Sandra Santos

Texas House Democrats flee the state in bid to block GOP’s proposed congressional map The lawmakers’ absence means the lower chamber won’t have enough members present to function, stalling passage of a draft map Democrats have condemned as a political power grab.

Breaking news. www.texastribune.org/2025/08/03/t...

Following Trump’s lead, Gov. Abbott pushes state agencies to end telework The directive comes as some state agencies have downsized their office spaces after the pandemic forced many employees to work remotely.

ICYMI: Teleworking employees of state agencies "must return to the office on or before March 31, 2025. Story by @poojasalhotra.bsky.social. www.texastribune.org/2025/03/05/t...

Texas Lottery ticket sales to third-party services fuel controversy and questions about the agency’s future While the Lottery Commission says it can’t regulate sales to couriers, lawmakers want changes after two major jackpots were won using those services.

Could lawmakers abolish the Texas Lottery?
The Tribune's Ayden Runnels and Jasper Scherer look at the controversy involving the sales of tickets via third-party services that led to two major jackpot wins and why top officials are demanding answers and changes. www.texastribune.org/2025/02/21/t...

Longtime Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards dies after battle with brain cancer Richards, the eldest daughter of Gov. Ann Richards, forged her own path as a tireless advocate for women across Texas and the United States.

Breaking: Longtime Planned Parenthood President Cecile Richards dies after battle with brain cancer. www.texastribune.org/2025/01/20/c...

State employees suspected of stealing from low-income Texans' public assistance accounts Seven human services employees were fired after a string of fraud and theft — and the largest data breach in agency history.

Officials say the accused employees accessed the personal account information of 61,104 Texans without a clear business reason. Story by @tlangford.bsky.social.
www.texastribune.org/2025/01/17/t...

Hi, Ken!!!

Rep. Dustin Burrows voted Texas House speaker, in blow to insurgent GOP movement Burrows defeated Rep. David Cook with a coalition of Republican and Democratic votes.

Breaking: Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, was voted speaker of the Texas House on Tuesday, elevating him to one of the most powerful positions in state government. www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/d...

Watch: Texas House voting on new speaker, setting the stage for 2025 legislative session Dustin Burrows, who represents the GOP establishment, and David Cook, supported by the party’s rightmost faction, are vying for the gavel.

Happy opening day of the 89th Texas Legislature to all those who celebrate. You can watch the Texas House in action now as lawmakers try to select a new speaker. www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/t...

Continued an adopted tradition of adding the annual White House Christmas ornament to my tree. This year’s ornament honors former President Jimmy Carter. Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone!

Attorney General Ken Paxton files motion to block death row inmate Robert Roberson from testifying The motion escalates a tense standoff between Paxton and a bipartisan Texas House committee, which had subpoenaed Roberson to testify at the Capitol on Friday.

The Texas Tribune's Kayla Guo has the latest escalation in the political fight over the case of death row inmate Robert Roberson. www.texastribune.org/2024/12/19/r...

Rep. Michael McCaul calls Tulsi Gabbard a “baffling” pick to lead intelligence community The Austin Republican leads the House Foreign Affairs Committee and predicted Gabbard’s nomination would fail in the Senate.

The U.S. House Foreign Affairs chair predicted how some of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks would fare with the U.S. Senate during a wide-ranging with The Texas Tribune. Story by @matthewchoi.bsky.social www.texastribune.org/2024/12/18/m...

Texas school districts asked to return $16 million in federal funding for special education services The request comes after an audit found Texas improperly billed the federal government for reimbursements related to Medicaid-eligible students.

Here's the first story from @texastribune.org's new reporter, Ayden Runnels, who'll be joining me on the night shift in a couple of weeks. www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/t...

Not on Spotify but do subscribe to Apple Music. Here’s my Replay’24 of my Top 5 artists.

Federal judge blocks rule that would have given DACA recipients access to Affordable Care Act coverage The temporary injunction issued Monday would affect roughly 90,000 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals recipients in Texas.

From Jaden Edison of The Texas Tribune. www.texastribune.org/2024/12/09/t...

The only thing I was asked to contribute to the family Thanksgiving feast was whipped cream for the pies. My reign of terror of burning the dinner rolls is over.

I will never be sorry for loving this stuff. I have to take my own can to my family's feast because no one else likes it.

"Somebody needs to get fired": Vicente Gonzalez blasts Dem strategy on abortion, trans issues After Democrats underperformed nationally and in Texas, the McAllen Democrat had some sharp commentary for his party and said he won't be taking their advice.

My favorite sentence in this excellent story on Rep. Vicente Gonzalez by @matthewchoi.bsky.social: In a recent interview with The Texas Tribune, the four-term Democratic congressman, with a penchant for going rogue, took a shiv to the Democratic playbook. www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/t...

Texas offers Trump administration more land and support for mass deportations Two events in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday made clear Texas officials will work with the Trump administration on immigration.

Texas offers Trump administration more land and support for mass deportations.

Two events in the Rio Grande Valley on Tuesday made clear Texas officials will work with the Trump administration on immigration.

Reporting from @beregarcia.bsky.social

www.texastribune.org/2024/11/26/t...

@beregarcia.bsky.social just wanted to say

I <3 the Texas Trib

and

I just canceled my NYT and WaPo subscriptions and I'll be splitting them between donations to TT and MoJo.

Don't ever change, yall.

Trump picks Texan Brooke Rollins to lead Agriculture Department Rollins, who grew up in Glen Rose and once led the Texas Public Policy Foundation, will need Senate confirmation before becoming agriculture secretary.

Trump's nominee to lead USDA, Brook Rollins, is president of America First Policy Institute, and previously led the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Far-right Texas oil billionaire Tim Dunn is on the board of both think tanks. Heritage/Project 2025 leader Kevin Roberts is TPPF's former CEO.

My dogs are obsessed with these treats. Unfortunately, if they want more, they’re going to have to get jobs.

Having a good Saturday. Brunched on waffles, had air put in my tires and gave the dogs a long walk. Now I might go out and get some wonton soup and egg rolls. I needed a day like this.

Follow Juan!!!

It has come to my attention that Thanksgiving is next week. Maybe I'll make shrimp and grits this year.

JLo was the star of one of my dreams overnight. It was one of those situations where I woke up saying, "What? Why?"

Hello! We’re holding this space while planning our Bluesky approach. Feel free to follow our staff. 👇

go.bsky.app/Pp9Zwtm

All this talk about the price of eggs these days makes me want them even more.

I'm asking people to help me reach 1k by the end of the day, to all of you that have followed me please ask your followers to do the same.Im one terminally ill man taking on the government to change the law for a 2nd time, fast track benefits to anyone diagnosed with a terminal illness immediately

There's a weird, strong, sweetish smell in the back yard that I can't ID. It's not decomp. So now I'm googling "Are my neighbors making meth?"

A young Batman checks the weather.

My cat, Batman, has been feeling poorly for the last couple of days, and I just saw him drink water on his own. What a relief. Now the wounds I got when he fought my attempts to keep him hydrated can heal. Here's a poorly lit pic of him from a couple of years ago when he was a baby.