TribCast: The fight against solitary confinement in Texas
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Jolie about a hunger strike in Texas prisons and a lawsuit seeking to reform the use of solitary confinement on death row. Full Story
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Matthew Watkins began serving as editor in chief of the Tribune in September 2024. Matthew is a Texas native, born in Houston and raised in Austin. He attended public schools and graduated from Texas A&M University. He’s spent nearly two decades in Texas journalism, and previously worked at The Eagle in Bryan-College Station and The Dallas Morning News. Matthew joined the Tribune in 2015 has held various roles, including higher education reporter, breaking news editor and politics editor. As a managing editor, Matthew has guided the Tribune’s award-winning journalism and other reporting of statewide significance, including coverage of elections and legislative sessions to major breaking news and ambitious storytelling about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the Texas-Mexico border, the tragic school shooting in Uvalde, the impeachment of Texas attorney general and battles over public education. He lives in Austin with his wife, Susan, and their two children.
Latest Contributions
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![Texas Department of Criminal Justice William G. McConnell Unit at Chase Field in Beeville in 2013.]()
Credit: Jennifer Whitney for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Is bipartisan immigration reform a realistic goal?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Washington correspondent Matthew Choi and immigration reporter Uriel J. García about U.S. Sen. John Cornyn’s trip to the border and the odds of Congress passing a major immigration bill. Full Story
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![U.S. Sens. John Cornyn and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., joined other Senators to speak to media after a tour of a vacant school in El Paso that is being used as a migrant shelter, on Jan. 9, 2023.]()
Credit: Ivan Pierre Aguirre for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: The Texas Legislature is off and running
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James and Patrick about the fight over Democrats chairing committees in the Texas House and other highlights of the first week of the legislative session. Full Story
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![Dade Phelan begins his second term as Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 88th legislature on Jan 10, 2023.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: Evan Smith reflects on a career of watching Texas politics and media
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with outgoing Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith about the state of politics in Texas. Full Story
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![Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith moderated a discussion of the 86th Texas Legislature in Houston on June 19, 2019.]()
Credit: Annie Mulligan for the Texas Tribune -
Looking back at some of The Texas Tribune’s best reads of 2022
It was another historic, news-filled year. As you get ready for 2023, check out these memorable articles the Tribune published in 2022. Full Story
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![A view of the U.S. and Texas flags flown on the south side of the Texas Capitol from the Capitol Dome in Austin on Aug. 12, 2021.]()
Credit: Sophie Park/The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: What happens in Texas if Title 42 lifts?
In this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with Uriel about immigration policy and the migrant crisis in El Paso. Full Story
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TribCast: Texas’ persistent problem with maternal mortality
On this week’s TribCast, Matthew speaks with Eleanor about a long-awaited state report on maternal mortality in Texas and Alex about cities’ efforts to decriminalize marijuana. Full Story
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![A nurse performs a sonogram with a patient at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Austin, on Jan. 18, 2012.]()
Credit: Erich Schlegel for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: How much will Texas spend on tax cuts?
On this week’s episode, Matthew speaks with James and Karen about property taxes and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s legislative priorities. Full Story
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![Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discussed the state budget and legislative priorities at a press conference at the Capitol in Austin on Wednesday.]()
Credit: Jack Myer for The Texas Tribune -
Don’t jump to conclusions as Tuesday election night results come in
If you’re keeping a close eye on the results Tuesday night, you should follow one overarching rule: Don’t jump to conclusions. Full Story
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![A long line forms outside the Randall's Grocery Store in Westlake Hills during Super Tuesday voting on March 3, 2020. Voters waited in line for up to two and a half hours at this polling location.]()
Credit: Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribune -
TribCast: What’s at stake for both parties in next week’s elections?
In this week’s episode, Matthew Watkins is joined by political writers Matthew Choi, Patrick Svitek and James Barragán for one last preview of Tuesday’s elections. Full Story
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![Adair Apple places an early voting sticker on her dress outside her home in Corpus Christi, on Oct. 28, 2022.]()
Credit: Angela Piazza for The Texas Tribune