Austin, Texas – Hollywood is under the budgetary issues of tariffs under the Capitol Dome. These are some of the big stories of Texas politics this week.
A panel of Austin political reporters Rudy Koski and analysts discuss this week’s big narrative in Texas politics.
Local perspective:
Rudy Koski: Another busy week in Texas politics. Get the headings from the panel. We’ll start with Philip Jankowski, the Dallas Morning News Reporter.
Philip Djankovsky: Trump’s tariff and trade war turns into chaos.
Rudy Koski: Harvey Kronberg on the Quorum Report. What is your headline?
Harvey Kronberg: Music chairs are beginning in earnest as there is a high chance of seat availability at Comptroller and AG in 2026.
Rudy Koski: Patrick Wytech of the Washington Post, tell us the headlines for the week.
Partick Svitek: Trump goes out all about tariffs.
Ken Paxton’s updated prosecutor
Paxton FBI Probe Finishes: AP Report
The FBI probe to Ken Paxton ended at the end of the Biden administration, according to a report from the Associated Press. The news burns speculation that Paxton is about to run for the US Senate seat currently being held by John Cornyn.
Rudy Koski: Perhaps the biggest story of the week is the Associated Press report that the Justice Department’s Biden administration refused to indict Attorney General Ken Paxton. Harvey, what do you think about this? It’s a bit surprising.
Harvey Kronberg: Well, it takes off what could have certainly been a major obstacle. It certainly opens the door and the Attorney General certainly sounds like he’s ready to take action.
Philip Djankovsky: I think the discarding of the Department of Justice investigation into him is something he can certainly use for his benefit.
Partick Svitek: I don’t know if the end of what I was expecting was the end, but only to play with what everyone else said. That is, it gives Paxton a rather powerful political topic, at least in the context of the Republican primary.
Latest Texas Legislative Sessions
Rudy Koski: On Thursday, the House Public Education Board proceeded with school funding and school selection laws. Philip, you wrote an article about this, but you wrote more from a homeschooler perspective. Do they feel their backs are pressed against the wall?
Philip Djankovsky: I don’t know about the back being pressed against the wall. In the current version, if they decide to get an education savings account to adjust for around $2,000, they will need to take a standardized test for the first time. How much money will they take to be exposed to the evaluations the norms are referenced?
Rudy Koski: Li, during Dan Patrick, made the state of briefing for the session on Thursday, saying that he and Speaker Burrows were singing from the same songbook, but he still expressed some concerns about how things are getting a little slower on the side of the house. Harvey, are there any indications that there is a breakup in Big 3?
Harvey Kronberg: Now let’s start with the proposition that the speaker was actively opposed by Lieutenant Colonel Dan Patrick. He has a long history of trying to undermine the speakers and stomp the house. This will be a test for Dustin Burrows, who will soon be appearing.
Texas legislators are watching movie incentive bills
Actors Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson testified before the Senate Finance Committee to support legislation to strengthen the entertainment industry’s incentives plan.
Rudy Koski: This week, the Hollywood star came out under the Capitol Dome. Woody Harrelson’s Matthew McConaughey and television series producer The Chosen appeared before a Senate hearing in support of a $500 million plan to attract Moviemakers to Texas. Harvey, this is interesting. Because it is approved by Li, Dan Patrick, known for being a small government-like man.
Harvey Kronberg: This is his face. It’s amazing about the face because he’s always resisted it.
Philip Djankovsky: I think it’s worth pointing out that Taylor Sheridan wasn’t in the hearing. In fact, Donna Campbell and Paul Bettencourt, Senators, are the ones who took the Lord’s name in his show, especially the Landman of Show.
Florida and Wisconsin elections
Rudy Koski: Tuesday was Election Day in Florida and Wisconsin. Patrick, you wrote an analysis of those elections. How does what happened in Texas apply?
Partick Svitek: I saw Elon Musk’s role really backfire, especially in the Wisconsin Supreme Court competition. And if you’re looking forward to it, if you know, if you know the race in Texas, I think all candidates are probably thinking about the amount of Elon Musk and the dog’s efforts to embrace.
Trump’s tariff war
Rudy Koski: President Trump’s tariff war certainly has many people on Wall Street shaking in Gucci shoes. Harvey, you’re worried that this could have a ripple effect on the Texas budget.
Harvey Kronberg: Well, I’ve been singing this song since the election. If 50% originally wrote, if 50% of what Trump had proposed passed, it would be devastating to Texas’ revenue stream. 53% of our revenue stream comes from sales taxes and year-over-year sales, which are essentially flattened before customs duties. The bottom line, I think 2026 will be a tough budget cut session, just as you see it.
This week ends with Texas politics
Rudy Koski: You can catch the full discussion on Fox 7 Austin YouTube pages and Fox Local. But put things together with the last words of the week. And we start with Harvey. What are your words?
Harvey Kronberg: Overwhelmingly, it’s tariffs.
Rudy Koski: Patrick, please give me your words.
Partick Svitek: You know, I call it a penguin. Because I’m thinking of the island penguins that are exposed to Trump’s fear, despite their very far away.
Rudy Koski: And Philip, what is your job?
Philip Djankovsky: I can’t beat it, but I say retaliation.
Rudy Koski: And that’s in Texas politics this week
sauce: Information from an interview conducted by Fox 7 Austin’s Rudy Koski
