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Monty Bennett

‘Gossip and Sleaze’: Dallas Express Smears State Rep’s Son Under Fake Byline

The right-wing news outlet published anonymously sourced allegations about a Houston minor by a supposed author whose name is likely an Ayn Rand reference.

by Steven Monacelli

Keep Reading

A Dallas Megadonor, a New Nonprofit, and the War on ‘Housing First’

by Steven Monacelli

Can a Great Museum City Survive the Censorious Right?

by Michael Agresta

Pride and Prejudice in Princeton, Texas

by Candice Bernd

Oct 18, 2024

The GOP Megadonor Behind the Bid to Break Dallas City Government

Conservative hotelier Monty Bennett and a California-based company that offers protesters-for-hire have seeded an “astroturf” right-wing influence network that has kicked into overdrive to push controversial “Dallas HERO” city charter amendments.

by Steven Monacelli

In a black and white photo, audience members hold up Resign Now signs in the board room of a school board. Nov 13, 2023

These Are the Right-Wing Ideologues Taking Over School Boards

Conservative consultants and PACs are turning Texas school boards into partisan battlegrounds.

by Steven Monacelli

A adult hand holds the hand of a child, with the adult's hand wearing a rainnbow Pride bracelet. May 10, 2023

Documents Reveal ‘How to Defund Trans Pediatrics’ in Texas

The American College of Pediatricians—which has been designated a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center—found common cause with Republican megadonor Monty Bennett.

by Kit O'Connell and Steven Monacelli

Inside this month's print issue

‘Riding Shotgun’

The Observer has forayed into podcasting with the story of the dubious capital conviction of Charles Flores.

Keep Reading

The Magazine

Zombie astroturf groups illustration Mar 16, 2023

Dallas Has a Problem With ‘Zombie’ Astroturf Groups

Despite being exposed as bogus, some right-wing organizations keep coming back from the dead. No one knows who is funding them.

by Steven Monacelli

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