Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
What Texans should know about this flu season
Flu activity is rising across Texas. Health officials say this season appears more intense than average, and some doctors are even using the term “super flu” to describe the strain that’s circulating ahead of holiday gatherings.
Dr. Catherine Troisi, professor of epidemiology at UT Health Houston School of Public Health, joins Texas Standard with guidance.
What happens to campaign money after politicians leave office
As the 2026 midterms approach, Texans are already seeing a flood of fundraising appeals – but questions remain about what happens to leftover campaign funds once candidates leave office. Now, new reporting shows how millions of dollars can still be spent years later, often in ways voters never expected.
Taylor Goldenstein, who covers state politics for Hearst newspapers in Texas, joins the Standard with the story.
The Pumphrey brothers return with a wintertime picture book
Central Texas brothers Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey are back with “The Old Sleigh,” the latest in an acclaimed series of picture books exploring time, family and change through everyday objects. The book pairs simple text with richly layered illustrations, building on a world readers may recognize from earlier titles.
The Pumphrey brothers join the show with more.
Why SpaceX is preparing to go public
After years of resisting Wall Street, Elon Musk is expected to take SpaceX public in 2026 in what could become the largest IPO in U.S. history.
Eric Berger, senior space editor at Ars Technica, joins Texas Standard to talk about the timing matters and what’s at stake.
Dallas’ Longhorn Ballroom marks 75 years of music history
For 75 years, the Longhorn Ballroom has played a central role in Dallas’ music scene, hosting Bob Wills, B.B. King, and artists ranging from Selena to the Sex Pistols. Now renovated, the venue is looking toward a new chapter.
The Texas Standard’s Leah Scarpelli reports from Big D on the ballroom’s past and its plans for the future.
The gang delivers another custom poem.
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.
