Journalism My War Story As the Anglican Archbishop of East Jerusalem - a Palestinian Christian - Samir Khafiti told me on this trip, “For people here, the Bible is like yesterday’s newspaper. They are fighting battles that go back centuries.”
Newsletter Texas Outlaw Writers' Newsletter: The New Year is Here Edition Before we get going, the Outlaws want to clarify one thing. To paraphrase (kinda) LBJ on the eve of the 1968 Democratic National Convention, "We shall not seek, and we will not accept, the nomination for a term as Speaker of the House of Representatives." None of us.
media Putin's Poodle Is it a coincidence that Tucker rhymes with sucker? Others, even less restrained than I, might suggest other rhymes...
The American Scheme If you wonder how America got to its present state of bipolar dysfunction, the answer is the interbreeding of media, corporate interests, and political ambitions, which combine to destroy scrutiny of right and wrong. It wasn't long ago when lying and exaggeration ruined a politician’s career.
Newsletter Texas Outlaw Writers' Newsletter: Don't Look Back Edition Was 2022 a year half full or half empty? It depends on who you ask. Maybe you got a new or better-paying job due to the worker shortage. But runaway inflation probably ate into that raise. Just when supply chain problems started to sort themselves out, Russia invaded Ukraine. Those
Conspiracy theories American Coup: The Day Democracy Died “American Coup” is the true story of a pivotal moment for the United States. It’s the tale of how an ambitious young man from the Hill Country aligned himself with economic, intelligence, and military forces to kill a president in order to replace him. LBJ was complicit in the killing of JFK...
Spiritual A Three-Part Countdown to the Holidays and Year’s End, a Holiday Trinity - Part III Negativity has tipped the scales, lately. I believe it is time to intentionally focus on positives. No saccharine, just good and decent stuff. It’s time to don the rose-colored glasses and remember how to dream of a better world.
Newsletter Texas Outlaw Writers Newsletter: Have a Merry Xmas Edition Christmas, (and a deep, deep freeze) is almost here in Texas. Don't forget the 4 P's of cold weather: People, Pets, Pipes, and Plants. Not sure what you do about those P's, but I know they're important when it gets cold. Get
Texas Politics A Three-Part Countdown to the Holidays and Year’s End, a Holiday Trinity: Part Two "Texas, you’re getting harder and harder to like. But, despite all of that, good is happening in the Lone Star state."
Immigration The First Reich of Texas “The house that you live in will never fall down when you pity the stranger that stands at your gate.” - Lightfoot
Podcast Texas Outlaw Writers' Podcast: A Texas Energy Report w/ Mike Shiloh Texas prides itself on being the #1 oil-producing state. They're leading the country in adding renewable energy projects. And yes, there can be tension between those factions, (but traditional energy companies are not going to leave money on the table when it comes to new technology.) But Mike
Newsletter Texas Outlaw Writers Newsletter: Eeeeek! It's Almost Christmas Edition LOOK AT THE CALENDAR! YOU HAVE SO LITTLE TIME! SHOP! SHOP! FINISH DECORATING FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE! GET THE COOKIES IN THE OVEN! CHECK THAT CALENDAR AGAIN!!! IT'S ALMOST HERE!!! LET THAT SINK IN, as the kids like to say. Ahem. How's your Christmas season
national politics Just Shut Up and Dribble Who knew hostage swaps could get so political? Oh, who are we kidding? We all knew.
Supreme Court UPDATE: Oral Arguments in Moore v. Harper Yesterday's oral arguments in the controversial case about Independent State Legislature Theory provided clues but not answers about how SCOTUS will ultimately rule.
Charity A Three-Part Countdown to the Holidays and Year’s End, a Holiday Trinity (Part 1) "Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanzaa, or Festivus, it’s a time for worshipping whatever floats your inner boat. Whether it’s the god of Nordstroms, deep spiritual introspection, or heading to a church of choice."
national politics Growing Up "We were a Dixie Diaspora, believing hard work was the magic for fulfilling dreams, not just breaking backs and hearts. The repeated tasks of a factory floor held more allure than swinging a hoe and chopping cotton along the Mississippi River, but it might have even been harder on the spirit."
personal fiction A Summer Night in the Park I spent many summer evenings down at the city park. One night turned out very different. A work of fiction.
Texas Outlaw Writers' Podcast: Mike Vance - Texas Outlaw Comic/Historian Mike Vance was a government major at UT Austin and promptly used that knowledge to go into a career in stand-up comedy, acting, pool hustling and script writing. Still searching for something that would pay even less, Mike later founded an improv troupe and a politically correct country & western
Newsletter Texas Outlaw Writers Newsletter: Georgia, You're Scaring Us Edition "One of the things I said when they called the race, I said the numbers doesn't look like it's gonna add up....I don't want any of you to stop believing in America...believe in our elected officials and most of all, continue to pray for them."
national politics Independent State Legislature Theory and the Threat to Democracy The Supreme Court is hearing a case that could forever change the way we conduct elections in this country – almost certainly for the worse.
Energy Enjoy Last Summer? Here It Comes Again. How one Texas non-thinking think tank is shaping the debate. (I'm looking at you, Texas Public Policy Foundation.)
Border The Coming Sadness In 1997, Esequiel Hernandez became the first American killed on native soil by this country’s military since the May 4, 1970, National Guard killings at Kent State during a Vietnam War protest. More American guns are pointing south along the border now. The odds go up daily for another tragedy.
Podcast Texas Outlaw Writer's Podcast: Rob D'Amico - Life Along the Borderlands Is the Big Bend region the Wild, Wild West? Is there an immigrant "invasion" of criminals and drug smugglers? Or is it gentrifying into one big bougie artsie-fartsie compound? Rob D'Amico lives there, and writes there.
Newsletter Texas Outlaw Writers Newsletter: Drink from the World Cup Edition Suddenly, we're all about futball. (Which is what the cool kids call soccer, you silly non-sports person.) It's the futball game where the concussions come from head-butting the ball and not other players. The sports stepchild here in the states may be finally showing some real