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.
Recovering the Dead in Texas’s Flash-Flood Alley
In the wake of disaster, people are relying on the volunteer fire department, the backbone of the Hill Country.
Is the Hispanic Red Wave for Donald Trump Starting to Crash?
In the Rio Grande Valley, bordering Mexico, ICE raids have emptied construction sites and restaurants. Recently turned Republicans are beginning to have doubts.
A Medical-History Museum Contends with Its Collection of Human Remains
Supporters saw the Mütter’s preserved fetuses, skulls, and “Soap Lady” as a celebration of human difference. New management saw an ethical and a political minefield.
The Scheme That Broke the Texas Lottery
When a “purchasing group” won a ninety-five-million-dollar jackpot, the victory caused a scandal in a state where opposition to legal gambling remains widespread.
Is Asylum Still Possible?
A young democracy activist fled Venezuela, where the government threatened to arrest her for treason. Now in ICE custody, she knows that she may be quickly deported.
The Decline of Outside Magazine Is Also the End of a Vision of the Mountain West
After its purchase by a tech entrepreneur, the publication is now a shadow of itself. A letter signed by its illustrious contributors says as much about a way of life as it does about the media industry.
Texas’s Barbecue Schism
As the state becomes more urban, so does its barbecue. So why does a small-town family feud feel so important?
How the Far Right Reports on the Border
Wid Lyman, who tries to document crossings on the southern border, is one of a growing number of citizen journalists who portray immigrants with a sense of menace.
The Complex Politics of Tribal Enrollment
How did the U.S. government become involved in “adjudicating Indianness”?
The Joy of New Americans
At ceremonies in Arizona, hundreds of people were naturalized, and many prepared to vote.
The Conservative Strategy to Ban Abortion Nationwide
A local referendum in Texas is part of a long-term effort to block abortions through the courts.
It Could All Depend on Arizona
One of the country’s most idiosyncratic electorates could determine control of the Presidency and the Senate.
One Man’s Stand Against Donald Trump’s Election Denialism
After Trump claimed the 2020 Presidential election was “rigged,” a short documentary shows the effect of election conspiracies in the crucial jurisdiction of Maricopa County, Arizona, through the experience of one elected official.
How Arizona’s Maricopa County Became the Battleground for Election Conspiracies
The contest for an obscure political office partly responsible for administering elections has become the race behind the race, with stakes that could determine the Presidency.
How Tribal Nations Are Reclaiming Oklahoma
After the Supreme Court ruled in favor of tribal interests, suddenly nearly half of the state was Native territory. What exactly does that mean?
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.
Recovering the Dead in Texas’s Flash-Flood Alley
In the wake of disaster, people are relying on the volunteer fire department, the backbone of the Hill Country.
Is the Hispanic Red Wave for Donald Trump Starting to Crash?
In the Rio Grande Valley, bordering Mexico, ICE raids have emptied construction sites and restaurants. Recently turned Republicans are beginning to have doubts.
A Medical-History Museum Contends with Its Collection of Human Remains
Supporters saw the Mütter’s preserved fetuses, skulls, and “Soap Lady” as a celebration of human difference. New management saw an ethical and a political minefield.
The Scheme That Broke the Texas Lottery
When a “purchasing group” won a ninety-five-million-dollar jackpot, the victory caused a scandal in a state where opposition to legal gambling remains widespread.
Is Asylum Still Possible?
A young democracy activist fled Venezuela, where the government threatened to arrest her for treason. Now in ICE custody, she knows that she may be quickly deported.
The Decline of Outside Magazine Is Also the End of a Vision of the Mountain West
After its purchase by a tech entrepreneur, the publication is now a shadow of itself. A letter signed by its illustrious contributors says as much about a way of life as it does about the media industry.
Texas’s Barbecue Schism
As the state becomes more urban, so does its barbecue. So why does a small-town family feud feel so important?
How the Far Right Reports on the Border
Wid Lyman, who tries to document crossings on the southern border, is one of a growing number of citizen journalists who portray immigrants with a sense of menace.
The Complex Politics of Tribal Enrollment
How did the U.S. government become involved in “adjudicating Indianness”?
The Joy of New Americans
At ceremonies in Arizona, hundreds of people were naturalized, and many prepared to vote.
The Conservative Strategy to Ban Abortion Nationwide
A local referendum in Texas is part of a long-term effort to block abortions through the courts.
It Could All Depend on Arizona
One of the country’s most idiosyncratic electorates could determine control of the Presidency and the Senate.
One Man’s Stand Against Donald Trump’s Election Denialism
After Trump claimed the 2020 Presidential election was “rigged,” a short documentary shows the effect of election conspiracies in the crucial jurisdiction of Maricopa County, Arizona, through the experience of one elected official.
How Arizona’s Maricopa County Became the Battleground for Election Conspiracies
The contest for an obscure political office partly responsible for administering elections has become the race behind the race, with stakes that could determine the Presidency.
How Tribal Nations Are Reclaiming Oklahoma
After the Supreme Court ruled in favor of tribal interests, suddenly nearly half of the state was Native territory. What exactly does that mean?
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.