Bayliss Wagner
baylisswagner.bsky.social
Bayliss Wagner
@baylisswagner.bsky.social
Based in Austin, I report on Texas politics for the San Antonio Express-News

Send tips: bwagner.46 on Signal
Big follow-up to this story coming Monday. Watch this space 👀📚
NEW FROM ME: Texas school boards are increasingly turning to ChatGPT & other AI programs to comply with SB 13, a new state law that requires them to vet school library purchase lists for "indecent" or "profane" content.

#txlege

www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/art...
Some Texas schools are using AI to screen library books under new state law
Supporters see ChatGPT as a way to help weed out inappropriate content, but critics say AI can include incorrect details and miss valuable context.
www.houstonchronicle.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:30 PM
NEW: Democratic deadlock over the Texas U.S. Senate race kept Rep. @joaquincastrotx.bsky.social from running for AG, he said

Castro wanted to divide statewide races up with Colin Allred, James Talarico and Beto O'Rourke for a "strong, well-funded" Dem ticket

expressnews.com/politics/art...
Joaquin Castro says Democratic deadlock kept him from running for Texas AG
U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro said Friday that he wanted to team up with Allred, Talarico, O’Rourke to divide up 2026 statewide races, but that they hit an impasse over the U.S. Senate seat.
expressnews.com
November 14, 2025 at 10:25 PM
New: Nearly one in five Texas Latinos who voted for Trump regret their choice, new @UnidosUS bipartisan-run poll finds

The survey also found that 64% blame Republicans for the government shutdown, versus 21% who blame Democrats. www.expressnews.com/politics/art...
Nearly one in five Texas Latinos regret voting for Trump, poll finds
The bipartisan-run survey found Texas Latinos worry the GOP is ignoring ‘bread and butter’ issues like cost of living and healthcare.
www.expressnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
NEW: The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily greenlit Texas' enforcement of a ban on drag shows and "sexually oriented performances" in front of minors while a lawsuit plays out, vacating a lower court's block of the law #txlege www.expressnews.com/politics/art...
www.expressnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Reposted by Bayliss Wagner
A federal appeals court next year will hear Texas’ arguments against a ruling that blocked nearly a dozen school districts from displaying posters of the Ten Commandments.
Federal appeals court will hear arguments in Texas’ and Louisiana’s Ten Commandments cases in January
The judges opting to hear the cases together marks a significant development in a saga that many believe will reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
www.houstonpublicmedia.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:28 PM
Reposted by Bayliss Wagner
1/ The Trump admin has targeted the president's perceived enemies with allegations of mortgage fraud.

Letitia James. Adam Schiff. Lisa Cook

But recently one Texas Republican tapped the tactic to allege a statewide official here may also be guilty: Ken Paxton. www.kut.org/crime-justic... #txlege
Trump uses mortgage fraud to target Democrats. A Texas Republican is using it against Ken Paxton.
The Trump administration has aggressively investigated the president’s adversaries for mortgage fraud. But it’s unclear whether the federal housing agency will probe allegations against the Texas atto...
www.kut.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Reposted by Bayliss Wagner
The U.S. is on track to have the fewest foreign food inspections since 2011, except during the Covid pandemic. 65% of the staff in the FDA divisions responsible for coordinating travel and budgets left or were fired in the name of government efficiency. www.propublica.org/article/fore...
November 6, 2025 at 2:53 PM
NEW: The Texas National Guard is still in Illinois despite a court order blocking their deployment, I confirmed.

Between the TX & IL National Guards, the Chicago mission could cost from $8-$12 mil by next month. A judge allowed them to remain under fed control.
www.expressnews.com/politics/art...
Cost of Texas and Illinois Guard deployment could top $12M by next month
About 200 Texas troops were still in Illinois as of Tuesday, as the Trump administration fights in court to dispatch them onto the streets of Chicago.
www.expressnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Reposted by Bayliss Wagner
NEW: Millions of poor Americans could see $0 in SNAP benefits because of the way the Trump administration has implemented a court order, which required it to preserve the program during the shutdown.

Others may get about $12 in partial payments.

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/05/u...
Some SNAP Recipients May Not Receive Food Stamps Under White House Policy
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Inbox: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's campaign is hoping to fundraise on Zohran Mamdani's victory

"The Left is coming for our state," their email reads. "Texas is the first line of defense. If we allow socialism to spread here, it can take root anywhere." #txlege
November 5, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Tune into @TexasStandard now to hear about how Texas schools are using AI to screen library books for content banned under a new state law, SB 13.

Talked with them about my recent story: www.statesman.com/politics/art...
Texas schools are using AI to screen library books under new state law
Supporters see ChatGPT as a way to help weed out inappropriate content, but critics say AI can include incorrect details and miss valuable context.
www.statesman.com
November 3, 2025 at 4:19 PM
New: Family ties run deep among unauthorized immigrants in the San Antonio area. Per recent estimates:

-nearly half of Bexar County's 101k unauthorized immigrants have lived there for 20+ years
-38,000 live with minor children
-24% are married to U.S. citizens

www.expressnews.com/politics/art...
38,000 Bexar County parents risk deportation, per new report
A new analysis of Census Bureau data finds that family and community ties run deep among unauthorized immigrants in Texas and in the San Antonio area.
www.expressnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:14 PM
Reposted by Bayliss Wagner
The Nebraska DHHS website features a banner blaming Senate Democrats for the federal government shutdown.

The move by Gov. Jim Pillen follows the trend of gov websites being used in the messaging battle over the shutdown.

My latest @nebraskaexaminer.com

nebraskaexaminer.com/2025/10/30/n...
Nebraska DHHS website blames Dems for federal government shutdown as SNAP shutoff looms • Nebraska Examiner
State law prohibits public resources from being used for political purposes; DHHS says Gov. Jim Pillen can issue partisan statements.
nebraskaexaminer.com
October 30, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Reposted by Bayliss Wagner
The program, signed into law by former Gov. George W. Bush, has become a Republican target amid the party's broader DEI crackdown.
Texas freezes program boosting minority, women-owned businesses
The program, signed into law by former Gov. George W. Bush, has become a Republican target amid the party's broader DEI crackdown.
bit.ly
October 30, 2025 at 9:00 PM
NEW FROM ME: Texas school boards are increasingly turning to ChatGPT & other AI programs to comply with SB 13, a new state law that requires them to vet school library purchase lists for "indecent" or "profane" content.

#txlege

www.houstonchronicle.com/politics/art...
Some Texas schools are using AI to screen library books under new state law
Supporters see ChatGPT as a way to help weed out inappropriate content, but critics say AI can include incorrect details and miss valuable context.
www.houstonchronicle.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Reposted by Bayliss Wagner
JUST IN: 11 9th Circuit judges dissent* as appeals court declines en banc rehearing of ruling letting Trump use National Guard in L.A. Some judges may keep powder dry for Oregon case w/weaker facts for Trump admin. Doc: cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/op... Earlier: www.politico.com/news/2025/06...
October 23, 2025 at 1:37 AM
BREAKING: A Waco federal judge has ruled Texas’ HB 900/READER Act unconstitutional & blocked the state from enforcing its requirement that schools remove books labeled “sexually explicit” by vendors.

This makes permanent a temp block that the 5th Circuit upheld. #txlege
October 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
BREAKING: Trump can deploy the Oregon National Guard to protect an ICE facility in Portland while a lawsuit plays out, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals just ruled.

The Texas National Guard wasn't part of the appeal, so they remain blocked from going to OR.
October 20, 2025 at 7:28 PM
NEW: A national Republican group whose biggest individual donor is Elon Musk is spending millions to counter California's redistricting ballot initiative.

If passed, CA's Prop 50 would neutralize TX's addition of 5 U.S. House seats favoring the GOP. #txlege
www.expressnews.com/politics/art...
Musk-backed group spent $5 million to fight California redistricting plan
The Texas billionaire gave $5 million to the the group in June, making him its largest individual donor this year.
www.expressnews.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Gov. Greg Abbott will again deploy state troopers and the National Guard to Austin ahead of an anti-Trump "No Kings" protest, claiming the demonstration is linked to antifa #txlege
October 16, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Central Texas' New Braunfels ISD temporarily closes high school libraries to "ensure compliance" with SB 13, a new state law banning content deemed to be indecent or profane. via @expressnews.com #txlege www.expressnews.com/hill-country...
New Braunfels ISD closes some school libraries to review books
The district said the temporary closure is to "ensure compliance" with a new state law banning content deemed to be indecent or profane.
www.expressnews.com
October 15, 2025 at 7:05 PM
EXCLUSIVE: Per a Texas National Guard source, the rushed nature of the deployment led the state military department to include 3-4 members who weren't up to fitness standards, my colleague and I report in an update #txlege www.expressnews.com/politics/art...
October 13, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reposted by Bayliss Wagner
A conservative Christian group helped end the constitutional right to an abortion in the U.S. Now, it has taken its playbook to Britain. Here's how the Alliance Defending Freedom became an unlikely conduit between MAGA Republicans and the Reform U.K. party. nyti.ms/3KLqGol
They Helped Topple Roe v. Wade. Now Their Sights Are Set on Britain.
An organization that fought abortion rights in the United States is now an unlikely conduit between MAGA Republicans and Britain’s ascendant Reform U.K. party.
nyti.ms
October 13, 2025 at 3:40 PM
NEW: Some Texas National Guard soldiers deployed to Chicago have been sent home for failing to meet fitness standards after an ABC News photo of heavyset troops went viral.

Comes after Defense Sec & former Fox host Pete Hegseth said he was tired of “fat troops” giving the military a “bad look.”
October 13, 2025 at 3:59 PM