The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 19, 2025

Episode Date: September 19, 2025

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Howdy, folks, today is Friday, September 19th, and you are listening to The Texans Daily Rundown. I'm the Texans assistant editor Rob Lauchess, and here is the rundown of today's news in Texas politics. First up, Texas A&N University President Mark Welsh has resigned effective Friday at 5 p.m. following a controversy over a dispute between a student and a professor over the topic of gender ideology being taught in the classroom. In a press release, Texas AMM University System Chancellor Glenn Hagar lauded Welsh's selfless dedication to Texas A&M, saying the university is grateful for his service and contributions. Hagar, the Board of Regents, and the university will now begin a national search for a new person to fill the vacant seat. An interim will be appointed

in the meantime. A little over a week ago, State Representative Brian Harrison set off a cascade of events after he posted a series of screenshots and video recordings that purported to show a children's literature course at Texas A&M that was promoting overt LGBT themes, such as the idea that sex does not determine gender. In the videos, a student is heard questioning the professor about promoting gender ideology during a class that took place on July 29th, to which the professor said, quote, if you are uncomfortable in this class, you do have the right to leave. Following calls from Governor Greg Abbott on social media to fire the professor, a senior lecturer in the English Department of the College of Arts and Sciences at Texas A&M, she was let go on September 9th. In other news, during a public meeting at which Harris County commissioners considered next year's budget and tax rates, county judge Lena Hidalgo continued to press her colleagues to drop planned raises for patrol officers and the elected constables.

Hidalgo said in response to a recommended raise for district clerk Marilyn Burgess that she does not support anybody's raises because the county cannot afford them. Hidalgo, who announced earlier this week that she would not seek a third term as county judge, has vocally opposed allocating $100 million from the county's general funds to bump patrol officers pay to match salaries for Houston Police Department officers. She has cited a budget deficit of at least $200 million that the county will cover with a hiring freeze, departmental cuts, and reserve funds. In May, commissioners Adrian Garcia, Tom Ramsey, and Leslie Breonna's committed to providing the increase for law enforcement, but Hidalgo argued the county does not have the money and would have to cut social services. Last but not least, the city of Austin is now under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice for potentially discriminatory employment practices. A letter sent to Austin Mayor Kirk Watson from Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dillon of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, shared that the DOJ would be opening

an investigation into the city in order to determine whether, quote, it is engaged in a pattern or practice of discrimination based on race, color, sex, or national origin, end quote, in violation of federal law. Dylan said in a press release on Thursday, quote, The Department of Justice will not tolerate discriminatory race-based employment practices and DEI policies in Austin or other cities. According to data collected by the independent Austin Justice Initiative, the city of Austin paid nearly $1.9 million in salaries for employees of its equity and inclusion offices in 2023. Watson responded to the DOJ's announcement in an ex post on Thursday stating, quote, I feel strongly that the city of Austin is in full compliance

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