Together, let’s explore what ‘All politics is local’ means for Fort Worth and Texas
I’ve lived in some incredible places — Colorado, near Washington, D.C., and the Twin Cities, to name a few — but I’ve never lived in a state that boasts as much pride in itself, its history and its people as Texas.
While I’m not a Texas native, don’t hold that against me: I’ve come to enjoy all that the great state of Texas has to offer, particularly Fort Worth, and I’m as proud to call Texas my home as Texans are proud to live here.
When I first moved to Fort Worth, I reported and opined on Texas politics for various national publications. While navigating Beto O’Rourke’s 2018 run for the Senate, a sit-down interview with Gov. Greg Abbott about lockdowns, and profiling some of Texas’ rising stars in the national conservative movement, what struck me was just how much the old saying “all politics is local” seemed to reflect Texas’ relationship between national and local news.
Local news can make national headlines, and to me, that underscores the point that sometimes the most informative and influential news stories are happening in our neighborhoods, right under our noses.
Here’s a sampling of local news that garnered national headlines: Texas has handled the pandemic differently than most states, opening up businesses and schools before many others did. Last year, Fort Worth, along with most of the rest of the state, succumbed to a blackout during a winter storm due to electric grid power failures. Concerned Fort Worth-based parents argued during school board meetings over mask mandates.
Almost everything “political” that elicits emotions, whether happiness, sadness or even outrage, begins and ends in our towns, even if there’s a policy trip to Washington somewhere in between.
As the Fort Worth Star-Telegram’s new Opinion writer, I’m excited to continue to thread the connection between national and local news.
I’ve been curious since my family and I have started saying “Y’all” and “Bless your heart”
(although it’s way cuter when my 10-year-old-says it than when I do): What do our readers want to see covered? What do you care about right now in this unique moment in time post-pandemic, but pre-wellness?
As the COVID pandemic continues on, is there an angle we’ve missed? Are you going back to work? Are finances tough now that the enhanced monthly child tax credit checks have expired? Is there more to life than COVID-19? Do you care more about the gubernatorial election or gas prices? Crime or mask mandates? I hope you’ll reach out via e-mail or on Twitter (@russell_nm) and let me know so I can cover it.
I can’t wait to hear from you and dig into the concerns of the people of Fort Worth and Texas, whether or not Washington, D.C. has heard of them. After all, where else would we want to live?
This story was originally published January 5, 2022 at 5:03 AM.
