Howdy, Texas! Wells here.

It’s been one of those weeks where everything feels like it’s shifting – from the devices in our pockets to the dinner plates on our tables, and even what’s taught in Texas classrooms. As headlines roll in about big moves by Apple and sweeping legislation at the Capitol, it’s hard not to feel the deeper currents of change in everyday life, too: how we eat, how we cook, how we learn.

This week, we caught up with tech watchers, taco experts, and education reporters to unpack it all. Here are some of those stories we think are worth your time. Thanks for reading, New!

How do Texans feel about Trump, AI and partisan politics? This poll has some answers.

The Texas Lyceum’s latest statewide poll offers a snapshot of how Texans feel about key political and economic issues, including President Trump’s performance, immigration, and the economy. Trump’s approval sits at 54%, with immigration remaining a top concern across the state.

Texans also weighed in on broader topics like artificial intelligence, the economic outlook, and political civility – finding that compromise is preferable to conflict.
The poll highlights a strong shared identity among Texans, and with a growing desire for unity amid division.

Learn more about what the 2025 Texas Lyceum poll reveals about the state’s political mood.

With ‘Day of Drag,’ Texas students push back against university bans

Drag queens and student organizers turned the University of Texas at Austin campus into a makeup studio and dance floor for Texas Day of Drag – a joyful protest against university policies banning drag shows. With the help of local performers, students got dolled up and learned line dances, all while pushing back on what they see as a crackdown on LGBTQ+ expression.

While a similar drag ban at Texas A&M was temporarily blocked by a federal judge, the UT System’s policy remains in place. Still, organizers like Isabella Thomas navigated the ban’s vague language to keep their event legal.

Learn more about how Texas students are resisting drag bans – one makeup brush at a time.

A new platter of cookbooks lets home chefs unleash Tex-Mex flavors

Texans pinching pennies may find inspiration in the kitchen thanks to a fresh crop of new cookbooks.

Mando Rayo with The Tacos of Texas podcast highlights three: Alfredo Garcia’s “Let’s Make It!” blends nostalgia with creativity (think mango chamoy wings); Rick Martínez’s “Salsa Daddy” boasts 70+ salsas with pairing tips; and Arnie Tex’s “Arnie Texas” (out July 15) brings BBQ and Mexican-American flavors straight from the pit to the plate.

Learn more about these mouth-watering recommendations here.

Support for Tacos of Texas comes from H-E-B.

In response to tariffs, Apple may shift some iPhone production to India

Apple is reportedly planning to move production of iPhones destined for the U.S. out of China and into India, the Financial Times reports. Our tech expert Omar Gallaga says the shift is a response to tariffs imposed under the Trump administration, although Apple had already begun moving some operations outside China.

Still, not all iPhones are making the move. High-end models – including rumored folding phones and a 20th anniversary edition planned for 2027 – will likely remain in China, where production capabilities are highest.

Learn more about how tariffs are reshaping Apple’s global supply chain.

Texas lawmakers consider a bill that would increase state control over public universities

Texas lawmakers are advancing a bill that would give the state more control over what’s taught at public universities. SB 37, passed by the Senate largely along party lines, would ban certain topics in core classes – like gender studies or systemic racism – and create a complaint system to report violations.

The bill would also shift power away from faculty by limiting their roles in curriculum decisions and establishing a statewide oversight committee. A sunset provision could even phase out certain degree programs.

Some UT Austin professors and education groups have spoken out against the bill, which still needs to clear the Texas House. Learn more about how SB 37 could reshape higher education in Texas.

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