The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 25, 2026

Starting point is 00:00:04 Howdy folks, today is Wednesday, March 25th, 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, recently elected state senator Taylor Remitt, who won a special election to fill the vacant Senate District 9 seat and flipped it from Republican to Democratic, is clashing with Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick over Remitt's lack of committee assignments during the legislative interim. Remit was not appointed to any Senate committees or interim select committees by Patrick. He has issued a statement complaining about a lack of a voice in the Texas Capitol for Senate District 9. Patrick wrote on X that he had explained to Remit, who is filling an unexpired term that will be up for election again in November, that he would not be appointed to any interim

Starting point is 00:00:57 committees. The lieutenant governor explained, quote, if he does win in November, he would be assigned committees like anyone else at the beginning of the next legislative session in January 27. I explained that to him a month ago. He said he understood. Next, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton called on Governor Greg Abbott to fire acting comptroller Kelly Hancock after Hancock sent a letter questioning Paxton's legal handling of a Muslim school accepted into the Texas Education Freedom Accounts, or TIFA program. In a March 24th letter, Hancock addressed a temporary restraining order by a federal judge that extended the TIFA student application deadline until March 31st and required the comptroller's office to provide the Muslim

Starting point is 00:01:45 schools that had sued over the matter, quote, the means necessary to submit TIFA applications, including any required registration access. Hancock highlighted Houston Quran Academy, one of four Muslim schools temporarily allowed to participate in the TIFA program. He claims that when the restraining order was issued, scant evidence had been presented to the court, and that the court was not aware that the school has documented ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Paxton responded quickly on social media, calling Hancock, quote, an incompetent loser who's an embarrassment to the position of chief clerk that he holds. He continued, calling on Governor Greg Abbott to replace him with Don Huffein's, who defeated Hancock in the March GOP primary for a full term as comptroller.

Starting point is 00:02:33 In other news, the Corpus Christi City Council voted five to three on Tuesday, March 24th, to move forward with a hearing to possibly remove Mayor Paulette Guajardo based on a citizen petition, alleging that the mayor knew about the forging or altering of federal documents involved in a tax incentive. Filed by Rachel Caballero, the removal petition claims that the allegations arose from depositions taken in a civil lawsuit against the city of Corpus Christi by a developer, Ajit David, involving a hotel development. The petition alleges that the mayor violated the law by knowingly accepting tampered federal documents, but has also violated the code of ethics required of her as an elected official. The citizens' calling for her removal claimed the mayor

Starting point is 00:03:21 voted in favor of awarding the tax incentive of $2 million to an alleged campaign contributor, Philip Ramirez. Guajardo, who has been mayor since 2021, denies the allegations. The Corpus Christi City Charter allows a removal action to be instituted by a petition signed by five or more registered voters. Last but not least, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza is facing calls for his resignation over accusations that he withheld evidence in prosecuting a police officer for actions taken during a 2020 Black Lives Matter protest in Austin. Austin Police Retired Officers Association President Dennis Ferris said in a statement, quote,

Starting point is 00:04:04 Jose Garza's habitual misconduct and his lack of prosecutorial experience puts our entire community at risk. Ferris was responding to recent revelations about Garza's prosecution of Austin police officer chanced breaches. In 2022, Garza charged Breaches with aggravated assault, two years after an anti-police demonstration spurred by the death of George Floyd. During the protest, Breaches fired a less lethal beanbag round, resulting in severe injury to a woman who said she was a volunteer providing medical assistance to protesters. In 2024, Garza brought additional charges against Breaches for aggravated assault by a public servant, deadly conduct, and assault. 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. Thank you.

The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - March 25, 2026

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