Misty Irby

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There are people expressing shock today over the hate and division that surfaced in McKinney. Some are acting as though this is a new chapter in our city's history.

It isn't.

Some of us have been sounding the alarm for years.

My awakening came during the Craig Ranch pool incident. That was the moment I realized that the greatest threat to our community wasn't just overt racism. It was the willingness of so many to dismiss it, excuse it, or pretend it didn't exist.

Years later, Councilman La'Shadion Shemwell declared what he called a "Black State of Emergency" and warned about the climate facing Black residents. Instead of asking why an elected official felt compelled to make such a declaration, many focused on silencing the messenger. He became the target of McKinney's first-ever successful recall election, and then-Mayor George Fuller publicly signed the recall petition, arguing that Shemwell's actions had harmed the city.

Today, that same former mayor says he has "never witnessed so much hate, anger and lack of humanity" in our community.

Respectfully, many of us have.

We witnessed it in Craig Ranch. We witnessed it when people dismissed concerns about systemic inequities. We witnessed it when those who challenged the status quo were labeled divisive instead of being heard.

This moment should cause all of us to reflect, not just on what happened at City Hall, but on the years that led us here. We cannot condemn division only when it becomes personal. We cannot ignore hate until it reaches our own doorstep.

Real leadership requires acknowledging that these problems did not begin yesterday. They have been here all along. The question is whether we are finally willing to confront them with honesty, empathy, and accountability.

This post is tone deaf.

Many of us did not wake up to hatred and division yesterday. We've been living with it for years. For me, that awakening came during the Craig Ranch pool incident. That moment exposed a level of hate, apathy, and lack of empathy that too many people either ignored or excused.

My campaign was fueled by one belief, that we must eradicate apathy from our communities. Silence, excuses, and selective outrage only allow division to grow.

So while it's encouraging to see people finally acknowledging the hostility that exists, it's difficult to ignore that some of the same voices expressing shock today have continued to support the very leadership that has normalized lies, division, and the politics of "us versus them."

If this is truly an awakening, then let it be a real one. Empathy cannot be situational. Condemning hate only when it affects you or your community is not enough. The standard should be the same for everyone.

Public confidence in our justice system begins with understanding how it works.

Far too often, conversations about jury verdicts are driven by emotion, misinformation, and social media commentary instead of facts. If we're going to advocate for justice, accountability, and reform, we also have a responsibility to understand the jury selection process.

This panel brings together judges and trial attorneys to discuss:
Juror qualifications
Voir dire
Batson Challenges
Striking jurors
Jury empanelment and alternates

Whether you're a voter, community advocate, elected official, activist, or simply someone who wants to better understand our legal system, this discussion is worth your time.

An informed community makes better decisions.

Don't be loud and wrong. Be informed. Join the conversation.

This story deserves far more attention.

According to reporting by journalist Judd Legum and recent FEC filings, a network of PACs presenting themselves as "progressive" organizations was actually funded through a Republican dark money pipeline.

Why does this matter?

Because voters have a right to know who is attempting to influence Democratic primaries and why.

And yes, it raises questions for me here in Texas.

Could this help explain some of the donor history surrounding James Talarico? I don't know. There is no public evidence proving that connection at this time. But I do think it is a question worth asking and investigating further.

We should be asking:

• Did any of these PACs spend money in races connected to Talarico?
• Did donor networks overlap with organizations that have supported his campaigns?
• Were independent expenditures made to shape perceptions around his candidacy?
• Are there relationships that the public simply hasn't uncovered yet?

This is not an accusation. It is a call for transparency.

No matter your political party, dark money operations designed to manipulate primaries should concern all of us.

Sunlight is the best disinfectant.

Follow the money. Ask questions. Demand transparency.

Fact Check:

The New York Knicks last won an NBA Championship in 1973.

Richard Nixon was President at the time and resigned about a year later following the Watergate scandal.

Those are the facts. The rest is speculation.

I've been on this soapbox for at least 20 years.

When it comes to Jury Duty, I hear the same comments:

"I need to find a way out of it." "They don't pay enough." "It's a waste of time." "Somebody else can do it."

But then a high-profile case comes along and suddenly everyone has strong opinions about the jury, the verdict, the process, and whether justice was served.

The recent case in Collin County has reignited conversations about jury selection, representation, and what it means to have a jury that reflects the community. Regardless of where anyone stands on that particular case, it highlights something I've believed for a very long time:

You cannot complain about who is sitting in the jury box if you're unwilling to sit in it yourself.

Jury duty is one of the few opportunities ordinary citizens have to directly participate in our justice system. It is not just a civic obligation. It is a civic privilege.

If we want juries that represent a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, backgrounds, and communities, then people from those communities must answer the call when summoned.

Too often, especially in our community, jury duty is viewed as something to avoid. I believe that mindset has cost us more than we realize.

Every empty seat is filled by someone else.

Every excuse to avoid service reduces the likelihood that a jury will truly reflect the people it serves.

Whether the case is local, national, famous, or unknown, the principle remains the same.

Representation does not happen by accident.

It happens when citizens show up.

Serve when called. Pay attention. Participate.

Because justice should never be something that happens around us. It should be something we help shape.

This is how I view it when I see “Endorsed by Trump” proudly displayed on campaign signs across Texas.

People can disagree politically all day long, but character still matters to me. The racism, division, cruelty, chaos, and attacks on democracy tied to this movement are impossible for me to ignore.

Supporting that brand of politics says something, whether people want to admit it or not.

No matter where you stand politically, democracy requires participation.

Not just voting.
Thinking.
Questioning.
Paying attention.
Holding power accountable.

If citizens stop asking hard questions because they fear backlash, democracy becomes performance instead of participation.

Read.
Research.
Verify.
Stay engaged.

The future depends on informed people who are willing to think critically, even when it’s uncomfortable.

What actions should everyday citizens be taking right now?

One thing both political parties used to agree on was this:

People must trust elections.

Right now, trust is broken across America.

Some fear voter suppression.
Others fear manipulation.
Others fear billionaire influence and information control.

Regardless of political party, every American should want:
• Transparent systems
• Fair access to voting
• Accurate counting
• Independent oversight

Without trust, democracy weakens.

What would restore public confidence for you?