Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, Feb. 7, 2025:
Trump, Musk move to dismantle USAID
The Trump administration is working to shut down the U.S. Agency for International Development, the federal agency responsible for funding education, poverty relief, and disease prevention overseas. Leading the effort is Elon Musk, who has been tapped as a “special government employee” within the Department of Government Efficiency. Critics warn the move could have dire consequences on the global stage.
Andrew Natsios, former USAID administrator and director of the Scowcroft Institute at Texas A&M, joins us with more.
Rockport honors an artist who shaped the Texas coast’s creative scene
A new historical marker stands outside a modest pale-green building in Rockport, Texas. It was once the art studio of Simon Michael, a painter who founded the Fulton School of Painting and played a pivotal role in shaping the region’s artistic community.
Kay Betz, co-author of “The Story of the Rockport-Fulton Art Colony,” joins us to talk about his impact.
Trump looks to create a U.S. sovereign wealth fund
President Trump has ordered the creation of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund, a move that could put the country in line with nations like Saudi Arabia and China, which use government-backed investments to generate wealth. Trump even suggested the fund could be used to buy TikTok, whose future remains uncertain under a new ownership law.
Rachel Wellhausen, a government professor at UT-Austin, joins us to explain what this could mean.
Texas Standard’s top 10 film & TV interviews
As Texas Standard marks 10 years on the air, we’re celebrating with monthly lists of staff favorites. Since Saturday is Global Movie Day, we’ve put together our top 10 film and TV interviews – though narrowing it down was no easy task.
Laura Rice takes us through the list.
The gang delivers another custom poem. Reach out to Texas Standard with your topic suggestions!
The Texas Tribune’s James Barragán joins the Standard with a recap of the week that was in Texas politics.
All this, plus Alexandra Hart with the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
