Few places need the federal government right now more than Texas does, as it begins to recover from Hurricane Harvey. Yet there are few states where the federal government is viewed with more resentment, suspicion and scorn. For Republicans, who dominate Texas government, anti-Washington sentiment is more than just a […] Read more »
After Harvey, many Texans will think differently about hurricane risks
Interstate 69 in Humble, Texas is covered by floodwaters from Tropical Storm Harvey on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2017. AP Photo/David J. Phillip Wanyun Shao, Auburn University and Siyuan Xian, Princeton University Hurricane Harvey was the most powerful hurricane to strike the U.S. mainland since Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It also […] Read more »
The Politics of Disasters
Throughout the first 200-plus days of Donald Trump’s presidency, it’s been common for analysts to say he is struggling through sub-40% approval ratings despite not having to reckon with a major non-scandal crisis. Whether that was true before last weekend is debatable — do North Korea’s provocations count? — but […] Read more »
Hurricane Harvey likely to provoke polarizing fights
Local communities almost always pull together on the ground after natural disasters like the torrential flooding that has submerged Houston. … Yet, once the immediate danger has passed, the response to the storm will raise larger political questions on at least two major fronts: the cost of recovery and the […] Read more »
UT/TT Poll: Texas voters grade state’s top elected officials
… Gov. Greg Abbott remains the highest rated of the state’s high officials, with 45 percent of voters saying they approve his job performance and 38 saying they disapprove. … The most popular U.S. senator from Texas is Ted Cruz, with 38 percent of Texas voters saying they approve of […] Read more »
Despite Russia inquiry, Texas GOP voters solidly trust Trump
Most voters in the country’s biggest red state are wary of President Donald Trump — but Republican voters remain strongly supportive of him, according to the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll. More than half of the voters said Trump does not have the temperament to serve as president, but […] Read more »