Loren Steffy

Trump wants you to stand against American values | Opinion Trump wants you to stand against American values, writes Loren Steffy.

I know the #SOTU seems like years ago, but it's worth remembering what happened. Thanks to my friends at the @houstonchronicle.com  for allowing me back on their pages. 

Colt McCoy’s Plan for Higher Education: “Take a Snap and Go Play Ball” Greg Abbott appointed the Longhorns legend to help oversee the state’s universities. We asked the QB what his vision is.

The new face of higher ed in Texas: A middling quarterback who speaks in cliches and platitudes.

Why So Many Texas BBQ Joints Are Closing I talked to seven restaurant owners about why they decided to close in the last few months and two who are desperately trying to hold on to make it through 2026.

Of all the economic indicators about consumer prices, this may be the saddest. https://www.texasmonthly.com/bbq/higher-costs-fewer-customers-killing-texas-bbq-joints/ @texasmonthly.bsky.social

The Trial of the Century: The Enron Trial (Podcast in Print) Twenty years ago, the trail of Enron's top executives, Ken Lay and Jeffrey Skilling, was truly a Trial of the Century. It had everything; massive egos, bigger than life lawyers and a massive fraud. In this special series from the Compliance Podcast Network, Tom Fox is joined by Loren Steffy, a bu...

The Enron trial began almost 20 years ago. A few years back I did a podcast about it with Tom Fox that was nominated for a Webby Award. Now, you can get the ebook version. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0G4BDPVZF? #enrontrial #corporatecrime #courtroomdrama #booksky @stoneycreekbooks.bsky.social

It Doesn't Matter Until It Does Chapter 1

A New Year’s treat: My friend and colleague Will Edwards has begun telling his story in serial form. Will is a wonderful writer and his family story is heartbreaking and inspiring. I can’t wait for the next installment. open.substack.com/pub/wille378...

Introducing Putin's Oil Heist by Putin's Oil Heist

Why did Bruce Misamore have to flee Russia? And what do his experiences tell us about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine? Listen to the whole story on our podcast “Putin’s Oil Heist.” https://cms.megaphone.fm/channel/putinsoilheist?selected=OSC4485684949 @stoneycreekbooks.bsky.social #booksky

In the Faroe Islands’ Soccer Team, the Players Also Have Day Jobs The Faroe Islands, rugged green specks in the North Atlantic, are an underdog. Most of the guys on the team have day jobs.

I'm not much of a professional soccer fan, but this could turn me into one. I was fortunate to get to go to the Faroes recently. It's an amazing place.

Power Players Meet the lawyers who are fueling an abundant energy future for Texas—and the whole world.

Will things finally come together for nuclear fusion? Check out Part II of "Power Players" for my take in the latest issue of Texas Law. https://law.utexas.edu/magazine/2025/11/05/power-players/ #energy #nuclearpower #fusion

I'll be signing books, hanging out and wandering about the Texas Book Festival all weekend. Look for me at the @stoneycreekbooks.bsky.social table in the @tamupress.bsky.social tent. Lots of other great Stoney Creek authors will be there too. #texasauthors #booksky #newbooks

Dick Cheney’s Halliburton years reshaped Houston’s business landscape For many in Houston’s business world, Dick Cheney will be remembered less for his time in the White House than for the years he spent at the helm of Halliburton.

Back on the old pixels of Chron.com for piece on Cheney's lingering Halliburton legacy. Dug out some 20+year old interview notes. 
https://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/article/dick-cheney-houston-halliburton-legacy-21140724.php #cheney #halliburton #politics

Bodies in the bayous (Oct. 9, 2025) | Houston Public Media On Thursday's show: We learn what law enforcement has to say about the frequency in which human remains are found in the city's bayous. And we examine what renewed efforts to ramp up coal production might mean for the energy industry here in Texas.

What do new incentives for coal mean for Texas' janky utility grid? My discussion on @houstonmatters.bsky.socialhttps://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/houston-matters/2025/10/09/532805/bodies-in-the-bayous-oct-9-2025/ @stoneycreekbooks.bsky.social  @craigcohen.bsky.social

Data centers are thirsty for Texas’ water, but state planners don’t know how much they will need A wave of massive data centers is expanding across Texas, prompting warnings from experts who say the new water demands could push the state’s already strained supply to the brink.

Tech companies are moving in and sucking up all the water in drought-plagued West Texas? It sounds like something out of a novel...https://www.texastribune.org/2025/09/25/texas-data-center-water-use/ #TheBigEmpty #booksky #drought #tech @stoneycreekbooks.bsky.social

How an Enron Parody Turned Into a Financial Mess of Its Own Some performance artists bought the name for peanuts and concocted an elaborate caricature of corporate excess. It didn’t go as they planned.

So... Enron was a real company that failed, came back as satirical performance art, tried to become a real company, and failed again.

How CenterPoint fleeces Houstonians. And why we still can't rely on our grid. Texas’ Public Utility Commission isn’t a watchdog. It’s an emotional support animal...

Hate to say I told you so, but ... www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outl...

Hate to say I told you so, but...https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/deregulation-centerpoint-beryl-houston-19579145.php

Texas’ $7.2 billion loan program for gas power plants has approved two projects in two years Experts say the Texas Energy Fund is facing an energy market that makes new power plants more expensive and less profitable.

Our legislator's ability to find new ways to mess up our electricity markets is truly astounding. At this point, what's another $7 billion? https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/26/texas-energy-fund-natural-gas-power-plants/ #ercot #texasgrid #electricity #infrastructure.

What Declining Cardboard Box Sales Tell Us About the US Economy Box demand touches nearly every industry, from flat-screen TVs to packaged food, all of which see sales fluctuate based on how flush shoppers feel.

I love stories about offbeat economic indicators, like this one about declining box sales as a barometer for consumer spending.

Spending federal recovery funds (Aug. 14, 2025) | Houston Public Media On Thursday's show: Houston City Council has approved spending plans for $315 million in federal recovery funds, going against an initial proposal from the mayor. We find out what that money will be spent on. And we learn what recent comments from President Trump could mean for the future of wind energy in Texas.

Texas windbreakers: I discuss what recent federal changes mean for Texas energy on @houstonmatters.bsky.socialat 7:07 https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/houston-matters/2025/08/14/528286/spending-federal-recovery-funds-aug-14-2025/ #windpower #renewables #environment

Just did my first video interview for radio. [Insert "great face for radio joke here.] @houstonmatters.bsky.social

The numbers we need Political interference will hurt our economy at a time when we can least afford it

Why impartial economic data matters https://open.substack.com/pub/wordmines/p/the-numbers-we-need?r=1cyd76&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #economy #Trump #unemployment

The crooked tree and me — a Father's Day memory My favorite book is one that you've never read — and never will. It changed my life.

What does a lost story of a crooked tree have to do with Father's Day? https://open.substack.com/pub/wordmines/p/the-crooked-tree-and-me-a-fathers?r=1cyd76&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true #FathersDay #books #shipwrecks #booksky

Richard Steffy was an electrician in a landlocked Pennsylvania town who… | TAMULibraries Richard Steffy was an electrician in a landlocked Pennsylvania town who held no advanced degrees, yet he became a pioneer in the study of ancient shipwrecks — the first person ever to reconstruct an a...

This is pretty cool. My book about my dad's amazing journey from electrician to ancient ship reconstructor is the Texas A&M Libraries' Book of the Month selection. www.linkedin.com/posts/tamuli...

Open for business at the TSHA annual conference in Houston!

What better way to celebrate Texas Independence Day than to host a discussion @bookpeople.bsky.social  about Jack Woodville London's wonderful new book, Dangerous Latitudes, a spy thriller set in the days of the Republic of Texas. Hope you can join us! #texas #atx #atxevents #books #history

Previewing the legislature (Jan. 13, 2025) | Houston Public Media On Monday's show: The 89th regular session of the Texas Legislature begins tomorrow. We preview some of the issues and bills that will take center stage.

I discuss mergers with @houstonmatters.bsky.social starting at 9;13. https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/shows/houston-matters/2025/01/13/509641/previewing-the-legislature-jan-13-2025/
#mergers #energy #layoffs #jobs #economy @stoneycreekbooks.bsky.social

What could tariffs on Mexico and Canada mean for Texas’ economy and consumers? President-elect Trump has announced plans to impose 25% tariffs on goods from the two countries.

“This is going to raise the cost of goods in a lot of different ways.” I discuss tariffs, mass deportation & Texas with @texasstandard.bsky.social. https://www.texasstandard.org/stories/trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-texas-economy-prices/ #tariffs #deportation #immigration @stoneycreekbooks.bsky.social

Trump’s Tariffs Could Upend the “Texas Miracle” If the president-elect follows through on his campaign promises, disruptions in trade with Mexico and Canada would hit businesses and workers in the Lone Star State especially hard.

Trump's policies of tariffs and mass deportations may kneecap two key legs of the state’s robust economy: low taxes and cheap, abundant labor. Why aren't state officials or business leaders speaking up? www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
#tariffs #economy #TexasMiracle
@texasmonthly.bsky.social

And homeowners who have paid off their mortgages or inherited their homes are increasingly choosing to opt out of coverage altogether: One in six Texas homeowners, or about 1.1 million households, didn't pay for insurance last year

In response, real estate agents say potential homebuyers are backing out of contracts because they can’t afford to add insurance premiums. Sellers are dropping list prices, citing the cost of insurance as the reason.

‘Never experienced anything like this:’ The new reality of insuring a Texas home Texas homeowners are struggling to keep their homes insured, paying more for less coverage as climate change wreaks havoc on providers.

The Texas Department of Insurance recorded a 21% jump in statewide rates last year, the biggest annual spike in at least a decade. In the last five years, rates in Texas have risen faster than anywhere else in the country. www.houstonchronicle.com/projects/hom... @houstonchronicle.com