Texas Republicans stuck with Speaker Kevin McCarthy, but it wasn’t enough to save him

In January, some Republican Texans led the charge to challenge McCarthy’s leadership bid. But this time, all Republicans voted to save McCarthy and all Democrats voted to remove him.

by Matthew Choi, The Texas Tribune October 3, 2023November 11, 2024

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Lawsuit by Attorney General Ken Paxton’s accusers can continue, Texas Supreme Court rules

The whistleblower lawsuit, which argues that four senior staffers were improperly fired in retaliation for reporting Paxton to the FBI, returns to a Travis County trial court for action.

by Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune September 29, 2023November 23, 2024

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‘We are not going away’: Paxton whistleblowers vow to continue legal fight in court

On Monday, the former state employees argued that Paxton has failed to uphold key parts of the settlement agreement, including a $3.3 million payment and a promise to apologize.

by Robert Downen and Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune September 26, 2023September 29, 2023

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New anti-DEI law for public Texas colleges presents hiring challenges

The law requires publicly-funded universities and colleges to close their diversity, equity and inclusion offices, creating hiring challenges.

by Sneha Dey, The Texas Tribune September 23, 2023March 2, 2024

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Paxton critics pile on, calling impeachment trial rigged

House Speaker Dade Phelan wrote an op-ed for his hometown newspaper saying the ‘fix was in from the start,’ while other Republican officials are calling for Phelan’s resignation.

by Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune September 23, 2023September 23, 2024

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New online ad blasts Ted Cruz as ‘grifter’ for constantly promoting his podcast

The 50-second spot was paid for by the Lose Cruz PAC, launched in June by Democratic operatives.

by Sanford Nowlin September 21, 2023July 12, 2025

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GOP senators, open to Paxton conviction, flipped when they realized they were still short the votes

‘I feel there were six senators who were ready to be the 21st vote,’ said Sen. Nathan Johnson, D-Dallas. ‘But they didn’t want to be the 20th vote.’

by Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune September 21, 2023September 24, 2023

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An emboldened Ken Paxton returns to a battered attorney general’s office

The impeachment proceedings, and the events that precipitated them, have left the Texas Office of the Attorney General in turmoil. Can Paxton steady the ship of an institution vital to the conservative cause?

by Eleanor Klibanoff, The Texas Tribune September 18, 2023November 22, 2023

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Texas’ political environment driving faculty to leave, survey finds

After legislators passed laws banning diversity initiatives and targeting tenure at state universities, more than a quarter of the 1,900 Texas professors surveyed by faculty associations said they plan to look for positions out of state.

by William Melhado, The Texas Tribune September 7, 2023December 28, 2023

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Texas’ years-long refusal to accept the Medicaid expansion has dire consequences for the working poor

Texas is the nation’s most uninsured state, and San Antonio residents live with the consequences of leaders’ refusal to take federal money to expand coverage.

by Travis E. Poling September 6, 2023April 15, 2025

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‘We’re going to need to save each other’: Texas ‘drag ban’ will be fought in the streets and the courts

SB 12 has already sent a chill of fear and uncertainty through the LGBTQ+ community.

by Kit O'Connell, The Texas Observer August 26, 2023March 23, 2024

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Will Hurd of Texas fails to qualify for first GOP presidential debate

Anemic poll numbers barred him from the debate stage, but Hurd also fell short of another requirement by declining to pledge his support for the eventual Republican nominee: ‘I will not sign a blood oath to Donald Trump.’

by Matthew Choi, The Texas Tribune August 22, 2023October 10, 2023

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Ted Cruz trolled online with old-ass fake photo of shark swimming down street

The clearly doctored photo has been widely circulated on the Internet for a dozen years.

by Sanford Nowlin August 22, 2023December 31, 2024

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As Texas GOP lawmakers push election fraud claims, the party’s voters say elections work fine

Only 13% of Lone Star State Republicans said they have ‘not much confidence’ in elections and just 1% say they have ‘no confidence at all.’

by Sanford Nowlin July 27, 2023September 13, 2024

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Sen. John Cornyn of Texas mocked for trumpeting federal broadband funding he voted against

“You left out, ‘in spite of my no vote,'” said one of the many people trolling Cornyn over his tweet.

by Sanford Nowlin June 29, 2023March 22, 2025

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Gov. Greg Abbott signs legislation barring trans youth from accessing transition-related care

Texas joins 17 other states restricting transgender minors from accessing puberty blockers and hormone therapies. Opposing legal groups have vowed to sue to stop the new law from taking effect.

by Alex Nguyen and William Melhado, The Texas Tribune June 3, 2023September 3, 2023

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Bill requiring Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms fails in House after missing crucial deadline

Senate Bill 1515 was one of several legislative attempts by conservative Christians to center public life around their religious views.

by Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune May 24, 2023May 1, 2025

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Rep. Chip Roy of Texas threatens defense funding bill after Air Force recognizes Pride Month

The San Antonio-Austin Republican claimed events recognizing LGBTQ+ service members were ‘divisive’ and ‘frankly embarrassing.’

by Sanford Nowlin May 22, 2023February 13, 2024

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For a Texan who wants to build bridges in Congress, U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales has burned quite a few

The two-term Republican, criticized by his own party for breaking with the GOP on key votes, is not inclined to change his ways.

by Matthew Choi, The Texas Tribune May 10, 2023May 25, 2024

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Conservative Christians want more religion in public life. Texas lawmakers are listening.

Opponents of church-state separation have been emboldened by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions and the growing acceptance of Christian nationalism on the right.

by Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune May 7, 2023June 17, 2025