The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - August 19, 2026

Episode Date: August 19, 2026

The Texan’s Daily Rundown brings you a quick recap of the latest stories in Texas politics so you can stay informed with news you can trust.Want more resources? Visit The Texan for complete access to our in-depth articles, newsletters, videos, podcasts, and more.Enjoy what you hear? Be sure to follow us and leave a review!

Well, howdy, folks, today is Wednesday, August 19th, 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, the Texas House Committee on Transportation addressed the issue of commercial driver's licenses or CDLs, held by non-domiciled drivers, and weather-set operators are responsible for an increase in traffic crashes during a hearing on Monday. Among the charges issued by Texas House Speaker Dustin Burroughs during the interim for lawmakers to study ahead of the next legislative session was one that's become a focal point for transportation leaders under President Donald Trump's administration, foreign nationals holding CDLs. CDLs are required for operating vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating of over 26,000 pounds, vehicles designed to carry 16 or more passengers, or vehicles transporting hazardous materials. requiring placarding, such as semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, buses, or dump trucks. Texas ended its issuance of CDLs to certain non-citizens in September 2025, after an emergency rule change was

issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, citing, quote, a troubling series of fatal crashes caused by non-domiciled CDL holders. The charge that was discussed on Monday by the Transportation Committee requested that lawmakers quote, evaluate the presence of non-domiciled holders operating in Texas, including whether their presence correlates with an increase in traffic incidents. Next, the Texas House Committee on Agriculture and Livestock met for a hearing on Tuesday to discuss several interim charges. While the New World Screwworm commanded much of the conversation,

both panelists and members of the public testified to topics surrounding the agriculture sector's financial management, water challenges, effects of the federal Make America Healthy Again agenda, other pests affecting Texas livestock besides the screw worm, and the effects of data center development and urban sprawl on the industry. Interim charges six, four, and one were the broad topics reviewed during the hearing. Interim charge six deals with agency oversight, charge four deals with resiliency of the state's agriculture industry, and charge one directs the committee to monitor the implementation of Texas House Bill 43, a major investment and relief package that amends farm grant eligibility under the Texas Agricultural Finance Authority. In other news, two middle schools in Austin

Independent School District received their fifth failing A-Thru-F accountability rating from the Texas Education Agency last week. Under the Texas Education Code, quote, if a campus is considered to have an unacceptable performance rating for five consecutive school years, the commissioner, shall order one, appointment of a board of managers to govern the school district, or two, closure of the campus. The district originally had three middle schools with four consecutive failing ratings, Burnett, Dobie, and Webb. While Burnett and Webb earned F ratings, Dobey earned a D rating for this year. According to the TEA, a D rating does not break a consecutive failing streak. Only an A, B, or C rating will stop the count. A D rating instead pauses the count,

until there are three D-Ratings in the chain, at which point the failing streak resumes. Over the past school year, Austin ISD has made headlines for numerous challenges. In November, the district approved 10 school closures and 24 state-mandated turnaround plans for struggling campuses. After a projected $181 million budget deficit, the district was forced to make $205 million in cuts. Last but not least, Governor Greg Abbott proposed prohibits. prohibiting Texas public schools from accepting foreign funding and banning them from employing H-1B visa workers at a press conference on Tuesday, August 18th. Abbott, who is seeking re-election in November, has made education a focal point in his campaign. In his remarks, he stated that his goal was to put Texas, quote,

on the pathway to ranking number one in educating our children, end quote, touting record education funding levels in 2025 and praising the teacher incentive allotment program. Education is important, Abbott said, because, quote, the minds of our students are shaped by influences that they are being exposed to in our public schools. The governor added that those minds and the Texas education system risk being compromised by foreign influence, which necessitated the proposals he announced. He said, quote, there should be zero foreign influence in the education of our children. My proposal will shut the door on foreign money, materials, and partnerships in our K through 12 schools. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit

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