W
W. Gardner Selby
Former PolitiFact Texas editor
635
Stories Published
930
Fact-Checks Published
W. Gardner Selby, former chief political writer for the Austin American-Statesman, has covered Texas politics and government off and on since working part-time for The Beaumont Enterprise at the Texas Capitol in 1982-83. He joined the Statesman as a reporter and columnist in 2005 having reported previously for four other newspapers at the Capitol. His background includes nearly five years as a state employee and nearly 40 parent-years as the father of two girls. A baseball book he read noted the popularity of "Horse ---" as an expression by ball players and umpires--perhaps an appropriate warm-up for the launch of PolitiFact Texas. As of Sept. 10, 2018, he was no longer an American-Statesman employee though he continued to research and write fact-checks.
Areas of Expertise
Latest Fact-Checks by W. Gardner Selby
- Ken Paxton airs Mostly False claim about Texas shutting down world’s largest trafficking marketplace November 1, 2018
- Mostly False: Donald Trump claim that Beto O’Rourke voted to shield MS-13 members from deportation October 25, 2018
- Beto O’Rourke says Ted Cruz has second-worst bipartisanship record of all senators in 25 years October 18, 2018
- Austin mayoral hopeful says 60 percent of Austin’s waterways deemed unsafe to swim October 16, 2018
- Beto O’Rourke says that in Texas, you can be ‘too gay’ to adopt a foster child October 4, 2018
- Ted Cruz simplifies, saying Beto O’Rourke called police officers ‘modern-day Jim Crow’ September 25, 2018
- Beto O’Rourke says he didn’t try to leave DWI accident scene. Police cited witness saying otherwise. September 25, 2018
- PAC backing Ted Cruz falsely says Beto O’Rourke voted against body armor for border sheriffs September 13, 2018
- Ken Paxton draws on debunked figures, says ‘illegals’ committed 600,000 crimes in Texas since 2011 September 7, 2018
- Greg Abbott says Texas enjoying record high-school graduation rate September 7, 2018
Latest Stories by W. Gardner Selby
- Fact-check: Is replacing Joe Biden on the ticket ‘unlawful’? Election law experts say it’s not July 22, 2024
- United Facts of America: Experts say facts alone won’t bridge the partisan divide September 27, 2022
- Would Tom Hanks have qualified for a coronavirus test in the US? March 12, 2020
- Fact-checking Donald Trump’s 2020 State of the Union address February 5, 2020
- What we know about Shadow, Acronym and the Iowa caucuses February 4, 2020
- A new look for the PolitiFact website February 2, 2020
- PolitiFact answers the Senate’s impeachment questions January 31, 2020
- What Ted Cruz, Beto O’Rourke got right and wrong in Senate debate September 24, 2018
- Fact-checking Greg Abbott’s ‘Promises Kept’ TV ad August 30, 2018
- How Geraldo Rivera touched off Dan Patrick’s debate challenge August 24, 2018
- Why Rafael Cruz goes by Ted and Robert O’Rourke by Beto August 17, 2018
- UPDATED: Ted Cruz ad hearkens to Beto O’Rourke’s 2009 call for debate on legalizing narcotics August 3, 2018
- UPDATED: How Beto O’Rourke is a yes and no on impeaching Donald Trump now July 25, 2018
- Ken Paxton no longer nation’s only indicted statewide official July 9, 2018
- Ted Cruz ‘SUMMONS ENCLOSED’ envelopes might deceive–but mailers aren’t illegal June 4, 2018
- Greg Abbott ad about ‘too liberal’ Lupe Valdez looks mostly factual May 10, 2018
- Did Greg Abbott activate Texas troops to monitor Jade Helm 15? May 3, 2018