An Autumn-Themed Wild Texas Newslettr!

Well, well, well, if it isn’t the Wild Texas newsletter. I’m Olivia, the editor-in-chief of The Barbed Wire. The world is still spinning. Sure, it may be on fire, but a lot of very tasty food is made by spinning meat over open flames. 🍖 It’s like this: On the one hand, the universe didn’t reward Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton with a promotion by making him the 87th attorney general of the United States, as some thought might happen. On the other hand, Rep. Matt Gaetz might be worse. But how often do you get to say, “Well, at least Paxton wasn’t under investigation for sex trafficking!” And that’s what life’s all about isn’t it? A firehose of Texas news and culture, helpfully broken down for you by a lady whose knees hurt because she’s been sitting at her desk for too long.

On that note, as always, we’re endlessly appreciative of your support. If you opened this newsletter, you’ve already helped us more than you know. And for free! Don’t worry, next week’s newsletter probably won’t be about politics. It might even be about comedy (or armadillos!). We’re also deeply excited to bring you our first investigative exclusive long-form story next month. By the end of the year, our mighty team of four full-time editorial employees will have made some real journalistic waves. 

In the meantime, back to the post-election breakdown: Please allow writer-at-large Cat Cardenas to put the final nail in the coffin of the myth that Latino voters are a monolith — and provide a roadmap for better understanding such a huge portion of our nations’ constituents. This is more comprehensive than anything else you’ve read on the subject. Really.

Why Were Democrats So Wrong About Latino Voters?

The sooner everyone learns that we aren’t a mythical monolith — and instead are a massive block of 36 million eligible voters with different lived experiences — the better. Allow us to put the final nail in the coffin.

By Cat Cardenas

It’s 2016, and I’m listening as pundits, analysts, and armchair experts make assumptions about the “Latino vote.” It’s 2020, and I’m listening as pundits, analysts, and armchair experts make assumptions about the “Latino vote.” It’s 2024, and I’m— …you get the point. 

With every passing election, the “Latino vote” has become an almost mythical monolithic entity to pick apart and make predictions about rather than a massive voting block of roughly 36 million eligible voters with vastly different lived experiences.

I understand why eyes are on us. Roughly 1.4 million Latinos become eligible to vote each year, making us the second-fastest growing voting demographic behind Asian Americans. We make up nearly 40% of the population in California and Texas, the states with the largest number of electoral votes, and we account for about 30% of the population in battleground states like Arizona and Nevada. 

And in joyful news, the French have finally admitted that Texas has great food. We didn’t need their accolades, but boy …they do feel nice, don’t they? Come back again anytime, anonymous Michelin inspectors!

Also this week, the state’s attorney general, Ken Paxton, claims his more-than-100 lawsuits against the federal government show the shocking depth of its “abuses of power.” And who better to point it out than the guy who’s made filing lawsuits his personal calling? Speaking of “abuse” — Paxton used one of those lawsuits to stop a new Biden administration rule that protects kids from harassment and abuse. And something I’ve been thinking about since KXAN’s Ryan Chandler reported it in October: Paxton’s office has responded to just eight of 2700 emails from the press in the last six months — despite the fact that his communications director makes more than $213,000 per year, which is more a White House press secretary makes. To be clear: His press office is both accountable to the public, and paid for by the public.

Our Wild Texas stories are a real mixed bag this week. I’d love Austin to get a WNBA team, personally. Oh, and, look: If you’re going to get a pet spider monkey, make sure you have the proper documentation, friends. See you next time ❤️

Dallas Influencer Wants Her Pet Monkey Back: Report

Austin Could Get a WNBA Team. A Texas Basketball Legend Is Prepping a Bid.

Texas State Condemns ‘Disgusting’ Demonstrators Who Claim ‘Women are Property’

Want to see more? Become a member!