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Houston Matters

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Rating
★★★★☆
4.4
from
95 reviews
This podcast has
57 episodes
Language
English
Explicit
No
Date created
2013/04/29
Latest episode
2026/11/06
Average duration
50 min.
Release period
2 days

Description

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 — one we hope you’ll continue here, at home, at work, with family, with friends and neighbors. We hope to introduce Houstonians to one another, to celebrate our diversity, and to engage one another through stories and conversations that demonstrate depth and context. Just the sort of thing you count on from public media.

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Election’s effect on immigration (Nov. 6, 2026)
2026/11/06
On Friday's show: We continue to discuss what this week's dramatic election results could mean for various issues on the minds of Houstonians. We previously considered what they might mean for education. Today, we discuss how immigration policy and enforcement could be affected. Also this hour: We know rents and gas prices have gone up recently, but something that has increased even more is what it costs to care for a disabled, elderly, or chronically ill adult, according to a report from AARP. It revealed caregivers spend more than $11,000 annually on care, on average. We discuss how those costs compare in Greater Houston and what factors drive them. Then, we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we learn about efforts to collect and preserve memories and histories of Talento Bilingüe de Houston, the bilingual Latino cultural center in Houston's East End. Watch
Election’s effect on education (Nov. 5, 2026)
2026/11/05
On Thursday's show: The results of this week's election could have profound implications for the future of education in Greater Houston, from the HISD takeover, to vouchers, and beyond. Also this hour: As the Taliban retook Afghanistan five years ago, The New York Times scrambled to evacuate people working at its bureau there and their families. They ended up here in Houston. We learn why, how, and what happened next, a story told in the new book, The Last Free Women. We talk with the co-authors, Rebecca Blumenstein and Diana Kapp, ahead of a trio of events Blumenstein is holding this weekend in Houston. Then, in this month’s edition of The Full Menu, Houston foodies discuss their favorite pizza around the city. And firefighter, paramedic, and documentary photographer RJ Clarke tells us about the Houstonians featured in The Color of Fire, an archive telling the stories of Black firefighters. Watch
Analyzing the Democrats’ historic wins (Nov. 4, 2026)
2026/11/04
On Wednesday's show: Statewide offices, the Texas House, the U.S. House and Senate, a majority of Governorships -- however you slice it, the Democrats saw massive gains in Tuesday’s election. There’s no denying it. The blue wave has arrived. We devote the entire hour to examining the historic results of the 2026 midterm election here in Greater Houston and across the nation and discuss how it all might affect our region with the help of Jeronimo Cortina and Brandon Rottinghaus from the University of Houston and co-hosts of Houston Public Media's Party Politics. Watch
Election Day in Houston (Nov. 3, 2026)
2026/11/03
On Tuesday's show: As voters head to the polls on Election Day, we check in with Houston Public Media reporters at polling places around town to get a sense of how things are playing out. Then, we remind you what to do if you have to file a provisional ballot. And we provide our usual last-minute voter’s guide for procrastinators. Also this hour: At a time when many Texas school districts are sending thousands of children as young at ten into the criminal justice system, Daniella Jiménez of the Houston Chronicle explains what some districts are doing in Harris County to keep more children out of it.  And we revisit the story of The Melody Maids, a singing group of teenage girls from southeast Texas that traveled the world to perform for troops from WWII to Vietnam. Their story is the subject of The Melody Maids Movie, which is airing Nov. 9 at 10 p.m. on Houston Public Media, TV 8. Watch
ICE agent indicted (Nov. 2, 2026)
2026/11/02
On Monday's show: Newly obtained body camera footage shows an ICE agent's response after running over Houston immigrant Miguel Parra Hernández on Oct. 10. Last week, the ICE agent, Mario Alberto Morales, was indicted by a grand jury on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Houston Chronicle columnist Lisa Falkenberg was the first to obtain the offense report, medical records, and video from the incident, and she joins us to discuss what they reveal. Also this hour: We discuss how Houstonians are dealing with anxiety, stress, and fatigue over tomorrow's elections. Then, we offer listeners a chance to vent their pet peeves about life in our city. And we get an update on the Rockets' start to the season and the relaunch of the Houston Comets. Watch
Live from Meow Wolf (Oct. 30, 2026)
2026/10/30
On Friday's show: We bring you radio from another era -- sort of.  We’re broadcasting live from Meow Wolf Houston’s Radio Tave. The interactive museum celebrates its two-year anniversary Saturday. The Fifth Ward art installation takes you inside a sort of choose-your-own-adventure science fiction story set -- at least at first -- decades ago in a community radio station. Also this hour: Against the backdrop of Meow Wolf's Radio Tave, as we always do on Fridays, our non-experts break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And we hear a performance from the Houston Chicano soul band, Los Souldees. Watch
Remembering Dolores Huerta (Oct. 29, 2026)
2026/10/29
On Thursday's show: We reflect on the life and legacy of labor activist Dolores Huerta, who died this week at the age of 96. Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers union to improve working conditions in the nation’s fruit and vegetable fields and coined the phrase "Sí, se puede!" that became a widespread rallying cry. Also this hour: Are political parties less respectful than they used to be? We discuss the increasingly difficult task of maintaining decorum in politics. Then, we learn about Jasper, 1940: A Sound Installation at the Houston Museum for African American Culture, which is on view through Dec. 10, featuring archival recordings, oral histories, and contemporary voices. The recordings include Billy McCray, a formerly enslaved man from Jasper, Texas, who was interviewed by folklorist John Lomax. His account is mixed with recent recordings of his descendants. And we chat with William Martinez, who stars in a one-man musical at Stages Houston next week called SIGNing the Song. Martinez grew up as a hearing child in a deaf household, and the show features Broadway and popular standards…and sign language.  Watch
The week in politics (Oct. 28, 2026)
2026/10/28
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We take a trip through a local haunted house attraction. And we discuss the wide variety of Halloween events taking place across Greater Houston this week. Watch
Attitudes on data centers and AI (Oct. 27, 2026)
2026/10/27
On Tuesday's show: New survey data from the University of Houston's Hobby School of Public Affairs looks at likely Texas voters' views on data centers and AI. Also this hour: With tipping being an option at just about any kind of business these days, we discuss what tipping culture looks like in Houston. Then, we revisit a conversation that considered whether Houston needs a new "big honkin' thing" such as famous landmarks like the Gateway Arch, Golden Gate Bridge, or Statue of Liberty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8BcnYkJSxU
Data centers & air quality (Oct. 26, 2026)
2026/10/26
On Monday's show: Fort Bend County Tax Assessor-Collector Carmen Turner was arrested last week after she was indicted on federal charges of misusing public funds. We get the latest details. Also this hour: A new report sizes up how data centers could affect air quality. We take a closer look. Then, ‘tis the season -- for college visits, applications, and early admissions. We get advice for students and their parents navigating the process. And we recap the Texans' overtime loss to the Giants on Sunday.
Finding Shackleton’s ship (Oct. 23, 2026)
2026/10/23
On Friday's show: We recap last night's debate between candidates for Harris County Judge, Orlando Sanchez and Letitia Plummer. Also this hour: Maritime archaeologist Mensun Bound details his 2022 expedition that led to the discovery of Endurance, explorer Ernest Shackleton's wooden ship that was lost in 1915 during an expedition to reach the South Pole. Bound will speak Saturday night at an event with the Texas chapter of The Explorers Club at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. Then, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. And some Houston-area magicians talk about their craft. Watch
‘Forever chemicals’ in bayous (Oct. 22, 2026)
2026/10/22
On Thursday's show: PFAs, those “forever chemicals,” have turned up in Houston’s bayous along with a lot of other waterways, according to a new report from Environment Texas and The Frontier Group. We take a closer look at the report and discuss what can be done about it. Also this hour: We discuss plans to refurbish the Imperial Sugar Char House in Sugar Land after the city council there approved a $15 million infusion of future sales tax revenue to fund revitalization efforts for one of the city's historic landmarks. Then, we visit the Houston Palestinian Festival, which took place Oct. 10-11 at Buffalo Bayou Park. And former Houstonian and acclaimed fiction writer Bryan Washington was recently named a 2026 MacArthur Fellow. He tells us how Houston has shaped his writing and what the unrestricted fellowship, commonly known as a “genius grant,” means as his writing continues to evolve. Watch
The week in politics (Oct. 21, 2026)
2026/10/21
On Wednesday's show: We preview the upcoming debate between candidates for Harris County Judge, which you can catch Thursday night at 7 on News 88.7, on TV 8, and at houstonpublicmedia.org. And we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Twenty-five years after 9/11, how has growing up in the shadow of the terrorist attacks changed how Muslims grew up in America and Houston? And we preview the Alley All New Festival, featuring staged readings of new plays. Watch
Effect of AI on literacy (Oct. 20 2026)
2026/10/20
On Tuesday's show: Houston ISD has spent millions of taxpayer dollars building its own curriculum, and it is now sharing those materials with other school systems for free. We learn more from Houston Chronicle education reporter Nusaiba Mizan. Also this hour: AI can summarize just about any article or book you could throw at it. But what does that mean for the future of reading and literacy? Then, we reflect on how the classic western High Noon clashed with the anti-communist fervor of the 1950s, as outlined in Glenn Frankel's book High Noon: The Hollywood Blacklist and the Making of an American Classic. And we visit Bookish Fest, a recent event for readers and lovers of indie authors. Watch
ICE incident under scrutiny (Oct. 19, 2026)
2026/10/19
On Monday's show: When ICE agents ran into a man with a vehicle in Houston injuring him last week, the man they were targeting had actually been dead for several years, according to the man's family and a New York Times report. We discuss that development and the latest on ICE interactions with the public. Also this hour: We learn about Elon Musk's role in funding an advertising blitz on behalf of Ken Paxton in the U.S. Senate race in Texas. Then, veterinarian Dr. Lori Teller answers listener questions about pet care. You can submit yours now to [email protected]. And we preview the new Rockets season, which begins Wednesday night against the Mavericks, with Jackson Gatlin of the Locked On Rockets podcast. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cd9DmJAbDvI

Podcast reviews

Read Houston Matters podcast reviews


4.4 out of 5
95 reviews
★★★★★
Scubarru 2025/11/19
Insightfully informative & fun
So glad to have this program available to Houston ! Objectively approachable discussions about issues THAT MATTER to Houstonians.
★☆☆☆☆
Nostrathomas. 2022/07/21
Extreme political bias
It’s so unfortunate that so many great shows have been ruined by their obsession with partisan politics with no attempt at neutrality. Any deviation ...
★★★☆☆
elh713 2020/07/31
Special Edition
I am typically a fan of this show when it’s led by Craig Cohen & I have appreciated the local doctors and scientists that have contributed, but Ernie ...
★☆☆☆☆
Ayjayrose 2020/07/13
Give it a rest
I used to listen to this show for daily local news. In recent months the fear mongering and aggrandizement of COVID related issues is insufferable. Th...
★☆☆☆☆
htx2020! 2020/06/13
Partisan
If you enjoy one-sided, bias discussions, you will enjoy this dumpster fire.
★☆☆☆☆
El De Smith 2020/05/18
Giving Houston a bad name
Before Trump, this was a 4 star show. Downhill ever since.
★★★★★
scott @ 2020/03/15
Love the show: Information without bias or hyperbole.
A great way to hear timely information affecting the Houston Area without being subjected to guests (or hosts) spouting unsupported opinion, bias, or ...
★★★☆☆
JCAD1983 2019/05/26
A way to keep in touch with Houston
I live abroad 10 months out of the year so this programming keeps me in the loop and grounded to all the local happenings going on back at home. Such ...
★★★★★
BernieorBust!!!! 2018/05/31
Great Houston News
Thank you to everyone at Houston Matters for providing a fun, informative, show concerning all things Have
★★★★★
Adam-Wade 2017/03/30
Any Houstonian who wants to be aware should subscribe to this!
I'm a News 88.7 addict, and love that this airs at noon and at 7 pm. Wonderful to listen to Craig Cohen when I'm at work late. Thanks to this, people ...
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