Past Contributions

• Louie Gohmert leaves Congress having passed one law and spread countless falsehoods

  By Eric Neugeboren Aug. 18, 2022

  Gohmert was a precursor to former President Donald Trump’s brand of populist, establishment-bucking conservatism that delights in offending progressives and makes no apologies for spreading misinformation. Full Story 

• Paul Burka, Texas political journalism titan and “soul” of Texas Monthly newsroom, dies at 80

  By Eric Neugeboren Aug. 15, 2022

  “He understood Texas and Texas politics better than anyone ever has,” former Texas Monthly editor Bill Broyles said. “There won’t be anyone like him again because he was so even-handed and fair-thinking.” Full Story 

• False allegations of voter fraud in 2020 led to increased threats against Texas election workers

  By Eric Neugeboren Updated: Aug. 14, 2022

  A Texas elections administrator from Tarrant County told a U.S. House committee there was a social media call for his violent death, and election workers nationwide have reported more than 1,000 “hostile contacts” over the past year. Full Story 

• Texan who prosecutors say “lit the match” of Jan. 6 riot sentenced to more than 7 years in prison

  By Eric Neugeboren Aug. 1, 2022

  Guy Reffitt, a 49-year-old Wylie resident, never entered the Capitol but helped ignite the crowd “into an unstoppable force,” a prosecutor at his trial said. His sentence is the longest given out so far from the Jan. 6 riot. Full Story 

• Bucking other Texas Democrats, Cuellar and Gonzalez vote against U.S. House bill that would ban semi-automatic weapons

  By Eric Neugeboren July 29, 2022

  The chamber’s attempt to ban semi-automatic weapons after a series of mass shootings appears destined to fail in the Senate. Full Story 

• Semiconductor subsidies bill backed by top Texas Republicans passes in U.S. House and heads to Biden for final approval

  By Eric Neugeboren July 28, 2022

  In spite of strong support among Texas GOP leaders, nearly all Texas House Republicans voted against the bill intended to boost the state’s semiconductor industry. Full Story 

• Top Texas Republicans, Biden administration look to grow the state’s semiconductor industry

  By Eric Neugeboren July 26, 2022

  As companies like Samsung and Texas Instruments expand their operations in the state, Gov. Greg Abbott and other state leaders are backing federal efforts to grow the industry. Full Story 

• “We failed”: Gay Republicans who fought for acceptance in Texas GOP see little progress

  By Eric Neugeboren July 24, 2022

  Gay Republicans who have fought for acceptance within the Texas GOP over the past three decades told The Texas Tribune progress has been excruciatingly slow. Many of them have left the party, even as the number of Log Cabin Republicans in Texas continues to grow. Full Story 

• Only one Texas Republican in Congress voted to protect marriage equality

  By Eric Neugeboren July 19, 2022

  U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales was the only Texas Republican to vote for a bill seeking to codify the right to same-sex marriage. The measure passed the House, but its fate in the Senate is uncertain. Full Story 

• U.S. House approves Rep. Lizzie Fletcher’s bill to protect the right to seek an abortion out of state

  By Eric Neugeboren Updated: July 15, 2022

  The bill would also shield the rights of any person or group helping someone get an abortion out of state. Full Story