https://www.texastribune.org/about/staff/robert-downen/The latest news by Robert Downen.enWed, 03 Jan 2024 11:46:34 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/03/mayra-flores-mexican-food-photos/Flores, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez for her old seat, is being accused of routinely stealing stylish photos of Mexican campfire cooking and passing them off as her own idyllic life on a ranch.Robert DownenWed, 03 Jan 2024 11:46:34 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/03/mayra-flores-mexican-food-photos/U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, speaks at a rally in Brownsville on Nov. 1, 2022.U.S. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, speaks at a rally in Brownsville on Nov. 1, 2022.Michael Gonzalez for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/29/southern-baptist-convention-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-settlement/The suit prompted a major newspaper investigation into Southern Baptist sexual abuse and seven other men to come forward with allegations against Paul Pressler, an influential conservative activist and former Texas judge.Robert DownenFri, 29 Dec 2023 09:55:36 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/29/southern-baptist-convention-sexual-abuse-lawsuit-settlement/Paul Pressler, retired justice of the Texas 14th Circuit Court of Appeals and prominent leader with the Southern Baptist Convention, was accused of sexual assault.Paul Pressler, retired justice of the Texas 14th Circuit Court of Appeals. YouTube screenshothttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/24/texas-conservative-muslim-mailer-ramadan-dade-phelan/The card insinuates that Phelan wants to wish his constituents a happy Ramadan instead of a merry Christmas. Muslim Texans say it’s Islamophobic and some Republicans say it doesn't reflect Christian values.Pooja Salhotra and Robert DownenSun, 24 Dec 2023 15:00:18 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/24/texas-conservative-muslim-mailer-ramadan-dade-phelan/Cary Cheshire outside of the offices of Pale Horse Strategies in Fort Worth on Oct. 6, 2023. Cheshire is the executive director of Texans For Strong Borders and a longtime employee of groups linked to Defend Texas Liberty.Cary Cheshire outside of the offices of Pale Horse Strategies in Fort Worth on Oct. 6, 2023. Cheshire is the executive director of Texans For Strong Borders and a longtime employee of Defend Texas Liberty-linked groups.Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/tim-dunn-occidental-petroleum-sale/Tim Dunn has used his wealth to establish a network of organizations that push his ultraconservative views across Texas. The deal comes amid a time of consolidation in the Permian Basin.Jayme Lozano Carver and Robert DownenMon, 11 Dec 2023 15:14:37 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/11/tim-dunn-occidental-petroleum-sale/Tim Dunn speaks during The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 24, 2016. On Monday, he sold his West Texas oil company for $12 billion to Occidental Petroleum Corp.Tim Dunn, CEO of CrownQuest Operating and chairman of Empower Texans, speaks during The Texas Tribune Festival on Sept. 24, 2016.Brett Buchanan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/07/pale-horse-strategies-west-fort-worth-management-nick-fuentes/In a Nov. 13 filing with the Texas Secretary of State, an attorney for Pale Horse Strategies LLC wrote that the firm would also conduct future business under the name “West Fort Worth Management LLC.”Robert DownenThu, 07 Dec 2023 15:10:46 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/07/pale-horse-strategies-west-fort-worth-management-nick-fuentes/State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, on the House floor on May 21, 2019State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, on the House floor on May 21, 2019.Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/02/texas-gop-antisemitism-resolution/Some members of the committee said such a ban, proposed two months after a prominent conservative activist was caught meeting with a famous white supremacist, might be a “slippery slope” or too vague.Robert DownenSat, 02 Dec 2023 15:51:40 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/12/02/texas-gop-antisemitism-resolution/Nick Fuentes (middle) is seen exiting the offices of Pale Horse strategies with Chris Russo, founder and president of Texans for Strong Borders (right) in Fort Worth on Oct. 6, 2023.Nick Fuentes (middle) is seen exiting the offices of Pale Horse strategies with Chris Russo, founder and president of Texans for Strong Borders (right) in Fort Worth on Oct. 6, 2023.Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/17/texas-house-jared-woodfill/If elected next year, Woodfill also plans to run for House speaker. His campaign accuses his 2024 opponent, conservative state Rep. Lacey Hull, of conspiring with incumbent Speaker Dade Phelan to work against conservatives.Robert DownenFri, 17 Nov 2023 11:46:41 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/17/texas-house-jared-woodfill/Attorney and former Harris County Republican Party Chair Jared Woodfill listens to Dr. Steven Hotze during a December 2020 press conference in Houston to discuss his election fraud claims and answer questions about the arrest of an ex-police officer he hired to investigate the claims.Attorney and former Harris County Republican Party Chair Jared Woodfill listens to Dr. Steven Hotze as they held a press conference to discuss his election fraud claims and answer questions about the arrest of an ex-cop who he hired to investigate the claims Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2020, in Houston.Courtesy of Steve Gonzales/The Houston Chroniclehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/15/texas-secession-texit/At a recent conference that featured a sitting state senator, so-called “TEXIT” supporters celebrated their movement’s incremental gains.Robert DownenWed, 15 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0600https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/15/texas-secession-texit/Kyle Biedermann, a former state representative and current Legislative Advisor for the Texas Nationalist Movement's Advisory Board, speaks during the Saturday opening event at TEXIT in Waco, on Nov. 11, 2023.Evan L'Roy for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/03/david-barton-mike-johnson-texas-church-state-christianity/Barton has been a staple of Texas’ Christian conservative movement, offering crucial support to politicians and frequently being cited or called on to testify in favor of bills that critics say would erode church-state separations.Robert DownenFri, 03 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/11/03/david-barton-mike-johnson-texas-church-state-christianity/David Barton, left, of WallBuilders, poses for photos at a Texas Eagle Forum reception at the Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth on June 7, 2012.David Barton, left, of WallBuilders, poses for photos at a Texas Eagle Forum reception at the Texas Republican Convention in Fort Worth on June 7, 2012.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/27/matt-rinaldi-texas-gop-republicans-nick-fuentes/Matt Rinaldi has been defiant amid calls for him to cut ties with political ally Jonathan Stickland after meeting with white supremecist Nick Fuentes. Rinaldi is also accused of embracing antisemitic leaders of a new young Republicans organization.Robert DownenFri, 27 Oct 2023 09:51:30 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/27/matt-rinaldi-texas-gop-republicans-nick-fuentes/Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi at a press conference on Aug. 30, 2021.Texas GOP Chair Matt Rinaldi at a press conference on Aug. 30, 2021, amid talk about punishing House Democrats for breaking quorum.Michael Gonzalez/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/25/chris-russo-texans-for-strong-borders-immigration-nick-fuentes/Chris Russo has anonymously aligned himself with Nick Fuentes’ white supremacist movement on various social media platforms under the username “Optics Respecter.”Robert DownenWed, 25 Oct 2023 13:48:31 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/25/chris-russo-texans-for-strong-borders-immigration-nick-fuentes/Nick Fuentes (middle) is seen exiting the offices of Pale Horse Strategies with Chris Russo, founder and president of Texans for Strong Borders (right) outside of Fort Worth on Oct. 6.Nick Fuentes (middle) is seen exiting the offices of Pale Horse strategies with Chris Russo, founder and president of Texans for Strong Borders (right) in Fort Worth on Oct. 6, 2023.Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/23/defend-texas-liberty-nick-fuentes-jonathan-stickland/While Fuentes’ unapologetic hate mongering has made him one of the nation’s best-known white supremacists, he was merely the latest in a long line of people who have been embraced by Defend Texas Liberty and its close allies.Robert DownenMon, 23 Oct 2023 19:24:57 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/23/defend-texas-liberty-nick-fuentes-jonathan-stickland/Nick Fuentes (middle) is seen exiting the offices of Pale Horse strategies with Chris Russo, founder and president of Texans for Strong Borders (right) outside of Fort Worth on Oct. 6, 2023.Nick Fuentes (middle) is seen exiting the offices of Pale Horse strategies with Chris Russo, founder and president of Texans for Strong Borders (right) in Fort Worth on Oct. 6, 2023.Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/23/dan-patrick-defend-texas-liberty-israel/More than two weeks after the influential PAC’s leader met with a Hitler admirer, Lt. Gov. Patrick said the GOP must ”root out” antisemitism. Patrick had initially said he’d keep the PAC’s money.Robert DownenMon, 23 Oct 2023 14:08:33 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/23/dan-patrick-defend-texas-liberty-israel/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discusses property tax cuts for homeowners during a media briefing at the state Capitol on June 6, in Austin.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick discusses property tax cuts for homeowners during a media briefing at the state Capitol on June 6, in Austin.Joe Timmerman/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/17/jonathan-stickland-defend-texas-liberty-nick-fuentes/Luke Macias, a longtime conservative political consultant, is listed as the new president of the conservative PAC on its website. Jonathan Stickland, the former president, met with Fuentes for nearly seven hours.Robert DownenTue, 17 Oct 2023 20:21:48 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/17/jonathan-stickland-defend-texas-liberty-nick-fuentes/State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, on the House floor on May 21, 2019.State Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, on the House floor on May 21, 2019.Juan Figueroa/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/11/jared-patterson-nick-fuentes-defend-texas-liberty-jonathan-stickland/Two other Republican lawmakers are giving away donations after Nick Fuentes was seen visiting the office building associated with Defend Texas Liberty PAC President Jonathan Stickland. The meeting has roiled the party, leading to many Republicans calling on their peers to return money from the PAC.Robert DownenWed, 11 Oct 2023 11:48:36 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/11/jared-patterson-nick-fuentes-defend-texas-liberty-jonathan-stickland/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to media during a press conference in the offices of Blakemore & Associates in Houston on June 13, 2023.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick speaks to media during a press conference in the offices of Blakemore & Associates in Houston, TX, on Tuesday, June 13, 2023.Annie Mulligan for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/10/nick-fuentes-texas-meeting/Fuentes often praises Adolf Hitler and has publicly fantasized about marrying a 16-year-old. Last week, he visited the office of a Texas operative who runs a deep-pocketed political group.Robert DownenTue, 10 Oct 2023 13:45:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/10/nick-fuentes-texas-meeting/Supporters of the America First ideology and U.S. President Donald Trump cheer on Nick Fuentes, a leader of the America First movement and a white nationalist, as he makes his way through the crowd for a speech during the "Stop the Steal" and "Million MAGA March" protests after the 2020 U.S. presidential election was called for Democratic candidate Joe Biden, in Washington on Nov. 14, 2020.Supporters of the America First ideology and U.S. President Donald Trump cheer on Nick Fuentes, a leader of the America First movement and a white nationalist, as he makes his way through the crowd for a speech during the "Stop the Steal" and "Million MAGA March" protests after the 2020 U.S. presidential election was called for Democratic candidate Joe Biden, in Washington on Nov. 14, 2020.REUTERS/Leah Millishttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/09/dade-phelan-speaker-nick-fuentes-dan-patrick-defend-texas-liberty/House Speaker Dade Phelan called on Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and other officials to redirect any money they received from the PAC. Patrick called on Phelan to resign.Robert DownenMon, 09 Oct 2023 08:40:47 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/09/dade-phelan-speaker-nick-fuentes-dan-patrick-defend-texas-liberty/Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on the dais in the Senate chamber at the start of the third special session on Oct. 9, 2023.Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick on the dais in the Senate chamber as senators are in recess at the start of the 3rd special session of the 88th Legislature on Oct. 9, 2023.Bob Daemmrich for The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/08/nick-fuentes-kyle-rittenhouse-jonathan-stickland/The Texas Tribune also observed Texas GOP chair Matt Rinaldi outside the building, but he denied meeting Fuentes and denounced him.Robert DownenSun, 08 Oct 2023 17:16:24 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/10/08/nick-fuentes-kyle-rittenhouse-jonathan-stickland/Nick Fuentes (middle), a white supremacist activist, exited the offices of Pale Horse Strategies with Chris Russo (right), founder and president of Texans for Strong Borders, in Fort Worth on Oct. 6, 2023. Pale Horse is a consulting firm owned by the far-right activist Jonathan Stickland.Nick Fuentes (middle) is seen exiting the offices of Pale Horse strategies with Chris Russo, founder and president of Texans for Strong Borders (right) in Fort Worth on Oct. 6, 2023.Azul Sordo for the Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/25/paxton-impeachment-whistleblowers-lawsuit/On Monday, the former state employees argued that Paxton has failed to uphold key parts of the settlement agreement, including a $3.3 million payment and a promise to apologize.Robert Downen and Patrick SvitekMon, 25 Sep 2023 14:27:21 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/25/paxton-impeachment-whistleblowers-lawsuit/Ryan Vassar, Mark Penley and Blake Brickman, whistleblowers in the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton, speak at a press conference in the state Capitol on Sept. 25, 2023.From left: Ryan Vassar, Mark Penley and Blake Brickman, whistleblowers in the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton, speak at a press conference in the state Capitol on Monday, Sept. 25, 2023. A fourth whistleblower, David Maxwell, was not present but in agreement with remarks.John Jordan/The Texas Tribunehttps://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/21/texas-hate-crimes-extremists/The report blames an “alarming rise in extremist ideology and activity” on white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ+ groups that are active or headquartered in Texas.Robert DownenThu, 21 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0500https://www.texastribune.org/2023/09/21/texas-hate-crimes-extremists/A sign with the message "Pray for Allen Tx" hangs from a makeshift cross in memory of the eight victims of the Allen Premium Outlets mass shooting, in Allen on May 7, 2023.A sign with the message "Pray for Allen Tx" hangs from a makeshift cross in memorial of the eight victims of the Allen Premium Outlets mall shooting outside the mall in Allen on May 7, 2023.Evan L'Roy/The Texas Tribune