The Texan Podcast - Daily Rundown - September 22, 2025

Episode Date: September 22, 2025

Want to support The Texan and help us continue providing the Lone Star State with news you can trust? Subscribe today: https://thetexan.news/subscribe/The Texan’s Daily Rundown brings you a quick recap of the latest stories in Texas politics so you can stay informed with news you can trust.Want more resources? Be sure to visit The Texan and subscribe for complete access to our in-depth articles, subscriber-exclusive newsletters, videos, podcasts, and more.Enjoy what you hear? Be sure to subscribe and leave a review!

Howdy, folks, today is Monday, September 22nd, and you're 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 Republicans went through all the trouble of a mid-decade redistricting attempts to get the map they sought, one they believe will net them five new congressional seats next year. President Donald Trump were on the ballot and running for each of these seats, Republicans would win them easily, but the actual facts on the ground are vastly different, showing two seats that are either entirely or pretty safe,

two that are Republican leaning but no guarantees, and one that is an uphill battle for the state's majority party. Those five districts are, in numerical order, congressional districts 9, 28, 32, 34, and 35, located in various regions across the state. Visit the Texan. News for a look at each one and the developing contests to come. Next, the heated battle over hemp-derived THC in Texas has yet to fully burn out, with state Senator Charles Perry issuing two letters on Monday to state agencies,

requesting they begin work on updating rules regarding such products being sold in the state. The Texas legislature was successful in passing Senate Bill 3, a bill that would have created a broad ban on hemp-derived THC products, during the regular session. But Governor Greg Abbott vetoed the bill and instead tasked the members with addressing the issue through regulation during both the special sessions that followed.

Despite renewed energy during the final days of the second special session, potential legislation went up in smoke after Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick made the announcement that Abbott, himself, and House Speaker Dustin Burroughs were, quote, not able to come to a resolution. Abbott instead resorting to taking up the issue himself and announced via executive order that he would be directing state agencies to begin

creating a review process of current rules and regulations and establish an age limit for the sale of hemp-derived THC in Texas. In other news, in the wake of the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, a University of North Texas student was dismissed from the classroom for defending Kirk to classmates, prompting responses from state elected officials. A viral video appeared to show some students mocking Kirk's death while another student criticized them for it. A few hours after the video appeared online, UNT released an official statement on social media stating that, quote, recent actions of a few of our community members regarding Mr. Kirk's death do not represent the values of our community. On September 19th, Attorney General Ken Paxton

announced that he had sent a letter to UNT, quote, demanding answers for potentially violating Texas law by punishing a student for voicing support for national hero Charlie Kirk in the aftermath of his political assassination, end quote. Also, after a quorum break last week, the Tarrant County Commissioner's Court successfully passed its fiscal year 2026 tax rate and budget on Monday because Commissioner Roderick Miles attended the meeting. Last week, both Democratic commissioners were absent from the meeting, resulting in a failed quorum and the inability of the commissioner's court to vote. on a tax rate for the upcoming fiscal year. Miles said at this week's meeting that he was ill last week. He said he was not absent for, quote, political games and repeated his pledge to serve the people of Precinct 1. Commissioner Alisa Simmons was again absent from the meeting. Last but not least, in comments delivered to a packed room full of victims' families at Crime Stoppers of Houston,

Harris County District Attorney Sean Tier emphasized a need to get cases to trial more quickly, and to improve communications between county officials and victims during investigations. Along with Tier, State Senator Joan Huffman, Harris County Commissioner Tom Ramsey, Criminal Court Judge Emily De Toto, and Houston City Council members Amy Peck, Julian Ramirez, Fred Flickinger, and Willie Davis were among the elected and appointed officials in attendance at the annual event. Although Tier delivered keynote remarks, the other officials present read the names of homicide victims. and Ramsey included Charlie Kirk among those killed this year.

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