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Phil Jankowski

@philjankowski.bsky.social
2.3K followers 989 following 134 posts

I cover the intersection of energy, climate change and politics for the Dallas Morning News. Austin, TX.

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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
New: More than 70% of Texas data centers contacted in state water use inquiry did not respond. That's against the law, state official says: www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
dallasnews.com
More than half of Texas data centers broke law by not responding to water use inquiry
Fewer than 30% of Texas data centers responded to state-mandated information requests on their water usage.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 10/07/2026
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...
dallasnews.com
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 07/07/2026
Here's Tx Senate candidate James Talarico's response to reports that GOP rival Ken Paxton was in England on July 4.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
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).
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
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...
dallasnews.com
Post-flood regulations vex some youth summer camps
Texas has lost at least 20% of its licensed camps since regulations took effect.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 14/05/2026
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...
dallasnews.com
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
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...
dallasnews.com
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 29/01/2026
New polling from Texas Public Opinion Research shows Jasmine Crockett (38%) and James Talarico (37%) in a statistical tie for the Democratic primary.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 27/01/2026
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...
dallasnews.com
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 16/01/2026
Favorite cover song? Mine: open.spotify.com/track/3DkUgV...
open.spotify.com
Dirty Work
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 12/01/2026
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...
dallasnews.com
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
Texas A&M regents will vote to ban classes in race, gender ideology without prior approval www.statesman.com/news/educati...
statesman.com
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
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...
dallasnews.com
Dallas Mavericks fire GM Nico Harrison nine months after Luka Doncic trade
Nico Harrison is no longer the general manager of the Dallas Mavericks.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 05/11/2025
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...
dallasnews.com
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
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...
dallasnews.com
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...
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 23/07/2025
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
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...
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has announced the slate of Senate bills for the 89th special session (1) #txlege
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
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
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 17/07/2025
Republican candidate for Texas attorney general Aaron Reitz took $100K donation from a doctor accused of millions in fraud www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
dallasnews.com
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...
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 03/07/2025
"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...
nytimes.com
Opinion | How Trump’s ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ Will Make China Great Again
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 26/06/2025
Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill would trigger higher electric bills, job losses, advocates say www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
dallasnews.com
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...
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 25/06/2025
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...
dallasnews.com
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 24/06/2025
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...
youtube.com
Texas gives Elon Musk's ‘company town' the power to close highways and beaches for SpaceX | NBCDFW
YouTube video by NBC DFW
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
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...
x.com
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
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
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...
dallasnews.com
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...
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
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...
dallasnews.com
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...
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 23/06/2025
BREAKING: Gov. Greg Abbott has VETOED the THC ban #SB3, likely teeing up a #txlege special session www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
dallasnews.com
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 07/04/2025
Blackrock CEO says US probably in a recession. Airlines are the early warning sign. www.cnbc.com/2025/04/07/c...
cnbc.com
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 31/03/2025
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.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 25/03/2025
#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
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 18/03/2025
Texas Attorney General says two more arrested for illegal abortions near Houston www.dallasnews.com/business/hea...
dallasnews.com
Texas Attorney General says two more arrested for illegal abortions near Houston
A total of three people have now been arrested in connection with illegal abortions at clinics near Houston, AG Ken Paxton’s office announced.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 10/03/2025
Texas Democrats need a new attitude, message and leaders – and they know it www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
dallasnews.com
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
A #txlege House priority bill aims to create a $2 billion nuclear energy fund to jump start nuke power in Tx. Asked if climate change played a role in drafting bill, GOP author replied, "No. But if that is a reason you want to like nuclear, then go for it." www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
dallasnews.com
Texas lawmaker proposes $2 billion effort to jump start the state’s nuclear power industry
The $2 billion proposal is a priority bill in the Texas House. The fund would support grant and incentive programs to build a nuclear power industry in Texas.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 26/02/2025
If I could have any job in the world, it would be professional aux-cord DJ
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
The Texas Senate's property tax cut plan to raise the homestead exemption to $140,000 gets a nod of approval from Senate committee, KBH reports. #txlege www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
dallasnews.com
Texas Senate panel approves $140,000 property tax homestead exemption
Proposals to cut property taxes by raising the Texas homestead exemption to $140,000 cleared a key hurdle when a bipartisan committee voted unanimously to...
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 11/02/2025
"Death Star bill" appeal set for oral argument April 23rd at the Third Court of Appeals in Austin. #txlege search.txcourts.gov/SearchMedia....
search.txcourts.gov
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Club for Growth launches ‘six-figure’ Texas campaign to boost school choice #txlege www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
dallasnews.com
Club for Growth launches ‘six-figure’ Texas campaign to boost school choice
TV, digital and print ads seek to build support after the Texas Senate approved Senate Bill 2’s voucher-style plan.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 06/02/2025
Texas Senate gives initial approval to ‘school choice’ bill on largely party-line vote #txlege www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
dallasnews.com
Texas Senate gives initial approval to ‘school choice’ bill on largely party-line vote
Senate Bill 2 would devote public money to defray the cost of private education. Early plans would set aside $1 billion.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Debate has begun in the Texas Senate of the "school choice" bill Senate Bill 2. #txlege
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Several hundred people are gathered at the Texas Capitol as part on the nationwide 50501 protest. Chants can be heard from the Texas Senate chamber, where senators are poised to pass a “school choice” bill today.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Gov. Greg Abbott to meet with President Donald Trump as Texas seeks border reimbursement www.dallasnews.com/news/politic...
dallasnews.com
Gov. Greg Abbott to meet with President Donald Trump as Texas seeks border reimbursement
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is meeting Wednesday with President Donald Trump as the state asks for $11 billion to cover costs with Operation Lone Star.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 28/01/2025
At 11 a.m. CT the #txlege Senate Education K-16 committee will hold a public hearing on Senate Bill 2, the "school choice" bill that would use taxpayer dollars for education savings accounts parents can use to pay for private school education. I will be covering it from the Capitol. Thread here.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
#txlege: Over/under on votes the winner of the Speaker race gets?
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 14/01/2025
Hello from the #txlege Senate media perch, where I'll be reporting from this chamber again for the session. Once again, I am here to remind you that the press is not allowed on the Senate floor, unlike the House. It is perhaps the only remaining COVID-19 restriction (lol, sure) in place in Texas.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
BREAKING: University of Texas president Jay Hartzell is stepping down to lead SMU: www.dallasnews.com/news/educati...
dallasnews.com
UT President Hartzell stepping down to be SMU’s next leader
The Southern Methodist University Board of Trustees is expected to approve Jay Hartzell’s hiring Tuesday morning.
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Reposted by Phil Jankowski
shauna @goldengateblond.bsky.social · 07/01/2025
in celebration of Tom Holland and Zendaya’s engagement, please enjoy this moment from 2017 when she turned into a literal 😍 emoji and we all knew it was for keeps
youtu.be
Lip Sync Battle - Tom Holland
YouTube video by Comedy Central Latinoamérica
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 06/01/2025
Here's my latest on ERCOT preparedness as Texas experiences freezing temperatures this week. I'm speaking with ERCOT's CEO Pablo Vegas in a little bit and will update with his outlook on the grid's resiliency as they face their first big test of this winter: www.dallasnews.com/news/weather...
dallasnews.com
ERCOT, facing the first power grid test of winter, sees no energy emergency
ERCOT is not predicting shortfalls and is not asking Texans to conserve power at this time.
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 05/01/2025
Lego Hubble!
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Phil Jankowski @philjankowski.bsky.social · 02/01/2025
Federal prosecutors and Nate Paul's defense team filed a joint motion today seeking to delay trial until April.
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