The Wild Texas Newsletter

Welcome to the third-ever Wild Texas newsletter! I’m Olivia, the editor-in-chief at The Barbed Wire. Thanks again from our entire team for lending us those gorgeous eyes and ears. Without you, The Barbed Wire crew would simply be screaming into the void of red-state-during-election season madness. We’ll never forget your support. If you’re enjoying our carefully curated, joke-filled corner of the internet — please think about using those beautiful hands to become a member! We have some splashy exclusives just around the corner, and every dollar helps pay for more investigations.

Once again, we’ve cooked up a magical blend of journalism, including thoughtful essays and helpful analysis. Below, you’ll find our best and most-read stories — on everything from the far right’s plans to disrupt the upcoming election to karaoke and our state’s spectacular views. Let’s get into it.

This week, we introduced the inimitable Steven Monacelli’s new column, Hell & High Water. Every two weeks, Steven will explore the dystopic, desperate, and despicable realities of contemporary Texas — and channel the sense of absurdity, anger, and anguish that is felt by so many Texans. For his first column, Steven took a harrowing and well-sourced look at the danger of election disruptions (and potential for political violence) in Texas for 2024. If you’ve been worried that we might see a repeat of January 6, 2021 this time around, this is the piece for you — and it’s written by the journalist who’d know best.

The Far Right Is Preparing to Disrupt Our Election

Myths about voter fraud have emboldened extremist groups, in Texas and elsewhere.

By Steven Monacelli

Since the attempted insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, the specter of political violence has loomed over our elections. 

While such violence didn’t materialize during 2022’s midterm election, attempts to subvert our democratic processes have nevertheless escalated: In Texas, election workers were inundated with threats, partisan poll watchers harassed voters of color, so-called election fraud experts made specious claims of fraud, voters made thousands of complaints of intimidation, and targeted misinformation campaigns aimed to suppress the vote. In Beaumont, a federal judge even issued an emergency order prohibiting partisan poll watchers from shadowing voters at one site — following a lawsuit that alleged Black voters were being harassed.

If you’re hoping this trend won’t continue into the upcoming election cycle, allow me to temper your optimism. At the national level, former president Donald Trump himself has doubled down on baseless claims he was cheated out of the 2020 election, is preparing to cry foul if he loses this coming November, and has said he doesn’t think violence will happen — unless he loses, then it “depends on the fairness of the election.” At the state level, Republican politicians as high up as Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton are fomenting fear about undocumented immigrants voting en masse — something that even the conservative Cato Institute acknowledges is a canard. Meanwhile, extremist groups are responding to these narratives in predictable ways. (More on that later.)

In other words, it’s likely to get worse before it gets better. 

Contributor Erin Russell deftly crafted a complete guide to living in Texas that will make you laugh (and roll your eyes at some of our strange laws and hypocrisy in our state). The climate, alcohol, and music are just the tip of the iceberg. As Russell wrote: “The people are friendly, the living is affordable, and the views are spectacular.”

Also this week, senior editor Brian Gaar interviewed some of your favorite Texas karaoke DJs, who laid out the best and worst ways to spend time up on that microphone — and took a stab at answering why Texans love singing terribly for strangers. Artist and karaoke junkie Leah Tiscione even made this incredible illustration in its honor, after we published.

If you’re more interested in quick bites, here are some of our top headlines from this week that will enrage you, entertain you, or delight you. These were made H-O-T T-O G-O.

Tim Walz Tells Dallas Donors That Fear ‘Doesn’t Inspire’

Escaped Tiger Caught Near South Texas Border

A Texas Official Realizes We’re ‘Out of Water’ 

Beyoncé Snubbed from CMA Awards

Want to Own a Texas Mountain Range? Now’s Your Chance

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