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October 6, 2024
NEWS DIGEST
by Brandon Waltens
Good morning,
As things stand now, Dade Phelan needs Democrats to stay Speaker.
The ever-shifting landscape of the race for Speaker of the House had its most recent shift as challenger David Cook released a list of 48 Republican colleagues who he says are “committed to his candidacy” over current Speaker Dade Phelan.
Two members are listed as “anonymous,” while Cook noted “several others have expressed commitment to reform, but chose to wait until after their November election.”
While it remains to be seen whether some candidates on that list, such as Steve Kinard and Don McLaughlin, will be successful in their bids to flip currently Democrat-held districts, the number makes up a majority of Republicans with or without them, as there are currently 86 Republicans in the Texas House.
The field of challengers to Phelan narrowed from five members down to Cook, a state representative from Mansfield, after a private meeting earlier this month held by this same group of members.
Following the secret meeting to pick Cook as the challenger to Phelan, he said in a statement that he had “the clear majority votes needed to be the Speaker today, and will have the clear majority support needed to become Speaker again come January.”
If this group of “reformers” sticks together or grows through January, Dade Phelan will need Democrat votes to become speaker again (which is accomplished by gaining the votes of 76 of 150 members.)
The outsized influence of Democrats on the speaker race and the legislative agenda of the House has been a motivating factor in the movement to oust Phelan, with Cook promising to end the practice of awarding Democrat chairmanships and to work more quickly to pass Republican priorities.
With the window for Phelan to secure a majority of his Republican colleagues significantly narrowing, Phelan’s path to the speakership currently rests on Democrats and a minority of Republicans teaming together.
Adding to that difficulty, Democrats already have one candidate of their own running for speaker—State Rep. Ana-Maria Ramos. If she maintains her candidacy through the vote for Speaker on January 14, Phelan will need even more Republican defectors to join him.
Featured
Communist China is a growing threat to the United States. The nation also threatens Texas’ power grid.
John Ratcliffe, former U.S. Director of National Intelligence, warned about the threat of China. “They are both an adversary and a competitor, but they should be more of a competitor and less of an adversary, and it’s the other way around right now,” he said in May 2021. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence’s February 2024 Annual Threat Assessment maintains China is a threat.
China is among the nations capable of hitting America with an EMP, which would shut down the national grid, along with Texas’ grid. But China poses other threats. America’s overreliance on Chinese industrial production has allowed them to infiltrate our grid.
State
Texas Earns Financial Grade of ‘C’ From Watchdog Group
According to the report, Texas did not have enough assets to cover its debts in 2023.
Attorney General Ken Paxton Sues TikTok for Breaching Parental Consent Law
The Chinese social media giant is accused of failing to protect the privacy of minors.
House Committee Blocks Conservative Groups From Testifying on Free Speech Protections
Instead, the Texas House committee heard from those attempting to chip away at the protections.
Local
Fort Worth ISD to Pay Former Superintendent Nearly $1 Million
Although Angélica Ramsey’s last day as superintendent was October 1, she will continue to be paid by the district until August 30, 2025.
Suspects in Jocelyn Nungaray’s Murder May Be Tied to Violent Venezuelan Gang
Search warrants revealed that both men had videos and photos with gang signs and emojis linked to the Tren de Aragua gang.
North East ISD Teacher Accused of Sexually Grooming Student
John Ghrist used Snapchat and a school-approved app to message a 15-year-old girl, and police fear there could be more victims.
Federal
Poll: Texas Voters Believe Colin Allred, Kamala Harris Will Restrict Gun Rights
A plurality also said they oppose an assault weapons ban.
Report: CBP, ICE Failed to Assess Risks of Releasing Noncitizens Without Identification
TSA was similarly exposed in the report for failing to evaluate risks of allowing foreign nationals to take domestic flights.
US Supreme Court to Weigh in on Effort to Store Nuclear Waste in West Texas
The eventual ruling could set a precedent for how federal agencies approve nuclear waste projects elsewhere.
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