Phil Jankowski
@philjankowski.bsky.social
I cover the intersection of energy, climate change and politics for the Dallas Morning News. Austin, TX.
New from me: Texas Democratic attorney general candidate Nathan Johnson, a Dallas state senator, has called for a review of government grants that went to Elon Musk's Starlink: www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
Democratic AG candidate unveils anti-corruption plan, targets Musk funding
Dallas state Sen. Nathan Johnson says $110M in grants to Musk's company deserve additional legislative scrutiny as he unveils anti-corruption platform.
dallasnews.com
Here's Tx Senate candidate James Talarico's response to reports that GOP rival Ken Paxton was in England on July 4.
ERCOT will flirt with its all-time demand record this week, but projects plenty of reserve power. Current record is 85,508 MW (set Aug. 10, 2023).
ICYMI: Texas has lost 20% of its licensed youth camps since lawmakers passed new regulations in the aftermath of the July 4, 2025, floods. www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
Post-flood regulations vex some youth summer camps
Texas has lost at least 20% of its licensed camps since regulations took effect.
dallasnews.com
As the primary neared, the PR efforts at the Texas attorney general's office spiked, feeding criticism that AG Ken Paxton was using the office to aid his Senate campaign www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
As Cornyn-Paxton race heats up, AG's public investigations surge
Attorney General Ken Paxton’s backers call it aggressive conservative enforcement. Sen. John Cornyn and some targets say Paxton is using the office as a political tool.
dallasnews.com
Upset is brewing in a +17% Trump district in Texas. Early returns show Democrat Taylor Rehmet with lead in Tarrant County state Senate runoff #txlege www.dallasnews.com/news/electio...
Early returns show Democrat Taylor Rehmet with lead in Tarrant County Senate runoff
Taylor Rehmat and Leigh Wambsganss face off in a runoff election for a Tarrant County Senate seat.
dallasnews.com
New polling from Texas Public Opinion Research shows Jasmine Crockett (38%) and James Talarico (37%) in a statistical tie for the Democratic primary.
A special election for a +17% Trump state Senate seat in Tarrant County was supposed to be a snoozer for the state GOP. Instead, Dan Patrick is raising the alarm while local Dems smell an upset brewing #txlege www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
Safe red seat in play as Tarrant County settles state Senate runoff Saturday
Saturday is election day for a runoff between Democrat Taylor Rehmet and Republican Leigh Wambsganss.
dallasnews.com
NEW: Texas Democrats are daring Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok over its creation of sexualized images of people, including minors, without their consent: www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
Texas Democrats call on AG Ken Paxton to investigate Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok
Texas House Democrats want Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok over sexualized images.
dallasnews.com
Texas A&M regents will vote to ban classes in race, gender ideology without prior approval www.statesman.com/news/educati...
TAMU Regents propose ban on most classes on race, gender ideology
A TAMU Board of Regents proposal would ban classes teaching race and gender ideology unless the president or a designee approves it, marking the latest threat to academic freedom.
statesman.com
Mavs fire Nico Harrison after rocky start to season and 9 months after what many consider the worst trade in NBA history. ✌️ www.dallasnews.com/sports/maver...
Dallas Mavericks fire GM Nico Harrison nine months after Luka Doncic trade
Nico Harrison is no longer the general manager of the Dallas Mavericks.
dallasnews.com
NEW: First results from Tarrant County are in for Texas state Senate District 9, and Taylor Rehmet -- the Democrat in this 3-way race -- is ahead. Upset is brewing, but Rehmet will need a very strong Election Day turnout to win outright #txlege www.dallasnews.com/news/electio...
Early returns show Democrat Taylor Rehmet in the lead for Tarrant County state Senate seat
Three candidates are vying for a Tarrant County state Senate seat in a special election. The district favors Republicans.
dallasnews.com
Tonight, I'm covering the special election for Tarrant County's state Senate District 9. It's a 3-way race that has become a proxy vote on gambling AND the 2026 midterms that's drawn the attention of Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson. #txlege www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelson pours millions into Tarrant County Senate race
What was expected to be a sleepy special election for a Tarrant County state Senate seat has exploded with Dallas Mavericks owner Miriam Adelsom spending...
dallasnews.com
The joint meeting of the #txlege House and Senate committees to address the Hill Country floods is beginning now. No local Kerrville-area officials scheduled. Here is the agenda.
From Cameron Abrams' interview with Gov. Greg Abbott in The Texan, Abbott: 1. Says he DOES want to ban weapons-grade THC products 2. Explains how pairing flood relief and redistricting has made a potential quorum bream a political minefield for #txlege Dems thetexan.news/issues/socia...
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has announced the slate of Senate bills for the 89th special session (1) #txlege
Inbox: Texas House Rep. Ron Reynolds, D-Missouri City, says he is willing to break quorum over congressional redistricting. "I am ready, willing, and able to get into good trouble by breaking quorum when justice is on the line," the chair of the House Black Caucus says. #txlege
Republican candidate for Texas attorney general Aaron Reitz took $100K donation from a doctor accused of millions in fraud www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
GOP AG candidate Aaron Reitz took $100K donation from doctor accused of millions in fraud
Aaron Reitz took a nearly $100,000 campaign donation from a doctor who fled the country prior to being federally indicted in Illinois. Reitz defended his...
dallasnews.com
"There are only two political parties in the world today cheering the passage of this bill: Trump’s Republican Party and the Chinese Communist Party." Thomas Friedman on OBBBA rollback of renewable credits www.nytimes.com/2025/07/03/o...
Opinion | How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again
nytimes.com
Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill would trigger higher electric bills, job losses, advocates say www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
Big Beautiful Bill would trigger higher electric bills, job losses, advocates say
Energy experts have found that eliminating clean energy tax credits in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a tax cut and spending bill, would lead to higher...
dallasnews.com
A boom in solar and batteries is one major reason why ERCOT is predicting far smaller chances of blackouts this summer www.dallasnews.com/business/ene...
Texas’ risk of power blackouts reduced as 100-degree days near, officials say
As the hottest days of summer near, ERCOT sees little risk of blackouts in part due to increased solar and battery capacity.
dallasnews.com
I spoke to NBC 5 this morning about my story on the powers the Texas Legislature gave to Elon Musk's "company town," Starbase. Check it out! #txlege www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W8V...
Texas gives Elon Musk's ‘company town' the power to close highways and beaches for SpaceX | NBCDFW
YouTube video by NBC DFW
youtube.com
North Dallas Democrat Rep. Mihaela Plesa has announced she will seek reelection to her Collin County district that includes parts of Plano. #txlege x.com/plesafortexa...
Representative Mihaela E. Pleșa on X: "The work isn’t done—and I’m not done either. Today I’m announcing my reelection campaign for Texas House District 70. From day one, I’ve been focused on results, not rhetoric—and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. But we can’t stop now, and I’m more motivated than ever to https://t.co/hhWmvvxWDC" / X
The work isn’t done—and I’m not done either. Today I’m announcing my reelection campaign for Texas House District 70. From day one, I’ve been focused on results, not rhetoric—and I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished. But we can’t stop now, and I’m more motivated than ever to https://t.co/hhWmvvxWDC
x.com
Developing: Gov. Greg Abbott will call a #txlege special session. Regulating hemp-derived THC is on the agenda. Session to begin July 21: www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
Texas lawmakers heading into special session on THC, trafficking victims, judicial reforms
Gov. Greg Abbott announced he will call lawmakers back to Austin to take on a slate of bills he vetoed Sunday. They include a bill that would have banned hemp-d...
dallasnews.com
The Texas Legislature gave Elon Musk’s ‘company town’ the power to shut down beaches and highways for SpaceX launches. What else did the #txlege deliver for the world's richest man? www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
Texas gives Elon Musk’s ‘company town’ power to shut down beaches, highways for SpaceX
Lawmakers at the Capitol tacked on a last-minute provision to a bill that now gives the newly formed city of Starbase authority to close beaches and highways...
dallasnews.com
BREAKING: Gov. Greg Abbott has VETOED the THC ban #SB3, likely teeing up a #txlege special session www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
Texas’ THC ban thrown out: Gov. Abbott vetoes bill to outlaw the $8B industry
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott struck down a proposed statewide ban on gummies, vapes and other consumables containing THC just before midnight on Sunday.
dallasnews.com
Blackrock CEO says US probably in a recession. Airlines are the early warning sign. www.cnbc.com/2025/04/07/c...
CEOs think the U.S. is 'probably in a recession right now,' says BlackRock's Larry Fink
The asset management executive also said that the he thinks the tariffs of President Donald Trump could put upward pressure on inflation.
cnbc.com
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are currently testifying at #txlege Senate Finance in favor of a film incentive bill prioritized by Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick.
#txlege House Dems brought this chalkboard to Gov. Greg Abbott’s Capitol office ahead of his press conference with former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey on school voucher bill
