Texas Standard

The Prairieland defendants lawyer up as America reacts to the shooting – and the shooting of a prominent conservative activist. Meanwhile, Trump’s Justice Department prepares the first terrorism case against “antifa.” But is antifa even an organization? And where does it come from?

It’s been three decades since Texas had a Democratic governor — or a female one. We’ll have a conversation looking at what we can learn from when Ann Richards held the office. Texas leads the country in oil production. We also lead in wind energy. But how far away is Texas from a hydrogen-fueled economy? […]

With just a week to go before Election Day, a look at how the governor’s race will make history no matter who wins. Also, how the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders got a raise and formed a new union. And is there a conservative takeover of the University of Texas at Austin? A Texas Monthly article digs […]

An attempt to empower LGBTQ+ students or a bid to agitate Texas voters ahead of election day? A Republican district attorney in West Texas has opened a criminal investigation into pamphlets received by households across the state purporting to be from a transgender rights group. Also, a reporter uses Friday night lights to try and […]

On the eve of the midterms, Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa is running neck and neck with incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in many polls. Hinojosa joins us on today’s show to make her case. Also, a closer look Vikki Goodwin, the Democrat giving Dan Patrick a run for his money in the lieutenant governor’s race. Plus, a […]

Record voter registration numbers point to what appear to be new records set in early voting. What do they tell us about the midterms in Texas? Also, Meta blocks an Instagram account for a No Kings protest, stoking fears of online political shenanigans — or worse — from a major social media company. Omar Gallaga joins […]

The Prairieland 22 is a podcast from our partners at KERA News and NTX Now. We’re sharing these episodes Wednesday nights. Episode 1: “4th of July Party!” July 4, 2025. A protest, the shooting of a police officer, and a case the government cites as an example of a growing domestic terrorism threat: “Antifa.” Over […]

Democrat Bobby Pulido is leading a poll in Texas’ Congressional District 15 that had heavily favored Trump. The district’s Latinos may be leaning even further left. Some Texas school districts shifted toward a four-day school week during the pandemic. Now there may be legislation to discourage that. Texas is considering doing away with a program meant to […]

Early voting is underway. We’ll go over five things to watch for as Texans cast ballots in races that are too close to call. Is the state of Texas trying to sell a beloved beachfront state park to Elon Musk? Plus, how school cafeterias are coping amid rising costs and cuts to federal food assistance. And why out-of-state […]

The border is secure, but there’s a border emergency. Why the difference between two GOP narratives? We’ll have a closer look. The first in-person votes are being cast in the Texas midterms today as early voting kicks off. The Standard’s Michael Marks joins us with a look at the race for agriculture commissioner, and how one […]

A border wall cutting through Big Bend is on hold, but something connected to the wall still has many locals unsettled. This week saw a debate between candidates hoping to represent what is geographically the biggest congressional district in Texas, and the stakes for both parties are high. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies tells us […]

The last time a Democrat served as Texas governor was decades ago. Is that about to change? For years, politics-watchers have all but dismissed the prospect of a Democrat being elected governor in deep-red Texas. But polls suggest the closest gubernatorial race in recent memory between incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott and challenger Gina Hinojosa. Two veteran […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Remember redistricting in Texas? The plan was to try to secure more surefire wins for Republicans. Now we’re seeing some surprises. We’ll have the details today. And another political surprise possibly in the making: The governor’s race, initially not expected to be much of a battle for Gov. Abbott, is forcing many to reconsider. We’ll hear […]

In Texas’ biggest metro, Houston, a vote looms to tell police whether to deprioritize marijuana cases. But even if it gets the green light, will it make a difference? Also, the latest on an alleged threat on the Texas capitol and a possible change of heart over a border wall in the Big Bend region. Where things […]

If you’ve consumed any media with commercials lately you know why the race for U.S. Senate between Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat James Talarico has become so expensive. We’ll dig into the details. With the election now just weeks away, it’s worth making sure your voter registration is in order. A backlog is affecting a lot […]

The remnants of Hurricane Polo are expected to bring heavy rainfall and possible flooding across much of the state. We’ll have the details. It’s been a year since a gunman opened fire at an ICE office in Dallas. We’ll hear from the wife of one of the victims — a man who was in ICE custody. Plus, […]

Artificial intelligence is developing fast, and if you think it’s impacting life now, just wait. This is a special edition of the Texas Standard — “The New Wild West: Texans on the AI frontier.”What happens when you press that return button in ChatGPT? We’ll follow the energy-intensive requests. We’ll also explore the life-changing benefits AI can […]