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October 20, 2023

The national security concerns over Chinese crypto mining in Texas

By: David Brown

With first ballots soon to be cast in the race to replace the term-limited mayor of Houston, the candidates debate with the top two contenders neck and neck in the polls. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider shares more more.

Texas leads in the nation in Bitcoin mining, but new concerns are growing in other states that some Chinese-owned operations may compromise national security.

On some East Texas construction sites, concrete and steel are being replaced in favor of a new kind of wood product, mass timber, which is strong and flexible enough to be used in the construction of commercial buildings.

Plus, we’ll check in on the week in politics with the Texas Tribune.


Episodes

October 14, 2026

New UT poll shows unusually tight statewide races

A new poll from the Texas Politics Project suggests the Republican winning streak in the Lone Star State faces its toughest test yet. It’s cotton picking season in Texas. Scientists studying wild cotton and its ancestral origins hope older genetic traits could eventually strengthen the varieties farmers plant today. And: One of the most durable […]

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October 13, 2026

South Texas congressional race tests GOP gains with Latino voters

What’s next for Camp Mystic as a judge rules wrongful death lawsuits filed by parents can move forward. Republican Monica De La Cruz is seeking a third term in Texas’ 15th Congressional District, where Democrat Bobby Pulido, a Tejano singer and first-time candidate, is challenging her. The South Texas race will test whether recent Republican […]

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October 12, 2026

How Corpus Christi’s desalination push landed it in hot water

New details from a deposition more than a decade old shed light on how Ken Paxton has amassed his wealth. Could they rattle the tight Texas U.S. Senate race?A new military push for AI, and an outsized role for Texas. Why some say the process is moving too fast.San Antonio’s Fiesta will look different in […]

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October 9, 2026

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 […]

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October 8, 2026

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 […]

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October 7, 2026

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 […]

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October 6, 2026

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 […]

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October 5, 2026

What to expect as the Supreme Court reconvenes

The first Monday in October means the U.S. Supreme Court is back to work. We’ll have an early look at the docket, what Texans should watch for and more.A red-hot congressional race in a huge district — a contest between YouTube gun rights supporter Brandon Herrerra and child rights advocate Katy Padilla Stout — is […]

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