Field Briefing

As polls for the Senate race between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico remain tight, right-wing influencers, media outlets, and Paxton campaign surrogates have taken their shot at ginning up an “October surprise” by spreading at least two extraordinary stories aim…

Democratic state Rep. Erin Zwiener is facing Republican Tennyson Moreno for the second time since 2024. Both are promising to address challenges caused by a population boom in Hays County.

Let them be disaffected, and let them express that at the ballot box. Joie Miller moved to rural Grimes County to raise her daughter hunting, fishing and spending time with her grandparents on their 100-acre ranch. Then Elon Musk announced … Continue reading →

The post This Oil Company Is Linked to 1,000 Pollution Incidents and Other Violations. Oklahoma Never Punished It. appeared first on ProPublica.

A judge has sided with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa, ordering that Gov. Greg Abbott’s office let her inspect unredacted communications with billionaire Elon Musk. Abbott has appealed.

We’re beating 2018 every day, and the state still can’t add.

A sculptor and art activist have transformed a graveyard installation in Houston into a celebration of life and loss

Seniors are the group of Americans most likely to vote by mail. But not this group of residents from Belmont Village Lakeway.

The Republican’s campaign made the plea to help Musk avoid congressional inquiry into his DOGE work.

The candidates for railroad commissioner are using the money in advertising, mailers and consulting fees.

Texts and pamphlets purportedly sent out by a Texas transgender advocacy group were soon debunked as fake. But the scheme highlights how hard it can be to stem the flow of incessant political marketing during election season — and to reverse its harmful effects.

What do Malcolm Gladwell, far right propagandists, Democratic politicians, the non-profit Vera Institute for Justice, and “socialists” from Jacobin Magazine have in common?

During a September panel at the Texas Tribune Festival focused on building the Texas workforce, John Kelly, one of BlackRock’s head corporate honchos, pointed to a recent Brookings report indicating that investments in the U.S. data center boom could total up to $10.3 trillion be…

The candidates include former Hays County Judge Liz Gajdos, current Precinct 2 Commissioner Michelle Gutierrez Cohen and construction industry strategist Geoffrey Tahuahua.

What do you do when the attack ads look like you?

The post Cybersecurity CEO Indicted for Allegedly Scamming Millions From Ransomware Victims appeared first on ProPublica.

Talarico's college years at the University of Texas at Austin included a massive voter registration drive, bruising student government campaigns and political alliances that didn't always survive.

Trump has repeatedly — and baselessly — suggested that widespread voter fraud may play a role in this year’s races.

The first seven days of the 2026 midterm election fuel Democratic hopes but leave Republicans cautiously optimistic.

Long before he became one of the state’s most powerful Republican leaders, Dan Patrick was a broadcaster with a flair for showmanship. Now, the three-term lieutenant governor is facing an unusually competitive reelection bid.

Asking “What would Trump do?” is a bad way to make campaign strategy.

Texans have seen it all this year: Senator John Cornyn twirling Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett on the dance floor; Attorney General Ken Paxton driving his mistresses down to the “Love Shack”; and Texas state Representative James Talarico in a dress singing a tune about transgende…

Talarico spoke to a packed auditorium on the UT Austin campus on Friday evening as part of his "Clear Eyes, Full Hearts” tour.

The South spent 135 years keeping voters home. Early voting says they’re done staying there.

Led by community members from 11 counties, the group plans to address major concerns about broadband expansion and provide training on how to use technology.

On September 11, 2003, exactly two years after the attacks that redefined American biosecurity, a nineteen-year-old Stanford sophomore named Elizabeth Holmes filed her first patent application.

Democrats’ chances hinge on finally winning a county that for years has been trending purple.

While in office, he was a sponsor of four fetal “personhood” bills that aimed to ban nearly all abortions nationwide.

The post A Texas Cop Signed on to Help ICE Deport His Neighbors. It Tore the Town Apart. appeared first on ProPublica.

This “severe blow” to independent media is an “unprecedented escalation,” says a journalist who previously worked there.

The original plan, which has been stalled since July, called for construction of a wall along the Santa Ana wildlife refuge.

We’ll start at the low end. As early voting continues in Texas, a new Fox News poll shows the state’s top-ticket race is tied. Fox News released its poll on Oct. 21, showing Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton … Continue reading →

As Democrat Gina Hinojosa focuses on “saving” public schools, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has emphasized property tax cuts in the final weeks of the campaign.

“The rhetoric is about as hot as you can get,” Matt Gertz tells us.

Despite pressure from students and graduates to condemn the remarks as racist, University of Texas officials took a more careful approach.

3.7 million Texans have already voted, and the electorate looks nothing like 2022

The former Democrat’s reputation as an unflappable moderate stands in sharp contrast to the MAGA firebrands at the top of this year’s GOP ticket.

The former Hungarian prime minister is “the dream MAGA-conservative candidate,” one US official said.

Be on the lookout. On Tuesday, an X account attributed to a Texas man named Zyron Lewis posted a video of Lewis claiming that in 2012, when he was a middle school student, he was sexually assaulted by James Talarico, … Continue reading →

Democrat Vicente Gonzalez and Republican Eric Flores square off in a U.S. House district redrawn to benefit the GOP.

Students were motivated to push the proposal due to drastic cuts in funding for their schools that they had no say in.

In a world of JD Vances, be a Pope Leo.

Donald Trump’s second term has been a financial boon to the private prison industry.

Officials have “taken significant steps to distinguish” two candidates with the same name on the ballot, they said.

In Texas, every time turnout goes up, Republican margins go down. Every time.

Ninety-five percent of Democrats say they’re voting for El-Sayed, and just 4 percent say they’re voting for Rogers.

As firms like CoreWeave and NVIDIA start to wobble, let’s demand that the public won’t be the one left holding the bag.

The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled detained immigrants don’t have a constitutional right to a bond hearing after they enter the country illegally.

The outcome could prove persuasive in other climate litigation or spur new cases.

Luis Sandoval was detained in a Folkston ICE center, where a hunger strike has been ongoing for over 2 weeks.

It’s not immediately clear why TJJD Executive Director Shandra Carter left the role, which she had held since 2022.

Israeli forces have displaced over 3,000 Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank city of Hebron since Friday.

Trump called El-Sayed a “jihadist” and said people like him should never be allowed in the Senate.

The preoccupation with surviving trauma permeates most of Juan Soto’s work. He combs through junkyards looking for old cars that have the donor materials he needs.

The Northern Cheyenne Tribal Council voted to ban data centers, but the Apsáalooke have yet to take a position.

Students “changed our understanding of what’s politically possible for all of us,” says journalist Lela Vujanić.

Polls are showing the Democrat is giving incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott one of his toughest reelection races in years.

A new report notes several patterns of conduct that Trump and Epstein shared in recruiting victims.

Trump ally Flávio Bolsonaro’s refusal to accept the results sparks fears of political violence and another coup attempt.

Hays County is electing new commissioners for Precincts 2 and 4. Their influence will shape the future how Hays County manages its aquifers, budget and growth.

Tennessee congressional candidate Brent Taylor has taken steps to strip authority from elected local officials.

Prisons will continue to retraumatize survivors as long as society accepts control as care and punishment as protection.

CEO Sam Altman and ChatGPT are top competitors to Elon Musk, the tech billionaire fueling Paxton’s U.S. Senate campaign.

The prize honors the work of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated authors who are writing toward a more just world.

All around us, authorities work to steal our life force. I won’t let them take it in the time I have left.

Not everyone received cell alerts during the deadly flooding in 2025 in the Texas Hill Country. A new law is trying to fix that.

The operation follows a Palestinian resistance attack on an illegal West Bank military checkpoint.

Voters will decide how trans youth can participate in school sports, access gender-affirming health care, and more.

Paul and I discuss how Trump is showing his ass on the campaign trail.

The researchers found the Environmental Protection Agency's minimum reporting levels masked widespread contamination.

News publishers either fight tech oligarchs or we lose the Fourth Estate.

The post After Millions in Stolen SNAP Benefits, Trump Administration Moves to Fight Theft appeared first on ProPublica.

Voters in Missouri, Idaho, Virginia, and Nevada will decide the fate of abortion rights in their states.

Flávio Bolsonaro may revive his father's program to transform the Amazon into ranches, strip mines, and plantations.

The post Ken Paxton Says He’s Tough on Crime. His Trust Invested $600,000 in a Convicted Fraudster’s Company. appeared first on ProPublica.

“We may do another little Epic Fury,” Trump said after previously pledging to halt strikes until after the midterms.

The government recently adopted the IHRA definition of antisemitism while escalating its ethnic cleansing of Haitians.

The blind trust’s investment in Wildcatter offers a new, unreported look at the attorney general’s financial ties with the very type of business executives whose prosecutions he typically celebrates.

As living conditions here in Gaza deteriorate, we have little hope that Israel’s elections will ease our suffering.

A judge ordered Homeland Security to stop sending agents door to door in nine key states to hunt for “voter fraud.”

Democrats are finally attacking with strength.

Meanwhile, the GEO Group announced that DHS purchased two immigration jails in Adelanto, California, for $950 million.

The American people view the current political system as “a nightmare,” Kagan said, “and they’re right.”

The state health agency is also processing 64% of SNAP applications in a timely manner — within 30 days — even though the required rate is 95%.

About 5.5 million people lost food assistance through SNAP in the year since enactment of the 2025 reconciliation law.

Seven in 10 Americans don't believe President Donald Trump will accept the midterm results.

Rural Republicans have long undercut Democrats’ gains in cities and suburbs. Will enough defect to make a difference this fall?

Guilfoyle’s mission in Greece — to push fossil fuels — is also playing out in the US with a permitting reform bill.

The visit came amid discussions between the US and Israel about a renewed assault on Iran.

The post Bird Flu Is Raging on a Mink Farm. It Could Spark a Human Pandemic, Experts Say, but Officials Won’t Act. appeared first on ProPublica.

I am beginning to see a glimmer of hope that justice will be found for the dozens of family members I have lost in Gaza.

Smotrich said the Palestinian Authority should be “dismantled” and called for increased demolition of Palestinian homes.

The voters nobody can model are showing up, and they’re not wearing red hats.

Reclaim Rhode Island demonstrates the power of tenant organizing to effect change in local politics.

Daniel Pullin’s time at the private Fort Worth institution included disputes over academic priorities and faculty input. Victor Boschini Jr., who led TCU for 22 years, is replacing him.

The pamphlets appear to be an attempt to anger voters ahead of the midterm elections, GOP District Attorney Sarah Stogner said.

“I spent my life fighting back, and I'm not stopping now,” said Virginia State Sen. Louise Lucas.

The issue of data centers has taken center stage for many of the races in Texas, and created some interesting alliances

Carmen Turner, the Democratic tax assessor-collector since 2021, was arrested Thursday morning.

“Walking away from them doesn’t mean the discrimination has been addressed,” points out a former agency official.

This election season, malign actors are looking for any and every way to gum up the works.

Democrats have moved from healthcare to taxes and corruption, while Republicans have ramped up ad spending on property taxes, crime and transgender issues, an analysis of AdImpact data shows.

Night Flower looks at AIPAC’s history and its role in shaping US policy toward Israel.

A majority of voters in the US say that Trump’s decision to launch a war against Iran was a mistake.

HB 2607 implemented quality control measures at Texas child care centers, but rising costs, a loss of federal funds and no additional state money has put a strain on the program, forcing cuts.

Most of the charges being brought stem from laws that were never meant to apply to pregnancy.

The rates of primary ballots rejected for arriving late this year doubled or tripled in some areas compared to 2022.

On September 24, a federal judge ruled that the University of Texas at Austin had acted within its rights when it canceled a pro-Palestinian protest in April 2024 and later suspended one of its student organizers. Twelve days later, on October 6, Fady Joudah’s Exhibit G: Poems, E…

The Nursing Home Reform Act of 1987 requires facilities to support their residents in exercising their rights.

The Trump administration’s expansion of its global gag rule threatens to derail NGOs’ crucial land mine removal work.

The post Nuclear Weapons Waste Made Workers Sick. Despite a Law Meant to Help, the DOE Keeps Fighting Their Claims. appeared first on ProPublica.

The defining political event of this era is going out with a whimper.

The post Ballot Rejections Soared in Rural Counties After USPS Reduced Mail Service appeared first on ProPublica.

Three conservative Republicans known for compromise on divisive topics did not seek reelection, while a seat representing the Rio Grande Valley could sway in either political direction.

Latino strategists and voters say this year’s swing is driven by anger at those in power and hinges on individual candidates. Democrats and Republicans alike agree it may not last.

Polls show the West Austin Democrat is neck-and-neck with the incumbent Republican.

Note: This was re-sent to me on Monday after the initial email response was caught by Gmail’s spam filter. I’m running it now, with apologies to all for the comfusion. 1. Who are you and what are you running for? … Continue reading →

The post Trump’s Education Department Scaled Back Investigations Into Discrimination and Sexual Assault on Campus, New Data Shows appeared first on ProPublica.

Texans are breaking records while Abbott’s handpicked SOS breaks the reporting.

Texas environmental officials disabled an online filing system after watchdog groups raised concerns about the agency issuing permits related to data centers.

The emergency appeal seeks to resume work on the project, which opponents argue is a waste of money due to low illegal immigration in the area and could harm scenic landscapes.

The decision is a rare win for transgender rights at the conservative-leaning Supreme Court.

Rigoberto Ramon Miranda-Orozco received a 30-year prison sentence in a San Antonio migrant smuggling case that left 53 people dead.

Student-led anti-corruption and cost-of-living protests call for the prime minister’s resignation, among other demands.

A Democratic strategist points out that “it’s not illegal to tell the American people that Trump is a failed president.”

Disaster recovery experts say FEMA individual assistance funds are critical for residents to cover short-term costs. Gov. Greg Abbott is considering an appeal.

Weeks of student-led demonstrations have spread nationwide, with arrests, reports of police brutality, and restrictions.

Ohio gubernatorial candidate Amy Acton accused her mother's then-husband of sexual assault when she was a child.

“I think that for many years we got comfortable, if I'm honest, because we just knew all the funding was going to come.”

The Progress Action Fund, a left-wing PAC, is running ads to “disrupt the right-wing media bubble.”

The president has said that he will only accept the results of the midterms if he deems them to be “honest.”

The post Colorado Marijuana Regulators Failed to Protect Consumers From Potential Contamination, Audit Finds appeared first on ProPublica.

Advocates hope the Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, victory will open the door for other localities to follow suit.

A new report identified 35 permitting actions taken by regulators in Texas in the weeks after the governor’s moratorium.

In a deeply personal 60-second ad aired in September ahead of the state’s midterm elections, Texas Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gina Hinojosa shares her tragic pregnancy loss story. More than two decades ago she and her husband were “overjoyed” expecting their first child u…

This article is a collaboration between the San Antonio Express-News, El Pais, and Puente News Collaborative, a bilingual nonprofit newsroom and funder dedicated to high-quality, fact-based news and information from the U.S.-Mexico border. EDINBURG — South Texas voters who embrac…

The right is trying to gain access to labor unions’ minutes, membership lists, and Zoom chats.

East Potomac gets the Reflecting Pool treatment.

Republican and former Major League Baseball player Mark Teixeira is facing off with scientist Kristin Hook, a Democrat.

The post “The River Can’t Be Trusted” appeared first on ProPublica.

The authority to issue executive orders traditionally belongs to the chief executive, like the governor or a county judge.

As new neighborhoods are built in Texas, residents don’t always know they are living on top of old oilfields.

The post Town Leaders Said They Were Prepared for Floods. First Responders Disagree. appeared first on ProPublica.

I appreciate the effort, though I suspect it’s too late to matter. State Rep. Gina Hinojosa is suing Gov. Greg Abbott’s office for access to unredacted emails involving Elon Musk and his companies. The Democratic nominee for Texas governor announced … Continue reading →

“Substantial” compliance to federal court-ordered improvements should be enough to end 15-year-old lawsuit, state argues

The post The Secret Terms of Trump’s Venezuelan Oil Deal appeared first on ProPublica.

A brief on the Cutoff stream, which a billionaire blocked access to, was issued by the state agency in the days leading up to oral arguments before the 12th Court of Appeals.

Strange number and Hispanic surges.

The mailers, sent by an organization formed last month in Wyoming, implicate a Texas transgender rights group that says it was not involved.

As early voting begins, the chief data analyst for NBC News turns his Big Board analysis on Texas to assess where things stand.

A new lawsuit argues that Trump administration policies are robbing migrant children of due process.

The Dallas Press Club, which organized the event, said it would host a podcast recording with Democrat Jon Rosenthal if his GOP opponent doesn’t show.

Public Citizen said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality hadn’t stopped issuing data center permits as required. The agency said it was complying with the directive.

Elon Musk’s America PAC has committed $100 million to a midterm push heavy on anti-transgender ads.

Separatist leaders sought advice on their “Let Alberta Decide” campaign from Republican operatives.

About 4.3% of the county’s 952,713 registered voters cast a ballot Monday, compared to just 2.8% on the first day of early voting in the 2022 midterm election, and 4.14% of voters in 2018.

The pro-Palestine activist says the Trump administration is infringing upon his free speech rights.

The shooting is part of a pattern of racist police violence against Black residents of Senatobia, Mississippi.

This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy, and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. Regulators in Texas did not stop processing permits for data center projects when Gov. Greg Ab…

Michael Blanding’s new book documents how the billionaires behind the craft store are funding evangelical propaganda.

The call came at noon on a Friday from a number I did not recognize. It was my client’s brother. He had been trying to reach me for days, as I had been trying to reach my client for weeks through the jail’s messaging portal. My client never replied. “He is nonverbal,” is the firs…

Pillay led the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry that concluded Israel committed genocide in Gaza.

“Americans deserve to know how much of their money is being burned on Trump's war,” Sen. Elizabeth Warren said.

Counties are reporting record-breaking early voting participation. But that information alone isn’t necessarily useful in interpreting who will win.

Particulate matter, what some call the deadliest form of air pollution, could increase to levels not seen since 2006.

The company has reportedly been working with lawmakers on a lax regulatory model since the start of summer.

Where do I find polling places? When is early voting? What’s on my ballot? We’ve got answers for the Austin area.

A new report warns that the state’s air quality progress could be reversed by the end of the decade, especially if facilities use natural gas power.

We are now part of the axis of evil.

Democrat Paul Thomasson, a retired pastor in the United Methodist Church, is challenging incumbent Republican Charles Schwertner, an orthopedic surgeon, to represent State Senate District 5.

U.S. District Judge Randy Crane will hold the first public hearing in two years this week on the lawsuit, which prompted constant court oversight of the troubled system.

Hundreds of thousands of potentially eligible Texas homeowners aren’t claiming a homestead exemption, which shaves off thousands of dollars from the taxable value of a home. Here’s how to apply.

I think the cake is pretty close to baked here, but I’m going to note these for the record. First, from the UH/Hobby Center. With early voting set to begin across Texas Monday morning, Democratic state Rep. James Talarico leads … Continue reading →

Homeowners aren’t claiming a homestead exemption because they do not know about it or find the process too complicated, experts say.

The post How Trump’s FBI Purge Saved Lindsey Graham and James Clyburn From a Bribery Investigation appeared first on ProPublica.

Day 1 early voting will double 2022, and Republicans are sending Trump to Lubbock.

At a news conference, Gov. Greg Abbott said he remains dedicated to preserving parkland in Texas.

ICE said Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias obtained his legal status fraudulently because he failed to disclose a 2004 arrest for theft. His daughter disputes that.

The legal qualifications for agriculture commissioner — and whether either candidate meets them — have taken a front seat in the race between Republican Nate Sheets and Democrat Clayton Tucker.

Sheets, in response, called Miller the most corrupt figure in Texas government and considers his criticism a “badge of honor.”

Police in Hampton Roads saturated Black and low-income neighborhoods with Flock-style cameras, a study found.

If a voter’s eligibility is uncertain, they can still cast what’s called a provisional ballot. Here’s how they qualify — and how officials ultimately decide whether they’re counted.Complete sentence summary goes here.

Many Trump voters who have defaulted on student loan payments may soon have wages garnishes and benefits seized.

Arshia Papari has raised less than 1% of Montserrat Garibay’s campaign contributions.

The Roberts Court has dismantled guardrails preventing a president from turning state agencies against political rivals.

This article originally appeared on October 18 at Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, non-partisan news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. Sign up for their newsletter here. This story was a collaboration between Inside Climate News and the San Antonio Ex…

French leaders condemned the uprising, while the left highlighted escalating police brutality against young protesters.

The post Citing ProPublica, Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Help U.S. Citizens Sue ICE for Wrongful Detentions appeared first on ProPublica.

Jasper Nathaniel recounts how the youth beat settlers back with stones, allowing him and others to rescue Heidi Levine.

Critics say the administration has undermined an agency key to protecting election infrastructure ahead of the midterms.

The Democratic nominee for Texas governor wants to inspect unredacted communications involving Gov. Greg Abbott’s office and Elon Musk’s companies based in the state.

The daughter of Emiliano Andrade-Covarrubias said staff at the facility wouldn’t “give him his medications.”

Previous inquiries into Ilhan Omar's citizenship have found no evidence of fraud.

The promotion of cross-partisan support was notable for a governor who has embraced his right flank, but who is now facing his most competitive reelection bid yet.

The heckler asked El-Sayed if he disavowed the Muslim Brotherhood, which the candidate has done in past remarks.

An inflatable eagle swayed outside the Parq Social event center in Cedar Park in late September, welcoming people to the ninth annual Texas Faith Fest. Inside the main lobby, attendees clad in crisp suits and capped in red MAGA hats clustered around booths for Turning Point USA,…

The vast majority of ads emanate from GOP campaigns, depicting their Democratic opponents in fictionalized scenarios.

Plus: Paxton's leaked excuses, a MAGA makeover, and over half a million lost voter registrations.

Even though it has been a generation since Texas has elected a Democrat to a statewide office, the potential for a flip in one or several races seems highly likely.

Garcia, a former sheriff’s deputy, is running in one of the five districts Republicans redrew last year with the intention of flipping.

Remember when we were only gonna hire the best people?

Our final planned interview for the 2026 cycle is with one of the most prominent local candidates. Precinct 4 Commissioner Lesley Briones is running for her first re-election, after her win in 2022 implemented a 4-1 Democratic advantage on Commissioners … Continue reading →

The post He Tried to Set Limits on His State’s School Vouchers. Billionaires Helped Bankroll a Campaign to Unseat Him. appeared first on ProPublica.

Defense lawyers asked a federal appeals court to void the conviction, arguing the cameras give police more power than the Constitution allows.

About $4.9 million of the haul came from donors who develop, own or operate data centers, a Tribune analysis found. The other share of the donations came from people and groups with indirect financial ties.

Current City Council member Zo Qadri will face off with four challengers on the ballot in November.

There are eight proposals on the Nov. 3 ballot that would amend the city of Austin’s charter. Here is what you need to know.

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates. I ran a series of these for candidates in contested primaries, and now these are for the rest of the candidates. … Continue reading →

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates. I ran a series of these for candidates in contested primaries, and now these are for the rest of the candidates. … Continue reading →

The post Ken Paxton’s Anti-Abortion Influence Already Extended Beyond Texas. He Could Take It Further in the Senate. appeared first on ProPublica.

The wave isn’t just blue, it’s also progressive.

The death was confirmed by U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, who said the 56-year-old Mexican national was found unresponsive in his cell. He’s the seventh person to die while detained by ICE this year.

Over 5 million ballots have been cast, according to an estimate, as Trump faces a historic low in approval ratings.

“I continue to believe it’s quite reversible. But I think we crossed that line.”

The candidates are miles apart on climate, but both are making affordability a central issue as Texans grapple with spiking prices.

More students ages 10 to 13 are ending up in the justice system after vaping, making threats and lashing out at school.

Another thing that needs to be reformed. As Austin ISD braces for state intervention, a critical question about the possible future of the cash-strapped district remains unanswered: How much will this cost taxpayers? If the Texas Education Agency’s overhaul in Austin … Continue r…

I love testable claims. When NewsNation’s Chris Stirewalt agreed to bring his show, “The Hill Sunday,” to the State Fair of Texas this month, he figured he’d be covering a U.S. Senate race that was already over. But two weeks out … Continue reading →

19 million registered voters, a 15-point door-knocking gap, and a Republican base that won’t commit to Paxton.

Climate and energy battles are running through campaigns in Michigan, Colorado, Indiana, and beyond.

The efforts target college students, first-time voters, and the formerly incarcerated, particularly in the South.

Trump take tourism.

As a teacher of English literature in Gaza, I’ve seen my relationship to books be overturned by the violence around me.

If passed, California’s Proposition 40 would generate funding for health care, education, and food assistance programs.

Controversial remarks by the GOP candidate cast a national spotlight on the typically quiet race for a spot on the Texas Railroad Commission.

Workers across the US are demanding divestment from firms that profit from weapons and surveillance. I’m one of them.

The Trump administration has moved to eliminate legal protections for more than 1 million immigrants that have TPS.

The number of Texans registered to vote jumped 2% from March even as the state struggles to process backlogged voter records.

The Trump administration's rule change was a major priority for the Alaska Oil and Gas Association.

The woman is suing Students for Life for the cost of raising the children of two unplanned pregnancies.

Counties must now process affected voter registrations before Monday, when Texans can start voting early in the midterm elections.

Trump officials now face a temporary restraining order for violating the First Amendment by sanctioning US groups.

Hinojosa has gone from unknown state lawmaker to Abbott’s most viable Democratic challenger yet — a surge that has dared Democrats to wonder if she could actually topple this mainstay of the Texas Republican establishment.

Solar panels can be an economic lifeline in the rural US — but now they're going to be a lot harder to build.

Local election officials must now process thousands of voter address updates before early voting starts Monday.

The group has spent more than $4 million in an attempt to defeat Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed.

Longtime tech worker organizers discuss early victories in the movement — and the repression that followed.

Board members serve six-year terms and represent ACC's taxing district. Elected members have to navigate funding declines and the future of the college's free tuition pilot program.

Netanyahu cast doubt on the journalists’ account of the attack just hours after it happened.

Ethics lawyers say the raid violated the Hatch Act. Schumer has been silent.

In Texas’ 15th Congressional District, the Tejano musician is trying to remind voters of the Democratic Party their abuelitas supported for decades. The GOP incumbent casts him as a relic of a “corrupt, compadre system.”

Studies have demonstrated that gender-affirming care for transgender young people can be life-saving treatment.

Lawyers for Oscar Belgal have called for his immediate release, citing inadequate care.

The post Highways and Hunting, Parasites and Panopticons appeared first on The Texas Observer.

An analysis estimates Trump increased his stock holdings from $1.7 million in 2024 to up to $56.2 million last year.

Musk’s PAC has also boosted Republican candidates in the five most competitive US House races in the state.

Aimed at Hispanic voters, the new ad from Truth and Courage PAC attacks Democrat James Talarico over his past comments on gender and sexuality.

“We need to know what financial institutions and their executives knew about Epstein,” Rep. Robert Garcia said.

A paper from 1992 shows the oil company anticipating how the melting of Arctic ice sheets could impact its bottom line.

On October 27, artist and filmmaker Tiffany Shlain will be unveiling her latest work in Austin (just in time before the midterm election)

Seven days after the networks called the 2020 election for Joe Biden, Trump’s lawyer Jay Sekulow, Senator Lindsey Graham, Sean Hannity, a lawyer working with the conservative election group True the Vote, and Oracle founder Larry Ellison got on a phone call together.

Turns out redistricting can’t fix being super unpopular.

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates. I ran a series of these for candidates in contested primaries, and now these are for the rest of the candidates. … Continue reading →

From required IDs to navigating mail-in ballots, here's how voters can navigate early voting and Election Day.

The education board sets learning standards and approves instructional materials for public schools. Here are the nine candidates who are running and what’s at stake.

Where the candidates stand on affordability, Project Connect and ICE in Austin.

The post “Devoid of Any Factual Basis”: Again and Again, Judges Have Dismissed Trump’s Voter Data Lawsuits appeared first on ProPublica.

The world’s wealthiest man transformed Texas’ U.S. Senate race with a massive cash infusion to the Senate GOP’s main outside group, which has taken over the airwaves with ads boosting Paxton.

If Ken Paxton loses to James Talarico, blame would fall on weak Republicans who failed to close ranks, the president said on social media.

The US has only ever dropped a MOAB once before — on Afghanistan in 2017.

Polling released before the announcement found only 18 percent of Americans support the livestreaming idea.

Putin’s diesel ain’t saving Trump’s bacon.

The agency plans to contract with around 142 agents to take part in domestic spying operations.

“Nowhere among these measures is the institutional change that students demand," said Students for a Democratic Cornell.

A Marine Corps veteran is challenging the incumbent Republican in House District 52, which includes parts of Round Rock, Leander and Georgetown, along with all of Taylor and Hutto.

Fusus software is being used in at least 324 US communities, with nearly 624,000 cameras connected to a Fusus network.

A mix of science fiction and delusion distracts from the real harms that we’re seeing, says tech journalist Paris Marx.

Four North Texans pledged to impeach Trump on day one.

Trump has a long history of deriding leakers and the press, accusing those who publish leaked stories of “treason.”

New Mexico is finding out that successfully providing universal child care requires giving teachers a living wage.

The race to be the state’s first new agriculture commissioner in more than a decade has turned personal as both men have challenged each other’s ties to farm land.

Officials conducted a raid on her home and have issued over a dozen subpoenas to her family members.

WHO estimates that over 5,000 people in Gaza have lost limbs since October 2023, and one in five of them is a child.

From 2020 to 2025, the number of confirmed overdose deaths in Texas prisons rose from just four to at least 131. Despite this surge in fatalities, however, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) did not request any additional funding to expand its drug rehabilitation pro…

Experts have expressed deep concern over Trump administration cuts to federal food monitoring systems.

Trump, who has profited massively from his second term in the White House, is a major investor in oil and gas companies.

The firing squad execution of Nidal Malik Hasan is set for Dec. 3.

“There's so much power in this fight,” says Saul Levin.

The Democratic U.S. Senate nominee says he’s raised more than $134 million over the past year.

Gawdawful candidates are hurting the party’s hopes of holding the Senate.

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates. I ran a series of these for candidates in contested primaries, and now these are for the rest of the candidates. … Continue reading →

The post Trump Says the Border Is Secure. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott Keeps Declaring an Emergency. appeared first on ProPublica.

The race for Texas’ powerful second-in-command role pits a third-term GOP kingmaker against a state lawmaker who is riding the political tailwind felt by Democrats up and down the ballot.

Eligible voters have until Oct. 23 to apply to vote by mail in the upcoming midterms.

That’s the kind of number we’re looking for. A new survey of likely Harris County voters conducted by the University of Houston’s Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico leading heavily against his Republican opponent, … Continue readi…

Solid stuff. Democrat Letitia Plummer holds a 7-point lead over Orlando Sanchez, her Republican opponent, in the race to succeed Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, according to a poll published Tuesday by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public … Continue reading →

The post Frustrated by Losses in the Courts, Missouri Republicans Want to Change How Top Judges Are Selected appeared first on ProPublica.

The report also found most nonprofit facilities in Texas — which has a higher rate of medical debt than most states — will not offer refunds to patients who are later found to qualify for free care.

The Austin Democrat used the forum, absent rival Ken Paxton, to discuss policy and present himself as a moderate. Republicans cast those efforts as contrary to his record.

The lawsuit comes as Trump’s son-in-law faces scrutiny over conflicts of interest related to his diplomatic efforts.

The Transgender Education Network of Texas sent a cease and desist letter to messaging companies demanding an end to the text campaign.

More than 500,000 voter applications were held up by an error in a Department of Public Safety software update.

Meanwhile, Trump reportedly ousted Guilfoyle because he was upset that she was making money off his presidency.

An invite-only program for content creators has accounts promoting white supremacy, anti-LGBTQ, and neo-Nazi rhetoric.

The Republican nominee plans to hit over 30 stops across Texas, concluding with a stop at the Alamo on the eve of Election Day, as he competes in an intensely close Senate race against Democrat James Talarico.

The latest Consumer Price Index report shows that inflation has gone up 3.7 percent over the past year.

Early votes, crosstabs, and the 9.6 million Texans who decide everything in 2022 by not showing up.

More than 20 Democrats signed a letter calling on Trump to maintain escalatory policies against North Korea.

Zacharia's claims of being a lawyer and her spreading of anti-abortion disinformation have received renewed examination.

Republicans trail behind Democrats in voter enthusiasm, a University of Texas/Texas Politics Project University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll shows.

The incident raises alarm over officials’ moves to insulate insiders from anti-corruption enforcement.

“If anything, the report dramatically understates the problem,” said a co-chair of the Great Lakes PFAS Action Network.

On the last Sunday of September, a dozen volunteers gathered on the South Side of San Antonio alongside Republican candidates Jorge Borrego and Carlos De La Cruz. “This is where our efforts matter the most,” said Borrego, who is running for Texas House District 118. “If we win th…

The raids come four years after the forced closure of multiple NGOs that Israel designated as “terrorist” organizations.

Despite concerns about conflicts of interest, Rogers was named chair of the House Intelligence Committee.

Candidates for local school boards all the way up to Congress are competing for your vote. Here's what to know about races, voting locations and more for the Austin area.

NAZA reveals how Israel’s AI-based systems have been used to execute remote killings of thousands in Israel’s genocide.

Elon Musk has spent over $360 million in support of Trump's MAGA allies for this year's midterm elections.

Candidates for local school boards all the way up to Congress are competing for your vote. Here's what to know about races, voting locations and more for Hays County.

The Laredo Democrat’s 28th District was one of five seats Republicans redrew last summer to flip to GOP control. But the new map has proven less ironclad than the party hoped.

AI and crypto firms have spent record amounts on the 2026 midterms.

Over the summer, Governor Abbott called for a law that would bar H-1B visa holders from working in Texas public schools

There used to be a sense among Republicans that they needed to keep up some semblance of looking out for the public interest. That’s all fallen by the wayside with our “weaving” president, who recently had a message for the nation as data center outrage grows: Sit back and “let D…

Here’s a political event of interest coming up on Thursday you might want to attend: This is one hundred percent up my alley, but fate has conspired to make me unable to attend. Those of you who have an interest, … Continue reading →

The post These Women Were Trying to Escape Domestic Abuse. ICE Detained Them Instead. appeared first on ProPublica.

Just kidding, they always love it when they’re holding the weapon.

If it feels like it’s been a minute since you heard anything about the Harris County Department of Education, that’s probably because the HCDE Board has been going about its business without any of the fuss or drama some past … Continue reading →

The post New Mexico and El Paso Spent Millions on Climate Plans. Three New Data Centers Could Undo Them. appeared first on ProPublica.

Texas officials are promising tougher enforcement on data centers, but the existing law may offer limited leverage over the industry that has largely failed to report its water use.

In a district Trump won by 17 points, Republican Leigh Wambsganss no longer describes herself as ultra-MAGA in her rematch with Democrat Taylor Rehmet.

From the inbox: State Representative James Talarico (D) continues to lead Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) in the race for U.S. Senate, 48-44%, little changed from 49-43% in September, according to a new poll of likely Texas voters released today … Continue reading →

Voting rights groups are asking a judge to enforce a 2021 settlement aimed at providing reliable online registration through DPS.

While James Talarico was recovering from the flu, Paxton supporters said the Democrat was being treated for mental illness in Ohio. The debunked story was shared by White House officials, Elon Musk and social media influencers.

The program’s insolvency date was already pushed up to 2032, partly as a result of mass deportations.

District Attorney Sean Teare said his office is investigating whether an ICE agent in an SUV intentionally struck Miguel Parra-Hernandez as he fled.

Unable to abort two unplanned pregnancies because of the law, the woman is suing Students for Life for the cost of raising the children. The group posted about buying the pills undercover.

The Department of Homeland Security was established in 2002 as part of the Bush administration’s war on terror.

Trump isn't “particularly enthusiastic” about Pete Hegseth's plan to livestream a military execution in December.

This week, the podcast explores what can be learned from Houston ISD as more school districts face state takeover.

The offers are meant to “coerce” the children into giving up on their immigration cases, an immigrant advocate said.

Some legal experts say Jason Watson’s confinement for 24 hours a day could amount to illegal pretrial punishment.

The only consequence left is the ballot.

As Trump repeats annihilation threats against Iran, legal scholars implore other countries to step in.

Alex Gibney, director of the new documentary Musk, discusses the rise of the world’s first trillionaire.

The city argued that federal officials failed to review the environmental impact of a proposed facility that could hold 1,500 people a day.

“The president needs to completely declare a national emergency,” said longtime Trump ally Mike Lindell.

The CDC website has only recognized two of the six measles-related deaths recorded in Pennsylvania this year.

Texas leads the nation in book bans. What makes queer identity so frightening to the far right?

Emergency dispatchers were left scrambling after prison officials were unable to verify that the call was legitimate.

A lawsuit in Illinois charges that prisons blocking videophone capabilities violate the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Introduction by Ivan Flores and Gus Bova: Half a century ago, as part of an oral history project, fine arts photographer Dee Azadian and hundreds of volunteer field researchers spent months interviewing and recording the senior residents of Caldwell County, long before an encroac…

A recent poll finds 65 percent of respondents oppose the construction of AI data centers in their local community.

Rogers minimized worries about rising costs due to Trump administration policies as “derangement.”

It’s a sign of a deeply sick society.

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates. I ran a series of these for candidates in contested primaries, and now these are for the rest of the candidates. … Continue reading →

The post Scammers Are Stealing Millions From Food Stamp Recipients. Congress Could Fix It — but Won’t. appeared first on ProPublica.

At least five Texas colleges are among the first in the country that can use the federal funding for jobs training.

Ken Paxton and James Talarico are in a close race for Texas’ U.S. Senate seat, with Ted Brown also on the ballot. See where they stand on THC, data centers and Flock cameras. Talarico and Brown answered our questions; Paxton did not, so we used his past public statements to descr…

You’d think it would be a non-issue, with maybe some worrywart Dems and/or mid media members with nothing better to do making something of it. But you would be wrong. Democratic U.S. Senate nominee James Talarico made a surprise appearance … Continue reading →

The post He Waited Nine Years in Prison for His Lawyer to File a Single Brief. In This State, There’s No Rule Against It. appeared first on ProPublica.

At least 7,000 people in New Delhi were detained on Saturday.

The same week that Patrick declared a “war on books,” Goodwin toured the state touting the Texas Cares Plan, a healthcare plan designed to make coverage more affordable

Spoiler: the guys with schools named after them were the bad guys.

Homeland Security agents searched the Minnesota representative's home in Washington, DC, on Monday morning.

Officials say dropping off ballots early is the best way to avoid rejection due to delays in delivery.

We love our Somali neighbors.

Soaring cases expose the vulnerabilities of pregnancy and postpartum care in an era of lowering vaccination rates.

Joining the fight against our erasure helps Native communities defend our right to be seen, heard, and counted.

I don’t know what there is to say about Harris County Clerk Teneshia Hudspeth that hasn’t been said many times before. With a giant target painted on her office by nefarious Republicans, and with what feels like an election every … Continue reading →

Mutual aid is becoming increasingly vital as tribes face climate disasters with insufficient state support.

The proposed elimination of the program, aimed at serving lower-income families, comes as Texas leadership has called on agencies to reduce budgets by 3%.

TDCJ, which estimates climate control will cost $1.5 billion, said the federal judge’s order imposes “chaos and confusion” on the country’s largest prison system.

Slate’s Jim Newell visits Texas. In 2018 a captivating congressman from El Paso nearly turned Texas blue. In a race against Sen. Ted Cruz that captivated Democrats nationwide, Beto O’Rourke lost by a modest 2.6 points, the closest a Democrat … Continue reading →

Cash-strapped Austin ISD faces big changes under a potential state takeover. It could also face increased costs at a time when reserves are running dry.

What started as a novel plan to provide an unrestricted water supply to the oil and gas industry turned into a political quagmire that has consumed the city.

The early vote numbers to watch every night, and how to make your plan to vote.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of several religious institutions taking a stance on the initiative.

Tech leaders have been working with the administration to integrate AI into health care and medical record systems.

“This is the center of the electorate completely turning on Trump.”

“The FCC simply cannot ignore the laws Congress makes,” said one of the advocates behind the motion.

As the Trump administration guts disaster aid, it’s time for an extreme weather superfund paid for by fossil fuel firms.

The post As Trump’s Wall Closes in, DHS Intimidates a Border Tribe With Surveillance, Masked Agents and Drones appeared first on ProPublica.

The word “ceasefire” entered the news on October 11, 2025, but it has still not entered our lives as a reality.

The top 6 groups had spent more than $60 million each as of October 5.

The post Watch: Inside Our $22K Sports Betting Experiment appeared first on ProPublica.

The election was a referendum on the union's new direction, pursuing bold contract fights and new organizing campaigns.

Ten years after the Standing Rock protests captured national attention, the tribe is still fighting the project.

Republican Ken Paxton’s campaign made hay over the Democrat’s nine-day spell without a public appearance, casting doubt on his flu diagnosis.

Israel Katz says Israel will forcibly displace 1 million Gazans if “even one Israeli soldier” is abducted.

The administration is pursuing numerous strategies to manipulate data, neutralize safeguards, and disenfranchise voters.

In late September, the Texas secretary of state told county and election officials that DPS failed to send records to counties across the state, leaving tens of thousands of registrations to be processed in Travis County.

The post New York Plans Stronger Sports Betting Regulation to Curb Gambling Addiction appeared first on ProPublica.

Officials announced the sanctions just hours after the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to a former ICC judge.

We talk Hegseth’s barbarity, Trump’s increasingly sad rallies, and more.

Trump's financial disclosures also show he bought millions in stock from Meta as the company ramps up its AI efforts.

South African human rights lawyer Navanethem “Navi” Pillay began her career defending anti-apartheid activists.

The post The Pentagon Gave $350 Million in Contracts to a Firm Closely Tied to a Senior Defense Department Official appeared first on ProPublica.

The Okinawa Council voted nearly unanimously to call for a review of its US military agreement.

The president suggested that he would send federal agents to aid with attacks on the Somali community.

Hector Rodriguez III has been creating Mexican comic stories for 15 years. His latest one pits monsters created by one of literature’s most notorious racists against the legendary Pancho Villa.

Families in Gaza fear they may lose their property rights as deeds get destroyed and buried under the rubble.

The latest polls show Democrats outperforming Republicans in the midterms by around eight points.

To see more political cartoons from Ben Sargent, visit our Loon Star State section. Find Observer political reporting here. The post Matters of Religion appeared first on The Texas Observer.

Let’s build a world in which the torture of Christa Pike — or anyone — is unthinkable.

The ruling, the first of its kind in Tennessee history, revives elements of the infamous “trans panic” defense.

Buyers have lost almost everything. He keeps pumping them anyway.

Soto was abducted by ICE in February while buying diapers for his 11-month-old son.

The man, who is still being detained, had a 5-year-old child in his car at the time of the shooting.

The post Ken Paxton’s Security for Travel Cost Taxpayers Millions. Just 1 in 6 of His Trips Had a Stated Business Purpose. appeared first on ProPublica.

Middleton, a Republican, has long pushed for injecting Christianity into the public sphere. His Democratic opponent, Nathan Johnson, said those views make him unfit for office.

The Texas attorney general’s use of a taxpayer-funded travel security detail stands out when compared with his predecessor and other state officials, our analysis found.

Velásquez faces opposition for his support of the Dog's Head development and Proposition Q.

The post An Arizona County’s “Housing Hub” Is a Dead End for Many Homeless Families appeared first on ProPublica.

The post We’re Investigating Prior Authorization. Help ProPublica Understand Your Health Insurance Denial. appeared first on ProPublica.

A squad of Democratic lawmakers is pushing to limit the power of state-appointed officials who step in and take over struggling school districts, ousting locally elected trustees. A commission out of Houston, where the public school district is facing the largest school takeover…

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people and injured 32 others, will take place at the military base on Dec. 3.

This investigation comes from The Drey Dossier Live, where I work through stories like this one in real time every Tuesday at 5 p.m. Pacific and 7 p.m. Central here on Substack and YouTube.

The president said that the US will soon “establish a permanent” base on the moon, then gave Elon Musk a medal.

New torture charges against Maduro come as the US faces scrutiny over its treatment of migrants.

A recording from Michelle H. Davis's live video

When asked to define the term, the vice president stuttered, saying, “it’s a hard term to define these days.”

Lisa Jo Chamberlin’s co-defendant confessed to coercing her into their crime. Will that be enough to stop her execution?

Cuellar and his wife, charged with bribery, money laundering and conspiracy, were pardoned in December. In a social media post, Trump indicated he expected Cuellar to run as a Republican.

Razing the habitat of an endangered or threatened species will no longer come with federal penalties.

Activists say federal agents dragged protesters across a barbed wire and used “extreme pain compliance" tactics.

The post U.S. Lawmakers Launch Sexual Abuse Probe of Youth Sports Giant AAU appeared first on ProPublica.

The “war on terror” is still ongoing in Afghanistan despite US withdrawal, journalist Emran Feroz says.

David Milstein, top aide to Ambassador Mike Huckabee, has wielded enormous power in US-Israel policy decisions.

The Democrat, off the trail with the flu, quickly accepted the president’s call to “immediately report to a Debate Stage” with Ken Paxton.

Trump's announcement ignored the current Wisconsin governor, who had applied for aid back in August.

Ahmed Soliman has been detained since he was sent there in April under Trump’s third-country deportation policy.

The state has limited how much money it gives to fast-growing school districts, creating million-dollar gaps between what is owed and what's given.

“I wanted to do it so badly,” Trump said of his desire to privatize Social Security in his first year in office.

Over 200 students have been injured as police fired teargas and used batons against the youth protestors.

His political capital is gone and the repo man is on the way.

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates. I ran a series of these for candidates in contested primaries, and now these are for the rest of the candidates. … Continue reading →

The post Club Med, a Disney Cruise and an Exploding Starship: SpaceX Used Bystander Videos to Track Falling Debris appeared first on ProPublica.

From groceries to childcare, Texans are spending more to live here. Here’s how much costs have risen, why it’s happening and what candidates are proposing to fix it.

Johnson is hoping enough moderates are tired of Paxton-era culture wars to cross party lines. His GOP opponent, Mayes Middleton, is running as the outgoing incumbent’s ideological heir.

The post American Academy of Pediatrics Renews Call for Ban on Raw Milk appeared first on ProPublica.

In a conversation that has been leaked in pieces to multiple publications, the GOP Senate nominee called for “reasonable cuts to mandatory spending,” which is driven by Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid.

Greg Abbott, despite being an entrenched incumbent, faces the stiffest challenge of his career from Gina Hinojosa, a five-term representative and former Austin Independent School District School Board President

Trump has previously said that his children have “inside information” about government actions.

Israel's genocide has narrowed Palestinian children’s expectations of life's possibilities.

Texas oil money helped buy Trump's government. 27 days to do something about it.

The war inaugurated a terrible new global order in which armed drones kill civilians who are neither named nor counted.

Israel has killed over 1,700 Palestinian health care workers in three years of genocide in Gaza.

Already facing backlash for its decision to forgo reviewing critical post-Roe v. Wade pregnancy-related deaths, the state’s Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee (MMRC) is giving the public more reason to suspect political interference. Originally slated to be release…

The state permanently disenfranchises people with felony convictions unless pardoned or successfully petition one.

“Every single aspect of the life of the people of Gaza has changed once and forever,” says Akram al-Satarri.

Though exact counts vary, Department of Homeland Security agents have shot at about two dozen people in the United States since Donald Trump resumed the country’s highest office last year. Three of those shootings were by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in Texa…

Kushner’s role as a “special envoy” allows him to dodge financial reporting requirements, the Democrat pointed out.

“I don't know what's behind some of the decisions” Trump is making, Paxton says in the audio recording.

Red state MAGAs aren’t equipped for real competition and accountability.

Two of my family’s olive groves fell under Israeli control and got bulldozed. The third is damaged beyond recognition.

The agency's investigative branch mulled sending undercover agents into nonprofits involved in voter registration.

There’s a lot one can say about State Rep. Gene Wu, who has represented HD137 since winning a hard fought primary in 2012 to succeed Scott Hochberg. Wu, an attorney who was previously an assistant DA, is the leader of … Continue reading →

In a 2025 survey, 35 percent of undergraduate women reported experiencing sexual assault during their time at Cornell.

Trump has spent at least $10 million in taxpayer funds on TV ads ahead of the midterm elections.

The last U.S. Senate race in Texas to go without a debate was in 2000. Gov. Greg Abbott, meanwhile, debated his Democratic opponents in each of his last three campaigns.

Thousands of STAAR reading results improved after humans rescored students’ written answers. Most of the initial grading was done by an automated engine.

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates. I ran a series of these for candidates in contested primaries, and now these are for the rest of the candidates. … Continue reading →

Lawyers for Jamaal Howard are asking Gov. Greg Abbott for a 30-day reprieve after two lethal injections failed to kill Christa Pike, leaving her hospitalized.

The post Homeless Shelters Around Phoenix Are Full. His Phone Is the Unofficial Hotline for Struggling Families. appeared first on ProPublica.

Texas Comptroller Don Huffines announced the reviews, which were requested by Gov. Greg Abbott, on Monday. Results are due Dec. 31.

A lawsuit will test whether Texas officials can withhold data center location details under the state Homeland Security Act.

Officials have deported LGBTQ people to Sierra Leone, where they could face life in prison for same-sex activity.

The Ban Flock Act aims to slow the rise of Flock-style cameras amid rising fears about AI mass surveillance.

Votebeat's Natalia Contreras joins TribCast to explain the state of Texas’ voter rolls one month before election day.

“Even if I got hit by a truck tonight, HHS will never go back to what it was before,” Robert F. Kennedy Jr. bragged.

This is the first time in over two decades that the US has rejected OSCE participation in a federal election.

The post I’ve Covered Death Row Cases for Nearly a Decade. What Happened to Christa Pike Wasn’t an Anomaly. appeared first on ProPublica.

The factors show how easily another failed execution could occur, even as others are planned soon in Texas and Florida.

As ICE widens its surveillance dragnet, activists plan a week of action to disrupt a major data network.

Jamaal Howard and I are close. Wednesday, Jamaal and I will be in the execution chamber together in Huntsville. More than likely, only I will walk out alive. Jamaal’s execution will likely be the first one in the United States since the botched execution of Christa Pike in Tennes…

Trump’s attempt to defend the war comes as polling shows that the conflict is deeply unpopular among US voters.

Trump has approved the killing of Muslim US soldier Nidal Malik Hasan — the first Army execution in over 60 years.

A big chunk of Rosenthal’s haul came after French’s racist social media comments following a UT-Austin football game went viral.

Students protest teacher shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and dilapidated school buildings beset by rats and debris.

Abbott outspent Hinojosa 6-to-1 from July to late September, but the governor’s narrow polling lead was largely unchanged as he tapped a war chest that once topped $100 million.

Walmart’s US CEO said customers’ order value jumps 40 percent when they use the company’s AI shopping assistant.

Experts have pointed out that “falsehoods” on social media often “outperform true information” due to algorithm choices.

Ten years after Donald Trump was first elected President, the Republican Party has placed its chips on a region that would have made little sense at any other time in the last century: South Texas. Yet, if current polling holds, the GOP may have already overplayed its hand. Congr…

A new analysis finds the price of water increased faster than inflation, grocery prices, and median household income.

Elon Musk, Newt Gingrich, and Palmer Luckey walk into a bar ... and are given the keys to the DoD.

(Note: As I have done in past elections, I am running a series of Q&As for Democratic judicial candidates. I ran a series of these for candidates in contested primaries, and now these are for the rest of the candidates. … Continue reading →

The post More Than 500 U.S. Citizens Have Been Detained, Including Handcuffed or Held at Gunpoint, in Trump’s Immigration Crackdown appeared first on ProPublica.

A federal appeals court will consider whether restrictions on protests at Texas’ public universities and colleges violate constitutional rights.

The 35th Congressional District was redrawn to elect a Republican, but Latino voters’ brewing leftward shift has put the seat in play for Democrat Johnny Garcia, who faces Trump-backed Carlos De La Cruz.

The post Our Reporter Spent 10 Weeks Gambling on DraftKings. Here Are 5 Things He Learned. appeared first on ProPublica.

Texas has an unusually large slate of competitive races for the state Legislature and U.S. House this year. Here’s our list of contests to watch.

The Green Party motion also calls for a single state in historic Palestine with equal rights for all.

A record number of pregnant women and teenagers have been arrested by ICE. They cannot access medical care they need.

The attorney general more than doubled his second-quarter haul, but still is well short of past totals posted by Democrat James Talarico, who has yet to announce his July-to-September fundraising.

“Where is Congress to stop the horror?” asked Amnesty International USA.

Some critics have decried the ads as likely illegal, and potentially an impeachable offense.

Tim Dunn's mouthpiece is pre-assigning blame for November.

Residents of Havana discuss the obstacles facing the revival of the Cuban economy amid the US fuel blockade.

Frustrated officials say “unacceptable” technology glitches with Texas’ TEAM system are impeding work to resolve a backlog of hundreds of thousands of records.

“I'm not going to help” if an Ohio Democratic candidate for governor wins, Trump said.