The History of Eugenics in Texas Isn’t What You Think
A new book unearths a chapter of the state’s story when anti-intellectual fundamentalism was put to good ends.
Reviews
El Paso’s Still-Untold Story
A new revisionist history lays out an urgent task that it does not accomplish.
Inside Fort Worth’s Narcotic Farm Experiment
Rehab on the Range tells the story of Texas’ role in one of the largest federal forays into drug treatment.
Seeing the Unseen
New collections of fiction and nonfiction build on Dagoberto Gilb’s long career as chronicler of the working-class Southwest.
‘Fuck You Greg Abbott’—the Musical
A satirical show about the Texas governor in his youth offers a giant Ann Richards puppet, dancing Matthew McConaughey heads, and a moment of catharsis.
Lawmen Above the Law
A new book takes aim at the seemingly unchecked power of America’s gun-toting sheriffs.
The Banality of Border Evil
What a long-dead, cartoonishly corrupt Texas bureaucrat can tell us about the nature of immigration enforcement and the U.S.-Mexico divide
SIGN UP FOR TEXAS OBSERVER EMAILS
Rick’s Requiem: The Serious Impact of an Unserious Politician
A new book seeks to paint a more measured portrait of the oft-mocked Texas politician.
A Roadmap to Rebuilding Communities
Texas highways have destroyed and dominated our built environment. Megan Kimble's book "City Limits" offers a new vision.
‘The Queen vs. Texas’ Revisits the Battle over Lone Star Drag
Raemonn James, better known as Hermajestie the Hung, teamed up with a filmmaker to tell a moving story of activism and queer culture.