Stay Connected:

John Bridges

Managing editor, Austin American-Statesman

John Bridges is the managing editor of the Austin American-Statesman. An American-Statesman employee for more than 20 years, he previously served as the newspaper's senior editor for local and state news, national editor, news editor, metro editor and sports editor. His duties include oversight of PolitiFact Texas.

The latest Truth-O-Meter items from John Bridges

True

Not for years

Beto O'Rourke
Beto O'Rourke

"I don’t take a dime of PAC money."

— PolitiFact Texas on Monday, August 20th, 2018

Mostly True

Charter schools boosted

Donna Howard
Donna Howard

Says Texas charter schools "get 100% state $/pupil funding while district schools (95% students) get about 1/3 funding from state w/ rest coming from local prop taxes (which is why those taxes are so high). Districts getting less b/c scarce $ going to charters."    

— PolitiFact Texas on Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

Pants on Fire!

Way off

Will Hurd
Will Hurd

Says Democratic challenger Gina Ortiz Jones has raised "more money from Massachusetts than" from Texas.

— PolitiFact Texas on Wednesday, August 15th, 2018

False

UPDATED: Never never never...

Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott

Says Winston Churchill said, "The fascists of the future will call themselves anti-fascists."

— PolitiFact Texas on Tuesday, August 7th, 2018

Mostly True

There's an if

Ted Cruz
Ted Cruz

Says Beto O’Rourke is "open to abolishing ICE."

— PolitiFact Texas on Monday, August 6th, 2018

Mostly True

Record number of assaults in 2016

Omar Rachid
Omar Rachid

"Muslims in America have been subjected to more insults, attacks and hate crimes in the last two or three years than ever before, specifically more than after 9-11."    

— PolitiFact Texas on Friday, August 3rd, 2018

True

Is voting 'present' the 'chicken way?'

Roger Williams
Roger Williams

Says he’s "never voted ‘present’ in the House instead of taking a yes or no position.

— PolitiFact Texas on Thursday, July 26th, 2018

Mostly True

People volunteered to be surveyed online

Republican Party of Texas
Republican Party of Texas

Says a poll showed Democrat Beto O’Rourke within 2 percentage points of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz.

— PolitiFact Texas on Friday, July 20th, 2018

True

All aboard!

Roman McAllen
Roman McAllen

"The Railroad Commission of Texas has nothing to do with railroads."

— PolitiFact Texas on Thursday, July 19th, 2018

Mostly True

Houston has 155 Starbucks

Greg Abbott
Greg Abbott

"In Houston, Texas, there are more brothels than there are Starbucks."

— PolitiFact Texas on Friday, July 13th, 2018

Recent stories from John Bridges

Why Rafael Cruz goes by Ted and Robert O’Rourke by Beto

Why Rafael Cruz goes by Ted and Robert O’Rourke by Beto...
On

UPDATED: Ted Cruz ad hearkens to Beto O'Rourke's 2009 call for debate on legalizing narcotics

A new Ted Cruz ad says Beto O’Rourke called for considering legalization of all narcotics.
On

UPDATED: How Beto O'Rourke is a yes and no on impeaching Donald Trump now

Yes and no.
On

Ken Paxton no longer nation's only indicted statewide official

Ken Paxton's reign as the nation's sole indicted statewide official didn't last long.
On

Ted Cruz 'SUMMONS ENCLOSED' envelopes might deceive--but mailers aren't illegal

We review a Ted Cruz campaign mailer inside a brownish envelope.
On

Greg Abbott ad about 'too liberal' Lupe Valdez looks mostly factual

We look at the factual claims in a May 10, 2018, Greg Abbott video ad critical of Democrat Lupe Valdez.
On

Did Greg Abbott activate Texas troops to monitor Jade Helm 15?

A fresh claim reminds us of a past fact-check.
On

Alex Jones said Sandy Hook slayings 'pretty much didn't happen'

Lawsuits remind us of a fact-check.
On

Donald Trump vow to build wall funded by Mexico still 'In the Works'

PolitiFact revisited progress on President Donald Trump’s avowed border wall.
On

Free tuition and fees for UT students with family incomes of up to $80,000?

Do students get a big tuition break?
On