Debates over THC, abortion pills, STAAR and more resume as Democrats return for second special session
Now that the Texas House has a quorum following Democrats’ two-week absence, lawmakers are back to debate a wide range of issues, including redrawing congressional maps to benefit Republicans.
State health officials declare West Texas measles outbreak over
With no new cases reported in 42 days, the nation’s largest measles outbreak in 30 years, is declared over.
Rep. Ray Lopez of San Antonio will not seek reelection to Texas House
The San Antonio Democrat was first elected to the Legislature in 2019.
Texas Republicans’ redistricting map: How the GOP could increase its stronghold.
The proposed congressional districts are fueling a redistricting battle at the Texas Capitol and could have national consequences. A bipartisan war is already brewing across the U.S.
Photos: Texas Democrats return to Austin as redistricting standoff ends
Texas Democrats return to Austin after a two week fight over GOP-drawn congressional maps
Fifth Circuit halts West Texas A&M drag show ban as free speech lawsuit continues
In a split decision, a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocked the school’s prohibition on drag performances, finding students are likely to prove it violates the First Amendment.
Texas Senate quickly passes several bills on second special session’s first day
Lawmakers focused first on flood-related bills Monday night and tackled other legislation including a THC ban, property taxes and deed fraud.
‘Slap in the face’: Major blue state governor signs bill opening financial aid to illegals
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a major Democratic leader and rumored presidential candidate, signed a bill into law opening student financial aid to all residents, regardless of immigration status, opening a pathway for illegal immigrants residing in the state to receive educational financial benefits. The move was slammed by conservative Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., as rewarding illegal immigrants and a “slap in the face” to Illinois families and students. The bill purports to establish “equitable eligibility for financial aid and benefits” for all students in the state. The bill reads that “a student who is an Illinois resident and who is not otherwise eligible for federal financial aid, including, but not limited to, a transgender student who is disqualified for failure to register for selective service or a noncitizen student who has not obtained lawful permanent residence, shall be eligible for financial aid and benefits.” ILLINOIS GOV CALLS FOR MASS PROTESTS AGAINST TRUMP ADMIN: GOP ‘CANNOT KNOW A MOMENT OF PEACE’ One of the bill’s sponsors, state Sen. Celina Villanueva, a Democrat, celebrated Pritzker signing the bill by saying in a statement that “this law is about making sure no student is left behind because of where they were born.” A statement by Villanueva’s office said that the measure “eliminates the patchwork of confusing and sometimes conflicting requirements that have excluded undocumented, DACAmented, and mixed-status students from critical aid.” The law pertains to any student residing in Illinois, making him or her eligible for financial aid programs funded or administered by the state, local governments, or public universities, according to the statement. The statement said that the law “builds upon Villanueva’s long-standing advocacy for immigrant and first-generation students by creating a more consistent and inclusive pathway to accessing support.” DEM GOVERNOR JB PRITZKER VOWS TO ‘DO EVERYTHING I CAN TO PROTECT OUR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS’ “If you live in Illinois and are pursuing higher education, you should have access to the same opportunities as your peers,” said Villanueva. “Illinois invests in all of our students, and we’re committed to helping them succeed.” Commenting on the legislation, Miller told Fox News Digital that “allowing taxpayer-funded financial aid for illegal aliens is a slap in the face to hardworking Illinois families and students.” “Our state is drowning in debt, yet JB Pritzker is determined to drain even more taxpayer dollars to reward illegals,” she said. “It’s absolutely shameful.” A spokesperson for the Illinois GOP also chimed in, telling Fox News Digital that “once again, Governor Pritzker proves that he is prioritizing illegal immigrants at the expense of Illinois families.” BLUE STATE REPUBLICAN CALLS ON COUNTY SHERIFFS TO DEFY SANCTUARY LAW, DEM GOVERNOR RUMORED FOR 2028 RUN “Illinois taxpayers should not have their hard-earned taxpayer dollars pay for benefits to illegal immigrants who shouldn’t be here in the first place,” added the spokesperson. Pritzker’s office declined Fox News Digital’s request for comment. Villanueva’s office had not replied to Fox News Digital’s request for comment by the time of publication.
Trump moves to broker Putin-Zelenskyy meeting following DC peace talks
President Donald Trump said he spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin Monday, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders at the White House, to begin coordinating next steps in the peace process aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. The president posted on his Truth Social platform Monday evening saying that he had called Putin at the conclusion of a day of meetings to begin “the arrangements for a meeting” between the Russian president and his Ukrainian counterpart. Trump’s call to Putin mirrored his decision to call Zelenskyy following Friday’s Alaska summit with Putin. “At the conclusion of the meetings, I called President Putin, and began the arrangements for a meeting, at a location to be determined, between President Putin and President Zelenskyy,” Trump confirmed, following media reports hinting at the call. TRUMP: ZELENSKYY MEETING NOT ‘END OF THE ROAD’ FOR US SUPPORT IN SECURING PEACE DEAL The president added that after the meeting between the two warring presidents, there would be a trilateral meeting with the United States as well. “After that meeting takes place, we will have a Trilat, which would be the two Presidents, plus myself,” the president continued. “Again, this was a very good, early step for a War that has been going on for almost four years.” Yury Ushakov, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, said Trump and Putin were on the phone for about 40 minutes and held a “candid and very constructive” dialogue, according to CNN. Putin “expressed support for direct negotiations between the delegations of Russia and Ukraine,” Ushakov reportedly added. TRUMP SAYS CEASEFIRE NOT NECESSARY FOR PEACE DURING HIGH-STAKES MEETING WITH ZELENSKYY Officials familiar with Monday’s talks also reportedly said Trump’s call to Putin came in-between talks with the European leaders present at the White House. Meanwhile, one of those leaders, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, reportedly said Putin agreed in the call with Trump to meet Zelenskyy in two weeks. Earlier in the day, Trump was caught in a hot-mic moment telling French President Emmanuel Macron that Putin wants to find a resolution to bring the war in Ukraine to an end for him. “I think [Putin] wants to make a deal,” Trump whispered to Macron in the East Room as they were preparing for Monday’s talks. “I think he wants to make a deal for me, you understand that? As crazy as it sounds.” Following Monday’s talks, Zelenskyy thanked Trump and all the other leaders present in D.C. for their work in trying to bring peace to his country, noting that the talks were “long and detailed.” “Today, important negotiations took place in Washington. We discussed many issues with President Trump. It was a long and detailed conversation, including discussions about the situation on the battlefield and our steps to bring peace closer,” Zelenskyy said in a post on X Monday night. “We appreciate the important signal from the United States regarding its readiness to support and be part of these guarantees. A lot of attention today was given to the return of our children, to the release of prisoners of war and civilians held by Russia. We agreed to work on this,” Zelenskyy continued. “The U.S. President also supported a meeting at the level of leaders. Such a meeting is necessary to resolve sensitive issues.” Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment on this but did not receive a response.
With Texas Dems back, Trump urges Legislature: ‘Pass this Map, ASAP’
Following Texas Democratic lawmakers’ return on Monday after vacating the state for two weeks, President Donald Trump urged the state legislature to move quickly to pass a highly controversial redistricting bill, saying, “Please pass this Map, ASAP.” Amid a packed day meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and European leaders, Trump urged Texas leaders to act quickly, writing in a Truth Social post that the redistricting bill is “one of the most popular initiatives I have ever supported.” He thanked Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, state House Speaker Dustin Burrows and the Texas Legislature for their “GREAT work.” “Republican State Legislators in the Great State of Texas, which I love, and WON BIG three times, including with 6.4 Million Votes in 2024 (by far the most Votes in History!), just introduced a new Bill for ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL CONGRESSIONAL MAP!” wrote Trump. TEXAS DEMS END WEEKSLONG QUORUM STANDOFF IN REDISTRICTING FIGHT “It is wonderful to see Republicans everywhere standing up to Save our Country. It is one of the most popular initiatives I have ever supported,” he went on, adding, “Republicans love watching us fight for a Great Cause. Please pass this Map, ASAP. THANK YOU TEXAS — MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! This comes after a two-week-long standoff between Texas Republican leaders and dozens of members of the Texas House Democratic Caucus who fled the state in efforts to deny the legislature the quorum necessary to pass a Trump-backed redistricting bill, which would potentially give the GOP five additional congressional seats. After the Democrats fled, Abbott and other leaders vowed not to back down and threatened to remove them from office and have them arrested. For their part, the AWOL Democrats pledged not to return until another Democratic state moved to “nullify” Texas’ new Republican seats. The Democrats also vowed they would not return to Texas until the special legislative session, which the governor had called to pass the redistricting bill, as well as other priorities, had ended. OBAMA PRAISES DEMOCRATS WHO FLED TEXAS REDISTRICTING VOTE AS ‘INSPIRING’ The special session ended on Friday; however, Abbott called a second special session, which began immediately. The Texas Senate has already voted to pass the measure. Meanwhile, the California legislature is back in session in Sacramento, and Democrats in both chambers are expected to approve redistricting maps suggested by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee – which would create up to five more left-leaning congressional districts at the expense of the Republican minority – by the end of this week. California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that California voters will get to vote in November on whether to overrule a state constitutional amendment to allow the legislature to move forward with its redistricting plans. CALIFORNIA DEMOCRATS UNVEIL REDISTRICTING MAP TO WIPE OUT 5 GOP SEATS, COUNTER TEXAS PLAN During a press conference announcing the Democratic redistricting push, Newsom vowed to “meet fire with fire” in response to Trump’s support for the Texas redistricting effort.