INSANE: 15 | Vintage Vibes

Wrestling with the American Dream

Traditional Afghan wrestling—known as Pehlwani—is a popular pastime for boys in the south-central Asian nation.

Texas Observer · Jun 16, 2025

Why I Still Believe Texas Can Be Better

"Texas taught me contradiction. It taught me how to love a place that doesn’t always love me back."

Texas Observer · Jun 13, 2025

‘The House Got Rolled’: Gene Wu on the Trials of the 89th Texas Legislature

“We can only play the hand that we're dealt.”

Texas Observer · Jun 12, 2025

I Was an Undocumented Texas College Student. I’m Not Going Anywhere—and Neither Is Our Movement.

Lawmakers lacked the political courage for a floor vote at the Capitol on the Texas Dream Act, so state leaders took a coward’s path.

Texas Observer · Jun 6, 2025

Amid New McCarthyism, the Alliance for Texas History Embraces Diverse Scholarship

“It’s particularly important at a moment when our state leaders have demonstrated that they don't want students to have a really full, inclusive accounting of our state or national past.”

Texas Observer · Jun 5, 2025

Here Are the New Anti-LGBTQ+ Bills Texas Passed into Law

This session, the Legislature filed more anti-LGBTQ+ bills than ever before. The dozen that passed threaten to negatively impact queer Texans.

Texas Observer · Jun 4, 2025

The Massive U.S. Pipeline Buildout Is Mostly for Gas Going Overseas

Plans for U.S. gas pipelines could lock in a dramatic increase in fossil fuel exports and their greenhouse gas emissions, a new report finds.

Texas Observer · Jun 3, 2025

Will Texas Workers Ever Get a Break from the Summer Heat?

A long-awaited hearing on a proposed OSHA heat protection rule is set for June 16, but workers are uncertain to get relief under Trump.

Texas Observer · Jun 3, 2025

Legislature Mandates Sheriff-ICE Cooperation in Jails or Streets

Texas lawmakers are ordering all counties to seek federal agreements that may be limited to jailhouses—or may convert deputies into roving immigration agents.

Texas Observer · Jun 2, 2025

Texas House Passes Raft of Dan Patrick Priorities Imposing Conservative Mandates on Public Ed

In final days of session, the lower chamber voted to further advance the classroom culture wars.

Texas Observer · May 29, 2025