The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - January 5, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Monday, January 5th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans managing editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, the de facto leader of Venezuela, President Nicholas Maduro, and his wife, Celia Flores, were captured and arrested by the U.S. in the early hours of January 2nd. and Texas lawmakers have responded to the arrest. Governor Greg Abbott published on X, quote, Maduro is an indicted narco-terrorist. His drug trafficking operation cost the lives of many Americans.

Starting point is 00:00:43 His release of Trende Aragua gang members from Venezuelan prisons terrorized American communities and killed my fellow Texans. Texas and the world are better because of his capture. Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett and State Representative James Talarico, who are both running for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, expressed different sentiments than those of their Republican opponents. Crockett posted a lengthy video on X of her reaction to the arrest, claiming that Trump has, quote, made it clear that this is about oil,

Starting point is 00:01:14 oil, oil, oil, end quote. She stated that this was yet another example of Trump exceeding his powers as it relates to yet another foreign nation. Talariko chimed in with more criticism, referencing in a post on X, a purported deal between Trump and American oil executives regarding Venezuela's massive oil reserves under the new government. Upon their first court appearance in New York on Monday, Maduro and Flores pleaded not guilty. Their next court date is March 17th.

Starting point is 00:01:44 Next, a New Year's Day social media post from tech billionaire and political donor Elon Musk re-ignited a 2025 policy feud between Texas Republicans over whether a high high debated tort reform proposal would have shielded trucking companies that hire illegal immigrant drivers. Responding to Musk's assertion that a friend's wife had been killed by an illegal immigrant driving a truck, State Representative Mark LaHood took aim at Musk's donations to Texans for lawsuit reform. LaHood cited one of TLRs 2025 priority bills, Texas Senate Bill 39, which he said, quote, attempted to remove trucking companies from financial liability for, for accidents in almost all cases, pushing 100% of that liability onto their drivers."

Starting point is 00:02:32 LaHood added, quote, And who are they hiring to drive? Poor foreign nationals and illegal immigrants who don't speak English. His characterization of the bill was immediately challenged by State Representative Jeff Leach, who authored an identical house version of SB 39. Leach wrote on X, quote, I appreciate the passion and understand the frustration, But truth is paramount and facts matter, and the fact is that TLR never proposed such an outrageous

Starting point is 00:03:01 measure, not to me as the House author, nor to any other GOP legislator on our committee. SB 39 by State Senator Brian Birdwell passed the Senate, but was not taken up on the House floor last year. The measure sought to adjust civil liability law dealing with accidents involving 18-wheelers and remove an amendment to a 2021 trucking bill. In other news, since application, opened for schools and vendors on December 9th, nearly 600 private schools have signed up to participate in the state's $1 billion education savings account program, known as Texas Education Freedom Accounts. Houston has the highest number of registered schools at 172, followed by the Dallas-Fort Worth area with 154 and Dallas with 55. Acting state comptroller Kelly Hancock told CBS News that 83% of participants, schools are Catholic. According to a December 22nd press release from the Office of the Comptroller,

Starting point is 00:04:01 over 200 educational service providers, including tutors and therapists, have registered for the program. Hancock said in a press release, quote, TEFA is designed to put parents in the driver's seat, and the early responses from schools show that Texas families will have meaningful choices when applications open in February. Last but not least, 2025 was a big year in Texas politics, starting with a new speaker of the Texas House in Dustin Burroughs and ending with a new state congressional map, Governor Greg Abbott's long sought after education savings account program, and more than a few elected officials announcing for different offices. From the race to unseat U.S. Senator John Cornyn to Texas' five new congressional districts the GOP hopes to flip in the midterms, along with all the state issues ahead of, of the 2027 legislative session, visit the Texan. News for the biggest stories to watch going

Starting point is 00:04:58 into the new year. 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.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - January 5, 2026

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