
Texas Matters
Fridays at 12:30 p.m. & Sundays at 9:30 p.m.
Texas is a big state with a growing, diverse population and as the population grows, the issues and challenges facing its residents multiply. Texas Matters is a statewide news program that spends half an hour each week looking at the issues and culture of Texas.
Latest Episodes
-
A federal judge has granted a temporary halt to a new Texas law that requires the posting of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms. He found that it was a violation of the freedom of religion—but Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is promising to appeal. We hear from Rabbi Mara Nathan about why she joined the suit and how she feels about the future of religious freedom in Texas.
-
The first singing cowboy of the movies—Gene Autry —was one of America’s most popular stars. As the Texas native sang "Back in the Saddle Again" he was also promoting ideas that supported the New Deal and friendly relations with Mexico. His messages rang true with his fans during the Great Depression. On this episode, we unpack the ways this western folk hero, Gene Autry, used his talents to support a positive pro-America agenda.
-
This week on Texas Matters: The demands of massive AI data centers are growing every day.ERCOT projects the state’s grid will need to double in the next five years to meet the demands of AI.AI also uses a lot of water. It’s projected AI will consume nearly 7% of the state’s water supply by the year 2030, a significant drain on a state already dealing with water scarcity.
-
After the July 4 flash flood that turned the Upper Guadalupe River into a disaster area and killed over 130 people, Texas lawmakers came to Kerrville to get answers about what went wrong. But this hearing also fits into the effort to suddenly redistrict Texas to give the Republican Party five more congressional seats after the midterms.
-
His attorneys have filed an emergency motion to stay the October 16 execution, arguing that the Court of Criminal Appeals must first resolve his innocence claims.
-
Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered lawmakers back to Austin for a special session. They will take on issues like funding for flooding, THC regulation and cutting property taxes but also for a controversial snap redistricting plan.
-
Over one hundred dead and many more missing— the July 4th flash flood is the deadliest weather disaster in modern Texas history. But did this catastrophe have to happen? It’s called "flash flood alley," but could any steps have been taken to protect the lives of locals and visitors?
-
In a special Texas Public Radio podcast series medical reporter Bonnie Petrie and reporter Robin Berghaus explore how Texas is, somewhat ironically, leading the way in the therapeutic application of psychedelics.
-
The upcoming race for the Texas U.S. Senate seat is shaping up to be one of the nation's more interesting contests. Incumbent Republican Sen. John Cornyn is being eclipsed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the GOP nomination. Former NASA Astronaut Terry Virts is running for the Democratic nomination while other Dems ready their own campaign launches.
-
Today on Texas Matters—How Texas could see a reshuffle of congressional maps to keep Republican Control of Congress. When is a Hood not a Hood? When President Trump puts names of Confederate figures back on military bases. And why you could see tomato prices jump at the grocery store.