Former U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, under consideration for the NATO ambassadorship, played a key role in shepherding U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson through his Senate confirmation.
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
Health care
GOP health care overhaul passes U.S. House
On its second try, the U.S. House passed a Republican-backed health care reform bill by a narrow margin.
Posted inState Government
Swarm of Texas Democrats vying for two Republican seats in U.S. House
Control for the U.S. House could run through Texas, thanks to a flood of Democrats lining up to challenge two longtime GOP incumbents – John Culberson of Houston and Pete Sessions of Dallas.
Posted in
Politics
Trump’s first 100 days tax Texans on Capitol Hill
The early days of the Trump presidency have exhausted, exasperated and enthralled members and staffers in Texas’ congressional delegation.
Posted in
Politics
Brian Babin becomes second Texan to quit Freedom Caucus since March
U.S. Rep. Brian Babin, R-Woodville, joins Ted Poe of Humble in publicly ending his ties to the arch conservative group in Congress, the Freedom Caucus.
Posted in
Economy
Trump agrees not to terminate NAFTA
After a trial balloon went over poorly with Congress, Trump told foreign leaders he won’t end the trade agreement just yet.
Posted in
Politics
After swearing off consultants, Beto O’Rourke explains exceptions
U.S. Rep. Beto O’Rourke reported payments to outside political firms on his latest campaign finance report, after initially announcing his campaign against U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz wouldn’t hire consultants.
Posted in
Politics
Hectic week awaits Texans in Congress amid shutdown fears
Texas members will face a pressing government funding deadline when they return to Congress on Tuesday, as well as a possible second attempt by Republican leaders to pass a sweeping health care bill.
Posted in
Politics
Nancy Pelosi mocks Trump, is bullish on 2018 midterms
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi repeatedly mocked President Donald Trump and House Republicans in a spirited interview with Texas Tribune CEO Evan Smith on Thursday. She said she missed the days of President George W. Bush.
Posted in
Politics
For Texans in U.S. House, 2018 landscape begins to take shape
With less than a year to go before 2018, several U.S. House seats from Texas are drawing interest from potential contenders.
