Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
Trump’s Greenland threats rattle allies and NATO
The Trump administration’s renewed push to acquire Greenland has triggered emergency meetings in Europe and raised alarms within NATO, with historians and diplomats saying the president’s rhetoric risks destabilizing long-standing alliances and escalating trade or security conflicts.
Jeremi Suri, historian and Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs, History and Public Policy at the University of Texas at Austin, joins Texas Standard to explain why Greenland matters – and what may come next.
ICE detainee deaths draw scrutiny at El Paso facility
Three deaths have been reported in recent months at Camp East Montana, the El Paso immigrant detention center that’s the nation’s biggest. One death is reported to be ruled a homicide at the hands of center employees; reporting also states witnesses who spoke out were later deported.
Washington Post reporter Douglas MacMillan joins Texas Standard with the latest.
The evolving role of HBCUs in higher education
A new PBS documentary examines how Historically Black Colleges and Universities are navigating rising costs, enrollment shifts, and renewed national attention. The film centers student voices while exploring why HBCUs remain vital – and vulnerable – in today’s education landscape.
Brandis Griffith Friedman, PBS Chicago anchor and host of “Opportunity, Access and Uplift: The Evolving Legacy of HBCUs,” joins Texas Standard to discuss the project.
El Niño likely to shape Texas weather in 2026
Meteorologists say warming waters near the equator point to a probable El Niño later this year, a shift that could bring wetter conditions and heightened storm risks to Texas. Arriving after a prolonged La Niña pattern, the change could affect everything from drought relief to hurricane activity.
Anthony Franze, meteorologist and San Antonio Express-News reporter, joins Texas Standard to share what Texans should expect and how to prepare.
In Black America reflects on the life of Martin Luther King Jr.
As Texans observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Texas Standard is sharing a special episode from In Black America, a podcast produced by KUT and KUTX. The tribute revisits Dr. King’s life, leadership, and enduring influence through archival audio and reflection.
Host and producer John L. Hanson Jr. leads the program.
Camp Mystic lawsuits test accountability after deadly floods
Camp Mystic, the Kerr County summer camp where 27 girls died in last year’s July 4 floods, is facing multiple wrongful death lawsuits as it prepares to reopen. Families argue the tragedy was preventable, while the camp says the flooding was unforeseeable.
Houston Public Media’s Dominic Anthony Walsh reports on how newly emerging details are likely to factor into the legal fight.
