Matt Zdun
@matt_zdun
Followers
1K
Following
2K
Media
95
Statuses
1K
data @HoustonChron | learned a lot at @Reuters @kwtx @statesman @TexasTribune @CNBC @NorthwesternU @MedillSchool @mizzou
Houston, TX
Joined July 2013
EXCLUSIVE: How officials approved tens of thousands of homes in Houston floodplains: “1,000 ways to rig the model." w/ @matt_zdun
https://t.co/2CEWVxIWRh
houstonchronicle.com
Many of the top political donors in the Houston area are businesses behind development projects in floodplains.
2
5
5
A different kind of Texas economic development.
houstonchronicle.com
Operation Lone Star has been a windfall for state troopers, many of whom have doubled their salaries through record amounts of overtime, even as migrant crossings bottomed out.
0
1
3
Last month, at @texyouthsummit, I met some folks with a booth for @Freedom4Teachrs. A rep told me they realized that conservative teachers were staying in unions for the liability insurance. So in March, the Texas-based group rolled out an alternative — with free coverage 🧵
2
16
16
Think your home insurance costs too much? Look at your credit. A new report from shows that Texans with low credit scores pay almost $3,000 more for home insurance on average each year than those with high scores. New in @HoustonChron w/ @matt_zdun
https://t.co/7LmLpKK574
houstonchronicle.com
Texans with low credit scores are paying almost $3,000 more for home insurance on average each year than those with high scores.
0
7
4
Operation Lone Star ballooned overtime costs at DPS and now accounts for about a third of the agency's total overtime spending annually -- even as crossings have plummeted, as @matt_zdun illustrates here:
1
2
2
.@GregAbbott_TX's border crackdown, Operation Lone Star, has been a windfall for state troopers, who are raking in lots of overtime -- even as crossings hit new lows. As of June, ~1 in 10 troopers were on track to double their pay through overtime. #txlege
houstonchronicle.com
Operation Lone Star has been a windfall for state troopers, many of whom have doubled their salaries through record amounts of overtime, even as migrant crossings bottomed out.
2
4
4
NEW: Elon Musk is vying for a $760M contract to build flood tunnels under Houston. And he's tapped a Texas congressman to make the pitch. Read my latest investigation with @lmcgaughy for @HoustonChron, @propublica, @TexasTribune and @KUT
https://t.co/6MTywtLkr5
houstonchronicle.com
For years, experts in Houston have been studying the idea of building massive tunnels under the area to divert floodwaters and save lives and property. Now, Elon Musk wants a piece of the project.
9
44
58
Very cool new analysis of Texas' new maps + low turnout areas by @matt_zdun and @benwermund for @HoustonChron:
2
12
12
Hi Texas! I’ve been in Chicago this week covering the Texas House Democrats breaking quorum here. I’ll be on Reddit at r/Texas TOMORROW, Aug. 7 from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. CT with @JohnnieMo and @isaacyu_ to answer all your burning questions. Get ready to AMA!
10
23
103
Also check out our searchable database where you can explore all of the grants, exactly as they appear in state data https://t.co/boR2idmMME
houstonchronicle.com
Explore our database to see which Texas cities and counties received $177 million in grant funds under Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star.
Very cool interactive by @matt_zdun to visualize how Operation Lone Star money is being spent. Curious how much local governments have spent on personnel? Vehicles? Software? Check it out
0
1
2
Very cool interactive by @matt_zdun to visualize how Operation Lone Star money is being spent. Curious how much local governments have spent on personnel? Vehicles? Software? Check it out
expressnews.com
Explore our interactive gameboard to see which Texas cities and counties received Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star grants and how they used the money.
1
24
16
When he launched Operation Lone Star in 2021, @GregAbbott_TX incentivized counties to participate in mass trespassing prosecutions with a grant program that purported to reimburse local governments for border enforcement costs. His office has paid out more than $110m so far.
1
4
3
There's no shortage of Texas news atm but this is an important piece of (non-red*stricting) journalism ––> Tricked-out trucks and office upgrades: Gov. Greg Abbott's Operation Lone Star was a bonanza for Texas cities. via @jlbuch + @benwermund + @matt_zdun
https://t.co/zkRGsYocVu
expressnews.com
Lone Star grants paid for pickups, office furniture, workout rooms and other items with little connection to border security. 'There it is,' we'll take it,' one county judge said of the state money.
1
11
20
Don’t miss these slider maps by @matt_zdun that show how the Houston-area’s Congressional representation would change under the proposed maps! Linked below.
NEW: Houston Rep. Al Green's district targeted under Republicans' new congressional map (w/ @JeremySWallace)
0
3
3
Texas Republicans released a new congressional map that could help them pick up five more seats in 2026. Search @HoustonChron’s map to see how the districts will change. Kudos to @matt_zdun for the great work: #txlege
houstonchronicle.com
Texas Republicans' proposed congressional map would give the party five new winnable seats ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Search our map to see if your district would change.
0
7
7
Read my introductory column as the @HoustonChron's new opinion editor and see how many times I say "Build the Ike Dike" (link in next tweet)
30
43
271
Check out our new Houston city budget explorer w/ @ameliawinger and @abbschurch
We have a fun new tool on the @HoustonChron website... ✨a city budget explorer✨ Curious what cash went into or was taken from your city services under this year's budget? @matt_zdun and I break it down here:
0
2
6
Search through the $20 million in donations @GregAbbott_TX received in just 8 days after the #txlege session with this very handy database by @matt_zdun:
houstonchronicle.com
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott raised $20 million over eight days in June, with several $1 million checks from GOP megadonors.
0
3
1