Bobby Blanchard | The Texas Tribune

Bobby Blanchard

Assistant Director for Audience

Bobby Blanchard runs the Tribune’s social media efforts while strategizing with the newsroom to expand the organization’s reach and engagement across all platforms. He strives to ensure the Tribune is a leading voice every day in the conversation online around Texas policy and politics. A graduate of UT-Austin, Bobby spent his first year out of college at The Dallas Morning News as a reporting fellow, covering Texas politics and breaking news. He got his start in journalism in the poorly lit basement of The Daily Texan, followed by internships at the Houston Chronicle, KUT News and yes, the Tribune. Born and raised in the Houston area, Bobby is a native Texan. He relies on a steady supply of Tex-Mex and Red Bull to survive.

Latest Contributions

Regina Mack joined The Texas Tribune as the social media producer.

T-Squared: Regina Mack is returning to The Texas Tribune

by Bobby Blanchard Nov. 27, 2019

Before she spent a year as Texas Monthly's social media editor, Mack was an engagement fellow at The Texas Tribune. We couldn't be more excited she's coming back.

Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller at The Texas Tribune Festival in Austin on Sept. 28, 2019.

TribCast: Sid Miller's Facebook rhetoric, Rodney Reed finds bipartisan allies

by Emily Ramshaw and Bobby Blanchard Nov. 13, 2019

On this week’s TribCast, Emily talks to Ross, Emma and Jolie about Ag Commissioner Sid Miller’s latest Facebook rhetoric, the escalating pressure on the governor in the Rodney Reed death penalty case and a court of criminal appeals race that has everything going for it but an actual election.

Former U.S. Secretary of State and U.S. senator from Massachusetts John Kerry discussed his just-published memoir, "Every Day is Extra," with Evan Smith at The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 27, 2018.

The 2019 Texas Tribune Festival starts today. Here's what you need to know.

by Bobby Blanchard Sept. 26, 2019

The ninth annual Texas Tribune Festival couldn't be happening at a more newsworthy time. This year's event features House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, U.S. Rep. Will Hurd, a slate of presidential candidates and more.

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a televised address to the nation from his desk in the Oval Office about immigration and the southern U.S. border on the 18th day of a partial government shutdown, at the White House in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019.

Donald Trump called for "strong background checks" after El Paso shooting. He then blamed the media.

by Bobby Blanchard and Abby Livingston Aug. 5, 2019

In a pair of Monday morning tweets, the president suggested "marrying" immigration reform to background check legislation.

Horror in El Paso: 20 dead, 26 wounded in mass shooting at Walmart

by Julián Aguilar and Bobby Blanchard Updated: Aug. 3, 2019

Police say the suspect is a white male in his 20s from the Dallas area who was arrested without incident. Police are investigating whether it was a hate crime.

During a visit to the facility by Vice President Mike Pence, a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent monitors single-adult male detainees at Border Patrol station in McAllen on Friday, July 12, 2019.

Photos show almost 400 migrants packed in cages at Texas processing center

by Bobby Blanchard July 12, 2019

Vice President Mike Pence visited a migrant processing center in McAllen on Friday. According to reporters who accompanied him, the tour showed hundreds of men in cages without mats to sleep on, and some migrants hadn't showered in days.

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection substation in Clint where young migrant children are being held, on Sunday, June 23, 2019.

Watch Texas lawmakers meet on the migrant crisis and conditions at the border

by Bobby Blanchard July 12, 2019

Two Texas House committees — International Relations and Economic Development, and Homeland Security and Public Safety — will meet at 2 p.m. to discuss the situation at the border.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen hold a joint press conference on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion on Jan. 9, 2019.

Watch Greg Abbott, Dan Patrick and Dennis Bonnen's unexpected press conference

by Bobby Blanchard June 21, 2019

The "Big Three" announced additional National Guard deployments to the border and bashed Congress for failing to do more to halt a surge in migration.

Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, Gov. Greg Abbott and House Speaker Dennis Bonnen hold a joint press conference on the lawn of the Governor’s Mansion on Jan. 9, 2019.

Watch Gov. Greg Abbott, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Speaker Dennis Bonnen announce school finance deal

by Bobby Blanchard May 23, 2019

The "Big Three" spoke to news outlets as the Texas legislative session neared its end.

The 'She The People Presidential Forum' will focus on issues of importance to women of color.

Watch eight Democrats running for president speak at a forum in Texas

by Bobby Blanchard April 24, 2019

Eight Democrats running for the White House, including Julián Castro and Beto O'Rourke, are set to speak at a presidential forum in Texas focused on women of color. Tune in live here.

Former Texas congressman Beto O'Rourke speaks during a campaign stop at The Beancounter Coffeehouse & Drinkery in Burlington, Iowa on March 14, 2019.

Watch Beto O'Rourke's first Texas rally as a presidential candidate

by Bobby Blanchard March 29, 2019

Watch O'Rourke's rally in El Paso.

John Kasich and U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

We're bringing 2020 to Texas. Watch Conversations About America’s Future at SXSW.

by Bobby Blanchard March 5, 2019

We're streaming live interviews with John Kasich, Elizabeth Warren, Pete Buttigieg, Bill Weld, Julián Castro, John Hickenlooper and Kevin McCarthy.

US Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D- El Paso, thanks the crowd of supporters as he leaves the stage during the Turn Out For Texas Rally with Willie & Beto held at Auditorium Shores in Austin, Texas, on Saturday, Sept. 28, 2018. U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke is running against Republican U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, in a one of the top U.S. Senate races nationally this year.

Beto O'Rourke spoke in El Paso in a counter-rally to Donald Trump's event

by Bobby Blanchard Feb. 11, 2019

Beto O'Rourke spoke in El Paso Monday night at the same time as President Donald Trump's El Paso rally. Watch it here.

U.S. President Donald Trump listens to questions from reporters about an impending U.S. Government shutdown during a bill signing ceremony for the “First Step Act” and the “Juvenile Justice Reform Act” in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, U.S., December 21, 2018. REUTERS/Joshua Roberts

Watch Donald Trump's El Paso rally

by Bobby Blanchard Feb. 11, 2019

President Donald Trump visited El Paso for his first campaign rally in the border city.

Texas Secretary of State David Whitley gavels in the 86th legislative session.

Watch Texas Secretary of State David Whitley's confirmation hearing

by Bobby Blanchard Feb. 7, 2019

The secretary of state's office has faced criticism for its handling of efforts to review the citizenship of 95,000 registered voters. Now, Secretary of State David Whitley — a Gov. Greg Abbott appointee — faces a confirmation hearing.

Gov. Greg Abbott addresses attendees at the Oath of Office Ceremony on the state Capitol grounds on Jan. 15, 2019.

Watch Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's State of the State address

by Bobby Blanchard Feb. 4, 2019

Abbott stayed on message about education and taxes, and touched on school safety, disaster response and mental health programs.

The Texas state Capitol on the first day of the 86th legislative session on Jan. 8, 2019.

Watch Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick take the oath of office

by Bobby Blanchard Jan. 15, 2019

After winning re-election in November, both Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are embarking on their second, four-year term. Watch their swearings-in and inaugural speeches here.

Former U.S. housing secretary and San Antonio mayor Julián Castro talks to reporters about his potential run for president in 2020. Castro held the press conference in his home in San Antonio on Dec. 12, 2018.

Watch Julián Castro announce his presidential run

by Bobby Blanchard Jan. 12, 2019

Julián Castro announced his 2020 bid for president in San Antonio on Saturday.

Voters cast their ballots in midterm elections in Houston, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018.

Livestream: Watch Texas midterm election results roll in with The Texas Tribune and KXAN

by Bobby Blanchard Updated: Nov. 6, 2018

The Texas Tribune and KXAN-TV in Austin are partnering to provide live, on-air results and analysis on the 2018 Texas midterm elections. Tune in Tuesday night.

U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke, D-El Paso, (left) and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, at the first of their debates, in Dallas on Sept. 21, 2018.

Donald Trump wants to end birthright citizenship. Ted Cruz supports that. Beto O'Rourke doesn't.

by Emma Platoff and Bobby Blanchard Updated: Oct. 30, 2018

President Donald Trump said in an interview with Axios that he plans to sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship for the children of noncitizens. Legal scholars question whether that's constitutional. Here's what Ted Cruz and Beto O'Rourke have said.