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Good morning,

Each week, our One Click Surveys usually focus on matters of politics and policy. But yesterday, we asked about Thanksgiving dessert. It turns out our readers have some strong thoughts on the sweet conclusion to the traditional meal! Find those below.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, Nov. 26, 2024.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

Democrats Propose Restrictions on Second Amendment Rights

• Nearly 100 anti-Second Amendment measures were submitted by Democrats ahead of the upcoming legislative session. Emily Medeiros reports, for example, that four measures aim to enact red-flag gun confiscation laws, which would strip law-abiding citizens of their firearms without due process.
       
• A proposal by State Rep. Diego Bernal (D-San Antonio) would end open carry in Texas. State Rep. Terry Meza (D-Irving) wants to ban standard capacity magazines, effectively criminalizing the possession of those that hold more than a handful of rounds.
       
• On the other side of the aisle, State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) has proposed a measure that would ban red flag laws and protect citizens from unconstitutional gun confiscation. State Rep. Ben Bumgarner (R-Flower Mound) has filed legislation that would eliminate sales tax on firearms, ammunition, and accessories.

Brooke Rollins, Scott Turner Among Texans in Trump’s Cabinet

• As President Donald Trump finalizes his cabinet selections ahead of his upcoming inauguration, several Texans are being tapped for prominent roles, reinforcing the state’s influence in his administration. Brandon Waltens has the story.
      
• Former State Rep. Scott Turner is Trump's nominee for secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Turner, a former professional football player, served two terms in the Texas House starting in 2013. In 2015, he challenged then-Speaker Joe Straus, securing the votes of 19 colleagues.
   
• Turner previously served in the Trump administration as executive director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council.
       
• Another Texan receiving a key nomination is Brooke Rollins, who has been chosen to serve as secretary of agriculture. Rollins, a graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural development, is the former president of the Texas Public Policy Foundation and previously led the Domestic Policy Council during Trump’s first term.
      
• Earlier this month, former Dallas-area U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe was named the next director of the CIA. Tulsi Gabbard, the former Hawaii congresswoman who recently moved to Texas, will serve as director of national intelligence.

McKinsey Fights Release of Information on Contracts With UT

• McKinsey & Company, a global consulting firm, is fighting to block the release of information contained in its contracts and agreements with the University of Texas System. Valerie Muñoz reports on her latest investigation.
      
• McKinsey counts itself among the “big three” management consulting firms in the United States. However, some of their consulting advice may conflict with a recently enacted law in Texas concerning the spread of DEI and woke policies in higher education. The firm has a well-documented history of advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion, “LGBTQ+,” and “active allyship.” 
      
• Last month, Texas Scorecard sent a Public Information Act request to the UT System for its contracts with McKinsey. On October 16, the system appealed this request to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. In its appeal, UT stated it took “no position” on the request, but McKinsey “has not agreed to the release of the information at issue.”
        
• McKinsey is arguing that the records would reveal “confidential financial information and could give an advantage to [its] competitors if disclosed.”
       
• Attempts to report on McKinsey's relationships with other states’ government-funded universities—such as the University of Florida and the University of Arizona—have been blocked by the firm.

Doctor Encourages Patients to Skip Citizenship Question on Intake Forms

• In a new video posted to the Chinese government's TikTok platform, a doctor at Texas Children’s Hospital says he is encouraging patients to skip a new question on intake forms asking if they are United States citizens. Will Biagini has the details.
       
• Earlier this year, Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order directing the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to collect and report data regarding the financial burden of providing medical care to illegal aliens.
       
• The doctor at Texas Children’s Hospital, Tony Pastor, has gone viral for posting a video on TikTok saying that people who visit the facility should purposefully skew the collection of data by refusing to answer the question altogether.
       
• The video got the attention of Abbott, who warned that both TCH and Baylor College of Medicine, where Pastor is an assistant professor, better have clear records by the due date of reporting.
       
• Texas Children’s Hospital declined to respond to a request for comment.

School Employee Admits Stealing $300K From District

• Erin Anderson reports a now-former employee of a tiny West Texas school district pleaded guilty to embezzling more than a quarter-million dollars meant for educating students and using the money for personal expenses.
       
• Ernesto Villarreal Jr., 43, stole the taxpayer funds while employed as the business manager and tax assessor-collector for Valentine Independent School District. 
       
• Lack of oversight allowed Villarreal to carry out his embezzlement schemes undetected for six years—from around 2016 to 2022.
       
• Valentine ISD has one school and fewer than 50 students.

Quote-Unquote

“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.”

– Thomas Paine​

Y'All Answered

Yesterday, we asked readers what traditional Thanksgiving dessert they were most eager to indulge in this week.

Here is a gluttonous sampling of the replies we received after readers clicked their answers...

• “I answered ‘something else,’ because I like all 3 and would probably use a ‘sampler’ approach to dessert with those choices.” – Anne Pottinger
       

• “Thanksgiving pie? Razzleberry, which is not available anywhere in Texas that I've found. Raspberries and blackberries. Some people have added blueberries, a nice addition, but for those of us who have the baking skills of 5-year-olds, we mourn our loss. Karo syrup pecan pie is very good, but Texas doesn't know what it's missing out on with Razzleberry (or triple berry) pie.” – Jazz Harris
       

• “As a Texan, I grew up with pecan pie, although now I enjoy a sliver of pumpkin pie and lots of whipped cream with it.” – Helen Herd
      

• “Pecan Pie, but not just any pecan pie.  My wife's homemade pecan pie is my favorite Thanksgiving pie.” – Dennis Scharp
      

• “Buttermilk pie is my favorite. People think they wouldn’t like it, but I’ve never met anyone that didn’t like mine after they tried it.” – Brooke Walsh
       

• “Sweet potato pie is our pie of choice!” – Kathy Hillman
       

• “My favorite is the pink stuff made of marshmallows, fruit, and whipped cream. HOLY COW, that dessert is GOOD!!! Happy Thanksgiving, y'all!” – Steve Nulf
      

• “I would say pecan pie. Apple and pumpkin pies are favorites, too. This is a tough decision.” – Lane Burgess
       

• “My favorite dessert is more beef.” –Chris Breaux
      

• “Blueberry Pie. That is the best.” – Pat Clonan
      

• “Call me a purist, but nothing beats the classic pumpkin pie. Wishing you a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving!” – Sharla Miles

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