The Department of Homeland Security Seal located outside the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Headquarters in Washington, DC on Feb. 15, 2015.

ICE prosecutor who runs racist X account returns to Dallas immigration court

James Rodden, identified by the Observer last year as the operator of an account that routinely posted hateful statements, appeared to be back at work Tuesday.

by Steven Monacelli, The Texas Observer January 15, 2026January 16, 2026

James Rodden, identified by the Observer last year as the operator of an account that routinely posted hateful statements, appeared to be back at work Tuesday.

The Texas Observer identified the operator of the online GlomarResponder account as James “Jim” Joseph Rodden, who then worked as an assistant chief counsel for ICE in the Dallas area.

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ICE still won’t answer questions about Texas prosecutor with white supremacist account

Congressman Marc Veasey arrived at an ICE facility Monday in his latest attempt to follow up on the Observer’s reporting.

by Steven Monacelli, The Texas Observer October 23, 2025October 23, 2025

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Congressman denounces ICE response about prosecutor operating racist X account

In response to the Texas Observer’s reporting, U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey demanded answers he has yet to fully receive — while ICE refuses to clarify the prosecutor’s current job status.

by Steven Monacelli, The Texas Tribune March 29, 2025August 1, 2025

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‘War on white America’: Influential Texas group hosting pro-Christian nationalism conference

True Texas Project has for years worked with Attorney General Ken Paxton, Sen. Ted Cruz and other prominent Republicans.

by Robert Downen and Juan Salinas II, The Texas Tribune June 12, 2024August 4, 2025

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Far-right activist Jonathan Stickland starts new group, months after white supremacist scandal

The former lawmaker registered ‘RaTmasTeR Holdings’ along with Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi. The name is a nod to Stickland’s alias as an infamous internet troll.

by Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune April 13, 2024August 4, 2025

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Texas GOP donor Tim Dunn told former House speaker only Christians should be in leadership

San Antonio Republican Joe Straus, who’s Jewish, said Dunn told him only Christians should serve in House leadership posts.

by Sanford Nowlin April 5, 2024June 24, 2025

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Amid white supremacist scandal, far-right billionaire powerbrokers see historic election gains in Texas

All told, 11 of the 28 House candidates supported by Tim Dunn and Farris Wilks won their primaries outright, and another eight are headed to runoffs this May.

by Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune March 9, 2024March 21, 2025

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House Speaker Dade Phelan, enemy of the far-right, faces toughest reelection yet

Attorney General Ken Paxton, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, and former President Donald Trump are accusing Phelan of being a ‘RINO,’ even as Phelan has overseen the passage of some of the most conservative bills in recent history.

by Zach Despart, The Texas Tribune February 5, 2024April 30, 2024

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Texas GOP vice chair challenges Matt Rinaldi for party leadership

Dana Myers has been critical of the party’s ties to Defend Texas Liberty PAC, a hard-right group that’s been tied to white supremacists.

by Patrick Svitek, The Texas Tribune January 27, 2024March 15, 2024

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Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi backed a group with white supremacist ties — while working for its billionaire funder

Farris Wilks is a key funder of Defend Texas Liberty, the state party’s largest donor, which is under fire for its ties to white supremacists.

by Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune January 13, 2024March 15, 2024

Two probationary officers have lost their positions at SAPD.

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San Antonio-area man going to prison after urging people to ‘blow up infrastructure’

The FBI’s search of the man’s home turned up loaded firearms, boxes of ammunition, books or instruction manuals about making improvised explosives, lab equipment and more, authorities said.

by Sanford Nowlin December 19, 2023January 22, 2025

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Conservative consulting group rebrands with new name after leader met with white supremacist Nick Fuentes

In a Nov. 13 filing with the Texas Secretary of State, an attorney for Pale Horse Strategies LLC wrote that the firm would also conduct future business under the name ‘West Fort Worth Management LLC.’

by Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune December 9, 2023April 5, 2025

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Assclown Alert: Tamping down on free speech to score political points with Texas AG Ken Paxton

Paxton announced his office is investigating watchdog group Media Matters for ‘potentially fraudulent activity’ after it reported on white supremacist content on the platform formerly known as Twitter.

by Sanford Nowlin November 30, 2023May 30, 2025

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Texas GOP chair stays silent on allies’ connections to antisemitic extremists

Matt Rinaldi has been defiant amid calls for him to cut ties with political ally Jonathan Stickland after meeting with white supremecist Nick Fuentes. Rinaldi is also accused of embracing antisemitic leaders of a new young Republicans organization.

by Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune October 28, 2023September 4, 2024

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Nick Fuentes is just the latest white supremacist embraced by Defend Texas Liberty

While Fuentes’ unapologetic hate mongering has made him one of the nation’s best-known white supremacists, he was merely the latest in a long line of people who have been embraced by Defend Texas Liberty and its close allies.

by Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune October 24, 2023January 21, 2025

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Here’s who gets money from Defend Texas Liberty, the PAC whose leader met with white supremacist Nick Fuentes

The group has funded candidates and groups like the Texas GOP who have pushed fellow Republicans to take a harder line against things like illegal immigration and transgender people.

by Patrick Svitek and Carla Astudillo, The Texas Tribune October 13, 2023August 4, 2025

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Jewish Texans see surge in antisemitism as a precursor to fascism

Extremism experts and historians sound alarms as politicians, media personalities and celebrities amplify antisemitic conspiracies that have historically led to the killing of Jews.

by Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune November 28, 2022June 20, 2025