Cabot Phillips

So the area surrounding Colony Ridge is represented in the Texas State House by Representative Janice Holt. She took the seat of Ernest Bales, who was ousted by voters in the primary after we reported on his financial ties to Colony Ridge. Representative Holt recently introduced legislation that would allow the state government to more accurately document land sales.

So the area surrounding Colony Ridge is represented in the Texas State House by Representative Janice Holt. She took the seat of Ernest Bales, who was ousted by voters in the primary after we reported on his financial ties to Colony Ridge. Representative Holt recently introduced legislation that would allow the state government to more accurately document land sales.

And that bill could help officials track foreign nationals and illegal aliens who purchase Texas land.

And that bill could help officials track foreign nationals and illegal aliens who purchase Texas land.

Thank you for having me.

Thank you for having me.

Yeah, Trump believes that his first term was held back by government bureaucrats who weren't fully bought into his mission or were openly hostile to his worldview. He clearly feels institutional change can only take place if the people running those institutions are all in. As part of that effort, the president this weekend removed three key figures at the Pentagon.

Yeah, Trump believes that his first term was held back by government bureaucrats who weren't fully bought into his mission or were openly hostile to his worldview. He clearly feels institutional change can only take place if the people running those institutions are all in. As part of that effort, the president this weekend removed three key figures at the Pentagon.

Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti. She was the Navy's top officer. Vice Chief of Staff, General Jim Slife. He was number two at the Air Force. And the big one, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General C.Q. Brown. All right, so several members of the top brass, most notably Brown. Exactly.

Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Lisa Franchetti. She was the Navy's top officer. Vice Chief of Staff, General Jim Slife. He was number two at the Air Force. And the big one, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General C.Q. Brown. All right, so several members of the top brass, most notably Brown. Exactly.

So for context, the chairman serves as a top advisor to the president and SecDef General. They serve as sort of a middleman, relaying information and concerns from the heads of each service branch.

So for context, the chairman serves as a top advisor to the president and SecDef General. They serve as sort of a middleman, relaying information and concerns from the heads of each service branch.

In a statement announcing the firing, Trump was surprisingly cordial, thanking General Brown for his 40 years of service, saying, quote, he is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family. He'll be replaced by Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Cain, who served most recently as the associate director for military affairs at the CIA.

In a statement announcing the firing, Trump was surprisingly cordial, thanking General Brown for his 40 years of service, saying, quote, he is a fine gentleman and an outstanding leader, and I wish a great future for him and his family. He'll be replaced by Air Force Lieutenant General Dan Cain, who served most recently as the associate director for military affairs at the CIA.

Now, under law, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs technically must have served as either the vice chairman, a service chief, or a combatant commander. Positions Cain has not held. But Trump can waive that requirement if he, quote, determines such action as necessary in the national interest. And clearly he feels it is.

Now, under law, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs technically must have served as either the vice chairman, a service chief, or a combatant commander. Positions Cain has not held. But Trump can waive that requirement if he, quote, determines such action as necessary in the national interest. And clearly he feels it is.

Trump said Kaine was integral in the destruction of ISIS during his first term and will, quote, restore peace through strength, put America first and rebuild our military. So what was the president's rationale for replacing Brown in particular? Well, he's long drawn the ire of Republicans who say he's been overly focused on DEI initiatives during his time as chairman.

Trump said Kaine was integral in the destruction of ISIS during his first term and will, quote, restore peace through strength, put America first and rebuild our military. So what was the president's rationale for replacing Brown in particular? Well, he's long drawn the ire of Republicans who say he's been overly focused on DEI initiatives during his time as chairman.

In the past, for example, he touted the fact that he, quote, purposely built his office with diversity as a core priority. He supported racial quotas for Air Force hiring, and he was a vocal supporter of Black Lives Matter throughout 2020. Here he is, for example, in a video posted following the death of George Floyd.

In the past, for example, he touted the fact that he, quote, purposely built his office with diversity as a core priority. He supported racial quotas for Air Force hiring, and he was a vocal supporter of Black Lives Matter throughout 2020. Here he is, for example, in a video posted following the death of George Floyd.