The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 13, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Howdy folks, today is Friday, March 13th, and you're listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans managing editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, State Representative Brent Money announced the formation of the Texas House Sharia-free Texas caucus in a March 5th letter on social media, describing it as, quote, an effort to counter the alarming rise of Sharia law in the United States. define Sharia as the Islamic legal and ethical framework derived from the Quran and Hadith, which it says has fueled centuries of oppression, including violence against women, children, and nonbelievers who refuse to submit. The letter also highlighted concerns that included alleged open border policies, allowing for a surge of Muslim immigration, the establishment of

Starting point is 00:00:57 350 mosques in Texas, and, quote, exclusive Muslim enclaves that isolate communities from American values. The Sharia-free Texas caucus wants to equip law enforcement to investigate and dismantle groups designated as having terrorist ties, such as the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American Islamic Relations, which have been designated by Governor Greg Abbott as foreign terrorist organizations. Care Texas and Care Action Texas condemned the caucus in a March 6 press release, saying it is, quote, rooted not in reality, but in misinformation and fear that unfairly targets Muslim Texans. The Sharia-Free Texas Caucus has grown since its announcement from its 16 original members to a total of 38 Republican state representatives out of the 88 Republican majority.

Starting point is 00:01:48 In other news, in the latest public relations backlash for the leader of Texas' most populous county, Harris County Judge Lena Hidalgo clashed this week with officials of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo over her attempt to enter a reserved area for which she did not have tickets. In a since deleted social media post, Hidalgo claimed that she was manhandled while being escorted from the reserved shoots section of the rodeo. Hidalgo wrote, quote, Before I could talk to the director, the men physically shoved me and threatened me with arrest. They asked me to leave the county stadium, which I did, leaving my guests to watch the concert elsewhere. She also penned an open letter to rodeo president and CEO Chris Bowman and chairwoman of the board

Starting point is 00:02:32 Pat Mann Phillips complaining of her treatment and suggesting that she had been treated badly because she was Hispanic and a woman. Bullman and Phillips responded with their own public statement, noting that 21 tickets had already been approved to Hidalgo for 26 rodeo concerts at a value of $9,000, but that rodeo staff had warned the county judge's office that Tuesday night's Megan Maroni concert was already sold out, and therefore they could not provide the requested wristbands for Hidalgo to enter the shoot section that night. Bullman and Phillips wrote, quote, She did have access to suite tickets that evening and was asked to return to her suite

Starting point is 00:03:09 where she and her guests had tickets to the event. Our team respectfully addressed the situation, but the interaction became difficult for staff and security. They continued, quote, ultimately, when she would not go back to her seats in the suite, she was escorted out. Last but not least, in an opinion written by Chief Justice Jimmy Blacklock, the Texas Supreme Court upheld the authority of the Office of the Attorney General to issue civil investigation demands or CIDs. A CID is similar to a discovery request in civil litigation, allowing the government to request documentation within certain bounds.

Starting point is 00:03:44 The OAG was investigating the organization, Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, or P-Flag, for allegedly violating the state prohibition on child gender modification. P-Flagg challenged the OAG's demand in a case that ultimately went up to the state's highest civil court. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the texan. News and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters, and podcasts.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 13, 2026

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