No state looms larger, more dominant or more instructive about the future of American politics, governance and AI than Texas.

Why it matters: Texas is suddenly — and unexpectedly — the American story. It's the battleground and proving ground for immigration policy, AI, data center growth, Hispanic voting patterns, and the direction of the Democratic Party.

Put simply, it seems nearly impossible for Republicans to retain the presidency in 2028 without the Lone Star State. And it seems nearly impossible for AI to keep growing so fast if Texas rejects or dramatically slows it.

Texas is so populous, so wealthy, so Hispanic, so energy-rich — and now so top-to-bottom blue — that both parties see it as a de facto nation-state capable of reordering ... everything.

"Texas is everything," Steve Bannon, one of the top voices of MAGA, told us.…