Texas becomes the first state with a strict abortion ban to provide doctors with guidelines on exceptions. We’ll dig into what’s in those guidelines with ProPublica reporter Cassandra Jaramillo. Coming soon to the pristine spaces of the Big Bend: Construction of a border wall. We’ll look at how many locals are trying to push back. And in a state that loves football, why the Bad Bunny halftime show will be the main event in many Texas homes this Super Bowl Sunday. Texas Standard is a listener-sup...
Feb 06, 2026•50 min
The application window opens for Texas education savings accounts, often called school vouchers. But demand may outstrip available funds. We’ll talk with two reporters for the Houston Chronicle closely following the application process, hear about the application experience of one Texas mom, and learn more about what’s included, what isn’t, and what happens if there’s not enough taxpayer money to go around. SpaceX and xAI could be poised for the largest IPO in history. We’ll dig into what this m...
Feb 05, 2026•50 min
The partial government shutdown is over. Did you know we were in one? Well, now another could be on the way as negotiations over ICE’s budget persists on Capitol Hill. Texas school boards are considering a new state law that allows time to be set aside during the day for prayer and reading the Bible. Texas has split from the American Bar Association. We’ll tell you why and the impacts the move might have. Our Shelly Brisbin explains how Elon Musk’s Starlink stands to benefit from a multibillion-...
Feb 04, 2026•50 min
Texas state prisons that don’t have a/c get so hot in summer with temperatures that violate state standards for other lockups. Also, well-known former Texas Police Chief Art Acevedo questions tactics used by immigration agents in Minneapolis. We’ll hear from him about his concerns over fallout for other law enforcement. And we’ll check in to see how people in Kerr County are coping with the mental health consequences in the aftermath of the July 4 flood. Plus, the legacy of Houston hip-hop pione...
Feb 03, 2026•52 min
In a little-watched race, Taylor Rehmet’s surprise win for Democrats in Texas may be a potential warning shot for Republicans in a midterm election year. Is this a one-off, or is the GOP in trouble in the Lone Star State? Also, Texas environmental regulators greenlight what looks like the largest fossil-fueled power plant project in the country. We’ll dig into what it might tell us about energy and the environment in Texas going forward. The post Democrat makes surprise win in solid-red Texas di...
Feb 02, 2026•49 min
With national attention focused on the tactics of immigration enforcement, a concern is growing among Texas Republicans about the political fallout. We’re still months away for an important midterm election. But this weekend, voters in one part of Texas will be picking their representative to Congress. Andrew Schneider of Houston Public Media brings us the backstory of the race to replace the late Sylvester Turner. A new order from Gov. Abbott on H-1B visas has many institutions of higher educat...
Jan 30, 2026•50 min
Protesters outside the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley called for the release of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father who were taken into ICE custody in Minnesota.Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, a massive military buildup as President Trump warns Iran to abandon its nuclear program – or else. But this may be about more than just nukes.Also, what new census numbers tell us about the state of the Lone Star State. The post Protesters, DPS troopers clash outside Dil...
Jan 29, 2026•50 min
The second death of a person in Minnesota at the hands of ICE agents has fueled an outcry from some for another government shutdown.Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers aren’t just in Minnesota, of course. They’re also showing up in small-town Texas. A look at their impact on Elgin.We’ll hear from journalists José Ralat and Rodrigo Bravo Jr. who believe they were targeted by officers in West Texas.A hangout in Austin that promotes doodling nights for adults.And how some dairy farmers are...
Jan 28, 2026•50 min
Pressure builds inside the Texas detention center in Dilley housing parents and children. What’s behind a protest that erupted there over the weekend? Second Amendment advocates speak out after licensed gun owner Alex Pretti is killed by Border Patrol agents in Minnesota. A look at how weight loss drugs are transforming obesity and diabetes care in San Antonio. Introducing the upstart jazz orchestra at Huston-Tillotson University that’s among the top in the country. And a North Texas estate sale...
Jan 27, 2026•50 min
An update on this weekend’s winter storm – the lingering aftereffects, and when to expect things to get back to “normal.”Though the worst may be over, many extreme cold advisories have been issued statewide today, and frozen precipitation is making many secondary roads treacherous. We’ll have an update, plus a look at the storm’s impact on the power grid.Despite hazardous driving conditions, an important political debate went on as scheduled Saturday: A showdown between the top two Democrats run...
Jan 26, 2026•51 min
Texans statewide are preparing for the biggest winter storm we’ve seen in years. We’ll have the latest on a weekend of snow, ice and freezing rain that’s en route to Texas. At the moment, officials say the power grid is looking good, though localized outages are likely due to falling limbs and ice on power lines. For now, though, the first debate between U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and State Rep. James Talarico for the Democratic nomination for a U.S. Senate seat is still a go. We’ll have the lat...
Jan 23, 2026•50 min
Texans prepare for a major winter storm, projected to be the most severe since the deadly winter storm of 2021. We’ll get an update on preparations by state officials in what promises to be the first real test of the power grid since Winter Storm Uri five years ago. A Uvalde school police officer, the first law enforcement official to be charged in connection with the Robb Elementary School shooting, has been acquitted by a jury. Also, the death of Cuban immigrant at an El Paso detention center ...
Jan 22, 2026•51 min
Freezing temperatures and ice are in the forecast for much of Texas. We’ll go over what you need to know to feel prepared. An investigation into jail deaths in Tarrant County finds a common denominator: A lieutenant who looked on. Drone delivery could soon be coming to your front porch. We’ll cover the companies embracing the technology and the challenges it brings. The new PBS documentary, “American Sons,” highlights the lives of Marines who served together in Afghanistan and how they remember ...
Jan 21, 2026•50 min
A year ago, President Trump began his second term in office with a promise to carry out mass deportations. We’ll have a view from the border on today’s Texas Standard. Is the state funding private schools that discriminate? An update on a lawsuit challenging the heartbeat abortion law in Texas. Plus, award-winning photojournalist and musician Tamir Kalifa combines his talents to document the Uvalde school shooting and other events in a new project titled “Witness.” The post ‘Witness’ blends musi...
Jan 20, 2026•50 min
From one end of Texas to the other: Parades, celebrations and service events in honor of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Veteran host of “In Black America,” John L. Hanson Jr., pays tribute to the civil rights leader. We’ll also hear from the host of a new PBS documentary on the evolving legacy of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. We’ll delve into the death of an ICE detainee at the nation’s largest detention facility in El Paso – a death that may soon be ruled a homicide. And a ...
Jan 19, 2026•51 min
It may be the single election day with the greatest power to reshape the Texas political landscape, and yet most Texas voters don’t bother with it. We’ll unpack it today. Do you know when the Texas primaries are? Plan to vote in them? The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins us with the often-misunderstood stakes of primary season. Two weeks after the U.S. military action in Venezuela, why some in very pro-Trump Midland are worried about the bottom line. Plus, the San Antonian behind one of the ...
Jan 16, 2026•50 min
Dueling ballot challenges in Tarrant County: Why longtime Texas politics-watchers say they’ve never seen anything like it. A look at a teacher’s alleged sexual misconduct and a new state law that could wind up costing a local school district millions. We’ll dive into whether other school districts could be on the hook as more victims seek accountability. Tech expert Omar Gallaga explains a controversy over explicit images generated by X’s AI tool, Grok. And a check-in on where Texas is at amid p...
Jan 15, 2026•50 min
A new investigation shows officials were confused about how many were missing at Camp Mystic in the hours after the deadly July 4 Hill Country flood.A disruption in the courtroom during the trial of the school police officer accused of not doing enough to intervene in the Uvalde shooting: Why the sister of one of the teachers killed said she couldn’t keep quiet. SpaceX rocket launches in South Texas have affected some commercial flights. We’ll look at a ProPublica investigation over how explosio...
Jan 14, 2026•50 min
The Republican race for U.S. Senate heats up with incumbent John Cornyn raising a record amount of money ahead of the primary. We’ll dive into where the race stands there, as well as between Democrats Jasmine Crockett and James Talarico. Six months after the catastrophic Hill Country flood, where do recovery efforts stand? Hope for the future and fear nothing will change: How Venezuelans in Texas view their country’s future now that Nicolás Maduro is gone. What closing the hemp loophole means fo...
Jan 13, 2026•50 min
The killing of Renee Nicole Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis last week sparked protests around the nation this weekend. We’ll look at what happened here in Texas. The state of Texas has handed over voter registration rolls to the Trump administration Justice Department. Why Texas Democrats and some experts fear that could have violated federal law and exposed confidential information about Texas voters. For some women behind bars in Nueces County, a financial education effort is underway that...
Jan 12, 2026•51 min
Concerns about the flu are making headlines in many places across the country. Where do we stand in Texas? Our conversation with the state’s epidemiologist to hear how concerned Texans need to be as flu season ramps up. Also, more and more Texas parents are crying foul over the rising cost of their kids playing in youth sports leagues. It’s not just about uniforms and equipment, either. And Netflix: not just for the sofa anymore. How the company’s making a move to brick and mortar. Texas Standar...
Jan 09, 2026•50 min
Over three years later, the first criminal trial over the police response to the Uvalde school shooting is underway. We’ll have a live report with the latest in the trial of one of the first police officers to arrive at the scene of the deadly school shooting at Robb Elementary. With a big meeting set at the White House on Friday, we’ll review the stakes for Texas’ oil industry after the capture and arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. We’ll hear why a Texas teachers union is suing the...
Jan 08, 2026•50 min
The legal case against Nicolás Maduro and his wife has begun, but how’s that going to work exactly? Venezuelans living abroad, including here in Texas, continue to react to the capture. Why Austin-based “Freedom is a Feast” author Alejandro Puyana says it’s so important we keep including their voices in the news coverage. The U.S. military might increase fitness standards. Why some are pushing back on the idea. New energy projects are taking off in Matagorda County. What it means for the mostly ...
Jan 07, 2026•51 min
The latest from inside Venezuela as the Trump administration takes over and an interim president is sworn in. A look at the on again, off again immigration status of Venezuelans seeking asylum in this country – and Texas, in particular. Dallas County prosecuted its first fentanyl dealer, so how did the case fall apart? Birders have been busy with the annual Christmas Bird Count. A look at what they saw along the coast of Galveston Island. And with a new year comes a new Public Domain Day. From B...
Jan 06, 2026•50 min
A historic U.S. military operation has extracted Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro from the country. What are the implications, both for Texas and the U.S.? University of Texas global affairs expert Jeremi Suri weighs in on this weekend’s events, including the legality of the Venezuela operation and whether it was about narcoterrorism, oil, or something more. Speaking of oil, we’ll look at the implications for Texas as a global hub of the petroleum industry. Plus, the future of oil and gas in ...
Jan 05, 2026•52 min
As we celebrated 10 years of the Texas Standard in 2025, our yearlong tour of the state recently took us to our partners at Texas Public Radio, based in San Antonio. Though its many landmarks bring in the tourists, new residents are rushing in, too – putting pressure on resources like energy and water. We explored those growing pains but also sampled the tastes and sounds that make San Antonio special. The post Encore presentation: A special broadcast from San Antonio appeared first on KUT &...
Jan 02, 2026•51 min
Texas Standard had the best seat in the state for the recent Geminid meteor shower. We’re revisiting our special broadcast from the McDonald Observatory earlier this month. We’re focused on space science, including the history of this West Texas research gem – and how it’s continuing to contribute to what we know about the universe and beyond. Dark skies are essential for observation, but there are challenges with light pollution. What they’re doing out in Fort Davis and what you can do at home....
Jan 01, 2026•52 min
As we wrap up 2025, we’re reflecting on some of the most important news moments of the past year, including what happened with new proposals aplenty passed during the biennial state legislative session. We’ll also drill down on some original investigative reporting of the year with the Texas Newsroom’s Lauren McGaughy and look at how 2026 is teed up for Texas through a political lens. The post The top news of the year and looking ahead to 2026 appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts...
Dec 31, 2025•52 min
Texas could lose as many as 17 members of Congress next year. What does that mean for the Lone Star State in terms of clout? The clock is ticking as federal funding for the 988 Crisis Lifeline expires next year. Distractions are everywhere. “Indistractable” author Nir Eyal offers strategies for focusing on what matters to you. And as we wrap up our birthday celebration marking 10 years, we’ll take a look back at our favorite animal stories – from remarkable dogs and cats to fascinating wildlife....
Dec 30, 2025•52 min
There may be no personal income tax in Texas, but property tax? That’s another thing. And perhaps, the next big thing in Texas politics. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey joins us with more on what’s emerging as a new theme in Texas politics for 2026: Property taxes. 4 million Texans signed up for health plans from the Affordable Care Act marketplace, and all are expected to be paying more for their premiums in the new year if subsidies are allowed to expire. And look back at some of the big st...
Dec 29, 2025•51 min
