The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - June 23, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Well, howdy folks, today's Tuesday, June 23rd, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Senior Editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Texas Railroad Commission candidate Beau French and Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts candidate Don Huffines joined the Texans reporter Meredith Dyer at the Republican Party of Texas' 2026 state convention. French discussed environmental regulations in the oil and gas industry, his relationships with the other members of the Railroad Commission, his experience as chair of the Tarrant County GOP, and more. Huffines discussed his endorsement from President Donald Trump, the Texas Education Freedom Accounts School Choice Program, his

Starting point is 00:00:51 holy grail of Texas history, and more. Visit the texan. News or wherever you get podcasts to listen now. In other news, eight Antifa members who attacked the Prairie Land, U.S. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Center in Alvarado, Texas on July 4th, 2025 were sentenced in Fort Worth today. A federal jury in Fort Worth found the Antifa members guilty in March for their roles in the attack. They were convicted of various offenses, including rioting, providing material support to terrorists and conspiracy to use and carry an explosive. Benjamin Song, the apparent leader of the group, was convicted of attempted murder of an officer of the United States and of discharging a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence. Song was sentenced

Starting point is 00:01:38 today to 100 years in prison. On the night of July 4th, the defendants, dressed in dark clothing and face coverings, arrived at the ICE detention center with firearms, body armor, and first aid kits containing materials to treat gunshot wounds. They began shooting fireworks and vandalizing vehicles and a guard shack at the property. After Alvarado police officers responded to a 911. one call about the attack, Song was heard on a police body cam recording yelling, quote, get to the rifles. The group then opened fire on the officers, hitting one Alvarado officer in the neck. Last but not least, McClennan County Justice of the Peace, Diane Hensley, has prevailed in her lawsuit against the State Commission on Judicial Conduct, which issued a

Starting point is 00:02:24 public warning against her when she declined to perform same-sex ceremonies as part of her duties. Travis County District Court Judge Maya Gwara Gamble ordered the SCJC to pay Hensley $10,000 in compensatory damages and $630,000 in attorney's fees and costs. She also enjoined the commission from, quote, investigating, sanctioning, or disciplining Judge Diane Hensley over her refusal to officiate at same-sex weddings on account of her religious beliefs. regardless of whether Judge Hensley continues to perform marriages for opposite-sex couples. Hensley has been engaged in this battle for nearly seven years. In November 2019, the SCJC issued a public warning against her for, quote, casting doubt on her capacity to act impartially to persons appearing before her as a judge due to the person's sexual orientation in violation of Canon 4A1 of the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct.

Starting point is 00:03:22 While Hensley declined to perform same-sex ceremonies herself, she created a referral system for those seeking the services, including one just three blocks from her office for the same price that she charges. In October, the Texas Supreme Court added a comment to the Texas Code of Judicial Conduct that reads, quote, it is not a violation of these canons for a judge to publicly refrain from performing a wedding ceremony based on a sincerely held religious belief. 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.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - June 23, 2026

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