TM Talks
September 6, 2023
What a Pulitzer Prize Winner Learned While Researching a Novel About Texas Politics
Lawrence Wright’s new book, ‘Mr. Texas,’ was inspired by what he discovered about corruption, political combat, and, yes, pig hunting.
Politics & Policy
Reporting and commentary on the Legislature, campaigns, and elected officials
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51-100 of 7062 Articles
Politics & Policy
September 6, 2023
Waiting in Line for Ken Paxton
Before sunrise, journalists and eager onlookers gathered at the gates of the Capitol grounds, awaiting the start of the attorney general's historic impeachment trial.
By Katy Vine![Katy Vine's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
September 6, 2023
What We Learned on Day Two of the Ken Paxton Impeachment Trial
We heard testimony on Paxton's affair and watched the defense make one of the prosecution's key witnesses squirm.
Energy
September 5, 2023
Hundreds of Abandoned Oil Wells Are Rotting Away in Texas Bays
Defunct companies have left behind energy facilities that leak toxins into fragile coastal ecosystems. And guess who has to clean them up?
By Russell Gold![Russell Gold's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
September 5, 2023
Highlights From the First Day of the Ken Paxton Impeachment Trial
The Texas Senate did not dismiss any charges, Paxton will not have to testify, and more we learned from day one.
Politics & Policy
September 1, 2023
Republican and Democratic Cities Band Together to Blow Up the Death Star Bill
HB 2127, which strips municipalities of regulatory authority, was intended to target liberal cities. So why are conservative mayors so upset?
Politics & Policy
August 31, 2023
Your Cheat Sheet for Ken Paxton’s Impeachment Trial
Everything you need to know about the alleged adultery, bribery, and abuse of office. Plus: Big-time lawyers! Billionaire donors! And burner phones!
By Mimi Swartz![Mimi Swartz's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
August 30, 2023
Big News: According to a New Documentary, the Texas House Is Secretly Run by Democrats!
The film by right-wing activist Michael Quinn Sullivan is a warning to Republicans who might vote for Ken Paxton's impeachment.
Politics & Policy
August 29, 2023
He’s Been Single for Years. Now He’s Marrying His House.
In far West Texas, where loneliness abounds, one man is on a quest to redefine the meaning of love and companionship.
By Peter Holley![Peter Holley's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
August 28, 2023
Who’s Killing Jacob’s Well?
For the second year in a row, the iconic spring-fed swimming hole has stopped flowing, the consequence of drought and overpumping.
Politics & Policy
August 25, 2023
Would Nate Paul and Ken Paxton Still Be Friends Under Other Circumstances? A Texas Monthly Investigation
Unpacking the bromance between the 36-year-old nightclub owner and the 60-year-old evangelical Christian and career politician.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
August 24, 2023
The Value of the Mexican Peso Is Soaring. What Does That Mean for Texans?
Will tequila and trucks get more expensive? Will exports of chemicals and plastics to Mexico boom? What will happen to immigration?
Politics & Policy
August 23, 2023
Greg Abbott Raised an Astonishing $15.6 Million in 23 Days
The governor attracted strong support from small-dollar donors, but a large chunk of his haul came from multimillionaires and billionaires who quietly cut six-figure checks.
Politics & Policy
August 18, 2023
Red Flags, Fast Cars, and Church’s Chicken: Highlights From the 4,000 Pages of Ken Paxton Impeachment Evidence
From his alleged dealings with Nate Paul to the attorney general’s seeming penchant for fast food, here’s what we learned from documents released late Thursday night.
By Mimi Swartz![Mimi Swartz's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
August 16, 2023
Dam It?
An oil executive wants to block the South Llano River for private recreational purposes. Hill Country residents are outraged.
By Russell Gold![Russell Gold's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
August 15, 2023
Why the Democratic Establishment Has Rushed to Support Henry Cuellar
National party leaders are stoutly backing the centrist U.S. representative from Laredo, hoping to avoid a primary from a progressive.
Politics & Policy
August 14, 2023
Houston Is Young and Dynamic. Its Next Leader Won’t Be.
The leading candidates for Houston mayor are two septuagenarians: state senator John Whitmire and U.S. congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee. What happened to the city of the future?
Politics & Policy
August 14, 2023
When It Comes to People Behind Bars, Texas Is Way Ahead
We keep putting convicts away. And lawmakers want those numbers to rise.
By Michael Hall![Michael Hall's Profile Photo]()
Health
August 14, 2023
Here’s the Story of One of the Millions of Texans Who Have No Medical Insurance
More than one in six Texans lack health insurance, the highest rate in the country. Behind the statistics are countless human beings experiencing unnecessary suffering.
Politics & Policy
August 10, 2023
Ain’t From Around Here: Is Texas A&M a “Military School in the Lone Star Hinterlands”?
The Guardian thinks so and, weirdly, so do many Aggies.
Politics & Policy
August 9, 2023
Where Do Texas Abortion Laws Stand Now?
A state district court judge narrowed Texas’s abortion ban, but the state’s appeal complicates access to the procedure.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
August 8, 2023
Is There Any Chance Ken Paxton Will Be Convicted?
Threats from the AG’s supporters loom over the Republican state senators who will serve as the jurors in the impeachment trial.
By Mimi Swartz![Mimi Swartz's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
August 4, 2023
Dan Patrick Defended Himself Against Free Speech Critics. Does His Case Hold Up?
We analyzed the Texas lieutenant governor’s argument about why he was right to have A&M investigate a professor who’d allegedly made critical comments about him.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
August 3, 2023
Ken Paxton Managed to Delay His Trial on Securities Fraud Charges for Eight Years. Now It’s Coming Home to Roost.
The state Senate’s vote on Paxton’s impeachment will proceed independently from his criminal case. But the outcomes are interlinked.
Politics & Policy
August 1, 2023
Think Seasonal Affective Disorder Is a Winter Thing? Try Living Through Texas Summer.
The disorder is commonly associated with the colder months, but studies show that excessive heat also impacts our mental health
Politics & Policy
July 31, 2023
Think You’re Hot? Try Being a Pitmaster During the Hottest Summer in Texas History.
A new era of climate change–fueled heat waves is pushing the high priests of Texas barbecue to their limit.
By Peter Holley![Peter Holley's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
July 28, 2023
Texas Is Quietly Leading the Way on Limiting Child Protective Services Overreach
Policy changes aimed at reducing the number of children who end up in foster care—many championed by progressives in blue states—are being passed by Republicans in Texas.
Politics & Policy
July 28, 2023
Her Daughter Was Killed in Uvalde. Now She’s Running for Mayor.
Kimberly Mata-Rubio says after the tragedy, Uvalde remains a divided community—she wants to change that.
Politics & Policy
July 27, 2023
Fahrenheit 105: Why I No Longer Love the Texas Heat
I like to think I am Texas Tough when it comes to the heat. But lately, my fortitude has been tested.
Border & Immigration
July 27, 2023
Residents of Eagle Pass Grow Wary of Greg Abbott’s Militarized Border
Confronted with human suffering and death, as well as disruption of their small town, some former supporters of Operation Lone Star have started to sour on the program.
Politics & Policy
July 27, 2023
Greg Abbott’s Border Policy Is at Once Cruel and Ineffective. Many State Leaders Wouldn’t Have It Any Other Way.
The Texas GOP, which once advocated for a more humane immigration policy, is wedded to Operation Lone Star despite its exorbitant costs and failures.
Politics & Policy
July 26, 2023
Texas A&M’s Journalism Fiasco Has Roots in the School’s Conformist Culture
Now that right-wingers have forced out a top-notch journalist at my alma mater, I worry that future students won't enjoy the same opportunities I did.
Politics & Policy
July 26, 2023
Why Is Will Hurd Running for President?
The former U.S. congressman from Texas on his bid to beat Trump, artificial intelligence, his zodiac sign, and more.
Politics & Policy
July 24, 2023
The Texas GOP Once Revered Ron DeSantis, but He Remains a Clear Second Fiddle to Trump
The Florida governor is still popular with many grassroots Republicans here, but most of the likely primary voters seem unready to abandon the former president.
Politics & Policy
July 24, 2023
“I Don’t Want to Live in This State of Terror Anymore”: Some Families With Trans Children Are Leaving Texas
After Governor Greg Abbott signed a law blocking gender-affirming care for minors, some have fled the state. Others have no choice but to stay.
Politics & Policy
July 20, 2023
“I Think He’s a Muslim at Heart”: Texas State Historical Association Leader Endorsed Obama Conspiracy Theory
J.P. Bryan, the embattled executive director of the TSHA, faces criticism for his approach to history—including recent history. He says he hasn’t seen evidence that the former president is a Christian.
Politics & Policy
July 18, 2023
Texas Is Now a Majority-Minority State. Why Haven’t Our Politics Changed?
Since 2004, non-Hispanic white residents have been outnumbered in Texas. And to the apparent surprise of many, that hasn’t worked out all that well for the Democratic Party.
Politics & Policy
July 17, 2023
The Texas Billionaire’s Guide to Befriending Clarence Thomas
Harlan Crow and Jerry Jones have bought access to the Supreme Court justice through carefully curated gifts. What do Michael Dell, Tilman Fertitta, Elon Musk, and others have to offer?
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
July 17, 2023
Ted Cruz’s Team Is Confident About 2024. Should It Be?
No Democrat has won a statewide election in Texas since 1994, but Colin Allred and Roland Gutierrez have something working in their favor that Beto O’Rourke didn’t.
Politics & Policy
July 11, 2023
Could Texas Really Eliminate Property Taxes?
The Legislature took a big step Monday, but further efforts could come with great costs: a sky-high sales tax, decimated public schools, and defunding the police.
Border & Immigration
July 10, 2023
How Cartel Violence Has Reshaped Tejano Identity in South Texas
Many border residents no longer visit their home country, which may help explain the region’s rightward political shift.
Politics & Policy
July 10, 2023
Before Uvalde, Roland Gutierrez Was Just Another State Senator. Now He’s Challenging Ted Cruz.
The state senator was little known until last year, when the massacre in Uvalde, in his district, thrust him into the spotlight.
Politics & Policy
July 6, 2023
How to Lose Friends and Alienate the Legislature
The governor has long suffered from the reputation that he’s a policy lightweight. He’s turning it around this year in five easy steps.
Politics & Policy
July 5, 2023
This Democrat Is Back in the Texas Lege After 40 Years. He Can’t Believe How Bad Things Are.
On property taxes, school funding, and more, “Democrats are not even in the conversation,” Dallas representative John Bryant says.
Energy
June 29, 2023
Without Solar Power, This Texas Heat Wave Would Burn Much Worse
Thank goodness the state GOP's war on renewables has, so far, failed.
By Russell Gold![Russell Gold's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
June 22, 2023
“The Most Abusive Environment I’ve Ever Worked In”: Former Employees of a State Legislator Tell All
Two high-profile workplace complaints made headlines at the Capitol this year, but insiders say others against Houston representative Shawn Thierry have been ignored.
Politics & Policy
June 20, 2023
In the Ken Paxton Impeachment Trial, GOP Megadonors Are Free to Tamper With the Jury
As celebrity lawyers feud in the press, Republican groups have launched an influence campaign in the Texas Senate.
By Mimi Swartz![Mimi Swartz's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
June 16, 2023
A Fort Worth Couple Challenged the Indian Child Welfare Act. They Lost.
The Brackeens sued after their initial petition to adopt a Navajo and Cherokee boy was denied. A 7–2 Supreme Court ruling represents a major win for tribal sovereignty.
Politics & Policy
June 16, 2023
A German Flag Went Missing in WWII. It Was Recently Found in Houston—Then Went Missing Again.
The treasured banner was discovered in a Texas gun store, sparking questions about the repatriation of artifacts.
Best and Worst Legislators
June 13, 2023
2023: The Best and Worst Legislators
Our scorecard of the Eighty-eighth Texas Legislature’s noisy scoundrels and quiet heroes.