Leaked audio from a closed-door fundraiser has revealed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton grappling with a troubling reality: his campaign for the U.S. Senate is faltering, and he believes that rising gas prices and geopolitical tensions, particularly related to President Donald Trump's strategies, are playing significant roles in his struggles. The recording, obtained by Axios, captures Paxton candidly describing how the ongoing conflict in Iran and soaring fuel costs are contributing to his campaign woes.

Critics of a citizenship database built by the Trump administration have raised alarms about privacy and improper voter purges.