Good morning –

Now that Twitter is owned by Elon Musk, a new Texan, the One Click Survey asks for your thoughts about the social media giant. 

But first, here is the Texas Minute for Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022!

– Michael Quinn Sullivan 

But First…

• We’re a month out from THE grassroots event of the year: The Conservative Leader Awards dinner. Each year, Texas Scorecard honors men and women who have distinguished themselves as leaders in the conservative movement. This year, the dinner will be Saturday, Dec. 3, in Irving.
   
• Other groups honor politicians with baubles and trinkets; we honor citizens by presenting them with engraved cavalry swords!
     
• Get more details on the event, and buy your tickets now. 

Cartels: Not Just a Texas Problem

• As the Biden administration’s open border policies allow Mexican cartels control over the southwest border, State Sen. Bob Hall (R–Edgewood) interviewed Jaeson Jones, a retired Texas Department of Public Safety Captain with extensive experience on Texas’ southern border. 

• “What’s happening at that border directly impacts everyone in this country because it is no longer just a U.S.-Mexico problem, nor is it a Texas or border problem only, there is not a community in this country that is not impacted,” said Jones. “What we are really witnessing is the largest U.S. intelligence failure since 9/11.”

Texas Power Grid Still Vulnerable To Winter Weather

• With winter on the horizon, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) released a report calling into question the ability of Texas’ power grid to withstand extreme weather conditions. Katy Drollinger has the details.

     
• The Texas power grid’s failure in 2021 called into question how well it was being operated by the Energy Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). Although ERCOT functions independently of state government, the Texas Legislature and the Public Utility Commission of Texas are responsible for oversight. Gov. Greg Abbott appointed all three current members of the Public Utility Commission.
       

• Following the release of the federal commission’s report, a spokesman for the PUC has claimed the report contained “inaccuracies” – but did not specify which section of the study contradicted ERCOT’s internal data.

Twitter: Still Censoring Conservatives

• Even as left-wing activists across the country set their hair on fire over Elon Musk’s purchase of social media giant Twitter, there has not yet been a rebirth of free speech on the platform. Texas businessman Bo French found that out this weekend, after testing the censorship regimen on the website.
       
• French wrote to the site, “Transgenderism is a mental disorder. Gender affirming care is child abuse. Covid vaccines don’t work.”
        
• For those words, Twitter locked out his account. French received a notice claiming his post promoted “violence against, threaten, or harass other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious affiliation, age, disability, or serious disease.”
         
• The company has so far refused to unlock his account.
     
• “Following the election interfering attack on free speech in 2020 and the silencing of vaccine skeptics in 2021, Twitter continues to silence those of us who speak truth in 2022. There is absolutely nothing hateful or untrue about my tweet, yet despite an appeal Twitter is still locking my account. Elon Musk needs to unlock Twitter now in order to save democracy. ” – Bo French

Public School Teachers To Push ‘Porn Literacy’?!

Who’s Behind Plano’s Billion-Dollar School Bond Push?

• Despite years of declining student enrollment that are projected to continue for the foreseeable future, Plano Independent School District officials are asking voters to approve $1.5 billion in new bond debt that must be repaid with interest by local property taxpayers. A separate property tax increase is also on the November ballot. Erin Anderson explores the monied interests backing the massive debt package.

     

• The bond boosters’ top donor is Cadence McShane, a Dallas-based construction company specializing in education buildings and renovations.

      
• According to the PAC’s Facebook page, State Rep. Jeff Leach (R–Allen) also backs the $1.5 billion bond and tax rate propositions, which will increase residents’ property tax burdens.
      
• With interest, the $1.5 billion in new debt pushed by Leach and the Dallas construction company will cost taxpayers $2.4 billion.

ONE CLICK SURVEY

With the purchase of the social media website Twitter by new Texas resident Elon Musk, are you more or less likely to use the platform?

... or ...

Once you’ve clicked an answer, reply to this email with any thoughts you’d like to share!