Analysis: Texas, the bellwether state
A number of the top issues facing the country — mask mandates, voting, immigration — have something in common: Texas. Full Story
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Ross Ramsey co-founded The Texas Tribune in 2009 and served as its executive editor until his retirement in 2022. He wrote regular columns on politics, government and public policy. Before joining the Tribune, he was editor and co-owner of Texas Weekly. He did a 28-month stint in government with the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts. Before that, he reported for the Houston Chronicle, the Dallas Times Herald, as a Dallas-based freelancer for regional and national magazines and newspapers, and for radio stations in Denton and Dallas.
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![The state Capitol building on Aug. 11, 2021.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas government grinds to a stop — of the governor’s choosing
It’s happening slowly, but during the Texas government’s long summer, with legislative walkouts, fights over voting rights, and new battles over what’s safe and what’s not, Gov. Greg Abbott is mostly getting his way. Full Story
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![A legislator fist bumps a House Administration staffer as they entered the House Chamber on Aug. 11, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Fiddling while the pandemic rages
The Texas Legislature is meeting. Partisans are fighting. And there is a surge in COVID-19 cases just as the state’s public schools are opening. Guess what’s getting the least amount of attention from state lawmakers. Full Story
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![Gov. Greg Abbott holds a border security briefing with sheriffs from border communities at the Texas Capitol on July 10, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: The pandemic breaks into Gov. Greg Abbott’s special session agenda
The business of the new special legislative session is like that of the failed first one, with some big items added in apparent response to the rise of the delta variant of the coronavirus in Texas. Full Story
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![House Speaker Dade Phelan talks with other legislators on the House floor on July 20, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Schools open in Texas with unvaccinated K-6 students and months of learning loss to overcome
Public schools in Texas are reopening this month as parents, students and educators balance learning losses from virtual classes during the pandemic with an alarming rise in COVID-19 and a large number of unvaccinated students. Full Story
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![Johan Arzade, 12, looks at his COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card after receiving a dose of the Pfizer vaccine at a clinic organized by the Travis County Mobile Vaccine Collaborative at Rodriguez Elementary School on July 28, 2021.
Source diversity info: Latino Male]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Groundhog Day in Texas
A lot of the news from the last few days — about the Legislature, about COVID-19 and about immigration — has a real déjà vu quality to it. And there’s a good reason for that. Full Story
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![A migrant child waits with his family in front of the Catholic Charities RGV Humanitarian Respite Center in McAllen on July 27, 2021.]()
Credit: Jason Garza for The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas government has to put Humpty Dumpty together again
A partial shutdown of state government wouldn't do anyone in state politics any good. Lawmakers still have time to erase the governor's veto of the Legislature's budget — but not a lot of time. Full Story
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![A legislator holds his head in his hand while sitting on the House floor on July 19, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: In Texas, sports can be a religion. Thankfully, politics are not involved. Oops…
Nothing offers a better distraction from nasty political fights over serious subjects than nasty political infighting over Texas college sports. Full Story
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![Baylor Bears safety JT Woods returns an interception against the Kansas State Wildcats during the first quarter at McLane Stadium on Nov. 28, 2020.]()
Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports via REUTERS -
Analysis: A virus unfettered among the unvaccinated
Texas and other states are seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases, one that’s preying disproportionately on unvaccinated people. Full Story
Credit: Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune -
Analysis: Texas Democrats may find themselves in the wilderness of wandering public attention
The legislative Democrats who decamped from Texas to Washington, D.C., to block a voting bill need public attention to pull the argument their way — and that's going to be harder to get after last week’s first news of their quorum-busting. Full Story
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![Democratic members of the Texas House and Texas Senate gathered for a joint press conference at Washington Plaza Hotel in Washington, D.C., on July 14, 2021.]()
Credit: Shuran Huang for The Texas Tribune
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