A new Washington Post-SurveyMonkey poll showing Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump tied at the head of the presidential field in Texas provokes widespread critiques.
Alex Samuels
Alex Samuels was a reporter for The Texas Tribune from 2017 to 2021. She helped with national campaign coverage, wrote stories about the intersection of race and politics in Texas, and covered the hottest political news bubbling out of local communities. She was also one of the primary authors of The Blast, the Tribune’s subscription-only daily newsletter for political insiders. Alex began at the Tribune as a fellow in 2016. She graduated in 2017 from the University of Texas at Austin’s School of Journalism. She originally is from Massachusetts and is the best pingpong player at the Tribune.
The Brief: Democrats May Rely on Trump to Win This Fall
Democrats may be counting on Republican nominee Donald Trump to boost their ability to win down-ballot races this November.
The Brief: Convictions Remain Rare When Police Shoot
As national scrutiny of police shootings remains intense, prosecutions of Texas police officers who use lethal force remain a rare occurrence.
The Brief: Here’s What Texas Officers Face on Mental Health Calls
Confronting an unstable individual is one of the more challenging situations faced by police officers.
Survey Finds Adults Don’t Agree on Public Education Priorities
Results of an annual Phi Delta Kappa International poll offer updated insight into the adult public’s perception of public schools in the U.S.
Texas Study Informs Massachusetts Vote on Charter School Additions
As Massachusetts gears up for a much-anticipated public vote on expanding its charter school network, a recently published study paints a less-than-favorable picture of charters’ performance in Texas.
Military Communities Use Academics to Stop Base Closures
As others battle over possible base closures, many communities are preemptively defending their benefits to service members and their families — namely through high-quality public education.
Adaptive App Builds English Learners’ Fluency
As programs for English language learners face significant budget constraints, teachers are turning to alternative tools to facilitate language acquisition in school environments.
The Q&A: Ted Graf
In this week’s Q&A, we interview Ted Graf, the head of school at Headwaters School in Austin.
Arkansas Hosts Community Forums to Discuss School Accountability
In preparation for submitting its state-specific accountability plan, Arkansas education leaders are petitioning the public to play a critical role in the process of deciding how best to serve its students.


