Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, Sept. 26, 2025:
The latest on the newest looming government shutdown
President Donald Trump abruptly canceled a meeting with Democratic congressional leaders set for Thursday, increasing the prospects that the government could shut down if a funding deal isn’t reached by the Oct. 1 deadline.
For more on what’s happening in D.C. and how it might impact folks around Texas, we’re joined by Joseph Morton, Washington correspondent for the Dallas Morning News:
Texas Democrats chart new strategy, but not all are on board
A Democrat hasn’t won a statewide race in Texas in 31 years, and there’s been much talk about Republican gains in recent election cycles in parts of South Texas long considered Democratic strongholds. But Texas Democrats have a plan to get back in power.
One key piece of that plan is to rethink its focus on Central Texas, starting with moving their headquarters to Dallas. This decision has roiled quite a few within the party, even prompting an exodus of top staff.
Andrew Schneider, who covers state politics for our partner station Houston Public Media, joins us with the details.
Seguin park assembling collection of Confederate statues
It’s been 8 years since cities and towns across the country removed Confederate monuments from public spaces. That was due to outcry over what they represent. Many of those statues have been sitting in storage ever since.
Now, a private park near Seguin is assembling a collection of Confederate statues from across the state. Texas Public Radio’s David Martin Davies reports.
Austin’s Fantastic Fest still keeping things weird
For fans of horror, sci-fi, fantasy and offbeat films, it doesn’t get much better than Fantastic Fest, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary this week.
As Jenny Dubin reports, it’s still keeping Austin weird as it rewrites the rules of what a film festival can be.
Grue Jay is the best of two jays
For years, birdwatching in Texas has been a tale of two jays: blue in the east, and green further south. Recently though, researchers have found a rare new species that lies somewhere in between – and they are calling it the Grue Jay.
A brand-new study from UT Austin’s College of Natural Sciences says the new bird may be the result of shifting weather patterns and climate change. Brian Stokes, a biologist at UT Austin who led this research, joins us with more.
How thousands of blind and visually impaired Texans learn to get around safely
Here in Texas, there are around 11,000 students who are blind or visually impaired – which means that in addition to math, science and reading, many of them spend time in school learning how to get around safely.
This process is called orientation and mobility training, and the Texas Standard’s Sean Saldana looked at how it all works.
The gang delivers another custom poem. Reach out to Texas Standard with your topic suggestions!
The week in Texas politics
The Texas Tribune politics editor Jasper Scherer joins the Standard with a recap of the week that was in Texas politics:
– Houston businessman Andrew White launches Democratic challenge to Gov. Greg Abbott
– Cornyn nabs endorsements from 15 former GOP members of Congress in primary vs. Paxton
– Texas death row inmate Robert Roberson will not seek clemency ahead of October execution
