SANDOVAL: Jasmine Crockett Defends Large-Scale Brawls In ‘Stank’ Speech
'I oftentimes have to let my staff start a speech, and then I either put some stank on it, or I completely go off the dome'
Conservatives Can’t Make America Great Again Until They Hold ‘Red State’ RINOs Accountable
In many so-called 'red states' across America, Republican lawmakers are quietly thwarting the will of their constituents.Colony Ridge boss hobnobbed with Gov. Abbott, who helped development receive key federal designation: Report
A new report from the Daily Wire reveals that Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott had a hand in making Colony Ridge, the controversial Texas development area, a designated Opportunity Zone after rubbing elbows with a Colony Ridge executive.
The Opportunity Zone program, created early in President Donald Trump's first term, helps encourage private funding for low-income areas by offering enticing tax incentives to investors. Five years after an initial investment in an Opportunity Zone, a portion of the capital gains earned on the investment can be exempted from taxes. After 10 years, all capital gains are tax-exempt, the Daily Wire explained.
According to documents acquired by the Daily Wire through public information requests, Abbott sent a letter to then-Treasury Sec. Steven Mnuchin on March 21, 2018, asking the Treasury Department to consider designating the census tract that includes Colony Ridge an Opportunity Zone.
On April 6, 2018, Abbott sent a second letter on the topic, and by April 10, he had sent a third letter.
'There is no evidence to suggest Abbott was aware of the Colony Ridge business model.'
By happenstance, William "Trey" Harris, a co-owner of Colony Ridge, and state Sen. Brandon Creighton (R) had attended a luncheon at the governor's mansion on April 4, about two weeks after Abbott's first letter and just two days before his second letter.
Harris and Abbott have not commented on the conversation during that luncheon, and Creighton could only recall to the Daily Wire discussions about "the history of the grounds" of the mansion and "the property and the home itself."
However, by July 2018, the IRS had approved the Colony Ridge census tract to be considered an Opportunity Zone, just a couple of weeks after Trey Harris made his first direct donation — a cool $100,000 or so — to Abbott's campaign coffers. His wife, Celeste Harris, had already donated a similar amount on March 19, two days before Abbott sent the first letter.
Trey Harris made multiple appearances at the governor's mansion in 2018. He attended a "summer kickoff fiesta" in May as well as a reception in December.
All told, Mr. and Mrs. Harris contributed approximately $1.5 million to Abbott between 2018 and 2022, good enough to make Trey Harris Abbott's 15th highest individual donor, the Daily Wire said.
Despite these connections, Abbott denied that Harris alone prompted him to advocate on behalf of the Colony Ridge-area census tract. Other individuals likewise hoped for the Opportunity Zone tag, spokesman Andrew Mahaleris told the Daily Wire.
Moreover, the Opportunity Zone designation "did not create" the problems at the Colony Ridge development, Mahaleris added. "Governor Abbott is ensuring safety there and across the state," he continued. "Governor Abbott directed the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to investigate any potential environmental issues in Colony Ridge, whether it be air, water, or land."
The Daily Wire noted that "there is no evidence to suggest Abbott was aware of the Colony Ridge business model, which openly targets immigrant populations." Still, the development has highlighted its Opportunity Zone designation — brought about in part by Abbott — in multiple ad campaigns.
A Colony Ridge representative declined a request for comment from the Daily Wire.
'He’s a politician; it is what it is. He’s got to cover his butt first.'
Dubbed "the world's largest trailer park," Colony Ridge has made national headlines in recent years after residents — many of whom are in the U.S. illegally — began complaining about inadequate infrastructure, fetid water, crumbling roads, and rampant crime, as Blaze News previously reported.
In February, federal law enforcement agents raided the area, nabbing 118 individuals who were either suspected or convicted of heinous crimes, including murder and child sexual abuse. Many of the arrestees were also illegal aliens.
At the time, Abbott celebrated news of the raid, claiming he and border czar Tom Homan had been planning it "for months."
Spokesperson Andrew Mahaleris indicated to the Daily Wire that Abbott will continue to help federal, state, and local officers enforce the law in Colony Ridge.
"These teams will coordinate with Homeland Security agencies to track down the thousands of illegal immigrants with active warrants across Texas and deport them from our country," Mahaleris said.
Abbott has attempted to distance himself from Colony Ridge, and Trey Harris has since apparently withdrawn his financial support.
"He’s a politician; it is what it is. He’s got to cover his butt first," Harris told the New York Times in 2023. "But don’t expect a million dollars next year. It ain’t happening again, brother."
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Texas House passes school choice bill, priming pump for a national option: 'Texas government school monopoly has fallen'
After trying over the course of decades to surmount obstacles laid before them by Democrats and opponents in their own party, Texas Republicans proved successful Thursday in passing universal school choice legislation in a 86-63 vote.
The passage of Texas Senate Bill 2 — which came despite the opposition of nominal Republican state Reps. Dade Phelan and Gary VanDeaver, and after 11 hours of debate — is a major victory for parents statewide, as well as for Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who indicated earlier this year that school choice was his top priority for the 89th Legislature. It may also help set the stage for a similar victory at the national level.
"Today, the Texas House took the final step to advance Senate Bill 2, the largest day-one school choice launch in the nation," Abbott, who intends to ratify the legislation after its likely adoption by the Senate, said in a statement. "This is an unprecedented victory for families, students, and the future of our great state."
According to the Texas Tribune, this is the first time since 1957 that the Texas House has approved legislation permitting state funds to be made available for families to use on their kids' private education.
Lieutenant Gov. Dan Patrick noted that in both his current capacity and while serving as president of the state Senate, he has observed the Texas Senate pass school choice six times: "The first five bills died in the Texas House, but we never quit."
'I'm almost getting tired of winning.'
Patrick lauded the persistence of his colleagues and gave a nod to the last-minute boost provided by President Donald Trump, who reportedly told state lawmakers on a conference Wednesday, "This is a big vote today," and that he hoped they would "vote in a positive manner."
Corey DeAngelis, a senior fellow at the American Culture Project and a visiting fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research, told Blaze News that while Texas "wasn't the first to the party" — 15 other states have passed universal school choice in the past four years — this "is the biggest day-one school choice victory in U.S. history."
"The Texas win is a big deal," said DeAngelis. "With Texas joining the club, about 40% of America's school-age population now lives in states that have passed universal school choice policies. The number is up from 0% in 2021. The momentum for education freedom is almost unbelievable."
DeAngelis joked, "We're winning so much, I'm almost getting tired of winning."
The aim of Senate Bill 2, filed by state Sen. Brandon Creighton, is twofold: first, to "provide additional educational options to assist families in this state in exercising the right to direct the educational needs of their children"; and second, to "achieve a general diffusion of knowledge."
If ultimately enacted, the bill would direct $1 billion in state funds to create education savings accounts — vouchers that families in the Lone Star State could use to pay for private school tuition and school-related expenses.
Qualifying students under the program who attend a private school would receive $10,000 annually; disabled students would receive up to $30,000 annually; and homeschooled students would receive $2,000.
The Tribune noted that the legislation tethers the voucher program's per-student dollars to public education funding so that increases or decreases in public school funding would be reflected in the amounts received by students participating in the program.
While this marks a decisive battle won for school choice, DeAngelis told Blaze News, "The fight isn't over."
"I expect more than 100,000 students will want to use the school choice program in Texas. Once that demand is shown, the Texas Legislature will need to go back and get rid of the cap on the number of scholarships like they did in states like Arizona and Florida once demand was illustrated," said the school choice advocate. "I have confidence Texas Republicans will listen to that demand from parents."
'We will look back on this day as one of the darkest in Texas history.'
In the meantime, should demand outstrip supply where the program is concerned, poor families and Texas students with disabilities will receive priority.
Despite their support for choice on other matters, state Democrats — particularly those who have cozied up with public teachers' unions — are enraged over the promise of an affordable option when it comes to Texas kids' education.
"This bill is everything that is wrong with politics. It's the interest of big money over everyday Texans," said state Rep. Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat endorsed by the Texas State Teachers Association and the Texas American Federation of Teachers.
Democratic state Rep. John Bucy III, who was also endorsed by the Texas AFT, said, "The history books will remember who gutted public education. We will look back on this day as one of the darkest in Texas history."
State Rep. Alma Allen (D), a former public school administrator, suggested the "harmful voucher scam" would somehow send the state backward.
Lt. Gov. Patrick recommended the Texas Senate concur with Senate Bill 2 Friday afternoon, and Gov. Abbott reiterated he was "ready to sign this bill into law."
Sen. Brandon Creighton noted, "Parents, lawmakers, and education advocates across Texas are finally seeing real momentum to deliver education freedom."
The success in Texas might have national implications.
"The Texas government school monopoly has fallen. More dominoes are likely to fall with Texas leading the way. The dam is breaking, and there's nothing Randi Weingarten and the teachers' unions can do about it," said DeAngelis. "This school choice momentum is sure to fuel the battle for nationwide school choice. President Trump campaigned on the issue and ultimately won the parent vote by 9 points. That's a national mandate for education freedom."
'It's time to get nationwide school choice across the finish line.'
Earlier this year, Republican Reps. Adrian Smith (Neb.) and Burgess Owens (Utah) and Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) introduced legislation that would amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a charitable donation incentive for individuals and businesses to bankroll scholarship awards for students to cover expenses related to K-12 public and private education.
"The Educational Choice for Children Act is a top priority for the 119th Congress because it puts power where it belongs — in the hands of families, not bureaucracies," Owens said in a statement. "The days of tolerating a one-size-fits-all system that traps students in mediocrity are over."
The scholarships under the proposed legislation would be dealt out to students as a voucher. Most families would be eligible so long as their household incomes are not 300% greater than their region's median income.
The New York Times noted that the national bill could be included in a budget reconciliation bill this summer. Accordingly, Republicans would need only 51 votes in the U.S. Senate to seal the deal.
"The Educational Choice for Children Act passed out of the House Ways and Means committee last year, and it is already co-sponsored by most Republicans in Congress," noted DeAngelis. "President Trump said he would sign it, and the legislation is supported by Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune. It's time to get nationwide school choice across the finish line."
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Trump to slam border shut with vast buoy wall, tightening grip on illegal crossing chaos
President Donald Trump's administration is gearing up to clamp down further on illegal crossings from Mexico by installing floating buoy barriers in the Rio Grande.
The Washington Examiner reported Wednesday that the Trump administration plans to place a 17-mile-long buoy wall in the Rio Grande Valley in Texas.
'Gov. Abbott deployed them soon after and proved that they were very effective.'
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R), under former President Joe Biden in 2023, installed the state's own buoy barriers to curb the nation's illegal immigration crisis, particularly in the highly trafficked Eagle Pass area. The interconnected inflatable sphere buoys were four feet wide and acted as a floating fence that, when grabbed, would spin to prevent illegal aliens from being able to climb over.
It was the first time such a deterrent had been deployed along the U.S.-Mexico border, and the move faced legal challenges from the Biden administration's Department of Justice. The lawsuit claimed that Texas violated federal law by failing to obtain authorization to install the barrier. It also argued that the buoys created both environmental and safety concerns.
Trump's DOJ is expected to drop the case against Texas over its buoy wall.
According to the Washington Examiner, the first Trump administration's Border Patrol initially developed the idea of installing floating barriers. However, it never did so due to the administration change.
After former Border Patrol agent Mike Banks was hired as Texas' border czar, the state rolled out the plan independently. Banks is now the national Border Patrol chief.
The Washington Examiner reported that Texas wants to gift its 1,000-foot barrier to the Trump administration.
Selene Rodriguez with the Texas Public Policy Foundation told the news outlet that the state's implementation of the buoy wall proved effective at deterring illegal crossings.
"Left to fend for ourselves, Texas found innovative solutions to secure our border and support our law enforcement," Rodriguez stated. "The buoy barrier was a necessary measure that proved further action can be taken, and we are happy to see that measure now taken by the Trump administration."
Border czar Tom Homan told the Washington Examiner that the floating wall is "a great border barrier concept."
"[Border Patrol] was studying their use at the end of Trump 45 and thought they were an excellent method to secure the border and save lives," Homan said. "They were not deployed because the administration changed hands. Gov. Abbott deployed them soon after and proved that they were very effective. Border barriers such as walls and buoys work. The data proves it."
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Planned Muslim city in Texas could discriminate against Christians and Jews, Sen. Cornyn says
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) asked the Department of Justice to open an investigation into East Plano Islamic Center's plans to open a Muslim-centric city near Josephine, Texas.
A Sunday press release from Cornyn's office announced that he sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi requesting that the DOJ investigate EPIC's plans over concerns that the community would ban non-Muslim residents.
'The consistent attacks and unwarranted investigations speak volumes about the state of politics and have little to do with our project, or our vision.'
The press release noted that EPIC is already facing several investigations by Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) after it was accused of "risking religious discrimination of Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslim minorities."
He stated, "A master-planned 'community of thousands of Muslims' could violate the constitutional rights of Jewish and Christian Texans, by preventing them from living in this new community and discriminating against them within the community. I further encourage the Department to investigate whether Christians, Jews, and other non-Muslim minorities would receive equal protection under the law in this new community."
"Religious discrimination, whether explicit or implicit, is unconstitutional under the First and Fourteenth Amendments. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of our nation's values, and I am concerned this community potentially undermines this vital protection," Cornyn continued. "Religious-based discrimination is a constitutional violation as well as a federal rights violation."
He added that EPIC may also need to be investigated for potentially enforcing Sharia law, which Abbott is already probing at the state level.
What's the background?
EPIC is planning to build a 402-acre Muslim-centric community roughly 40 miles outside of Dallas. The development would reportedly feature a mosque, a K-12 faith-based school, an outreach center, commercial developments, sports facilities, and 1,000 homes — including senior living spaces.
Abbott began expressing concern about the proposed development earlier this year, stating that "Sharia cities" are "not allowed in Texas."
In early April, Abbott declared that EPIC "may not begin construction" on its project over a failure to obtain required "authorizations or permits."
The Texas Rangers, the Texas State Securities Board, the Texas Workforce Commission, and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have opened investigations into EPIC at Abbott's request.
Last week, Paxton told Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck that he discovered that the attorney representing EPIC City's developers is Dan Cogdell, the same lawyer who previously defended Paxton against impeachment.
Paxton called it "a little concerning" that he was not made aware sooner, noting that "there definitely could be an argument that there's conflict because I'm still being represented by him and he's representing clients that we are investigating."
Meanwhile, Community Capital Partners, the city's developer, has denied that the planned community would violate any laws or enforce Sharia law.
Cogdell has claimed that the proposed development has become "the victim of racial profiling."
"No one associated with EPIC, no one associated with that community follows Sharia law or is in favor of Sharia law," he previously told KTVT.
He accused Abbott of spreading "lies, false information, and nonsense."
Community Capital Partners told the Dallas Morning News, "The consistent attacks and unwarranted investigations speak volumes about the state of politics and have little to do with our project, or our vision."
"We look forward to correcting the misinformation about EPIC City, and we will continue to work to create a diverse, safe and inclusive community — one in which everyone is welcome and people of every background, faith, and culture can live together in harmony," it added.
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Islamic city planned for Texas hires ex-Paxton attorney to defuse Sharia law concerns
Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) in late March directed the Texas Rangers, the Texas State Securities Board, and the Texas Workforce Commission to launch investigations into the East Plano Islamic Center concerning its plans to develop a Muslim-centric city on 402 acres near Josephine, roughly 40 miles outside Dallas.
The development would reportedly feature a mosque, a K-12 faith-based school, an outreach center, commercial developments, sports facilities, and 1,000 homes, townhomes, and apartments.
'There definitely could be an argument that there's conflict because I'm still being represented by him and he's representing clients that we are investigating.'
The proposed city has ignited fears within the surrounding community that it will implement Sharia law and potentially ultimately lead to a "no-go zone."
State investigations
Abbott has repeatedly expressed concerns about the planned community.
In February, Abbott stated in a post on social media, "To be clear, Sharia law is not allowed in Texas. Nor are Sharia cities. Nor are 'no go zones' which this project seems to imply."
"Bottom line. The project as proposed in the video is not allowed in Texas," the governor concluded, referring to EPIC's promotional clip advertising the plans.
The Texas Funeral Service Commission sent a cease-and-desist letter to EPIC in March, demanding that it "immediately stop all illegal funeral service operations."
According to Abbott, EPIC had been operating a funeral home without an established license in violation of state law.
Abbott announced on April 1 that EPIC "may not begin construction" on its community, stating that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality discovered it had failed to obtain required "authorizations or permits."
The governor insisted that EPIC City "has serious legal issues" and announced that a dozen state agencies are looking into the proposed community.
The governor tasked the Texas Rangers with investigating EPIC "for potential criminal activities." The Texas Workforce Commission is probing "potential discrimination in violation of the Texas Fair Housing Act." The Texas State Securities Board is looking into any "potential financial harm to Texans." Additionally, state Attorney General Ken Paxton is examining "potential violations of Texas consumer protection laws."
"Texas vigorously safeguards the freedoms granted to American citizens in the U.S. Constitution, including the freedom of religion," Abbott said. "To that end, the Texas Workforce Commission opened an investigation into the group behind the proposed EPIC compound who are potentially breaking state fair housing laws by refusing to sell or rent housing to certain groups based on religion or other protected traits."
Texans share concerns
The RAIR Foundation USA was among the first to begin sounding the alarm about EPIC and its proposed city.
Amy Mek, the founder and editor in chief of the RAIR Foundation, warned that the project is not just "a housing development."
"It's the expansion of a Sharia-controlled society, starting with the radical school already operating at the EPIC Mosque in Plano, Texas," Mek wrote. "Now, EPIC is scaling up — EPIC City will operate with no city oversight, no state-controlled curriculum, and no accountability to American laws."
'No one associated with EPIC … follows Sharia law or is in favor of Sharia law.'
Many residents in Blue Ridge, a city roughly 20 miles away from Josephine, voiced their concerns about the proposed development during a recent city council meeting.
Douglas Deaton, a former police lieutenant in Plano, stated that a Sharia law enclave existed in Texas long before EPIC proposed its city plans.
"There seems to be a general misunderstanding that we're talking about a plan to build an Islamic, Sharia-friendly community. The EPIC neighborhood already exists in Plano. It's been there for nearly 12 years. With 74 residential properties, a massive mosque, schools, a medical clinic, and multiple businesses," he told the city council. "You have to be a member of their mosque to live there."
"This is not a matter of radicals hiding in plain sight; they're not hiding. They've been open about their beliefs and their intent," Deaton added.
On Wednesday, Paxton spoke with Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck about the governor's actions against EPIC, revealing interesting new details about the controversy.
"We're not going to sacrifice [our constitution] for Sharia law. It's just not going to happen in Texas," Paxton told Beck. "At the same time, we want to be cognizant that people have a right to have their own religion, and we respect that."
Paxton explained that the community cannot discriminate against potential residents based on religion, noting that doing so would violate housing laws.
He stated that he recently learned that the attorney representing EPIC City's developers, Dan Cogdell, is the same lawyer who previously defended him against impeachment. Paxton was acquitted of all charges in 2023.
The AG called it "a little concerning" that he was not made aware of that fact sooner.
"There definitely could be an argument that there's conflict because I'm still being represented by him and he's representing clients that we are investigating," Paxton told Beck.
EPIC responds
EPIC has denied claims that its proposed community will disregard state and federal laws to implement Sharia law.
Cogdell accused Abbott of spreading lies about the planned city, claiming that the project is "the victim of racial profiling."
"These aren't foreign adversaries. These are Texans. These are Americans. These are United States citizens," Cogdell told KTVT last week. "No one associated with EPIC, no one associated with that community follows Sharia law or is in favor of Sharia law."
Cogdell had a message for Abbott.
"Quit tweeting lies, false information, and nonsense. Because my clients right now, what they are doing is they are suffering from essentially gubernatorial hate speech," he stated.
Cogdell reportedly told KTVK that his clients have received "dozens of death threats." As a result, the developers were "too scared to go on camera," according to the news outlet.
When reached for comment, the governor's office referred KTVK to previously released statements.
Beck was offered an opportunity to speak with the project's developer on Thursday, only to discover that Cogdell had been tapped to talk on their behalf. Upon realizing this, Beck canceled, insisting that he wanted a candid conversation with the developer, not the attorney. The developer signaled interest in rescheduling for next week.
During Thursday's radio show, Beck stated, "I got an email from somebody who said, 'You know, you should talk to the developer directly.'"
The email read, "Given the amount of misinformation circulating, it might be beneficial to speak directly with the landowner developer to ensure accuracy."
"So I said yes to that on the program," Beck stated. "Then I find out that it's the lawyer. Well, what happened to the directly to the landowner developer? So they said he'll be prepared for our conversation sometime next week."
"I don't have anything bad to say about the developer if it's all on the up and up," he added. "It's just, there's some things about this, the people that are engaged in it, that are a little disturbing."
The developer did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.
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