The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - July 16, 2025

Episode Date: July 16, 2025

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Howdy folks, today is Wednesday, July 16th and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lauschus and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Judge Austin Reeve Jackson of the 114th District Court has set a new execution date for death row inmate Robert Roberson after hearing arguments during a July 16th hearing. Jackson set the new execution date for October 16th, 364 days after the initial date Roberson was to be put to death for his capital murder conviction in 2003.

Roberson was convicted and sentenced in connection with the death of his two-year-old daughter, Nikki Curtis, in 2002. Roberson's attorney, Gretchen Swin, argued during the hearing that the scheduling of the execution date should be delayed due to other courts inaction, saying that Roberson has a pending writ of habeas corpus application with the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals. Swin said she will file a motion to withdraw the date in a last-ditch effort to delay the execution. Next, Senator John Cornyn received

endorsements from the National Border Patrol Council, 20 border sheriffs, and former director of the Texas Department of Public Safety Colonel Steve McCraw for his reelection bid against primary challenger Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. The border official heavy list rolled out on Wednesday included the counties whose sheriffs have formally declared their support for Cornyn. Cornyn recently touted his success in adding a provision to the budget reconciliation, One Big Beautiful Bill

that will refund Texas approximately $13.5 billion for expenses incurred under the Biden administration for border security efforts. bill that will refund Texas approximately $13.5 billion for expenses incurred under the Biden administration for border security efforts. He carried it in the upper chamber with Senator Ted Cruz as co-author, following Governor Greg Abbott's request for federal reimbursement over the state's financial burden in managing the border under President Joe Biden. In other news, State Representative Steve Toth officially launched his primary challenge to incumbent Congressman Dan Crenshaw to a

cheering crowd of hundreds of supporters in a church in the Woodlands on Tuesday evening. At the event emceed by conservative commentator and comedian Chad Prather, Toth and others praised President Donald Trump but took aim at Crenshaw and his record. Toth said in reference to 2024 border legislation, quote, President Trump has shown us what bold leadership can do. He reduced illegal crossings to historic lows by putting America first and he did it without any legislation that Dan Crenshaw and 100% of Democrats said we needed, end quote. Trump and border hawks opposed legislation crafted in the Senate legislation that Dan Crenshaw and 100% of Democrats said we needed." Trump and border hawks opposed legislation crafted in the Senate last year that would

have allowed up to 5,000 illegal immigrants to across the border daily for seven consecutive days before triggering a possible border closure. Crenshaw publicly lambasted his Republican colleagues for their early criticism of the bill, calling it, quote, the height of stupidity. The measure did not pass the Senate and was never voted on in the House. Also, according to sources that have spoken to the New York Times, the US Department of Justice is going forward in its case against Congressman Henry Cuellar. Cuellar's home and campaign office were raided in 2022 after allegations of financial misconduct.

In May 2024, Cuellar and his wife were indicted for having, quote, allegedly accepted approximately $600,000 in bribes from two foreign entities, an oil and gas company wholly owned and controlled by the government of Azerbaijan, and a bank headquartered in Mexico City." Two political consultants involved with Cuellar pleaded guilty to conspiracy charges days after the DOJ indictment. A third individual has also entered a guilty plea in connection with the ongoing investigation into the congressman.

Charges related to Cuellar's dealings with Azerbaijan and Mexican citizens are expected to be withdrawn according to the New York Times. Last but not least, according to the latest data from the Texas Education Agency, teacher attrition has increased throughout the state while teacher turnover has declined. Though often used interchangeably, the two terms refer to different trends of teacher movement. The TEA defines attrition as teachers who do not return to a public school the following fall, while turnover includes any change in a teacher's position, whether leaving the profession, transferring districts, or moving into a non-teaching role.

The TEA reported a 12.9% attrition rate among Texas teachers as of fall 2024, up 0.8 percentage points from the previous year. Statewide turnover data showed the rate fell to 19.1% following the 2023-2024 school year, a decrease of 2.3% from the year before. 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.