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Texas Standard: December 21, 2017

Texans and the Tax Bill. There are winners- and losers too. Kevin Diaz of the Houston Chronicle has done the numbers. How it all adds up today on the Texas Standard.

Happy new year? With one of the biggest NSA surveillance operations ever authorized against US citizens currently set to expire December 31, a plan to reauthorize and possibly expand the NSA’s power hits a last minute wall. We’ll hear what happens next.

Fort Worth fires a veteran police officer over the tazing of an unarmed woman. How the story’s highlighting deep divisions there. Meanwhile in Houston, a first in the nation effort to plant virtual psychiatrists among first responders.

All those stories and much more on the national news show of Texas.

Texas Standard: December 20, 2017

What’s most important to Texas? Harvey relief? A deal for DACA? What about just keeping the government going through the holidays? Deadlines and decisions on the Standard.

In a moment we’ll talk with editors in three Texas cities to hear what Texans are telling them about what D.C. needs to get done by this weekend. And why.

Remember how schoolteacehrs used to pin a note to your shirt so parents would get the message? The state’s just done that to hundreds of students. The message: you’ve been hacked.

Plus the Texan who taught the Beatles how to blow it. Delbert McClinton on the real story on that intro to Love Me Do. All that and a whole lot more.

Texas Standard: December 19, 2017

Internal dysfunction at the Texas agency that manages state buildings. How it’s affecting what tax dollars pay for? On today’s Texas Standard.

You’ve heard it before, but could 2018 be the year for Texas Democrats? We’ll hear one argument.

Austin wants a soccer team. But the city is still kicking around ideas about where to put a stadium.

Plus, remember anthrax? The mail attacks made it a household name across the country, but it’s long been an issue in some parts of Texas.

And- is so-called clean coal really a viable solution to long-term energy plans? What one reporter found in the Lone Star State.

All that and more on today’s Texas Standard.

Texas Standard: December 18, 2017

The GOP says it has enough votes in the Senate to pass its tax bill. The reason? What might be called a last minute Santa clause…The story today on the Texas Standard.

When Katrina made landfall in 2005–more than a thousand guns disappeared in the chaos, reappearing in crimes years later. But after Harvey, the story was different…the results of an investigation by the Texas Standard and the Houston Chronicle.
Also, what’ll it take to bring tourism back to the coastal bend.

And the occupation with the highest rate of suicide? It’s probably not what you think. We’ll hear about a crisis down on the farm –and what can be done…All that and much more today on the Texas Standard.

Texas Standard: December 15, 2017

The UN and Amnesty International among the groups warning of a new move to green light the militarization of Mexico, we’ll have the latest. Also, NASA celebrating the discovery of a new planet in a solar system that looks not entirely unlike our own. But it’s how the discovery was made that’s a breakthrough unto itself, we’ll hear why. And on a fateful November day in Dallas, 1963, a secret service agent threw himself on top of the first lady to shield her from bullets. And for years blamed himself for the death of a president. Today, that agent, Clint Hill, joins us. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 13, 2017

A democratic victory in ruby red Alabama: was it just Roy Moore, or is it something bigger shaking the southern political landscape? We’ll explore. Also, a new war on drugs? This time it’s the most populous county in Texas suing big pharma over the opioid epidemic. And a new white house directive: another manned mission to the moon and then to mars. Should Houston get ready for relaunch? Plus attention holiday shoppers: commentator WF Strong has been making a list of gifts that made Texas what it is today, and you won’t find em at the mall. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 8, 2017

A group committed to boosting prospects for democratic women calls on the resignations of two prominent state senate democrats. In a season of sexual harassment scandals, new allegations against state senators Boris Miles and Carlos Uresti are the talk of the Texas capitol city. Both men deny the charges. We’ll hear from the person who reported the story, as well as a fellow state senator calling for reform of how sexual harassment cases are handled. And a legal scholar who says the implications go directly to a larger cultural problem at the capitol. All of that and more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: December 1, 2017

The last man standing from the class of ’84 says goodbye to congress. Is this a start to a sea change in Texas Politics? We’ll have the latest. Also, a bill to authorize the army and navy to take over law enforcement south of the border. An essential step to stop the cartels or a militarization of security in Mexico? We’ll explore. The children’s health insurance program set to shut down for the first time in Texas, why letters may be going out at the first of next week. Plus the week in politics and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: November 21, 2017

The Governor offers $20,000 for information about an attack on border agents. But questions remain–was it really an attack? The story today on the Texas Standard.

What we know, and don’t know about the death of a US border agent near Van Horn.

Also, a John Doe, kicked out of the University of Texas for sexual assault–reinstated—at least for now. We’ll ask why.

For the second time in a row, a Mexican-American studies text is rejected by state officials…no ethnic studies classes? Not exactly. we’ll hear more…

Home for the holidays? Not in parts of southeast Texas–Harvey’s homeless three months on….
Those stories and much more today on the Texas Standard

Texas Standard: November 17, 2017

It was introduced two weeks ago, and without a single hearing, it’s passed the house. Tax reform of some form seems likely, but at what cost?
The president’s plan for rebuilding America’s infrastructure: price tag? 1 trillion dollars. But who’s gonna pay for it? One expert says the answer should be obvious: China. And Texas could be at the center of it, we’ll hear why. Also, first do no harm, goes the maxim of medicine. But are med school costs hurting the profession itself? Why more prospective doctors are turning to Texas. And surviving a historic storm and emerging world champions, heroic enough for ya? The folks behind Superman and Batman come to Houston to talk superheroes. Those stories plus the week in politics and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: November 10, 2017

In Beijing today, the President trumpets ‘America first’, but how are they gonna pay for that down on the farm? A rural reach, we’ll explore. Also, could the US government be legally liable to the survivors of those killed in the church attack at Sutherland Springs? A law professor makes the case. Plus, as Texans reach out to help that community, a warning on scams. And should there be a statue honoring Texan Agnes Driscoll? Don’t feel bad if you don’t know the name, you soon will. The story of the unsung heroines of World War II, the codebreakers. And a remembrance of San Antonio’s King of Nachos, the week that was in Texas politics and much more coming up 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: November 6, 2017

It’s being called the deadliest mass shooting in modern Texas history — why? And why in the tiny town of Sutherland Springs? This is a special edition of the Texas Standard.

Today coming to you from a remote community in Wilson County roughly 30 miles east of San Antonio. In yesterday’s mass shooting nearly one in every ten persons was directly touched by this tragedy—the second major mass shooting incident in the US in less than a month.

What we’re learning about the shooter…his bad conduct discharge from the military and how he obtained access to a new AR-style rifle…

Whether this affects the conversation on guns and the chilling new talk of a new normal in this quiet part of rural Texas. All that and much more today on the Texas Standard.

Texas Standard: November 3, 2017

The Texan who heads the House Science Committee: and who opposes arguments on climate change, won’t be going back to Washington. Lamar Smith’s announcement not to seek reelection comes as his colleagues take the wraps off a new tax reform plan- one that democrats call a giveaway to the rich, and the republicans claim will benefit the middle class. So what does it mean for Texas? We’re asking questions. Also, a new I-35 rivalry between teams that aren’t even in their respective cities. Confused? So are a lot of soccer fans. We’ll explain. Plus: a preview of the Texas Book Festival, the week that was in Texas Politics and much more today on the Texas Standard:

Political Bumper Stickers

Pundits may argue about whether political bumper stickers have any impact on the way people vote. But you would probably agree that seeing those stickers – well, some stickers – on a car in front of you can provoke strong feelings. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.

Texas Standard: October 27, 2017

Were the Dallas police behind the JFK assassination? Khrushchev thought so. We’ll explore what we’re learning 54 years later. Also, an undocumented 10 year old with cerebral palsy undergoes surgery in Corpus Christi and is detained by Border Patrol agents waiting outside the hospital. We’ll hear from her attorney. And non disclosure agreements are part of everyday business, but are the enabling the Harvey Weinstein’s of the world? A law professor says Texas lawmakers need to take a closer look. Plus the way we talk about disasters, the week in politics and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: October 20, 2017

Until now, president Trump’s wall has been more of a symbol than anything else: now something far more concrete emerges at the border, we’ll have details. Also, cities across Texas racing to annex land before December 1st. What’s pushing the land rush, and the pushback from homeowners: it’s starting to get ugly. And sleepless over Seattle, anyone? The bids for Amazon’s second headquarters are in and some in Seattle say the losers in this contest could turn out to be the real winners, we’ll explore. And do you really need a car anymore? A Texas team does the math and shows why more Texans may want to reconsider. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: October 13, 2017

After repeated demands by democrats, a Texas lawmaker unveils articles of impeachment against President Trump. Now what? We’ll have the latest. Also, an army task force returns to Texas from Puerto Rico. We’ll hear what they encountered, and why the need for help isn’t likely to end any time soon. Plus, once it was hailed as a super principal for helping save a troubled school now she’s on suspension. A controversy that’s stunned the Houston community. And after a long fight to win UNESCO recognition for the Alamo, the president announces plans to pull out of the UN’s cultural wing, we’ll have the implications. Plus the week in politics with the Texas tribune and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

Texas Standard: October 6, 2017

They are the best numbers in more than 15 years but the worst in 20. The new job reports take a hit from hurricanes, we’ll have the latest. Plus, more legal concerns for Ken Paxton? A Texas prosecutor says she’s investigating whether bribery charges are warranted. We’ll have details plus reaction from the attorney general. And Denton couldn’t keep it’s fracking ban in place, but Scotland’s giving it a go. Lessons from the fracking conversation they’re having across the pond. Also: Galveston oh Galveston, the man who immortalized the Texas island city in song returns to where it all began, a lifelong partnership with Glen Campbell. Plus the week in politics and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:

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