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The people in the Austin area joined

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with many thousands of others across

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the country in protesting after an

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ICE officer fatally shot a woman

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this week in Minneapolis.

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Demonstrators gathered outside a

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Department of Homeland Security

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building in Pflugerville.

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We'll bring you some of those

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voices.

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And after a U.S.

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Military operation in Caracas

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last weekend, Venezuelans in Austin

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are hoping for bigger changes before

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they are able to go back home.

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We're going to hear from them and

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from a Venezuelan Texan author

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based here in Their stories

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and their voices coming up next.

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The Austin Signal is a production

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of KUT News, hosted by

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Jerry Quijano.

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Plus, how did Austin come

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to be known as the live music

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capital of the world?

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Come and dig into the ATXplain

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vault with us.

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That's coming up next, right here

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on Austin Signal.

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Howdy, you are tuned in.

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This is Austin Signal.

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It's January 9th.

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Thank you for making us part of

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your Friday.

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Out of Austin, ice,

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out of Austin!

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Anti-ICE protests popped up

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in Austin and Pflugerville yesterday

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after a woman in Minneapolis was

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shot and killed by an Immigration

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and Customs Enforcement officer

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earlier this week.

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She was identified as 37-year-old

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Renee Good.

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In Austin, protesters gathered on

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the corners of 45th and Lamar.

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Sarah Bradley was one of those

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protesters.

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And I don't want to live in a place

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where I'm scared to spook my mind.

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I want to be as free as possible.

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And I also want us to take care of

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each other.

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Live in a society where we take care

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each other,

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that's why I'm here.

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The protest in Pflugerville was held

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in front of the U.S.

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Department of Homeland Security

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building there.

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After Goode's killing, President

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Donald Trump called her a quote,

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professional agitator, end quote.

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Protesters said they reject those

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claims.

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Protests are expected to continue

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later today at the Capitol and

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tomorrow morning at City Hall.

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You can find more coverage on the

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protest over at KUT.org.

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Again, this is Austin Signal.

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I'm your host Jerry Kijano.

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Here in town, there have also been

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protests and vigils in reaction to

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the Trump administration's actions

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in Venezuela.

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And as the ousted Venezuelan

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President Nicolas Maduro is facing

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trial in the United States,

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some Venezuelans here don't feel as

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hopeful about returning home.

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QUT's Greta Díaz González Vázquez

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talked to Venezuelas in Austin.

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Betty Nava and her family fled

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Venezuela in 2018.

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She and her husband were very

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outspoken against Nicolás Maduro's

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government and felt their lives

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would be in danger if they stayed.

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Last Saturday, when she heard about

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the U.S. Military action to arrest

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Maduro, she was overwhelmed

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and decided to go back to bed.

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She couldn't stand the possibility

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of being disillusioned by her

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country once more.

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Because I thought that Maduro would

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go back to the Maduro area.

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She thought Maduro would return to

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power in a matter of hours.

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Almost a week later, she's still not

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ready to celebrate, especially

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since Maduro's vice president,

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Delci Rodriguez, is now interim

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president.

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I still don't fully celebrate

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because those people are there.

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Person who is much

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more intelligent than Maduro.

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Betty says she fears her more than

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Madro.

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When Betty, her husband, and their

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two sons first fled, they went to

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Peru.

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In 2021, they came to the U.S.

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On a tourist visa.

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That same year, they applied for

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asylum, and while waiting, they got

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Temporary Protected status,

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or TPS.

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Solamente solicitamos el TPS

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como protección.

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They wanted to feel protected, she

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says, but the Trump administration

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ended that program last year.

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Now, after Maduro's detention...

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News for those who

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are here from Venezuela on

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temporary protective status is that

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they can now go home.

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With hope for their country.

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That's Trisha McLaughlin from the

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Department of Homeland Security.

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After Maduro's attention, officials

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from the Trump administration have

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repeatedly said that Venezuela

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is now a safe country for the

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roughly 600,000 Venezuelans

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who were under TPS.

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Venezuelan's like Betty.

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But other people say with Maduro

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cabinet still in power, it's

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not that simple.

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Liani, a Venezuelian lawyer who also

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lives in Austin, says it will take

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some time for things to get better.

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KUT is using only her first

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name because she still has family in

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Venezuela and fears for their

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safety.

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She says once the transition moves

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forward and things become clearer,

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it will take a while for those

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abroad to feel safe, to know

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they won't be persecuted when they

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return.

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Liani worked as a judge in

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Venezuela.

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She says all institutions there

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have become corrupt over the last

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two decades.

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Cuando te digo que la han destruido

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todo es porque...

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We have to renew all the powers of

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the state.

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She says federal, state and local

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reforms need to take place before

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Venezuelans can go back.

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When you see people inside Venezuela

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celebrating and the

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free political prisoners,

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it's because freedom has arrived in

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Venezuela. Freedom will come for

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Venezuela, she says, when people

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inside the country can celebrate and

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all political prisoners are freed.

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On Thursday, Venezuela's government

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released some political prisoners

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as a gesture to, quote,

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consolidate peace.

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There have been protests inside

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Venezuela against Maduro's

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detention, but people in the country

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who oppose the government have not

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been able to celebrate in public.

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The country is divided.

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Beti Nava hears about both sides.

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Some of her siblings in Venezuela

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agree with Maduro government,

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while others do not.

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To those who oppose Maduro, she asks

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them to delete all their tags

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criticizing the government.

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But to those who support him,

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she's always asking

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because they continue to support a

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process and a group of people

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that destroyed our future and

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separated us.

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Why support those people who

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destroyed their futures and split

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their family apart?

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That's what I asked them, that I

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wanted an answer.

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She hasn't gotten an answer yet,

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but she still loves her family and

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even gives them money when she can.

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Both Liani and Betty know that if

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they could go back to Venezuela,

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it wouldn't be the same country they

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left years ago.

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A lot of their friends and family

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are scattered around the world.

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Institutions have changed.

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With so many years living abroad,

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they have also changed.

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Liani says if things get better, she

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wants to go back and help her

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country by being a professor.

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I think there's a lot to do

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and a lot of things to offer.

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She says there's lots to do to

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reconstruct Venezuela and she

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doesn't want future generations to

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forget their history.

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It benefits a very rapid

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reconstruction of our country.

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Beti says that even though she's

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waiting for her asylum case to be

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resolved, what she really wants

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is to go back to Venezuela and

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to be in the land where her kids

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were born.

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Porque nadie sale de donde feliz.

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Betty says because nobody leaves the

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place where they're happy.

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And I was very happy in Venezuela.

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And she was very happy in

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Venezuela.

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I'm Greta Diaz Gonzalez Vazquez

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in Austin.

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Austin author Alejandro Puyana

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is a Venezuelan-American and

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wrote the 2025 novel Freedom

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is a Feast About Life in

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Venezuela.

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He reached out to Texas Standard as

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part of their Talk of Texas project

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with his own experience and thoughts

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on what's been going on.

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He spoke with the Standard's David

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Brown.

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Let's begin with your reaction when

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you first heard the news over the

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weekend. I mean, on one level,

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it was a huge surprise.

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On another level, President Trump

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had been warning about something

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like this for weeks.

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What went through your mind in that

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moment when you heard the first

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news?

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Yeah, well, I got a

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phone call from my mother at 2

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a.m. In the morning, which is always

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a horrible thing to get because

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you don't know what's happened.

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My mom told me that they had just

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bombed Caracas and it was first

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fear and concern for

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loved ones and friends and family

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that I have living there.

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And then very soon after, just

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a deep dive into news.

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So immediately on WhatsApp with

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my best friends and with my family

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members.

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Looking into coverage and seeing

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what I could find.

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And yeah, very afraid for what

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could happen on one side.

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And also a

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small part of me,

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I think, had hope of

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what this could mean for the

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end of a regime that's been horrible

287
00:08:59,780 --> 00:09:01,959
for the nation and for

288
00:09:01,960 --> 00:09:03,069
my people.

289
00:09:03,070 --> 00:09:05,009
So, wow, what a mix.

290
00:09:05,010 --> 00:09:07,009
Fear and hope.

291
00:09:07,010 --> 00:09:08,769
I know you've written fiction about

292
00:09:08,770 --> 00:09:10,689
Venezuela, but you've also lived

293
00:09:10,690 --> 00:09:12,729
this history personally.

294
00:09:12,730 --> 00:09:14,709
How did your experience growing up

295
00:09:14,710 --> 00:09:16,849
there shape the way that

296
00:09:16,850 --> 00:09:18,270
you have been processing?

297
00:09:19,790 --> 00:09:21,349
Yeah, it's impossible to divorce

298
00:09:21,350 --> 00:09:23,269
those two things.

299
00:09:23,270 --> 00:09:25,249
You know, when I grew up in

300
00:09:25,250 --> 00:09:27,269
Venezuela, like you said, when

301
00:09:27,270 --> 00:09:29,669
I first moved to the US,

302
00:09:29,670 --> 00:09:31,889
my dad was running an opposition

303
00:09:31,890 --> 00:09:33,729
newspaper in Venezuela called

304
00:09:33,730 --> 00:09:35,749
Talcual, which

305
00:09:35,750 --> 00:09:37,749
is still running now.

306
00:09:37,750 --> 00:09:39,709
And he had a lot of run-ins with

307
00:09:39,710 --> 00:09:42,029
the government, with the regime.

308
00:09:42,030 --> 00:09:43,749
He was prohibited from leaving the

309
00:09:43,750 --> 00:09:45,689
country. There was always a threat

310
00:09:45,690 --> 00:09:47,549
of, you know, of my dad

311
00:09:47,550 --> 00:09:48,779
possibly going.

312
00:09:48,780 --> 00:09:50,959
To prison as a political

313
00:09:50,960 --> 00:09:52,239
prisoner.

314
00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,139
So those fears were always

315
00:09:54,140 --> 00:09:55,959
up in the air for us, for

316
00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:57,339
my family, and for me leaving

317
00:09:57,340 --> 00:09:58,659
abroad. Me and my sister lived

318
00:09:58,660 --> 00:09:59,799
outside of Venezuela.

319
00:10:00,860 --> 00:10:02,939
It was always a

320
00:10:02,940 --> 00:10:04,819
looking back at home and

321
00:10:04,820 --> 00:10:06,599
wondering what was going to happen.

322
00:10:06,600 --> 00:10:08,579
So I've lived very personally

323
00:10:08,580 --> 00:10:10,679
the effects of this regime.

324
00:10:12,040 --> 00:10:13,819
In your talk of Texas message, you

325
00:10:13,820 --> 00:10:15,219
touched on the difference between

326
00:10:15,220 --> 00:10:17,499
wanting Maduro gone

327
00:10:17,500 --> 00:10:19,379
and of course your questions

328
00:10:19,380 --> 00:10:21,059
about how that happened, how that

329
00:10:21,060 --> 00:10:21,879
went down.

330
00:10:21,880 --> 00:10:23,559
Can you say more about that tension,

331
00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:25,079
you know, relief on one hand,

332
00:10:25,080 --> 00:10:26,139
concern on the other?

333
00:10:26,140 --> 00:10:27,919
Yeah, I think I think for many

334
00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:29,939
Venezuelans, we are split

335
00:10:29,940 --> 00:10:31,619
inside, you know, on one side, we

336
00:10:31,620 --> 00:10:33,659
have joy and there's

337
00:10:33,660 --> 00:10:35,319
a cost for celebration for the

338
00:10:35,320 --> 00:10:37,179
regime or for at least Maduro and

339
00:10:37,180 --> 00:10:39,039
Celia Flores to have been taken out

340
00:10:39,040 --> 00:10:40,339
of the country. I mean, they've

341
00:10:40,340 --> 00:10:42,299
they've done so much harm to so

342
00:10:42,300 --> 00:10:43,259
many people.

343
00:10:43,260 --> 00:10:45,619
But on the other hand,

344
00:10:45,620 --> 00:10:48,259
most Venezuelan understand that

345
00:10:48,260 --> 00:10:50,479
This is not for free,

346
00:10:50,480 --> 00:10:53,079
you know, Trump has his own agenda,

347
00:10:53,080 --> 00:10:55,929
he is in his own way.

348
00:10:55,930 --> 00:10:57,909
Tyrant in my point of view

349
00:10:57,910 --> 00:10:59,889
and is interested only in

350
00:10:59,890 --> 00:11:02,289
what Venezuela can give him.

351
00:11:02,290 --> 00:11:04,449
You know, minerals, oil,

352
00:11:04,450 --> 00:11:07,129
riches, whatever that may be.

353
00:11:07,130 --> 00:11:08,689
And the means that he's achieving

354
00:11:08,690 --> 00:11:10,609
this are horrifying

355
00:11:10,610 --> 00:11:12,349
in certain ways.

356
00:11:12,350 --> 00:11:14,089
But we can't forget also that

357
00:11:14,090 --> 00:11:16,169
Venezuelans have dealt with

358
00:11:16,170 --> 00:11:18,269
this regime for over 20 years.

359
00:11:20,310 --> 00:11:22,449
Desperate for anything that

360
00:11:22,450 --> 00:11:23,450
resembles hope.

361
00:11:24,870 --> 00:11:26,829
And this also

362
00:11:26,830 --> 00:11:27,949
provides that.

363
00:11:27,950 --> 00:11:30,269
So we are juggling two

364
00:11:30,270 --> 00:11:31,270
things.

365
00:11:31,910 --> 00:11:33,769
It was horrible to hear

366
00:11:33,770 --> 00:11:35,869
Trump's press conference

367
00:11:35,870 --> 00:11:38,449
the day after the attacks,

368
00:11:38,450 --> 00:11:40,149
how he was going to quote unquote

369
00:11:40,150 --> 00:11:41,449
run Venezuela.

370
00:11:41,450 --> 00:11:42,869
It was repulsive.

371
00:11:42,870 --> 00:11:44,309
It was humiliating.

372
00:11:46,270 --> 00:11:48,089
So it's a very complex

373
00:11:48,090 --> 00:11:49,489
place to be, I think.

374
00:11:49,490 --> 00:11:51,349
I think we can hold both of

375
00:11:51,350 --> 00:11:53,029
those things at the same time.

376
00:11:53,030 --> 00:11:54,929
We can hold on one

377
00:11:54,930 --> 00:11:57,069
hand the idea that

378
00:11:57,070 --> 00:11:59,009
Venezuela, this might be a

379
00:11:59,010 --> 00:12:00,909
path for Venezuela to be

380
00:12:00,910 --> 00:12:02,329
in a better space.

381
00:12:02,330 --> 00:12:04,289
And it also might be a path

382
00:12:04,290 --> 00:12:06,269
to a whole different way of

383
00:12:06,270 --> 00:12:08,309
oppression. And the reality is

384
00:12:08,310 --> 00:12:10,249
we don't know where we're

385
00:12:10,250 --> 00:12:11,989
gonna land. We just know that we are

386
00:12:11,990 --> 00:12:13,809
here now and we have to

387
00:12:13,810 --> 00:12:16,219
try to make the best of it.

388
00:12:16,220 --> 00:12:17,959
For other Americans and Texans who

389
00:12:17,960 --> 00:12:20,039
may not have close ties to Venezuela

390
00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:21,999
as you do, what

391
00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:23,959
do you think is most important to

392
00:12:23,960 --> 00:12:25,199
understand about this moment,

393
00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,139
especially about what comes

394
00:12:27,140 --> 00:12:29,099
after a leader like Maduro is

395
00:12:29,100 --> 00:12:30,159
removed?

396
00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:32,139
First of all, we have to

397
00:12:32,140 --> 00:12:34,079
allow Venezuelans to

398
00:12:34,080 --> 00:12:36,619
feel their feelings, like they

399
00:12:36,620 --> 00:12:38,639
are entitled

400
00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:40,539
to feeling happy and

401
00:12:40,540 --> 00:12:42,679
joyous about a terrible

402
00:12:42,680 --> 00:12:44,379
dictator being deposed.

403
00:12:44,380 --> 00:12:45,859
That's on one hand.

404
00:12:45,860 --> 00:12:48,839
On the other hand, we try to

405
00:12:48,840 --> 00:12:51,219
hold our leaders accountable

406
00:12:51,220 --> 00:12:53,079
for the actions that they've done.

407
00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,199
Who knows where

408
00:12:55,200 --> 00:12:57,279
we're gonna be a year from

409
00:12:57,280 --> 00:12:58,860
now or two years from now

410
00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:01,719
there might be consequences for

411
00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:03,479
how Trump acted and how he went

412
00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,339
about things. And we have to be

413
00:13:05,340 --> 00:13:07,359
open to those kinds of things,

414
00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:09,259
but we have hold both things

415
00:13:09,260 --> 00:13:10,689
at the same time.

416
00:13:10,690 --> 00:13:12,109
We've been speaking with Alejandro

417
00:13:12,110 --> 00:13:14,009
Puyana, a Venezuelan-American

418
00:13:14,010 --> 00:13:15,669
writer now living in Austin.

419
00:13:15,670 --> 00:13:17,329
He's the author of Freedom is a

420
00:13:17,330 --> 00:13:19,369
Feast, and he's been sharing his

421
00:13:19,370 --> 00:13:21,169
perspective with us as part of our

422
00:13:21,170 --> 00:13:23,029
Talk of Texas project.

423
00:13:23,030 --> 00:13:24,009
Alejandro, thanks so much for

424
00:13:24,010 --> 00:13:26,079
joining us on the Texas Standard.

425
00:13:26,080 --> 00:13:27,379
Thank you guys, thank you so much.

426
00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:36,219
We're gonna have a link to all of

427
00:13:36,220 --> 00:13:38,119
today's stories in our show

428
00:13:38,120 --> 00:13:39,899
notes. You can find those wherever

429
00:13:39,900 --> 00:13:41,779
you listen to your podcasts.

430
00:13:41,780 --> 00:13:43,859
Don't forget to subscribe to Austin

431
00:13:43,860 --> 00:13:45,739
Signal. And we have more of

432
00:13:45,740 --> 00:13:48,779
our show over at kut.org

433
00:13:48,780 --> 00:13:50,119
slash signal.

434
00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:51,819
We've got more show for your Friday

435
00:13:51,820 --> 00:13:53,320
coming up after this break.

436
00:14:00,810 --> 00:14:02,049
Welcome back and thank you for

437
00:14:02,050 --> 00:14:04,369
tuning in. This is Austin Signal.

438
00:14:04,370 --> 00:14:06,189
A reminder that free week kicks

439
00:14:06,190 --> 00:14:08,149
off tonight. Lots of live music all

440
00:14:08,150 --> 00:14:10,189
around the city that is known as the

441
00:14:10,190 --> 00:14:12,789
live music capital of the world.

442
00:14:12,790 --> 00:14:14,509
Our sister station, KUTX, is hosting

443
00:14:14,510 --> 00:14:16,449
a showcase tonight indoors at Stubbs

444
00:14:16,450 --> 00:14:18,329
with music starting at seven and

445
00:14:18,330 --> 00:14:19,669
going past midnight.

446
00:14:19,670 --> 00:14:21,589
We have more in our

447
00:14:21,590 --> 00:14:23,469
show notes, kut.org slash

448
00:14:23,470 --> 00:14:24,349
signal.

449
00:14:24,350 --> 00:14:25,929
But let's go back to that moniker

450
00:14:25,930 --> 00:14:27,929
real quick. The live music

451
00:14:27,930 --> 00:14:29,519
capitol of the World.

452
00:14:29,520 --> 00:14:31,439
Just how did Austin end up

453
00:14:31,440 --> 00:14:33,339
with that designation?

454
00:14:33,340 --> 00:14:35,239
Our ETXplain podcast answers

455
00:14:35,240 --> 00:14:36,779
all your questions about Austin's

456
00:14:36,780 --> 00:14:38,679
people, places, and culture, and

457
00:14:38,680 --> 00:14:40,479
they're celebrating 10 years of

458
00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,179
answering those questions.

459
00:14:42,180 --> 00:14:43,919
Today, we're gonna go back in time a

460
00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:45,919
decade to an oh-so-familiar

461
00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:48,019
voice. Here is KUT's

462
00:14:48,020 --> 00:14:49,020
Mose Buchele.

463
00:14:50,320 --> 00:14:51,879
No matter what you think of it,

464
00:14:51,880 --> 00:14:52,819
you've got to admit it's been

465
00:14:52,820 --> 00:14:53,820
effective.

466
00:14:55,000 --> 00:14:56,339
Even for people who don't like

467
00:14:56,340 --> 00:14:57,999
music, for people have never been

468
00:14:58,000 --> 00:14:59,039
here.

469
00:14:59,040 --> 00:15:01,539
Austin and music are synonymous.

470
00:15:01,540 --> 00:15:02,799
You live in Chicago now, but like

471
00:15:02,800 --> 00:15:04,139
when you say you're from Austin, do

472
00:15:04,140 --> 00:15:05,659
people bring up music?

473
00:15:05,660 --> 00:15:06,619
I think so.

474
00:15:06,620 --> 00:15:08,059
That's Austin Brown.

475
00:15:08,060 --> 00:15:10,399
Yeah, his first name is Austin.

476
00:15:10,400 --> 00:15:11,899
He asked us a question about the

477
00:15:11,900 --> 00:15:13,319
live music nickname, even though

478
00:15:13,320 --> 00:15:15,419
he's going to school up North.

479
00:15:15,420 --> 00:15:16,899
Like what are some other brands that

480
00:15:16,900 --> 00:15:17,900
cities have?

481
00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:20,199
Have been this effective.

482
00:15:20,200 --> 00:15:22,119
Is there a slogan in Chicago?

483
00:15:22,120 --> 00:15:23,319
Like a moniker?

484
00:15:23,320 --> 00:15:25,359
Nothing about music really, the

485
00:15:25,360 --> 00:15:26,360
windy city,

486
00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:29,599
the city of broad shoulders.

487
00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:30,979
But if you visit Chicago, people

488
00:15:30,980 --> 00:15:33,059
aren't saying, hey, don't miss the

489
00:15:33,060 --> 00:15:34,799
broad shoulders, I can't even think

490
00:15:34,800 --> 00:15:36,799
if LA has a slogan.

491
00:15:36,800 --> 00:15:38,799
The city of angels, but that's...

492
00:15:38,800 --> 00:15:39,800
Oh yeah, yeah,

493
00:15:40,740 --> 00:15:41,699
I don't know exactly what that

494
00:15:41,700 --> 00:15:43,499
means, but I always thought it felt

495
00:15:43,500 --> 00:15:44,539
a little sarcastic.

496
00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:49,939
Austin's more like the little town

497
00:15:49,940 --> 00:15:51,899
that boasts the world's largest ball

498
00:15:51,900 --> 00:15:53,379
of twine.

499
00:15:53,380 --> 00:15:54,979
If you stop there, people are going

500
00:15:54,980 --> 00:15:56,819
to ask you about the twine,

501
00:15:56,820 --> 00:15:58,099
so here's the question.

502
00:15:58,100 --> 00:16:00,039
Where did the live music capital of

503
00:16:00,040 --> 00:16:02,099
the world, Moniker, come from?

504
00:16:02,100 --> 00:16:03,779
Does it feel accurate to residents

505
00:16:03,780 --> 00:16:05,199
or musicians?

506
00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:06,679
Well, let me start by asking you,

507
00:16:06,680 --> 00:16:08,839
does it feel to you, do you think?

508
00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:10,520
Um, I don't know.

509
00:16:11,780 --> 00:16:13,039
We'll get back to that.

510
00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:15,119
First, a little history.

511
00:16:15,120 --> 00:16:16,999
Walk sign is on to cross Barton

512
00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:18,409
Springs at 1st Street.

513
00:16:18,410 --> 00:16:19,589
A lot of people say the music scene

514
00:16:19,590 --> 00:16:21,889
in Austin really took root right

515
00:16:21,890 --> 00:16:23,849
around where I'm standing.

516
00:16:23,850 --> 00:16:25,729
This was around the site of

517
00:16:25,730 --> 00:16:27,189
the old Armadillo World

518
00:16:27,190 --> 00:16:28,509
headquarters. It was one of the

519
00:16:28,510 --> 00:16:30,589
clubs where they say Willie Nelson

520
00:16:30,590 --> 00:16:32,529
helped unite the hippies

521
00:16:32,530 --> 00:16:34,089
and the rednecks.

522
00:16:34,090 --> 00:16:36,049
And that encouraged a vibrant music

523
00:16:36,050 --> 00:16:37,549
scene to take hold that might today

524
00:16:37,550 --> 00:16:39,369
be called Roots

525
00:16:39,370 --> 00:16:41,369
Music or Americana.

526
00:16:41,370 --> 00:16:43,249
Nowadays, this is a surface

527
00:16:43,250 --> 00:16:45,209
level parking lot for a city

528
00:16:45,210 --> 00:16:46,869
office building. There are plenty of

529
00:16:46,870 --> 00:16:48,259
city staffers going in and out.

530
00:16:48,260 --> 00:16:50,999
But there's no music right here.

531
00:16:51,000 --> 00:16:53,399
So instead of staying here and

532
00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:55,219
getting some weird looks,

533
00:16:55,220 --> 00:16:57,199
let's take a trip up your radio

534
00:16:57,200 --> 00:16:58,200
dial.

535
00:16:58,800 --> 00:17:00,499
Yeah, there we go.

536
00:17:00,500 --> 00:17:02,489
We'll find out what happened next.

537
00:17:02,490 --> 00:17:03,549
I'm Jay Trachtenberg.

538
00:17:03,550 --> 00:17:05,649
I'm a music host at our

539
00:17:05,650 --> 00:17:07,348
sister station, or your sister

540
00:17:07,349 --> 00:17:08,999
station KUTX.

541
00:17:09,000 --> 00:17:10,818
That's 98.9, Jay's

542
00:17:10,819 --> 00:17:12,899
been a DJ in town for decades.

543
00:17:12,900 --> 00:17:14,419
I asked him what it was like back in

544
00:17:14,420 --> 00:17:15,889
the 70s and 80s.

545
00:17:15,890 --> 00:17:17,909
I was at a party maybe a

546
00:17:17,910 --> 00:17:20,009
year ago, and

547
00:17:20,010 --> 00:17:21,949
this guy had in his music room,

548
00:17:21,950 --> 00:17:23,809
he had a poster from

549
00:17:23,810 --> 00:17:24,810
Soap Cree.

550
00:17:27,770 --> 00:17:29,229
That was a popular club back in the

551
00:17:29,230 --> 00:17:30,229
day.

552
00:17:30,230 --> 00:17:32,509
It was just a one-month post.

553
00:17:32,510 --> 00:17:34,169
With all the acts playing there that

554
00:17:34,170 --> 00:17:34,599
month.

555
00:17:34,600 --> 00:17:37,039
And within this month,

556
00:17:37,040 --> 00:17:38,480
let's see, Dugsong was there.

557
00:17:40,250 --> 00:17:41,329
Bye!

558
00:17:44,640 --> 00:17:46,100
Game Mouth Brown was there.

559
00:17:50,180 --> 00:17:52,049
Townes Van Zandt and...

560
00:17:52,050 --> 00:17:54,169
Well to live,

561
00:17:54,170 --> 00:17:56,109
to fly, all

562
00:17:56,110 --> 00:17:57,799
alone Hi,

563
00:17:59,100 --> 00:18:01,159
Delbert McClinton, Marsha Ball, Paul

564
00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:02,160
Ray.

565
00:18:03,690 --> 00:18:05,729
To see all these names on one

566
00:18:05,730 --> 00:18:07,949
poster from one club

567
00:18:07,950 --> 00:18:09,769
in one month, you look at this

568
00:18:09,770 --> 00:18:11,049
and you go, I can't believe all

569
00:18:11,050 --> 00:18:12,649
these people were here and this was

570
00:18:12,650 --> 00:18:14,019
only one place.

571
00:18:14,020 --> 00:18:16,220
That old highway

572
00:18:17,310 --> 00:18:19,249
The Austin Chamber of Commerce took

573
00:18:19,250 --> 00:18:21,109
note. One chamber pamphlet from

574
00:18:21,110 --> 00:18:23,009
the 70s said people were calling

575
00:18:23,010 --> 00:18:25,909
Austin a second Nashville.

576
00:18:25,910 --> 00:18:26,969
Well, the scene grew through the

577
00:18:26,970 --> 00:18:29,069
years to include blues, punk,

578
00:18:29,070 --> 00:18:29,929
New Wave.

579
00:18:29,930 --> 00:18:31,189
By the time South by Southwest

580
00:18:31,190 --> 00:18:32,969
started up, the Austin City Limits

581
00:18:32,970 --> 00:18:34,929
PBS show had already been around

582
00:18:34,930 --> 00:18:36,809
for more than a decade,

583
00:18:36,810 --> 00:18:38,369
and the Austin city government

584
00:18:38,370 --> 00:18:40,309
started to see music as

585
00:18:40,310 --> 00:18:41,349
a moneymaker.

586
00:18:41,350 --> 00:18:42,889
They created the Austin Music

587
00:18:42,890 --> 00:18:44,929
Commission to foster the industry in

588
00:18:44,930 --> 00:18:47,349
1988, and clearly

589
00:18:47,350 --> 00:18:49,529
Second Nashville wasn't

590
00:18:49,530 --> 00:18:50,530
gonna cut it.

591
00:18:53,640 --> 00:18:55,259
This is music from a woman named

592
00:18:55,260 --> 00:18:56,739
Lillian Standfield.

593
00:18:56,740 --> 00:18:57,999
Chances are you haven't heard of

594
00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,719
her, but when it comes to the live

595
00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:01,579
music nickname, Standfield,

596
00:19:01,580 --> 00:19:03,519
who died several years ago, left a

597
00:19:03,520 --> 00:19:03,765
big mark.

598
00:19:03,766 --> 00:19:05,629
I give 100% of the credit to

599
00:19:05,630 --> 00:19:06,249
Lillian Standfield.

600
00:19:06,250 --> 00:19:08,389
Nancy Copland was the first chair

601
00:19:08,390 --> 00:19:10,529
of the Austin Music Commission.

602
00:19:10,530 --> 00:19:13,349
She says sometime around 1991,

603
00:19:13,350 --> 00:19:14,889
she got a call from Stanfield.

604
00:19:14,890 --> 00:19:16,729
And she said, you know, I just drove

605
00:19:16,730 --> 00:19:19,069
back from a gig in Houston.

606
00:19:19,070 --> 00:19:20,769
And as I pulled into Austin and saw

607
00:19:20,770 --> 00:19:23,249
the Austin City Limits sign,

608
00:19:23,250 --> 00:19:24,629
I thought maybe we should have

609
00:19:24,630 --> 00:19:26,609
something that said Music Capital of

610
00:19:26,610 --> 00:19:27,439
Texas.

611
00:19:27,440 --> 00:19:29,239
The Music Commission looked at how

612
00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:31,619
many venues there were in Austin per

613
00:19:31,620 --> 00:19:32,539
capita.

614
00:19:32,540 --> 00:19:34,359
They decided maybe live music

615
00:19:34,360 --> 00:19:36,459
capital was a better claim.

616
00:19:36,460 --> 00:19:38,099
At that time, City Councilmember Max

617
00:19:38,100 --> 00:19:39,999
Nofziger was Austin Music's biggest

618
00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:41,999
champion at City Hall.

619
00:19:42,000 --> 00:19:44,249
Copeland went to him with the name.

620
00:19:44,250 --> 00:19:47,169
And I said, well,

621
00:19:47,170 --> 00:19:49,009
that's good. I like that, except

622
00:19:49,010 --> 00:19:50,869
this is no time to be modest.

623
00:19:50,870 --> 00:19:52,929
So how about if we become

624
00:19:52,930 --> 00:19:54,809
the music capital of the universe?

625
00:19:54,810 --> 00:19:56,789
I said, we really have no way

626
00:19:56,790 --> 00:19:59,389
to gage that, Max,

627
00:19:59,390 --> 00:20:01,149
I'm not sure they have music on

628
00:20:01,150 --> 00:20:01,499
Mars.

629
00:20:01,500 --> 00:20:03,319
I said, well, let the Martians be

630
00:20:03,320 --> 00:20:04,819
damned. You know, they can invade us

631
00:20:04,820 --> 00:20:06,479
or vaporize us, whatever they would

632
00:20:06,480 --> 00:20:07,799
do.

633
00:20:07,800 --> 00:20:09,319
But I think it'd be worth it.

634
00:20:09,320 --> 00:20:10,639
And she said, you probably couldn't

635
00:20:10,640 --> 00:20:12,659
get that past your city council

636
00:20:12,660 --> 00:20:15,039
colleagues. So we compromised

637
00:20:15,040 --> 00:20:16,899
on Austin, the live music capital of

638
00:20:16,900 --> 00:20:17,969
the world. And brought it to a vote.

639
00:20:17,970 --> 00:20:19,949
At City Hall and that means

640
00:20:19,950 --> 00:20:21,849
if you look through City Council

641
00:20:21,850 --> 00:20:23,729
archives you can find the

642
00:20:23,730 --> 00:20:26,309
exact moment in history

643
00:20:26,310 --> 00:20:28,609
August 29th 1991

644
00:20:28,610 --> 00:20:30,549
when Austin proclaimed

645
00:20:30,550 --> 00:20:32,569
itself the live music

646
00:20:32,570 --> 00:20:34,509
capital of the world I found

647
00:20:34,510 --> 00:20:36,489
a recording of that moment so

648
00:20:36,490 --> 00:20:37,429
I don't know if you want to give it

649
00:20:37,430 --> 00:20:38,929
a listen I'd love to get your

650
00:20:38,930 --> 00:20:40,969
reaction sure and emailed

651
00:20:40,970 --> 00:20:42,769
it to our question asker Austin

652
00:20:42,770 --> 00:20:45,089
Brown here I'll play it right now

653
00:20:45,090 --> 00:20:46,929
Under items from council,

654
00:20:46,930 --> 00:20:48,869
number 46, approve a

655
00:20:48,870 --> 00:20:50,349
resolution declaring the city of

656
00:20:50,350 --> 00:20:52,169
Austin the live music capital of the

657
00:20:52,170 --> 00:20:53,170
world.

658
00:20:54,030 --> 00:20:55,030
47.

659
00:20:55,570 --> 00:20:56,469
Approve a resolution. Here it goes

660
00:20:56,470 --> 00:20:57,609
on for a while.

661
00:20:57,610 --> 00:20:58,930
And upon task force members.

662
00:21:00,490 --> 00:21:01,969
So the consent motion will be item

663
00:21:01,970 --> 00:21:03,869
46 and 47.

664
00:21:03,870 --> 00:21:04,870
Discussion on those?

665
00:21:06,450 --> 00:21:07,969
Hearing none, all in favor say aye.

666
00:21:07,970 --> 00:21:10,659
Aye. Show those approved.

667
00:21:10,660 --> 00:21:12,540
It's a little anti-climactic.

668
00:21:14,270 --> 00:21:16,109
Yeah, yeah, I thought it was kind of

669
00:21:16,110 --> 00:21:17,209
low-key too.

670
00:21:17,210 --> 00:21:19,569
They're just like, yeah sure,

671
00:21:19,570 --> 00:21:20,729
why not?

672
00:21:20,730 --> 00:21:22,049
Let's go for it.

673
00:21:22,050 --> 00:21:23,909
Maybe I should add some music in to

674
00:21:23,910 --> 00:21:25,449
give it a little more oomph.

675
00:21:25,450 --> 00:21:26,589
I feel like it ought to be Willie

676
00:21:26,590 --> 00:21:28,249
Nelson, right?

677
00:21:28,250 --> 00:21:30,549
Sure. Turn out the lights.

678
00:21:32,430 --> 00:21:34,329
The party's over.

679
00:21:34,330 --> 00:21:36,029
There was one final piece to his

680
00:21:36,030 --> 00:21:37,049
question.

681
00:21:37,050 --> 00:21:37,949
What do people think of the

682
00:21:37,950 --> 00:21:40,269
nickname? Back in the 90s, there was

683
00:21:40,270 --> 00:21:41,629
some skepticism.

684
00:21:41,630 --> 00:21:43,509
These days, maybe even more

685
00:21:43,510 --> 00:21:45,679
so. Even Max Nofziger thinks

686
00:21:45,680 --> 00:21:48,199
it might not be accurate anymore.

687
00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:49,559
Austin's just become too expensive

688
00:21:49,560 --> 00:21:52,099
for a lot of musicians to live here.

689
00:21:52,100 --> 00:21:53,739
It would be one way to prove it for

690
00:21:53,740 --> 00:21:55,559
sure if you could find that

691
00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,359
old survey the city did to show how

692
00:21:57,360 --> 00:21:59,539
many clubs were here and compare

693
00:21:59,540 --> 00:22:00,979
it to today.

694
00:22:00,980 --> 00:22:02,459
The Austin Convention and Visitors

695
00:22:02,460 --> 00:22:04,619
Bureau that now owns the live music

696
00:22:04,620 --> 00:22:06,939
capital Trademark says it

697
00:22:06,940 --> 00:22:08,679
doesn't have that survey.

698
00:22:08,680 --> 00:22:09,919
I'm gonna keep looking for it, but

699
00:22:09,920 --> 00:22:11,739
until then, The truthfulness

700
00:22:11,740 --> 00:22:14,069
of Austin's live music claim.

701
00:22:14,070 --> 00:22:16,109
Might just depend on who's

702
00:22:16,110 --> 00:22:17,069
listening.

703
00:22:17,070 --> 00:22:19,009
And tomorrow starts

704
00:22:19,010 --> 00:22:21,430
the same old thing again

705
00:22:25,350 --> 00:22:27,349
KUT's Mose Buchele reporting

706
00:22:27,350 --> 00:22:28,409
that story.

707
00:22:28,410 --> 00:22:29,449
And hey, if you've got a question

708
00:22:29,450 --> 00:22:31,689
about Austin that you want answered,

709
00:22:31,690 --> 00:22:32,789
why not ask it?

710
00:22:32,790 --> 00:22:36,529
You can do so at KUT.org.

711
00:22:36,530 --> 00:22:38,189
Well, that's it for Austin Signal

712
00:22:38,190 --> 00:22:39,029
this week.

713
00:22:39,030 --> 00:22:40,529
Thank you for listening.

714
00:22:40,530 --> 00:22:41,929
And if you missed anything or if you

715
00:22:41,930 --> 00:22:43,609
wanna send something you heard to a

716
00:22:43,610 --> 00:22:45,629
friend, you can find more at

717
00:22:45,630 --> 00:22:47,489
Kut.org

718
00:22:47,490 --> 00:22:49,009
slash signal.

719
00:22:49,010 --> 00:22:50,229
Kristen Cabrera is our managing

720
00:22:50,230 --> 00:22:52,109
producer and Rayna Sevilla is

721
00:22:52,110 --> 00:22:53,769
our technical director.

722
00:22:53,770 --> 00:22:55,689
This is Austin Signal

723
00:22:55,690 --> 00:22:57,649
and we will talk to you on

724
00:22:57,650 --> 00:22:58,650
Monday. Have a great weekend.