Good morning,

Yesterday, we asked readers about Republican officials who donate financially to Democrats. You'll find the survey results below.

This is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, February 3, 2026.

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

But First... We're Expanding!

• Texas Scorecard is growing! We have openings for two full-time journalists.
     
• Also, applications are now being accepted for our fellowship program's Summer 2026, Fall 2026, and Spring 2027 iterations. The program is designed for conservative Texans between the ages of 18 and 25 with an interest in public policy, political accountability, and Texas history.

Two Democrat DAs Join Prosecutors Plotting to ‘Fight’ Feds

• Two district attorneys notorious for being soft on crime have joined a coalition of “progressive” prosecutors targeting what they call “lawless actions of federal forces in states and cities around the country”—especially the ongoing efforts of Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents to remove criminals in the U.S. illegally. Erin Anderson has the details.
      
• Democrat DAs José Garza of Austin and John Creuzot of Dallas are among nine George Soros-linked prosecutors nationwide participating in the Project for the Fight Against Federal Overreach. The group plans to convene this month to "share strategies and best practices" in undermining federal law enforcement.
      
• It is believed their strategies will likely focus mostly on publicity, as legal options are limited. Federal agents are largely immune from state and local prosecution for actions deemed necessary to their duties.
     
• Other progressive prosecutors promoting anti-federal agent messaging include DAs from Minnesota, Arizona, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. 

Watch List: Agriculture Commissioner

Officials Investigate Austin ISD After Anti-ICE Walkout

• Addie Hovland reports that state officials are demanding explanations from the Austin Independent School District after a student walkout last week in protest of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Specifically, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are looking at the administrative support Austin school officials seemed to provide the students.
      
• Austin ISD's superintendent has said school administrators and district police accompanied the students on the walkout to ensure their safety.
      
• “AISD gets taxpayer dollars to teach the subjects required by the state, not to help students skip school to protest,” wrote Abbott on social media. “Our schools are for educating our children, not political indoctrination.”

Planned Parenthood Challenge to Texas Heartbeat Act Continues

• The Austin-based Third Court of Appeals is allowing Planned Parenthood’s state lawsuit challenging the Texas Heartbeat Act to continue. Travis Morgan has the story.

       
• Passed in 2021, the Heartbeat Act banned nearly all abortions once a heartbeat can be detected. The law is enforced through civil litigation from private citizens, rather than from state officials or through criminal sanctions. Planned Parenthood and other groups are seeking to have the Heartbeat Act declared unconstitutional and to block the pro-life group Texas Right to Life from enforcing it against them.
     
• A separate challenge to the Heartbeat Act is currently before the Supreme Court of Texas, with a decision expected in the coming months.

UT Launches Program on Jewish and Western Civilization

• The School of Civic Leadership at UT-Austin has introduced a new endeavor to explore “the influence of Jewish ideas and Jewish history on the Western world and the American republic.” As Adam Cahn reports, the program is set to launch this fall.
     
• The announcement follows a series of 2024 incidents when off-campus agitators, claiming to oppose alleged Israeli “genocide,” disrupted campus operations with anti-Jewish protests and messaging.

Harris County Sergeant Faces Federal Charges in Child Exploitation Case

• Michael Wilson reports that a Harris County Sheriff’s Office sergeant is now facing federal charges after being arrested last week in connection with an online child exploitation investigation initiated by Florida authorities. Sgt. John Frederick Black was taken into custody after the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in Tallahassee issued a warrant related to alleged online communications with someone Black believed to be a 13-year-old child.
      
• According to investigators, the case began in January when Leon County detectives working with a human trafficking and exploitation unit initiated contact with Black on an online chat platform while posing as a minor. Authorities allege that during those exchanges, Black sent several explicit images and at least one video of himself.
       
• Federal prosecutors became involved due to the alleged use of online platforms and interstate communications, which can trigger federal jurisdiction in cases involving the sexual exploitation of minors. Black is scheduled to appear in federal court later today.

In Case You Missed It

Quote-Unquote

"The contest, for ages, has been to rescue Liberty from the grasp of executive power."

– Daniel Webster​

Y'All Answered

It has been reported that Railroad Commissioner Jim Wright—a Republican—made thousands of dollars in campaign contributions to Democrats.

Yesterday, we asked if voters in the GOP primary should care about candidates or incumbents financially supporting Democrats. Just over 20 percent of readers do not think it should matter, while 79.9 percent believe that it should. 

Here is a sampling of the responses from readers.

• “Texans don't sit on the fence. You can't support the opposition and represent its opponents at the same time.” – John Raymond
     
• “Why would a conservative voter support a candidate who supports the opposition?  Makes no sense at all!  Things like this have gone under the radar for quite a while, which has brought us to this point in time ... the Democrats are dying to turn our great state blue!” – Deb Hillis
     
• “Integrity in leadership begins with the checkbook.” – Arthur Potter
     
• “Candidates that give donations to the other party's candidates indicate that they view politics as a ‘game’ that they are playing instead of the serious job they themselves want to fill.” – Patricia Forsythe
     
• “Giving a Democrat more money to spend to beat a Republican is a true indication of a RINO. It should not be tolerated and certainly not rewarded with a seat at the Republican table.” – Steve Sullivan
        
• “I'm not sure these donations should be disqualifying, but they definitely need to be advertised for voters.” – Rebecca Franks
      
• “If they support questionable political views with their pocketbook, we should question their political views at the polls!” – Kelley Holcomb
     
• “Context matters. Small, old donations are different from recent, large, strategic ones. Ultimately, voting record and leadership decisions matter more. A RINO who blocks conservative priorities is worse than an honest conservative Democrat.” – Melissa Rowell
      

• “It should not matter if a Republican supports a Democrat (or vice versa). What should matter is the character of the candidates involved.” – Dave Anthony

• “The Republican Party of Texas needs to step up and stop allowing these Democrats to run in Republican primaries.” – Marta Hollowell
     
• “I think it's important to vote for the person rather than the party.  However, I'm at a loss to think of a Democrat who would deserve my vote. I don't think Jim Wright deserves my vote, either.” – Steve Price
     
• “I have never been a proponent of Partisan Politics, but the last several Election Cycles have changed my mind. We need to stay true to Conservative Candidates to survive. The Left will only take advantage of the generosity.” – Chuck Clutter

The Directory of State and Federal Officials

Contact information, biographies, and campaign finances.

* The new congressional boundaries for representational purposes will not take effect until January 2027.

📧 If someone forwarded the Texas Minute to you, and you like what you see, it is easy to get on the list yourself!