Politics & Policy
March 4, 2020
Roundup: 2020 Texas Primary
We weigh in on the most important Super Tuesday races, recent results, and what it all means.
Politics & Policy
Reporting and commentary on the Legislature, campaigns, and elected officials
Politics & Policy
March 3, 2020
Fox News Analyst Jehmu Greene on Her Not-So-Secret Plan to Swing “The Movable Middle” Toward the Left
On the National Podcast of Texas, the former DNC chair candidate handicaps Super Tuesday and explains why she’s looking forward to a contested Democratic National Convention.
Politics & Policy
March 3, 2020
“The Oldest, the Lowest, the Slowest”: Why Voting Isn’t Easy for Homeless People in Texas
The Legislature added an option for voters without valid IDs per a court order, but for the homeless population it might not be enough.
Politics & Policy
March 3, 2020
The Biden Unity Party Last Night Was a Music Hall Putsch
At a honky-tonk in Dallas, the Democratic party made its move against Bernie—finally.
Politics & Policy
March 3, 2020
San Antonio Says It’s Prepared for the Coronavirus. Are Federal Officials Ready to Listen?
The city, which trained for a flu pandemic as recently as November, is ground zero for military medicine.
Politics & Policy
March 2, 2020
I’ve Been Agonizing for Two Years Over Which Democrat to Support for President
Like a lot of Democratic primary voters, I am still in a black hole of indecision, with the clock running down.
Politics & Policy
March 2, 2020
What the Early Vote in Texas Might Tell Us About the Rest of 2020
Nearly all of the new early voters in Collin County participated on the Democratic side, and blue vote totals were up across the state.
Politics & Policy
February 27, 2020
Bull Session: Pete Davidson Isn’t Sorry About Dan Crenshaw After All
Plus, the return of Robert Morrow, Bloomberg hires the “homeless Wi-Fi” guy, and Ronny Jackson reveals the secret to Trump’s excellent health.
Politics & Policy
February 27, 2020
Henry Cuellar’s Constituents Are Restless, But Are They Ready for AOC Ally Jessica Cisneros?
Voters in the Laredo-based border district will choose between the eight-term conservative Democrat and a young, progressive immigration attorney who is running an unabashedly left-wing campaign.
Politics & Policy
February 26, 2020
Bloomberg Paves the Way for Bernie to Win Texas, According to the Polling
A new poll asks the question that previous ones strongly suggested.
Politics & Policy
February 26, 2020
Most Politicians Don’t Court Muslim Voters. Bernie Is Betting on Them in Texas.
Ahead of Super Tuesday, the Sanders campaign has reached out to Muslim voters unlike any campaign before.
Politics & Policy
February 25, 2020
Mike Bloomberg’s Pitch to Turn Texas Blue in November Sounds Too Good to Be True—and It Might Be
Idealistic young people in the Bloomberg campaign believe they'll stay in Texas through November. But that's not what top staff are saying.
Politics & Policy
February 20, 2020
Bull Session: Ted Cruz Says Keep Your Laws Off His Body
Dan Patrick calls the Paw Patrol, and Dan Crenshaw sticks it to Nickelback…
Politics & Policy
February 19, 2020
Criminal Justice Reform Moves Pretty Fast. Just Ask Harris County DA Kim Ogg.
Four years ago, Ogg won election by promising to reform the county’s justice system. Now she’s getting primaried by two of her former prosecutors, who say she hasn’t done enough.
Politics & Policy
February 19, 2020
Lina Hidalgo’s Year of Living Dangerously
Led by a twentysomething Latina, Democrats now run Harris County, offering a glimpse at what things might look like—for better or for worse—if the party finds itself back on top across Texas.
Politics & Policy
February 18, 2020
Kirk Watson Escapes Dan Patrick’s Senate
The departure of the longtime Austin senator—for the greener pastures of higher education—will set off a fierce race for his seat.
Politics & Policy
February 16, 2020
Midland Oilman Clayton Williams (1931-2020): Winner in Business, Not in Politics
The colorful mogul lost the 1990 gubernatorial election after making a joke about rape and admitting to not paying some income taxes.
Politics & Policy
February 14, 2020
20 Other Texas Sayings According to Mike Bloomberg
The presidential candidate thinks ”as scared as a cat at a dog pound” is a thing that Texans say. So we’ve got a few more for him.
Politics & Policy
February 13, 2020
Bull Session: Dan Crenshaw and Briscoe Cain Make Election Season Weird
Plus, lessons in personal branding from Ted Cruz, and Pete Olson…
Politics & Policy
February 11, 2020
The Balance of Power in Texas Politics Runs Along I-35
The booming suburbs of Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio could change the distribution of power in the state.
News & Politics
February 11, 2020
Behind Nancy Pelosi’s Power Brooch Is an 86-Year-Old Texan Jeweler
Pelosi ripped up Trump's State of the Union speech while wearing a pin that is now a must-have item for Democrats.
Border & Immigration
February 10, 2020
This Family Survived an African Refugee Camp. Their New Challenge: Surviving Houston Without a Car.
One of the Bayou City’s biggest immigrant gateways, southwest Houston, is a dangerous and daunting place for pedestrians.
Politics & Policy
February 6, 2020
Bull Session: Donald Trump Remembers the Beautiful, Beautiful Alamo
Plus, Taylor Swift honors Beto O’Rourke in song, and hard-right scandalmongers Empower Texans expand into BBQ reviews.
Film & TV
February 5, 2020
The Documentary ‘Boys State’ Delivers a Dose of Political Hope to Our Divisive Age
The Sundance Film Festival award winner follows teenagers from across Texas as they convene in Austin for an immersive lesson in government.
Politics & Policy
February 5, 2020
The Iowa Caucuses Taught Us Once Again That No One Knows Anything
This year is going to feature a lot of confident pronouncements from experts who will be proved wrong again and again. …
Books
February 4, 2020
Michael Lind on Class Warfare and Why Populism Can’t Last
On this week’s podcast, the author and LBJ School of Public Affairs professor lays out an admittedly controversial plan to redefine democracy.
Politics & Policy
January 31, 2020
UT-Austin and Dell Announce $100 Million Partnership to Help Low-Income Students Graduate on Time
The initiative follows on the heels of last summer’s announcement that the university will cover tuition for some students.
Politics & Policy
January 30, 2020
Bull Session: Ted Cruz Rides Impeachment to the Top of the Podcast Charts
Plus, Ken Starr is pulled out of retirement, Pete Olson visits Sesame Street, and Vicente Gonzalez desperately needs a celebrity.
Politics & Policy
January 29, 2020
Bernie Sanders Has Closed the Gap With Joe Biden in Texas
The Vermont socialist looks surprisingly strong in the Lone Star State.
Politics & Policy
January 29, 2020
How Much Does the Democrats’ Big Flop in Tuesday’s Special Election Matter?
Beto & co. came up embarrassingly short, but the result probably doesn’t say all that much about November.
Politics & Policy
January 29, 2020
Waymo’s Autonomous Trucks Are Rolling Into Texas—And Bringing a Debate About Jobs and Safety With Them
Coming soon to a Texas highway near you: self-driving semis. …
News & Politics
January 27, 2020
A Year After 7-Year-Old Jakelin Caal Died in U.S. Custody, Everything (And Nothing) Has Changed for Her Family
Few of the promises made to her family and community were kept. And Jakelin’s father has given up on the American Dream.
Politics & Policy
January 27, 2020
So Far From Heaven, So Close to Texas: Duncan Wood on Trump, Mexico, and Texas
One of America’s premier Mexico experts discusses how Mexico’s populist president is changing relations between Texas and our neighbor to the south.
Politics & Policy
January 24, 2020
Bob Schieffer Remembers Texas Journalist Jim Lehrer (1934-2020)
The longtime PBS news anchor’s influence grew out of his objective and ethical approach to covering the news.
Politics & Policy
January 23, 2020
Bull Session: Greg Abbott’s Historic Summit With Wesley Snipes
Plus, Ted Cruz takes on Stephen King (again), Eliz Markowitz does her best Willie, America Ferrera leaves Vicente Gonzalez hanging, and more!…
Politics & Policy
January 22, 2020
Art Acevedo Can’t Say That, Can He?
Not long after criticizing Ted Cruz and John Cornyn for ignoring gun violence, the Houston police chief sat down to talk about his headline-making comments, why he’s a RINO, and the balance between criminal justice reform and public safety.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2020
Meet the Texas Congresswoman Serving as Impeachment Manager
Freshman Sylvia Garcia of Houston, one of the first two Hispanic women to represent Texas in Congress, is among the seven House members prosecuting President Trump.
Politics & Policy
January 16, 2020
Bull Session: Beto Is Still Out Here Standing on Stuff
Plus, Chip Roy blames California, Paul Bettencourt targeted by liberal hackers, and other extremely on-brand happenings…
Border & Immigration
January 13, 2020
Greg Abbott’s Rejection of Refugees is Baffling—and Boneheaded
The governor’s decision makes no sense from a practical perspective, and ultimately, it can’t be explained as a policy choice at all.
Politics & Policy
January 13, 2020
Texas Should Be the First Primary State, Obviously
Iowa and New Hampshire don’t look like the rest of America, while Texas is a microcosm of the nation.
Politics & Policy
January 9, 2020
Bull Session: Texas Republicans Rally Around Ricky Gervais and Enrique Iglesias Dances to the Tune of $485,000
Plus, Julián Castro and Beto O’Rourke are on the rebound, and Tony Buzbee is on another bender.
Politics & Policy
January 7, 2020
The White Settlement Shooting and When It’s Okay to Politicize a Tragedy
Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick were quick to find a self-serving narrative in the shooting at a church last week.
Music
January 6, 2020
A Dozen Memorable Moments From the ‘National Podcast of Texas’ in 2019
Some of our favorite conversations from our second season, featuring Willie Nelson, Ted Cruz, and Brooklyn Decker.
Politics & Policy
January 3, 2020
What Democrats Lose With the End of Julián Castro’s Campaign
Long criticized for his political caution, the former San Antonio mayor and Obama cabinet member had a profound effect on the presidential primary.
Politics & Policy
January 2, 2020
Miss Me When I’m Gone: Now That His Campaign Is Over, Julián Castro Is Extremely Popular
Castro’s presidential ambitions have ended, but Texas has likely not heard the last of him.
December 30, 2019
The Best Texas Monthly Longform of 2019
Settle in for a by-no-means comprehensive list of some of the most popular stories in our pages this year.
Politics & Policy
December 26, 2019
The Last Decade’s Ten Worst Years in Texas Politics
We stumble down memory lane, gawking at the madness and the mayhem of 2010–2019—and looking for an off-ramp.
Politics & Policy
December 19, 2019
Bull Session: Remember the Alamo? And Wendy Davis? And That Peloton Ad?
Ever since 2014, the Alamo has become the locus of a notably less cinematic war, all raging around the controversial plan to renovate and redesign it.
Criminal Justice
December 19, 2019
He’s One of the Best Young Prosecutors in Texas. He Also Could Get Kicked Out of the Country.
Pedro Villalobos handles felony cases in Travis County, but his own legal status could be in jeopardy.
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!…