
Brian D. Sweany

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

Nov 23, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
Introducing the new owners of Texas Monthly.

Nov 17, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
After Trump’s stunning win, Texas’s Republican leaders still face a critical choice.
Oct 19, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
Being a sports fan is like falling in love. Sure, it’s a form of madness, but it’s one you can’t explain.


Aug 24, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
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.

Aug 19, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
For Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys, it’s now or never.
Jul 20, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
My all-time favorite hamburger came from the Country Burger, my family's beloved neighborhood restaurant in Plano.


May 20, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
Playwright Robert Schenkkan talks Vietnam, Bryan Cranston, and Donald Trump.

May 20, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
All the Way playwright Robert Schenkkan on Donald Trump, George Wallace, and why Bryan Cranston makes a great LBJ.

May 20, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
What doesn’t the governor know, and how long hasn’t he known it?

Feb 19, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
How do you depict the "new Austin" on a magazine cover? By painting a mural on South Congress and photographing it, of course.
Jan 27, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
Texas Monthly gets an exclusive look inside the iconic Main House of the King Ranch.

Jan 27, 2016 — By Brian D. Sweany
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?

Dec 17, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
Blue Bell put its competition in the deep freeze and took home the dubious award.
Nov 18, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
Our exhaustive (and tasty) list of Texas's best tacos.

Nov 13, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
Are You Ready for the 120 Tacos You Must Eat Before You Die?
Oct 21, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
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.

Sep 17, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
After retiring from a celebrated career in the Navy, William McRaven takes on a new fight: the battle over higher education.
Aug 31, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
Our policy and how you can follow it.

Aug 19, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
Learning to love—or at least respect—the Houston Texans when your heart is in Dallas.


Jun 17, 2015 — By Erica Grieder, Dave Mann, R.G. Ratcliffe and Brian D. Sweany
A preview of the ten best and ten worst legislators of the Eighty-fourth Legislature.


Jun 11, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
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.



Mar 25, 2015 — By Texas Monthly and Brian D. Sweany
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.

Mar 23, 2015 — By Texas Monthly and Brian D. Sweany
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.

Mar 23, 2015 — By Texas Monthly and Brian D. Sweany
A guide to three great Texas museums.

Mar 23, 2015 — By Texas Monthly and Brian D. Sweany
An ode to the national sport of Texas.


Mar 13, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
James Baker says politics has changed since his White House days. For the worse.

Feb 13, 2015 — By brian sweany and Brian D. Sweany
An inside look at Pamela Colloff’s cover story on the fight for marriage equality.
Feb 12, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
A new era for the Capitol—and for Texas Monthly’s Capitol bureau.

Jan 12, 2015 — By Texas Monthly and Brian D. Sweany
Despite all the exits and entrances around him, House speaker Joe Straus plans on staying right where he is.

Jan 9, 2015 — By Brian D. Sweany
Sometimes journalism really does make a difference.



Nov 5, 2014 — By Texas Monthly and Brian D. Sweany
Free advice for Greg Abbott, the new governor of Texas.
Nov 4, 2014 — By brian sweany and Brian D. Sweany
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.
Nov 4, 2014 — By brian sweany and Brian D. Sweany
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%…

Oct 13, 2014 — By Brian D. Sweany
Andrea Valdez and the making of our digital identity.

Sep 12, 2014 — By Brian D. Sweany
Katharyn Rodemann, Barça, and the making of a great issue.

Aug 15, 2014 — By Brian D. Sweany
In a preview of our September cover, Patterson says college players shouldn't be able to monetize their famous names.
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