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Trump and Biden admin officials gather in Austin

Roughly 200 invite-only attendees are expected at the second annual Endless Frontiers retreat.

News

Trump administration officials will gather alongside top Biden-era national security figures, scientists, tech founders, and investors this week at a private retreat in northwest Austin to plot how to shore up American strength.Why it matters: The off-the-record bipartisan talks come as Washington remains deeply divided and at a time of geopolitical and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="technological upheaval" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/19/nsa-anthropic-mythos-pentagon" data-vars-content-id="dab2eff0-4608-44ff-9432-b53632bc01c9" data-vars-headline="Trump and Biden admin officials gather in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/04/19/nsa-anthropic-mythos-pentagon" target="_self">technological upheaval</a>.

Dells announce $750 million donation to the University of Texas

The money will support medical research, computing and student scholarships.

With their latest gift of $750 million, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Michael and Susan Dell" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/doe-dell-genesis-mission" data-vars-content-id="7554664d-7d26-4adb-a91a-1660b77f576c" data-vars-headline="Dells announce $750 million donation to the University of Texas" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/doe-dell-genesis-mission" target="_self">Michael and Susan Dell</a> have now given more than $1 billion to the University of Texas, school officials announced Tuesday.Why it matters: The donation situates the university — and Austin — to become a leading health research center, drawing new jobs and investment to the region.

Restaurants compete with creative lamb dishes

Six restaurants are competing in Lamb Jam, a national showdown that doubles as a real-time menu experiment.

Things to Do

Editor&#x27;s note: This story was written by University of Texas student Trinity Orosco for Axios Austin.Six Austin restaurants have spent the month of April transforming lamb into crispy arancini, laab and tostadas for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Lamb Jam&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://americanlamb.com/lamb-jam-2026-austin/" data-vars-content-id="d66bfd10-b5f3-42f5-acc7-e535d5bb4dfc" data-vars-headline="Restaurants compete with creative lamb dishes" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://americanlamb.com/lamb-jam-2026-austin/" target="_blank">Lamb Jam&#x27;s</a> restaurant competition.

Austin weighs ICE policy ahead of state funding deadline

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is threatening to withhold money over Austin police policies.

Austin officials have until Thursday to confirm they will not restrict cooperation between city police and ICE — or they risk losing $2.5 million in grants, per a threat from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gov. Greg Abbott&#x27;s" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/04/22/texas-governor-greg-abbott-longest-serving-power" data-vars-content-id="78ee8ce8-aafc-487d-b76f-ece22286311a" data-vars-headline="Austin weighs ICE policy ahead of state funding deadline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/san-antonio/2026/04/22/texas-governor-greg-abbott-longest-serving-power" target="_self">Gov. Greg Abbott&#x27;s</a> office.Why it matters: Mayor Kirk Watson has called Abbott&#x27;s threat &quot;political theater,&quot; but it <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="revives questions" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/05/14/texas-legislature-austin-dallas-houston-san-antonio" data-vars-content-id="78ee8ce8-aafc-487d-b76f-ece22286311a" data-vars-headline="Austin weighs ICE policy ahead of state funding deadline" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/05/14/texas-legislature-austin-dallas-houston-san-antonio" target="_self">revives questions</a> about how much power locally elected officials have to steer city policy.

Austin on Election Day: Trump, Cruz win

It's unclear if the mayoral race is headed to a runoff.

Election

Texas made their decisions in the presidential election and beyond, sending <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="former President Trump" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" data-vars-content-id="5a8a8ece-3bf3-46bf-a5c9-8c1893f9e2af" data-vars-headline="Austin on Election Day: Trump, Cruz win" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/donald-trump" target="_self">former President Trump</a> <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="to the White House" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/11/05/election-map-2024-presidential-results-harris-trump" data-vars-content-id="5a8a8ece-3bf3-46bf-a5c9-8c1893f9e2af" data-vars-headline="Austin on Election Day: Trump, Cruz win" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/11/05/election-map-2024-presidential-results-harris-trump" target="_self">to the White House</a> and reelecting U.S. Sen Ted Cruz, according to the Associated Press.Why it matters: Texas had been viewed as an opportunity for Democrats to expand the playing field and be in a position to steal Republican Senate seats, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="as Axios&#x27; Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam reported" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/25/senate-democrats-florida-rick-scott-mucarsel-powell" data-vars-content-id="5a8a8ece-3bf3-46bf-a5c9-8c1893f9e2af" data-vars-headline="Austin on Election Day: Trump, Cruz win" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2024/09/25/senate-democrats-florida-rick-scott-mucarsel-powell" target="_self">as Axios&#x27; Hans Nichols and Stephen Neukam reported</a> — but those hopes did not work out for <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Vice President Harris" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/kamala-harris-us-election-2024" data-vars-content-id="5a8a8ece-3bf3-46bf-a5c9-8c1893f9e2af" data-vars-headline="Austin on Election Day: Trump, Cruz win" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/kamala-harris-us-election-2024" target="_self">Vice President Harris</a> or Colin Allred.

How to watch Texas elections returns like a pro

Early voting results, to be released just after 7pm, will give a big clue about who will win.

Politics

Warm up the remote control, pour yourself a glass or two of your favorite red, bake some chocolate chip cookies for stress eating — it&#x27;s finally election time, and Tuesday night we could learn <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="who wins the White House, who controls Congress" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/us-presidential-house-senate-elections" data-vars-content-id="700ab6fc-24da-418d-b777-3073d4ba3fad" data-vars-headline="How to watch Texas elections returns like a pro" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/us-presidential-house-senate-elections" target="_self">who wins the White House, who controls Congress</a> and how history itself will be written.Why it matters: All the votes will be cast by Tuesday evening. Polls close in Texas at 7pm.

Elections 2024: Voting in Austin

Austin voters will decide whether to subsidize child care

Election Day is Nov. 5. Here&#x27;s what you need to know about voting and what&#x27;s on the ballot in central Texas.Why it matters: Control of the White House and Congress <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="is at stake" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/us-presidential-house-senate-elections" data-vars-content-id="6edb7c4d-c902-43ad-97c9-b9b9fdfa81b2" data-vars-headline="Elections 2024: Voting in Austin" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/politics-policy/us-presidential-house-senate-elections" target="_self">is at stake</a>.

Texas speaker survives as Abbott wins big

Abbott declared he now has enough support for school vouchers.

Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan and Gov. Greg Abbott were big winners in a Republican primary runoff Tuesday dripping with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="intra-party intrigue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/02/12/texas-gop-infighting-continues" data-vars-content-id="31a2db12-3ce2-478f-9dfb-5b427f620e2c" data-vars-headline="Texas speaker survives as Abbott wins big" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/02/12/texas-gop-infighting-continues" target="_self">intra-party intrigue</a> and rife with policy implications.Why it matters: Phelan, a Republican from Beaumont, staved off a challenger backed by Attorney General Ken Paxton, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eager for revenge" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/19/ken-paxton-trump-impeachment-acquitted" data-vars-content-id="31a2db12-3ce2-478f-9dfb-5b427f620e2c" data-vars-headline="Texas speaker survives as Abbott wins big" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/09/19/ken-paxton-trump-impeachment-acquitted" target="_self">eager for revenge</a> after <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="his impeachment" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/27/texas-ag-ken-paxton-impeached" data-vars-content-id="31a2db12-3ce2-478f-9dfb-5b427f620e2c" data-vars-headline="Texas speaker survives as Abbott wins big" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2023/05/27/texas-ag-ken-paxton-impeached" target="_self">his impeachment</a> in the Texas House last year, and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who has a running personal spat with the more moderate speaker.

What's on the May 4 ballot

Early voting begins today in the May 4 election.Why it matters: It&#x27;s expected to be a low-turnout election, although the results could have an outsized impact on schools and property taxes.

Abbott wins big on election night

At least five Abbott-backed challengers defeated incumbent Republicans.

Gov. Greg Abbott&#x27;s name wasn&#x27;t on the ballot Tuesday, but he was the big winner.Driving the news: Five of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="10 Abbott-endorsed challengers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/greg-abbott-tim-dunn-paxton-vouchers-republican-primary-texas/" data-vars-content-id="bed055aa-449d-4b2f-9254-218983727b95" data-vars-headline="Abbott wins big on election night" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.texastribune.org/2024/02/27/greg-abbott-tim-dunn-paxton-vouchers-republican-primary-texas/" target="_blank">10 Abbott-endorsed challengers</a> defeated incumbents while three others forced runoffs.

Travis County DA José Garza triumphs

Elon Musk had urged Tesla employees to vote for Garza's opponent Jeremy Sylestine.

Travis County District Attorney José Garza survived a well-funded opponent to win his Democratic primary.Why it matters: The victory affirms the staying power of progressive prosecutors.

Travis DA campaign heats up

A cease-and-desist letter has been sent out to a group not registered as a PAC.

A shadowy group&#x27;s campaign mailer has roiled the Travis County district attorney&#x27;s race.Why it matters: The Democratic face-off between incumbent José Garza and Jeremy Sylestine is the marquee local race in tomorrow&#x27;s primaries, involving key questions about Austin&#x27;s public safety priorities amid tensions with the state government over policing.<ul><li>Garza told Axios he is focused on ending gun violence, addressing the root problems of domestic violence and treating drug use as a public health crisis.</li><li>Sylestine said Garza has &quot;a weak approach to crimes that matter to Travis County citizens.&quot;</li></ul>Driving the news: A group called Saving Austin, with an address of a UPS store in Irving, has sent out mailers last week declaring that Garza is &quot;filling Austin&#x27;s streets with pedophiles and killers.&quot;<ul><li>Sylestine tells Axios his campaign had nothing to do with the mailer.</li><li>&quot;That kind of discourse doesn&#x27;t have a place in a race like this,&quot; he said. &quot;If anything, it has turned potential voters off for me. That stuff gets attributed to me. I would never lead with that kind of message at all.&quot;</li></ul>Behind the scenes: No entity called &quot;Saving Austin&quot; has registered as a political action committee with the Texas Ethics Commission.<ul><li>On Friday, lawyers for the Garza campaign sent the group a cease and desist letter. &quot;This sham organization — &#x27;Saving Austin&#x27; — is flooding Travis County with cowardly, misleading, and divisive attack ads, violating multiple laws in the process,&quot; Garza campaign attorney Mimi Marziani said in a statement.</li></ul>The mailer &quot;will turn off a typical Dem voter,&quot; <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="predicted Adam Loewy" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/LoewyLawFirm/status/1762994450094071934" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/LoewyLawFirm/status/1762994450094071934" target="_blank">predicted Adam Loewy</a>, an Austin trial lawyer who long has been considered a potential mayoral candidate.By the numbers: Between late January and late February, Garza raised $204,000 and spent $137,000, finishing the period with $133,000 in hand, per the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="most recent campaign finance reports" data-vars-click-url="https://traviscountytx.easyvotecampaignfinance.com/home/publicfilings" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://traviscountytx.easyvotecampaignfinance.com/home/publicfilings" target="_blank">most recent campaign finance reports</a>.<ul><li>Sylestine spent far more — about $1.2 million — as he tried to introduce himself to voters and raise questions about Garza&#x27;s policies. He also raised nearly $1.3 million during the period, finishing with $192,000 on hand.</li></ul>Between the lines: A large handful of donors are responsible for some major donations to Sylestine&#x27;s campaign during the period, including a total of $160,000 from <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/29/opinions/moderates-2020-election-opinion-lubetzky/index.html" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/29/opinions/moderates-2020-election-opinion-lubetzky/index.html" target="_blank">Kind Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky</a>, $100,000 each from Telecom executive <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Danielle Royston" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kxan.com/investigations/how-the-camping-ban-won-and-what-political-experts-say-it-means-for-future-austin-elections/" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kxan.com/investigations/how-the-camping-ban-won-and-what-political-experts-say-it-means-for-future-austin-elections/" target="_blank">Danielle Royston</a>, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="investor Brian Sheth" data-vars-click-url="https://www.forbes.com/profile/brian-sheth/?sh=7f9a077619d1" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.forbes.com/profile/brian-sheth/?sh=7f9a077619d1" target="_blank">investor Brian Sheth</a>, and the estate of Majid Hemmasi, an Austin business owner who was <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="murdered" data-vars-click-url="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2017/08/01/police-victim-in-targeted-attack-wrote-down-info-that-led-to-suspect/10146929007/" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2017/08/01/police-victim-in-targeted-attack-wrote-down-info-that-led-to-suspect/10146929007/" target="_blank">murdered</a> in 2017.<ul><li>$50,000 came from private equity financier Philip Canfield, $41,000 from 1-800-Contacts co-founder Jonathan Coon and $25,000 from investor Joe Lonsdale.</li><li>Many of Sylestine&#x27;s major donors <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="previously donated" data-vars-click-url="https://www.kxan.com/investigations/spending-is-one-sided-in-austins-prop-b-election/" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.kxan.com/investigations/spending-is-one-sided-in-austins-prop-b-election/" target="_blank">previously donated</a> to a political action committee that in 2021 successfully restored a ban on camping in Austin&#x27;s public spaces.</li></ul>What they&#x27;re saying: &quot;Thanks to the donations of hundreds of hardworking folks and committed advocates who have been working together to fix a broken criminal justice system and keep our community safe, we believe our campaign has the resources to get our message out and win this election,&quot; Garza tells Axios.The other side: Sylestine tells Axios his fundraising advantage &quot;shows that ​people are behind the message, and looking for somebody qualified who won&#x27;t over-publicize that office and just do the same dang job.&quot;What we&#x27;re watching: Turnout. Just a shade over 50,000 Democratic votes in Travis County <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="were cast early" data-vars-click-url="https://elections.traviscountytx.gov/current-election-information/current-election/" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://elections.traviscountytx.gov/current-election-information/current-election/" target="_blank">were cast early</a>, or just under 6% of Travis County&#x27;s 891,000 registered voters.<ul><li>Garza likely holds the upper hand with core Democratic voters — he has the endorsements of major local Democratic clubs, labor unions and U.S. Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Greg Casar.</li><li>But a low-turnout election can lead to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="unexpected results" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/rickcofer/status/1762094907886383537" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/rickcofer/status/1762094907886383537" target="_blank">unexpected results</a>.</li></ul>Go deeper: Read our two-minute interviews with <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Sylestine" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/02/15/jeremy-sylestine-travis-county-district-attorney" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/02/15/jeremy-sylestine-travis-county-district-attorney" target="_self">Sylestine</a> and <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Garza" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/02/16/district-attorney-jose-garza-primary-election" data-vars-content-id="b5979e11-b651-4e65-867d-adff679044fd" data-vars-headline="Travis DA campaign heats up" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2024/02/16/district-attorney-jose-garza-primary-election" target="_self">Garza</a>.

What's on the primary election ballot in the Austin area

Most districts are drawn to favor one party.

With early voting kicking off, now&#x27;s your chance to help shape policy, from the Travis County district attorney&#x27;s office to the Texas Capitol.Why it matters: Most districts are drawn to favor one party and many counties tip heavily Democratic or Republican, making the primaries the de facto definitive election.

Election 🗳️

Texas primaries test GOP redistricting strategy

More Democratic ballots cast than Republican in Texas primaries

Democrat flips Texas Senate seat in Tarrant County

What we're watching in Texas in 2026

Texans approve constitutional amendments for tax breaks, water investments