Houston Matters: episodes
50 recent episodes from the show's feed. Back to the show
Election’s effect on health care (Nov. 10, 2026)
Nov 10, 2026 · 50 min
On Tuesday's show: We continue to discuss what last week's dramatic election results could mean for various issues on the minds of Houstonians. We previously considered what they might mean for education, immigration, and the economy. Today, we discuss how health care and reproductive rights could be affected. Also this hour: The Houston Chronicle has a new role dedicated to integrating AI into th
Election’s effect on the economy (Nov. 9, 2026)
Nov 9, 2026 · 50 min
On Monday's show: We continue to discuss what last week’s dramatic election results could mean for various issues on the minds of Houstonians. We previously considered what they might mean for education and immigration. Today, we discuss how the oil and gas industry and the overall economy could be affected. Also this hour: We consider how state government might operate once powers are split betwe
Election’s effect on immigration (Nov. 6, 2026)
Nov 6, 2026 · 50 min
On Friday's show: We continue to discuss what this week's dramatic election results could mean for various issues on the minds of Houstonians. We previously considered what they might mean for education. Today, we discuss how immigration policy and enforcement could be affected. Also this hour: We know rents and gas prices have gone up recently, but something that has increased even more is what i
Election’s effect on education (Nov. 5, 2026)
Nov 5, 2026 · 50 min
On Thursday's show: The results of this week's election could have profound implications for the future of education in Greater Houston, from the HISD takeover, to vouchers, and beyond. Also this hour: As the Taliban retook Afghanistan five years ago, The New York Times scrambled to evacuate people working at its bureau there and their families. They ended up here in Houston. We learn why, how, an
Analyzing the Democrats’ historic wins (Nov. 4, 2026)
Nov 4, 2026 · 50 min
On Wednesday's show: Statewide offices, the Texas House, the U.S. House and Senate, a majority of Governorships -- however you slice it, the Democrats saw massive gains in Tuesday’s election. There’s no denying it. The blue wave has arrived. We devote the entire hour to examining the historic results of the 2026 midterm election here in Greater Houston and across the nation and discuss how it all
Election Day in Houston (Nov. 3, 2026)
Nov 3, 2026 · 51 min
On Tuesday's show: As voters head to the polls on Election Day, we check in with Houston Public Media reporters at polling places around town to get a sense of how things are playing out. Then, we remind you what to do if you have to file a provisional ballot. And we provide our usual last-minute voter’s guide for procrastinators. Also this hour: At a time when many Texas school districts are send
ICE agent indicted (Nov. 2, 2026)
Nov 2, 2026 · 50 min
On Monday's show: Newly obtained body camera footage shows an ICE agent's response after running over Houston immigrant Miguel Parra Hernández on Oct. 10. Last week, the ICE agent, Mario Alberto Morales, was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Houston Chronicle columnist Lisa Falkenberg was the first to obtain the offense report, medical records, and vi
Live from Meow Wolf (Oct. 30, 2026)
Oct 30, 2026 · 50 min
On Friday's show: We bring you radio from another era -- sort of. We’re broadcasting live from Meow Wolf Houston’s Radio Tave. The interactive museum celebrates its two-year anniversary Saturday. The Fifth Ward art installation takes you inside a sort of choose-your-own-adventure science fiction story set -- at least at first -- decades ago in a community radio station. Also this hour: Against th
Remembering Dolores Huerta (Oct. 29, 2026)
Oct 29, 2026 · 50 min
On Thursday's show: We reflect on the life and legacy of labor activist Dolores Huerta, who died this week at the age of 96. Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers union to improve working conditions in the nation’s fruit and vegetable fields and coined the phrase "Sí, se puede!" that became a widespread rallying cry. Also this hour: Are political parties less respectful than they used to be? W
The week in politics (Oct. 28, 2026)
Oct 28, 2026 · 50 min
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We take a trip through a local haunted house attraction. And we discuss the wide variety of Halloween events taking place across Greater Houston this week. Watch
Attitudes on data centers and AI (Oct. 27, 2026)
Oct 27, 2026 · 37 min
On Tuesday's show: New survey data from the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs looks at likely Texas voters' views on data centers and AI. Also this hour: With tipping being an option at just about any kind of business these days, we discuss what tipping culture looks like in Houston. Then, we revisit a conversation that considered whether Houston needs a new "big honkin' thing
Data centers & air quality (Oct. 26, 2026)
Oct 26, 2026 · 50 min
On Monday's show: Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Turner was arrested last week after she was indicted on federal charges of misusing public funds. We get the latest details. Also this hour: A new report sizes up how data centers could affect air quality. We take a closer look. Then, ‘tis the season -- for college visits, applications, and early admissions. We get advice for student
Finding Shackleton’s ship (Oct. 23, 2026)
Oct 23, 2026 · 50 min
On Friday's show: We recap last night's debate between candidates for Harris County Judge, Orlando Sanchez and Letitia Plummer. Also this hour: Maritime archaeologist Mensun Bound details his 2022 expedition that led to the discovery of Endurance, explorer Ernest Shackleton's wooden ship that was lost in 1915 during an expedition to reach the South Pole. Bound will speak Saturday night at an event
‘Forever chemicals’ in bayous (Oct. 22, 2026)
Oct 22, 2026 · 50 min
On Thursday's show: PFAs, those “forever chemicals,” have turned up in Houston’s bayous along with a lot of other waterways, according to a new report from Environment Texas and The Frontier Group. We take a closer look at the report and discuss what can be done about it. Also this hour: We discuss plans to refurbish the Imperial Sugar Char House in Sugar Land after the city council there approved
The week in politics (Oct. 21, 2026)
Oct 21, 2026 · 50 min
On Wednesday's show: We preview the upcoming debate between candidates for Harris County Judge, which you can catch Thursday night at 7 on News 88.7, on TV 8, and at houstonpublicmedia.org. And we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Twenty-five years after 9/11, how has growing up in the shadow of the terrorist attacks changed how Muslims grew up in A
Effect of AI on literacy (Oct. 20 2026)
Oct 20, 2026 · 50 min
On Tuesday's show: Houston ISD has spent millions of taxpayer dollars building its own curriculum, and it is now sharing those materials with other school systems for free. We learn more from Houston Chronicle education reporter Nusaiba Mizan. Also this hour: AI can summarize just about any article or book you could throw at it. But what does that mean for the future of reading and literacy? Then,
ICE incident under scrutiny (Oct. 19, 2026)
Oct 19, 2026 · 50 min
On Monday's show: When ICE agents ran into a man with a vehicle in Houston injuring him last week, the man they were targeting had actually been dead for several years, according to the man's family and a New York Times report. We discuss that development and the latest on ICE interactions with the public. Also this hour: We learn about Elon Musk's role in funding an advertising blitz on behalf of
Flock camera oversight (Oct. 16, 2026)
Oct 16, 2026 · 49 min
On Friday's show: Harris County commissioners have delayed action on the county’s Flock cameras after a county report found gaps in their oversight. Separately, two commissioners and the county attorney also warned about the rapid spread of data centers that the county has little power to regulate. Houston Public Media’s Harris County reporter Sarah Grunau updates us on both stories. Also this hou
Astros’ next manager (Oct. 15, 2026)
Oct 15, 2026 · 46 min
On Thursday's show: With the news that the Astros are parting ways with Joe Espada, we discuss who might succeed him as the team's manager. Also this hour: As a new historical marker is set to be unveiled, we take a look back at Colt Stadium, the first home of Major League Baseball in the state of Texas, which is where the Colt .45s played for three seasons before becoming the Astros and moving (m
The week in politics (Oct. 14, 2026)
Oct 14, 2026 · 49 min
On Wednesday's show: Early voting begins in less than a week, and we’re t-minus three weeks and counting to Election Day itself. We break down the latest election-related news, and other developments in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We reflect on some of the One-Hit Wonders of Texas High School Football, teams that seemingly came out of nowhere to win o