AUSTIN — Today, the Texas Public Policy Foundation announced its three General Session panels in the Zlotnik Ballroom at this year’s Texas Policy Summit:

Saving College Sports: How to Protect a Unique American Institution
Wednesday, April 8th | 3:15pm to 4:15pm

Recent cultural shifts and changes in governance threaten the future of college sports, especially women’s sports and the Olympic sports. Join the panel as they discuss how to ensure this uniquely American institution is preserved for future generations of student athletes.

  • Brian Phillips, TPPF Chief Communications Officer (Moderator)
  • Cody Campbell, TPPF Board Member and Appointee to President Trump’s Council on Sports, Nutrition and Fitness
  • Jay Graham, Spur Energy Partners Chairman, CEO, and Founder
  • Daniel W. Pullin, Texas Christian University Chancellor


Numbers, Narratives & the Next Year: America & Texas in 2026
Thursday, April 9th | 4:00pm to 5:00pm

This panel will bring together three leading pollsters to analyze the political and policy landscape in America and Texas as we move through 2026. Panelists will examine public opinion trends, electoral dynamics, and key policy issues shaping the state and nation. The discussion will provide insights into how voters are thinking, what issues matter most, and how political and policy shifts may influence the year ahead.

  • Brian Phillips, TPPF Chief Communications Officer (Moderator)
  • Michael Baselice, Baselice & Associates President and CEO
  • James Henson, Ph.D., Texas Politics Project Founder and Executive Director
  • Christopher Wilson, EyesOver US and Stratus Intelligence CEO


Ideology Infiltration: Confronting Political Islamism in American Education
Friday, April 10th | 9:30am to 10:15am

Distinct from Islam as a religion, radical Islamism seeks to challenge constitutional principles, reshape how students understand liberty and Western values, and advance foreign-backed agendas in our schools and universities. Hostile foreign nations and the “red-green alliance” between certain Islamist groups and far-left activists use soft power to advance shared political goals. Join us as we examine the growing influence of political Islamism in American institutions.

  • Mandy Drogin, TPPF Senior Fellow (Moderator)
  • Hon. Brent Hagenbuch, State Senator (TX-30)
  • Hon. Cole Hefner, State Representative (TX-5)
  • Sam Westrop, Middle East Forum’s Islamist Watch Project Director


What: Texas Policy Summit
When: April 8-10, 2026
Where: AT&T Conference Center | 1900 University Ave. Austin, TX 78705

Learn more about Texas Policy Summit and view the full agenda at TexasPolicySummit.com

Click here to register for Texas Policy Summit as a member of the media.

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