TikTok says a bipartisan bill passed by the U.S. House last week could make the app less secure for Americans because a sale could spell the end of TikTok's $1.5 billion, Texas-based data security initiative.

Why it matters: The bill raises national security concerns over TikTok's Chinese-owned parent company ByteDance, alleging the Chinese Communist Party could influence app operations or control software on American mobile devices.

• If signed into law, the measure would require TikTok to split from ByteDance within 180 days or be banned in U.S. app stores.

Flashback: To address security concerns, TikTok began routing all U.S. user data through Austin-based tech company Oracle in 2022. The initiative is dubbed Project Texas.

• The Oracle cloud prevents U.S. user data from being accessed by either TikTok or ByteDance employees, TikTok public policy vice president Michael Beckerman wrote in a letter to Congress.

Yes, but: If ByteDance is forced to sell, another parent company is unlikely to "continue this expensive, groundbreaking work," Beckerman said.

• "Ironically, U.S. user data could be less secure under a divestment scheme," he added.

The intrigue: Brian Firebaugh, a Netflix-famous rancher from Hubbard, posted on TikTok that he wonders if politicians are concerned about user data ending up in China's hands or if they're "fearful" about the rapid dissemination of information through the platform.

Catch up quick: The federal legislation has been moving fast. It was introduced two weeks ago and the House Energy and Commerce Committee advanced it days later.

• Just three Democratic House representatives from Texas voted against the bill — Austin's Greg Casar, Houston's Sheila Jackson Lee and San Antonio's Joaquin Castro.
• Dallas' Jasmine Crockett, also a Democrat, voted "present," and North Texas Republicans Kay Granger and Roger Williams did not vote.

What's next: The Senate has indicated it will move slowly on the measure, and Texas' Republican senators have been noncommittal about their planned vote.

• Sen. John Cornyn has called the app "a serious national security problem."

What Ted Cruz says

The Stars have been one of the best teams in the NHL this year, and the team is primed for a deep playoff run — thanks in large part to a group of young superstars.

The big picture: With a record of 41-19, Dallas is second in the Central Division and third in the Western Conference.

Flashback: Dallas has made the playoffs in three of the last four seasons, losing in the Western Conference finals last year to the eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Vegas Golden Knights.

The intrigue: Dallas doesn't have anyone in the league's top 30 goal scorers or the top 20 in overall points.

• Yes, but: The team has six players with at least 20 goals.

Zoom in: At 24, Jason Robertson again leads in scoring, with 23 goals and 45 assists this season.

• Last year's rookie sensation, center Wyatt Johnston, is tied for the team lead in goals with 26 this year — and he isn't old enough to legally order a beer yet.
• When 21-year-old Logan Stankoven was called up to the team in February, he had five goals and three assists in his first six games.

🦦 Plus: Goalie Jake Oettinger, who played in his first all-star game this season, is only 25.

The other side: Dallas has had some painful losses of late, blowing a 3-0 lead to the Florida Panthers and getting blown out 6-2 by the New Jersey Devils.

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Hockey hall of famer Mike Modano's legacy is now etched in bronze outside American Airlines Center, nearly 14 years after he left the Stars and 12 years since he retired from the sport.

What they're saying: "Thirty years ago, we got on a plane in 1993 to come here not knowing what to expect. Five years later, we gave you a Stanley Cup. We feel we've turned Dallas into a hockey town," Modano said at Saturday's unveiling.

Between the lines: The timing of Modano's statue is complicated. The Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki got his statue outside the AAC within a few years of retiring from the team.

• Both statues were created by the same studio behind the Kobe Bryant statue outside Crypto.com Arena in L.A.

🪧 Molson Coors employees have been on strike for a month from the Fort Worth brewery. They are asking for better pay. (NBC5)

🐘 Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi won't seek re-election after three years in the position. (Texas Tribune)

3️⃣ Former Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings is working to find a potential third-party candidate to run for president through his work as national convention chair for No Labels, a centrist group. (CBS11)

Selection Sunday has come and gone and the brackets for the NCAA men's and women's tournaments are set.

State of play: Let the madness begin. Each year hundreds of thousands of people — from celebrities to presidents and high school students — set out to predict the winner of the Big Dance.

• The American Airlines Center will host the South Regional games from March 29-31 for the men's tournament.

Yes, but: It's nearly impossible to have a perfect bracket. We aren't asking for perfection, we just want to have some fun.

How it works: Sign up for our Axios Dallas group on ESPN and enter a bracket for the men's or women's side — or both!

• The password to enter the group is "Axios"
• Entries must be completed by 11am Thursday.
• In the end, we'll see who had the most accurate predictions and select a winner from each group.

📬 Tell us. Once you've submitted your bracket, let us know how you chose your winners.

• Coolest mascot? Random selection? Personal favorites?