Business
January 6, 2023
Southwest’s Christmas Mess Has Roots in Its Long Financial Success
The Dallas-based airline has always lagged behind in technology. Its leaders saw that as a feature, not a bug.
News & Politics
Politics & Policy
January 5, 2023
Chip Roy, Bless His Heart
The Central Texas representative who is helping block Kevin McCarthy’s ascent to Speaker of the House has a long history of obstructionism.
Politics & Policy
January 5, 2023
A GOP Lawmaker in Texas Wants to Try Again to Ban Puppy Mills
Representative Jared Patterson’s bill is a second swing at stopping pet stores from getting animals from out-of-state for-profit breeders.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
January 3, 2023
Is Ron DeSantis the Most Powerful Republican in Texas?
Forget Greg Abbott and Dan Patrick. Florida’s governor will be calling the shots when the Texas Legislature returns in January.
Politics & Policy
December 30, 2022
Stories We Wish We’d Published This Year
Fifteen staffers selected their favorite writing about our state that outlets other than Texas Monthly produced in 2022.
Politics & Policy
December 28, 2022
Every Texan Gets $900! And Other Ideas for Spending the State’s Massive Surplus
What should we do with our $27 billion windfall? We asked a variety of Texans for their brightest ideas.
By Russell Gold![Russell Gold's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
December 28, 2022
More Trouble at the ‘Lord’s Mill’
Federal inspectors cited a sawmill run by members of the insular Church of Wells with multiple safety violations.
Politics & Policy
December 22, 2022
A Federal Court Will Rule on Book Bans in Llano. Many in the Community Have Already Made Up Their Minds.
Over the last year, the pulling of a dozen books off county library shelves has split the Hill Country town.
Politics & Policy
December 21, 2022
A Texas GOP Lawmaker Wants to Increase “Viewpoint Diversity” by Banning Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Higher Ed
The legislation would rewrite a portion of the education code to target programs that represent marginalized groups.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
The Stand Up Desk
December 20, 2022
Once Upon a Time, “Southwestern Cuisine” Was a Movement
A writer remembers how a chance conversation at a food festival led to her classic 2014 oral history on Southwestern cuisine.
Politics & Policy
December 20, 2022
The Migration Crisis in El Paso Could Soon Grow Worse—Much Worse
The looming disaster has thrown both Governor Abbott’s and President Biden’s failed border policies into sharp relief.
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.
By Ben Rowen![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
Health
December 15, 2022
Texas’s Doctor Shortage Is Bilingual
There aren’t nearly enough physicians in the state, especially for the more than 7.5 million Texans who primarily speak Spanish.
Border & Immigration
December 14, 2022
In Rural Far West Texas, Justices of the Peace Confront a Death-Investigation System That’s Failing Unknown Migrants
As the migrant death toll rises, county officials, forensic laboratories, and locals work with little governmental assistance to process, identify, and repatriate the bodies.
Politics & Policy
December 14, 2022
A Few Republican Lawmakers Said They Want Exceptions to Texas’s Abortion Ban. A Democrat’s Bill Proposes Some.
Austin Democratic representative Donna Howard’s legislation seems written to try to appeal to Republicans.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
The Stand Up Desk
December 14, 2022
Roar of the Crowd: January 2023
Reader letters published in our January 2023 issue.
The Stand Up Desk
December 14, 2022
The Making of Our New Podcast, ‘White Hats’
Meet the folks behind our latest audio project, which grapples with the complicated legacy of the Texas Rangers.
By Dan Goodgame![Dan Goodgame's Profile Photo]()
Health
December 14, 2022
Long-COVID Sufferers Are Flocking to a Texas Clinic to Treat Smell Disorders. But Does the Remedy Work?
Many with parosmia, a condition whereby normal scents smell foul, have searched for relief and found hope in a facility in Bryan.
Music
December 13, 2022
A George Strait Song Was the First Music I Played for My Son. Here’s Why.
The author of a 2014 Texas Monthly profile of King George explains why it was among the few stories in his career that made him cry while writing.
By John Spong![John Spong's Profile Photo]()
Bum Steers
December 12, 2022
The 2023 Bum Steer Awards
The dopes, villains, and terrible ideas that bedeviled our beloved state over the past twelve months. (This time, with slightly less Ted Cruz!)
Bum Steers
December 12, 2022
2023 Bum Steer of the Year: Austin
How a funky little college town became the unbearable-traffic, unaffordable-real-estate, insufferable-tech-bro, inanely-precious-restaurant, expensive-BBQ capital of the world!
Bum Steers
December 12, 2022
2023 Bum Steer of the Year Runner-up: Floperation Lone Star
Greg Abbott’s $4 billion program to deter migration . . . doesn’t seem to be deterring migration.
Bum Steers
December 12, 2022
2023 Bum Steer of the Year Runner-up: Gilberto Hinojosa
Texas Monthly recently acquired the (fake!) résumé of one Gilberto Hinojosa, the seemingly indefatigable chair of the long-suffering Texas Democratic party. We print it here in full.
Bum Steers
December 12, 2022
2023 Bum Steer of the Year Runner-up: Louie Gohmert
An open letter to Louie Gohmert, the Bum Steer Hall of Fame’s newest inductee!
Bum Steers
December 12, 2022
2023 Bum Steer of the Year Runner-up: Herschel Walker
(Fake!) excerpts from the campaign diary of a displaced Texan, summer–fall 2022.
Politics & Policy
December 9, 2022
Austin Powers: A Republican Lawmaker Wants the Texas Legislature to Take Over the Capital City
Representative Jared Patterson is following a long legislative tradition of trying to troll Austin.
Politics & Policy
December 9, 2022
Texas’s Abortion “Bounty” Law Just Lost Its First Test. Here’s What That Means.
The plaintiff was found to lack legal standing to bring the case. That has big implications—and not just for abortion laws.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Sports
December 8, 2022
Texan Brittney Griner Released From Russian Custody in Prisoner Swap
The Texas basketball star was first detained in February and was recently moved to a Russian penal colony.
Politics & Policy
December 6, 2022
Texas Lege Watch: A Democratic Resolution Would Put Abortion Directly on the Ballot. But It’s Doomed.
Recent history and polling tell us that voters would support a measure to stop lawmakers from restricting abortion access—which is precisely why it’ll never pass.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
News & Politics
December 5, 2022
The Untold Story of the Insular Texas Family That Invaded the U.S. Capitol
The Munns became a national curiosity after five of them were indicted for participating in the insurrection. But the full scope of their malignant behavior is little known—including to the federal prosecutors tasked with investigating their crimes.
Politics & Policy
December 2, 2022
A Peek Inside Herschel Walker’s Controversial Texas Mansion
The former football star says his campaign for the U.S. Senate began in his home outside Dallas. Will it end there as well?
By Peter Holley![Peter Holley's Profile Photo]()
News & Politics
December 2, 2022
Alex Jones Has a Playbook for Hedging Outrageous Statements. Ye Ignored It.
The rap star spent more than three hours praising Nazis on Infowars, while making the host squirm—but not for the reasons you might think.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
December 1, 2022
Harris County Botched Another Election. The GOP Senses Opportunity.
After an election marred by malfunctioning machines, long lines, and a shortage of paper ballots, Republicans are contemplating big changes in the next Legislature.
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.
By Ben Rowen![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
The Stand Up Desk
November 28, 2022
November 2022 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn?
You’ve had all month to read the latest issue of Texas Monthly. How much can you remember?
The Stand Up Desk
November 28, 2022
The Writer Behind an Enduring Portrait of West Texas Life
Sterry Butcher on the path that led her to move to Marfa and find God “in the details” while writing about rural Texas.
The Stand Up Desk
November 21, 2022
The Exoneration of Anthony Graves Still Resonates
Pamela Colloff reflects on her 2010 story about the shoddy police work and prosecutorial misconduct that put an innocent man on death row.
By Katy Vine![Katy Vine's Profile Photo]()
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.
By Ben Rowen![Ben Rowen's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
November 18, 2022
Texas Lege Watch: Jared Patterson Wants to Regulate Drag Shows. He Has Trouble Defining Them.
Under his new Texas bill, any community theater that hosts a performance of ‘Peter Pan’ could find itself regulated as a strip club.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
The Stand Up Desk
November 17, 2022
From the Editor: Meet Our Award-Winning Creative Director
Go behind the scenes with the inventive force shaping our photography and design.
By Dan Goodgame![Dan Goodgame's Profile Photo]()
Sports
November 16, 2022
Most Sports Figures Were “Paranoid Assholes” to This Writer. Mike Leach was “Fabulous.”
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.
Business
November 16, 2022
The San Antonio Missions’ New Superstar Owners Want to Bring the Team Downtown
The real estate developer who engineered a deal to buy the 134-year-old minor league baseball franchise thinks new team ownership can help transform the city’s urban core.
By Tom Foster![Tom Foster's Profile Photo]()
The Stand Up Desk
November 16, 2022
Roar of the Crowd: December 2022
Reader letters published in our December 2022 issue.
Politics & Policy
November 16, 2022
Texas Lege Watch: Briscoe Cain Wants to Extend “Baby on Board” by Nine Months
The small-government conservative has proposed a bill to allow pregnant drivers to access carpool lanes.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Film & TV
November 11, 2022
In 1974, “Texas” was the Dirtiest Word in ‘The Texas Chainsaw Massacre’
John Bloom, a.k.a. Joe Bob Briggs, discusses his 2004 opus on the making of the slasher classic and the New York bias against a Texas original.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Meanwhile, in Texas
November 11, 2022
Meanwhile, in Texas: Raccoons Caused Two Power Outages in Seguin
Plus, porch pirates spread manure on a home after getting pranked, a teen swallowed part of a dog toy, and more.
Politics & Policy
November 11, 2022
Texas Democrats: It’s Time for a Celebrity Candidate!
It’s worked for the GOP elsewhere, and nothing else has worked for Democrats here.
By Dan Solomon![Dan Solomon's Profile Photo]()
Politics & Policy
November 10, 2022
Texas Democrats Are the Charlie Brown of Political Parties
Every two years, the party tries to kick the football—and every two years, it misses. Good grief!
White Hats
November 10, 2022
Announcing Our New Podcast, ‘White Hats’
Coming November 15, a tale of the Texas Rangers . . . and a battle for the soul of Texas.
Politics & Policy
November 9, 2022
GOP Gerrymandering Made the Texas Midterms Kind of Boring
Only a handful of the state’s 219 legislative and congressional races were competitive. That was by design.