In a stunningly self-destructive move, one fixture of the Austin establishment has decided to unmask herself and levy a profanity-fueled attack on Gov. Greg Abbott in the days following Donald Trump’s election as President.
On Wednesday, Texas Monthly Senior Editor Erica Grieder announced on Twitter that she had quit her job with the magazine before the presidential election was called for Donald Trump.
A call to the publication confirmed Grieder had quit, but the magazine noted it was after midnight — muddying the implication that Trump’s election had nothing to do with her decision.
But it isn’t Grieder’s election-night departure from Texas Monthly that’s raising eyebrows. It’s what she’s done in the days since.
Since leaving the Texas-themed travel and barbeque magazine, she’s thrown caution to the wind and fully admitted her suspect journalistic practices and open disdain for conservatives.
On Friday morning, Grieder quoted a tweet by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and referred to him as a “f***ing disgrace” and “pathetic weasel.”
Mere minutes later, Grieder claimed she has dirt on Abbott.
An “oppo file” is political shorthand for “opposition research” – the practice of collecting information on political opponents that can be used to discredit or otherwise weaken them. Opposition research is something rival political campaigns generate to attack their political enemies, not something journalists do.
The tweets appeared to be in response to comments by Abbott praising Trump for his “grace and unity” in calling for all Americans to come together following the election.
Grieder’s claim that she has assembled an “oppo file” on Abbott shows how far from objective any of her political reporting ever was. Indeed, coupled with Grieder’s attitude, the existence of such a file reveals just how far out of touch the Austin political establishment is with Texas voters and casts even greater doubt about the validity of their “reporting” which many already labeled as suspect.
Take for example Texas Monthly’s biennial Best and Worst List. It is a subjective “ranking” built behind closed doors by journalists.
Grieder led efforts to produce magazine’s list In 2013 and 2015. During those years, the “Best” legislators were almost exclusively comprised of the state’s most liberal lawmakers such as State Sens. Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) and Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio) as well as House Speaker Joe Straus (R–San Antonio). Meanwhile the “Worst” lawmakers included conservative reformers like Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, State Sen. Jane Nelson (R–Flower Mound) and State Rep. Jonathan Stickland (R–Bedford).
The list has been cited as gospel by other (liberal) political journalists for years and prominent establishment Republicans even burnish their awards on their campaign websites. Thanks to Grieder, Texans have been given a new look at just how worthless the Texas Monthly annual ranking is.
Not only has Greider shown her writing was all along driven by vitriolic hatred of conservatives, but any articles dealing with politics or policy written or produced while she was there are equally suspect. And given the way magazine deadlines work, that pipeline will extend for months.
While Grieder’s case offers many lessons for Texans in regard to the credibility of the liberal media, lawmakers should find this even more revealing. The biggest mistake conservative legislators can make is to place their trust in Austin’s media cult.
