Revealed: GOP Group Tied to Mysterious Trans Student Messages
A Travis County judge ordered that names be released, according to the Transgender Education Network of Texas. The GOP group denied involvement.
Steven Monacelli
Steven Monacelli is a special investigative correspondent for the Observer and a freelance investigative journalist based in Dallas. He covers extremism, disinformation, and other topics. His reporting has been featured in Rolling Stone, The Daily Beast, The Real News, Dallas Observer, Dallas Weekly, and more. He is also the publisher of Protean Magazine, a nonprofit literary publication.
Articles by Steven Monacelli
Ken Paxton’s ‘October Surprises’ Are Pure Disinformation
For Paxton and the influencers around him, shoddy work in the election’s home stretch is getting rapidly exposed—though some mystery still surrounds a deceptive mail campaign.
Not All Texas Republicans Are Condemning Bo French
While many top Texas GOP leaders rushed to denounce the Railroad Commissioner nominee's latest racist screed, another assortment of Lone Star conservatives has stood behind him.
How a Gun-Rights Extremist Could Soon Represent Uvalde in Congress
On his YouTube channel, Brandon Herrera has discussed the relative merits of weapons used in mass shootings and made light of political violence. He’s now on a glide path to the U.S. House.
‘Gossip and Sleaze’: Dallas Express Smears State Rep’s Son Under Fake Byline
The right-wing news outlet published anonymously sourced allegations about a Houston minor by a supposed author whose name is likely an Ayn Rand reference.
How the Prairieland ‘Antifa’ Verdict Threatens the Anti-Trump Resistance
Last week's convictions related to a July 4 ICE detention center demonstration raise red flags about the right to protest. “This can happen to you, and if they can do it to you, they will.”
The ‘Antifa Scare’ Goes on Trial in North Texas
As nine of the "Prairieland 19" face their days in court, the broader constitutional rights of left-wing activists may hang in the balance.
Congressman Tries to Cut Pay of ICE Prosecutor with Racist X Account to $1
Last week, the prosecutor James Rodden returned to Dallas immigration court a year after the Observer's original investigation into his social media. Congressman Marc Veasey’s amendment did not receive a committee vote Wednesday.
Revealed: Four Businesses with Ties to Patriot Front Operating in North Texas
The neo-Nazi group is engaged in a strategy to establish an independent economic ecosystem. Through publicly available information, interviews, and in-person observation, the Observer has identified companies in the Dallas-Fort Worth area that are operated either by members of Patriot Front or individuals with multiple connections to Patriot Front.
ICE Prosecutor Who Runs Racist X Account Returns to Dallas Immigration Court
James Rodden, identified by the Observer last year as the operator of an account that routinely posted hateful statements, appeared to be back at work Tuesday.