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.
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.
The Allure of Exotic Animals in Strange Places
Thefts from the Dallas Zoo made headlines. But Texas is a hotbed for ownership of all kinds of rare species.
The Search for the Perfect Stone
Business is booming, and bidding wars and backroom deals have taken over the wildly popular Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
The Mexican Firefighting Crew That Saves Lives Across the Border
The Diablos, who live south of the Rio Grande, have fought many of the biggest fires in the American West. Do they have a future?
How Native Americans Will Shape the Future of Water in the West
Tribal nations hold the rights to significant portions of the Colorado River. In the increasing drought, some are showing the way to sustainability.
Can 3-D Printing Help Solve the Housing Crisis?
Standard construction can be slow, costly, and inefficient. Machines might do it better.
The Water Wranglers of the West Are Struggling to Save the Colorado River
Farmers, bureaucrats, and water negotiators converged on Caesars Palace, in Las Vegas, to fight over the future of the drought-stricken Southwest.
The Fight for a New National Monument in Texas
El Paso’s Castner Range could transform the way that underserved communities engage with the outdoors.
Counting Through Conspiracy Theories in Arizona’s Midterms
On Tuesday, equipment malfunctioned at scores of polling places in Maricopa County, already a hotbed of election denialism. Would local officials be able to reassure the public?
Why Arizona Is a Hotbed of Election Conspiracy Theories
Close races and a contested cultural legacy have combined with Republican cowardice.
The Opulent World of the Estate-Sale Queen of Dallas
For decades, Janelle Stone has handled sales for the city’s wealthiest families.
The Disturbing Rise of Amateur Predator-Hunting Stings
How the search for men who prey on underage victims became a YouTube craze.
The Bodies in the Cave
Native people have lived in the Big Bend region for thousands of years. Who should claim their remains?
The Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision Has Given Beto O’Rourke a Fighting Chance
As a candidate for Texas governor, the Democrat was considered a long shot. But the state’s new—and extreme—restrictions have galvanized his campaign.
The Heartbreak of Going Back to School in Uvalde
The summer after the mass shooting was fraught, fragile—and rife with fear for fall.
The Missing Migrants of South Texas
Along the border, a nonprofit works to reunite families with their loved ones—alive or dead.
The True Costs of Inflation in Small-Town Texas
When R-BBQ had to cut its hours and reduce its portions, the effects rippled through the community.
The Water Wars Come to the Suburbs
A community near Scottsdale, Arizona, is running out of water. Amid the finger-pointing, the real question is: how many developments will be next?
Are Texas Republicans Budging on Gun Control?
After the Uvalde shooting, a number of gun-rights supporters see a different path forward.
The Staff of Uvalde’s Local Paper Cover the Worst Day of Their Lives
The paper’s employees lost neighbors, acquaintances, and a daughter in a school shooting. Then they had to report the story.
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.
The Allure of Exotic Animals in Strange Places
Thefts from the Dallas Zoo made headlines. But Texas is a hotbed for ownership of all kinds of rare species.
The Search for the Perfect Stone
Business is booming, and bidding wars and backroom deals have taken over the wildly popular Tucson Gem and Mineral Show.
The Mexican Firefighting Crew That Saves Lives Across the Border
The Diablos, who live south of the Rio Grande, have fought many of the biggest fires in the American West. Do they have a future?
How Native Americans Will Shape the Future of Water in the West
Tribal nations hold the rights to significant portions of the Colorado River. In the increasing drought, some are showing the way to sustainability.
Can 3-D Printing Help Solve the Housing Crisis?
Standard construction can be slow, costly, and inefficient. Machines might do it better.
The Water Wranglers of the West Are Struggling to Save the Colorado River
Farmers, bureaucrats, and water negotiators converged on Caesars Palace, in Las Vegas, to fight over the future of the drought-stricken Southwest.
The Fight for a New National Monument in Texas
El Paso’s Castner Range could transform the way that underserved communities engage with the outdoors.
Counting Through Conspiracy Theories in Arizona’s Midterms
On Tuesday, equipment malfunctioned at scores of polling places in Maricopa County, already a hotbed of election denialism. Would local officials be able to reassure the public?
Why Arizona Is a Hotbed of Election Conspiracy Theories
Close races and a contested cultural legacy have combined with Republican cowardice.
The Opulent World of the Estate-Sale Queen of Dallas
For decades, Janelle Stone has handled sales for the city’s wealthiest families.
The Disturbing Rise of Amateur Predator-Hunting Stings
How the search for men who prey on underage victims became a YouTube craze.
The Bodies in the Cave
Native people have lived in the Big Bend region for thousands of years. Who should claim their remains?
The Supreme Court’s Abortion Decision Has Given Beto O’Rourke a Fighting Chance
As a candidate for Texas governor, the Democrat was considered a long shot. But the state’s new—and extreme—restrictions have galvanized his campaign.
The Heartbreak of Going Back to School in Uvalde
The summer after the mass shooting was fraught, fragile—and rife with fear for fall.
The Missing Migrants of South Texas
Along the border, a nonprofit works to reunite families with their loved ones—alive or dead.
The True Costs of Inflation in Small-Town Texas
When R-BBQ had to cut its hours and reduce its portions, the effects rippled through the community.
The Water Wars Come to the Suburbs
A community near Scottsdale, Arizona, is running out of water. Amid the finger-pointing, the real question is: how many developments will be next?
Are Texas Republicans Budging on Gun Control?
After the Uvalde shooting, a number of gun-rights supporters see a different path forward.
The Staff of Uvalde’s Local Paper Cover the Worst Day of Their Lives
The paper’s employees lost neighbors, acquaintances, and a daughter in a school shooting. Then they had to report the story.