Texas politics correspondent @nytimes.com | Past: @kutnews.bsky.social @dallasnews.com @houstonchronicle.com @nolanews.bsky.social | FOIA nerd 📧: lauren.mcgaughy@nytimes.com Signal: lmcgaughy.40 ☎︎: 512-436-3641https://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mwliyrzmhk26To win statewide in Texas, James Talarico must do more than just win with Black voters — he needs them to turn out in large numbers. Failure to do so could make winning impossible. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/28/us/black-voters-talarico-texas-turnout.html28 Sep 2026 14:18 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwliyrzmhk26https://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mw5dt63c4s2xNEW: In major win for inmates' rights advocates, a federal judge in Texas has ruled all state prisons must be fully air conditioned by 2029. The state of Texas is expected to appeal. https://nytimes.com/2026/09/22/us/texas-prisons-air-conditioning-ruling.html #txlege22 Sep 2026 23:08 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw5dt63c4s2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mw2ippvhws2sNEW: The man shot by ICE in Austin, TX, yesterday was not the target of a federal investigation before the encounter, sources tell @nytimes.com. ICE was in the area checking car plates when they discovered the man had a deportation order on file. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/us/ice-shooting-austin-texas.html21 Sep 2026 19:58 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mw2ippvhws2shttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mvztpb2c6k2nA Venezuelan man was shot and injured by ICE yesterday in Austin, TX. I spent hours outside the hospital with his wife, who told me he called just after he was shot. She didn’t see him before he was discharged into federal custody. More from @nytimes.com: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/us/ice-shooting-austin-texas.html21 Sep 2026 13:42 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvztpb2c6k2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mvn5ytk5cc2dNEW: In which Texas Democrats reflect on tenuous GOP unity, Bo French questions whether his opponent is Jewish and Jon Rosenthal tells him to “shove it.” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/16/us/attack-on-university-of-texas-students-tests-texas-gop-unity.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share #txlege16 Sep 2026 12:41 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mvn5ytk5cc2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mviezjv5as2vThree years ago this month, Ken Paxton came closest to political ruin after years of scandal. But, yet again, he avoided any comeuppance and ended up stronger for it. Here's a look at his historic impeachment trial and how Paxton ultimately won. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/13/us/politics/paxton-corruption-impeachment-trial.html #txlege14 Sep 2026 15:04 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mviezjv5as2vhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mucfzbz5wk2hWhen I think of God,” Dhruv Amin told me, “I think of the mountain.” Every year, tens of thousands of people spend a small fortune and months of planning to get to Mount Kailash, to sit, however briefly, on God’s doorstep. New story for @nytimes.com. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/30/us/nepal-floods-religious-tour.html30 Aug 2026 12:40 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mucfzbz5wk2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mu2yymwq6k2oNEW: An ICE agent being sought by Minnesota for alleged assault was released from a Texas jail today, Mitch Smith and @londonoe report. Yesterday, a federal judge said Minnesota had not properly argued for his extradition. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/us/christian-castro-jail-minnesota-texas-ice-agent.html #txlege27 Aug 2026 13:59 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mu2yymwq6k2ohttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mtz3vzio2k24A federal judge had sided with Texas Gov. Abbott in the fight over the extradition of ICE agent to Minnesota, @londonoe and Mitch Smith report. This means the ICE agent could be released soon. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/26/us/ice-christian-castro-extradite-texas-minnesota.html26 Aug 2026 19:45 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtz3vzio2k24https://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mtwglkqzn22oRIP, Dolly. 💔 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/25/arts/music/dolly-parton-dead.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share25 Aug 2026 18:19 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtwglkqzn22ohttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mttlktr7ps2hLobga Rangzen’s unthinkable act — the first known self-immolation by a Tibetan in the United States — may have achieved one of his greatest goals, however briefly: He made the world pay attention to Tibet. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/05/world/asia/lobga-rangzen-united-nations-tibet-china.html24 Aug 2026 15:10 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mttlktr7ps2hhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mtjwjeyiss2fLike many in the Texas press corps, I've written the story about Ken Paxton and the purloined pen a few times over the years. Here's the latest (NYT ver.) https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/20/us/ken-paxton-montblanc-pen.html20 Aug 2026 18:59 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtjwjeyiss2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mtergeimbk2dNEW: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has not responded to a request from Minnesota to extradite an ICE agent facing assault charges in connection with a shooting in that state. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/18/us/ice-minnesota-texas-greg-abbott.html18 Aug 2026 17:45 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mtergeimbk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mteeogo73k2dIslam is now one of the top political issues for Texas Republicans. Some lawmakers are considering whether to define religion in state statute so as to target practices central to Islam they see as anathema to U.S. culture or law. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/17/us/politics/islamophobia-texas.html #txlege18 Aug 2026 13:56 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mteeogo73k2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3msvdnn3rxs2jUPDATE: Earlier this week, we broke the news that Ken Paxton is making up to $1M a year from a company that has a cell tower at a hospital where he was a board member. The current hospital admin has confirmed the deal but won't disclose the terms. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/us/paxton-cell-tower-company-texas-senate.html12 Aug 2026 14:28 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvdnn3rxs2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3msvdc3oyds2jThis week, @sashavonawesome.bsky.social attended the premier of Matthew McConaughey's first movie in five years. Here's her dispatch. Come for the fun asides about life and his career. Stay for what he had to say (or not) about the border wall in Big Bend. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/11/style/matthew-mcconaughey-movie-texas.html12 Aug 2026 14:22 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msvdc3oyds2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3msqismdzrk2dNEW: Ken Paxton has reported making between $100,000-$1M off a cell tower affiliated with a company he owns. The Times has learned the company controls a tower on the property of a hospital where Mr. Paxton was a board member. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/10/us/paxton-cell-tower-company-texas-senate.html?unlocked_article_code=1.4VA.eJDH.WUgNkDp1SGmU&smid=url-share10 Aug 2026 16:17 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msqismdzrk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3msg3c6jgyc2yTexas hasn’t elected an unmarried senator since 1940. That will be the choice this year, between Ken Paxton and James Talarico. But do voters really care? We asked Texans — including Angela Paxton — how dating, divorce and scandal affects their vote. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/06/us/paxton-talarico-single-dating.html06 Aug 2026 12:49 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msg3c6jgyc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3msdnbyvhic2xTHIS AM: Race Too Close to Call in Democratic Primary for Michigan Senate Seat https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/08/05/us/michigan-election-results-primary05 Aug 2026 13:33 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3msdnbyvhic2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3ms6uzn6m3c2lA corrido’s reach was constrained by geography, radio DJs and the recording industry. Now a new corrido can be recorded and shared across platforms like TikTok and YouTube within hours. Check out @sashavonawesome.bsky.social first byline for the NYT Texas team! https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/us/ai-corridos-song-music-texas-ice-shooting.html03 Aug 2026 16:08 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms6uzn6m3c2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mrrz6uvmp22jFrom tonight’s @jamestalarico.bsky.social rally in Lockhart. Meet Ruby.29 Jul 2026 13:18 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mrrz6uvmp22jhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mr6leloq4c2wKen Paxton held a press conference today. His first question was on the story we broke last week about the three new properties he's acquired during his divorce. He declined to answer the question. Read the story here:: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/us/paxton-vacation-condos-wealth.html?unlocked_article_code=1.yFA.J3OT.4rqpN_ZjO1H5&smid=url-share Link to presser: https://x.com/schwagerTV/status/207962587635484286021 Jul 2026 19:50 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mr6leloq4c2whttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mqwaeqevrs2pYesterday, I spoke to Texans who were rebuilding after a second year of floods. But this story is not about chaos and destruction. It’s about a woman who sees blessings everywhere — and the people who keep her believing. Stay for the kicker. 🎩 https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/18/us/kerrville-cheerleading-texas-flood.html18 Jul 2026 12:12 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqwaeqevrs2phttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mqsjfti5722nJames Talarico's spox questioned whether Ken Paxton will follow through on debate. “Ken Paxton has a long record of saying he’ll show up for Texans then disappearing when it counts. We’ll believe him when he accepts these three debates and we see him on stage.” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/us/paxton-talarico-debate-texas-senate.html17 Jul 2026 00:43 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqsjfti5722nhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mqrjcx36j22nNEW: Ken Paxton bought three condos in a luxury resort in Utah earlier this year. On the deeds, he listed a home in Frisco as his address. Police reports we obtained refer to the home's owner as a woman, not his wife, with whom he's been photographed vacationing. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/16/us/paxton-vacation-condos-wealth.html16 Jul 2026 15:08 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqrjcx36j22nhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mqm72xfnyk2dThe Texas Rangers respond to the request for an investigation into ICE’s shooting of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston. The agency head says they can investigate such shootings — when ICE asks and they haven’t. Also said they received no investigation request from a local prosecutor. #txlege14 Jul 2026 12:22 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mqm72xfnyk2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3mpk5scoqvk2tA Tabloid Story Gives Talarico a New Opening to Test Attacks on Paxton, @baylisswagner.bsky.social reports. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/us/politics/paxton-talarico-corruption-affordability-texas.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share via @nytimes.com30 Jun 2026 23:29 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpk5scoqvk2thttps://bsky.app/profile/lmcgaughy.bsky.social/post/3moxm5dvfw22wAsked whether she would actively campaign for or with James Talarico, Jasmine Crockett said: “I have no idea. I am more focused on down-ballot races in general.” She also won't be speaking at the Texas Dems Convention. Neither will Colin Allred. https://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/article/texas-democrats-seek-unity-state-convention-22310381.php23 Jun 2026 14:25 +0000at://did:plc:owcsizryev3d4ehe5s4jvkb2/app.bsky.feed.post/3moxm5dvfw22w