Podcasts about monica de la cruz

*The chairman of the House Agriculture Committee defended farm safety net spending.  *Drought conditions are improving across parts of Texas.  *Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz is asking the U.S. Trade Representative to include the 1944 water treaty in the USMCA. *Memorial Day will kick off the summer grilling season.  *Cattle feeders in Texas are enjoying a period of economic strength.  *EPA has released a draft insecticide strategy.  *Temperatures are heating up on the Texas Southern Plains.  *A mare must produce good quality colostrum for the newborn foal to be healthy.  

Floresville Interim City Manager Monica Veliz receives a visit recently from Ruben Villarreal, district director with the office of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, to talk about community growth, infrastructure needs, and future projects.Article Link

Staff from U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz's office will be available to meet with residents on Monday, April 28, from 1-4 p.m., at the Sam Fore Jr. Wilson County Public Library, 1103 Fourth St. in Floresville. Constituents can get assistance with Veterans Administration or Social Security issues, U.S. passports, or other services. No appointments are needed.Article Link

Stockdale City Manager Stephen Mayfield (second from left) visits with district staff of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, including (l-r) Constituent Liaisons Danny Loyola and Cody Hamilton and District Director Ruben Villarreal, to discuss several city infrastructure projects.Article Link

During a visit to Wilson County, U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz's Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director Truman Reed (left) and Constituent Liaison Danny Loyola visit with Wilson County Auditor Brenda Treviño to discuss federal grant opportunities and ways De La Cruz can support the county's upcoming projects.Article Link

Floresville Interim City Manager Monica Veliz meets with representatives of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz to discuss upcoming city projects and economic development opportunities, during a visit by De La Cruz's staff.Article Link

A crowd of about 200 Wilson County residents gathers Jan. 20 in the warmth of La Vernia's Den restaurant, uniting with folks across the country to watch on television as Donald J. Trump is sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. Trump, who served as the nation's 45th president from 2017-21, was elected to the office again last fall. The leadership of Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance, said Republican U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, who represents Texas District 15, including Wilson County, “… marks the beginning of a stronger, more secure, and prosperous America. In...Article Link

Staff from U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz's office will be available to meet with residents on Monday, Jan. 27, from 1-4 p.m., at the Sam Fore Jr. Wilson County Public Library, 1103 Fourth St. in Floresville. Constituents can get assistance with Veterans Administration or Social Security issues, U.S. passports, or other services. No appointments are needed.Article Link

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz is celebrating the passage of the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) through the Senate. The legislation, which De La Cruz co-sponsored and championed as one of her first acts after taking office, was signed into law Jan. 5 by President Joe Biden after passing the Senate in December. It passed the U.S. House on Nov. 12, 2024. The Social Security Fairness Act repeals the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, two outdated policies that unfairly reduced Social Security benefits for teachers, first responders, and other public-service employees who earned additional Social Security...Article Link

EDINBURG, Texas - Raudel Garza, executive director of Edinburg Economic Development Corporation, says he expects great things from UT-Rio Grande Valley's highly anticipated Workforce Economy Research and Community (WERC) Complex. The complex sits next to I-69 Central in Edinburg. Back in the day it used to be the old Haggar Clothing Company building. Later it became UT-Pan American's Community Engagement and Student Services (CESS) office.The WERC project came about thanks to a $2.4 million grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration. The EDC grant will fund part of the $8.9 million project, with UTRGV providing an additional $6 million. The remaining $500,000 came from funds secured by U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz in this year's appropriations bill for the college.“I think that (the WERC) is going to have a real big impact on business development and small business development in the near future for the entire region,” Garza said, in a recent interview with Ron Whitlock Reports.“They (UTRGV) are consolidating a lot of the business resources that they have now spread out in the (Edinburg) campus and other locations into this one facility.”As the Rio Grande Guardian previously reported, construction has been master-planned and involves completely gutting and transforming the 126,000-square-foot building. “Of that space, approximately 15,000 square feet will be dedicated to classrooms; 10,000 square feet for a manufacturing incubator and commercialization activities; and 10,000 square feet to research and development laboratories specifying in manufacturing and prototyping,” the Guardian reported.“The complex will also include an environmentally controlled dry room, a high security area for government contract work, and office space for the Texas Manufacturing Assistance Center. The goal is to be a one-stop shop for businesses and students to research, design, and manufacture products – from start to finish – for market consumption.”Raudel Garza told Ron Whitlock Reports that UTRGV has “a great support system” to help small businesses and businesses in general.“Ron Garza is going to be setting up quite a few exciting things out there, including, possibly, an incubator for advanced manufacturing, so companies that are (thinking of) coming into the Valley and trying to set up shop can get a lot of assistance from all the different organizations that are within the university, under one roof,” Raudel Garza told Ron Whitlock Reports.“And so I think it's going to be very good for the entire region, and it's great that it's in Edinburg.”Ron Garza (no relation) is UTRGV's associate vice president for workforce and economic development. He is spearheading the project.Ron Garza previously told the Rio Grande Guardian:“What this does that's new and different is it takes all that service that we do and it's also going to add significant square footage for R&D [research and development] laboratories,” said Garza. “We have some on our campuses, but we don't have enough volume specifically for industry. We have a lot of industry partners … They're all asking for the physical space for research commercialization. This will be that space.”Editor's Note: Ron Whitlock secured an interview with Raudel Garza following the recent Edinburg Commercial Tour. The Tour was co-sponsored by Edinburg EDC and the Rio Grande Valley Partnership. Go to www.riograndeguardian.com to read the latest border news stories and watch the latest news videos.

Staff from U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz's office will be available to meet with residents on Monday, Nov. 25, from 1-4 p.m., at the Sam Fore Jr. Wilson County Public Library, 1103 Fourth St. in Floresville. Constituents can get assistance with Veterans Administration or Social Security issues, U.S. passports, or other services. No appointments are needed.Article Link

Donald Trump will be the next president of the United States, and Jim Stewart will remain the Wilson County sheriff. These are among the outcomes of the Nov. 5 election. Wilson County voters —  who turned out in force to cast early ballots — overwhelmingly supported Republican candidates. They joined other Texas voters in returning Ted Cruz to the U.S. Senate and Monica De La Cruz to the U.S. House of Representatives.  In addition to returning Stewart to office, local voters also supported incumbents in the Floresville Independent School District (ISD) election, keeping trustees Joel Odom and Stephen Shodrock on...Article Link

Staff from Rep. Monica De La Cruz's office will be available to meet with residents on Monday, Oct. 28 and Nov. 25, from 1-4 p.m., at the Sam Fore Jr. Wilson County Public Library, 1103 Fourth St. in Floresville. Constituents can get assistance with Veterans Administration or Social Security issues, U.S. passports, or other services. No appointments are needed.Article Link

Key members of the Stockdale Economic Development Corp. (SEDC) gathered Sept. 19 to discuss critical infrastructure needs and potential revitalization projects for our community. The meeting, which included SEDC President Lynn Ray West, Administrator Jennifer Baird, Mayor Sal Urrabazo, and City Manager Stephen Mayfield, and me was an important step toward securing financial assistance for Stockdale. The SEDC reached out to U.S.Rep.Monica De La Cruz's office and was directed to District Director Ruben Villarreal, who attended the meeting, along with Constituent Liaison Danny Loyola.Villarreal listened closely to our requests and concerns, especially regarding infrastructure improvements and the revitalization of our...Article Link

Staff from Rep. Monica De La Cruz's office will be available to meet with residents on Monday, Sept. 23, from 1-4 p.m., at the Sam Fore Jr. Wilson County Public Library, 1103 Fourth St. in Floresville. Constituents can get assistance with Veterans Administration or Social Security issues, U.S. passports, or other services. No appointments are needed.Article Link

Have an issue with Social Security, the Veterans Administration, or a passport? A staff member of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz will be in Floresville on Monday, Sept. 23, to help with these and other matters regarding federal agencies. A caseworker with the Texas Congressional District 15 office will be at the Sam Fore Jr. Wilson County Public Library, 1103 Fourth St. in Floresville, from 1-4 p.m. and can open an inquiry on your behalf.Article Link

Need assistance at the federal level? Members of the staff of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz will be available in various locations in District 15 this month, to assist area residents with accessing services from federal agencies and more. Caseworkers will be available Monday, Aug. 26, at the Sam Fore Jr. Wilson County Public Library in Floresville, from 1-4 p.m. Constituents can get assistance with Veterans Administration or Social Security issues, U.S. passports, or other services. No appointments are needed. The library is located at 1103 Fourth St. in Floresville.Article Link

The Latino vote could make or break the 2024 election with Trump appearing to have all the momentum. In this episode, we sit down with Texas congresswoman Monica De La Cruz about the former President's appeal to the demographic amid Biden's historic border crisis. Get the facts first with Morning Wire.

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz's staff will hold mobile office hours in Floresville on Monday, July 22, from 1-4 p.m. This will take place at the Sam Fore Jr. Wilson County Public Library, located at 1103 Fourth St. Area residents needing help with the IRS, Social Security, VA, or other federal agencies, are welcome to attend. As a reminder, Rep. De La Cruz has an office located at 112 N. Travis in Seguin that residents are welcome to visit. For more information, call 956-800-6069.Article Link

*USDA's acreage report released Friday shocked the cotton market by increasing U.S. cotton acreage by nearly one million acres. *Milk production fell in Texas last month.  *Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz took to the House floor last week to shine the spotlight on the Rio Grande Valley water crisis.*It's hot in Texas, and that's tough on cattle.  *Is the Farm Bill at a stalemate? *The July forecast for Texas is hot and dry. *The recent tropical storm brought good rains to Deep South Texas. *A new study indicates horses with Cushing's disease have lower bone density.  

The most important election is just around the corner — Tuesday, November 5, with early voting starting Monday, October 21. There are three candidates that are very specifically important to the welfare of our nation — former President Donald Trump, Senator Ted Cruz, and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz. Many have said they want to get involved, well now is the opportunity — and it can be done from the comfort of home. On June 19, training will be provided to teach those interested in how to use “Side Kick,” an application for contacting voters to get the “Vote Republican”...Article Link

Community members seeking assistance at the local office of U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz in Seguin will find she has relocated. The congresswoman's office is now located at 112 N. Travis St. in Seguin. Constituents previously could find her office in the Guadalupe County Justice Center. For assistance with a federal agency through De La Cruz's Seguin office, call 830-463-0800 or visit delacruz.house.gov to schedule an appointment.Article Link

*USDA announced the launch of financial assistance for dairy farmers affected by the H5N1 virus. *Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz introduced the Texas Agricultural Producers Assistance Act. *The volatility in cattle futures continues as cash prices remain strong. *Producing and selling beef on dairy calves has been beneficial for both feedyards and dairies.  *Two Texas lawmakers are working to help ranchers who lost unborn cattle in the wildfires.  *Texas cotton gins are facing both challenges and opportunities.  *Spring rains are being well received in the Texas Rolling Plains.  *Feeding grain to sheep and goats is controversial.  

Texas's 15th Congressional District is held by Rep. Monica De La Cruz, a Republican. Her Democratic challenger is Michelle Vallejo. Organizers from both parties believe they've got the right message to win the district's Tejano voters.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, congressional correspondent Claudia Grisales, and national political correspondent Mara Liasson.This podcast was produced by Kelli Wessinger and Casey Morell. Our editor is Eric McDaniel. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi. Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz has announced the seating of the Service Academy Class of 2028, which includes Floresville High School senior, Leilani Touchstone. Touchstone is among the students nominated by De La Cruz to the listed military service academies, based on the recommendation of an independent academy advisory committee and accepting offers for classes starting this fall: •Leilani Touchstone, Floresville High School, Floresville — U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colo. •James Sin, South Texas ISD World Scholars, Edinburg — U.S. Military Service Academy, West Point, N.Y. •Javier Lopez, Sharyland Pioneer High School, McAllen — U.S. Naval Academy,...Article Link

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz invites the community to a live telephone town hall on Wednesday, April 10, at 6 p.m. This will be a great way to share thoughts, ask questions, and hear directly about the work she is doing in Congress on behalf of the 15th District of Texas. Sign up to receive and participate in the call at delacruz. house.gov/forms/form/?ID=61. For more information or to contact Rep. De La Cruz, call 956-800-6069 or visit delacruz.house.gov.Article Link

Speaker Mike Johnson notified the Senate that the House will send impeachment articles against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the upper chamber on April 10. Pags gives his thoughts. PLUS...Her district is on the border...Monica De La Cruz joins Joe this hour to talk about Border Challenges, Spending Bill Vote, and More Explored

Rep. Monica De La Cruz Joins Pags: Border Challenges, Spending Bill Vote, and More Explored! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rep. Monica De La Cruz Joins Pags: Border Challenges, Spending Bill Vote, and More Explored! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EDINBURG, Texas - La representante federal Mónica De la Cruz, de Edinburg dio la respuesta oficial republicana en español al discurso sobre el estado de unión de 2024 del presidente Biden. Michelle Vallejo de Alton, el rival del partido demócrata De la Cruz, respondió a los comentarios de la congresista.Aquí están sus comentarios:To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

MCALLEN, Texas - Among the sponsors of the Rio Grande Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce's “RGV Intergovernmental Update” luncheon were two top internet service providers in the region - AT&T and VTX1.As such, both were given the opportunity to have representatives speak from the podium at the start of the program. Mario Barragan, director of external and legislative affairs for AT&T in South Texas, spoke on behalf of his company. Barragan is a board member of the RGV Hispanic Chamber. Barragan said:“Similar to other areas in the state, our region is experiencing growth in a wide variety of ways. I think the McAllen, Edinburg, Mission area has experienced a population growth of over 12% and employment levels keep rising as well. It now accounts for a third of the workforce in South Texas. And when you have that type of population and employment growth, industry, investments and economic growth also follow suit. “AT&T is proud to have invested between 2020 and 2022 to over $90 million into our infrastructure in our wireless and wireline network here. And we're not nearly being done. And by the way, a lot of that investment has a lot to do with the leadership and advocacy of the elected officials that are going to be speaking here today. So thank you all for that. “But whether it's investing in our infrastructure or investing in collaborations with community nonprofits to help close the digital divide, we are very committed to continuing to help the RGV be a place where individuals, families and businesses thrive for decades to come. So again, just thank you all for being here. Thank you to the chamber for for bringing us all together, for our elected officials for spending the time with us today. And to all of you for being involved and being here.”Orlando Quintanilla, COO of VTX1, spoke on behalf of his company.Quintanilla said:“Just like our counterparts at AT&T, we want to make sure that we understand everything that's going on with our region. Having partnerships and being a part of the Hispanic Chamber is very important right to companies like ours, to make sure that we're meeting everybody and understanding what the needs are in our communities is very important. “And saying that, I am honored to stand here before everyone, as we gather to highlight the vertical government updates that we're looking to discuss. Ultimately, our presenters in the Rio Grande Valley are looking at the best interests of everyone here. VTX one also has a similar mindset. As Cynthia mentioned, I'm with VTX1 Internet, And as a Hispanic it fills me with great pride to be part of this event, to represent the RGV Hispanic Chamber. “Basically it's a platform that celebrates the richness of the culture that we share. So it's very important for us, At VTX1 Internet, we are more than just a service provider. We are dedicated to bridging the digital divide. We understand the importance of connecting today's world and we are committed to ensuring that every individual in the RGV has access to the resources and opportunities that the internet brings.”The lunch was held at the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in Mcallen. The main part of the program featured a four-person panel. It comprised U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, state Sen. Juan Hinojosa, Hidalgo County Judge Richard Cortez, and McAllen Mayor Javier Villalobos. The moderator was Julian Alvarez, senior vice president of Lone Star National Bank.Go to the Rio Grande Guardian website to read the full story.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

Congratulations to Liberty Smith of La Vernia and Leilani Touchstone of Floresville, recently nominated by U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz to attend the U.S. military academies. Liberty is a student at Founders Classical Academy of Schertz and has been nominated to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Leilani, a student at Floresville High School, has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. “In an all-volunteer military, it takes bravery, determination, and a true love of country to sign up for service,” De La Cruz said of the nomination. The two are among...Article Link

Congratulations to Liberty Smith of La Vernia and Leilani Touchstone of Floresville, recently nominated by U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz to attend the U.S. military academies. Liberty is a student at Founders Classical Academy of Schertz and has been nominated to attend the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md. Leilani, a student at Floresville High School, has been nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo. “In an all-volunteer military, it takes bravery, determination, and a true love of country to sign up for service,” De La Cruz said of the nomination. The two are among...Article Link

Ruben Villarreal, district director for U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz, offers himself as a personal contact between Texas' 15th Congressional District office and its residents Jan. 22 at the Sam Fore Jr. Public Library in Floresville. Since last October, he has been serving as a one-man “mobile office” for De La Cruz to help her constituents with issues related to the Internal Revenue Service, veterans affairs, Social Security, passports and visas, and other matters. He told the Wilson County News that he usually will visit Wilson County the third Tuesday of each month for three to four hours; constituents...Article Link

Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz will be sending her mobile staff this month to meet with constituents across the 15th Congressional District of Texas that she serves. The staff will be on hand at the following times and locations to assist with questions on federal agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service, Social Security, and the Veterans Administration: •Tuesday, Dec. 12, 12-3 p.m., Wilson County Public Library in Floresville •Wednesday, Dec. 13, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Guadalupe County Justice Center in Seguin •Thursday, Dec. 14, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Live Oak County Library in George West •Tuesday, Dec....Article Link

Elon Musk files ‘thermonuclear lawsuit' against Media Matters, Multiple State AGs launch investigations, More polls show Trump beating Biden as Morning Joe melts down on air, and Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz joins the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

EDINBURG, Texas - Former McAllen Mayor Jim Darling says placing razor wire and buoys on the Rio Grande gives Mexico a good excuse not to repay its water debt to the United States.Darling is recognized as an expert on water issues and is a member of Region M Water Planning Group, a state appointed board. He is concerned about the long-term viability of the Rio Grande Valley's growth trajectory should the region not come up with a plan to access more water.Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has had razor wire and buoys placed in the Rio Grande near Eagle Pass to deter migrants from crossing the river. The U.S. Justice Department argued in federal court that Abbott did not have the authority to do this and a federal judge ordered the barriers be removed from the river. Abbott took the case to an appeals court and won. The case may end up going to the US Supreme Court.In an in-depth interview with the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service, Darling responded to a question about a recent news story which quoted a U.S. State Department official as saying in federal court that Gov. Greg Abbott's decision to place buoys and razor wire in the middle of the Rio Grande could be used as an excuse by Mexico not to pay its water debt to the U.S.“It doesn't help, does it?” Darling responded. “It certainly doesn't help what we are trying to do. It gives them (Mexico) another excuse not to release (the water). You know, they (the buoys) float across into Mexico and the governor did get them moved back but they're going to float back into Mexico again. It's the river and you are messing with the river. W've got aquatic weed flowing down and had all kinds of different things. You don't want to mess with that river.”Later in the interview, Darling returned to the issue of Abbott placing buoys and razor wire in the Rio Grande. Darling said he had met recently with U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz and told her it is not as easy as telling Mexico to release the water.“It is more complicated than it appears at first glance. Just saying, hey, Mexico turn over the water. You made a good point. If the publicity is bad in Mexico, and this guy (Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador) is a politician and he wants to release water from Mexico to the United States, he's not going to do it (because of public opinion). The guy in Texas wouldn't do that. You're giving them all the grief… a good relationship with Mexico is important at the state level, just as much as the federal level.”According to a 1944 international water treaty, Mexico has to deliver an average of 350,000 acre feet of water per year to the U.S. over a five year cycle. “They haven't given anything in this cycle,” Darling said.In his interview with the Guardian, Darling also spoke about water availability for the fast-growing Valley in the long term. The Guardian sought the interview because water was not covered as an issue in the recent economic summit hosted by the Rio Grande Valley Partnership.Here is an audio recording of the interview with Mayor Darling.Editor's Note: Go to the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service to read the full story.To read the new stories and watch the news videos of the Rio Grande Guardian International News Service go to www.riograndeguardian.com.

Editor: Recently, 83 Republicans, including our Monica De La Cruz, voted “no” to a measure that would have done much to rectify the damage done by the vaccine mandates to the airline industry. Chief among them would be to direct airlines to re-hire the pilots who refused the jab. Why on earth would they do that? To illustrate this, we can look at the internment of Japanese in World War II — a horrible blot on our history. The SCOTUS in three cases: Minoru Yasui v U.S., Hirabayashi v U.S., and Korematsu v U.S., affirmed the legality of what is...Article Link

Join U.S. Rep. Monica De La Cruz for a telephone town-hall event Tuesday, July 11, from 7-7:45 p.m. Participants can learn about current legislation and ask questions. Sign up online to participate. Visit https://delacruz. house.gov/forms/form/?ID=16. Participants will receive a call to join the telephone town-hall event with De La Cruz.Article Link

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   Joel Wood joins RIMScast to discuss the shared goals of RIMS and CIAB in 2023 in the way of cyber, NFIP, and other major risk management issues. Though many of these issues are non-partisan, he provides a pragmatic view of how much progress might be made with such a divided Congress. Joel shares his hopes for the House and the Senate to work together on important data security legislation. Joel expresses his appreciation for RIMS, as a pure voice for insureds, and how CIAB and RIMS come together for many objectives and goals.   We also hear about his career and some of the members of Congress and DC players who may prove to be valuable allies for RIMS and CIAB.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMScast. [:27] About today's episode with Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB) President Joel Wood. [:37] All about upcoming RIMS webinars, and more! [1:10] The RIMS Canada Conference 2023 has been announced for September 11th‒14th in Ottowa! Visit RIMSCanadaConference.ca for more information. [1:27] The RIMS Legislative Summit will be held October 25th and 26th in Washington, D.C. For information, visit the link in the show notes. [1:43] The Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers is a prominent ally of RIMS. [1:57] Joel Wood became president of CIAB in January 2023 and is well-known in the risk and insurance community, having lobbied on behalf of CIAB for thirty years. [2:08] Justin recorded this interview with CIAB President Joel Wood prior to RISKWORLD. They discussed RIMS's and CIAB's common goals and visions for 2023. [2:31] Justin welcomes Joel Wood to RIMScast. [2:37] Joel Wood is President of CIAB after 30 years of lobbying for the organization. [3:07] Joel went to Washington 40 years ago to work for a member of Congress from his hometown and after five-and-a-half years, he went to an insurance trade group. Joel joined CIAB 30 years ago. CIAB has about 185 members, responsible for over 90% of premiums placed in the commercial property/casualty insurance market nationally. [4:05] CIAB members have a good chunk of premiums on the health benefits side, also, including two-thirds of all employer-sponsored group health insurance plans. [4:30] All CIAB firms do business in all 50 states; most do international business. There is a commonality of interests among them. Joel talks of the extraordinary M&A environment over the last several years. CIAB has benefitted overall from M&A. [5:35] The member of Congress Joel worked for was Don Sundquist, who later served for eight years as Governor of Tennessee. Joel talks about working for him. [6:44] CIAB goes back 115 years. They host a premier event in the international commercial business insurance marketplace, at the Broadmoor, for brokers, carriers, and reinsurers to make connections. For most CIAB members, though, the one meeting that matches or surpasses it is the annual RIMS meeting. [7:30] The relationship between CIAB and RIMS is extremely strong. Joel lists the threat of hard markets, shrinking capacity, inflation, and the rise of uninsurable events, in the eyes of the carriers. Joel comments on the chances of getting legislation passed by the divided government on Capitol Hill. [9:34] Joel sees the most room for bipartisanship this year on data privacy legislation. Everyone in the insurance ecosystem shares frustration with 50 different standards on anything to do with data privacy. Joel explains his hope for the House and Senate to work together on data privacy legislation. [11:33] A stretch goal is to reduce the cost of prescription drugs and enforce transparency for the PBM marketplace. Joel finds two-thirds of member firms spend two-thirds of their time on the benefits side, fighting existential threats, instead of on the property & casualty side, where two-thirds of their revenue is. [12:42] PBMs have declared that the 2020 legislation requiring brokers to prospectively report all of their compensation from ERISA plans does not apply to them. Joel hopes the Senate will look closely at that. [13:57] In property & casualty, Joel would like to see 2023 legislation on flood insurance. It's going to take a dedicated Senate Banking Committee to make it happen. [11:41] RIMS plug time! Sponsor a weekly or dedicated episode of RIMScast! Contact us at pd@rims.org. RIMS Fundamentals of Risk Data, Analytics and AI virtual workshop is coming up on June 15! It's a course for the RIMS Fundamentals of Risk Data Analytics and AI certificate on completion! See the link. To support education visit SpencerEd.org. [13:45] CSA Group is the Canadian Standards Association. They are a leader in developing standards to make the world safer and in testing, inspecting, and certifying products to make sure that the products that get into the marketplace are safe. They have global operations. [16:20] About the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Joel has never heard anyone say they were happy with it. He would like to see more private solutions and private markets in the flood arena. We went a long stretch in a soft commercial marketplace. These are difficult issues. [18:17] Justin and Joel share reminiscences about former Congress member, Dennis Ross. Joel would like to see him come back to lobby for risk retention insurance issues. [19:20] The biggest and perhaps smartest champion of the insurance industry in the Senate is Senator Tim Scott a former Allstate executive and agency owner. In the House, Blaine Luetkemeyer has a strong industry background. Newer House members Monica De La Cruz, Anthony Garbarino, and Byron Donalds have industry experience. [22:43] Anthony Garbarino chairs the cybersecurity subcommittee. He may be an ally on data privacy. A lot of carriers call cyber marketplace security breaches uninsurable events. [23:48] Justin thanks Joel for being on RIMScast. Joel appreciates the opportunity and is grateful for the relationships between CIAB and RIMS and their similarities on many issues. [24:54] Justin says a “special thanks to Joel Wood, the President of the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB).” See the links to CIAB. The RIMS Legislative Summit will be held October 23rd through the 26th in Washington, D.C. A link is on this episode's notes. There is also a link to RISK PAC coverage with Gregory McKenna. [25:30] Sponsor a RIMScast episode to reach a global audience! Justin shares other RIMS offers, including a transitional membership!   Mentioned in this Episode: RIMS Legislative Summit — October 25‒26 in Washington DC! RIMS Advocacy RISK PAC RIMS Canada 2023 — Sept. 11‒14 in Ottawa! Spencer Educational Foundation — Risk Manager on Campus Spencer Funding Their Future Gala — Sept 14 in NYC! Contribute to Risk Management Magazine RIMS Diversity Equity & Inclusion page Upcoming Webinars: The Top 10 Must-Have Reports for GRC and InfoSec Leaders | Sponsored by Resolver | June 8, 2023 Large-Scale Risk: How Walmart Manages the Risks Unique to Large and Growing Companies | Sponsored by Riskonnect | June 22, 2023 Upcoming Virtual Workshops: RIMS Fundamentals of Risk Data, Analytics and AI | June 15, 2023 | 10:00 am‒2:00 pm ET  | Registration Closes June 14 | Enroll Now Risk Appetite Management | July 12‒13 See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops Related RIMScast Episodes: “Strategic Moves with RIMS CEO Gary LaBranche” “RIMS President Jennifer Santiago: R.E.A.D.Y. for 2023” “RIMS Advocacy — See You In September” (2022) “Keeping Up With RISKPAC” (2022) Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “Insights into the Gig Economy and its Contractors” | Sponsored by Zurich (NEW!) “The Importance of Disaster Planning Relationships” | Sponsored by ServiceMaster “Technology, Media and Telecom Solutions in 2023” | Sponsored by Allianz “Analytics in Action” | Sponsored by Alliant “Captive Market Outlook and Industry Insights” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Using M&A Insurance: The How and Why” | Sponsored by Prudent Insurance Brokers Ltd.  “Zurich's Construction Sustainability Outlook for 2023” “Aon's 2022 Atlantic Hurricane Season Overview” “ESG Through the Risk Lens” | Sponsored by Riskonnect “A Look at the Cyber Insurance Market” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How to Reduce Lithium-Ion Battery Fire Risks” | Sponsored by TÜV SÜD “Managing Global Geopolitical Risk in 2022 and Beyond” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Keeping Subcontractors Safe Through Partner Elevation” | Sponsored by Highwire “ESG: A Responsibility and a Growing Megatrend” | Sponsored by Prudent Insurance Brokers Ltd. “Prioritizing People: Focusing on Your Team to Deliver Exceptional Quality and Service to Your Clients” | Sponsored by Gallagher Bassett “Bermuda Opportunities in 2022 with BDA Chair Stephen Weinstein” | Sponsored by Bermuda Business Development Agency “SyncR: A Tool to Enhance Your Risk Quality & Insurance Strategy” | Sponsored by Prudent Insurance Brokers Ltd. “RIMScast: Navigating the Risk Landscape in 2022” | Sponsored by AXA XL “RIMScast: Prioritizing People: Expertise and Innovation” | Sponsored by Gallagher Bassett “RIMScast: Risk Findings for the Industrial & Manufacturing Industry” | Sponsored by Aon RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars Risk Management Magazine Risk Management Monitor RIMS Risk Leaders Series RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RIMS-CRMP Stories — New interview featuring Broward County RIMS President Stacey Nielsen! Spencer Educational Foundation RIMS DEI Council RIMS Path to the Boardroom RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model® RIMS Events App Apple | Google Play NEW FOR MEMBERS! RIMS Mobile App RIMS Buyers Guide Dan Kugler Risk Manager on Campus Grant Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org and listen on iTunes. Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   Follow up with Our Guests:   Guest: Joel Wood President, Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers (CIAB)   Tweetables (For Social Media Use):   “I came to Washington 40 years ago, to work for a member of Congress from my hometown of Memphis. And so, I worked for him for five-and-a-half years. … I went off to a different insurance trade group and have been with CIAB for 30 years.” — Joel Wood   “The benefit that RIMS brings to the public policy arena is that, more purely than any other organization, RIMS members represent the voice of the insurance customer.” — Joel Wood   “I'm very circumspect about what can get done with divided government on Capitol Hill, with the narrowest possible Republican majority, and a very slim Democratic majority in the Senate, with a Democratic president, in an environment that is politically toxic.” — Joel Wood   “ We went a long stretch in a soft commercial marketplace.” — Joel Wood    

A good education opens all kinds of opportunities for our children. Sara knows that and so do you. In fact, Sara not only sees what is happening in our own nation but she has seen what happens in nations where governments control every aspect of education. She shares her personal experiences as a student in Saudi Arabia and a reporter covering the horrific treatment of women and girls in Afghanistan.So when we see our schools injecting politics and ideology into the classroom instead of focusing on the content our kids need to be successful in life, we must have the power to change things. Whether in voicing our concerns to the school or having the freedom to send our kids somewhere else, we should be the ones deciding what is best for our kids.Sara also highlights the efforts of congressional Republicans to provide a "parents bill of rights" when it comes to education. Texas Rep. Monica De La Cruz joins her to explain her support for the bill and why she was able to become the first Latina and the first Republican to win in her district in a very long time.Please visit our great sponsors:Allegiance Goldhttps://protectwithsara.comClick or Call 877-702-7272 tell them Sara sent you and get $5,000 of free silver on a qualifying purchase. Donors Trusthttps://donorstrust.org/saraLet my friends at Donors Trust help minimize your tax liability while maximizing your giving. MyPillowhttps://mypillow.comSave over 85% on the All Season Slipper Closeout Sale going on now with code CARTER.

Monica De La Cruz has represented Texas's 15th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023. De La Cruz is the first Republican to represent Texas's 15th congressional district since its creation in 1903. De La Cruz wrote in a letter to Biden. She told Biden that border security is a key issue for her constituents in the Rio Grande Valley area that Biden has failed to serve and that fentanyl is killing Americans at alarming rates. Rep. Monica De La Cruz joins Mike to discuss the many issues that our border patrol faces on a daily basis. The border crisis is a huge concern for the entire country and she explains what she believes Congress needs to do to solve it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monica De La Cruz has represented Texas's 15th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2023. De La Cruz is the first Republican to represent Texas's 15th congressional district since its creation in 1903. De La Cruz wrote in a letter to Biden. She told Biden that border security is a key issue for her constituents in the Rio Grande Valley area that Biden has failed to serve and that fentanyl is killing Americans at alarming rates. Rep. Monica De La Cruz joins Mike to discuss the many issues that our border patrol faces on a daily basis. The border crisis is a huge concern for the entire country and she explains what she believes Congress needs to do to solve it.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guadalupe County Republican Women will feature newly elected U.S. Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz (TX-CD15) as program speaker at their monthly meeting on Thursday, Feb. 23. The meeting will start at 11:30 a.m. in the Seguin Silver Center at 510 East Court St. in Seguin. Congresswoman De La Cruz is the first Latina and first Republican to represent the 15th Congressional District of Texas in the U.S. House of Representatives. In Congress, Monica is fighting to keep the American dream alive for the next generation of Texans. She is a champion for border security, an economy that works for American...Article Link

The Wilson County Republican Party Lincoln Day Dinner is fast approaching, but there is still time to get tickets to the annual event, which will feature a sit down dinner and a presentation from keynote speaker, Congresswoman Monica De La Cruz. Guests can arrive to the Wilson County Expo and Community Center in Floresville at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16, where they will be treated to social hour, followed by dinner and the program at 7 p.m. Dinner will consist of plates of roast beef with sides, tea, and dessert, catered by Witte's BBQ & Steakhouse in La Vernia....Article Link

EPISODE 89: COUNTDOWN WITH KEITH OLBERMANN A-Block (1:42) SPECIAL COMMENT: Trump: "Who you are going to believe? Me on Truth Social, or Me on Truth Social? I never said I wanted to terminate the Constitution! I only said I wanted to terminate articles OF the Constitution! (2:50) Trying to backpedal on his latest coup call, Trump just digs his hole deeper: he is now subject to 18 USC 115 Section 2385: Advocating the overthrowing of the government of the United States. (4:30) Some current GOP figures finally - mildly - defend the Constitution against Trump (6:30) But best of all: dozens of GOP quotes, from Boebert to Hannity, vowing eternal vigilance to protect the Constitution, including Kevin McCarthy's "That Constitution, and the freedoms it protects, must be defended and preserved for us and for our children." Take these quotes and put them on signs and drape them around the necks of these blowhards: Corner. Them. B-Block (13:50) EVERY DOG HAS ITS DAY: Bentley in Santa Rosa (14:48) POSTSCRIPTS TO THE NEWS: Georgia: Trump literally phones it in. What does ABC News do about its love co-anchors? (18:09) IN SPORTS: Verlander, Turner, Kershaw get paid. Yankees spend on...Brian Cashman? (21:08) THE WORST PERSONS IN THE WORLD: A Times headline slip, Kanye West's latest racist hallucination, and Glenn Greenwald compete for the honors. C-Block (25:34) THINGS I PROMISED NOT TO TELL: I've been quiet about her since 2006 and despite a series of jaw-dropping mistreatments since 2016. And I probably would've remained so. But when my ex, Katy Tur, turned her husband's vasectomy into a photo-op for their newscasts, something snapped. When the New York Times and Washington Post asked to talk to me about her, this is a person who told them she'd ask me, then told them I declined - without ever telling me. And that, sadly, is just the tip of the iceberg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hispanic voters have never mattered more in an election. They're by far the fastest-growing demographic, and they're shifting loyalties. What does it all mean? We find out from Javier Palomarez, CEO and president of the U.S. Hispanic Business Council. Then in America Q&A, we ask people across the country: Is there any issue that would motivate you to change how you vote? Next, South Texas could flip red with three Latina Republicans running in the Rio Grande Valley: Mayra Flores, Monica De La Cruz, and Cassy Garcia. We dig deeper into the all-important Hispanic vote with Rafa Bejar, director of outreach at the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Finally, if the Sunshine Protection Act passes the House, changing the clocks could become a thing of the past. In our second America Q&A, we ask: Should daylight savings time be permanent? ⭕️Watch in-depth videos based on Truth & Tradition at Epoch TV

Steve Bannon has been sentenced – Are Republicans doing enough to fight back? PLUS – Interview with Monica de la Cruz! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are congressional races in South Texas that could decide the control of the U.S. House and the candidates are three Republican Latinas and one Democratic Latina. All three have similar backgrounds and share a focus on family, faith and securing the border.   FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Monica De La Cruz, candidate for Congress in the 15th District of Texas, about why she decided to run and how she separates herself from other candidates. Click Here To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' https://listen.foxaud.io/rundown?sid=fnr.podeve  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are congressional races in South Texas that could decide the control of the U.S. House and the candidates are three Republican Latinas and one Democratic Latina. All three have similar backgrounds and share a focus on family, faith and securing the border.   FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Monica De La Cruz, candidate for Congress in the 15th District of Texas, about why she decided to run and how she separates herself from other candidates. Click Here To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' https://listen.foxaud.io/rundown?sid=fnr.podeve  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There are congressional races in South Texas that could decide the control of the U.S. House and the candidates are three Republican Latinas and one Democratic Latina. All three have similar backgrounds and share a focus on family, faith and securing the border.   FOX's Eben Brown speaks with Monica De La Cruz, candidate for Congress in the 15th District of Texas, about why she decided to run and how she separates herself from other candidates. Click Here To Follow 'The FOX News Rundown: Evening Edition' https://listen.foxaud.io/rundown?sid=fnr.podeve  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's show, 1:06pm CT, 2:06pm ET: Job openings plunge to lowest level since last fall - Americans Fear Inflation Will Worsen if Democrats Control Congress After Election - Poll says Americans' support for Biden's electric car push is nearly zero - Monica De La Cruz: illegal immigration a ‘Gut Punch' for working class wages as the rich face ‘Virtually No Impact' - we'll explore. Medical Associations ask Biden's DOJ to investigate individuals against transgender surgeries for children - Alabama middle school teacher's survey asks students about their gender identities and parents' political beliefs - we'll examine. Plus, Biden White House effort to spin 'Where's Jackie' gaffe raises media eyebrows. And, Salvation Army Commander says Ian cleanup 'Massive effort.' https://www.spreaker.com/show/christian-talk-that-rocks http://christiantalkthatrocks.net or http://christiantalkthatrocks.com

Republican candidate for U.S. Congress, Texas District 15, Monica De La Cruz shares her message Sept. 23 at a meet-and-greet at Talley Benefits in downtown Floresville.Article Link

Monica De La Cruz runs on a campaign against runaway spending and “socialist” policies, blasting Democratic measures to expand federal assistance amid the pandemic.

The Steak for Breakfast Podcast is ending the week with a massive America First, Friday edition of the show to celebrate episode 150.   We begin the podcast with a breaking news segment that includes news of Boris Johnson stepping down as British PM and the assassination of former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe.   The America First, conservative nominee for the U.S. House Seat in TX-15, Monica De La Cruz joins us for the first time today. We talk about her convincing primary victory, the crisis on the Southern Border, the NYT hit piece on conservative Latina candidates and look forward to the general election.   Current Pennsylvania State Senator and the Republican Gubernatorial nominee for the Keystone State, Doug Mastriano was back on the show today. We talk about his primary election success in the battleground state, the ongoing energy crisis, and the fight ahead in then general election against his establishment, Democrat Counterpart.   Hunter Biden is back in the news cycle, and it wasn't for his performance this week as official WH Greeter at the Presidential Medal of Freedom awards. We breakdown the recent leaked audio msgs from 2018 between he and Joe Biden regarding his China dealings and the recent reports of his connections to an energy company in China that is broker the export of our strategic oil reverses.   The CEO of XStrategies conservative influencer Alex Bruesewitz was back on Steak for Breakfast today. We covered a ton of topics including: the midterms, Hunter Biden, the J6 Committee and more with one of the absolute strongest voices in America First.   The Republican nominee for the U.S. House in NC-1, Sandy Smith joins us for the first time today. We talk about her strong primary performance, the fake news media, the crisis on the Border and look ahead to the general election in the fall.   We wrap the show with coverage of the less than spectacular week that was for the Biden Administration.   Subscribe to the show, rate it and leave a review before you download, listen, like follow and SHARE Steak for Breakfast content!   Steak for Breakfast:   website: https://steakforbreakfastpodcast.com   linktree: https://linktr.ee/steakforbreakfastpodcast   MyPillow: Promo Code: STEAK at checkout Website: https://www.mypillow.com/steak Via the Phone: 800-658-8045   Monica De La Cruz (R-Nominee, TX-15)•   Twitter: @monica4congress   Website: https://www.monicaforcongress.us/   Sen. Doug Mastriano (R-Nominee, PA Gov.)•   Twitter: @dougmastriano   Website: https://www.doug4gov.com/   Alex Bruesewitz (CEO XStrategies, LLC)•   Website: https://www.xstrategies.com/   Twitter: @alexbruesewitz   Sandy Smith (R-Nominee, NC-1)•   Website: https://sandysmithnc.com/   Twitter: @SandySmithNC

Welcome to a special edition of The Texan's Voices of Texas podcast. Our team spent most of last week covering the Texas GOP Convention, and chatted with dozens of elected officials, candidates, and insiders. We'll be releasing a series of podcasts with those conversations, so stay tuned. This first installment is a conversation with Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX). We chat about gun control proposals in D.C., his decision to speak at the NRA convention despite many other Texas Republicans bowing out, chances for GOP congressional candidates in South Texas, and why school choice is the litmus test for his endorsement in state-level Republican primaries.  MT: This is McKenzie Taylor here with Senator Ted Cruz. Senator, thank you so much for joining us. We so appreciate your time. TC: McKenzie, it's great to be with you. Thanks for having me. MT: Absolutely. I would love to talk about the various gun control proposals that are floating around DC right now. We just saw Senator Cornyn, you know, a few hours ago. He's on stage here at convention, the delegates had a lot to say, they booed him there. Walk us through what is on the table in DC, and kind of what you could see happening with these proposals. TC: Well, it's not clear what's on the table. And I've said I'm going to wait and actually see the text of something that is submitted, that I'm not going to judge a bill till I see the details. At this point we have a one page list of bullet points, and on something as fundamental as our constitutional rights, the devil's in the details. I think there's a lot Congress can and should do when it comes to violent crime. I was in Uvalde the day after that horrific shooting. MT: Oh, wow. TC: And I've been in too many of these. I was there in Santa Fe, I was in Sutherland Springs, I was in El Paso, I was in Midland, Odessa, I was in Dallas. It is horrific that we have monsters, that we have homicidal maniacs who commit these kind of terrible crimes. I think there's a lot we can and should do. The problem is whenever there's a mass murder, inevitably there are a bunch of voices of Democrats and the corporate media who all say do something, do something, do something. Well, it might surprise them to know I agree we should do something, but the something we should do really matters. And what works, what's effective, is targeting bad guys, targeting criminals, targeting felons and fugitives, and those with serious mental illness who try to illegally buy firearms, prosecuting them, putting them in jail, getting them off the street before they commit those crimes. That's that's how you stop these kind of horrific murders. And then on top of that, it is also making our vulnerable targets safer and more secure, in particular schools, enhancing the security at schools. And the most effective tool to do that is putting armed law enforcement in our schools so that if a lunatic comes and tries to hurt our kids, the first thing that lunatic encounters is an armed police officer who stops them before they hurt a child. Those are the steps that if we really wanted to stop these crimes, we would focus on doing. And I've repeatedly introduced legislation to do exactly that, to target the bad guys, to prosecute the felons and fugitives, to make our schools safer. And sadly, over and over again, the Democrats have filibustered that legislation, they block that legislation. Their approach is consistently to try to go after the right to keep and bear arms for law abiding citizens, and that doesn't work. Just as a matter of effectiveness it is incredibly ineffective in stopping violent crime. You look at the jurisdictions with the toughest gun control laws, almost without exception they have the highest crime rates and the highest murder rates. And gun control doesn't work 'cause when you disarm law abiding citizens, the criminals still have their guns but nobody can defend themselves. And so I don't know what Congress is going to do, if anything. If we are focusing on criminals and stopping bad guys and making schools safer, I am enthusiastically in favor of it. But if instead we have Republicans teaming up with Democrats to undermine the Second Amendment and take away the constitutional right to keep and bear arms of law abiding citizens, then I'll fight tooth and nail to stop it. MT: So speaking of law abiding citizens, the NRA convention. You were one of the only Texas Republicans who still opted to go to convention when so many others bowed out. What was behind your decision? TC: Look, I thought that was actually a very easy choice. I've spoken at a lot of NRA conventions, and I have to admit I'm tired of the cynicism. Whenever there's a mass murder, Democrats and the corporate media immediately begin demonizing the NRA, begin treating it as if the men and women of the NRA are responsible for the psychopathic mass murderer. And that's a lie, it's an absolute lie. And it's not just a lie in that nobody there is a violent criminal committing acts like that, but it's even worse than that because it is the men and women at the NRA, it is law abiding citizens, it is good guys with a gun who inevitably stop these lunatics. You know, I was in Sutherland Springs the day after that church shooting. I stood in that sanctuary while the pews were still thrown to the sides, while there was shattered glass everywhere covered with blood. I saw a cell phone shattered and covered with blood. I saw where an 18-month-old child was murdered by that evil bastard. And I'm sorry, anyone that murders an 18-year-old child, there is no other word for it but evil. That monster was stopped because an individual citizen, a guy named Stephen Willeford, a plumber, lived right down the street, he heard the shooting that Sunday morning. He didn't go to the church, he was just at home. He heard the shooting. He went to his gun safe, he brought out his AR-15, and he ran down to the church barefoot, didn't take time to put on his shoes. And he got behind a truck and he engaged the shooter. He called out and engaged the shooter. The shooter was wearing body armor and he was systematically executing the people in that church. The shooter came out to engage Stephen Willeford. And Stephen is an NRA rifle instructor, he knows how to handle a firearm and he put two rounds in the shooter. If Stephen Willeford hadn't been there, that monster would have killed many more people that morning. Now, the Democrats and the corporate press are liars when they blame law abiding citizens exercising their Second Amendment rights for the conduct of homicidal maniacs. And so I wish everyone had made the decision to come to the convention. Donald Trump came and I came, and I saw President Trump, and I pulled him aside and said, thank you, thank you for being here. It mattered that you came, it mattered that you didn't back out. You didn't give in to the heat, to the criticism, because I think giving in to that gives credence to the lies of the Democrats and the corporate media. MT: Absolutely. So earlier on stage you shouted out three South Texas Republican candidates, Cassy Garcia, Mayra Flores and Monica De La Cruz. What do you expect to see in November for these candidates? TC: I hope to see all three win. Mayra Flores obviously just won this week, and it's a big, big deal. The district she won in South Texas, it has not gone Republican in over 100 years. I mean, it has been a Democrat bastion. And I gotta say, national Democrats are freaking out. They're terrified. I think Cassy Garcia is a fantastic candidate. I think Monica De La Cruz is a fantastic candidate. I think the most likely outcome in November is we win all three. And if that happens, all three of those districts all along the Rio Grande, they had been Democrat for more than a century. And if we come out of November with three Republican members of Congress representing them, not just Republicans, but Hispanic women, conservatives. Look, Cassy I know incredibly well. Cassy was part of my staff for about 7 years. She was my South Texas director, she was my deputy state director. I've already done multiple rallies with Cassy. I'm going to be down in the valley helping all three, helping Mayra, helping Monica, helping Cassy, 'cause I think we win all three races. And it is a sea change. We're seeing Hispanic voters in South Texas, across Texas and across the country, galloping towards Republicans because the policies of Democrats are failing them. Look, it is Hispanic working families who are seeing inflation skyrocketing or paying 100 or 150 bucks to fill up their truck or their minivan, who are seeing the cost of food, the cost of electricity, the cost of rent, the cost of homes, the cost of lumber, every cost going up. It's Hispanic families and every family across Texas that's dealing with crime and the rising crime rates because of the Democrats' soft on crime policies. And the single biggest driver of South Texas turning is the chaos at the southern border. You know it's easy for Chuck Schumer to sit in Manhattan and say an open border is great. Doesn't impact him. You cannot be down in the Rio Grande Valley, you cannot be down in South Texas and see firsthand the human misery that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris' open border policies have cost. You can't see the prisons that are overflowing, the hospitals that are full, the schools that are overflowing, that the infectious disease rates that are going up. You can't see the little boys and little girls who've been horribly assaulted by human traffickers, physically assaulted, sexually assaulted, young girls brutalized. You can't see that human tragedy and defend the policies of this administration. I've done multiple roundtables down in South Texas. I remember one prominent Democrat elected official said at the roundtable, listen, if my party is the party of open borders, I can't support that. Nobody who is seeing this disaster can defend it. So Chuck Schumer can from Manhattan, Nancy Pelosi can from San Francisco. But one of the things I'm really excited about, I'm looking forward to in January, seeing Cassy and Monica and Mayra standing up and arguing with Pelosi and AOC and all the rest of them about the disaster their policies are producing. MT: You said school choice is probably the largest, you know, the biggest issue you look at when endorsing candidates, specifically here in Texas. Why among all the conservative issues that are important to Republican voters is that the litmus test for you? TC: I think school choice is the civil rights issue of this next century. You know, if you think about all the problems we've got in society, whether it's poverty, whether it's crime, whether it's healthcare issues, if kids get an education, many of those crimes largely take care of themselves. Many of those problems are much more likely to be solved. On the other hand, if kids don't get an education, if they drop out of school, if they don't learn, we know the poverty rate is going to be much, much higher. We know the crime rate is going to be much, much higher. We know that healthcare issues are going to be much more severe. You know, in my family, like most people's families, education was the gateway to the American Dream. My mom was the first one in her family ever to go to college. She went to Rice in 1956, studied math, became a pioneering computer programmer in the 1950s. My dad, as you know, he came from Cuba in 1957, went to the University of Texas. Came here with nothing, was washing dishes making $0.50 an hour, but he was able to get an education and was able to climb the economic ladder, to work towards and achieve the American dream. And the Democrats… Look, there's a political failure. Today's Democrat Party is bought and paid for by the teachers' unions. They are irrevocably opposed to choice because the teachers' union bosses demand it of them. Now this is at the same time that just about every poll that is done of African American communities and Hispanic communities show anywhere from 60, 70 to even 80% support for choice. The Democrats who claim they give a damn about those communities are willing to leave those kids trapped in failing schools. I point it out a lot of times. I've said, listen, school choice, the rich and middle class have always had it. If you're wealthy, you're going to be able to get a good education for your kids. If you're wealthy, the school down the street that you send your kids to, if it had a 50% dropout rate, if of those kids that graduated 70% couldn't read at grade level, if you had drug dealers walking the halls and little girls getting sexually assaulted in the bathrooms, if you have resources, your kid would be gone the next day. You wouldn't leave your kid in a school like that. You would either pay the money for tuition for a private school, or you'd pick up and move to another neighborhood that had a better public school. But you would use the resources you have to give your kid hope and a chance. School choice is about saying you know what, low income kids deserve that same right. If you've got the right to save your kid, don't tell the single mom in the inner city that her children, her babies have no hope, her babies have no escape, her babies have no chance at the American Dream. I think this issue matters fundamentally and profoundly. And I gotta say, you know, my approach, virtually every US senator stays out of state elections and stays out of state primaries. Frankly, if you're an elected statewide official on the federal level, it is stupid to get into primaries. So every time I do this, I am hurting myself.  MT: Yeah. TC: If you make an endorsement in a primary, here's the typical pattern you have. You get half their friends and all their enemies, so whoever you endorse against, they hate you forever. There's a reason that you don't see any other senators doing this, because you make a lot of people mad when you stick your nose into a contested primary in your state. I usually stay out of issues in Austin. I figure I got enough battles fighting Biden and Harris and Pelosi and Schumer that I don't need to be in the middle of every battle in Austin too. The one big exception I make is for school choice, and I engage in a lot of primaries in Texas state races. And my team literally makes an Excel spreadsheet of every vote on school choice. And it's real simple. If you have voted against choice, the chances that I will support you are essentially zero. If you voted for it and you otherwise have a reasonable and conservative record, the chances that I'll support you are pretty good. And there are a whole bunch of contested primaries where I've engaged on that basis. And this last cycle we saw a bunch of champions who had the courage to defend choice win. Now, I'm glad that we're going to have more champions in the legislature in January. But I also hope that this becomes an encouragement even to those folks in whose race I didn't get involved. I hope it is a carrot and a stick. I hope that we'll see some Republicans saying, you know what, maybe I wasn't going to vote for choice before but I'm not sure I want to pick that fight. I'm okay with that. I'm okay with folks deciding, let's do the right thing, let's actually make a lasting difference for kids. I can tell you before I ran for Senate, I told several people, I said if I am dead and gone, if my tombstone says that I made a meaningful difference in bringing about school choice for the kids of Texas and the kids of this country, I'll die a happy man. That is a legacy to be proud of. It matters for the future of our state and the future of our country.  MT: Senator, thank you so much for taking the time. It's a busy week, we so appreciate it.  TC: It's great to be with you.

Fellas welcome Washington Free Beacon journalist Matthew Foldi to discuss his report on Democrat office closures before discussing an endangered species of psychedelic toads. Monica De La Cruz and Mayra Flores join the progrum for an interview about their campaigns for Congress from Texas.

Unofficial results from Wilson County, March 1, 2022. 7:45 p.m. – early plus absentee vote for Wilson County 9 p.m. –  boxes 101, 102, 104, 416 9:34 p.m. –  boxes 103, 205, 207, 312 10:31 p.m. – final, all remaining boxes in (206, 311, 313, 414, 415)   REPUBLICAN DEMOCRAT U.S. Representative, District 15 US Rep. District 15 Sara Canady, 1952 Eliza Alvarado, 200 Aizar Cavazos, 107 Julio Garza, 63 Vangela Churchill, 77 Ruben Ramirez, 278 Monica De La Cruz, 2613 John Villarreal Rigney, 106 Mauro Garza, 992 Vanessa Stephanie Tijerina, 281 Angela Juarez, 71 Michelle Vallejo, 266 Ryan Krause,...Article Link

Monica De La Cruz-Hernandez is a boots-on-the-ground eye-witness to the humanitarian crisis occurring daily with the flood of immigrants flowing over the border. We discuss why we believe she is the right candidate at the right time and is poised to flip a 100-year blue stronghold on the 15th district in Texas...

Monica De La Cruz-Hernandez is our guest on the #BigTexasPodcast this week talking about her race to flip Texas' 15th Congressional District. She is taking on incumbent Democrat U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzales in a tough district that stretches from Seguin to McAllen. Monica has great energy and is leading a tough campaign battle against a well-funded incumbent. Check out links to her campaign in the comments below. LEARN MORE about Monica De La Cruz-Hernandez WEBSITE: https://monicaforcongress.us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monicaforcongress/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/monicaforcongress Parler: https://parler.com/profile/MonicaforCongress Twitter: https://twitter.com/monica4congress --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/the-big-texas-podcast/support