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Beto O'Rourke goes after Warren, spars with Buttigieg as he and Julián Castro fight for political survival

by Abby Livingston and Alex Samuels

The two Texans vying for the Democratic presidential nomination initially got little attention during Tuesday's debate before taking on opponents over taxes and gun control.

House Speaker Dennis Bonnen says, “No laws were broken.” Legal hurdles remain.

by Emma Platoff and Jolie McCullough

Bonnen has been eager to dismiss speculation that he did anything illegal during a June 12 meeting with conservative activist Michael Quinn Sullivan. But a probe into the event is ongoing.

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Julián Castro raised $3.5 million in third quarter, but his cash on hand dipped to under $700,000

by Alex Samuels

The former San Antonio mayor was vastly outraised by the Democratic frontrunners.

Democratic hopefuls unveil third-quarter fundraising figures as John Cornyn's financial advantage grows

by Patrick Svitek

Tuesday was the deadline for candidates to report their third-quarter fundraising numbers to the Federal Election Commission.

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Local Texas officials balk at animus toward cities, plans for sales tax cuts in legislators' secretly recorded meeting

by Juan Pablo Garnham and Davis Rich

The recording revealed that top Republican lawmakers wanted the 2019 session to be painful for cities and counties — and 2021 to be even worse.

T-Squared: We’re joining forces with ProPublica to investigate Texas — and spending more than $8.5 million to do it

by Evan Smith

Working together over the next five years, a team of watchdogs will hold people in power and institutions accountable in ways that serve the public interest. This is a big win for all Texans.

Former U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions subpoenaed by grand jury investigating Giuliani and associates

by Matt Zapotosky and Devlin Barrett, The Washington Post

The subpoena seeks records about Sessions’ dealings with Rudy Giuliani and two business associates who had been helping Giuliani investigate Joe Biden.

“This is all confidential”: Key excerpts from secret recording of House Speaker Dennis Bonnen

by Alexa Ura and Alex Samuels

In the hourlong conversation with Michael Quinn Sullivan, the leader of the Texas House is heard offering press credentials and asking for political support for challengers in the 2020 primaries.

Plastic company set to pay $50 million settlement in water pollution suit brought on by Texas residents

by Stacy Fernández

A judge had ruled that the company illegally dumped billions of plastic pellets and other pollutants into Lavaca Bay and other waterways.

In their secretly recorded meeting, Dennis Bonnen and Michael Quinn Sullivan laid bare GOP anxieties about 2020

by Patrick Svitek

The recording, released Tuesday, features the two prominent Republicans airing their concerns about how Texas Republicans will fare next election, particularly in state House races.

Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen offered media access to Empower Texans, suggested it target certain Republicans, recording shows

by Cassandra Pollock, Emma Platoff and Patrick Svitek

Bonnen also spoke disparagingly about multiple Democrats, calling one House member “vile” and suggesting that another’s “wife’s gonna be really pissed when she learns he’s gay.”

Dennis Bonnen, Michael Quinn Sullivan and who? We break down who was in the room and who’s mentioned on the tape.

by Carla Astudillo and Cassandra Pollock

Here’s who was mentioned in the recording where Republican Texas House Speaker Dennis Bonnen urged a hardline conservative activist to politically target members of their own party — and suggested he could get the activist's group media access to lawmakers next legislative session.

Analysis: Give Michael Quinn Sullivan his due — he was telling the truth about Speaker Dennis Bonnen

by Ross Ramsey

The long-awaited recording of the meeting between the House speaker and a political operative is now out — and as turns out, Michael Quinn Sullivan's account was mostly on the nose.

Key goal for Texans Julián Castro and Beto O'Rourke in Tuesday's debate: Make the next one

by Patrick Svitek

If the two candidates don't show improvement in the polls, they won't make it to the November debate stage.

Anti-abortion activists take their fight to small-town East Texas

by Edgar Walters

Five towns have passed ordinances aiming to outlaw abortion. Critics say a legal challenge is likely.

Early voting in Texas’ constitutional amendment election starts Monday. Here’s what voters will decide

by Davis Rich

Voters have 10 proposed constitutional amendments on their ballots. And in three special elections, some Texans will elect new state lawmakers.

Democratic super PAC, GOP candidate to run first TV ads in key Texas House special election

by Patrick Svitek

With less than a week until early voting starts, the Democratic push to flip the seat previously held by state Rep. John Zerwas, R-Richmond, is ramping up.

Fort Worth officer arrested and charged with murder of Atatiana Jefferson

by Carrington Tatum

Police Chief Ed Kraus apologized to Jefferson's family.

Analysis: What if top Texas politicians ran their businesses like businesses?

by Ross Ramsey

If Texas officials can raise $5.3 million for a party and other inaugural activities, and spend it all without showing their receipts to the rest of us, what could possibly be wrong with that?

Texas A&M System employees were asked to teach office pet birds to say “howdy.” It didn’t go well.

by Shannon Najmabadi

A few parakeets that seemed to cause most of the consternation were swiftly removed and the birds that remain are well-liked by employees, a System spokesperson said.

Fort Worth police shooting spurs calls for transparency, justice in death of 28-year-old woman

by Carrington Tatum

A white Fort Worth police officer shot and killed a black woman in a home while responding to a request for a wellness check.