The Brief: Trump and Castro, in San Antonio, Address GOP Loyalties

The Big Conversation

In San Antonio on Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro told the Tribune that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has “no principles” after Cruz finally decided to endorse his party’s presidential nominee, Donald Trump.

"Ted Cruz has always only worked for Ted Cruz. [Cruz] doesn’t spend any time working for Texas,” said Castro, a potential Democratic challenger for Cruz's Senate seat in 2018. “If he’s re-elected, he’s not going to spend any time working for Texas. He’s going to be running for president. It’s a soulless kind of politics."

Cruz is among many leading Texas GOP officials who have pledged to stand behind Trump following the appearance of a 2005 tape where the Republican nominee is heard making lewd comments about women. However, at a fundraiser Tuesday in San Antonio, Trump called members of his own party who are not fully supportive of him — including U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan — "[totally disloyal] to the party."

As the Tribune’s Patrick Svitek reports, Trump promised to “fight like hell” in the weeks leading up to the November election. Trump also suggested in a tweet posted prior the fundraiser that he feels more untethered from the Republican party following Ryan's announcement that he would only focus on down-ballot races — rather than defend Trump — in the home stretch to Election Day.

Trib Must Reads

Analysis: Texas Braces for Hurricane Donald, Chance of Purple Rain, by Ross Ramsey — Republican politicians in Texas ought to be celebrating right now, and for a variety of reasons. But the national election has them looking at the political weather forecasts.

El Salvador's Gang Violence Thrives in Aftermath of Civil War, by Julián Aguilar — Bloody gang conflict has claimed tens of thousands of lives and sparked a years-long exodus from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala to the United States.

Trooper's Attorneys Want Second Grand Jury in Bland Arrest Case, by Johnathan Silver — Attorneys for the state trooper who arrested Sandra Bland will ask a judge to let a second grand jury reconsider the perjury charge he faces.

Regents Select Michael Tidwell as Next President of UT Tyler, by Matthew Watkins — Michael Tidwell, dean of the business school at Eastern Michigan University, has been named the next president of the University of Texas at Tyler.  

U.S. Supreme Court Agrees to Hear Cross-Border Shooting Case, by Julián Aguilar — The case stems from a 2010 incident that ended with the death of a 15-year-old boy at the hands of a Border Patrol agent in El Paso.

Dallas Judge Temporarily Halts Mass Eviction, by Brandon Formby — City officials say tenants fear retaliation if they reach out for help.

George W. Bush and Laura Bush to be Buried at Texas State Cemetery, by Nicole Cobler — Bush will become the first U.S. president to be buried at the cemetery in East Austin. 

Wikileaks: Clinton Aide Argued Perry's Message Echoed Clinton's, by Jim Malewitz — When Rick Perry launched his second bid for president last year, an aide to Hillary Clinton's campaign argued the two candidates share "similar messages & themes" on the economy, according to an email released by Wikileaks. 

The Day Ahead

•    The House Committee on General Investigating and Ethics meets during a morning hearing to examine several state agencies' allocation of emergency leave following reports that many were doling out money to employees who had already left their jobs and keeping employees on the payroll months after they left.  

•    Members of the House Insurance Committee will meet during a morning hearing to receive an update on progress made on an overhaul of the governing structure of the state's windstorm insurer of last resort. Reform of the Texas Windstorm Insurance Association was the focus of legislation last year.

•    The Joint Committee on Aging will explore the need for geriatric training and explore opportunities to promote collaborative and innovative aging services across the state during a morning hearing. 

Elsewhere

(Links below lead to outside websites; content might be behind paywall)

Dallas' Union Station to be renamed for Democratic U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, The Dallas Morning News 

Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein to campaign in Austin, Austin American-Statesman

Hurd, Gallego fight for veterans vote, San Antonio Express-News

Texas universities among the best, worst in the nation for sexual health, Houston Chronicle 

SAPD motorcycle cops violate city policy by wearing Donald Trump caps, San Antonio Express-News

Dallas GOP donors are among top givers to Trump effort as he visits for more fundraising, The Dallas Morning News 

Man breaks into Capitol, damages gubernatorial portrait, Houston Chronicle

Houston police will get special training on handling sexual assault, domestic violence cases, Houston Chronicle 

Quote to Note

"Again ... that would be bad. And I'd have to consider it, but again, we're talking about what Donald Trump said 10 years ago as opposed to what Hillary Clinton has done in the past two or three years. She's been a failure."

— U.S. Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Corpus Christi, on MSNBC’s All in with Chris Hayes on Tuesday when asked the hypothetical: "If a tape came out with Donald Trump saying that, saying 'I really like to rape women,' you would continue to endorse him?" 

Today in TribTalk

Why it's so hard to fund public education in Texas, by Jimmie Don Aycock — Texas' Constitution, courts and lawmakers have combined to make funding public education almost impossible.

Trib Events for the Calendar

•   The Texas Response To Zika on Oct. 18 at BCBSTX Headquarters in Richardson

•   The Ticket: A Live Recording and Presidential Debate Watch Party on Oct. 19 at KLRU Studio 6A

•   A Conversation with U.S. Rep Michael McCaul on Oct. 25 at The Austin Club 

•   "Along Came Kinky" Screening and Conversation on Oct. 27 at the LBJ Library

•   A Conversation with U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke on Nov. 4 at The Austin Club 

•   A Conversation with state Reps. Andrew Murr and Jason Isaac on Nov. 14 at Schreiner University in Kerrville