Ballot propositions ask more of voters. I think that's good. In Massachusetts, we're lucky to have a group like CommonWealth Beacon, which has assembled an essential voter's guide. A model for how to provide nonpartisan voter education. commonwealthbeacon.org/ballot-quest...

Massachusetts 2026 ballot questions, explained - CommonWealth Beacon

Illustrations by Field Nine Group Election 2026 · Ballot questions The Massachusetts ballot questions, explained Get ready for a long ballot. The

commonwealthbeacon.org

Ken Paxton appears to have an image problem. And he can't solve it with TV ads that insist "I am not a crook." (from NYT interview with 12 Trump voters.)

Great feature by @anamariecox.com on the Texas Senate race. It's a good story to say that James Talarico is using progressive Christian language to ju-jitsu the religious right. But the boring, accurate reality is that Texans are fed up with being governed by Republicans.

A Path to a Texas Breakthrough - The American Prospect

James Talarico is deploying his Christian faith in his bid for the Senate. But he’s winning because Texans have been pummeled by inflation and corruption.

prospect.org

Good reporting and good historical perspective here by the talented @samrussek.bsky.social in TNR. #texaspolitics

Sam Russek@samrussek.bsky.social · 4w ago

Ok ok I’ll be the one to ask: Can the Texas Democratic Party actually do it this time? For @newrepublic.com I wrote about TDP’s long, long—LONG—road, from political monopoly to near collapse to, perhaps, a future? (My first TNR feature) newrepublic.com/article/2150...

Great overstates it, but I would be happy if readers find this to be illuminating ... on what Talarico is really up against in this Senate race.

John Schwartz@jswatz.bsky.social · 4w ago

The great Dave Denison looks at Talarico and Paxton through the lens of years of Texas reporting. Read his substack and then click through for his analysis piece in The Baffler. davedenison.substack.com/p/which-t-fo...

One of the most ridiculous things about the GOP now is the way the MAGA Repubs call every conservative who doesn't bow down to Trump a RINO.

Ana Marie Cox@anamariecox.com · 4w ago

I have a piece coming out about how bad things are in Texas for the Rs but in my entire life I could not have dreamed they are Rove-votes-for-a-Democrat bad. x.com/MWatkinsTrib...

I mean, a big majority of Republicans in the Texas House voted for their candidate to be impeached.

The Baffler@thebaffler.com · 4w ago

Infighting has taken the Republican party to the brink in Texas. It may just give Democrats the edge they need in the upcoming midterm elections. thebaffler.com/latest/low-t...

Good report from South Texas here. Quién es más MAGA?

Texas Observer@texasobserver.org · 4w ago

New today: @byjustinmiller.bsky.social takes us to Laredo, where a hotly contested battle for Congress is taking place between conservative incumbent Democrat Henry Cuellar, and Democrat-turned-Republican Tano Tijerina. Tijerina is endorsed by Trump but still casts himself as a political outsider.

How goes the Talarico argument against Christian nationalism in Texas? He is called blasphemous and demonic. More here: thebaffler.com/civilificati...

Biden and first-term Trump were both 12 points underwater at this point. But second-term Trump is 20 points down. (NYT polling averages.)

It's not impossible that the Talarico vs. Paxton race in Texas could be the bellwether that marks the decline of Trumpism. davedenison.substack.com/p/which-t-fo...

Which T for Texas?

A choice between Talarico or Trump

davedenison.substack.com

A pretty flat speech by Paxton. "I need your prayers, your vote, and your support." #GOP #trumpapalooza

And if Talarico wins in a close race, will Paxton claim the election was stolen? Trump is Ken's role model, so probably yes.

Mr. Fahrenheit@mrfahrenheit.bsky.social · last mo.

Does this extraordinary GOP intraparty animosity mean that Democrats finally have an opening to win their first statewide Texas election in thirty years?

So apparently, according to this article, Christopher Hooks @hooks.bsky.social does not see what Ken Paxton sees: that Ken is God's top choice for U.S. Senate. thebaffler.com/civilificati...

Democrats may finally have an opening to win their first statewide Texas election in thirty years. @daveadenison.bsky.social examines the state of the Senate race in the Lone Star State.

Low T for Texas? | Dave Denison

Do Democrats finally have an opening to win their first statewide Texas election in thirty years?

thebaffler.com

Here I propose that you can't understand history with less than twelve metaphors. davedenison.substack.com/p/how-deep-i...

How Deep is the Muck?

And how do we get ourselves out of this mess?

davedenison.substack.com

Introducing the September/October 2026 issue of Texas Observer magazine. Art by Raúl Arias. Cover story by @samrussek.bsky.social, and additional stories from @michellepitcher.bsky.social and Dee Azadian. Become a member to get our magazine 6 times per year: texasobserver.fundjournalism.org/join/

Lindsay Graham is dead. Mitch McConnell is, apparently, “recovering from a fall.” Back in 2020—amid a contentious Supreme Court confirmation—@daveadenison.bsky.social considered the views of these two dreadful senators and the rules of Congress.

The Rules Have Changed | Dave Denison

In what might as well be science fiction, one voter imagines a good-faith Senate hearing on rules and how to use them.

thebaffler.com

In the NYT polling index, you'll see that CBS News is giving Trump a worse number than Fox News. Bari is going to have to do something about CBS News polling dept.

On this week's Codcast: CommonWealth Beacon turns 30 Listen now.

CommonWealth Beacon turns 30

Dave Denison was the first editor of CommonWealth magazine and oversaw the publication of its first issue 30 years ago, in the spring of 1996. Although much has changed about the country, the state, and...

buff.ly

Five years ago today. This SHOULD have been the end of Trump's reign of terror over his fellow Repubs.

I call to your attention several overlooked but worthy books. open.substack.com/pub/davedeni...

My Books of the Year

More Riffing about Reading

open.substack.com

Words of wisdom from @ricktxaflco.bsky.social here. “For any organizer, their number one job is to organize themselves out of a job," Levy said. “No one has done more than Rick Levy for the modern-day labor movement in Texas,” Greg Casar said.

Gus Bova@gusbova.bsky.social · 10mo ago

As total membership in Texas unions grows, the state's labor federation is moving into a new era of leadership, with Latin@s in both of the top roles for the first time: www.texasobserver.org/texas-afl-ci... from @josephinelee.bsky.social

Worst polls of T.'s second term now coming in. Even GOP-friendly Rasmussen has him underwater by 7 pts.

Jeezus. Cass Sunstein should have read up a little about the history of that guy he enjoyed socializing with. It's all right here! thebaffler.com/civilificati...

Dinner with a War Criminal | Dave Denison

In the Trump era, we are often asked ”how bad can it get?” Look no further than Henry Kissinger.

thebaffler.com

I profiled the great poet & eco-advocate Jane Hirshfield in a feature for @thenation.com, now included in my book Learning to Live in the Dark. Tomorrow, 9/16, at 5pm ET, Jane joins me in conversation about "faith, humanism, and radical solidarity in a time of catastrophe." RSVP below...

Haymarket Books@haymarketbooks.org · last yr.

Learning to Live in the Dark Join @learning2live.bsky.social of @thenation.com and Jane Hirshfield for a conversation on faith, humanism, and radical solidarity in the face of fascism and climate catastrophe. Tuesday, September 16th at 5 PM ET RSVP to attend: www.tickettailor.com/events/hayma...

My old friend Jim Harrington has dedicated his life to advancing justice in Texas. That takes a strong spirit.

Texas Observer@texasobserver.org · last yr.

In books: Law is a tool, not an end in itself. Justice is the goal of all human rights undertakings—everything in “right relationship.” Right relationship is not status quo and does not appear on the scene without arduous struggle and fundamental social readjustment.

Ten years ago, we celebrated George Scialabba Day in Cambridge, Mass. Tobi Haslett noted the occasion in the New Yorker:

Seeing that Ruth Paine has died at 92, reminds me of Thomas Mallon's book "Mrs. Paine's Garage." "Why did Mrs. Ruth Paine of Irving, Texas, make the notation 'LHO purchase of rifle' on the March 1963 page of her Hallmark pocket calendar?" prospect.org/features/liv...

Living with Oswald

prospect.org

Congress has approved $40 million for stupid Trump's stupid "Garden of American Heroes." Another reason I've got TES. open.substack.com/pub/davedeni...

I've got TES

And some thoughts about the HOF game

open.substack.com