The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - July 7, 2026

Episode Date: July 7, 2026

The Texan’s Daily Rundown brings you a quick recap of the latest stories in Texas politics so you can stay informed with news you can trust.Want more resources? Visit The Texan for complete access to our in-depth articles, newsletters, videos, podcasts, and more.Enjoy what you hear? Be sure to follow us and leave a review!

Well, howdy folks, today's Tuesday, July 7th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texan's senior editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, five alleged members of the Venezuelan gang Trend de Aragua or TDA were federally charged in Texas for offenses including murder and kidnapping, as the number of charged suspected TDA members nears 350 since the start of President's. Donald Trump's second term. A grand jury deliberated on and determined the charges for the five Venezuelan nationals, charging each one with racketeering conspiracy. Governor Greg Abbott declared TDA a foreign terrorist organization in September 2024, linking it to the murder of 22-year-old Augusta University student, Lake and Riley. Venezuela National Jose Ibarra, who was in the country

illegally, was found guilty on 10 counts in November 2025 relating to Riley's murder and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. President Donald Trump similarly declared international cartels and the TDA gang as foreign terrorist organizations shortly after he took office in January 2025. Since his inauguration, nearly 350 suspected members of TDA have been federally charged by the U.S. Department of Justice for a number of offenses throughout 28 districts. Next, federal Trump accounts went live on July 4th, establishing a private tax-advantaged investment account with a $1,000 seed investment for every new American child born between January 1st, 2025, and December 31st, 28. The accounts were an initiative of President Donald Trump's second administration.

U.S. Senator Ted Cruz authored the legislation, which passed as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed into law last summer. Cruz said at a July 6th press conference in the Oval Office, quote, Trump accounts are, in many ways, Donald Trump's New Deal, but instead of having government take care of everyone, Trump accounts are about making every child and every American a capitalist. In a July 4th press release, the U.S. Department of the Treasury announced the launch of the program, app, which will give families a, quote, new way to view, manage, and grow their children's stake in the nation's economic future. The Treasury Department emphasized that there is no cost to open an account and encouraged businesses to contribute for the children of their employees. In other news,

President Donald Trump has yet to sign the 21st century Road to Housing Act that passed with bipartisan support through both houses of Congress last month. However, the bill could become law, later this week without the president's signature. The housing bill, which passed the U.S. Senate by a vote of 85 to 5 and the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 358 to 32, limits large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes and also temporarily prohibits the Federal Reserve from establishing a digital dollar. Trump had scheduled to sign it on June 23rd, but he canceled the signing ceremony until Congress passes the Save America Act. The president has been a vocal advocate for the Save America Act, a bill that he believes will

ensure election integrity by requiring documentary proof of United States citizenship in order to vote in federal elections. As long as Trump does not veto the bill and Congress remains in session, the 21st Century Road to Housing Act will become law on Friday, July 10th. Last but not least, Texas lawmakers are continuing to push for advancements in state-led Ibogaine research, following an executive order from President Donald Trump. Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Texas House Speaker Dustin Burroughs sent a letter this week to the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, and Texas Health and Human Services Commission.

The letter refers to Senate Bill 2308, passed in the 89th legislature, which created a state-sponsored consortium for the purpose of conducting research and clinical trials into Ibogaine, a naturally occurring psychoactive compound. The drug is being studied for its potential benefit for those suffering from traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, addiction, and other mental health conditions. However, as the letter affirms, no proposals set forth by pharmaceutical companies met the standards required for the state to move forward with clinical trials. Patrick and Burroughs' press release announced Texas' allocation of $50 million toward research into the drug.

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