politics

What to know about Prop I and local propositions, City Council District 9 race, Elections behind the scenes

It’s the first day of early voting in Texas, and here in Austin, five City Council seats are being contested. That includes the District 9 seat covering downtown and the UT campus, where four challengers are vying against incumbent Zohaib “Zo” Qadri.

Austinites will also have their say on a number of propositions, including one that would require the city undergo an independent audit every five years. Austin already employs a company to audit city departments, but with passage, Proposition I would make the process much more permanent.

We’re going to hear about the preparations that have gone into this election season, from the folks in Travis County putting them on, to the League of Women Voters who’ve been prepping for years.

Roll Tide! w/ Lynn

On this episode we interview Austin rap artist Lynn about her journey from Alabama, Houston and now Austin and her place in the current female rap ecosphere. Hip-Hop Facts include facts about the movie Blade, Eazy E, Twista and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion this week is that the majority of Los Angeles rap artists don’t blow up outside of California.

Families ask to close schools to avoid AISD takeover, City Council District 5 race, UT vs. Florida

Volunteers have collected enough signatures to request that the state close Burnet and Webb middle schools, in an attempt to stop a state takeover of Austin Independent School District. We’ll discuss what’s next.

As election season gets underway, we’re taking a look at some key local races, including City Council District 5, where incumbent Ryan Alter is facing an uphill battle to keep his seat.

Longhorns fans are recovering after UT blew a lead over rival Oklahoma last weekend. We’ll hear about what to expect as they face the Florida Gators tomorrow.

And: We’ll go on a trip with an Austin choir that’s performing music inspired by the Johns Hopkins Psilocybin Playlist.

Big Bend border wall worker camps raise concerns in West Texas

A border wall cutting through Big Bend is on hold, but something connected to the wall still has many locals unsettled.
This week saw a debate between candidates hoping to represent what is geographically the biggest congressional district in Texas, and the stakes for both parties are high. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies tells us more.
Also, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune.
Plus, the Texas Beachcomber on a big win for a special place south of the border.
Who has the best breakfast taco? The RGV? San Antonio? Texas Monthly’s taco editor sparks a Texas-sized argument.
And after a big loss for the formerly No. 1 Longhorns, what now?

Taylor strikes deal on nearby data center, Austin’s changing demographics, Ensenada ATX

The city of Taylor has made a deal with developers on a proposed data center in an unincorporated part of Williamson County. Officials say the city can impose regulations on the development, but neighbors aren’t sure about what comes next.

The median age of the Austin area’s population skews young, but that is changing, and fast.

Hear about a family’s journey and mission to bring Baja-style flavors to Austin at Ensenada ATX.

The weekend is almost here, and we’ve got a roundup of interesting artsy things going on around town.

What a Democratic governor could mean for Texas

The last time a Democrat served as Texas governor was decades ago. Is that about to change?
For years, politics-watchers have all but dismissed the prospect of a Democrat being elected governor in deep-red Texas. But polls suggest the closest gubernatorial race in recent memory between incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott and challenger Gina Hinojosa. Two veteran political analysts consider the potential implications of a political earthquake.
San Antonio files suit against the feds over a planned immigration detention center.
Also: Can you bully an AI chatbot? Tech expert Omar Gallaga sheds light on an ongoing debate.
Plus, Texas Monthly barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn on the future of a Bryan smokehouse more than a century old.

Petition to close Austin schools, APD’s use of force, Reuse on the Runway

Some parents at two Austin middle schools are running out of time in their effort to get the schools closed, a move to try and avoid a state takeover of the entire Austin Independent School District.

Austin Police characterize the fatal shooting this summer of an unarmed teen as a likely “suicide by police.” But some question the use of force, and argue APD should better handle mental health crises.

There’s still time to apply to vote by mail in the upcoming midterm election. What seniors need to know.

Plus: Meet a local designer turning waste into wearable art for an upcoming fashion show.

ACL FEST 2026!

On this episode we hit ACL Fest 2026 and interview hometown hero DJ Cassandra and international musician superstar, Rochelle Jordan about their ACL and musical experiences. Fresh flies solo for Hip-Hop Facts which includes facts about T.I., Outkast and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion this week is about the feeling that ACL failed the hip-hop community.

Season 7 of Pause/Play starts October 27th!

This season, we’re trying to answer we want to answer some questions that we often hear from people in the Austin music ecosystem. How can local artists get their music on the radio? How do Austin bands get booked at ACLfest? How can we keep the Red River district alive? How can venues stay open in the face of rising costs with fewer people drinking alcohol?

We’ll try and answer these questions and more on the upcoming season of Pause/Play.

You can find it on October 27th, wherever you get your podcasts.

Pause/Play is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas.

You can support our work by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

Austin bond preview, Residences between San Antonio and Austin, New cookbook from Nixta owners

With early voting around the corner, you might be focused on the races for U.S. senator and governor, but several important local votes are happening — including a nearly $300 million bond proposition to help local libraries and parks.

Austin and San Antonio are growing closer together every day. We’ll get an update on home sales and housing developments in those counties just south of Travis.

Plus: The co-owners of Nixta Taqueria have a new cookbook that tells their families’ stories and how they’ve blended those traditional foods into their lives in America.

Voter registration update, The politics of Zilker’s grass, Barton Springs bathhouse renovation

Early voting starts in just one week, and local officials are furiously working to make sure everyone who has registered to vote is ready to go.

A wrongful death lawsuit against Camp Mystic has been allowed to proceed after an initial pause while the camp began to work its way through bankruptcy court.

What’s better at Austin City Limits: mud or dust? People love to complain about conditions at the music fest and how it damages Zilker Park. But this year the arguments have gotten even more political.

Plus: What’s taking so long to repair and refurbish the Barton Springs bathhouse?

Texas singer-songwriter Israel Nash on his reimagined “Sweetheart of the Rodeo.”

President Trump’s performance in the Rio Grande Valley surprised many observers of the 2024 election. But was that that the start of a trend, or just a blip on the political radar?

A new professional sports league is hoping to spur new interest in an ancient practice. The Sumo Championship League’s first-ever event is happening this weekend outside of Austin.

Vincent Valdez has spent much of his career confronting painful parts of American history and the ways they continue to shape life today. Now, the San Antonio-born MacArthur Fellow is turning that same attention to his own family history.

Voter registration backlog, No Wrong Door program, Jess Williamson at ACL

We’re just over a week away from the start of early voting, and Texas registrars are still working to process thousands of voter applications. The latest from Travis County’s effort to address the backlog.A new city initiative has a goal of connecting folks experiencing chronic homelessness with long-term supports, but some advocates are concerned about the involvement of law enforcement with such sensitive cases. More about this week’s discussion of the project.We’ll hear from Austin artist Jess Williamson. She performed at the first weekend of ACL Fest and told us about her new project. Did Taco Bell really steal the taco? Mando Rayo, host of the Tacos of Texas podcast, dives into the controversy, plus a taco talk happening this weekend.

Could Bo French racism controversy hurt other Republicans on ballot?

Texas school districts appear increasingly suspicious of STAAR test results graded by a computer system. We’ll dig into what’s going on.
Republican candidate for railroad commission Bo French recently drew criticism from many in his own party for comments widely labeled racist. We’ll look at the potential impact on the rest of the ballot.
Texas leads the way in the number of recent ICE arrests — far more than California or Florida. We’ll have a closer look at why and who is being targeted.
For years, public schools taught kids coding at the encouragement of big tech companies. Now there’s evidence of unfulfilled promises.
And we’ll explore a recruitment tour of West Texas — in search of young people who might want to join the priesthood.

AISD under comptroller review, NPR Senior Podcast Challenge, Almost Heaven at ACL

The Austin school district is one of four in the state that’s under review by the Texas comptroller for how it spent taxpayer money last year. It’s happening as many districts in the state, including Austin, are working to balance their budgets. We’ll dig into what we know so far.
NPR has mined grade-school and college students for the stories impacting their lives through podcast challenges. Now they’re adding another group to that list: Seniors.
The second weekend of the ACL music fest is bringing lots of big names to town and highlighting the local ones making their names known. Today, we’ll hear from the rock duo Almost Heaven ahead of their first ACL appearance on Friday.
A we’ve also got more from weekend 1 festivalgoers about the big topics shaping their worlds.

PossAble Dream looks to inspire high school dropouts in the RGV

The midterms are just around the corner and we’re watching several competitive races in the Texas House. We’ll have details on some of those races.
A botched execution in Tennessee is having immediate impacts in Texas. A look at why the 2009 Fort Hood shooter will be executed by firing squad.
Meanwhile, there’s a push to spiritualize the military. We’ll share a report about the creation of a Pentagon Office of Religious Affairs.
We’ll take you to the Rio Grande Valley where there are a handful of high schools for adults looking to spur both personal and broader economic change.
And we’ll introduce you to a San Antonio woman who is changing lives with a little music and a little water.

Rise in Austin ICE arrests, AISD response to nearby gunman in 2025, 1 year of Austin Signal

Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations in Austin received renewed scrutiny and media attention following last month’s shooting of Wilber Garces Perez, but ICE’s presence in the Austin area increased months prior, following a statewide and national trend. What the numbers show.

When a gunman shot two people and was on the run near multiple elementary schools and high schools last year, the response among Austin ISD officials became a chaotic one. What we’ve learned about the back-and-forth.

It’s looking like the weather will cooperate for the second weekend of the ACL Music Fest. Despite the rain and mud during Weekend 1, we got a chance to chat with some festivalgoers about some of the year’s hottest issues — including data centers and AI.

Plus: We’re celebrating one year of Austin Signal!

Are Texas Democrats really poised for statewide wins?

With less than two weeks to go before the first in-person early votes are cast in the midterms in Texas, great expectations are rising among Democrats here and nationwide with polls and pundits alike predicting big gains. We’ll break down the what, where and why.
So stressed or frustrated you just want to scream? Welcome to the club: The Dallas Yell Club. We’ll hear what that’s all about.
Also, the massive pecan grove soon to transform into Texas’ newest state park.
And a new encyclopedia that may, or may not, help settle that next argument over barbecue. Jess Pryles joins the Standard to talk “Prime Cuts.”

Attendees with disabilities navigate muddy ACL, Latest on governor’s race, Ride to End Alzheimer’s

Weekend 1 of the Austin City Limits Music Festival is in the books, and now the park grounds have a few days to recover before Weekend 2. The rain and mud made for a messy first weekend, but it was an even tougher outing for people with mobility issues.

It’s the last day to get registered in time to vote in the upcoming midterm election. What you need to do today to cast your ballot in a few weeks.

Much of the focus this election cycle in Texas has been on the open U.S. Senate seat. Today, we’ll focus on the race for governor between the incumbent three times over and an Austin state representative.

The Texas edition of the Ride to End Alzheimer’s is happening soon down in Dripping Springs. We’ve got more about the bike rides and the ways you can help ’em out.

Hip-Hop & The Future of Austin Radio

On this episode of we discuss Austin radio’s approach to hip-hop and what it means for the future. We also discuss selective outrage with artists depending on if you are fans of them or not. Hip-Hop Facts this week include facts about Usher, Ciara, Eddie Murphy and more. Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion states that a good number of media personalities are industry plants.