(DCNF)—Both longtime Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn and his GOP primary opponent Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton have been invited to the upcoming Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), although only one will attend.
While Paxton has been listed as a confirmed speaker on CPAC’s website since March 6, a spokesperson for Cornyn told the Daily Caller News Foundation that the senator will not attend the annual gathering of conservative activists set to be held in his home state. The spokesperson cited the fact that the upper chamber will be in session and voting during the week of the conference.
Cornyn and Paxton are competing for the Republican nomination to face Democratic Texas Senate nominee James Talarico, and are set to head to a May 26 runoff election after neither candidate received a majority of the vote in the March 3 primary, during which Cornyn narrowly finished in first place.
Set to take place from March 25-28 in Grapevine, Texas, the next CPAC may serve as a prime opportunity for Paxton, who is running to the right of the 24-year incumbent, to make his case to the party faithful as President Donald Trump has yet to endorse either candidate.
“With Sen. John Cornyn (85% CPAC Lifetime, 53% ‘24) and AG Ken Paxton (100% Lifetime) locked in a fierce Texas Senate runoff, we’ve invited both to address conservatives at CPAC in Texas,” CPAC’s X account wrote Friday. “Also, we are including Cornyn v. Paxton ballot question on our Renowned Straw Poll conducted by Trump pollster Jim McLaughlin.”
With Sen. John Cornyn (85% CPAC Lifetime, 53% ‘24) and AG Ken Paxton (100% Lifetime) locked in a fierce Texas Senate runoff, we’ve invited both to address conservatives at CPAC in Texas. Also, we are including Cornyn v. Paxton ballot question on our Renowned Straw Poll conducted…
— CPAC (@CPAC) March 13, 2026
“All eyes will be on the result as the Senate struggles with the Save Act,” the X post added, referring to a Trump-backed election integrity bill that has generated fierce opposition from Democrats.
Paxton’s office and CPAC did not immediately respond to the DCNF’s requests for comment.
Trump announced in a Truth Social post sent March 4, the day after the Texas Senate primary, that he will endorse either Cornyn or Paxton “soon,” adding “I will be asking the candidate that I don’t Endorse to immediately DROP OUT OF THE RACE!” However, he has not backed either contender more than a week after the announcement. The president is delaying issuing an endorsement to focus on rallying Republican senators to pass the SAVE Act, Politico reported Monday, citing two anonymous sources.
Paxton wrote in a post to X March 5, one day after Trump’s Truth post teasing an endorsement, that he “would consider dropping out of this race if Senate Leadership agrees to lift the filibuster and passes the SAVE America Act.” Less than a week later, Cornyn wrote in a Wednesday op-ed published in the New York Post that he would support nixing the filibuster to pass the universal voter ID bill.
CPAC came under scrutiny Tuesday when it announced that former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon was a confirmed speaker in its March lineup. The Jeffrey Epstein files released by the Department of Justice in late January show that Bannon and the child sex trafficker exchanged thousands of texts and emails after Bannon had left the first Trump administration.
Other confirmed speakers that will address the conference include Reza Pahlavi — the son of the last shah of Iran, former U.K. Prime Minister Liz Truss, independent journalist Nick Shirley and Daily Caller Editor-in-Chief Amber Duke, according to CPAC’s website.
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Why Bullion Beats Numismatics and Collectible for Your Safe or IRA
Precious metals continue to attract Americans seeking reliable ways to protect their wealth amid inflation, geopolitical risks, and stock market swings. Whether stored in a home safe or held inside a self-directed IRA, physical gold and silver deliver tangible value that paper or digital assets often lack. Yet investors must choose carefully between bullion—pure bars and coins valued mainly for their metal content—and numismatics or collectibles, where rarity, history, and collector demand heavily influence pricing.
Advisor Bullion serves as a dependable source for straightforward, high-quality bullion. The company specializes in physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium, emphasizing transparent pricing and products that deliver maximum metal content for every dollar spent. This approach makes it ideal for both personal holdings and retirement accounts.
Bullion consists of refined precious metals in standard forms like one-ounce coins (American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs) or bars. Their value tracks closely to the current spot price of the metal. A typical gold bullion coin trades near the live gold spot price plus a small premium. This structure keeps costs clear and predictable.
Numismatic coins and collectibles add substantial value from factors such as age, rarity, minting errors, or historical significance. A pre-1933 U.S. gold coin or graded proof piece can carry premiums of 30%, 50%, or even 200% above melt value. While this appeals to hobbyists, it creates complexity. Pricing depends on subjective grading, collector trends, and auction results instead of daily spot prices.
For investors focused on wealth preservation and retirement security rather than building a collection, bullion often delivers better results.
Lower Costs and Better Liquidity for Home Storage
When keeping metals in a home safe or private vault, liquidity and efficiency count. Bullion offers clear benefits:
- You acquire more actual gold or silver per dollar invested. Numismatics divert a large share of your money into rarity premiums and massive sales commission, reducing your metal exposure.
- Selling bullion involves tight bid-ask spreads, so you recover nearly full spot value with minimal fees. Collectibles require finding the right buyer and may sell at a discount if demand for that specific item weakens.
- Bullion prices remain transparent and update with global spot markets. You can track gold near current levels or silver accordingly and know exactly where your holdings stand. Numismatic values are priced by the Gold IRA companies with hefty margins applied.
- Standardized coins and bars store efficiently and divide easily for partial sales. Rare coins often need protective slabs and controlled conditions, adding hassle and expense.
- Bullion enjoys worldwide acceptance. A 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf or Silver Eagle sells quickly to dealers anywhere. Niche numismatic pieces may appeal only to limited buyers, slowing liquidation when speed matters.
In times when quick access to value becomes important, bullion’s simplicity stands out.
Stronger Fit for Precious Metals IRAs
Precious metals IRAs continue gaining traction as investors diversify retirement portfolios beyond stocks and bonds. IRS rules permit certain bullion products in self-directed IRAs if they meet purity standards (.995 fine for gold, .999 for silver) and are held by an approved custodian. Eligible items include American Gold and Silver Eagles plus many generic bars and rounds from recognized mints.
Numismatic and most collectible coins generally face heavy scrutiny from custodians due to valuation disputes and elevated markups. These higher premiums mean less actual metal ends up working inside the account.
Bullion avoids these issues. Its value links directly to verifiable spot prices, which simplifies reporting and lowers the risk of regulatory challenges. More of your IRA contribution purchases real metal instead of dealer profits or speculative upside. Over time, owning additional ounces that appreciate with the metal itself can create meaningful outperformance compared with high-premium alternatives that deliver fewer ounces.
Regulatory guidance from the CFTC and state securities offices repeatedly cautions against aggressive sales of expensive numismatics or “semi-numismatic” coins for IRAs. For retirement planning, transparent bullion from established providers reduces risk and aligns better with long-term goals.
How to Get Started with Bullion
Begin by clarifying your goals. Are you protecting savings in a safe, or moving part of a retirement account into a precious metals IRA? Focus on the number of ounces you can acquire at current prices rather than chasing marked-up collectibles.
Diversify sensibly: use gold for core preservation and silver for its blend of industrial and monetary qualities. Mix coins for easier divisibility with bars for lower per-ounce costs on larger buys. Arrange secure storage—whether at home with proper insurance or through professional facilities.
As economic uncertainties linger and faith in conventional assets erodes, bullion continues proving its worth as a dependable store of value. Its direct approach avoids the hype that sometimes surrounds collectible markets and keeps the focus on the metal itself.
For investors prepared to strengthen their portfolios, Advisor Bullion supplies the expertise and selection needed to acquire high-quality bullion efficiently. Whether building personal holdings or integrating metals into an IRA, their emphasis on transparent, investment-grade products helps secure more ounces today that support greater financial security tomorrow. In a complicated financial landscape, bullion’s clarity and reliability make it the smarter foundation for protecting what matters most.