Tens of thousands of DACA recipients are living in legal limbo in Texas under the threat of sudden deportation. We’ll look at the ripple effects in Texas and beyond. At a Baptist university well known for its conservative values, twin events at Baylor between Turning Point USA and a progressive event called All Our Neighbors is raising questions and eyebrows. A sudden shutdown of the airspace over El Paso back in February led to widespread confusion. We’ll hear about the inter-agency feuds that ...
Apr 24, 2026•51 min
Civil rights groups say the Houston City Council has caved to threats from Gov. Greg Abbott. We’ll hear more on the city’s decision to amend an ordinance limiting local law enforcement cooperation with ICE agents. The latest frontier in the politics of energy: Andy Uhler on rising electricity demand statewide and the challenge convincing some rural Texans to get on board. Austin archery students take aim at a national competition. We’ll hear about the real target of this undertaking. “Mother Mar...
Apr 23, 2026•50 min
A judge has ordered the release of a family held in a South Texas detention center for 10 months. We’ll have a look at the case and what’s next. Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is leading a Religious Liberty Commission for President Trump. Patrick’s recent comments denying a separation between church and state could tell us more about the group’s forthcoming policy recommendations. With gas prices still high, there are calls on both sides of the aisle to suspend the gas tax. What would that save you,...
Apr 22, 2026•50 min
The state of Texas is poised to spend millions on psychedelic drug research. We’ll have the details about the clinical trials set for ibogaine. Profits for Texas restaurants are plummeting as ICE conducts more immigration raids. We’ll hear what restaurant owners want the Trump administration to do. A deadline to ensure digital materials are accessible for people with disabilities has been extended. We’ll have a look at why and what the delay means. A new cancer center for patients who need care ...
Apr 21, 2026•50 min
The war in Iran and the big energy bottleneck presents implications for the Lone Star State. As we parse out the latest, we’ll have a closer look at the impact on oil and why one top analyst says despite record oil exports from Texas, we’re still not out of the woods. There has been a lot of talk about cheap drones that are giving an edge to adversaries on the battlefield. Why is the U.S. lagging on using them? A new study examines an educational experiment in Dallas, rewarding teachers for stud...
Apr 20, 2026•51 min
David Streitfeld wrote the new biography “Western Star” about his friend Larry McMurty. In this extended interview, you’ll hear more about “Lonesome Dove,” McMurtry’s reaction to the television miniseries and whether McMurtry himself was more of an Augustus McCrae or a Woodrow Call. Streitfeld also talked about what he hopes readers will get out of his new book. The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also availab...
Apr 18, 2026•19 min
As Corpus Christi and neighboring cities try to head off a water catastrophe, water demand exceeds supply across Texas and there are new staggering estimates for a statewide water plan. We’ll go over the numbers, what’s behind them, and what comes next. A runoff for lieutenant governor looms in Texas — but do Texans know either of the candidates? Also: Born in Houston, raised in Wimberley, and leaving his mark on music worldwide — singer-songwriter Buck Meek on his new solo album, “The Mirror.” ...
Apr 17, 2026•50 min
The biggest city in Texas faces intense pressure from Gov. Greg Abbott over cooperation with immigration enforcement. David Goodman of the New York Times joins us with more on a threat to cut funding for Houston police unless it changes a new policy on collaboration with ICE agents. What happens next to Camp Mystic? A hearing over what to do with damaged structures as questions remain over last July’s deadly floods. What’s the price for memory? More than you might imagine, especially if you have...
Apr 16, 2026•50 min
Texas Republican Tony Gonzales has begun the process of resigning amid accusations tied to sexual misconduct. What’s next for Texas’ 23rd congressional district? There’s an annual ritual going on right now on parts of the Texas Gulf Coast. Why conservationists are celebrating the unusual display of the Attwater’s prairie-chicken. The San Antonio Spurs are headed into the NBA playoffs, but its parent company is facing a challenge. Why Bexar County says it’s owed millions. The Trump administration...
Apr 15, 2026•50 min
The state is taking control of more struggling school districts, but how effective are the takeovers? We’ll discuss with two Houston Chronicle reporters tracking takeovers in Texas. Should the state attorney general make national politics one of his primary duties as outgoing AG Ken Paxton has done? It’s become an issue as voters elect the state’s new top legal representative. Texans can no longer use SNAP benefits to buy candy or sugary drinks, but what qualifies at the checkout counter? We’ll ...
Apr 14, 2026•50 min
After talks with Iran fall apart, energy prices are back on the rise — as are military tensions. UT global affairs expert Jeremi Suri on what happened in talks and what it means for the foreseeable future. The end of the Artemis II mission, the start of a new chapter in space exploration. We’ll have more on that front, as well as the discovery of the remains of what looks like an armadillo the size of a lion. What a Central Texas cave is telling us about what Texas really looked like in the Ice ...
Apr 13, 2026•50 min
Texas Standard talked with Bob Odenkirk during SXSW about his new film “Normal.” Now, it’s hitting theatres. This extended conversation goes beyond why he loves the new film to include how he feels he adds to the action genre and why he votes “Rushmore” for the best Texas film. He also gets real about how he feels about Texas barbecue and film incentives from state to state. The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is...
Apr 11, 2026•27 min
The threat of hail, possible tornadoes and flooding conditions spells what could be a severe start to a stormy weather season in Texas. Meteorologist Eric Berger joins us with what to expect and how it fits into the bigger weather picture. How are you weathering rising gasoline prices? We’ll hear how some Houstonians are coping. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick’s election-year forecast: Not a rosy one for the Texas GOP. We’ll talk about that with Jasper Scherer of the Texas Tribune. We’ll reveal our winner ...
Apr 10, 2026•51 min
High stakes in Texas as cannabis businesses file suit over a new statewide ban on smokable hemp. This year’s midterm elections signal the biggest turnover in recent memory and Texas is part of that trend. The Texas Newsroom’s Blaise Gainey on what’s behind this changing of the guard. Despite a tenuous ceasefire with Iran, tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us high-tech battles are still being waged. The prescription for a nursing shortage in Texas? A new training opportunity launches in Abilene. And...
Apr 09, 2026•50 min
A proposed overhaul of Texas classrooms could change what millions of students read. We’ll look at how this could impact classrooms across the state. An investigation into Congressman Tony Gonzales uncovers a pattern of pursuing staff members. What we know and how the congressman is responding. Billions of dollars in clean energy investment across Texas is now in question, as federal policy shifts put projects at risk. We’ll delve into what this could mean for the state’s energy future. Plus, th...
Apr 08, 2026•50 min
A deepening water crisis in Corpus Christi is raising questions about how South Texans get their water — and who gets it. For students pursuing job training instead of a traditional college degree, there are some long-awaited changes to financial aid. Now, new support could open doors for workforce programs. A reckoning over the legacy of Cesar Chavez: We’ll discuss the fallout and the future of the farmworker’s movement. And a historic journey deep into space: Astronauts traveling farther than ...
Apr 07, 2026•50 min
A runoff in the Houston area between challenger Christian Menefee and longtime incumbent Al Green is being seen as part of a much bigger fight for the future of Texas Democrats. Also, an executive order from the Trump administration may put the postal service in the middle of election-year politics. Also — explosions on the other side of the Texas-New Mexico border near El Paso, and what they portend for the future of a border wall. Meanwhile, Artemis II astronauts are making history with a flyb...
Apr 06, 2026•51 min
The water crisis in Corpus Christi has been on the minds of many Texans for the past few weeks. But in the city itself, officials have been dealing with drought and increased demands for water for years. On April 3, David Brown spoke with Corpus Christi city manager Peter Zanoni about how the city plans to beef up its water supplies, the state’s role and why no water emergency has been declared. This is an extended version of the interview that appeared on the radio show. The full transcript of ...
Apr 04, 2026
Despite warnings of a water crisis, Corpus Christi’s top official overseeing water says “we will never run out.” Gov. Greg Abbott has warned of a state takeover if the city can’t deal with a water crisis. The city manager tells Texas Standard why he’s so reluctant to declare a water emergency. The maker of a popular weed killer blamed for cancer deaths is facing more than 100 thousand lawsuits is now asking the U.S. Supreme Court to limit their liability. Michael Marks unpacks that case. Plus, t...
Apr 03, 2026•50 min
Control of Artemis II has been handed over to Houston: we’ll hear about the launch and what appears to be a big boost in interest in the space program. But it’s getting a little tight up there above the air: concerns about orbital traffic jams after a second Starlink satellite breaks apart. Texas prisons without air conditioning: a test case over cruel and unusual punishment. Also, a new documentary turns a spotlight on the role of Jewish Women in the story of Texas. Texas Standard is a listener...
Apr 02, 2026•50 min
What does it mean to born in the U.S.? It’s a question the Supreme Court is considering today. We’ll dig into what’s at stake. Guilty verdicts in the North Texas ICE shooting case meant a victory for the Trump administration in its fight against “antifa,” but how do we even define that movement? We’re heading back to the moon. We’ll look at the goals of the long-awaited Artemis II mission and the countdown to what could come next. If Texas stores can no longer sell smokable forms of cannabis but...
Apr 01, 2026•51 min
The Senate race may be capturing all the attention, but don’t forget there’s another election coming up: A look at a couple of the big races on the May primary runoff ballots. Water woes for more Texans: We’ll hear what’s happening in part of East Austin and why. Abandoned wells are all over the Texas oil patch. The same was happening in Oklahoma, until they figured out these polluting old wells could be repurposed to produce geothermal energy. NASA is going back towards the moon. We’ll dig into...
Mar 31, 2026•51 min
Tens of thousands of Texans statewide participate in “No Kings” protests against the Trump administration as Texas Republicans try to coalesce for the midterms. Conservatives gathered at CPAC in Grapevine this past weekend, hoping to fend off what may be the most serious Democratic challenge to the Republican monopoly on statewide offices in decades. A conversation with a top oil analyst who warns many Texans don’t realize just how bad a fuel shortage could become if the Iran war continues. Plus...
Mar 30, 2026•51 min
It’s not everyday you meet someone who has been to space — let alone someone who led a mission and broke barriers for women who might want to do the same. Still, not everyone knows about Eileen Collins and her accomplishments. A new documentary aims to change that. Here’s an extended conversation with Collins and film director Hannah Berryman. The full transcript of this episode of Texas Standard is available on the KUT & KUTX Studio website. The transcript is also available as subtitles or ...
Mar 28, 2026•15 min
A jury orders Meta and YouTube to pay millions in damages over social media addiction — but it could be just the tip of the iceberg. We’ll look at what this means for Texas’ efforts to regulate kids and social media. Once-reliable water wells are running dry in a fast-growing Central Texas county. An investigation is shedding new light on how traffic stops are being used to pull people into deportation proceedings in Texas. Also, the week in politics and much more. Texas Standard is a listener-s...
Mar 27, 2026•51 min
As Corpus Christi scrambles to keep from running out of water, a complication arises: A petition to recall Mayor Paulette Guajardo. After last year’s deadly July 4 Hill Country floods, plans to reopen Camp Mystic are tearing friends apart. A confusing and chaotic primary in Central Texas’ Williamson County leads election officials to look back to the future. Plus, how to defend against a parasite moving north from Mexico that could devastate Texas ranches? Researchers testing a new idea to comba...
Mar 26, 2026•52 min
Federal immigration agents have arrived at both of Houston’s airports. What are they doing and has it reduced long TSA lines? Two North Texas Democrats who were once allies — Rep. Julie Johnson and Rep. Colin Allred — are battling for the nomination for a congressional seat. Many military dogs are living in sub-standard conditions. We’ll dig into reported problems at kennels at bases, including in San Antonio. The son of Texas baseball legend Don Baylor tells us why it’s especially meaningful to...
Mar 25, 2026•51 min
As data centers expand across the state, so does the need for energy. More power plants are popping up with Texas at the center of the AI data center boom. The federal government gives its first briefing on a new border wall planned in the Big Bend region. He helped U.S. troops during the war in Afghanistan — now the family of Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal wants to know how he died in ICE custody. It was known as the Green Book, a guide for Black Americans during segregation that showed places that ...
Mar 24, 2026•50 min
A secretive project to build a long water barrier in the Rio Grande is revealed as letters go out to landowners to build a Big Bend border wall. We’ll hear what locals are thinking. Look up to the sky: It’s a boom, it’s a flash… and a crash through a roof north of Houston. A UT geosciences professor helps us understand the meteor fragment impact that occurred this past weekend. We’ll also dig into the somewhat surprising findings of a new report from the Brookings Institution on the costs of hig...
Mar 23, 2026•51 min
Corpus Christi cuts its timeline to a water disaster and the state issues emergency orders to deal with what may be an unprecedented crisis. Today we’re coming to you from the place they call the Sparkling City by the Sea — yet despite its proximity to the water, the region faces the imminent threat of running out of it. We’re at the studios of KEDT, our partners in Corpus Christi. We’ll have the latest on the water crisis here, but also some of the extraordinary charms of the 8th most populous ...
Mar 20, 2026•50 min
