We almost feel bad for Gov. Greg Abbott and Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
Both Republicans have been desperately vying for the attention of President-elect Donald Trump, with Abbott yapping about protecting Texas from the evil influence of communists (Chinese, not Russian — it’s not the 1980s) and Paxton boldly standing up for Elon Musk’s God-given right to force advertisers to remain on X.
Let’s recap. Last week, Abbott ordered state agencies to cut financial ties with China, calling the Chinese Communist Party a “foreign adversary.” He also has declared Texas a no-fox zone, ordering state police to hunt down operatives working for China’s “Operation Fox Hunt.” While the initiative claims to fight corruption, it’s better known for bullying pro-democracy activists, intimidating ex-pats, and dragging dissidents back to China, according to reporting from ProPublica.
Meanwhile Paxton proudly declared he was investigating the World Federation of Advertisers for allegedly plotting ad boycotts against social media platforms. Though unnamed, it likely includes Elon Musk’s X, which in August sued the federation over claims of an “illegal boycott.” Paxton, the King of Frivolous Lawsuits, was apparently in the running for U.S. Attorney General. In addition to his loyal 2020 election denialism, Paxton has shown himself to be a valuable advocate for the right by filing more than 100 lawsuits against the federal government on everything from tiny lizards to anti-trans nonsense.
It’s all sad behavior by two fan boys to get a cabinet spot in Trump’s administration.
And what did Trump do? He hilariously passed over both. Instead, Trump went with two Lone Star no-names: longtime ally Brooke Rollins for secretary of agriculture and former state Rep. Scott Turner to oversee housing and urban development.
If you don’t know who either of these people are, honestly, that’s not on you. Headlines in national outlets from USA Today and the Associated Press to The New York Times have reporters addressing: “Who Is Brooke Rollins?” and “What to Know About Brooke Rollins, Trump’s Choice for Agriculture Secretary.”
Rollins previously worked for former Gov. Rick Perry and has been a prominent Trump ally for many years. She serves as the co-founder and president of the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump conservative think tank. Before today, I’d never seen that woman in my life, whereas Paxton’s face is etched on the back of my eyelids when I fall asleep at night.
During Trump’s first administration, she was a White House aide, holding roles as the director of the Office of American Innovation and acting director of the Domestic Policy Council.
Turner, a former NFL player, served in the Texas House of Representatives from 2013 to 2017. He now chairs the Center for Education Opportunity at the he same think tank run by Rollins.
In 2019, Trump appointed Turner to lead a council focused on revitalizing distressed communities through so-called Opportunity Zones, an initiative that directed private investment into struggling areas. While the program received bipartisan praise, critics argued that wealthy investors benefited more than local residents. No way!
Despite these resumes, both Rollins and Turner are way, way, lower on the Texas politics pecking order than Abbott and Paxton. But thanks to their years of Trump obsequiousness, they are now much more important, nationally at least.
It just goes to show: Desperation is never a good look, fellas.
