Wildfire risk is so high in the Texas Panhandle that an energy company preemptively cut off power to avoid lines blowing down and starting to spark. We’ll take a closer look at the situation.
Early voting is underway across Texas. We sent reporters to polls across the state to hear from voters who made it out on the first day.
We’ll profile the candidates in a hotly-contested race near Houston where the GOP is hoping to gain a seat.
Beef prices are contributing to shock over grocery store bills, but ranchers are upset about one way President Trump is trying to bring the price of ground beef down.
And we’ll explore the deepest underwater cave in North America.

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This week on The Metallica Report…

Steffan and Renée host another round of Hardwired To Disagree, where two Metallica Family members go head-to-head answering a series of ’Tallica-themed questions. This week’s passionate opinions are brought to us by Victoria Anderson and Brian Sharma, who—between flutes, barbecues, 30th anniversary shows, and Lulu—came prepared to entertain! 

The Metallica Report – your official, weekly guide for all things Metallica, straight from the source. New episode every Wednesday.

Become A Fifth Member: metallica.com/register 

Music from The Metallica Report: metallica.lnk.to/TMR-music 

Upcoming Tour Dates: metallica.com/tour 

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Early voting is underway in Texas for the primaries. We’ll go over what you need to know before casting a ballot on today’s show.
With Paxton out, a look at the candidates who want to be the next attorney general in Texas.
How Houston’s Johnson Space Center will play a critical role in the Artemis II mission to return astronauts to the moon.
Keeping bicyclists safe on Texas roads.
And W.F. Strong on why Robert Duvall’s legacy looms large in Texas.

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Your podcast doesn’t need to be massive to make money — but it does need a strategy. Monetization isn’t one-size-fits-all, and most independent podcasters are building income in smarter, more diversified ways than people realize.

A common misconception is that monetization only starts when you hit tens of thousands of downloads per episode.

In reality, smaller, niche podcasts often monetize more effectively because they serve a highly specific audience. Advertisers, sponsors, and even your own products perform better when your listeners are clearly defined and highly engaged.

A focused audience of 500 loyal listeners can be more valuable than 5,000 passive ones.

What actually works:

When most people think “podcast monetization,” they think ads.

But independent podcasters are generating revenue through multiple streams:

For many shows, sponsorships are just one piece of the puzzle — not the foundation.

What actually works:

There’s pressure to “make money fast,” especially for new podcasters.

But monetization works best when it’s built on trust. If your audience doesn’t yet understand who you are and why you matter, revenue efforts will feel forced.

The most sustainable monetization happens after:

What actually works:

Overloading episodes with ads can damage listener trust — especially for independent creators.

Listeners stick around because they trust you. If monetization disrupts the l

Can Sylvia Garcia, Houston’s only Latina U.S. representative, hang on to her seat? We may know sooner than some realize.
If you were waiting for this fall for the start of election season, wait no more. Early voting in the state’s primaries is set to begin tomorrow. A closer look at a race with huge implications for Texas – and beyond.
Amid concerning reports from the immigration detention center at Dilley, what are conditions really like inside? Ask the children being held there. We’ll talk with a ProPublica reporter who did just that.
Also, the Texans found in the Epstein files.

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Major changes at one of the state’s flagship universities, with UT Austin consolidating seven departments focused on ethnic and gender studies into two new ones.
Five years since Winter Storm Uri and a massive blackout that led to investigations and a rethink of how the state manages the power grid. What’s changed? A look back.
The Standard’s Michael Marks on a new pest hitting rice growers at a very bad time.
Hi, how are you? A new exhibit focuses on the life and legacy of the artist Daniel Johnston, who became a Texas cultural icon.
Plus, the week in politics with the Texas Tribune.

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This week, Kim Masters sits down with Academy Award nominated Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi to discuss his Palme d’Or winning film It Was Just an Accident. Panahi explains why he self finances his films, bringing in partners only after he decides the work is worthy of his signature, and how he has continued to shoot in secret despite years of arrests, censorship, and government bans. He also reflects on his decision to return to Iran after the awards season, even as he faces the possibility of another prison sentence.

Plus, Masters and Matt Belloni dig into the latest twists in the Warner Bros. sale, including Paramount’s new concessions aimed at winning over regulators and shareholders. They weigh the limits of President Trump’s influence over the deal, and how a major investor group’s shifting position could reshape the bidding landscape and spark further legal battles.

What really happened that led to a sudden and largely unprecedented shutdown of the airspace and the airport in El Paso? We’ll dive in on today’s Texas Standard.
With just days to go before early voting begins in the Texas primaries, Blaise Gainey of The Texas Newsroom gets us up to speed on the Democratic race between U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett and state Rep. James Talarico, as well as a GOP showdown featuring Sen. John Cornyn, AG Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.
Also, Discord tells users it will begin age verification. Pushback and confusion ensue. Our go-to tech expert Omar Gallaga tells us why.
Plus, a new real estate trend in Houston that hearkens back to college dorm days: The rise of co-living deals.
Also, how a data center is driving housing affordability challenges in Abilene.
Those stories and much more today.

Texas Standard is a listener-supported production of KUT & KUTX Studios in Austin, Texas. You can help make this podcast happen by donating at supportthispodcast.org.

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The FAA reopened airspace around El Paso as abruptly as it shut it down. We’ll dig into what we know about the strange and unprecedented actions.
A months-long investigation from The Texas Newsroom and The California Newsroom finds pregnant migrant girls are being held at a South Texas shelter that’s been flagged as medically inadequate. Why even some within the Trump Administration are concerned.
Have you noticed more political ads touting concerns about Islamic terrorism? An analysis about what could be behind the change in GOP rhetoric.
We’re approaching the five-year anniversary of the deadly winter storm that almost led to the failure of the grid that powers most of Texas. “Dark Texas,” a new novel from author Charles J. Petrie Jr., explores what could have happened if the grid did fail.
Plus, West Texas Democrats have new hope for wins after Taylor Rehmet’s unexpected victory in Tarrant County.

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One of the most closely watched political contests in this midterm election year is happening in Texas, and a new poll offers some surprises.
The race for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by John Cornyn has recently been characterized as tightening up, but a new poll suggests Republican Ken Paxton and Democrat Jasmine Crockett are pulling ahead from the rest of the pack.
As AI makes image manipulation easier than ever, are the laws keeping up?
Plus, the fastest-growing group online? It’s not young people. Our conversation with Eszter Hargittai, co-author of the new book “Wired Wisdom: How to Age Better Online.”

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