Texas Observer Staff
2021 Texas Lege in Review: Red Meat, Broken Promises, and More of the Same Old Shit
The Lege This Week: Bitterness and Brinkmanship
Amid the theatrics that consumed the final full week of session, lawmakers still haven’t finalized much of their already-lackluster winter storm response.
Welcome to the 87th Legislative Session. Since the last session came to a close in June 2019, Texas has been hit by an unrestrained pandemic and a crippling economic crisis—and now the fallout from deadly blackouts. Under unprecedented circumstances, lawmakers … Read More
The Lege This Week: For Whom the Bill Tolls
The Texas House reached a critical deadline in rather anticlimactic fashion as dozens of bills hit the killing floor. But Republicans have already got most of what they wanted this session.
Welcome to the 87th Legislative Session. Since the last session came to a close in June 2019, Texas has been hit by an unrestrained pandemic and a crippling economic crisis—and now the fallout from deadly blackouts. Under unprecedented circumstances, lawmakers … Read More
The Lege This Week: Texas House Passes Budget, Republicans Again Reject Medicaid Expansion
And a bipartisan group in the House introduces a “Smarter Justice” initiative that’s “hardly transformative.”
Welcome to the 87th Legislative Session. Since the last session came to a close in June 2019, Texas has been hit by an unrestrained pandemic and a crippling economic crisis—and now the fallout from deadly blackouts. Under unprecedented circumstances, lawmakers … Read More
The Lege This Week: Elections and Abortions and Grid-Reforms, Oh My!
As the Legislature’s pace quickens, lawmakers advance “election integrity” crackdowns, attacks on abortion rights, and reforms in response to the deadly blackouts.
Welcome to the 87th Legislative Session. Since the last session came to a close in June 2019, Texas has been hit by an unrestrained pandemic and a crippling economic crisis—and now the fallout from deadly blackouts. Under unprecedented circumstances, lawmakers … Read More
Portraits of the Pandemic: Part Two
One year in, we revisit Texans who shared their COVID-19 stories last summer.
By Texas Observer Staff Illustrations by John Jay Cabuay From the March/April 2021 issue. O ne year into the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Texans have now been infected. Hospitalizations surged past last summer’s record highs this winter. Tens of thousands … Read More
Nine Texans On How They Survived A Frozen Week
After an unprecedented freeze swept Texas, the state’s grid approached a catastrophic blackout. Millions of Texans lost power or water—or both.
Nine Texans On How They Survived A Frozen Week After an unprecedented freeze swept Texas, the state’s grid approached a catastrophic blackout. Millions of Texans lost power or water—or both. By Texas Observer Staff February 18, 2021 As a winter … Read More
Portraits of the Pandemic
There are people who lost their jobs, who miss their family, who worry about their kids. These are the stories of ordinary Texans dealing with extraordinary circumstances.
By Texas Observer Staff Illustrations by Lindsay Mound August 31, 2020—Nearly six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 600,000 Texans have been infected. As of late August, more than 12,000 had died. Total cases and deaths more than doubled … Read More
An Observer Staff Guide to the 2019 Texas Book Festival
It’s an embarrassment of riches.
The 24th annual Texas Book Festival, happening this Saturday and Sunday in downtown Austin, is expected to draw approximately 50,000 curious readers to hear from nearly 300 authors. Among the most prominent speakers are U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, … Read More
Live Blog: Texas Midterm Elections 2018
We’re updating readers all Election Day with analysis, results and on-the-ground coverage from reporters throughout Texas. – 12:20 a.m., Texas Berniecrats Lose En Masse —Gus Bova So here’s a list of Bernie Sanders-style Democrats who ran in Texas this year. … Read More