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. DAEAC#E evangelist. Send me good music.
Pinned
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:
That Oklahoma University student’s mom is now on Twitter beefing in all of the replies.
November 30, 2025 at 4:09 PM
That Oklahoma University student’s mom is now on Twitter beefing in all of the replies.
Reposted by Robert Downen
A prominent Texas Republican is running for Railroad Commission in order to fight the "Islamic invasion." He's vying for a seat vacated by a former commissioner, who is now running for Texas Comptroller on a vow to protect girls' sports.
The latest on Texas' (increasingly Islamophobic) primaries:
The latest on Texas' (increasingly Islamophobic) primaries:
What Does the Railroad Commision Have to Do With “Radical Islam”? Everything, One Candidate Says
Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French, known for his incendiary online presence, recently tendered his resignation to seek a position on the regulatory body that oversees the oil-and-gas industry.
www.texasmonthly.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:37 PM
A prominent Texas Republican is running for Railroad Commission in order to fight the "Islamic invasion." He's vying for a seat vacated by a former commissioner, who is now running for Texas Comptroller on a vow to protect girls' sports.
The latest on Texas' (increasingly Islamophobic) primaries:
The latest on Texas' (increasingly Islamophobic) primaries:
“The underling who reached out to me is trying to influence the election on my dime. He’s on my payroll, he’s on your payroll and he’s campaigning on company time. That’s a violation of the Hatch Act. He’s a federal employee. He works in the White House. Does anyone care about the rules anymore?”
Indiana Senate Republican Greg Walker “said he would have reported the alleged violation to federal authorities “if I thought that there was anyone of integrity in Washington that would follow through on my accusation ..”
@adamwren.bsky.social #redistrict
dailyjournal.net/2025/11/26/s...
@adamwren.bsky.social #redistrict
dailyjournal.net/2025/11/26/s...
November 29, 2025 at 5:16 PM
“The underling who reached out to me is trying to influence the election on my dime. He’s on my payroll, he’s on your payroll and he’s campaigning on company time. That’s a violation of the Hatch Act. He’s a federal employee. He works in the White House. Does anyone care about the rules anymore?”
“Hawley was also part of the Alliance Defending Freedom team that aided Mississippi’s successful bid to overturn the constitutional right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.”
NEW: US District Judge Sarah Pitlyk and Jesus Osete of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division are on a White House list of candidates interviewing for an 8th Circuit seat, per source familiar
Litigator Erin Hawley, Sen. Hawley's spouse, also expressed interest
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Litigator Erin Hawley, Sen. Hawley's spouse, also expressed interest
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Litigator Erin Hawley Said to Be Interested in Circuit Judgeship
A Trump-appointed trial judge and a senior Justice Department official are included on a White House list of candidates interviewing for a federal appeals court seat in Missouri, a person familiar wit...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:08 PM
“Hawley was also part of the Alliance Defending Freedom team that aided Mississippi’s successful bid to overturn the constitutional right to abortion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization.”
James O’Keefe is back.
November 29, 2025 at 4:33 PM
James O’Keefe is back.
Reposted by Robert Downen
h/t @adamwren.bsky.social
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
November 28, 2025 at 8:57 PM
h/t @adamwren.bsky.social
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
Michael Bohacek, a Republican state senator from Indiana who has a daughter with down syndrome, says he will vote against redistricting in Indiana after Trump used the word "retarded."
Applicants who cited Nazi theorist Carl Schmitt include Paul Ingrassia, who was last week tapped for a new job as deputy general counsel of the General Services Administration, leaving his former role as White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security.
November 28, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Applicants who cited Nazi theorist Carl Schmitt include Paul Ingrassia, who was last week tapped for a new job as deputy general counsel of the General Services Administration, leaving his former role as White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security.
“I have watched with dismay and increasing horror as my nephew, an educated man who is well aware of his heritage, has become the architect of immigration policies that repudiate the very foundation of our family’s life in this country.”
Stephen Miller Is an Immigration Hypocrite. I Know Because I’m His Uncle.
If my nephew’s ideas on immigration had been in force a century ago, our family would have been wiped out.
www.politico.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:47 PM
“I have watched with dismay and increasing horror as my nephew, an educated man who is well aware of his heritage, has become the architect of immigration policies that repudiate the very foundation of our family’s life in this country.”
Reposted by Robert Downen
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 6:05 PM
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Reposted by Robert Downen
Bo French's campaign is the latest in an ongoing and intensifying wave of anti-Muslim rhetoric and moves by top Texas GOP leaders. Last week, Gov. Abbott declared CAIR a terrorist organization - leading to reps for the group being harassed as they tried to testify about anti-Muslim bullying.
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:
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
November 26, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Bo French's campaign is the latest in an ongoing and intensifying wave of anti-Muslim rhetoric and moves by top Texas GOP leaders. Last week, Gov. Abbott declared CAIR a terrorist organization - leading to reps for the group being harassed as they tried to testify about anti-Muslim bullying.
Reposted by Robert Downen
Hate to be posting this on a holiday, but there's been renewed interest in the CIA-backed Zero Units in Afghanistan. Here's a good summary of @propublica.org's 2022 reporting on the units and just some of the civilian casualties they were responsible for:
What We Know About U.S.-Backed Zero Units in Afghanistan
Deadly night raids. Faulty U.S. intelligence. A “classified” war loophole. Reporter Lynzy Billing’s investigation offers an unprecedented insight into the civilian casualties of Afghanistan’s Zero Uni...
www.propublica.org
November 28, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Hate to be posting this on a holiday, but there's been renewed interest in the CIA-backed Zero Units in Afghanistan. Here's a good summary of @propublica.org's 2022 reporting on the units and just some of the civilian casualties they were responsible for:
Here’s the latest from Bo:
November 27, 2025 at 3:49 PM
Here’s the latest from Bo:
Reposted by Robert Downen
Support high-quality magazine journalism
A prominent Texas Republican is running for Railroad Commission in order to fight the "Islamic invasion." He's vying for a seat vacated by a former commissioner, who is now running for Texas Comptroller on a vow to protect girls' sports.
The latest on Texas' (increasingly Islamophobic) primaries:
The latest on Texas' (increasingly Islamophobic) primaries:
What Does the Railroad Commision Have to Do With “Radical Islam”? Everything, One Candidate Says
Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French, known for his incendiary online presence, recently tendered his resignation to seek a position on the regulatory body that oversees the oil-and-gas industry.
www.texasmonthly.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Support high-quality magazine journalism
A prominent Texas Republican is running for Railroad Commission in order to fight the "Islamic invasion." He's vying for a seat vacated by a former commissioner, who is now running for Texas Comptroller on a vow to protect girls' sports.
The latest on Texas' (increasingly Islamophobic) primaries:
The latest on Texas' (increasingly Islamophobic) primaries:
What Does the Railroad Commision Have to Do With “Radical Islam”? Everything, One Candidate Says
Tarrant County GOP chair Bo French, known for his incendiary online presence, recently tendered his resignation to seek a position on the regulatory body that oversees the oil-and-gas industry.
www.texasmonthly.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:37 PM
A prominent Texas Republican is running for Railroad Commission in order to fight the "Islamic invasion." He's vying for a seat vacated by a former commissioner, who is now running for Texas Comptroller on a vow to protect girls' sports.
The latest on Texas' (increasingly Islamophobic) primaries:
The latest on Texas' (increasingly Islamophobic) primaries:
Reposted by Robert Downen
🚨 NEW/EXCLUSIVE: The FBI turned over dozens of emails to me in response to my #FOIA request that provides a behind-the-scenes look at discussions involving the review and redaction of the Epstein files
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
November 25, 2025 at 9:40 PM
🚨 NEW/EXCLUSIVE: The FBI turned over dozens of emails to me in response to my #FOIA request that provides a behind-the-scenes look at discussions involving the review and redaction of the Epstein files
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
www.bloomberg.com/news/newslet...
Reposted by Robert Downen
According to the documents, FBI personnel clocked in a total of 4,737 hours of overtime between January and July. Of that, more than 70% occurred during the month of March while personnel reviewed the Epstein files, the documents show.
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
According to the documents, FBI personnel clocked in a total of 4,737 hours of overtime between January and July. Of that, more than 70% occurred during the month of March while personnel reviewed the Epstein files, the documents show.
Reposted by Robert Downen
The docs also reveal the number of hours the FBI devoted to the project, which required some agents to work nights and weekends. The FBI paid personnel $851,344 in overtime for working on the Epstein files between March 17 and March 22.
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
The docs also reveal the number of hours the FBI devoted to the project, which required some agents to work nights and weekends. The FBI paid personnel $851,344 in overtime for working on the Epstein files between March 17 and March 22.
New, least-favorite meme just dropped.
November 26, 2025 at 3:59 AM
New, least-favorite meme just dropped.
Reposted by Robert Downen
Space photographer Andrew James McCarthy @ajamesmccarthy.bsky.social has captured many epic images of celestial bodies, but this may be his greatest: a perfectly timed photo of a skydiving friend with the sun behind him (shot w/ equipment revealing great solar detail).
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
November 26, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Space photographer Andrew James McCarthy @ajamesmccarthy.bsky.social has captured many epic images of celestial bodies, but this may be his greatest: a perfectly timed photo of a skydiving friend with the sun behind him (shot w/ equipment revealing great solar detail).
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
Behold "The Fall of Icarus."
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath recently met with a top official from Turning Point USA to discuss creating chapters in all of the state’s high schools, days before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick promised $1 million in campaign funds to help bring the project to life.
Turning Point USA talked expansion with Texas education chief
The meeting happened days before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick pledged $1 million to help establish chapters of the conservative student group on every Texas college and high school campus.
www.texastribune.org
November 25, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Texas Education Commissioner Mike Morath recently met with a top official from Turning Point USA to discuss creating chapters in all of the state’s high schools, days before Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick promised $1 million in campaign funds to help bring the project to life.
Reposted by Robert Downen
An unidentified woman on Monday sued Glenn Hamer, Texas Association of Business president and CEO, alleging he sexually harassed and assaulted her, then retaliated when she rejected his advances.
Head of Texas’ top business group sued for sexual assault
An unidentified woman on Monday sued Glenn Hamer, Texas Association of Business president and CEO, alleging he sexually harassed and assaulted her, then retaliated when she rejected his advances.
www.texastribune.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:07 AM
An unidentified woman on Monday sued Glenn Hamer, Texas Association of Business president and CEO, alleging he sexually harassed and assaulted her, then retaliated when she rejected his advances.
A Houston-area church employee allegedly impersonated an ICE agent to extort a massage therapist he’d just seen, showing her a fake badge and telling her she would never see her family again if she didn’t Zelle him $500.
Church employee posed as ICE agent to extort victim for money, HPD says
A church safety director is under arrest after being accused of posing as an ICE agent to extort a woman for money.
abc13.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:58 PM
A Houston-area church employee allegedly impersonated an ICE agent to extort a massage therapist he’d just seen, showing her a fake badge and telling her she would never see her family again if she didn’t Zelle him $500.
Reposted by Robert Downen
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:
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
November 21, 2025 at 10:30 PM
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
“Shlomi told Fox News Digital in an interview Sunday that his decision to run for office was ultimately motivated by a desire to ‘destroy wokeism’ and as a tribute to the late Charlie Kirk, whom he called the original ‘woke buster.’”
The Shamwow Guy just announced that he is running for Texas’ 31st Congressional District.
November 24, 2025 at 3:14 AM
“Shlomi told Fox News Digital in an interview Sunday that his decision to run for office was ultimately motivated by a desire to ‘destroy wokeism’ and as a tribute to the late Charlie Kirk, whom he called the original ‘woke buster.’”
Reposted by Robert Downen
“I share these stories not to victimize the Muslim community or seek sympathy. In fact, I see these perpetrators as victims as well— victims of isolation, stereotypes, single narratives, and narrow perspectives.”
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:
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
November 23, 2025 at 4:28 PM
“I share these stories not to victimize the Muslim community or seek sympathy. In fact, I see these perpetrators as victims as well— victims of isolation, stereotypes, single narratives, and narrow perspectives.”