Austin, TX
Texas Republicans are using anti-Muslim rhetoric in their campaigns
TEXAS — Targeting Islam and stopping what many conservatives call the “Islamification” of Texas is an increasingly popular campaign promise. Islam is a faith practiced by over 300,000 Muslims in Texas.
“There are a variety of Islamist movements operating across Texas,” said Samuel Westrop, the director of the Islamist Watch project at the Middle East Forum.
The national conservative think tank Middle East Forum is dedicated to defeating what it calls radical Islam, a claim that people within the faith want to impose their own religious law on secular society. Westrop wants to see politicians distinguishing between people whose interpretation of Islam threatens others and those who peacefully practice the religion.
There is still a dangerous impact on the Muslim community, according to Sameeha Rizvi, a policy and advocacy coordinator for the Texas chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR. In November, Gov. Greg Abbott designated CAIR as a foreign terrorist organization.
“At this point, Islam, extremists, etc., have been conflated with one another. And then also on top of that, they’re attacking civil rights groups like CAIR and using terrorist imagery to depict us when we’ve only denounced terrorism,” said Rizvi.
In his bid for reelection, U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, ran an ad outlining his opposition to CAIR.
“I’m fighting to revoke the tax-exempt status of the Council on American-Islamic Relations,” said Cornyn.
And when an ad from a PAC on behalf of Cornyn called Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, his top opponent, “weird,” Paxton called out Cornyn for his support of “radical Islamic Afghans.”
Candidates in the race to replace Paxton as Texas attorney general are using similar rhetoric. U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, said he would use the office to defend Texas from “Islamist extremist networks.”
“This is a coordinated political effort to Islamify Texas and you gotta say it,” said Roy.
Westrop describes the scrutiny of the religion as protecting taxpayers from funding something that could cause them harm.
“Really working to limit the influence and effect of Islamist groups and certainly making sure that public monies doesn’t subsidize their extremism,” he said.
According to the Pew Research Center, 42% of Muslim U.S. voters identify with the Republican Party. Rizvi says the anti-Muslim rhetoric could isolate Muslims from the right.
“When you end up as a party, smearing your neighbors because of their religion, it betrays not only your values as a party but also the values of what it means to be a Texan,” said Rizvi.
The impact that faith-targeted ads will have on Republican voters could be clear after the primary elections on March 3.
There was a significant reduction in the number of antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island in 2025, according to a national Jewish advocacy group.
According to the Anti-Defamation League’s latest Audit of Antisemitic Incidents, there were 26 antisemitic incidents in the state last year. That’s down from the 52 incidents counted by the group in 2024.
Samantha Joseph, New England regional director of the Anti-Defamation League, says a big reason for the reduction is a steep decline in antisemitism on college campuses.
“It shows that campus administrators are taking their responsibilities very seriously to provide a safe environment for all of their students,” said Joseph.
Brown University had over $500 million in federal funding frozen by the Trump administration last year following investigations into alleged antisemitism on campus. The funding was restored after Brown reached a settlement with the administration.
The reduction in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island reflects a wider trend in New England as a whole. According to the ADL’s report, there were 400 antisemitic incidents in the region in 2025, compared to 638 the previous year.
While she’s pleased about the overall drop in antisemitic incidents in Rhode Island, Joseph says a number of concerning trends continue to persist. In particular, the state is still seeing more anti-Jewish incidents than it did prior to the October 7 attacks on Israel that launched the Gaza War in 2023.
Joseph is also concerned about the violent nature of local incidents of antisemitism.
“Even though overall incidents are down, assaults are up and assaults with a deadly weapon are up significantly,” said Joseph. “Our communities remain concerned for their safety, and our work is far from done.”
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms are possible Sunday evening as a cold front arrives in Central Texas. KXAN’s First Warning Weather Team will keep you updated on the weather coverage.
Risks to be aware of are damaging wind gusts that could reach as high as 60 to 75 mph and large hail up to quarter size.
Weather Resources:
Live Updates:
5:22 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is issued for all counties except for Milam County.
3:51 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been issued for Mason, San Saba, and Lampasas County until 9:00 p.m.
3:30 p.m.: The primary risk for Sunday’s severe weather is damaging wind gusts which could cause power outages.
3:26 p.m.: Storms will likely move toward the I-35 corridor around 6 p.m. Most of the storms will enter the Hill Country around 6 p.m. and the Austin metro counties after 8 p.m.
Video of new Texas Tech System chancellor home at historic Lubbock property
The Texas Tech System is acquiring the historic Tudor Revival ‘English Home’ in Lubbock to serve as the new chancellor’s residence.
Money and rankings don’t make a great university. Providing opportunities for disadvantaged students and protecting academic freedom, however, do.
Case in point: Michael and Susan Dell recently surpassed $1 billion in giving to the University of Texas at Austin, launching a plan to build a new medical center and advanced research campus in north Austin.
To be sure, this is a magnanimous gift that will fund important initiatives. While enormously grateful for this contribution, I am disappointed that this gift was not accompanied with a strong message from Michael Dell admonishing the University for gutting DEI and infringing upon academic freedom.
As a colleague of mine astutely observed: “Good luck recruiting doctors and med students. The attacks on DEI and political climates will mean a lot more than rankings and money long-term.”
UT System Board of Regents Chairman Kevin Eltife, referencing the Dell gift, is right: “We are transforming this site into a new campus the world has never seen before.” Yes, never seen, but in a very negative and dangerous way!
Last week, I received a message from the Texas Exes: “This is your last chance to show your support during 40 Hours for the Forty Acres, UT Austin’s Texas-sized fundraising event. Can we count on you?”
My answer: “No, absolutely not. I won’t give one dime to a university that no longer is committed to diversity and preserving academic freedom.”
Having proudly taught at UT for 41 years, I am sad to say this.
– Richard Cherwitz, Ph.D. is the Ernest A. Sharpe Centennial Professor Emeritus, Moody College of Communication and Founding Director, Intellectual Entrepreneurship Consortium (IE) at The University of Texas at Austin.
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