The week in politics (March 12, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: The Texas House is debating private school vouchers while the U.S. House votes on a budget measure. We discuss those and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And...
View ArticleDavid Brancaccio (March 13, 2025)
On Thursday's show: The host of Marketplace Morning Report joins us to talk about the economics of the Houston Rodeo.
View ArticleSouthwest ends free bag-checking: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week
The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
View ArticleHockey Day in Houston (March 14, 2025)
On Friday's show: A local expert talks about long COVID, we celebrate hockey in Houston, and we consider the good, the bad, and the ugly of this week's news.
View ArticleA very different time an unelected citizen overhauled the government:...
The power being wielded by Elon Musk in the second Trump administration might be somewhat reminiscent of the unprecedented power another appointed official was once given in American government. But...
View ArticleLegislature update (March 17, 2025)
On Monday's show: Texas lawmakers filed more than 800 bills by Friday’s deadline, bringing this legislative session’s total to more than 8,600. But only a handful will actually become law. We find out...
View ArticlePayday lending (March 18, 2025)
On Tuesday's show: More than half of all payday lending fees issued in the country are paid by Texans. We find out why and learn how to escape the cycle of debt. And Todd Waite, longtime actor at The...
View ArticleThe week in politics (March 19, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And writer Emma Donoghue talks about her latest novel, "The Paris Express."
View ArticlePolitical Roundup: Impeaching judges and the balance of power
President Trump called for the impeachment of a federal judge who ruled against him in a deportation case, and U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts issued a rare public statement in response....
View ArticleHow one surreal photo inspired Emma Donoghue’s latest novel, ‘The Paris Express’
The Irish-born writer, who's known for her historical fiction and the novel 'Room,' speaks at an event in Houston on March 24.
View ArticleLaw enforcement and ICE (March 20, 2025)
On Thursday's show: We learn about HPD's approach to handling cases of immigration enforcement after a local man detained by the department was handed over to federal agents. And we talk with comedian...
View ArticleStealing a golden toilet: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week
The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
View ArticleThe latest on the Pauline Road Fire (March 21, 2025)
On Friday's show: The latest on a wildfire in San Jacinto and Montgomery counties, revisiting a conversation about Eldrewey Stearns, and the good, the bad, and the ugly of the week's news.
View ArticleHouston’s real estate market (March 24, 2025)
On Monday's show: We discuss the latest developments in residential real estate here in Greater Houston, which has long been a seller’s market.
View ArticlePassing the ADA (March 25, 2025)
On Tuesday's show: Activist Lex Frieden reflects on what it took to get the Americans with Disabilities Act passed, which is the subject of a new PBS documentary called "Change, Not Charity."
View ArticleThe week in politics (March 26, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And the board chair of METRO answers questions about public transportation in our region.
View ArticleFrom ‘METRONext’ to ‘METRONow’— how public transit is changing in Houston
METRO Board Chair Elizabeth Gonzalez Brock fields questions from Houston Matters listeners about public transportation in the region.
View ArticleStormy weather for Opening Day (March 27, 2025)
On Thursday's show: There’s potential for some heavy rainfall, maybe even a bit of flooding over the next 36 hours. We look at the forecast, and we preview the new Astros season, which begins tonight.
View ArticlePianist Jason Moran pays homage to the musical range of Duke Ellington in a...
Moran talks about his performance, "Duke Ellington: My Heart Sings” and about his dream to create a venue in Houston where jazz musicians can find an open mic to jam.
View ArticleFort Bend ISD considers Bible-infused curriculum: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of...
The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
View ArticleFuture of Texas water (March 28, 2025)
On Friday's show: We learn what ever-hotter summers may do to our water supply and what’s being done to prepare for potential shortages in Texas. And we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of...
View ArticleRailroad crossing safety (March 31, 2025)
On Monday's show: We learn about a bill in the Texas Legislature aimed at improving safety at railroad crossings after the death of a Houston high school student.
View ArticleIdentifying a serial killer’s victims (April 1, 2025)
On Tuesday's show: We discuss the growing trend of too much hype in weather forecasting. And we learn how scientists identified the remains of long-unidentified victims of serial killer Dean Corll.
View ArticleHow scientists finally gave names to many unknown victims of serial killer...
Investigative reporter Lise Olsen's new book, "The Scientist and the Serial Killer," details how forensic anthropologists helped give names to unidentified remains tied to a notorious Houston murderer...
View ArticleThe week in politcs (April 2, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. And food writers talk about some of their favorite places to take kids to eat.
View ArticlePolitical Roundup: Big day for tariffs, and a slow-moving Texas House
More tariffs, election results, a very long speech, and what’s not happening yet with school vouchers -- we discuss those and other developments in politics.
View ArticleThe best Houston restaurants to take kids: The Full Menu
Food writers discuss their favorite places to take kids to eat and play in the area.
View ArticleClashing over the city’s overtime expenses (April 3, 2025)
On Thursday's show: Houston leaders are clashing after an explosive report on overtime expenditures by the police, fire, and solid waste departments. We find out what's going on. And Houston native...
View ArticleAllowing teachers to pray in the classroom: The Good, Bad, and Ugly of the week
The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
View ArticleControversial bills in the legislature (April 4, 2025)
On Friday's show: A number of fascinating and controversial bills over abortion, religion in schools, and high speed rail are getting hearings these days in Austin We discuss them all. And we break...
View ArticleUH plays for a title (April 7, 2025)
On Monday's show: The University of Houston's men's basketball team will play tonight for the national title against Florida after a stunning comeback victory against Duke. We preview the game. And we...
View ArticleWhat’s ‘driving’ the latest round of Houstonian Pet Peeves
In our monthly opportunity to vent their complaints about life in Houston, listeners had plenty of driving-related gripes to share.
View ArticleCougars fall just short (April 8, 2025)
On Tuesday's show: The Houston Cougars fell two points short of a men's college basketball national championship Monday night. We recap the loss to the Florida Gators. And we hear from retired WNBA...
View ArticlePussy Riot founder discusses creating art that generates change
Ahead of a visit to Houston on April 17, Nadya Tolokonnikova talks about how her Russian feminist protest art collective became a symbol of resistance to Russian President Vladimir’s Putin’s regime.
View ArticleThe week in politics (April 9, 2025)
On Wednesday's show: A special election has been called for November in the 18th Congressional District, leaving some Houston residents without a representative for another seven months. We discuss...
View ArticlePolitical Roundup: Ken Paxton takes on John Cornyn in Senate race
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is officially running against U.S. Sen. John Cornyn next year. And Gov. Greg Abbott has called a special election in November for the 18th Congressional District. We...
View Article11th Street redesign (April 10, 2025)
On Thursday's show: We get updates on recent developments at Houston City Hall, including concerns about the fate of the redesign of 11th Street in The Heights
View ArticleTexas Roadhouse becomes the new king of casual dining: The Good, Bad, and...
The Houston Matters panel of non-experts weighs in on stories from the week’s news and decides if they’re good, bad, or ugly.
View ArticleVoter thoughts on Houston issues (April 11, 2025)
On Friday's show: A new poll sheds light on Houston-area voters’ attitudes on issues facing the city. And we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.
View ArticleIn ‘The Antidote’ Karen Russell uses the Dust Bowl to warn against the...
Russell, whose novel "Swamplandia!" was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, talks about her latest novel ahead of an event in Houston on April 14.
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