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January 9, 2025

It’s cold outside, but politics are heating up in Austin

By: Laura Rice

As cold as it is in some parts of the state, politics are heating up in Austin. As the next legislative session nears, there’s intense infighting over who will hold one of the top spots.
Abortion access in this country has changed, especially in states like Texas, since the effective overturn of Roe v. Wade. But pregnancy terminations are actually up across the U.S.
Meta will no longer fact-check. What’s that mean for the user experience on platforms like Facebook and Instagram?
And the semifinal round is here in the College Football Playoff. Texas will face Ohio State. Can the Longhorns win it all?


Episodes

February 19, 2025

Behind Southwest Airlines’ big job cuts

15% of Southwest Airlines’ corporate workforce is out of a job in the Dallas-based company’s first-ever major layoffs.Frigid temperatures across the state and all eyes are on the Texas grid’s ability to handle it. How the grid became what it is today.President Trump has dismantled a couple of boards you’ve probably never heard about. Why […]

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February 18, 2025

Measles outbreak spreads in rural West Texas

A measles outbreak in rural West Texas is rapidly spreading, with 49 cases confirmed. We’ll check in to see how the hospital in that region is responding.The Texas Metropolitan Blueprint is an ambitious five-year plan to help policymakers confront the state’s explosive population growth.Gov. Greg Abbott is warning Texans to prepare for what could be […]

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February 17, 2025

Why Texas’ paid parental leave plan isn’t working

It took a while, but the Texas House now ready to take action on some closely watched legislation. Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom gets us up to speed on the week ahead under the pink dome.A new study assesses the severity of water access problems in colonias, unincorporated communities with long-standing infrastructure issues.What happens […]

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February 16, 2025

Texas Extra: Introducing Season 3 of The Disconnect: Power, Politics and the Texas Blackout

Listen to the first episode of Season 3 The Disconnect: Power, Politics and the Texas Blackout.

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February 14, 2025

What a stock exchange boom means for Dallas

After a long wait, the House speaker makes his committee assignments, and some Texas Republicans are none too pleased. We’ll hear the backstory and how it could affect the legislative session going forward.With the New York Stock Exchange moving part of its operations to Dallas and a separate Texas Stock Exchange in the works, North […]

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February 13, 2025

Cracking the mystery of sea turtles’ ‘lost years’

A new survey gives some strong indications what Texans make of the 47th president and what that portends for Texas Sen. John Cornyn’s re-election prospects.Apple and Microsoft have followed Google in renaming the Gulf of Mexico on their maps after a Trump executive order. Tech journalist Omar Gallaga explains what’s behind the change, and whether […]

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February 12, 2025

A sisterhood of nuns is quietly emerging on Texas death row

It’s been four years since the deadly days-long blackout in Texas – and “The Disconnect” podcast is back for a third season, exploring what’s changed and what hasn’t.The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has been told by the new Trump administration to stop work. How a long-term closure might affect you.An investigation into the death of […]

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February 11, 2025

‘Petflation’ is real, and a Texas lawmaker wants to help

How President Trump’s new tariffs on steel and aluminum will impact a wide range of companies across the state.Slashing federal grants that fund overhead for research labs will save some money but also hinder life-saving research.Texans know the price of feeding your dog or cat has been rising. A state lawmaker wants to provide some […]

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