Dallas

blue

Axios Dallas Partners

Dallas Alerts

Alert

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Dallas with Tasha Tsiaperas and Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi.

Axios Dallas

Standard

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Dallas. Written by Tasha Tsiaperas and Naheed Rajwani-Dharsi.

Axios Dallas Thought Bubble

Thought Bubble

Dallas Members

Membership

This year's Red River Showdown will look much different from what fans might have expected when they circled this game on their calendars at the start of the season.

Why it matters: Oklahoma enters Saturday's rivalry game in Dallas on a roll, undefeated and ranked sixth in the nation.

Texas, the preseason No. 1 team, has lost twice and is now unranked after falling to Florida last weekend.

Yes, but: The Longhorns are a 1.5-point favorite.

The big picture: UT likely must win the remainder of its regular-season games to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

The Sooners' schedule gets much tougher after Saturday, with five ranked opponents in its final six games.

Zoom in: Preseason Heisman favorite Arch Manning — nephew to Eli and Peyton — has struggled through five games. He threw two interceptions against Florida. Last month, hometown fans booed after he tossed 10 straight incompletions. 

Oklahoma starting quarterback John Mateer, who is recovering from thumb surgery, might not play.

What we're watching: Whether the Texas offensive line will give Manning enough time to find open receivers.

Oklahoma's defense is tied for second-most sacks in the country this season.

The Longhorns' offensive line was embarrassed against Florida, allowing six sacks.

How to watch: Kickoff is at 2:30pm at the Cotton Bowl. Tickets start at more than $200. 

Austin

Axios Austin Partners

Austin Alerts

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Austin with Asher Price and Nicole Cobler.

Axios Austin

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Austin. Written by Nicole Cobler and Asher Price.

Axios Austin Thought Bubble

Austin Members

Why Texas and Oklahoma must win the Red River Rivalry

Texas quarterback Arch Manning getting sacked by a Florida player.

Arch Manning of the Texas Longhorns is sacked by Tyreak Sapp of the Florida Gators last weekend. Photo: James Gilbert/Getty Images

This year&#x27;s Red River Showdown will look <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="much different" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/02/arch-manning-texas-longhorns-florida-gators" data-vars-content-id="0e07feca-a03d-48ef-a2fd-491dd0f9f52b" data-vars-headline="Why Texas and Oklahoma must win the Red River Rivalry" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/10/02/arch-manning-texas-longhorns-florida-gators" target="_self">much different</a> from what fans might have expected when they circled this game on their calendars at the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="start" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/08/28/texas-ohio-state-college-football-columbus" data-vars-content-id="0e07feca-a03d-48ef-a2fd-491dd0f9f52b" data-vars-headline="Why Texas and Oklahoma must win the Red River Rivalry" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/austin/2025/08/28/texas-ohio-state-college-football-columbus" target="_self">start</a> of the season.Why it matters: Oklahoma enters Saturday&#x27;s rivalry game in Dallas on a roll, undefeated and ranked <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="sixth" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll" data-vars-content-id="0e07feca-a03d-48ef-a2fd-491dd0f9f52b" data-vars-headline="Why Texas and Oklahoma must win the Red River Rivalry" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll" target="_blank">sixth</a> in the nation.

Sports

Houston

Axios Houston

Tatsu Dallas, an omakase with just 10 counter seats, earned a star in Michelin's first Texas guide Monday. 

Why it matters: A Michelin Guide endorsement brings cachet to restaurants that may already be well-loved locally but less known nationally.

The latest: The France-based star-tiered dining guide awarded stars to 15 Texas restaurants. 

Between the lines: Dallas-Fort Worth was snubbed with just one starred restaurant. That's compared to seven starred restaurants in Austin and six in Houston. 

Yes, but: Julian Shaffer of Rye in Dallas won a special exceptional cocktails award. 

Context: The state's tourism agency and tourism boards from five Texas cities, including Dallas and Fort Worth, paid to bring the Michelin Guide to the state.

Other cities — like Washington, D.C., Chicago and New York — have had Michelin guides for years.

The Lone Star State has its own James Beard Awards category. It was broken out from the Southwest category in 2020.

How it works: A group of anonymous inspectors judged restaurants on the quality of ingredients, mastery of cooking techniques, harmony of flavors, chef's vision, consistency and value. Service and restaurant decor were not considered.

The guide includes a full list of Michelin recommendations, Bib Gourmand awards (for quality food at a good price), and Michelin Green Stars for sustainability champions.

Zoom in: Seven D-FW restaurants won Bib Gourmand awards:

🍽️ Michelin's guide to Dallas, Fort Worth

Tatsu Dallas, an omakase with just 10 counter seats, earned a star.

Illustration of a trophy wearing a chef's hat

Tatsu Dallas, an omakase with just 10 counter seats, earned a star in Michelin&#x27;s first Texas guide Monday. Why it matters: A Michelin Guide endorsement brings cachet to restaurants that may already be well-loved locally but less known nationally.

News

Food and Drink

Across Texas, we're keeping our eye on several big stories this year.

Every major statewide elected office is on the ballot this year. First up: the primary elections. Early voting starts in just over six weeks. 

The race for U.S. Senate features a marquee matchup on the Republican and Democratic sides that are attracting national attention — and money. 

Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick are seeking fourth terms. Their reelection would lock in conservative state leadership for another four years.

The big picture: State lawmakers redrew the state's congressional map to elect as many as five more Republicans to the U.S. House. Whether that happens will hinge on if Latinos continue to shift toward the GOP.

The $1 billion state program to provide public money for private school tuition is launching this year, with most participating families receiving roughly $10,000 a year per eligible student.

What we're watching: How many families apply for vouchers and how public and private schools will be affected.

A new state law aimed at restricting Texans' access to mail-order abortion medication will test shield laws in blue states, where doctors have prescribed abortion pills like mifepristone through the mail.

The Supreme Court could ultimately decide the fate of the Texas law. 

Another hot summer could test the Texas grid.

The state's population will continue to grow, and new energy-hungry data centers are expected to go online as the once-booming renewable energy industry slows with the end of federal subsidies. 

test whether Latinos continue their shift

Houston Alerts

Get smarter, faster on what matters in Houston with Jay R. Jordan and Shafaq Patel.

Axios Houston Partners

A picture of the Houston skyline with the letters IAH

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting Houston.

Axios Houston Thought Bubble

Houston Members

San Antonio

San Antonio Alerts

Axios San Antonio Partners

A daily look at the most significant and interesting stories affecting San Antonio.

Axios San Antonio Thought Bubble

Get smarter, faster on what matters in San Antonio with Megan Stringer and Madalyn Mendoza.

Axios San Antonio

San Antonio Members

What we're watching in Texas in 2026

From elections to school vouchers, here are the stories we're watching in 2026.

Illustration of torn newsprint that says Stories we're Watching

Across Texas, we&#x27;re keeping our eye on several big stories this year.

Election

After four grueling rounds of our most iconic food contest, we have a winner.

Why it matters: You have confirmed what we might have suspected all along: Brisket is king.

Catch up quick: Introduced by European Jewish immigrants to Texas more than a century ago, smoked brisket was first sold at delis, and as demand soared, smokehouses cropped up specializing in the slow-cooked delicacy.

The intrigue: Brisket is not considered a top cut of beef — one reason why the only way to cook it is low and slow, to render the fat and tenderize the meat.

My thought bubble: I like to smoke brisket over mesquite, South Texas style, in my Austin backyard. 

I use a simple rub of kosher salt and coarse ground black pepper that complements the meat but doesn't overpower it. 

What's next: If this food bracket challenge has left your mouth watering, head to your nearest barbecue joint. There are lots to choose from.

Brisket tops breakfast tacos as Texas' most iconic food

Brisket topped breakfast tacos for the title.

a hand with a black glove holds up a piece of smoked brisket

After four grueling rounds of our most iconic food contest, we have a winner.Why it matters: You have confirmed what we might have suspected all along: Brisket is king.

Culture

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Dallas) leads state Rep. James Talarico (D-Austin) for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, according to a small survey of 350 registered voters taken before Talarico's viral interview with late-night host Stephen Colbert. 

Why it matters: The Democratic race features two rising stars in the party with contrasting styles and messages. The winner will set the tone for the party in a Texas midterm election with nearly every statewide office on the ballot.

Zoom in: Crockett was the choice for 56% of Democrats surveyed while Talarico was favored by 44%, per the University of Texas/Texas Politics Project poll released Wednesday. That question had a margin of error of ±5.1 percentage points, meaning the gap between the candidates could be wider or narrower than indicated, but Crockett's lead at that time would hold. 

Crockett gained national attention for her sharp criticism of President Trump. Even though she entered the race just before the filing deadline in December, just 18% of respondents said they didn't have an opinion of her. 

By contrast, 34% said they didn't have an opinion about Talarico, who has used his Christian faith as a framework to criticize Republicans. 

How it works: The poll was conducted Feb. 2–16, before early voting began. 

Flashback: Talarico's Feb. 16 interview with Colbert never aired because Colbert said CBS warned him against it, citing a federal directive. 

But Colbert posted it on YouTube, where it's been seen 8.9 million times.

The big picture: The race is garnering national attention as a barometer of the backlash against Trump in a red state. So far, more ballots have been cast in the Democratic primary in Texas than in the Republican primary, a gauge of voter enthusiasm that could continue into November.

The other side: The poll suggests that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Sen. John Cornyn might be headed for a runoff in the Republican primary. 

Paxton was favored by 36% of respondents, Cornyn by 34% and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-Houston) by 26%. That question had a sample size of 350 and a margin of error of ±5.24 percentage points, meaning Cornyn and Paxton are statistically tied.

The intrigue: In a potentially positive sign for Democrats, 46% of respondents said they had an unfavorable opinion of the party, the lowest  among 21 Texas Politics Project polls taken over more than 10 years.

45% said they had an unfavorable opinion of the Republican Party. That figure has fluctuated between 58% and 41% over the past decade, even as the party has dominated state politics.

What's next: Early voting ends Friday. Election day is Tuesday.

National

Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll

On the Republican side, Paxton and Cornyn lead Hunt, but no candidate has enough support to avoid a runoff.

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett holds a microphone while campaigning. Next to her is a different image of Texas Rep. James Talarico, also holding a microphone while at a campaign event

U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico. Photos: Joel Angel Juarez and Alberto Silva Fernandez/Getty Images 

U.S. Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Jasmine Crockett" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-2026-democratic-primary" data-vars-content-id="b7fff818-df4e-41be-a57b-c7677c64d750" data-vars-headline="Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2025/12/08/jasmine-crockett-texas-senate-2026-democratic-primary" target="_self">Jasmine Crockett</a> (D-Dallas) leads state Rep. <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="James Talarico" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/11/talarico-crockett-us-senate-texas-advertising" data-vars-content-id="b7fff818-df4e-41be-a57b-c7677c64d750" data-vars-headline="Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/11/talarico-crockett-us-senate-texas-advertising" target="_self">James Talarico</a> (D-Austin) for the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, according to a small survey of 350 registered voters taken before Talarico&#x27;s viral interview with late-night host <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Stephen Colbert" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/colbert-cbs-talarico-interview-fcc-trump-carr" data-vars-content-id="b7fff818-df4e-41be-a57b-c7677c64d750" data-vars-headline="Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/17/colbert-cbs-talarico-interview-fcc-trump-carr" target="_self">Stephen Colbert</a>. Why it matters: The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Democratic race" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/texas-senate-talarico-crockett-race-identity" data-vars-content-id="b7fff818-df4e-41be-a57b-c7677c64d750" data-vars-headline="Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/02/10/texas-senate-talarico-crockett-race-identity" target="_self">Democratic race</a> features two rising stars in the party with contrasting styles and messages. The winner will set the tone for the party in a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Texas midterm election" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/24/texas-democrat-primary-turnout-high" data-vars-content-id="b7fff818-df4e-41be-a57b-c7677c64d750" data-vars-headline="Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/dallas/2026/02/24/texas-democrat-primary-turnout-high" target="_self">Texas midterm election</a> with nearly every statewide office on the ballot.

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Bob Gee

Featured stories

Budget Bites: Dukes Venezuelan Food

Find Middle Eastern flavors at South Austin's newest bakery

Crockett leads Talarico in Democratic Senate primary, per new poll

Austin FC looks to score more goals in 2026

Jue Let's Asian-forward cocktails shine