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January 27, 2026      1:30 PM

Amid ICE controversy Kronberg notes many in the GOP on and off the ballot are distancing from President Trump

Quorum Report Publisher Harvey Kronberg and Texas Capital Tonight Host James Barragan talked on Spectrum News in Austin about the fallout from the latest Minnesota ICE shooting, the Democratic US Senate primary in Texas, and more

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January 27, 2026      1:15 PM

Abbott tells all state agencies to immediately freeze new H-1B visa petitions

QR first reported on Saturday that Abbott was gathering information to do this.

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January 27, 2026      11:57 AM

Crockett reportedly plans to start hitting Talarico with some contrast ads on TV

TV ads from the Crockett campaign would represent her first significant spending of the cycle; to date Talarico has dominated both on the airwaves and field operations

Punchbowl News in DC reported this morning:

During a private donor call, a top supporter of Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s (D-Texas) Senate run said the campaign is planning to start attacking state Rep. James Talarico on the air.

...During the Jan. 22 Zoom call, Crockett supporter Jason Lee — speaking alongside campaign pollster Terrance Woodbury and deputy campaign manager Karrol Rimal — said the campaign is “going to begin in earnest a very robust communication strategy.”

Lee also said "because her opponent is somewhat less well-known, people do need to hear certain information so they can make an informed decision … The other candidate needs to go through the same vetting.”

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January 26, 2026      7:00 PM

Notes from the Campaign Trail: Slowly Thawing Out Edition

Minimal campaign events canceled because of the ice storm, special election turnout is low although a Republican voting for a Democrat says there’s real energy around one of the races, and the Democratic US Senate debate was basically a wash

AUSTIN – Reporting from the Buzz Central home offices today after what had been billed as a potentially “catastrophic” ice storm swept across Texas over the weekend. Knock on wood, the power is still on here and there are enough rations to make it through as the streets start to thaw out in the Capital city.

QR was first to report that the Texas Capitol would be closed all day, according to an internal memo we obtained Sunday night. It had previously been reported that offices would be only closed through lunchtime today.

Meantime around the state, there were only a smattering of campaign event cancellations.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 26, 2026      6:35 PM

ABC 13 in Houston reports Tara Arnold and Shawna Collins are among the dead in the Arnold and Itkin private plane crash

Reporter Miya Shay notes the flight took off from Hobby Airport's Jet Aviation before the accident in Maine on Sunday

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January 26, 2026      1:15 PM

Gov. Abbott confirms he is investigating legal immigrant employees here on H1B visas at universities and public schools across Texas

Speaking to conservative talk show host Mark Davis, Abbott confirmed the Quorum Report story and went further, adding he is looking into those employees in more places than only the Texas A&M System as first reported

Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday morning confirmed the scoop in the Quorum Report over the weekend that his office is investigating the use of H-1B visas for the employment of some immigrants working at university systems and public schools around the state.

Reporter James Russell on Saturday unearthed internal emails showing Abbott’s office was demanding information about those workers at the Texas A&M System.

On a conservative radio talk show this morning, Abbott said his dragnet of legal migrants is more expansive.
Speaking on the Mark Davis Show on 660am radio in DFW, Abbott reminded listeners at that the H-1B program is federal – not state.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 26, 2026      11:00 AM

FAA says seven died and one survived in crash of Arnold and Itkin private jet

No names are being released at this time

The Associated Press has the latest details.

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January 25, 2026      6:08 PM

The Texas Capitol will be closed all day Monday, according to an internal memo circulated by DPS

It was previously thought that the building would be open at Noon Monday. Y'all stay warm.

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January 24, 2026      3:30 PM

Internal emails show Gov. Abbott is demanding info on immigrant workers using H1B visas at the Texas A&M University system

The emails reviewed by Quorum Report say Abbott wants info on this by close of business Monday

Gov. Greg Abbott is demanding leaders of all Texas A&M University System campuses to submit a list of all employees on H1B visas by end of day Monday, according to an e-mail obtained by Quorum Report.

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By James Russell

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January 23, 2026      3:29 PM

People on the Move

Power players, new ventures, agency news, and more

That’s all there really is to say about the weather at this point as we wait to see just how bad the ice storm will be. No doubt the Metroplex will get the worst of it but there are some reports that some areas on the High Plains could be blanketed with up to 2 feet of snow. A couple of inches is more likely, though.

Driving in snow is one thing. Driving on black ice is another. When the authorities start to say things like “just stay off the roads,” please do that. Some campaign events may have to be canceled or postponed. That’s frustrating, I know, as early voting is approaching in the election of consequence in Texas. But everyone will suck it up and get right back to their work once things have thawed out, probably by midday Monday.

Because many of you might be iced in for a day or two, the Quorum Report Radio podcast is an extended edition this week to help pass the time. The links to subscribe are on the QR homepage. You can listen to that then binge watch your favorite TV show while you cook up a pot of Harold Cook’s chili. The recipe is in the Daily Buzz.

There’s also some significant career news to share with you as we roll on through January. People on the Move is the most efficient way to let Texas Capitol folks know what’s up with a new job, promotion, or all new business. Send the scoop anytime to ksbraddock@gmail.com and use POTM in the subject line. Thanks so much.

Here’s the latest edition of People on the Move.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 23, 2026      9:00 AM

Fort Worth Police Union slams Rep. Lowe over allegations of profiting from adult websites and online gambling

Lowe has previously dismissed similar allegations; the police union says he “lied about his business dealings two years ago, and he continues to lie about them today.”

The police union in Fort Worth is slamming a North Texas lawmaker over fresh allegations that he’s made money off of pornographic and gambling websites.

Rep. David Lowe, R-North Richland Hills, hasn’t commented but in the past has dismissed similar allegations lobbed at him during previous primaries.

This time around, Lowe’s critics are pointing to a report laying out the allegations in great detail.

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By James Russell

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January 23, 2026      8:45 AM

Talarico back on TV, this time talking about his push to lower the price of insulin

"I know what it means to fight for my life...in the Senate I will fight for yours"

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January 22, 2026      5:30 AM

Notes from the Campaign Trail: Social media vs AM Radio Edition

In Senate District 9 special that’s coming down to the wire, Rep. Talarico pushes Democrats online saying “this is the most important election you might not know about” while Lt. Gov. Patrick takes to the airwaves to rally the GOP base: “I’m very concerned about this election”

Editor’s note: Reporter James Russell in Fort Worth contributed to this article – SB

DALLAS-FORT WORTH – In the Year of Our Lord 2026, it might surprise some observers in Austin that the staying power of conservative talk radio is still undeniable in GOP politics across Texas. Even though voters are indeed inundated with social media messages on Facebook and Twitter, the AM dial is still very often king when officeholders and candidates are trying their best to reach some of the staunchest conservative voters at key moments.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 21, 2026      6:00 PM

Rep. Crockett releases poll showing her with a 13 point advantage in US Senate Democratic primary

Subscribers can check out the polling memo.

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January 21, 2026      5:46 PM

Internal poll from the campaign of Rep. Chip Roy shows him closing in on 50 percent in four-way GOP primary for Texas AG

Keep in mind these numbers include voters who said they would definitely, probably, or lean this way: Roy at 49%, Sen. Huffman at 10%, Sen. Middleton at 9%, and Reitz with 6%. The poll of 800 "likely" GOP primary voters was conducted in December

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January 21, 2026      5:42 PM

Texas Realtors release their highly anticipated hot list of legislative campaigns

You can check it out via Brandon Alderete, Director of Political Affairs, right here.

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January 21, 2026      5:38 PM

How to make Texas chili the Harold Cook way

With a deep freeze coming and lots of you planning to be stuck at home, it’s time to share his recipe once again

In several meetings along the campaign trail this week, it was mentioned that “staying home and making chili” is probably the plan for many of you this upcoming weekend as Texans from Dallas-Fort Worth all the way down through Austin, San Antonio, and Houston brace for icy conditions and temperatures that are expected in the teens. North Texas should see the worst of it, but it’s always best to be prepared wherever you are.

As you head to the grocery store to stock up tonight or hopefully tomorrow at the latest, some of y’all had asked how I make my chili at home. The answer is I base it loosely off the final known recipe of our dear departed friend Harold Cook, who passed away in 2022. I know, it’s been longer than I thought, too.

Over the years, Harold’s chili recipe evolved – just like his thinkin’ on several issues. He’d often make big batches at his place out in Marathon, where he hosted friends and told old war stories about Texas politics. After he died, a friend said the very last text message she had received from Harold was a response to an inquiry about the latest iteration of his chili recipe.

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By Scott Braddock

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January 21, 2026      2:20 PM

Abbott endorses Nate Sheets over Commissioner Miller

The governor did not keep it positive about Sheets. Instead Abbott went after Commissioner Miller, saying he's corrupt and noted Miller voted for in-state tuition for undocumented students when he was a Texas House member. Every Republican voted that way that year at the request of Gov. Perry, by the way. And a correction: Commissioner Miller has not commented on this.

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