The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - June 10, 2024

Episode Date: June 10, 2024

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Howdy folks, today is Monday, June 10, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lausches, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, U.S. Senators John Cornyn and Chuck Grassley introduced a joint resolution of disapproval in the U.S. Senate against the Biden administration's practices regarding illegal immigrant children's sponsors. The resolution seeks to overturn an April U.S. Department of Housing and Human Services rule, which the senators said codified, quote, harmful practices. The concerns raised by Cornyn and Grassley's resolution include below-par standards for determining an illegal immigrant child's safety once in possession of a sponsor's home after release, optional or neglectful sponsor vetting, other necessarily disqualifying child welfare concerns, and restrictions on whistleblowers' rights to share information with the HHS Inspector General or Congress. Next, the trial date for Congressman Henry Cuellar's indictment by the U.S. Department of Justice has been changed

and will now take place next year, notably after the general election in November. According to the Texas Tribune, a court order was issued Friday by Judge Lee Rosenthal after both Cuellar's defense team and federal prosecutors made a request. His trial was originally set for this July, but has been postponed to spring 2025. An interim pretrial conference is scheduled for December, and jury selection will begin on March 31 31, 2025. Cuellar has represented

the 28th congressional district since 2005, but in 2022, allegations of misconduct involving him gained prominence following a raid on his residence and campaign office by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Also, the Democratic National Committee gave the Texas Democratic Party a $140,000 grant for voter registration and get-out-the-vote operations in the state. Texas Democratic Party Chair Gilberto Hinojosa said of the funding, quote, This partnership makes one thing very clear. Texas will play a huge role in the Democratic Party's goal of securing victories up and down the ballot this cycle. In other news, oral arguments and an appeal by Southwest Airlines challenging the district court's ruling to reinstate flight attendant Charlene Carter were heard in the U.S. Court

of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit this week. Southwest fired Carter in March 2017 for pro-life posts and messages the company said were, quote, highly offensive in nature and in violation of their social media policy, according to court documents. The federal district court jury in Dallas found that Southwest was liable for discriminating against Carter due to her sincerely held religious observances, beliefs, or practices. It also found that the Transport Workers Union, to which Carter paid dues, violated its duty of fair representation and retaliated against her for criticizing union leadership, an activity protected by the Railway Labor Act that governs

the airline industry. Last but not least, the Texans' senior reporter Brad Johnson sat down with new Texas GOP chair Abraham George for an interview on his now underway tenure leading the state's majority party. Visit thetexan.news for a transcript of that conversation, including George's thoughts on his new role, strategies to help Republicans win in November, and what could happen in the Texas legislature next session. Also check out the latest episode of the Texans' Smoke-Filled Room podcast with Brad and senior editor Mackenzie DeLulo. The two discuss surprises, winning factors, and predictions for the Texas House speakership, not to mention the surprise announcements from not one, but two major political players

that interrupt this episode. 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.