How an Airbnb Party House Near Austin Became a Legislative Priority for a West Texas Politician
Rarely are special-interest bills in the Texas Lege quite so special as in Brooks Landgraf’s bill targeting the tiny town of Volente.
Forrest Wilder is a senior editor at Texas Monthly. He covers politics, the outdoors, the environment, and what all. In a previous life, he served as editor of the Texas Observer. A native Texan who grew up in South Texas and the Hill Country, Forrest earned a bachelor’s from the University of Texas at Austin. He enjoys rock climbing, fishing, gardening, and spending time with his daughter. Send tips and fan mail to [email protected]
Rarely are special-interest bills in the Texas Lege quite so special as in Brooks Landgraf’s bill targeting the tiny town of Volente.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Amid a debate over competing property tax–relief plans, the lieutenant governor isn’t holding back. But is “California Dade” a good insult?
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Dan Solomon writes about politics, music, food, sports, criminal justice, health care, film, and business.
In the ongoing push to preempt progressive policies at the local level, the GOP-controlled Legislature could undo protections against predatory payday lending.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
The governor has promoted “school choice” at seven religious academies around the state. Why there?
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
I stopped by for a hike on the park’s final day. Its 1,420 acres are set to become luxury homes.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Scientists are using GPS collars to gather surprising data—including on one bear that walked 35 miles to dumpster dive.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
In an address that resembled a campaign ad, the governor issued seven priorities for the Legislature, including a push for “school choice.”
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Internal documents offer new insights into an unprecedented ploy in Wimberley to divert public-education dollars to private schools.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
The first rule of catching a carp: don’t expect to catch a carp.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Three good spots around the state to fly-fish for Cyprinus carpio.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
The ways of the Texas Legislature are confoundingly weird. Here’s a guide to the madness.
Christopher Hooks writes mostly about Texas politics and occasionally about more serious subjects.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
What happens when hundreds of thousands of people go to the same place looking for a little quiet time? One of our two national parks is finding out.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Proposed regulations have prompted an intense backlash from hunters, trappers, and landowners.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Representative Jared Patterson is following a long legislative tradition of trying to troll Austin.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
It's a big win for a city that often feels neglected by Austin and Washington, D.C.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Author S. C. Gwynne calls his 2009 profile of the pirate-obsessed former Texas Tech coach part of the “golden era” of his journalism career.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Only a handful of the state’s 219 legislative and congressional races were competitive. That was by design.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
DPS director Steve McCraw could legally release mountains of evidence tomorrow. Instead, he is hiding behind a veil of secrecy.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Political operatives descended on the Hill Country town of Wimberley with a scheme to send taxpayer dollars to private schools. Now they’re shopping the same blueprint elsewhere.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
The lieutenant governor’s rural bus tour looks more like an extended vacation than a reelection bid.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
It’s become a Texas tradition to hold brief gubernatorial debates during high school football prime time.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
In 1982, Dick J. Reavis chronicled the first government-led lethal injection in world history—and the last moments of Charlie Brooks's life.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Plans were underway to revive tourism at Fort Clark Springs in southwest Texas. But then, in a scenario increasingly common across the state, the water stopped flowing.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Across the state, Texans are experiencing record-high temperatures, but we might be recalling this summer fondly someday.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Homeowners in hot housing markets got a nasty surprise when their appraisals arrived this spring. Here’s what happened when some of them tried to get reductions.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
How to get the adventure and scenery without having to spend days in your kayak or canoe.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
My family’s shack on an island in the world’s largest hypersaline lagoon has brought us closer to the fishing—and to one another.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Texas authorities bungled the facts about the law enforcement response at Robb Elementary School. Then they went silent.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Texas has wild weather. We need a lexicon to match.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Defenders of limitless guns are out of ideas but full of excuses.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
In the Republican runoff for attorney general, incumbent Ken Paxton—not to mention Donald Trump—got his wish.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Please clap.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
No, sorry, we can't blame the Californians. Here's more than you ever wanted to know about your home’s skyrocketing appraisal.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Two-fifths of Texas Republicans say they would never vote for a Bush.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Over several years, Richard West spent two months in seven Texas locales. His reporting eventually won the National Magazine Award.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
The seventh-generation Texan is roaming the state in her van, registering voters—and digging into her family's history in the long struggle for voting rights.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
After two years of hell, Texas teachers are burned-out, angry, tired—and sounding the alarm about public education.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
The Russian-funded network may have folded, but Texas native Rachel Blevins is still propagandizing for Putin.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
The new maps have done away with nearly every competitive district, meaning most races will be decided next week or in the May runoffs.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
In Texas's Republican primaries, the stop-the-steal message doesn’t seem to be catching fire.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Jeb’s son is running for his political life in the Texas attorney general’s race. But Donald Trump may get the last laugh.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Dan McQueen, best known for serving as Corpus Christi mayor for just 37 days, now wants to fly his personal autonomous aerial vehicle to D.C.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.
Some idiots carved their names on prehistoric petroglyphs in Big Bend—and it's part of a disturbing spike in vandalism.
Forrest Wilder writes about politics and the outdoors.