The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - August 14, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Well, howdy, folks, today is Friday, August 14th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texan senior editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, after a court-ruling hamstrung enforcement of the National Firearms Act in 15 states last week, a Texas gun store sold unregistered suppressors to two political figures on Thursday morning, marking purportedly the first such deal since Congress passed the law in 1934. State Representative Wes Verdel, one of the purchasers, told the Texan, quote, I woke up this morning and walked outside, I didn't get arrested, and my dog was still alive, so I think we're in a pretty good spot.

Starting point is 00:00:47 Verdel and Brandon Herrera, this year's Republican nominee for Texas' 23rd Congressional District, bought two silencers apiece from Leander-based firearm retailer silencer shop without going through the NFA registration process, according to a press release and video published by Advocacy Group Gun Owners of America, silencer shop was the lead plaintiff in a federal case that resulted in a sweeping injunction against the one strictly enforced law last week, and the federal government has not challenged the ruling. The GOA's press release claims Verdell and Herrera made history with the purchase. Passed in 1934 in response to Prohibition-era gang violence, the NFA imposed a $200 tax, the equivalent of almost $5,000 today on the production and transfer of certain firearms and other items,

Starting point is 00:01:36 including machine guns, shotguns and rifles with barrels shorter than 19 inches, and suppressors. A provision authored by U.S. Representative Andrew Clyde and the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduced this tax to $0, effectively eliminating Congress's taxing power over these items. In other news, the Texas Senate Select Committee on Homeland and Border Security, heard testimony on Wednesday regarding interim charges to examine how the use of unmanned aircraft systems, commonly known as drones, relates to public safety. Chared by state senator Phil King, the committee was tasked with studying current partnerships with the federal government and Mexico that aid Texas agencies in quote, defending against and disabling hostile drones. The interim charges

Starting point is 00:02:22 also included recommending state agencies to assist the federal government with drone mitigation, identifying what prohibitions are needed to protect critical infrastructure and public events, and strengthening penalties that, quote, close any gaps when protecting Texas skies. The Safer Skies Act was included as part of the larger National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 26. The law enables state and local law enforcement to disable drones that threaten public safety and also extends these authorities at the federal level. Last but not least, residents of Dallas will again be asked to approve a $443 million public safety bond package in November, just two years after they approved a $1.25 billion bond package. The city council was presented with a nearly $1 billion package by

Starting point is 00:03:11 the city staff, but only the $443 million proposal for public safety passed by a vote of 11 to 4. The package includes $82 million in additional funding for the new Dallas Police Academy, which is being added to the 50 million approved for the same purpose in 2024. Dallas city manager Kimberly Tolbert told the city council that she couldn't find any justification for the $50 million figure that was in the 2024 bond package, except, quote, that's just all we could ask for. City officials said they planned to break ground on the training facility in September, with the opening expected in 2008. Tolbert said in a press release in April, quote, there is strong momentum moving this project forward, and once it is finished, our city will realize enormous benefits,

Starting point is 00:03:57 such as improved police recruiting and a police force trained in state-of-the-art operations. The public safety bond package would also include funds to upgrade the police property room, crime lab, and evidence vehicle storage facility. The funds would also be used to relocate the Dallas 911 emergency operations out of the current city hall. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan.news to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters and podcasts.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - August 14, 2026

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