Austin Signal

Austin Signal > All Episodes

May 15, 2026

Immigration in Central Texas — an Austin Signal special broadcast

By: Austin Signal

Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations have been on the rise during the second Trump administration.

And while enforcement in some parts of the U.S. has been messy and public, operations here in Texas are being carried out with a quieter, systematic approach. Today we’re taking a closer look at the situation here in Austin and Central Texas.

We’re bringing you a one-hour special sharing the experience of a UT student who was detained by ICE; talking about the potential health effects felt by targeted communities; and the story of a family’s fight to free their father from detention.

Austin Signal is made possible by listeners like you. You can support our work by making a donation at supportthispodcast.org


Episodes

September 18, 2026

Delta-8 probable cause arrests, voter suspension list, Grocery Bag

A state rule that was reinstated July 31 bans Delta-8 in Texas. Austin police say the packaging on some products could now establish probable cause for a felony arrest. But the department says cracking down on Delta-8 isn’t a “primary objective.” We’ve got more about that. More than a million Texans are on something called […]

Listen

September 17, 2026

UT cutting ethnic studies majors, Nonprofit board diversity, Vanessa Gonzalez comedy special

UT Austin is set to eliminate at least four majors, including Mexican American & Latina/o Studies and women’s & gender studies. It’s the latest move following the consolidation of seven ethnic and gender studies departments earlier this year. A new report found that 1 in 3 leaders of color serving on Central Texas nonprofit boards experience […]

Listen

September 16, 2026

Austin DeFlock movement, Hispanic Heritage Month at MACC, Central Health budget

You’ve probably heard something about the pushback against automated license plate readers. The biggest name in the game is Flock, and there’s a growing movement to “De-Flock” Austin and other cities in Central Texas. We’ll hear their reasoning. Austin’s newly renovated Mexican American Cultural Center is gearing up to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. We’ll dive into more […]

Listen

September 15, 2026

Hemp flower legality, Airbnb Austin investment, mail-in ballots ruling

For years, Texans could walk into their local smoke shop and buy cannabis flower that looked and smelled exactly like marijuana. It came from the very same plant but was legally sold as hemp. Stores in Texas can no longer sell these smokeable products, but can folks still have them on their person? And the City […]

Listen

September 14, 2026

Central Health budget preview, Running in the heat, Can Longhorns go undefeated?

Thousands of people here in Travis County depend on Central Health for their wellness needs, particularly those who earn the least amount of money. County commissioners are meeting this week to discuss the upcoming budget. We’ll tell you what’s in it. And, the dog days of summer are still with us halfway through September. That means […]

Listen

September 11, 2026

Austin firefighters remember 9/11, second local measles case, weekend art events

It’s the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks on the United States. In Austin, many are taking time to remember an event that is unforgettable to those who were alive to see it. We’ll hear how the Austin Fire Department marked the occasion today. Austin Public Health officials confirmed the year’s second local case […]

Listen

September 10, 2026

Watson AISD ask, data centers and midterms, Levitation guide

Mayor Kirk Watson is asking some Austin ISD parents to request that their school be shut down in order to avoid a state takeover of the entire school district. Watson says the move is about empowerment. What do parents think about the proposal? And the GOP brought a first-of-its-kind midterm convention to Texas this week […]

Listen

September 9, 2026

Red River Cultural District sounds alarm amid venue closures

The potential state takeover of the Austin Independent School District is still looming. If it happens, the reverberations are likely to go well beyond the classroom. How does a school district impact the city it’s in?Austin Mayor Kirk Watson is asking parents to request their schools be shut down. Why? The Red River Cultural District […]

Listen