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 Legislature
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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 20, 2019
The Texas Lege’s Culture War on Austin Has Come to a Cuddly Ceasefire
A step towards a less partisan future. Or at least a furrier, friendlier one.
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.
Energy
August 6, 2018
Electric Deregulation Is Working in Texas, Says Lawmaker Who Led the Effort
During a summer with record heat and record power usage, supply is keeping up with demand.
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.
BBQ
December 19, 2017
With a Battle Over Barbecue, the Ag Commissioner’s Race is Officially a Food Fight
What could follow Nutella banana crepes? A "war on Texas BBQ."
Border & Immigration
August 31, 2017
As Senate Bill 4 Is Halted, Opponents of the Sanctuary City Law Celebrate
The law’s long legal journey is likely still beginning, but the sanctuary city law's opponents can mark this one down as a win.
Politics & Policy
August 23, 2017
Crossing the Line in El Cenizo
A small Texas border town defies a crackdown on immigration.
Business
June 7, 2017
Two U.S. Senators Urged SXSW to Move Out of Texas to Protest SB 4
The festival—which has had its own issues around immigration this year—declined.
Film & TV
April 25, 2017
What The Film Incentives Program Means to The Texas Film Industry
The Rooster Teeth CEO Matt Hullum takes a quick break from directing ’Lazer Team 2’ to talk about the future of the film incentives program.
The Daily Post
April 11, 2017
Has Ridesharing In Austin Been Ruined?
The attention from SXSW—and a new bill in the legislature—seek to address a problem that may not be broken.
The Daily Post
March 6, 2017
Texas Lawmakers are Considering Ending Daylight Saving Time
Even if you hate messing with your clock every year, don’t get too excited.
Politics & Policy
January 4, 2017
Senator Whitmire’s Pension Provocations
When is advice a conflict of interest?
Politics & Policy
August 1, 2016
Texas Law Enforcement Group Wants Changes To Open Carry, But Will Lawmakers Listen?
The changes might actually do more to protect police officers than the Police Protection Act.
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
August 6, 2015
The Texas Voter ID Law, Explained
On the eve of Voting Rights Act's anniversary, a federal court ruled Texas's voter ID discriminates.
Politics & Policy
August 3, 2015
Showdown with a Strong Governor
The Legislative Budget Board is correct about the limits of the line-item veto—but Governor Abbott has plenty of power.
Politics & Policy
August 3, 2015
The Existential Conundrum of Covering Ken Paxton
The latest “news” about the Texas attorney general.
Politics & Policy
August 2, 2015
Dan Patrick Is Eyeing a Promotion
He tipped his hand by backing the governor over the Lege.
Politics & Policy
August 1, 2015
Indictments Are Imminent For Texas’s Attorney General
On Monday, per WFAA, the state’s top law enforcement official will be charged with multiple felonies.
Politics & Policy
July 31, 2015
Weekend Reading
A look back at two other attorney-generals who ran into trouble.
Politics & Policy
July 30, 2015
Abbott and the Scientologists
Occam’s razor, y’all.
Politics & Policy
July 4, 2015
Our Honorable Nonsense
America’s flaws are inevitable, but so are our virtues.
Politics & Policy
June 25, 2015
At Least One Person Didn’t Like the Worst List
The lieutenant governor responds to our selections.
Politics & Policy
June 23, 2015
The Limits of Scorecards
Even if they weren’t distorted by politics, they’re too reductive to be reliable.
News & Politics
June 23, 2015
The Leadership
Governor Greg AbbottOf all the leaders entering the legislative session, the biggest question mark centered on Greg Abbott, the first new governor in Texas in fourteen years. The attorney general since 2002, he led the Republican ticket last November and walloped Democrat Wendy Davis in the
Politics & Policy
June 18, 2015
The Cross-Examination
Evan Smith raises a few points of order.
Burka Blog
June 17, 2015
The List: Best and Worst 2015
A preview of the ten best and ten worst legislators of the Eighty-fourth Legislature.
Politics & Policy
June 11, 2015
The Class of 2015
Illustrations by Nicki Longoria. Click to enlarge.Elsewhere in this month’s issue, our political team considers which state legislators have earned our respect and which ones remind us why the stately granite building at Twelfth Street and Congress Avenue has long been the butt of countless jokes
Politics & Policy
June 11, 2015
The Abbott Interview
Our legislator in chief assesses a spring marked by pre-K budgets, the open carry debate, border security, and a certain kerfuffle over Jade Helm.
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 27, 2015
Those Secret Videos of Texas Lawmakers Are Apparently Not So Newsworthy
Breitbart Texas has opted not to release the videos made with hidden cameras by the American Phoenix Foundation after all, leading to questions about what was really on them.