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steven monacelli

@stevanzetti.bsky.social
71K followers 1.6K following 4.9K posts

special investigative correspondent @texasobserver.org • contributor @coolzonemedia.bsky.social • publisher @proteanmag.com • send tips via Signal: stevanzetti.12 Read & support my work: linktr.ee/Stevanzetti

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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
He's my best friend
A direct message from an account claiming to be Jenna Musk that reads: Hello sorry for the random approach are you a supporter of my dad Elon Musk?
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has stopped running op-eds and letters to the editor. That's a bummer, but also an opportunity: I'm excited to announce my new project, The Daily Crank, which will exclusively publish petty quibbles and opinionated screeds.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I'm hard at work finding novel ways to ask people "what the hell is this all about"
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lauren @lauren.rotatingsandwiches.com · 25/09/2026
Ways of Seeing is maybe the most influential piece of television in my life, instantly need to track this down
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Texas Observer @texasobserver.org · 28/09/2026
More from Steven on Bo French:
texasobserver.org
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.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
A CNN @kfile.bsky.social investigation unearthed since-removed posts from Texas GOP candidate Bo French that repeatedly advocated public executions for political opponents, including former President Barack Obama www.cnn.com/2026/09/28/p...
cnn.com
KFile: Texas GOP candidate Bo French has a history of calling for public executions | CNN Politics
Bo French, the Republican nominee for one of Texas’ most powerful statewide offices, is facing bipartisan criticism over a racist post about the crowd at a University of Texas football game.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Republican candidate for TX Railroad Commissioner Bo French reposted John Doyle, a self-identified "Christian Fascist" who is associated with white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Doyle once fantasized about cops "putting bullets in the heads" of LGBT people at a Pride event in Dallas.
Bo french: 36 days until November 3rd. Remind everyone you know to vote straight-ticket Republican.

We win by winning.

The post from John Doyle that French quoted: Your money's no good here, sir. I know about what you did back in '26, voting straight-ticket Republican and all. May I shake your hand?
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Collins Watch @collinswatch.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Washington Post confirms @propublica.org's reporting that the FBI shuttered a pay-to-play investigation into Susan Collins after Trump took over last year. #MEpolitics
WaPo: Three people familiar with the matter confirmed to The Washington Post that the FBI last year closed an early-stage inquiry into allegations that a defense contractor made concealed political contributions benefiting Collins in exchange for help securing federal contracts. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the previously undisclosed investigation.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
I got Greeped at Granada Theatre
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"We will defeat the communists,” President Trump said. “That’s what they are. They’re not socialists, they’re not Democrats. They’re communists. We will reject these radical left lunatics. We will demolish the extremists, fanatics, lunatics, and criminals that want to destroy our country.”
Trump and Mamdani Trump and Xi
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Everyone has that one friend who is haunted by their fate that the oracle revealed to them
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Justin Baragona @justinbaragona.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Welp. According to Semafor, David Ellison has discussed bringing Elon Musk on as an investor in Paramount's merger with Warner Bros., which could mean Musk could have a stake in CBS News and CNN. www.semafor.com/article/09/2...
semafor.com
Exclusive: Paramount weighs tapping Musk for equity investment
A cash injection from SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk could reduce investor Larry Ellison’s financial burden and bolster the deal’s investor base.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Right-wing proponents of school vouchers are very upset that Republican Texas State Rep. Gary VanDeaver, who opposed vouchers and recently resigned from the lege, is now executive director of the Texas Association of School Boards. Among them is Monty Bennett, who helped create a TASB alternative.
Monty Bennett posts Michael Quinn Sullivan postCorey DeAngelis post
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Small correction here: it was first reported by me dentonrc.com/education/hi...
A screenshot of the article saying Houston Chron first reported the atoet
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
When my friend tells me he plans to get into WoW Forever
Welp, see ya never
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026
Sen. Susan Collins helped steer millions in federal defense contracts to Navatek, whose CEO illegally funneled thousands of dollars to her campaign. The FBI sought to launch a probe and was eyeing Collins and other lawmakers. Then Trump gutted the unit in charge. THREAD 🧵
Martin Kao, CEO of defense contractor Navatek, poses next to Sen. Susan Collins for a photo. Collins is holding a model of a boat in her hands. Behind them is a large sign with the Navatek logo.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Always read @kissphoria.bsky.social www.chron.com/culture/arti...
chron.com
'We did it again!': Texas Rep. pressures school into erasing LGBTQ+ site
UNT hosts one of the largest archives of LGBTQ+ history in the South.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Scooplet: after Texas State Representative Brian Harrison and megadonor Monty Bennett publicly complained about the University of North Texas having a large archive of primary sources related to LGBTQ history in North Texas, UNT has taken down a website about it, and Rep. Harrison is taking credit.
First Brian Harrison post Second Brian Harrison post Monty Bennett postHarrison takes credit
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Texas Observer @texasobserver.org · 19/09/2026
Worth revisiting: @candicequestions.com's analysis of Bo French's "Blood and Oil" politics
texasobserver.org
Bo French’s Blood-and-Oil Bid for Railroad Commissioner
The former Tarrant County GOP chair's statewide campaign displaces blame for the fossil fuel industry’s ravages onto the far right’s favored scapegoats.
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David at FOIAball @foiaball.com · 16/09/2026
How deep do Bo French's ties to the University of Texas go? How about his dad having a room in the football facility named after him? And his noxious run for office is financed by prominent Longhorn boosters. That and A LOT more, in today's FOIAball. www.foiaball.com/p/texas-coll...
foiaball.com
Bo French insulted Texas fans. Longhorn boosters fund him.
The school even had a room named after his dad.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Texas Scorecard, a right wing media outlet, last filed an update regarding its leadership with the Texas government in 2018. Among the directors are Bo French, the Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner, and Tim Dunn, French's largest donor. Scorecard has routinely amplified French.
 Screenshot of the Texas Secretary of State website
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Monty Bennett, the publisher of the Dallas Express and CEO of Ashford, complained that the University of North Texas has a large archive of primary sources related to LGBTQ history in North Texas. Bennett calls this "leftist activism and gender ideology."
 Screenshot of Bennett's post
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Jen Wang @jeniverseabr.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
I'm so pissed because my brother is on city council. My parents are trying to do some damage control and gave me a bullshit excuse about attendance number and proximity to residential areas. Just admit you want to stay buddies with the more powerful homophobes.
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Texas Observer @texasobserver.org · 18/09/2026
⌚ Time for an ever-topical reminder that the Dallas Express is right-wing astroturfed slop:
texasobserver.org
The 'Dallas Express': Your Go-To Source for Right-Wing, Astroturf News
The formerly Black-owned, progressive newspaper has re-emerged as a "pink slime" media site that launders conservative propaganda.
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Ana Marie Cox @anamariecox.com · 17/09/2026
So, uh, about that Dallas Express piece I recommended, largely on the basis that it was about the dangers of AI in the local news market? I read it again in light of learning more about the publication and then I got curious...
AI Generated Pangram 4.0

We believe that this entire text is AI.

100%
of this text is AI
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
Incredible irony: the Dallas Express published a piece about the decline of journalism (and also serves to promote the outlet as an alternative) that was obviously generated using LLMs
A screenshot of the article A screenshot of the Pangram Labs analysis showing 100% AI generated result
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
This Dallas Express story appears to be AI generated
A screenshot of a Pangram analysis of the first few hundred words of the  Dallas Express article
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The city council of Southlake voted unanimously to deny a permit to a LGBTQ Pride vendor festival planned to be held at private property owned by a church. www.dallasnews.com/news/faith/a...
dallasnews.com
Southlake refuses to issue permit for LGBTQ Pride festival
Pride So-Kel drew 1,600 people to an Episcopal church last year in Southlake. This year, city council members refused to issue a permit to the festival.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
It's North Texas Giving Day and I would be so grateful if you can support Apprentice Creative Space. For the last three years it has provided a vital third space to literary, creative, and civically engaged Dallasites. Help make it three more years! www.northtexasgivingday.org/organization...
northtexasgivingday.org
Support Apprentice Creative Space on North Texas Giving Day!
Apprentice Creative Space is a nonprofit third-space in Dallas, serving communities at the intersection of literary arts, creative arts, and civic engagement. We foster connections across literary ar...
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
The Republican candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner, speaking to the CEO of a news website that is published by a guy who donated $5k to French's campaign
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Earlier this year, Bo French did an interview with Chris Putnam, CEO of the Dallas Express and former Tarrant County GOP finance committee chair. Putnam asked French about "Islamic incursion." French said "it is an ideology that is hell bent on destroying America."
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Gus Bova @gusbova.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
There are a number of Texas Republicans who are defending Bo French's post targeting those UT kids. History suggests they're at least as likely to win out as the Republicans who are discovering principles www.texasobserver.org/not-all-texa... -- @stevanzetti.bsky.social
texasobserver.org
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, an assortment of Lone Star conservatives have stood behind him.
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Tim Murphy @timothypmurphy.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
it's an incredible election cycle to make the big public purity test "we should be rhodesia," especially when the only thing that could cause French to lose is if enough people actually learn who he is.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Karl Rove, who spent his entire adult life getting Republicans elected and has voted straight Republican for decades is now a fake Republican because he drew the line at "deport all Muslims and Indians"
A tweet from a senior editor at the right-wing Texas Scorecard, asking if anyone is surprised Karl Rove is voting for a Democrat (because he finds Bo French too extreme)
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
While many top Texas GOP leaders rushed to denounce the Railroad Commissioner nominee’s latest racist screed, an assortment of Lone Star conservatives have stood behind him. I wrote about a few of them, and the extreme rhetoric the man they're supporting has been spewing for months.
texasobserver.org
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, an assortment of Lone Star conservatives have stood behind him.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Husband dot com: ask about what's wrong with your husband Wife dot com: make an offer
A screenshot of husband.comA screenshot of wife.com
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
1.2 million foreign students represents just 6% of the 19.4 million students studying as of 2025. But even that is too high, as the 1.2 million number includes ~300,000 people on post-graduate Optional Practical Training (OPT), meaning foreign students are sub-5%.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Monty Bennett, Republican megadonor and publisher of the "nonpartisan" Dallas Express, weighs in on Bo French's most recent provocation, appearing to endorse rhetoric that other Republican politicians in Texas have described as racist.
Bennett quote tweeting French favorably
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MGB @mgbustillo.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
“The City of Dallas, which is already facing a budget shortfall and a rising police budget, estimates police presence around the convention will cost Dallas $1.8 million.” Damn
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
"Trump [spoke] for a second time. Another figure who also made a second appearance was socialist livestreamer Hasan Piker, depicted once again in a near-nude photo displayed on the Jumbotron, for whatever reason." www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/...
dmagazine.com
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
RNC Convention Day 2: more Trump, more locals, more protests, and more empty seats. We recapped what happened inside and outside the convention. A street preacher who was charged in January for harassment accused two protesters of assault, and the two were arrested. www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/...
dmagazine.com
Recap: RNC Midterm Convention Day 2 - D Magazine
Donald Trump, J.D. Vance, Eric Johnson, Greg Abbott, and Ted Cruz took the stage at American Airlines Center as protests unfolded outside and the RNC Midterm Convention wrapped up its second day in Dallas.
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Texas Observer @texasobserver.org · 11/09/2026
Our coverage of the delayed maternal mortality report and what is missing from it:
texasobserver.org
Texas Maternal Mortality Committee's Next Report Will Skip Post-'Roe' Deaths. Lawmakers Suspect Political Influence.
And one Texan says the body’s decision “retriggered” the pain of losing his wife, who counts among the preventable deaths that soon followed the state’s abortion bans.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Some tremendous photos here www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/...
A scowling woman at the RNC midterm convention
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Texas is delaying its typical September 1 release of maternal mortality data until December 1, conveniently timed to be after the midterm election. Recent reports have shown a sharp rise in ectopic pregnancy deaths after the abortion ban went into effect. www.austinchronicle.com/news/texas-p...
austinchronicle.com
Texas’ Pregnancy Death Report Set to Release After Midterms • The Austin Chronicle
Texas’ Pregnancy Death Report Set to Release After Midterms
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
The neo-Nazi influencer Captive Dreamer, aka Geoffrey Martin, who is followed by Elon Musk and J.D. Vance appears to be in Dallas during the RNC midterm convention.
Captive Dreamers post on Sept 9: First impressions of "Dallas." Terrible city, it's like a massive strip mall with a multicultural hodgepodge of crackheads and vagrants. Zero "vibe" to the downtown, lots of empty storefronts. Toll roads everywhere. Have to drive 40 minutes outside to stay saneA photo of a hotel in downtown Dallas posted on September 9
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Ominous to put my name in quotes like that
An email from an anonymous account with the subject line: Keep Bashing Trump, "Steven" And You'll Lose Another Subscriber.
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Txnewsprincess @txnewsprincess.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
We didn't have media credentials, but we did it. By we I mean @stevanzetti.bsky.social, Jason Janik, and Perry Hall, with me orchestrating and providing occasional pep talks and memes. More Day 1 photos coming, and Jason and Jessica Winniford are on deck today. www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/...
dmagazine.com
Inside the RNC Midterm Convention in Dallas
The best thing about the RNC Midterm Convention was a hot Grand Prairie parking lot.
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
"Trump’s speech, which began an hour late, showed him in classic form. He said Paxton is ugly and doesn’t know how to dress, but that he has been the best attorney general. He promised $5k to all Americans if Republicans win...a promise that may or may not be legal" www.dmagazine.com/frontburner/...
dmagazine.com
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I'm not reporting live from the RNC midterm gathering in Dallas because I had some other things to do, but I will be monitoring the livestream and updates from protests planned for today. Starting off, I've been informed that photographer Jason Janik already witnessed two arrests of protesters. 1/
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steven monacelli @stevanzetti.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
I don't know if I can do this again
Day 2 confirmation for the RNC gathering in Dallas
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