The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - June 8, 2026

Episode Date: June 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 Monday, June 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, the Texas GOP's biennial convention kicks off on Thursday, when thousands of party delegates will gather in Houston to determine the party's chair, establish platform planks, and make other key partisan decisions, ahead of the midterm elections this November and following the devour. primaries. Among the most high-profile federal headliners at the convention are U.S. Secretary of Treasury Scott Bessent and Congressman Brandon Gill. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burroughs will also be speaking, making it the second time in state history that a sitting speaker of the House will address delegates. Burroughs is also sponsoring the event, a first for the state convention.

The Republican Party of Texas said on social media, quote, we are grateful for his willingness to not only support this convention, but to be part of it in a way that respects and recognizes the delegates who make this party strong. This will mark a significant moment for the grassroots side of the GOP, as Burroughs extends an olive branch to factions of the party that largely rejected him after he was elected Speaker in 2025 by a Democratic majority coalition. Borough's presence could be a defining opportunity for the party that runs Texas to demonstrate unity prior to November, following the bruising runoff for U.S. Senate. Visit the Texan. News for the rest of the top lines shaping the events trajectory.

In other news, following one of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment lawyers endorsing Democratic State Representative James Tala Rico for U.S. Senate, other attorneys who defended Paxton in his Texas Senate trial are reiterating their support for his campaign. Lawyer Dan Cogdell, despite having donated more to Paxton's campaign than to Talauriko's during the primaries, endorsed the Democrat this week against Paxton, saying that his former client had, quote, lost sight of his core mission. Talarico was featured on an episode of Cogdell's podcast, Cogdell Law uncensored, which aired on Monday morning, during which he expressed several

policies on which he would like to distinguish himself from the rest of the Democratic Party. Talarico stated during the conversation that he opposes gender reassignment surgery from minors. As a state representative, Talariko voted against Texas ban on child gender modification in 2023, not joining a handful of his Democratic colleagues who voted in favor of the legislation. State Representative Mitch Little and attorney Tony Busby, two other lawyers who defended Paxton during the Texas Senate impeachment trial in 2023, responded to Cogdale by endorsing Paxton themselves. Last but not least, online back and forth between leadership in the Texas House and a Democratic member of the Chamber over the New World Screwworm in Texas has highlighted frenetic tensions

between the federal response to the parasite and the state's own agricultural management. After being previously eradicated in the country in the 1960s, the destructive flesh-eating livestock pest known as NWS was discovered in a calf in Zavala County last week. Since then, three other cases have been reported and confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The latest two, announced on Monday morning were a calf in LaSalle County and a dog in Andrews County. The second reported case was another calf in Zavala County, located about 5.6 miles from the first confirmed case. State Representative Gina Hinojosa, who is the Democratic nominee for the Texas gubernatorial race against Governor Greg Abbott this year, announced on Sunday that she would

be formally requesting a public hearing to be held in the Texas House of Representatives to discuss NWS. She said, quote, Texans deserve answers in a social media post highlighting her letter to Texas House Speaker Dustin Burroughs. Burroughs shared via an ex-post on Sunday that he has been working with other elected officials and committees and that the House, quote, will hold more hearings as necessary to help. He added, quote, as election season approaches, I am glad to see more House members begin to recognize the importance of the cattle and beef industry to Texas. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure.

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