Good morning!

We're eight months out from the 2024 Republican primary, so today's One Click Survey is about the presidential nomination.

This is the Texas Minute for Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Iranian Caught Illegally Crossing Texas-Mexico Border

• As illegal border crossers continue pouring across the Texas-Mexico border, the Texas Department of Public Safety captured an Iranian man under the auspices of Operation Lone Star. Sydnie Henry reports state troopers – with the help of drones – located the man in Brownsville after he crossed illegally between ports of entry and attempted to evade capture.
       
• The man possessed multiple passports as well as fake immigration documents.
     
• “The apprehensions from nations around the world, including America’s adversaries, highlight the dangers of the Biden administration’s dismantling of all common-sense border security policies undertaken by the Trump administration,” said Chris Russo, president of Texans for Strong Borders.
      
• Meanwhile, United States Border Patrol agents arrested an illegal alien in El Paso for operating a stash house near an elementary school. At the time of his arrest, reports Katy Marshall, the man was harboring 14 illegal aliens.

Harris Health’s ‘Transgender’ Trustee Bashes Child Protection Measure

• A biological male who identifies as a woman was unanimously approved by the Harris County Commissioners Court to serve on the board of trustees for Harris Health – the county's $2.3 billion taxpayer-funded government healthcare system. Micah Rice has the details.  
       
• Dr. Cody Pyke was appointed because of his "experience as a nonbinary transgender woman" – which is to say, a biological man. 
     
• Pyke has publicly decried a new state law designed to protect children from being castrated, sterilized, and physically mutilated to change their gender appearance. The new law takes effect on Sept. 1.

Harrison Calls On Abbott to Eliminate Affirmative Action in Texas Universities

• Following the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning “affirmative action” practices in college admissions, Republican State Rep. Brian Harrison of Midlothian is calling on Gov. Greg Abbott to support a ban on all race-based admissions, employment, and contracting practices in all Texas universities. Emily Medeiros has the story.

      
•  Harrison wants Abbott to expand the call of the current special legislative session to allow lawmakers to take up such a ban. He wants to end "taxpayer-funded racism."
     

• “Acting boldly now will more quickly help Texas make Dr. Martin Luther King’s dream of living in a state and nation where people will ‘not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character’ a reality.” – Brian Harrison

Small Town Touts Thousands of Plane Registrations to Foreigners

• Thousands of planes are registered by foreigners in Onalaska, a small town near Houston – even though the town doesn’t have an airport. Now that the owner of the company registering all those foreign-owned planes has been convicted on money laundering charges, Ryan Hughes reports people are wondering how many of the aircraft are being used for illegal smuggling operations.
      
• U.S. registrations give planes an “N” on their fantails, allowing these planes an easier time of crossing borders and less scrutiny when being checked for contraband.
     
• The planes are registered to the Onalaska-based Aircraft Guaranty Corp. The owner of the company, Debra Mercer-Erwin, was convicted in May on counts of money laundering, wire fraud, and a conspiracy to manufacture and distribute cocaine knowing it would be imported to the U.S. Her daughter pleaded guilty to wire fraud and conspiracy to commit export violations.

Texas Congressman Proposes American Pride Month

• Texas’ U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt is challenging President Joe Biden and woke corporations to show as much American pride in July as they did for the homosexual political and social agenda in June. He has introduced a congressional resolution dedicating the month of July to celebrating “the monumental achievements of the United States of America.” Sydnie Henry has the story.

     
• Recent polling has found 38 percent of Americans believe "patriotism" is important to them – far below the 70 percent level polled in 1998.
     
• “This resolution also serves as a challenge to this White House and woke corporations,” said Hunt. “Will they fly Old Glory as high and as proudly in July, as they did the LGBTQ flag in June?”

ONE CLICK SURVEY

The 2024 Republican primary will be held in Texas on Tuesday, March 5, 2023. There are currently 14 declared GOP presidential candidates (listed below alphabetically).
   

If the election were held today, which one of the Republican candidates do you think would win your neighborhood?
 

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!