Lauren McGaughy

Promoters of Election Lies Also Hyped a Hospital for Ukraine. That Never Happened Either. True the Vote, a group that spread discredited election conspiracy theories, “abandoned” The Freedom Hospital in April 2022, according to its lawyers. Yet board member Gregg Phillips continued to seek...

In 2023, when I realized I was chasing the same lead as my former colleagues and reporter she-roes, we teamed up and did this investigation.

w/ @lmcgaughy.bsky.social and Allie Morris

www.propublica.org/article/ukra...

Prosecutors Drop Only Criminal Cases from Hays County Airbnb Raid Pending drug charges have been abandoned from the multi-agency April operation that supposedly targeted Tren de Aragua and led to multiple deportations.

UPDATE: I re-requested a bunch of records about the Hays County multi-agency raid, since the only criminal charges were dropped in October.

DPS declined to release more records, citing an ongoing FBI investigation.

www.texasobserver.org/prosecutors-...

Ken Paxton argues divorce records should remain private, accuses press of invading his marital life The attorney general’s wife, state Sen. Angela Paxton, filed for divorce this summer, alleging adultery.

NEW: Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argues divorce records should remain private, accuses press of invading his personal life.

www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege

[h/t to @dallasnews.com for beating me to posting about this]

“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas. Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.

NEW:

In 2024, Tierra Walker was sick and getting sicker. She was also pregnant.

She knew abortion was illegal in Texas, but thought there was an exception for women like her, whose health was at risk. Doctors told her there was no emergency.

Then she died.

www.propublica.org/article/texa...

Gov. Greg Abbott Was Ordered to Release Some of His Emails With Elon Musk. Most Are Blacked Out. Months after fighting to keep secret emails between Gov. Greg Abbott and Elon Musk, Texas officials released 1,400 pages of records. But they reveal little about the two men’s relationship or Musk’s i...

This is my latest Elon Musk collaboration with
@propublica.org and @texastribune.org, published as part of a five-newsroom initiative to cover powerbrokers in Texas. No paywall!

PP: propublica.org/article/greg...

TT: texastribune.org/2025/11/19/g...

Got a tip for me? Reach me at tips@kut.org.

Gov. Abbott released 1,400 pages of emails about Elon Musk. Most are blacked out. Abbott fought for months to keep secret emails between his office and Elon Musk. Now, hundreds of pages have been released.

Experts said this case illustrates how hard it's become to get info about government's dealings with business. Corporate titans like Elon Musk don't want to release records and politicians side with them.

The public, the experts said, is left in the dark.

www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege

Gov. Abbott released 1,400 pages of emails about Elon Musk. Most are blacked out. Abbott fought for months to keep secret emails between his office and Elon Musk. Now, hundreds of pages have been released.

Many of the records appeared to be redacted under the Public Information Act's exemption for information related to competition or bidding.

Musk did not respond to requests for comment. Abbott's spokesman said the governor followed the law.

www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege #TPIA

We got our decision in August.

The AG said Abbott's office must release some emails with Musk. About a month later, we got nearly 1,400 pages of emails.

I was stoked. Until I took a look at the records. They were almost completely redacted. www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege #FOIA

Gov. Greg Abbott says emails with Elon Musk are too ‘intimate and embarrassing’ to make public When we asked for the emails, the governor’s office said some of the correspondence with the billionaire and his companies contains “intimate” information that isn’t of “legitimate concern to the publ...

Our request for emails between Abbott + Musk kicked off a monthslong saga.

To catch y'all up: First, Abbott's office said it'd cost $244 to review the records. We paid up.

Then, they didn't want to release the records at all and asked the AG to keep them secret. www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege

Gov. Abbott released 1,400 pages of emails about Elon Musk. Most are blacked out. Abbott fought for months to keep secret emails between his office and Elon Musk. Now, hundreds of pages have been released.

NEW: Remember that story we broke a few months ago with
@propublica.org @texastribune.org?

We reported Texas Gov. Greg Abbott did not want to release his office's emails with #Elon #Musk. Well, we have an update. www.kut.org/politics/202... #txlege #FOIA #transparency #Texas

Gov. Abbott declares CAIR, Muslim Brotherhood terrorist groups Gov. Greg Abbott filed the designation letter Tuesday.

NEW: Gov. Abbott has declared CAIR and the Muslim Brotherhood terrorist groups.

The declaration prohibits both groups from purchasing or acquiring land in Texas and allows "increased enforcement" against both groups, the governor said Tuesday.

www.keranews.org/politics/202... #txlege

5/5 Have a tip for me to investigate? Here’s how to reach me.

Signal: lmcgaughy.40
Email: lmcgaughy@kut.org
Email: lmcgaughy@proton.me

I write about Texas politics and policy, with a focus on Elon Musk, criminal justice and LGBTQ issues. #txlege

Trump uses mortgage fraud to target Democrats. A Texas Republican is using it against Ken Paxton. The Trump administration has aggressively investigated the president’s adversaries for mortgage fraud. But it’s unclear whether the federal housing agency will probe allegations against the Texas atto...

4/ These mortgage complaints have become an important cudgel for the Trump administration. One led to Letitia James' indictment.

But it's unclear whether Trump will even investigate the allegations against Paxton, a top ally. www.kut.org/crime-justic... #txlege

3/ Bonner said he filed the complaint as a private citizen — not in his official capacity. The Texas GOP did not comment. Neither did Trump's housing agency.

Paxton's spox did. He called the complaint unserious — and me unserious for writing about it. www.kut.org/crime-justic... #txlege

Trump uses mortgage fraud to target Democrats. A Texas Republican is using it against Ken Paxton. The Trump administration has aggressively investigated the president’s adversaries for mortgage fraud. But it’s unclear whether the federal housing agency will probe allegations against the Texas atto...

2/ Hunter Bonner, a Republican county chairman in East Texas, said he's filed a complaint with Trump's housing agency alleging there is evidence Paxton has committed mortgage fraud.

We got a copy of the complaint and write about it here. www.kut.org/crime-justic... #txlege

Trump uses mortgage fraud to target Democrats. A Texas Republican is using it against Ken Paxton. The Trump administration has aggressively investigated the president’s adversaries for mortgage fraud. But it’s unclear whether the federal housing agency will probe allegations against the Texas atto...

1/ The Trump admin has targeted the president's perceived enemies with allegations of mortgage fraud.

Letitia James. Adam Schiff. Lisa Cook

But recently one Texas Republican tapped the tactic to allege a statewide official here may also be guilty: Ken Paxton. www.kut.org/crime-justic... #txlege

Sale of Austin queer bar Cheer Up Charlies called off The deal for Pride Holdings Group to take over the struggling LGBTQ+ club was canceled Tuesday, according to one of Cheer Up Charlies’ owners.

BREAKING NEWS: Sale of Austin queer bar Cheer Up Charlies called off.

www.kut.org/austin/2025-... #ATX #LGBTQ #LGBT #queer

Texas A&M to pay $3.5M to former president Mark Welsh after resignation Welsh agreed to release the university system, its regents and employees from any past or potential legal action related to his employment, according to the agreement.

Guy takes job.

Guy resigns from job under pressure.

Taxpayers pays guy $3.5M.

Good public records hit from @houstonchronicle.com @samanthakett.bsky.social.

www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston... #txlege #FOIA #TPIA

Houston ISD sues state AG to keep PR firm emails from 13 Investigates 13 Investigates has been formally requesting information about the district's relationship with the agency for months and hasn't gotten any answers, so sending an open records request for emails was o...

ICYMI: Houston ISD has sued the Texas AG Ken Paxton after he ordered them to release records of a contract with Los Angeles public relations firm.

abc13.com/post/houston... #FOIA #TPIA

So fun dressing up as my boy Jinu for Halloween! 😈

I made this jacket myself. Can’t wait to repurpose it into my regular wardrobe. Now, the Mardi Gras countdown starts!

#SajaBoys #kpdh #KPOPDEMONHUNTERS #kpop

Uvalde PD investigation into death of staffer to Rep. Tony Gonzales expected to conclude The investigation into the death of 35-year-old Regina Santos-Aviles is expected to conclude without criminal charges.

NEW: We got a letter from the City of Uvalde today that says the investigation into the Tony Gonzales staffer who burned to death last month is expected to be "closed in the near future without resulting in criminal prosecution against any person."

www.tpr.org/government-p...

ICE is removing more people from Austin’s jails. Sometimes coming twice a day. Data shows a growing number of people in Travis County jails find themselves facing deportation after sometimes routine run-ins with the police.

NEW: Immigration enforcement has been very visible in places like Chicago and LA. But what about in red states like Texas?

⁦
@mosebuchele.bsky.social reports it may be quieter but it’s still on the rise — with ICE doing sometimes twice daily sweeps at jails. www.kut.org/apple-news/2... #txlege

Elon Musk, Cards Against Humanity settle lawsuit over South Texas land Cards Against Humanity sued SpaceX alleging Musk’s employees trespassed on a piece of land in South Texas and dumped trash.

BREAKING: Cards Against Humanity settles lawsuit against Elon Musk's SpaceX.

“Soon, the land will be returned to its natural state: no space garbage, and still completely free of pointless [expletive] border walls,” the game company told fans. www.kut.org/crime-justic...

Do you live in the U.S. and recently saw your @Tesla #Powerwall go dark?

Powerwall 2s were recalled in Australia bc batteries could catch fire. But I've seen no recall here. I asked @teslaenergy but got no response.

DM me if this has happened to you!

‘The Video Speaks for Itself.’ An Historic Murder Case Puts San Antonio Officers on Trial. San Antonio police officers had never been charged with murder for an on-the-job shooting. Now, a courthouse is packed for an historic trial.

Friday marked the start of an historic trial, the first murder case for a San Antonio police officer to date.

For Alexis Trovar, the case is simpler. It’ll determine whether the man who shot her mother is held criminally liable.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/10/16/s...

Austin police don’t know when ICE is coming. The chief says that could be dangerous. ICE doesn’t appear to have a consistent policy of how and when to notify local law enforcement about immigration raids.

But the APD chief also told Mose she doesn't want her officers to cooperate more with ICE. If they do, she said, they could further lose the trust of local immigrant communities.

Other areas, like Harris County, are different. They do get a head up from ICE. More here: www.kut.org/crime-justic...

Austin police don’t know when ICE is coming. The chief says that could be dangerous. ICE doesn’t appear to have a consistent policy of how and when to notify local law enforcement about immigration raids.

Austin police said not knowing about raids beforehand — or after — can be dangerous.

If a citizen reports a kidnapping or assault that local police don't know is part of an ICE raid, they may inadvertently clash with federal officers, the chief said.

www.kut.org/crime-justic...

Austin police don’t know when ICE is coming. The chief says that could be dangerous. ICE doesn’t appear to have a consistent policy of how and when to notify local law enforcement about immigration raids.

ICE wouldn't tell Mose why some police don't get a heads up about raids.

But the lack of notification may be due in part to a lack of cooperation. Some big city police have preferred to keep the agency at arm’s length.

Austin is no different. www.kut.org/crime-justic...

Austin police don’t know when ICE is coming. The chief says that could be dangerous. ICE doesn’t appear to have a consistent policy of how and when to notify local law enforcement about immigration raids.

🧵 Police in some Texas cities get a heads up before ICE raids. Austin is not one of them.

@mosebuchele.bsky.social reached out police and sheriffs across the state. He found out ICE provides advance notice to some local agencies, while keeping others in the dark.
www.kut.org/crime-justic... #txlege

Cheer Up Charlies sold to investment firm buying up LGBTQ+ bars and nightclubs As part of the deal, Maggie Lea and Tamara Hoover stepped down as owners of the queer-friendly venue. Pride Holdings will handle Cheer Up Charlies' rent, payroll, taxes, insurance and the cost of live...

BREAKING: Austin queer bar Cheer Up Charlies sold to investment firm buying up #LGBTQ+ bars and nightclubs. www.kut.org/business/202...