Brian D. Sweany has been the editor in chief of Texas Monthly since July 2014. A native Texan who was born on Texas Independence Day, he began his career in journalism as an intern at the magazine in 1996, and in the intervening years, he held nearly every possible job in the editorial department. Before being promoted to his current post, he was a senior executive editor in charge of Texas Monthly's political coverage. Sweany has also worked as an assistant professor in the journalism department at Ithaca College, in New York, and as a senior editor at D Magazine, in Dallas. He is active in a number of civic and volunteer organizations, serving on the boards of the Texas Book Festival, the Texas Cultural Trust, and the Frank W. and Sue Mayborn School of Journalism at the University of North Texas, in Denton. He lives in Austin with his wife, two children, and an ever-growing manuscript for The Kingdom of the Saddle, a biography of Charles Goodnight to be published by Penguin.
Articles by Brian D. Sweany
Where Do We Go From Here?
After Trump’s stunning win, Texas’s Republican leaders still face a critical choice.
Game On
Being a sports fan is like falling in love. Sure, it’s a form of madness, but it’s one you can’t explain.
Empire of the Perfect Pass
Quanah Parker, Stonewall Jackson . . . and Hal Mumme?! Why S.C. Gwynne took a break from historical epics to tell the story of the Texas coach who changed football.
Patty Shack
My all-time favorite hamburger came from the Country Burger, my family's beloved neighborhood restaurant in Plano.
The Lyndon Johnson Show
All the Way playwright Robert Schenkkan on Donald Trump, George Wallace, and why Bryan Cranston makes a great LBJ.
Abbott’s Feigned Ignorance
What doesn’t the governor know, and how long hasn’t he known it?
Making a Mural
How do you depict the "new Austin" on a magazine cover? By painting a mural on South Congress and photographing it, of course.
The House That King Built
Texas Monthly gets an exclusive look inside the iconic Main House of the King Ranch.
The P. Q&A
The grandson of a president. The nephew of a president. And the son of a candidate who’s currently on the stump. Such is the reality for George P. Bush, the state’s first-term land commissioner and the newest face of the family dynasty. But what course is he setting for himself?
And the Bum Steer of 2016 Is…
Blue Bell put its competition in the deep freeze and took home the dubious award.
Are You Ready for the 120 Tacos You Must Eat Before You Die?
Are You Ready for the 120 Tacos You Must Eat Before You Die?
Homes Sweet Homes
Buyers today are seeing tremendous change, just as my parents did, but they all still want the same thing: the chance to own a piece of the Texas dream.
The Four-Star Chancellor
After retiring from a celebrated career in the Navy, William McRaven takes on a new fight: the battle over higher education.
The Watt Hour
Learning to love—or at least respect—the Houston Texans when your heart is in Dallas.
The List: Best and Worst 2015
A preview of the ten best and ten worst legislators of the Eighty-fourth Legislature.
The Abbott Interview
Our legislator in chief assesses a spring marked by pre-K budgets, the open carry debate, border security, and a certain kerfuffle over Jade Helm.
Where to Go First
Few things make Texans happier than a full tank of gas and an open highway. You’ve got a lot of ground to cover, but I propose you start with these four trips, each originating at Brady, the geographic center of Texas. You’ll be saying “y’all” and offering the hi sign in no time.
Where to Be a Tourist
A word about these four destinations: most native Texans visited them on their elementary school field trips. They are essential, so if you haven’t seen them yet, you’d better get cracking. Just remember, this is only the start.
March Cover Sneak Peek: The New Faces of Marriage in Texas?
An inside look at Pamela Colloff’s cover story on the fight for marriage equality.
Last Man Standing
Despite all the exits and entrances around him, House speaker Joe Straus plans on staying right where he is.
Early Takeaways
As the returns are started to roll in–find updated results here–here are a few quick thoughts: 1. As the race in CD23 begins to take shape, the only competitive Congressional seat from Texas looks be breaking Republican. Challenger Will Hurd is leading Democratic incumbent Pete Gallego 53-44%. 2.
Down and Dirty EV Totals
UPDATED AT 7:25: The polls have closed, and the early vote totals are coming in. Here are some of the quick results, with a whooping 1% of the vote having been counted: ABBOTT: 57% DAVIS: 40% ++ PATRICK: 55% VAN DE PUTTE: 41% ++ PAXTON: 56% HOUSTON: 40%…
Steve Patterson, UT’s New Athletic Director, on Student-Athletes Profiting From Their Name and Likeness
In a preview of our September cover, Patterson says college players shouldn't be able to monetize their famous names.