PODCAST · news
Houston Matters
by 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 — 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.
Episodes
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Flock camera oversight (Oct. 16, 2026)
On Friday's show: Harris County commissioners have delayed action on the county’s Flock cameras after a county report found gaps in their oversight. Separately, two commissioners and the county attorney also warned about the rapid spread of data centers that the county has little power to…
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Astros’ next manager (Oct. 15, 2026)
On Thursday's show: With the news that the Astros are parting ways with Joe Espada, we discuss who might succeed him as the team's manager. Also this hour: As a new historical marker is set to be unveiled, we take a look back at Colt Stadium, the first home of Major League Baseball in the state…
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The week in politics (Oct. 14, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: Early voting begins in less than a week, and we’re t-minus three weeks and counting to Election Day itself. We break down the latest election-related news, and other developments in local, state, and national politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We reflect on some…
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ICE, policing, & civil rights (Oct. 13, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: ICE agents in an unmarked SUV struck a Houston man during a pursuit over the weekend. That incident comes just months after an ICE officer shot and killed another Houston man, thrusting Houston into the center of the national debate over ICE tactics. A longtime civil rights...
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Limiting school takeovers (Oct. 12, 2026)
On Monday's show: A group of educators, lawmakers, and education experts are calling on the state of Texas to limit the power that appointed boards and superintendents have during the state takeover of public school districts. We learn what their 81-page report had to say. And dozens of Flock...
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Essential Houston movies (Oct. 9, 2026)
On Friday's show: While Hurricane Isaias is heading far east of Texas, we take a closer look at the first Atlantic hurricane of the season and how it might affect weather here with the help of Eric Berger, meteorologist with Space City Weather. Also this hour: Our non-experts break down The Good,...
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HISD enrollment losses (Oct. 8, 2026)
On Thursday's show: Houston ISD has lost roughly twice the number of students district leaders had initially projected. We learn what the loss of nearly 10,000 in enrollment means for the district. Also this hour: We talk with organist Roger Sayer ahead of a performance this week at St. Luke’s...
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The week in politics (Oct. 7, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: In the latest installment of The Full Menu, local foodies talk about good places to get dishes with a comforting fall vibe. And we preview this week's Adventurous Electric Guitar Festival at...
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Dr. Renu Khator (Oct. 6, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: From core curriculum changes, to a centennial construction project, a lot is happening at the University of Houston these days. We talk with UH Chancellor Dr. Renu Khator about the state of the university system and the issues facing it, its flagship campus, and higher…
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Money lost to vouchers (Oct. 5, 2026)
On Monday's show: Watchdog groups say Texas public schools lost nearly $300 million because of school vouchers. And Galveston ISD has a week to comply with a court order to display the Ten Commandments in its classrooms. We discuss those developments in public education. Also this hour: We offer...
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AI and jobs (Oct. 2, 2026)
On Friday's show: The Trump administration is seeking to ban diesel exports for 90 days to stifle rising fuel prices. But how might that hurt refineries and oil and gas companies in Greater Houston? Also this hour: We consider how the growth of AI is affecting jobs here in Greater Houston and…
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Prisons and punishment (Oct. 1, 2026)
On Thursday's show: Chris Brown, who serves as Mayor John Whitmire’s financial integrity director, has admitted to working 15-hour weeks for a $127,000 salary but defended his work at a tense city council meeting. Houston Public Media's Dominic Anthony Walsh tells us what happened and updates us…
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The week in politics (Sept. 30, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We learn how the Trinity River has shaped the politics, economy, and environment of Texas and Houston from Scot McFarlane, author of The River That Made Texas: A Forgotten History of the...
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Child of a mail-order bride (Sept. 29, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: We remember former Houston health authority Dr. David Persse, who has passed away at age 66. And we get an update on the latest step toward a proposed desalination plant in Galveston. Also this hour: Ahead of Stand Down Houston, an event on Oct. 2 promoting education, career,...
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New flu season (Sept. 28, 2026)
On Monday's show: We examine how the new flu season is shaping up. Also this hour: We discuss the future of commercial spaceflight, ahead of the latest SpaceX launch taking astronauts to the International Space Station. Then, we talk through the latest stories in the world of education, including...
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Voter registration backlog (Sept. 25, 2026)
On Friday's show: An error by the Texas Department of Public Safety has led to tens of thousands of voter registration applications being caught in a backlog. Natalia Contreras of Votebeat explains why, and a political analyst discusses what it means approaching the midterms. Also this hour: We...
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Oversight of Flock cameras (Sept. 24, 2026)
On Thursday's show: City council members in League City are considering implementing a citizen-led committee to oversee the city's Flock Safety automated license plate reader system. We find out what that could look like. And we get an update on the ongoing power struggle between Fort Bend's...
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The week in politics (Sept. 23, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: From the pushback from the press in Washington, to the latest from the campaign trail, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Houston native and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ben Moser talks about his latest book, which explores...
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Data centers pause (Sept. 22, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) to pause permits for new data centers until state regulators complete an audit of those projects. The order was the latest in a series of moves against proposed data centers by Abbott, who has...
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Nuclear energy in Texas (Sept. 21, 2026)
On Monday's show: Gov. Greg Abbott announced last week that nearly $12 billion in Medicaid funding for Texas hospitals will be restored, ending a standoff with the federal government that began last December. We learn what the standoff was about, how it was resolved, and what it means for Houston...
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West side growth (Sept. 18, 2026)
On Friday's show: Gas prices have been climbing for months, but it's diesel that is setting records. The average price hit $6.31 a gallon this week, the highest level on record and nearly 70 percent higher than a year ago. We take a closer look at some of the reasons why. Also this hour: Jobs,...
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A 28th Amendment (Sept. 17 2026)
On Thursday's show: In what's being called the largest deregulation in the history the country's power industry, the Trump administration is repealing limits on greenhouse gas emissions from the nation's fossil fuel-fired power plants. Also this hour: Today is Constitution Day, and we want your...
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The week in politics (Sept. 16, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Houston filmmaker Alexandria Stapleton talks about her new documentary about the life and career of Houston-native WNBA star Brittney Griner. And Houston native Diane Ravitch was once a firm...
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GOP candidate’s racist comments (Sept. 15, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: A candidate’s post of a photo featuring University of Texas students celebrating an upset win over Ohio State set off a public rift among Texas Republicans over the last few days. A member of the Houston Chronicle editorial board says condemnation of GOP railroad commissioner...
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Houston’s anthem (Sept. 14, 2026)
On Monday's show: The Texas Supreme Court blocked Galveston County from using a new precinct map in the November election. And Fort Bend County approved its budget and a lower tax rate amid a heated meeting as Democrats returned to court last week. We get updates on both stories from Houston…
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Memories of 9/11 (Sept. 11, 2026)
On Friday's show: We look back at Sept. 11, 2001, 25 years later as we hear from Houstonians who were in New York the morning of the terrorist attacks there, in Washington, and in Shanksville, Penn. And we hear from different generations of Houstonians about how they remember the day and how it…
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Expanding school vouchers (Sept. 10, 2026)
On Thursday's show: Texas Comptroller Don Huffines has requested legislators double the money behind the state’s private school voucher program to $2 billion. More than 100,000 students sit on the waitlist, but critics argue there is little evidence vouchers are delivering on their promises to...
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The week in politics (Sept. 9, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: From this week’s GOP mid-term convention in Dallas, to the New Hampshire primary and other stories, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We consider the challenges and importance of communicating with the public about science…
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Houston real estate market (Sept. 8, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: After years of scarcity, there is now a much greater selection of homes for sale in the Houston market. Despite that, Houston Chronicle reporter Marissa Luck talks to us about why there still aren't many good bargains out there. And we take the pulse of the Houston real estate...
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NASA’s new space telescope (Sept. 4, 2026)
On Friday's show: A Galveston County jury has sentenced James Elmore, 61, to 20 years in prison for his role in a decades-old "Texas Killing Fields" case that went unsolved for over 40 years. We get the details on his trial and sentencing. Also this hour: NASA just launched a new telescope. We...
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AI and medicine (Sept. 3, 2026)
On Thursday's show: We discuss the recent deal the city of Houston made promising to never absorb The Woodlands in exchange for $50 million over the next four years. Also this hour: We discuss how the growth of AI is shaping the medical field for doctors and patients. Then, a DPS trooper tells us...
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The week in politics (Sept. 2, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We get an update on the after effects of Tropical Storm Edouard after it made its way through southeast Texas. Also this hour: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Then, what's the holy grail of memorabilia from NASA's Apollo program? We find...
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Tropical Storm Edouard (Sept. 1, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: Tropical Storm Edouard has formed moving in the Gulf and could bring heavy rain to parts of Greater Houston today. We have the very latest on the forecast and how area communities are preparing. Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Full Menu, Houston foodies offer...
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Tropical disturbance in the Gulf (Aug. 31, 2026)
On Monday's show: Fort Bend County commissioners voted last week to strip funding and staff from the office of elected County Attorney Bridgette Smith-Lawson, creating a new civil legal department under the court's own control. We learn what it could mean for the county and its residents. Also…
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How restaurants survive (Aug. 28, 2026)
On Friday's show: We get details on Pres. Trump's visit to Houston, with a RNC fundraiser last night and plans to bestow the Artemis II astronauts with a Congressional Space Medals of Honor today. Also this hour: we break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week. Then, restaurants come…
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HPD chief a no-show at safety meeting (Aug. 27, 2026)
On Thursday's show: We talk with Houston Public Media’s Dominic Anthony Walsh about Houston Police Chief Noe Diaz being a no-show at a Houston City Council public safety committee meeting this week examining a report on HPD calls involving ICE. We also discuss a $50 million agreement under...
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The week in politics (Aug. 26, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We learn how the concept of cohousing works by visiting East End Commons, a first-of-its kind in Houston housing concept that just opened in the East End. And two local ensembles come…
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City funds for Beryl repair (Aug. 25, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: The city of Houston has opened a program to provide funding to help homeowners whose property was damaged in the 2024 derecho or Hurricane Beryl. We get details on how the federally funded program works and who is eligible. Also this hour: The Houston Hispanic Chamber of…
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Inflating school ratings (Aug. 24, 2026)
On Monday's show: More than 20 Houston-area apartment landlords are accused of using a shared pricing algorithm to push rents higher. We find out what a settlement means for affected renters. Also this hour: As Houstonians, we waste a lot of time sitting in traffic. We lose hours doom scrolling…
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Avoiding eviction (Aug. 21, 2026)
On Friday's show: ERCOT has announced when its audit of data centers mandated by Gov. Greg Abbott will be complete. And a new report expresses concern over certain pathogens found in Texas waterways. Also this hour: Houston Chronicle columnist Regina Lankenau explains how a relatively unique…
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A/C in rental housing (Aug. 20, 2026)
On Thursday's show: We look at the forecast for hot weather as a heat advisory begins today with Justin Ballard, meteorologist with the Houston Chronicle. And, amid the Houston heat, Houston City Council has approved an ordinance requiring landlords to provide air conditioning for residents in...
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The week in politics (Aug. 19, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: When Texas became a state in 1845, it might have been given Congressional permission to divide itself into five states. We contemplate what such a move might have meant and would mean today...
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Galveston redistricting (Aug. 18, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: We take a closer look at the redistricting saga in Galveston County. Also this hour: We get a primer on MUDs, municipal utility districts, which handle water services and other utilities for unincorporated areas of Texas. Then, we discuss how to deal with burnout in your job or...
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HISD school ratings (Aug. 17, 2026)
On Monday's show: We discuss state school ratings, and questions about reading proficiency at some HISD schools with Houston Public Media’s education reporter Bianca Seward. Also this hour: It’s hardly a new phenomenon, but it just keeps increasing -- people, industry, and venues moving from the...
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Comedian Ron Funches (Aug. 14, 2026)
On Friday's show: A representative from Pride Houston 365 will join us to preview Saturday’s rescheduled Pride Houston parade. Also this hour: As a recent tragic incident of domestic violence reinforced here in Houston, while conversation about abuse often encourages people to “watch out for the...
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Ballot measures in November (Aug. 13, 2026)
On Thursday's show: Marijuana enforcement and no-knock warrants will be on the ballot for Houston voters in November. And airport workers are getting a raise. Houston Public Media's Dominic Anthony Walsh has been following those developments and breaks them down for us. Also this hour: As Johnson...
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The week in politics (Aug. 12, 2026)
On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We preview a special screening on Aug. 27 at the River Oaks Theatre of the classic film Casablanca, with the man presenting it, longtime Houston-area film critic Joe Leydon. And we learn…
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New vaccine recommendations (Aug. 11, 2026)
On Tuesday's show: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order calling on federal health officials to scale back vaccine recommendations and to split the MMR vaccine into individual shots for measles, mumps, and rubella. We get reaction from a local epidemiologist. And jalapeños are…
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Back to school at HISD (Aug. 10, 2026)
On Monday's show: Students at HISD go back to class today, with many students at other districts around Greater Houston beginning a new school year this week as well. We discuss the first day of school and other education developments with Houston Public Media’s Bianca Seward. Also this hour…
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Back-to-school health (Aug. 7, 2026)
On Friday's show: We get updates from Houston Public Media reporters on several stories from Fort Bend County, Galveston County, and Harris County. Also this hour: Classes begin for HISD students on Monday. Kids returning to class means another year of close contact, germs getting passed around,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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.
HOSTED BY
Houston Public Media
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Houston Matters have?
Houston Matters currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Houston Matters about?
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,...
How often does Houston Matters release new episodes?
Houston Matters has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Houston Matters?
You can listen to Houston Matters on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Houston Matters?
Houston Matters is created and hosted by Houston Public Media.
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