The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
The debate over the future of the Democratic Party came to Austin on Saturday, with all five candidates for national party chairman pitching activists on the path forward after a devastating loss in the presidential election. Full Story
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Texas Republicans are preparing for a closely watched Electoral College vote Monday in what is normally an afterthought to a presidential election. Full Story
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The state's new system of grading public schools and districts from A to F is barely starting to kick in, and many educators are already intent on killing it. Full Story
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Rick Perry has become the unsinkable Molly Brown of Texas politics — seemingly at the end of his career time after time, and now on his way to the biggest government job of his career. Full Story
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In the Roundup: Donald Trump selects former Gov. Rick Perry to lead the U.S. Department of Energy, Gov. Greg Abbott takes a wait-and-see approach on anticipated bathroom legislation and Attorney General Ken Paxton takes on a new fight over Christmas. Full Story
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Fighting federal civil fraud allegations, Attorney General Ken Paxton is zeroing in on state Rep. Byron Cook's credibility in a new push to discredit the latest claims. Full Story
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Ken Paxton has come to the defense of a Christmas-themed Peanuts poster at a Texas public school. This isn't the first time elected officials have fought over Christmas; in fact, it's something of a holiday tradition. Full Story
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President-elect Donald Trump has officially selected former Gov. Rick Perry, a former rival turned loyalist, to lead the Department of Energy. Full Story
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Gov. Greg Abbott is adopting a wait-and-see approach about anticipated legislation that would prohibit transgender people from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity. Full Story
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Donald Trump has officially picked Texas oil executive Rex Tillerson to be secretary of state, going ahead with the Exxon Mobil CEO's nomination despite early signs of unease over his close relationship with Russian leader Vladimir Putin. Full Story
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If confirmed, the erstwhile Trump rival will oversee American energy policy and its ramifications on the economy, environment and national security. Full Story
Former Gov. Rick Perry has met with President-elect Donald Trump again as speculation picks up that he could lead the Department of Energy. Full Story
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Reports surfaced Saturday that President-elect Donald Trump had picked Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson to be his secretary of state, making perhaps his most controversial nomination yet due to the Texan's close ties to Russia. But before word got out about Tillerson, the Lone Star State had come up empty in Trump's cabinet appointments. Full Story
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Texans who weren't interested in any of the presidential candidates on the ballot wrote in everything from Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz to Chuck Norris and Harambe. Some left colorful messages for election officials. Full Story
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An incoming state senator suggested Thursday that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will focus on schools, not businesses or sporting venues, with his "bathroom bill." Full Story
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U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, once a vicious critic of Donald Trump, is allying himself with the president-elect on some key issues shaping the early stages of Trump's transition into the White House. Full Story
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"It’s like Fox News: I report, you decide if it’s true or not," Miller said Wednesday, responding to a Texas Tribune report about his tendency to spread fake news stories on Facebook. Full Story
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U.S. senators from Texas and Arkansas engaged in a food fight for the ages at the nation's Capitol on Wednesday. Inexplicably, Texas lost. Full Story
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Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Wednesday that a Texas Republican elector's decision not to vote for Donald Trump may lead state legislators to pass a law requiring electors to support the winner of the statewide popular vote. Full Story
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U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul was widely viewed as a top contender for the position in Trump's Cabinet. Full Story
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