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Houston Matters

Houston Public Media

Houston Matters is a radio program airing weekdays at 9 am on Houston Public Media News 88.7 FM in Houston. During each hour, we’ll investigate the issues and ideas, people and places that make Houston…well…Houston! We’ll talk about current events, politics, education, health care, the environment, business, transportation, arts and culture, literature, sports and leisure. But we also hope that what we do each day on Houston Matters serves as the beginning of a conversation

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All Episodes

49:00

HISD Superintendent Mike Miles (Nov. 4, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/11/04

On Tuesday's show: HISD Superintendent Mike Miles joins us to discuss issues facing the state's largest school district, from addressing food insecurity among students as SNAP benefits end amid the federal government shutdown, to kids reading books in HISD elementary schools.Also this hour: We talk with the co-authors of Frontera: A Journey Across the US-Mexico Border, a coffee table book designed to cut through the stereotypes and political rhetoric about the border by offering a close-up view of

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49:30

Houston pet peeves (Nov. 3, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/11/03

On Monday's show: We learn about renewed efforts in Texas to mine for minerals and metals needed for renewable energy, microchips, or military technology.Also this hour: We offer Houstonians a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city.And we discuss the latest developments in Houston sports with Jeff Balke.Watch

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50:18

How development happens in flood plains (Oct. 31, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/31

On Friday's show: Houston has seen explosive growth over the past decade, primarily in flood plains. Houston Chronicle reporter Yilun Cheng explains some potential connections between development in the flood plain and donations to political campaigns.Also this hour: We meet Marine Corps veteran Steve Jimenez, who found relief from depression, anxiety, and a general lack of purpose after leaving the military in beekeeping. He founded Hives for Heroes, an organization to help his fellow veterans get

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49:39

Teaching civics in school (Oct. 30, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/30

On Thursday's show: We learn about a controversy brewing in Fort Bend County as some county leaders circumnavigate the authority of the country attorney.Also this hour: A recent policy brief from the Sandra Day O'Connor Institute for American Democracy suggests teachers across the country are largely uncomfortable teaching civics in their classes, citing challenges like insufficient training, concerns about stirring controversy, and a lack of instructional guidance from school districts and states

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51:06

The week in politics (Oct. 29, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/28

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour:Houston Chronicle reporter Andrea Ball joins us to discuss the ripple effects of one of Houston’s largest megachurches rewriting its rulebook, shifting decision-making power from the pews to the boardroom.Then, Michael Hagerty talks with a pair of local artists about how they transform objects and aspects of their everyday life into approachable, relatable photography, video, and sculpture

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50:10

Burden of rising electricity bills (Oct. 28, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/28

On Tuesday's show: Think your electricity bill has been high lately? You might be surprised by how much some of your fellow Texans say they’re being charged for power, month to month. We examine the findings from a new survey on the financial strain energy bills are putting on Texans.Also this hour: Texas Monthly writer Skip Hollandsworth discusses some noteworthy crimes committed in Texas by women. It’s the subject of his latest book, She Kills.Then, Houston native Diane Ravitch was once a firm

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50:31

Beef over Texas beef (Oct. 27, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/27

On Monday's show: The Trump administration recently announced it would quadruple Argentine beef imports to lower grocery prices, drawing sharp criticism from U.S. cattle producers and Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller. But he is pushing an alternative proposal. We learn the details.And we how Texas flagged more than 2,000 "potential noncitizens" on its voter rolls.Also this hour: We discuss some opportunities and challenges facing Houston's rapidly changing East End neighborhood.Then, we discuss the

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51:04

Polk Street closure (Oct. 24, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/24

On Friday's show: We get an update on controversial plans to close a two-block section of Polk Street as a part of the $2 billion expansion of the George R. Brown Convention Center.Also this hour: Children's author Kate DiCamillo talks about how teachers reading to her in school helped shape her into a two-time Newbery Medal winner. DiCamillo, the author of titles like Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux, will be in Houston for an event with Inprint on Sunday to discuss her latest book,

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51:20

Shutdown threatens SNAP benefits (Oct. 23, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/23

On Thursday's show: As the federal government shutdown hits its third week, one looming effect is the possibility that SNAP benefits could stop in November. With millions of Americans at risk of going hungry, we talk with Brian Greene, CEO of Houston Food Bank about how his organization is bracing for a surge in need.Also this hour: We learn how some unlikely partnerships are helping conserve fisheries along the Gulf Coast. That story is the subject of a new book, called Sea Change, co-authored by

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49:56

The week in politics (Oct. 22, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/22

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We learn about fentanyl and other substance use trends in the county from Harris County Public Health.And a new play at The Ensemble Theatre called Of a Darker Hue presents ghost stories of a different sort, transforming the stage into a ritual space of memory, mystery, and survival.Watch

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48:03

Whitmire’s approach to Trump (Oct. 21, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/21

On Tuesday's show: Over the weekend, the New York Times ran a profile on Houston Mayor John Whitmire, highlighting his approach to dealing with President Donald Trump. In the article, Whitmire, a Democrat, suggested his city is in less turmoil than other Democrat-led municipalities because he keeps his head down and avoids confrontations with the Republican president. We talk with J. David Goodman, the Houston bureau chief for the Times who wrote the story.Also this hour: We talk with Houston

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48:20

Houston police and ICE (Oct. 20, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/20

On Monday's show: FIEL Houston executive director Cesar Espinoza was removed from the last Houston City Council meeting after he suggested city officials lied about the detention of an autistic 15-year-old boy. Emmanuel Gonzalez Garcia reportedly went missing nearly two weeks ago while selling fruit on the street with his mother. The boy ultimately ended up in federal custody. We discuss that case and what it can tell us about how Houston police officers interact with federal officials, including

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40:50

Katy’s Pride celebration moved (Oct. 17, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/17

On Friday's show: From Katy's Pride celebration being moved last-minute when the venue that had agreed to host it bowed to pressure brought by conservative leaders, to some Texas airports deciding not to show a video blaming Democrats for the federal government shutdown, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we preview a performance from Mercury Chamber Orchestra of Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons" as one of the most famous pieces in classical music turns 300 years old this

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47:36

School voucher rollout (Oct. 16, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/16

On Thursday's show: The timeline is set for how school vouchers will roll out in Texas beginning in February -- except that timing might only benefit parents who could already afford to send their kids to private school. Houston Chronicle reporter Isaac Yu explains why.Also this hour: Artificial intelligence is shaping our future, but could it also reinforce oppression? Ahead of a lecture this afternoon at the University of Houston, Safiya Umoja Noble explores how bias shows up in AI and what it

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50:25

The week in politics (Oct. 15, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/15

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: Today is National Grouch Day. Since at least the mid 1970s, the day has celebrated grouches everywhere, including and highlighting Oscar the Grouch of Sesame Street fame. It’s billed as a day to embrace the inner grouch within us all, and maybe find a way to laugh about our sometimes over-the-top grumpiness. But does it seem like grouchiness is having too much of a moment? That too many of us,

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48:54

Hotel worker strike ends (Oct. 14, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/14

On Tuesday's show: A strike by hotel workers at Hilton-Americas Houston has ended after 40 days. Late last week, the parties reached a deal to raise wages for housekeepers, stewards, and laundry attendants in a result that could have repercussions for the rest of Houston’s hospitality industry -- and for labor in general. We learn the details of the deal and discuss what it means.Also this hour: A new book called Police Against the Movement explores police violence during the Civil Rights Movement

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47:33

Election Day preview (Oct. 13, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/13

On Monday's show: One week from today, early voting begins for this fall’s election. A Congressional seat, a city council seat, and 17 state constitutional amendments are up for consideration. Houston Public Media’s Andrew Schneider explains what's on the ballot.Also this hour: Meg Tapp from the Garden Club of Houston answers listeners’ gardening questions.And Jeff Balke, co-host of the Bleav in Astros podcast, discusses what the Astros need to do to return to the postseason next year.Watch

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30:08

Robert Roberson case (Oct. 10, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/10

On Friday's show: We learn what's next in the case of Robert Roberson, whose execution was halted by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals this week.Also this hour: We break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we visit the Houston Quilt Festival.Watch:https://www.youtube.com/live/R-VCcQEjrOs?si=WqXuCDoM-dzCOEN-&t=706

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41:05

Bodies in the bayous (Oct. 9, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/09

On Thursday's show: Houston police recovered the body of a man in White Oak Bayou Wednesday morning, the seventh body found in the bayous in about a month. Investigators do not suspect foul play. Houston Public Media's Michael Adkison brings us the latest on this particular instance and what law enforcement has to say about the frequency in which human remains are found in the city's bayous.Also this hour: We examine what renewed efforts to ramp up coal production might mean for the energy industry

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49:38

The week in politics (Oct. 8, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/10/08

On Wednesday's show: We get insight on the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We reflect on the legacy of Monica Roberts, an influential activist for transgender rights who passed away five years ago. We remember her work fighting for equality and visibility during a time of progress and pushback, and we discuss where Houston’s transgender community is headed next.And how can something as innocuous as design fight racism? Author Omari Souza discusses his book,

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