Texas is Taking its Land Back

Texas isn’t waiting for Washington.In this episode of Politics with the Big Dogs, Anthony sits down with Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham to break down how Texas is using its own land, legal authority and constitutional power to confront the border crisis.But this conversation goes far beyond the border.Buckingham explains what the General Land Office actually controls — millions of acres of Texas land, mineral rights, coastal assets and energy leases — and why that authority matters in a world where foreign adversaries are buying American land.Anthony raises a critical national security issue: China’s strategic land purchases across the United States. Many Americans do not understand the difference between surface ownership and mineral rights — or why foreign control of mineral rights near infrastructure, agriculture or military installations could pose long-term risks.This episode explores:• How Texas purchased land to build border infrastructure• The legal authority behind state land ownership• How state sovereignty works in practice• Why mineral rights matter more than most voters realize• The difference between surface rights and subsurface energy control• The national security implications of foreign land purchases• How Texas is positioning itself in responseAnthony then widens the lens to the 2026 Texas U.S. Senate race and the larger debate over border enforcement and state authority. As figures like John Cornyn, Ken Paxton and Wesley Hunt become central to conversations about the direction of the Republican Party, voters are asking a deeper question: who will use power decisively, and who will defer to Washington?This episode connects land, sovereignty, energy, mineral rights and electoral leadership into one clear framework: control.Who controls the land.Who controls the energy.Who controls the enforcement.Who controls the future of Texas.If you’re preparing for the March primaries and want to understand how Texas government actually operates — not rhetorically, but structurally — this conversation delivers clarity.