Here are the stories on Texas Standard for Monday, Sept. 15, 2025:
Operation Lone Star moves beyond the border
Gov. Greg Abbott’s Operation Lone Star has shifted from its original focus at the Texas-Mexico border to statewide enforcement. DPS has formed “strike teams” with federal agencies, targeting undocumented immigrants in major metro areas. The move raises questions about authority, priorities and resources as crossings decline.
Alejandro Serrano, politics reporter for The Texas Tribune, joins Texas Standard with the story.
Border becomes military zone under new federal policy
The Trump administration has designated more than 500 miles along the U.S.-Mexico border as “national defense areas,” treating them like military installations. Migrants caught crossing can now face trespassing charges, and locals are feeling the impact as well.
Carlos Morales of the American Homefront Project reports from southern New Mexico.
This week in Texas music history
Jason Mellard with The Center for Texas Music History at Texas State University celebrates the birth of musician and artist Powell St. John.
Tracking where opioid settlement money goes in Texas
Texas has secured more than $3 billion from lawsuits against pharmaceutical companies linked to the opioid crisis, including a recent $720 million settlement. But how those funds are being spent – and whether they’re making a difference – remains under scrutiny.
Josh Archote, who covers community health for the San Antonio Report, joins the Standard with more.
A robot alternative to human massage
For people who find the intimacy of traditional massage uncomfortable, technology is stepping in. A new AI-powered robotic massager is offering Texans a different path to relaxation, raising questions about where wellness and automation intersect.
Texas Public Radio’s Jerry Clayton reports from San Antonio.
Democracy in focus as LBJ Library series returns
A second season of “Live from the LBJ Library” brings conversations with political leaders and thinkers on the state of American democracy.
The Austin PBS series, hosted by historian and LBJ Foundation president Mark Updegrove, looks at the challenges and opportunities facing the system. Updegrove joins the Standard with a preview.
Michael McCaul to leave Congress after two decades
After more than 20 years in Washington, U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul says he will not seek reelection. Known for his roles on the Homeland Security and Foreign Affairs Committees, the longtime Austin-area Republican’s decision could open a significant race in Texas politics.
Journalist Maria Recio, who covered the story for the Austin American-Statesman, joins Texas Standard from D.C.
