Houston Matters

On Friday's show: The U.S. Department of Justice has created a new "Anti-Weaponization Fund" as a way to compensate victims of "weaponization and lawfare." Two police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, have filed a lawsuit to stop payouts from the fund from going to those attackers. Now, Houston Rep. Lizzie Fletcher has introduced a bill related to the fund, which she calls a “perversion of our system of justice.” She explains what her bill would do.Also this hour: From an investigation into how and when FIFA sells tickets to the World Cup, to Houston billionaire Tilman Fertitta acquiring Caesars Entertainment, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston continues its series Movies Houstonians Love with a screening tonight at 7 of The Unbelievable Truth by indie filmmaker Hal Hartley. Harold Taylor, a longtime member of the MFAH's Ultimate Film Buffs, is presenting the movie. He explains why he chose it and what it means to him.Watch

On Thursday's show: As NASA continues to work toward building a base on the moon, it has awarded some contracts to commercial companies to take the next steps there. We learn why one Texas company earned one of those contracts and a Houston-based one did not.Also this hour: On the heels of Tuesday’s runoff election and as we look ahead to November, we break down how Supreme Court decisions of recent years have gutted the Voting Rights Act, and how, paired with ensuing redistricting, representation is changing in Houston and across The South.Then, we learned this month that an unusual settlement over child transgender care was reached, which calls on Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston to establish the country’s first-ever “detransition clinic.” We discuss the practical and legal questions that settlement raises with Shelby Chestnut, executive director of the Transgender Law Center.And technology is changing the way music is made. Some of it is for the better. Some of it...not so much. We talk it over with so

On Wednesday's show: Ken Paxton will take on James Talarico for a U.S. Senate seat in November. And there was a surprise -- at least to some -- in the Democratic primary for Harris County Judge. We pore over those and other results from Tuesday’s primary runoffs as we discuss the latest developments in politics.Also this hour: We learn about a new report that looks to the future of Fort Bend County, which could see a population above two million by the year 2050.And we talk with folks involved in this year's Haapifest, celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander films and filmmakers here in Houston. Watch

On Tuesday's show: Today is election day for the primary runoff races. We check in with Houston Public Media reporters at polling places across Greater Houston, recap what is on the ballot, and share what you need to know before voting.Also this hour: We visit the Metropolitan Multi-Service Center to learn about the adaptive sports and recreation services it provides Houstonians with disabilities.And we talk with Houston native fashion designer Bach Mai.Watchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bh_tMMjWRlA

On Friday's show: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a below-average number of storms during the 2026 Atlantic hurricane season, according to its annual forecast released Thursday. We learn what might be in store for us.Also this hour: A new study suggests a bleak future for the city of New Orleans due to sea level rise. The authors even suggest residents should probably start relocating now. We learn more about the report. And, while Houston’s elevation isn’t quite as low, and we’re a little further away from the Gulf, there are some in Greater Houston who may be just as vulnerable. We talk it all over.Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And Matt Dinniman, author of the highly popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series talks with our Brenda Valdivia ahead of his appearance at this weekend’s Comicpalooza.Watch

On Thursday's show: HISD Superintendent Mike Miles joins us to discuss the state of the district, changes in special education, and to address listener questions. You can send yours now to talk@houstonmatters.org.Also this hour: We meet the people behind a new free arts newspaper called the Houston Associated Experimental Press.And we revisit a 2015 conversation with former Congressman Barney Frank, who served Massachusetts for more than 30 years. Frank passed away this week. He was the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay.Watch

On Wednesday's show: From President Trump endorsing Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate primary runoff, to other primary votes happening across the county, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Prairie View A&M University, the state’s oldest public HBCU, is celebrating 150 years. Former Prairie View history professor Dr. Will Guzmán talks about the school's history and legacy, which he addresses in two books he has written this year.And we revisit a conversation with the hosts of Sistas Who Kill, a podcast focused on Black women in true crime, ahead of a live event in Houston on May 24.Watch

On Tuesday's show: The WHO has declared an Ebola outbreak in Africa a global health emergency. We talk with local epidemiologist Dr. Catherine Troisi of UTHealth about how concerned we should be about the disease spreading further, including to Greater Houston.Also this hour: We hear two conversations about artificial intelligence. First, a new study from the University of Houston examines people's attitudes toward AI and data centers. Then, a local law professor explains why he thinks students can beomce better lawyers by using AI tools, something the legal profession may be embracing more broadly than other industries.Then, a Houston businessman was recently acquitted and released by a federal judge in a Foreign Corrupt Practices Act case. Jury convictions in such cases are hardly ever overturned. We find out why it was in this case.And turtles, geckos, and snakes were among the creatures on display recently in Pasadena at Repticon. Brenda Valdivia was there and shares what she learned.Watch

On Monday's show: Early voting begins today and runs through May 22 in the runoffs for the Texas primary races. We discuss that and Joe Panzarella's victory in a special election runoff to fill the District C position on the Houston City Council with Mark Jones, political science fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy.Also this hour: Sidewalks are a part of public infrastructure that could easily be overlooked. But, according to a new book, sidewalks are at the core of numerous major debates. Michael Pollack discusses his book, Sidewalk Nation, which features a chapter about Houston.Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers listener questions about their pets.And we discuss Jose Altuve's injury and the Astros' weekend series win over the Texas Rangers with Jeff Balke of the Bleav in Astros podcast, then discuss the Texans' 2026 schedule with Houston Chronicle NFL and Texans reporter Jonathan Alexander.Watch

On Friday's show: HISD officially outlined its plans to centralize special education services at its board meeting Thursday night. This came after draft documents were leaked regarding the plan, which prompted a civil rights investigation by the U.S. Department of Education. We find out what district leadership had to say.Also this hour: Road construction is unavoidable in a region as large as Greater Houston, but do you ever feel like they schedule projects all at the same time? We discuss how road work gets scheduled.Then, from a former Texas Lotto official’s indictment, to the WNBA’s official return to Houston next year, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we hear from singer LUCÍA, who bridges the worlds of jazz, Latin, and pop music. She performs Sunday at Houston's Eldorado Ballroom as a part of the series Rising Jazz Stars from DACAMERA.Watchhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJ4ALFFyBVk

On Thursday's show: Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to descend on Bolivar Peninsula this weekend for the annual gathering known as Jeep Weekend, and Galveston County officials are deploying hundreds of law enforcement officers in response to years of violence and arrests at the event. Houston Public Media's Julianna Washburn provides details on that other stories from across Galveston County.Also this hour: Former Astros closer Brad Lidge talks about his playing days in Houston and how downtime on the road led to a new career in archaeology.Then, we revisit a studio performance by Rhett Miller, the longtime frontman of the band, Old 97's, who perform at The Heights Theater on May 28.And we meet the creators of Rūng Film Fest, a Pakistani film festival, which takes place this weekend.Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We reflect on the life of aviator, engineer, and businessman Howard Hughes and his impact on Houston.And poet Lupe Mendez talks about his new collection of poems, We Exist in the Whisper, which is all about efforts in the 1970s in Houston to skirt federal school desegregation laws.Watch

On Tuesday's show: Texas public schools saw a decline in enrollment this academic year. Outside of the pandemic, that is the first drop in nearly four decades, according to a report from Texas 2036, a policy research group. And one particular group is accounting for an overwhelming majority of the loss. We take a look at the numbers and consider why.Also this hour: Houston is just over a month away from hosting the first of several FIFA World Cup matches set to take place here. But is hosting a major event like this worth it for the city -- both monetarily and in terms of the disruption to our lives? Houston Chronicle reporter Dylan McGuinness shares what his recent investigation revealed.Then, columnist Joe Holley says great stories are about people, places, and the past — and the best ones are about all three. We revisit some of his favorite stories  from around Texas collected in his book, Native Texan: Stories from Deep in the Heart.And a hidden Houston treasure is entering a new era. We talk with Daniel

On Monday's show: We learn why the U.S. Department of Education is investigating HISD and what it could mean for students and their families.And, after two Houston residents were identified as being among those on a cruise ship exposed to the hantavirus, we learn more about the virus and how it's transmitted.Also this hour: We discuss how we evaluate a student's success after graduation -- is salary the best way to measure that?Then, gardening expert Meg Tapp will answer listener questions.And we check in on the Astros' injury-plagued season with Jeff Balke of the Bleav in Astros podcast.Watch

On Friday's show: Houston in recent days and weeks has been shaken by a string of devastating domestic violence homicides, including a murder-suicide involving the prominent owners of several local restaurants and their children. The head of the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council contemplates what these stories reveal and what can be done to prevent them. And we examine what law enforcement and nonprofits are doing to intervene.*If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-SAFE (7233) or visit thehotline.org.Also this hour: Our panel of non-experts breaks down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And there have been all kinds of adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays, putting them in unusual settings. So, why not a version of Hamlet set at a family barbecue in the South? We talk with a couple of the folks cooking up 4th Wall Theatre Company's production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Fat Ham, which runs through M

On Thursday's show: After repeated delays, Houston City Council has approved an ordinance cracking down on apartment complexes with chronic health and safety violations. We learn what the ordinance does and get reaction from a local low-income housing advocacy group.Also this hour: We preview the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season and discuss how accurately hurricane forecasts often end up playing out in reality here in Greater Houston.Then, on a new installment of The Bigger Picture, we learn about Tourette syndrome and I Swear, a documentary about the condition which just wrapped up a short theatrical run here in town.And we preview this weekend’s Houston debut of Panda Fest, a large outdoor Asian food and culture festival, taking place at The Water Works in Buffalo Bayou Park.Watch

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup, including the results of the latest election survey from the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs.Also this hour: Foodies dish on their favorite restaurant options for both really beautiful and really ugly food that tastes great in this month’s installment of The Full Menu.And we reflect on the life and work of the late artist David Adickes, who is known for large-scale sculptures like the one of Sam Houston on I-45. He's the subject of a new book called Monumental.Watch

On Tuesday's show: Houston Mayor John Whitmire will propose an “administrative fee" tied to garbage and recycling pickup that would start out at $5 per month for the first two years and would gradually ramp up to $25 per month. We discuss the city's long history that led to this potential move and the environmental effects of neglected trash pickup.Also this hour: We discuss the state of transportation in the region.Then, response to the COVID pandemic in 2020 led some to question the wisdom of public health officials and the medical community at-large. Dr. Barry Davis of UTHealth argues they’ve helped us all prevent many other major health disasters. He makes his case in a new book, The Preventioneers.And we talk about fishing in and around Houston with Mike Gore from Texas Parks and Wildlife.Watch

On Monday's show: Leaked documents have detailed proposed changes to special education at HISD, raising alarm among families of students with disabilities. We learn more from Houston Public Media’s education reporter Bianca Seward.Also this hour: We offer listeners a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city.And we recap the Rockets' season after their first-round loss to the Lakers and consider what needs to happen for the team to go deeper in the playoffs with the help of Jeff Balke.Watch

On Friday's show: We take a closer look at the forecast for heavy rain in Greater Houston throughout the day and into tonight as a Stage 1 flood alert has been issued. Eric Berger of Space City Weather brings us the latest details.And we learn about the latest of several HISD school officials appointed by the state to lead a district undergoing a state takeover, this time for Beaumont ISD.Also this hour: What does it mean to live between identities — and who decides where you belong? Houston artist Melissa Aytenfisu talks about Othered, a new exhibit at Bisong Art Gallery exploring the experiences of biracial individuals through more than 30 mixed-media portraits.Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And two members of the classical ensemble Trio Menil discuss their music and perform for us. The group will perform a concert called Past, Present, Premiere, which spotlights Asian American and Pacific Islander composers, on Sunday, May 3, at 2 p.m. at Asia Society Texas.Watch