The Brief: Will Hurd's on a Texas town hall tour. Here's what's happened so far

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What you need to know

Congress is out for the summer, and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, R-Helotes, is on a six-day, 20-stop swing across his sprawling swing district. Here's what you need to know: 

• Congressional District 23 is essentially the only competitive race in the state, which makes Hurd widely viewed as the most vulnerable Republican member in Congress from Texas. His town hall tour this week shows him walking a fine line — especially on issues such as border security, where he's publicly split with President Donald Trump.

• Hurd's tour comes amid uncertain times for his district. CD-23, which is larger in area than 29 states and stretches from San Antonio to El Paso, is part of a pending trial over Texas' political maps that could lead to new ones being drawn ahead of the 2018 elections. But Hurd suggested on Monday he wasn't worried about the outcome of the redistricting case. "I'mma keep doing my thing," he said. 

• Hurd's pretty defiant about his 2018 re-election chances. "If somebody thinks they can outwork me, good luck," Hurd said during a break before his town hall in Fort Stockton on Monday. Hurd drew his first Democratic challenger last week, and at least three other Democrats are seriously considering a shot at the seat — including former U.S. Rep. Pete Gallego, who has lost to Hurd twice in the district. "You're more than welcome to come at me," Hurd said, "but you're going to face the same fate that Mr. Gallego faced a couple of months ago."

Other stories we're watching today:

• A federal judge and plaintiffs are planning to examine this afternoon the state's proposal for moving 1,000 inmates into air-conditioned prison units. Follow Texas Tribune reporter Jolie McCullough for updates. 

• Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Joe Straus met Monday for the first time in months as time runs out for the special session.

• An incoming law aimed at curbing credit and debit card fraud will let store owners bar transactions if the buyer doesn't show ID. 

• Almost all of Texas' 36 delegates in the U.S. House signed a letter urging certain airlines be docked for using "anticompetitive practices." The thing is, the letter had a striking resemblance to what a United Airlines lobbyist had drafted. 

Pencil us in

The full program for the 2017 Texas Tribune Festival is now available! Join us for three days of the best conversations in politics and public policy, Sept. 22-24. Check it out.

What we're reading

Links below lead to outside websites; we've noted paywall content with $.

Top Trump aides clashing over direction of U.S. foreign policy, AP

Texas House gatekeeper likely won't hold another hearing on 'bathroom bill,' KXAN

Texas Medical Association presses Legislature to fund the Texas Medical Board, Texas Public Radio

Corpus Christi port ramps up after crude oil export ban lifted: New pipelines proposed linking Permian Basin to port, Marfa Public Radio

UT student sues Fenves over sexual assault suspension, The Austin American-Statesman ($)

Firefighters: City should drop other petition to clear way for 'party parity' on ballot, The Houston Chronicle ($)

Cornyn's new push against sanctuary cities could put him at odds with some Texas mayors, The Dallas Morning News ($)

Mayor Nirenberg asks Gov. Abbott to ease property tax revamp, address 'vitriol,' The San Antonio Express-News ($)

Photo of the day

DPS troopers gather in the Capitol rotunda to plan Thursday's memorial service for former Texas Gov. Mark White on Aug. 7. White passed away Aug. 5 in Houston. Photo by Bob Daemmrich. See more photos on our Instagram account. 

Quote to note

"We are still talking."

— Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, about his meeting on Monday with House Speaker Joe Straus. 

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