Last week’s Did You Miss It? looked ahead to the Republican Party’s first midterm convention in Dallas. This week, the event put American Airlines Center at the center of national politics as President Donald Trump (R) and Vice President JD Vance (R) made the party’s case for November.
The Dallas Express covered both days from inside the arena, including Trump’s $5,000 dividend proposal, Vance’s reception from the crowd, Texas leaders’ speeches, the Charlie Kirk tribute and the people who gave the gathering its distinctly Dallas character.
Beyond the convention, outside groups escalated spending in Texas’ U.S. Senate race, Dallas sharply narrowed access to its Flock camera data, U.S. Rep. Keith Self (R-Texas) backed McKinney residents pressing a recall campaign, and the Baby Gabriel dispute reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
Here are the stories and updates that helped shape the week.
Dallas hosts the GOP’s first midterm convention
- Dallas Republican Midterm Convention Day 1: Trump’s $5,000 Dividend, Paxton Warning, Fetterman Video
- Dallas RNC Convention Day 2: Trump, Vance, Abbott, Cruz Close Historic GOP Gathering
- One Year After Charlie Kirk’s Assassination, His Legacy Takes Center Stage At Dallas RNC
- Inside The Dallas RNC: Cowboy Hats, Rhinestones And The People
- Republican Voices Sound Off On Iran, Socialism And ‘Islamic Invasion’ At Dallas Convention
- MARK DAVIS | GOP Midterm Convention Was A Hit, But Was It Enough?
- Dallas Police Arrest Two During Anti-Trump March Near GOP Convention
Why It Matters: The Republican Party used its first midterm convention to turn two days in Dallas into a national pitch for November turnout, with Trump, Vance and Texas leaders framing the stakes for Congress and the administration. DX covered the speeches, Charlie Kirk tribute, convention floor, policy disagreements and arrests outside the arena, while Mark Davis examined whether the energy can carry into Election Day.
National money floods the Texas Senate race
- MAGA Inc. Drops $10M Into Texas Senate Race For Paxton, Against Talarico
- Musk-Backed PAC Adds $2.4M To Paxton Fight As GOP Spending Tops $12M
- $51.3M GOP Push Backs Paxton, Hits Talarico: ‘For They/Them, Not You’
Why It Matters: MAGA Inc. and America PAC reported about $12.4 million in independent expenditures supporting Attorney General Ken Paxton (R-Texas) or opposing state Rep. James Talarico (D-District 50), while Texas PAC reportedly reserved $51.3 million in television advertising. The three developments sharply expanded the outside-advertising fight in Texas’ U.S. Senate race.
McKinney recall, Flock and Dallas oversight
- ‘We’ve Had Enough’: Keith Self Says McKinney Residents Are Fighting Back
- Dallas Police Cut Flock Data Sharing From 1,500 Agencies To 202 In Texas
- Texas Cities Keep Dropping Flock Cameras As Statewide Privacy Backlash Grows
- Dallas County Sued Over Jail Ban On Mailed Books
Why It Matters: Self backed McKinney residents pressing a recall campaign centered on growth, traffic, airport financing and City Hall accountability. Dallas cut access to its Flock data from more than 1,500 agencies to 202 Texas agencies as other cities dropped the cameras, while Dallas County faced a federal lawsuit over mailed books at the jail.
TxDOT contractors and federal enforcement
- Federal Data Ties 193 H-1B Positions To TxDOT Through Private Employers
- DHS H-1B Proposal Reopens Questions About TxDOT Contractors
- Feds Target Dangerous Illegal Aliens, Violent Offenders In 90-Day Fort Worth Crime Push
- Fort Worth ‘Alien Terrorist’ Deported In First-Ever Terror Court Case
Why It Matters: Federal records tied 193 proposed H-1B positions to TxDOT worksites through private employers, and a new DHS proposal would eliminate a job-loss grace period for covered visa holders if finalized. Federal prosecutors also launched a 90-day Fort Worth crime initiative, while authorities completed the first removal ordered through the U.S. Alien Terrorist Removal Court.
Courts, education and North Texas change
- Texas Completes K-12 Social Studies Overhaul Rooted In Western Civilization, Free Enterprise
- Baby Gabriel Case Reaches U.S. Supreme Court As Surrogate Seeks Emergency Stay
- Dallas Gunfire Sends Six To Hospitals Before Dawn, One In Critical Condition
- Dallas Water Main Breaks Climb Amid Heat: What Residents Should Know
- Electric Air Taxis Take Flight Over North Texas In 3-Year Test
Why It Matters: Texas completed a K-12 social studies overhaul centered on Western civilization, free enterprise and personal financial literacy, while the Baby Gabriel dispute reached the U.S. Supreme Court. Dallas faced another early-morning shooting and mounting water-main failures as North Texas began a three-year air-taxi test.
That was the week. If you missed it, now you are caught up.
