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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

49:55

The week in politics (Dec. 17, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/17

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: As DEI programs roll back nationwide, one Houston leader is doubling down on inclusion -- starting with kids as young as nine. Shevann Steuben of the NAACP Houston Branch discusses what it takes to build a generation that shows up to vote.And singer/soprano Sarah Brightman is known for originating the role of Christine in The Phantom of the Opera and for her many PBS fundraising specials. But

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51:00

Ticketing the homeless (Dec. 16, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/16

On Tuesday's show: Beginning in January, a new Medicare program in Texas and five other states will use AI to approve or deny certain services. We learn what that could mean for Houston patients and what it signals about the future of health care.Also this hour: We discuss the city of Houston’s current approach to homelessness, and, in particular, giving out tickets to homeless people who can’t possibly pay them. We discuss with Kelly Young, president and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of

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50:19

Harris Co. employee pay (Dec. 15, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/15

On Monday's show: A recent study into pay equity among Harris County employees has come under fire from county commissioners and has led to some fear among county workers. We learn more.Then, Houston Mayor John Whitmire's political party of more than five decades admonished him on Sunday, barring the lifelong Democrat from receiving its endorsement in the future.And we remember longtime Houston television news anchor Dave Ward, who passed away over the weekend at the age of 86.Also this hour: We

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51:00

Concern among Afghan immigrants (Dec. 12, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/12

On Friday's show: President Donald Trump has frozen the processing of immigration requests for all Afghans pending a review of security and vetting procedures. Now, many Afghan immigrants, including many in Houston who came to the United States through the appropriate legal channels, are growing increasingly worried about their status.And we learn about a cold front arriving late Saturday that could bring Houston's first freeze of the season early Monday morning.Also this hour: From a State

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50:35

Reducing trash in Houston (Dec. 11, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/11

On Thursday's show: We examine steps Texas is taking to reduce waste and other takeaways from a new report called: Trash in America. Also this hour: We talk with Brad Pritchett, the new CEO of Equality Texas, the statewide nonprofit advocating for LGBTQIA+ Texans.And we learn about a new documentary chronicling the Bum Phillips era of the old Houston Oilers, called Luv Ya, Bum!Watch

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49:50

The week in politics (Dec. 10, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/10

On Wednesday's show: From last-minute jockeying in races for the U.S Senate and Congress, to some calls to end investigations into a military strike that killed survivors of an attack on an alleged drug running boat, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We talk with Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, the hosts of the podcast The War on Cars, who are bringing their war to car-centric Houston for a live event tonight at the MATCH and have a new book, Life

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49:25

Holiday shopping trends (Dec. 9, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/09

On Tuesday's show: As Houstonians prepare for the holidays, new data shows they're planning to cut spending by 11 percent compared to last year, with the average person expecting to spend around $1,600. Yet, despite this local pessimism, online sales during the five-day Cyber Week period hit $44.2 billion nationally, up nearly 8 percent from last year. We make sense of those seemingly contradictory trends.Also this hour: We get an update on the longstanding nationwide nursing shortage and find out

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49:30

Traffic deaths outnumbering homicides (Dec. 8, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/08

On Monday's show: Colin Allred is dropping out of next year’s U.S. Senate race and is running for Congress instead. That is just the latest move ahead of today’s filing deadline, and after Supreme Court approval of the new Texas Congressional maps. We consider what other scrambling we might see today and what it all means for longtime members of Congress from here in Houston and elsewhere in Texas who have hard decisions to make.Also this hour: We discuss why the Houston metro area is one of a

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50:36

Houston trash and traffic woes (Dec. 5, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/05

On Friday's show: We consider the implications of a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on redistricting.Plus: We look at the future of trash pickup in Houston.And, we get an update on some major road closures from TxDOT.Also this hour: People can pay for the opportunity to SCUBA dive into the gulf to spear and kill invasive lionfish one by one. We talk with a Texas Monthly writer who recently did just that.Then, our non-experts consider The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.And we go

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46:55

Young people and Houston’s economy (Dec. 4, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/04

On Thursday's show: As Houston grows, are large portions of the city's younger population missing out on the economic opportunities? A recent report digs into that question.Also this hour: Actor and musician Donald Glover, who is 42, recently revealed he suffered a stroke last year and received treatment here in Houston. That news defies the false assumption that only older people experience strokes. A local doctor discusses why more of us are facing some serious health problems earlier in

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49:43

Impact of political scandals (Dec. 3 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/03

On Wednesday's show: Local experts discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: A lot has been made of what President Donald Trump’s connections were to Jeffrey Epstein. But, whatever they were (and whatever we might yet learn about them), how much will it matter? University of Houston political science professor and Party Politics co-host Brandon Rottinghaus discusses the changing nature of political scandals, which is the subject of his latest book, Scandal:

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52:15

New restrictions on vehicle registration (Dec. 2, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/02

On Tuesday's show: New restrictions on vehicle registrations are causing some confusion and concern in Texas. Residents are now required to show proof of their legal status in the country before registering a vehicle or renewing it. We learn what is behind the sudden policy shift from the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the issues it is causing.Also this hour: Houston food writers discuss their favorite places to find European food locally on this month’s edition of The Full Menu.And we

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50:00

Gov. Abbott and states’ rights (Dec. 1, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/12/01

On Monday's show: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has often been a staunch champion of states’ rights, including when Joe Biden was president. But reporting from ProPublica and the Texas Tribune takes a closer look at how different things have been with Donald Trump in the White House.Also this hour: Then, we offer listeners a chance to vent about their pet peeves about life in our city. Share yours now at talk@houstonmatters.org.And we discuss the latest developments in Houston sports with Jeff

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50:38

Sean Astin, Howie Mandel, Cheech Marin, & Joe...

Houston Matters ·

2025/11/28

On Friday's show: Famous actors are all around in New York and Los Angeles. It’s a bit of a bigger deal when they roll through Houston. And when they do, it’s usually not to promote a television show or film. The motivation is usually something else entirely.On this special edition of Houston Matters, we revisit conversations with four actors who came to town with something on their minds and shared those messages with us (along with talking about their lives and careers).We discuss mental health

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51:05

Stories we’re thankful for (Nov. 26, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/11/26

On Wednesday's show: In what has become a sort of tradition in the days leading up to Thanksgiving, the Houston Matters team gives thanks to you for listening and supporting this program -- and to each other for the work we’ve done this year.Coming up on this special edition of the show, we revisit some of our favorite segments from the past year. We hear conversations about traveling around Houston by foot, and crafting the ultimate Houston sandwich. We visit the Galveston Seawall and this year’s

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50:00

Houston’s sinking suburbs (Nov. 25, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/11/25

On Tuesday's show: State regulators have approved a request from CenterPoint Energy to bill taxpayers $2.9 billion to strengthen the Houston-area power grid against extreme weather. We learn details of the company's “resiliency plan” from Claire Hao of the Houston Chronicle.Also this hour: Beyond extreme weather, flooding, or climate change, the next big environmental challenge facing Texas might actually be under our feet. We learn why some of Houston’s booming suburbs are literally sinking and

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50:23

Beef and the environment (Nov. 24, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/11/24

On Monday's show: Two inmates died inside the Harris County Jail last week, according to a spokesperson for the Harris County Sheriff’s Office, bringing the jail’s in-custody death total to 18 this year. We learn the latest on these cases.Also this hour: A new study examines what has come to be known as the carbon "hoofprint” of cities, a measure for how bad beef is for the environment. It turns out the pounds of CO2 emitted per pound of meat at retail varies widely from city to city. Put another

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49:00

How to drive in Houston (Nov. 21, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/11/21

On Friday's show: A new study suggests more than 1.4 million more Texans will lose their health insurance in 2026 once Affordable Care Act subsidies expire as premiums double or even triple.Also this hour: Just in time for holiday travel, we welcome your questions about the rules of the road for Sgt. Stephen Woodard from the Texas Department of Public Safety.Then, from Houston having two of the deadliest roads in America, to a movie about the life of Mattress Mack going into production, our

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49:30

School marshal program at Humble ISD (Nov. 20, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/11/20

On Thursday's show: Houstonians can no longer rent scooters late at night after the Houston City Council enacted a nighttime curfew for both electric and foot-powered scooters amid concerns about safety.And we learn about plans at Humble ISD to implement a school marshal program that would allow employees to carry firearms on campus.Also this hour: In a car-dominant state, the agency responsible for building Texas highways says the state needs more public transit options to deal with its continued

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50:00

The week in politics (Nov. 19, 2025)

Houston Matters ·

2025/11/19

On Wednesday's show: The U.S. House is poised to vote today on whether to release the Epstein files. We discuss that and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.Also this hour: We learn about the role forensic genealogists play in solving cold cases.And CNN news anchor Bianna Golodryga discusses growing up in Houston as the child of Russian Jewish refugees and how that influenced Don't Feed the Lion, the new book she has co-authored to help children deal with antisemitism.Watch

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