The Stand Up Desk
July 21, 2021
Roar of the Crowd: August 2021
Reader letters published in our August 2021 issue.
Texas Legislature
Best and Worst Legislators
June 15, 2021
2021: The Best and Worst Legislators
A wild year begat an even wilder legislative session. Lawmakers faced blackouts, a pandemic, and their own worst impulses. Amid the chaos, we plucked out the leaders—and the losers.
Politics & Policy
May 17, 2021
Why Eight Texas Republicans Broke From Their Party Over Mask Mandates
The closest vote of Texas' legislative session concerned face coverings and the ability of the governor and county officials to deal with a future pandemic.
Politics & Policy
April 7, 2021
The GOP’s Voter Restriction Bill Would Be a Do-over of the Attempted Voter Purge of 2019
Provisions of Senate Bill 7 would require some naturalized citizens to prove their right to vote.
Texas History
January 5, 2021
Until 1968, a Married Texas Woman Couldn’t Own Property or Start a Business Without Her Husband’s Permission. This Dallas Attorney Changed That.
Louise Raggio fought to pass a landmark law that gave equal rights to Texas women.
Film & TV
August 13, 2020
What ‘Boys State’ Says About the Future of Texas Politics
The annual mock-government summer camp—which I attended in 1995—hits the national spotlight thanks to an engaging new documentary.
Texas History
July 3, 2020
Why Texas Still Celebrates Confederate Heroes Day
Recent attempts to abolish the holiday have failed. But things might be different when lawmakers return to Austin in January.
Politics & Policy
May 20, 2020
Can the ‘Texas Miracle’ Survive?
With a virus-infected economy and an oil bust to boot, the Texas model is facing an unprecedented crisis.
Politics & Policy
February 11, 2020
The Balance of Power in Texas Politics Runs Along I-35
The booming suburbs of Dallas, Austin, and San Antonio could change the distribution of power in the state.
Film & TV
February 5, 2020
The Documentary ‘Boys State’ Delivers a Dose of Political Hope to Our Divisive Age
The Sundance Film Festival award winner follows teenagers from across Texas as they convene in Austin for an immersive lesson in government.
Politics & Policy
January 29, 2020
How Much Does the Democrats’ Big Flop in Tuesday’s Special Election Matter?
Beto & co. came up embarrassingly short, but the result probably doesn’t say all that much about November.
Politics & Policy
December 11, 2019
Weird Candidates and Fifteen-Way Races: The Texas Primary Ballot Is Madness
Now that races for the March primary are (mostly) set, here are a few things worth keeping an eye on.
Politics & Policy
November 15, 2019
Cocaine Is a Hell of a Drug, But Then So Is Partisanship
What Poncho Nevarez’s cocaine problem tells us about corruption and impunity at the Texas Capitol.
Politics & Policy
October 22, 2019
Bonn Voyage, Dennis!
The embattled speaker of the Texas House, Dennis Bonnen, calls it quits.
Politics & Policy
October 15, 2019
The Bonnen Tape Is Tawdry, Shocking, and Kinda Funny
The secretly recorded meeting between Dennis Bonnen and Michael Quinn Sullivan shows how Texas political operators talk behind closed doors.
Politics & Policy
August 11, 2019
The Scandal Swirling Around House Speaker Dennis Bonnen Is Bad. But Is It Criminal?
The growing controversy around Bonnen's quid pro quo is about much more than palace intrigue. Fundamentally, it concerns unethical, possibly criminal, behavior on the part of the speaker.
Politics & Policy
August 9, 2019
The Speaker and the Creeper: Everything You Need to Know About the Craziest Texas Political Scandal in Years
House Speaker Dennis Bonnen offers a masterclass in how to lose friends and alienate your allies in just a few easy steps.
Politics & Policy
July 30, 2019
Did House Speaker Dennis Bonnen Really Try to Bribe Michael Quinn Sullivan? An Investigation.
MQS isn't the most trustworthy person in Texas politics, but Bonnen has done a poor job offering an alternative narrative about what transpired.
Politics & Policy
July 30, 2019
Here’s What Texas DAs Think of the New Hemp Law that Effectively Decriminalized Pot
We reached out to prosecutors for all 254 Texas counties to ask whether they will still prosecute marijuana cases.
Politics & Policy
May 4, 2019
More STAAR? The Texas Senate Proposes Even Higher-Stakes Testing for Students.
On Monday, the Senate passed a proposal to add four more writing tests and tie school funding directly to third-grade test results.
Politics & Policy
May 2, 2019
‘A Hearing Can Save a Life’: Ban on Gay Conversion Therapy Gets a Courtesy Airing
Despite Representative Celia Israel’s emotional, personal testimony, her bill to curtail the discredited practice has little chance of becoming law.
Politics & Policy
March 1, 2019
Could Marijuana Reform Finally Make Strides in Texas?
The Legislature remains far from allowing recreational use, but baby steps toward decriminalization could come this session.
Politics & Policy
January 7, 2019
Texas Comptroller Delivers Healthy Revenue Estimate to Lawmakers
The $119.12 billion two-year estimate is the first step in the Texas Legislature's budgeting process.
Politics & Policy
November 18, 2018
The Power Issue: Hector De Leon Is Fighting the Tea Party in the Name of Fiscal Conservativism—and Winning
The Associated Republicans of Texas co-chair is out to prove that clashing with Dan Patrick doesn’t make you a Republican In Name Only.
Politics & Policy
October 3, 2018
The Return of Planned Parenthood to El Paso
This city in West Texas was the largest in the country without a presence from the controversial health clinic.
Politics & Policy
April 23, 2018
Texas Gerrymandering Case Goes Before U.S. Supreme Court: What You Need to Know
The nation’s high court will consider whether Texas legislative and congressional districts discriminate against minorities.
Politics & Policy
January 4, 2017
Senator Whitmire’s Pension Provocations
When is advice a conflict of interest?
The Daily Post
January 20, 2016
Ken Paxton Says That Daily Sports Fantasy Sites Are Illegal Gambling In Texas
He’s not wrong about that, but is this an opportunity to reconsider gambling laws?
Politics & Policy
May 28, 2015
The Legislature Is Hoarding $18 Billion of Your Money
The Legislature is leaving unspent $18 billion that could go to further tax cuts or repairs to infrastructure or even, perhaps, to education.
Politics & Policy
May 12, 2015
Hannah Giles, No Nellie Bly
The people behind the hidden camera investigation of the Legislature have more of a history of political activism than of journalism.
Politics & Policy
May 5, 2015
An Undercover Assault on Legislators
The Houston Chronicle is reporting that a right wing political group has been secretly recording Texas legislators, apparently with an aim at unseating Speaker Joe Straus.
The Daily Post
April 30, 2015
The #txlege Is Considering Making #Texas the First #State to Have Its Own #OfficialHashtags
Seems like a #GreatUseOfTime, #right?
Politics & Policy
March 3, 2013
Which Dem Will Fill Mario Gallegos’s Seat?
The race to replace the late Texas State Senator Mario Gallegos.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Here Comes George P. Bush
Is this man running for office? It sure looks that way. He just filed "an appoinment of a campaign treasurer" for a still-unspecified position.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
The Lege Gets a “Pansexual” Representative
Mary Gonzalez of El Paso has been called the first lesbian member of the Texas legislature, but she tells the Dallas Voice that she prefers “pansexual.”
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Five Takeaways from Rick Perry’s Budget Compact
During a speech Monday, the governor laid out a five-point, budget-cutting pledge for no new taxes. But what was he really saying?
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Wendy Davis on Rachel Maddow’s Show
State senator Wendy Davis discussed the attempted arson at her office and Texas politics in general on the MSNBC show.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Who Firebombed Wendy Davis’s Office?
Update: Fort Worth police have arrested a 40 year-old homeless man for arson in Tuesday's firebombing of the Democratic state senator's Fort Worth office.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Did Rick Perry Just Kick Off His 2014 Campaign?
Perry conducted a Kardashian-level of media courtship at the Capitol, where he told reporters he won't rule out another run for governor or president.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Perry Has Spent Three Days at the Office
A public records search by the Dallas Morning News' Christy Hoppe reveals that since the governor left the campaign trail, he's worked on state business for just ten hours.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Redistricting Could Seep into 2013
Republican primary voters will be asked if they're in favor of the Eighty-third Legislature redrawing the maps.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
And Now Back to Rick Perry’s Regularly Scheduled Term as Governor of Texas
But just how warmly will he be received by his colleagues and constituents?
January 21, 2013
Texas 2011: By the Numbers
From (HB) 1 to ($)15.2 billion, we revisit a few of the state's biggest stories in 2011 by examining the numbers.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Lingering Redistricting Objections From Black Caucus
The Texas Legislative Black Caucus is not happy with proposed interim House map, but some argue that African Americans are fairly represented.
Politics & Policy
January 21, 2013
Texas Redistricting: The Critics Speak
Emergency U.S. Supreme Court case? Delayed March primary? The reactions to the federal panel of judge’s interim map pour in.
Politics & Policy
January 20, 2013
The Bloody Billion
Oh, how our legislators are moaning and groaning as they try to cut the state budget. But we’ve slashed, chopped, trimmed, pared, and whittles our way through it—and save $1 billion. It wasn’t that hard. Really.
Politics & Policy
January 14, 2013
The Private Sector’s Influence on the Public Interests of Texas
There are relatively few safeguards against a legislator’s potential conflict of interest turning into an actual conflict of interest.
Politics & Policy
December 10, 2012
Simpson, Eh?
Rep. David Simpson (R-Longview) files to run for Speaker of the House, displacing Bryan Hughes (R-Mineola) as the conservative challlenger to Joe Straus (R-San Antonio).
Politics & Policy
February 23, 2012
Perry: We Don’t Need No Education Special Session
The governor rejected calls to revisit school finance issues during his Tuesday media blitz, but his critics say he also overstated current funding levels.
December 1, 2011
Win the Weekend: What Texas Was Talking About This Week
Whether you’re drinking with politicos or dining with your parents, we’ll give you something to talk about to make you sound informed.