‘Creating Fear’
What to know: According to the Texas Tribune, lawmakers’ efforts to rein in diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) offices and efforts at Texas public universities has “created a climate across Texas in which students and faculty fear what comes next.”
The TPPF take: Of course it does; the Texas media has been covering DEI issues across the state just like the hard-left reporters at NPR.
“Throughout the debate, passage and implementation of the DEI ban in Texas, the press has portrayed it as a malicious Republican initiative,” says TPPF’s Sherry Sylvester. “Instead of digging into the facts of DEI programs, some news outlets like KVUE simply found a couple students who said they were sad DEI offices were closing and reported that.”
For more on DEI, click here.
Interim Charges
What to know: Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has released his interim charges for the Senate; this serves as an informal agenda for the upcoming legislative session.
The TPPF take: The interim charges are essentially research projects the leaders of the House and Senate assign committees.
“For Capitol watchers, it’s the blueprint for what legislators will be working on a year from now and gives policymakers, lobbyists, the media, and activists critical intel on the direction various issues might go,” says TPPF’s Brian Phillips. “What’s the next round of property tax reform look like? How does Texas strengthen its border security efforts? Have public universities eliminated their DEI offices? Does Texas have the right laws to protect against squatters?”
For more on the Texas Senate’s interim charges, click here.
Politicized Prosecutions
What to know: Supreme Court justices have signaled their skepticism of the Biden administration’s double standards for prosecutions—and its habit of only going after political opponents.
The TPPF take: Politicized prosecutions are a poison to civil society—and a warning shot across the bow for all Americans.
“The broader effect of politicized prosecutions is clear — Americans are increasingly convinced we live in a nation with a two-tiered justice system,” says TPPF’s Robert Henneke. “This affirms what Americans learned from the prosecution of Trump for the alleged mishandling of classified documents, while Biden (like Hillary Clinton before him) got a pass for the same thing. And the list goes on.”
For more on politicized prosecutions, click here.