Politics & Policy
December 16, 2020
The 2021 Bum Steer Awards
Let’s face it: this was no one’s favorite year. Here are a few dozen reasons why.
Bum Steers
Roundups of Texas’s most ridiculous and idiotic endeavors
Politics & Policy
December 16, 2020
2021 Bum Steer of the Year: The Texas Democratic Party
Because it grew so overconfident about its ability to win Texas that it didn’t bother to figure out how to win Texas, the state’s Democratic party is our Bum Steer of the Year!…
News
June 5, 2020
The Best and the Bums: Streets of Rage
A little girl responds to unspeakable loss, the governor de-escalates, black trail-riders take Discovery Green, Ted Cruz’s craven response to military force, and a guy with a sword in Deep Ellum.
Politics & Policy
May 7, 2020
The Best and the Bums: Who’s Doing Good and Who’s Not in These Crazy Times
From Mattress Mack to that Austin guy who pushed a park ranger into the lake, the pandemic is bringing out the best and worst in people.
Bum Steers
December 18, 2019
From the Editor, January 2020: Herding Bum Steers
Plus, feeling grateful for our gimlet-eyed deputy editor, Jeff Salamon.
Politics & Policy
December 18, 2019
2020 Bum Steer of the Year: Dennis Bonnen
For breaking new ground in being bad at being bad, Texas Speaker of the House Dennis Bonnen has earned one half of our annual booby prize!…
Politics & Policy
December 18, 2019
2020 Bum Steer of the Year: Beto O’Rourke
For abandoning the state that had lifted him up from obscurity, Beto O’Rourke is the winner of one half of our annual booby prize!…
Politics & Policy
December 18, 2019
The 2020 Bum Steer Awards
Beto O'Rourke, Dennis Bonnen, and the Houston Astros make our annual dishonor roll, along with assorted lesser-known idiots and evildoers.
Bum Steers
December 16, 2019
2020 Bum Steer Awards: The Houston Astros
An open letter to a team that made us all proud—and then started whiffing.
Bum Steers
January 3, 2019
2019 Bum Steer Awards: Steve Stockman, Who Proved a Particularly Greedy and Especially Busy Criminal
The disgraced former congressman is our third runner-up for his eagerness to enrich himself—or at least pay his kennel bills—in a transparently illegal manner.
Bum Steers
January 3, 2019
The 2019 Bum Steer Awards: Lupe Valdez, Who Was Woefully Unprepared to Run Against Governor Greg Abbott
The former Dallas County sheriff, our second runner-up, ran the worst gubernatorial campaign in Texas since the last time a Democrat went up against Greg Abbott.
Bum Steers
January 3, 2019
2019 Bum Steer Awards: Blake Farenthold, Who Refused to Suffer Consequences for His Actions
The former congressman’s troublesome professional ethics, alleged caddish behavior, and questionable taste in adult-size onesie pajamas made him our first runner-up.
Bum Steers
January 3, 2019
2019 Bum Steer Awards: Alex Jones, Who Helped Create a World Where Facts Don’t Matter
Our Bum Steer of the Year, the radio host dragged our democracy into the same sewer he crawled out of so many years ago.
Bum Steers
January 3, 2019
The 2019 Bum Steer Awards Are Here!
Welcome back to our annual roundup of Texas's most ridiculous and idiotic endeavors, featuring political personalities, flashy figures, and plenty of nameless ne'er-do-wells.
Politics & Policy
January 16, 2018
The ‘National Podcast of Texas,’ Episode Two
Cruz 2.0, West Texas umbrellas, and our Bum Steer of the Year.
Bum Steers
January 5, 2018
Introducing the ‘National Podcast of Texas’
Episode one: Behind the scenes of the 2018 Bum Steer Awards.
Bum Steers
December 21, 2017
Texans of the Year
Selecting the Bum Steers can be a bit of a drag. That's why this year we're supplementing our list with something a bit more upbeat.
Bum Steers
December 21, 2017
Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 3: The Travis County DA’s Office
The Austin-based office captured third place for the botched investigation of state representative Dawnna Dukes.
Bum Steers
December 21, 2017
Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 8: Lamar Smith
The outgoing congressman takes eighth place for his refusal to face the truth about climate change.
Bum Steers
December 21, 2017
Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 7: Louie Gohmert
The East Texas congressman takes seventh place for his wack-job debut as an infographic creator.
Bum Steers
December 21, 2017
Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 1: Dan Patrick
Our lieutenant governor, for his eagerness to squander his power, waste our time, and drag Texas politics into the bathroom, is our Bum Steer of the Year.
Bum Steers
December 21, 2017
Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 2: Mother Nature
The Mistress of the Elements occupies second place—for being really, really mean to Texas.
Bum Steers
December 21, 2017
Bum Steer Awards 2018: The Rest of the List
The eight infamous Steers celebrated elsewhere in this package had a lot of company this year in our hall of shame. Here are another fifty or so Texans deserving of some ignominy.
Bum Steers
December 21, 2017
Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 4: The Texas Democratic Party
Landing in fourth place, the state government’s also-ran loyal opposition, for going missing in action, year after year.
Bum Steers
December 21, 2017
Bum Steer Awards 2018 No. 5: Alex Jones
In fifth place: the excitable radio host, for saying so many crazy things that his unsuccessful and very public child custody battle wasn’t the most embarrassing thing that happened to him this year.
Politics & Policy
December 4, 2017
Texas Monthly 2017 Bum Steer Bracket—Round Two
Help us choose 2017’s Bum Steer. Vote in round two of our poll.
Bum Steers
October 16, 2017
The South Texas Fajita Bandit Has Finally Been Caught
It took nine years for him to meat his match.
Bum Steers
August 24, 2016
No, Ladies, You Don’t Press Clothes or Make Waffles With It—It’s a Gridiron
A twist on the Aggie War Hymn.
Bum Steers
June 22, 2016
Butt the Pain and the Embarrassment Were Real
A case of mistaken identity in Groesbeck.
Bum Steers
May 26, 2016
That Wasn’t an Excavator. It Was an I-Gotta-Take-a-Dump Truck.
The Blackland Prairie becomes an unfortunate dumping ground.
Humor
April 18, 2016
When Does He Perform His Disappearing Act?
A bit of magic in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Bum Steers
February 24, 2016
Next Time They’ll Likely Try a Different Smuggling Root
A case of carrots and the customs checkpoint in Pharr.
Bum Steers
October 21, 2015
And “Competitive Crop Watching” Didn’t Even Figure in the Rankings
How College Station became the "most exciting" city in Texas.
Bum Steers
September 17, 2015
Do You, Defendant #SC100313, Take This Woman . . .
A curious case of courthouse nuptials.
Bum Steers
August 19, 2015
Just Because You’re Paranoid Doesn’t Mean They Aren’t Out to Bug You
Bugging out.
The Daily Post
June 11, 2015
Cirilo Castillo Jr. Busted Again After Allegedly Trying to Have Sex with a Horse
Time to double-check the locks on your barns. …
Bum Steers
May 1, 2015
Blanco Mayoral Candidate Is Campaigning on a “Keep Blanco Blanco” Platform
We can see how that looks bad.
Bum Steers
March 13, 2015
They’re Sorry, They Did as Bastard They Could
A headline in the February 19 edition of the Waller County Times Tribune announced, “Hitch up your bitches and jingle those spurs, its trail ride season.” …
Bum Steers
February 12, 2015
Next Up: Repealing the Tax on Steam-Powered Cotton Gins
Congratulations to new ag commission Sid Miller.
Bum Steers
January 9, 2015
Justice Was Overserved
After DWI charges against Justice Nora Longoria, of the Thirteenth Court of Appeals, were dismissed, outraged Hidalgo County Republicans pointed out that Longoria and the district attorney and district court judge who decided to let her off are all Democrats—and a police dash-cam video that showed her bombing her field sobriety test went viral.
Bum Steers
December 5, 2014
Bum Steers 2015
From arrogant announcers to zany zygotes—and everything in between—it was a banner year for the Bum Steers.
Bum Steers
December 5, 2014
If It Helps Land the Spite, Elf, and Gnome Convention, It’ll Be a Bargain
The Grapevine City Council approved spending $60,000 in public funds to erect a four-and-a-half-foot unicorn statue on the roof of the city’s convention and visitors bureau building. …
