Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022:
Why is immigration such a big deal in the governor’s race? Because it helps win elections.
A new poll shows incumbent Gov. Greg Abbott leading Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke by four percentage points – far tighter than other recent surveys. The pollsters say they put a much greater focus on delving into the diversity of the Texas voting population. But as Democrats have tried to steer voters to issues like voting rights, gun safety and abortion, the Texas Newsroom’s Julián Aguilar reports the issues of border security and immigration have dominated the race.
How can you reach people who are spreading disinformation?
All this week we’ve been bringing you stories about disinformation leading up to the midterm elections. It’s a serious issue – so if you run into someone spreading falsehoods in the real world, what do you do? The Texas Standard’s Michael Marks has some tips.
Inflation has risen – but so have wages
While inflation means that things have gotten more expensive, people are also getting paid more. While not keeping pace with inflation, the rise in workers’ wages has softened the blow for many. The only issue? Not anybody has seen their wages rise equally. The Standard’s Sean Saldana has more.
Will the other shoe drop with Kanye West’s bid for Parler?
Kanye West (who now goes by Ye) has lost his lucrative contract with Adidas after a series of antisemitic remarks. The fallout from those remarks keeps coming and could spell trouble for his plans to purchase right-wing social media platform Parler. Our resident tech expert Omar Gallaga has more.
‘Y’all’ and the case for inclusivity
“Y’all.” The beloved contraction is second nature to most Texans: We don’t tend to think much about it. Others do, with some insisting it’s not grammatically correct. But the phrase, its persistence and growth beyond the South are worth a much closer look, argues Maud Newton, especially in our current age of inclusive pronouns. Newton wrote about the distinctly southern second person plural for the New York Times Magazine and joins us today.
‘Song of the Cicada’ traces the life of this death-obsessed Galveston mortician over a decade
“Song of the Cicada” is a new documentary about a Galveston mortician who deems death “the great equalizer.” Currently screening at the Austin Film Festival and the Lone Star Film Festival in Fort Worth, we’ll hear from cousins and co-directors Aaron and Robert Weiss on today’s show.
What’s next for detained WNBA star Brittney Griner?
Houston native Brittney Griner has been detained in Russia for nearly 10 months, arrested over vape cartridges with small amounts of cannabis oil. Despite having a U.S. prescription, Griner’s appeal in a Moscow court was denied this week – meaning, absent further diplomacy like a prisoner swap, she will serve her nine-year sentence in a Russian prison colony. ESPN writer Michael Voepel has the latest.
All this, plus the Texas Newsroom’s state roundup and Wells Dunbar with the Talk of Texas.
