Democrats should boil Hitler in Texas oil again

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Good morning.

If I had to sum up the ideal political platform for a Lone Star politician, it would probably be a 1940s photo of the petroleum workers union in Texas City holding a banner that reads “Boil Hitler In Texas Oil.”

Who could say no to supporting domestic energy, opposing Nazis and fighting for the working class?

It’s a political trifecta Texas Democrats would be wise to reclaim, especially if they want to turn the state blue in 2026.

Now would be a prime opportunity to make the move. As the editorial board wrote today, President Trump’s harmful tariffs and chaotic trade wars have the flagship industry of Texas reeling, and that was before crude prices dipped to $55 per barrel. Predictable environmental regulations would be preferable to Trump’s Calvinball.

Read my op-ed urging Democrats to reconsider their Biden-era antagonism toward the oil and gas industry: “Boil Hitler in Texas oil” is the energy politics Democrats need again.

As for me, my days of boiling oil have come to a close. Hanukkah ended last night, closing out a holiday season of frying potato pancake latkes. Now Christmas is just a few days away, and the Houston Chronicle editorial board wants to know how Houstonians are celebrating. Do you have any special ornaments? What are your family’s traditions? You can share photos of your Christmas tree here!

Evan Mintz, Editor of Opinion and Community Engagement

evan.mintz@houstonchronicle.com

Our picks

Juana sits in her father’s work van in Houston, TX on November 22, 2025. Her father, a handyman with no deportation orders, was detained on his way to work on October, 24, 2025 and is being held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Conroe, TX.

Photo by: Sharon Steinmann, Houston Chronicle

Luis is a handyman, not a criminal. Why lock him up? | Editorial

By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board

Houston must acknowledge we are part of the immigration crackdown and crisis, and advocate for our families, writes the Editorial Board.

Israel is seen in a baseball photo on the family’s refrigerator. Luis was detained on his way to work on October, 24, 2025 and is being held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Conroe, TX.

Photo by: Sharon Steinmann, Houston Chronicle

They were born in America. Trump is tearing their family apart. | Editorial

By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board

Three of his children were born in the United States. Now they are grappling with the aftermath of his immigration detention. Houston must stand up for its mixed-status families.

Luis and his family are seen in a family photo as they head to an Astros game in Houston, TX. The husband and father of 5 was detained by ICE on October, 24, 2025. He is being held at a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Conroe, TX.

Photo by: Courtesy Photo

Luis grew deep Houston roots. Can his family stop his deportation? | Editorial

By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board

This is the third part in a series about a handyman with no criminal record arrested by masked government agents on Bellaire and detained by ICE.

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - DECEMBER 5: U.S. Chief Border Patrol Agent, Gregory Bovino and other agents conduct an immigration enforcement operation in a neighborhood on December 5, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana This comes on the third day of the operation in Louisiana, 'Catahoula Crunch,' launched by the Department of Homeland Security as a part of an immigration crackdown on undocumented immigrants in the United States. (Photo by Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)

Photo by: Ryan Murphy, Getty Images

New Orleans showed Houston how to resist masked immigration agents | Editorial

By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board

New Orleans has a blueprint for fighting a deportation dragnet that’s running out of criminals.

George Retes is a U.S. citizen and veteran who was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Photo by: Institute For Justice

I’m a citizen. ICE wrongfully detained me. So why can’t I sue? | Opinion

By George Retes

I’m a citizen. ICE wrongfully detained me. So why can’t I sue? Congress needs to change the law so that we can hold federal agents accountable for violating constitutional rights, says George Retes.

Chloe Childress, a counselor at Camp Mystic, died in the Texas Hill Country floods.

Photo by: Courtesy Matthew Childress

My daughter Chloe died at Camp Mystic. The camp's magic died with her. | Opinion

By Matthew Childress

Since Chloe died in the July 4 flash flood, my wife and I have learned far too much about grief, writes Matthew Childress.

Houston Chabad Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff with his nephews Leibel and Lazer Lazaroff in 2022. Leibel was shot in a terror attack on a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia in 2025.

Photo by: Courtesy Of Chaim Lazaroff

My nephew was shot in the Bondi Beach attack. We’re still celebrating Hanukkah.

By Chaim Lazaroff

Rabbi Chaim Lazaroff of Houston explains why it is important to spread light and proudly express Judaism after an antisemitic terror attack.

After coming up empty in the Texas Legislature this year, the state's biggest political donor, Texans for Lawsuit Reform, put out a blistering statement blaming House members for stifling its agenda. The letter blamed a slew of House members, including Speaker Dustin Burrows (top) and freshman Rep. Mitch Little (bottom).

Photo by: Photo Illustration By Susan Barber, Houston Chronicle

Trial lawyers are the new GOP power brokers. They must be stopped. | Opinion

By Dick Weekley

The chairman and founder of Texans for Lawsuit Reform points out that trial lawyers are spending millions to shape right-wing politics and abandon tort reform.

U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei answers quetsions during a press conference announcing arrests and court actions related to a widespread international AI technology exporting scheme with links to Chin at the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Houston on Monday, Dec. 8, 2025.

Photo by: Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle

What a Houston AI chip smuggler reveals about Trump's China surrender | Opinion

Why is Trump surrendering in our AI war with China, asks Chris Bronk, a professor at the UH Hobby School of Public Policy.

People work on a drilling rig as the sun sets Wednesday, July 6, 2022, in Pecos.

Photo by: Jon Shapley, Staff Photographer

Trump’s cheap gasoline obsession is killing the Texas oil patch | Editorial

By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board

Texas oil producers are hoping Donald Trump's second year in office will bring the cost of a barrel back to Goldilocks prices.

Champion Forest Baptist Church's annual Christmas Spectacular draws 30,000 attendees.

Photo by: Courtesy Photo

Three wise men and a grumpy camel | Thumbs

By Houston Chronicle Editorial Board

Also: Lina Hidalgo drops more drama-bombs on Democratic Party; Elon Musk defies gravity, gets even richer; and New York Times like ChopnBlock more than Chipotle

Buried in Trump's mega budget bill -- the 'One, Big, Beautiful Bill' -- is a single sentence that has the power to undermine efforts to protect against the dangers of unfettered AI development.

Photo by: Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP, TNS