Democrats think they might finally flip Texas, state officials are fighting over flesh-eating worms, hemp retailers are once again trying to determine whether their businesses exist in a legal dimension, and Texas Tech is embroiled in a controversy.
Hey y’all, it’s Brian Gaar with The Barbed Wire. If you've visited the site lately, you've probably noticed things have been a little quiet. That's because we're busy retooling and plotting the next chapter.
In the meantime, the newsletter lives on. Every week or so, we'll round up the biggest, weirdest, and most Texas stories making news across the state.
This week: Democrats think they might finally flip Texas, state officials are fighting over flesh-eating worms, hemp retailers are once again trying to determine whether their businesses exist in a legal dimension, and Texas Tech is embroiled in a controversy that has college football power brokers discussing doomsday scenarios.
Let’s dig in.
To start, let’s talk about Blue Texas, an idea that has kept Lone Star liberals going for decades.
Every few years, Democrats look at Texas and convince themselves that this is finally the moment. Usually by Thanksgiving they're staring blankly into the distance while Ted Cruz is giving another victory speech.
This year, however, they might actually have an argument, reports Nate Cohn of The New York Times.
After Ken Paxton defeated incumbent Sen. John Cornyn in the Republican primary, political analysts are increasingly treating Texas as a legitimate battleground. The reason isn't just Paxton's baggage–which includes investigations, indictment, impeachment, and a messy public divorce–but also shifting demographics.
According to recent polling cited by the Times, Republicans' gains among Hispanic voters may be evaporating. Democrats have also gained white voters compared to a decade ago. Combined, those trends have some analysts arguing that Texas could actually be competitive.
Meanwhile, the flesh-eating New World Screwworm has arrived in Texas, and instead of presenting a united front against a parasite that literally eats animals alive, two of the state's biggest agricultural figures have decided to start beefing with each other.
CNBC reports that U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins publicly called Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller "unserious" after Miller criticized the USDA's response to the outbreak. Rollins also accused him of making a "very dangerous suggestion" after Miller claimed ranchers might avoid reporting cases out of fear of government quarantines.
Miller, meanwhile, says the USDA moved too slowly and ignored a suppression system he has advocated for. He even appealed directly to President Trump to take control of the response.
Oh, and if you’re wondering if Elon Musk’s DOGE cuts affected screwworm research, you’re right!
Now it’s time for another (infuriating) THC update! Texas hemp retailers woke up this week to discover that the rules have changed again. Or maybe they haven't.
An appeals court has allowed Texas' new hemp regulations to take effect, including a rule that counts THCA toward total THC levels and sharply increases fees for retailers and manufacturers, KUT reports. But the state health department says it's still figuring out how to proceed, meaning enforcement remains unclear.
The result is that businesses are trying to determine whether products they've been selling are still legal, while regulators are trying to determine whether they intend to regulate them.
And finally, let’s talk about religion, er, college football. Specifically, Texas Tech's support for quarterback Brendan Sorsby has triggered what appears to be a full-scale panic attack among college football leadership.
A judge granted Sorsby a temporary injunction allowing him to play despite his admission that he bet on sports dozens of times (and probably much more than that). According to CBS Sports, Texas Tech is now standing alone within the Big 12 in supporting his eligibility.
Then the appeal landed in a court where all four justices graduated from Texas Tech Law, causing college football fans nationwide to make the universal "come on, man" gesture at their phones.
The reaction has been dramatic. Other schools are reportedly threatening scheduling changes, conference officials are holding meetings and Texas Tech is increasingly looking like the odd man out. Not great, Bob!
