Good morning,
You've heard that in "polite company" we shouldn't talk about "faith and politics"? That bit of faux wisdom has done grave damage to our republic and the souls of men. I end the week reflecting on why it must stop.
This is the Texas Minute for Friday, March 21, 2025.
– Michael Quinn Sullivan
UPFRONT: Somehow, I led off yesterday's Texas Minute proclaiming it to be Jan. 20 ... I guess it is because, since Donald Trump took office, every day has felt like Inauguration Day because of the nonstop winning. Or, maybe it is because the Texas House still hasn't passed a single piece of legislation ...
A Conversation On
The Future of Border Security
During a Texas Scorecard conversation in South Texas, border officials argued that blocking the flow of illegal aliens is just the first step to effectively securing the border. Will Biagini covered the discussion, which can be seen in full on YouTube.
- Kinney County Attorney Brent Smith and Goliad County Sheriff Roy Boyd explained the challenges that continue to plague communities ... and what can be done to combat them. Boyd explained that while the number of illegal aliens entering the country has been reduced, violent cartels already have a foothold here.
- “The Trump administration has a border security plan and a goal they’ve set. He’s limited to DHS and federal law enforcement agencies to do that,” said Smith. “There is no way for them to accomplish their goals without the help of state and local law enforcement.”
RELATED BORDER NEWS
For the past four years, the Biden administration allowed the border to be overrun. Adding insult to injury of invasion, Texans are on the hook for indigent legal services rendered to illegal border crossers.
Senators Pass a Weakened Ban on Taxpayer-Funded Lobbying
- The Texas Senate has approved a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying—but not before Democrats and a handful of Republicans weakened the legislation. Brandon Waltens has the details.
- Banning taxpayer-funded lobbying is a legislative priority of the Republican Party of Texas and has broad support among Texans. Recent polling indicates that over 80 percent of voters oppose the practice. Opponents of the practice say taxpayer-funded lobbyists are often sent to argue for positions at odds with the citizens paying their salaries.
- Legislation proposed by Sen. Mayes Middleton (R-Galveston) barred organizations representing cities, counties, and school districts from employing lobbyists. Yet during debate, Republican Robert Nichols of Jacksonville offered an amendment to remove that provision.
- Over Middleton's objection, all the Democrats voted to strip the original prohibition along with seven Republicans–including Nichols, Donna Campbell (Bulverde), Kelly Hancock (North Richland Hills), Joan Huffman (Houston), Lois Kolkhorst (Brenham), Charles Perry (Lubbock), and Charles Schwertner (Georgetown).
- The measure now goes to the House for consideration.
House Committee Considers Ban on Smartphones in Classrooms
- Legislation by State Rep. Caroline Fairly (R–Amarillo) would require public school districts to adopt policies prohibiting students from using wireless communication devices during instructional time. As Erin Anderson reports, the list of co-authors has topped 75, including more than 20 Democrats.
- In a committee hearing this week, Fairly explained the goal is for phones to be “up and away so students can focus.” She said restricting students’ cell phone access will also help with classroom management, noting that 72 percent of U.S. teachers report that phones being out is a barrier to their teaching success.
- Fairly emphasized that school districts will maintain “local control” to decide specific rules and punishments for students who violate the no-phone policies.
Houston ISD Operates 51 Schools Under 50 Percent Capacity
- A new study from Rice University found that the Houston Independent School District operates 51 schools at under 50 percent capacity, while an additional 81 campuses had enrollment under 75 percent capacity. Joseph Trimmer breaks down the findings.
- The report concluded that while many schools operate below capacity, another 60 HISD campuses exceed 100 percent capacity. An additional 22 schools are above 120 percent. This imbalance, paired with a $250 million budget deficit and shrinking enrollment, has pushed district officials to consider closing some schools in the summer of 2026.
- Over the past five years, HISD enrollment has plummeted by 30,000 students, impacting taxpayer funding tied to student enrollment.
OTHER SCHOOL NEWS
Stephanie McGilvray resigned last September after district officials learned of the misconduct allegations.
In addition to the teacher, a school resource officer with the San Angelo Police Department is also under investigation in connection with the case.
Texas Tech Medical School Commits to Race-Neutral Admissions
- In what has been hailed as a victory for merit-based access to state-funded schools, the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center has agreed to ignore race in medical school admissions. Valerie Muñoz has the story.
- TTUHSC was one of six Texas medical schools sued by America First Legal in 2023 for alleged discriminatory race and sex admissions preferences.
- The case centered around George Stewart, a white male who applied to TTUHSC and five other medical schools in the state. Stewart was not granted admission to any of the six. He then filed an open records request for the race, sex, grade-point average, and MCAT score data for every applicant.
- The results revealed that the median and mean grade-point averages and MCAT scores of admitted black and Hispanic students were significantly lower than those of admitted white and Asian students. Admitted female students also had lower MCAT scores than admitted male students.
- As part of a legal settlement, Tech pledged not to consider race in future admissions.
Friday Reflection
Polite Company
by Michael Quinn Sullivan
There’s a nagging bit of social etiquette we have been told to observe and to use as an admonition to others. It goes like this: “In polite company, you don’t talk about politics or faith.”
It is a damnable lie. It has done incalculable harm to our republic and the souls of men.
The lie is so disgusting because it feels so genteel. It seems to urge a cautious politeness, where we seek not to offend the delicate sensibilities of those around us—including, we don’t say, ourselves.
Instead, the lie has turned us into shallow, callow half-citizens. It has allowed us to sink into an idolatrous form of self-confidence, allowing our ideas to fester without challenge. There is simply no good intention that comes from starting or spreading that lie. From the beginning, it was intended to silence the rabble and to cause citizens to feel isolated in their values and beliefs.
Holy Scripture demands that I proclaim the glory of God with every breath—even in polite company. If I am silent about my faith, I am failing in the calling placed on every believer. Yes, we are urged in 1 Peter to do so with “gentleness and respect,” but that is a far cry from the “don’t talk” standard of the pernicious social lie.
Indeed, “gentleness and respect” is precisely what we have lost by internalizing that lie.
The Constitution asserts governing power rests with the citizenry. How can we govern effectively if we aren’t engaging with each other on the critical and even divisive issues of the day?
We have nagged out of our social toolkits the ability to have gentle and respectful conversations with others on matters of great—and even grave—importance. By bottling up our thoughts, opinions, and concerns, they take on an emotional life disconnected from reality.
All of this has benefited the crony elite. They would rather our self-governing republic morph into the soft tyranny of a European-style administrative state where the citizens are reduced to serfs.
It is in the polite company of family and friends that we should, with gentleness and respect, be able to work through the issues of the day as shaped by our values and beliefs.
The Deep State functionaries would prefer we all talk about anything else.
The net effect of this “don’t talk” lie has been to cause conversations on matters of spiritual and political importance to be held only in “impolite company.” Because there has been no social training in holding gentle and respectful conversations, any such discussion devolves into a shouting match marked by the most extreme emotions.
Do not get me wrong. The issues of faith and governance are worthy of great passion and demand our utmost commitment. And, yet, as our republic nears its 250th birthday, we should be better—not worse—at such interactions. Consider that the Federalist Papers were written for common consumption and public discourse!
Scripture implies we should be able to disagree without being disagreeable.
The social compact that undergirded the formation of our constitutional republic held that individuals can—and should—seek out opportunities to challenge each other’s assumptions. The Book of Proverbs puts it this way: “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.”
As citizens, we can no longer afford the dullness brought on by the “polite company” lie.
For liberty to thrive, we as citizens must sharpen each other daily so that we each can be effective in the fight for the future of our republic.
Quote-Unquote
"Good intentions will always be pleaded for every assumption of authority. It is hardly too strong to say that the Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern well, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters."
– Daniel Webster
