Robert Downen
@robertdownen.bsky.social
Texas Monthly writer focused on the far right, Christian nationalism and the billionaires funding them. Helped expose the Southern Baptist abuse crisis. Fan of Hip Hop and loud guitars. Send me music.
Pinned
Robert Downen
@robertdownen.bsky.social
· Nov 21
She Wanted to Speak on Anti-Muslim Bigotry. She Was Labeled a Terrorist Leader.
Shaimaa Zayan, who works for the Austin chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, urged the Texas State Board of Education to reconsider its curriculum changes.
www.texasmonthly.com
A Muslim activist tried to tell Texas education leaders about a growing wave of Islamophobia. Some of them called her a terrorist.
A dispatch from the front line of the battle to Christianize public schools:
A dispatch from the front line of the battle to Christianize public schools:
Reposted by Robert Downen
Fifteen Texas Monthly staffers selected stories from other publications that impressed and inspired us. https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/stories-we-wished-we-published-2025/
The Stories We Wish We’d Published This Year
Fifteen Texas Monthly staffers selected stories from other publications that impressed and inspired us.
www.texasmonthly.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:20 AM
Fifteen Texas Monthly staffers selected stories from other publications that impressed and inspired us. https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/stories-we-wished-we-published-2025/
Watching an all-time classic live on ESPN Ocho right now
December 26, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Watching an all-time classic live on ESPN Ocho right now
Donovan Mitchell hitting a 35-footer off the wrong foot with forward momentum and 2 seconds on the clock. Just insane.
December 25, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Donovan Mitchell hitting a 35-footer off the wrong foot with forward momentum and 2 seconds on the clock. Just insane.
Reposted by Robert Downen
NEW: Alan Dershowitz tells Jeffrey Epstein prosecutor "You are a real mensch:" Newly released emails show that Florida federal prosecutors had "social" meetings with Epstein's lawyers as they worked to mitigate the sex trafficker's sentence. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
As Epstein’s cushy jail sentence raised concerns, his lawyers went on charm offensive
The Epstein Files show how his attorneys mixed personal and business relationships with prosecutors who had agreed to settle Epstein’s case.
www.miamiherald.com
December 25, 2025 at 11:53 AM
NEW: Alan Dershowitz tells Jeffrey Epstein prosecutor "You are a real mensch:" Newly released emails show that Florida federal prosecutors had "social" meetings with Epstein's lawyers as they worked to mitigate the sex trafficker's sentence. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/a...
Reposted by Robert Downen
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and stra...
www.reuters.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Reposted by Robert Downen
The U.S.'s major airlines stopped selling flight records (name, flight from, flight to, credit card number) to the government after our months of reporting on the issue www.404media.co/airlines-wil...
Airlines Will Shut Down Program That Sold Your Flights Records to Government
The move comes after intense pressure from lawmakers and 404 Media’s months-long reporting about the airline industry's data selling practices.
www.404media.co
December 23, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The U.S.'s major airlines stopped selling flight records (name, flight from, flight to, credit card number) to the government after our months of reporting on the issue www.404media.co/airlines-wil...
For years, opponents of school vouchers worried that the program could be exclusionary. Now, as they roll out the new program, Texas officials are looking to bar funds from going to some schools with links to China or the Council on American Islamic Relations.
Comptroller asks to bar some Islamic schools from Texas voucher program
The comptroller has asked Attorney General Ken Paxton to weigh in on whether schools linked to the Muslim advocacy group CAIR can be excluded.
www.houstonchronicle.com
December 23, 2025 at 5:53 AM
For years, opponents of school vouchers worried that the program could be exclusionary. Now, as they roll out the new program, Texas officials are looking to bar funds from going to some schools with links to China or the Council on American Islamic Relations.
Reposted by Robert Downen
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university
Graduate instructor who gave failing grade to Samantha Fulnecky no longer teaching at OU
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university.
www.koco.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:29 AM
A graduate teaching assistant who gave a University of Oklahoma student a failing grade on a psychology essay will no longer be teaching at the university
“In that same court document, it is revealed that Epstein took the then 14-year-old to Mar-a-Lago in 1994, where she was introduced to Donald Trump. According to the files, Epstein elbowed Trump playfully asking him, "This is a good one, right?" with Trump smiling and nodding in agreement.”
Met in Michigan: New Epstein files reveal where he met his first victim
The first known victim of Jeffrey Epstein was a 13-year-old girl in Michigan in the 1990s, according to files recently released by the Department of Justice.
www.fox2detroit.com
December 22, 2025 at 4:08 AM
“In that same court document, it is revealed that Epstein took the then 14-year-old to Mar-a-Lago in 1994, where she was introduced to Donald Trump. According to the files, Epstein elbowed Trump playfully asking him, "This is a good one, right?" with Trump smiling and nodding in agreement.”
It is very funny that in a sport infamous for players getting lifelong head trauma, tripping is still a penalty
December 22, 2025 at 12:43 AM
It is very funny that in a sport infamous for players getting lifelong head trauma, tripping is still a penalty
Great student reporting on why the Harvard Salient, revived to combat what leaders saw as a decline in “contrarian” thought, was abruptly closed earlier this year. (Hint: It was racism). www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
December 21, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Great student reporting on why the Harvard Salient, revived to combat what leaders saw as a decline in “contrarian” thought, was abruptly closed earlier this year. (Hint: It was racism). www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Robert Downen
Like politics, anyone can (usually) weigh in on religion.
But FWIW: Harvard, where Pinker teaches, also has a divinity school.
It has lots of scholars who study religion for a living.
Pinker isn't one of them — in fact, they've publicly criticized him: www.commonwealmagazine.org/enlightenmen...
But FWIW: Harvard, where Pinker teaches, also has a divinity school.
It has lots of scholars who study religion for a living.
Pinker isn't one of them — in fact, they've publicly criticized him: www.commonwealmagazine.org/enlightenmen...
December 21, 2025 at 1:17 AM
Like politics, anyone can (usually) weigh in on religion.
But FWIW: Harvard, where Pinker teaches, also has a divinity school.
It has lots of scholars who study religion for a living.
Pinker isn't one of them — in fact, they've publicly criticized him: www.commonwealmagazine.org/enlightenmen...
But FWIW: Harvard, where Pinker teaches, also has a divinity school.
It has lots of scholars who study religion for a living.
Pinker isn't one of them — in fact, they've publicly criticized him: www.commonwealmagazine.org/enlightenmen...
Reposted by Robert Downen
This pass got caught in the end zone
December 21, 2025 at 4:44 AM
This pass got caught in the end zone
Reposted by Robert Downen
By no means surprising but still, damn, the new Hayley Williams album is very good
December 21, 2025 at 2:52 AM
By no means surprising but still, damn, the new Hayley Williams album is very good
Machine Gun Kelly shows off new Epstein files tattoo
December 19, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Machine Gun Kelly shows off new Epstein files tattoo
RIP to all the journalists who were preparing for the holidays only for 33,000 pages of Epstein docs to get dropped in what has to be the GOAT “Friday drop”
December 19, 2025 at 9:18 PM
RIP to all the journalists who were preparing for the holidays only for 33,000 pages of Epstein docs to get dropped in what has to be the GOAT “Friday drop”
Reposted by Robert Downen
An absolutely stunning piece of news from a politician who transformed herself from GOP moderate to "ultra-MAGA" Trump loyalist, only to have him scuttle her nomination as ambassador to the UN and refuse to block Bruce Blakeman's own gubernatorial ambitions.
BREAKING: U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik tells the TU's Chris Churchill that she's scuttling her gubernatorial run, and won't seek another term in Congress.
Churchill: Stefanik says she won't run for governor — or Congress
“In a traditionally blue state like New York, you sort of have to have all the stars aligned politically,” Rep. Elise Stefanik said, citing a primary challenge and other concerns.
www.timesunion.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:13 PM
An absolutely stunning piece of news from a politician who transformed herself from GOP moderate to "ultra-MAGA" Trump loyalist, only to have him scuttle her nomination as ambassador to the UN and refuse to block Bruce Blakeman's own gubernatorial ambitions.
Worth resharing, as Trump continues his "invasion" rhetoric, that one of the people who helped mainstream it as a legal theory is a Texas county attorney who leaders of the Texas secessionists say is a policy advisor to their movement.
December 18, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Worth resharing, as Trump continues his "invasion" rhetoric, that one of the people who helped mainstream it as a legal theory is a Texas county attorney who leaders of the Texas secessionists say is a policy advisor to their movement.
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus retired in 2017, but his PAC has since spent +$2 million on political consultants. Another retired lawmaker's campaign account has made $1.2 million via investments.
A wild look at how lax campaign finance laws allow ex-lawmakers to spend big, long after retiring:
A wild look at how lax campaign finance laws allow ex-lawmakers to spend big, long after retiring:
Former Texas politicians are using unspent campaign cash for fancy meals, hotels
What happens to former politicians' campaign dollars after they leave office? Some use the money on steakhouses, luxury hotels and travel.
www.houstonchronicle.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:58 AM
Texas House Speaker Joe Straus retired in 2017, but his PAC has since spent +$2 million on political consultants. Another retired lawmaker's campaign account has made $1.2 million via investments.
A wild look at how lax campaign finance laws allow ex-lawmakers to spend big, long after retiring:
A wild look at how lax campaign finance laws allow ex-lawmakers to spend big, long after retiring:
Reposted by Robert Downen
NEW: Jack Smith told lawmakers he developed "proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump engaged in a “criminal scheme” to overturn his election loss.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Jack Smith tells Congress he could prove Trump engaged in a 'criminal scheme' to overturn 2020 election
Smith testified about his investigations into Trump during a closed-door hearing with members of the House Judiciary Committee.
www.nbcnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:53 PM
NEW: Jack Smith told lawmakers he developed "proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump engaged in a “criminal scheme” to overturn his election loss.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Wiles suggests the Trump admin’s ongoing targeting of boats is aimed at regime change in Venezuela.
December 16, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Wiles suggests the Trump admin’s ongoing targeting of boats is aimed at regime change in Venezuela.
Reposted by Robert Downen
Hard to convey how wild it is that Reiner released a documentary *last year* decrying Christian nationalism, yet one of the people below railing against POTUS for his comments about Reiner is a self-described Christian nationalist.
Even the subjects of Reiner’s criticism are appalled by Trump here.
Even the subjects of Reiner’s criticism are appalled by Trump here.
I am trying to think of a time when so many right-wing Christian folks have come out as strongly against Trump as they currently are re: his Rob Reiner comments.
December 16, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Hard to convey how wild it is that Reiner released a documentary *last year* decrying Christian nationalism, yet one of the people below railing against POTUS for his comments about Reiner is a self-described Christian nationalist.
Even the subjects of Reiner’s criticism are appalled by Trump here.
Even the subjects of Reiner’s criticism are appalled by Trump here.
Reposted by Robert Downen
Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman at Brown, had a condition as a child that required brain surgery. The experience created an unshakable ambition to become a brain surgeon, his sister said.
He died after being shot on campus on Saturday.
He died after being shot on campus on Saturday.
Brown shooting victim was pursuing dream of becoming brain surgeon
Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, 18, was one of two people killed at Brown University on Saturday.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Mukhammad Aziz Umurzokov, a freshman at Brown, had a condition as a child that required brain surgery. The experience created an unshakable ambition to become a brain surgeon, his sister said.
He died after being shot on campus on Saturday.
He died after being shot on campus on Saturday.
Reposted by Robert Downen
Earlier this year, I reported for @propublica.org and @wisconsinwatch.org how Wisconsin's name change law creates a de facto database of trans people, which is dangerous in times like this. Now @lmcgaughy.bsky.social breaks the news that Texas has done just that: www.kut.org/politics/202...
The state is making a list of transgender Texans. It’s using driver's licenses to help.
A year after the state blocked transgender Texans from updating their state IDs, it has collected information on more than 100 people who have tried. Officials won’t say what they’re using the list fo...
www.kut.org
December 15, 2025 at 11:01 PM
Earlier this year, I reported for @propublica.org and @wisconsinwatch.org how Wisconsin's name change law creates a de facto database of trans people, which is dangerous in times like this. Now @lmcgaughy.bsky.social breaks the news that Texas has done just that: www.kut.org/politics/202...