News & Politics
June 16, 2022
After 41 Years of Tragedy, Disrepair, and Disease, Juneteenth Is Back at Comanche Crossing
The most dynamic freedom celebration in Texas, begun in the nineteenth century, returns to life.
By Michael Hall![Michael Hall's Profile Photo]()
News & Politics
News & Politics
June 15, 2022
Seven Essential Reads to Understand the Erosion of Abortion Access in Texas
Founded in 1973, Texas Monthly has been reporting on abortion access in Texas since the Roe v. Wade ruling. Here’s what to know.
Energy
June 15, 2022
The West Texas Rancher Exposing Big Oil’s Buried Secrets
After an abandoned well began spewing toxic, salty water onto her Permian Basin land, Ashley Watt would stop at nothing to determine the cause—and to hold Chevron accountable.
Politics & Policy
June 14, 2022
After Years of Victory Laps, the GOP Has Actually Won a Big South Texas Race
Mayra Flores won a special election to serve as the first Republican in the U.S. House from the Rio Grande Valley since 1871.
Politics & Policy
June 14, 2022
What Does the Senate’s Gun Safety Deal Mean for Texas?
John Cornyn helped wrangle other senators from both parties to advance a spate of provisions. But will the Texas Legislature follow his lead?
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
June 14, 2022
Farewell to the Last Frontier
For decades, Terlingua was a refuge for cowboys, wanderers, and weirdos. Now it’s an increasingly popular getaway for well-heeled urbanites.
Business
June 13, 2022
Southwest Airlines Publishes Its Gospel of Herb
The Dallas carrier—whose success is often studied in business schools—offers up its own, self-promotional version of its management secrets.
Politics & Policy
June 10, 2022
When It Comes to Recounts, It’s Not Henry Cuellar’s First Rodeo
The nine-term U.S. congressman from Laredo first came to power after a bitterly contested recount that led some to call the election stolen.
Health
June 9, 2022
A New Wave of Shortages Plagues Texas Hospitals
The latest pandemic-related supply chain disruption prevents patients from getting critical imaging scans.
Art
June 8, 2022
LBJ’s Presidential Doodles Are Just Bonkers
A smoking octopus and pointy-eared aliens: Johnson's sketches on political letterhead are wonderfully weird.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
June 8, 2022
Alex Jones’s Legal Meltdown
In a last-ditch bid to avoid paying massive damages to the Sandy Hook families he defamed, the Infowars host sought bankruptcy protection—and failed to win it.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
News & Politics
June 7, 2022
Matthew McConaughey Has Something Real To Say About Guns
The Uvalde native took to the White House briefing room to talk about the lives of the victims of the Robb Elementary School shooting—and call for change.
Politics & Policy
June 7, 2022
Greg Abbott Once Promised to End School Shootings, but After Uvalde His Tone Has Changed
After ten Texans were murdered at Santa Fe High School in 2018, the Legislature passed seventeen school safety bills. They didn’t work.
Politics & Policy
June 7, 2022
Louie’s Back, Baby! And He’s Got Some Very Specific Complaints.
Follow along with the latest sayings and doings of Louie Gohmert, the Republican congressman for Texas’s First Congressional District.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
June 3, 2022
Making Sense of Greg Abbott’s Reaction to the Uvalde Shooting
The governor has long struggled with crisis management, in part because he always strives to avoid taking political risks.
By Mimi Swartz![Mimi Swartz's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
June 1, 2022
How COVID Has Changed Homelessness in Texas
Pandemic relief funds provided a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” for homeless support programs. But what happens when the money dries up?
News & Politics
May 27, 2022
Why Does the Official Story of the Uvalde School Killings Keep Changing?
The state’s account of how law enforcement responded to the massacre at Robb Elementary School has shifted as it’s been contradicted by witnesses and video.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
May 27, 2022
Most Texas Republican Politicians Avoided the NRA Convention in Houston. But Democrats Poured In.
John Cornyn and Dan Patrick pulled out after Uvalde. Greg Abbott appeared by video. As Ted Cruz spoke, Beto O’Rourke led a protest.
Politics & Policy
May 27, 2022
What Texas GOP Leadership Has (and Has Not) Said in the Days Following Uvalde
“We need to stop the bad guys.” —Ted Cruz
Politics & Policy
May 27, 2022
“It Will Happen Again”: Texas Leaders Have No Plans to Prevent the Next Uvalde
Defenders of limitless guns are out of ideas but full of excuses.
Politics & Policy
May 26, 2022
A Year of “Protecting” Children in Texas
State leaders have campaigned in 2022 on saving Texas children from threats real and imagined. All the while, we’ve been selling them out.
News & Politics
May 26, 2022
How Texans Have Shown Up for Uvalde—and How You Can, Too
A guide for donating money, contacting your representatives, donating blood, receiving mental health services, and more.
News & Politics
May 26, 2022
As an Accuser Speaks Out, the Criminal Case Against Basecamp Terlingua Founder Is Dismissed
For the past two years, Shawna Graves has wanted anonymity. Now she’s sharing her story publicly.
News & Politics
May 26, 2022
Border Patrol Agents Killed the Uvalde School Shooter. But Why Were They on the Scene?
Customs and Border Protection is a ubiquitous presence in many Texas communities, and agents are often first responders.
Politics & Policy
May 26, 2022
At a Right-wing Comedy Night, the Hosts Are Laughing All the Way to the Bank
Former Texas legislator Rick Green has built a marketplace for conservative stand-up—and proselytizing.
Politics & Policy
May 25, 2022
Progressives Are Gaining in South Texas, but Henry Cuellar Appears to Have Narrowly Beaten Them Back
Jessica Cisneros’s challenge from the left animated some national Democrats against the nine-term congressman.
Politics & Policy
May 25, 2022
Anti-Trans Politics Has Won in the Texas GOP, But Its Main Figurehead Lost
. . . and other key Texas Lege results from the primary runoffs.
Business
May 25, 2022
Amid the Baby Formula Shortage in Midland, Community and Conspiracies
As rumors swirl about the origins of the crisis, West Texas parents turn to one another for help.
Politics & Policy
May 25, 2022
The Democratic Party Picks Its Team—For Better or Worse
First-time candidate Rochelle Garza cruised to the attorney general nomination, while Mike Collier and Jay Kleberg eked out narrow runoff victories over all-but-unknown opponents.
Politics & Policy
May 24, 2022
The “Incomprehensible” School Shooting in Uvalde
Governor Abbott’s comments showed just how lost our leaders are when it comes to gun violence.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
May 24, 2022
The Bush Stops Here: George P.’s Loss Brings an End to the Family Dynasty
In the Republican runoff for attorney general, incumbent Ken Paxton—not to mention Donald Trump—got his wish.
Politics & Policy
May 23, 2022
The Harris County GOP Is Assembling “Rapid Response Teams” to Monitor the Runoff
Houston Republicans are going on the offensive in this week's election as a trial run for November.
Business
May 20, 2022
Samsung Spills Toxic Water, Wins Texas Environmental Prize
As TCEQ investigates its Austin plant, the company was praised for “protecting our state’s natural resources.”
Politics & Policy
May 20, 2022
Texas Republicans Suddenly Want to Tell CEOs What They Can and Can’t Do
The state GOP long opposed new regulations on corporations. Then Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick launched a crusade against “woke” businesses.
Politics & Policy
May 19, 2022
2022 Primary Runoffs
Your guide to the 2022 Texas primary runoff elections.
Politics & Policy
May 19, 2022
Jeb to the Rescue? George P. Bush Gets a Cash Infusion from His Family’s Donor Network
Please clap.
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.
By Ben Rowen![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
May 17, 2022
Mike Collier’s Excellent Political Adventure
The Houston accountant has lost two statewide elections and knows the challenge of being a Texas Democrat. Why is he running a third time?
Politics & Policy
May 16, 2022
Donald Trump Had Nothing New to Say in Austin. His Fellow Speakers Did.
The former president played the usual hits at a rally Saturday, but rock musician Ted Nugent found new lows.
Politics & Policy
May 13, 2022
An Austin Attorney’s Supreme Court Brief Has Eerie Similarities to Justice Alito’s Leaked Draft Overturning Roe
Jonathan Mitchell, who cooked up the Texas “vigilante” law that effectively made abortion illegal in the state, argues the quiet parts of the majority opinion out loud.
By Mimi Swartz![Mimi Swartz's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
May 12, 2022
Sarah Stogner Has a Lot to Say for Herself
The Texas Railroad Commission candidate stripped down in a campaign video to get attention for her issues—and landed a spot in the May 24 Republican runoff. Which means it’s time to hear her out.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Business
May 11, 2022
The U.S. Is Offering Meat Processors $1 Billion in Grants. Will It Actually Help?
Today’s the deadline to apply for federal aid, but some experts say decreasing regulations and hiring more inspectors would be more useful.
Politics & Policy
May 11, 2022
Don’t Be Certain the Draft Decision Ending Roe Will Drive Texas Turnout
Democratic leaders have predicted that the leaked draft decision will get Texas liberals to the polls. History provides caution.
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.
By Ben Rowen![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
Business
May 10, 2022
The Cattle Trader’s Secret Formula
CEO Jim Schwertner credits the persistent success of Capitol Land & Livestock to a data-driven algorithm.
Business
May 9, 2022
Will Elon Musk Deliver on His Promise of an “Ecological Paradise” at the Tesla Factory in Austin?
The massive facility sits along two miles of the Colorado River. Environmentalists want a say in how the development might affect the waterway.
Politics & Policy
May 9, 2022
Texas Abortion Doctors Face a Difficult Choice: To Flee or Not to Flee
With an abortion ban looming as the Supreme Court prepares to overturn Roe, the heartbreak of trying to provide reproductive care is too much for some.
Politics & Policy
May 9, 2022
Rick Perry, Drug Pusher
How did the former governor become a leading advocate for psychedelics?
Politics & Policy
May 6, 2022
Will the Threat to Abortion Rights Shake Up Texas’s Tightest Primary Runoff?
U.S. House candidate Jessica Cisneros predicts it will, but most national Democratic leaders are standing behind the incumbent, Henry Cuellar.
Business
May 5, 2022
When a Quarry Closes, Can Its Damage Be Undone?
Aggregate mining in Texas yields billions of dollars but leaves behind a pockmarked landscape.