Скачать или смотреть Houston Matters Full Episode - October 21, 2025

Today on Houston Matters, over the weekend, the New York Times ran a profile on Houston Mayor John Whitmire, highlighting his approach to dealing with President Donald Trump. In the article, Whitmire suggested his city is in less turmoil than other Democrat-led municipalities because he keeps his head down and avoids confrontations with the Republican president. We talk with J. David Goodman, the Houston bureau chief for the Times who wrote the story. Also, Houston Chronicle columnist Lisa Falkenberg discusses her recent report about HISD early elementary school teachers having to sneak books into the hands of their students because the lesson plans they’re required to follow don’t leave time for reading actual books. We also hear a response from Superintendent Mike Miles to her article. Plus, a documentary screening this week of The Librarians at the River Oaks Theatre digs into how the books students have access to in public schools has become politicized. We talk with the film’s director Kim A. Snyder. And we visit one of Houston’s most popular food events, the Southern Smoke Festival, where chefs, bartenders, and food lovers come together not just to eat and drink, but to give back.

Houston Matters is an essential daily guide to the people, places, issues, and ideas that define Greater Houston. Hosted by Craig Cohen.

Houston Matters streams live on YouTube weekdays from 9 a.m. – 10 a.m. CT, and airs live on Houston Public Media’s News 88.7.

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Timestamps:
00:00 Pre-show news
07:29 Intro
08:02 J. David Goodman on Mayor Whitmire’s political strategy
26:10 Lisa Falkenberg on books in Houston elementary schools
38:58 Kim Snyder discusses her film on the battle over books in Texas schools
46:28 Brenda Valdivia visits the Southern Smoke Festival