The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 16, 2026

Episode Date: March 16, 2026

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Howdy folks, today is Monday, March 16th, 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, a federal jury in Fort Worth convicted nine Antifa members last week for their role in the attack on the Prairiland, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention Center in Alvarado on July 4th, 2025. The nine defendants that were part of the 12-day trial that commenced on February 23rd were Cameron Arnold, Zachary Evitz, Benjamin Song, Savannah Batten, Bradford Morris, Marcella Rueida, Elizabeth Soto, Inez Soto, and Daniel Rolandoz Sancho Estrada. They were convicted of various offenses, including rioting, providing material support to terrorists, and conspiracy to use and carry an explosive. 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 the furtherance of a crime of violence. Song faces a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison with the possibility of a life sentence. Most of the other defendants face a sentence of between 10 and 60 years in prison. Sanchez Estrada, who was convicted of concealing documents, faces a maximum penalty of 40 years. Seven other defendants pleaded guilty last year to one count of providing material support to terrorists. This charge carries a maximum sentence of 15 years in prison. Next, an Afghan national whose parole status expired last year has died in Texas after being in U.S. immigration and customs enforcement custody for about a day, with his cause of death

unknown and currently under investigation. Mohamed Nazir Paktawal, who passed away on Saturday morning, was reportedly an American military ally alongside American forces during the war in Afghanistan. His family described in a press release on Sunday. He was taken into custody by ICE on Friday and placed into immigration proceedings, during which he, quote, did not report any prior medical history, I said in a statement on Sunday. Paktowal was paroled into the U.S. amid the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan in 2021, with a status set to expire in the summer of 2025. He was described. by ICE as having a, quote, known criminal history, including one arrest concerning fraud

related to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, about a month after his parole's expiration, and a second arrest related to theft in November 2025. In other news, the Harris County Commissioner's Court will take up a proposed worker consultation policy this week that could give the nation's largest public sector union and official advocacy role for county employees. Commissioner Rodney Ellis is asking his colleagues to approve a resolution that would establish a, quote, consultation agent to foster employee engagement in development of personnel policies and improved handling of employee grievances and disciplinary matters. Ellis has not published the exact wording of the resolution to be considered this Thursday, but according to the posted agenda, the policy will allow qualified employees to select a labor organization to work with certain supervisory,

employees in negotiations with county management. Sources familiar with the matter say the American Federation of State, County, and municipal employees is expected to be selected by county employees for the consultation services. Last but not least, nearly 4.5 million votes were cast in Texas primaries on March 3, with Democratic voters accounting for more than 2.3 million of those, setting a record in the amount of votes cast in a Texas primary and bearing a stronger showing from the, Democrats than the Republicans. Texas' 26 primary election included over 800 statewide and local races, with its top-of-the-ballot U.S. Senate bid pitting high-profile candidates against one another

in both parties. With the U.S. Senate contest as a benchmark race, as the Texas Secretary of State has not released data, including a single statewide turnout figure, Texas Democrats saw solid showing in their voter turnout. About 2.3 million Democratic voters participated, compared to 2.3 million Democratic voters participated compared to 2.2 million Republicans turning out. There are about 18.7 million registered voters in Texas, not identified by party, as Texas doesn't have party registration, and thus its primaries are open. Any voter can participate in either primary, but can only participate in a runoff of the party they voted for in the first primary round. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit the Texan. News and subscribe.

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