https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/robert-downen/The latest news by Robert Downen.enMon, 17 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-christian-nationalists-legislature-school/Emboldened by court rulings and election victories, the Christian right is outspoken as it pushes its moral views through the Texas Legislature.By Robert DownenMon, 17 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/17/texas-christian-nationalists-legislature-school/FILE: The 10 Commandments plaque on the Capitol grounds in Austin on July 17, 2012.FILE: The 10 Commandments plaque on the Capitol grounds in Austin on July 17, 2012.Ariel Min for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/robert-morris-texas-megachurch-indicted-sexual-abuse/Morris is a former spiritual adviser to President Donald Trump, and Gateway — one of the nation’s largest megachurches — has been particularly active in Dallas-area GOP politics.By Robert DownenWed, 12 Mar 2025 18:48:40 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/12/robert-morris-texas-megachurch-indicted-sexual-abuse/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/11/rafael-cruz-communism-texas-schools-christianity/The prominent right-wing pastor told state lawmakers that an anti-communist curriculum is crucial to reaffirming that America is a “Christian country.”By Pavan Acharya and Robert DownenTue, 11 Mar 2025 17:35:06 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/11/rafael-cruz-communism-texas-schools-christianity/Rafael Cruz, a pastor and the father of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, told the K-12 Senate education committee that schools should be required to teach lessons about the victims of communism.Rafael Cruz, father of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz, testifies before the K-12 Senate education committee on March 11, 2025.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/texas-senate-ten-commandments-prayer-schools/The vote comes amid a broader push by conservative Christians to infuse more religion into public schools and life.By Pavan Acharya and Robert DownenTue, 04 Mar 2025 18:34:29 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/03/04/texas-senate-ten-commandments-prayer-schools/The Ten Commandments Monument is seen at the Texas Capitol in Austin. A Texas Senate panel on Tuesday advanced a bill Tuesday that would require schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms.The Texas Capitol and the Ten Commandments Monument at sunrise on Tuesday, June 6, in Austin, Texas.Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/12/texas-ten-commandments-school-prayer/Past efforts to allow more religion in public schools have been hamstrung by legal challenges. But those on the religious right feel empowered by recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions.By Pavan Acharya and Robert DownenWed, 12 Feb 2025 12:48:44 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/12/texas-ten-commandments-school-prayer/A Bible sits on a representative's desk on the House floor of the state Capitol in Austin on Jan 10, 2023.A christian bible sits on a representatives desk on the house floor on first day of the 88th legislature, Jan 10, 2023.Jordan Vonderhaar for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/06/arrest-trump-pardon-insurrection/Andrew Taake received a six-year sentence for assaulting officers on Jan. 6. He was arrested Thursday on an outstanding charge of soliciting a minor.By Robert DownenThu, 06 Feb 2025 16:55:48 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/02/06/arrest-trump-pardon-insurrection/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/21/texas-house-speaker-abraham-george-ethics-complaint/Rep. Cody Harris had accused Abraham George of improperly threatening to send mailers and censure lawmakers who backed Rep. Dustin Burrows as House speaker.By Robert Downen and Kate McGeeTue, 21 Jan 2025 17:14:37 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/21/texas-house-speaker-abraham-george-ethics-complaint/Texas GOP Chair Abraham George, who spoke to reporters at the Capitol in January, was the subject of an ethics complaint that has been dismissed.Texas GOP Chair Abraham George holds a press conference on the states of the state capitolfollowing the vote for the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives on the first day of the 2025 Texas Legislative Session in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/21/texans-insurrection-capitol-trump-pardon/A Texan was the first to breach the Capitol and many others joined the assault. The presidential pardon helps cast all of them as folk heroes.By Robert DownenTue, 21 Jan 2025 13:18:12 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/21/texans-insurrection-capitol-trump-pardon/https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/15/texas-legislature-christianity-church-state-separation/Abraham George’s comments are the latest sign of the state GOP’s embrace of fundamentalist ideologies that seek to center public life around their faith.By Robert DownenWed, 15 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/15/texas-legislature-christianity-church-state-separation/Landon Schott, pastor of Mercy Culture, leads a worship service in the state Capitol extension auditorium on the first day of the 2025 state legislative session in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.Landon Schott, pastor of Mercy Culture, leads a worship service in the state Capitol extension auditorium on the first day of the 2025 state legislative session in Austin on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-vote/Burrows defeated Rep. David Cook with a coalition of Republican and Democratic votes.By James Barragán, Jasper Scherer, Renzo Downey and Robert DownenTue, 14 Jan 2025 14:46:54 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/dustin-burrows-david-cook-texas-house-speaker-vote/State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R- Plano, during opening day ceremonies on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025.State Rep. Dustin Burrows (R-Lubbock) shakes hands with Rep. Jeff Leach, R- Plano, during opening day ceremonies on the House floor on Tuesday, Jan. 14th, 2025.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-legislature-2025-speaker-race-live-updates/The Texas House kicked off the 2025 session by electing an establishment Republican to lead the chamber, drawing criticism from within the GOP.By James Barragán, Renzo Downey, Jasper Scherer, Pooja Salhotra and Robert DownenTue, 14 Jan 2025 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/14/texas-legislature-2025-speaker-race-live-updates/Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George, right, speaks to the press on the steps of the state Capitol following the vote for House speaker on Jan. 14, 2025. Looking on are Republican freshman state Reps. Wes Virdell, David Lowe, Andy Hopper and Brent Money.Republican Party of Texas Chair Abraham George speaks to the press on the steps of the state Capitol following the vote for House speaker on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025. Looking on are Republican freshman state Reps. Wes Virdell, David Lowe, Andy Hopper and Brent Money.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/09/texas-house-speaker-abraham-george-republican-party-ethics-complaint/Rep. Cody Harris filed a complaint against Texas GOP Chair Abraham George for sending mailers and censuring lawmakers who support Rep. Dustin Burrows as House speaker.By Robert DownenThu, 09 Jan 2025 11:14:58 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2025/01/09/texas-house-speaker-abraham-george-republican-party-ethics-complaint/Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George addresses the crowd during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.Texas GOP Chairman Abraham George addresses the crowd during a rally at the Tarrant County Republican Party Headquarters in Fort Worth on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025.Emil T. Lippe for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/texas-republican-party-speaker-race-attack-ads/This is the latest example of the Republican Party of Texas spending its resources attacking its own members.By Robert DownenTue, 17 Dec 2024 16:24:22 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/17/texas-republican-party-speaker-race-attack-ads/State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, holds a press conference in the Speaker's Committee Room, on Dec. 7, 2024, announcing he has the votes to become Speaker of the House in the upcoming legislative session.State Rep. Dustin Burrows, R-Lubbock, holds a press conference in the Speaker's Committee Room, on Dec. 7, 2024, announcing he has the votes to become Speaker of the House in the upcoming legislative session.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-republican-party-house-speaker-primary-censure/Republicans who vote against party leaders’ preferred candidate could be barred from running in primaries. Lawsuits could follow.By Robert DownenFri, 13 Dec 2024 13:07:32 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/12/13/texas-republican-party-house-speaker-primary-censure/Delegates wait to hand in their ballots after voting on platform priorities on the last day of the Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio on Saturday, May 25, 2024.Delegates wait to hand in their ballots after voting on platform priorities on the last day of the Texas GOP Convention in San Antonio on Saturday, May 25, 2024.Eli Hartman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/john-devine-christine-weems-texas-supreme-court/John Devine, Jane Bland and Jimmy Blacklock won their reelection bids over Democrat challengers backed by groups that support expanding abortion access.By Robert DownenWed, 06 Nov 2024 00:59:38 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/john-devine-christine-weems-texas-supreme-court/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/Texas might not be a swing state, but many of its races will have major consequences to the national political landscape and on the lives of everyday Texans.By Texas Tribune Staff, James Barragán, Jasper Scherer, Matthew Choi, Robert Downen, Alejandro Serrano, Joshua Fechter, Kayla Guo, Pooja Salhotra and Terri LangfordTue, 05 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/05/texas-election-day-trump-harris-allred-cruz-congress-legislature/Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day.Voters wait in line at the Houston Community College Southeast voting location in Houston on Election Day, Nov. 5, 2024.Mark Felix for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texans-trump-administration/Donald Trump has built close ties to many Texas Republicans, from judges to elected officials to policy experts.By Matthew Choi, Robert Downen, Eleanor Klibanoff, James Barragán and Jasper SchererFri, 01 Nov 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/11/01/texans-trump-administration/Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Million Air in Austin, Texas on Oct. 25, 2024.Former President Donald Trump speaks at a rally at Million Air in Austin, Texas on Oct. 25, 2024.Lorianne Willett/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/texas-tarrant-county-republican-chair-social-media-bo-french/It’s the latest backlash over Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French’s online behavior.By Robert DownenThu, 31 Oct 2024 15:30:11 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/31/texas-tarrant-county-republican-chair-social-media-bo-french/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/22/texas-supreme-court-john-devine-elvie-kingston-trust/Despite objections from her family, John Devine oversees the trust of Elvie Kingston, a clear violation of Texas’ judicial ethics rules, experts said. His wife is also her legal guardian.By Robert DownenTue, 22 Oct 2024 10:35:39 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/22/texas-supreme-court-john-devine-elvie-kingston-trust/https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/11/texas-tarrant-county-tim-ohare-far-right/From cutting social services to changing election rules, Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare has pushed his agenda with an uncompromising approach.By Robert Downen, The Texas Tribune, and Jeremy Schwartz, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, Data reporting by Dan Keemahill, The Texas Tribune and ProPublica, Story by Juan Salinas II, The Texas Tribune, and Jodi S. Cohen, ProPublicaFri, 11 Oct 2024 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2024/10/11/texas-tarrant-county-tim-ohare-far-right/Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare at a Commissioners Court meeting in Fort Worth on April 18, 2023Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare listens to Commissioner Roy Charles Brooks after Brooks tells the attendees of the meeting that O’Hare “broke the system” in Fort Worth on April 18, 2023. Following a conversation between O’Hare and Elections Administrator Heider Garcia, Garcia announced his resignation. O’Hare denied responsibility, saying “I did not ask Heider to resign. I did not put pressure on Heider to resign. I did not threaten to fire Heider, I did not threaten to bring him before the election commission for review to determine if he would keep his employment. He chose to resign on his own.”Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune