The Texas Tribune: Gabby Birenbaumhttps://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/gabby-birenbaum/The latest news by Gabby Birenbaum.enThu, 24 Jul 2025 12:53:38 -0500Texas hospitals, clinics spared the worst of GOP Medicaid cuts. An expected rise in the uninsured rate could change that.https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-hospitals-clinics-federal-cuts-gop-megabill/Texas clinics, in particular, are worried about their ability to meet patient needs once people begin losing insurance under changes from Republicans’ recent megabill.By Gabby Birenbaum, Graphics by Edison WuThu, 24 Jul 2025 12:53:38 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-hospitals-clinics-federal-cuts-gop-megabill/An American flag flies in front of Ralls Family Medicine in Ralls on Sept. 1, 2022.An American flag flies in front of Ralls Family Medicine in Ralls on Sept. 1, 2022.Mark Rogers for The Texas TribuneTexans will pay higher power bills as clean energy development slows because of tax credit cuts, economists sayhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-clean-energy-tax-credit-cuts/The One Big Beautiful Bill drastically shortens the timeline for wind and solar projects to qualify for tax credits. This will impact even Texas, where wind and solar power have boomed and power demand is rising.By Emily Foxhall and Gabby BirenbaumThu, 24 Jul 2025 11:30:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/texas-clean-energy-tax-credit-cuts/A solar project in Ector County. The Trump administration's rollback of tax credits will mean fewer renewable energy projects get built in Texas, experts say.A solar project on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, in Ector County.Eli Hartman for The Texas TribuneTejano singer Bobby Pulido forms exploratory committee for South Texas congressional bidhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/bobby-pulido-exploratory-committee-congress-south-texas/The music star is considering challenging Rep. Monica De La Cruz in a district emblematic of the GOP’s gains with Latino voters.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 24 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/24/bobby-pulido-exploratory-committee-congress-south-texas/Tejano music star Bobby Pulido joins then-Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke during a campaign rally at HEB Park in Edinburg on May 1, 2018.Tejano music star Bobby Pulido joins then-Senate candidate Beto O'Rourke during a campaign rally at HEB Park in Edinburg on May 1, 2018.Douglas Young for The Texas TribuneGOP Army veteran announces challenge to Democrat Vicente Gonzalez in South Texas congressional districthttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/21/texas-congress-eric-flores-vicente-gonzalez-34th-district/The prospect of Eric Flores’ candidacy has excited Republicans in Texas and Washington, due in part to his military and law enforcement credentials.By Gabby BirenbaumMon, 21 Jul 2025 17:01:14 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/21/texas-congress-eric-flores-vicente-gonzalez-34th-district/Army veteran and attorney Eric Flores has announced he's challenging U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, in South Texas' 34th Congressional District.Army veteran and attorney Eric Flores has announced he's challenging U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-McAllen, in South Texas' 34th Congressional District.Courtesy of Eric Flores Campaign1.7 million Texans could lose health coverage under expiring tax credits, ACA changes in GOP megabillhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/18/texas-health-coverage-loss-trump-gop-megabill-affordable-care-act/Having never expanded Medicaid, Texas avoided most of the looming federal cuts other states will face. But the Affordable Care Act is a different story.By Gabby Birenbaum, Graphics by Edison WuFri, 18 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/18/texas-health-coverage-loss-trump-gop-megabill-affordable-care-act/The nurse’s office at the Ector County Youth Center on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Odessa.The nurse’s office at the Ector County Youth Center on Friday, Nov. 8, 2024, in Odessa. The office does not have any attached restroom, causing residents to return to their rooms to use their toilets for drug tests, and during weekly doctor’s visits, the office can become quite cramped when three to four people are using the room at a time.Eli Hartman/The Texas TribuneHarlingen doctor becomes first Democrat to challenge GOP Rep. Monica De La Cruz for South Texas congressional seathttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/ada-cuellar-democrat-monica-de-la-cruz-south-texas-congress/The 15th Congressional District is the only Republican-held seat in Texas that Democrats are targeting under the current map.By Gabby BirenbaumThu, 17 Jul 2025 06:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/17/ada-cuellar-democrat-monica-de-la-cruz-south-texas-congress/As Trump looks to net five GOP seats through Texas redistricting, Democrats grasp for responsehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/texas-democrats-redistricting-response-trump-republican-five-seats/President Donald Trump said he thinks Republicans could flip a handful of congressional districts in Texas next year through “​​just a very simple redrawing."By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampTue, 15 Jul 2025 13:36:34 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/texas-democrats-redistricting-response-trump-republican-five-seats/State Rep. Steve Toth to challenge Congressman Dan Crenshaw in Republican primaryhttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/steve-toth-dan-crenshaw-texas-republican-primary-congress/Crenshaw’s sparring with fellow prominent conservatives has invited backlash from the right, but his past primary opponents have failed to capitalize at the ballot box.By Gabby BirenbaumTue, 15 Jul 2025 09:00:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/15/steve-toth-dan-crenshaw-texas-republican-primary-congress/From left: U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, and state Rep. Steve Toth, R-Conroe.From left: U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Houston, and state Rep. Steve Toth, R-Conroe.The Texas TribuneTexas leaders have repeatedly claimed the state’s voting maps are race blind. Until the Trump DOJ disagreed.https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-redistricting-racial-gerrymandering-coalition-districts-trump/Gov. Greg Abbott has acknowledged DOJ concerns that some districts were drawn “along strict racial lines.” Critics say it’s a political ploy.By Eleanor Klibanoff and Gabby BirenbaumFri, 11 Jul 2025 13:58:07 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/11/texas-redistricting-racial-gerrymandering-coalition-districts-trump/Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a bill signing creating a Texas DOGE office at the capitol building in Austin on April 23, 2025.Gov. Greg Abbott speaks during a bill signing creating a Texas DOGE office at the capitol building in Austin on April 23, 2025.Kaylee Greenlee for The Texas TribuneTed Cruz was vacationing in Greece when the deadly Texas floods broke out. His office says he took the first flight home.https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/07/ted-cruz-texas-floods-athens-greece-trip/Texas’ junior senator was visiting Greece Friday when the Texas flood turned deadly. Cruz, who did not return until Sunday night, communicated with officials from Athens.By Owen Dahlkamp and Gabby BirenbaumMon, 07 Jul 2025 17:11:01 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/07/ted-cruz-texas-floods-athens-greece-trip/Here’s what’s in Trump’s GOP megabill and how it will affect Texanshttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/03/trump-megabill-breakdown-texas-medicaid-snap-border/The wide-ranging bill is the vehicle for much of Trump’s domestic policy agenda, containing key changes that will affect daily life for millions of Texans.By Gabby Birenbaum and Owen DahlkampThu, 03 Jul 2025 19:00:50 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/07/03/trump-megabill-breakdown-texas-medicaid-snap-border/