The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 24, 2025

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Monday, March 24th and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lauschis and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Texas foster care homes will not have to affirm children's gender identity outside of biological sex in order to maintain all government funding, a federal district judge has ruled, siding with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and against a 2024 rule from the Biden administration. Paxton sued former President Joe Biden, Secretary of Health and Human Services, in September

Starting point is 00:00:42 2024 over a rule that would have required foster care homes to affirm a child's LGBTQI plus identity, whether it be through housing them with other members of their desired sex or providing experimental gender modification surgeries or treatments such as hormone blockers, castration, or other such bottom surgeries. Paxton sought to halt the rule, which was scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2024. Federal District Judge Jeremy D. Kernoodle of the Eastern District of Texas granted him

Starting point is 00:01:14 that on March 21, 2025, ruling that the Biden administration's rule was in violation of state law, and that Texas is likely to suffer from irreparable harm, according to court documents. Stay tuned for more news updates after this short message. Data centers fuel 364,000 Texas jobs, generate 3.5 billion dollars in state and local taxes and power essential services like banking, health care and video calls. With 21 connected devices per household and soaring data demands,

Starting point is 00:01:46 these hubs drive Texas' booming economy, shape its technological future, and keep your data here in the US. To learn more, visit centerofyourdigitalworld.org slash Texas. Now returning to your daily Texas news. Next, the Texas A&M University system banned drag shows across their 11 campuses after the Board of Regents passed a resolution resulting in a lawsuit that produced a ruling from a Texas judge blocking the ban from being enacted.

Starting point is 00:02:16 The resolution, which was passed earlier this month, stated explicitly that drag show events are likely to create or contribute to a hostile environment for women, and that, quote, these events often involve unwelcome and objectively offensive conduct based on sex for many members of the respective communities of the universities, particularly when they involve the mockery or objectification of women. Included in the resolution is a statement of how drag shows are inconsistent with the system's mission and core values. The Texas A&M Board also acknowledges a recent President Donald Trump executive order that aims to establish a binary definition of sex, male and female, based on biological characteristics determined at conception. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of the Texas A&M Queer Empowerment Council arguing that the ban violates two fundamental principles of the First Amendment. The Queer Empowerment Council was planning to host a drag

Starting point is 00:03:16 show event called Draggyland on campus. In other news, President Donald Trump announced he would work to begin eliminating the U.S. Department of Education last week, and now Texas Democrats at both the state and federal levels are railing against his order. Congressman Greg Kassar stated at a press conference on Monday alongside other Texas Democrats, quote, I want to start today by being crystal clear about what is going on. Donald Trump and Elon Musk are stealing from America's children in order to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. During the Democrats' press conference, Representative Gene Wu blasted Abbott, stating that, quote,

Starting point is 00:03:55 While Governor Abbott should be in Austin working on the absolute highest priority in the state, which is keeping our public education system afloat, he is in Washington, D.C., hamming it up with the president instead of working on public education, the pathway for all of us to reach the middle class. Instead, he is laughing and giggling while the president signs the execution warrant for our education resources. Other Texas Democrats also took aim at Trump's proposals to improve government efficiencies, specifically in education.

Starting point is 00:04:24 Representative Gina Hinojosa said, at Trump's proposals to improve government efficiency, specifically in education. Representative Gina Hinojosa said, quote, Let's remember what this attack on the Department of Education means for everyday students. We all want efficiency in government, but they are playing with fire when they go after the very protections that protect our most wonderful students. Stay tuned for more news updates after this short message. Texas insurance companies want to help keep premiums affordable. That's why the American Property Casualty Insurance Association supports a competitive marketplace, reforms of legal system abuse, and better preparedness for the next major storm.

Starting point is 00:05:00 For more information, visit securingourfuture.com slash Texas. Now returning to your daily Texas news. Last but not least, as the population of the Lone Star State keeps growing, Texas' share in Congress is projected to grow by four seats come 2030 reapportionment. All of the growth over the past several years means that Texas is projected to gain four congressional seats alongside Florida, which is also expected to gain four seats according to data from the American Redistricting Project. California is projected to lose three seats and New York to lose two. Thanks for listening. To support the Texan, please be sure to visit thetexan.news and subscribe to get full access to all of our articles, newsletters and podcasts.

Your Ad Here

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 24, 2025

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.