The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - February 23, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Howdy, folks? Today is Monday, February 23rd, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texan's Senior Editor McKenzie Jolulu, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, following the killing of a top drug lord in Mexico by that country's military with American assistance and the retaliatory responses from various cartels there, Governor Greg Abbott is both urging U.S. citizens in Mexico to shelter in place and at increasing Texas's security operations. An operation conducted by the Mexican military on Sunday resulted in the death of the cartel leader, known as El Mentiono. The operation was done in conjunction with intelligence provided by the U.S. as the infamous cartel leader was a top target for both the U.S. and Mexico, due to his role as one of the top traffickers of fentanyl into the U.S. Reports indicate that 25 Mexican National Guard members were killed in six separate attacks in response to his death, while cartel members have also been sending fire to vehicles and buildings, including a Costco grocery store and blocking several roadways.

Starting point is 00:01:09 American citizens were ordered to shelter in place until further notice by the U.S. Department of Consulate Affairs in Mexico due to ongoing widespread security operations and related road blockages and criminal activities in many areas of Mexico. Abbott directed the Texas Department of Public Safety to increase its homeland security and general public safety operations in light of the escalating cartel violence occurring in Mexico that poses a growing threat to American civilians. Abbott issued a statement on Sunday night, urging Texans who are currently in Mexico to follow the federal guidance to shelter in place. The Harris County Sheriff's Office, the largest such office in Texas, responded via a statement

Starting point is 00:01:51 from Sheriff Ed Gonzalez that as they monitor the developing situation, they remain focused on protecting Harris County from any potential impacts like shifts in fentanyl supply or related criminal activity. Next, an Austin high school parent filed a complaint with the Texas Office of the Attorney General alleging that a male student violated the law by continually using female bathrooms. Senate Bill 8, also known as the Texas Women's Privacy Act, requires a separation of publicly funded private spaces, such as bathrooms and domestic abuse shelters by biological sex. The bill was passed during a special session of the 89th legislative session and authored by State Senator Mayes Middleton. SB 8 received pushback from Democratic state representatives who raise concerns about how

Starting point is 00:02:36 the bill would be enforced, potential privacy implications, and broader debates over whether gender is a social construct. Mays told the Texan that SB 8 has harsh penalties for violations because this is about keeping all the daughters of Texas safe. According to the parents' OAG complaint, she notified Austin High School of the violation on January 15th, but the issue remained unresolved. Quote, She didn't get any response from the school about any changes to policy or what they were doing, or if they were even talking to the male student. Castle said, so it went completely silent after that. Middleton said that if Austin ISD refuses to comply, it will be subject to a $125,000 per day penalty,

Starting point is 00:03:15 enforced by the Attorney General's office, and an individual can sue the ISD to force them to follow the law. Last but not least, a Texas Tech University professor has been charged with conspiracy to distribute or possess with intent to to distribute fentanyl, according to a press release from the U.S. Department of Justice. Daniel Taylor, an assistant professor of marketing and supply chain management, was charged on February 18th and remained in federal custody as of February 20th on a $25,000 bond for the charge, along with other holds for federal warrants. Quote, instead of focusing on teaching students' supply chain management, the defendant, as alleged, was developing and implementing his own supply chain of lethal fentanyl into the

Starting point is 00:03:56 streets of Lubbock, unquote. for the Northern District of Texas, Ryan Raywold said, Taylor is no longer employed by the university, according to Allison Hearth, Texas Tech's Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communications, who said the professor's classes will not be affected. If convicted, each defendant could face 20 years in prison. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan,

Starting point is 00:04:16 please be sure to visit the Texan. News and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - February 23, 2026

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.