Happy May, y’all! I’m Brian Gaar, senior editor of The Barbed Wire. The bluebonnets are fading, the mosquitos are clocking in, and we’re back with a fresh batch of Texas-sized chaos that’ll leave you laughing, crying, or rage-cleaning your kitchen. Possibly all three. Psst! Hey there! I’m Billy Begala, the Director of Product and Operations […]
Author Archives: Billy Begala
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Oh good, we’re criminalizing books now. From The Barbed Wire
Welcome to the Unlicensed Emotional Support Newsletter for Texans! I’m Brian Gaar, senior editor at The Barbed Wire and a man currently Googling “can queso be considered a medical expense.” While our state legislature continues its speedrun of dystopia, we’re here to bring you the stories that matter, the commentary you didn’t ask for, and […]
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A silver lining to the celeb space launch. from The Barbed Wire.
Happy April, folks! I’m Brian Gaar, senior editor of The Barbed Wire. The wildflowers are popping, the pollen is trying to kill us, and the Wild Texas Newsletter is back with a fresh batch of stories hotter than a brisket sandwich left in the sun. Senior Editor Leslie Rangel gets real about the heartbreak of […]
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Elon Gets Trolled. from The Barbed Wire
Spring has sprung in Texas! Go pose in front of some bluebonnets, watch some baseball, and, most importantly, read this week’s Wild Texas Newsletter! The Houston Cougars came oh-so-close to capturing their first-ever national championship but fell just short against the Florida Gators. Even in defeat, coach Kelvin Sampson and his Cougs proved that they […]
Posted inSports
Even in Defeat, Kelvin Sampson and his Cougars Did Houston Proud
On Monday night, the Gators eked out a nailbiter win over Houston to claim their third championship in school history. The University of Houston Cougars basketball team was about as big of an underdog as a 1-seed gets entering the Final Four in San Antonio. Duke, led by their superstar Cooper Flagg, was considered an […]
Posted inOpinion
I’m a Lib Who Thinks Texas Should Legalize Gambling. Here’s Why.
There is an oncoming maelstrom in Texas — a massive fight brewing over a phenomenon that has already swept through most of the nation. The fight to legalize gambling. I find myself in an odd position — in between both the blue hairs on the evangelical right and the purple-haired progressive left — two groups […]
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Posted inArts
Austin Arts to Watch for: The XOXO Photography Fellowship
There’s no denying Austin’s growth. In the last two decades, the skyline has changed from one that looked not all that different in 2021 than it did in 1975 to a beautiful, crowded, modern silhouette cast in a burnt orange glow when the sun sets over the paddleboarders on Town Lake. With that architectural evolution […]
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The Photographer Capturing the Soul of Austin
“There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.” – Robert Frank Forgive us for opening with a quote from Robert Frank – the famed Swiss-American photographer and documentary filmmaker. It would no doubt be better if these inspiring words came from Tommy Lee Jones, Selena, DJ Screw, or another member […]
Posted inFood
It’s Freezing. Make Some Chili to Stave Off Existential Dread.
It’s colder than a well-digger’s ass. I’ve got a freezer full of South Texas venison. Let’s make some chili and pray the grid doesn’t shit the bed. Step One: The Meat Last year, I got lucky and bagged a beautiful eight-point South Texas whitetail during a late-season hunt, and my freezer is still overflowing with […]
Posted inOpinion
Think Voting Isn’t Worth It? You’re Doing It Wrong
There’s an old trope in Texas politics that “Texas isn’t a red state, it’s a non-voting state.” And it’s more or less true — fewer than half of the Texans who are registered to vote cast a ballot in the 2022 gubernatorial election. In total, nearly 14 million Texans who were able to vote chose […]