The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - April 8, 2026

Episode Date: April 8, 2026

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Howdy folks, today is Wednesday, April 8th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans managing editor Rob Laus, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker of the Texas House, Dustin Burroughs, announced last week Texas Research Program into Ibogame, a psychoactive drug that reportedly aids in treatment for those suffering from brain injury, addiction, and post-traumatic. stress disorder. The announcement stated that the Texas Health and Human Services Commission reported no drug companies had yet to submit proposals regarding the plant drug meeting, quote, the law's requirements and standards to receive state funds and begin clinical trials. Patrick and Burroughs responded, quote, Texas will proceed with our own research program.

Last year, state Senator Tan Parker put forth Senate Bill 2308, which related to the establishment of a consortium to conduct U.S. Food and Drug Administration, quote, drug development clinical trials with Ibogaine to secure the administration's approval of the medication's use, end quote, for treatments in which Ibegain has reportedly seen efficacy. Next, a resolution reaffirming state's constitutional rights to defend their borders in cases of invasion was introduced in Congress to act as future supporting material, if the issue is one day taken to the Supreme Court of the United States. Congressman Jody Arrington, who is currently serving his fifth and final term due to his impending retirement, has collected support from 25 Texas

state lawmakers and several other state leaders for his House Resolution 50. Arrington said the resolution uses Texas and other border states' experiences under former President Joe Biden's administration as context, describing Biden's policies to the Texan on Tuesday as causing a real, quote, invasion of people, drugs, and all kinds of criminal elements. In other news, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick released a letter on Wednesday sent to the Texas Department of State Health Services Commissioner Jennifer Schuford, explaining that he is, quote, doubling down, end quote, on the DHS to not issue Camp Mystic a new camping license, until the completion of ongoing investigations, including one now by the Texas Rangers.

Last year's July 4th weekend flooding saw the tragic deaths of 25 campers and two counselors at Camp Mystic, and there remains an ongoing search for one missing camper. Investigations into the camp have reportedly progressed to include the joint oversight of the Texas Rangers. The Department of Public Safety is quoted in Patrick's letter as stating, quote, the Texas Rangers are now assisting the Texas Department of State Health Services in an investigation regarding complaints of neglect by Camp Mystic in Kerr County during the July 4th, 2025 floods. Patrick described three investigations now underway, that of the DSHS, of the Rangers, and the ongoing legislative investigation. Also, Houston Police will be prohibited

from holding suspects based on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Administration, holds under a new policy approved by the city council on Wednesday. The ordinance dismantles a Houston Police Department policy that instructed officers to hold a suspect for up to 30 minutes while awaiting federal officials if the suspect was found to have an administrative ice warrant. Councilmember Alejandra Salinas said after the council approved the new ordinance in a 12 to 5 vote, quote, if someone is pulled over and there is an administrative warrant, police have to issue the ticket, and once that ticket is issued, the individual must be let go. Ice administrative warrants are signed by a federal officer based on probable cause that the individual is in the country illegally.

The U.S. Supreme Court has held that such warrants are grounds for detaining individuals, but not for entering a home. Last but not least, a jury in Brown County came to a verdict that called for the termination of parental rights of a mother and father who were informally labeled autistic and reported to child protective services by a hospital after taking their daughter there for her low weight gain. District Court Judge Mike Smith presided over the case. The parents' attorneys will seek an appeal for the case, which is supported by the Family Freedom Project, a nonprofit organization focused on protecting parental rights through advocacy and legal action. The FFP acknowledges unlawful court proceedings on the part of the judge and the exclusion of critical legal protections. Thanks for listening.

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