With the window now closed for names to go on the primary ballot for statewide races in 2022, what are we learning about the state of Texas politics? We’ll take a look. Other stories we’re covering, in a state with more military bases than any other except California: active duty service members reach big deadline for covid vaccinations. Also some state’s call it junk science, but in Texas courts it can be called admissible evidence. We’ll have more on the history of what’s called forensic hypnosis. And many Texans in mourning this week over death of a man who was more than a soaring tenor but a cultural icon as well. Remembering Vicente Fernández and more today on the Texas Standard:
Primary
Texas Standard: December 14, 2021
All politics is local, the saying goes…but hyperpartisan, too? How the TX landscape is changing for local and school board races. Republicans in Potter County, home to Amarillo say they’ll conduct their own primary without the help of election officials and they’re urging other Texas counties to do the same. We’ll have the latest. Plus Texans sparked a lithium battery revolution, now another Texas breakthrough that could lead to something more sustainable and stable. And a critically acclaimed Texas trio hits it big, inspired by the sounds of Houston. Our conversation with the members of Khruangbin and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 9, 2020
SXSW’s cancellation may be just the tip of the iceberg. The warning from economists: the world’s 10th largest economy should brace for impact, we’ll have the latest. Also, a discovery in Dallas county brings demands for a Super Tuesday recount. And a new state law designates all common spaces on public universities as public forums for free speech. Critics blame the new law for campus violence, we’ll have details. Plus acts of dissent south of the border over the weekend as millions of women declare a feminist spring. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 4, 2020
Joe Biden may have won the popular vote in Texas, but it wasn’t a bust for Bernie Sanders. What are the top Takeaways from Super Tuesday in the Lone Star State? Texans Matthew Dowd of ABC news, Karen Tumulty of the Washington post and Victoria de Francisco Soto of the LBJ school among the experts helping us decode the many messages from the ballot box. Plus Bloomberg’s big bet on Texas goes bust, debunking some dubious coronavirus claims and much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 3, 2020
It’s Super Tuesday in Texas. We’re connecting with reporters statewide to get a sense of how things are going at the ballot boxes. And just as the field of democrats challenging president Trump has dramatically fallen, so too will the number of challengers in a key senate race and many other contests statewide. And by the way, what if you voted early and your candidate dropped out? Also, 5 things to watch for tonight as the tallies roll in. And chaos over COVID-19 in San Antonio, where the mayor’s made an emergency declaration. Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 2, 2020
Despite big spending by the candidates in Texas including rally’s, robo calls and door to door canvassing, many Texas democrats say they’re still not sure who’ll they’ll vote for tomorrow. We’ll hear how they’re doing the political math. Plus, fear fueling a major price drop in a clash between the Texas energy industry and the coronavirus. All of that and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 3, 2020
Bloomberg delivers a surprise in Texas. We’ll look at why the former New York mayor and billionaire is scoring so highly in a new survey. Also, Texans don’t often express an interest in doing things like they do it in California, but firefighters in central Texas are eager to make an exception right now: we’ll hear why. And amid record setting violence in Mexico, reasons for optimism? A security expert in Mexico city says yes. Plus a super bowl win for Texas last night? Maybe more than many in the Lone Star state realize. All those stories and then some today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: January 22, 2020
Just ahead of Super Tuesday, voter registration hits an all time high in Texas. We’ll look at what the new record setting numbers add up to. Other stories we’re tracking: governor Abbott’s decision to stop accepting refugees, widely panned by big city mayors and major newspaper editorial boards. We’ll hear why its playing out in somewhat unexpected ways in Amarillo. And Politifact Texas marks 10 years separating fact from fiction. All of those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: June 6, 2018
It was the biggest primary day so far. On the day after, what do the numbers tell Texas about the shape of the midterms to come? We’ll explore. Also, there’ve been lawsuits and noisy protests against school boards across the state as some districts move to replace failing schools with charter partnerships. What’s behind the controversies, and what do they tell us about how Texas is dealing with the issue? And, pain and profit. A year long investigation by the Dallas Morning News reveals how Texas had dropped the ball regulating health care for the state’s most vulnerable. And as the full moon approaches, the mystery of the Texas stonehenge, revealed? Those stories and so much more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 7, 2018
Greg Abbott goes one for three, democrats from Houston and Dallas to duke it out for the governors race, and more takeaways from the primaries. And another emerging theme for Texas politics in 2018: the female factor. We’ll explain. Also, the most expensive battle in the Texas primaries goes to the woman. We’ll have the latest on a bitter fight for a state senate post. And Beto O’Rourke gets 60 percent of the democratic vote to set up a November showdown with Ted Cruz, and the nation is watching. Also getting the border wired for the web and a questionable claim about the leading killer of African Americans and much more, today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard Primary Special: March 6, 2018
The polls just closed in El Paso in the unofficial kickoff to the midterm elections: it’s primary night in the state of Texas and we’re doing the numbers. Plus, in what might be the most closely watched statewide race, the incumbent George P. Bush: the scion of a political dynasty, faces three GOP challengers including his own predecessor. And high turnout among democrats. What are we to make of that, and does it signal a so called blue wave in Texas politics? Also, an unusually high number of open races. You think they’re not following this at the white house tonight? How will the outcomes translate to the national stage?
Commentator Matthew Dowd joins us. Texas voters, we’ve got you covered on a special Primary Night edition of the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 6, 2018
Worst deal ever! That’s what candidate Trump called NAFTA. Now putting steel tariffs on the table, could Trump tilt the scales? We’ll explore. Also, it’s primary day in Texas, we’ll have the latest. And are today’s doctors dinosaurs? The head of the new UT medical school in Austin says they’re definitely an endangered species, we’ll hear why. And when companies breaking ties with the NRA and taking stands in the culture wars, smart business? Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: March 5, 2018
There’s Abbot and Valdez and White and who else? What does it take to make a mark in a contest like this? We’ll have details. Also, With just hours to go before primary day: gimme 5 takeaways: the university of Houston’s Brandon Rottinghaus on the big themes going into Tuesday. And 3-2-1-will we ever see liftoff by SpaceX in south Texas? We’ll have the view from the launch pad. And not since the days of sputnik: a milestone for a major Texas export. Hank Hill would be proud. All those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Primaries
It’s primary season here in Texas. The Lone Star State has among the lowest voter turnout rates in the country – so here’s a poem for those of you who are heading to the polls.
Texas Standard: February 22, 2018
Governor Abbott is not having it: schools need to implement safety measures or be be called out publicly, we’ll explore. Also, the reverend, crusades, and the role Texas played in all this. Plus, presidential Elections are coming up in Mexico: what’s different from US elections? And in Texas how do you become “election judge”? We’ll tell you. Also, the tug of war for the “rainy day fund”, could it pay for flooding? Plus boots that sustain the soul and a tech giant that’s house hunting. All that and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 20, 2018
86 cents of every dollar donated to state-level campaigns in Texas went to Republicans. We’ll do the numbers. And it’s here: early voting is underway for the Texas primaries. We’ll explore the rules behind where you can cast a ballot and why. And a city on the Texas coast is making plans to become the first new cruise ship port-of-call in about half a century. We’ll talk with the mayor leading the effort. Plus, a big U-S company is changing the way they do healthcare and it’s turning some heads. It may surprise you which company it is. And we’ll also hear from the filmmakers behind a new movie about an event that thrust one Texas city into the national spotlight a few decades ago. Those stories and a whole lot more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 19, 2018
The University of Texas and the Texas Tribune team up to tell us which politicians are ahead on the polls, we’ll have the latest. Also, is OPEC bringing in more members to better control oil prices? We’ll Explore the role of Historically Black Colleges and speak to the film-maker. Plus comfort food has a whole other meaning to families in poverty, we tell you why. And the art of Arturo Torres is putting Garland on the map, we’ll explain. Also, it’s president’s Day! And early voting starts tomorrow, be sure to Wear your red white and blue all week! Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 8, 2018
The Texas primaries are just around the corner. We’ll follow the money to find out which big organizations are funding candidates so far. Also the numbers are devastating and they seem to be growing. What’s behind an uptick in child abuse deaths in Texas? And a central Texas university is mired in debate about racism involving the student body president. We’ll have the story. Plus as the state’s first medical cannabis oil dispensary opens we’ll talk with a doctor about why even those eligible for a CBD oil prescription might have a hard time getting one. And a new book about an odyssey in the Texas Hill Country is getting a lot of praise and complimentary comparisons. Those stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: December 12, 2017
As the Weinstein effect hits Washington, a Texas congressman still standing despite growing allegations, we’ll explore. Also, filing deadline comes for what could be a watershed midterm election season. Bob Gee of the Austin American Statesman boils things down to 5 races to watch in 2018. And the Texas wind power revolution: causing a stir for property owners. Are you sure who owns the wind above your land? And in the dust bowl days it was hailed as a savior for ranchers. Now, they’re branding it a scourge. The zombie grass taking over south Texas and beyond. Those stories and lots more today on the Texas Standard:
Texas Standard: February 10, 2016
Within its boundaries, its big red. But in the Presidential race, it may be all about the blues. The lone star factor in 2016, we’ll explore. Also when it comes to the latino vote in Texas in 2016, which party benefits most? Are you sure about that? Plus, cookie wars. why some might not be buying what girl scouts are selling this year. Also an experiment in children’s health care: take two of these and Skype me in the morning. And before there was Facebook, the place small town texans would gather. Hint: you might find a blizzard there. Those stories and much more on todays Texas Standard: