economics

Texas voting restrictions challenged in court

The trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton continues, but not for long. We’ll have details on the latest testimony from the Senate floor.

State senators could start deliberations in Paxton’s impeachment trial as soon as Thursday.

Texas voting laws go on trial in San Antonio. We’ll have details about a case challenging state bans on 24-hour polls and drive-thru voting.

All that, and how to keep your trees fungus-free, the best bean and cheese taco in Texas, and the latest headlines from across the state. It’s coming up today on the Texas Standard.

KUT Morning Newscast for July 20, 2023

Central Texas top stories for July 20, 2023. Abortion hearing and testimony in Texas. Austin looks at SXSW pay for musicians. Hiring practices for Del Valle teachers.

KUT Morning Newscast for May 11, 2023

Central Texas top stories for May 11, 2023. Daniel Perry sentenced to 25 years. South Korean economic agreement with Taylor. COVID updates. Austin graphic artist dies.

Pumped: Food, fuel and the future of Texas – A Texas Standard special

We don’t think of gas stations much, yet they are fixtures across Texas, and tell us a lot about who we are and where we’re going. There are more than 11,000 of them scattered across the state – along major highways and tiny backroads alike, they fuel up long haul trucks, hungry commuters and sometimes whole communities.

In some ways, the gas station is the backbone of our economy and the center of conversation and community. In other ways, they’re a blight on the landscape and, many feel, a soon-to-be anachronism. “Pumped: Food, fuel and the future of Texas” is an exploration of an often-overlooked staple of our life.

Texas Standard: July 14, 2021

A quorum busting escape from Texas by Democrats in the state House and Senate, and the effects go beyond voting laws. As Texas Democratic lawmakers abandon the statehouse to put the brakes on controversial changes to state voting laws, other bills remain in limbo. We’ll take a closer look at what’s been left hanging. Also, a new law set to take effect that would ban abortions after six weeks and allow individuals to sue anyone who assisted a woman in getting an abortion. A new study examines the likely effects. Those stories plus a Politifact check and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 9, 2020

“Deeply dysfunctional.” Part of the findings of an investigation of Fort Hood. We’ll look at actions taken — and what’s left undone. Today on the Texas Standard.
I’m Laura Rice in for David Brown. Learning during the pandemic. It’s been among the major challenges. So should it be business as usual when it comes to standardized tests?
Back to the ballot box. Some Texans are voting again. What the particularly contentious contest could tell us about the Texas Republican Party.
Plus, as the new Texas legislative session nears, we’ll examine a lawmaker’s claim on medical marijuana. And we’ll introduce you to the spider who saved Christmas.

Texas Standard: February 15, 2018

Harris County’s bail system treats the rich differently from the poor. An appeals court affirms that ruling. We’ll have the latest on what’s next and what it could mean for taxpayers. Also, a Texas lawmaker is leading an effort to roll back some requirements aimed at helping the disabled. We’ll explain. Plus, two native Texans are part of a suit that wants the feds to drop marijuana as a schedule 1 drug. What a ruling could mean. And we’ll explore technology as it’s being used in groundbreaking ways at the Olympics. Plus, LBJ did not like his presidential portrait. We’ll tell you why and what he did about it. Those stories and a whole lot more on todays Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 5, 2018

Botched executions: that’s the claim from the attorneys of the latest man put to death in Texas. We’ll examine the details. Also it’s incredibly delicate work: manufacturing and maintaining the country’s nuclear weapons. Why a new contract could be putting that work at an Amarillo plant at risk. And Mexico’s state owned petroleum company is mired in challenges. We’ll look at why and how it’s affecting the country’s relationship with the US. Plus, in Houston an effort to preserve a bit of Latino history, and a new book preserves the history of Big Spring. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Democracy (Ep. 31)

“Our enemy is apathy.” –Yanis Varoufakis

In 2015 today’s guests were propelled onto the global stage by their efforts to take on the European banking establishment and restructure the Greek government’s financial system.  For 5 months they worked to negotiate alternatives to further austerity measures; trying to extend loans while moving Greece toward a more solvent state. 

Their efforts to confront the Eurozone and proceed democratically to carry out the wishes of the Greek people were ultimately defeated, but it was this battle lost that was the impetus of their current endeavor—to reform Europe and institute a transnational, pan-European democracy called DiEM25 –Democracy in Europe Movement.

Yanis Varoufakis is the former finance minister of Greece, author of Adults in the Room: My Battle With the European and American Deep Establishment, and co-founder of the DiEM25 –Democracy in Europe Movement.

James K. Galbraith is an eminent economist, an assistant to Mr. Varoufakis while he was the Greek finance minister, and he chronicled his time in Greece with the book Welcome to the Poisoned Chalice: The Destruction of Greece and the Future of Europe.

They were in Austin for a conference on Democratic Reform in Europe at the LBJ School for Public Affairs.

Texas Standard: January 18, 2017

The price of disagreement in Texas: it comes to 5 point 3 billion dollars. But what does the chasm between the house and senate add up to? We’ll explore. Also with the nation getting set for an inauguration, hundreds of thousands of women prepare to go marching on Washington. But to what effect? We’ll explore the power of a mode of protest. And Venezuela scraps old paper for new. Hardly a solution to hyperinflation, but might it cause more problems than it solves? Also a teen pregnancy video contest, not another MTV reality show, but an exercise to address a real world challenge facing Texas. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:

Sugar Op-Ed: James K. Galbraith

The story of sugar in the Western world is sordid and bitter, however this past gets quickly candy coated in our day-to-day lives as consumers. In this special op-ed from the eminent economist, writer and historian James K. Galbraith, we get a peak into the sickly underbelly of the sociopolitical and economic past of sugar.

Texas Standard: April 25, 2016

A Texas Senator and an Ohio Governor join forces to stop a new York Billionaire. An act of desperation? A solid strategy? Perhaps Both? We’ll explore. Also- Bernie’s going back to jail. and we’re not talking about the Presidential candidate either. A Hollywood story meets Texas justice. Texas medical researchers pose a question: is there a connection between profits and patient health in the state’s hospitals? And with more severe thunderstorms on the radar for Texas, what are doing doing to prepare in the long run? All that and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: February 22, 2016

The end of an era in Texas and National politics? Wither what was once referred to as the Bush dynasty? Also universities want to get tough on campus sexual violence but are they looking for scapegoats in order to polish their images? A pair of closely watched Texas cases. Plus, you heard of laissez-faire economics: but when it comes to falling oil prices, they’re making us lazy. Fair? We’ll discuss. And what if you could dip your spoon into ice cream and tell if it might not make you feel well? Ring any Bells Texas? All of that and more on todays Texas Standard:

Bonus: Gender and Negotiation

Men and women can approach negotiation a lot differently and that can influence many aspects of their personal and professional lives. In this unedited bonus clip Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke talk a little bit about the role of gender in negotiation, and also a little bit about negotiation and children.

The Economics of Our Relationships

What is the value of our relationships?

As it turns out, the way we answer that question defines the relationship itself.

In this episode of Two Guys on Your Head, Dr. Art Markman and Dr. Bob Duke, talk about the various ways we understand the economics of the relationships in our lives, and why the value of community should never be underestimated.