Christopher Hooks
The Texas Observer
Austin, TX, United States
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Past articles by Christopher:
A Modest Proposal: Replace the Iowa Caucuses
The process stinks, and we should be having a wider discussion about what ought to replace it. → Read More
The World’s Briscoe Cain Problem
The far-right Texas lawmaker and other political trolls are holding us hostage to the idea that the world is more chaotic, unfixable, and stupid than it is. → Read More
Could Trump's Reelection Campaign Turn the Texas House Blue?
A number of high-profile GOP electeds are throwing in the towel in advance of the 2020 election cycle—with more expected in the coming year. → Read More
Power Steering
The most interesting story in American politics in the coming year isn’t in Iowa, but on the outskirts of Houston and Dallas. → Read More
Bucking the Reign of Oil
With more of oil’s boom years behind us than ahead, oil and gas interests will become known increasingly by their uglier side effects, rather than their benefits. → Read More
Winning Isn’t Enough. The Next President Needs to be a Doer.
Americans think what it takes to shake up Washington is an outsider with new ideas, but what’s needed is an insider with strong convictions. → Read More
Trump’s Border Wall is a Vortex of Stupidity that Trump and the GOP Can’t Escape
The Wall started as an applause line at Trump’s campaign rallies, and has morphed into one of the dumbest policy debates in the history of American politics. → Read More
The Texas GOP May Actually Get Serious about Real Problems During this Legislature
On the heels of a miniature suburban revolt in the midterms, it seems unlikely that Dan Patrick and friends will be able to hijack the session again. → Read More
Empower Texans Flushed Millions Down the Toilet
After a decade spent trying to remake Texas politics, the right-wing enforcement group has achieved nothing interesting or notable with Tim Dunn’s money. → Read More
Dear Beto and Julián, Please Don’t Run for President
Most failed presidential campaigns are high-risk bids for personal glory and a waste of time and money. → Read More
Texas is a Purple State Now. The Proof is in Last Night’s Results.
Tuesday’s midterm was the best election result for Texas Democrats since at least 1994, and gives a lot of reasons to think that something has meaningfully changed in this state. → Read More
The Disconnect Between Ted Cruz’s Victory Speech and What Actually Happened in Texas
When Cruz declared victory, the crowd in Houston chanted “build the wall,” and speakers on stage greatly overstated the Republican hold on Texas. → Read More
The #FireStanStanart Campaign Finally Wins, Knocking Off the Much-Maligned GOP Harris County Clerk
Democrat Diane Trautman is now is in charge of administering the voting rolls for 4.7 million Texans. → Read More
Ted Cruz’s Do-Nothing Record
Cruz can’t help build the future because he’s focused solely on his present. → Read More
Has Pete Sessions Marinated in D.C. Too Long for Texas Voters?
In the 2008 presidential election, John McCain won Texas’ Congressional District 32 by 11 percentage points, and in 2012, Mitt Romney won it by 15. It was not, in other words, a district that anybody at the DNC hoped to … → Read More
Why Don Huffines’ Destiny May Depend on Other Districts (and ‘Dragon Ball Z’)
Don Huffines, like a number of lawmakers who won office in 2014 through the Republican primary, is just a little bit off. → Read More
Will Sarah Davis’ Odd-Duck District Keep the Legislature’s Most Moderate Republican?
The Republican Party of Texas was born in places like House District 134, which covers Houston’s Bellaire and West University Place — educated, wealthy, professional. This is part of the district that George H.W. Bush was elected to represent in Congress … → Read More
The Soul-Crushing Emptiness of the Texas Governor’s Race
Greg Abbott was frustratingly vague and dodgy in the one and only gubernatorial debate, delivering the tacit message that he has little to do with the governance of the state. → Read More
The Violence of Trump's Words
How do we assess blame for the consequences of dehumanizing rhetoric? → Read More
Why is Texas' Leading GOP Think Tank Suddenly All-In on an Anti-Wind Crusade?
The Texas Public Policy Foundation’s latest PR blitz is the kind of thing you’d expect to see from a seedy advocacy group, not a would-be policy braintrust. → Read More