New poll shows Dustin Burrows’ approval tanks at home... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Good morning,

This is the Texas Minute for Thursday, January 9, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Planned Parenthood Employee No Longer Serves as Texas Medical Board Director

Following outrage from citizens and lawmakers, an employee of Planned Parenthood is no longer the medical director at the Texas Medical Board. Emily Medeiros has the story.
It was revealed last month that Robert Bredt has worked for Planned Parenthood of South Texas since 2011, where he oversees the operation and administration of the laboratory. Bredt joined TMB in 2012 as the medical director and has been paid $185,000 annually by taxpayers.
The Texas Medical Board oversees the practice of medicine in the state.
State Rep. Briscoe Cain (R-Deer Park) urged the TMB to fire Bredt. State Rep. Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) threatened to defund TMB if Bredt wasn't removed. Yesterday, Harrison was informed that Bredt no longer works for the TMB. The lawmaker said he now wants an investigation to determine how Bredt was allowed to assume the position in the first place.
It is unclear if Bredt resigned or was terminated. TMB did not respond to inquiries on the matter.

New Poll Finds Dustin Burrows’ Approval Tanking at Home

State Rep. Dustin Burrows, who is currently attempting to execute a Democrat-powered bid for speaker of the House, may have some trouble at home. Brandon Waltens reports on a poll conducted in Burrows' Lubbock-based district.
A new poll commissioned by Texans United for a Conservative Majority finds only 31 percent of likely Republican primary voters approve of Burrows, compared to 37 percent who disapprove. In political circles, this is known as being "underwater" and indicates a politician is susceptible to losing a re-election bid.
In the same poll, 57 percent of HD 85 voters said they would vote for a conservative alternative to Burrows after learning about his plan to use Democrats to gain the speakership despite losing the Republican nomination in early December.
Currently, more Democrat lawmakers are supporting Burrows than Republicans, who have instead rallied around State Rep. David Cook (R–Mansfield) as their nominee.

Lawmakers Look to Protect Texas Kids From Social Media

At a joint meeting of members of the Texas House and Senate, lawmakers discussed the harmful effects on children of excessive and unfettered access to social media. Erin Anderson has the details.
Members of the Joint Committee to Study the Effects of Media on Minors heard testimony on the health and developmental impact of exposure to various forms of media, in particular, the Internet and social media. Witnesses focused on the damage that violent and addictive online pornography inflicts on young minds, adults’ use of social media and apps to exploit minors, and how tech companies profit from data mining kids’ online information.
Former porn performer-turned-pastor Joshua Broome testified that pornography and violence are being “normalized” on social media, and the average age of exposure has dropped from 12 years old to 8 years old.
Notably, the major social media companies—Snapchat, X, Meta (which owns Facebook and Instagram), and TikTok—declined to participate in the hearing.
“It’s a slap in the face to every Texan when social media companies fail to show up and address the concerns we have for our children on such platforms.” – State Rep. Jared Patterson (R–Frisco)

Major US Banks Withdraw From Net-Zero Banking Alliance

Attorney General Ken Paxton has revealed that three major United States-based banks have now withdrawn from the United Nations-led Net-Zero Banking Alliance. Luca Cacciatore reports this comes on the heels of Paxton's investigation into their potential violations of state law.
Launched in April 2021, the Net-Zero Banking Alliance is comprised of financial institutions “committed to aligning their lending, investment and capital markets activities with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.”
Texas law prohibits state governmental entities from entering into contracts with companies that boycott oil and gas companies. The financial institutions’ membership in the NZBA raised questions about their compliance with this law.
“More and more financial institutions are taking a major step in the right direction by leaving the radical and anti-energy Net-Zero Banking Alliance.” – Ken Paxton

Gov. Abbott Orders Anti-Terrorism Efforts After New Orleans Attack

The Texas Department of Public Safety has been ordered by Gov. Greg Abbott to increase antiterrorism resources after a man from Houston committed a deadly terror attack in New Orleans. As Valerie Muñoz reports, DPS will be supporting local agencies with workshops on how to deter and respond to terror attacks.
He has also directed the DPS to assess the Texas Capitol for vulnerabilities to terror attacks using vehicle ramming and to provide security enhancement recommendations.