas says it…Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell