A Team of Cactus Lovers Is Saving Thousands of These Endangered Plants From a Mining Site A wildlife biologist was surprised to find the tiny, prickly black-lace cactus at a future coal-mining complex in South Texas. Then he worked with the company to save them.

You’d notice the excavators when driving near this South Texas mining site, but you’d never know about the tiny black-lace cacti nestled among the brush or the people who are patiently working to save them . . .

The Weekend I Broke My Brain With the Philosophical Society of Texas Founded by Sam Houston, the group has kept a low profile for 189 years, even though its current members include George W. Bush, Charles Butt, Taylor Sheridan, and Kay Bailey Hutchison. What do they ta...

Cofounded by Sam Houston, the Philosophical Society of Texas has kept a low profile for 189 years, even though its current members include George W. Bush, Charles Butt, and Taylor Sheridan.

What do they talk about when they get together? We went to their annual conference to find out.

The Weekend I Broke My Brain With the Philosophical Society of Texas Founded by Sam Houston, the group has kept a low profile for 189 years, even though its current members include George W. Bush, Charles Butt, Taylor Sheridan, and Kay Bailey Hutchison. What do they ta...

In 188 years, no journalist has infiltrated the ranks of the Philosophical Society of Texas... UNTIL NOW! Read all about it @texasmonthly.bsky.social www.texasmonthly.com/being-texan/...

I Noticed an Upsetting Change in My 7-Year-Old. I Traced It Back to One Specific, Grotesque Segment of YouTube. My second-grader suddenly knew about the concept of first-class flights to Dubai.

For @slate.com I wrote about YouTube corrupting my son's soul (not an exaggeration!) and Fortesa Latifi's excellent new book LIKE, FOLLOW, SUBSCRIBE slate.com/life/2026/04... @hifortesa.bsky.social

A Team of Cactus Lovers Is Saving Thousands of These Endangered Plants From a Mining Site A botanist was surprised to find the tiny, prickly black-lace cactus at a future coal-mining complex in South Texas. Then he worked with the company to save them.

“Once we lose it, it’s gone. Some people don’t care and think it doesn’t impact their life, but a person has to decide what’s important to them in this world."

Jeremiah McKinney was surprised to find black-lace cacti at a future coal-mining complex. Then he worked with the company to save them.

A Team of Cactus Lovers Is Saving Thousands of These Endangered Plants From a Mining Site A botanist was surprised to find the tiny, prickly black-lace cactus at a future coal-mining complex in South Texas. Then he worked with the company to save them.

Conservationists at a coal mining site? Why, yep! In February I went out with a gentle army of cactus gatherers to discover how they're saving the black lace cacti @texasmonthly.bsky.social
www.texasmonthly.com/travel/savin...

Goodbye To My White Whale 11 Years Trying to Break Into NYT Letter of Recommendation

I've been pitching the NYT Magazine's Letter of Recommendation for ELEVEN YEARS. Here's an ode to the column, and to writerly resilience
dinagachman.substack.com/p/goodbye-to...

A Little Hope in Texas Maybe it's not all doom and gloom and disaster?

I don't post on Substack often, but I did today! it's about hope substack.com/home/post/p-...

The Texans Choosing "Green Burials" After Death Death is the most natural thing in the world, but burial is often far from it.

While nonbiodegradable coffins and cremation are the norm, some loved ones are being wrapped in natural shrouds and pulled in an Amish cart on a prairie. www.texasmonthly.com/travel/green-burials-tex...

The Texans Choosing "Green Burials" After Death Death is the most natural thing in the world, but burial is often far from it.

Not everyone will opt to bury a loved one four feet deep in a bamboo container so they decompose faster, providing nutrients to the plants, grasses, and bugs. But people seem to be opening up to the idea... www.texasmonthly.com/travel/green... @texasmonthly.bsky.social

The Low-Budget Indie That Launched Three Big Careers Turns 30 ‘Bottle Rocket,' the directorial debut from Wes Anderson that starred brothers Luke and Owen Wilson, wasn't a hit at first, but it's now a Texas classic.

The low-budget indie that launched the careers of Wes Anderson and Luke and Owen Wilson wasn’t a hit, but it’s a Texas classic.

Celebrating 30 years of 'Bottle Rocket': www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/bottl...

The Low-Budget Indie That Launched Three Big Careers Turns 30 ‘Bottle Rocket,’ the directorial debut from Wes Anderson that starred brothers Luke and Owen Wilson, wasn’t a hit at first, but it’s now a Texas classic.

30 years later I revistsed BOTTLE ROCKET to see if it holds up
@texasmonthly.bsky.social
www.texasmonthly.com/arts-enterta...

Kendra Scott Wishes to Remain Eponymous Her name is on her billion-dollar empire, which just named its new CEO. She's also a mom, a UT business program founder, and, with country star Zac Brown, one half of a celebrity power couple. And she...

“It’s so unusual to do what she’s done in jewelry. Kendra very cleverly knew who she was selling to, and she didn’t need the glitz and glamour of New York or L.A. She knew the women who would want to buy her pieces.” www.texasmonthly.com/style/jewelry-mogul-kend...

My Husband and I Have a Seemingly Simple Decision to Make About Our House. So Why Can’t We Stop Fighting? No compromise, no surrender.

For @slate.com I wrote about a blank white wall! But really it's about ART and MARRIAGE and COMPROMISE slate.com/life/2026/02...

America You are OLD. We are tired and weary.

I'm weary, America.
substack.com/home/post/p-...

Kendra Scott Wishes to Remain Eponymous Her name is on her billion-dollar empire, which just named its new CEO. She's also a mom, a UT business program founder, and, with country star Zac Brown, one half of a celebrity power couple. And she...

For @texasmonthly.bsky.social I wrote about where Kendra Scott came from, what she’s built, and where she might be headed www.texasmonthly.com/style/jewelr...

Kendra Scott Wishes to Remain Eponymous Her name is on her billion-dollar empire, which just named its new CEO. She's also a mom, a UT business program founder, and, with country star Zac Brown, one half of a celebrity power couple. And she...

She’s a billion-dollar business, a household name, and one half of a brand-new power couple.

Where could Kendra Scott be headed? www.texasmonthly.com/style/jewelry-mogul-kend...

Burn It Down Uncovering a family secret after decades of silence

This story appeared in print only in Issue #4 of Mother Tongue Magazine. I've been dying to share it online, and now I can dinagachman.substack.com/p/burn-it-down

Last night Texas Monthly Presents: Life & Death on @pbs.org won a Lone Star Emmy. 💫 You can watch here
www.pbs.org/video/texas-... @texasmonthly.bsky.social

Is it too early to pitch a Mother’s Day story? I know it’s like 6 months away but I have a damn good idea 🤓

Uncertain Futures: About Episode 116 of 'Texas Monthly Presents' on PBS Certain industries in Texas, like shrimping and hemp farming, are at a crossroads. Meet two Texans whose livelihoods hang in the balance.

Through the lens of a female shrimper and a father fighting to preserve his hemp business, the most recent episode of 'Texas Monthly Presents,' featuring writers Russell Gold and Dina Gachman, examines our changing state and the people grappling with an uncertain future.

One of the Year's Best Movies Is From Two Texas Filmmakers 'Train Dreams,' which opens today and streams on Netflix this month, is a quiet masterpiece from the Oscar-nominated duo behind 'Sing Sing.'

Train Dreams, which opens today and streams on Netflix this month, is a quiet masterpiece from the Oscar-nominated duo behind Sing Sing.

Uncertain Futures: About Episode 116 of 'Texas Monthly Presents' on PBS Certain industries in Texas, like shrimping and hemp farming, are at a crossroads. Meet two Texans whose livelihoods hang in the balance.

Hi! This Sunday I'll be on the new episode of Texas Monthly Presents: The Story on PBS. The series is nominated for 4 Lone Star Emmys, y'all @texasmonthly.bsky.social @pbs.org

If you don't catch it on PBS it'll be streaming a day or so later. Here's a preview:
www.texasmonthly.com/texas-monthl...

Who Knew Cockroaches Could Be . . . Cute? Holding a roach in your hand may change your perspective on “the world’s most despicable bug.”

A Texas A&M entomologist keeps colonies of them as pets in her home. . . 🪳

Holding one in your hand may change your perspective on what this magazine once called “the world’s most despicable bug.” www.texasmonthly.com/travel/who-knew-cockroac...

Who Knew Cockroaches Could Be . . . Cute? Holding a roach in your hand may change your perspective on “the world’s most despicable bug.”

BOO! Read about my time with hissing cockroaches... IF YOU DARE! @texasmonthly.bsky.social www.texasmonthly.com/travel/who-k...

Now that a new generation woke up going "who the hell is Elizabeth Taylor" thx to Taylor Swift, I wrote a comic book about her ages ago and you can read it! www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tribute-di...

I Went Into the Woods to Read Matthew McConaughey’s Poetry, and This Is What Happened A writer goes full Henry David Thoreau with a copy of the actor’s new book, ’Poems & Prayers.’

"I settled into my camping chair beneath a canopy of lilac and pecan trees near the bank of the creek, doused myself in bug spray, and opened 'Poems & Prayers,'" writes Dina Gachman. www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/matth...

I went into the woods with Matthew McConaughey's Poems & Prayers and this is what happened, y'all www.texasmonthly.com/arts-enterta... @texasmonthly.bsky.social

Charlie Sheen Is Ready to Tell You Everything In a new memoir and documentary, the actor known for “Two and a Half Men,” “Platoon” and a debauched life that nearly killed him puts it all out there.

Charlie Sheen spoke to our reporter about his new memoir and documentary, in which the actor known for “Two and a Half Men,” “Platoon” and a debauched life that nearly killed him puts it all out there.