American politician and lawyer, Texas attorney general since 2015
Texas's State Board of Education is considering new proposals to include Bible stories and Christian themes in middle and high school curricula, alongside emphasizing U.S. and Texas history. Critics warn these changes could promote religious bias and limit global historical perspectives.
Multiple US states have announced partnerships with Turning Point USA, promoting school chapters and religious content in public education. These moves have sparked debate over free speech, religious influence, and educational neutrality amid ongoing legal and political tensions. The story is current as of Saturday, 18 April 2026.
The 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld Texas law allowing the display of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. The ruling reverses a lower court decision, citing no violation of the First Amendment, and sets the stage for a potential Supreme Court review. Critics oppose the law, arguing it breaches separation of church and state.
Texas Governor Abbott has announced that Houston, Dallas, and Austin face losing over $200 million in public safety funding unless they amend policies related to immigration enforcement. The cities have adopted rules limiting police cooperation with federal immigration authorities, prompting legal and political confrontations. The dispute is ongoing as cities prepare to defend their policies.
The Republican effort to redraw congressional districts has intensified, with Trump backing challengers in Indiana, Louisiana and Kentucky as part of a broader strategy to reshape the party and defend his influence ahead of midterms.
Texas Children’s Hospital has agreed to a $10 million settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice and Texas authorities over Medicaid billing for gender-affirming care, firing five doctors and setting up a detransition clinic for five years. The deal comes amid a broader push by states to restrict or ban gender-related treatments for minors and accompanies a court-ordered review of practices.
Texas attorney general Ken Paxton has won the Republican primary runoff, supported by President Trump, defeating incumbent John Cornyn. Paxton now advances to the general election to face Democrat James Talarico. The result signals continued Trump influence in the party ahead of November, while Cornyn has pledged to back the GOP ticket.
Rising beef prices and inflation have driven Texas barbecue restaurants to close or raise prices, threatening iconic regional spots. Industry officials say margins have been squeezed as wholesale brisket costs climb and consumer traffic falls, with several well-known joints among the casualties.
Since late May, Trump-endorsed candidates have reshaped key Republican primaries: Ken Paxton has beaten John Cornyn in Texas and will face Democrat James Talarico in November; in South Carolina Trump has backed Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette and Sen. Lindsey Graham has secured the president's endorsement for his fifth-term bid. Democrats are raising funds and recalibrating strategy in response.
The president has stated that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and has framed talks as critical to global security, while dismissing attention to U.S. domestic political concerns as the war with Iran continues to shape gas prices and inflation.
The New York Times and NY Post articles show Democrats eyeing Texas as Paxton defeats Cornyn in the GOP primary, while the Times argues demographic trends could help a blue Texas in November. The conversation highlights party dynamics and potential shifts in statewide outcomes.
President Donald Trump has confirmed he angrily confronted Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a recent phone call over Israel's strikes in Lebanon, saying he told Netanyahu to stop. Trump has insisted the pair still have a strong relationship while US-mediated talks with Iran are continuing and fighting in Lebanon remains active.
The White House has issued a scaled-back executive order asking frontier AI firms to voluntarily share advanced models 30 days before release for cybersecurity review. Last week the administration has imposed export-style restrictions that forced Anthropic to cut access to its Fable and Mythos models, prompting industry alarm about ad hoc controls and the limits of the voluntary framework.
Democrats are grappling with Graham Platner’s recent disclosures ahead of the Maine Senate race against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. The New York Times has reported disturbing accounts from several former partners, while Platner has described his past as a period of transformation. Party leaders remain cautiously supportive, highlighting the stakes for control of the Senate.
Trump has claimed a peace deal with Iran could be signed soon, a repeated assertion that has yet to materialize. Markets have reacted with optimism and volatility as talks remain fragile and conflict persists. The narrative centers on the tension between optimism and reality as political statements influence oil and equities.
This weekhas produced mixed results for President Donald Trumpin Republican primaries. Trump-backed candidates won key Senate contests in Alabama and Georgia but lost the GOP gubernatorial primary in Georgia, where self-funding billionaire Rick Jackson defeated the presidents pick, Burt Jones. The outcomes will reshape November battlefield maps.
Cornyn has acknowledged his defeat in the Texas Senate race, warning that Trump’s continued loyalty requirements risk fracturing the party. He says Republicans will grapple with a bumpy seven months ahead while colleagues gain more room to maneuver.
At the Texas GOP convention in Houston, delegates debate the party platform amid pressure for unity. An elephant mascot, Paige, disrupts proceedings when she urinates in the aisle, drawing national attention as Abbott weighs a more assertive stance on key issues.
The Texas Supreme Court has rejected environmental groups’ challenge to Boca Chica Beach access limits, ruling that the Open Beaches Act does not grant private enforcement rights and leaving SpaceX’s launch site protections intact. The decision comes days after SpaceX’s Nasdaq IPO, which analysts say has boosted attention on the Boca Chica area.
Mars is rolling out naturally dyed M&M’s in August via Amazon, replacing two classic colors in the initial launch due to color science hurdles. The move follows a wave of MAHA-inspired scrutiny of artificial dyes in food. By 2028, Mars aims to offer six colors in natural form, though blue and brown remain absent in the early packs.
Democrats have pulled within striking distance in key battlegrounds, while Trump-backed candidates maintain influence in Republican primaries. New polls show close races in several states, with momentum fluctuating as endorsements and candidate quality shape outcomes.
The Supreme Court has struck down a cap on coordinated party spending in support of candidates, in a 6-3 decision. The ruling upends decades of campaign finance rules, expanding parties’ ability to coordinate with campaigns ahead of the midterms. Republican committees hold a cash advantage over Democrats.
Trump has announced a midterm national convention in Dallas for September 9–10, a break from tradition. The event aims to energize GOP voters ahead of the 2026 midterms, with attention on Texas races such as Paxton vs. Talarico as Democrats seek to counter Trump’s influence. Democrats considered but did not pursue a similar convention.
Fans across the US report cancelled or nonexistent World Cup tickets bought on StubHub. Lawsuits have been filed alleging false sales practices; authorities are probing ticket deliveries, while FIFA and StubHub point to the event organizer’s infrastructure.