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
Glad to see this reporting.
IRW — a Pulitzer-winning nonprofit newsroom at American — and @thebarbedwire.com traced the history of anti-trans legislation. Houston conservatives realized homophobia didn’t fly anymore, weaponized girls’ safety, and parroted segregationist language. It worked.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Where Did Anti-Trans Laws Start? How a Forgotten Houston Ordinance Turned Into a Massive, Nationwide Culture War
In fighting for bathroom bills in Houston, Texas conservatives provided a blueprint for the rest of the country.
thebarbedwire.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Glad to see this reporting.
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
This week a bathroom bill went into effect in Texas for the first time.
After 10 years and 19 attempts.
To regulate bathrooms for 1% of the population.
The obvious question is… why? Here are the answers we found, after years and so much reporting.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
After 10 years and 19 attempts.
To regulate bathrooms for 1% of the population.
The obvious question is… why? Here are the answers we found, after years and so much reporting.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Where Did Anti-Trans Laws Start? How a Forgotten Houston Ordinance Turned Into a Massive, Nationwide Culture War
In fighting for bathroom bills in Houston, Texas conservatives provided a blueprint for the rest of the country.
thebarbedwire.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:58 PM
This week a bathroom bill went into effect in Texas for the first time.
After 10 years and 19 attempts.
To regulate bathrooms for 1% of the population.
The obvious question is… why? Here are the answers we found, after years and so much reporting.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
After 10 years and 19 attempts.
To regulate bathrooms for 1% of the population.
The obvious question is… why? Here are the answers we found, after years and so much reporting.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
this is an excellent piece chronicling the systematic spread of anti-trans policies -- aimed at demonizing a tiny percent of the population to attack them and, ultimately, the entire queer community -- via the longstanding, organized, well-funded far right
IRW — a Pulitzer-winning nonprofit newsroom at American — and @thebarbedwire.com traced the history of anti-trans legislation. Houston conservatives realized homophobia didn’t fly anymore, weaponized girls’ safety, and parroted segregationist language. It worked.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Where Did Anti-Trans Laws Start? How a Forgotten Houston Ordinance Turned Into a Massive, Nationwide Culture War
In fighting for bathroom bills in Houston, Texas conservatives provided a blueprint for the rest of the country.
thebarbedwire.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:51 PM
this is an excellent piece chronicling the systematic spread of anti-trans policies -- aimed at demonizing a tiny percent of the population to attack them and, ultimately, the entire queer community -- via the longstanding, organized, well-funded far right
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
This really is a must read
IRW — a Pulitzer-winning nonprofit newsroom at American — and @thebarbedwire.com traced the history of anti-trans legislation. Houston conservatives realized homophobia didn’t fly anymore, weaponized girls’ safety, and parroted segregationist language. It worked.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Where Did Anti-Trans Laws Start? How a Forgotten Houston Ordinance Turned Into a Massive, Nationwide Culture War
In fighting for bathroom bills in Houston, Texas conservatives provided a blueprint for the rest of the country.
thebarbedwire.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:58 PM
This really is a must read
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Awesome work
IRW — a Pulitzer-winning nonprofit newsroom at American — and @thebarbedwire.com traced the history of anti-trans legislation. Houston conservatives realized homophobia didn’t fly anymore, weaponized girls’ safety, and parroted segregationist language. It worked.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Where Did Anti-Trans Laws Start? How a Forgotten Houston Ordinance Turned Into a Massive, Nationwide Culture War
In fighting for bathroom bills in Houston, Texas conservatives provided a blueprint for the rest of the country.
thebarbedwire.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Awesome work
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
IRW — a Pulitzer-winning nonprofit newsroom at American — and @thebarbedwire.com traced the history of anti-trans legislation. Houston conservatives realized homophobia didn’t fly anymore, weaponized girls’ safety, and parroted segregationist language. It worked.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Where Did Anti-Trans Laws Start? How a Forgotten Houston Ordinance Turned Into a Massive, Nationwide Culture War
In fighting for bathroom bills in Houston, Texas conservatives provided a blueprint for the rest of the country.
thebarbedwire.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:47 PM
IRW — a Pulitzer-winning nonprofit newsroom at American — and @thebarbedwire.com traced the history of anti-trans legislation. Houston conservatives realized homophobia didn’t fly anymore, weaponized girls’ safety, and parroted segregationist language. It worked.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Work for this story began in 2023 as part of a project by the Investigative Reporting Workshop, a nonprofit newsroom at American University. Students, interns, and editors over the past two years combed through more than 1,600 bills filed nationally since 2015.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Where Did Anti-Trans Laws Start? How a Forgotten Houston Ordinance Turned Into a Massive, Nationwide Culture War
In fighting for bathroom bills in Houston, Texas conservatives provided a blueprint for the rest of the country.
thebarbedwire.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:57 AM
Work for this story began in 2023 as part of a project by the Investigative Reporting Workshop, a nonprofit newsroom at American University. Students, interns, and editors over the past two years combed through more than 1,600 bills filed nationally since 2015.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/a...
Via @19thnews.org: Texas’ massive new abortion law taking effect this week represents the most ambitious effort to halt telehealth abortions. But providers say it won’t work.
“If anything, the implementation of this law makes people more determined to help folks.”
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/t...
“If anything, the implementation of this law makes people more determined to help folks.”
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/t...
Texas’ New Abortion Ban Aims to Stop Doctors From Sending Abortion Pills to the State
Doctors say they won’t stop providing care.
thebarbedwire.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Via @19thnews.org: Texas’ massive new abortion law taking effect this week represents the most ambitious effort to halt telehealth abortions. But providers say it won’t work.
“If anything, the implementation of this law makes people more determined to help folks.”
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/t...
“If anything, the implementation of this law makes people more determined to help folks.”
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/04/t...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
December 1, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Texas desperately needs a place where we can tell our stories, where we can be ourselves, mourn our losses, and celebrate our victories.
My introduction to Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏 is trending on @thebarbedwire.com, so I'll use that excuse to share again! I'm honored to be their new LGBTQ+ correspondent.
My introduction to Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏 is trending on @thebarbedwire.com, so I'll use that excuse to share again! I'm honored to be their new LGBTQ+ correspondent.
I’m a Trans Journalist Choosing to Live in Texas. Here’s Why That Matters.
My name is Kit O’Connell. I’ll be covering queer and trans life in Texas for Big & Bright — The Barbed Wire’s first underwritten vertical.
thebarbedwire.com
December 1, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Texas desperately needs a place where we can tell our stories, where we can be ourselves, mourn our losses, and celebrate our victories.
My introduction to Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏 is trending on @thebarbedwire.com, so I'll use that excuse to share again! I'm honored to be their new LGBTQ+ correspondent.
My introduction to Big & Bright 🌈⭐👏 is trending on @thebarbedwire.com, so I'll use that excuse to share again! I'm honored to be their new LGBTQ+ correspondent.
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
"...in 2024, Van Dyke wrote that he was “tickled to death that we are going to see fascism in the United States as I have been a proponent of American fascism on my Twitter and Facebook for some time.”"
Jason Lee Van Dyke was once a leader of the Proud Boys, has posted racist threats online, and sports a white nationalist tattoo.
Now he’s running for public office as a Republican.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/j...
Now he’s running for public office as a Republican.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/j...
He’s an Unapologetic Fascist Who ‘Despises’ Democracy. He Still Wants You to Vote for Him.
He was once leader of the Proud Boys, has posted racist threats online, and sports a white nationalist tattoo.
thebarbedwire.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
"...in 2024, Van Dyke wrote that he was “tickled to death that we are going to see fascism in the United States as I have been a proponent of American fascism on my Twitter and Facebook for some time.”"
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
This, from @thebarbedwire.com, is a big ol' yikes from me, y'all
He’s an Unapologetic Fascist Who ‘Despises’ Democracy. He Still Wants You to Vote for Him.
He was once leader of the Proud Boys, has posted racist threats online, and sports a white nationalist tattoo.
thebarbedwire.com
December 3, 2025 at 3:56 PM
This, from @thebarbedwire.com, is a big ol' yikes from me, y'all
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
My latest for @thebarbedwire.com
Jason Lee Van Dyke was once a leader of the Proud Boys, has posted racist threats online, and sports a white nationalist tattoo.
Now he’s running for public office as a Republican.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/j...
Now he’s running for public office as a Republican.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/j...
He’s an Unapologetic Fascist Who ‘Despises’ Democracy. He Still Wants You to Vote for Him.
He was once leader of the Proud Boys, has posted racist threats online, and sports a white nationalist tattoo.
thebarbedwire.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:09 PM
My latest for @thebarbedwire.com
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Jason Lee Van Dyke was once a leader of the Proud Boys, has posted racist threats online, and sports a white nationalist tattoo.
Now he’s running for public office as a Republican.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/j...
Now he’s running for public office as a Republican.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/j...
He’s an Unapologetic Fascist Who ‘Despises’ Democracy. He Still Wants You to Vote for Him.
He was once leader of the Proud Boys, has posted racist threats online, and sports a white nationalist tattoo.
thebarbedwire.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Jason Lee Van Dyke was once a leader of the Proud Boys, has posted racist threats online, and sports a white nationalist tattoo.
Now he’s running for public office as a Republican.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/j...
Now he’s running for public office as a Republican.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/j...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Amanda Aguilar, an immigration lawyer, said cartels held one of her clients for ransom immediately after his deportation to Mexico via the Tamaulipas border.
“My clients will say, ‘Can you please ask them not to drop me off in Tamaulipas?” Aguilar said. “And I do ask, but ICE just doesn’t care.”
“My clients will say, ‘Can you please ask them not to drop me off in Tamaulipas?” Aguilar said. “And I do ask, but ICE just doesn’t care.”
In interviews with immigration lawyers, watchdogs, and deportees themselves, @thebarbedwire.com found that hardships for detained migrants do not end after deportation to Mexico — in addition to unemployment, word has spread of dangers, including cartels.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/m...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/m...
Mexico Publicized a New Strategy to ‘Embrace’ Deportees. Instead, Many Have Found Danger and Unemployment.
Hardships for detained migrants do not end after deportation into Mexico.
thebarbedwire.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Amanda Aguilar, an immigration lawyer, said cartels held one of her clients for ransom immediately after his deportation to Mexico via the Tamaulipas border.
“My clients will say, ‘Can you please ask them not to drop me off in Tamaulipas?” Aguilar said. “And I do ask, but ICE just doesn’t care.”
“My clients will say, ‘Can you please ask them not to drop me off in Tamaulipas?” Aguilar said. “And I do ask, but ICE just doesn’t care.”
Amanda Aguilar, an immigration lawyer, said cartels held one of her clients for ransom immediately after his deportation to Mexico via the Tamaulipas border.
“My clients will say, ‘Can you please ask them not to drop me off in Tamaulipas?” Aguilar said. “And I do ask, but ICE just doesn’t care.”
“My clients will say, ‘Can you please ask them not to drop me off in Tamaulipas?” Aguilar said. “And I do ask, but ICE just doesn’t care.”
In interviews with immigration lawyers, watchdogs, and deportees themselves, @thebarbedwire.com found that hardships for detained migrants do not end after deportation to Mexico — in addition to unemployment, word has spread of dangers, including cartels.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/m...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/12/02/m...
Mexico Publicized a New Strategy to ‘Embrace’ Deportees. Instead, Many Have Found Danger and Unemployment.
Hardships for detained migrants do not end after deportation into Mexico.
thebarbedwire.com
December 2, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Amanda Aguilar, an immigration lawyer, said cartels held one of her clients for ransom immediately after his deportation to Mexico via the Tamaulipas border.
“My clients will say, ‘Can you please ask them not to drop me off in Tamaulipas?” Aguilar said. “And I do ask, but ICE just doesn’t care.”
“My clients will say, ‘Can you please ask them not to drop me off in Tamaulipas?” Aguilar said. “And I do ask, but ICE just doesn’t care.”
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
“But, what about those who were country before it was trendy? What about the generations of Black farmers and ranchers whose lands were seized from them by eminent domain?“
I reviewed #HighHorse : The Black Cowboy for @thebarbedwire.com
I reviewed #HighHorse : The Black Cowboy for @thebarbedwire.com
November 30, 2025 at 7:54 PM
“But, what about those who were country before it was trendy? What about the generations of Black farmers and ranchers whose lands were seized from them by eminent domain?“
I reviewed #HighHorse : The Black Cowboy for @thebarbedwire.com
I reviewed #HighHorse : The Black Cowboy for @thebarbedwire.com
Billionaires and big corporations are on our naughty list this year. This holiday season, we’re shopping locally owned businesses instead.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/28/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/28/t...
F*ck Walmart and Target. Get Your Presents at These Texas Small Businesses.
For Black Friday and the rest of the holiday season, we’re shopping locally owned businesses instead of Target and Walmart.
thebarbedwire.com
December 1, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Billionaires and big corporations are on our naughty list this year. This holiday season, we’re shopping locally owned businesses instead.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/28/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/28/t...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Really enjoyable read. @oliviamesser.bsky.social thank you!
It is time once again to host festive dinner parties and snuggle up on your green Joybird couch. As we head into the holidays, our team — and our online friends — reveal the gifts they loved receiving, from refrigerators to lava lamps. Mostly? We like feeling seen.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
The Most Thoughtful, Unusual Gifts We Received This Year
I asked folks at The Barbed Wire and online what they absolutely loved receiving in 2024 and 2025 — and why.
thebarbedwire.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Really enjoyable read. @oliviamesser.bsky.social thank you!
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
It is time once again to host festive dinner parties and snuggle up on your green Joybird couch. As we head into the holidays, our team — and our online friends — reveal the gifts they loved receiving, from refrigerators to lava lamps. Mostly? We like feeling seen.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
The Most Thoughtful, Unusual Gifts We Received This Year
I asked folks at The Barbed Wire and online what they absolutely loved receiving in 2024 and 2025 — and why.
thebarbedwire.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:41 PM
It is time once again to host festive dinner parties and snuggle up on your green Joybird couch. As we head into the holidays, our team — and our online friends — reveal the gifts they loved receiving, from refrigerators to lava lamps. Mostly? We like feeling seen.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
As an evangelist for kalimotxo, I can’t poke any fun at this and legitimately believe it’s good, I just can’t get around how it makes me think of that old joke about how it gets so hot in Texas they think Pepsi is soup
In case you’re still unfamiliar, let me introduce you to my family’s favorite holiday drink, which goes viral every few years — and which Food & Wine Editorial Director Dylan Garret has called “absolutely delicious, full stop.”
thebarbedwire.com/2024/12/24/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2024/12/24/t...
The Most Delicious Winter Beverage Is Hot Dr. Pepper & Lemon
My dad, now 70, grew up working on farms and in oil patches in South Texas, where the only true choice of tonic during a scorching day was a crisp, cold Dr Pepper from the service station. “They had i...
thebarbedwire.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:18 PM
As an evangelist for kalimotxo, I can’t poke any fun at this and legitimately believe it’s good, I just can’t get around how it makes me think of that old joke about how it gets so hot in Texas they think Pepsi is soup
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
In case you’re still unfamiliar, let me introduce you to my family’s favorite holiday drink, which goes viral every few years — and which Food & Wine Editorial Director Dylan Garret has called “absolutely delicious, full stop.”
thebarbedwire.com/2024/12/24/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2024/12/24/t...
The Most Delicious Winter Beverage Is Hot Dr. Pepper & Lemon
My dad, now 70, grew up working on farms and in oil patches in South Texas, where the only true choice of tonic during a scorching day was a crisp, cold Dr Pepper from the service station. “They had i...
thebarbedwire.com
November 28, 2025 at 9:34 PM
In case you’re still unfamiliar, let me introduce you to my family’s favorite holiday drink, which goes viral every few years — and which Food & Wine Editorial Director Dylan Garret has called “absolutely delicious, full stop.”
thebarbedwire.com/2024/12/24/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2024/12/24/t...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Last year, I recommended 10 perfect gifts for the single, childless women in your life. It truly included everything your daughter or ex-girlfriend (please don’t text her!!!) needed to babysit her nephews and save the world. This year, I’m thinking bigger.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
The Most Thoughtful, Unusual Gifts We Received This Year
I asked folks at The Barbed Wire and online what they absolutely loved receiving in 2024 and 2025 — and why.
thebarbedwire.com
November 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Last year, I recommended 10 perfect gifts for the single, childless women in your life. It truly included everything your daughter or ex-girlfriend (please don’t text her!!!) needed to babysit her nephews and save the world. This year, I’m thinking bigger.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this!! It was such a pleasure to read about what gifts moved you all and why.
It is time once again to host festive dinner parties and snuggle up on your green Joybird couch. As we head into the holidays, our team — and our online friends — reveal the gifts they loved receiving, from refrigerators to lava lamps. Mostly? We like feeling seen.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
The Most Thoughtful, Unusual Gifts We Received This Year
I asked folks at The Barbed Wire and online what they absolutely loved receiving in 2024 and 2025 — and why.
thebarbedwire.com
November 26, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Thank you to everyone who contributed to this!! It was such a pleasure to read about what gifts moved you all and why.
Reposted by The Barbed Wire
“The gift wasn’t just the prayer itself. It was the feeling of being understood by my mom, years ago, and by my wife now. It was a moment that brought both of them together for me in the best possible way.”
It is time once again to host festive dinner parties and snuggle up on your green Joybird couch. As we head into the holidays, our team — and our online friends — reveal the gifts they loved receiving, from refrigerators to lava lamps. Mostly? We like feeling seen.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/26/t...
The Most Thoughtful, Unusual Gifts We Received This Year
I asked folks at The Barbed Wire and online what they absolutely loved receiving in 2024 and 2025 — and why.
thebarbedwire.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:34 PM
“The gift wasn’t just the prayer itself. It was the feeling of being understood by my mom, years ago, and by my wife now. It was a moment that brought both of them together for me in the best possible way.”