Zach Despart is an Investigative Reporter at the ProPublica-Texas Tribune investigative unit. He focuses on the intersection of business, politics, and government, exploring how these areas influence one another. His work has been featured in prominent outlets such as the Houston Chronicle, The Texas Tribune, and the Austin American-Statesman, among others.
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Austin, United States (Local)
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Zach Despart's coverage primarily focuses on local government and political developments in Texas, particularly related to the Texas Legislature, education bills, school vouchers, and legal rulings. He also touches upon real estate industry matters.
Given his focus on local politics and legislation, Zach would likely be interested in insights from local policymakers or experts with direct knowledge of the issues being covered. Pitches pertaining to the impact of legislative decisions on specific communities within Texas could be effective.
Additionally, since he covers evolving stories and announcements from government sources extensively, providing timely updates or expert commentary on ongoing legislative processes may grab his attention.
This information evolves through artificial intelligence and human feedback. Improve this profile .
By: Zach Despart, Alejandro Serrano, Ben Lowy
Texas officials suggested the federal government could pick up construction. However, during President Trump’s first term, his administration built about one-third of what the state was able to put up in the same amount of time.
By: Zach Despart
Despite having an office of hundreds of attorneys, Ken Paxton is frequently opting for private lawyers — many to whom he has personal or political ties — to argue on behalf of Texas. One attorney cost taxpayers more than $24,000 for a day’s work.
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By: Zach Despart
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is handing more of his office’s work to costly private lawyers ” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues.
By: Zach Despart
by Zach Despart, The Texas Tribune Thu, July 24th 2025 at 6:48 AM Updated Thu, July 24th 2025 at 11:10 AM
By: Zach Despart
Despite having hundreds of attorneys on staff, Ken Paxton frequently opts to hire private lawyers. One cost taxpayers more than $24,000 in one day.
By: Jen Fifield, Zach Despart
It’s the latest step in an unprecedented initiative to pool confidential data that the Trump administration claims will help identify noncitizens on voter rolls and tighten immigration enforcement.
By: Zach Despart, Jen Fifield
Critics warn the DHS database could wrongly flag citizens as noncitizens, risking voter access and trust.
By: Zach Despart, Jen Fifield
DHS plans to add state driver's license information to a federal system for checking citizenship, raising privacy concerns and potential for errors.
By: Zach Despart
Just last year, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott joined a bipartisan chorus of governors in denouncing a Biden administration plan they said would strip states of powers guaranteed to them under federal law.
