Hello Houston (May 18, 2026)

Hello Houston (June 8, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we’re joined by Alice Liu and Felix Kapoor of the Houston People’s Budget Campaign in the show's first hour, who both break down the organization’s proposed amendments to Mayor Whitmire’s city budget plan as city leaders prepare to vote on it.   In the second hour, Jonathan Friedman [https://pen.org/profile/jonathan-friedman/], the Sy Syms Managing Director of U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America [https://pen.org/], discusses House Resolution 2616, which would place new restrictions on how certain topics related to gender and LGBTQ+ identities are addressed in schools, and why PEN America is urging the Senate to vote against it. Also, former U.S. ambassador Chase Untermeyer [https://www.untermeyer.com/resume/] joins us, along with Nicholas Sawicki, executive director of the Houston Public Library Foundation, to tell us all about his new role as Diplomat-in-Residence at Houston Public Library [https://houstonlibrary.org/home], the first role of its kind at any public library in the country. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Houston Public Media reporter Michael Adkison [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/author/michael-adkison/] discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including the city of Houston launching a new anti-human trafficking public awareness campaign [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/public-safety/2026/06/05/553785/world-cup-houston-human-trafficking-awareness-campaign/] ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Texas experiencing a large influx of planned data center projects, and more.

Hello Houston (June 5, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Heidi Russell [https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/heidi-russell], Director of the Center for Health Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute, who explains what healthcare policy changes have been made under the Trump administration and how they’re affecting patients and providers. Then, we’re joined by legendary Texas singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett [https://www.lylelovett.com/], who talks about his performance tonight [https://houstonsymphony.org/performance/lyle-lovett-with-the-houston-symphony/] with the Houston Symphony, as well as his music career and the musicians he's worked with. In the second hour, Cindy Siegel, Chair of the Harris County Republican Party [https://www.harriscountygop.com/who-we-are/], joins us to give us her take on the results of recent runoff elections, the current state of the Republican Party, and what the party hopes to accomplish in the Fall. Plus, our hosts share a rundown of events happening this weekend in Houston as part of our regular Friday feature, “Last Minute Plans,” while they and Hello Houston listeners also share their own weekend plans. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Tessa Barerra [https://www.instagram.com/tess1tess2/?hl=en] discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including CBS News firing longtime 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, advocacy groups asking a federal appeals court to bring back the Texas Dream Act, and officials determining that a failed sensor caused the Pleasure Pier roller coaster to stop [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/local/galveston/2026/06/04/553700/galveston-stuck-roller-coaster-cause-failed-sensor/].

Hello Houston (June 4, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with John Diamond [https://www.bakerinstitute.org/expert/john-w-diamond], Director of the Center for Tax and Budget Policy at Rice University's Baker Institute, who helps break down the economic fallout of the Iran War as Americans continue to experience high energy prices.   Then, Bain Wilson, the Rancher Education and Outreach Manager at Ranchbot Monitoring Solutions, joins us to discuss the New World Screwworm and the threat they pose to the U.S. cattle industry due to the harm they cause livestock.  In the second hour of the show, we’re joined by Angie Orth [https://angieaway.com/about-angie/], host of the Traveling with AAA podcast, who shares practical advice for the summer travel season as well as common travel mistakes to avoid. Plus, our hosts and listeners talk about the things that have been taking over all their free time for our regular Thursday feature, Current Obsessions. You can send Hello Houston your Current Obsessions anytime by emailing us at talk@hellohouston.org. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Tessa Barerra [https://www.instagram.com/tess1tess2/?hl=en] talk about today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including a Houston-area man accused of selling fake accessible parking placards [https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/crime/2026/06/03/553600/houston-man-accused-of-selling-fake-accessible-parking-placards/] online and Houston City Council member Alejandra Salinas' proposal to allocate $3 million of Mayor Whitmire’s budget plan to address illegal dumping.

Hello Houston (June 3, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, we talk with Dr. Libby Cohen [https://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/team/libby-cohen-ph-d/], Executive Director of the non-profit Raise Your Hand Texas [https://www.raiseyourhandtexas.org/], who helps us understand the state of public-school funding in Texas, as well as give us an update on the state’s school voucher program. Next, Bradley Michalakis, the Head of Dramaturgy at Alley Theatre [https://www.alleytheatre.org/], joins us to tell us all about the shows that will be in the arts organization's upcoming 2026 – 27 season, which also happens to be their 80th season. In the second hour, we’re joined by Tammi Wallace, President and CEO of the Greater Houston LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce [https://www.houstonlgbtchamber.com/] and Avery Belyeu, CEO of The Montrose Center [https://montrosecenter.org/], who both share their thoughts on how Pride Day and Pride Month represents the progress made by the LGBTQIA+ community. Plus, Jackie Wallace, Assistant Vice President of Communications and Public Affairs at the Houston Zoo [https://www.houstonzoo.org/], tells us about what will be available at the zoo this summer. And, as always, Ernie and guest host Katharine Shilcutt [https://profiles.rice.edu/staff/katharine-shilcutt] discuss today’s top stories at the top of each hour, including Ken and Angela Paxton cancelling their divorce trial, Jill Biden saying she was concerned her husband was having a stroke during the 2024 presidential debate, and Texas DPS now only giving commercial driver's license tests in English.

Hello Houston (June 2, 2026)

On today’s Hello Houston, State Representative Dr. Suleman Lalani [https://house.texas.gov/members/4285], who represents House District 76 in Fort Bend County, joins us to discuss his recent op-ed in the Houston Chronicle about what he describes as growing Islamophobia among Texas politicians. Next, we talk with Christine Holland, the CEO of local non-profit Rebuilding Together Houston [https://rebuildingtogetherhouston.org/], who tells us all about their work providing free home repair to homeowners in need across the Houston area. In the second hour of the show, Barbie Brashear, the Executive Director of the Harris County Domestic Violence Coordinating Council [https://www.hcdvcc.org/], joins us to discuss domestic violence awareness, prevention, and resources available to those who may need help. Also, Thomas Helton, the bassist and tubist for Boomtown Brass Band [https://www.boomtownbrassband.com/], Houston’s only traditional jazz group, talks to us about the band's efforts to keep the genre’s traditions alive through their music. And, as always, Ernie Manouse and guest host Katharine Shilcutt [https://profiles.rice.edu/staff/katharine-shilcutt] discuss today's top stories at the top of each hour, including the Trump administration's anti-weaponization fund being put on hold, Ken Paxton suing the city of Denton over gender-neutral changing rooms at a Pride pool event, Texas Children's Hospital creating a “detransition clinic” as part of a settlement with the state, and more.