The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - December 10, 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy, folks, today is Wednesday, December 10th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans assistant editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Governor Greg Abbott touted Turning Point USA chapter involvement at Texas schools on Monday, before being joined by Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, Texas Education Agency, Commissioner Mike Marath and other government officials. Abbott stated in a press release that if students face pushback in their attempts to open a Club America program, their school should be, quote, reported immediately to the TEA, where an investigation will be opened and disciplinary action will be taken if necessary. Last month, Patrick made a $1 million pledge to expand TPUSA's

Starting point is 00:00:55 reach in Texas, saying he hopes that chapters being established on can. campuses at Texas schools will honor TPUSA's late co-founder Charlie Kirk, who Patrick said, quote, shared his dream with me in hopes others will follow at any amount, whether it's $10 or much more. Kirk was assassinated in September during an on-campus TPCUSA speaking event in Utah, an event that sparked reactions from lawmakers at both the state and federal levels. According to the Texas Tribune, Marath has already met with members of TPUSA. leadership about the future prospects of chapters on Texas school campuses. In other news, a bipartisan advocacy group that helped defeat the city of Austin's proposed 20% property tax hike last month

Starting point is 00:01:43 has responded to legal wrangling over parity use of the city's controversial new logo by filing a lawsuit this week. After helping to defeat Proposition Q last month, the Save Austin Now PAC launched a petition effort to force the city to undergo third-party financial audits. The group included Austin's new A logo, but with the word audit underneath, along with language supportive of the petition on its website and social media accounts. In a statement to the Texan, Austin Chief Communications Director Jessica King said that the PAC's use of the city logo is, quote, inappropriate, confusing to the public, and a violation of our established trademark for an identity we established to make it easier for the public to connect with

Starting point is 00:02:29 city services. Last week, a private attorney hired at taxpayer expense to represent the city sent Save Austin now co-chair Matt McCoviac a warning that use of the stylized A constituted a copyright infringement and that unauthorized use of the logo would, quote, confuse consumers. McCoviac responded by inviting the city to sue, but told the Texan that, say, Austin now decided to seek an injunction in state court, since they believe their parody use of the logo is protected speech. Last but not least, the city of Dallas has approved new programs and policies to replace its previous racial equity policies in order to be compliant with federal grant requirements. Federal directives under the Trump administration made clear that race, color,

Starting point is 00:03:18 national origin, sex, and religion may not be used as criteria for participating in city programs and services. A city will not be eligible for grant funding if it does not certify that its programs and services comply with these requirements. A July 29th memorandum by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi clarified that cities receiving federal funds, quote, must ensure that their programs and activities comply with federal law and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, or other protected characteristics. No matter, the program's labels, objectives, or intentions. In June, the City Council passed a resolution calling on staff to review and evaluate all city policies and programs and allowed temporary

Starting point is 00:04:07 operational changes to ensure compliance. The City is adopting a developing regional and inclusive vendor enterprises, or drive policy, that aims to strengthen participation of local small businesses with the City, while helping to, quote, create jobs and boost the economy. It replaces the business inclusion and development policy that promoted minority and women-owned businesses for city contracts, which was suspended in June. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan. News and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts. Thank you.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - December 10, 2025

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