The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - December 2, 2024

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Monday, December 2nd, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lausches, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Lt. Col. Freeman Martin will be the new Director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, becoming the first Texas Ranger to lead the agency in its history. Governor Greg Abbott stated in the press release announcement, quote, With a wealth of experience in law enforcement and a strong commitment to uphold the rule of law, Freeman Martin is the right choice to lead the Texas Department of Public Safety

Starting point is 00:00:39 and will be instrumental to ensure the safety and security of Texans. Previous Texas DPS Director Steve McCraw announced back in August that he would be stepping down, saying that serving in the role had been the greatest honor of his life. Next, the Biden administration must halt its interference with Texas' Concertina razor-wire barriers along the southern border. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on November 27th after an extensive saga between the state and presidential administration. The Fifth Circuit's decision on Wednesday reversed a lower court's ruling in favor of the federal government, which had allowed it to cut and remove razor wire barriers implemented by Texas and denied the state's request for a

Starting point is 00:01:21 preliminary injunction against the federal agents. Texas then appealed the decision to the Fifth Circuit, calling the Biden administration's efforts blatant and disturbing and describing it as an attempt to, quote, subvert law and order at our state's border with Mexico. The court approved Texas's requested preliminary injunction. Texas chose to defy the U.S. Supreme Court's order in January that allowed federal agents to cut down razor wire laid by the state to secure the southern border, continuing to put up the barriers and touting it on social media. It spurred supportive responses from multiple GOP governors across the country. In other news, several members of the San Antonio City Council

Starting point is 00:02:03 have submitted a memo asking the city to identify $100,000 in funds that can be used for downstream services like travel expenses for those seeking abortions. Council members Melissa Havrda, Phyllis Villagran, Sukh Kaur, Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, and Terry Castillo signed a memo addressed to Mayor Ron Nirenberg about the city's Reproductive Justice Fund. In September 2023, San Antonio allocated $500,000 to a Reproductive Justice Fund that Castillo claimed was, quote, crucial to support the residents' rights to make reproductive health care decisions, including abortion. It was supported by groups like the Lilith Fund, which, quote, provides direct financial and emotional support to Texans forced to travel to access abortions and those who need reproductive care close to home. Pro-life groups like the San Antonio Family

Starting point is 00:02:57 Association and Texas Right to Life filed suit in October 2023, seeking an injunction to stop the city, quote, from providing taxpayer money to any organization that pays for abortion travel or that procures elective abortions for Texas residents. Also, the oil and gas law that currently applies to salt mining in Texas could change due to a lawsuit at the Texas Supreme Court over mineral rights and royalty calculations, and a stake amounting to roughly $2.2 million. Myers-Woodward LLC v. Underground Services Markham LLC and United Brine Pipeline Company LLC raises questions about the rights and ownership of underground salt caverns that are created during the salt extraction process and how the resulting mineral royalties are handled.

Starting point is 00:03:46 The Supreme Court granted review of the case on August 8, 2024, and heard oral arguments on October 29, 2024. On November 13 and 14, several letters were filed in favor of Myers-Woodward and in favor of Underground Services Markham. By the way, it's Cyber Monday, the last day to get 50% off an annual subscription to The Texan. Don't miss out on your chance for a year's worth of news you can trust for just half the price. Visit thetexan.news for more information.

Starting point is 00:04:16 This is one sale you don't want to miss. Last but not least, one of the most famous fathers of Texas arrived in this country and American state to be on this day 192 years ago. Sam Houston crossed the Red River into Mexican-owned Tejas on December 2, 1832. Visit TheTexan.News to learn more about the arrival of one of the Lone Star State's most important historical figures today in Texas history. Thanks for listening. To support The Texan, please be sure to visit thetexan.news and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - December 2, 2024

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