Texans aren't shy. Perspectives is where our writers and contributors make the case — on politics, power, culture, and the fights that define this state. Sharp arguments, firsthand accounts, and the occasional righteous holler. You won't always agree. That's the point.
Perspectives
Fewer than 3 million Texans bothered to vote this week, but that didn’t stop them from rewriting the state’s constitution — again — mostly in ways that make life easier for property owners, business interests, and the already comfortable. In a turnout so low it barely qualifies as “consent of
Immigration
I remember meeting Ya'akub Vijandre a little more than two years ago. We were at the first Dallas protest held in the aftermath of Israel’s bloody siege of Gaza following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas. This was back when I was still working with Dallas
Queer Texas
I think I need to start at the beginning, because I’ve never talked about this publicly. During freshman orientation at McGill University, I ended up on a pedestrian-only stone street strung with pink decorations: The Gay Village in Montreal, Canada. There’s a Saint-Pierre-Apôtre Church with
Culture
Late last week my mom texted me, “Only the good die young.” Then, “Oscar Wyatt.” The 101-year-old oil tycoon was primarily famous for turning an $800 loan in 1955 into a pipeline company that became the Coastal Corporation — a national energy conglomerate that earned him billions. He passed
Perspectives
Fellow Texans, it’s our sad duty to report that our governor appears to be taking his marching orders from a right-wing social media account (and, yes, we’re talking about … sigh … Libs of TikTok). While it’s a well-known fact that Gov. Greg Abbott lives in fear
News
In the conservative Christian movement, Charlie Kirk was more than a far-right activist — to many, including Attorney General Ken Paxton, the self-described free speech advocate who founded Turning Point USA was a martyr who died for his cause. That sentiment was on full display Tuesday night at an
Perspectives
Hey, New York Times, leave Arch Manning alone. This is family business. Has the University of Texas’ starting quarterback underperformed? Obviously. But is he “college football’s first flop,” as Times asked yesterday? Is he now a “man synonymous with failure?” Not really! He’s been … just okay! Reporter Will
Perspectives
Why legislate the messy way when you can just etch your politics into the bedrock of the state forever? This is why Texans love a good constitutional amendment, and on Nov. 4, we get to vote on 17 of them. Buckle up, it’ll be a veritable buffet of tax
Perspectives
Fascism doesn’t start by kicking down the door. Sometimes it demands a settlement, manipulates a corporate merger, cancels a comedian, or silences the press. Some thought it couldn’t happen here. But the evidence is all around us. Yesterday news broke that CBS is reportedly appointing Bari Weiss as
Culture
If you live in or have just heard of Texas, you know about our barbecue — particularly brisket. It’s one of the foods most strongly associated with the state. Heck, it may as well be on our flag. And of all the other states with a strong identification with a
Perspectives
America, we have a problem. In the weeks since the assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, historically Black colleges and universities have experienced terroristic threats, Black students have been expelled or withdrawn for expressing their first amendment rights, and prominent Black journalists have been fired for social media posts.
Perspectives
In this tumultuous American moment, Texas is still unique in its mind-boggling extremes. Texas loves to pick on queer kids. At least, the Texas Legislature does. We just wrapped up the 2025 legislative session(s) and, as has become a cruel habit of Texas politicians, lawmakers have once again