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Exposure to different political perspectives can be discomforting, but these days I’ve noticed that folks treat it as particularly hellish. I blame the internet. The online experience has made it far too easy to create information bubbles where our most passionate opinions are always correct and our personal enemies are universally loathed. In comparison to that epistemological Elysium, the messiness of our real world can feel positively demonic.
So I’d imagine many Houstonians found themselves enduring that infernal experience over the past few weeks as City Hall debated how the Houston Police Department should — and shouldn’t — be involved in enforcing immigration law.
For all of the rhetoric coming out of the White House in support of mass deportation, the Kinder Institute has found that the overwhelming majority of Houstonians think the right response to illegal immigration is more pathways to citizenship. At the same time, there is still a significant rump of residents who want mass deportation. Confronting that reality can be painful.
Read my column on this tension between a digital opinion heaven and a messy reality.
After all, the Houston Chronicle opinion section exists to help pierce the heavenly veil and reflect the full spectrum of opinion in our city. If some of the content makes you feel uncomfortable, consider it a sign that we’re doing our job. But we can’t do our job unless you share your opinions. So keep those op-eds and letters to the editor coming.
If you need a prompt to get you started, this week we’re asking Houstonians how they feel about the job market. Send us your answer here.
And if you’re looking for a sign from above that the Houston Chronicle really does care about our city, the Texas Managing Editors just gave the editorial board its top community service.
Our picks
Photo by: Courtesy Matthew Childress
By Matthew Childress
Nine months after the flood, the camp’s pattern of failure is clear.
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 Photo by: Sam Owens, San Antonio Express-News |
By Molly Young, Janice Reyes It is common for children to want to return to the place where trauma occurred. This is often misread as resilience. But wanting to return is not the same as being ready. Read More |
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 Photo by: Sam Owens, San Antonio Express-News |
By O'Kelley and Paul Little Blame is immediate. It is satisfying. It has a target. Truth is slower. It is harder. It requires restraint. Read More |
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 Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Houston Chronicle |
By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Enough waffling, Mayor Whitmire. Time to side with enforcing local laws and keeping Houston safe, not with aiding Donald Trump's immigration dragnet, writes the Houston Chronicle editorial board. Read More |
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 Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Houston Chronicle |
By Bill King There are good reasons not to involve local police in immigration enforcement, but Houston’s debate on HPD and ICE was often more about political theater than objective facts, writes Bill King. Read More |
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 Photo by: Susan Holley / Susan Holley |
By Joe Holley, Correspondent House Speaker Dustin Burrows wants Texas to study annexing part of New Mexico. Look up 'Santa Fe Expedition' or 'Battle of Glorieta Pass,' writes Joe Holley. Read More |
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 Photo by: Kirk Sides, Staff Photographer |
By Jennifer Hadayia Earth Day is supposed to be a moment to take stock of progress. In Houston, it is also a reminder of how quickly that progress can be undone. Read More |
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 Photo by: Jon Shapley, Houston Chronicle |
By Michael E. Webber Believe it or not, but Earth Day has its origins in Texas. And our energy economy has done a great deal to improve the environment — but there's more work to be done, writes Michael E. Webber. Read More |
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 Photo by: Johnny Hanson |
By Kevin Prufer Journalist Michael Berryhill didn't just help secure the freedom of Eroy Brown. His book on the murder trial of Brown exposed the cruelty of the Texas prison system, writes UH professor Kevin Prufer. Read More |
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 Photo by: Brett Coomer, Staff Photographer |
By Sam Torn The answer to our current moment is not noise. It is character. Read More |
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 Photo by: Melissa Phillip, Houston Chronicle |
By David Lyon Jewish tradition teaches us to embrace the world, not fence ourselves off from it. But how do you balance that with growing antisemitism? Read More |
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 Photo by: BOB CHILD, AP |
By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Also: Tesla robotaxi does Dallas, and goes wild; the Texas teacher rebellion over the Ten Commandments; and is the hoopla over Darth Vader all bull? Read More |
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 Photo by: Jason Fochtman/Staff Photographer |
By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board Where would Texas be without the Alabama-Coushatta, and yet where are they in stories celebrating early Texas, writes the editorial board. Read More |
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 Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle |
By Patrick M. “Marty” Lancton Yes, Houston firefighters did get a raise. No, it wasn’t a secret, writes Marty Lancton, president of the Houston Professional Fire Fighters Association. Read More |
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 Photo by: Angela Piazza/Associated Press |
By Nick Powell, Staff Writer Greg Abbott hitching his re-election to Elon Musk amid the billionaire's fading influence and growing baggage could prove a costly misfire. Read More |
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From our readers
 Photo by: Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle |
"Contrary to common belief, many people who oppose Ten Commandments monuments do not have any animus towards what the Commandments say," writes David R. Hoffman. Read More |
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 Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Houston Chronicle |
"We advocate for a return to strong academic fundamentals: language arts instruction grounded in the science of reading, and math curricula focused on essential skills," writes Denise Bell. Read More |
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 Photo by: Jay Janner, Austin American-Statesman |
"As a UT grad, I have great respect for UT, but I also have great concern for the outcome of its ongoing alliances with MAGA bedfellows," writes James L. Hildebran. Read More |
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 Photo by: Sam Owens, San Antonio Express-News |
"Let’s put the blame for the Camp Mystic deaths where it really belongs: on Mother Nature and on Austin," writes Janet A. Nussbaum. Read More |
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 Photo by: Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle |
"The mayor should not allow this city to be held hostage and blackmailed by a mean-spirited governor," writes Sammye Larson. Read More |
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 Photo by: Raquel Natalicchio, Houston Chronicle |
"The Second Amendment can and should work hand in hand with commonsense gun safety laws that save lives," writes Scott Spreier. Read More |
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We want to hear from you! Have an opinion or a response to one of our stories? Learn how to submit your op-eds or letters here or shoot us an email at viewpoints@chron.com. |
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Events
Photo by: Houston Chronicle Staff
Houston Chronicle and Chron.com readers are invited to a virtual event on April 30 at noon CST featuring local appraisal leaders and Chronicle journalists discussing 2025 property trends, tax-saving exemptions, and the protest process.
