Austin, TX
Elon Musk spent over $650K to fund PAC’s attempts to unseat DA José Garza, WSJ reports
Trump: Elon Musk to lead ‘Government Efficiency’ group if elected
Trump’s comments were part of a speech delivered at The Economic Club of New York.
Elon Musk covertly funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars into a Travis County election in an attempt to block a prosecutor’s reelection, according to an exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal.
Here’s a breakdown of what the business and finance outlet uncovered.
People are also reading: Travis County quietly gave DA José Garza $115K for security, withheld details | EXCLUSIVE
Elon Musk funded Save Austin Now PAC tied to ads against DA José Garza
The Tesla and SpaceX CEO primarily funded Save Austin Now, self-described as “a nonpartisan citizen’s group dedicated to Austin’s quality of life.” The group tried (and ultimately failed) to unseat Travis County District Attorney José Garza in the March Democratic primary. Save Austin circulated fliers and texts, along with spending over $650,000 on television ads, to attack Garza, according to sources familiar with Musk’s involvement and Federal Communications Commission and corporate documents.
The political action committee accused Garza of having “radical ideology” and “letting violent criminals out of jail in Austin.” Fliers featured a bloody teddy bear with text that reads, “José Garza is filling Austin’s streets with pedophiles and killers. The next victim could be your loved one.”
The back of the flier depicts a man’s hand covering a child’s mouth, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Despite being significantly outraised by opponent Jeremy Sylestine, Garza won the Democratic primary. In predominantly blue Travis County, Garza will likely also defeat Republican challenger Daniel Betts in the Nov. 5 general election.
In June, Bell County Attorney Jim Nichols, a Republican, dismissed a lawsuit seeking to remove Garza from office. The lawsuit claimed the DA had a policy of not prosecuting certain cases, but Nichols wrote he found no such policies in place.
Two months earlier, another case sought to remove Garza under a “rogue prosecutor” statute. Travis County resident Mary Elizabeth Dupuis claimed Garza’s alleged refusal to prosecute certain criminal offenses qualified as “official misconduct” as outlined by Texas House Bill 17.
Elon Musk’s politics, financial backings
Musk, whose net worth is over $250 billion, has become a highly visible supporter of former President Donald Trump — so much so that he was recently promised a leadership position for the “Government Efficiency Task Force” if Trump is reelected as president in November.
Musk has previously been said to plan to make large donations to a super PAC supporting Trump, which he denies. In July, he made national headlines when rumors began circulating that he had pledged to donate $45 million to Trump every month.
“What’s been reported in the media is simply not true,” Musk told commentator Jordan Peterson during an interview on X. “I am not donating $45 million a month to Trump.”
‘Okay you win’: Musk responds to Taylor Swift’s Harris-Walz endorsement
The Tesla CEO’s politics drew national attention earlier this week when he took a jab at global popstar Taylor Swift.
Swift endorsed the Harris-Walz campaign just minutes after Tuesday’s debate between Harris and trump, and ended her now-viral Instagram post saying, “With love and hope, Taylor Swift, Childless Cat Lady” — a dig at Republican vice presidential candidate JD Vance’s recent and repeated criticism of childless women in America.
In response, Musk took to his own platform and wrote, “Fine Taylor … you win … I will give you a child and guard your cats with my life.”
The post garnered criticism, with many users saying Musk’s response was inappropriate.
More on Taylor Swift’s endorsement: Taylor Swift endorses Kamala Harris for president after debate. See Donald Trump’s response
Austin, TX
How Texas’ road, bridge conditions compare to other states
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas’ highway system dropped two spots since 2025, and now ranks at No. 27 in the country for its cost-effectiveness and overall conditions, according to the Reason Foundation’s 2026 Highway Report.
The report assessed pavement conditions, fatalities, deficient bridges, infrastructure costs and congestion levels across the United States. Texas earned the following rankings:
- 33rd in urban interstate pavement conditions
- 21st in rural interstate pavement conditions
- 39th in urban arterial pavement conditions
- 12th in rural arterial pavement conditions
- 3rd in structurally deficient bridges
- 26th in urban fatality rate
- 42nd in rural fatality rate
- 41st in traffic congestion
“More than 42,000 of the nation’s 618,923 highway bridges, nearly 7%, are still structurally deficient. Arizona, Nevada, and Texas reported the lowest percentages of deficient bridges,” the report said.
The full report can be found online.
Austin, TX
Storms dump small hail throughout Austin area Saturday
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Small hail peppered the Austin area as strong thunderstorms moved through Saturday.
A few of the storms dropped rain and up to pea-sized hail in San Marcos, Dripping Springs and the Austin metro area.
A Severe Thunderstorm Warning was issued for Williamson County around 8:15 p.m., and then canceled shortly after. However, it was enough for the Two Step Inn music festival in Georgetown to cancel shows for the rest of the evening. Event organizers say the festival will run as planned Sunday.
KXAN’s First Warning Weather team is monitoring the storms. We will update this post as the evening continues.
Austin, TX
Abbott unveils monument dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution unveiled a new monument at the Texas State Cemetery on Saturday, dedicated to Texas Revolutionary War soldiers.
“We must educate every generation about why it is that America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” said Governor Abbott. “This monument here is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”
The monument was dedicated to 69 soldiers who fought in the American Revolutionary War and later settled in Texas, according to a press release.
Among those that were honored, Abbott recognized:
- José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary hero Juan Seguín.
- Peter Sides, who fought in the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment of the Colonial Army, and was later killed in the 1813 Battle of Medina, fighting for Mexican independence against Spain.
- Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, the founder of Nacogdoches.
- William Sparks, who fought as a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution and later settled in Texas. He had two sons and two grandsons who fought in the Texas Revolution.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” said TSSAR President Mel Oller. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them, and the sacrifices they made for our freedom.”
At the monument unveiling, Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received its Silver Good Citizenship Medal.
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