Confucius and Fresh recap their likes and dislikes of The Grammys and break down how to best approach them for music consideration. You’ll hear some great Hip-Hop Facts, fun takes when Confucius Reads the News, and an Unpopular Opinion about the impact of media inspired by the 2005 film Havoc.
Taylor Swift
Revamping 6th Street/Snarling Nikki
Think 6th Street could use a couple tweaks? Confucius and Fresh do too! They also couldn’t resist a chance to chime in on the Nicki Minaj/Megan Thee Stallion situation. Hip Hop Facts and Confucius Reads the News are both in fine form this week, as is Fresh’s Unpopular Opinion for Austin’s prospects as a “Texas rap city”.
The best of the year in arts & culture
Today we’re turning our attention to the world of arts and culture, from a riveting film featuring the audio diaries of Lady Bird Johnson, to the startling impact of a singer named Taylor Swift.
What if it is your first rodeo? We’ve got you covered there with what to do – and what not to.
And Austin-born actor Gabriel Luna talks about his role in the hit HBO series “The Last of Us.”
Tours from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are big for local economies
COVID cases in Texas rise by almost 25% in a week as concerns mount over a new variant. Although the vast majority of Texans have given up masks and social distancing, health officials say they’re still important tools as cases pick up and students return to the classroom. Dr. Catherine Troisi of UTHealth Houston joins us with an update.
Young plaintiffs in Montana score a high-profile victory in a fight to force their home state to take climate change more seriously. Could a similar approach work in Texas?
And: Tours from Beyoncé and Taylor Swift are generating huge spending on everything from concert tickets and merch to spillover effects on travel, clothing and more.
Texas House committee recommends impeaching Attorney General Ken Paxton
As the Texas Legislature moves into the final hours of the 88th session, a Republican-led House committee has issued 20 articles of impeachment against state Attorney General Ken Paxton, alleging a yearslong pattern of misconduct by the state’s top law enforcement official.
What happened to the $30 billion+ surplus lawmakers started out with this session?
Revenge of the Swifties: A bill signed into law this week cracks down on robot ticket scalpers.
And Mando Rayo on the art of the taco truck.
Taylor Swift fans in Texas are ready for the Eras Tour
For the first time in three years, Medicaid recipients have had to re-apply for the benefit as a major safety net installed during the pandemic disappears – and millions of Texans may lose health coverage.
Taylor Swift is coming to town, and the excitement is off the charts for the superstar’s Texas swing, starting this weekend in Arlington.
Also take a deep dive into deep fakes.
The Great War (of buying Taylor Swift tickets)
For fans of a certain musician, a certain recent ticket-buying experience was a certain nightmare. That was the inspiration for this Typewriter Rodeo poem.
Texas Standard: September 07, 2022
As students return to class in Uvalde, new scrutiny comes as five of the responding officers involved in the mass shooting have been referred to the inspector general, two suspended with pay; we’ll have the latest. Also, new polling numbers on the top three races in Texas politics. And teaching Taylor Swift at UT, we’ll hear from the professor behind a class that might be tough to shake off. These stories and more today on the Texas Standard:
Not Today Kanye
This week on The Breaks
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- Confucius and Fresh talk about Kanye’s quest to regain control of his masters, and explain why they’re skeptical about his appeals to other artists for support.
- Both hosts talk about how surprised they were to hear that Outkast had considered making a mixtape for DJ Drama’s mixtape series Gangsta Grillz and discuss why they think it might not have happened.
- Confucius and Fresh discuss how and why music tastes change.
- In his Unpopular Opinion, Fresh states that Austin radio is in a very, very good place.
- In his Confucius Says segment, Confucius encourages people to keep those they don’t like from living rent-free in their heads.
Listen to this episode of The Breaks