Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, Dec. 1, 2025.
Where things stand after Supreme Court restores Texas’ congressional map
Texas’ redistricting efforts have been in a back-and-forth since passing in the previous special legislative session. The latest move saw the state’s new map restored by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Joining us with an update is Eleanor Klibanoff, who covers the law and politics for the Texas Tribune.
US Rep. Troy Nehls says he won’t seek reelection
Houston-area Congressman Troy Nehls has been an ardent supporter of President Trump. His announcement on Saturday that he won’t seek reelection makes him the sixth Texas GOP lawmaker to depart his office this term.
Issac Yu, politics reporter for the Houston Chronicle, joins us with a look at what it means for the Texas delegation.
This week in Texas music history
Jason Mellard with The Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University consults the calendar.
How cashless transactions are eating into restaurant’s profits
Cashless transactions have become commonplace, so much so that many assume we can buy what we need with a swipe or a tap and our friend will pay us back using an app.
But there’s a side to this convenience that is often overlooked – the credit card fees charged to vendors. And with food prices still sky high, Texas restaurants say it’s really cutting in to their ability to make a profit.
Kelsey Erickson Strefuert, chief public affairs officer with the Texas Restaurant Association, joins us for a discussion.
Rangers lead effort to find final Hill Country flood victims
The human stories that came from the deadly July 4 Hill Country floods are heartbreaking and the recovery has been slow.
The Texas Rangers are taking a major role in the effort. Hundreds of Rangers and criminal investigation special agents have spent months in the area trying to safely recover and identify the remains of the victims. Right now, all but two people have been accounted for.
Peter Holley is a senior writer for Texas Monthly and he’s been following this story. He joins us with a look at the situation.
Diving into NPR’s Books We Love list
The end of the year is a time for reflection. For the readers among us, it is a time to peruse lists of the top books that came out in the past 12 months.
There are a few big “best-books-of-the-year” lists that lead conversations, and one of them is put out by NPR. Called “Books We Love,” it includes staff picks from across genres.
That list came out on Nov. 24 and Andrew Limbong, a reporter for NPR’s Arts Desk, joins us with an overview.
Kpler Lead Analyst Matt Smith joins us with a look at the latest on the energy front.
