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Artwork for Houston Matters

Houston Matters

Houston Public Media
Houston
Harris County
Texas
ICE
Houston Public Media
Artemis II
Houston ISD
Donald Trump
World Cup
Education
Houston Chronicle
Trump Administration
Baylor College Of Medicine
Houston, United States
Affordable Care Act
Texas Education Freedom Accounts
Immigration
Fort Bend County
John Whitmire
Texas Education Agency

Houston Matters is a radio program airing weekdays at 9 am on Houston Public Media News 88.7 FM in Houston. During each hour, we’ll investigate the issues and ideas, people and places that make Houston…well…Houston! We’ll talk about current events, politics, education, health care, the environment, business, transportation, arts and culture, literature, sports and leisure. But we also hope that wh... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes129Founded13 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Daily NewsNewsSociety & Culture

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Artwork for Houston Matters

Latest Episodes

On Monday's show: Katy ISD is banning the use of AI by elementary school students. The district’s board also set limits on AI use by middle and high school students in a decision that stands in sharp contrast to Houston ISD’s plans. And we recap a Co... more

On Friday's show: An energy industry watcher explains how the war with Iran is reshaping the oil industry and its impact on Houston.

Also this hour: We break down The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of the week.

And, before they pilot billion-dollar sp... more

On Thursday's show: We learn how the city is preparing to help residents as Houston and the Southeast Texas region face dangerously high heat over the next few days. And we find out whether the FIFA World Cup matches in Houston provided the boost in ... more

On Wednesday's show: From the Arizona primaries, to a new tariff on Canadian goods, to the latest from the campaign trail, we discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup.

Also this hour: Comedian Dulcé Sloan, who's a frequent p... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Amber Ambrose
Longtime Houstonian and public panelist
Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University
Episode: Tropical Storm Bertha (July 21, 2026)
Ruth Lopez-Turley
Director at Kinder Institute for Urban Research
Rice University
Episode: Tropical Storm Bertha (July 21, 2026)
Melissa Inahe
Reporter covering Fort Bend County developments
Houston Public Media
Episode: Fort Bend County leadership drama (July 20, 2026)
Daniel Wong
Interim County Judge (mentioned as plaintiff/subject in coverage)
Fort Bend County
Episode: Fort Bend County leadership drama (July 20, 2026)
Sean Teare
Harris County District Attorney
Harris County District Attorney's Office
Episode: Sean Teare on ICE shooting (July 17, 2026)
Kaylee Hunt
Reporter for KUT Austin contributing to Texas Newsroom
KUT Austin
Episode: Calls to investigate ICE shooting (July 16, 2026)
Peter Echols
Policy Director, Link Houston
Link Houston
Episode: Calls to investigate ICE shooting (July 16, 2026)
Jazz Henry
Death doula, programming and community engagement manager with the Death Collaborative
Death Collaborative
Episode: Calls to investigate ICE shooting (July 16, 2026)
Suzanne Simpson
Author of Wild Houston and Land Acquisition Manager
Galveston Bay Foundation
Episode: The week in politics (July 15, 2026)

Hosts

Craig Cohen
Host of Houston Matters
Michael Haggerty
Host of Houston Matters

Reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars from 120 ratings
  • Insightfully informative & fun

    So glad to have this program available to Houston ! Objectively approachable discussions about issues THAT MATTER to Houstonians.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Scubarru
    United States8 months ago
  • Extreme political bias

    It’s so unfortunate that so many great shows have been ruined by their obsession with partisan politics with no attempt at neutrality. Any deviation from the narrow minded, bigoted opinions of the producers is heresy because their tribe lose an election 2 1/2 years ago. I would have rated zero stars if not for the excellent content pre TDS. Hopefully rationality and openness to diversity of opinion will return eventually but I couldn’t justify donating to HPM anymore. I still listen occasionall... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Nostrathomas.
    United States4 years ago
  • Special Edition

    I am typically a fan of this show when it’s led by Craig Cohen & I have appreciated the local doctors and scientists that have contributed, but Ernie Manouse is insufferable and the way he treated a guest today by inserting his own political views (the guest had covid - his family got it & he said he’s a moderate, he asked for feedback on the media’s role in where we’re at, and the guy answered and he said he didn’t agree and just was patronizing) - if you don’t want politics inserted, then stic... more

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Ehodges05
    United States6 years ago
  • Give it a rest

    I used to listen to this show for daily local news. In recent months the fear mongering and aggrandizement of COVID related issues is insufferable. There’s a way of reporting the facts without sensationalizing it, Houston Matters should aim for that goal. Even the tone of the reporting is overkill. Every time I try to listen I hear myself saying “give it a rest!”

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Ayjayrose
    United States6 years ago
  • Partisan

    If you enjoy one-sided, bias discussions, you will enjoy this dumpster fire.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    htx2020!
    United States6 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners praise thoughtful, in-depth coverage of Houston issues and practical context for local life.
Some reviews suggest perceived bias and desire for neutrality; others appreciate balanced, issue-focused discussions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#233
United States/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#201
China/News/Daily News
Apple Podcasts
#233
South Korea/News/Daily News

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Calls to investigate ICE shooting (July 16, 2026)
Q: What can you tell us about the public viewing and the family's request for attendees?
Attendees were directed to the Houston Public Media website for details; the family, with LULAC support, asked people to leave phones in cars and consider wearing blue in Lorenzo Salgado Araujo's memory.
The week in politics (July 15, 2026)
Q: Renee, with early voting three months away, what could be the political consequences of these shootings and immigration debates?
The panelists suggest it could dampen GOP support among Latino voters while potentially galvanizing conservative-leaning groups; however, the overall impact will depend on how voters weigh crime, immigration policy, and economic concerns, with attention to how leaders respond.
Sean Teare on ICE shooting (July 17, 2026)
Q: How much or little is your office coordinating with the Texas Rangers, the FBI, and DHS's Inspector General as you all investigate?
Teare emphasizes layered collaboration with the FBI on a day-to-day basis, notes that the Texas Rangers are involved in officer-involved shooting investigations, and says DHS's OIG has not engaged substantively, framing cooperation as mixed but functional.
Challenges of changing legal status (July 13, 2026)
Q: Why are circumstances like Salgado Araujo's so hard to resolve?
Because the laws around lawful permanent residency are complex, with rules about who can petition, consular processing for those who leave the U.S., and significant bars that trigger if someone departs after unlawful entry; there are only narrow exceptions and waivers, making decades-long waiting periods common.
Wealthy homes removed from floodplains (July 7, 2026)
Q: What is the current status of the Fort Bend County interim county judge dispute?
There are parallel civil counter-suits and a non-suit with prejudice over Wong's appointment, with ongoing questions about who has authority to preside over the court.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Houston Matters

What is Houston Matters about and what kind of topics does it cover?

Local-focused daytime discussions cover Houston-area governance, policy, infrastructure, and culture with a newsroom-style approach. Episodes blend reporting on public education, transportation, public safety, weather events, and community voices, often pairing hard-news segments with interviews from experts, advocates, and local artists. A notable strength is the diverse mix of topics and guests that reflect the city's breadth—from city policy and school governance to cultural events and Venus-like offbeat features—making it useful for listeners who want practical context on how regional issues affect everyday life and business in Houston.

Where can I find podcast stats for Houston Matters?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Houston Matters. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Houston Matters and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Houston Matters get?

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What are the audience demographics for Houston Matters?

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How many subscribers and views does Houston Matters have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Houston Matters has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Houston Matters?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Houston Matters:

1. Texas Standard
2. Throughline
3. Fresh Air
4. This American Life
5. Freakonomics Radio

How many episodes of Houston Matters are there?

Houston Matters launched 13 years ago and published 129 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Houston Matters?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Houston Matters?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Houston Matters from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

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What guests have appeared on Houston Matters?

Recent guests on Houston Matters include:

1. Amber Ambrose
2. Ruth Lopez-Turley
3. Melissa Inahe
4. Daniel Wong
5. Sean Teare
6. Kaylee Hunt
7. Peter Echols
8. Jazz Henry

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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