Smoke rises from the 2019 ITC fire in suburban Houston.

Bad Takes

Bad Takes: ‘We have the best political system right now that private money can buy’

Sadly, what was once labeled corruption has become the way U.S. politics works.

by Kevin Sanchez November 26, 2025November 26, 2025

Sadly, what was once labeled corruption has become the way U.S. politics works.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appears at the Republican National Convention.

Texas News

Texas’ top voucher vendor taps Abbott allies in contract bid, program rollout

The New York firm Odyssey is now running the state’s lucrative voucher scheme with a little help from the governor’s friends.

by Justin Miller, The Texas Observer November 22, 2025November 22, 2025

News

Texas Ag staff told police they were wary of Sid Miller’s political consultant. Now he’s the agency’s chief of staff.

Todd Smith was Miller’s longtime political consultant when he admitted to soliciting bribes for licenses the agency typically issues for $100. Miller then put him on the payroll at $218,000 per year.

by Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune August 25, 2025August 30, 2025

News

Feds demand Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign explain more than 100 potentially illegal contributions

A letter from the Federal Election Commission identifies $658,000 in second-quarter donations that raise red flags.

by Sanford Nowlin August 19, 2025August 31, 2025

News

Former Sid Miller allies told police the ag commissioner feared DEA, told a friend to get rid of marijuana

Miller denies wrongdoing after allegations surfaced during an investigation into one of his aides, who pled guilty to bribery. The agriculture commissioner has not been charged with a crime.

by Kate McGee, The Texas Tribune July 31, 2025August 29, 2025

News

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is handing more of his office’s work to costly private lawyers

Despite having an office with hundreds of attorneys, Ken Paxton frequently opts to hire private lawyers. One cost taxpayers more than $24,000 in one day.

by Zach Despart, The Texas Tribune July 24, 2025July 26, 2025

News

Politically connected firms benefit from Trump tariff exemptions amid secrecy, confusion

The administration’s lack of transparency about tariff exemptions has experts concerned some firms might be winning narrow carve-outs behind closed doors. ‘It could be corruption, but it could just as easily be incompetence,’ one lobbyist said.

by Robert Faturechi, ProPublica April 22, 2025May 4, 2025

News

Justice Department decided not prosecute Texas AG Ken Paxton near end of Biden’s term

The Associated Press based its report on two people familiar with the decision who spoke anonymously.

by Sanford Nowlin April 3, 2025April 9, 2025

News

Houston woman is third guilty plea in Henry Cuellar bribery case

Irada Akhoundova pleaded guilty to facilitating a $60,000 payment to Imelda Cueller, the congressman’s wife, that she believed would benefit Azerbaijan and its state-run oil company.

by William Melhado, The Texas Tribune May 14, 2024June 16, 2024

News

‘You are the best El Jefe’: Henry Cuellar’s alleged brazen foreign bribery schemes

The powerful Laredo congressman is indicted for allegedly acting as a foreign agent for Azerbaijan and a Mexican bank in exchange for at least $600,000 in bribes.

by Justin Miller and Lise Olsen, The Texas Observer May 11, 2024June 3, 2025

News

Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton mocked for running away from subpoena server

In a tweet, Paxton claimed he feared for his family’s safety, yet his wife went outside to start the getaway vehicle.

by Sanford Nowlin September 27, 2022December 12, 2024

News

Abortion, Migrant Deaths: The top 10 headlines in San Antonio this week

Might as well call this week’s roundup of the Current’s most-read stories the ‘Texas Atrocities Tour.’

by San Antonio Current Staff July 1, 2022August 3, 2023

News

Uvalde mom handcuffed for trying to rescue her kids now says she’s being harassed by local police

Angeli Rose Gomez says Uvalde police are parking outside her home and telling her she’s violated her probation by ‘obstructing justice.’

by Michael Karlis June 27, 2022August 3, 2024

News

South San Antonio ISD to begin process of removing superintendent

The vote follows concerns that a hot mic may have picked up the superintendent cutting a deal to hire the board president’s brother as a consultant.

by Michael Karlis May 21, 2022February 1, 2025

News

Don't miss the sweetest event of the year, Dulce on Dec. 12! Buy Your Tickets Today!

corruption

Bad Takes: ‘We have the best political system right now that private money can buy’

Texas’ top voucher vendor taps Abbott allies in contract bid, program rollout

Texas Ag staff told police they were wary of Sid Miller’s political consultant. Now he’s the agency’s chief of staff.

Feds demand Ken Paxton’s Senate campaign explain more than 100 potentially illegal contributions

Former Sid Miller allies told police the ag commissioner feared DEA, told a friend to get rid of marijuana

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is handing more of his office’s work to costly private lawyers

Politically connected firms benefit from Trump tariff exemptions amid secrecy, confusion

Justice Department decided not prosecute Texas AG Ken Paxton near end of Biden’s term

Houston woman is third guilty plea in Henry Cuellar bribery case

‘You are the best El Jefe’: Henry Cuellar’s alleged brazen foreign bribery schemes

Indicted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton mocked for running away from subpoena server

Uvalde mom handcuffed for trying to rescue her kids now says she’s being harassed by local police

South San Antonio ISD to begin process of removing superintendent

Analysis: Embattled Texas AG Ken Paxton’s own office declares him innocent. Who cares?

Former federal ethics chief blasts Ted Cruz’s message to ‘woke’ corporations as ‘openly corrupt’

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton hired an inexperienced lawyer to investigate claims by his political donor

In new email, senior aides say Ken Paxton used power of his office to benefit political donor Nate Paul

Corruption allegations plagued Texas AG Ken Paxton long before staffers’ call for an investigation

Report: Two of Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s Political Backers Won ‘Potentially Lucrative’ Ukraine Oil and Gas Deal