Brian is founding member of The Barbed Wire team. A longtime Texas journalist, he has written for the Austin American-Statesman, the Waco Tribune-Herald, Texas Monthly, and more. He was also a writer and producer at Rooster Teeth.
Culture
If you weren’t actively rooting for the Cowboys or Texans to make it all the way this year — we have new motivation to unlock your inner armchair coach. Bad Bunny is headlining the Super Bowl halftime show in February. That’s right, Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio will succeed Kendrick
Texas Politics
Turns out the only thing keeping Dade Phelan from speaking his mind was … his job. Who knew? The former Texas House Speaker announced last month that he wouldn’t seek reelection. And since then, he’s gone from buttoned-up politician to that one relative at Thanksgiving who’s too
Culture
Are you football-curious? Want to know what your coworkers are talking about but don’t know who Kirk Herbstreit is (or he gives you the ick)? We’ve got you covered. We’re trying out a new approach to football coverage at The Barbed Wire in which we share
News
Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is furious that Gov. Greg Abbott won’t go full prohibition on THC, unloading a 2,000-word tirade Friday that makes D.A.R.E. pamphlets look subtle. But don’t worry — Patrick insists this is not “a personal fight with the governor,” just a
Culture
The Bullock Texas State History Museum is an impressive piece of Texana, a hulking granite-faced structure across the street from the University of Texas campus. Step inside and you’re confronted with a giant mural of longhorns, horses, and cowboys that promises to tell you “The Story of Texas.
News
UPDATE: Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order Wednesday directing state agencies to ban THC product sales to minors, though he didn't specify an age threshold. He also directed agencies to strengthen enforcement of existing regulations, while also launching a review of labeling, testing, and licensing rules. The
News
Apparently banning weed gummies is harder than outlawing women’s rights, because THC is still legal in Texas. State lawmakers wrapped up their latest special session Wednesday night without passing the Senate’s proposal to ban nearly all THC products, leaving hemp-derived cannabis on shelves across the state — at
Culture
I grew up hating the Dallas Cowboys. Actually, “hate” is not a strong enough word. Detested? Loathed with the heat of a thousand suns? If you were around in the ’90s, you had no choice but to have a strong opinion about them. They were cocky, they were very good
Culture
The University of Texas has never been here before. At least, not exactly. The Longhorns have had really (really) good football teams in the past, but as we kick off the 2025 season Saturday, Texas is the top dog and boasting the biggest celebrity quarterback in the country. The hype
Perspectives
What a difference a year makes. Twelve months ago, when we launched The Barbed Wire, it felt like we were finally crawling out of the wreckage of Trump’s first term, maybe even headed toward a slightly less-shitty future. Sure, Texas was still Texas — stubborn, messy, allergic to progress
News
After years of shouting about “limited government,” “personal freedom,” and “tyranny,” Texas Republicans have finally decided to embrace their inner Big Brother. Turns out the best way to stop democracy from working is to treat your Democratic colleagues like middle schoolers on a field trip. Here’s the scene: Texas
Culture
If you live in Texas, you probably have a complicated relationship with the state. As in: You love Willie Nelson, but you hate Ted Cruz. You’re proud of Buddy Holly, but then you remember Joe Rogan moved here and started talking like he invented barbecue. We gave the world