The clash embodies the tension for Democrats who rely on large fundraising hauls to remain competitive, even as they denounce the outsized political influence of corporate cash.
Politics
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2026 Texas Elections
GOP megadonor turned attorney general front-runner: How Mayes Middleton’s largesse fueled his rise
Middleton helped fund the Legislature’s swing to the right, and an internecine challenge to Ken Paxton. But that’s nothing next to the money he’s spent on himself.
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State Government
WhatsApp, Meta can access Texans’ private messages, AG Ken Paxton claims in lawsuit
The attorney general’s office argues WhatsApp and parent company Meta are deceiving users by claiming the companies can’t view their encrypted messages.
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Higher Education
Mock funeral mourns death of academic freedom before UT System updates rule on cutting programs
College students and professors are protesting with mock funerals across Texas, saying universities are dying from political interference. School officials say they’re responding to shifting needs.
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Higher Education
Pro-Palestinian protesters sue UT Dallas leaders, police officers over alleged punishment
The lawsuit accuses University of Texas at Dallas police officers of using excessive force while arresting students last year.
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Health care
500,000 fewer Texans are on SNAP as participation slips nationally
Advocates say the federal government’s new work requirements and immigration crackdown has limited food stamp participation. The state says the recent decline is part of normal fluctuations in enrollment.
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2026 Texas Elections
Texas’ GOP Senate runoff pits an old guard-backed institutionalist against a Trump-picked flamethrower
The GOP establishment has gone to bat for John Cornyn, touting the statesmanship and Washington know-how that make him a favorite of his colleagues and a pariah among Paxton’s base.
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Politics
Dems slam Maureen Galindo’s comments as antisemitic in TX-35 runoff
Some party leaders are also also alleging GOP interference on behalf of Galindo, who said she would “turn Karnes ICE Detention Center into a prison for American Zionists” if elected.
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Environment
Rain gives Corpus Christi a small break, delaying projected water crisis by 3 months
Without additional rain, the coastal city expects to impose mandatory water restrictions around December, new data shows.
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2026 Texas Elections
Trump endorses Ken Paxton in Senate GOP runoff
The development, coming partway through early voting, is a searing blow for John Cornyn, who finished first in the March runoff but was unable to convince Trump to endorse him.