Trump Stops By Texas, UT Austin Students Protest Campus Carry

This week in Texas politics with the Texas Tribune.

By Rhonda FanningAugust 26, 2016 2:35 pm,

As always, it’s time for the week that was in Texas politics. Matthew Watkins, a reporter for the Texas Tribune stopped by the Standard to talk about what’s been going on.

The Lone Star State isn’t heavily trafficked when it comes to presidential politics; there’s usually an assumption that folks know where Texas will be headed in a presidential contest. But we did get an unusual visit this week, from presidential candidate Donald Trump.

“You don’t normally see the presidential candidates coming here with less than 100 days in the election,” Watkins says. “And when they do come it’s usually to raise money not have campaign events. But he was here, and drew pretty big crowds and made some news.”

It seems as if Trump might be “softening” his opinions on how to handle cases for those who may be in the country illegally.

“It’s mainly about whether or not the 11 million or so undocumented immigrants who are already in the country should all be deported,” he says. “Should maybe some who have been here for a long time – if they pay back taxes and haven’t committed any crimes – should they be allowed to stay? Trump raised the possibility that maybe he would be in favor of that.”

What you’ll hear in this segment: 

– Sen. Ted Cruz’s thoughts on Trump’s immigration stance

– A recap of the student-led campus carry demonstration at the University of Texas at Austin