The Barbed Wire
@thebarbedwire.com
For all Texans who love Texas.
Pinned
The Barbed Wire
@thebarbedwire.com
· Oct 27
Texas is one of the queerest states in America — 1.8 million of us, more than double the number of queer New Yorkers.
Welcome to Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏 , The Barbed Wire’s new space for queer life in Texas!
Subscribe here: thebarbedwire.com/subscribe-bi...
Welcome to Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏 , The Barbed Wire’s new space for queer life in Texas!
Subscribe here: thebarbedwire.com/subscribe-bi...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
“I think it’s a way of talking about race without talking about race,” said Jeremi Suri, professor of public affairs and history at the University of Texas.
When asked about her electability on Saturday, Jasmine Crockett said: “I’m not a likely story.”
“We are not looking at politics as usual,” she added. “I’ll do the things the political consultants will never tell you to do.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/24/j...
“We are not looking at politics as usual,” she added. “I’ll do the things the political consultants will never tell you to do.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/24/j...
Jasmine Crockett Was Asked About Her ‘Electability’ Again. Some Say That’s Just a ‘Pretext’ for Race.
Crockett and state House Rep. James Talarico faced off in their first U.S. Senate primary debate on Saturday.
thebarbedwire.com
January 24, 2026 at 9:58 PM
“I think it’s a way of talking about race without talking about race,” said Jeremi Suri, professor of public affairs and history at the University of Texas.
When asked about her electability on Saturday, Jasmine Crockett said: “I’m not a likely story.”
“We are not looking at politics as usual,” she added. “I’ll do the things the political consultants will never tell you to do.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/24/j...
“We are not looking at politics as usual,” she added. “I’ll do the things the political consultants will never tell you to do.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/24/j...
Jasmine Crockett Was Asked About Her ‘Electability’ Again. Some Say That’s Just a ‘Pretext’ for Race.
Crockett and state House Rep. James Talarico faced off in their first U.S. Senate primary debate on Saturday.
thebarbedwire.com
January 24, 2026 at 9:42 PM
When asked about her electability on Saturday, Jasmine Crockett said: “I’m not a likely story.”
“We are not looking at politics as usual,” she added. “I’ll do the things the political consultants will never tell you to do.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/24/j...
“We are not looking at politics as usual,” she added. “I’ll do the things the political consultants will never tell you to do.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/24/j...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
🧵 Over the next hour in Texas, U.S. Senate candidates Texas House Rep. James Talarico and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett face off in a Democratic primary debate. Early voting starts on Feb 17.
January 24, 2026 at 8:03 PM
🧵 Over the next hour in Texas, U.S. Senate candidates Texas House Rep. James Talarico and Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett face off in a Democratic primary debate. Early voting starts on Feb 17.
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
I wouldn't have known about this without the incredible work from @briangaar.bsky.social at @thebarbedwire.com first. He covered this story relentlessly and deserves all the flowers for his coverage: thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/p...
After a Prison Cat Fundraiser Went Viral, Texas Officials Put His Caretaker in Solitary Confinement
“She was crying when she called me,” her daughter told The Barbed Wire. “This is not a place my medically challenged mother should be.”
thebarbedwire.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:50 PM
I wouldn't have known about this without the incredible work from @briangaar.bsky.social at @thebarbedwire.com first. He covered this story relentlessly and deserves all the flowers for his coverage: thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/p...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
This is a great story of a person who said “fuck you” to transphobes and is building his own business. I’m going to see if he ships. And @thebarbedwire.com is another great independent news outlet!!
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
‘Barbecue Saved My Life’: Meet Waco’s Antifascist Transgender Pitmaster
Kaleb Blain went from the fast-paced world of 911 dispatching to the “low and slow” of BBQ, where he’s built a following.
thebarbedwire.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:28 PM
This is a great story of a person who said “fuck you” to transphobes and is building his own business. I’m going to see if he ships. And @thebarbedwire.com is another great independent news outlet!!
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Got an update on the incarcerated woman who was put in solitary after her daughter did a fundraiser for a sick cat at the prison. Sonya Reed is now out of solitary, prison officials tell me, but they won't say whether or not she was punished for the gofundme. More: thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/22/t...
Woman Placed in Solitary After Viral Cat Fundraiser Is Back in Regular Housing, Texas Prison Officials Say
Texas prison officials confirm inmate Sonya Reed is back in regular housing after the viral prison cat fundraiser incident.
thebarbedwire.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:12 PM
Got an update on the incarcerated woman who was put in solitary after her daughter did a fundraiser for a sick cat at the prison. Sonya Reed is now out of solitary, prison officials tell me, but they won't say whether or not she was punished for the gofundme. More: thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/22/t...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
“Drag exaggerates women’s breasts, buttocks, and other physical attributes, while blackface emphasizes African Americans’ skin color and offensive cultural stereotypes.”
“The purpose is the same: to reduce an entire group to merely its sexuality.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/20/w...
“The purpose is the same: to reduce an entire group to merely its sexuality.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/20/w...
So We’re Equating Drag to Blackface Now? A Texas Judge and University President Did to Ban College Drag Shows
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that drag shows aren’t protected speech, while legitimizing the West Texas A&M University’s president’s claim that they “stereotype women in cartoon-like ex...
thebarbedwire.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:15 PM
“Drag exaggerates women’s breasts, buttocks, and other physical attributes, while blackface emphasizes African Americans’ skin color and offensive cultural stereotypes.”
“The purpose is the same: to reduce an entire group to merely its sexuality.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/20/w...
“The purpose is the same: to reduce an entire group to merely its sexuality.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/20/w...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
latest story in @briangaar.bsky.social’s now four-part series on Orange Julius just dropped — his incarcerated caretaker has been released from solitary confinement
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/22/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/22/t...
Woman Placed in Solitary After Viral Cat Fundraiser Is Back in Regular Housing, Texas Prison Officials Say
Texas prison officials confirm inmate Sonya Reed is back in regular housing after the viral prison cat fundraiser incident.
thebarbedwire.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:11 PM
latest story in @briangaar.bsky.social’s now four-part series on Orange Julius just dropped — his incarcerated caretaker has been released from solitary confinement
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/22/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/22/t...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
want brisket made by good people please
Kaleb Blain, a 35-year old trans man and pitmaster, was fired from the legendary BBQ restaurant Terry Black’s after he was doxxed over Charlie Kirk comments.
Now he’s running his own barbecue spot in Waco: “I feel better than I ever have.”
By @kitoconnell.com
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
Now he’s running his own barbecue spot in Waco: “I feel better than I ever have.”
By @kitoconnell.com
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
‘Barbecue Saved My Life’: Meet Waco’s Antifascist Transgender Pitmaster
Kaleb Blain went from the fast-paced world of 911 dispatching to the “low and slow” of BBQ, where he’s built a following.
thebarbedwire.com
January 22, 2026 at 4:28 PM
want brisket made by good people please
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
“I went from the fast pace of 911 to low and slow barbecue and I loved it.”
New for @thebarbedwire.com's Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏: Meet Waco's transgender BBQ pitmaster, who's going viral for his outspoken, antifascist TikTok videos.
Kaleb told us he lost his job at Terry Black's after being doxed after Charlie Kirk's death, but that hasn't stopped his big smoked meat dreams ...
Kaleb told us he lost his job at Terry Black's after being doxed after Charlie Kirk's death, but that hasn't stopped his big smoked meat dreams ...
‘Barbecue Saved My Life’: Meet Waco’s Antifascist Transgender Pitmaster
Kaleb Blain went from the fast-paced world of 911 dispatching to the “low and slow” of BBQ, where he’s built a following.
thebarbedwire.com
January 21, 2026 at 11:21 PM
“I went from the fast pace of 911 to low and slow barbecue and I loved it.”
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Absolutely the kind of BBQ content I want to see more of on my timeline.
Kaleb Blain, a 35-year old trans man and pitmaster, was fired from the legendary BBQ restaurant Terry Black’s after he was doxxed over Charlie Kirk comments.
Now he’s running his own barbecue spot in Waco: “I feel better than I ever have.”
By @kitoconnell.com
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
Now he’s running his own barbecue spot in Waco: “I feel better than I ever have.”
By @kitoconnell.com
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
‘Barbecue Saved My Life’: Meet Waco’s Antifascist Transgender Pitmaster
Kaleb Blain went from the fast-paced world of 911 dispatching to the “low and slow” of BBQ, where he’s built a following.
thebarbedwire.com
January 21, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Absolutely the kind of BBQ content I want to see more of on my timeline.
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
New for @thebarbedwire.com's Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏: Meet Waco's transgender BBQ pitmaster, who's going viral for his outspoken, antifascist TikTok videos.
Kaleb told us he lost his job at Terry Black's after being doxed after Charlie Kirk's death, but that hasn't stopped his big smoked meat dreams ...
Kaleb told us he lost his job at Terry Black's after being doxed after Charlie Kirk's death, but that hasn't stopped his big smoked meat dreams ...
‘Barbecue Saved My Life’: Meet Waco’s Antifascist Transgender Pitmaster
Kaleb Blain went from the fast-paced world of 911 dispatching to the “low and slow” of BBQ, where he’s built a following.
thebarbedwire.com
January 21, 2026 at 6:39 PM
New for @thebarbedwire.com's Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏: Meet Waco's transgender BBQ pitmaster, who's going viral for his outspoken, antifascist TikTok videos.
Kaleb told us he lost his job at Terry Black's after being doxed after Charlie Kirk's death, but that hasn't stopped his big smoked meat dreams ...
Kaleb told us he lost his job at Terry Black's after being doxed after Charlie Kirk's death, but that hasn't stopped his big smoked meat dreams ...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
“In other words, what is happening in my class is education.” 🙌🏽
Great day to question censorship!
Great day to question censorship!
“Up until last week, no philosophy professor I know of had ever been prohibited from teaching Plato, either.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
What Can I Teach? Will Martin Luther King’s Work Be Censored Next?
I’ve taught “Letter From Birmingham Jail” more than 100 times and have never questioned whether I’d be violating university policy. Now I am.
thebarbedwire.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:15 PM
“In other words, what is happening in my class is education.” 🙌🏽
Great day to question censorship!
Great day to question censorship!
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
One of the most conservative and anti-LGBTQ+ judges in America just upheld a Texas university's campus ban on drag performances. In the process he compared drag to blackface, an increasingly popular right-wing talking point: thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/20/w...
via @thebarbedwire.com
via @thebarbedwire.com
So We’re Equating Drag to Blackface Now? A Texas Judge and University President Did to Ban College Drag Shows
U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled that drag shows aren’t protected speech, while legitimizing the West Texas A&M University’s president’s claim that they “stereotype women in cartoon-like ex...
thebarbedwire.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:36 AM
One of the most conservative and anti-LGBTQ+ judges in America just upheld a Texas university's campus ban on drag performances. In the process he compared drag to blackface, an increasingly popular right-wing talking point: thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/20/w...
via @thebarbedwire.com
via @thebarbedwire.com
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Kaleb Blain, a 35-year old trans man and pitmaster, was fired from the legendary BBQ restaurant Terry Black’s after he was doxxed over Charlie Kirk comments.
Now he’s running his own barbecue spot in Waco: “I feel better than I ever have.”
By @kitoconnell.com
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
Now he’s running his own barbecue spot in Waco: “I feel better than I ever have.”
By @kitoconnell.com
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
‘Barbecue Saved My Life’: Meet Waco’s Antifascist Transgender Pitmaster
Kaleb Blain went from the fast-paced world of 911 dispatching to the “low and slow” of BBQ, where he’s built a following.
thebarbedwire.com
January 21, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Kaleb Blain, a 35-year old trans man and pitmaster, was fired from the legendary BBQ restaurant Terry Black’s after he was doxxed over Charlie Kirk comments.
Now he’s running his own barbecue spot in Waco: “I feel better than I ever have.”
By @kitoconnell.com
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
Now he’s running his own barbecue spot in Waco: “I feel better than I ever have.”
By @kitoconnell.com
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/21/b...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
“I’m a political science professor at Texas A&M San Antonio. I’ve taught ‘Letter From Birmingham Jail’ more than 100 times and have never questioned whether I’d be violating university policy. Now I am, and it’s a disservice to students.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
What Can I Teach? Will Martin Luther King’s Work Be Censored Next?
I’ve taught “Letter From Birmingham Jail” more than 100 times and have never questioned whether I’d be violating university policy. Now I am.
thebarbedwire.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:04 PM
“I’m a political science professor at Texas A&M San Antonio. I’ve taught ‘Letter From Birmingham Jail’ more than 100 times and have never questioned whether I’d be violating university policy. Now I am, and it’s a disservice to students.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
“Up until last week, no philosophy professor I know of had ever been prohibited from teaching Plato, either.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
What Can I Teach? Will Martin Luther King’s Work Be Censored Next?
I’ve taught “Letter From Birmingham Jail” more than 100 times and have never questioned whether I’d be violating university policy. Now I am.
thebarbedwire.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:06 PM
“Up until last week, no philosophy professor I know of had ever been prohibited from teaching Plato, either.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
“I’m a political science professor at Texas A&M San Antonio. I’ve taught ‘Letter From Birmingham Jail’ more than 100 times and have never questioned whether I’d be violating university policy. Now I am, and it’s a disservice to students.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
What Can I Teach? Will Martin Luther King’s Work Be Censored Next?
I’ve taught “Letter From Birmingham Jail” more than 100 times and have never questioned whether I’d be violating university policy. Now I am.
thebarbedwire.com
January 19, 2026 at 10:04 PM
“I’m a political science professor at Texas A&M San Antonio. I’ve taught ‘Letter From Birmingham Jail’ more than 100 times and have never questioned whether I’d be violating university policy. Now I am, and it’s a disservice to students.”
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/19/w...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
On the eve of starting my new job I'm a little nervous and excited..... @thebarbedwire.com here I come!!
January 19, 2026 at 7:49 PM
On the eve of starting my new job I'm a little nervous and excited..... @thebarbedwire.com here I come!!
NEW: The incarcerated woman whose daughter raised money for her sick prison cat, Orange Julius, has been put in solitary confinement while officials investigate the fundraiser — despite the fact that she did not organize it or receive any of the money.
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/p...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/p...
After a Prison Cat Fundraiser Went Viral, Texas Officials Put His Caretaker in Solitary Confinement
“She was crying when she called me,” her daughter told The Barbed Wire. “This is not a place my medically challenged mother should be.”
thebarbedwire.com
January 15, 2026 at 11:56 PM
NEW: The incarcerated woman whose daughter raised money for her sick prison cat, Orange Julius, has been put in solitary confinement while officials investigate the fundraiser — despite the fact that she did not organize it or receive any of the money.
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/p...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/p...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
A decade ago, an election ago, a year ago, even a week ago, abolishing ICE may have seemed out of the question.
But now? Despite trepidation from centrists, the movement has support from politicians, celebrities, journalists, neocons — and 50% of American women.
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
But now? Despite trepidation from centrists, the movement has support from politicians, celebrities, journalists, neocons — and 50% of American women.
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
A 5-Year-Old Disappeared in Austin. A Mom Shot Dead in Minneapolis. How Much More Violence Will It Take to ‘Abolish ICE’?
50% of American women support the abolish ICE movement.
thebarbedwire.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:19 PM
A decade ago, an election ago, a year ago, even a week ago, abolishing ICE may have seemed out of the question.
But now? Despite trepidation from centrists, the movement has support from politicians, celebrities, journalists, neocons — and 50% of American women.
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
But now? Despite trepidation from centrists, the movement has support from politicians, celebrities, journalists, neocons — and 50% of American women.
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
“How do we live alongside a violent, paranoid agency that sees everyday people as a threat, under an administration that will tell us not to believe what we see when they step out of line?” asks contributor @catcardenas.bsky.social
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
A 5-Year-Old Disappeared in Austin. A Mom Shot Dead in Minneapolis. How Much More Violence Will It Take to ‘Abolish ICE’?
50% of American women support the abolish ICE movement.
thebarbedwire.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:30 PM
“How do we live alongside a violent, paranoid agency that sees everyday people as a threat, under an administration that will tell us not to believe what we see when they step out of line?” asks contributor @catcardenas.bsky.social
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
An opinion piece worth the read thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
January 15, 2026 at 6:31 PM
An opinion piece worth the read thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Cat really got me with this line: “It’s hard to know where to begin, how to even start parsing through the near-constant deluge of tragedy, misinformation, and violence that has become part and parcel of life under ICE.”
“How do we live alongside a violent, paranoid agency that sees everyday people as a threat, under an administration that will tell us not to believe what we see when they step out of line?” asks contributor @catcardenas.bsky.social
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
A 5-Year-Old Disappeared in Austin. A Mom Shot Dead in Minneapolis. How Much More Violence Will It Take to ‘Abolish ICE’?
50% of American women support the abolish ICE movement.
thebarbedwire.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Cat really got me with this line: “It’s hard to know where to begin, how to even start parsing through the near-constant deluge of tragedy, misinformation, and violence that has become part and parcel of life under ICE.”
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
A lot of new nuggets in here, including the context in which ICE arrested a 5-year-old U.S. citizen and deported her to Honduras: Austin’s police chief says the girl’s mom called cops after a man she had an expired restraining order against showed up at their home.
“How do we live alongside a violent, paranoid agency that sees everyday people as a threat, under an administration that will tell us not to believe what we see when they step out of line?” asks contributor @catcardenas.bsky.social
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2026/01/15/a...
A 5-Year-Old Disappeared in Austin. A Mom Shot Dead in Minneapolis. How Much More Violence Will It Take to ‘Abolish ICE’?
50% of American women support the abolish ICE movement.
thebarbedwire.com
January 15, 2026 at 5:33 PM
A lot of new nuggets in here, including the context in which ICE arrested a 5-year-old U.S. citizen and deported her to Honduras: Austin’s police chief says the girl’s mom called cops after a man she had an expired restraining order against showed up at their home.