Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, Nov. 3, 2025:
Shutdown drags on as SNAP funding runs out
SNAP benefits ended for millions over the weekend, but a federal judge has now ordered the government to restore funding. With the shutdown entering its sixth week, the political and economic fallout continues to deepen.
Brandon Rottinghaus, political science professor at the University of Houston, joins Texas Standard with the ramifications.
Trial over ICE detention shooting tests new ‘antifa’ designation
Two North Texas defendants are set to face federal terrorism charges this month, the first case since antifa was formally labeled a domestic terrorist organization by the Trump administration. The outcome could set a precedent for future prosecutions under that label.
KERA News’ Toluwani Osibamowo reports.
This week in Texas music history
Jason Mellard with The Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University recalls the time post-punk greats Gang of Four traveled across the pond to Texas:
Texas schools turn to AI to flag banned books
To comply with new laws restricting “profane” or “indecent” material, some Texas school districts are using ChatGPT to screen library titles. Supporters say it’s efficient, while critics warn it’s unreliable and prone to bias.
Bayliss Wagner, state politics reporter for the San Antonio Express-News, joins Texas Standard with more.
Study finds bucket lists bring comfort at life’s end
A new study from the University of Texas at Arlington finds that creating bucket lists – or even a single meaningful goal – can strengthen family bonds and offer peace to people nearing the end of life.
Researcher Swasati Handique, a doctoral candidate in UT Arlington’s School of Social Work, joins the Standard with the findings.
Skip Hollandsworth on his new book ‘She Kills’
Texas Monthly’s Skip Hollandsworth joins Texas Standard to talk about his latest collection, “She Kills: The Murderous Socialite, the Cross-Dressing Bank Robber, and Other True Crime Tales.”
He reflects on decades of storytelling, the rise of female-centered crime narratives, and why audiences can’t look away from true crime.
Oil markets uneasy as OPEC weighs cuts and China talks continue
Oil prices remain flat after OPEC’s weekend meeting, where members agreed to raise production in December but pause further increases in early 2026. Analysts say concerns over oversupply, plus U.S.-China trade uncertainty, could threaten Texas energy jobs.
Matt Smith, lead energy analyst at Kpler, joins the Standard with more.
