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Good morning,

In yesterday's One Click Survey, we asked about possible state-imposed sanctions on social media for minors. You will find the survey results and sampling of reader responses below.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, January 21, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

• At 9 a.m. this morning, join Brandon Waltens and me for a look at what's coming up this week in Texas. You'll find The Advance live on 𝕏, Facebook, and YouTube.

Texans Celebrate Trump’s Inauguration and Promise of 'Golden Age'

• In a historic return to power, Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the 47th president of the United States, making him only the second president in history—after Grover Cleveland—to serve non-consecutive terms. Brandon Waltens filed this report from Washington, D.C.
       
• Texans were among the thousands who traveled to Washington to witness the momentous occasion, despite the ceremony being moved inside the Capitol Rotunda due to freezing weather. 
       
• Among those attending was State Rep. Wes Virdell (R-Brady), who expressed his optimism about the path forward under Trump’s leadership. “We are at a pivotal point where our country has been on a decline, and we have a real chance to turn it around.”
        
• “I came to celebrate the dawning of a new golden age,” said Bo French, the chairman of the Tarrant County GOP. “I brought my family because I want them to be a part of this history-changing moment. I was a kid when Reagan won—he influenced my politics. My kids will forever be connected to Donald Trump because their generation is going to carry on with America First.”

RELATED NEWS

• Some of his first executive orders included declaring a national emergency at the border, designating cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, and protecting America from invasion.
      
• The national emergency declaration allows for the deployment of the Armed Forces and National Guard to support border security operations.

Texas Challenges Biden’s Parting Ban on Offshore Oil Leases

• Attorney General Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit on Monday morning to prevent the "unlawful restriction" of offshore oil drilling put in place by the Biden administration. Emily Medeiros has the story.
   
• Earlier this month, then-President Joe Biden announced that he would ban oil and gas drilling in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He did so under the 1953 Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act, which allows presidents to stop oil and gas leasing and development in federal waters. President Donald Trump has previously stated that he would undo the measure on his first day, even if it had to be challenged in court.
     

• Now, Paxton has filed the lawsuit, calling the Biden action a "last-minute attempt" by the outgoing administration to "dictate" energy policy. 

Legislation Would End Tenure at Texas Public Universities

• Legislation filed in the Texas House would prohibit public universities from granting tenure or any type of permanent employment status. Valerie Muñoz reports it would not affect those individuals awarded tenure before September 1, 2025.
       
• The measure by State Rep. Matt Shaheen (R-Plano) would allow those institutions to develop a system of tiered employment status as long as every faculty member undergoes an annual performance evaluation.
      
• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has advocated for eliminating tenure since 2022, arguing that tenured leftist professors are poisoning the minds of the next generation and must not be shielded behind claims of “academic freedom.”
       
• No state has yet successfully banned tenure.

Chinese Drones Threaten Texas

• A new report from the Texas House has recommended a statewide ban on first responders buying China-made drones. As Robert Montoya reports, lawmakers suggest that such drones currently in service should be phased out.
         
• In 2023, a Texas Scorecard investigation found that Chinese-made drones were pervasive in state and local government agencies. Because of heavy subsidization by the Chinese government, those drones flooded the market by undercutting the prices of non-Chinese manufacturers.

Quote-Unquote

“The golden age of America begins right now!” — Donald J. Trump

Y'All Answered

Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing TikTok for allowing its algorithms to make explicit content available to children. Earlier this month, a joint committee of the Texas Senate and House heard about the negative psychological impact social media is having on children. It has been proposed that Texas prohibit social media access to children.

Yesterday, we asked readers at what age state law should allow children to have access to social media.

Here is a sampling of the responses we received...

• “As a parent, I myself restricted my child’s access to social media until age 13. And I did not provide my child with a SMARTphone until high school. I also believe in being the main influence of the future adult I’m raising.” – Robin McCarty
      

• “It's a shame that the state should have to do it, but irresponsible parents have left them no choice.” – Howard Benham
      

• “The State should not make another unenforceable law. Parents need to step up and parent their kids! Seriously, why do kids need to be on a phone or tablet except for schoolwork? We, the Latch Key kids, made it!” — Laura McGee
       

• “Restricting social media access is a huge overreach by the state.  That belongs to the sphere of parents.” – Jeff Houghton
      

• “While I’m all for limiting access to SM, it’s a parental issue. The government, at any and all levels, needs to get out of the parenting business.” – Connie Hutchins
      

• “I am not sure which is worse, children accessing social media or the nanny state. At some point, parents must place limits on their own children. If children didn’t have phones, they wouldn’t have access to social media. Peer pressure among parents is just as bad as it is with their children.” – Steve Sullivan
      

• “The State has no business instituting rules on minors, which are the responsibility of the parents. While not all parents perform their duty when it comes to their children, creating a ‘nanny state’ further relieves the parents of their responsibility. Less government, not more!” – René Leith
      

• “I'd rather not have more government restrictions. It's the parent's job to monitor their children's phone usage. Also, there are smartphones for children with parental controls that disallow internet access.” – Cathy Blake
      

• “During my youth, there was no need for government regulations. My parents were involved in all my activities!” – Robert Gardner
      

• “This has been one of the most difficult One Click surveys to answer.  The issue is that not all children are the same.  A few 12-year-olds may be mature enough, but there are some 18-year-olds that are still not mature enough.” – Michael Belsick
      

• “Obviously, restricting access at home isn't enough - access between kids is at schools, playgrounds, libraries, even church! If it be the power of the State that needs to restrict to protect our children, so be it!” – Michelle Lantz
      

• “Are we penalizing children because we can’t control big business?” – Joyce Rees
      

• “Kids don't belong to the state, they belong to parents. Parents should decide if kids get social media, not the state.” – Chris Breaux
      

• “Porn shouldn’t be available to anyone, knowing what it leads to, but of the choices given, it should be the same as access to alcohol, tobacco, and military selective service.” – Mike Bow
      

• “Children should be taught, educated, and protected primarily by their parents…not the state.  It does have a role as a backup, though.” – Susan Perry
       

• “The State restricts minors buying alcohol, when they legally drive, etc. Elected representatives have a responsibility to protect minors.” – Lee Sloan
       

• “I agree social media is addictive and is horrible for kids, BUT they just lie about their age to gain access. How about challenging parents to actually parent again?” – Deborah Wilkey
       

• “Age restrictions on TikTok won’t matter… If anybody wants to waste their time, they’ll find a way.” – Grady King

Directories of Elected Officials

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