The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 18, 2024

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy, folks. Today is Monday, March 18th, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. This is Rob Lausches, assistant editor of the Texan. I'll be bringing you this new podcast where we'll be giving you a brief look at the breaking stories of the day, just in time for your afternoon commute. This is one of the Texans' new offerings to keep you in the know about politics in the Lone Star State. Check out the Smoke-Filled Room podcast with our senior editor Mackenzie DeLulo and reporter Brad Johnson, the first episode of which is already out, as well as Send Me Some Stuff with Brad and reporter Cameron Abrams coming soon. Also take a look at our newsletters coming out for subscribers of The Texan, where our reporters and editors will share even more of their thoughts and ideas about what's happening in Texas.

Starting point is 00:00:48 As always, follow us on X, or Twitter, your preference, at TheTexanNews for updates. Not only that, but those who purchase an annual subscription will receive a Remember the Alamo hat. Wear it while you browse our stories on The Texan' new app, which you can find on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. Here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. After stepping into the role of chairman of the Republican Party of Texas in 2021 and being unanimously re-elected in 2022, Matt Rinaldi has announced he will not seek another term. He said he initially ran for the chairmanship to grow the Texas GOP and its influence, and to raise the voice of grassroots Republicans.

Starting point is 00:01:30 There are currently four individuals now in the running to take helm of the Texas GOP. RPT Vice Chair Dana Myers, former Collin County GOP Chair Abraham George, Weston Martinez, and Ben Armenta. Rinaldi endorsed George as his successor minutes after he announced he would not seek re-election. Attorney General Ken Paxton also endorsed George's run for the Texas GOP chairman. The election for the next Republican chairman will take place during the

Starting point is 00:01:56 2024 Texas State Republican Convention, from May 23rd to 25th. When asked about Governor Greg Abbott's time in office by radio host Mark Davis, Rinaldi said this. His third term has been tremendous. I mean, I've been completely satisfied with his third term in office. He's been strong on the border. He's been strong in the primaries. He's been strong on so many things on school choice. I mean, if he can leave office with a hard push in his third term, having said, I banned abortion in past school choice. I mean, if he can leave office with a hard push in his third term, having said, I banned abortion and passed school choice, that's one heck of a legacy. On Friday, the Supreme Court of the United States denied an application by a West Texas A&M

Starting point is 00:02:35 University LGBT student group for an emergency injunction to allow a drag show on the campus. The emergency application, filed by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression on behalf of the campus student group Spectrum WT, asked SCOTUS to, quote, 22nd, University President Walter Wendler made the announcement online that he would be canceling the drag show for, quote, divisive and demoralizing misogyny no matter the stated intent. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kazmarik previously ruled against the request for a preliminary injunction in the lawsuit, where FIRE and Spectrum WT alleged that Wendler unilaterally canceled a student group's charity drag show fundraising for LGBTQ plus suicide prevention. An admitted member of the Lebanese Islamist terrorist group Hezbollah has been caught by U.S. Border Patrol, the New York Post has reported. Basil Basel Ebadi,

Starting point is 00:03:37 a Lebanese migrant, was apprehended on March 9th attempting to cross the border near El Paso, where he told federal authorities, I'm going to try to make a bomb. In documents obtained by the New York Post, Ebadi admitted in a sworn interview to have been training with Hezbollah for seven years and being an active member of the terrorist organization guarding weapons locations for four years. Ebadi admitted to Customs and Border Protection that he trained for jihad and for killing people that was not Muslim. Ibadiy is now set to be deported. Thanks for listening to this first edition of The Daily Rundown. And again this week, we're launching five new weekly newsletters, three new monthly newsletters, including one

Starting point is 00:04:18 from yours truly, and two more monthly podcasts that you'll be able to hear wherever you're listening to this. Get complete access to all of this exclusive content by visiting thetexan.news and subscribing today.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 18, 2024

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