Ben Rowen, Contributor at Texas Monthly

Featured Articles

An aerial view of the wave pool, including the concrete grid on the bottom, at Waco Surf on June 9.

Sports

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.

Politics & Policy

Sorry, Democrats, Texas Is Not Secretly a Blue State

Millions of eligible Texans don't vote. That doesn't mean they're liberals-in-waiting.

News & Politics

The Case for More Californians

They’re self-obsessed and believe themselves exceptional. In other words, they fit right in. Plus, Texas needs ’em.

Don Huffines, a few campaign staffers and volunteers, and some protesters at a rally against vaccine mandates at Rice University.

Politics & Policy

Don Huffines Won the War of Ideas. Did It Cost Him a Chance to Unseat Greg Abbott?

He decided to mount a GOP primary challenge when COVID-19 policy was animating Texas’s right wing. But the governor stole his thunder.

Politics & Policy

Collin College Has a Free Speech Problem

At the sprawling North Texas community college, four professors say they were let go for speaking their minds. They’re not going quietly.

Travel & Outdoors

I Went Skiing in Texas

On top of Mt. Aggie, the only slope in the state, it’s all downhill from here.

27 Articles

Victor Wembanyama reacts after a dunk during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at Frost Bank Center on October 25, 2023, in San Antonio.

Sports|

October 26, 2023

Wembymania Achieves Liftoff—Barely

Foul trouble slowed the San Antonio Spurs rookie in Wednesday’s loss to Dallas, but Wembanyama’s flashes of brilliance still shone bright.

Food & Drink|

August 8, 2023

My Week of Whataburger

When I first arrived in Texas, I didn’t get the fawning over Whataburger. I tried to understand by eating 21 straight meals there.

Sports|

July 17, 2023

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.

Politics & Policy|

April 20, 2023

Texas Secessionists Rail Against Censorship. Now One Is Suing a Republican Lawmaker for Calling Her Treasonous.

A right-wing First Amendment lawyer is representing a plaintiff suing representative Jeff Leach of Plano for harsh tweets about a TEXIT backer.

Politics & Policy|

April 14, 2023

Cruz Watch: The Senator Attempts to Dunk on Pop

Our man picks a fight with a San Antonio icon. Maybe they should settle this on the court—or in the 2024 election?

Politics & Policy|

February 27, 2023

Inside the Karaoke Bar Where Texas Lawmakers Serenade One Another

Legislators and staffers have been cavorting in one of Austin’s most dimly lit establishments.

Kyle Rittenhouse Rally Against Censorship in Conroe

Politics & Policy|

January 30, 2023

Kyle Rittenhouse and What the Right Is Talking About When It Talks About Censorship

Booted from one locale amid outcry, the “Rally Against Censorship” proceeded—with an airing of familiar right-wing grievances.

Texans in DC: A Texas Republican Defies His Colleagues on Ukraine, While Louie Gohmert Can’t Stop Believing

Politics & Policy|

December 16, 2022

A Texas Republican Defies His Colleagues on Ukraine, While Louie Gohmert Can’t Stop Believing

The lame-duck congressman looks to leave a mark, while his colleagues float a big border plan and do some culture warring.

Politics & Policy|

November 30, 2022

Texas Held an Election. Most Voters Didn’t Come.

Every two years the Democrats claim they will win by turning out new voters. Every two years they fail.

Politics & Policy|

November 21, 2022

Louie Gohmert’s Last Stand, Shuffling Government Spending, and Other Texan Proposals in Congress

Texan legislators in Washington keep their eyes on the important things. Texas Monthly rounded up the latest.

Politics & Policy|

October 26, 2022

Sorry, Democrats, Texas Is Not Secretly a Blue State

Millions of eligible Texans don't vote. That doesn't mean they're liberals-in-waiting.

Politics & Policy|

October 13, 2022

A National Law That Would Keep the Spurs in San Antonio, and Other Texan Proposals in Congress

Texan legislators in Washington keep their eyes on the important things. Texas Monthly rounded up the latest.

Politics & Policy|

September 14, 2022

Is There Anything Ken Paxton Could Do to Turn Voters Against Him?

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?

The author, in the pink kayak, shooting (and scoring) during a Sunday scrimmage.

Sports|

June 21, 2022

Kayak Polo Is the Most Joyful, Adrenaline-Fueled, Raucous Sport You’ve Never Tried

Marco who? This is the ultimate water game.

Politics & Policy|

May 18, 2022

A Texas Cop’s Indictment Made Him a Right-wing Darling. Will It Get Him Elected?

Justin Berry was running a sleepy state House race against Ellen Troxclair before his policing at George Floyd protests came to the fore.

Politics & Policy|

May 10, 2022

Collin College Has a Free Speech Problem

At the sprawling North Texas community college, four professors say they were let go for speaking their minds. They’re not going quietly.

Travel & Outdoors|

February 16, 2022

I Went Skiing in Texas

On top of Mt. Aggie, the only slope in the state, it’s all downhill from here.

Politics & Policy|

February 12, 2022

Don Huffines Won the War of Ideas. Did It Cost Him a Chance to Unseat Greg Abbott?

He decided to mount a GOP primary challenge when COVID-19 policy was animating Texas’s right wing. But the governor stole his thunder.

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally, Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022, in Conroe, Texas.

Politics & Policy|

January 30, 2022

Texas Republican Candidates Need Donald Trump More Than He Needs Them

At the former president’s Saturday evening rally in Conroe, even candidates whose opponents he’d endorsed were out in full force.

Politics & Policy|

January 11, 2022

Greg Abbott’s GOP Challengers Debated Without Him on Monday—and Gave Him Hell

Don Huffines, Chad Prather, and Allen West had plenty to say about the governor’s failings—all in perfect unison.

News & Politics|

December 20, 2021

The Case for More Californians

They’re self-obsessed and believe themselves exceptional. In other words, they fit right in. Plus, Texas needs ’em.

Governor-Greg-Abbott-COVID-Texas-Vaccine-Mandate

Politics & Policy|

October 28, 2021

Greg Abbott’s Pandemic Approach Almost Worked. Then He Launched a Crusade Against Vaccines.

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.

Politics & Policy|

January 6, 2021

“Love Bombs” vs. “Hang Traitors”: Pro-Trump Protesters Rally for Their Man in Austin

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.

Politics & Policy|

December 14, 2020

Texas Electors Cast Votes for Trump—and for Tossing Out the Results in Key Battleground States

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.