Howdy friends, it’s The Barbed Wire senior editor Brian Gaar. I wish I could say this edition of the newsletter was lighthearted. But sometimes events hit you right in the chest — and this week, they broke our hearts. On July 4, as most of us were bracing for barbecue and fireworks, a flash flood […]
Category: Uncategorized
Posted inUncategorized
How DJ Screw’s ‘June 27’ Became a Monument to Houston Hip-hop Culture
Texas hasn’t gotten its due as a major piece in the complex puzzle of American art. We’re here to rectify that. Every three weeks, H. Drew Blackburn will conduct a thoroughly scientific analysis of the 254 integral (one for every county) books, movies, tv shows, albums, podcasts, songs, and magazine articles — you name it […]
Posted inUncategorized
One Family’s Fight for Justice in Amarillo. A Barbed Wire Investigation
Happy belated Juneteeth, I’m The Barbed Wire senior editor Brian Gaar. Today’s newsletter highlights an important piece we’ve published. Felita Bailey was 25, saving up from her job at the Tyson plant in Amarillo while working toward her dental hygienist certification. She went out with her cousins one night over Labor Day weekend — and […]
Posted inUncategorized
Big Brother Is a Texas Cop with an AI Camera, from The Barbed Wire
Howdy heat survivors, I’m The Barbed Wire senior editor Brian Gaar, and welcome back to Texas — where the weather’s hot, the edibles are (maybe) illegal, and Greg Abbott is trapped in a THC-flavored game of political Twister. This week, we’ve got constitutional violations powered by AI, Satanic sass in your school hallway, and a […]
Posted inUncategorized
Matthew McConaughey Gets a Movie Fund, You Get No Pain Relief. By The Barbed Wire.
Hey there, fellow summer dreaders, I’m The Barbed Wire senior editor Brian Gaar. Welcome back to Texas, where freedom means you can pick your BBQ sauce, but not your pain relief. This week, we’re talking THC bans, Hollywood handouts, the WNBA’s newest budding star in Dallas, and more! But first, a merch plug! Get your […]
Posted inUncategorized
It’s 100° in May — and the Texas Legislature is Hell on earth. By The Barbed Wire
Howdy gang, Brian Gaar, senior editor of The Barbed Wire, here. Anyone else sweating at their keyboard? Yes, it’s mid-May and Texas is already hitting 100 degrees — outside and inside the Capitol, where lawmakers are once again melting down over the existential threat of kids reading books or learning that slavery was, in fact, […]
Posted inUncategorized
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 […]
Posted inUncategorized
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 inPolitics
Cornyn vs. Paxton: The Republican Death Match You Didn’t Know You Were Waiting For
UPDATE, Apr. 9, 9:42 a.m.: Ken Paxton officially announced he’s running against John Cornyn. PREVIOUS STORY: Hey Texas, if Republican-on-Republican fighting is your thing, you’re in for a real treat. Because just when you thought 2024 had the most expensive, nastiest political brawls possible, get ready to hold 2026’s Shiner. This week, our state’s attorney […]
Posted inPolitics
Isaiah Martin Roasts MAGA Creators on TikTok. Now He’s Running for Congress.
EXCLUSIVE UPDATE, March 21, 2025: A D.C.-based tech company is suing Isaiah Martin for alleged unpaid services during his previous bid, Chron reported. According to the news outlet, the lawsuit accuses Martin and his congressional campaign of breaching a contract with Grassroots Analytics, a firm that helps candidates and nonprofits fundraise, for failing to pay […]