It’s a good ‘un.

Editing this essay felt like a breath of fresh air. It’s tough, vulnerable, moving, and beautifully written by @obedmanuel.bsky.social — but the last third also gave me a sense of hope I’ve been desperately missing.

Many undocumented immigrants are choosing to leave the U.S. The Trump administration wants us to call this “self-deportation.” In my essay for @thebarbedwire.com, I argue why we shouldn’t use the language of the oppressor:

“In moving back to Mexico, I have reopened a door to a life I didn’t think would ever be possible,” writes @obedmanuel.bsky.social . thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/24/d...

Warms my heart to see both Leqaa Kordia and Ward Sakeik free after so long in ICE detention. Both are Palestinian, and they met in a Texas facility. Ward, who came to the US at 9 years old, told @thebarbedwire.com that their friendship is what got her through it: thebarbedwire.com/2025/09/22/w...

A good example of why I subscribe, even though I don’t live in Texas. My home state of Oregon believe it or not is a big rodeo state with a lot of women in the sport. A fantastic piece.

Ok that's awesome.

“Being there and showing these younger girls that we can accomplish the same thing as the guys … means a lot,” Summer Williams, a 20-year-old from Mineral Wells, told The Barbed Wire. thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/19/h...

In my latest @thebarbedwire.com, I interviewed artist and author Carter St. Hogan, better known as folk / country musician Creekbed Carter about the way Texas formed his identity and how he's fighting for his immigrant neighbors in the Twin Cities.

It’s not just that it’s Texas — because in 2020 we had 15 more LGBTQ+ businesses than we do now. It’s the economy, it’s tariffs, and it’s increased discrimination under the leadership of the federal government and the Texas lawmakers pushing anti-DEI initiatives.

Saw several great trans musicians/bands at this year's #SXSW26 . Trans is punk as fuck!

“We have to travel outside the country sometimes to feel accepted and to feel ourselves,” Fabelina Guerra, a board member with the Gateway City Pride Association in Laredo, told The Barbed Wire. thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/18/a...

man do I love Texas sometimes

Carter St. Hogan, who performs as Creekbed Carter, starts his sets by drawing on eyeliner-pencil mustaches. It’s part drag performance, part country music tradition of building identity through song. “It’s honest, but it also comes with an element of performance.” thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/18/m...

At @thebarbedwire.com, we’ve been covering Leqaa Kordia’s case since Oct 2025. After a year in custody, including the loss of 50 pounds and a 3-day hospitalization, she has finally been released on a $100,000 bond. Weeks ago, Texas lawmakers called her a “political prisoner” in an “internment camp.”

After a year in ICE custody, 33-year-old Palestinian woman Leqaa Kordia has finally been released. Kordia, who Democrats had called a “political prisoner” of the Trump administration, was detained in the Prairieland Detention Center in North Texas.

“Search and rescue in the United States is 99% volunteer,” Chris Boyer, the executive director at the National Association for Search and Rescue, told The Barbed Wire in an interview days after the July 4, 2025 Central Texas flood disaster. thebarbedwire.com/2025/07/12/t...

“I really felt a push to create a space that combated societal challenges that were suddenly at the forefront of everything,” said Hannah Foy, who runs LauLau in Austin. “We’ve been here since before the trend, and we'll be here long after it’s over.” thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/11/c...

“As El Paso became a backdrop to our nation’s immigration battles, I began to believe it held the key to understanding American identity. If only we can give the city the place it’s due at the center — not the margins — of our story.” @jazmineulloa.bsky.social thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/05/f...

We’ve compiled every serious scandal the Attorney General has faced during his political ascendancy, and somehow managed to emerge unscathed from. thebarbedwire.com/2026/02/17/k...

"Anti-LGBTQ and anti-immigrant groups, and I would add white nationalist groups too, view LGBTQ+ people and immigrants as threats to what they believe should be the dominant white Christian culture in the United States." "[W]e must all speak out." #Texas #USA #Deportation #EthnicCleansing

"It's not just the usual, you know, ‘radical Antifa cells,’” Reilly, a 42-year-old trans Texan told @kitoconnell.com, “it's crossed over into the minds of your SUV driving soccer moms.” thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/02/l...

“As corny as it sounds, one of the best ways to protect your voting rights is to become as informed a voter as possible. […] don’t rely solely on state sources like votetexas.org and instead seek out resources published by your local county government […] and help your friends to do the same.”

Austin Police said two people remain at local hospitals, with one in critical condition on Thursday, @citycastaustin.bsky.social reports. Fundraisers and a 5K are being hosted to help support the victims. Police said a total of 19 people were shot. thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/05/a...

The chaos all stemmed from a change made by Republicans weeks ago — and is cause for alarm ahead of the general election in November. thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/05/m...

The overbearing workload required to correctly cast a ballot is a feature of the policy choices made by Republicans, not a bug. Their hope is that, if they erect enough barriers to the ballot box, it will convince the “wrong” type of voters to simply give up. thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/05/m...

“The foundations for all these actions — the policies, the rhetoric, the treatment of migrants — were laid down long before, brick by brick, decade by decade in my hometown of El Paso,” writes @jazmineulloa.bsky.social for @thebarbedwire.com thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/05/f...

Immigration reporters like @jazmineulloa.bsky.social have been on the frontlines of the harshest deportation campaign this country has seen since World War II. The foundations for it were laid down long before in her hometown of El Paso. thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/05/f...

According to @19thnews.org , U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales has faced calls to step down from within the Republican Party over an alleged relationship with an aide. The Trump endorsed GOP candidate will face Brandon Herrera in a May 26 runoff. thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/04/t...

New today @thebarbedwire.com: “Trans voters are left vulnerable to being outed, questioned, or turned away, which creates very real barriers to casting a ballot ... This fear & confusion has a purpose in trying to silence our voices & keep trans people from participating fully in our democracy.”

And about last night’s @thebarbedwire.com live stream: Being on camera for work makes my stomach hurt but it’s also very rewarding!!! Thank you to everyone who sent me screenshots of my various facial expressions 💕 Link here if you’re interested in watching: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI6b...

I wrote about the ultra-nasty John Cornyn/Ken Paxton Senate primary -- which is about to get much, much worse (cue the Let Them Fight) thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/04/p...

We’ve compiled every serious scandal the Attorney General has faced during his political ascendancy, and somehow managed to emerge unscathed from. thebarbedwire.com/2026/02/17/k...

After nearly $95 million in attack ads, divorce drama and enough Republican infighting to require protective year, Texas voters have generously decided we all get to do this again in May.

“We are not just trying to win an election. We are trying to fundamentally change the politics in this state and in this country,” James Talarico said. Talarico won the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Texas on Tuesday, @19thnews.org reports. thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/04/t...

Get ready for John Cornyn vs. Ken Paxton: The Sequel Nobody Asked For. “I refuse to allow a flawed, self-centered and shameless candidate like Ken Paxton risk everything we’ve worked so hard to build over these many years,” Cornyn said Tuesday night. thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/04/p...

We’re LIVE with Olivia Messer, our editor in chief, and our panelists of experts, commentators, and creators, talking about the Texas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate. Join and share your questions as unpack this race. www.instagram.com/thebarbedwir...

At the top of the hour, I'll be going live with @thebarbedwire.com to chat about the Texas Democratic Senate Primary as we wait for those first early voting results to roll in. Would love to have y'all join us! www.youtube.com/live/DI6bdkm...

Tonight I'm producing an election night live stream panel on the Democratic Senate Primary for The Barbed Wire. Tune in to experts talk about electability, voter turn out, and more: www.youtube.com/live/DI6bdkm...

Happy election day!!! The Texas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate has been a wild ride, and while we wait for results to roll in, @thebarbedwire.com is hosting a live stream where we’ll unpack it all at 6pm CT. LINK HERE: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DI6b...

This is a pretty unbelievable number for a primary.

My precinct ran out of “I voted” stickers, so I’m wearing a “future voter” sticker. Not a lie. I will be voting in November, 2026.

Have you voted yet? 🗳️ Send us a pic with your "I voted" sticker, and you could end up on our social media.

Ad spending in the Texas Republican race has stacked up to $98.9 million, according to AdImpact, which noted that GOP spending alone would be one of the most expensive Senate primaries on record. We’re here to break down the numbers for you. thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/03/t...

“Trans voters are left vulnerable to being outed, questioned, or turned away, which creates very real barriers to casting a ballot,” said Caleb Armstrong a transmasculine Texan who cofounded Local Queer Foundation. @kitoconnell.com thebarbedwire.com/2026/03/03/t...

The Texas Democratic primary for U.S. Senate has been a wild ride. The Barbed Wire will unpack it all while we all wait for the results to roll in, from the primary’s historic turnout to the scandals (with a keen eye on fact-checking).

“When you see that happen at a neighborhood association, you realize that it’s not just the usual, you know, ‘radical Antifa cells,’” Reilly said, “it’s crossed over into the minds of your SUV driving soccer moms.”

I also gave a shout to this incredible episode of @mskellymhayes.bsky.social Movement Memos in the article:

“It seemed like after Keith Porter and Renee Good and then Alex Pretti were murdered by ICE, that folks really felt like it was time to do something.” Inspired by a zine created by MPLS anti-ICE activists, Austin residents are getting to know their neighbors and forming rapid response networks.

However, R.G. Cravens, a senior manager of research and analysis at @splcenter.org, these connections go beyond direct violence, but to the extremists groups who increasingly hold sway in the halls of power: “They’ve been in the same room, both literally and figuratively, for decades now.”