Politics & Policy
September 7, 2021
Who Killed Criminal Justice Reform in Texas?
Texas was once a model of how to safely and economically move away from mass incarceration. Now the old politics of “law and order” are back.
Greg Abbott
Politics & Policy
August 24, 2021
Matthew Dowd Says He Won’t Run Against “Craven” Greg Abbott, but “Cruel” Dan Patrick? Wait and See.
The former Bush adviser pledges to help Texas Democrats win in 2022—including, possibly, by putting his hat in the ring.
Politics & Policy
August 20, 2021
The 2020 Census Shows Texas Metros Are Booming. The Guv and the Lege Keep Getting in Their Way.
Our diverse big cities and suburbs are driving the state forward. Our leaders need to let Houston be Houston and Beaumont be Beaumont.
Politics & Policy
July 27, 2021
Greg Abbott’s Border Fence Is Rising in Bits and Pieces
Local officials in South Texas are scrambling to figure out what the governor is building in their communities.
Politics & Policy
July 13, 2021
The Democratic Quorum Break Puts Greg Abbott in a Bind
Primary challengers say Texas’s governor is weak. The failure to pass new restrictions on voting, a GOP priority, will add fuel to their criticism.
Politics & Policy
July 8, 2021
Texas Republicans Are Already Declaring for 2022. Democrats Are Dazed and Confused.
GOP challengers have announced bids against Greg Abbott, Ken Paxton, and Sid Miller, while a forlorn Democratic party casts its eyes on Matthew McConaughey.
Politics & Policy
June 5, 2021
Don Huffines Plotted Governor Run as the “Trump Guy.” Then Trump Endorsed Greg Abbott.
The Dallas businessman has a talent for alienating powerful Republicans, but he’s running on a platform that embraces their scorn.
Politics & Policy
April 28, 2021
Why Dan Patrick Is in a Quandary Over a Bill to Allow Texans to Carry a Gun Without a Permit
The lieutenant governor is no stranger to forcing votes on controversial issues, but a new gun bill the House passed has concerned some members of his Senate caucus.
Politics & Policy
April 14, 2021
How Greg Abbott Became the Most Powerful Governor in Texas History
The state’s top elected official used to have limited sway. But Abbott has steadily seized authority from the Legislature and governing boards—a process accelerated by the pandemic.
Business
March 24, 2021
A Tale of Two Houston Restaurants—One That Requires Masks and Its Neighbor That Doesn’t
Roma and D'Amico's, Italian eateries in the Rice Village, have taken opposite approaches after Greg Abbott lifted pandemic-era restrictions on businesses. Both establishments' owners say they're looking out for staff.
Food
March 8, 2021
“A Matter of Life and Death”: Latino Food Workers Are Terrified as COVID-19 Restrictions End
They fear that the end of the mask mandate and the influx of spring break crowds is a recipe for danger.
BBQ
March 3, 2021
Barbecue Joint Owners Aren’t Happy About the End of the Mask Mandate in Texas
“It’s like wrapping a brisket at 130 degrees and saying it’s good enough because the bark is set."
Politics & Policy
March 2, 2021
Greg Abbott Celebrated Texas Independence Day by Ending COVID-19 Restrictions
The vast majority of Texans have yet to receive a single dose of vaccine, but the state is done imposing public health measures.
Politics & Policy
February 25, 2021
Who’s Responsible for the Texas Blackouts?
Our governor and lawmakers want to blame everyone but themselves for the February blackouts, the latest crisis of their own making.
Politics & Policy
February 19, 2021
The Texas Blackout Is the Story of a Disaster Foretold
Those in charge of Texas’s deregulated power sector were warned again and again that the electric grid was vulnerable.
News & Politics
February 19, 2021
One of Texas’s Busiest Plumbers Explains What to Do if Your Pipes Burst
Galveston’s Terry Fisher on where to find your water meter, what to do when pipes thaw, and when to call a professional.
Politics & Policy
February 11, 2021
Californians Could Ruin Texas—But Not the Way You Might Think
Lone Star State leaders have worried about transplants importing West Coast values and politics here. But they’ve largely ignored the more pressing challenges newcomers are bringing with them.
News
January 25, 2021
The Texas Lege Always Debates Abortion. This Year It Will Do So With More Vigor.
Anti-abortion advocates are getting their hopes up that the U.S. Supreme Court could undo Roe v. Wade, but some are tired of waiting.
Politics & Policy
January 11, 2021
The Texas GOP Returns to Its Favorite Pastime: Infighting
With state government more firmly in Republican hands, the next year will feature a return of the Republican civil war. Here are the skirmishes to watch for.
News
January 9, 2021
Greg Abbott’s Politics Create a Vaccine Stampede
After his denying local authorities tools to combat community spread, it’s no wonder Texans are desperate for vaccinations to save us from COVID-19’s renewed surge.
Politics & Policy
December 19, 2020
The Shelley Luther Reality Show Is Canceled After Just Seven Months
The rebel salon queen beat Governor Greg Abbott once, but on Saturday, he had the last laugh.
Politics & Policy
December 3, 2020
What Was Behind Greg Abbott’s Bullet Train Flip-flop?
Rural Texans have long accepted that strips of their land might be acquired to build oil pipelines and highways. But the prospect of a high-speed rail line has sparked a whole different level of outrage.
Politics & Policy
November 9, 2020
How Did a Florida Man Become the Face of the Texas Republican Party?
Texas GOP chairman Allen West is at war with the governor and in love with the camera.
Politics & Policy
October 5, 2020
The Calls of Impropriety Are Coming From Inside Ken Paxton’s Office
The Texas attorney general has called his 2015 indictment for securities fraud a “witch hunt.” Now, seven of his aides accuse him of corruption.
Politics & Policy
October 3, 2020
Greg Abbott’s Voter Suppression Methods Have Become More Subtle—But They’re Still Transparent
The governor’s most recent order on ballot drop-off locations follows a long history of efforts by him and his party to lower voter turnout, and could have an outsized effect on the battle for control of the state House.
Politics & Policy
October 2, 2020
A Water Treaty Has Aided Mexican and U.S. Farmers for Decades. This Year, It’s Wreaking Havoc.
As Mexico lags on sending what it owes to U.S. reservoirs and farmers on both sides of the border protest, experts say the 1944 agreement is not suited for today’s agricultural landscape.
Politics & Policy
September 25, 2020
Shelley Luther Calls Greg Abbott a “Tyrant Governor.” Can It Get Her Elected During a Pandemic?
The Dallas salon owner who rose to fame for defying shutdown orders is still campaigning to “reopen” Texas.
Politics & Policy
September 11, 2020
Greg Abbott’s “Back the Blue” Posse Can’t Shoot Straight
Facing down a potential Democrat-controlled Texas House, the governor has made a hard push to reframe the November election on his terms.
Politics & Policy
July 22, 2020
Nearly Two Thirds of Texans Say That COVID-19 Is “Out of Control”
New polling indicates that the governor’s office is lagging behind mainstream opinion of the coronavirus pandemic.
Politics & Policy
July 17, 2020
Greg Abbott’s Penchant for the Path of Least Resistance Has Led Texas to the Brink of Disaster
The COVID-19 crisis is the predictable result of the governor muddling through things.
Politics & Policy
June 25, 2020
Will Politics Prevent Us From Dealing With the Next Wave?
After initially deferring to city and county leaders on COVID-19 response, Governor Abbott has renewed his battle with local government.
News & Politics
June 25, 2020
Texas Black Lives Matter Protesters Were Largely Local and Nonviolent, According to Arrest Data
The majority of apprehensions during the first week of demonstrations over police violence were for curfew violations, obstructing roadways, and other low-level offenses.
Politics & Policy
June 18, 2020
Greg Abbott Invites You to Figure Out What His Coronavirus Executive Orders Allow
A month and a half after telling local officials they couldn't mandate masks, the Texas governor congratulated a local official on realizing that, actually, they could.
Politics & Policy
June 13, 2020
Texas Has Shifted to an “It’s Your Responsibility” Pandemic Plan
As new coronavirus cases and hospitalizations reach their highest levels yet, the state is relying less on restrictions and more on individual decisions.
Politics & Policy
June 11, 2020
The Texas GOP Gives Itself a Tough Task: Rooting Out Racism in the Party
After GOP leaders in 12 counties posted racist responses to the George Floyd protests, top Republicans declared war on bigotry in their party. It’s not going to be easy.
Health
June 9, 2020
Is Texas Headed Toward a Second Wave of COVID-19 Infections?
All of the trend lines in Texas are going the wrong way.
News
May 28, 2020
The West Texas Basketball Tournament at the Center of a Coronavirus Outbreak
A high school competition in Levelland brought fans from across the Panhandle and South Plains in March. Seven would come down with COVID-19.
News
May 25, 2020
“If People Want to Take a Chance, It’s Their Prerogative”: Inside One Bar on the First Day of Reopening
Over Memorial Day weekend, locals and tourists flocked to the Poop Deck in Galveston as Governor Greg Abbott allowed Texas bars to open at limited capacity.
News
May 19, 2020
Texas Has Decided to Roll the Dice on the Coronavirus
Governor Abbott’s phase two reopenings signal a hope from leaders that maybe this all will just work out, somehow.
Politics & Policy
May 8, 2020
Arrested Dallas Hairdresser’s GoFundMe Launched Before She Even Reopened
As far as PR stunts go, this one has been lucrative.
Politics & Policy
May 8, 2020
Showdown at the Salon: How Hairdressing Became the Thing We Fight About in the Middle of the Pandemic
The Shelley Luther saga gave Texas politicians an excuse to change the conversation, and deflect blame.
Politics & Policy
April 30, 2020
Hours Before Businesses Can Reopen, Texas Reports Highest Daily COVID-19 Death Increase
Research suggests Governor Abbott’s statewide stay-at-home order was slowing down the coronavirus’s spread. What will happen now that he’s lifted it?
Health
April 29, 2020
Dr. Mark McClellan on COVID-19 and Reopening the Texas Economy
One of Governor Greg Abbott's top aides says more testing and contact tracing should have been in place before restrictions were lifted.
Film & TV
April 28, 2020
Why Aren’t Most Movie Theaters in Texas Reopening?
Because there’s nothing to watch.
Politics & Policy
April 28, 2020
“Doctors and Data” Suggest Greg Abbott May Be Reopening Texas Too Early
The plan deviates considerably from what many public health officials say is needed for Texans to reopen businesses.
Health
April 24, 2020
The Majority Agrees: Lifting Stay-Home Orders Won’t Bring Normalcy (But It Will Get People Killed)
Despite the loud protests, very few Americans are ready to go back to work.
Politics & Policy
April 22, 2020
The Construction Industry’s Latest Challenge: Taking the Coronavirus Threat Seriously
After Greg Abbott's executive order deemed the industry essential, workers have been struggling to abide by health protocols.
Health
April 17, 2020
In Restarting the Texas Economy While Promising to Keep COVID-19 at Bay, Greg Abbott Faces a Precarious Balancing Act
The governor tries to address coronavirus concerns in the face of lobbying from his most conservative supporters.
News
April 15, 2020
Texas Officials Were Warned Six Years Ago to Prepare for a Pandemic. They Didn’t.
And they've been dangerously slow to respond to the coronavirus.
Politics & Policy
April 13, 2020
A User’s Guide to How Texas’s Top Elected Officials Are Handling the Coronavirus
In the best of times, our politicians can be a frustrating bunch. How are they doing in an unprecedented crisis?