Best MAP Radio Hour Podcasts (2025)

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The Case of the Missing US Data 8:58

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9m ago8:58

8:58

In early February 2025, something strange started happening across US government websites. Decades of data began disappearing from webpages for agencies such as the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health and the Census Bureau. In many cases the entire website went dark. Within a few days some 8,000 government …

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806 Swedish-Norwegian Cousins; The London Tube; Czech Castles 52:00

7m ago52:00

52:00

Get an inside look at the (mostly) friendly rivalries of Scandinavia as a pair of tour guides from Sweden and Norway sit down for a chat. Then hear from a London Blue Badge guide about what to know — and love — about London's famous underground metro system. And listen in as we explore the grand castles of the Czech Republic. For more information o…

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Keeping tabs on local government (Sept. 26, 2025) 50:10

6h ago50:10

50:10

On Friday's show: We examine the wave of massive data centers expanding across Texas, prompting warnings from experts who say the new water demands could push the state’s already strained supply to the brink. Also this hour: We get a new perspective on local democracy by talking with self-described "local government enthusiast" Emily Hynds about ob…

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Immigration enforcement in Houston (Sept. 25, 2025) 50:00

5h ago50:00

50:00

On Thursday's show: Following months-long spats about how to bridge a $200 million gap in the county’s budget, the Harris County Commissioners Court has approved a $2.8 billion budget for the 2026 fiscal year. We learn some details. And we get an update on striking hotel workers in Houston. Also this hour: A gunman opened fire at an ICE detention f…

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The week in politics (Sept. 24, 2025) 50:05

3d ago50:05

50:05

On Wednesday's show: We discuss the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: In a time with plentiful commercial real estate vacancies, we learn one way some landlords are making their spaces stand out to potential renters. And we see some amazing work by hairstylists and artists at the Afro Hair Summit Expo. Watch…

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Was it easier to deport migrants to France before Brexit? 28:48

6m ago28:48

28:48

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week: Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey says it was easier to deport illegal migrants to Europe when we were in the EU. Is that true? Did the governor of the Bank of England get his numbers wrong on the UK’s ageing population? Why is the price of beef up by 25% in a year? Is it possible to pr…

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Redesigning Houston roads (Sept. 23, 2025) 51:34

1d ago51:34

51:34

On Tuesday's show: If you could wave a magic wand and change the design of any roadway in Houston, what would you change and why? We welcome your suggestions. Also this hour: We discuss the history of lethal injection, which is the subject of Secrets of the Killing State, a book by legal scholar and former criminal prosecutor Corinna Lain, who will…

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Hotel workers strike (Sept. 22, 2025) 50:50

2d ago50:50

50:50

On Monday's show: Striking hotel workers at the downtown Hilton Americas-Houston plan to remain on the picket line through the middle of October, marking the second significant extension of a "historic" labor action initially slated to end Sept. 9. We learn the latest on the dispute over wages. Also this hour: Scientists recently discovered evidenc…

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Is JD Vance right about left-wing violence? 8:58

4d ago8:58

8:58

On September the 10th 2025, right-wing political activist and media personality Charlie Kirk was assassinated while speaking at an event in Utah. In the aftermath, his friend JD Vance, the US Vice President, hosted a special memorial edition of ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’, live from the White House, during which he called for unity, but said that could…

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654a Best of Bulgaria; Traveling with Disabilities; Chasing the Sun 52:00

7d ago52:00

52:00

Two tour guides from Sofia explain why Bulgaria is one of Europe's most underrated travel destinations (hint: it has a long, fascinating history — and bargain prices). Author Francine Falk-Allen shares know-how and insights for traveling with a physical disability. And author Richard Cohen describes the varied ways human cultures have long celebrat…

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Congressional maps and the Hispanic vote (Sept. 19, 2025) 49:45

5d ago49:45

49:45

On Friday's show: With the state's newly redrawn congressional maps, does the creation of several predominantly Hispanic districts help those areas or disenfranchise them? Gabby Birenbaum of the Texas Tribune tells us more. Also this hour: Sitar maestro Purbayan Chatterjee joins us and performs in studio ahead of a concert Saturday at the Universit…

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First Amendment and Charlie Kirk (Sept. 18, 2025) 49:15

7d ago49:15

49:15

On Thursday's show: From ABC pulling Jimmy Kimmel off the air, to firings and reviews of Texas public school teachers and staff, what some have said about the shooting of Charlie Kirk has come back to bite them. But is it all legal? A constitutional law professor explains the nuances. Also this hour: We explore how a new law is affecting what publi…

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The week in politics (Sept. 17, 2025) 50:20

7d ago50:20

50:20

On Wednesday's show: We get insight on the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Then, we take a nature walk along the Bayou Greenways. And an event this week allows community members to share how Houston’s Fifth Ward shaped their lives. WatchBy Michael Hagerty

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Is it true that out-of-work benefits have almost doubled? 29:09

7d ago29:09

29:09

Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news. This week: Nigel Farage says 6.5 million people are on out-of-work benefits – with some benefits up 80% since 2018. Are those numbers right? Do French pensioners really earn more than their working-age compatriots? How is it possible for one kilogram of fish food to produce one kilogram of s…

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Rodney Crowell (Sept. 16, 2025) 48:40

8d ago48:40

48:40

On Tuesday's show: In the years 2022 to 2024, the percentage of children without health insurance made its highest increase in almost a decade, according to a Georgetown University report. And Texas continues to have the highest percentage of uninsured children in the nation. We discuss what this means for the state with Elena Marks of Rice Univers…

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Science Under Siege (Sept. 15, 2025) 49:35

10d ago49:35

49:35

On Monday's show: We preview this week's vote on the Harris County budget. The budget process this year has often been contentious as tensions rise over funding cuts. Also this hour: Dr. Peter Hotez of Baylor College of Medicine discusses his book, Science Under Siege, which examines growing opposition to science and the threat it poses. Then, vete…

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Will the world really be 50 million workers short by 2030? 8:58

11d ago8:58

8:58

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says the world faces a severe labour shortage – 50 million workers by the end of the decade.The boss of the world’s most valuable company thinks humanoid robots will be needed to fill the gap. But is this prediction based on solid evidence? Tim Harford looks at the calculations behind the claim with Rajiv Gupta, a technology…

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805 Italy Side-Trip Towns; Overnight; Enjoying Mexico City 52:00

11d ago52:00

52:00

Who's afraid of the dark? Adventurer Dan Richards shines a gentle light on what goes on in our world after sunset. Then an Italy tour guide looks beyond the crowds of Florence, Venice, and Rome to share her favorite side trips that are worth the diversion. And a Mexico City guide clues us in on the multicultural neighborhoods and cosmopolitan vibe …

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Developing in Houston’s floodplains (Sept. 12, 2025) 50:00

15d ago50:00

50:00

On Friday's show: Eight years after Harvey’s devastating flooding, Houston continues to develop in floodplains. A recent Houston Chronicle report analyzed who is benefitting and who is not. Also this hour: From Houston supplanting Philadelphia as America’s poorest large city, to Carnival Cruise Line and Van Leeuwen Ice Cream unveiling sunscreen-fla…

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Everything’s bigger in Texas — but is that better? (Sept. 11, 2025) 50:00

16d ago50:00

50:00

On Thursday's show: We get updates on several stories from reporter Dominic Anthony Walsh, including striking hotel workers at the Hilton Americas-Houston, the results of the latest homeless count, and the ongoing saga over City of Houston employees who took an early retirement to save the city money still waiting to receive their buyout payments. …

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Are Afghan nationals more likely to be convicted of sexual offences? 29:01

13d ago29:01

29:01

Tim Harford looks at some of the numbers in the news. This week: Is it true that interest payments on the UK’s national debt are equivalent to £240 per month for everyone in the country? Reform UK claim that Afghan migrants are 22 times more likely to be convicted of sex offences. Is that number correct? We try to make sense of a claim that one in …

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The week in politics (Sept. 10, 2025) 49:30

17d ago49:30

49:30

On Wednesday's show: Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo walked out of a budget meeting, while Texas A&M plans to audit its classes after a professor is fired amid conservative backlash over teaching gender identity in class. We get context and clarity on those and other developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: We learn about ef…

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States face off over abortion pills (Sept. 9, 2025) 49:34

18d ago49:34

49:34

On Tuesday's show: We learn how Texas and other states are facing off in the fight over access to abortion pills. New York's attorney general says she will intervene in a legal fight related to the Texas ban on those pills. Texas Tribune reporter Alex Nguyen explains what's going on. Also this hour: We learn what lessons the deadly crowd rush at th…

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Oil and gas layoffs (Sept. 8, 2025) 49:50

19d ago49:50

49:50

On Monday's show: Houston-based oil and gas giant ConocoPhillips announced last week that it is cutting about 3,000 jobs -- as much as a quarter of its global workforce. The company says rising costs and a push for efficiency are behind the move, which comes despite the company posting nearly $2 billion in profits last quarter. We talk over what th…

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Do 11,000 sharks die every hour? 8:57

18d ago8:57

8:57

Hollywood has given sharks a terrible reputation. But in reality, the finned fish should be far more scared of us, than we of them. Millions of sharks are killed in fishing nets and lines every year. One statistical claim seems to sum up the scale of this slaughter – that 100 million sharks are killed every year, or roughly 11,000 per hour. But how…

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804 Favorite Hot Springs in Europe; Walk Around the World 52:00

18d ago52:00

52:00

A photojournalist lets us in on her favorite European hot springs to visit, from Iceland to Turkey and points in between. And a man who spent seven years traversing the globe on foot — with his faithful pup alongside him — describes how his adventure helped him learn to embrace the now. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including ep…

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Special session wrap-up (Sept. 5, 2025) 48:18

22d ago48:18

48:18

On Friday's show: The second special session of the Texas Legislature wrapped up this week, with bills headed to Gov. Greg Abbott's desk related to flood prevention and summer camp safety. We recap what did and did not get done. Also this hour: We talk about the life and legacy of late Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, who's the subject of a…

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Gun culture & self-defense (Sept. 4, 2025) 49:30

23d ago49:30

49:30

On Thursday's show: A 42-year-old Houston man was arrested this week and charged with murder in the shooting death of a boy who was playing a prank by ringing on doorbells and running. We discuss the story with Houston Chronicle writer Leah Binkovitz, who wrote an opinion piece about how the country has changed since she played the same prank as a …

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The week in politics (Sept. 3, 2025) 49:50

24d ago49:50

49:50

On Wednesday's show: We seek insight from area experts on the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: In this month’s installment of The Full Menu, Houston food writers discuss their favorite area restaurants that they should have told you about sooner -- the ones that maybe defy any category but deserve a little atte…

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Tariffs and restaurants (Sept. 2, 2025) 49:40

25d ago49:40

49:40

On Tuesday's show: We learn about the FDA’s new COVID vaccine restrictions and who should still get one of the latest vaccines anyway. And as Harris County Commissioners wrestle with an impending budget deficit, a proposed budget would give significant raises to county constables, who want to be paid more than the sheriff. We learn about the role o…

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Are self-driving cars safer than cars with drivers? 8:58

27d ago8:58

8:58

Fully autonomous cars are here. In a handful of cities across the US and China, robotaxis are transporting human passengers around town, but with no human behind the wheel. Loyal Listener Amberish wrote in to More or Less to ask about a couple of safety statistics he’d seen regarding these self-driving cars on social media. These claimed that Waymo…

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803 Ohio's Ancient Trails; Safeguarding Heritage Sites; How to Land a Plane 52:00

25d ago52:00

52:00

Learn about the Ancient Ohio Trail and its cluster of mysterious geometric earthworks left behind by pre-Columbian mound-builder cultures. Then get an inside look at the World Monuments Fund's biennial selection of endangered archaeological and cultural sites, whose preservation is vital to our heritage. And what goes up, must come down: Pilot Mark…

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How Hurricane Katrina changed Houston (Aug. 29, 2025) 51:40

29d ago51:40

51:40

On Friday's show: We learn about Elon Musk's involvement in a $760 million plan to dig tunnels under Houston to help alleviate future flooding. Would it be worth the cost? Investigative reporter Lauren McGaughy from the Texas Newsroom brings us the details. Also this hour: On this date 20 years ago, Hurricane Katrina made landfall on Louisiana caus…

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Replacing the STAAR test (Aug. 28, 2025) 49:24

1M ago49:24

49:24

On Thursday's show: In light of the school shooting in Minneapolis, we get a refresher on the safety requirements the Texas Legislature established in 2023 and how much of those requirements are paid for by the funding passed during the most recent legislative session. And we learn about efforts at the capitol to replace the STAAR test. Also this h…

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The week in politics (Aug. 27, 2025) 50:08

1M ago50:08

50:08

On Wednesday's show: From the latest developments surrounding the second special session in Austin, to California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s ongoing social media trolling of President Trump, we seek insight on the latest developments in politics in our weekly roundup. Also this hour: Former President Lyndon B. Johnson was born on this date in 1908. We rev…

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Deploying National Guard to cities (Aug. 26, 2025) 48:30

1M ago48:30

48:30

On Tuesday's show: President Donald Trump wants specialized National Guard units ready to deploy to U.S. cities to quell civil disturbances and ensure public safety and order. We discuss what that means, whether we could see troops deployed here, and whether this is largely a pretense to step up immigration enforcement. Also this hour: A new Texas …

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Congressional maps approved (Aug. 25, 2025) 50:10

1M ago50:10

50:10

On Monday's show: The Texas Senate approved new congressional district maps on Saturday, which Gov. Greg Abbott says he’ll sign “swiftly.” Does this mean lawmakers will now get to other items on the agenda for the second special session? We learn the latest from Blaise Gainey of the Texas Newsroom. Also this hour: Some recent tests suggest the secr…

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Do women feel the cold more than men? 8:57

1M ago8:57

8:57

Are office temperatures set too low in the summer for women to be comfortable? This idea has featured in news headlines and comedy videos which describe the summer as a “women’s winter”. But is there evidence behind the claims of a gender bias in air conditioning? To find out, we speak to Gail Brager, Director of the Center for Environmental Design…

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718a Pastas You Should Know; In Sardinia; Gelato 52:00

1M ago52:00

52:00

Italian food expert Fred Plotkin describes some of the unusual varieties of pasta that you can find in Italy — and the reason behind their different shapes. Historian Jeff Biggers explores the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, where sites dating back to the Bronze Age are found across the island. And tour guides from Tuscany and Sicily bring us the…

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Health care layoffs (Aug. 22, 2025) 49:48

1M ago49:48

49:48

On Friday's show: The Houston Chronicle is reporting that UTHealth Houston is laying off dozens of employees due to “financial headwinds.” The move comes after the academic health science center implemented a hiring freeze in early July. Is this and other belt tightening at area health care institutions in recent months a momentary blip or a sign o…

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Ten Commandments in schools (Aug. 21, 2025) 50:00

1M ago50:00

50:00

On Thursday's show: A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked 11 public school districts in Texas’ largest metropolitan areas from displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms as required by a new state law set to take effect Sept. 1. A legal expert joins us to discuss the case and where it goes from here. Also this hour: Sen. Ted Cruz is l…