TribCast: Is Texas really a toss-up?
In this week's TribCast, Matthew talks with Ross, Abby and Patrick about the state of the biggest races in Texas less than one week from Election Day. Full Story
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Matthew Watkins
Managing Editor of News and Politics
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Matthew Watkins is the managing editor of news and politics for The Texas Tribune. Before becoming an editor, he worked as a reporter at the Tribune, The Dallas Morning News and The Eagle in Bryan-College Station. He earned his bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University.
Latest Contributions
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![Deputy voting clerk Justin Sullivan waits for voters to cast their ballots during the second week of early voting at Lions P…]()
Credit: Robin Jerstad for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: What high early voting turnout means for Texas
In this week's episode, Matthew speaks with Alex, Cassi and Patrick about the state of politics in Texas less than two weeks before Election Day. Full Story
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![Early voters cast their ballots at the Performing Arts Center at Texas State University in San Marcos on Oct. 19, 2020.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Voting issues in Texas and Ken Paxton's troubles
In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Emma and Cassi about the turmoil at the attorney general's office, legal fights over voting issues in Texas and how the 2021 legislative session will look. Full Story
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TribCast: How Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death will affect Texas
On this week's Tribcast, Matthew talks with Ross, Emma and Alex about the U.S. Supreme Court vacancy, Gov. Greg Abbott's latest reopening announcement and voter registration in Texas. Full Story
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![People gathered outside of the U.S. Supreme Court following the death of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on S…]()
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Republican Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan says it would be a mistake to push through a Supreme Court pick before the election
Speaking during a Texas Tribune Festival event, Hogan also said it would be a mistake for Democrats to pack the court. Full Story
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![Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan holds a news conference with updates about the state’s response to the COVID-19 pan…]()
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TribCast: Texas again changes how it reports coronavirus data, and voting issues make their way through the courts
In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Emma and Shannon about another change in how Texas reports its coronavirus data and the legal fights related to voting that have reached the state Supreme Court. Full Story
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![A COVID-19 testing site at the Nomad Shrine Club in McAllen. July 2, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Hurricane Laura, coronavirus on campus and the RNC
In this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Alex and Patrick about the incoming hurricane, the first week of college classes and the Republican National Convention. Full Story
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![A student walks past the Alkek Library on the first day of the fall semester at Texas State University in San Marcos on Augu…]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for the Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Kamala Harris on the Democratic presidential ticket and the state of college football
On this week's TribCast, Matthew speaks with Ross, Alex and Raga about college football this fall and what Kamala Harris means for Texas Democrats in November. Full Story
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![Vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event at Texas Southern University in Houston on March 23…]()
Credit: Pu Ying Huang for The Texas Tribune -
$400 in extra unemployment benefits remain uncertain in Texas after Trump's executive order
The order could face legal challenges, and Texas might have to chip in a quarter of the cost. State leaders have not said how they'll respond. Full Story
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![COVID related street art on Sixth Street in downtown Austin on May 6th, 2020.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
Nearly 1 million people voted in Tuesday’s Democratic runoff. The party says it’s a sign of strength to come in November.
The nearly 6% turnout is the highest in years for a Democratic runoff, but what that means is up for debate. Full Story
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![Voters check in with poll workers behind glass barriers at the Metropolitan Multi-Services Center for the delayed primary ru…]()
Credit: Michael Stravato for The Texas Tribune -
"This is a scam": Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick calls it laughable for people under 65 to fear voting in person
Texas is locked in a legal battle over whether it must expand voting by mail. Full Story
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Rice University asks "small group" to self-quarantine due to employee's possible exposure to coronavirus
The Houston university said it's making the move out of an abundance of caution. Full Story
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![A man walks past a notice for passengers about new coronavirus that has broken out in China, at Seoul railway station in Seo…]()
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How are the top Democratic U.S. Senate candidates in Texas different? We asked them 11 questions to find out.
To help voters make sense of the U.S. Senate race, we asked the top candidates in the 2020 Democratic primary a series of simple questions designed to help voters understand their political and policy-based differences. Full Story
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TribCast: A special election blowout and checking in on the presidential primary
On this week’s TribCast, Matthew talks to Alex, Cassi and Patrick about the big Republican win in House District 28, growing unrest among grassroots conservatives and the state of the presidential primary in Texas. Full Story
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![Republican Gary Gates is the newly-elected representative for state House District 28.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribune -
Texas politics in 2019: Take a look at the top stories of the year
The first half of the year was marked by cooperation in the Texas Legislature. The second half was dominated by scandal. All the while, the specter of 2020 loomed. Full Story
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![The Texas State Capitol on May 22, 2019.]()
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820 new Texas laws go into effect in September. Here are some that might affect you.
The laws include new rules for smokers, telemarketers and kids selling lemonade. Full Story
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![Texas State Capitol on Jan. 8, 2019.]()
Credit: Miguel Gutierrez Jr./The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The El Paso aftermath and the latest on Dennis Bonnen
In this edition of the TribCast, Matthew talks to Alexa, Patrick and Cassi about the deadly shooting in El Paso, Dennis Bonnen’s trouble in the House and a wave of GOP congressional retirements. Full Story
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![Hundreds lay flowers and candles at a shrine outside the Walmart in El Paso on August 6th, 2019.]()
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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs bill declaring children's lemonade stands legal
The bill, which goes into effect Sept. 1, prevents cities and neighborhood associations from prohibiting or regulating children who sell nonalcoholic drinks on private property. Full Story
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![Focus on sign at lemonade stand. A lemon, strawberry and pile of red plastic cups in foreground. Out of focus girl in backgr…]()
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Judge temporarily blocks enforcement of Texas law banning contractors from boycotting Israel
The order came in a case brought by a Pflugerville school speech pathologist who was told she could only continue her contract work if she promised not to boycott Israel. Full Story
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![The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) announces the filing of a lawsuit against Texas' "No Boycott of Israel" law…]()
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Former University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers has died
Powers presided over the university from 2006 to 2015. Full Story
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![Former University of Texas at Austin President Bill Powers, who died Sunday, in 2011.]()
Credit: Todd Wiseman/The Texas Tribune
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