Politics
700 stories
Trials and Errors »
Over the past two decades Texas has exonerated more than eighty wrongfully convicted prisoners. How does this happen? Can anything be done to stop it? We assembled a group of experts (a police chief, a state senator, a judge, a prosecutor, a district attorney, and an exoneree) to find out.
June 2012 Moderated by Michael Hall and Jake Silverstein
Truth or Consequences »
In 2004 Dan Rather tarnished his career forever with a much-criticized report on George W. Bush’s National Guard service. Eight years later, the story behind the story can finally be told: what CBS’s top-ranking newsman did, what the president of the United States didn’t do, and how some feuding Texas pols got the whole ball rolling.
May 2012 by Joe Hagan
Hail Mary »
Craig James—former star football player, onetime ESPN commentator, eternal antagonist of Texas Tech fans everywhere—is polling at about 4 percent in this year's Senate race. Does he really want your vote? Or just your sympathy?
April 2012 by Bryan Curtis
General Admission »
Will Fisher v. The University of Texas at Austin help the U.S. Supreme Court decide affirmative action once and for all? Not likely, which is why it's time to let public universities make their own decision about which students to accept.
April 2012 by Paul Burka
Power Trio »
In this excerpt from Indomitable Will: LBJ in the Presidency, letters, interviews, and historic documents offer a revealing glimpse into the stormy relationship between Lyndon Johnson and the Kennedys.
March 2012
Is There Life After Rick Perry? »
When the longest-serving governor in Texas history loses his first campaign ever, what happens to him? More importantly, what happens to us?
February 2012 by Paul Burka
The Swan Song of Ron »
This year’s Republican primary will most likely be Ron Paul’s final run for office. And to the surprise of a political establishment that long ago wrote him off, he’s going out on a high note.
February 2012 by Nate Blakeslee
Mappily Ever After »
Once again, redistricting has devolved into a bitter, partisan, confusing, chaotic mess. But take heart, voters! There is a better way.
February 2012 by Brian D. Sweany
Up in the Air »
No state has defied the federal government’s environmental regulations more fiercely than Texas, and no governor has been more outspoken about the “job-killing” policies of the EPA than Rick Perry. But does that mean we can all breathe easy?
December 2011 by Nate Blakeslee
Split Deception »
Despite what Democrats say, our state really is an economic powerhouse. Despite what Republicans say, it’s not for the reasons you think.
December 2011 by Michael Ennis
Living with the Border Fence »
The border fence cuts through a Valley farmer's property, upending his family's life.
December 2011 by Oscar Casares
Left Behind »
Rick Perry’s stumbles on the national stage have inadvertently highlighted the weakness of his opposition back home—Texas Democrats.
November 2011 by Mimi Swartz
Pioneer Up »
The roots of Rick Perry’s frontier style.
October 2011 by Jake Silverstein
The Great Campaigner »
After ten contested elections dating back three decades, Rick Perry remains undefeated. Is he brilliant? Lucky? Ruthless? We asked the people who know best—his vanquished opponents. An Oral History
September 2011
Commercial Appeal »
It's no accident that Rick Perry has a 10-0 election record. Watch the campaign ads that helped convince voters he was the man for the job.
September 2011 by Sonia Smith
Big D-Vide »
Another South Dallas politician is under investigation for corruption. Why can’t the city seem to change its script?
September 2011 by Brian D. Sweany
Dear Yankee »
You didn’t ask, but here’s some free advice for you and the rest of the national press corps as you prepare to write about Rick Perry.
August 2011 by Paul Burka
Perry's Response
On August 7, 2011, Governor Rick Perry sponsored “The Response,” a prayer rally held in Houston’s Reliant Stadium. Photographs by Paul Stekler
August 2011
The Best & Worst Legislators 2011 »
For the Eighty-second Legislature (our twentieth at the Capitol), everything old was new again: The state faced a budget deficit; the governor harbored presidential ambitions; the members of the Best list were hard to find; and the names on the Worst list picked themselves.
July 2011 by Nate Blakeslee and Paul Burka
Capitol Affair »
How architecture changed the balance of power at the Legislature and other observations from my three decades covering Texas politics.
July 2011 by Paul Burka
20 Sessions »
A brief history of every Legislature we’ve ever covered.
July 2011 by Nate Blakeslee and Paul Burka
Hall of Fame »
Since 1973 we've picked two hundred best legislators. We asked ten of our favorites to weigh in on how the Capitol has changed and where the state is headed.
July 2011 Interviews by Brian D. Sweany
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