Rachel Monroe
Rachel Monroe is a contributing writer at The New Yorker, where she covers Texas and the Southwest. She began contributing to the magazine in 2017, and has written about “vanlife” influencers, essential-oil multi-level marketing companies, and stolen valor. Previously, she was a contributing writer at The Atlantic and has also written for the New York Times Magazine, New York, Esquire, and many other publications. Her first book, “Savage Appetites: True Stories of Women, Crime, and Obsession,” was published in 2019. She lives in Marfa, Texas.
How a Homegrown Teen Gang Punctured the Image of an Upscale Community
The authorities didn’t seem to pay attention to the Gilbert Goons until one boy was dead and seven others were charged with murder.
The Decline of the Rio Grande
When the water runs out, there are no good options. One of the poorest regions in Texas faces an uncertain future.
What George Kelly’s Mistrial Says About How We See the Border
The Arizona rancher was accused of killing a migrant. A tragedy, and a possible murder, quickly became a political cause.
The Place to Buy Kurt Cobain’s Sweater and Truman Capote’s Ashes
As the art market cools, Julien’s Auctions earns millions selling celebrity ephemera—and used its connections to help Kim Kardashian borrow Marilyn Monroe’s J.F.K.-birthday dress.
El Paso’s Saint of the Border Negotiates a New Reality
For nearly fifty years, Ruben Garcia has welcomed migrants and refugees at Annunciation House. Amid record border crossings, Texas is now trying to shut down his network of shelters.
Greg Abbott’s Anti-Migrant Standoff at the Border
The governor of Texas has triggered a constitutional crisis about who controls entry from Mexico, and some supporters are there for the spectacle.
Is There Hope for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women?
A hashtag and a political campaign have brought attention to the epidemic of violence, but a New Mexico woman is fighting case by case.
When a Border Closure Hits Americans
The shutting of a crossing in Arizona has reduced access to a popular Mexican beach town, leading to outrage from unfamiliar sources.
The Drag Queens Fighting Performance Bans in Texas
As a series of repressive bills targets drag shows across the country, performers in Texas try out a novel defense.
Surveying the Vintage Market at Texas’s Wildest Antique Fair
The craze for old things reaches its peak of excess in Round Top.
The Last Gun I Shot
As a Texan, as an American, I believed that I wouldn’t be able to understand where I lived unless I wrapped my head around the guns themselves.
How Larry McMurtry Defined and Undermined the Idea of Texas
The “Lonesome Dove” author’s great subject was the mismatch between the glamorized West and the grimmer reality.
The Ken Paxton Verdict Is Not the Vindication Republicans Want
The Texas attorney general was acquitted of corruption charges, but the trial further damaged the Republican brand.
Texas’s Dying Swimming Holes
Taking a dip in the summer was as central to the state’s identity as barbecue and Willie Nelson. Then came a population boom and climate change.
How an Amateur Diver Became a True-Crime Sensation
Jared Leisek carved a lucrative niche in the YouTube sleuthing community. Then the sleuths came for him.
Sotol and the Making of the Next Big Drink
The Mexican spirit has been called the next mezcal. But its newfound popularity has brought problems, too.
The Enduring Panic About Cow Mutilations
Aliens, the government, or unspecified shadowy forces—another round of “mutes” incites familiar fears.
The Renewed Importance of the Texas Gay Rodeo
As conservative politicians try to control expressions of gender and sexuality, a rural haven from hostility offers competition and comfort.
What Really Happened at Waco
Thirty years later, an avoidable tragedy has spawned a politically ascendant mythology.
The Horrifying Epidemic of Teen-Age Fentanyl Deaths in a Texas County
Students have overdosed during class, in bathrooms, and in an elementary-school parking lot.
How a Homegrown Teen Gang Punctured the Image of an Upscale Community
The authorities didn’t seem to pay attention to the Gilbert Goons until one boy was dead and seven others were charged with murder.
The Decline of the Rio Grande
When the water runs out, there are no good options. One of the poorest regions in Texas faces an uncertain future.
What George Kelly’s Mistrial Says About How We See the Border
The Arizona rancher was accused of killing a migrant. A tragedy, and a possible murder, quickly became a political cause.
The Place to Buy Kurt Cobain’s Sweater and Truman Capote’s Ashes
As the art market cools, Julien’s Auctions earns millions selling celebrity ephemera—and used its connections to help Kim Kardashian borrow Marilyn Monroe’s J.F.K.-birthday dress.
El Paso’s Saint of the Border Negotiates a New Reality
For nearly fifty years, Ruben Garcia has welcomed migrants and refugees at Annunciation House. Amid record border crossings, Texas is now trying to shut down his network of shelters.
Greg Abbott’s Anti-Migrant Standoff at the Border
The governor of Texas has triggered a constitutional crisis about who controls entry from Mexico, and some supporters are there for the spectacle.
Is There Hope for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women?
A hashtag and a political campaign have brought attention to the epidemic of violence, but a New Mexico woman is fighting case by case.
When a Border Closure Hits Americans
The shutting of a crossing in Arizona has reduced access to a popular Mexican beach town, leading to outrage from unfamiliar sources.
The Drag Queens Fighting Performance Bans in Texas
As a series of repressive bills targets drag shows across the country, performers in Texas try out a novel defense.
Surveying the Vintage Market at Texas’s Wildest Antique Fair
The craze for old things reaches its peak of excess in Round Top.
The Last Gun I Shot
As a Texan, as an American, I believed that I wouldn’t be able to understand where I lived unless I wrapped my head around the guns themselves.
How Larry McMurtry Defined and Undermined the Idea of Texas
The “Lonesome Dove” author’s great subject was the mismatch between the glamorized West and the grimmer reality.
The Ken Paxton Verdict Is Not the Vindication Republicans Want
The Texas attorney general was acquitted of corruption charges, but the trial further damaged the Republican brand.
Texas’s Dying Swimming Holes
Taking a dip in the summer was as central to the state’s identity as barbecue and Willie Nelson. Then came a population boom and climate change.
How an Amateur Diver Became a True-Crime Sensation
Jared Leisek carved a lucrative niche in the YouTube sleuthing community. Then the sleuths came for him.
Sotol and the Making of the Next Big Drink
The Mexican spirit has been called the next mezcal. But its newfound popularity has brought problems, too.
The Enduring Panic About Cow Mutilations
Aliens, the government, or unspecified shadowy forces—another round of “mutes” incites familiar fears.
The Renewed Importance of the Texas Gay Rodeo
As conservative politicians try to control expressions of gender and sexuality, a rural haven from hostility offers competition and comfort.
What Really Happened at Waco
Thirty years later, an avoidable tragedy has spawned a politically ascendant mythology.
The Horrifying Epidemic of Teen-Age Fentanyl Deaths in a Texas County
Students have overdosed during class, in bathrooms, and in an elementary-school parking lot.