Casar will be among the most progressive members of Congress ever to serve from Texas. During his tenure on the Austin City Council, he was best known for supporting cuts to the police department and his fight against encampment bans.
Abby Livingston
Abby Livingston joined The Texas Tribune in 2014 as the publication's first Washington bureau chief, and departed August 2022. In this role, she covered members in the Texas congressional delegation and campaigns back in the home state. A seventh-generation Texan, Abby grew up in Fort Worth and graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to the Tribune, Abby worked for NBC, CNN, National Journal and Roll Call. At the Tribune, she won the 2017 National Press Club Award for Washington regional reporting and the Society of Professional Journalists' 2018 Sigma Delta Chi Award for Washington correspondence. Abby is a contributing writer to the Almanac of American Politics and frequently appears on MSNBC, CNN and Sirius XM radio. She also had a role on an episode of "The Bold and The Beautiful." In keeping with the Trib’s great history of hiring softball stars, Abby is a three-time MVP (the most in game history) for The Bad News Babes, the women’s press softball team that takes on female members of Congress in the annual Congressional Women’s Softball breast cancer charity game.
Posted in
Congress
Texans in Congress call on Biden to increase support for Ukraine against Russia
None of the Texans have explicitly called for American troops on the ground in Ukraine. But over and over, both Democrats and Republicans urged the president to continue to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin with sanctions and supported the increased armament of Ukraine.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Will an FBI raid boost Laredo progressive Jessica Cisneros’ bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar?
Cisneros came within 4 percentage points of unseating the moderate Cuellar in 2020. He seemed better prepared to fend her off in 2022 — until the FBI raided his office.
Posted in
Energy
Ted Cruz ends block on Biden appointments after sanctions issued for Russian gas pipeline
As the Ukraine crisis intensifies, President Joe Biden issued sanctions against a pipeline company. Cruz previously blocked State Department nominees because Biden wouldn’t oppose the project.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
In fight for Congress, Eddie Rodriguez targets Greg Casar’s record on Austin homelessness, police funding
Casar has impressive progressive endorsements, from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders. But he also is tied to some of Austin’s most progressive policies, which have attracted powerful enemies and turned off some moderate Democrats.
Posted in
Politics
Capitol Police dismiss Texas Congressman Troy Nehls’ accusation that he’s being illegally investigated
Nehls tweeted that the police illegally entered his office and took photos of legislative documents, suggesting he was under investigation as political retribution. Capitol Police said they entered his office because it was open as routine safety protocol.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Timing of FBI raid on Henry Cuellar’s home so close to election raises questions
The U.S. Department of Justice has made efforts in the past to avoid public investigations of officials that could sway elections.
Posted in
Politics
FBI raid prompts new scrutiny of U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar’s ties to Azerbaijan
Cuellar has helped promote educational excursions to the country and is co-chair of the Congressional Azerbaijan Caucus.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
Retiring U.S. Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson looms large in crowded race to replace her
Johnson did not make her retirement official until November, setting off an abridged scramble to set up campaigns ahead of the December filing deadline but attracting a packed lineup of experienced candidates who are either well connected, well known or well funded.
Posted in
Texas 2022 Elections
FBI raid portends political and legal challenges for U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar
On Wednesday, the FBI raided the nine-term congressman’s home in Laredo. It could not come at a worse time for Cuellar, who is in the fight of his political life ahead of the Democratic primary on March 1.
