Houston Matters

On Wednesday's show: From the news that Tilman Fertitta could become the next ambassador to Italy, to a judge throwing out The Onion’s purchase of Infowars, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: The social media landscape has been changing lately as folks shift to and from X, BlueSky, Mastodon, Threads, and so on. Have we reached social media platform overload? How do the messages we receive vary in subject matter, tone, and intention, depending on the platform we use? And is any of this good for us? We talk it over.

And it’s a time of year when people are making and eating more pies than they might the rest of the year. Chef Carl Walker of Brennan's of Houston walks us through how to make a perfect pie crust and explains how serving in the Marine Corps turned him into a baking enthusiast.

On Tuesday's show: Houston City Council is considering potential regulations for short-term rentals like Airbnb and Vrbo. News 88.7 reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh explains what they're discussing.

Also this hour: The Texans’ Aziz Al-Shaair has been suspended three games for his blow to the head of sliding quarterback Trevor Lawrence. It came the same week a new study was released finding longer ice hockey careers may increase the risks of developing CTE. Some point to the need for better athletic equipment (improvements in helmets, for instance) as a way to reduce those risks. Others believe the more equipment, the more likely athletes are to hit harder. We discuss that debate and whether better protective equipment, better rules, or changes in attitudes towards contact sports can really yield fewer injuries.

Then, the family of Austin Tice, a Houston journalist and U.S. Marine Corps veteran kidnapped in Syria more than a dozen years ago, is making a fresh push with the Biden administration to secure his freedom. The Tices planned to go to the White House on Friday to meet with the National Security Council. In light of developments in Syria and how they might affect this story, we revisit a 2014 conversation with Tice’s parents, Marc and Debra.

And Americana singer Robert Earl Keen brings his annual Christmas show to House of Blues on Dec. 19. We listen back to a 2014 conversation with him about his holiday shows and his foray into bluegrass.

On Monday's show: A year-long saga involving a former Superintendent at Fort Bend ISD appears headed to court. We learn why Dr. Christie Whitbeck is suing members of the district board.

Also this hour: We discuss the growing challenge -- and expense -- of getting homeowners insurance in Greater Houston.

Then Carol Burton from Urban Harvest answers questions about gardening.

And we discuss the Rockets' recent struggles on the road and get an update on Houston sports from Jeff Balke, how writes for Houston Press and co-hosts the Bleav in Astros podcast.

On Friday's show: Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said he'll press for a statewide ban on sales of all consumable THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) products in the 2025 legislative session. We learn more about what Patrick has deemed one of his top priorities for the regular session.

Also this hour: How challenging is it to live in a big, noisy city when you're dealing with hearing loss?

Then, from the return of Enron (sort of), to more driverless cars hitting Houston streets, our non-experts discuss The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And Dickens on the Strand, Galveston Island’s annual Victorian-themed holiday street festival, returns this weekend. We revisit a conversation from last year about the festival’s history and chat with the great-great-great grandson of Charles Dickens.

On Thursday's show: We get updates on some stories related to Houston city government, including the city retaining the ability to invest public funds in Israeli bonds after the city council did not take up an amendment to change the city's investment policy.

Also this hour: TxDOT wants to continue to oversee its own compliance with environmental policy, and critics say this gives them unchecked authority to approve unpopular projects. We get some perspective on the matter.

Then, we visit an exhibit on the Karankawa tribe in Texas. At the request of the tribe, the artifacts in the exhibit are not actual historical items -- they are recreations. What are the pros and cons of developing exhibits using such recreated artifacts?

And we talk with artist Vincent Valdez, who's doing a takeover of the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston where his collection of paintings about American history will be on display.

On Wednesday's show: We get reaction to President Joe Biden pardoning his son, President-elect Donald Trump’s plans for the FBI, and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Full Menu, food writers discuss some of their favorite new restaurants that have opened in the past year.

And there are many different ways we all experience the holiday season, depending on what’s going on in our lives. A new play illustrates some of them. We learn about Twelve Ways of Christmas at the Ensemble Theatre.

On Tuesday's show: Everyone wants our money right now. Black Friday gives way to Small Business Saturday, which gives way to Cyber Monday and Giving Tuesday. Barbara Stewart from the University of Houston joins us to examine how those major events in the retail calendar went this year and how Americans' shopping habits are changing of late.

Also this hour: The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA) provided $1.9 trillion in stimulus for the nation as we tried to dig out from the economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among those funds were billions of dollars that assisted municipal governments, colleges and universities, health systems, and other entities. Now that those funds are coming to an end, how will Greater Houston feel the effects? And how might other sources of funding fill in the gap?

Then, sex and intimacy are not always easy subjects to talk about. But Emily Jamea happened to grow up in a home where it wasn’t taboo and now works as a sex and relationship therapist here in Houston. She talks about that work and her book, Anatomy of Desire.

And, ahead of a performance in Houston next week, we revisit a conversation with musician Ben Folds about bringing piano to the Grunge era in the 90s and working with orchestras today.

On Monday's show: An investigative series from ProPublica called The Life of the Mother examines how abortion bans after the overturn of Roe v. Wade have led to preventable deaths.

Also this hour: We offer listeners their monthly chance to vent their pet peeves about life in Greater Houston. You can share yours now at [email protected].

And the Texans held on to beat Jacksonville Sunday, but most people weren't talking about the win. Jeff Balke discusses the controversial hit by Texans defender Azeez Al-Shaair.

On Wednesday's show: President-elect Donald Trump is threatening Canada and Mexico with tariffs, and the State of Texas is identifying property to make available to the incoming Trump administration to use for potential mass deportations. We discuss those and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: In this month's installment of The Bigger Picture, we examine the themes and questions about religion explored in the film Heretic.

And Archaeology Now Houston recently recreated how medieval Europeans many centuries ago would've celebrated the Feast of Saint Martin, or Martinmas, a holiday meal that would've been on par with Thanksgiving in America. We visit their feast, which was held in a historic barn outside Katy.

On Tuesday's show: Once a year, 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.

Today, the tradition continues as we revisit interviews and segments from the past year that members of the team found especially enjoyable. That includes conversations with actors George Takei and Joe Pantoliano.

Plus, we get a history lesson about Pullman Porters, we learn about a short film that tries to encapsulate all that is Houston in about four minutes, and we head to Crumbville, TX Bakery, a business Project Row Houses helped get started.