Evan Smith

Evan Smith is a co-founder and senior adviser at The Texas Tribune, where he served as CEO from 2009 to 2022. He’s also a senior adviser at Emerson Collective, where he works closely with the leadership teams of nonprofit news organizations around the country. Previously he spent nearly 18 years at Texas Monthly, stepping down in August 2009 as the magazine’s president and editor in chief. Evan is also the host of “Overheard with Evan Smith,” a weekly half-hour interview program that airs on PBS stations around the country. A native of New York, he is a graduate of Hamilton College and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Past Contributions

TribLive: Cruz vs. Dewhurst

By Evan Smith Sept. 9, 2011

At this morning's TribLive conversation, U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz explained why the presumed frontrunner in the GOP primary race, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, is the wrong man for the job. Full Story
TribLive: Cruz Makes the Case Against Dewhurst

By Evan Smith Sept. 9, 2011

At this morning's TribLive conversation, U.S. Senate candidate Ted Cruz explained why the presumed front-runner in the GOP primary race, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, is the wrong man for the job. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribune
Updated: Video: Bachmann Super PAC Ad Hits Perry in S.C.

By Evan Smith Sept. 7, 2011

The Keep Conservatives United Super PAC — operating independent of U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann's presidential campaign — is attacking GOP primary front-runner Rick Perry in an ad set to air in South Carolina. Full Story
Paul Ad: Perry was Gore's "Texas Cheerleader"

By Evan Smith Sept. 6, 2011

In a new ad, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, hits Gov. Rick Perry for his support of Al Gore's 1988 presidential bid. Paul calls Perry a "Texas cheerleader" who worked to help Gore "undo the Reagan revolution." Full Story
Aggies Notify Big 12: We're Outta Here

By Evan Smith Aug. 31, 2011

Confirming the worst-kept secret in college football, Texas A&M University formally notified officials of the Big 12 this morning that it's applying to join another athletic conference. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Video: KBH on Perry and 2012

By Evan Smith Aug. 25, 2011

In an interview with the Fox Business Network last night, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison again stopped short of endorsing Gov. Rick Perry in his bid for the White House, but she pledged to support whichever of the Republican candidates wins the nomination. Full Story
Why the Hell Not? Kinky Endorses Perry for Prez

By Reeve Hamilton and Evan Smith Aug. 25, 2011

Kinky Friedman, the musician and mystery writer who twice ran for governor, is backing the guy he wanted to defeat in his bid to be president of the United States. Full Story

Credit: Bob Daemmrich
TribWeek: In Case You Missed It

By Evan Smith Aug. 20, 2011

Aaronson analyzes TWIA claims and lawyer fees, Aguilar talks border security and voter ID with Chuy Hinojosa, Grissom on the latest inmate exonerated via DNA evidence, Hamilton interviews John Sharp on higher ed and the SEC, Murphy interactively maps the changes wrought by redistricting, Philpott on who's running Texas while Rick Perry is out campaigning for president, Ramsey on Perry's history of off-the-cuff remarks, Ramshaw on Perry's childhood years in Paint Creek, Root on Perry's extraordinary first week on the trail and Tan on even more ways Texas will change on Sept. 1: The best of our best content from Aug. 15-19, 2011. Full Story

Credit: Illustration by Todd Wiseman
Jon Stewart: Bush++ vs. the Thirteenth Floor

By Evan Smith Aug. 16, 2011

On last night's episiode of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart trained his sights on Rick Perry's Bush-like qualities and Ron Paul's inability to get press coverage. Full Story
Paul's Latest Ad Attacks "Smooth-Talking" Perry

By Evan Smith Aug. 16, 2011

In his latest presidential campaign ad, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Surfside, attacks "smooth-talking politicians" — and the first example he cites is his newest rival for the GOP nomination, Gov. Rick Perry. Full Story