Good morning – 

Here is the Texas Minute for Thursday, October 19, 2023.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

A&M Professor Teaches That Hamas is a "Charity Organization"

• An instructional assistant professor at Texas A&M University is facing criticism from students who have accused her of presenting biased and inaccurate information regarding the Israel-Palestine conflict. Valerie Munoz has the story.

      
• Sena Karasipahi teaches courses in the Department of International Affairs at Texas A&M's Bush School. She has worked at Texas A&M since 2006. Students enrolled in Karasipahi courses claim she has referred to Hamas as a “charity organization” and a “humanitarian group.”
           
• Last week, the Texas A&M Palestine Solidarity Committee organized a pro-Palestine protest on campus. Karasipahi serves as the faculty advisor for the Palestine Solidarity Organization.

Houston Hotel Cancels Pro-Hamas Event

• Hilton Houston Post Oak Hotel by the Galleria had been set to host an event affiliated with the terrorist group Hamas later this month. Soli Rice reports the hotel has canceled the event following pressure from the public. 

    
• The "Seize the Moment US Campaign for Palestinian Rights National Conference" was to be focused on pressuring the end of American financial support of Israel. Avowed anti-Semites like U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) were to be featured speakers.
      
• Hilton announced their cancellation of the event due to "escalating security concerns in the current environment."
       
• "Hilton Hotels in Houston was correct to pull the plug on the U.S. Campaign for Palestine Rights event hosted by Hamas supporters," wrote Gov. Greg Abbott on social media. "Texas has no room for hate & antisemitism like that supported by Hamas. No location in Texas should host or sponsor USCPR."

Arkansas, Not Texas, Cracks Down on Chinese-Owned Land

• Arkansas is ordering a Chinese company to divest its agricultural land, the first major action since the state passed legislation restricting ownership of land by hostile foreign actors. Meanwhile, reports Brandon Waltens, similar legislation was killed in the Texas House.

           
• Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Attorney General Tim Griffin announced the action against Northrup King Seed, which is owned by China National Chemical Company. Under the state’s new law, the company will have two years to divest itself of 160 acres of agricultural land.
        

• Polling shows 82 percent of Republican voters in Texas would support a ban on Chinese land purchases in the state.
       

• Legislation proposed earlier this year by State Sen. Lois Kolkhorst (R-Brenham) would have banned the ownership of Texas’ agricultural land, mineral interests, and timber by citizens, companies, or governmental entities of countries designated by the federal government as threats to U.S. national security.
       

• Kolkhorst's measure passed the Texas Senate but was killed by House Speaker Dade Phelan and his leadership team without being given a public hearing. 

Dallas ISD Superintendent Criticizes Abbott’s Call for School Choice

• As the third special session continues, Dallas Independent School District’s Superintendent Stephanie Elizalde is attacking Gov. Greg Abbott over his call for school choice. Emily Medeiros has the details.
        

• In a letter published on Dallas ISD’s taxpayer-funded news blog, Elizalde denounced Abbott and other state leaders for calling on lawmakers to pass educational freedom legislation. 

       
• “Government school superintendents like Elizalde profit off trapping low-income kids in their failing schools. Their bloated paychecks rely on maintaining a government monopoly on the minds of other people’s children,” said school choice advocate Corey DeAngelis.
       
• Elizalde’s base salary is $338,000.
       
• Unlike the students, Elizalde can escape DISD any time she likes.

Farmer Announces Challenge to Top Phelan Ally

• A top lieutenant of House Speaker Dade Phelan has just earned a challenger in the Republican primary.
        
• Wade Cowan, a farmer and businessman from West Texas, has announced he will challenge State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R—Lubbock) for the Texas House. Cowan previously served as President and Chairman of the American Soybean Association.
       
• Burrows is a lawyer first elected to the Texas House in 2014. He currently serves as the chairman of the Calendars Committee. He is one of the members most aligned with Speaker Dade Phelan.
      
• Cowan has described Burrows as Phelan's "lapdog."

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