Good morning,

In yesterday's edition, we asked readers about the importance of Donald Trump's endorsements. You'll find those responses below. 

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, July 15, 2025.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

ICE Operations Nab 1,300+ Houston-Area Illegals

• Joseph Trimmer reports that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have announced the arrests of 1,361 criminal aliens in the Houston area during June 2025. Primarily, these were individuals with prior convictions for serious offenses. 
      
• Among those detained were 32 individuals convicted of child sex offenses, nine convicted of homicide-related crimes, and 16 documented members of transnational gangs or drug cartels.
      
• Specific cases highlighted include Adermis Wilson-Gonzalez, a 56-year-old Cuban national convicted of hijacking, and Arnulfo Olivares Cervantes, a 47-year-old Mexican national with attempted murder convictions.
      
• Since 2020, Harris County has budgeted approximately $2 million per year to defend illegal aliens from deportation.

Lawmakers Start Filing Legislation for Special Session

• With the special legislative session just one week away, lawmakers in the Texas House have begun filing legislation in response to Gov. Greg Abbott’s 18-item agenda. Brandon Waltens has the details.
   
• More than 60 bills have so far been filed in the House, reflecting key issues from Abbott’s call, including property tax relief, abortion restrictions, and a ban on taxpayer-funded lobbying.
      
• State Rep. Mike Olcott (R-Aledo) has authored legislation banning taxpayer-funded lobbying. Ellen Troxclair (R-Lakeway) has filed a measure to use surplus state revenue to reduce school district maintenance and operations taxes, while Brian Harrison (R-Midlothian) has proposed abolishing property taxes altogether.
       
• Legislation related to the call of the special session has largely not yet been filed in the Senate.

Tech Regent Launches Initiative to 'Save' College Sports

• Cody Campbell, the chairman of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents, has launched an effort to “save college sports” during a time when Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) compensation has placed unparalleled pressure on university athletic departments. As Adam Cahn reports, the pressure has been building since a lawsuit resulted in universities being allowed to directly compensate student-athletes.
      
• Originally intended to allow student-athletes to leverage their athletic ability through outside commercial activity, the NIL system has grown into a de facto form of athlete compensation. Campbell worries that the new rise of athlete compensation will crowd out universities' ability to fund other athletics programs.
     
• “There’s not enough money in the system to pay the players and keep all the sports,” said Campbell, who has launched SavingCollegeSports.com to address concerns as a growing number of college programs are already being cut.
      
• Among other things, Campbell—himself a star football player while a student at Texas Tech—wants to ensure that student-athletes remain students of their respective institutions, rather than university employees.

School Board President Gets 12 Years for Drug Trafficking

• Former Progreso Independent School District Board President Francisco “Frank” Alanis was sentenced to more than 12 years in federal prison for his role in a drug-trafficking operation that involved stashing cocaine at a local middle school. Erin Anderson has the story.
      
• Two former Progreso mayors, including Frank’s brother Gerardo “Jerry” Alanis, have also confessed to their roles in the lucrative drug-smuggling scheme. Federal agents reportedly found more than $720,000 in cash stuffed into safes in a home owned by Frank and Jerry’s mother.
      
• At the time the crimes were being committed, Progreso ISD received more than $1 million per year in federal funds from the U.S. Department of Education.

Texas Case Challenges Federal Overreach

• Lubbock County Commissioner Jason Corley is contesting a new federal real estate reporting regulation, asserting that it constitutes an overreach of federal authority into local matters. As McKael Kirwin reports, the case is poised to overturn six decades of federal overreach. 
       

• With the support of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, Corley has filed a legal challenge against a Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) rule that takes effect in December. This would require the reporting of personal information—such as Social Security numbers and transaction amounts—for certain non-financed real estate transfers involving entities or trusts.
       

• Corley’s argument draws on a 1942 U.S. Supreme Court case that upheld federal regulation of a farmer’s personal wheat production, citing its indirect impact on interstate commerce. In that case, farmer Roscoe Filburn was penalized for exceeding federal quotas by growing wheat for his own personal use.
      

• Now, Corley and TPPF want this precedent reexamined. They argue that the Commerce Clause does not justify federal oversight of localized real estate transactions.

Austin Firefighters Cast ‘No-Confidence’ Vote in Fire Chief

• An overwhelming number of Austin firefighters have voted “no-confidence” in Fire Chief Joel Baker. Baker has come under fire for his handling of the deployment of firefighters to assist in water rescue operations during the devastating flooding in Kerr County. Addie Hovland reports that 93 percent of firefighters voted against the chief.
     
• The resolution also includes a call for an investigation of Baker’s actions by the Austin City Council and the city manager.
      
• Baker is currently serving as president of the Texas Fire Chiefs Association and has led the Austin Fire Department as fire chief since December 2018. 

Quote-Unquote

"Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost."

– John Quincy Adams​

Y'All Answered

Last week, members of the Texas Legislature who voted for the school choice program and are seeking re-election began receiving letters announcing Donald Trump's endorsement of their 2026 campaign.

Yesterday, we asked readers about how important the president's endorsement was in their decision to vote for a candidate.

Here's a sampling of the responses I received.

• “People need to accept more responsibility for vetting candidates themselves.  An endorsement should be just a starting point for further investigation.” – Fran Rhodes
      

• “Based on the fact that Trump has built an incredible cabinet and listens to feedback on issues, I would trust his endorsements on any candidates.” – Ted Shaw
     

• “Endorsements mean nothing to me.” – Sandy McCarrie
     

• “I trust he is getting the proper background information on the candidate and I trust his judgement.” – Bruce Delater
    

• “I’m always interested in Pres. Trump’s endorsements, but he doesn’t always get it right. He should read Texas Scorecard BEFORE making any.” – Linda Simcox
       

• “I am thankful Donald Trump is our president, but I make my own decisions regarding for whom I will vote.” – Hamila Hobson
      

• “As much as I love the President, I feel like his endorsement has become a participation trophy in the GOP lately.” – John Raymond
     

• “As an engaged citizen, it is my responsibility to do research on the candidates and try to make the best decision.” – Jenette Foshee
      

• “A Trump endorsement is not a 100% for me.  He endorsed Abbott when Huffines, West, or Prather would have made a better Governor.” – Denise Ledford
      

• “What the candidate has done or failed to do in his position is more important than an endorsement to earn my vote.” – Tom Nobis
      

• “Someone that Trump endorses has a better chance with me, but his ‘picker’ has been off a few times. I’ll still do my homework and not just accept the candidate because someone recommends them.” – Judy Willingham
     

• “My wife has more influence on my thoughts than President Trump.” – David McKinney
      

• “I back the President in most things, but in my view, he’s taken some really bad advice on who he should endorse.” – Angela Hairston
      

• “The people that someone endorses for election tell me more about the person endorsing the candidate than it persuades me to vote for that candidate.” – Louis Strohacker
      

• “I care about President Trump’s drive to make America great again, but I feel he is too far removed from the state districts to fully understand what our needs are.” – Mary Fallert
     

• “Although I respect President Trump, and feel his endorsements are somewhat important, it would be best if he stayed out of our Texas politics due to a multitude of Rinocrats running for office.” – David Clark
      

• “When Donald Trump gives an endorsement to Burrows who basically stole the speakership from the Republican caucus by plotting with the Democrats, then I know that Trump has been misled by whomever advises him on endorsements!” – Carla Trussell 
      

• “When politicians, even President Trump, begin to ‘endorse’ based on specific policies rather than the person, I believe it to be worthless.” – Steve Sullivan

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