Fighting Islam ... Aggie dissent ... DEM visas ... ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

... The Texas Minute ...

Good morning,

This is the Texas Minute for Thursday, January 29, 2026.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan

Abbott and Paxton Push Back Against Islamist Groups in Texas

Yesterday, both Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton issued statements related to the growing presence of Islamic groups in Texas. Brandon Waltens has the details.
In a letter sent to Paxton, Abbott wrote that “voluminous documents detail the dangers posed to Texans by the Muslim Brotherhood, CAIR, and their affiliates.” He urged the attorney general to use his statutory authority to investigate CAIR’s records and, if warranted, seek forfeiture of its corporate charter.
Abbott’s letter comes as his administration continues to defend its November designation of CAIR as both a foreign terrorist organization and a transnational criminal organization under Texas law—an action now being challenged in federal court by CAIR’s Texas chapters. Notably, Paxton is currently defending Abbott in that lawsuit.
Meanwhile, Paxton's office announced that he is demanding records from Cypress-Fairbanks ISD and Grapevine-Colleyville ISD as part of an investigation into the Islamic Games of North America. The investigation centers on planned events that were advertised as sponsored by the New Jersey chapter of CAIR.

Texas A&M Board Chairman Funds Challenger to University Critic

Robert Albritton, the chair of the Texas A&M University System Board of Regents, has donated $5,000 to a candidate challenging incumbent State Rep. Brian Harrison (R–Midlothian) in the Republican primary. As Adam Cahn reports, Harrison—a 2004 TAMU graduate—has been a vocal critic of leftwing activities at Texas A&M under Albritton's leadership.
For example, Albritton was a staunch supporter of A&M's disgraced former president, DEI advocate Mark Welsh. Last fall, Welsh was forced to resign after audio emerged of him berating a female student for calling out leftwing advocacy by a professor. Harrison is the one who released that audio.

Democrat Lawmakers Criticize Abbott’s Call To Investigate H-1B Reliance in Higher Ed

Daniel Greer reports that a caucus of Democrat lawmakers is criticizing Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to freeze and scrutinize the use of H-1B visas at Texas' public universities. The governor's action followed recent reports that Texas A&M University has routinely been outspending other institutions on H-1B visas to hire foreign workers.
Public records show A&M has spent $3.25 million since 2020 to sponsor more than 659 H-1B workers, outpacing other major Texas higher education institutions in the process.
In a statement shared on social media, the Texas Mexican American Legislative Caucus accused the governor of “demonizing” immigrant Texans and weaponizing hiring policy for political gain. The group argues that Abbott’s move undermines higher education at a time when many universities depend on international talent in fields like engineering, computer science, and nursing.

First Amendment Advocates Urge Review of Politician’s Anti-Free Speech Lawsuit

A coalition of First Amendment advocates is asking the Texas Supreme Court to take up a case focused on protecting citizens’ rights to exercise political free speech that is critical of elected officials. Erin Anderson has the story.
The case, Frazier v. Chabot, pits disgraced former State Rep. Frederick Frazier against his 2022 Republican primary rival, Paul Chabot. At issue is a website Chabot created that some thought was “defamatory” to Frazier.
Chabot’s attorney has described Frazier’s complaint as “the quintessential ‘SLAPP’ suit.” Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation are filed to intimidate and silence citizens exercising their First Amendment rights to criticize politicians. A law passed in 2011 protects citizens from those lawsuits.
While Frazier was elected in 2022, he was soundly defeated in 2024 by Republican Keresa Richardson. Frazier is now trying to reclaim that seat in the 2026 election.

Summer Camps Face Closure Amid Struggle to Implement New Requirements

Following the tragic loss of life during the Hill Country floods last July, state lawmakers passed two measures in an attempt to strengthen camp safety requirements. But, as Addie Hovland reports, some camp directors are concerned that the new rules require so much capital that they will be forced to close their doors.
For example, according to the law, all camps must maintain two internet connections. One is required to be connected through fiber optics, and the second through a broadband service that is completely distinct from the fiber optic system. Camp directors have raised concerns that fiber optic internet access is often not readily available due to some of their more remote locations; estimates have ranged from $75,000 to $1.5 million.
With the new rules have also come higher license fees from the state. While those have been about $400 in the past, they are now estimated to range from $2,000 to $15,000.

Houston Maintains Climate Action Plan Despite US Exit From Paris Agreement

Michael Wilson reports that the City of Houston is continuing to operate under its Climate Action Plan, even after President Donald Trump finalized the United States’ withdrawal from the Paris Agreement this week.
Houston’s Climate Action Plan was unveiled in 2020 and focused primarily on city government operations, such as transitioning Houston’s municipal vehicle fleet toward electric alternatives.
In his first term, President Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement, but the Biden administration rejoined it. Now, Trump has again exited the agreement, saying it imposes "burdensome obligations while failing to deliver meaningful benefits to the American people."