Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025.
Legal questions swirl over National Guard deployments
President Trump has asked Texas to send National Guard troops to other states, and Gov. Greg Abbott has eagerly agreed. But legal challenges are mounting, with a federal judge in Oregon temporarily blocking such moves.
Chris Mirasola, law professor at the University of Houston, joins the Standard with where things stand.
Tiny Loving County faces a political takeover
With just 64 residents, Loving County is Texas’ least-populated – but its oil wealth has drawn attention. A group of largely African American newcomers, led by a charismatic social media influencer, is openly trying to take over the local government.
Eric Dexheimer, investigative reporter at the Houston Chronicle, joins the Standard with the story.
Accordion legend honored for Hispanic Heritage Month
Six-time Grammy winner Flaco Jiménez is known as the King of the Accordion. As part of UT-Austin’s Voces Oral History Project, Amberlyn Negron joins Texas Standard with his story.
ICEblock app pulled from App Store
ICEblock, a crowdsourced app for tracking immigration enforcement, was removed from Apple’s App Store after pressure from the Trump administration. Its creators say they’re fighting back.
Shelly Brisbin joins Texas Standard with a recap and what could be next.
Tracking domestic violence deaths in Texas
Domestic violence fatalities in Texas remain elevated, with 161 people killed last year alone. Advocates say more policy action is needed.
Tabetha Harrison, of the Texas Council on Family Violence, joins the Standard to unpack the findings of their newest study examining the problem.
The West Texas roots of the far right
A new book argues that West Texas helped shape the rise of modern conservatism – and its influence stretches far beyond the region.
Jeff Roche, author of “The Conservative Frontier,” joins the show with the implications.
Conservative influencer Tim Kennedy under scrutiny
UFC fighter, Green Beret, author, influencer: Tim Kennedy’s credentials have long impressed fans. But a new Texas Monthly cover story questions the key claims that facilitated his rise.
Michael Sierra-Arévalo, the story’s author, joins the Standard with more.
