The confirmation of a republican Governor Secretary of State nominee: a slam dunk in the republican led Texas senate? Not this time. David Whitley facing an uphill battle to be confirmed as Secretary of State after questioning the citizenship of almost 100 thousand Texas voters, we’ll hear the latest. Also, Senator John Cornyn set for easy re-election in 2020, wanna Bet-o? Cornyn himself not taking any chances after seeing what happened in 2018. All that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
politics
Texas Standard: February 5, 2019
If a gun is sold to a mass shooter, can the gun store be held accountable? A lawsuit against a Texas based sports shop is in the spotlight, we’ll explore. Also innocent until proven guilty, but those with money often get to walk before trial: now a move to change the rules on cash-bail statewide. We’ll talk to the Texas senator behind the effort. And what’s behind increased political polarization? According to a Texas researcher, it’s the demise of the local newspaper. If she’s right, now what? All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 4, 2019
A delayed State of the Union finally happens tomorrow, but what of the State of the State? We’ll take a look at what rumblings in the legislature may tell us. Also, no money from Congress for the wall? No problem, say 350 thousand online donors who’ve raised 20 million dollars for private construction. And they’ve been scoping out south Texas for their privately funded wall as well. And naturalized citizens sue over the Texas voter citizenship review. Also, the undocumented? They’re not always who you think they are. Some were born in the U.S.A. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 1, 2019
The harmonic convergence at the State Capitol: Texas’ top three power brokers get on the same page over property taxes. But something’s missing.
Coming up: Ross Ramsey of the Texas Tribune on the missing link between efforts to limit property taxes while promising to boost education. Which is largely paid for by…property taxes.
Also, a look at the week that was in politics and a cautionary tale for those demanding more made in America goods: the case of the Texas-made-Mac- that didn’t take off. All those stories plus a whole lot more.
Texas Standard: January 31, 2019
First the ranches, then the big cities. Come 2020, is the next great political battleground in the Lone Star State the suburbs? We’ll take a closer look. Also, senator John Cornyn now warning fellow Republicans that President Trump could lose Texas in 2020. Is the Lone Star State no longer reliably red? The answer might be found in the suburbs. And although the Permian basin’s booming, we might be on the road to a new foreign energy dependence, we’ll hear why. All that and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 28, 2019
Another Presidential Tweetstorm, this time with a Texas twist: one suggesting widespread voter fraud. We’ll take a closer look at the claim and the source. Also, a Texas city won national attention for becoming the first to go with 100% renewable electricity. Now some are asking did the city pay too high a price? We’ll take a look. And chaos in Venezuela leading to uncertainty in Texas: we’ll hear why. Also, the Corpus Christi caller times warns: what you don’t know about a particular routine government procedure can hurt you. The paper’s opinion editor explains plus a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Government Shutdown
The ongoing partial government shutdown is causing frustration on both sides of the aisle and causing major problems in the lives of many. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: January 25, 2019
Slate magazine claims the supreme court is preparing to make every states gun laws look like Texas, but is that claim on target? We’ll take a closer look. Also, when was the last time a nuclear arms treaty was making headlines? Why some are warning of a renewed arms race with Russia. And we’ll take a look at the week that was in Texas politics, plus an original Cosmic Cowboy comes home again: singer songwriter Michael Martin Murphy teams up with who’s who of Texas talent in search of old Austin. All those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 23, 2019
The Supreme Court appears to take DACA off the table in shutdown negotiations, but where does that leave thousands of DACA recipients in Texas? We’ll explore. Also in the Texas Standard newsroom, another Supreme Court order we’re assessing: the impact of the reinstatement of the Trump administration’s so-called transgender military ban. We’ll take a look at the impact of those seeking to serve. And police, veterans, cancer research, political action committees have formed around lots of worthy causes. But where’s the money going? A look at so called scam pacs and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 18, 2019
A federal appeals court hands the state of Texas a major victory in its fight to defund planned parenthood, we’ll have details. Also, after spending millions fighting civil rights lawsuits over cash bail, Harris county does a dramatic about face, pledging to end a system critics say discriminates against the poor. And what’s in the water beneath our feet? If you live near a coal power plant in Texas, quite possibly very scary stuff. We’ll hear about hidden dangers in the h2o. All that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 11, 2019
Day 21 of a government shutdown. The end in sight? Short answer, no. But a freshman congressman from Texas remains optimistic. We’ll hear why. Also, you wanna build that wall Mr.Trump? Texas will get ‘er done. That appeared to be the message from Lt. Gov Dan Patrick when the president visited south Texas yesterday. Was that a serious suggestion? If so who pays for that and with what exactly? We’ll take a closer look. And a new space race of sorts: now its quantum computing. Plus the week in Texas politics and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 4, 2019
U.S. Representative Will Hurd of Texas is a Republican but he sided with Democrats yesterday in a vote to reopen the government. We’ll ask him why. Also, volatility: It’s a term investors don’t much like to hear in talks about the stock market. Why the last several weeks have been so up and down. Also, security is a term houses of worship are reconsidering after sanctuaries have become targets. We’ll hear from church and mosque leaders in Texas. And federal employees suing the government, the latest on court battle over the Affordable Care Act, and a little arts and poetry today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 2, 2019
More migrants sprayed with tear gas as money for a border wall remains at the center of the government shutdown. We’ll have the latest. Also, the measure to allow Texans to donate to address the huge backlog of untested rape kits passed with bipartisan support. But now it’s reached a real-world roadblock, we’ll tell you why. Many who live in the Big Bend area have spent their whole lives there, except for their last days. The challenge of access to hospice care. Plus debunking myths about mental health, the country band bringing two Texas towns together and what an onion says about this year’s forecast. All that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 1, 2019
The ball has dropped launching 2019, now gavels set to drop in the Texas state capitol. Are you ready for the 86th session? Every two years it happens: members of the Texas house and senate gather under that building they call the pink dome in Austin launching a season of debates over laws and spending that affect most of all of us. In 2019, what should we expect, or brace for? That’s our focus this hour as we take a long hard look at the lege, set to get underway in earnest just one week from today. It’s a special New Years Day edition of the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 31, 2018
No matter where you are, it’s beginning to look like New Years. But before we say ta ta to 2018, we look back at the year that was on a special edition of the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 28, 2018
The border remains the top issue in national politics, but in Texas it’s also a local issue. We’ll hear from a state representative on the latest in her district. Plus, Texas is once again one of the deadliest states for law enforcement officers. We’ll break down the numbers including a disturbing trend involving firearm deaths. And if one Texas lawmaker has his way the severance tax could get a bit of a makeover in the next legislative session. What it is and why you should care. Also, the Texan believed to be the country’s oldest man has died at 112. We’ll take a look back at his life. All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 27 2018
Hundreds of asylum seekers released in El Paso with little warning, straining resources and highlighting big issues at the border. We’ll talk with Bob Moore in El Paso about the latest. Also, race and criminal justice: we’ll take look at just how different America’s prison population is from the population at large and why. Plus a Texas lawmaker tells us why he’s fighting for the expansion of medical marijuana. And did you unwrap a new gadget for Christmas or Hanukkah? Our tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us what to do with the old one. Also, the calls for civility in politics and online have come from every corner. But some say it’s not enough. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 21, 2018
Another high profile resignation shakes the Trump administration, we’ll explore what Jim Mattis’ departure means. Plus, there’s a cost associated with being behind bars, but getting released also comes at a cost. We’ll run the numbers. Also one expert shares his ideas for the perfect children’s gift that won’t cost you a penny. And when it comes to holiday traditions, do you break a piñata? All of that and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 19, 2018
Texas requires contractors to sign a pledge against boycotting Israel. Is that a violation of the First Amendment? A legal challenge to a new state law today on the Texas Standard.
This time yesterday we told you about landmark legislation on criminal justice–with passage in the Senate last night, we’ll hear why some behind bars in Texas choose to stay there.
Also, history meets what planners call the future of El Paso as preservationists fight to save a neighborhood from the wrecking ball. We’ll hear what’s at stake.
Plus the editor in chief of Kirkus Reviews with some last minute gift tips, and more.
Texas Standard: December 18, 2018
After Obamacare, then what? The governor’s suggesting he’ll push for a Texas healthcare plan. But what would Abbottcare look like and is it for real? The story today.
Texas’ senior senator, the number two man in the Senate, delivers an impassioned plea for a criminal justice bill. And it looks like it could be one of those rare opportunities for something resembling real bipartisanship. What John Cornyn said and why he’s now in the spotlight.
Also, a creature long rumored to roam the swamps of the south–turns out it’s for real. We’ll talk with the Texas researcher who helped discover a new species. And much more today on the Texas Standard.