‘Inside Texas Politics’: Carl Tepper, Beth Van Duyne, Paul Ridley and could Texas really annex part of New Mexico?

Texas is facing a political firestorm over a radical proposal to annex parts of New Mexico—specifically Roosevelt, Lee, Eddy, Curry, and Lincoln counties—sparked by a legislative study led by House Speaker Dustin Burroughs and championed by State Rep. Karl Tepper. While New Mexico leaders have dismissed the idea as impossible, citing the need for congressional approval and the lack of political will, Tepper argues that economic and cultural ties between these border counties and western Texas are stronger than with Santa Fe. He even suggests Texas could potentially 'buy' the counties, though experts like Bud Kennedy call it a 'dry hole' given the $13 billion in oil wealth involved. Meanwhile, Dallas City Manager Kim Tolbert is under fire for secretly offering the City Hall site to the Dallas Mavericks months before public discussion, raising serious governance concerns. Councilmember Paul Ridley called her unilateral decision 'alarming' and questioned her transparency, especially after repairs cited in a $1 billion renovation report were already completed. On the national stage, Congresswoman Beth Van Dyne breaks from GOP leadership to oppose a DHS funding deal she sees as surrendering to Democrats, while also warning that Iran’s nuclear threat demands decisive action—even if it means boots on the ground. The episode reveals deep tensions over state sovereignty, transparency in government, and the limits of political ambition.