Hypocrisy Watch: Words on Paper

Then

Paxton publicly condemned forum shopping as a threat to judicial integrity, framing it as an abuse of the judiciary when plaintiffs steer cases to sympathetic judges rather than courts with a genuine connection to the dispute.

Texas Tribune, May 21, 2026

Now

The Texas Tribune reported that Paxton's office filed more than 30 lawsuits in counties with tenuous connections to the underlying cases — the precise practice he had condemned.

Texas Tribune, May 2026

Then

Paxton sent letters to more than 130 Texas cities asserting they had committed or were at risk of committing illegal tax increases under state law, implying his office had identified specific violations.

KVUE, May 18, 2026

Now

Paxton's office did not release the specific tax measures it believed each city had violated. The letters were broader and more preemptive than the implied findings, covering speculative risk rather than documented violations.

KVUE, May 2026

Then

Abbott argued that a rarely used constitutional provision empowered him to remove lawmakers who broke quorum.

Texas Tribune, May 19, 2026

Now

The Texas Supreme Court unanimously rejected Abbott's constitutional argument and blocked his attempt to remove Rep. Gene Wu.

The New Texan, May 19, 2026

Then

Scott stated that CBP would not build a wall in Big Bend National Park.

KVUE, May 18, 2026

Now

Within approximately seven days of that statement, a $1.7 billion federal construction contract for the Big Bend region was awarded.

KVUE, May 2026

Then

Casar called a federal judge's release order for detained Austin student Angel Cabrera "a good day for Austin."

KVUE, May 21, 2026

Now

Cabrera remained detained at the Karnes County facility after the statement, with his attorneys still petitioning for his release.

Austin Current, May–June 2026