Wacowabunga! Why California Surfers Are Descending on Central Texas
Some of the best waves in the world are found at the Waco Surf water park, far away from any ocean.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics. Before joining the magazine, Ben worked as an editor and fact-checker at Pacific Standard and the Atlantic. In addition to Texas politics, he’s written about Californians, internet religions, and baseball.
Some of the best waves in the world are found at the Waco Surf water park, far away from any ocean.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Millions of eligible Texans don't vote. That doesn't mean they're liberals-in-waiting.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
They’re self-obsessed and believe themselves exceptional. In other words, they fit right in. Plus, Texas needs ’em.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
He decided to mount a GOP primary challenge when COVID-19 policy was animating Texas’s right wing. But the governor stole his thunder.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
At the sprawling North Texas community college, four professors say they were let go for speaking their minds. They’re not going quietly.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
On top of Mt. Aggie, the only slope in the state, it’s all downhill from here.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Foul trouble slowed the San Antonio Spurs rookie in Wednesday’s loss to Dallas, but Wembanyama’s flashes of brilliance still shone bright.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
When I first arrived in Texas, I didn’t get the fawning over Whataburger. I tried to understand by eating 21 straight meals there.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Some of the best waves in the world are found at the Waco Surf water park, far away from any ocean.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
A right-wing First Amendment lawyer is representing a plaintiff suing representative Jeff Leach of Plano for harsh tweets about a TEXIT backer.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Our man picks a fight with a San Antonio icon. Maybe they should settle this on the court—or in the 2024 election?
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Legislators and staffers have been cavorting in one of Austin’s most dimly lit establishments.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Booted from one locale amid outcry, the “Rally Against Censorship” proceeded—with an airing of familiar right-wing grievances.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
The lame-duck congressman looks to leave a mark, while his colleagues float a big border plan and do some culture warring.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Every two years the Democrats claim they will win by turning out new voters. Every two years they fail.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Texan legislators in Washington keep their eyes on the important things. Texas Monthly rounded up the latest.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Millions of eligible Texans don't vote. That doesn't mean they're liberals-in-waiting.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Texan legislators in Washington keep their eyes on the important things. Texas Monthly rounded up the latest.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Texans have stood by their attorney general through two criminal indictments and a host of other scandals. Is there any misdeed that might stick to his Teflon coating before the November election?
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Marco who? This is the ultimate water game.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Justin Berry was running a sleepy state House race against Ellen Troxclair before his policing at George Floyd protests came to the fore.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
At the sprawling North Texas community college, four professors say they were let go for speaking their minds. They’re not going quietly.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
On top of Mt. Aggie, the only slope in the state, it’s all downhill from here.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
He decided to mount a GOP primary challenge when COVID-19 policy was animating Texas’s right wing. But the governor stole his thunder.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
At the former president’s Saturday evening rally in Conroe, even candidates whose opponents he’d endorsed were out in full force.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Don Huffines, Chad Prather, and Allen West had plenty to say about the governor’s failings—all in perfect unison.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
They’re self-obsessed and believe themselves exceptional. In other words, they fit right in. Plus, Texas needs ’em.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
In the beginning, Greg Abbott took a hands-off approach that kept Texas ahead of other large states in mitigating cases and deaths. But when he tried to appease right-wing Republicans, the story changed.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
As the president’s supporters launched a violent insurrection in Washington, D.C., about three hundred demonstrators gathered at the Texas Capitol to call for the election results to be overturned.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
A resolution calling on four other state legislatures to override the will of their voters passed after electors in those states had already confirmed Biden’s win.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
We surveyed a range of Texas politicians in competitive races to see how they’re addressing the demands of the movement.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
Social distancing mandates have been instituted to slow the pandemic’s spread—a necessity that also coincides with a loneliness epidemic.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.
The Legislature added an option for voters without valid IDs per a court order, but for the homeless population it might not be enough.
Ben Rowen is a senior editor at Texas Monthly for News & Politics.