Category Archives: Show Business for Ugly People

The answer to “who watches the watchers” is “Ken Paxton”

Posted on July 8, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t think even Molly Ivins could have found a way to make this funny. For more than a year, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has owed the state over $11,000 in fines for filing late campaign finance reports. Now, … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The answer to “who watches the watchers” is “Ken Paxton”

Rep. Nehls defends himself against stolen valor charges

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This whole thing is so weird. Under fire for accusations of stolen valor, U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls is doubling down on defending his military record by blaming “the establishment” forces seeking to discredit him. Nehls, R-Richmond, has been under intense … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Influencers now required to disclose paid political content

Posted on June 23, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Could be stricter, and Lord knows our overall campaign finance system is a mess, but this was a slam dunk. Texas’ top campaign finance watchdog voted Tuesday to require social media figures to disclose when they are paid for … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Influencers now required to disclose paid political content

Rep. Nehls accused of stolen valor

Posted on June 15, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

This is interesting. House Republicans are accusing Rep. Troy Nehls of “stolen valor” for continuing to wear a lapel pin for infantrymen or Special Forces who fought in active combat. “It matters. As a former commander, it matters what you … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Details of Rep. Nehls’ ethics investigation released

Posted on May 13, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Still not sure how serious it all is. But at least now we know what it’s about. U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Richmond, is being investigated by his peers over allegations that he used campaign funds for his personal use, according … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Details of Rep. Nehls’ ethics investigation released

Second complaint filed over Ted Cruz’s podcast payments

Posted on April 21, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Bring ’em all on. The Campaign Legal Center (CLC), a money-in-politics watchdog group, has filed a complaint with the Senate Ethics Committee alleging that U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz violated the upper chamber’s ban on members taking honoraria for speeches or … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

FEC complaint filed over Cruz’s podcasting gig

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Go for it. U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz is facing a formal campaign finance complaint over money sent from the company that syndicates his podcast to a political action committee supporting his reelection bid. The complaint, filed Tuesday with the Federal … Continue reading →

Posted in Election 2024, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

More on Rep. Nehls’ ethics investigation

Posted on April 4, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Again, could be something, could be nothing. U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls said he is cooperating with a House ethics committee “matter” that he says is related to his campaign finances. After the House Ethics Committee last week acknowledged they were … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 1 Comment

Influencer disclosures

Posted on April 2, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I approve of this. Texas’ top campaign finance watchdog gave initial approval last week to a proposal that would require social media users to disclose if they are being paid to share or create political advertisements. The Texas Ethics Commission’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

House Ethics Committee investigating Rep. Troy Nehls

Posted on March 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Could be something. We’ll see. U.S. Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Richmond, is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee, the bipartisan panel announced Tuesday. It did not specify the focus of the investigation, but Nehls said it was related to his … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Secretaries of State and AI

Posted on March 27, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I sure hope our SOS is ready for this. A false call from a secretary of state telling poll workers they aren’t needed on Election Day. A fake video of a state election director shredding ballots before they’re counted. An … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Secretaries of State and AI

Dallas Mayoral recall effort goes nowhere for now

Posted on March 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

It could still happen, but the same concerns exist as before. In a press release early Wednesday morning, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson let everyone know that the effort to recall him had failed “miserably.” Dallas activist and business owner Davante … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Dallas Mayoral recall effort goes nowhere for now

You’re not going to fall for Greg Abbott’s BS about IVF, are you?

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Let’s count the ways in which he dodged and weaved. Gov. Greg Abbott said Sunday that he supports Texas families having access to in vitro fertilization treatments and has “no doubt” the state will address issues raised by a recent … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Let them fight

Posted on February 25, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

Let them fight. A $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that passed the Senate overnight has sparked a battle between two of Texas’ most prominent Republicans, with Attorney General Ken Paxton calling U.S. Sen. John Cornyn an … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Let them fight

An effort to recall Dallas’ Mayor

Posted on January 11, 2024 by Charles Kuffner

I don’t know how seriously to take this. It seems like a big stretch. But I’ll be rooting for them. Last September, when Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson told the world he had switched political parties from Democrat to Republican, it … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on An effort to recall Dallas’ Mayor

Impeachment trial update: The Senate’s long weekend

Posted on September 16, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Closing arguments have been made. The prosecution and defense made their closing arguments Friday morning in the impeachment trial of Attorney General Ken Paxton, telling wildly contrasting tales of the eight days of witness testimony. The House impeachment managers insisted … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Ken Paxton’s sleaze goes beyond his (alleged) crimes and misdemeanors

Posted on September 9, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Just a reminder, in case you needed it. When Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton held a news conference in May decrying state lawmakers’ anticipated vote to impeach him, he framed the decision as not only a threat to his political … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The long line of shitty people who prop up Ken Paxton

Posted on July 28, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

There’s no end to these assholes. Hours before the Texas House overwhelmingly voted to impeach Ken Paxton in May, a well-funded supporter of the attorney general issued a threat to his fellow Republicans. A vote to impeach Paxton, Jonathan Stickland … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized!, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The long line of shitty people who prop up Ken Paxton

Another interim AG appointed

Posted on July 11, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

All hail the latest temporary overlord. Gov. Greg Abbott announced Monday that a longtime aide, Angela Colmenero, will serve as the second interim attorney general following Ken Paxton’s impeachment. After the House voted to impeach Paxton in May, he was … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized!, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Another interim AG appointed

No pay for Paxton while he’s on the sidelines

Posted on June 27, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Poor baby. The Texas attorney general’s office attempted an end-run around a ruling from the state’s top accountant to pay Attorney General Ken Paxton despite his impeachment, documents indicated. Paxton has remained suspended from duty since the House overwhelmingly voted … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized!, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

UT/Texas Politics Project poll: Half of Texans think Paxton impeachment was “justified”

Posted on June 25, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

It’s one poll, yadda yadda yadda, but here you go. As the Texas Senate begins the historically unprecedented process of trying the suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton on 31 articles of impeachment, a majority of Texas’ registered voters think the … Continue reading →

Posted in Scandalized!, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on UT/Texas Politics Project poll: Half of Texans think Paxton impeachment was “justified”

Tarrant County picks a new elections administrator

Posted on June 18, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

It could have been worse Tarrant County picked a new elections administrator Friday to replace Heider Garcia, who resigned earlier this year after he said he faced political pressure from Republican County Judge Tim O’Hare. The Tarrant County Election Commission … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Justice Department follows up with Tarrant County

Posted on June 15, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Officials at the U.S. Department of Justice have committed to meeting with Tarrant County’s top Democrats to discuss the letter they sent requesting an investigation into voting rights. The Democrats, under the lead of U.S. Rep. Marc Veasey of … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Abbott names former SOS John Scott as temporary AG

Posted on June 1, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

I honestly wasn’t sure he was going to bother with this. Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday appointed Fort Worth lawyer and former Secretary of State John Scott as interim Texas attorney general, temporarily replacing Ken Paxton, who was suspended as … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Tarrant County Dems seek Justice Department investigation of voting rights issues

Posted on May 17, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

Good. Elected officials who represent Tarrant County’s minority communities have asked the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division to investigate County Judge Tim O’Hare and other county officials over concerns that their actions will diminish voting rights. The letter, signed by … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Tarrant County Dems seek Justice Department investigation of voting rights issues

Least-surprising headline of the week

Posted on April 20, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

From the Chron: “GOP donor tied to Clarence Thomas has given Texas lawmakers $19M”. The Texas billionaire in the middle of the controversy around U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has a long history in Texas politics, donating more than … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Least-surprising headline of the week

The “True The Vote Freedom Hospital of Ukraine”

Posted on January 25, 2023 by Charles Kuffner

This story has broken my brain. Gregg Phillips and Catherine Engelbrecht are best known as the election deniers behind True the Vote, a Texas-based nonprofit responsible for amplifying conspiracies that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. But soon after Russia … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on The “True The Vote Freedom Hospital of Ukraine”

Here at last is that updated report on maternal mortality

Posted on December 18, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We’re still really bad at preventing it, especially for Black women. At least 118 women dead and nearly 200 children left without a mother. This was just a portion of the death toll from pregnancy and childbirth in Texas in … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Here at last is that updated report on maternal mortality

So why wasn’t that report on maternal mortality released when it was supposed to be?

Posted on December 10, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

We’ll never really know, mostly because there’s no one with the power to compel an answer from those who do know that cares enough to use that power. State health officials had completed a long-awaited report on maternal deaths and … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Abbott bans TikTok on state-issued devices

Posted on December 9, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Honestly, I’m fine with this. Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday a ban of the popular app TikTok from all government-issued devices. In a news release, the Republican said the Chinese government could use the app to access critical U.S. infrastructure … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People, Technology, science, and math | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Abbott to nominate Jane Nelson as next SOS

Posted on December 7, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

That was quick. Gov. Greg Abbott said Tuesday he will nominate retiring state Sen. Jane Nelson to be secretary of state. The announcement comes one day after John Scott said he would step down from the role at the end … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Time for the biennial salute to the new Secretary of State

Posted on December 6, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

So long, John. Hope the next guy is better than you were. Texas Secretary of State John Scott will step down from his role as the state’s top elections official at the end of the year. “When I took office … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People, That's our Lege | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The Paxton subpoena-fleeing saga gets more ridiculous

Posted on October 2, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

Because of course it does. Lawyers in an abortion lawsuit tried for days to subpoena Attorney General Ken Paxton before sending a process server to his home Monday, and notified his office that their server was there before Paxton fled … Continue reading →

Posted in Legal matters, Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on The Paxton subpoena-fleeing saga gets more ridiculous

In which I indulge in a bit of schadenfreude

Posted on September 18, 2022 by Charles Kuffner

A base instinct, I admit, but I’m going to do it anyway. The district director for Texas’ newest congresswoman, Mayra Flores, R-Los Indios, recently resigned amid allegations of sexual harassment. The far-right website Current Revolt first reported a series of … Continue reading →

Posted in Show Business for Ugly People | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on In which I indulge in a bit of schadenfreude