The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - July 8, 2026

Episode Date: July 8, 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 is Wednesday, July 8th, and you're listening to The Texans' Daily Rundown. I'm the Texan senior editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, after a Mexican national was shot and killed during immigration enforcement operations in Houston on Tuesday, authorities say multiple federal agencies are investigating the circumstances, but local law enforcement is not involved. According to acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director David Venturella, at about 6.50 a.m. on Tuesday, ICE law enforcement, quote, attempted to conduct a vehicle stop as part of a targeted enforcement operation to arrest an illegal alien. Venturella said in a statement to the Texan, quote,

the driver of the vehicle, Lorenzo Salgado Arajo, an illegal alien from Mexico, attempted to evade arrest. He continued, quote, from information we are receiving, he rammed an ICE law enforcement vehicle, refused to follow multiple verbal commands, and weaponized his vehicle in an attempt to run over an ICE law enforcement officer, resulting in our officer firing his weapon in self-defense. Venturella said Federal Bureau of Investigation agents were at the scene, but FBI Houston has clarified that their agents are investigating a possible assault on a federal law enforcement officer at the scene, not the shooting itself. Next, Governor Greg Abbott directed the Texas Health and Human

Services Commission to launch an investigation into a Rio Grande Valley-based medical center for allegedly promoting birth tourism through selling South Texas birth packages to foreigners. After the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of maintaining birthright citizenship for the children of illegal aliens and visiting foreign nationals under the 14th Amendment, report surfaced online of photos of an apparent billboard posted by Mission Regional Medical Center in Mexico, advertising birth packages for those looking to deliver a child in the U.S. Abbott wrote in his letter on Tuesday, addressing HHSC Executive Commissioner Stephanie Muth, quote,

Unfortunately, thousands of foreign travelers come to the United States under false pretenses to give birth and secure citizenship for their children. He continued, quote, As governor of Texas, I will do everything in my power to assist federal officials to stop this fraudulent practice. In other news, a new analysis from a Texas think tank found a correlation between district attorney's non-prosecution policies and increases in crime. But with few state options for addressing so-called rogue prosecutors, the group suggests that Texas lawmakers should consider reforms next year. Ross Jackson, a senior policy analyst for right-on crime at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, said he has been researching the issue since last fall. Jackson told the Texan, quote,

there are correlations that are particularly evident in Austin and Minneapolis and some other cities around the country, and it's more evident in cities and counties where there hasn't been a historically huge crime rate, like in Austin. According to Jackson's report, Austin experienced one of the most dramatic circumstances, surges in violent and property crimes in recent years, which saw the city's homicide rate climb by over 60% between 2016 and 2024. Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, who was first elected in 2020, has been accused of dropping or reducing charges in hundreds of criminal cases, including one in which an appeals court had called for a new trial. Last year, Garza's office reportedly failed to bring timely indictments for crimes that included violent felonies,

leading to the dismissals of hundreds of cases. Last but not least, State Representative Gina Hina Hosa, this year's Democratic nominee for governor, promised to back legislation that would pay each Texas household $1,500 if she defeats incumbent Governor Greg Abbott in November. Hinahosa's campaign unveiled the pledge during a tour stop at a Houston grocery store on Tuesday. The proposed, would siphon about $17 billion from the state's economic stabilization fund, also known as the Rainy Day Fund, an emergency piggy bank that's set to spill over its $26.5 billion limit this year. Dubbed corruption tax refund checks by her campaign, Hina Hosa presented

the proposal as a way to, quote, account for the cost of Greg Abbott's corruption. Lawmakers have drawn from the economic stabilization fund just five times since, it was created, totaling $17.7 billion in appropriations altogether, according to the comptroller. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan.News to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.