Texas
Haley Walks Back Bizarre Texas Secession Comment: ‘Nobody’s Going to Do That’
Nikki Haley was forced to clean up a bizarre gaffe Thursday after claiming during an interview that she would let Texas secede from the United States if elected president.
Following her comments Wednesday, she told Fox News that the question—and her answer—was merely a hypothetical that would never happen, despite the fact that tensions between Texas officials and President Joe Biden’s administration are as strained as ever.
Haley was criticized heavily for the comments she made Wednesday during a podcast interview with Charlamagne tha God, in which she said of Texas: “If that whole state says we don’t want to be part of America anymore, I mean, that’s their decision to make.”
The statement came in response to a question about whether Haley—if she wins the presidency—would use force against Texas if ever tried to leave the U.S.
On Thursday, however, Haley was adamant her opinion on the legality of secession is irrelevant until a state realistically shows interest in doing so.
“It’s not about secession,” she said. “Nobody’s going to do that. That’s not what people are talking about.”
That’s not entirely true, however, even if succession chatter has mostly been confined to the more far-right corners of the internet.
Texas has been in a standoff with the federal government for weeks after it began to to put up razor wire along the southern U.S. border near Eagle Pass, an area that has seen a record number of crossing by migrants in recent months.
The Biden Administration then contested the state’s authority to do so all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled that federal agents could cut down the wire—though it crucially did not instruct Texas to stop putting up the wire in the first place.
Since the standoff became headline news, scores of states led by conservative governors have shared their public support for Texas. Some have even sent national guard troops to aid state authorities attempting to enforce border laws usually handled by federal agencies.
When pressed to speak more about her thoughts on secession by Fox News, Haley pivoted to bashing President Joe Biden and suggesting he was the reason secession hypotheticals were mentioned in the first place.
“What should be the issue with Texas is, look, they are dealing with a terrible illegal immigration crisis,” Haley said. “The federal government, Joe Biden, is not being there for them. We should let them do whatever they need to, to keep Texans safe and to keep Texas protected. That’s the goal. That’s what we want to do.”
Haley insisted that her comments on secession were related to an old comment she made in 2010, where she also said states have the right to leave the union if their residents wish to.
States have only seceded from the U.S. once, a tide which began with Haley’s native South Carolina at the onset of the Civil War. Despite that act of secession being one of the biggest stains on U.S. history, Haley is adamant that states should have the right to do as they please.
“I don’t think government needs to tell people how to live, how to do anything,” she said on Wednesday’s podcast. “I mean, I think that we need to let freedom live.”
Texas
How to buy Houston vs. Texas A&M 2026 March Madness tickets
The Houston Cougars reminded the college basketball world they are a force to be reckoned with in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday night.
No. 2 Houston dispatched No. 15 Idaho 78-47 and is heading to the Round of 32 on Saturday.
Led by freshman guard Kingston Flemings, the Cougars routed the Vandals and secured an intra-state matchup in the second round of March Madness.
SHOP: Houston vs. Texas A&M March Madness tickets
Now, Houston will take on No. 10 Texas A&M on Saturday, March 21. The Aggies pulled off the minor upset beating St. Mary’s earlier on Thursday evening.
Here is everything you need to know in order to buy Houston vs. Texas A&M March Madness basketball second round tickets.
Shop Houston vs. Texas A&M tickets
Shop Houston vs. Texas A&M March Madness tickets
When is March Madness 2026?
The First Four tipped off the 2026 March Madness tournament on Tuesday, March 17. The two rounds run between Thursday, March 19 and Sunday, March 22. The tournament concludes with the Final Four on Saturday, April 4 and the National Championship game on Monday, April 6.
Houston March Madness next opponent
Houston earned a No. 2 seed in the South regional. They team defeated Idaho in the its opening game and have advanced to the Round of 32, where they will play the No. 10 Texas A&M on Saturday. Tickets to Houston’s Round of 32 game start at $192 and includes entry to see No. 4 Nebraska take on No. 5 Vanderbilt as well.
Limited tickets for the first weekend of March Madness in Oklahoma City. are still available. Get your Houston vs. Texas A&M NCAA Tournament tickets now.
Shop Illinois basketball tickets
Houston vs. Texas A&M March Madness schedule, game time
After defeating Idaho on Thursday, Houston will compete against the Aggies of Texas A&M on Saturday, March 21. Tip off is set for 6:10 p.m ET. Shop Houston Round of 32 tickets now.
More March Madness: Everything fans need to know about the 2026 NCAA Tournament
Shop Houston basketball tickets
Houston March Madness basketball tickets
Limited Houston NCAA Tournament tickets are still available for the Round of 32. Get your Houston March Madness tickets now.
Illinois March Madness game locations
Illinois will play its Round 32 game at the Paycom Center in Oklahoma City on Saturday, March 21. Tip off is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. ET
Limited tickets for the first weekend of March Madness in Oklahoma City. are available. Shop your Houston NCAA Tournament tickets now.
Shop ALL Houston basketball tickets
Houston Sweet 16 tickets
If the Cougars were to advance to the Sweet 16, they’d travel back home to Houston. Sweet 16 tickets in Houston are already available starting at $207.
Shop Houston Sweet 16 tickets
March Madness 2026 full schedule for the men’s tournament
- April 6: National Championship
- March 19-20: First round
- March 21-22: Second round
- March 26-27: Sweet 16
- March 28-29: Elite 8
- April 4-5: Final Four
Shop ALL March Madness tickets
Texas
North Texas Humane Society takes in about 40 dogs from Caps property
Abilene, Texas — The Humane Society of North Texas has taken in approximately 40 dogs from the Caps situation.
However, officials say they were unable to take in four additional dogs due to a higher number of animals than originally anticipated.
RELATED | Dozens of dogs reported on property in Caps, ‘It’s ridiculous’
BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT
Those remaining dogs are now expected to be placed with foster families later this week.
Texas
Saint Mary’s Gaels and Texas A&M Aggies square off in the first round of NCAA Tournament
Texas A&M Aggies (21-11, 11-8 SEC) vs. Saint Mary’s Gaels (27-5, 16-3 WCC)
Oklahoma City; Thursday, 7:35 p.m. EDT
BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Gaels -3.5; over/under is 147.5
BOTTOM LINE: No. 22 Saint Mary’s (CA) and Texas A&M square off in the NCAA Tournament first round.
The Gaels’ record in WCC play is 16-3, and their record is 11-2 against non-conference opponents. Saint Mary’s (CA) averages 10.2 turnovers per game and is 7-2 when it wins the turnover battle.
The Aggies’ record in SEC play is 11-8. Texas A&M ranks seventh in the SEC with 10.3 offensive rebounds per game led by Rashaun Agee averaging 2.7.
Saint Mary’s (CA) makes 46.2% of its shots from the field this season, which is 2.0 percentage points higher than Texas A&M has allowed to its opponents (44.2%). Texas A&M scores 23.1 more points per game (87.7) than Saint Mary’s (CA) gives up to opponents (64.6).
TOP PERFORMERS: Paulius Murauskas is shooting 48.9% and averaging 18.8 points for the Gaels. Mikey Lewis is averaging 2.5 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Ruben Dominguez is shooting 40.4% from beyond the arc with 2.6 made 3-pointers per game for the Aggies, while averaging 10.3 points. Agee is averaging 15.6 points and 9.2 rebounds over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Gaels: 8-2, averaging 77.3 points, 38.6 rebounds, 15.7 assists, 5.8 steals and 4.2 blocks per game while shooting 45.2% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 64.7 points per game.
Aggies: 4-6, averaging 78.3 points, 32.7 rebounds, 14.2 assists, 6.5 steals and 2.7 blocks per game while shooting 42.0% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 83.6 points.
___
The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
-
Oklahoma6 days agoFamily rallies around Oklahoma father after head-on crash
-
Detroit, MI2 days agoDrummer Brian Pastoria, longtime Detroit music advocate, dies at 68
-
Nebraska1 week agoWildfire forces immediate evacuation order for Farnam residents
-
Georgia4 days agoHow ICE plans for a detention warehouse pushed a Georgia town to fight back | CNN Politics
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMassachusetts community colleges to launch apprenticeship degree programs – The Boston Globe
-
Alaska5 days agoPolice looking for man considered ‘armed and dangerous’
-
Colorado1 week ago‘It’s Not a Penalty’: Bednar Rips Officials For MacKinnon Ejection | Colorado Hockey Now
-
Southwest1 week agoTalarico reportedly knew Colbert interview wouldn’t air on TV before he left to film it