Mimi Swartz
Texas Monthly
Houston, TX, United States
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Past articles by Mimi:
Red McCombs Turned Old San Antonio on Its Head
The larger-than-life, redheaded émigré from Spur, Texas—who died at 95—seemed intent on making the town his own. And he did. → Read More
We’ve Always Claimed That Everything Is Bigger Here. It’s Time for Us to Prove It.
For more than fifty years, the state I call home has repeatedly surprised me. The Texas of 2023? Well, it’s got me thinking a lot about how far we have, and haven’t, come. → Read More
Remembering Paul Burka—The State’s Most Revered Political Writer Was the Heart and Soul of
Friends and former colleagues share their memories of the legendary writer, editor, and mentor. → Read More
The Texas GOP Is Celebrating the End of Abortion Rights. What Freedoms Might It Target Next?
With Roe v. Wade overturned, Texans are bracing for attacks on contraception, in vitro fertilization, gay marriage, and other rights. → Read More
Making Sense of Greg Abbott’s Reaction to the Uvalde Shooting
The governor has long struggled with crisis management, in part because he always strives to avoid taking political risks. → Read More
Houston’s River Oaks Theatre Escapes Demolition—And Will Probably Get a Better Cocktail Menu
A grassroots campaign—and a multibillion-dollar corporate real estate acquisition—kept the bulldozers away. → Read More
Can Harper Watters Make Ballet Matter Again?
The Houston social media influencer is a gay Black man with a gift for the absurd and a passion for platform heels. He’s also a star dancer in one of the world’s most rigid, gendered, and segregated art forms. → Read More
Ed Hirs Has Been Predicting This Mess for Years
The Houston-based energy economist is our blackout Cassandra. Will state officials finally heed his advice? → Read More
There’s One Thing Missing in the Biden Administration: Texans
Lone Star Democrats have almost nowhere to hang their hats in the most diverse administration in U.S. history. → Read More
How the Most Hyped U.S. Oil Merger in a Decade Went Bust
As CEO of Occidental Petroleum, Vicki Hollub made the biggest deal the oil business had seen in years. Will it also go down as the biggest failure? → Read More
Luby’s, LuAnn Platters, and Me
Time had a way of stopping at the iconic cafeteria chain. Not any longer. → Read More
Legends of the Fall
Those wistful end-of-summer photos on Instagram have us deeply envious. → Read More
Life, in Dog Years
My father always pampered his pets. So when he fell ill and moved in with us, it was no surprise that his corgi came to rule our home. What I didn’t expect was for Trilby to care for me after Dad was gone. → Read More
Are Texas Kids Failing? Or Are the Tests Rigged?
A group of leading educators and testing experts have studied the exams and find that they are asking kids to understand passages aimed two or more years above their grade level. → Read More
How Houston Lost Its Mind Over a Trump Shirt
Outside a cookie shop in one of Houston’s most idyllic neighborhoods, a West University Place council member spied Trump’s name on a teenager’s shirt and yelled a few of the president’s worst words at her. Then the internet found out. It's springtime in the age of hysteria. → Read More
Barbara Bush Had a Good Life But a Hard One
As I have aged and faced my own challenges as a female on this planet, I have come to a different understanding of Barbara Bush. → Read More
Houston Must Plan For the Coming Storm
Why the remarkable heroism displayed by my fellow Houstonians will be required for years to come. → Read More
Dear Governor Abbott: Please Take Back Your Dumb Joke
Texas governor Greg Abbott jokes about carrying around evidence that he's a good shot in case he sees any reporters. → Read More
It Can't All Be Energy
A heart surgeon leads his city to the forefront of medical innovation. → Read More
Forgive Those Who Trespass Against Us?
Since he finished his prison sentence, Andy Fastow, Enron’s disgraced CFO, has been quietly trying to make amends. But is the public ready to accept his apology? → Read More