The Brief: Sept. 10, 2015

The Big Conversation

GOP presidential hopefuls Ted Cruz and Donald Trump made an eagerly anticipated joint appearance at a rally Wednesday on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

They shared a common purpose of advocating defeat of the recently finished multilateral deal to limit Iran's nuclear program. But, as the Tribune's Abby Livingston reported, the two men took different rhetorical paths to their goal.

"In legalistic and graphic detail, Cruz spoke twice as long as Trump about a deal that is, at this point, all but certain to hold up to Congressional challenges," Livingston wrote. "Trump meanwhile offered that his force of personality and negotiating skills would translate to a 'winning' foreign policy."

The two men were not the only ones to speak at the rally. They were joined by other popular figures among grassroots conservatives like former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin and conservative radio show hosts Glenn Beck and Mark Levin. But with the rhetoric from Trump (“We are led by very, very stupid people. Very, very stupid people.") and Cruz ("When we talk about terrorism, it's worth remembering that if this deal goes through, we know to an absolute certainty people will die."), there was little doubt about who was headlining the event.

Also on display was the men's chummy relationship, which stands in marked contrast to Trump's interactions with many of the others in the GOP field.

"Despite being rivals for the Republican presidential nomination, Cruz and Trump enjoy an unusually cozy relationship," wrote The Washington Post's Katie Zezima. "Cruz, who invited Trump to the rally because he would bring the spotlight, praised the real estate mogul as 'my friend' and the two men embraced on stage."

Livingston wrote, "Unlike his fellow Texan and fierce Trump critic former Gov. Rick Perry, Cruz's aim is to court Trump's large following. 'I think Donald Trump has been tremendously beneficial to our campaign,' Cruz told reporters after the speech. 'Donald has an incredible ability to attract attention. ... Our national support doubled and I'm very grateful to Donald for millions of extra people, millions of eyeballs, watching that debate and having the opportunity to hear my positive, optimistic, hopeful conservative message.'"

Trib Must-Reads

Free Freshman Year? Texas State Hopes To Try It Out, by Matthew Watkins – The Texas State University System is experimenting with massive open online courses to allow students to arrive on campus with a full year of credit at minimal cost. 

Cubans Flood Texas Ports After Thaw in Relations, by Julián Aguilar – If current trends hold, the port of Laredo is on pace to welcome about 60 percent more Cubans than it did last fiscal year. Why the exodus when the island-nation is on the verge of reestablishing ties with the U.S.?

Water Board Moves to Resolve Reservoir Conflict, by Kiah Collier – Disagreeing with Dallas-Fort Worth-area water officials, the Texas Water Development Board decided on Wednesday that a years-long conflict over a yet-to-be-built reservoir in the region’s 50-year water plan is serious enough that it should be resolved. 

GOP Odd Couple Cruz, Trump Spit Fire Over Iran Deal, by Abby Livingston – In back-to-back speeches, GOP presidential hopefuls U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and real estate developer Donald Trump showcased their different campaigning styles as they rallied supporters against President Obama's Iran deal Wednesday. 

Kim Davis Rally Puts Huckabee Camp, Cruz at Odds, by Patrick Svitek – Did Ted Cruz crash Mike Huckabee's rally for the Kentucky clerk who was jailed for refusing to issue marriage licenses to gay couples?

The Day Ahead

•    Gov. Greg Abbott will speak and present medals to winners of the 2015 Star of Texas Awards at the State Capitol at 9 a.m. The event is intended to honor law enforcement officials and emergency responders who have died or been seriously injured during their work. 

Elsewhere

Texas attorneys want Sandra Bland wrongful death suit tossed, The Associated Press

Former governor objects to case being on hold, San Antonio Express News

Grand jury indicts eight people in sex assault, cover-up at Ellis County fire station, The Dallas Morning News

Collin officials grapple with prosecutor fees in Paxton case, Austin American-Statesman

Julián Castro declines to discuss ‘presidential politics’, The Dallas Morning News

Conduct of coaches questioned in Texas referee incident, The Associated Press

Bikers, families remain in limbo 100 days after Waco melee, Houston Chronicle

Mike Huckabee Admits His Staff Huckablocked Ted Cruz From Being On Stage With Kim Davis, Buzzfeed

The Tiny Town That Hates Elon Musk, Bloomberg Business

Quote to Note

“It is a little bit of a romance. I like him. He likes me.”

— Donald Trump on his close relationship with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz during a rally against the Iran deal. 

News from Home

Check out the second installment of Paid to Prosecute, a joint investigation by The Texas Tribune and the Austin American-Statesman: From almost the very beginning, the controversial relationship between a giant Texas insurance company and the Travis County district attorney’s office has been overseen by a fiery prosecutor with a tendency to share her liberal politics and social views on social media.