Rick Perry returns to "Dancing with the Stars"
Perry, who was eliminated from the ABC show in September, came back to join rapper Vanilla Ice for his hit song "Ice Ice Baby" — first as a DJ, then as a fellow dancer. Full Story
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Patrick Svitek
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Patrick Svitek was the primary political correspondent for The Texas Tribune. Patrick covered elections, state leaders, the Legislature and political trends across the state from 2015 until 2024. He previously worked for the Houston Chronicle's Austin bureau. Patrick graduated in 2014 from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He is originally from Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Past Contributions
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![Former Gov. Rick Perry returned to "Dancing with the Stars" on Tuesday for an appearance on its season finale. Perry was eliminated from the ABC show in September.]()
Credit: ABC -
Texas judge blocks overtime rule challenged by Paxton, others
A federal judge in Sherman has blocked a White House effort to make millions more workers eligible for overtime pay, handing a victory to Texas and 20 other states that had challenged the new Labor Department rule. Full Story
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![Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton during a May 25, 2016, press conference.]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera -
Election dealt some setbacks to Texas GOP's modest diversity
One-half of the Hispanic Republicans in the Texas Legislature lost their seats this election, but there were only six to begin with. Full Story
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![(L to R) State Reps. John Lujan and Rick Galindo and U.S. Rep. Will Hurd receive a last-minute campaign boost from Gov. Greg Abbott at The County Line barbecue restaurant in San Antonio on November 7, 2016.]()
Credit: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez for The Texas Tribune -
Trump picks Sessions for attorney general, bypassing Cruz
Trump's decision to pick Sessions, his first supporter in the Senate, came three days after the president-elect huddled with Cruz in New York. Full Story
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![U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Alabama, served as surrogate for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump at the state Republican convention in Dallas, Texas on May 14, 2016.]()
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
Cruz fuels speculation over Cabinet position with surprise Trump meeting
The meeting between the former rivals at Trump Tower in New York, where the business mogul has been planning his transition to the White House, spawned theories about Cruz's possible place in Trump's Cabinet. Full Story
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![President Donald Trump and U.S. Sen Ted Cruz.]()
Credit: Mike Segar-REUTERS/Bob Daemmrich/Texas Tribune -
U.S. Rep. Roger Williams loses bid to chair House GOP's campaign arm
In the contest for chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, House Republicans elected Rep. Steve Stivers of Ohio over Rep. Roger Williams, R-Austin. Full Story
Credit: Bob Daemmrich -
After Trump election, Bush says "anger shouldn't drive policy"
Former President George W. Bush, who did not support Trump, opened his remarks by saying he does not "think it's helpful for a former president to criticize successors." Full Story
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![President George W. Bush speaks at the 2016 NASCO Continental Reunion at the George W. Bush Presidential Library in Dallas on Nov. 15, 2016.]()
Credit: Laura Buckman for The Texas Tribune -
Among Texans, race is on for jobs in Trump administration
Four Texans — including former Gov. Rick Perry and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller — are being mentioned most often as potential members of a Trump administration. Full Story
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![Former Gov. Rick Perry, Donald Trump and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman/Lucas Jackson (Reuters)/Bob Daemmrich -
Trump's shocking upset emboldens Texas GOP
Donald Trump's presidential victory was the stuff of Texas GOP dreams, and the state's party leaders are moving quickly to capitalize on this once-in-a-century opportunity. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to small crowd at the Harris County Republican Party headquarters election watch party in Houston, Texas on November 8, 2016]()
Credit: Marjorie Kamys Cotera for The Texas Tribune -
Texans who could serve in Trump's Washington
Throughout his campaign, Trump cultivated a number of loyal allies in Texas, making for no shortage of options as his transition team looks to staff the incoming administration. Full Story
![Former Gov. Rick Perry, Donald Trump and Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman/Lucas Jackson (Reuters)/Bob Daemmrich
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