FRI brief 5.20.22
Welcome to a late evening brief. Sign up if this email was forwarded to you (hint: here’s the button).
It’s a busy Friday.
Today’s Stories
TEXAS MONTHLY is running interference for JUSTIN BERRY in the HD-19 race. This is an additional data point supporting a longstanding hypothesis; the establishment perceives Berry as one of their own and Ellen Troxclair as the other.
The Texas Monthly piece seeks to remind voters about Berry's (likely politicized) indictment, stemming from several use of force incidents during the summer 2020 riots. Berry is one of nineteen Austin police officers indicted by Travis County’s Soros-linked District Attorney.
Texas Monthly’s objective is to frame the contest as “Berry vs. the Crazy libs by elevating Berry's indictment.” By extension, Troxclair is boxed out.
It’s a sensible strategy. Berry should have used it (a lot) more.
Beyond this strategy, and Berry’s campaign, what’s fascinating is that Texas Monthly (of all outlets) is the one using it.
Texas Monthly has been the hatchet-men of the establishment for decades. They’re owned by the Hobby Family for crying out loud. They know they don’t want Troxclair anywhere near the Texas legislature.
Troxclair needs to keep her nose to the grindstone through Tuesday, but if she’s successful, the nature of the campaign against her has opened up a world of possibilities.
Speaking of Troxclair, one of her major endorsers is making waves in DC (again). See next item.
CHIP ROY is irritating both parties’ leadership in the U.S. House. He’s even forced lawmakers to miss fundraisers. Quelle horreur!!!
Specifically, Roy and a few colleagues are forcing lawmakers to take roll call votes on bills as they come to the floor. As Roy admits, this is primarily a stall tactic to allow lawmakers time to read bills.
That this practice is controversial tells you everything you need to know about how congress is run.
In other Chip Roy news:
Roy is an obvious candidate to run statewide in either ‘24 or ‘26. The biggest question is, “for what office?”
CHRIS PADDIE and EDDIE LUCIO III can’t go through the revolving door quite yet. The veteran lawmakers, who had left office early, hoped to get early starts on lobbying careers.
Unfortunately, for them, a law passed in 2019 restricts the ability of lawmakers to register as lobbyists until two years have elapsed from the last time they’ve made political contributions from campaign funds.
Both are still likely to be registered by the next session gavels in.
JOHN CORNYN has called KEN PAXTON an embarrassment because the latter has refused to cower following his legal troubles.
Paxton’s response speaks for itself:
AUSTIN does Austin stuff.
Hit the Links
The YIMBYest (Yes, in my backyard) City in America
Ohio County Veto of Wind Project Shows It’s Time to End Federal Subsidies
The Messy, Democrat on Democrat, Fight over New York’s Congressional Maps
With Plunging Enrollment, a “Seismic Hit” to Public Schools
Conservative Earthquake Rocks Idaho
Thanks for reading
Push Junction grows through word of mouth. Please consider sharing this post with someone who might appreciate it.