The latest politics news from The Texas Tribune.
Key U.S. senators appeared more comfortable Wednesday with former Texas Gov. Rick Perry being the next U.S. energy secretary than they were with former Exxon Mobil chief Rex Tillerson being the next U.S. secretary of state. Full Story
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With a week until the 85th Legislative Session begins, House Speaker Joe Straus is without something he has had before every session since he first took the helm of the chamber: a challenger for the gavel. Full Story
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On Wednesday the U.S. Fifth Circuit of Appeals will hear arguments over whether an immigrant harboring provision lawmakers passed nearly two years ago should be implemented. Full Story
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The judges overseeing litigation on Texas redistricting haven't done anything public for two years. The lawyers who sued the state over its political maps are trying to get the judges to chirp or get off the perch. Full Story
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While all the Republicans from Texas backed U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, some were more comfortable than others with a surprise plan to gut the chambers' ethics office, making for a raucous first day of the new Congress. Full Story
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A pair of Texas lawmakers have filed legislation aiming to plug what they called major “loopholes” in public records law that have left taxpayers in the dark about key details of some contracts involving public funds. Full Story
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George W. Bush is planning to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump, whom the former president did not support during the campaign along with other members of his family. Full Story
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In the suburban enclaves southwest of Houston, Hillary Clinton carried Fort Bend County in what Democrats hope is a sign of things to come in the onetime GOP stronghold. Full Story
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House Bill 375 would give all Texans the right to openly carry a firearm — with or without a permit. If passed, Texas would be the 11th state to allow "constitutional carry." Full Story
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Trying to get beyond the rhetoric on border security or immigration at the state or federal level is often a fool's errand. Here are eight secrets in those often shadowy arenas. Full Story
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Watch the Tribune's Ross Ramsey explain what lawmakers will focus their attention on during the state's five-month legislative session, which starts Jan. 10. Full Story
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Politically speaking, 2016 was one for the history books. Here's a look back at some of The Texas Tribune's top 2016 video stories. Full Story
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Former Comptroller Susan Combs and former U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla met with President-elect Donald Trump on Friday as he continues to search for an agriculture secretary. Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller met Friday with Trump officials. Full Story
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A wild election year gave us a lot to write about. Here are some of the most-read stories of 2016. Full Story
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Chris Suprun, one of two Texas Republican electors who refused to vote for Donald Trump in the Electoral College, says he was twice turned away from voting in the general election. Full Story
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For those of us who look forward to the TribCast each week, 2016 was the ultimate gift. Catch up with the top five episodes of the year before we ring in a 2017 full of TribCast debauchery. Full Story
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From U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's Republican National Convention speech to U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela's letter to Trump, 10 days in 2016 stand out for how they disrupted, empowered or otherwise messed with members of the Texas delegation. Full Story
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After Uber left Austin, state lawmakers are now poised to take up regulations of ride-hailing companies. They may also look at a high-speed rail developer's ability to use eminent domain for a Dallas-Houston bullet train. Full Story
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How good are you at telling real from fake news? Take our quiz and find out. Full Story
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It may have been the offseason for the Texas Legislature, but there was still ample news coming from state officials, much of which will reverberate through the legislative session starting in January. Full Story
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