The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - May 2, 2024

Starting point is 00:00:00 Howdy folks, today is Thursday, May 2nd, and you're listening to the Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans Assistant Editor Rob Lausches, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security has obtained documents revealing the extent of a Biden administration program that flies, quote, inadmissible aliens into the country, with thousands landing in Texas. In a statement posted Tuesday, the committee said that more than 400,000 inadmissible aliens have been processed at over 50 airport locations through the Department of Homeland Security Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, and Venezuelan, or CHNV, mass parole program. Of the top 15 airport locations that have been used for the CHNV program, three are located in Texas. Between January and August 2023, Houston had over 7,900 inadmissible aliens flown into a port of entry, Dallas received almost 2,300, and Austin saw 171. In total, 404,000 illegal aliens have been paroled into the country through the CHNV program beginning in January 2023. Texas Attorney General

Starting point is 00:01:27 Ken Paxton, alongside Kansas Attorney General Chris Kobach and Gun Owners of America Texas Director Wes Verdell, held a press conference on Wednesday morning announcing the filing of two lawsuits against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives regarding new rules about private firearm sales. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced new rules adding definitions of certain terms under the Safer Communities Act that will expand the circumstances requiring individuals to obtain federal firearm licenses and perform background checks to sell guns. This is to close the so-called gun show loophole, which has been a priority for the Biden administration.

Starting point is 00:02:10 Texas' lawsuit was filed on the morning of May 1, 2024, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas Amarillo Division. Twenty-five states are suing the ATF across both lawsuits. Florida has also filed its own suit against the ATF for declaratory and injunctive relief about the same rule. Antisemitism Awareness Act by a vote of 320 to 91. Despite the bipartisan support, many lawmakers were hesitant to give their blessing to the legislation, arguing it would stifle freedom of speech. The bill will seek to establish the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's definition of antisemitism as the standard for enforcing federal anti-discrimination laws in educational programs and activities, and for additional related purposes. Prior to the vote, the House

Starting point is 00:03:13 GOP put out a statement concerning the pro-Palestine protests raging at universities across the country, saying, quote, enough is enough. Although the bill passed overwhelmingly, 70 Democrats and 21 Republicans voted against it. The city of Fort Worth Park and Recreation Department canceled an event at which a person who has detransitioned was scheduled to speak. On April 20th, Abel Garcia was set to speak at an event for the community sponsored by Latinos United for Conservative Action, or LUCA, called The Danger of Transgenderism. LUCA Texas State Executive Director Carlos Turcios told the Texan that the event had been scheduled for the Victory Forest Community Center, the deposit was paid, and all was approved by the city of Fort Worth weeks in advance. Then, on April 18th, less than 48 hours before the event, the Park and Recreation Department contacted LUCA to tell them that the event quote, discriminates and quote, violates city policy.

Starting point is 00:04:19 According to an email from Fort Worth Park and Recreation Department Director Richard Zavala shared with the Texan, Luca's beliefs, as stated on its website, do not comply with the city's policies and procedures for rentals. During a press conference Tuesday, Travis County officials said they will be investigating the source of what is being described as the largest opioid overdose outbreak in years. Of the 51 overdoses to which emergency services responded on Monday, Dr. Keith Pinker, chief medical examiner for Travis County, stated that there have been four confirmed deaths and a possibility of eight total deaths over the previous 27 hours. Two individuals have been detained on suspicion of being involved in the overdoses.

Starting point is 00:05:07 One of the individuals was charged with illegal possession of a firearm. Judge Andy Brown said dozens of lives were saved by Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services and the Austin Police Department after they administered Narcan to individuals, which prevented further loss. Narcan is the brand name of the medication Naloxone, which is an opioid antagonist medication administered in order to reverse an opioid overdose. Thanks for listening. 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 - May 2, 2024

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