Gus Bova
@gusbova.bsky.social
Kansas-Texas transplant. Editor-in-Chief, Texas Observer. Tips: bova@texasobserver.org, or DM for Signal.
Pinned
Gus Bova
@gusbova.bsky.social
· Nov 14
Personal/professional news: I am now the Editor-in-Chief of @texasobserver.org. My entire journalism career has taken place here, as I've learned from all who've come and gone from this little magazine. Thank you to all the colleagues and sources who helped me along the way
Austin Chronicle endorsements are out. Anecdotally, I think these are still genuinely influential locally. They stick with the Austinites up top (Talarico, Goodwin). They kinda punt on HD49 with a dual endorse: www.austinchronicle.com/news/march-2...
March 2026 Primary Election Endorsements for the Austin Area • The Austin Chronicle
The Chronicle Editorial Board provides the following endorsements to Democrats in advance of early voting (Feb. 17 through Feb. 27) and election day, Tuesday, March 3. We urge readers to be thorough w...
www.austinchronicle.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Austin Chronicle endorsements are out. Anecdotally, I think these are still genuinely influential locally. They stick with the Austinites up top (Talarico, Goodwin). They kinda punt on HD49 with a dual endorse: www.austinchronicle.com/news/march-2...
A much more likable version of conservatism is the old "if you're not a liberal at 20..." line, vs. the current Texas regime's approach of: We will punish you until you like us www.austinchronicle.com/news/despite...
Despite Pressure From Abbott, AISD Students Keep Up Anti-ICE Protests • The Austin Chronicle
On Friday, Feb. 6, at about 2pm, hundreds of students at Clint Small Middle School walked out of class with backpacks on and posters in their hands to protest the actions of U.S. Immigration and Custo...
www.austinchronicle.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
A much more likable version of conservatism is the old "if you're not a liberal at 20..." line, vs. the current Texas regime's approach of: We will punish you until you like us www.austinchronicle.com/news/despite...
The only one of these organizing efforts I reported on, back when I still reported on things, was the Statesman one. They fought for their contract for *so* long and then the paper got sold almost immediately
February 11, 2026 at 5:06 PM
The only one of these organizing efforts I reported on, back when I still reported on things, was the Statesman one. They fought for their contract for *so* long and then the paper got sold almost immediately
Inbox: Union workers with ProPublica, Texas Tribune, and the Austin American-Statesman picketing downtown today:
February 11, 2026 at 5:02 PM
Inbox: Union workers with ProPublica, Texas Tribune, and the Austin American-Statesman picketing downtown today:
Smart reporting here from @jlbuch.bsky.social www.texasobserver.org/trump-ice-de...
How Trump's ICE Is Locking Up Longtime Texans with Paths to Legal Status
The case of one Houston man, nearly deported to India after a quarter-century here, shows what happens when prosecutorial discretion is abandoned.
www.texasobserver.org
February 9, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Smart reporting here from @jlbuch.bsky.social www.texasobserver.org/trump-ice-de...
Reposted by Gus Bova
AWFUL news tonight. This blesses the “mandatory” detention in the 5th Circuit without bond (and little chance at habeas) of every undocumented immigrant who originally entered across the border, no matter how many decades in the past.
It will fuel ICE’s push to transfer people to Texas immediately.
It will fuel ICE’s push to transfer people to Texas immediately.
BREAKING: A 5th Circuit panel has backed ICE's mass detention policy, a decision that clears the way for the administration to lock up people who are in immigration proceedings
It's a 2-1 ruling
Majority: Jones (Reagan), Duncan (Trump)
Minority: Douglas (Obama)
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
It's a 2-1 ruling
Majority: Jones (Reagan), Duncan (Trump)
Minority: Douglas (Obama)
s3.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
February 7, 2026 at 3:20 AM
AWFUL news tonight. This blesses the “mandatory” detention in the 5th Circuit without bond (and little chance at habeas) of every undocumented immigrant who originally entered across the border, no matter how many decades in the past.
It will fuel ICE’s push to transfer people to Texas immediately.
It will fuel ICE’s push to transfer people to Texas immediately.
Reposted by Gus Bova
You’ll get more out of @texasobserver.org than the Washington Post even if you don’t live in Texas
For the Texas Observer, the data probably tells us to go back 72 years and never start this crazy thing...
Never a better time to subscribe -- consider it a snub to Jeff Bezos personally texasobserver.org/join
Never a better time to subscribe -- consider it a snub to Jeff Bezos personally texasobserver.org/join
Jeff Bezos' statement, his first since last week's layoffs: "The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus."
February 9, 2026 at 3:18 PM
You’ll get more out of @texasobserver.org than the Washington Post even if you don’t live in Texas
Based on recent elections, we've basically all accepted that Abbott is untouchable even in a blue wave. But is there really no point at which this kind of noxious overbearing stuff ever pushes him down to the Cruz/Paxton level?
February 8, 2026 at 7:40 PM
Based on recent elections, we've basically all accepted that Abbott is untouchable even in a blue wave. But is there really no point at which this kind of noxious overbearing stuff ever pushes him down to the Cruz/Paxton level?
For the Texas Observer, the data probably tells us to go back 72 years and never start this crazy thing...
Never a better time to subscribe -- consider it a snub to Jeff Bezos personally texasobserver.org/join
Never a better time to subscribe -- consider it a snub to Jeff Bezos personally texasobserver.org/join
Jeff Bezos' statement, his first since last week's layoffs: "The Post has an essential journalistic mission and an extraordinary opportunity. Each and every day our readers give us a roadmap to success. The data tells us what is valuable and where to focus."
February 8, 2026 at 2:18 PM
For the Texas Observer, the data probably tells us to go back 72 years and never start this crazy thing...
Never a better time to subscribe -- consider it a snub to Jeff Bezos personally texasobserver.org/join
Never a better time to subscribe -- consider it a snub to Jeff Bezos personally texasobserver.org/join
Does "iron sharpens iron" apply in a Texas Democratic primary? Or is it more like... Heat melts butter, and everyone is butter www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
A Cool-Headed Guide to the Fiery Crockett-Talarico Texas Primary
Do we hate ourselves as much as the Democratic Party hates itself? This breakdown of the U.S. Senate primary drama says yes.
www.texasmonthly.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Does "iron sharpens iron" apply in a Texas Democratic primary? Or is it more like... Heat melts butter, and everyone is butter www.texasmonthly.com/news-politic...
Reposted by Gus Bova
This is Maria, a 6-year-old detained by ICE last year.
She began to unravel soon after arriving at a detention center in Texas, wetting the bed after years without accidents, crying through the night and begging to breastfeed again.
Most of all, she wanted to be reunited with her cat, Milo. 1/
She began to unravel soon after arriving at a detention center in Texas, wetting the bed after years without accidents, crying through the night and begging to breastfeed again.
Most of all, she wanted to be reunited with her cat, Milo. 1/
February 6, 2026 at 6:25 PM
This is Maria, a 6-year-old detained by ICE last year.
She began to unravel soon after arriving at a detention center in Texas, wetting the bed after years without accidents, crying through the night and begging to breastfeed again.
Most of all, she wanted to be reunited with her cat, Milo. 1/
She began to unravel soon after arriving at a detention center in Texas, wetting the bed after years without accidents, crying through the night and begging to breastfeed again.
Most of all, she wanted to be reunited with her cat, Milo. 1/
Reposted by Gus Bova
For months Governor Abbott secretly deployed the Texas National Guard into ICE detention facilities, even forcing them to work in the detention center that imprisoned Liam Ramos and a two month old baby.
February 6, 2026 at 3:42 AM
For months Governor Abbott secretly deployed the Texas National Guard into ICE detention facilities, even forcing them to work in the detention center that imprisoned Liam Ramos and a two month old baby.
Reposted by Gus Bova
Super packed meeting in Austin to hear about Austin PD relationship with ICE. This is just like the front portion of the school cafeteria
February 6, 2026 at 12:39 AM
Super packed meeting in Austin to hear about Austin PD relationship with ICE. This is just like the front portion of the school cafeteria
Ok helpful: chief confirms that if officer calls ICE and runs it up the chain, the person should no longer be detained then and be free to leave
February 6, 2026 at 1:16 AM
Ok helpful: chief confirms that if officer calls ICE and runs it up the chain, the person should no longer be detained then and be free to leave
Ok maybe not calming down but anyhoo no new info re: PD policy
February 6, 2026 at 1:13 AM
Ok maybe not calming down but anyhoo no new info re: PD policy
On to a q&a and things kinda calming.
Overall, APD chief is promising that officers will not ask for immigration status and is heavily suggesting that if an officer calls ICE for admin warrant, a commander will then tell officer not to hold the person for ICE to come
Overall, APD chief is promising that officers will not ask for immigration status and is heavily suggesting that if an officer calls ICE for admin warrant, a commander will then tell officer not to hold the person for ICE to come
February 6, 2026 at 1:05 AM
On to a q&a and things kinda calming.
Overall, APD chief is promising that officers will not ask for immigration status and is heavily suggesting that if an officer calls ICE for admin warrant, a commander will then tell officer not to hold the person for ICE to come
Overall, APD chief is promising that officers will not ask for immigration status and is heavily suggesting that if an officer calls ICE for admin warrant, a commander will then tell officer not to hold the person for ICE to come
Lots of crowd interruption and yelling. They want, in my view, for Austin to openly defy the state's sanctuary cities ban
February 6, 2026 at 12:52 AM
Lots of crowd interruption and yelling. They want, in my view, for Austin to openly defy the state's sanctuary cities ban
Chief: again, officers will not themselves ask for status
February 6, 2026 at 12:49 AM
Chief: again, officers will not themselves ask for status
APD chief: when cop sees admin warrants -- the majority will not call -- when they do call, it will raise to a commander to decide whether to wait for ICE, and priority will not be to wait
February 6, 2026 at 12:48 AM
APD chief: when cop sees admin warrants -- the majority will not call -- when they do call, it will raise to a commander to decide whether to wait for ICE, and priority will not be to wait
APD chief: "The Austin police department does not ask immigration status" ... But issue of ICE administrative warrants: it says "call ice" when cops see them in their system... 2017 SB 4 does not allow prohibiting cops from doing so. *Boos from crowd*
February 6, 2026 at 12:45 AM
APD chief: "The Austin police department does not ask immigration status" ... But issue of ICE administrative warrants: it says "call ice" when cops see them in their system... 2017 SB 4 does not allow prohibiting cops from doing so. *Boos from crowd*
Super packed meeting in Austin to hear about Austin PD relationship with ICE. This is just like the front portion of the school cafeteria
February 6, 2026 at 12:39 AM
Super packed meeting in Austin to hear about Austin PD relationship with ICE. This is just like the front portion of the school cafeteria
Talarico's Super Bowl ad is an ad showing people alone on their phones/tablets watching footage from the same staged speech used in a prior ad.
I make no comment on the effectiveness, only on what it implies about the state of our one precious lives on this planet www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s_1...
I make no comment on the effectiveness, only on what it implies about the state of our one precious lives on this planet www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s_1...
Billionaires
YouTube video by James Talarico
www.youtube.com
February 5, 2026 at 3:12 PM
Talarico's Super Bowl ad is an ad showing people alone on their phones/tablets watching footage from the same staged speech used in a prior ad.
I make no comment on the effectiveness, only on what it implies about the state of our one precious lives on this planet www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s_1...
I make no comment on the effectiveness, only on what it implies about the state of our one precious lives on this planet www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s_1...
"A member of Irving’s environmental Green Advisory Board resigned in the days after being identified by the Texas Observer as linked with the white nationalist group Patriot Front" www.keranews.org/government/2...
Irving Green Advisory Board member resigns after links to white nationalist group revealed
Joshua James Berkau resigned days after his links to white nationalist group Patriot Front surfaced.
www.keranews.org
February 4, 2026 at 4:41 PM
"A member of Irving’s environmental Green Advisory Board resigned in the days after being identified by the Texas Observer as linked with the white nationalist group Patriot Front" www.keranews.org/government/2...
SEIU Texas endorses Crockett -- AFL-CIO did not endorse so affiliates may endorse as they like:
February 4, 2026 at 4:27 PM
SEIU Texas endorses Crockett -- AFL-CIO did not endorse so affiliates may endorse as they like:
The kind of shit you don't have to have read a single Orwell book to call Orwellian.
"Today, in classrooms across Texas, tomorrow’s leaders are learning the foundational, critical thinking skills," such as love for our masked federal agents www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/t...
"Today, in classrooms across Texas, tomorrow’s leaders are learning the foundational, critical thinking skills," such as love for our masked federal agents www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/t...
TEA warns of state takeovers for “encouraging” student protests
The state education agency issued guidance to districts after Gov. Greg Abbott directed its commissioner to investigate the student protests of killings by federal agents.
www.texastribune.org
February 4, 2026 at 2:06 PM
The kind of shit you don't have to have read a single Orwell book to call Orwellian.
"Today, in classrooms across Texas, tomorrow’s leaders are learning the foundational, critical thinking skills," such as love for our masked federal agents www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/t...
"Today, in classrooms across Texas, tomorrow’s leaders are learning the foundational, critical thinking skills," such as love for our masked federal agents www.texastribune.org/2026/02/03/t...